The Invention Of The Revolver History Essay

The Invention Of The Revolver History Essay Revolvers are repeating firearms that consist of a cylinder containing multiple chambers, with at least one barrel for firing. The name revolver comes from the short-form of its original name, revolving gun. As its name suggests, the revolver is uniquely designed such that the chambers of a revolver revolve around an axis. 2. The Invention of the Revolver The first inventor of the revolver was Elisha Haydon Collier. Collier invented the flintlock revolver, which was a single-action, self-priming weapon with automatic release of gunpowder into the pan when the gun hammer was cocked. Patented in 1818, the flintlock revolvers single barrel allowed greater accuracy and faster reloading time (Shaver, 2004 ). Today, the revolvers that we are familiar with are an adaptation of Colliers revolver. One of the most significant pioneers in revolver technology was Samuel Colt. There are many variations as to how Colt first came up with the idea for his revolver, ranging from an eureka moment while shooting whales, to stealing Colliers idea in India (Hosley, 1996 ). Colt patented the percussion cap revolver in December 1835, which enabled muzzle-loading firearms to fire reliably regardless of weather. This was an improvement from Colliers flintlock revolver, which was prone to misfire in wet weather. The shooter would load the chambers of the cylinder with gunpowder and a projectile, and put in place several percussion caps. While this loading procedure might be tedious, it allowed the shooter to have rounds fully prepared ahead of time (Harris, 2011 ). Bullet cartridges were soon introduced in revolvers in the 1870s, replacing gunpowder and caps. The cartridges are a combination of a projectile (the bullet), a propellant (gunpowder) and a primer (the explosive cap), all contained within a metal casing. 3. Evolution of Revolvers 3.1 Type of innovation 3.1.1 Product Innovation The first revolvers invented by Collier were a product innovation. The patent was bought by John Evans and Son of London. It manufactured about 10,000 revolvers to sell mainly to the British forces in India and they are embodied as its outputs (Flemming, 2012). 3.1.2 Incremental Innovation Before the revolvers were invented, other types of handguns such as the single shot and multi barreled pistols existed. Revolvers improved on these handguns and hence were an incremental innovation. Firstly in the past, guns were mostly limited to a single shot except the pepper box however it was heavy and difficult to load since it had multiple barrels for each bullet. The revolver has the capability to deliver multiple loads to a single handgun barrel in quick succession (Delman ,2010). Revolvers are also different in terms of having lower chances of malfunction and thus provide greater reliability. Rounds which fail to fire can usually be cleared by merely pulling the trigger which will cycle the cylinder and place the next available round in a firing position (Riverwalker, 2009). Several malfunctions are however common in pistols that require more complex methods to clear them. Revolvers also have a sturdier design due partly to their heavier construction which allows them to shoot more powerful rounds (Riverwalker, 2009). 3.1.3 Component Innovation The revolver is a component innovation since its major change in handgun design is in creating a rotating cylinder which would come into alignment with a single barrel to fire successive bullets (Harris,2010). Collier combined this with a flintlock mechanism to create the first revolver. 3.1.3 Competence Enhancing vs Competence Destroying Originally, Colliers flintlock revolver was competence enhancing for John Evans and Son of London. However the revolver had several problems and by the 1840s, Colts Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company had adapted the revolvers based on the percussion cap system and mass produced them. This was competence destroying for Colliers company while competence enhancing for Colts (Delman, 2010). 3.2 Mechanics of the Revolver Over the years, the revolver has been constantly evolving and many different variations of the revolver have been invented. Despite this, the fundamental design of the revolver still remains the same, with several firing chambers arranged in a circle in a cylindrical block. This differs from other repeating firearms that use a single firing chamber with a different mechanism to load and extract cartridges. In modern revolvers, there is a spring-loaded hammer located at one end of the cylinder, in line with the barrel (Fig. 1). By cocking the hammer back, a new cartridge is lined up between the hammer and the barrel. To release the bullet, a pull of the trigger would result in the spring throwing the hammer forward so it hits the primer at the back of the bullet. The primer explodes, igniting the propellant and driving the bullet down the barrel. Macintosh HD:Users:helpdesk:Desktop:Screen Shot 2013-03-02 at 1.21.04 AM.png Figure 1 The inside of the barrel is lined with spiralling grooves, which increases the stability of the bullet by spinning it. A longer barrel not only improves stability, but also increases the speed of the bullet. 3.2.1 Actions (Mechanism) Single-Action Mechanism Single-action revolvers are revolvers that require the user to cock the weapon manually. The act of pulling back the cock rotates the cylinder and the user can then pull the trigger to fire it. Colts original revolver design involved a ratchet and pawl mechanism to hold the cylinders in place. Double-Action Mechanism Most revolvers today are double-action revolvers that perform two functions: cocking, and then firing the gun. Robert Adams, a British gunsmith, invented double-action revolvers in 1851. In this mechanism, pulling the trigger halfway automatically rotates the cylinder and releases the cocked hammer. Pulling back the trigger even more releases the cocked hammer. This would allow the user to fire the double-action revolver in one trigger pull. 3.3 How it has evolved 4. Uses Applications 4.1 Self Defence In the US where private gun ownership is legalized, a third of all gun sales can be attributed to handguns, including revolvers (Harris, 2013). Many Americans choose the revolver as a self-defense weapon due to its ease of use, maintenance and general reliability. To fire a revolver, a novice gun owner merely needs to aim and pull the trigger for double action revolvers or cock the hammer and then pull the trigger for single action revolvers. Their simplicity in design allows an average person to shoot safely and competently without much training. They are also relatively more affordable and sustainable due to the ability to withstand neglect (Riverwalker, 2009). 4.2 Combat Military The revolver was first adopted in combat by the Texas Rangers against the hostile native Indians who outnumbered them in Texas (Brown, 2013). Later on it was introduced into the U.S army in 1846 when the Mexican War began as Capt. Samuel H. Walker collaborated with Colt to design a novel and more powerful revolver (Colt Defense LLC, 2013). Throughout US military history up till 1985, revolvers had been the standard firearm, to arm the soldiers on battlefields such as during the Civil War, World War I and II. Although later on they were replaced by higher ammunition and faster reloading semi-automatic pistols, today they continued to be employed largely by guards, Navy Shore Patrol, and intelligence and counterintelligence operatives (Olive-Drab, 2013). 4.3 Sporting Hunting Handgun hunting has become a popular sport and most hunters use revolvers since they provide the reliability needed to hunt all types of big game (Hampton, 2013). Hunting with revolvers is more challenging and hones a hunters skills since the guns have comparatively shorter sight radius and less powerful ammunition. Hunters must also stalk closer to the prey to kill it humanely and this gives it greater chance of escaping from the hunters. A significant amount of practice is required to develop accuracy and marksmanship in revolver hunting (Wilson, 2010). 4.4 Law Enforcement Since the 1870s American police forces have relied on revolvers to arrest criminals and protect civilians. The most popular revolver used in law enforcement history was the Colt Official Police invented in 1927 which sold up to 400,000 units by 1970 (Scarlata, 2011). It was the top choice across numerous American police departments for one third of a century. Although production of this model has ceased today, other types of revolvers still play a significant role as back up and off duty firearms among American police officers. 5. Impacts of the Revolver 5.1 Military As an important tool for the military, the revolver has transformed major warfare in history and especially assisted in westward expansion. In the American Civil War in 1860, revolvers were one of the new and powerful weapons that forced armies to change their battle techniques. The Lemat and Colt revolvers were the most common firearms used. For example, Samuel Colt alone produced 200,000 of his guns for the Union and Confederate troops (Elbehri, 2010). These guns were more accurate and required less time to reload since they could fire multiple shots at one time. Combat at the time occurred at short distances and cavalrymen had to charge into formations of the enemy and use firearms and sabers to disrupt them and spread panic. At close ranges, revolvers were very powerful and handy especially while the cavalrymen were in saddles. This allowed armies to attack enemies more easily and aggressively. After the war, the US military adopted the Single Action Army revolver as the standard firearm and they aided the front troops to fight in the Indian war, Spanish-American War and Philippine-American War (military factory, 2011). In World War I, although the Americans had started switching to semi-automatic pistols, the M1917 revolvers continued to play a key role in filling the urgent need for guns. The British-made Webley revolvers also served as the standard sidearm for British soldiers in the war (Lewis, 2012). This sudden popularity in the armies was due to the revolvers small size which allowed airmen and tank operators to be armed under their space constrained environments (Duffey, 2009). Additionally, given its sturdy design and dependability, it was ideally suited to muddy and adverse conditions of trench warfare (Lewis, 2012). In World War II, the British and American troops continued using .38 calibre revolvers until finally afterwards, semi-automatic pistols replaced the revolvers in most militaries worldwide. 5.2 Societal Impacts Due to the strong gun culture that exists in U.S., this report will only be studying the societal impacts that revolvers have caused in U.S. Among the developed countries in the world today, U.S. has the highest number of gun owners. About 9 in 10 Americans own more than 270 million guns (Alpers, Philip and Wilson, 2013). That is 5% of the worlds population owning 35-50% of the worlds civilian-owned firearms, of which around 30% are revolvers (Stray, 2013). Sadly, the U.S. is also well known for clinching the highest number of gun homicides. The points below illustrated how the gun industry has severely impacted the society. Homicides Gun-rights advocates might be right when they argue that there might not be a connection between level gun ownership and homicide. However, numerous surveys and studies have concluded that there is an association between the number of homicides and gun ownership in developed countries. A study by Hemenway found that U.S. firearm homicide rates were 19.5 times higher than other developed countries (Kenny, 2013). Accidental Deaths In addition, unintentional firearm deaths in the U.S. were more than five times higher than in the other countries. Among these 23 countries, the U.S. accounted for 80 percent of all firearm deaths; 87 percent of all children under 15 killed by firearms were American children. Homes with guns are 12 times more likely to have household members or guests killed or injured by the weapon than by an intruder (Kenny, 2013). Self Defense and Reassurance of Safety However, the revolver  Data from the National Crime Victimization Survey suggest that a gun is used in self-defense  about 60,000 to 120,000 times each year. Several other surveys confirm this estimate. Facilitating Crimes each year about a million violent crimes involve guns This means guns are used to commit a crime about 10 times as often as they are used for self-defense. 5.3 Government 5.3.1 Laws Policy Making The Federal legislation enacted the Gun Control Act in 1968 that defines who was not allowed to possess a gun and barred anyone under 21 years old from buying handgun. However, they guarantee the right to gun ownership by law. There are restrictions though. The   National Firearms Act of 1934  restricts civilians from owning automatic weapons, short-barrelled shotguns, hand grenades, and other powerful arms without appropriate registration. People are free to carry guns both openly or hidden, outside, with the exception of federal facilities where guns are prohibited. The buyer of firearm is not obliged to allow official background checks before taking possession of guns. However, the  Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act  of 1993 requires licensed gun dealers to perform background checks. Each state may have different jurisdiction, but overall, in the United States, if you do not have a criminal record and have not been adjudicated as mentally incompetent, you can buy guns. 5.4 Economic Impacts Over the years, the U.S. gun industry has been profiting by illegally trafficking firearms into Mexico. However, these firearms were used to arm drug cartels and thus, caused the deaths of thousands of civilians. Nearly 90 percent of weapons seized in Mexico are trafficked from the U.S. The market is extremely strong, especially because of the high demand and lack of strict control in the sale of weapons in U.S. Furthermore, in 2005, the Congress granted gun dealers blanket immunity from civil damages resulting from the misuse. Thus, the tyranny of the drug cartels and mafia reigns on (Kenny, 2013). The gun industry has faced its own share of ups and downs throughout the history but to date, it is still going strong. In 2012, the industry is expected to earn $11.7 billion in sale and $993 million in profit, according to analysts at IBIS World.(Brad, 2012) In 2011, about half of the six million guns manufactured in the United States were pistols and revolvers. Thats up from just one-third in 2001,  according to a report  from First Research.  Rifles now account for 35 percent of the market, with shotguns and other guns making up the rest. U.S. firearms manufacturers will export some $4.4 billion worth of guns and ammunition to other countries this year. The biggest customers are Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, who accounted for nearly 40 percent of exports in 2012 (its mainly law enforcement and military agencies doing the buying, as private gun ownership is heavily regulated in those nations). IBIS World expects exports to keep surging in the coming years, with ammunition and ordnance being an especially popular item overseas. The economic impact of the firearms industry is up 66 percent since the beginning of the Great Recession, providing an unexpected shot in the arm for the economy, according to a new study. The  National Shooting Sports Foundation  says the economic impact of firearm sales a figure that includes jobs. taxes and sales hit $31 billion in 2011, up from $19 billion in 2008. Jobs in the firearms business jumped 30 percent from 2008 to 2011, when the industry employed 98,750. The industry paid $2.5 billion in federal taxes in 2011, up 66 percent in three years. Ours is an industry with a rich history and heritage that remains vital and important to the American economy today,  NSSF  Senior Vice President  Lawrence G. Keane  said in a statement. To millions of Americans our industrys products represent liberty, security and recreation. Some in the industry attribute the jump in sales to fears the  Obama administration  will tighten gun control laws in a possible second term. Theres a concern that in the second term the  Obama administration  would lead an attempt to restrict gun ownership,  Mr. Keane  said. That concern, known in the industry as the Obama factor, has led many gun owners to purchase now in hopes of avoiding more restrictions and regulations later. (Devaney 2012)

Larry Crowne

Based on the movie â€Å"Larry Crowne† I feel that college is going to be great. This movie really taught me a lot about college and how it’s never to late until your dead. I can only hope that my college experience is like Larry’s : fun , exciting , and a place to meet new people. However this movie also taught me that there are up and downs that come with college, but as long as you try and care you can make it through just fine. The first topic I would like to touch on is the fact that college is a great chance to meet new people, but now only new people but lifetime friends.There are so many different â€Å"characters† or personalities is college, where as it may have not been the same is your high school or city. I’m the type of person that loves to meet new people so that would be just great for me. This also helps me to see that being shy is college is not going to help you get through. Some people might introduce themselves to you like the y oung lady did Larry & other you have to make the first move. Having friends will get you through college and they’re always there for you as you saw in the movie.Moving on to the next topic , I’d say the teachers in college are a lot different. It’s like they understand your older and mature so they are more relaxed and you have more freedom. But one thing that I notice is that they give you work but your responsible for getting it in cause they won’t ask you for it. Also from watching the movie the class room atmosphere is way more relaxed in college but also not everything has the â€Å"Green-light† so to speak.College can be very fun, but I believe that all depends on what you go there with your mind set on. If you go just to party then you won’t be there long. However if you go with a mind to get you education like Larry Crowne then you do what he did which is get his degree so that he could never have to worry about getting fired again. To me because of what Larry had his mind set on doing when he went he was to able to get the job done, have fun after class and sometimes during , and on top of all that he was able to manage a job.I believe he was only able to get it done because he had is priorities set , in order , and he followed through with them. Hence , after viewing this movie feel like I am somewhat ready for college, I’m definitely excited for it. There are a few things that I have to still work on i. e. work and study habits. If you noticed in the end you’d see Larry studying for finals , class etc. when and where ever he could. And in the end it all paid off.College is not an option for me – it’s a must – so there for I have to go. Larry didn’t have to go he wanted to. I wonder how would it have been Larry to just stay out of school and do nothing. Instead he wanted his education and went In with a positive attitude. And no matter when I start college I want to go with that attitude from the get go cause as I witnessed from the movie it’s a much more smoother process. So that’s what I learned from this movie. It really taught me a lesson. h

Unbiased Report Exposes the Unanswered Questions on American Dream Essay Samples

Unbiased Report Exposes the Unanswered Questions on American Dream Essay Samples A Startling Fact about American Dream Essay Samples Uncovered Lots of people would say yes. Therefore, they can contribute to the society as well as developing themselves. Not only does this change in accordance with your surroundings as time passes, but additionally it changes as you become older and you become more mature and responsible. By dwelling previously can lead to obsession and misfortune. American Dream Essay Samples - Overview The American dream is still accessible today as there are many opportunities and ways to receive your career going. The difficulty to maintain a job and stay financially stable can be terribly significant. Everyone has different jobs that may control how successful they are, or wish to be. People have equal chance for achievement. What Is So Fascinating About American Dream Essay Samples? All the characters in The Great Gatsby long for more than that whic h they have and attempt to in several tactics to sate their requirements. Even though some individuals have difficulties to meet their American Dream, a huge majority is living the American Dream. There's no obvious definition of the term American Dream', so all of us have the freedom to make it correspond her or his own targets. On the surface of it, the plot appears to be a typical story of broken hopes and expectations. The American Dream is designed to be a method of life attainable to all Americans. It allows anyone to reach for his or her dream. Need to have a winner, 2012. Ok, I Think I Understand American Dream Essay Samples, Now Tell Me About American Dream Essay Samples! The baby needs to be a lovely fool to be able to be happy and successful. Just be sure that it is something which you require, not just something which you desire in the brief term. You might also speak of the privation in different countries where it is impossible to have a whole passion or possibly to dream. He never compromised on the reality which she's married to somebody else. Naturally there's much more to the essay than only the opening but a wonderful essay is going to have good opening. Perhaps there's a perception that every essay ought to be finished with a bang. It's so obvious to observe every time a student has chosen well so far as the subject of their essay is concerned. When writing an essay a st udent is anticipated to present points that make it simple to attain the American dream. At length, you compose a concluding paragraph which summarizes all the points that you've made. To each theme plays in the important character or did it is the excellent gatsby is a fast and effortless way. Even much better is the scenario whereby the superb story is all about an important ideal that's held dear amongst a larger portion of the general public. All you will need is to bring another story in addition to this place, and upgrade your vehicle and, all set! One other important symbol is the sign of time. Having freedom or equality will stay part of the American Dream and will remain achievable for everyone in the united states. Each American can present their special reply to this question, but there's an underlying element of succeeding and prosperity. As stated in the past paragraph it is possible to attain a good quantity of money from any work here in The United States which can assist you out a fantastic deal in a quest for the American Dream. It's possible here in the United States to find anything you would like as long as you have sufficient money for it. Every US citizen invests her or his own ideas about the ideal future. A nation which operates under no laws with freedom provided to the powerful men and women. The True Meaning of American Dream Essay Samples Even though the American Dream is still valid these days, it might not be achievable for all Americans. High School freshmen are quite similar. Many students think that High School opens the door to numerous freedoms, like staying out late into the evening. Burlington teacher Jerry George said, We've been taking part within this essay contest for a variety of years. American Dream Essay Samples: the Ultimate Convenience! Being in control doesn't necessaril y mean you will get a better life. The expectation that one facet of this bigger ideal could control a person's happiness contributed to the downfall of the American Dream in addition to society. All these factors comprise the American dream and exist as a goal for each and every man or woman who's attempting to reach it. The new methods for life has an effect on the man and their dream. On the flip side, the American Dream is still somewhat less accessible as it was before because attaining and attempting to maintain a job is easily the most difficult. Hard work and healthiness are a few things that add to the progression of the American dream. Just those very small changes on the planet can influence this dream.

The Old College Try A Young Age - 1020 Words

The Old College Try From a young age, people learn the importance of structure to succeed. As early as kindergarten, schools teach students how to build healthy habits, such as organization skills, time management, and commitment to thoroughly completing tasks to the best of their ability. The quality of being organized sets the foundation for success. The motto â€Å"give it the old college try† is commonly used when referring to the amount of effort and willpower required to succeed in college. Some students put forth the effort in order to earn A’s. The â€Å"F† student is only separated from the â€Å"A† student by a difference in motivation, discipline, and social priorities. Every student has free access to the library, available course material,†¦show more content†¦Achievers typically have a plan for their future which guides their present activities. The â€Å"A† students are motivated to obtain a successful career after their college education. These students are committed to challenging themselves and strive to consistently do better. Students who underachieve are optimistic and unrealistic about their time commitments. Consequently, underachievers procrastinate and find themselves with incomplete and sloppy work. These underachievers do not think about the consequences of their actions, or lack of, and tend to focus on the present instead of the future. The inability to stay committed to academic priorities leads to a weak educational foundation. Underachievers are not driven and do not consistently challenge themselves. Unlike the achievers, these unmotivated students do not have a plan for their future. College is not easy and requires self-discipline. Students need to pay attention in class, take notes, and complete school work outside of class to succeed. Achievers understand the importance of structure. The â€Å"A† students demonstrate self-discipline by being committed to reviewing material multiple times and thoroughly completing assignments. These students prioritize studying and commit to a self-imposed schedule. By staying committed to their self-imposed schedule, students lay the path for continuous healthy habits. These healthy habits lead to success. On the other hand, failing students