REVOLVER and More!
THANKS!
“REVOLVER and More!
THANKS!” [Big Red Badger, post 80]
Glad to help.
New break-top revolvers are still being made, in small numbers: replicas of Smith & Wesson’s Model 3 single action, a non-historic variant of the Schofield model in 45 Colt (originals chambered a shorter 45 cal cartridge) and some variants of the Russian model, in 44 Russian (parent cartridge of 44 Special, 44 Mag, and 444 Marlin).
The Model 3 was arguably handier for use in the field, but was a bit weak and delicate by American standards. Army Ordnance ditched their Schofields as soon as they decently could, but kept the solid-frame Colt Single Action in reserve until quite late: some were re-issued for the Philippine Insurrection.
The Imperial Russians liked the Model 3, though. They eventually purchased over 160,000 on contract from S&W.
The other big user of break-tops was the British military. They issued Webleys (in several Mks and 455 cal) from the 1880s until after World War One, and adopted a similar arm designed by RSAE at Enfield in 380 British (close to US 38 S&W), but bought newer Webleys as backup, and held onto the older Webleys until after World War Two. The revolver as a military sidearm in Britain lasted until 1957. They use a different barrel latch than the S&W designs and are considered in some circles to be the best fighting revolver, ever: very capable even today. Still relatively common on the US collector market, they are not that strong compared to a solid-frame revolver and the use of very low pressure loads is strongly recommended.
The most common loading procedure for a six-shot single-action rod-ejector revolver is this: load one, skip one, load four, bring the hammer to full cock, then lower it all the way. If one does it right, the hammer will be resting on the one empty chamber.
Shoot safe