What if they held a revolver revolution and nobody told you about it?

Monac

Monac

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I guess the revolver has been revolutionized. It happened back in January, but I only heard about it now. I'm always the last to know about stuff like that. This is it: https://www.zenk.us/

There are at least 3 videos about it on YouTube, all from January of this year. Just search for zenk rzmk. There's some more stuff here: https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/shot-show-the-mysterious-zenk-rzmk-357-is-here-but-not-really/

BTW, if you go the Zenk website, there is a picture of an old N-frame S&W right at the top. Can anyone tell if it's a Triple Lock? I think I could have told that at one time, but I can't today. The picture is flipped left to right, and I am going to blame that for throwing me off.
 
If there was anything close to being a revolver revolution, it was the Dardick from the 50s and the triangle cartridges fed from a magazine. The size of the Dardick was very large, but the system makes sense if it would function properly. The ammunition is weird, but a polymer case material with modern 3D printing technology or factory injection molded would be inexpensive for reloading today.
 
TTv2 said:
If there was anything close to being a revolver revolution, it was the Dardick from the 50s and the triangle cartridges fed from a magazine. The size of the Dardick was very large, but the system makes sense if it would function properly. The ammunition is weird, but a polymer case material with modern 3D printing technology or factory injection molded would be inexpensive for reloading today.
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Those were the “Trounds” if my memory is correct?

I wonder how a triangle-cased round would work in a box magazine? Maybe an extra round or two could fit?

Stay safe.
 
Riomouse911 said:
Those were the “Trounds” if my memory is correct?

I wonder how a triangle-cased round would work in a box magazine? Maybe an extra round or two could fit?

Stay safe.
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I just rewatched the ForgottenWeapons video and the magazine was internal, but I don't see why the mags couldn't be detachable. The trounds system added a lot of size to the ammunition, so a .38 would be more like half an inch in diameter, but the triangles stack so that there's no wasted space like with circles. That means while the magazines are going to be really thick, the capacity is still decent.

The size of the gun is like a Ruger Redhawk, but the capacity would be double the 8 rounds of .357 that it can hold.

But the Trounds were supposed to be used for machine guns, not handguns. The handgun was more to be a proof of concept and maybe to generate some sales in the US with police (15 rds vs the typical 6 was a heck of an increase), but it still does stand out as a revolutionary concept for the revolver and really the only one that has not been attempted since Dardick went out of business.

The Zenk is basically a bullpup version of the old Cobray PocketPal. IDK what it offers that a traditional semi auto or revolvers doesn't.
 
nugi said:
Looks really fun but otherwise I don’t see why?
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Oh, with so many rich people around these days, there's a market for expensive novelties. Recently, parked near my neighborhood, I've seen a Maserati, an Aston-Martin, and an exotic looking BMW, all brand new. I bet they all cost 6 figures, and for what practical purpose? If they can keep this pistol below $10K, they will probably sell some (if they ever make any).
 
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I saw that back when if was first released. I think we even had a thread or two on it. I am intrigued but at the same time it all looks like vapor-ware at the moment. All those images look like CAD renderings no real hardware yet.
 
TTv2 said:
...The Zenk is basically a bullpup version of the old Cobray PocketPal. IDK what it offers that a traditional semi auto or revolvers doesn't.
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Well, what it offers that a traditional automatic doesn't is 357 Magnum power, and what it offers that that a traditional revolver doesn't is a 4 inch barrel in a sub-7 inch package. That's the theory, anyway. On the other hand, the pictures of this thing give one no clue about how the firing mechanism works, or how it is loaded, or how spent cases are extracted. I wonder if they have an actual working model, or just some kind of non-firing prop.

And as NIGHTLORD40K points out in post #2, the blast from the barrel/cylinder gap is going to be a problem. There are actually two versions of the Cobray Pocket Pal that you mention; the late production guns had holes added in the cylinder shroud, apparently because the gas pressure in the shroud was some kind of problem. (I bought a Pocket Pal because it is so bizarre, but I have never fired it. The trigger pull is beyond atrocious, and the build quality inspires no confidence at all.)

The Zenk might be another one of those guns that never actually gets off the drawing board, or the 3D image screen. Or just barely does, like the Dardick or the Gyrojet. On the other hand, the Boberg bullpup automatic seemed like a weird idea to me, and Bond Arms is still making those, aren't they?
 
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mcb said:
I saw that back when if was first released. I think we even had a thread or two on it. I am intrigued but at the same time it all looks like vapor-ware at the moment. All those images look like CAD renderings no real hardware yet.
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Oh, really? Darn! I used the search box to look for Zenk and for RZMK because I wanted to avoid posting about this if it had already been discussed. Until they are actually for sale, it's not worth multiple posts for exactly the reason you give.
 
Monac said:
Well, what it offers that a traditional automatic doesn't is 357 Magnum power, and what it offers that that a traditional revolver doesn't is a 4 inch barrel in a sub-7 inch package. That's the theory, anyway. On the other hand, the pictures of this thing give one no clue about how the firing mechanism works, or how it is loaded, or how spent cases are extracted. I wonder if they have an actual working model, or just some kind of non-firing prop.

And as NIGHTLORD40K points out in post #2, the blast from the barrel/cylinder gap is going to be a problem. There are actually two versions of the Cobray Pocket Pal that you mention; the late production guns had holes added in the cylinder shroud, apparently because the gas pressure in the shroud was some kind of problem. (I bought a Pocket Pal because it is so bizarre, but I have never fired it. The trigger pull is beyond atrocious, and the build quality inspires no confidence at all.)

The Zenk might be another one of those guns that never actually gets off the drawing board, or the 3D image screen. Or just barely does, like the Dardick or the Gyrojet. On the other had, the Boberg bullpup automatic seemed like a weird idea to me, and Bond Arms is still making those, aren't they?
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The Bond is a semi auto in 9mm that's all steel and is priced at a level people understand it's quality made. The Zenk has none of those advantages and revolvers that don't follow tradition generally don't sell well, the Chiappa Rhino is about the only one that does, but it's still very traditional in its function.
 
I doubt there will be any speedloaders that will work with that...thing. I agree - a modern day Dardick has the potential to be quite interesting, especially with 3D printing.
 
I watched the videos on youtube where they had the company reps at shot show showing off renders and drawings and I believe a plastic mock up of it. They were looking for investors. It may be something that never happens, or at the least is a LONG ways off from happening. I kind of like the look of it myself, although it seems like it would be a chore to clean.
 
Monac said:
Oh, really? Darn! I used the search box to look for Zenk and for RZMK because I wanted to avoid posting about this if it had already been discussed. Until they are actually for sale, it's not worth multiple posts for exactly the reason you give.
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No worries, if you search and didn't find it maybe it was on another forum. Either way I think it's good to bring it back up as a topic. It was a gun that was interesting enough I wanted to keep tabs on. Hopefully it becomes reality but as of right now it seem like its mostly concept.
 
Far from pretty, but certainly interesting. I suspect a ridiculously long and delicate firing pin/striker arrangement with a push spring in the area where a semiauto guide rod would be making an L shape at the back end of the gun and pulling forward to impact a frame mounted firing pin. I like the concept. I don’t know that it’s a great idea to try it with a revolver. A single shot could definitely work, and would be a lot less complicated.maybe even a multi-barrel gun, but a revolver just seems too complicated in this arrangement.
 
Everything I have read about this Zenk sounds like this is a dream gun. A dream with no substance…yet.
I can’t find a price for it, which to me means they don’t know how much it will cost or it’s going to be very high priced.
Regardless, just looking at their computer generated photos I don’t have much confidence in their design. If they ever make it I would like to look at one in real life.
 
Strangely attracted to it. PRICE is the key. If it came in $500 or less it might make a good glovebox gun for an ATV or boat. I could see putting one in my main bugout bag.
 
alfsauve said:
Strangely attracted to it. PRICE is the key. If it came in $500 or less it might make a good glovebox gun for an ATV or boat. I could see putting one in my main bugout bag.
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That would be swell, but $500 doesn't get you much in the way of a new gun any more. Can you even get a new Glock for $500 or less? I don't look at them, so I have no idea what their prices are. I think the CZ-75's I see in gun stores are over $700, and the start-up costs for those are 50 years in the past.
 
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