From: bercov@bevsun.bev.lbl.gov (John Bercovitz)
Subject: Re: Colt cylinder rotation
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, California

In article <1993Feb17.114725.1@cc.uvcc.edu> harrisji@uvmain.uvcc.edu writes:

#For a number of years now, Colt has mentioned the fact that their
#revolver cylinders rotate clockwise as an advertising point.
#Something about greater strength because the cylinder rotates
#clockwise into the frame.

#Am I missing something here?  How would direction of cylinder
#rotation affect strength?  Anyone care to enlighten me?

The hand is the name of the pawl which acts on the ratchet teeth to
rotate the cylinder.  In both Colts and S&Ws, the hand moves upward
to rotate the cylinder.  Since the Colt rotates clockwise (as seen
from the rear), its hand is on the left.  Both manufacturer's guns
have swing-out cylinders which swing out to the left (again from
the operator's standpoint).  Therefore the Colt revolver's hand is
in a position to hold the cylinder closed when it is all the way up
while the S&W revolver's hand does not serve this additional purpose.
Personally, I don't think this difference is a big deal.  There
are more important fine points to argue about such as how many
lockup points there are, where those lockup points are relative to
the cylinder, and how beefy those lockup points are.

Historically, both S&W and Colt started with clockwise rotation.
However, about the time of the Schofields (sp?) the US Army told
S&W that if they wished to compete for revolver contracts, they would
have to reverse the direction of rotation of their cylinders.  S&W
complied but nevertheless did not win any large contracts.  After
having reversed the rotation of their production, S&W didn't feel
it was worth it to re-reverse it so it's stayed that way ever since.

John Bercovitz     (JHBercovitz@lbl.gov)

From: bercov@bevsun.bev.lbl.gov (John Bercovitz)
Subject: Re: Colt cylinder rotation
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, California

In article <C2nzuw.MrG@mailer.cc.fsu.edu> boyd@tait (Mickey Boyd) writes:

#Actually, some parts of the cylinder assembly are threaded, so a clockwise
#rotation is supposed to reduce the chances of anything unscrewing itself.
#This is commonly thought to be bogus, as this type of problem does not seem to
#happen on counter clockwise guns.

S&W has made those parts with right hand threads and then with left
hand threads so as to get away from the problem.  The left hand thread
assemblies don't unscrew, but then neither do the right hand thread
assemblies if you torque them right in the first place.

John Bercovitz     (JHBercovitz@lbl.gov)