Editing Webley Revolver (section)

==The Webley Mk IV .38/200 Service Revolver==
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = Webley Mk IV .38/200 Service Revolver
| image              = File:Webley revolver IMG 1524.jpg
| caption            = 
| origin             = [[British Empire]]
| type               = [[Service pistol|Service revolver]]
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged          = yes
| is_UK              = yes
<!-- Service history -->| service            = 1932–1963
| used_by            = [[British Empire|United Kingdom & Colonies]], [[Commonwealth of Nations|British Commonwealth]]
| wars               = Second World War, Korean War, British colonial conflicts
<!-- Production history -->| designer           = [[Webley & Scott]]
| design_date        = 1932
| manufacturer       = [[Webley & Scott]]
| production_date    = 1932–1978
| number             = approx. 500,000
| variants           = <!-- General specifications -->
| weight             = 2.3 lb (995 g), unloaded
| length             = 10.25 in (260 mm)
| part_length        = 5 in. (125 mm)
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->| cartridge          = [[.38/200|.380" Revolver Mk IIz]]
| caliber            = .38 (9 mm)
| action             = Double action
| rate               = 20–30 rounds/minute
| velocity           = 620 ft/s (190 m/s)
| range              = {{convert|50|yd|abbr=on}}
| max_range          = {{convert|300|yd|abbr=on}}
| feed               = 6-round cylinder
| sights             = fixed front post and rear notch
}}

At the end of the First World War, the British military decided that the .455 calibre gun and cartridge was too large for modern military use and concluded after numerous tests and extensive trials, that a pistol in .38 calibre firing a 200-grain (13&nbsp;g) bullet would be just as effective as the .455 for stopping an enemy.<ref>{{harvnb|Stamps|Skennerton|1993|p=9}}</ref><ref name=Smith79_p11/>

Webley & Scott immediately tendered the [[.38/200]] calibre Webley Mk IV revolver, which as well as being nearly identical in appearance to the .455 calibre Mk VI revolver (albeit scaled down for the smaller cartridge), was based on their .38 calibre Webley Mk III pistol, designed for the police and civilian markets.<ref>{{harvnb|Maze|2002|p=103}}</ref> (The .38 Webley Mk III used black powder cartridges, as did the .455 Webley Mk IV; they should not be fired with the smokeless powder cartridges developed for the .38 Webley Mk IV and .455 Webley Mk V and Mk VI.)

Much to their surprise, the British Government took the design to the [[Royal Small Arms Factory]] at [[Enfield Lock]], which<!--removed "used the design" as this is denied in the next paragraph--> came up with a revolver that was externally very similar looking to the .38/200 calibre Webley Mk IV, but was internally different enough that no parts from the Webley could be used in the Enfield and vice versa.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

The Enfield-designed pistol was quickly accepted under the designation ''[[Enfield No. 2|Pistol, Revolver, No. 2 Mk I]]'', and was adopted in 1932,<ref>§ A6862, LoC</ref> followed in 1938 by the Mk I* (spurless hammer, double action only),<ref>§ B2289, LoC</ref> and finally the Mk I** (simplified for wartime production) in 1942.<ref>§ B6712, LoC</ref>
[[File:Enfield No. 2 Mk 1 1938.jpg|left|thumb|Enfield No. 2 Mk I]]
Webley & Scott sued the British Government over the incident, claiming £2250 as "costs involved in the research and design" of the revolver.

This was contested by RSAF Enfield, which quite firmly stated that the Enfield No. 2 Mk I was designed by Captain Boys (the Assistant Superintendent of Design, later of [[Rifle, Anti-Tank, .55 in, Boys|Boys Anti-Tank Rifle]] fame) with assistance from Webley & Scott, and not the other way around. Accordingly, their claim was denied.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

By way of compensation, the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors eventually awarded Webley & Scott £1250 for their work.<ref>{{harvnb|Stamps|Skennerton|1993|p=12}}</ref>

RSAF Enfield proved unable to manufacture enough No. 2 revolvers to meet the military's wartime demands, and as a result Webley's Mk IV was also widely used within the [[British Army]] in World War Two.

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