How a Revolver Works

A school project of a simple expository animation of "How a Revolver Works" highlighting the trigger and firing sequences. Reference used from howstuffworks.com
Software used: Maya 2009, Photoshop, After Effects, Mental Ray
Update - September 25, 2020:
Thank you for everyone who has reached out and has provided positive feedback on this animation piece over the past 10 years.
www.andrewlarson3d.com
[e-mail]

[@palmbeach4825]

I noticed one thing in all modern guns. We need springs to make them work. SPRINGS . Let that sink in. A very useful invention.

[@cocknballsproductions]

What the fuck does the sink want now

[@applebobbb6321]

Springs make my pen work

[@davidsailo4802]

Spring makes offspring...

[@Zegger]

And when springs weren't a thing, we used ropes for bows and crossbows.

[@ShojoBakunyu]

No Springs! 😜😜😜 kzbin.info/www/bejne/opaVlnVordmpeLM

[@JoshMats]

Finally I know how the cylinder rotates on a revolver!

[@raincomedown_]

Josh Mats never thought i ever see the day I find your comment on a video like this Hi

[@tylnozcn27]

No. way. For real? I never thought I would find you on a vid like this... and after 5 years???

[@tonykieffer1396]

Yep

[@nachomann_]

I'm trying to design a toy gun using the double action hammer to make the shooting sound and this is way more helpful than the other renders.

[@TheSeoulTrain]

Thanks for the feedback. This is the reference I used 10 years ago: science.howstuffworks.com/revolver.htm - there used to be a clickable animation based off of this image that was on the page: i.pinimg.com/originals/75/2e/d1/752ed1ddcc144fa3e9711a1229fa9ca4.png

[@IwillCommentOnYourVideo]

I'm making something similar, and yeah, this was super helpful.

[@cllncl]

Update?

[@nachomann_]

@@cllncl it's paused right now and i don't even think I'll end up using this design but if you want I'll keep ya updated

[@a8552bc]

@@nachomann_ can we get an update?

[@mitchhammond3213]

This actually was a bit more complicated than I thought

[@yaseralani8953]

Mitch Hammond it wouldn't if u play battlefield 4 or 1

[@cottonballs185]

yasir2004 Reloading/cycling animations in video games won't really illustrate a firearm's internal mechanism

[@zaikolebolsh5724]

@@yaseralani8953 did you actually thought you were capable of understanding a firearm because you played a videogame? Fucking hilarious

[@yaseralani8953]

@@zaikolebolsh5724 I have a big imagination

[@kgbagent1404]

yeah me too,but i need to understand it,because i want to make a handmade revolver

[@DONKFORTRESS6956]

Shepard: "you got the DSN?" Ghost: "we got it sir!" Shepard: "good, thats one last loose end" 1:11

[@BlueRGuy]

Turning this into a meme

[@JJ-zy1co]

*Mississippi queen playing*

[@Momo_Kawashima]

One can't unappreciate revolver's semplicity. I know, they're kinda outdated, I know, they can only hold 5 or 6 shots, but for an amateur/beginner gunsmith they're the perfect project

[@eldridgedavis]

Not outdated. Just different.

[@doomthepro2ndplays552]

I agree with you accept for the outdated part

[@Momo_Kawashima]

@@doomthepro2ndplays552 I mean, they're not totally outdated, they're just an older and less practical design

[@jasonemig5199]

Outdated? You need educated pal.

[@Momo_Kawashima]

@@jasonemig5199 well, the solution to how to build a single barrel multi-shot pistol by a mounted revolving cylinder became something "old" when mass produced mag fed semiautomatics took the revolvers' place in armed forces, the only reason they were brought back was because of a shortage of M1911s in the 40s, but then they were again issued only to people in the back lines and as training tools (and no, personal weapons are not considered a soldier's main weapon, even if an officer can allow you to carry one officially they're not supposed to be there). If you don't have speedloaders you gotta shove each shot in separately (which is not a fast thing to do) and have limited ammo capacity (you don't wanna have to reload every 5-6 shots if you need more than 5-6 shots, you just don't wanna), also if a revolver jams (for the people that believe that "revolvers don't jam", they do, they're mechanical contraptions, every contraption will eventually jam, even a simple door joint) it usually jams so you can't pull out the cylinder, and to unjam that it requires a lot of time and effort. Good luck getting that unjammed easly during battle in a situation where you don't even have your main weapon anymore (very bad, if you're in a battle your pistol is a last ditch "shit I'm fucked" gun). So yeah, I guess small revolvers are nice guns to have for self defence (I dunno, I'm italian, we don't carry guns, we have knives and relatives), but on a military level revolvers are indeed outdated, obsolete. Also no, I don't need an educated pal, I need a pal that brings me food, I'm starving here

[@Kop32353]

"Gordon doesn't need to hear all thi-"

[@SniperOnSunday]

Simple, detailed, no-nonsense explanation. We need more videos like this.

[@misplacedentity4901]

this was 12 years ago humans have devolved too much

[@oilybat3269]

1:10 “Im Texas red, nobody can match my draw-“

[@VlOREL]

Revolvers are perfect for life or death situations, they never get jammed

[@elmothewise3915]

Not ideal, 6 round is very little amount of shots, also reloading takes like 30 seconds if you miss all of them, a rifle is a bit too long, so a semiautomatic pistol with a larger magazine is better

[@elmothewise3915]

@Mateusz Wietrzynski I know, it's called a speed loader, my uncle has one for his 44 40

[@elmothewise3915]

@Apex • right, well lets just leave it at this.

[@jonahmorales7588]

Elmo The Wise it only takes one shot to kill

[@elmothewise3915]

@@jonahmorales7588 but it takes minutes to bleed out, and from the shock. You'll still be standing.

[@toazethegecko]

"Hey partner, it seems like you got a very beautiful gir-" - Somewhere in 1870s

[@kimitsu_san]

"Sir, this is the women's bathroo-" 1:11

[@RzeTon]

* Insert Mississippi Queen music *

[@Metado42069]

yes lmao

[@cameron3516]

"Hello sir we're the albuquerque police depa-"

[@everybodys.worried.abt.quinn.]

I have no idea why I’m here but hey, you learn something new everyday

[@soupcanltd2603]

“...and at least one barrel for firing.” Apache revolver: “No, I don’t think I will.”

[@bestboiyeet502]

Employee: sorry sir, you cant bring your dog into this establishment Me:

[@ConfirmedZer0]

"And thy punishment... is DEAT-" V1:

[@TheSeoulTrain]

Sorry for the delay. Thanks for your interest in my video. You can use the sequence if you'd like. I'd like to see your training video when you're finished.

[@jairus5091]

Fascinating.... i always thought you HAD to pull the hammer unit back to shoot, didnt know it could handle shooting without

[@MrMonny]

That's called a single action revolver

[@ALJ9000]

You’re thinking of a single-action. Double-action can just pull the trigger

[@PetuniaIii-pd1ww]

The first revolvers were single action, meaning you did have to pull the hammer back...double action revolvers came along later, and many double action revolvers will have a concealed hammer, for ease in carry situations...other double action revolvers will have an exposed hammer, that can be cocked and then shot like a single action revolver...the big difference is the trigger pull...most single action (or double/single action) revolvers have a very light single action trigger pull, which can aid in accuracy...a double action only revolver normally has a heavier trigger pull, but also is simple to use...pick up gun, aim, squeeze the trigger is simple, and under duress simple frequently wins...the heavy double action trigger is the only safety, and actually works very well...the old fashioned way to carry a single action is to rest the hammer down on an empty chamber, although there are a couple other ways a single action can be carried safely...

[@radioactivehalfrhyme]

This is inexplicably calming.

[@dannyengineer9862]

The Mcdonalds drive through worker: "That'll be 15.99$-" My revolver pointing out the driver's side window:

[@raidzor5452]

That's a weird fidget spinner

[@FBIIlIlIlIIlIl]

That's a childish comment

[@nottodaydevilshindowraithe501]

Sorry, but the edgy school shooter lied, its a gun.

[@a2trappy26]

xD

[@MintToastIvan]

Y'all can't take a joke

[@raidzor5452]

James Patrick Nimphius Your brain is tho

[@WontSeeReplies]

Great work. Technically, visually, and audio/narration.

[@jamvil]

"Sir, could you please sign me this album of yours? Lennon: "Sure. Do you need anything el-" 1:05

[@TheSeoulTrain]

Thanks! That was a key piece of info when I was putting this together.

[@nuttkicker245]

There's something so attractive about the revolvers' simplicity and straightforward design, kind of like the crossbow in a way. Yes, they're not the most ideal weapons but they still hold a special place in every weapon enthusiast's heart.

[@nuttkicker245]

@@AFullNelsonI agree, and I suppose anyone who's willing to carry any type of firearm should get the proper training for it regardless.

[@dawid5878]

This is so awesome and everything is just mechanical lol just like how the old cars they used to make back in the day

[@deepalib3096]

Thanks for showing us how a revolver works

[@alanrochin4270]

This is why I like these guns the mechanism is so simple

[@silvermanicattack8190]

Thats awesome!gives me more confidence with my 10 22 ruger

[@awperstoper3385]

hey dad can i go to a furry fe-

[@UnderscoreBread]

Police: 6 bullets in a head? what an unfortunate suicide.

[@Charliee_Woofy_Pz]

Forensics agent: this was not a suicide, this was deliberate

[@scrollingon1637]

"Ok sir that'll be $500. Would you like to pay with cash or___"

[@TheSeoulTrain]

@micas96 When the hammer hits the firing pin it ignites the gun powder inside the shell, which 'shoots' the bullet. The shell remains in the cylinder. To reload, you would release the cylinder (about 11 sec in) and empty the shell(s). If I redo this animation, I will make sure to add the 'loading and reloading' process.

[@BobMarley-sr4vs]

This was very helpful. Thank you

[@xaza5625]

what a amazing project!!!! You better have passed

[@Cody357]

Revolver lore

[@Cypher791]

excellent, exactly what i was looking for

[@IndorilTheGreat]

This is super educational!

[@132o4_]

I didn't know how the cylinder rotates and all I want to say now is thank you

[@user-yg1ru3um2b]

Thanks for explaining! Revolver was simpler than I thought

[@PetuniaIii-pd1ww]

Yes, but at that there are usually more parts in a revolver than in a semi-auto pistol...the action is relatively simple in both guns, but because there are moving parts in both guns, they are subject to fail on occasion...a broken spring (best example, but pins, screws, etc.) will make any gun pretty much inoperable...you are holding a machine that creates explosions, normally controlled, but strong enough through constant use to wear parts out...

[@GrxTTyttt]

Thank you brother! I really needed to know this😂

[@Raeind]

Excellent video, I enjoyed it. I learned a lot of new thing to improve my shooting thanks so much.

[@jennivb6076]

Me at 4:50 am (still no sleep): *eyes widen* “How does the chamber and/or cylinder of a gun rotate?” *cant go to sleep until I find out*

[@josholdaker8684]

You and me both. Guess it's better than a xanax....

[@nangkutaggu5219]

😂😂😂 Sme here 😂

[@TheSeoulTrain]

@DeathGhost809 All animation was done in Maya, and compositing was done in After Effects. The explosion of the gun powder was a particle animation done in Maya as well.

[@HotPocketMcFarlane]

@Jaime Peñalosa it rotates so the gun can fire the next bullet. When you pull the trigger, the trigger has a little stick that pushes the cylinder around to the next round so you don't have to do it yourself.

[@purushothamraobantu9263]

i learned lot of things through this website

[@madaboutpix]

great video , keep up the great work !

[@akscreations2822]

thank you that was very clean explanation

[@DarkGallahad]

I think you chose the perfect template gun to illustrate how a revolver works. The most important double action revolver in my opinion. The .38 police special revolver. Which evolved from the .45 army colt revolver. Very nice video.

[@diamondeyes1113]

My dad let me shoot his revolver for the first time and it was super fun. He taught me gun safety, I already knew some of the things he said because he let me shoot his 22 a few years ago. He was a police officer so I trust him with guns.

[@KaletheQuick]

That was helpfully informative :)

[@wntw7935]

This helped me out.

[@waffleshardware]

you've explained it very good!

[@6364Tk]

Cool video, love wheel guns.

[@hdevillier5119]

This is a great video!

[@rubens.4116]

I managed to design the first low bore semi-auto (possibly full) revolver pistol. It extracts and ejects casings so never need to do it manually. Able to hold (depending on caliber) your 10 .22lr plus a 10 round magazine, which will have a safety latch to keep the bolt from double feeding if firing what's in the cylinder. I wish I could do a 3D rendering on a computer to later have a 3D printer to make the parts to make a functional model to later make a fully metal version.

[@xXjedmanXx]

excellent video really well illustrated and explained

[@thepurpleshade486]

this would go really well with the song: Missisippi Queen

[@TheSeoulTrain]

Trigger and firing sequnces were animated with driven keys. Other then that I had controls that keyed the rotation for other objects.

[@coppcole]

brilliant animation thanks

[@12Jakeyboy]

Now onto phase 2 of my master plan!

[@loriwicen8706]

May I use this video in a powerpoint for a Beginner Handgun class at my range?

[@TheSeoulTrain]

+Lori Wicen You may use the video. All I ask is that you please credit me in your presentation.

[@loriwicen8706]

+TheSeoulTrain thank you. We most certainly will!

[@arosmackey]

May I use it also with proper credit?

[@TheSeoulTrain]

Please credit 'AndrewLarson3D'

[@Snubrevolver]

After opening the cylinder, you must press the rod that is in front of the cylinder hard and it will eject all the cartridges for you (at least it should).

[@mrducky6322]

That was terrifyingly simple

[@christianchauhan23]

I like the customized handbgun of xander cage.

[@ElPinchiBear]

+You have the DSM? -We got it sir +Good, that's one less loose end

[@nickk7769]

Nice Gun! I Love It!!!

[@tf2spyclass09]

I think every new revolver made should have the gas seal feature because it's cool to be able to silence them

[@mrcappetto]

Very well done, thanks.

[@popcatgoldexperence172]

FRRREEEEEE BIIIRRDD YE-EAAAHH *music*

[@johnanthony7226]

*Free Bird starts playing

[@LiacosEM]

Great video!

[@OrbitWho]

Lennie: I’m gonna tend the rabbits! George:

[@nabilrifqy278]

Sir, we have the DSM. What should we-

[@coontent-tv]

Thanks, now I can make my own at home

[@Aptezo]

perfectly legal in the us lol

[@blessedbeyondmeasures7532]

the best gun! police can't determine what type of gun was used based on just the bullet! the shell casings can! but this gun doesn't withdraw casings🔥💯

[@vinniekiro]

good thinking, you just don't have to reload.

[@sajadhoxhaj6603]

Well if you are a non-professional shooter and reload the revolver like let's say in games you will leave your casings everywhere

[@Average-mi6ih]

Why would you care about that if youre Not a murderer?

[@jaki_slabi4728]

"Damn us both" Micah's reaction:

[@Believe086]

Perfect for Mississippi gun meme

[@helkade]

thanks i learned much

[@TheSeoulTrain]

@adythewolf Thanks man. I took a look at the M107A1, and i might take a go at it when I have some free time.

[@TheSeoulTrain]

@xXTheGreatGooseXx Thanks man. I kind of went back an forth between an older style and modern revolver. Overall, pretty similar.

[@jblockman_59nunyabidnis68]

*MISSISSIPPI QUEEN*

[@TheSeoulTrain]

@d0min8r3 I'm glad this is music to your ears.

[@iamadness69]

@fithare the primer (round thing at the base of the shell) is a tiny cartidge filled with shock sensitive explosive so when its hit by the firing pin it blows up and ignites the powder in the shell

[@stonerminmcjoe]

depends how tight the chambers are really.. some guns they stay in and you gotta pry it out with you fingers, while other you can simply tip the gun back and all the shells will just fall out allowing you to start reloading.

[@shadyking3912]

very informative thank you

[@udabou2009]

"6 shots, more than enough to kill anything that moves". Revolver Ocelot

[@mockaein_007]

Exelent vídeo.

[@GUYANESEGT]

@micas96 the pressure of the gas pushes the shell back while pushing the bullet forward. in this barrel mechanism, the bullet can't jump out on it's own. you have to remove it yourself.

[@moultonleila4911]

really cool

[@lemonlefleur6236]

So then a downwards pulling is used to rotate the cylinder, and then when the cylinder is locked in place by the trigger the piece which pulled down slides back up to get in position to repeat the process? Neat.

[@TheBearsBeans]

Very cool

[@just_a_Valkie]

Old weapons: looks cool, very powerful New weapons: *block*

[@BIGJUICYMOZ]

imma try this

[@IamTheRealAven]

amazing

[@TheSeoulTrain]

@Mrpulkitvmehta14 All the modeling, rigging, and animation were done in Autodesk Maya 2009. Autodesk does have a free trial of the most recent version of Maya through their website. Compositing the animation was done with Adobe After Effects CS3. Adobe also has a free trial through their website.

[@shrimplysuperior]

Cashier: Sir, your total will be $3.50 Me: "Okay, here you go." Me, at the range later that day:

[@diogocorrea9946]

0:00 um revólver é uma arma de fogo repetida que 0:06 usa um cilindro que contém vários 0:08 câmaras e pelo menos um barril para 0:10 disparar o revólver para este exemplo é 0:16 dupla ação, o que significa que o martelo é 0:17 inclinou para trás ao puxar o gatilho e 0:19 uma vez que o gatilho é puxado até o fim 0:20 de volta o martelo é liberado para bater no 0:22 pino de disparo, vamos olhar para o disparo 0:26 seqüência a alavanca de gatilho empurra o 0:28 martelo para trás enquanto se move para trás 0:34 martelo comprime uma mola de metal no 0:35 lidar com o show'd primavera é um enrolado 0:38 mola de tensão desenrolada Molas também são 0:39 usado ao mesmo tempo um palete preso a 0:46 o gatilho empurra uma catraca para 0:47 gire o cilindro isso posiciona o 0:50 próxima câmara de culatra na frente da arma 0:51 barril outro Paul aloja em um pequeno 0:54 depressão no cilindro isso pára 0:56 o cilindro em uma posição específica para 0:58 está perfeitamente alinhado com o cano 0:59 quando a alavanca do gatilho é pressionada 1:02 caminho de volta, libera o martelo 1:04 mola comprimida aciona o martelo 1:06 encaminhar o pino de disparo no martelo 1:08 se estende pelo corpo da arma e 1:10 atinge o primer o primer explode 1:11 inflamando o propulsor o propulsor 1:14 queimaduras liberando um grande volume de gás 1:16 e a pressão do gás aciona a bala 1:17 abaixo do barril a pressão do gás também 1:21 faz com que a caixa do cartucho se expanda 1:23 selando temporariamente a culatra todo o 1:25 gás em expansão empurra para frente em vez de 1:27 para trás

[@AKOK11]

@fithare Did you mean, how does the firing pin set off the bullet? The answer is: there's a primer cap at the base of the cartridge. It's pressure-sensitive, so the sharp strike of the pin detonates it. This small detonation then ignites the main charge. It's chemistry, actually.