What is the future of revolvers?

[Flechette]

The last couple of centuries have seen a lot of development go into revolvers.

We have seen pepperboxes, single actions like the SAA, Double actions, break top revolvers like the Webley, the development of "magnum" cartridges, lower barreled revolver like the Mateba, etc.

What do you think is next for revolvers and why?

 

[Hammer059]

I think the same could be said for most firearms, that lots of advancement has been made. You're right though, they have come a long way.

I love revolvers, but I don't think there will be any more big milestones for their improvement. Not enough demand for them nowadays for companies to pour millions into research and development on them. I don't think they're going anywhere soon though, lots of people like myself appreciate them and shoot/carry them.

 

[TruthTellers]

I'd say adaptability. By that I'm talking replaceable grip FRAMES, replaceable barrels for different lengths, rails for lasers and lights.

Those are the only things that can really be improved upon for revolvers. If I could find a manufacturer who produces a new revolver that can shoot .357, but has a variety of barrels from 2" up to 8"... then right there I would buy the 2", a 4", and an 8" for their adaptability instead of having to buy three different revolvers.

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, Dan Wesson is allegedly back in production under CZ management.
They now list only a 6" barrel but say the box it comes in has room for others, so they intend to get back into the original plan.

 

[Sam1911]

Probably minor revisions on the theme, such as making more parts out of advanced materials, a la Ruger's LCR.

There may in fact be enough improvements in frame and grip materials (or even mechanics) to make greater and greater recoil levels manageable by human hands, which would allow the already absurd .500s and .460s to step out even farther -- though there are legal issues with going any bigger in bore size.

Majorly changing the layout (like the Chiappa Rhino) seems to have been moving away from the pinnacle of good ergonomics and so that hasn't taken the world by storm.

Could possibly get some as yet unforeseen improvements from cartridge design as the entire field of cartridge firearms reaches the next turning points.

However, it seems a bit unlikely that revolvers will be carried as far into the future, with new developments, as auto-loaders, for a number of reasons.

In the end, I think we'll recognize revolvers from 2050 as substantively the same as those made in 2015...and in 1970.

 

[ROAshooter]

Those are the only things that can really be improved upon for revolvers. If I could find a manufacturer who produces a new revolver that can shoot .357, but has a variety of barrels from 2" up to 8"... then right there I would buy the 2", a 4", and an 8" for their adaptability instead of having to buy three different revolvers.


Dan Wesson...made just what you are looking for.....but ...in spite of claims of versatility.....it failed....and the company changed hands a few times...till it was obvious...it was not going to be a money maker.....guess its the same old rule...jack of all...master of none....

 

[MagnunJoe]

Taking into account the political, anti gun, situation of this country, revolvers, 1911s and shotguns are the only guns that will be legal in all 50 states. In 8 years time, 35 states will ban magazine with more than 10 rounds, some 7 rounds. 10 states will have a huge tax on ammo and UBC will be a federal law. Gun manufacturers will re-introduce the revolver and it will become a huge money maker.

 

[BLB68]

Dan Wesson...made just what you are looking for.....but ...in spite of claims of versatility.....it failed....and the company changed hands a few times...till it was obvious...it was not going to be a money maker.....guess its the same old rule...jack of all...master of none....

It failed so badly that it's back.

http://cz-usa.com/product/dan-wesson-715-revolver-cal-357-magnum-stainless/

More likely, a combination of price point and decline in popularity of revolvers led DW to discontinue them in favor of other lines.

If you use the arrows on the bottom part with the specs, they do have a Pistol Pack listed with 4, 6 and 8 inch barrels included. (SKU 01935).

 

[JSH1]

I don't expect anything to happen with revolvers and they are too steeped in tradition. About the only thing I can see are revolvers chambered in even more ridiculous cartridges.

 

[gbran]

Don't forget the regulatory climate had something to do with smaller semi-autos with more capacity. The industry exploded with all the new autos and the revolver markets lagged. The gungrabbers have their sights on reduced capacities (NY Safe Act) and semi-autos. Some time in the future with regulators reeling in hi-cap semi's, revolvers could make a comeback.

Here in CA all handguns (save for SA revolvers, curios?) have to be on the state safe handgun roster. No new handguns can be imported or manufactured for sale in CA unless it is microstamp compliant, suffice it to say, CA will see no new firearms, save for the few exceptions. Somebody more knowledgeable, can prolly esplain this better than me, but this is my understanding.

 

[M-Cameron]

I don't expect anything to happen with revolvers and they are too steeped in tradition. About the only thing I can see are revolvers chambered in even more ridiculous cartridges.

im still waiting for my 5.7x28 revolver, haha!

 

[Haxby]

I foresee no changes.
S&W had small, medium and large frames 100 years ago. 357 magnum 80 years ago, 44 mag 60 years ago.
Revolvers account for (I'm guessing) about 10% of the new market.
There's a lot more money in semiautos, and there isn't even anything new there. Polymer frames have been around for about 30 years. Other than that, Browning, Colt, Mauser, and Walther had it all covered 100 years ago. The argument is still 9mm or 45.

 

[Rat Robb]

The only thing that comes to mind is you may start seeing more in autoloader calibers, which I would love. My next purchase I hope to is a .45 acp Smith.

-Robb

 

[Flechette]

How about a design change making revolvers more attractive?

For example, many people have talked about top break open revolvers being easier to load (and the discussion turns to how the frame is too weak).

What about having the cylinder rotate out of a full, solid, one-piece frame but on an axis perpendicular to the barrel? You could point the barrel horizontally with the left side down and the cylinder would rotate out and dump the empty cases on the ground. You would only need one hand to empty the gun.

Faster load/reloads?

 

[SuperNaut]

I'm a product development and marketing guy, so IMNSHO the future of revolvers is the same as what made the AR-15 so popular:

Modularity
Compatibility
Scalability

Incorporate any one of these and you'd have a hit, all three and you'd have a legend.

 

[JSH1]

How about a design change making revolvers more attractive?

For example, many people have talked about top break open revolvers being easier to load (and the discussion turns to how the frame is too weak).

What about having the cylinder rotate out of a full, solid, one-piece frame but on an axis perpendicular to the barrel? You could point the barrel horizontally with the left side down and the cylinder would rotate out and dump the empty cases on the ground. You would only need one hand to empty the gun.

Faster load/reloads?

The Russian OTS-38 revolver did that. Had the barrel on the bottom too. (The top "barrel" is a laser)

 

[Drail]

"How about a design change to make revolvers more attractive?" Oh please. Are you actually serious? It's a firearm - it's not a pair of shoes......

 

[CoalTrain49]

Anyone checked Smith and Wesson's stock lately?

Five years ago it was 3.74. Today it was 22.14

Not exactly the picture of a dying company.

I've carried the same model 36 on and off for 25 years.

 

[Jeff H]

I foresee no changes.
S&W had small, medium and large frames 100 years ago. 357 magnum 80 years ago, 44 mag 60 years ago.
Revolvers account for (I'm guessing) about 10% of the new market.
There's a lot more money in semiautos, and there isn't even anything new there. Polymer frames have been around for about 30 years. Other than that, Browning, Colt, Mauser, and Walther had it all covered 100 years ago. The argument is still 9mm or 45.

It is times like these that you wish this forum had a "like this" button.


But there has been some innovation in revolvers, whatever happened to that Rhino revolver? that was the most interesting development in revolvers that I've seen in a while, but I haven't heard much of them recently.

 

[MrBorland]

This is an interesting thread, but I deleted a bunch of posts that derailed it into another "revolver vs semi-auto" thread. From here on, let's stay on topic - future developments of the revolver.

You might find you have to contrast revos and semi-autos to make your point about where revo technology might advance, but posts that just re-hash the pointless "revolver/semi-auto" debate are going to get deleted.

 

[j1]

J1

The S & W model 19. If you have planned well.

 

[dbmjr1]

Right now demand is huge for anything that will fit in your pocket. Small DAO revolvers are where it's at. We can't keep LCR's and Lady Smiths in the cabinet. They sell as fast as we can get them from our distributors.

The LCR9 is a particularly hot seller in our shop. Partly because of quick reloads using a moon clip, and partly because I carry one on my hip. Less knowledgeable people tend to want to buy what they see us carrying. I guess they think if it's good enough for us, . . .

I'd like to see more light weight revolvers chambered in rimless calibers. I think a small eight shot .32 acp revolver would sell like hot cakes.


On the opposite side of the spectrum are the Loudenboomers. These are the range toys that people buy to have the biggest, baddest, loudest gun on the firing line.

Ruger makes the Blackhawk in .30 Carbine, I'd like to see a DA/SA revolver chambered in that cartridge. Perhaps an eight shot 6" fire breathing plate knocker with adjustable sites. An eight inch silhouette version would be cool too.

 

[tallpaul]

Dan Wesson...made just what you are looking for.....but ...in spite of claims of versatility.....it failed....and the company changed hands a few times...till it was obvious...it was not going to be a money maker.....guess its the same old rule...jack of all...master of none....

That is a comment made by the ignorant... The gun and its concept were and are VERY versatile and well made. They dominated the sport of silhouette since shortly after their introduction. Many hunters and other target shooters loved them. IF there was a failure it was in marketing and public perception.

The problem was that they were considered an "off brand" for many years and like many things in life the public did not miss them until they were gone. A dan wesson pistol pac was one of my early revolvers- My second actually after a 6 inch colt python. I shot the snot out of that gun in my college days when every sunday morning a friend and I went to a strip mine and blew the several hundred rounds I loaded that weekend.

I have a couple of the 357 pistol pacs and a single 357 with a few etxtra barrels. They used to be cheap but they finally have gained more of the following they deserved. As far as the versatility goes it is VERY easy to go from a concealment piece to a hunter or target gun in a few minutes. I am not sure why you would state that they aren't .

You could say that the company wasn't as big as a commercial sucess as it should or could have been but the guns themselves were and are.

 

[tallpaul]

As far as future development I agree that material uses/developements and maybe finishes are the big ones. Grip frames etc may be.

 

[tallpaul]

Anyone checked Smith and Wesson's stock lately?

Five years ago it was 3.74. Today it was 22.14

Not exactly the picture of a dying company.

I've carried the same model 36 on and off for 25 years.

That is not likely much to do with their revolver line... thay have introduced many semi auto and the new AR lines.... I bet that that had more to do with profit than the revolver line... and I love their old revolvers...