Cap and Ball Revolvers

The earliest revolvers were muzzleloaders, much like the earlier flintlocks from the century prior. To load, put the hammer to half-cock, then you start by pouring black powder into a chamber, place a lead ball on top, and then use the revolver's built in ramrod to push the ball in (for those without a ramrod, you have to use a wooden dowel). Once each chamber is loaded, a percussion cap is placed on the rear of each chamber. You then full cock the hammer, aim and fire the revolver like any other single action revolver.

• Allen & Thurber Pepperbox
• Colt 1849 Pocket
• Colt 1851 Navy
• Colt 1860 Army
• Colt Navy Pepperbox
• Colt Walker
• LeMat (includes built-in shotgun barrel)
• Remington 1858
• Rogers & Spencer
• Savage 1851 Navy (features a pseudo double action trigger, pressing the trigger once will cock the hammer, press again to fire)
• Starr 1863

Pinfire Revolvers

The earliest cartridge-firing revolvers have a firing pin built into the cartridge itself. This made them harder to load and handle compared to later cartridges. All of the below revolvers are either Single/Double Action or Double Action Only.

• Apache Revolver (includes a built-in folding bayonet and knuckle duster)
• Lefaucheux 1858 (Civilian & Military models)
• Lefaucheux Pocket Model
• Victor Collette Revolver

Cartridge Conversion Revolvers

Single Action revolvers that were originally built as cap-and-balls, later converted to cartridge-firing revolvers. The below revolvers are single action except for the Starr.

• C1851 Conversion
• Colt 1860 Conversion
• Colt Walker Conversion
• Remington 1858 Conversion
• Starr 1863 Conversion

Single Action Gate-Loaded Revolvers

Each chamber is loaded one at a time by opening a gate behind the cylinder. Put the revolver in half-cock to open the gate, insert a cartridge into the exposed cylinder, and rotate the cylinder to the next empty chamber. Once loaded, pull the hammer into full cock between each trigger pull. Unload by opening the loading gate and pressing the ejector rod to remove the cartridges from each barrel.

• Colt Bisley
• Colt Open Top
• Ladies Companion Pepperbox
• LeMat Centerfire (includes built-in shotgun barrel)
• Imperial 1879
• Nagant
• Remington 1875
• Single Action Army

Single Action Top-Break Revolvers

Top break revolvers are faster to reload than gate-loaded revolvers as you can access and empty every single chamber at the same time. They still feature a single action trigger though.

• Schofield Model 3
• S&W Model 1
• S&W Model 2
• S&W No.3 Russian

Double Action Gate-Loaded Revolvers

Work exactly like single action gate-loaded revolvers, except the trigger is double action, so it’s not required to pull the hammer before each trigger pull.

• Bodeo 1889
• Colt 1877 Lightning
• Gasser 1870
• MAS Mle 1873
• Nagant Officer's Model
• Rast & Gasser 1898
• Webley RIC

Double Action Top-Break Revolvers

Top break revolvers are faster to reload than gate-loaded revolvers as you can access and empty every single chamber at the same time. These also feature a double action trigger.

• S&W 1st Model Double Action
• S&W Safety Hammerless
• Type 26
• Webley MkVI

Double Action Swing-Out Revolvers

Like top-break revolvers, these revolvers can be loaded more quickly. Unlike top breaks, they do not automatically eject rounds, you have to push the ejector rod to force the casings out. These also feature a double action trigger.

• Colt 1892
• Colt New Service
• MAS Mle 1892
• SW Model 10

Merwin & Hulbert Revolvers

Unique ejection system found only on M&H revolvers. They all feature a loading gate, but they eject all rounds at once by pulling and rotating the barrel, which causes the cylinder to extend and the ejector to push out all rounds. Comes in both single action and double action.

• Merwin & Hulbert Model 1
• Merwin & Hulbert Model 2
• Merwin & Hulbert Model 3
• Merwin & Hulbert Pocket Model

Autorevolver

Very unique for revolvers, an Autorevolver is a single-action revolver that uses recoil to re-cock the hammer after every shot. The hammer still needs to be manually cocked on the first shot.

• Webley Fosbury