Can I get a single action with flip-out cylinder?

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NoirFan

NoirFan

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I recently came across this old video featuring something I've never seen; a Uberti replica with a flip-out cylinder

This is from 2010 and I wasn't able to find any other discussion on this gun. It's a unique model and it's piqued my interest in finding a similar gun. Does anyone have any leads as to the gun in the video or any other source for a weapon like this?

And just in case anyone is wondering why, I'm trying to create a pair of functional Gunslinger's Revolvers from Stephen King's Dark Tower book series, so this is an aesthetic rather than a practical project ;). If I can get my hands on a pair of flip-out single actions in 45 Colt, the rest of the cosmetic alterations will be pretty easy.
 
Hamilton Bowen does a custom job of a Colt SAA with removable cylinder with multiple extraction. So far as I know the only American side break Single Action was the High Standard Longhorn series revolvers, and I believe these were double action.


Bob Wright
 
There is the Smith and Wesson Model 14 that was made in single action only. Its hardly a gunslinger's gun though, and its chambered in 38.
 
Howdy

That Uberti is news to me. I don't think it ever came to the market.

High Standard made these double action revolvers when I was a kid. They were 22 rimfire, and were shaped to resemble a single action revolver, but they were really double action.

Not made anymore, but I'm sure you could find one if you looked.

b3760708e58e67914c59b1fe2fa44c69_zps0pvtj6yk.jpg
 
NoirFan said:
I recently came across this old video featuring something I've never seen; a Uberti replica with a flip-out cylinder

This is from 2010 and I wasn't able to find any other discussion on this gun. It's a unique model and it's piqued my interest in finding a similar gun. Does anyone have any leads as to the gun in the video or any other source for a weapon like this?

And just in case anyone is wondering why, I'm trying to create a pair of functional Gunslinger's Revolvers from Stephen King's Dark Tower book series, so this is an aesthetic rather than a practical project ;). If I can get my hands on a pair of flip-out single actions in 45 Colt, the rest of the cosmetic alterations will be pretty easy.
Click to expand...

Well, I wouldn't get too hung up on the single action since Roland clearly fires his weapons many times on screen without raising the hammer first. Since Gilead was in an alternate universe, I think you would be OK starting with a swing-out DA gun, a Colt Official Police let's say, adding an 1875 Remington style web relieved for the ejector rod, then fitting it with an elongated SA style trigger spur and some SAA grips. The result would be pretty close and still functional.
 
Thanks for the replies so far, everyone.

NIGHTLORD40K said:
Well, I wouldn't get too hung up on the single action since Roland clearly fires his weapons many times on screen without raising the hammer first. Since Gilead was in an alternate universe, I think you would be OK starting with a swing-out DA gun, a Colt Official Police let's say, adding an 1875 Remington style web relieved for the ejector rod, then fitting it with an elongated SA style trigger spur and some SAA grips. The result would be pretty close and still functional.
Click to expand...
You get what I'm after. I don't need it to be a single action but I do want the Old West look and feel combined with the swing-out cylinder and 45 caliber. I toyed with something like what you're suggesting based on a Super Redhawk base gun but I'm just examining my options right now.
 
How about a fixed sighted S&W M22?

45acp, DA/SA, skinny barrel, blued, swing out cylinder, fixed sights. I think it checks most your boxes and is a mean looking old school fighting six-gun.
 
NoirFan said:
Thanks for the replies so far, everyone.


You get what I'm after. I don't need it to be a single action but I do want the Old West look and feel combined with the swing-out cylinder and 45 caliber. I toyed with something like what you're suggesting based on a Super Redhawk base gun but I'm just examining my options right now.
Click to expand...
Couple issues I see with a Super Redhawk- the stainless finish and barrel extension are visually quite different from Roland's guns and the Super doesn't have a full grip frame, so fitting it with SA style grips could be pretty tough.

A regular blued Redhawk might be doable, though. You could fix the web to the existing ejector rod shroud and probably modify the gripframe to take Blackhawks grips. A decent machinist could probably modify a Blackhawk hammer too.....:)

The vast majority were .44 of course, but Ruger did make a handful in .45 LC.

A 6" Security Six could work too and would be a lot cheaper, but of course you would be limited to .357.
 
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I had a capgun as a kid in the 1970s that opend that exact way - pull out the ejector rod. We all thought it was so cool.
 
I remember hearing about these when I was involved in cowboy action shooting, ten or so years ago. A lot of people were really losing their **** over how something like that would mess up the sport, but I was interested. I figured that it would add some utility to the gun, for non-CAS use.
 
Driftwood Johnson said:
Howdy

That Uberti is news to me. I don't think it ever came to the market.

High Standard made these double action revolvers when I was a kid. They were 22 rimfire, and were shaped to resemble a single action revolver, but they were really double action.

Not made anymore, but I'm sure you could find one if you looked.

View attachment 788103
Click to expand...

I've got one of those I inherited from my uncle. It's a pretty good shooter, maybe not quite as accurate as my Buckmark or Mark I, but close.
 
What's the point here? It's not difficult at all to develop speed reloading a traditional single action. Contrary to popular myth, a DA is only faster to reload if you're using speedloaders or moon clips. If you're using individual cartridges, it's a wash because the DA is actually slower to load. This is due to the fact that each cartridge must be deliberately inserted into each chamber and it's really not efficient to handle more than two at a time. With a single action, the cartridges can be handled all at once and dropped into the loading port. Gravity takes care of the rest. I can fire five rounds, reload and fire five more in 15secs. I'm able to burn through a brick of .22LR in a couple hours. All it takes is some work to get there.
 
CraigC said:
What's the point here? It's not difficult at all to develop speed reloading a traditional single action. Contrary to popular myth, a DA is only faster to reload if you're using speedloaders or moon clips. If you're using individual cartridges, it's a wash because the DA is actually slower to load. This is due to the fact that each cartridge must be deliberately inserted into each chamber and it's really not efficient to handle more than two at a time. With a single action, the cartridges can be handled all at once and dropped into the loading port. Gravity takes care of the rest. I can fire five rounds, reload and fire five more in 15secs. I'm able to burn through a brick of .22LR in a couple hours. All it takes is some work to get there.
Click to expand...

Well, Craig, I need you to post a vid showing that a traditional Colt SAA cylinder can be reloaded by you (or anyone) faster (or equal to) a swing-out DA revolver cylinder given equal circumstances.

You can pick any two guns of each type. As an example, I will pick two types that are fairly representative of this discussion: S&W K, L, or N frame DA vs. a Colt SAA or a Ruger Blackhawk/Super Blackhawk, and my comparison will be based upon those. Both types of revolvers will be considered as having had all chambers fired with empty fired cases in the chambers. It can be any rimmed cartridge: .38., .357., .44 Spl, or .44 mag. You are most welcome to reject my choices.

To reload the SA revolver, the hammer has to be manually placed at half cock so the cylinder can freely rotate, and the cylinder has to also be aligned with the open loading gate, which requires turning the cylinder just a bit. The revolver can then be turned muzzle up to eject the spent case using the ejector rod. The shooter has the option of ejecting all of the spent cases (which I would do for speed) using the same procedure for all chambers, all the while paying attention to the cylinder alignment for ejection from the loading gate area. It takes a small, but precious, amount of time to do so in the name of speed, which is what this discussion is about.

The DA swing-out cylinder revolver can be accessed by actuating the cylinder latch and, using the ejection rod, ejecting all fired cases at once using the same muzzle up scenario. The hammer can be down and has no bearing upon reloading it nor the cylinder ejection function.

Now to reload.

Both guns are pointed muzzle down. Use the same scenario for each: loose rounds in a shirt pocket, on a table, or a loading bench. Every thing is equal for comparison here.

The SA has to be loaded one chamber at a time, and each time the cylinder has to be hand rotated, with the hammer at half-cock, and then the hammer has to be let down to be ready to fire when all is done.

The DA is loaded one round at a time into the chamber, and then moved into battery. The hammer is in position to fire with no more work. I would rather shoot it in SA mode but that is just me.

I am a lover of repro BP 1851 Navy C&B type pistols so your love of single action guns is not lost on me.

I am awaiting a YouTube vid of your prowess and your response, sir.

Regards,

Jim
 
expat_alaska said:
Well, Craig, I need you to post a vid showing that a traditional Colt SAA cylinder can be reloaded by you (or anyone) faster (or equal to) a swing-out DA revolver cylinder given equal circumstances.

You can pick any two guns of each type. As an example, I will pick two types that are fairly representative of this discussion: S&W K, L, or N frame DA vs. a Colt SAA or a Ruger Blackhawk/Super Blackhawk, and my comparison will be based upon those. Both types of revolvers will be considered as having had all chambers fired with empty fired cases in the chambers. It can be any rimmed cartridge: .38., .357., .44 Spl, or .44 mag. You are most welcome to reject my choices.

To reload the SA revolver, the hammer has to be manually placed at half cock so the cylinder can freely rotate, and the cylinder has to also be aligned with the open loading gate, which requires turning the cylinder just a bit. The revolver can then be turned muzzle up to eject the spent case using the ejector rod. The shooter has the option of ejecting all of the spent cases (which I would do for speed) using the same procedure for all chambers, all the while paying attention to the cylinder alignment for ejection from the loading gate area. It takes a small, but precious, amount of time to do so in the name of speed, which is what this discussion is about.

The DA swing-out cylinder revolver can be accessed by actuating the cylinder latch and, using the ejection rod, ejecting all fired cases at once using the same muzzle up scenario. The hammer can be down and has no bearing upon reloading it nor the cylinder ejection function.

Now to reload.

Both guns are pointed muzzle down. Use the same scenario for each: loose rounds in a shirt pocket, on a table, or a loading bench. Every thing is equal for comparison here.

The SA has to be loaded one chamber at a time, and each time the cylinder has to be hand rotated, with the hammer at half-cock, and then the hammer has to be let down to be ready to fire when all is done.

The DA is loaded one round at a time into the chamber, and then moved into battery. The hammer is in position to fire with no more work. I would rather shoot it in SA mode but that is just me.

I am a lover of repro BP 1851 Navy C&B type pistols so your love of single action guns is not lost on me.

I am awaiting a YouTube vid of your prowess and your response, sir.

Regards,

Jim
Click to expand...

Well, here we go.....LOL
 
CraigC said:
What's the point here? It's not difficult at all to develop speed reloading a traditional single action. Contrary to popular myth, a DA is only faster to reload if you're using speedloaders or moon clips. If you're using individual cartridges, it's a wash because the DA is actually slower to load. This is due to the fact that each cartridge must be deliberately inserted into each chamber and it's really not efficient to handle more than two at a time. With a single action, the cartridges can be handled all at once and dropped into the loading port. Gravity takes care of the rest. I can fire five rounds, reload and fire five more in 15secs. I'm able to burn through a brick of .22LR in a couple hours. All it takes is some work to get there.
Click to expand...
IDK what the point is but, respectfully, I have to disagree that reloading a SA is = to reloading a DA without speed loaders.

A DA revolver dumps all 6 empties at once, where as the SA is a one-at-a-timer.

That alone would make the DA revolver a faster reload.
 
Did anybody actually read what I wrote? Has anybody actually tried it? Or do you just disagree because you 'think' the DA is faster?

First and foremost, I don't do videos and probably never will. I have footage of our last water buffalo hunt and I'd rather watch paint dry than edit it into something someone would want to watch. So as far as producing and editing a video to prove a point to a stranger on the internet, forget it.

The ONLY advantage the DA has is in emptying it. Time gained in unloading is lost when loading.

"If you're using individual cartridges, it's a wash because the DA is actually slower to load. This is due to the fact that each cartridge must be deliberately inserted into each chamber and it's really not efficient to handle more than two at a time. With a single action, the cartridges can be handled all at once and dropped into the loading port. Gravity takes care of the rest."
 
Well boys, I just had some fun.


single%20action%20vs%20double%20action%20speed%20loading%20setup_zpsu8s0wm98.jpg




It turns out I can load a single action six shooter a lot faster than I thought.

I am quite familiar with single action revolvers, I shoot them all the time in CAS. Of course, there are no prizes for loading fast, and I can't remember the last time we had to do a reload on the clock.

So there's the setup, a 2nd Gen Colt (45 Colt) and five spent cases and five dummies without powder or primers. I started out with the gun 'loaded' with the five empty rounds in it, sitting on the table. The five dummy rounds were lined up on the table. Started the stopwatch, put her on half cock, popped out all the empties, then grabbed the dummies and fed them in the standard way, load one, skip one, load four more, full cock, lower the hammer, stop the stopwatch. I amazed myself, I was able to do it in about 17 seconds most of the time. Not really rushing, but not going slow and deliberate either. By the way, I would never do this with live rounds. I would be much slower and more deliberate.


Next for the 38. A nice K-38 Combat Masterpiece. Unfortunately I did not have any dummies with bullets, I had to make do with some A-Zoom snap caps. I started with five snap caps in the gun, the gun on the table. (yeah, there are six snap caps in the photo, but I only used five to keep the test a little bit more equal.) Started the stopwatch, grabbed the gun, ejected the snap caps, then placed them one at a time back in the chambers and closed the cylinder again. Average time around 12 seconds. If I had had dummies with bullets in them it would probably have gone a little bit faster, because the lightweight aluminum snap caps didn't want to drop into the cylinders as nicely as ammo with bullets would. Also it would probably have been faster if I had some 38 dummies lined up on the table ready to go.

Sorry, no video, you will just have to trust me, I was actually able to unload and reload the Colt in about 17 seconds a bunch of times. The big 250 grain bullets make the rounds slide into the chambers real nice and easy. The open loading gate makes a nice chute for the rounds to slide into, rather than trying to poke rounds into the chambers of the 38.




It would be really fun sometime to try the same test with a Top Break Smith and Wesson. These automatically eject the empties when you break them open. It usually requires a flick of the wrist so none of them fall under the ejector star, but that is pretty easy to learn. Then reload the chambers one at a time, then close it with the empty chamber lined up with the bore. Sorry, I don't have any 44 Russian dummies, maybe next time I load some I will make up a few dummies. I'll bet I could reload faster than the Colt.

unloading-1.jpg




By the way, pointing the muzzle up poke out the empties and down to feed is not the fastest way to reload a SAA. Everything is done with the gun pretty horizontal. Rotating the cylinder to line up each chamber with the loading gate is very easy, you just rotate the cylinder with the finger of one hand and back it slightly so the hand stops the cylinder on the ratchet teeth. The chamber is line up automatically. Yeah, I have been doing it for around 20 years, so I guess I have the technique down pretty good. Reminds me of when I first started shooting CAS. Guys would show up at the unloading table, put the hammer on half cock, open the loading gate, and tap the butt of the gun on the table to vibrate the empties out of the chambers. I would ask them what did they think that thing under the barrel was there for.
 
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I just spent some time with a couple guns too. I haven't done much shooting in months so I'm really equally rusty with both platforms. With a Single Six and a K-22, loading from a dump pouch, I was able to manage 12secs with the DA and 10 with the SA.

I don't point the muzzle up to unload either but have it laying flat between my hands.

My advice, learn how to operate a single action, do it often and always reload like you're on the clock.

IMG_5743b.jpg

If you're real slick you can unload it one-handed but that's a lot slower. ;)

IMG_5753b.jpg
 
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