Prior to Samuel Colt’s 1835-1836 patents for the revolver, American handguns were, for the most part, variations of European-style single shot pistols, first of the flintlock type and later the new cap-and-ball percussion lock design. There were double barrels, swivel barrels, and even multiple barreled Pepperbox pistols, but the revolver was at best a theoretical design before 1836. This is not to say that revolvers did not exist before Colt’s patent, they just didn’t work. Samuel Colt’s design did. This is the story of how it came to be.
Revolvers
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Cowboy Time Machine: Colt’s First Revolver, the Paterson, Yesterday & Today
Published: November 9, 2016 { 6 comments }
S&W .500 Magnum Gel Tests, Cylinder Gap Blast, Internals & Construction
Published: November 3, 2016 { 38 comments }The lore surrounding the brute force of the Smith & Wesson S&W500 is legion. There have been plenty of tales about what this gun is capable of doing, both to the lackadaisical shooter and the intended target. I decided I needed to sort through some and separate fact from fiction and test one for myself.
Grizzly-Busting Snubbie? Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley .44 Mag.—Full Review
Published: September 12, 2016 { 44 comments }Whether you’re talking grizzlies, gators or gangs, there’s a good chance you’ve got predators in your neck of the woods. When I’m in the field, I feel uneasy unless I have at least a .44 Magnum close at hand.
Best of a Bad Situation: .22s for Self-Defense?
Published: July 28, 2016 { 63 comments }Ultimately the only good reason to go with .22 for self-defense is that it is your last, best, and only option. The truth is that it’s rarely the only option.
7 Top Compact Concealed Carry Self-Defense Handguns for New Shooters!
Published: July 8, 2016 { 154 comments }Probably the hottest segment of the handgun market is in guns that fit the concealed carry mode. The guns listed aren’t chosen for their level of usefulness for highly trained operators, but rather because they’re easy to learn to shoot well and are powerful and reliable enough to serve as excellent defensive tools.
Cowboy Time Machine: Uberti Replaces SAA Transfer Bar w/Glock Style Floating Pin – Cattleman II Review
Published: June 17, 2016 { 43 comments }More than 140 years after the Colt SAA was invented, Uberti decided it was high time to change the rules and engineered a solution to the historic problem of having to “safely” carry a Single Action with the hammer resting on an empty chamber.
Smith & Wesson’s Biggest Fail? The Ultra-Rare Model 320 Revolving Rifle
Published: June 8, 2016 { 6 comments }Obviously, these are success stories the likes of which have changed firearms history. However, for every success story, there are dozens of ideas that didn’t make it. Even the vaunted Smith & Wesson was not immune from the pitfalls of 19th Century firearms design. Case in point: the Model 320 revolving rifle.
.357 Buster? Ruger’s .327 SP101 Delivers Magnum Force & Extra Firepower!
Published: June 8, 2016 { 37 comments }The Ruger SP101 combines a small frame with a full-power chambering in .357 Magnum, but it is limited to five rounds. The addition of the .327 Federal Magnum chambering bumps that up to six, while still having fight-stopping power.
Mother’s Day is Coming–Chic Lady for your Mom?
Published: April 23, 2016 { 4 comments }If you know someone who likes girlie guns, I’ve got just the thing. The Chic Lady from Charter Arms. It even comes in a pink faux alligator case. This could be a good Mother’s Day gift idea, if the Mom in your life likes pink guns. And Charter makes them in other colors, too–some of which are traditionally manly.
Shoot-out: Colt Python vs. Smith & Wesson 686
Published: April 16, 2016 { 94 comments }Looking for a .357? We’re shooting two of the best–the Smith & Wesson 686 and the Colt Python. So how do these two icons stack up against each other?