Early HAC (Howard Auto Cultivator)
(Click PIC to Enlarge)
Caliber: ........................ .380 (.38 S & W)
Rifling & Twist: .............. 7 Grooves, .125 inches wide, 1 turn in 15 in.
Barrel Length: ............... 5 in. (127 mm)
Overall Length: ............. 11.25 in. (286 mm)
Weight: ........................ 1 lb. 11 1/2 oz. (.78 Kg)
Magazine Capacity: ....... 6
Qty Mfg: ....................... 355
Source: ...".380 Enfield No. 2 Revolver", by Mark Stamps and Ian Skennerton
Canadian Market Value Estimate: $
1941 HAC .380 No. 2 Mk I ** Revolver
(9 picture virtual tour)
Rifling & Twist: .............. 7 Grooves, .125 inches wide, 1 turn in 15 in.
Barrel Length: ............... 5 in. (127 mm)
Overall Length: ............. 11.25 in. (286 mm)
Weight: ........................ 1 lb. 11 1/2 oz. (.78 Kg)
Magazine Capacity: ....... 6
Qty Mfg: ....................... 355
Source: ...".380 Enfield No. 2 Revolver", by Mark Stamps and Ian Skennerton
Canadian Market Value Estimate: $
1941 HAC .380 No. 2 Mk I ** Revolver
(9 picture virtual tour)
Observations: by Terry Hawker (click here)
Note: Pics provided courtesy of Advisory Panel member Terry Hawker.
This is a .380, No. 2 Mk I ** revolver, made by the Australian firm of Howard Auto Cultivator in Sydney during WW II. It is a seldom seen manufacturer of an otherwise relatively common handgun. According to the best text so far on the subject, Mark Stamps and Ian Skennerton"s, ".380 Enfield No. 2 Revolver", between 1941 and 1944, a total of only 355 HAC revolvers were ever produced.
This particular specimen, serial number 8, is one of the earliest and also one of only 11 manufactured in the first financial year of 1941-1942. (For those that already have the aforementioned book, yes, this is the same one pictured on pages 82, 85 and 86.) The first thing to look for when confirming if a HAC revolver is genuine, is to do what Ian did when he first saw this one... break out the loupe and look for the "S", (for Sidney), inspection stamp.
The simple, stamped, manufacturer identification on the right side of the frame was soon replaced by a more elaborate, and a bit more common, engraved logo, as can be seen in the photos from the Pattern Room in Stamps and Skennerton, and can also be found in the photograph in the excellent, "Howdah To High Power", by Robert J. Maze, and the drawings in Chamberlain and Taylorson's, "Revolvers of the British Services, 1854-1954".
Interestingly, as can be seen in these three texts, only serial number 8 also bears the Australian Defense Department, "D /|\ D", acceptance stamp. Curious to know from other collectors owning an HAC if theirs too has this acceptance stamp, and, if so, what the year of manufacture is. The free story that came with this revolver was that a WW II US Navy veteran traded with an Australian sailor for it. True? Who knows, but the "1941", "N" and "D/|\D", stamped on the revolver at least make the story plausible.
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