What would you like to see in a new revolver design?

[Colt451985]

As a LH, I would like to see an ambidextrous revolver- think like the semi HK P7 - with cylinder that could open either way for RH or LH shooters with the release in the same vein. It should have swappable barrels so you could lengthen or shorten - think Dan Wesson - and swappable cylinders - think Ruger, in centerfire rounds like 38, 9mm, 40, 45ACP, etc.......

With a Ruger button-style release on both sides of the upper receiver, I can see having a left-handed crane that swings the cylinder to the right and a right-handed crane that swings the cylinder to the left. A Smith & Wesson slide-style release on both sides of the upper receiver would be difficult. Some compromises would have to be made to make this work. The ejector shroud would have to be open on the left and right sides to allow the cylinder to swing in either direction. Likewise, the upper receiver where the crane sits in the closed position would have to be open on the left and right sides to allow the cylinder to swing in either direction, which would weaken the upper receiver.

I'm not sure this can be done, but the idea is interesting. I'll continue to play around with the idea and see if I can find a creative solution. However, another idea would be to have a left-handed upper receiver and right-handed upper receiver rather than an ambidextrous upper receiver. To decrease the number of parts necessary, I could probably make the lower receiver work with either the left-handed or right-handed upper receiver.

 

[Lost Sheep]

If this already exists, I apologize for not knowing: how about a 6 or 7-shot .223 Remington revolver, where the rounds headspace on the shoulder so there's no need for any sort of moonclip. It would have to be heavy to aid in controlling recoil and handle the pressure, theoretically, but handloaders could soft load rounds (taking advantage of the short barrel) and still avoid squibs. That would be a marvelous HD gun and a huge amount of range fun.

The moonclip is more for ejection than for headspacing.

Lost Sheep

 

[Dnaltrop]

Love the idea of Top breaks, but no clue how many people would buy one other than those of us who already scratch that particular itch with existing replicas/antiques.

In that same "cool" range (though I'm obviously crazy) I'd love a modern "Volcanic" lever action pistol, worked to handle .380/9mm/.45 ACP instead of the traditional Rocket balls.

+1 for the modern LeMat, and for those of us who've not yet read Correa's Grimnoir books.... He created a fictional Lemat-Schofield chambered in .50 + 12 gauge. That one sounds "fun" even if brought down to more reasonable calibers.

 

[Jim Watson]

In other words, the "Ed Brown" or "Wilson Combat" of revolvers

Consider that Ed and Bill are doing well selling nicely made examples OF A COMMON AND POPULAR DESIGN, not a niche product of odd concept.

Therefore the Wilson Combat of revolvers would be something like a very refined K Smith.

There is a lot of claimed interest in a modern topbreak. I don't know if you can build a topbreak to handle high end smokeless loads. A good first developmental step would be to take a .38 Webley or Enfield and make new cylinder and top latch out of the very best steel, chamber in 9mm, and shoot it a lot for durability testing.

Jan Stevenson said that if you put a bull barrel and hand filling grips on a French Mle 1892, it would be as modern a revolver as anything. Again, a heat treated cylinder to allow chambering in 9mm Whatever with clips. He favored the 9x25 Mauser Export, but these days, one would go with the 9x23 Win.

Oh, yeah, Dnaltrop, there is somewhere on the www an account of a shop made Volcanic pistol set up with an extractor for cartridges. So as to not change the overall proportions of the gun, he made it for a shortened .40 case. Not real hot, but more powerful than a Rocket Ball.

 

[CraigC]

Consider that Ed and Bill are doing well selling nicely made examples OF A COMMON AND POPULAR DESIGN, not a niche product of odd concept.

And every reputable revolversmith in the country is sporting a 1-2yr backlog on full custom jobs. Some even longer. 1911's are really fairly limited. Custom revolvers have far more possibilities. Apparently there's room for everybody.

 

[railroadman]

let,s make a Ruger Old Army in 36 as well as .457 dia.They would selll like hot cakes.try to find one for under $450.00

 

[beatledog7]

Yeah, I can see why ejection would be a challenge. But as CAPT Kirk said to the changeling on Rura Penthe, "There's gotta be a way."

 

[CraigC]

They would sell like hot cakes.

They were discontinued because they did NOT sell like hot cakes.

 

[GrayGore]

I would like to see interchangeable barrels that latch in via a quick twist similar to the setup on some reloading dies. Or maybe more like SLR camera lenses where you press a release button and twist.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

How about a large frame revolver with a cylinder that swings out and locks up in three places? Oh wait, that's already been done.

Frankly, I too think that the height of perfection in revolvers was reached in the 1930s and nothing further needs to be done. At least I won't be buying one.

 

[CraigC]

The reason we don't see any top breaks is because they are not only expensive to build and require hand-fitting, not enough people would buy them. How many asking for a new top break already have Schofield and #3 Russian replicas? Anybody???

Frankly, I too think that the height of perfection in revolvers was reached in the 1930s and nothing further needs to be done. At least I won't be buying one.

Agreed. Unfortunately, the best "advances" in revolvers are decades old. To "advance" from where we are now will require going back in time.

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

A new top break revolver. The reason the new ones like the copies of 3rd & Russian models don't sell is they are pieces of crap and everyone knows it. They aren't very dependable new and people have a lot of problems with them. OTOH my little 32 top break is over 100 yeas old and functions perfectly.

 

[CraigC]

...they are pieces of crap and everyone knows it.

Yes, I'm sure. S&W didn't exactly light the world on fire with their reissue either. It must've been crap too.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

What I'd like to see is a revolver built on the Dan Wesson system, so you could interchange barrels. I'd also like interchangeable cylinders.

My ideal revolver would be a properly-throated .45 Colt, with cylinders long enough to handle heavy bullets loaded well out, and with the back of the cylinder relieved to allow the use of .45 ACP with half moon clips.

The same revolver could be switched to .44 Mag, .357 Mag, or what have you by switching cylinders and barrels.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

The reason the new ones like the copies of 3rd & Russian models don't sell is they are pieces of crap and everyone knows it. They aren't very dependable new and people have a lot of problems with them. OTOH my little 32 top break is over 100 yeas old and functions perfectly.

Whoa!!

I have originals too, about a half dozen of them. Yes, they are fine examples of craftsmanship.

But you are dead wrong when you say the current replicas of Top Breaks made by Uberti are crap. Yes, the Schofields made by ASM were poorly made and had lots of problems, but those are not the same as the current crop from Uberti. I have fired a few and they are fine. They compare very favorably with my originals.

Yes, Uberti messed with the gas collars on them so they do not perform well with Black Powder but that does not make them crap. They shoot just fine with Smokeless. They are very well made.

The 2000 series Schofields made by S&W were beautifully made too. They were a limited edition, and they completely sold out. When they show up on the gun auction sites they go for big dollars. Again, S&W messed with the gas collar so they do not perform well with Black Powder, but they perform fine with Smokeless.

There really just is not much of a demand out there for Top Breaks. That's why there are not very many made. Other than Cowboy Action shooters, who comprise a pretty small portion of the market, there are not very many shooters who are interested in owning one.

Far more are interested in novelty guns like the Judge.

 

[skoro]

I'd just like to see more DA options in 22wmr.

 

[Orion8472]

I'm going to "ditto" the top break 9mm style, with the Charter Arms type retention, . . . 6 rounds, I guess.

I'd also love to have an [at least] 8 shot 22lr break top.

 

[Pointshoot]

A gun like those you see in the movies. One that never runs out of ammo.

 

[Jaymo]

I want that burp gun that Charlize Theron used in Aeon Flux. It never ran out of ammo.

 

[Clark]

I want a tiny 45acp revolver that fits in my shirt pocket.

 

[TSH77769]

Ruger GP 100 5 shot .44 mag with cylinder length same as Super Redhawk

Ruger Super Redhawk 8 or 9 shot .357

Lightweight rugers using Aluminum, Scandium, Titanium, and Polymer.

Something like the LCR but full sized and with better sights.

S&W N Frame 9 shot .327 Federal

Break top DA revolvers

Chiappa/Mateba style bottom chamber firing but striker fired

S&W 547 or Charter arms style no moon clip needed extraction/ejection systems for pistol cartridge chambered revolvers.

Lightweight S&W 617

Some sort of gas seal mechanism allowing for suppression (yes I know about the Nagant) with standard pre-existing cartrdiges.

As an alternative to a breaktop, some sort of pull the barrel and cylinder forward from the grip/FCG auto extraction system (I've seen it done on some ancient revovlers).

tsh77769

 

[Mango88]

I would like to see interchangeable barrels that latch in via a quick twist similar to the setup on some reloading dies. Or maybe more like SLR camera lenses where you press a release button and twist.

A Merwin Hulburt type action could perhaps achieve this and perhaps the frame could be made to accommodate different caliber cylinders and barrels. A sort of multi-caliber pistol pack.

 

[41wheelgun]

I would like to see Colt just bring back their DA revolvers such as the Detective, King Cobra and Annaconda, espiecially cambered in .41 rem mag.

 

[KenW.]

Striker-fired with a polymer frame. Works well in semi-autos. Add a grip you can customize like the new Glocks and the XDM. And why not a light rail?

 

[BCRider]

I'd also love to have an [at least] 8 shot 22lr break top.

Then you need to shop around for a Harrington & Richardson Sportman model 999. 9 shot top break DA/SA revolver. Best of all the one I have is decently accurate. Not S&W model 17 accurate but a nice plinker.