Caliber .455" MkVI Enfield Revolver (with photos)

[jmoore]

Well, technically it's now a .45 AR/ACP Enfield, but having never seen one aside from photos, it was just too tempting!

1922 mfg. S/N JUST short of 1000. It also has the conjoined arrows, which is new to my collection, AFAIK.

Some photos (Nothing spectacular):












Haven't gotten it home yet to see if the Saddlers' Federation holster fits properly, plus it's too late to be proper. So, the Webley hunt continues. See this thread if you are confused: A "Saddlers' Federation" Holster Circa 1915
(It also kept the temptation to buy the black FN 17s SCAR at bay- a far more expensive machine!)

In Lance's Sticky:.455 Webley Overview (Post #8) he notes that an unknown number were manufactured by Enfield. Does anybody have a rough idea of the quantity? Can't imagine it being a very large number.

Some other threads that have some tie-ins:

Slightly ot; Is there an Enfield pistol?

"Enfield" Mark VI, A prefix, three numbers

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[A square 10]

nice grab , yours is in very nice condition , congrats ,


i found one a number of years ago of 1923 vintage , this is an interest of mine

[teh_major]

Well, technically it's now a .45 AR/ACP Enfield, but having never seen one aside from photos, it was just too tempting!

1922 mfg. S/N JUST short of 1000. It also has the conjoined arrows, which is new to my collection, AFAIK.

Some photos (Nothing spectacular):

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...stuff004-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tuff0131-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...stuff007-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...stuff008-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...stuff018-1.jpg


Haven't gotten it home yet to see if the Saddlers' Federation holster fits properly, plus it's too late to be proper. So, the Webley hunt continues. See this thread if you are confused: A "Saddlers' Federation" Holster Circa 1915
(It also kept the temptation to buy the black FN 17s SCAR at bay- a far more expensive machine!)

In Lance's Sticky:.455 Webley Overview (Post #8) he notes that an unknown number were manufactured by Enfield. Does anybody have a rough idea of the quantity? Can't imagine it being a very large number.

Some other threads that have some tie-ins:

Slightly ot; Is there an Enfield pistol?

"Enfield" Mark VI, A prefix, three numbers

from what i understand, THE BRITISH HAD A SIGNIFICANT SHORTAGE OF MILITARY SIDE ARMS AT THE END OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND THE ENFIELD FACTORY MANUFACTURED A RUN OF ABOUT 4,000 FROM 1921-1924 TO HELP KEEP UP THE NEEDED SUPPLY.

so one of 4000 sounds pretty nice to own

[rayg]

Load down if you reload for it. If you don't reload, make sure you don't use any high power 45acp's in it. Many cases of damage to these revolvers by shooting 45 acp in them as the revolver was not made to handle the hotter 45acp load over the 455 cartridge. Probably best to use US GI 45 acp ammo in it as they are loaded to the minimum power needed for the 45acp rd. Ray

[jmoore]

Don't need no steekin' moonclips! Nor jacketed bullets for that matter.

[jonnyc]

Great pistol and wonderful shooters. Enjoy it.
If you do plan on doing any amount of shooting, the 'shaved' pistols are actually better to get, as components for .45ACP and .45 Auto-Rim are MUCH easier to get. I load the same light-ish loads for my MkVI, and Colt and S&W 1917s.

[Skirmisher]

I agree with Johnny, get .45 Autorim brass & you can shot safe & authentic looking ammo in shaved Webleys.

Skirmisher

[rayg]

If you use 45 auto rimmed, either cut the cases down to 455 length, or you will need to tilt the revolver up each time before shooting to position the powder near the primer other wise you will not get uniform ignition and loss of accuracy because of the longer case unless you use a filler like oatmeal, cotton, etc. over the powder to keep the powder in position. Ray

[jmoore]

If you use 45 auto rimmed, either cut the cases down to 455 length, or you will need to tilt the revolver up each time before shooting to position the powder near the primer other wise you will not get uniform ignition and loss of accuracy because of the longer case unless you use a filler like oatmeal, cotton, etc. over the powder to keep the powder in position. Ray

I've noticed a bit of drop variation at 100 yards with light cast bullet loads in .44 Magnum, but, oddly not so much in .45 Colt. (IHMSA field pistol)
Have never shot a .455 or .45AR past fifty yards, in any cartridge length. (Long CIL brass .455, short Fiocchi, .45 AR and .45 ACP cases) But WW231 isn't overly position sensitive, it seems.



You'd think 200gr cast bullets over a middling charge of 231 in a .45 Colt case would be very non-uniform, but this is one of my better IHMSA revolvers.


Why the .44 is slightly more prone to positional powder variations, I don't know. Smallish targets at medium distances (100 yd). Shot standing. If I could get a broomhandle or early Inglis to shoot well enough in stock form, I'd try 'em. Fixed sight handguns are a bit too daunting for me to try!

[imarangemaster]

Sweet! I love the top breaks.. At one time I had an Enfield and Webley both in .38-200, and a Webley in .455. The .455 was also faced off for 45ACP with full moon. I tried for several years to get a .455 cylinder with no luck, and finally sold it. When I had it, I loaded 45 auto-rim cases with a .454 255 grain long Colt bullet to 800 fps. Nice shooter. Wish I still had it. Years ago (in the late 1970s and early 1980s), there was a Deputy Sheriff who worked for Clark Co. Washington SO who carried a .455 Webley in .45 Auto rim for a duty weapon. He had some speed loaders. He was very competitive with it.