A
revolver is a repeating
handgun that has a revolving
cylinder containing multiple
chambers and at least one
barrel for firing. Revolvers might be regarded as a subset of
pistols,
or as an equal-ranking subset of handguns, distinct from pistols.
Though the term "revolver" usually only refers to handguns, other
firearms may also have a revolving chamber. These include some models of
grenade launchers,
shotguns, and
rifles.
Though the original name was
revolving gun, the short-hand "revolver" is universally used. (
Cannon using this mechanism are known as
revolver cannon.) Nearly all early revolvers and many modern ones have six chambers in the cylinder, giving rise to the slang term
six-shooter; however, revolvers with a number of different chambers have been made, with most modern revolvers having 5 or 6 chambers.
The revolver allows the user to fire multiple rounds without reloading. Each time the user cocks the
hammer,
the cylinder revolves to align the next chamber and round with the
hammer and barrel, which gives this type of firearm its name. In a
single-action revolver, the user pulls the hammer back with his free hand or thumb; the trigger pull only releases the hammer. In a
double-action
revolver, pulling the trigger moves the hammer back, then releases it,
which requires a longer and heavier trigger pull than single-action.
Loading and unloading a double-action revolver requires the operator to
swing out the cylinder and insert the proper ammunition, all while
keeping the gun pointed in a safe direction.
The first guns with multichambered cylinders that revolved to feed
one barrel were made in the late 16th century in Europe. They were
expensive and rare curiosities. Not until the 19th century would
revolvers become common weapons of industrial production. One of the
first was a
flintlock revolver patented by
Elisha Collier in 1814. The first percussion revolver was made by Lenormand of Paris in 1820
[1] and the first
percussion cap revolver was invented by the Italian
Francesco Antonio Broccu
in 1833. He received a prize of 300 francs for his invention; although
he did not patent it, his revolver was shown to King Charles Albert of
Sardinia. However, in 1835 a similar handgun was patented by
Samuel Colt, who would go on to make the first mass-produced revolver.
The first
cartridge revolvers were produced around 1854 by Eugene Lefaucheux.
Revolvers soon became standard for nearly all uses. In the early 20th century,
semi-automatic pistols
were developed, which can hold more rounds, and are faster to reload.
"Automatic" pistols also have a flat profile, more suitable for
concealed carry.
Semi-auto pistols were not considered reliable enough for serious
police work or self-defense until the later half of the century,
however, and revolvers were the dominant handgun for police and
civilians until modern pistols such as the
Beretta 92 and
Glock 17
were developed in the 70s and 80s. Automatic pistols have almost
completely replaced revolvers in military and law enforcement use (in
military use, from 1910-1960; in law enforcement, in the 1980s and
1990s).
Revolvers still remain popular as back-up and off-duty handguns among
American law enforcement officers and security guards. Also, revolvers
are still common in the American private sector as defensive and
sporting/hunting firearms. Famous police and military revolvers include
the
Webley, the
Colt Single Action Army, the
Colt Police Special, the
Smith & Wesson Model 36, the
Smith & Wesson Model 10, the
Smith & Wesson 1917, the
Smith & Wesson Model 3, and the
Nagant M1895.
This is a Revolver, model Colt single action army.
