I Have This Old Gun: M1895 Nagant Revolver

Published on August 30, 2023
Duration: 6:26

This video provides an in-depth look at the M1895 Nagant revolver, highlighting its unique gas-seal mechanism designed by Leon Nagant. It details the revolver's adoption by Imperial Russia and its subsequent production in both Belgium and Russia, noting the evolution of its fit and finish over time. The discussion also touches upon its service history through both World Wars and the challenges of finding its specialized ammunition.

Quick Summary

The M1895 Nagant revolver is distinguished by its innovative gas-seal mechanism, which advances the cylinder to seal against the barrel, preventing gas escape and boosting projectile velocity. It fires the unique 7.62x38mmR cartridge and saw extensive service through WWI and WWII.

Chapters

  1. 00:05Belgian Design and Russian Association
  2. 00:19Russian Arms Modernization
  3. 00:31Mosin-Nagant Rifle
  4. 00:41Nagant Revolver Development
  5. 00:57Unique Gas Seal Mechanism
  6. 01:13Cartridge Design (7.62x38mmR)
  7. 01:35Eliminating Gas Leakage
  8. 01:59Velocity Advantage
  9. 02:21Early Belgian Production Quality
  10. 02:41Russian Production at Tula
  11. 03:01Standout Military Revolver
  12. 03:10Built-in Gas Seal Explained
  13. 03:27Antiquated Loading/Unloading
  14. 03:50Heavy Trigger Pull
  15. 04:07Service Life and Production Numbers
  16. 04:19Evolution of Fit and Finish
  17. 04:44Refurbished vs. Original Guns
  18. 05:03Specific 1914 Example
  19. 05:06Historical Provenance (Colonel Lind)
  20. 05:20Siberian Expedition Context
  21. 06:03Acquisition Story
  22. 06:12Shooting Performance and Ammo Availability

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the M1895 Nagant revolver unique?

The M1895 Nagant revolver is unique due to its built-in gas seal mechanism. This system forces the cylinder forward when fired, creating a seal against the barrel's forcing cone, which prevents gas from escaping and increases projectile velocity.

What is the caliber of the M1895 Nagant revolver?

The M1895 Nagant revolver fires the 7.62x38mmR cartridge. This ammunition is distinctive for its bottlenecked wadcutter-like appearance, a design feature that facilitates the revolver's gas seal operation.

How did the M1895 Nagant revolver load and unload?

The Nagant revolver loaded and unloaded like a traditional single-action revolver. It featured a loading gate on the right side of the frame, and cartridges had to be manually removed and inserted one at a time, making the process cumbersome and slow.

What was the service history of the M1895 Nagant revolver?

The M1895 Nagant revolver saw extensive service from its adoption in 1895 through World War I and World War II. Over two million units were produced, serving with Imperial Russian and Soviet forces.

Are M1895 Nagant revolvers easy to find ammunition for?

Finding the specialized 7.62x38mmR ammunition for the M1895 Nagant revolver can be difficult and expensive. This is a common challenge for owners of this unique historical firearm.

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