#wheel gun

[nocternalrandomness]

Smith & Wesson .357 Highway Patrolman

[abakedpotatoefromidaho]

Smith & Wesson Model. 29 44. Magnum

[thrillformulas]

Big fan of whatever the fuck

[countryboys45-70]

Colt Python 357. MAGNUM

[attackcopterblog]

COLT EXPANDS ICONIC PYTHON SERIES WITH NEW 8 INCH MODEL

Colt has announced the expansion of their iconic Python revolver series with a new 8 inch model. Colt states “Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC proudly announces its addition of the 8” Python to the iconic line of revolvers. The new 8” Python is available in matte stainless or stainless steel finishes. The inclusion of the 8” Python series now brings the family to seven unique revolvers, all…

View On WordPress

[mrpirodude]

We had a pistol photoshoot last night

[historicalfirearms]

Mason’s 1865 Swing-Out Cylinder

We commonly think of swing-out cylinder revolvers being a development of the late 19th century with the Colt Model 1889 being one of the first commercially available. Prior to this loading gates and top-break actions had been more common in metallic cartridge revolvers, while percussion pistols necessitated the complete removal of the cylinder to reload. 

William Mason is perhaps better known for his collaboration with Charles Richards on the 1870 Mason-Richards cartridge conversion, that allowed percussion revolvers to be converted to use metallic cartridges, and the Colt 1873 Single Action Army. 

Before Mason had joined Colt, as their superintendent in 1866, however, he had patented an innovative swing-out cylinder in 1865 (granted 21 November, 1865). At the time Mason was still working with Remington, whom he had been an apprentice with and learnt his trade. As such the design was patented in Mason’s name and assigned to Remington. 

In the patent Mason explains that the frame could be opened “laterally to eject the empty cases or to reload the arm.” Signalling that the swing-out cylinder was designed for use with rimfire cartridges which were becoming more popular. The patent shows a revolver with a cylinder, axis rod and cylinder frame hinged on a pin in the base of the revolver’s frame. The patent doesn’t state which direction the cylinder swung, Colt and Smith & Wesson historically later opted for swinging left. The patent makes no mention of an extraction or ejection method.

Remington had enjoyed success with the Model 1858, which the revolver in the patent bears some resemblance to, but by the 1870s had lost ground to Colt, Smith & Wesson and other manufacturers. While they offered a cartridge conversion of the Model 1858 they did not opt to use Mason’s hinged cylinder design. It would be another 20 years before the Colt Model 1889, one of the last guns Mason worked on before he left Colt for Winchester, was introduced with a swing-out cylinder. 

Sources:

‘Improvement in Revolving Fire-arms’, W. Mason, US #51117, 21/11/1865, (source)

If you enjoy the content please consider supporting Historical Firearms through Patreon!

[theleadslinger]

S&W Model 649 (with a Model 60 - 3 inch barrel)