Before Samuel Colt popularized the mechanical connection between the revolver hammer and cylinder, the revolvers being made were manually operated. This example is a copy of a third type Collier (that is to say, a gun made originally for percussion caps). After firing, one pulls the cylinder back against a spring and rotates to the next chamber. A shield at the front of the cylinder protects the chambers, and the cylinder mouth is chamfered to seal into the barrel, preventing most of the gas leakage at the cylinder gap. This beautiful ornate example was made by Salvatore Mazza of Naples (the official armorer of the Prince of Sicily, he would like you to know!), most likely in the 1820s.
Book review
Book Review: Italy’s Battle Rifle
We just got in a copy of Russ Arendell and Steve Woodrum’s new book on the Carcano, Italy’s Battle Rifle: Story of the Mannlicher-Carcano Series of Rifles. It’s the most useful reference book on the Carcano […]
Bolt Action Rifles
Vintage Saturday: Strange Bedfellows
Soviet troops with M38 Mosin carbines and Breda Model 37 heavy machine guns (presumably captured from the ill-fated Italian ARMIR expedition in 1942/43). Thanks to Leszek for finding the photo at Waralbum.ru!
Bolt Action Rifles
Carcano Moschetto 91 Carbine and its Folding Bayonet
Following rapidly on the heels of the M91 rifle, the Italian military adopted the Moschetto M91 in 1893 as a carbine to equip a variety of forces. They were issued to cavalry, Bersaglieri, Carabinieri, and […]
The ramrod seems just a little shorter than I would expect for seating the bullet within the chamber.
I thought the same thing. It appears the rod would only get the ball down to the end of the barrel. That would be a good reason for the enhanced chamber seal if the cylinders only hold the powder charge.
Ironically, this allows a higher hold relative to the bore axis than the “advanced” MTR-8.
Ian said in his earlier Collier video, “The hammer is cocked which means I can pull the cylinder back and rotate it.”
Strongarm added, “Falling hammer should activate a block for the cylinder not to move backward during firing.”
“Certainly he [Collier] was aware of the problem with the barrel-to-cylinder gap, because he engineered a system that reminds us of the later Nagant revolver. He managed to seal off the rear end of the barrel where it joined the cylinder and therefore didn’t have that ring of fire when he capped one off.” Collier & Colt: The Origins of the Revolver, by Wiley Clapp, 9/26/20 American Rifleman.
Maybe the stiff cocking force is because there is a cylinder locking mechanism that engages as the hammer drops.
Korean subtitles???
That plate in front of the cylinder is likely to keep the firing cylinder from flashing over to the others.