HammerBite
Member
When I look at the lockwork of a Smith and Wesson revolver, it appears to be very simple. If I exclude the hammer block and various springs, plungers, pins and studs, I count only six functional parts.
Appearances can be deceiving.
If I list the six parts and the functions they perform, I get the following:
Your list may differ from mine, but you have to admit that gun designers are a pretty clever bunch; many things get done by few parts.
I wonder what kind of mess I would have come up with if I had designed a DA revolver without ever having seen a revolver.
Appearances can be deceiving.
If I list the six parts and the functions they perform, I get the following:
- Trigger
- Elevate double action sear during first part of DA pull.
- Pick up hammer from double action sear during last part of DA pull.
- Drop hammer at end of DA pull.
- Restrain hammer when cocked for SA.
- Drop hammer after SA pull.
- Elevate hand during back stroke.
- Lower hand during return.
- Retract cylinder stop during back stroke before beginning of cylinder rotation.
- Release cylinder stop during back stroke before cylinder indexes with barrel.
- Push rebound slide rearward during back stroke.
- Hammer
- Rotate trigger rearward while being cocked.
- Strike firing pin after falling.
- Double action sear
- Rotate hammer rearward while being elevated.
- Move out of trigger's way during trigger return so that sear may be engaged.
- Cylinder stop
- Engage cylinder notch when extended.
- Move out of trigger's way during trigger return so that stop may be engaged.
- Hand
- Rotate cylinder during ascent.
- Engage next cylinder ratchet position during descent.
- Rebound slide
- Cam hammer back when forward.
- Raise hammer block while moving rearward.
- Lower hammer block while moving forward.
- Transmit motive power for trigger return.
Your list may differ from mine, but you have to admit that gun designers are a pretty clever bunch; many things get done by few parts.
I wonder what kind of mess I would have come up with if I had designed a DA revolver without ever having seen a revolver.
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