Webley Revolver 1 Normal Firing Position 2 Second Firing Position Showing Trigger Mechanism 3 Third Firing Position 4 Fourth Firing Position

WEBLEY REVOLVER: (1) NORMAL FIRING POSITION. (2) SECOND FIRING POSITION SHOWING TRIGGER MECHANISM. (3) THIRD FIRING POSITION. (4) FOURTH FIRING POSITION thumb ; or, "pulling through" with the trigger when the hammer is forward. In both cases the hammer rotates about its axis, and in so doing compresses a spring, the mainspring, which is the driving force of the hammer (see diagram).

As the hammer is caused to rotate by the thumb in single action, its toe bears against and underneath the tail of the trigger, and this is caused to revolve about its axis until a point is reached when a bent in the toe of the hammer engages with the tail of the trigger. The mainspring, having been compressed, keeps the trigger in engagement with the bent of the hammer. If the trigger now be pulled, it will rotate still further until the tail of the trig ger slips from the bent of the hammer when the hammer will fly forward to fire the round. In the "pull through" action, an acces sory to the hammer comes into play, namely, the hammer catch. This, at its top end, rotates round an axis on the front of the hammer, while its bottom end is caused to protrude by a spring housed between the two and known as the hammer catch spring. When the trigger is pulled its tail, rotating upwards, engages with the bottom of the hammer catch, and so rotates it and the hammer in the opposite direction. Eventually a point is reached when the hammer catch and the trigger tail clearing each other, the hammer flies forward and fires the round.

Cylinder Rotation.

Another feature common to all revolvers is the means of rotating and positioning the cylinder of chambers. Around the central axis of the cylinder and protruding from its rear face are the teeth of the ratchet, one tooth per chamber. To the inside of the tail of the trigger is pivoted the pawl. When the trigger is pulled the tail rises, bringing with it also the pawl. The top of the pawl bears against a tooth of the ratchet, so, when the pawl rises, it rotates the ratchet, and brings up the next chamber the full distance to place it in true alignment with the barrel (see diagram).

To prevent over-rotation of the cylinder, stops are provided which prevent movement beyond the exact amount necessary to ensure this alignment. Thus while these stops prevent over-rota tion and the pawl prevents rebound, perfect alignment of the chamber and barrel is secured as is also that of the cartridge cap and hammer. These cylinder stops, pivoted to the trigger and

influenced by a spring, protrude upwards through the bottom of the frame, and engage in slots on the outside circumference of the cylinder. They are so constructed as to disengage from these slots as the pressure on the trigger is released, and the latter starts to go forward. Were these stops to remain in their slots, the cylinder could not be rotated. (The Webley -455 Revolver has two such stops, others usually have one.) Rebound Action.—Furthermore, the cylinder could not be rotated were the hammer nose to remain in the indentation made in the cap of the cartridge case after being struck by the ham mer. To meet this, rebound action is employed, i.e., as the trig ger starts to move forward after a shot has been fired, the ham mer is caused to revolve slightly to the rear and thus clear its nose from the cartridge cap (see diagram).

In the Webley and Colt this action is effected by the lower arm of the mainspring pressing down on the mainspring auxiliary, a shoulder on which bears against the tail of the hammer so rotating it and returning it to its normal position.

Safety

Action.—Accidental discharge through the hammer being knocked forward is also guarded against. In the Webley and Colt the tail of the hammer is shaped, so that if its top be pushed forward, its tail causes the auxiliary to rise. The front end of this bears against a stud on the pawl so raising it. It, in turn, raises the trigger, which meets the down-coming hammer catch, thus preventing further hammer movement. (See diagram.) These last two actions are provided for in the Smith & Wes son by a block underneath the hammer. When the trigger is pulled this block is forced to the rear against a spring. As the trigger is released the block moves forward, a step on it meet ing a step on the tail of the hammer, thus effecting the rebound action. As the trigger moves further forward, the block passes under the hammer tail and so prevents any forward movement by the top of the hammer.

The French army revolver is the 8mm. Modele d'Ordonnance. It is of the solid non-"break-down" type, and the cylinder swings out to the right for ejection and loading. In the •3 Russian Nagant, endeavours are made, both in the action and the ammuni tion, to bridge the space between the front of the cylinder and the breech of the barrel, through which gas escapes, a defect which is present in all other revolvers.