One of the Earliest Six-shot Revolvers | Our Collection

Published on August 16, 2017
Duration: 7:17

This video from the Royal Armouries explores an early six-shot revolver dating to around 1680, predating Samuel Colt's more famous designs. The presenter highlights its significance as an 'automatic revolver' where the cylinder rotates on its own, a key innovation over manually-indexed cylinders. It details the loading process, the internal mechanism for cylinder rotation, and the flintlock firing system, contrasting it with later percussion revolvers.

Quick Summary

An early 1680s six-shot revolver from the Royal Armouries collection is notable for its 'automatic revolver' mechanism, where the cylinder rotates on its own when the hammer is cocked, a significant precursor to modern revolvers.

Chapters

  1. 00:05Introduction to Early Firearms
  2. 00:10Holding the Unusual Firearm
  3. 00:20Interest in Early Revolvers
  4. 00:33Revolver Dating to 1680
  5. 00:45Technical Innovation: Automatic Rotation
  6. 01:12Comparison to Single Action Revolvers
  7. 01:19Samuel Colt's Contributions
  8. 01:52Unknown Maker, Similar to John Daft
  9. 02:05Construction and Features
  10. 02:34Six Chambers and Single Barrel
  11. 02:48Loading Process
  12. 03:10Internal Mechanism for Rotation
  13. 03:51Trigger Mechanism and Firing
  14. 04:03Distinction from True Single Action
  15. 04:57Prone to Explosions and Safety Concerns
  16. 05:31Precaution and Mass Production
  17. 05:44Comparison to Samuel Colt's Revolvers
  18. 06:11Colt Revolver Mechanism
  19. 06:34Simplification in Colt's Designs
  20. 06:44Percussion Cap System
  21. 06:52Mass Production and Affordability
  22. 07:11Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the 1680s revolver at the Royal Armouries significant?

This 1680s revolver is significant because it features an 'automatic revolver' mechanism where the cylinder rotates on its own when the hammer is cocked, a key innovation predating Samuel Colt's more famous designs and manual cylinder indexing.

How did the cylinder of the early 1680s revolver rotate?

The cylinder of the 1680s revolver rotated automatically via an internal mechanism. When the hammer was cocked, a hand pushed against a ledge on the back of each chamber, advancing it into the firing position.

What type of ignition system did the 1680s revolver use?

The 1680s revolver used a flintlock ignition system. It had pans for priming powder associated with each chamber, which would be ignited by a spark from the flint striking steel.

How does the 1680s revolver compare to Samuel Colt's later designs?

The 1680s revolver was an early attempt at automatic cylinder rotation, whereas Samuel Colt's later percussion revolvers, like the 1851 Navy, simplified the process with percussion caps and more refined mass production, making them more reliable and affordable.

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