The crimean war saw the first competition between single action mostly colt navy 1851 model and the double action adams revolver in a real conflict. In 1889 colt introduced the worlds first double action, swingout cylinder revolver. It is estimated that no more than 3,000 belt models were produced and only a fraction of those were converted from. It is often referred to as the frontier or the double action army revolver. Meticulously researched, superbly illustrated, it covers all aspects and variants of these relatively littlestudied guns who historically got overshadowed by their legendary predecessor and successor, the colt saa and the colt 1911 pistol, plus they suffered from the bad reputation of their comparatively less effective cartridge. Its first double action revolver was the smallframed, sixshot lightningin. The first double action models were topbreak designs and were offered in different frame sizes and calibers from. First and foremost, it was a double action revolver, and requiring only one hand to operate was seen as a large advantage. Some double action revolvers, called double action only or d. How the colt single action army revolver won the west. Once double action techniques came into popular use, the single action capability did not provide a major advantage in policeinvolved shootings, and the same thing can be said for the kind of closerange encounters that. The first was the 1st model russian the original order design, with the russian ordnance inspector mandating a number of improvements to the design, resulting in the 2nd model russian, with a final revision to the russian design being known as the 3rd model russian. This was followed in 1887 by their first hammerless revolver. The first colt double action revolver was introduced in 1877.
From page 106 of robert bests book, a study of colts new army and navy pattern double action revolvers 1889 to 1908, 2004, reads the following. In addition to its petite size, the detective special embraces a design point new to revolvers of the time. Most double action revolvers can be fired in either of the two ways. Although colts first attempt at producing a doubleaction revolver was less than stellar due to a complex and inefficient lockworks that was easily broken and difficult to replace, the 1877 model was light and handy and gained a fair amount of popularity on the frontier. Securitysix, police servicesix, and speedsix models. The double action revolver at its cunning best is actually deadlier, far deadlier, than the automatic, and in the secrets of double action shooting bob nichols has produced the facts which prove this to be true. The first way is exactly the same as a single action revolver.
Most were small caliber single action arms which utilized either. Still in business today, the colts manufacturing company went on to produce the colt single action army handgun, also known as the colt. That is fine, as long the the buyer understands it up front. Meticulously researched, superbly illustrated, it covers all aspects and variants of these relatively littlestudied guns who historically got overshadowed by their legendary predecessor and successor, the colt saa and the colt 1911 pistol, plus they suffered from the bad reputation of their comparatively less effective cartridge compared to the. The single action version was produced in three varieties from 1876 through 1911, with total production exceeding 223,000. Most modern revolvers to this day are double action. Dec, 2011 colt manufactured its first double action model from 1877 through 1909, turning out over 166,000 of them. Jun 30, 2009 colt antique single action army revolver.
It was found that the single action colt was more rugged and reliable than the adams revolver. Today, there are quite literally just a handful of surviving model 1892 us army revolvers still in their original configuration as very few of these escaped the upgrades to models 1894 and 1901 specs. The book is geared to the double action revolver only. Gun digest book of the revolver covers all aspects of living with the doubleaction revolver. More importantly, the starr was among the first double action revolvers with a reliable action. The model 1878 saw action on americas frontier and throughout the world until production ceased in 1905. As revolver fans know, this tweak made wheelguns that much faster on the reload, a particularly important feature for a defensive arm. The double action revolver is a design almost as old as the single action. As with wilkersons other colt books, this one also covers each caliber which was offered as well as barrel. Robert adams uk patented a double action only revolver in 1851, i belive this is the first but am not an expert so someone cuold prove me wrong. The starr did not prosper based on simple economics. The 1877 is a handsome firearm and looks very much like the colt single action army. Here is the complete story of colts first large frame double action revolver, the model of 1878.
It can be fired single action by cocking the hammer first or by double action by a full trigger pull. After colts patent expired in 1857, other manufacturers began producing double action revolvers, but colts manufacturing did not manufacture its own double action revolver until 1877, twenty years after the patent had expired. Jan 03, 2018 the iconic colt single action army or colt peacemaker revolver still reigns supreme when it comes to frontier firepower. These four guns are a part of the evolution of the adams patent revolver, the first double action revolver commercially produced. Colt m1877 from wikipedia, the free encyclopediajump to navigationjump to searchthis article is about the colt model 1877.
The m1877 was designed by one of the inventors of the m1873 colt single action army, william mason, as colts first attempt at manufacturing a double action revolver. Heres a brief look at the history of revolvers durys guns. The 10 greatest revolvers of all time the shooters log. The doublenine, a doubleaction nine shot western style revolver, first appeared in 1958. The m1877 was the first successful usmade double action cartridge revolver.
Revolver simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Revolver sighting options including tips for aging eyes. Most likely, the colt double action revolver of 1877 was a response to the introduction of the webley bulldog pistol in 1872, which was already being imported into the u. They were available in both blue and nickel finish, though i have seen far fewer in nickel than in blue. The next great leap forward for the company was in 1880, when they released their first double action revolver, chambered for the. In fact, it is said by many that the best way to teach a new handgun enthusiast about shooting basics is to start with a revolver first. The colt m1878 is a double action revolver that was manufactured by colts manufacturing company from 1878 to 1907. The first doubleaction revolver that the colt factory produced after sam colts death was the 1877 lightning model that fired. It tends to be overlooked as it came between the vaunted no. The interesting history of remington revolvers from the 1850s.
The gun digest book of the revolver by grant cunningham. The mle 1892 is a mechanically tight, accurate and very well finished revolver. This design was so effective and strong, it became the standard for all double action designs that followed. When the first double action revolver came out the. Why all defensive revolvers should be double action only. Americans like colt and white pioneered many of the advancements history of revolvers. Feb 28, 2017 first of all, i think history shows us that the single action feature of a double action revolver is just not necessary. The interesting history of remington revolvers from the. Gun digest book of the revolver covers all aspects of living with the double action revolver. Double action selfcocking handguns go back to the 1830s at least, so by the turn of the 20th double action revolvers werent new or exceptional. It can be fired singleaction by cocking the hammer first or by doubleaction by a full trigger pull. Clint goes over a brief history of revolvers from old to new. This revolver was designed as the double action version of colts famed single action army revolver and shared much of its history.
The next double action revolver colt fielded was revolutionary. Yes, however, most double action revolvers have an internal safety that prevents the gun from going off when the trigger is not pulled. Jan 29, 2018 it is estimated that no more than 3,000 belt models were produced and only a fraction of those were converted from. Colt manufactured its first double action model from 1877 through 1909, turning out over 166,000 of them. In 1955, the first americanmade double action autoloading pistol, the model 39, was introduced. In 1968, the illinois state police adopted it and the model 39 became the first 9mm double action autoloading pistol ever used by any state law enforcement agency in the united states. The first double action revolver that the colt factory produced after sam colts death was the 1877 lightning model that fired.
Samuel colt experimented with double action revolver systems, but he considered them to be unreliable. The m1877 was designed by one of the inventors of the m1873 colt single action army, william mason, as colts first attempt at manufacturing a doubleaction revolver. The only detailed gunsmithing and repair manual published on the original six series ruger d. The 1877 colt double action revolver unblinking eye. The first modern revolver was introduced by colt in 1889, which was made with the first swingout cylinder in history. What was the world first successful double action pistol. A total of 51,210 model 1878 revolvers were manufactured from 1878 to 1907, including 4,600 for the us ordnance department. As with wilkersons other colt books, this one also covers each caliber which was offered as well as barrel lengths, total production figures and serial numbers.
Handloaders realized that the case capacity and strong head of the. This is a very very rare unaltered example of the colt model 1892 double action revolver from the us armys 1st contract. Kframe models are still being made and are now well into their second century. Colt model 1892 us army da revolver unaltered 1 of 7 known.
Merwin hulberts designs had influenced other gunmakers of the time, such as meriden firearms co. But the need out west for biggercaliber, manstopping weapons prompted colt to create the model 1878 frontier double action. Nov 03, 2016 but from 1918 onwards, the colts popularity waned with the closing of the frontier and the emergence of new double action revolvers and semiautomatic pistols. The hammer is cocked with the thumb, which indexes the cylinder and when the trigger is pulled the hammer fires the round. They are still used by lawenforcement around the world and remain popular among many private gunowners. Colt m1877colt m1877 lightningtyperevolverplace of originunited statesproduction historydesignerwilliam mas. Covers the ruger sixseries double action revolvers. Some were singleshot, while others possessed six or sevenshot capacity, and at least one revolver utilized two cylinders which yielded a total of 14 shots. However, one of the most important innovations was developed by an englishman named robert adams, who patented the first double action revolver in. The most widely known double action percussion revolver is likely the first model adams of 1851. For other colt double action firearms, see colt double action. The colt revolver cost about two dollars less than the starr.
It made concealed carry a much safer proposition, by eliminating the danger of the hammer snagging while drawing the weapon. Most double action revolvers may be fired in two ways. As this book was going to press, a memorandum was located in the national archives by mr. The webley was a double action pistol with a two inch barrel, the original version of which held 5 rounds of. The starr is among the bestmade revolvers of the day and among the most accurate as well. The m1877 was the first successful usmade doubleaction cartridge revolver. The colt single action army or peacemaker, also known as the colt model 1873, was born.
The colt model 1873 single action army still holds a special place in the hearts of shooters and collectors, which means first generation models in good shape come with high price tags. The revolver was chosen by the army in 1872, with the first order, for 8000 revolvers, shipping in the summer of 1873. The model 1878 colt was a double action that saw limited. As the author makes clear, the secrets of double action shooting is a book for menfolk, not for boys.
A study of colt new army and navy pattern double action. In terms of striking power, it just barely reaches the level of the. Its downside is the relative weakness, for a military handgun, of its 8. Colts double action revolver model of 1878 by wilkerson, don. In fact, the revolver was solely a double action dao, with the hammer spur having been removed so that a shooter could not cock it manually. This was unique in having a double action only mechanism, a cylinder that could quickly be removed by pulling forward on the front of the cylinder pin and slightly tapered cylinders designed to take either proprietary combustible cartridges with a conical. Bright polished stainless with 6 vent rib bbl, red ramp and white outline sights, marked on left side colt anaconda for sale by jack2735 on gunsamerica 999926415. Colts double action revolver model of 1878 1998 by don wilkerson relates the history and development of this first true bigbore da. The second way is double action, or from a hammerdown position. Who invented the first double action revolver answers. This revolver was one of the most prevalent firearms in the american west during the end of the 19th century and colt still produces it, in six different calibers, two.
History question first american made double action. When the first double action revolver came out the high. The action operates in both single and double action modes but is just stupid heavy. It was among the first double actions to utilize a swingout cylinder. The high standard doublenine revolver unblinking eye.
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