Rossi 352 38 Special
This revolver model has the following characteristics:
- stainless steel housing;
- 5 cm trunk;
- caliber - 9 millimeters;
- magazine - up to 5 rounds.
This model is compact in size, and therefore is used mainly for concealed carry and self-defense by individuals. Law enforcement agencies do not use the Rossi 352 38 Special in service.
This weapon, one of the best in its class, is complemented by a rubberized grip that absorbs recoil and a special device. When the latter is turned, the revolver becomes unsuitable for shooting.
Colt Python
The characteristics of the Colt Python are similar to the previous model. The difference is that this one has a barrel length of 11.4 centimeters, and the drum holds up to six rounds.
The Colt Python is a 2022 product. The revolver, like other products of the American brand, is combined with a wooden handle. However, commitment to classic execution and hand-made manufacturing made the Colt Python an expensive weapon.
Bland Price revolver
In 1877, production began of a revolver designed by the English military man Charles Price. The Webley factory began to produce it. The cartridges of these firearms weighed a lot and were heavier than ammunition intended for rifles. The caliber of the revolver was more than 14 mm, the weapon weighed more than a kilogram and had a length of 16 cm, the bullet speed developed up to 198 m/s. Despite the fact that the weapon was heavy and caused strong recoil, it was used for a long time as a weapon for British soldiers.
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Ruger LCR Double-Action Revolver
This revolver has the following features:
- 4.75 cm barrel;
- caliber - 5.6 millimeters;
- magazine - up to 5 rounds.
This model is available in black, has a flat profile and a hidden trigger. These features allow you to carry the revolver concealed. Thanks to the rubberized handle and low recoil, shooting the weapon is not difficult. In addition, this design allows you to quickly learn how to handle this model.
Belgium returns: twenty rounds and two barrels
The Belgians are again in our ranking. This time we are dealing with a revolver chambered for the Lefoshe system, which holds 20 rounds of nine-millimeter caliber - more than will fit into a standard magazine of almost any modern service pistol!
To prevent the size and weight of the drum from becoming completely indecent, the master chose the option of arranging the chambers in the drum in two concentric rows, shifted by half a step. Accordingly, the revolver also has two barrels - one above the other.
Shooting was carried out alternately from the upper and lower barrels, for which the trigger had two strikers. Since reloading was carried out through a hinged door on the frame on the right, the author of this revolver saved on two cleaning rods for knocking out spent cartridges: there is only one cleaning rod, but on a swinging base.
Charter Arms Bulldog
This chrome-plated revolver features the following:
- 6.35 cm barrel;
- caliber – 44 Special;
- Drum capacity - up to 6 rounds.
This model acquired the name “Bulldog” due to its own power, which is considered one of the best among similar weapons. The revolver is also compact in size and light in weight (less than 600 grams). Such features ensure concealed carrying. This model also has an affordable price for its class.
Smith&Wesson Model 629 44 Magnum
This revolver, made of stainless steel, has a 16.5-centimeter barrel and a 10.9-mm caliber. The drum holds up to six rounds.
The Magnum is considered the most popular and recognizable revolver. This weapon combines an attractive appearance and a reliable design. The first is due not only to the chrome coating, but also to the textured wooden handle with careful polishing.
The weapon also stands out from similar products due to its long barrel.
Smith&Wesson Governor 410
This compact revolver is characterized by the following features:
- barrel length - 7 centimeters;
- 11.43 mm caliber;
- matte silver finish;
- Drum capacity is up to six rounds.
The compact model stands out from its analogues due to:
- lightness;
- sizes convenient for concealed carry;
- moderate returns;
- handle that provides a secure hold.
But, like other products of the American brand, Governor 410 is characterized by an inflated price for its class.
Out of competition: fifty in a queue
A submachine gun is, by definition, not a revolver, but a completely different class of weapon. But what if this same submachine gun, instead of a regular magazine, has a revolver drum with 50 rounds of ammunition? Let us recall the fundamental difference between the drum and the magazine - at the moment of firing, the cartridge remains in the chamber of the drum, located coaxially with the barrel. Here is just such a case - the first experience of the Australian Evelyn Owen, the author of the well-known and quite successful submachine gun with the same name.
This small-caliber product had a rather original design. Instead of a trigger, it had a button above the neck of the butt, pressed with the thumb. To ensure automatic firing, the mechanisms were driven by a gramophone-type spiral spring located around the axis of the drum.
In general, it was a rather crude “garage” craft without any real prospects, but it allowed the author to gain the necessary experience.
Rules are impossible without exceptions - and this selection is clear proof of that. However, even this will not help resolve the long-standing dispute: what is cooler - a pistol or a revolver?
Ruger GP100
This weapon with a 10.6-centimeter barrel is distinguished by a caliber of 9 millimeters. The drum holds 6 rounds and the body is made of stainless steel.
The Ruger GP100 features a balanced design that makes the revolver easy to shoot for long periods of time without compromising accuracy. Visually, this model is similar to the first such weapon that appeared in the 19th century. In addition, the Ruger GP100 features low-impact recoil, a soft grip, and a smooth cylinder action.
This model is also used for concealed carry. The Ruger GP100 is priced at average for this class of weapon.
Serious Belgium: a real monster
A twelve-shot revolver is already serious. Well, twelve rounds in .450CF caliber are simply more serious! It’s time to buy not a pocket or a holster, but a wheeled carriage for such a revolver.
It was made by unknown Belgian craftsmen at the end of the 19th century. In design, it was a fairly traditional device with a fixed drum, loaded one cartridge at a time through a hinged door on the right side of the frame. The spent cartridges were also removed one at a time using a special built-in cleaning rod.
Most likely, this monster, weighing about two kilograms, was used to protect a house or carriage.
Smith&Wesson Model 19 Carry Comp
This product of the American company is distinguished by a blackened barrel with a length of 7.6 centimeters and a caliber of 9 millimeters. The Model 19 is made of stainless steel and can hold up to six rounds at a time.
This product from an American company is characterized by greater weight than is necessary for concealed carry. But this disadvantage is compensated by the handle, which neutralizes recoil. The latter can be finished with wood or synthetic material. In addition, the Model 19 is overpriced for its class.
Revolvers of the Wild West
According to the most common version, Colt was prompted to the idea of creating a revolver by observing the rotating mechanism on the ship Corvo, on which the great inventor traveled from Boston to Calcutta. One way or another, it was on board the Corvo that Colt first made a wooden model of a weapon, later called a revolver. Upon returning to the USA, Colt, distinguished by his business acumen and enterprise, applied to the patent office and issued patent No. 1304 dated August 29 (according to other sources, February 25), 1836, which described the basic principles of the operation of a weapon with a rotating drum. Colt Paterson
In late 1836, Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company in Paterson, New Jersey began production of Colt's five-shot .28-caliber cap revolvers, sold under the name Colt Paterson. In total, until 1842, 1,450 revolving rifles and carbines, 462 revolving shotguns and 2,350 revolvers were produced. Naturally, all weapons were percussion caps. The first samples were characterized by low reliability, regular breakdowns and a very imperfect design, not to mention the extremely unsafe and inconvenient reloading process. Not surprisingly, the US government showed little interest in the new weapon. The Army purchased only a few revolver carbines for testing. The largest customer for Colt's company was the Republic of Texas, which bought 180 revolving shotguns and rifles for the Rangers, and about the same number of revolvers for the Texas Navy. A number of revolvers (more powerful caliber - .36) were ordered privately by the Texas Rangers themselves with their own money. Low demand in 1842 led to the bankruptcy of the factory.
Colt Paterson made 1836-1838 (still without loading rod)
Thus, the most popular Colt Paterson revolver model produced in Paterson was the No. 5 Holster, also known as the Texas Paterson, a .36 caliber revolver. About 1,000 units were produced. Half of them occurred in the period from 1842 to 1847, after bankruptcy. Their production was established by Colt's creditor and former partner John Ehlers.
Colt Paterson 1836-1838 with the trigger retracted
One of the most significant conflicts involving the use of Colt Paterson revolvers was the Battle of Bander Pass between the Mexican Army and Texas Rangers, among whom was US Army Captain Samuel Walker. Later, during the Mexican-American War, Walker met Colt and together with him modified the Colt Paterson revolver, called the Colt Walker. There was good demand for it, since the Colt Walker was much more reliable and convenient than its predecessor. Thanks to this, Colt returned to developing weapons in 1847.
Texas Ranger. 1957 The Colt company owes much of its success to the Rangers
From a technical point of view, the Colt Paterson is a five-shot open-frame revolver. Single action trigger mechanism (English Single Action, SA) with a trigger folding inside the body. Each time you fire, you have to cock the hammer. The revolver is loaded from the muzzle of the chambers - with gunpowder and a bullet (round or conical) or with a ready-made cartridge in a paper sleeve containing a bullet and gunpowder.
.44 caliber paper cartridges and loading tool
Capsules (still produced today - for lovers of such weapons)
Then a primer is placed on the brand tube in the breech of the drum - a miniature cup made of soft metal (usually brass) with a small charge of shock-sensitive fulminate of mercury. On impact, the charge explodes and creates a jet of flame, which, through a fire tube, ignites the powder charge in the chamber. You can read more about this here: https://topwar.ru/58889-revolver-colt-navy-1851.html. Everything that has been said about the principles of operation of such weapons applies to all other capsule revolvers.
Sights consist of a front sight and a rear sight on the trigger. Loading early models of Colt Paterson revolvers, produced before 1839, was carried out only by partially disassembling it and removing the drum, using a special tool - essentially a small press for pressing bullets into the chambers of the drum.
This process was long and inconvenient, especially in the field. Not only was reloading the Colt Paterson unsafe, but carrying it was also unsafe, as there were no manual safeties. To speed up reloading, gunfighters usually carried several pre-loaded drums with them and simply changed them as needed. In later models, from 1839, the design featured a built-in pressing lever-ramrod and a special hole in the front of the frame for it. This mechanism made it possible to significantly speed up and simplify reloading - now it was possible to equip the drum without removing it from the revolver. This improvement made it possible to get rid of the additional tool, and from that time on the ramrod lever became an integral element of the design of almost all Colt capsule revolvers.
Colt Paterson made 1842-1847 with a shortened barrel and a ramrod lever for loading
Some performance characteristics of Colt Paterson .36 caliber with a barrel length of 7.5 inches (it should be borne in mind that even for the same model of a capsule weapon they may differ slightly): - muzzle velocity, m/s - 270; — sighting range, m — 60; — weight, kg — 1.2; — length, mm — 350.
So, the first Colt Paterson revolvers were actively used by the Rangers and the Navy of the Republic of Texas, and were used very limitedly by the US Army. Colt Paterson was used in clashes between the Republic of Texas and Mexico, in the Mexican-American War, and in the US war with the Seminole and Comanche tribes.
Such revolvers are very highly valued today. Colt Paterson in original box with all accessories sold at auction in 2011 for $977,500
Colt Walker
The Colt Walker was developed in 1846 by Samuel Colt and Texas Ranger Captain Samuel Hamilton Walker. According to the widespread version, Walker suggested that Colt develop a powerful .44 caliber army revolver instead of the relatively weak and not very reliable .36 caliber Colt Paterson revolvers then in service. In 1847, Colt's newly formed Colt's Manufacturing Company in Hartford, Connecticut (where it remains to this day) produced the first batch of 1,100 Colt Walker revolvers, which also became the last. That same year, Samuel Walker was killed in Texas during the Mexican-American War.
The Colt Walker is a six-shot, open-frame, capsule-operated revolver with an added trigger guard. The Colt Walker is Colt's largest black powder revolver, weighing 2.5 kilograms. From this moment on, all “non-pocket” models of Colt capsule revolvers became six-shooters.
Colt Walker
Some performance characteristics of the Colt Walker .44 caliber: - muzzle velocity, m/s - 300-370; — sighting range, m — 90-100; — weight, kg — 2.5; — length, mm — 394.
The Colt Walker was used by both sides in the North-South War.
Confederate Army soldier with Colt Walker
Colt Dragoon Model 1848
The Colt Model 1848 Precision Army revolver was designed by Samuel Colt in 1848 for the US government to equip the US Army's Mounted Rifles, better known in the US as dragoons. Hence its name, under which the revolver went down in history - Colt Dragoon Model 1848. In this model, a number of shortcomings of the previous Colt Walker model were eliminated - the Colt Dragoon had less weight and a ramrod lock was added.
Colt Dragoon Model 1848
Holster and belt for Colt Dragoon Model 1848
There were three releases of the Colt Dragoon model, differing from each other by minor improvements in the firing mechanism: - first release: from 1848 to 1850, about 7,000 were produced; - second issue: from 1850 to 1851, about 2,550 were issued; - third edition: from 1851 to 1860, about 10,000 Colt Dragoon revolvers were produced, of which the US government purchased more than 8,000 units.
Thus, the Colt Dragoon was produced for 12 years. The Colt company produced about 20,000 of these revolvers. The Colt Dragoon turned out to be a very successful revolver.
Separately, it is worth noting the production since 1848 of its pocket version, the Colt Pocket Model 1848 in .31 caliber, better known as the Baby Dragoon, especially popular with civilians.
Colt Pocket Model 1848 Baby Dragoon
Some performance characteristics of the Colt Dragoon Model 1848 caliber .44, with a barrel length of 8 inches: - muzzle velocity, m/s - 330; — sighting range, m — 70-75; — weight, kg — 1.9; — length, mm — 375. Colt Dragoon Model 1848 was used by the US Army and the Confederate Army in the war of the North and South. A significant portion was sold to civilians.
Confederate Army soldiers with Colt Dragoon Model 1848
Colt Navy 1851
The Colt Revolving Belt Pistol of Naval Caliber (.36 caliber), better known as the Colt Navy 1851, was developed by Colt specifically to equip US Navy officers. Colt Navy turned out to be such a successful model that its production continued until 1873 (from 1861 - Colt Navy Model 1861), when armies around the world switched en masse to a unitary cartridge. The Colt Navy was in production for a record 18 years in various models, with approximately 250,000 of them produced in the United States. A further 22,000 units were manufactured in the UK at the London Armory factory. The Colt Navy is considered one of the most advanced and beautiful capsule revolvers in history.
Colt Navy 1851
The trigger mechanism has been improved: a special pin is made in the breech of the drum between the chambers, thanks to which, if the drum is not turned enough, accidental firing of the trigger does not cause ignition of the capsules. The Colt Navy has an octagonal barrel.
Colt Navy 1851 revolvers were in service not only with the US Army, where their main competitor was the Remington M1858 revolver, but also with army officers of the Russian Empire (which ordered a large batch from Colt), Austria-Hungary, Prussia and other countries.
Some performance characteristics of the Colt Navy 1851 caliber .36: - muzzle velocity, m/s - 230; — sighting range, m — 70-75; — weight, kg — 1.2-1.3; — length, mm — 330.
Colt Navy was actively used by both sides in the war between the North and South. It became the first capsule revolver to be massively converted to a unitary cartridge.
Winchester .44 Rimfire black powder rimfire cartridges
Colt Navy Model 1861 conversion
The differences from the capsule Colt Navy are clearly visible: a new drum with a door in the rear for loading, the ramrod lever has been removed and instead a spring-loaded extractor has been installed to remove spent cartridges, the depth of the recess at the rear of the drum has been increased for ease of loading with cartridges.
Remington M1858
The Remington M1858 cap revolver, also known as the Remington New Model, was developed by the American company Eliphalet Remington & Sons and was produced in .36 and .44 calibers. Due to the fact that Colt was the patent holder, Remington was forced to pay him a royalty on each revolver produced, so the price of Remington revolvers was significantly higher than similar Colt revolvers. The Remington M1858 revolver was produced until 1875.
Remington M1858
Over 17 years, approximately 132,000 Remington M1858 revolvers were produced in .44 caliber (military model with an 8-inch barrel) and .36 caliber (naval model with a 7.375-inch barrel). There were three large releases in total, which were almost identical - minor differences were in the appearance of the trigger, the design of the under-barrel lever and the drum.
From a technical point of view, the Remington M1858 is a six-shot cap revolver with a solid frame, the loading of which is carried out by placing ready-made cartridges in a paper case or black powder bullets into the chambers of the drum on the muzzle side, after which the primers were placed in the breech of the drum.
Single action trigger mechanism (English: Single Action, SA), no manual safeties.
Some performance characteristics of the Remington M1858 .44 caliber, with an 8-inch barrel: - muzzle velocity, m/s - about 350; — sighting range, m — 70-75; — weight, kg — 1.270; — length, mm — 337.
Remington M1858 revolvers were in service with the army of the United States, the British and Russian empires, Japan, Mexico, and others.
A Northern Army cavalry soldier with three Remington M1858s
The Remington M1858 was actively redesigned for a unitary cartridge. Since 1868, the company itself began producing a conversion version of the Remington M1858 revolver chambered for the .46 rimfire black powder cartridge.
Remington M1858 conversion
Colt Army Model 1860
The Colt Army Model 1860 revolver was developed in 1860 and became one of the most common revolvers during the American Civil War. Produced for 13 years. In total, about 200,000 Colt Army Model 1860 revolvers were produced before 1873, and about 130,000 of them were made for the US government.
It had a modification with longitudinal grooves on the cylinder and less weight - the Texas Model, so named because most of these revolvers were purchased by Texas Rangers after the Civil War.
The Colt Army Model 1860 revolver, along with the Colt Navy 1851 and Remington M1858, became one of the most beloved revolvers of its era. It was actively purchased not only by the military, but also by civilians. Moreover, revolvers were relatively inexpensive back then. For example, a Colt Army Model 1860 cost $20 (for comparison, the price of an ounce of gold on the New York Exchange in 1862 was $20.67).
Colt Army Model 1860
Some performance characteristics of the Colt Army Model 1860 caliber .44: - muzzle velocity, m/s - 270-305; — sighting range, m — 70-90; — weight, kg — 1.2-1.3; — length, mm — 355.
Colt Army Model 1860 revolvers were used by the US Army and the Confederates, and after the Civil War by the Texas Rangers. They took part in the US wars with the Indians: the Colorado War, the Dakota War, etc. It was massively redesigned for a unitary cartridge.
On the left is a Colt Army Model 1860 capsule, on the right is a conversion with an open door
Colt Army Model 1860 conversion
Peacemaker
1873 was a banner year for Colt. She began production of the most famous revolver in history - the Colt M1873 Single Action Army, better known as the Peacemaker. Along with the Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum revolver, the Peacemaker has become a cult weapon that today has entire communities of fans. Suffice it to say that the production of first-generation Peacemakers for the civilian weapons market continued until... 1940!
Colt M1873 Single Action Army "Peacemaker"
The Peacemaker was initially produced in the powerful .45 Long Colt black powder caliber with a 7.5" barrel, with 5.5" and 4.75" barrel models soon available. Later, revolvers of .44-40 WCF and .32-20 WCF (Winchester) calibers appeared, and in the 20th century they were supplemented by variants chambered for .22 LR, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Special, etc. - just more than 30 calibers!
The Peacemaker for the US Army was produced for 9 years - until 1892, when the Peacemakers were withdrawn from service (the artillery model continued to be used until 1902) and replaced by the Colt Double Action M1892. And in total, until 1940, 357,859 first-generation Peacemakers were produced, of which 37,000 revolvers were purchased for the American army.
The Peacemaker is a six-shot solid frame revolver that is loaded through a hinged door in the cylinder on the right side of the revolver. There is a spring-loaded extractor for removing spent cartridges, located below and to the right of the barrel. The design provides for setting the trigger to the safety half-cock.
Peacemaker, a variant of the Buntline Special, with a barrel length of 16 inches (almost 41 cm)!
Some performance characteristics of the first generation Peacemaker chambered for a rimfire black powder cartridge of .45 Long Colt caliber, with a 7.5-inch barrel: - muzzle velocity, m/s - more than 300; — sighting range, m — n/a; — weight, kg — 1.048; — length, mm — 318; - bullet energy, J - 710-750.
The Colt Peacemaker took part in the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars, the Great Sioux War, and the US wars against the Cheyenne and other Indian tribes.
It should also be said that the Colt Peacemaker... is actually still in production today! In 1956, Colt resumed production of the second generation Peacemaker revolvers, which continued until 1974. During this time, 73,205 of these revolvers were produced.
In the early 1970s. The US Congress passed a law prohibiting the sale of firearms without special safeties - none of the single-action revolvers of the 19th century met this requirement. Colt made the necessary changes to the design and in 1976 resumed production of the third generation Peacemakers, which continued until 1982. A total of 20,000 pieces were produced during this period. In 1994, production of Peacemakers was resumed again under the name Colt Single Action Army (Colt Cowboy), which continues to this day.
Colt Single Action Army. Modern chrome version with hunting knife included
Kimber K6S
The Kimber K6S is available in two versions: with stainless steel barrels or with a gray finish. In both cases, the length is 5 centimeters, the caliber is 9 millimeters. The drum holds up to six rounds.
The compact model, weighing 652 grams, does not have a trigger, which reduces the risk of accidental shots or the weapon getting stuck when removing the latter from the holster. Visually, this revolver looks worse than those shown above. But Kimber K6S is characterized by increased reliability and is safe for the owner.
Hoover revolver: devil's dozen, or 12 + 1
There are few forces in our world comparable in penetration ability to an American who has an idea, money and free time. A certain Kenneth Hoover, having once seen the famous double-barreled Le Ma revolver from the American Civil War, decided to surpass it. The result of Kenneth’s work was a monster-shaped device weighing five kilograms, the drum of which could hold 12 .357 Magnum cartridges.
If we mentioned “Le Ma”, anyone who understands can guess that there must be another one under the main barrel, located opposite the upper chamber of the drum. A central barrel with a caliber of 12.7 mm and a homemade .50-28 cartridge passes through the axis of the drum. To reload, the barrel with the upper part of the frame folds down and forward, opening the breech of the drum. The revolver has one trigger; the firing barrel is selected by moving the movable firing pin along the trigger using a special slider.
Due to the specifics of American laws, in contrast to the historical prototype, both barrels of the Hoover revolver are rifled, and the .50-28 cartridge is made on the basis of a cut-off cartridge case of a 28-caliber “smoothbore” cartridge loaded with a bullet.
Colt Cobra 38 Special
The Cobra 38 Special is made from stainless steel. The revolver is complemented by a 5-centimeter 9-mm barrel and a drum that can hold up to six rounds. The handle is complemented by a rubberized coating that absorbs recoil. Weight of 680 grams ensures concealed and discreet carrying in a bag or holster.
Cobra 38 Special is a “reincarnation” of the revolver of the same name. The new product has the same appearance as its predecessor. In particular, from the latter, the Cobra 38 Special borrowed a hammer that can be cocked in advance. This feature increases accuracy when shooting. In addition, the Cobra 38 Special is characterized by an average price for its class.
