Alternate pistol actions

[beag_nut]

Since, it seems, no one has addressed your question of “What could be resurrected” I’ll insert my two cents.

I would like to see the S&W top-break brought back. With modern materials (alloys) and machining (CNC, etc.) it could be made strong enough to handle modern ammunition. I would think that the top-break could be a practical design for todays market. It would have the advantage of the spring loaded case ejection and with todays speed loaders, a reload would probably be quicker than with the manual ejection of the swing out cylinder.

As I have written in the past for other threads, I agree COMPLETELY with this post.
It is intrinsically the best design, assuming some smart designer was tasked with choosing the modern materials and heat-treatments.

 

[Acera]

Rotating firing pin: COP derringer:

You realize that the firing pin does not rotate in this pistol, the hammer/striker does. It has 4 separate firing pins.

130 years before that come out, Sharps patented, and produced, a 4 barreled handgun that had a rotating firing pin.

So, a minor difference to how they work, but still a difference.





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[Acera]

Also, don't forget the Gyrojet. The hammer strikes the front of the round, pushing it back to initiate firing. The round leaving cocks the hammer on its way out.

 

[Acera]

Another one to consider is the proposed Metal Storm pistol. Don't know if they had a prototype built, but the concept was demonstrated in larger weapons. IIRC their multiple barreled volley gun was capable of a firing rate in excess of 1 million rounds a minute.

It was to have 4 barrels, each loaded with multiple rounds. The pistol electronically fired the round closest to the muzzle, then repeated until all rounds expended.

 

[Acera]

Desert Eagle to my knowledge is the only gas operated handgun....

Well other than the AR-15 pistols, AK/Krinkov pistols, variants of the FAL and HK91 and many others have been made as pistols.

Based on the M1 carbine, the Universal Enforcer is a gas operated pistol.

The BSW pistol was gas operated, it was a competitor to the P-38, but went nowhere.

They currently make a fixed barrel gas operated 1911 kit that you can buy.
http://www.ncggasgun.com/


Also, working with gas, the 4 barreled Schüler Reform pistol used gas to advance the next barrel into firing position.

Guess this is another type of hand gun action for the list.

 

[Acera]

To add to the second picture in the first post by the OP.

The more modern Mateba, a semi-automatic revolver.

 

[Acera]

Here is another one I don't think anyone has mentioned, the bolt action pistol. This was a popular gun in its day. The Remington XP-100.

 

[Acera]

If the leftists have their way, these may be one of the last types of modern firearms we are able to (legally) own, LOL.

The T/C.




The Remington 1871 falling block pistol is another.

 

[Acera]

Lone Eagle single shot target pistol used a rotating cannon-style breech (think of those plastic-egg toy dispenser machine handles) with a length of about 3/4" past the breech face. Would you believe that pistol there came chambered in 30-06?

TCB

Not sure if the Triple Action Thunder used a different type of mechanism, or one close to the Lone Eagle. However it was designed to fire a much heavier round than a piddly .30-06. (Go big or go home, right?? I will say a .50 BMG is pushing those limits.)

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/02/10/50-bmg-single-shot-handgun/

 

[JohnKSa]

In addition to the H&K implementation of a gas delayed blowback action, Steyr made one designated the GB (Gas Braked). Steyr had high hopes for the design but it lost to the Glock in the Austrian military trials and to the M9 in the U.S. trials.

The Steyr implementation of gas delay was somewhat different from what H&K employed in the P7 but the general principle of operation is similar.

 

[Flechette]

The Nagent Gas-seal revolver is interesting. Here is a good youtube video of it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oMGJ4JYn2Q

Note that no gases are expelled from a barrel/cylinder gap as with most revolvers.

 

[Gun Master]

I vote SIG P210.
Why? I don't know other than it's the coolest, expensive (in my case unaffordable), unavailable, non-customized semi around.
Partially : BHP, P-38, and Swiss watch.

 

[Jim K]

Hi, Acera,

The "Reform" didn't use gas to raise the bar magazine; that was done mechanically by the trigger. But holes between barrels caused the gas from one barrel to blow out the fired case from the previously fired barrel. (The last empty had to be removed manually.) The case was blown straight back, which is why the hammer spur is so large - it deflects the cases from the shooter's face.

Jim

 

[Acera]

Thanks Jim, the article I read was a translation of one from Europe, it sounded strange, and had a lot of holes in it. At least gas did some work in the design, even if it just ejected some of the cartridges.




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[Acera]

Looking back at this thread, there are a number of significant designs not yet mentioned.

The 1851 Navy style. (with out a top strap)
The SSA style revolver. (with a top strap)
The swing out cylinder revolver.

And, surprised about this not having been mentioned, the lever action.