Revolvers weren’t the first handgun to exist—there were matchlocks, flintlocks, hand cannons, and more that came first—but they’re often seen as the pioneering firearms of the pistol world. Just as commonly, revolvers are considered to be the purview of Samuel Colt, and although he certainly played a major role in their development, there’s more to the revolver world than Colts. How much do you know about revolver history? Keep reading to find out.
What is a revolver?
This might seem like a basic question, but it’s one worth touching on. A revolver is a repeating gun with a rotating cylinder. For each pull of the trigger, a single shot fires, and the cylinder rotates to the next chamber, aligning with the barrel. The chamber of a revolver is like the chamber on a semi-automatic, except its part of the cylinder, and each revolver has multiple chambers. The capacity of those guns depends on the specific model but is typically around five or six rounds, meaning there are five or six chambers in the gun’s cylinder.
What was the first revolver?
The first revolver to be patented and recognized as a functional firearm was the Colt Paterson. It was patented by Samuel Colt in 1836, had six chambers, and allowed greater capacity without reloading than any gun before its invention. That’s the gun typically referred to as the very first revolver. However, there were other steps along the way.
In 1718, James Puckle patented a firearm with a revolving cylinder, but it was a machine gun, not a handheld revolver. It did have that tell-tale rotating cylinder, meaning it was one of many pieces of the puzzle that had to fall into place to come up with the Colt revolver more than a century later.
Then there was the black powder flintlock with a revolving cylinder that was invented in 1818 by Elisha Collier. That wasn’t a terribly effective firearm, but again, it was another step.
By the time Samuel Colt began working on his revolver design, which is basically the design modern guns work from, a lot of people had inched the possibility along. Firearms history has rarely happened in dramatic leaps and bounds but instead takes place as a series of events that leads to a fantastic “aha!” moment.
According to History.com, Colt’s idea for his first famous gun occurred while on a ship, the Corvo:
Aboard the Corvo, Colt became fascinated with the ship’s wheel, particularly the way it could alternately spin or be locked in a fixed position through the use of a clutch. He translated this controlled rotation to firearms and a means whereby a single-shot pistol could be adapted to fire multiple rounds in quick succession. During his time at sea, Colt carved a six-barrel cylinder, locking pin and hammer out of wood. Although this prototype for a pistol featured multiple rotating barrels, in later versions Colt would opt instead for a rotating cylinder containing multiple bullet chambers to reduce the gun’s weight and bulk.
What ammo did the first revolvers use?
The question of what type of ammunition was used by early revolvers is a good one because ammo has certainly evolved over the years. At the time when Samuel Colt patented his first revolver, the guns were cap-and-ball.
There weren’t enclosed cartridges in use yet—that wouldn’t happen for almost two more decades—but even so, the cap-and-ball was considered modern (and it was definitely an improvement over earlier attempts at effective ammo).
Loading a cap-ball-revolver was a process in and of itself. So although it was a huge feat that Colt invented a functional firearm with multiple chambers and a self-rotating cylinder, getting those chambers loaded did take some time. It involved pouring the correct amount of gunpowder into the chambers, followed by the wad, then the ball—the bullet—and, finally, a percussion cap. This was certainly faster than the old single-shot cap-and-ball guns and it did make an enormous difference in battle, but the loading process was still slow.
Who invented the double-action revolver?
The man behind the double-action wasn’t Samuel Colt but an Englishman named Robert Adams.
Although Adams’ invention did a lot to speed the firing process, it was a little ahead of its time due largely to the poor quality of small parts. After all, the double-action was created in 1851, and it would be some time before manufacturing improved enough to keep up with the advances in firearms technology.
Why is a revolver called a wheel gun?
Revolvers have picked up a few nicknames over time, including “wheel gun” and “six-gun/six-shooter.” While it’s clear where those names came from—the revolving “wheel” that is the cylinder, and the then-standard six-shot capacity—there’s no one clear story about who started it. Theories and rumors abound, of course. So, is a revolver a wheel gun? The term is a colloquialism and while it isn’t technically wrong, it’s also not precisely correct. Whether or not you enjoy calling revolvers wheel guns is a matter of personal preference.
Should you get a revolver?
It’s absolutely a fantastic idea to have at least one revolver in your gun collection. Having one makes you a well-rounded shooter capable of running multiple platforms, and the skills you pick up running a revolver translate to other guns. As time has gone by, an increasing number of gun owners have ignored the revolver, which is too bad considering what a solid option it is for all shooters. Today’s guns are offered in everything from 22 LR to 38 Special to 454 Casull, so there are plenty of options. Whether you want a revolver for self-defense, hunting, or fun, there’s one out there that will suit your needs.
Do you have a revolver? What model and caliber? Tell us about it in the comments below.
