Hinge-Frame Revolvers

A-37

April 26, 2003 06:32

I've had several old Iver-Johnson, U.S. Revolver, and H&R hinge-frame (top-break) revolvers. In every case, the cylinder is free to spin but lock up just fine when the trigger is pulled (double-action) or when the hammer is cocked (single-action). Is this normal?? If so, they'd sure make lousy self-defense guns.

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  CountryGunsmith

  April 26, 2003 06:50

  On most of them, yes, that is normal.

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  jonk

  April 26, 2003 19:19

  It is normal. Why would that make them lousy defense guns? I shoot several of these regularly with very light (generally blackpowder loads) and they are actually fairly accurate within their limitations if in good shape.
  
  "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf

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  rhmc24

  April 27, 2003 07:19

  The earlier and cheaper pieces, top break and solid frame, don't lock the cylinder indexed with the bore as you and others have said, until the trigger is in the ready-to-fire position. The hand (that turns the cylinder) pushes the cylinder so that a cartridge hole lines up with the barrel - and is kept from turning too far by an extension of the trigger rising from below the cylinder and engages one of the notches on the outside of the cylinder. You can see this if you look for it. I have a couple of these pieces in like new condition and the lockup is secure and accurate. With use wear allows the lockup to become sloppy, although it has to become pretty bad for the line-up to become dangerous and starting spitting lead out the sides. Later and better pieces with positive lockup will have indexing slots on the outside of the cylinder, rectangular usually about 5/16 by 3/32" in size that are engaged by a part that is retracted when the hammer is raised and extends before the hammer reaches full cock, falling into the indexing lockup slot. The H&R 922 model (made for about six decades from around 1920) is an one that began with the free wheeling cylinder and around the 1950s began to be made with the positive lockup. Hope this helps.

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  A-37

  April 28, 2003 11:36

  Thanks for the input. Much appreciated. As for being self-defense guns of questionable dependability, consider this: You have the five chambers loaded and fire one (or any number less than five). You put the gun back in your pocket (or holster) possibly causing the cylinder to rotate. It's quite possible, that the next time you pull the trigger, the hammer could fall on one of the already fired rounds.
  You could be dead before you had another chance to fire. No wonder those old low-dollar revolvers cost $9.95 when a S&W cost $29.95.

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