I finally got to bring home my Enfiled revolver from the store today and now I'm just looking for a little more info on my particular pistol. The most I've learned from it is it was made by Albion motors in 1943 serial C5200 and its all matching.
Albion made Enfield No.2 MK1**
- Thread starter Lucite
- Start date
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
If it's any help, the number on the cylinder is the steel batch number (quality contrrol)
Of course the holy Grail on these is HAC, Howard Auto Cultivators
They didn't make very many compared to total production
Of course the holy Grail on these is HAC, Howard Auto Cultivators
They didn't make very many compared to total production
HAC is the Holy Grail of Enfield revolver production, but ALBION is quite scarce enough to be noteworthy.
They built only the modded revolvers, not having been engaged in making such back when the SA/DA option still was open. So all of theirs are DA only and will be Number 2 Mark 1* and Mark 1**.
The Mark 1** was emergency-status production and was regarded as dangerous while it was actually being made. But they needed guns SO badly that they kept on churning them out until the crisis was over.
The Mark 1 was single- and double-action. The Mark 1* was double-action only. The Mark 1** wads double-action only BUT a good smack on the hammer would fire it.
Once production got caught up with demand, available Mark 1** guns were retrofitted to Mark 1* standard by the installation of he correct hammer-block parts to ensure that the gun could fire ONLY when the trigger was pulled. When these gins were surplused, they were gone over to ensure that NO guns without the hammer-block got into circulation.
Your gun is quite scarce enough BUT if it also is missing the Hammer-block, it qualifies as a true rarity. I have seen exactly ONE Enfield revolver without the Hammer-block; it was in the QAD Pattern Room collection at Enfield.
For some strange reason, they didn't want to sell it!
They built only the modded revolvers, not having been engaged in making such back when the SA/DA option still was open. So all of theirs are DA only and will be Number 2 Mark 1* and Mark 1**.
The Mark 1** was emergency-status production and was regarded as dangerous while it was actually being made. But they needed guns SO badly that they kept on churning them out until the crisis was over.
The Mark 1 was single- and double-action. The Mark 1* was double-action only. The Mark 1** wads double-action only BUT a good smack on the hammer would fire it.
Once production got caught up with demand, available Mark 1** guns were retrofitted to Mark 1* standard by the installation of he correct hammer-block parts to ensure that the gun could fire ONLY when the trigger was pulled. When these gins were surplused, they were gone over to ensure that NO guns without the hammer-block got into circulation.
Your gun is quite scarce enough BUT if it also is missing the Hammer-block, it qualifies as a true rarity. I have seen exactly ONE Enfield revolver without the Hammer-block; it was in the QAD Pattern Room collection at Enfield.
For some strange reason, they didn't want to sell it!
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Yes both are scarce, but I found my Albion motors at a gunstore in Tucson. Douibt if I will ever be so lucky a second time, but it's the only one I am, missing of that type.
With the gun in the condition as shown in the first photo, hold it up to the light and give a solid push on the Hammer. If the Hammer goes forward (you will be able to see how far by the light coming in between the Cylinder and Standing Breech) far enough to strike a Primer, then the gun has NOT been retrofitted. If loaded, it will fire if you hit the Hammer.
If the gun HAS been retrofitted with the proper Hammer-block, then the Hammer will NOT go forward to strike a primer UNLESS the Trigger has been pulled back all the way. Normally, they are quite solid until the Trigger is pulled; anything else is a trip to the Gunsmith or else, in the case of the Enfield, crowing from the rooftops.
There are actually a lot of guns without Hammer-block safeties built into them; the original Colt Single Action Army is one of them, which is why some of the old-timers carried them loaded with 5 only. In a civilian situation, it takes only a bit of interest and some common-sense and things are pretty safe. The situation is entirely different in the military, in Wartime, with a Draft, when you are taking completely uninterested city people out of their cozy offices, handing them crude contraptions such as Sten Guns and expecting them to be more dangerous to the other side than they are to their own.
I think a LOT of collectors would welcome the opportunity to have an UNaltered Mark 1**, if for no other reason than to fill in a "set".
Enfield revolver parts ARE available in the US. Just send them to a pen-pal in Iceland and have him re-send them to you. The US has an agreement that allows Icelanders to purchase these parts, but they have never made the same agreement with Canada. I think we should just shut off the oil until they come to their senses..... take about 12 minutes. The parts will enter Canada FROM Iceland with no troubles: just pay the GST.
Funny world we live in......
Hope this helps.
If the gun HAS been retrofitted with the proper Hammer-block, then the Hammer will NOT go forward to strike a primer UNLESS the Trigger has been pulled back all the way. Normally, they are quite solid until the Trigger is pulled; anything else is a trip to the Gunsmith or else, in the case of the Enfield, crowing from the rooftops.
There are actually a lot of guns without Hammer-block safeties built into them; the original Colt Single Action Army is one of them, which is why some of the old-timers carried them loaded with 5 only. In a civilian situation, it takes only a bit of interest and some common-sense and things are pretty safe. The situation is entirely different in the military, in Wartime, with a Draft, when you are taking completely uninterested city people out of their cozy offices, handing them crude contraptions such as Sten Guns and expecting them to be more dangerous to the other side than they are to their own.
I think a LOT of collectors would welcome the opportunity to have an UNaltered Mark 1**, if for no other reason than to fill in a "set".
Enfield revolver parts ARE available in the US. Just send them to a pen-pal in Iceland and have him re-send them to you. The US has an agreement that allows Icelanders to purchase these parts, but they have never made the same agreement with Canada. I think we should just shut off the oil until they come to their senses..... take about 12 minutes. The parts will enter Canada FROM Iceland with no troubles: just pay the GST.
Funny world we live in......
Hope this helps.
Re-opening an old thread....
Jusy got this 1943 Albion No.2 Mk.1** yesterday. It has the original finish, a mint bore, is all-matching (including Albion inspection marks), and only has a small amount of holster wear. I can't get ammo or reloading parts for it, but who cares?? I can always use it as a club.
Jusy got this 1943 Albion No.2 Mk.1** yesterday. It has the original finish, a mint bore, is all-matching (including Albion inspection marks), and only has a small amount of holster wear. I can't get ammo or reloading parts for it, but who cares?? I can always use it as a club.
Ammo is not difficult at all.
Order .38 S&W cases from Trade-Ex or from Higginson. Get your correct 200-grain .362" bullets from friend JETHUNTER (they are completely unavailable on the regular market).
Lee, RCBS and half of Creation make .38 S&W die sets.
Load 1.8 (one-point-eight) grains of Bullseye, TWO grains MAX. You get 3500 rounds for a pound of powder. Cheap!
Do NOT use Magnum primers: just the regular cheap Small Pistol type.
MV should be about 600 - 650 ft/sec (slow enough to watch!), muzzle energy 165 ft/lbs, but it hits MUCH harder than you would think, due to the heavy bullet.
On a combat course you will find it wieldy and quick, once you get used to the DAO trigger. Off the sandbags, I have got 2 inches at 15 yards.
I don't think anyone in their right mind would want to stand in front of it.
Good luck.
Order .38 S&W cases from Trade-Ex or from Higginson. Get your correct 200-grain .362" bullets from friend JETHUNTER (they are completely unavailable on the regular market).
Lee, RCBS and half of Creation make .38 S&W die sets.
Load 1.8 (one-point-eight) grains of Bullseye, TWO grains MAX. You get 3500 rounds for a pound of powder. Cheap!
Do NOT use Magnum primers: just the regular cheap Small Pistol type.
MV should be about 600 - 650 ft/sec (slow enough to watch!), muzzle energy 165 ft/lbs, but it hits MUCH harder than you would think, due to the heavy bullet.
On a combat course you will find it wieldy and quick, once you get used to the DAO trigger. Off the sandbags, I have got 2 inches at 15 yards.
I don't think anyone in their right mind would want to stand in front of it.
Good luck.
