Which came first, DA revos or autos?

[YosemiteSam357]

I did some minor checking around the net but could not come up with an answer to this: Which came first, the double action revolver or the single action auto pistol?

I've read a lot of accounts of the transition from the Colt SAA to the 1911. But where in there did the DA revolver come into being?

Thanks in advance,

-- Sam

 

[Old Fuff]

They were making flintlock revolvers during the late 18th century. Colt's first double action revolver came out in 1877. Obviously there weren't any automatic pistols around. They date from the late 1890's and were made in Europe. The first pistol of any consequence that was made in the United States was a Colt .38 (designed by John Browning) in 1900.

 

[YosemiteSam357]

Thanks! I assume then that the 1877 Colt is considered the first production DA wheelgun?

-- Sam

 

[GunTech]

Not by a long shot. Adams was producing double action revolvers at least as early as 1851. And Tranter sold double actions at least as early as the time of the civil war.

 

[Old Fuff]

Not by a long shot. Adams was producing double action revolvers at least as early as 1851.

Yup, and Adams and Colt had a big debate in London over who had the best system.

During the 1840's American made double-action pepperbox pistols were popular. (Think of a revolver with a very long cylinder and no barrel). Sometimes the cylinder/barrel would revolve, but usually it had to be turned by hand. Sam Colt's big brainstorm was a pawl and ratchet system to revolve the cylinder, plus a way to lock it in alignment with a single barrel.

As a note of interest: I have an old book, authored by Alan Pinkerton, the famous Civil War era detective. He mentions that after the war in one instance his agents were carrying English Tranter double-action revolvers, as they considered them to be superior to all others.

 

[lesjones]

Yep, and the Starr DA blackpowder revolver was from the Civil War era or just before. They went out of business during the post-Civil War arms glut, having never made the transition to metallic cartridges. Clint Eastwood's character used one in Unforgiven.