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Revolvers

Home > Examination of Firearms > Examination > Safety Features > Revolvers

Dan Wesson revolver with transfer bar

Courtesy of Ann Davis

The results of the following steps in the examination of the safety features of revolvers should be documented:

1. Confirm that the revolver is empty.
2. Place a primed cartridge case into one of the cylinders.
3. Rotate the chamber so that it aligns with the barrel when the hammer is fully cocked.
4. Strike the trigger with enough force to release the hammer (but not so much force as to move the trigger all the way to the rear).

If the safety features are functioning, one of the following should occur (depending on the type of revolver): 

• The hammer catches at the half-cock.
• The transfer bar drops away from the firing pin.
• The hammer block engages.

Properly functioning safety features should ensure that the hammer and/or firing pin do not make contact with the primer. This is determined by removing the cartridge case and observing if contact occurred.  

• If there are no marks on the primer to indicate contact with the firing pin, the safety functioned properly.
• If there are marks on the primer, one or all of the safety features did not work properly.

If the primed case detonates, there are three possibilities:

• The safety is not functioning properly; retest the firearm.
  • If the primed case detonates after retesting, improper function of the safety is confirmed.
• The test was not performed properly; retest the firearm.
• There is no safety feature present; examine the interior of the firearm to determine if a safety feature was present and subsequently removed.
  

In cases where it is alleged that the firearm discharged after being dropped, additional testing is required. Drop testing is discussed later in this module. Click here to read more about drop testing.

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