Peacemaker

by Jon Burch Photography

Title

Peacemaker

Artist

Jon Burch Photography

Medium

Photograph - Digital Capture And Enhancement

Description

A six-gun is a repeating firearm that has a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The term "revolver" refers to a handgun, but other weapons may also have a revolving chamber.

Though the original name was "revolving gun", the short-hand "revolver" is universally used. Nearly all early revolvers and many modern ones have six chambers in the cylinder, giving rise to the slang term "six-shooter"; however, revolvers with 3 to 24 chambers have been made, with most modern revolvers having 5 or 6 chambers.

The revolver allows the user to fire multiple rounds without reloading. Each time the user cocks the hammer, the cylinder revolves to align the next chamber and round with the hammer and barrel, which gives this type of firearm its name. In a single-action revolver, the user pulls the hammer back with his free hand or thumb; the trigger pull only releases the hammer. In a double-action revolver, pulling the trigger moves the hammer back then releases it.

The first guns were expensive and rare curiosities with multi-chambered cylinders that revolved to feed one barrel were made in the late 1500's in Europe. Not until the 1800's would revolvers become practical weapons for non-rich owners. One of the first was a flintlock revolver made by Elisha Collier in 1814.

The first percussion cap revolver was invented by the Italian Francesco Antonio Broccu 1833. Broccu received a prize of 300 francs for his invention, although he did not patent it, his revolver was shown to the King Charles Albert of Sardinia. In 1835 a similar handgun was patented by Samuel Colt, who would go on to make the first mass-produced revolver now known as the "Peacemaker".

This Colt Single Action Army, in caliber 32-20 was made in 1915. It is known as the Single Action Army, SAA, Model P, Peacemaker, or Model 1873. The Colt .45 caliber is a single action revolver with a revolving cylinder holding six metallic cartridges designed for the U.S. government service revolver trials of 1872 by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company, today's Colt's Manufacturing Company, and was adopted as the standard military service revolver until 1892.

The Colt SAA has been offered in over 30 different calibers and various barrel lengths. Its overall appearance has remained consistent since 1873 even though Colt has discontinued its production twice, but brought it back due to popular demand. The revolver was popular with ranchers, lawmen, and outlaws alike, but current models are mostly bought by collectors and re-enactors. Its design has influenced the production of numerous other models from other companies. The Colt revolver is a famous piece of Americana, known as "The Gun That Won the West"

Image copyright 2014 Jon Burch Photography

Uploaded

September 9th, 2014

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