Revolver is the most common type of handgun.It has a revolving cylinder that contains several chambers,each of which holds one cartridge.The cylinder is rotated mechanically so as to align each chamber successively with the barrel and firing pin.The first revolver was produced by Samuel Colt in 1835 - 1836.
There are 3 Types of Revolvers 1. Swing-out revolver 2. Break-top revolver 3. Solid-frame revolver
swing-out revolver
Swing-out revolver on pressing the latch normally found on the left side of the frame and pushing the cylinder to the left,the cylinder swings out exposing the chambers.Each individual chamber is then loaded with a cartridge.The cylinder is then swing back into the frame,engaging the cylinder latch.The weapon is now ready to be fired.After discharge of all the cartridges,the cylinder latch is pressed and the cylinder is swing out.An ejector rod affixed to the front of the cylinder is pressed to the rear ejecting the fired cases.The cylinder is now ready to be loaded.
break-top revolver
Break-top revolver - the frame is hinged at the rear such that on release of a top catch,the barrel and cylinder swing down exposing the back of the cylinder for loading.The opening action will also eject empty cases from the cylinder.This form of weapon is relatively uncommon in the U.S. but is the traditional form of revolver in Great Britain.
solid-frame revolver
Solid-frame revolver - is the oldest form of revolver dating back to colt's original weapons.In this weapon,the cylinder is held in the frame by a central pin,around which it rotates.The back of this cylinder is never exposed completely by either swinging out or breaking open.Each chamber in the cylinder is loaded individually through a loading gate on the right side of the frame.The hammer of the weapon is typically pulled back to the half cock and the cylinder is then manually rotated so that a chamber is aligned with the loading gate.A cartridge is inserted.The cylinder is then manually rotated to the next chamber and a second cartridge is inserted.This procedure is continued until the cylinder is completely filled.After the weapon is discharged,the cylinder has to be manually rotated again and aligned with the loading gate and each cartridge is ejected through the gate using the ejector rod.This type of construction is most commonly encountered in single-action revolvers and the early model Saturday night specials.The latter term dating back to the turn of the century refers to a cheap weapon usually of poor construction and does not refer to concealability.
Revolvers may be either single action or double action types 1. Single action revolvers - The hammer must be cocked manually each time the weapon is to be fired.Cocking the hammer revolves the cylinder, aligning the chamber with barrel and the firing pin.Pressure applied to the trigger then releases the hammer discharging the weapon. 2. Double action revolvers - A continuous pressure on the trigger revolves the cylinder,aligns the chamber with the barrel and cocks and then releases the hammer,firing the weapon.Most double action revolvers may be fired in a single action mode.The amount of pressure on a trigger necessary to fire a well made double action revolver varies from 12 to 15 lb.If these weapons are cocked and fired in single-action mode,less pressure (2-4 lbs) is necessary to fire them.The double action trigger pull for cheap,poorly made revolvers is usually much greater while single-action trigger pull may vary from less than a pound to as much as the double action pull in a well made revolver.
Many single-action revolvers have a half cock notch,in the cocking hammer that lies between the position of full cock and fired.The purpose of the half- cock notch is to catch the hammer,fit accidentally slips from the thumb as it is being manually cocked.Many individuals incorrectly consider the half-cock notch a safety position and will carry weapons on half-cock.Dropping a weapon when on half cock may cause the hammer to disengage,fly forward and discharge the weapon.Some single action revolvers will fire from the half cock position if the trigger is pulled.Ruger single-action revolvers equipped with a safety bar do not have a half cock notch.
The cylinder of a revolver may rotate either clockwise (colt revolver) or counter clockwise (Smith and Wesson revolver).This difference has resulted in a number of deaths among individual playing Russian roulette in which an individual loads one chamber of a revolver and spins the cylinder,they then peek to locate the cartridge.If it is in any cylinder except the one that will be rotated into firing position on pulling the trigger,the gun is then put to the head and the trigger is pulled.If the cartridge is in the lethal chamber,the player makes some excuse to spin the cylinder again. This system of playing Russian roulette is theoretically safe if one knows which way the cylinder rotates.A person familiar with playing the game using a colt revolver may try it with a Smith and Wesson revolver in which the cylinder rotates in the opposite direction and may experience a fatal conclusion to the game.