Korth revolver

Korth Combat revolver, .357 magnum caliber

Korth target revolver, .22LR caliber

Type	Double Action revolver
Caliber(s)	.22LR, .22WMR, .38 Special and .357 Magnum
Weight unloaded	ca. 1040 g with 4" / 102mm barrel
Length	n/a
Barrel length	3" (76mm), 4" (102mm), 5 1/4" (133mm), 6" (152mm) and 8" (205mm)
Cylinder capacity	6 rounds

Korth revolvers are produced on semi-custom, limited basis by Korth Waffen company in Germany. Willie Korth designed his own revolver action during late 1950s, and started to manufacture centerfire revolvers of his own design circa 1965. Korth revolvers represent top grade of European guns; made in very limited numbers and with great deal of precision machining and hand fitting, these revolvers command prices of several thousands of US dollars or Euros. In reward, their users get excellent accuracy, great durability and luxurious finish.
Over the time, Korth revolvers were made in a number of calibers and versions. Basic versions are Korth "Combat" (usually chambered in .38 Spl or .357 Magnum, with optional 9x19 cylinders and barrels 3 or 4 inches long), Korth "Sport" (basically similar to Combat but with longer barrels, also available in .22LR and .22WMR) and Korth "Target" (with adjustable orthopedic grips and target type sights).

Korth revolvers are slid frame,  swing-open cylinder double action guns. Trigger is of proprietary design, with telescoped coil-type mainspring and complicated, precision made and tuned lockwork. Cylinder release lever is located next to the hammer, at the rear of the frame. Once opened, cylinders with crane could be easily removed from the frame by pressing an oval release button, located at the left side of the frame, below the cylinder. This allows for multiple cylinders for one gun, i.e. for shooting 9x19 Luger / Parabelum and .357 magnum ammunition from the same gun, with just the swap of the cylinder. Most Korth revolvers feature full-length ejector rod shroud and ventilated barrel rib. Sights are of adjustable type on al revolvers.

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Webley-Fosbery automatic revolver

.455 caliber Webley-Fosbery revolver, left side

.455 caliber Webley-Fosbery revolver, right side

Diagram from original US patent granted to Col. Fosbery for design of his automatic revolver; Upper frame is in forwardmost position.

Diagram from the same patent, showing upper frame in recoiling position. Note that the gun in the picture uses different cylinder rotation mechanism when compared to production Webley-Fosbery guns.

Data for Model 1902 Webley-Fosbery revolver with 6 inch barrel

Type	Double Action semiautomatic revolver
Caliber(s)	.455 British Service or .38ACP
Weight unloaded	1065 g
Length	267 mm (10.5")
Barrel length	152 mm (6")
Magazine capacity	6 rounds (.455) or 8 rounds (.38)

This unusual weapon, which combined features (either good and bad) of both revolver and a self-loading pistol was a brainchild of British Colonel G. V. Fosbery. The basic design was conceived during last years of 19th century, and first production guns appeared from noted British gun-making company Webley & Scott in 1901. The Webley-Fosbery revolvers were widely tested by various armed forces, but never adopted because of over-complicated design and insufficient advantages over either a double-action revolver (like contemporary Webley & Scott revolvers) or early self-loading pistols. Webley-Fosbery revolvers were produced in several modifications up until start of World War One, and it saw limited action in Boer wars, as well as in WW1 in the hands of few British officers who purchased it privately.
Webley-Fosbery revolver, in fact, had few advantages over contemporary revolvers of same caliber - mostly those were reduced recoil (because of recoiling action and heavier weight) and somewhat improved accuracy in rapid fire (because of self-cocking action and reduced recoil). Its mechanism was quite sensitive for dirt and fouling, and gun must be held tight during the fire, or otherwise the recoil movement of the upper frame will be insufficient for cycling the action. Its reloading was not much faster than of contemporary revolvers, despite the fact that special flat clips were developed for this weapon, holding either 6 .445 or 8 .38 caliber rounds at once.

Webley-Fosbery revolver used recoil energy generated by each discharge, to rotate the cylinder and cock the hammer for next shot. To be able to do so, it had a two-part frame. Bottom part consisted of a grip with trigger unit, and has rails on its upper surface. The upper frame, which held the cylinder and tip-down barrel, as well as hammer unit, as able to recoil on the lower frame rails against a spring. Upon recoil, a special stud, fixed on the lower frame, followed the zig-zag tracks in the cylinder to rotate it and index next loaded chamber with the barrel. At the same moment, hammer was cocked. Once all ammunition in the cylinder was expended, revolver was reloaded by pushing on the barrel lock release and swinging the barrel down on its hinge, thus tipping the rear of the cylinder up. This movement activated the automatic extractor which pulled empty cases out of cylinder chambers simultaneously. Once cylinder was emptied, fresh cartridges were loaded (either one by one or all at once, by using a flat steel clip), then barrel was swung up and locked. After reloading, revolver could be fired either by double action pull on the trigger, or by manual cocking of the hammer with subsequent single-action trigger pull. Webley-Fosbery revolvers were also fitted with manual safety levers, located on the left side of the grip frame.

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Enfield No 2 Mark 1

Enfield No 2 Mark 1

Enfield No 2 Mark 1*

 

Type: Double Action (Mark 1) or Double Action Only (Mark 1* and Mark 1**)
Chamber: .38/200 (.38S&W)
Weight unloaded: 765 g
Length: 260 mm
Barrel length: 127 mm
Capacity: 6 rounds

This revolver was developed at the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield in 1926 - 1927. The design is based on scaled downWebley Mark 6 "break-top" frame, with cylinder chambered for 6 .38/200 rounds. The hammer/trigger group was redesigned, with manual hammer safety lock added, and with separate cylinder lock. This revolver was adopted for British Military service in 1932 as Enfield revolver, .38 caliber, No.2 Mark 1. After 1938, almost all No.2 Mk1s were converted into No.2 Mark 1* configuration.

Enfield No.2 Mark 1* were developed in the late 1930s for British Tank Corps, and are distinguished from early Mark 1 by spurless, Double Action Only hammers, lighter mainsprings, and re-shaped grip side plates. The spurless DAO hammers were required by Tank Corps command to avoid snagging the hammers on tank internals.

Enfield No.2 Mark 1** appeared in the 1942 as a simplified, wartime design. These guns were similar to No.2 Mark 1*, but withouth the hammer stop. After the 1945, all those revolvers were recalled and converted into No.2 Mark 1* configuration.

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Webley top-break revolvers

Webley .455 caliber MK. I (Mark 1, 1887)

Webley .455 caliber MK. II (Mark 2, 1894)

Webley .455 caliber MK. IV (Mark 4, 1899), frame broken open and extractor exposed from the cylinder

Webley .455 caliber MK. VI (Mark 6, 1915)

Webley .38 caliber MK. IV (Mark 4, 1942)

Right and left side views on Webley frame lock

 

Type: Revolver, Double Action
Chamber: .455 British service; .38/200 (.38S&W)
Weight unloaded: 995 g (Mark 1 - Mark 5 with 4 inch barrel); 1100 g (Mark 6)
Length: 260 mm (Mark 1 - Mark 5 with 4 inch barrel); 286 mm (Mark 6 with 6 inch barrel)
Barrel length: 4 inch (101 mm) Mark 1 - Mark 5; 125 mm (some Mark 3 and Mark 4); 152 mm (Mark 6)
Capacity: 6 rounds

The first top-break revolvers were developed by the Webley & Son company (Webley & Scott Co. since 1897) of Great Britain in the 1870s. First Webley revolver had been officially adopted for Royal Army & navy service in 1887, as a Webley Revolver, .455, Mark I. It was a break-top, six shoot, double action revolver, chambered for blackpowder .455 British Service cartridge, officially known as Cartridge .455 revolver, Mark I. This cartridge launched heavy, 18 gramms (265 grains) lead bullet at relatively slow muzzle velocity of 180 meters/second (ca. 600 fps). Later, smokeless version of this cartridge had been adopted, but since it also could be fired in early revolvers, the gain in the velocity or muzzle energy was very minor.

All Webley top-beak revolvers featured two piece frame, which hinges ("breaks") down at the forward low end for ejection and loading. The ejector is actuated automaticayy when the frame is broken open, simulateonusly removing all six cases from the cylinder. The cartridges then can be inserted by hand. In the case of revolver being rechambered for .45ACP round, half-moon clips are used to load the gun (two clips, each for 3 rounds). All Webley revolvers were Double Action or Double Action Only, with very distinguishable shape of the barrel and frame lock with lock lever on the left side of the frame and V-shaped lock spring at the right side. Below is the list of all Webley revolvers, officially adopted in Great Britain. Many other variations were also manufactured for civilian and police use.

Webley revolver, .455, Mark 1. Adopted in 1887, chambered for blackpowder cartridge. 4 inch (101 mm) barrel, "bird head" shaped grip.

Webley revolver, .455, Mark 2. Adopted in 1894, almost the same as Mark 1, but hardened removable steel blate was added at the back of the frame breech, hammer was strenghtened, grip was slightly rounded.

Webley revolver, .455, Mark 3. Adopted in 1897, this was Mark 2 with improved cylinder to frame lock. Cylinder can be removed for cleaning. Since 1905, some Mark 3 revolvers were also made with 5 inch (125 mm) barrels.

Webley revolver, .455, Mark 4. Adopted in 1899, this was an improved Mark 3, made from different steel, with smaller and lighter hammer and wider cylinder slots. Since 1905, some Mark 4 revolvers were also made with 5 inch (125 mm) barrels.

Webley revolver, .455, Mark 5. Adopted in 1913. Mark 5 was designed to accept smokeless (cordite) ammunition, and thus, had larger and stronger cylinder, and accordingly redesigned frame.

Webley revolver, .455, Mark 6. Adopted in 1915, it was the "ultimate" Webley .455 six-shooter. Mark 6 featured redesigned, more squared grip, 6 inch (152 mm) barrels, removable front sights. Mark 6 revolvers were manufactured by Webley & Scott until 1921, later these were manufactured by Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock. Oficially rendered obsolete in 1932 with the adoption of the Enfield No.2 .38 caliber revolvers, but widely used by British troops during the World War Two.

Webley revolver, .38, Mark 4. Oficially adopted for military service in 1942, this was initially a scaled-down version of the .455 Mark 6 revolver, chambered for .38 S&W cartridge, and developed by Webley & Scott in 1923 for police use. These guns were oficially regarded obsolete as late as in 1963. It should be noted, that oficial british .38/200 ammunition was based on early, blackpowder .38 Smith & Wesson cartridge, and was used with heavy 200 grains (13.4 gramms) bullet, leaving the muzzle at relatively slow velocities of about 198 meters/sec (650 fps).

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Revolver FN Barracuda

FN Barracuda revolver with .357 magnum cylinder installed

FN barracuda revolver with both cylinders removed (.357 / .38 top, 9x19 bottom). Also shown are cartridges of respective caliber and steel clip for 9x19 ammunition
Image: FN Herstal - promotion pamphlet

Type	Double Action revolver
Caliber(s)	.357 Magnum / .38 Special and 9x19 Luger, interchangeable
Weight unloaded	1050 g
Length	211 mm
Barrel length	76 mm (3")
Capacity	6 rounds

The "Barracuda" revolver was the only known attempt of famous company FN Herstal to produce a revolver. It was developed during early 1970s and offered for police sales in 1974. This weapon was developed as a versatile police sidearm, suitable for both European and American markets. At the time, US police market was dominated by .38 Special and .357 magnum revolvers, and European police market was mostly dominated by pocket-type automatic pistols with trends mowing toward 9x19 Luger caliber. Considering all that, as well as a very close similarity in bullet diameter of all those rounds, FN decided to produce a revolver that could interchangeably fire all those rounds. To change between "American" .357 / .38 calibers and "European" 9mm Luger / Parabellum, one must simply install an appropriate cylinder to a basic gun frame. As the 9mm ammo is rimless, to achieve reliable extraction and fast loading, 9mm rounds are loaded using special star-shaped flat clips that hold 6 rounds together. Rimmed revolver rounds are extracted using their rims, and can be loaded one by one or 6 rounds at once using speedloaders developed for Smith&Wesson K-frame revolvers. 9mm rounds also can be loaded one by one without clip, but extraction would be problematic.
FN revolvers were of good quality, but somewhat heavy and came to the market a bit too late to sell well. It is believed that FN manufactured several thousands of those guns during mid-seventies.

The FN "Barracuda" revolver is more or less traditional double-action revolver with swing-out cylinder. Firing pin is installed in the frame of the gun for better safety. It is of all-steel construction, with solid frame and heavy, lugged barrel. Only one barrel length of 3 inches (76mm) was available. Sights were fixed, with the front sight blade pinned to the barrel. 
Barracuda revolvers were promoted as multi-caliber and thus ought to have two removable cylinders, one for .38 and .357 caliber rimmed revolver ammunition, and another for rimless 9x19 pistol ammunition. each cylinder was marked with its respective caliber. It must be noted, however, that 9mm cylinders seem to be quite rare, and most available guns are in .38 / .357 caliber only. 
It is NOT advisable to load 9x19 cartridges into cylinders NOT marked for this ammunition.

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Nagant model of 1895

Russian-made Nagant revolver (circa 1925)

Cut-out view of the M1895 Nagant revolver

 

Type: Double Action
Chamber: 7.62mm Nagant
Weight unloaded: 750 g
Length: 230 mm
Barrel length: 114 mm
Capacity: 7 rounds

This revolver was designed in Belgium by Nagant brothers (Emile and Leon) in the late 1880s - early 1890s, and was adopted by numerous countries, including Sweden and Poland, but the major user and manufacturer was undoubtfully Russia (and later Soviet Union). Russian government adopted Nagant revolver in 1895, and local production began in 1898 (first shipments were from Belgium). It was a standard russian sidearm until 1930, when M1895 Nagant was declared obsolete, but it was widely used and manufactured during World War 2, and manufacture was finally ceased circa 1950.

Later, some sporting revolvers, both in 7.62mm and in .22LR were developed on Nagant platform. Intertestingly enough, the M1895 revolvers still can be seen carried by some security personnel in Russia, especially by Railroad Security and by some armed guards. Usually, those revolvers are 2 to 4 times older than men who carry these guns.

From technical point of view, Nagant revolvers were already almost outdated at the moment of its adoption in 1895, since newest revolvers like S&W Hand Ejectors or Colts with side-opened cylinders were much faster to reload. On the other hand, M1895 had some unusual and interesting features, one of which was gas sealed cylinder, which made the Nagant a rare example of revolver suitable for mounting a silencer. Such a practice was known by NKVD and some Red Army special forces (recon and scouts) during WW2. Special silencer, called "Bramit device" was designed by Mitin brothers and could be mounted on the barrel.

M1895 Nagand was a solid frame, seven shot revolver with non-removable cylinder. The loading and unloading was committed wia the loading gate at the right side of the frame, one cartridge by one. Spent cases were ejected by the ejector rod, which, when not in use, was concealed within the cylinder axis and swung to the side on the ejector rod link to be used. Original guns were double action ones, but Tsarists government ordered that some of M1895 should be retrofitted with Single Action triggers and issued to enlisted men, and DA guns should be issued only to the Officers and Police. In Red (Soviet) army only Double Action Nagants were issued.

The gas sealed cylinder, mentioned above, was made to use all of powder gases to propel the bullet (in most revolvers some gases escape from the gap between the cylinder face and barrel breech). To achieve that, the cylinder moves ahead a bit when hammer is cocked, enclosing a barrel breech area with recess in the front of each chamber. The cartridge, unique to that design, had long case with tapered mouth and a bullet totally enclosed inside the case. When cylinder moves forward, the cartridge case mouth entered the barrel breech and was used as additional seal. This was a complicated mechanism, useful mostly when guns were used with silencer.

Being somewhat complicated and relatively slow to reload, with ammunition of marginal power, Nagants were otherwise good guns, reliable, acurate and quite popular among the troops.

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