Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIII.djvu/561

 PISTOL 545 designed by Delvigne. At 200 yards and more it made a better target than the French musket of that day. In 1836 the revolving pistol as it now exists was patented by Samuel Colt of Connecticut. It has a single barrel, in rear of which is a cylinder, bored with five, six, or more chambers, whose axes are parallel to the axis of the cylinder, and on a circle whose cen- tre is in that axis. The axis of the cylinder is parallel to the axis of the bore of the barrel, and the bore of the chambers is the same as that of the barrel. Each chamber has a nipple or cone which communicates with it by a hole. In rear of the chambers is the lock, which is enclosed in the handle or stock. On the rear of the cylinder is cut a circular ratchet con- centric with it, which is actuated by a pawl attached to the hammer. The number of teeth in the ratchet is the same as the num- ber of chambers in the cylinder. The ratchet and pawl are so arranged that in the act of cocking the piece the pawl forces the cylin- der to move through one fifth, one sixth, &c., of the circumference of a circle, the arc depending upon the number of chambers in the cylinder. Supposing that the barrel and a chamber have their axes coincident, and the hammer is down, resting on a nipple, the act of FIG. 3. Colt's New Model. cocking will bring the next chamber into line with the barrel. A bolt flies out after the pawl has done its work, and engages in a correspond- ing slot in the cylinder, locking it in place du- ring the act of firing. This bolt is lifted out of its slot by the hammer before the revolution of the cylinder begins, leaving the cylinder free to move about its axis. In rear of the cylin- der is a metal frame in which is contained the lock, and to which is attached one end of the axis upon which the cylinder is revolved, the other end being fastened below the barrel. In rear of this frame is the stock, which is of wood or ivory, and of such shape as may be desired. For a long time after its invention, the revolving pistol was loaded by inserting the cartridges into the chambers at their front ends, ramming them successively by a lever rammer attached to the barrel, and then capping them. This pistol was gradually introduced into all the armies of the world through the energy of the inventor, and is the first example of a suc- cessful repeating arm. After its invention the use of pistols as military arms became much more general, and the number manufactured was vastly increased. About 1845 Lefaucheux invented a revolving pistol which was adapted to a metallic cartridge. After the expiration of Colt's patent in 1857, this invention was in- troduced generally, and at this time no revolv- ing pistols are made that do not use the metal- lic cartridge. The principal manufactories of revolving pistols in the United States are Colt's, Smith and Wesson's, and Remington's. There FIG. 4. Smith and Wesson Pistol. is little difference of principle in the pistols made by these firms. In the Colt pistol the cartridge shells, after they have been fired, are ejected singly, and in the Smith and Wesson they are ejected simultaneously by the action of breaking down the barrel ; that is, there is a hinge in the frame of the pistol, by opening which the ejection of all the shells is effected. In the Remington pistol, model of 1875, the cartridge shell is ejected by opening the breech, in the manner shown in the engraving. The United States cavalry and the United States navy are armed with the Colt pistol. The British army uses the Adams pistol, which acts on the same principle as Colt's. The Russian army uses the Smith and Wesson pistol, and the other European armies use pistols made in France and Belgium. It is difficult to deter- mine the number of revolving pistols that have been made in the United States and Europe ; but for the ten years ending with 1865, the number sold by Colt's armory alone was more than 550,000. To none of these was the metal- lic cartridge applied. The annual production at this time (1875) in the United States exceeds 250,000 of all sizes. In Belgium the annual pro- duction exceeds 300,000. The calibres of revolv- FIG. 5. Remington Pistol, Model of 1875. ing pistols are at present -45, '44, '42, '38, '32, 30, and -22 in., and the weights vary from 2| Ibs. to 6 oz. The calibre of the United States cavalry pistol is -45 in., and the weight 2 Ibs. 6 oz. The cartridge is made with a copper shell, central fire, and internal priming, and contains 30 grains of powder; and the ball,