The pistol is provided with a safety device, which makes it impossible to release the hammer unless the slide and the barrel are in their forward position and safely interlocked. This safety device also serves to control the firing and to prevent more than one shot being fired for each pull of the trigger. The safety device consists in a small vertical piece mounted in front of the sear in the receiver, and in its raised position finds a corresponding recess in the bottom of the bolt, when the latter, with the slide, is in the forward position interlocked with the barrel. In this raised position the safety piece does not interfere with the operation of the trigger, but when the slide is moved rearward the bottom of the bolt depresses the safety piece, which, in that position, prevents the movements of the trigger from operating the sear, and thus the hammer cannot be released until the slide is again in its forward position, locked to the barrel.
The locking of the firing pin by the firing pin lock, so that it cannot reach the primer of the cartridge even if struck by the hammer, insures the safe handling of the pistol when not in use. The fact that the firing Din lock is also the rear sight of the pistol prevents ineffectual attempts to shoot the arm without first having released the firing pin lock. The sighting notch in the top of the firing pin lock is cut at such an angle that when the lock is depressed the notch cannot be brought into line with the front sight.
The solid frame which is the ideal construction for a revolver that is to stand rough usage, was originated and perfected by the Colt's Company, and they re gard the adoption of this arm by all branches of the Government service as the ultimate test of the success of their labors. It is made in a variety of sizes and styles to suit all shooters. A line of these revolvers is called the "Swing Out" cylinder, the cylinder being hung on a hinge which permits it to be dropped to one side so that all of the cartridges may be simultaneously ejected and all the chambers re-loaded with great rapidity before the cylinder is again returned to the shooting position.
The "New Service" revolver is a heavy frame double action revolver, made in a great variety of calibers and used largely in the English Army by officers and men for whose use it is adapted to the a50, 455, and 476 Ely cartridges. This model with special construction and sights is also the ideal target revolver for shooters desiring a double action arm, and has been the winner of many prizes, not only at the P,islcy Meet in England, but at all the Revolver Tournaments of the world ever since its introduction.
The arm which has been adopted by all branches of the United States Govern ment Service, is very similar in its construction to the arm just described, al though it is not quite so heavy. A "New Service" with barrel weighs 35 ounces, while the Army and Navy revolver with 6-inch barrel weighs 32 ounces. This model is made in two calibers only, the .38 center fire which uses the ion., Ili. S. Service cartridge) or the short Colt, and the .41 center fire using the .41 long and shOrt Colt. There arc three lengths of barrel in this as in all other models.
Somewhat similar to the preceding is the "Net% Police" revolver, constructed with the idea of providing a stron,g serviceable effective arm of small enough size to be conveniently carried in the pocket, and yet with the firna grip and strong features of the best target and military, arms. It is made only in the .32 caliber,
and may be adapted to the use of the long and short Colt cartridges or the .32 long and short. The weight with a 4-inch barrel is only 17 ounces. The shortest barrel applied to this model is 2,,,./2 inches; the longest, 6 inches. A special police cart ridge is supplied for this revolver where it is intended to be used for heavy work, the square nose construction of the bullet giving it an effective stopping force as though the caliber were much greater.
An arm very similar in all respects to the one just described, is the "New Pock et" revolver. The weights, dimensions and ammunition are the same. The prin cipal difference in the two arms, is that the New Pocket has a smaller handle which makes the revolver particularly useful as a light pocket arm.
Built on this same model, but made only with a 6-inch barrel, and supplied with target sights and adjustment, is the "New Police" target or ladies' target revolver, made only- in the .32 caliber like its relatives just described.
This arm is the most desirable high grade weapon obtainable for all kinds of target and gallery work.
The so-called double action model is made in the .38 and .41 caliber, adapted in each instance to the use of the long and short cartridges. To the 4y2-inch and 6-inch barrels there is affixed a "Rod Ejector" by means of which the empty cartridges may be one by one driven out of the cylinder without removing the cylinder from its seat. The 2Y2-inch and 3%-inch barrels are not supplied with this device.
The single action Army and Vrontier revolver is the heavy arm which in one or the other of its many calibers is invariably the companion of the pioneer and cat tle-man, because it is always serviceable and may be used as a weapon of offence or defence in any one of several ways. It is simple in construction, and adapted to hard work in places where gun shops are not to be met with. Its weight with 7%-itich barrel is 39 ounces.
A close inspection of the drawing of the Bisley revolver will show that it is the same weapon as the one just described with certain modifications, these being principally in the form of the hammer which makes it easier to manage with the shooting hand ; the fonn of grip which many experts regard as more convenient, and comfortable in taking an exact and steady aim; the shape of the trig,ger; and reduced length of pull which is adapted especially for fine work. The target re volver of this model is the same weapon, with extra fine adjustment and target sights.
No description of the product of theColt'sCompany would be quite complete without a mention of the Derringer, a vest pocket weapon, weighing but 6% ounces, with 2y2-incli barrel, and shooting a 4i caliber rim fire cartridge, loaded with ten grains of powder and i53 grains of lead.
The well known Colt rifle is made at present in the 22 caliber only. It shoots the long and short 2z caliber rim fire cartridges, and they may be loaded indis criminately one after another into the magazine. Except when the hammer is down the handle is locked in its forward position. The rifle weighs about six pounds and can be fitted with the adjustable hammer which serves the same pur pose as a set trigg-er.