Damage to revolver from impact with another weapon?

Possibly, but maybe not. Sounds like you need a PR24 instead of a revolver.

Please don't take in ANY way other than it is intended: who cares?
That is to say, if someone is swinging a tire iron at my head I'd much rather need to get a pistol reblued than need to get my head reglued. Any port in a storm.
Hopefully, if your handgun has become a melee weapon, it's because you're out of reloads and you've already neutralized all the bad guys except this last one swinging the tire iron.

I'm not an engineer or metalurgist, but there's surely a wide variance in strength vs. impact from one model/manufacturer to another. A handgun is designed around internal pressure, not incoming impact. No doubt others here can shed more light. But I would still go with "any port in a storm". If bad guy has a tire iron and I have a handgun, and he just hit said handgun with said tire iron, unless he knocked the cylinder out or the barrel off I'm pulling the trigger first chance I get.

It's the same thing as asking "If my car were involved in an accident, would I still be able to drive it home?" The answer is...it depends...

In your mind, construct the situation in which this would happen. It is very unlikely that, if my pistol is drawn, that I would have to block a swing from whatever object instead of shooting. I guess a direct hit to the cylinder might cause timing issues, but I can't foresee this being a reason to pick a semi over a wheel gun. Heck, a line drive to a pistol of any type is going to result in severe damage regardless.

I was just wondering, if in a defensive situation, what would the damage be to a revolver frame if it was used as a melee weapon to block another weapon? (Say someone has a tire iron, and you have an L frame size revolver, and you blocked his swing with it, out of reflex.

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If someone had a tire iron and he's swinging at my head in an attempt to kill me, I'd try to block said tire iron with a bullet fired from my L-frame.

Alas, I'd probably miss the tire iron and accidentally hit the man swinging it.....but I'd try it anyway.

The the OP: In your scenario, you'll find out your answer in the next few seconds of the confrontation. Because unless you walk around (like they have to do in California) with an unloaded sidearm, you're going to be shooting the bad guy as soon as you block his blow.

My guess is that the weapon will function fine.

The great thing about every revolver is that if it doesn't go bang, you can keep on pullin' the trigger.

There's no way to realistically answer your question, too many variables involved.
The configuration, mass & momentum of the object involved, where it happens to strike the revolver, etc.
Denis

DPris is right, too many variables to think about. I don't think, personally, that this is even a viable situation and if you were to block the full force swing of a tire iron with your revolver that your hand and/or arm will suffer greatly. But it does overall depend on where the impact on the revolver is, what angle it is, how much momentum is behind the tire iron...etc.

Just don't see it happening in any instance.

you have an L frame size revolver, and you blocked his swing with it, out of reflex.

My first comment is if you did this you are poorly trained. David E gave the correct answer answer above. Shooting at your opponent's center mass to stop them would be a proper response. Firearms, at best, are arkward as striking wepaons. If you had a sword would you point it at him and try to pull the trigger?

The great thing about every revolver is that if it doesn't go bang, you can keep on pullin' the trigger.

Maybe not. The most fragile part of a revolver is the cylinder crane and ejector rod. A blow from a tire iron would easily bend either of these sufficiently to tie up the gun.

Aren't you supposed to shoot them BEFORE they hit you with the tire iron?

Unless you've already fired all the rounds in the revolver, you want to shoot anyone swinging a tire iron at you. If the gun is in fact already empty, any damage done to it that renders it inoperable will not matter at that point. The damage, if any, would depend on the location and force with which it is struck. I would guess that an impact on the barrel would not hurt anything, provided the ejector rod is enclosed or shrouded by the barrel. An exposed ejector rod, as found on many Smith & Wesson's, if bent, could cause the cylinder to bind. An impact directly on the side of the cylinder might bend or "spring" the cylinder crane/yoke and bind the cylinder. It would probably also smash your fingers.

wadcutter45 said:

It's the same thing as asking "If my car were involved in an accident, would I still be able to drive it home?" The answer is...it depends...

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Best analogy yet

If a revolver takes a substantial impact on the cylinder, it may render the gun inoperable if the center pin breaks.

If you flatten the trigger guard, it can prevent the trigger from being pulled.

I have seen these things happen.

On the other hand, revolvers have a long and rich past as impromptu impact weapons. The trick is to hit with the butt of the gun...maybe the barrel if its a heavy barrel.

I would prefer not to block steel on steel with a gun though, we're not fencing here.

Like others have said they are WAY to many variables to know. As far as a strike to the side of the barrel and the barrel going flying across the room I seriously doubt this happening. Some damage maybe, gun gets knocked out of your hand quiet possible.

Now if we make the assumption that you have already fired 6 or 7 shots of .357 magnum so its empty and hit other assailants and there is a guy still swinging a tire iron at your head he's pretty much hell bent on smashing your brains out. Do whatever you can and have to do. If there is no way to reload i'd say its about half past time to put your nike's on the asphault and make like the rear end of a race donkey.

If you can't run and must you your gun in defensive nature to block the swing of the tire iron that someone is trying to take your head off with i'd figure accuracy at the next range visit probably won't be on your mind and neither will any scratches or damage the gun receives.

If the gun is still loaded it might be a pretty good idea to use hot copper jacketed lead projectile to the center mass of mr tire iron swinger as opposed to cold steel of your gun to the cold steel of his tire iron.

While the first rule of a gunfight is have a gun, the primary word in gunfight is FIGHT. If this is a huge concern for you, try to locate some practical martial art defensive courses in your area. Work it in to your defensive routine. In fact, that is something we could all benefit from.

if he is that close, duck
then shoot.. or preferably do both at once, and as noted above, strive to miss the tire iron with your 1st shot
(but if he has a machete instead of a tire iron, you waited too long to do either !)
pistol whipping him after done shooting purely optional, but best refrained from if anybody is watching

for batting practice, choose a Louisville slugger instead of an L frame
counter-clockwise rotation of bat preferred, unless your are a lefty, even if you like Colts

To actually answer this question, it depends on what part of the revolver is hit. A blow to the barrel is unlikely to any functional damage it. Unless it's mounted in a solid vise and smacked repeatedly with a tire iron it won't bend to any significant degree. Barrel steel is very tough stuff.

If the impact is on the butt, same answer.

If the impact is on the triggerguard, it might bend but it's unlikely to bend enough to interfere with trigger pull.

The weak spot is the cylinder, where the right hit can damage the small parts that hold it in place. This is more likely to be the case with an old Colt than with a new Ruger.

gun gets knocked out of your hand quiet possible.

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To me, this would be of far greater likelihood than damage to the gun (which itself is possible). I doubt many could hang onto a gun after it has taken a heavy blow frrom a chunk of steel.

If someone had a tire iron and he's swinging at my head in an attempt to kill me, I'd try to block said tire iron with a bullet fired from my L-frame.

Alas, I'd probably miss the tire iron and accidentally hit the man swinging it.....but I'd try it anyway.

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That right there! David, you should be ashamed or yourself, you almost made a grown man piss his pants with that one!

From the posts I've seen on these boards you should be okay with any new revolver ... as long as it isn't a Smith-Wesson, Taurus, Charter Arms, or Ruger