Left handed revolvers?
- Thread starter JDSD
- Start date
Rod B
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Some say that Sam Colt was left handed, thus the reason the loading gate is on the right.
Greenhorse six
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Never fully understood why people say this, I'am left handed and have a SAA clone,and while I do find it easy enought to load lefthanded, the way its made is right handed.
Holding it in your righthand,half cocked for loading,the lefthand opens the loading gate,tilt it back,the left hand works the ejector rod if needed,still in the righthand,turn the pistol 90 degrees to the left and pointed down ward so the rounds slide down the "guide",the left hand loads rounds,the righthand never leaves the grip,like all well thought out firearms.
Maybe it's just me,But I don't see how this is a lefthanded design.
the colt saa was made LEFT handed - at the time it was designed , the PRIMARY for mounted CALVARY officers was the SABRE which was CARRIED ON THE LEFT HIP and DRAWN ON THE RIGHT- same deal but reversed for the pistol- that's why the LOADING gate is on the right side of the frame- i still have an original manual somewhere , and it goes something like this- the pistol is withdrawn with the left hand from the holster and fired at the hostile. upon discharging the cylinder( six rounds) the hammer is pulled to the half-cocked position , allowing the cylinder to move freely- the loading gate is then opened by the RIGHT hand, the RIGHT hand is placed on the ejector rod, and the rod by the RIGHT hand towards the frame of the pistol. upon the extraction of the spent casing, the rod is released ,the cylinder is rotated , and the procedure is repeated until the cylinder is empty.the pistol is then put into a muzzle down position and six loose rounds from the looped belt or cartridge box are put into the cylinder with the right hand , one in each chamber, the cylinder being roatated as the rounds are dropped in . the loading gate is then closed, and the hammer is either fully cocked to re-engage the hostile or lowered and returned to the holster( remember, the "fault" about having a loaded round under the hammer was not known at this time- the 5 beans in the wheel came later)- incidentally, that's also why the 1911 was designed LEFT handed as well- stick one in your left hand, and it's only the safety that isn't manipulated by the left index finger- according to the manual, the safety is manipulated by the by the right thumb- it just so happens that the 1911 is dimensionally correct for either hand , and instead of the safety for the other hand , it's the mag release- everything else can be manipulated by the right hand
Greenhorse six
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
We're kind of hi-jacking this thread,
Still not 100% sold,on the lefthanded thing, I know the SABER was the Primary arm of the Horse soldier and the cross draw of the Saber from the left hip and the pistol on the right hip,which is easly drawen by the righthand as well. and you still need both hands to reload, the cartridge pouch being on the left side.
Add to this the fact that by the time the 1873 SAA came along the Saber was not carried that much any more,being mostly left in garrison or camp while on campaign.
You're right ,I just like talking about this stuff.
ETA; also have a 1911,Last of the great horse pistols.
Where did you find that manual,like to find one,that'd be cool.
Still not 100% sold,on the lefthanded thing, I know the SABER was the Primary arm of the Horse soldier and the cross draw of the Saber from the left hip and the pistol on the right hip,which is easly drawen by the righthand as well. and you still need both hands to reload, the cartridge pouch being on the left side.
Add to this the fact that by the time the 1873 SAA came along the Saber was not carried that much any more,being mostly left in garrison or camp while on campaign.
You're right ,I just like talking about this stuff.
ETA; also have a 1911,Last of the great horse pistols.
Where did you find that manual,like to find one,that'd be cool.
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We're kind of hi-jacking this thread,
Still not 100% sold,on the lefthanded thing, I know the SABER was the Primary arm of the Horse soldier and the cross draw of the Saber from the left hip and the pistol on the right hip,which is easly drawen by the righthand as well. and you still need both hands to reload, the cartridge pouch being on the left side.
Add to this the fact that by the time the 1873 SAA came along the Saber was not carried that much any more,being mostly left in garrison or camp while on campaign.
You're right ,I just like talking about this stuff.
ETA; also have a 1911,Last of the great horse pistols.
Where did you find that manual,like to find one,that'd be cool.
it's on line somewhere- has an fm number and everything- you have to remember that the 1873 colt borrowed heavily from the 1858 remington, ( it was really a 58 remmy adapted to fire metallic cartridges) and the loading gate was where the percussion caps used to go- basically, take a 58 remmy, drill the cylinder through, add a loading gate,modify the hammer for primers instead of percussion caps, and replace the loading lever with an ejector rod, and you've got a 73 colt-
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paintings( it's on line- cavalry in pursuit of indians -1876) and tintypes show the saber was in full use at the time of custer-We're kind of hi-jacking this thread,
Still not 100% sold,on the lefthanded thing, I know the SABER was the Primary arm of the Horse soldier and the cross draw of the Saber from the left hip and the pistol on the right hip,which is easly drawen by the righthand as well. and you still need both hands to reload, the cartridge pouch being on the left side.
Add to this the fact that by the time the 1873 SAA came along the Saber was not carried that much any more,being mostly left in garrison or camp while on campaign.
You're right ,I just like talking about this stuff.
ETA; also have a 1911,Last of the great horse pistols.
Where did you find that manual,like to find one,that'd be cool.
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Greenhorse six
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Yeah, I've seen a few of those,their to be taken with a grain of salt.
"By the "70"s a large proportion of Warriors had some kind of firearm and close combat was becoming less frequent.The Saber was cumbersome and noisy to carry.On campaign most commanders ordered the swords to be packed and left behind,and from 1870 onwards,it became rare to see a cavalry regiment in the field wearing them. Lt. De Rudio was the only one in the 7th Cav to have a Saber at the Little Big Horn."
