The History Of Revolvers

Modern wheel guns and the Zastava M83 .357

The hosts open by contrasting modern polymer pistols with traditional wheel guns, emphasizing that revolvers still offer practical performance. They highlight the Zastava M83 .357 Magnum revolver, noting its all-steel frame construction and robust feel. The model discussed has a six-round cylinder and can chamber both .357 Magnum and .38 Special, giving it flexibility in recoil and power. They mention that earlier six-inch stainless versions sold out quickly, but surplus four-inch blued examples remain available and are described as solid, workhorse-style revolvers. The conversation frames these M83s as a tangible link to revolver history while still being capable handguns in contemporary use.

Why revolvers matter and early revolving designs

The discussion shifts to the broader history of revolvers and their place in modern collecting. Revolvers are described as classic firearms that are sometimes overlooked by contemporary shooters, yet still valued for close-range effectiveness and their cultural association with police and cinematic figures like “Dirty Harry.” The hosts explain that any serious look at revolvers must acknowledge earlier revolving-cylinder concepts that predate modern handguns. They introduce the Puckle gun from the 1780s as an early example of a firearm using a rotating cylinder. Mounted on a tripod, it fired both round and square projectiles, with the designer claiming round bullets were more merciful for conflicts with Christian European nations, while square projectiles were intended for use against Turks and other non-Christians.

Samuel Colt, the Colt Patterson, and patent challenges

The narrative then focuses on Samuel Colt and the emergence of the modern revolver. In 1831 Colt developed what is recognized as the modern revolver concept, and by 1836 he secured a patent for his first commercially successful model, the Colt Patterson. Earlier revolving firearms required the shooter to manually index the cylinder and align each chamber with the barrel, but Colt’s design automated this alignment and made the system more practical. The hosts note that patents only last for a limited time, often around ten years with possible extensions, which forced competing manufacturers to either pay royalties or design around Colt’s protections. Some attempted unconventional layouts, such as disc-shaped arrangements with chambers pointing radially outward, but these risked dangerous chain fires when multiple black powder chambers ignited unintentionally.

Black powder cap-and-ball operation and its limits

The hosts describe how early Colt-style revolvers functioned as black powder cap-and-ball firearms. Each chamber in the cylinder was loaded individually with loose black powder and a round ball, then pressed into place using a built-in loading lever under the barrel. A percussion cap was placed on a nipple at the rear of each chamber to provide ignition. This system allowed multiple shots without reloading the barrel, but it had drawbacks. Caps could fall off or become lodged in the action when the revolver was moved or angled upward, and reloading under stress was slow and cumbersome. These limitations highlighted the need for more efficient designs and set the stage for later innovations in cylinder construction and ammunition technology.

Bored-through cylinders, Smith & Wesson, and rimfire cartridges

Attention turns to the idea of a completely bored-through cylinder, proposed in 1852 by Rollin White, then an employee of Colt. Samuel Colt, known as a strong promoter of his own designs, rejected the improvement, and White left the company. After Colt’s original revolver patent lapsed, Smith and Wesson formed a new firm, having previously been involved with the Volcanic Arms Company. Volcanic firearms used self-contained projectiles where the bullet itself served as the case for the propellant. White joined Smith & Wesson, bringing his bored-through cylinder patent, enabling them to build the first revolvers that could be loaded from the rear with metallic cartridges. At this time, rimfire ammunition became common, with the priming compound located in the rim of the case. When struck by the hammer, the crushed rim ignited the main powder charge, simplifying operation compared to cap-and-ball systems.

Metallic cartridges, reload speed, and the LeMat pinfire revolver

The hosts explain that metallic cartridges and bored-through cylinders dramatically improved reload speed and practicality. Instead of pouring loose powder and seating individual balls, shooters could eject spent cases and insert fresh cartridges into the cylinder, a major advantage for military sidearms. They note that firearm development had already spanned centuries, from early Chinese gunpowder weapons to increasingly complex designs by the mid-1800s, with a constant focus on faster, more reliable firing and reloading. The LeMat revolver is cited as a notable Civil War-era example on the Confederate side. It used a pinfire ignition system, where each cartridge had a small firing pin protruding from the case, struck from the side rather than the rear. The LeMat also incorporated a shotgun barrel, offering multiple handgun shots plus a close-range shotgun option at a time when many soldiers still carried single-shot rifles.