On a Quality SAO revolver how many cylinder locks are there?

[Oninotaki]

Hey guys question is in the title.

I was wondering how many cylinder locks are on nice highquality SAO revolvers? The only SAO revolvers I have are Heritage ones, and I am not sure how representative of the actual design they are.

Also now that I think of it what all does the double action trigger pull on a revolver control? Hammer pull/release, bottom cylinder lock release, and cylinder index correct? Am I missing anything?

 

[Mr. Mosin]

I’m rusty on the details, but a Colt has four clicks to the hammer. Remington’s had 2, if memory serves me

 

[ontarget]

If you are referring to the lock that holds the cylinder in place to align it with the barrel, there is only 1. Most call it the BOLT, some call it a Cylinder Stop.
Your Heritage revolver is an accurate representation of how a Single Action revolver functions.
There have been many iterations of different types of safeties the different manufacturers have introduced over the years, but the basic function hasn't changed.

 

[Mark_Mark]

GP100 has like 10… I think

 

[Jim Watson]

A Colt or close copy Single Action Army has the bolt in the bottom of the receiver engaging notches in the cylinder to keep a chamber aligned with the barrel.

A double action Colt also has the hand remaining in contact with the cylinder ratchet to stabilize the cylinder a bit more; you can feel the "slack" go out of the cylinder as you hold the trigger back.

 

[CraigC]

FWIW, nobody calls them "SAO". They're single action revolvers and double action revolvers. Or shortened to SA or DA. All the "AO" nomenclature applies to autos.

 

[.38 Special]

FWIW, nobody calls them "SAO". They're single action revolvers and double action revolvers. Or shortened to SA or DA. All the "AO" nomenclature applies to autos.

I had a broken DA that was SAO. It was a weird Spanish gun and I couldn't find any parts, so I was SOL...

 

[someguy2800]

Hey guys question is in the title.

I was wondering how many cylinder locks are on nice highquality SAO revolvers? The only SAO revolvers I have are Heritage ones, and I am not sure how representative of the actual design they are.

Also now that I think of it what all does the double action trigger pull on a revolver control? Hammer pull/release, bottom cylinder lock release, and cylinder index correct? Am I missing anything?

One

A single action revolver and a double action revolver work fundamentally the exact same way except on a double action revolver there is a shelf on the trigger that can push up on the bottom of the hammer to cock it.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

The original question is somewhat confusing. Are you referring to the locking cuts in the cylinder or how many times the hammer goes " click"? The cylinder will have the same number of locking cuts as it does chambers. Hammer clicks or notches vary from only one to 3. Ruger SAO new models have a full cock notch only. Uberti SAO can have up to 3. DA revolvers will have only a full cock notch, some are DAO and won't have a full cock notch.

 

[JohnKSa]

'Cylinder locks' is kind of ambiguous.

In a revolver with a swing out cylinder, there is precedent for talking about the methods of keeping the cylinder locked into the frame as "locks" in addition to the bolt that locks cylinder rotation. We had the old S&W "Triple-Lock" revolvers, for example.

Anyway, in terms of locking the cylinder rotation, there are basically two designs, some lock cylinder rotation with a bolt only and some use both a bolt and the hand/pawl. Offhand, I don't know if there are any SA revolvers that use the hand/pawl method or if they only use the bolt approach.

In swing out cylinder designs, the cylinder is usually retained in the frame window with a lock at the rear of the cylinder, and either one at the front of the ejector rod or at the front of the cylinder crane.

Also now that I think of it what all does the double action trigger pull on a revolver control? Hammer pull/release, bottom cylinder lock release, and cylinder index correct?

In addition to that, modern designs have some kind of passive safety that is controlled by the trigger pull. Either interposing a transfer bar, or dropping a hammer block or perhaps operating a hammer rebound safety.

All the "AO" nomenclature applies to autos.

Nitpicking, but there are DAO revolvers that don't have an SA sear. I agree that SAO is not a term that should be used to describe revolvers--in fact, it's not really a term that ever needs to be used as SA and SAO mean the same thing.

 

[CraigC]

Nitpicking, but there are DAO revolvers that don't have an SA sear.

True.

 

[halfmoonclip]

The locking bolt in the frame, which engages the notches in the cylinder, is the usual answer. It is my impression that the hand in SAA revolvers remains in contact with the ratchet, perhaps tightening the lockup when the hammer is thumbed.
Now older guns are another question; there was a Smith with the locking bolt incorporated in the top of the frame, and some imports have stops on the rear of the cylinder, stopping forward rotation. The hand then keeps it from reversing.
For the OP, revolver makers have acknowledged Sam'l Colt's original notion, with a locking bolt in the frame.
Moon

 

[Barmcd]

FWIW, nobody calls them "SAO". They're single action revolvers and double action revolvers. Or shortened to SA or DA. All the "AO" nomenclature applies to autos.

I see the the SAO acronym used with S&W Model 14s which were mostly manufactured as a DA revolver, but were made in single action configuration in small batches in 1961-62 and sporadically throughout the 70s before production ceased.

 

[CraigC]

I see the the SAO acronym used with S&W Model 14s which were mostly manufactured as a DA revolver, but were made in single action configuration in small batches in 1961-62 and sporadically throughout the 70s before production ceased.

Same difference, they're just a single action version of that revolver. As stated above, "SAO" is redundant. If it weren't single action "only", it wouldn't be a single action at all.

 

[Oninotaki]

Thanks for the information everyone. I can see that I was confused on several aspects of this topic. I was indeed talking about the mechanism that prevents the cylinder from rotating aka the cylinder bolt.

I appreciate everyone taking the time to answer my question.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

That clears up the fog a bit. The bolt or cylinder stop on most SA Colt type stuff works off a spring and a cam on the hammer. The spring gives tension to lock the bolt head into the cylinder notches. The bolt pivots on a pin mounted in the frame. The bolt has 2 legs at the opposite end of the locking head, one is for tension, the other rides the cam on the hammer. As the hammer is cocked the offset in the cam pushes on the bolt leg making the bolt draw down into the frame. At a predetermined point the bolt leg slips off the cam and spring tension snaps the head onto the cylinder just before it reaches the locking cut. As the cylinder rotates further the head falls into the locking notch and stops rotation hopefully with a chamber in line with the barrel. When the trigger is pulled and the hammer drops, the bolt leg rides up the slope of the hammer cam pops over the cam and resets for the next shot. The whole process repeats for each shot. Hope I didn't completely confuse you. All this is just part of what makes a single action work.