4thHorseman
New member
What company made the first revolver with a swing out cylinder?Do you know the model number or name of the revolver?
Thanks
Thanks
swing out cylinder?
- Thread starter 4thHorseman
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Maybe Colt?
I see that Colt came out with the New Navy Double Action Self-Cocking Revolver in .38 short and long Colt, in the summer of 1889, and was adopted by the Navy. Smith and Wesson developed the I and K frame revolvers in 1894 but did not release the .32 hand ejector model till 1896. Then the larger .38's came later. There might be some obscure(to me) maker that came out early with a swing out cylinder gun, but probably very limited production or an oddity? These two are documented.
I see that Colt came out with the New Navy Double Action Self-Cocking Revolver in .38 short and long Colt, in the summer of 1889, and was adopted by the Navy. Smith and Wesson developed the I and K frame revolvers in 1894 but did not release the .32 hand ejector model till 1896. Then the larger .38's came later. There might be some obscure(to me) maker that came out early with a swing out cylinder gun, but probably very limited production or an oddity? These two are documented.
4thHorseman
New member
Thanks Tom. 
Right you are, Tom2...
Colt lays claim to the innovation in the history section of their website:
"During the 1880s, Colt produced a full line of weapons ranging in size from concealable derringers to hammerless shotguns. The line encompassed a large number of double action revolvers in various caliber, slide and pump action rifles, and the first revolvers with swing-out cylinders for easier loading."
Edward C. Ezell seems to back this up in Handguns of the World (chapter 2, page 63), detailing work done by Colt designers William Mason (who designed the Lightning DA), Horace Lord, and most importantly Carl J. Ehbets, with with the first of Mason's designs garnering a patent for Colt in 1881. It was Ehbet's design that became the Model 1889.
I think I remember hearing that a French gunmaker had come up with one before that, but the earliest mention I can find of such a revolver in production is the notable French 1892 Ordnance Revolver. A civilian version may have been in production there earlier, but again, I can find no mention of it.
Colt lays claim to the innovation in the history section of their website:
"During the 1880s, Colt produced a full line of weapons ranging in size from concealable derringers to hammerless shotguns. The line encompassed a large number of double action revolvers in various caliber, slide and pump action rifles, and the first revolvers with swing-out cylinders for easier loading."
Edward C. Ezell seems to back this up in Handguns of the World (chapter 2, page 63), detailing work done by Colt designers William Mason (who designed the Lightning DA), Horace Lord, and most importantly Carl J. Ehbets, with with the first of Mason's designs garnering a patent for Colt in 1881. It was Ehbet's design that became the Model 1889.
I think I remember hearing that a French gunmaker had come up with one before that, but the earliest mention I can find of such a revolver in production is the notable French 1892 Ordnance Revolver. A civilian version may have been in production there earlier, but again, I can find no mention of it.
I'd almost forgotten about this thread until reading my Winchester book the other day when I ran across this:In 1876 William Wetmore and Stephen Wood developed a single action swingout cylinder revolver in 44-40,44and 38 center fire chambering .These were the "FIRST" american made revolvers with swingout cylinders and cylinder pin ejection.They were developed to try to garner russian and american military contracts that went to S&W and Colt. Apparently there was a development before this.