ENFIELD REVOLVERS

[rice 123]

why did the Brits stick with a revolver during WW11? when mot major powers used automatics

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[Daan Kemp]

They had lots. They knew they worked everywhere in the world.

Revolvers were officer issue instead of a sword, meaning the officer had to separate himself from the fighting to direct his men. Used for his own survival as a last resort.

How many shots were needed when you really needed a handgun in battle?

Large scale use of Browing HiPower by commandos and SOE.

Etc.

[Scout Sniper]

As mentioned above the British Commandos and SOE where issued Canadian built Inglis Hi Powers from 1944 onwards.

[Gil Boyd]

Reliability and more control.....................

[browningautorifle]

why did the Brits stick with a revolver during WW11

The US issued a standard secondary issue of the S&W M&P in four inch remember. They had 1911A1s on issue for years and still needed more so they issued a revolver for the duration of the war. I believe pilots were still carrying S&W M&Ps during the Korean conflict and there was still a plethora of revolvers issued during RVN. Colt Cobra or Detective comes to mind for chopper crews... The front lines needed the big heavy death dealers and the second line guys got a secondary.

Look at your history a bit closer and you'll see it all. Not just UK...

[Gil Boyd]

Jim,
You'll probably know this anyway, but lots of the U.S fighter pilots had the Detective, as it was out of the way most of the time and hopefully never going to be used, but when it was needed it had the desired effect. In WW2 and Korea, probably Vietnam as well.

[browningautorifle]

lots of the U.S fighter pilots had the Detective

Yes and they were issue...there was the Mod 13 Aircrew that was unsuccessful in design and others martial marked. It's pretty well documented that revolvers were issued as a "Substitute standard". We issued the M&P in caliber .38 S&W with five inch bbl. Not so many Hi Powers as one would think. Lots of guys ended up with revolvers, onw acquaintance crossed the Senio river under heavy fire with one...

My point being it wasn't isolated to just the UK issuing something antique...

[Gil Boyd]

Never let you down and so easy to clean!!

[Flying10uk]

why did the Brits stick with a revolver during WW11?

Because we had only just replaced many of our service revolvers for smaller calibre .38 calibre revolvers during the 1930's. There wouldn't have been much point in replacing perfectly good revolvers which weren't very old, for automatics, just for the sake of it, especially at a time when there were more important things to spend our money on in order to defend ourselves against Germany, who were breathing down our neck.

[Aragorn243]

Revolvers were issued to pilots in the US because 1911's require two hands to rack a round and a broken arm made them a big paperweight. What I've heard anyway.