David Dardick had the idea in 1949, announced the pistol in 1954, and sold the gun in small numbers until production end -1962.
The Dardick Open Chamber Gun can be likened to a revolver, in which the cylinder is formed with 3 triangular cut-outs in its periphery to act as a transporter-cum-breech.
Ammunition ('Trounds')is contained in a box magazine, inserted in the butt of the gun.
The Trounds were forced up the magazine by a spring to enter the open recess in the cylinder.
Pressing the trigger :
: rotated the cylinder to receive the next round
: brought the 1st round into position behind the barrel
: fired it
: then moved on to eject the case and,
at the same time, present another recess for loading from the magazine, until the magazine was empty.
Trounds were retained in the cylinder by the top strap of the frame, and a thin metal shroud containing the ejection port.
The peculiar shape of the cartridge was achieved by taking standard commercial rounds, and loading them into 'trochoidal' plastic outer cases. Dardick envisaged making brass cases of the appropriate shape once demand grew, but this stage was never reached.
The Model 1100 - had a small grip, an 11 round magazine, and a 3 inch barrel.
The Model 1500 - had a larger grip, a 15 round magazine, and a 6 inch barrel as std, but other alternatives were advertised.
The Model 1500 could be converted into a carbine - with a shoulder stock, and a special long barrel.
Both the 1100 & the 1500 chambered the '.38 Dardick Special' (the normal .38 Special in the plastic casing), but by using adapters and interchangable barrels, Dardicks could chamber : .38S&W Long, 9x19, .22lr cartridges.
Although the Dardicks worked, there was sales resistance. Ammunition was not readily available, and compared to conventional pistols, they were expensive.
The Model 1500 in 1960 cost $99.50, compared to the Colt Trooper for $74.60.
The combination of these factors led to the Dardicks failure.
