.380 inch Drill & Dummy
Two marks of drill round were approved for the .380 inch revolver.
Drill D Mark I
"Cartridge S.A.Drill Revolver .380 inch D Mark I" was approved to design DD/L/4189/1 in June 1934 and shown in Lists of Changes Paragraph A.8930 dated May 1935. For Naval service the design number was NOD.7229.
The case was that of the Ball Mark I but without cap, anvil or fire holes. The cap chamber was filled with a red fibre pad to absorb the blow of the firing pin. The case was made of white metal and had three short vertical flutes painted red. There was a single neck cannelure to secure the bullet and the headstamp included the code "D I"
The bullet was that of the Ball Mark I with two faint milled cannelures and was of a 95/5% lead/antomony alloy and weighed 193 grains. It was secured by the neck cannelure and by coning at the case mouth.
Drill D Mark II
When the Ball Mark II was introduced with a jacketed bullet a new drill round was approved.
"Cartridge S.A.Drill Revolver .380 inch D Mark II" was not shown Lists of Changes.
The case was chromium plated brass complete with anvil and fire holes but without a cap. There were three short vertical flutes painted red, as was the cap chamber. There was no neck cannelure and the headstamp included the code "D II" (after 1944 "D 2").
The bullet was that of the Ball Mark II resting on a wood distance piece and the case mouth was coned into it.
In 1944 a relaxation of the specification was allowed and Drill Mark II rounds were made from ball cases left as plain brass and without a cap.
Inspection
No .380 inch inspection round was approved for service but some were manufactured by Kynoch. It is not known if this was for British military use or for an overseas contract.
The case was that of the Ball Mark II but matt chromium plated. It had anvil and fire holes but no cap and the bullet was that of the Ball Mark 2.
Armourer's Gauge
It is likely that the role of a normal inspection round for the .380 inch revolver was taken by steel armourers' gauges. These were precisely made to gauge the various aspects of the revolver such as headspace etc.
This is supported by the fact that the example shown is engraved "DUMMY CARTRIDGE".
