5 Rounds Or 6 Rounds

[Shotgun Franklin]

I don't remember if this has come up here before or not but, when did the idea of carrying a Colt SAA with only 5 rounds first start? It's how I learned 30 or 35 years ago for safety. Do we have a historical reference? My Sergent/Trainer carried a SAA on the day shift and he carried only 5 rounds.
I know that in the early days of the Border Patrol they documented a couple of accident discharges with Colt's loaded with 6 rounds.
Anyway, when did it, loading with 5, start?

[Four-Eyed Buck]

probably after they first came out. I know some books on Wyatt Earp document an AD on him while sitting in a saloon. hammer hooked on the chair.......................

[Delmonico]

Right after those "with enough sense to pour urine out of a boot without instructions on the sole" figured out when those early revolver were fully loaded they were very easy to have an accidental discharge with.  So to be truthful they figured it out when "6 shooters" were "5 shooters."

[Trailrider]

I don't know when it became "official" policy in the Army or in the general citizen (civilian) population, but there are recorded incidents:

1. John Finnerty, "The Fightin' Irish Pencil Pusher", a correspondent from the Chicago Times on Gen. Crook's Big Horn & Yellowstone Expedition in 1876, reported an incident in his book, whereby as he was mounting his carbine struck the hammer of his belt gun (type not specified), "which had the hammer resting on a live cartridge", had the gun discharge into the cantle of his saddle, fortunately without damage to him or the horse.

2. On the same campaign, Finerty reported that a soldier died when his gun discharged while chopping wood!

3. The Wyatt Earp incident.

Undoubtedly there were other incidents/accidents.  It probably didn't take long before folks figured out that it wasn't safe to leave the hammer down on a live round. But the solutions might have varied.  One possibility was to leave the hammer down BETWEEN cartridges.  Better than nothing, but always the possibility of the cylinder rotating around.  Second thing I've heard of was to cut a piece of leather attached to the holster, with a hole in it to catch the firing pin.  Hopefully, the leather was thick enough to keep the pin off the primer. Also a possibility of getting the gun hung up when you needed it most.  Third and best: lower the hammer on an empty chamber!

And the WORST is to lower the hammer to the first notch when cocking the hammer! Drop the gun on the hammer spur and the "dog" will shear and the gun goes BANG!

Same is true BTW of the 1911 Series 70 or earlier. That "half-cock" is intended to catch the hammer if it slips off the sear when letting the slide go home chambering the first round!

[Fox Creek Kid]

Social Darwinism worked better before we had stupid gov't agencies and too many lawyers. 

[litl rooster]

Social Darwinism worked better before we had stupid gov't agencies and too many lawyers. 

your on a roll

[Delmonico]

Social Darwinism worked better before we had stupid gov't agencies and too many lawyers. 

Add Warning Labels to that list also.

[Drayton Calhoun]

They would have had to make the SAA a bull barrel just to put all the warnings on it!

[Rube Burrows]

Not sure how true it is but I remember years ago reading that some of the guys in the old west would who used guns as one of their main tools would roll up some dollar bills (be it ones, fives or tens...or whatever) and place it in the cylinder that they they were to keep empty as a reminder to not load 6. It also helped pay for their funeral if they were killed.

Like I said, I dont know where I read that now....it was several years ago.

[St. George]

Not only did they do that - they would also put the Bill of Sale for their horse or other valuables rolled tightly in the chamber.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!