I am inexperienced with revolvers so maybe you can forgive my ignorance. I would like to know why it is bad to flick a revolver cylinder closed. I must admit I am guilty of doing this to the SW 617 before I'd heard it was ad for the revolver. SO I certainly hope someone can satisfy curiosity as to why it's bad. Please use terminology I can understand, I may not be up to speed on all revolver parts.
Why not flick cylinder closed?
- Thread starter retgarr
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This causes stresses on yoke and crane which will cause the cylinder to not lock up, (amongst other things).
A revolver will show a very slight "line" where yoke/crane fits onto frame if closed and used as designed.
Abused revolvers such as those flicked like hollywood movies portray, will show a very definite 'gap' and some are so bad, the cylinder will not close.
Close revolvers, "zip" Zippos, and flicking is for Bics.
A revolver will show a very slight "line" where yoke/crane fits onto frame if closed and used as designed.
Abused revolvers such as those flicked like hollywood movies portray, will show a very definite 'gap' and some are so bad, the cylinder will not close.
Close revolvers, "zip" Zippos, and flicking is for Bics.
earplug
Member
The weight of the cylinder will bend the yoke and put strain on the locking rod (the rod that is inserted in the recoil shield)
The yoke and rod are very strong for the normal firing situation of rotating the cylinder by the action of the hand.
The snap of a wrist on the heavy cylinder will knock the revolver out of time if your unlucky.
Kind of like letting a unloaded match pistol slam a slide shut on a empty chamber.
The yoke and rod are very strong for the normal firing situation of rotating the cylinder by the action of the hand.
The snap of a wrist on the heavy cylinder will knock the revolver out of time if your unlucky.
Kind of like letting a unloaded match pistol slam a slide shut on a empty chamber.
Sylvan-Forge
Member
Take a look at your car's driver's side door. Imagine that it only had one hinge at the bottom.
Imagine the wear and tear on that hinge and mounting bracket if you continually flung it open and slammed it shut by driving your car around a parking lot, braking rapidly to open it, and accelerating to close it.
It wouldn't be long before it would be hanging out of kilter and no longer shut properly.
The yoke, crane, and cylinder could be loosely compared to your car door.
Imagine the wear and tear on that hinge and mounting bracket if you continually flung it open and slammed it shut by driving your car around a parking lot, braking rapidly to open it, and accelerating to close it.
It wouldn't be long before it would be hanging out of kilter and no longer shut properly.
The yoke, crane, and cylinder could be loosely compared to your car door.
jjohnson
Member
Iggy Nailed It!
Car door was exactly what I was thinking when I saw the opening of the thread..... augh.... just 'cause you've seen cop shows where they do that doesn't mean you should do it, any more than shooting "gangsta style" with an auto canted off 90 degrees to the left so it dumps brass on your head....:banghead:
Car door was exactly what I was thinking when I saw the opening of the thread..... augh.... just 'cause you've seen cop shows where they do that doesn't mean you should do it, any more than shooting "gangsta style" with an auto canted off 90 degrees to the left so it dumps brass on your head....:banghead:
TOGGLELOCK
Member
That ruines your centerline alignment of your Yoke. We had been warned in Armorers school in Springfield, Mass that that had been bad for the gun. TOGGLELOCK
Sylvan-Forge
Member
Thanks, Catherine.
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I've edited the pic to show the cylinder stop and cylinder center pin.
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I've edited the pic to show the cylinder stop and cylinder center pin.
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kcshooter
Member
It also pegs you as a numbskull at the range.
Phydeaux642
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I watched a young Mall Ninja do this at a store the other day. Surprisingly, nobody said anything to him.
steak-knife
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^^beat me to the punch, but if you did that in public at the range, you would automatically get labeled a Mallninja or worse.
Also, like everbody else mentioned, it's bad for the gun.
Also, like everbody else mentioned, it's bad for the gun.
theNoid
Member
Well crap, just color me a mallninja then...lol, sorry haven't done it much and really had no idea it wasn't a smart thing to do...DOH!!! :banghead:Noidster
Zeede
Member
Forgive my ignorance, I am new to revolvers, but I have just pushed them closed with my thumb. Are you supposed to hold the cylinder release button as you close it, then release the button? Or is just pushing it home okay?
Cameron
Cameron
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Pushing them closed is fine. No need to hold the cyl. release.
I have also seen the Single-Action Revolver equivalent of the "Bic Flic"...
Idjit with a brand new .44Mag Super Blackhawk (box, docs, and receipt are on the bench next to a box of ammo....loads the cylinder full, spins cylinder as fast as possible, then slams loading gate closed while the cylinder is still spinning...You can see the revolver 'torque' in his hand when the cylinder stop latches in.
Made me want to remove the gun from his hand, and then demonstrate {on his forehead} how the "Old West" town sheriff drove in tacks while hangin up the new wanted posters.....
Idjit with a brand new .44Mag Super Blackhawk (box, docs, and receipt are on the bench next to a box of ammo....loads the cylinder full, spins cylinder as fast as possible, then slams loading gate closed while the cylinder is still spinning...You can see the revolver 'torque' in his hand when the cylinder stop latches in.
Made me want to remove the gun from his hand, and then demonstrate {on his forehead} how the "Old West" town sheriff drove in tacks while hangin up the new wanted posters.....
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
For Lack Of Better Terminology
Cuz its something that "gun idiots" do~!
Cuz its something that "gun idiots" do~!
Tom Servo
Member
Because the ghosts of Samuel Colt, Dean Wesson and Horace Smith kill a kitten every time you do it.
Also, bad for the yoke. I've several times turned away used revolvers because I saw the previous owner flick it shut.
(Sidenote: I finally saw the Miami Vice movie and noticed Will Farrel's character doing it in one scene--the one in the hotel in Haiti. I thought Michael Mann would know better.)
Also, bad for the yoke. I've several times turned away used revolvers because I saw the previous owner flick it shut.
(Sidenote: I finally saw the Miami Vice movie and noticed Will Farrel's character doing it in one scene--the one in the hotel in Haiti. I thought Michael Mann would know better.)
Bush Pilot
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Do it at a gun store, it'll tell the owner you've watched too many black and white detective movies.
SwampWolf
Member
The practice of flipping the cylinder shut has been called "Bogarting" (after Hollywood tough guy, leading man Humphry Bogart who routinely snapped the cylinder closed on various Dick Specials).
theNoid
Member
Very interesting SwampWolf, thanks. I had never heard of it being referenced as such, although I may I have heard my sisters cousins uncles brothers roommates pizza delivery guy mention bogarting the bong once or twice...
Noidster
Noidster
benderx4
Member
Continuing with this theme, when examining a used revolver for purchase, how would one go about checking the yoke for proper alignment? Is it just a visual thing?
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