Enfield No.2 Mk1, non FTR

[Texas Star]

You guys know that you're costing me a fortune!!! I just stopped at the mailbox and picked up "Stalin's Generals", and "Hitler's Generals", to go with "Churchill's Generals", which Bryan had recommended. You all know about "The Handgun", recommended by Texas, and the Enfield book by David. Not to mention an Enfield!!! Hey, I'm just kidding.

By the way, Amazon Prime is great. I got hardback versions of those three generals books, free two day shipping, no tax, and they ran around $5.00 each. They called them very good used, but they still have the dust jackets, hardbacks, and don't look like they have ever been read. No marks, not ex- library.... And out of print. Very nice books. I like to get good quality books, because I read them over, keep them for reference, and just plain like having them around. Two of my passions: books and guns.

I get Netflix, so will look for the Capt. brown movie. One more day at school, then three months off to read, watch some good stuff on streaming tv... And cut grass.

P. S.: Well, M1A, I found it and that was a great documentary. Texas, seeing your interest in aviation, this is the Captain Brown of the movie.



M1A is right: it's a must see.


Best Regards, Les

Les-

Thanks. Brown has to be the only one in Naval uniform. The decorations translate as Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Distinguished Service Cross, Air Force Cross. I think. RN= Royal Navy , not Registered Nurse, ha!

I'm gonna find that film. It sounds super.

 

[les.b]

Texas: yep, that's him. Not a spoiler, but he started his career with one of these, called, I think a "Gladiator":



And finished his career in one of these, I believe called a "Bucaneer". In between, he flew something like 487 different aircraft, a record which may still be unbroken:



Thanks again, M1A, for the heads up.

Best Regards, Les

 

[Texas Star]

And he flew Phantoms.

BTW, the Gloster Gladiator was still in service with the RAF in the Med. theater in 1940-41, until Hurricanes arrived. The top Allied ace, apart from a Russian, was the RAF's Marmaduke St. John Pattle. He was South African, but in the RAF, not the SAAF.

Most of his kills, over 50, were scored against Italians, from a Gladiator. After he got a Hurricane, he was even more deadly.

Alas, he was killed while covering the British withdrawal from Greece and his squadron records were lost. But he certainly got over 50, maybe 60 or more. He was said to have given credit for some kills to other pilots if both were firing at the same plane.

In the hands of a good pilot, the Gladiator was a capable fighter, although obsolescent when the war began.

 

[M1A]

Just watching "The Maltese Falcon" for the umpteenth time. Did some stop action. Miles was not shot with the Webley Fosbery. The hammer did not cock after firing and the cylinder had normal fluting.
Now the revolver shone to Sam was a Webley Fosbery, but Sam called it an 8 shot .45 caliber. The .455 was a six shot, but the .38 ACP was eight.
I never thought to look so closely until our various threads.
I suppose I'm the last to know.

 

[les.b]

Well, I remember watching the movie umpteen times also, but it has been awhile now. I'm still on "Dark City", but I just got back from commencement, so I have three months to while away enjoying little pleasures like watching old movies with you guys! I have The Maltese Falcon on DVD, but I'll see if I can find it on Amazon prime or Netflix.

 

[Texas Star]

I've never seen, The Maltese Falcon. Is it actually pretty good? Is it the one where Bogart played Sam Spade? Which gun did he carry? Presumably not a Webley-Fosbery.

 

[M1A]

I somehow knew I'd get a sarcastic remark from Texas.

 

[Texas Star]

I somehow knew I'd get a sarcastic remark from Texas.

That's not sarcastic. I'm really asking. I've never seen it or read the book, just heard a bit about them.

I don't think I've ever seen all of, "Casablanca", either. Hugh Hefner would be horrified. That's his favorite movie, much shown at his Mansion.

I'm seldom sarcastic, certainly especially so on this board with all of the cautionary Rules.

I'll try to find the film on YouTube. I guess if you guys keep watching it, it must be good. I'll look for the Webley -Fosbery. And I think I can read about it on Wikipedia.

 

[M1A]

In that case Tex, I apologize. I thought you were being funny, and took no offense. My response was all in good spirit.
BTW, Sam Spade doesn't like firearms. The Webley Fosbery is in the first ten minutes of the movie.

 

[les.b]

Hey, guys, check out the guys at the National Firearms Museum (NRA) and a look at the Webley Fosbery, and a comment on the movie "The Maltese Falcon":

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YJVxuXlfDsc[/ame]

Here's a very short clip with the actual shooting of Miles Archer, Sam Spade's partner:

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BrNdl9INF9I[/ame]

This ought to whet your appetite for the movie, Texas, I stopped by my other place today, and brought up the DVDs of both Maltese Falcon, and The Big Sleep. I can't find them free, or on Amazon prime or Netflix.

Best Regards, Les

 

[LVSteve]

....and finished his career in one of these, I believe called a "Bucaneer". In between, he flew something like 487 different aircraft, a record which may still be unbroken:



Thanks again, M1A, for the heads up.

Best Regards, Les

Aah, the Buccaneer, thought by many in the RAF to be the finest low-level attack aircraft ever built.

 

[M1A]

Very sad to report:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/475434-casablancas-last-survivor-has-passed-away.html

They are all dead and some folks never saw the movie.

 

[les.b]

Thanks for the link, M1A. The passing of an era.

 

[les.b]

M1A: hope you don't mind, but I'm posting a link here to David's thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/firear...rit-made-six-gun-i-love-380-mk-iv-webley.html go to post #13. I was just rereading some of the posts above in this thread, and the issue of measuring bore diameter was mentioned. I had read these posts earlier, and it had slipped my mind. If you read my post on David's thread, you will see that I came up with virtually the same results that you did for bore diameter on my Enfield. I realize that there are an odd number of lands and grooves, but in the bore the lands are quite narrow, and when measuring a bullet that has passed through, and you have a reverse image, you can measure groove diameter easily by offsetting just a bit on the raised portion, which was formed by the groove in the barrel. I came up with the same measurement that you did: .357". I too load my 38 S&W loads with 158 grain, ..358" semi wadcutters. I have had good results in my Smith and Wessons, such as the Terriers and Regulation Police in that caliber, as well as my Colt Bankers Special, Police Positive and others. I use the same bullet when loading for the 38 Special and 357 Magnum. It works well in all of them.

Best Regards, Les

 

[M1A]

I finally got my Enfield No.2 Mk1. I am posting a pic that does not compare to those I stole from GB. Sorry about the thumbnail, but the PB has let me down of late.
I chose a blue lanyard based on one of the groups comment that it may have been carried on an RAF field.
The receipt delay was caused by USPS or me. The check is still in the mail, somewhere. My advice is pay the vig and get it in two days.
I am going to the range in the AM with some Fiocchi (box says .38 short, but head stamped .38 S&W), Remington, Privi, and my reloads.
The revolver is in VG shape locks up nice and tight, and real tight with the trigger depressed. Extremely fine bore too.

 

[les.b]

M1A:

That's a real beauty!!! Of course we knew it was going to be, those were good photos that were posted on Gunbroker. How does it match up to your expectations?? I'll bet it is great! We'll have to have a range report soon. Thanks for sharing with us.

I succumbed to temptation today, we have been talking about Webleys and Enfields, and I had been thinking about the Webley Metropolitan.32 Self Loading pistol, and I stopped by a local Feed Store/Gun Store, and there was probably the closest thing I'll ever find to one, the Harrington and Richardson Self-Loading .32 Caliber pistol. I won't take up space on your thread, but I posted it on an existing thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/firearms-knives-other-brands/417523-h-r-32-self-loading-pistol.html if you want to take a look.

Congratulations on getting your new Enfield No 2 MK I with those beautiful walnut stocks. I see that you have your Enfield book, that's where I learned that those are the second variation, if I remember correctly. The first were checkered, if I remember correctly.

Best Regards, and Congratulations again, Les

 

[M1A]

A nice lookin little popper, the .32. Did you get it?
I don't give a darn what you guys do on my threads.
The grips are for the Mk1 D-F prefix. The right grip has 58 stamped on the bottom. I don't think it is a date though. However, I understand that in the Enfiel/Webley world what was in stock was used. The stocks look original to the revolver.
It is a bit confusing since all S#'s match with a "G" prefix.
I have to do more research with Mr.'s Stamp and Skennerton. Almost as much fun as shooting history.

 

[M1A]

Shot a couple kinds of factory and my reloads. Just wonderful. Single and double action. I am more than pleased. 10 & 20 yds nice groups. The I switched to the Combat Magnum. Different but as expected.
I shoot a lot of .44 mag and I am liking the .357.

 

[poordevil]

There are no "tanker" Enfields. That was just a term used in US ads to sell guns. Some dealers thought it was more dramatic to call them "commando" models. Neither is true. It is true that the hammer spurs came off due to complaints by tankers that spurs hung up on things in tanks, causing the spurs to be deleted as more of these guns were probably used in tanks than by other troops.


I wonder if the name "Tanker" is a misnomer and just some way to explain the lack of hammer spur. Maybe it was to discourage or eliminate full cock / single action, much like you see with NYC police revolvers.

 

[les.b]

There are no "tanker" Enfields. That was just a term used in US ads to sell guns. Some dealers thought it was more dramatic to call them "commando" models. Neither is true. It is true that the hammer spurs came off due to complaints by tankers that spurs hung up on things in tanks, causing the spurs to be deleted as more of these guns were probably used in tanks than by other troops.


I wonder if the name "Tanker" is a misnomer and just some way to explain the lack of hammer spur. Maybe it was to discourage or eliminate full cock / single action, much like you see with NYC police revolvers.

See post #4 above by Texas Star....

Best Regards, Les