Can you shoot an 1800s style revolver without pulling back the hammer?

Question

Just wondering, someone told me you can.

Answer 1

It all depends on the make and model of the revolver. Most pistols made before 1900 were single-action, the most famous being the Colt SAA (Single Action Army) models, the "Peacemaker" being the best example of these. This type had to be "******" by pulling the hammer back to firing position.
The double-action designs as most modern revolvers are, like the Colt "Lightning" and "Thunderer" could be fired by merely pulling back on the trigger until the sear was released, dropping the hammer and firing the weapon.

Answer 2

Only if it was a double-action gun like a small-framed Colt 1877 and large-framed Colt 1878 (such as the Lightning in .38 LC and Thunderer in .41 LC,) or 1889 Colt New Service (a thoroughly modern double-action revolver with swing-out cylinder.) Other double-action guns of the late 1800 were the British Adams revolver of 1851 and the Smith and Wesson 1881 Frontier top-break double-action revolver, smaller Smith and Wesson Safety Hammerless top-breaks, and some Iver Johnson and H&R double-actions from the mid 1890s (essentially copies of the S&W Safety Hammerless.)

Answer 3

yes but you wouldn't want it to. see, if you load an old "six shooter" with six rounds and then accidently drop the gun the firing pin on the hammer could contact the firing cap or primer and set off the round ( usually back at you or someone you don't wanna hit ) --- or as sometimes happened you would load a "cap and ball" revolver and not put grease over the open ends of the revolver then you may have what was called "gang fireing" where the hot gases from one chamber would set the others off (very disturbing thought) --- your friend prob used the heel of his hand or some other hammer on the hammer of the gun to fire his that is not good for your hand or your accuracy hopes this helps

Answer 4

It has to be a double-action revolver.

In a double-action revolver the drigger pull cocks the hammer. In single-action revolvers, like the old kinds, you must pull back the hammer.

Answer 5

There were some revolvers at the end of the 1800s that were double action, so yes.

Answer 6

Yes and no. They were invented in 1851 by Robert Adams, so it is feasible they were around ;). Some, but not all were double action.
The ones that you asked about, just pull the trigger to c0ck and shoot are called "double action" .

Single action, you pull the hammer back, and pull the trigger. Thats how my derringer, an 1865 model shoots.


For scads of info on this, google "double action" "Robert Adams" and you will find a lot of info on it.

Answer 7

It depends on the year Single action about the time of Wild Bill Hickok didn't even have center fire cartridges then. they were converted over so they could shoot center fire.Double action closer to the 1900's.
Wild Bill would hold his pistols straight up eye height and pull the hammer,s back and fire left then right back and forth single action.

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Answer 8

There are a few double-action revolvers that date to the mid-19th century, but they're not exactly common compared to the single-actions.

Answer 9

Colt Developed what is commonly referred to now days as double action revovlers around 1880

Answer 10

Depends.