PISTOL, REVOLVER, NUMBER 2, MARK 1 (ENFIELD) After World War 1, the British Army decided that the .455in bullet demanded too heavy a weapon and too great a degree of skill from the firer. Investigating possible replacements they found that Webley & Scott were testing a .38in revolver for possible sale as a Police weapon with a 200 grain bullet, this calibre gave the required stopping power for a combat weapon and was yet sufficiently docile to be passably accurate in the hands of hastily trained wartime recruits.
The design project was taken over in 1926-27 by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock.