Velodog pocket revolver. Velodog revolver

The Velo
-
Dog
is a pocket revolver developed in the late 19th century by Charles-Francois Galant (1832-1900) to protect cyclists from attacks by street dogs (hence the name). As the dogs gradually got used to this new means of transportation, pocket revolvers began to be used as weapons of self-defense, and simply for recreational shooting.

The Galan model had a split frame, with a simple trigger and trigger guard. The revolvers fired 5.75 mm cartridges with a light bullet and a characteristic elongated cartridge case; Lebel flanged chucks in calibers 5.6 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm and semi-flange chucks in calibers 6.35 and 7.65×17 mm. Special, non-life-threatening cartridges loaded with salt, pepper or salt dust were also produced for bicycle dogs[1].

Cartridge 5.75 mm Velodog

At the beginning of the 20th century, both men and women carried “bicycle dogs” for self-defense; They were also used for recreational shooting at picnics. These miniature revolvers were carried in specially made holsters, often very reminiscent of a purse. But small-caliber revolvers were not serious weapons, since they could only be guaranteed to stop the enemy if they hit the head. In addition, if the owner, for convenience, preferred to fold the trigger, then it was very difficult for him, if necessary, in a stressful situation, to quickly bring the weapon into combat readiness by moving this small part down.

In Russia, “velodogs” were produced for some time at the Imperial Tula Arms Factory. These samples used classic cartridges for this class of revolvers, had both folding and non-folding triggers, safety pins on the triggers, and were also produced with a hidden trigger. Extraction of the cartridges was carried out one by one. After the end of the First World War, the demand for Velodogs practically disappeared due to the oversaturation of the civilian weapons market with fashionable pocket self-loading Browning pistols of 6.35 mm caliber and their numerous copies, produced in huge quantities by the Spanish or “Velodogs” are mentioned more than once in Russian literature of the 1920s. x years (“The Viper” by A. N. Tolstoy, “Poems about Revolvers” by Arseny Nesmelov, etc.).

Animals vs. cyclists

The fact is that at that time there were many homeless and stray dogs on the streets of Western European cities, because no one was particularly involved in controlling their population at that time. In Russia the situation was even worse. In the cities, most of the households were five-walled huts, although ennobled in an urban manner - the so-called three-window outbuildings, which had extensive courtyards and gardens. As a rule, in every such household there was a dog, or even more than one, and all of them, with the exception of perhaps the most evil chained dogs, were free-range, and came home only for feeding. And so all these dogs, both abroad and here, took up arms against the cyclists who appeared everywhere: they chased them with loud barks, and even bit them on the legs. After all, there was simply no other transport then, and all wheeled carts and even carriages on the roads of that time (especially Russian ones, with deep ruts!) drove quite slowly and did not provoke anger in the dogs. In addition, the driver had a whip with which he could always whip a dog that was too insolent. But the cyclist had nothing to protect himself from the dogs, and besides, both hands were full.

Not a curiosity, but a means of transportation

In 1887, Scotsman John Dunlop came up with the idea of ​​putting wide hoops made from a garden hose on the wheels of his ten-year-old son's tricycle and inflating them with air. On July 23, 1888, he was granted a patent for the invention. And the priority for the “pneumatic hoop” for vehicles was confirmed by the following patent, dated August 31 of the same year. The rubber tube was attached to the rim of a metal wheel with spokes by wrapping it together with the rim with rubberized canvas in the spaces between the spokes. The advantages of the pneumatic tire were quickly recognized. As early as June 1889, cyclist William Hume raced a bicycle with pneumatic tires at Belfast Stadium. He was considered a mediocre racer, but he won all three races in which he participated. Naturally, already at the end of 1889, the first company for the production of inflatable tires was organized in Dublin under the name “Booth Pneumatic Tire and Bicycle Sales Agency”. And then a real boom in bicycles with these new tires began. Before this, cyclists were looked at as people obsessed with the mania of progress - who else would even think of riding a heavy car with molded rubber tires? Now both women and children began to ride it with pleasure and without much hassle. The bicycle has transformed from a curiosity into a popular means of transportation and has become truly widespread. Detachments of scooter riders appeared in the armies, and Louis Boussenard immediately responded to this with the novel “Captain Rip-Off,” where his French heroes successfully used bicycles against the British. But this is where cyclists are faced with a serious problem...

Cycle Dog Sunset

Velodogs were never a serious weapon, since they could stop an enemy only if they hit the head, although the dogs had a hard time because of them. However, they gradually got used to bicycles, and over time, these pocket revolvers began to be used as weapons for self-defense and simply for recreational shooting at picnics. Their decline began simultaneously with the spread of Browning self-loading pistols. With the advent of the 1906 Browning pocket pistol (the so-called ladies' pistol) and the growing fashion for compact self-loading pistols, some bicycle dog models received new designs. They became similar to self-loading pistols in general, and to Browning weapons in particular. This type of bicycle dog, distinguished by a characteristic enlarged upper rear part of the frame, began to be called the “Browning style”. However, they soon disappeared too.

Tags: Secrets of the 20th century, weapons, dog, pistol, revolver, bicycle, bicycle dog

Velodog: a weapon of defense against man's best friends

At the end of the century before last, dogs huddled in packs posed one of the main dangers for cyclists. The two-wheeled vehicle was unfamiliar to the dogs, so they often showed hostility. Dogs were feared so much that they created special weapons for self-defense.

The French organized the production of models of firearms created for the self-defense of cyclists from dogs. This type of “shooter” was a 5-round revolver with 2 distinctive features.

First of all, the model had an extremely streamlined shape, which made it possible to quickly remove it from clothes without falling off the bike.

Another feature was the presence of a special ammunition that had a small caliber (5.5 or 5.75 mm, depending on the measurement option), but a very impressive cartridge case with a powerful charge of gunpowder.

For opponents of unnecessary violence, who believe that it is wrong to kill a living creature just because it was afraid of an incomprehensible moving vehicle, ammunition was made that could not kill.

They were stuffed with salt or pepper. Although, it seems, there were few merciful people - such ammunition is found very rarely, and only a few have survived to this day.

A clear demonstration of the compactness of the bike dog

The new model of small arms began to be called “Velodog” - from the French velocipede (“bicycle”) and the English “dogue” (“dog”), but the name also included a reference to the then widespread British small revolver “Bulldog”.

Velodog of unknown manufacturer

Over time, man's best friends adapted to bicycles, and cyclists no longer needed self-defense against dog attacks. However, Velodogs did not disappear from the shelves - comfortable and miniature, they began to be used as a simple means of self-defense.

“Velodogs” enjoyed great success among the fair sex.

The model fit comfortably in a woman's hand and was simply taken out of a lady's handbag. In addition, these weapons were relatively cheap and popular, thanks to Spanish manufacturers who played the role of a modern AliExpress in that era.

Not even 2 years have passed since the appearance of the French revolver, when gigantic batches of Spanish models of weapons for protection against man’s best friends filled the counters of gun stores in the countries of the Old World.

Velodog made in Belgium

Manufacturers constantly modified the Velodog, trying to improve the structure of the weapon or, conversely, to make it lighter and reduce its cost. Thus, a number of models did not have a mechanism for removing used cartridges - the drum was only pulled out of the weapon, and the cartridges were knocked out from there using any rod (hat pin, nail, etc.).

Velodog

It was believed that 5 rounds of ammunition was enough to fight off the most rabid dog, and there would be no need to quickly reload the weapon during the fight. The time of revolvers for fighting dogs ended before the Great War. It's all about progress: semi-automatic pistols were already in first place.

The leader among them was Browning in 1906. In Spain, they began to create copies of it (as a result, several hundred species appeared), and they stopped making bicycle dogs. In general, around the world, revolvers quickly began to lose ground and fell into oblivion. Only the USA and England have been producing them for a long time.

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HDH

Published by admin on Tue, 02/10/2009 – 11:55

Manufacture d'Armes HDH SA

in Liege, which existed at the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th centuries. and also known as “Henrion, Dassy and Heuschen” (later “Henrion and Dassy”) (Henrion, Dassy, ​​Heuschen), was one of the best manufacturers of cheap revolvers.

It was she who owned the name “pappy”, which was subsequently repeatedly used by other manufacturers.

Galand Velo-Dog

Published by admin on Sun, 02/08/2009 – 18:13

Galand Velo-Dog revolver

Tactical and technical characteristics of Galand Velo-Dog: Caliber, mm – 5.5 Velo-Dog Length, mm – 132 Barrel length, mm – 47 Weight without cartridges, g – 300 Drum capacity – 5

In 1894, French gunsmith Charles Francois Galand developed a pocket revolver with a hidden trigger, called the Velo-Dog.

This revolver was an open-frame design, somewhat reminiscent of the Le Novo model, but equipped with a conventional trigger with a safety guard and a fixed handle.

It is believed that this Galan revolver was intended to protect cyclists from dogs, which was reflected in the name of the weapon - Velo-Dog ("Velocipede" - bicycle and "Dog" - dog), and almost immediately began to be used as a convenient means of personal defense. They were especially loved by the women who found the weapon by hand. Men respected this weapon because it could be hidden in a vest. Revolvers were easily removed from the pockets of any clothing; in addition, special purse-shaped holsters were sewn to carry these miniature revolvers.

Galand Tue Tue

Published by admin on Sun, 02/08/2009 – 17:58

Revolver Galand Tue Tue

Tactical and technical characteristics of Galand Tue Tue: Caliber, mm – 8×24 R Length, mm – 145 Barrel length, mm – 50 Weight without cartridges, g – 320 Drum capacity – 5

In 1893, French gunsmith Charles Francois Galand created an 8mm pocket revolver with a hidden trigger, called the Tue Tue.

A new 8×24 R cartridge was developed especially for this revolver, which is very similar in appearance to the 8×27 R Lebel cartridge. The Tue Tue revolver was later modified to use .32 S&W and 7.65 Browning cartridges.

Structurally, Tue Tue consisted of three main parts - a frame, a drum and a receiver block. The revolver was produced in two versions: with a barrel block that could be pulled forward or dropped down.

Smoothbore revolver "Dog-1"

In the creation of “service” weapons in the early 1990s. Two main ways emerged - “weakening” existing “combat” samples and special creation of samples with obviously low parameters. An example of the second direction is the Dog-1 smoothbore revolver. It was developed at the Izhevsk State Technical University together with the TINTA enterprise; production was organized by a machine-building plant in the city of Vyatskie Polyany. But even with such respectable names, this “smooth-short-barreled gun” turned out to be perhaps the most strange among domestic revolvers of the 1990s, in which the main role was played by low cost of production and “non-combat” nature.

For the Dog-1, a 12.5 mm caliber was also chosen and a cartridge based on a 32-caliber cartridge case, only shortened by almost half. Accordingly, the power was reduced and the weapon itself was made “short-piercing”. The KV-26 igniter primer was used. Of the several cartridge options by type of equipment, the main one - and the only one included in the State Cadastre - is considered to be a cartridge with a round lead bullet weighing 12 g with a bimetallic jacket. The bullet is fixed in the case with a polyethylene wad and punching. When fired from the Dog-1, the bullet retains its lethal effect at ranges of up to 20 m.

12.5 mm Dog-1 revolver and removed drum with cartridges

The barrel has a cylindrical drill, but in the muzzle there are three grooves, reminiscent of either a “paradox” drill or false rifling, which some manufacturers supplied cheap revolvers with at the beginning of the century. The main purpose of the grooves is to leave a characteristic “imprint” on the bullet. This makes it easier for experts to identify a weapon by bullet, but is hardly useful for ballistics. The drum is held in the frame by a ramrod axle. To disassemble, you need to remove it, then the drum itself. The spent cartridges are knocked out with a cleaning rod. This system reduces the cost of production, but reloading becomes quite inconvenient.

The design of the revolver is driven by the desire to make the weapon as simple and cheap as possible. One-piece frame - assembled with screws. The revolver outwardly gives the impression of a crudely made craft, which casts doubt on the declared accuracy. It would be possible to compensate for the lack of accuracy by using a shot shell, but small shot with a 32 caliber and a weak gunpowder charge will give no more effect than the salt that the guards used to use, or the sand in the cartridges used in the old “bicycle dogs.” In terms of weight and size, the Dog-1 cannot be classified as a pocket device, so the abundance of protruding parts is tolerable. But the simplified shape of the handle hardly makes it comfortable. There was, however, an option with an enlarged wooden handle. The handle is set quite low relative to the axis of the bore.

Diagram of a smoothbore revolver - drawing from a patent

“Dog-1” can be called a product of Article 4 of the 1993 Law on Weapons. “Dog-1” did not gain popularity.

Tactical and technical characteristics of "Dog-1"

• Caliber - 12.5 mm
• Cartridge - 12.5x35R
• Weight of weapon without ammunition - 0.7 kg
• Weight of weapon with loaded drum - 0.9 kg
• Weapon length - 212 mm
• Barrel length - 90 mm
• Weapon height - 140 mm
• Weapon width - 46 mm
• Initial bullet speed - 190 m/s
• Muzzle energy of a steel bullet - 216.5 J
• Drum capacity - 5 rounds

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Galand Le Novo

Published by admin on Sun, 02/08/2009 – 17:48

Revolver Galand Novo / Galand Le Novo

Tactical and technical characteristics of Galand Novo / Galand Le Novo: Caliber, mm – 6.35 auto / 5 mm Novo Length in stowed position, mm – 90 Length in firing position, mm – 110 Barrel length, mm – 30 Weight without cartridges, g – 160 Drum capacity – 5 (6.35 auto) / 6 (5 mm Novo)

In 1905, the French gunsmith Charles Francois Galand, working in France and Belgium, proposed a new folding pocket revolver.

This revolver was produced in two versions, differing only in caliber, drum capacity and name:

• The Novo revolver used a 6.35 mm caliber cartridge and a drum with a capacity of 5 rounds.
• The Le Novo revolver used a 5 mm caliber cartridge and a drum with a capacity of 6 rounds.

Revolver Charter Arms Bull dog (Bulldog), Undercover, Off Duty and Mag Pug (USA)

Early Edition Charter Arms Undercover Revolver, .38 Special

Modern issue Charter Arms Undercover revolver, .38 Special

Charter Arms Undercover revolver with built-in Crimson Trace “Lasergrips” laser sight

Charter Arms Undercoverette .32 HR Magnum revolver

Charter Arms Mag Pug .357 Magnum revolver

Charter Arms Off Duty .38 Special revolver

Revolver Charter Arms Bull dog (Bulldog) in factory camouflage coloring.44 Special

Revolvers under the Charter Arms brand have been produced in the USA from 1964 to the present, while the manufacturing company has changed its name and owners several times (from 2000 to 2007, the revolvers were labeled “Charter 2000”). The first and most successful model of this company was the 5-round Undercover revolver, which has a simple and reliable design, light weight and compact dimensions, which makes it a good option for self-defense weapons for constant concealed carry. An additional attractiveness to Charter Arms revolvers is their moderate price. Over time, the Charter Arms family of revolvers has grown in both increasing and decreasing calibers. “Large-bore” options include the 5-shot “Bull Dog” short-barreled revolvers chambered in .44 Special, the “Bulldog Pug” and “Mag Pug” chambered in .357 Magnum, as well as the new “Pit-bull” pistol chambered .40SW. Smaller caliber options include the Pathfinder revolver, chambered for rimfire, and the Undercoverette, chambered in .32 HR Magnum. In addition, lightweight versions with an aluminum frame and a shortened handle are produced, as well as a “left-handed” “Southpaw” revolver, which is a mirror image of the design of the Undercover Lite revolver, designed for left-handed shooters. The only 6-shot revolver in the Charter Arms line is the “Police Undercover” model chambered in .38 Special.

Charter Arms revolvers in the basic version are built on a steel frame with a detachable (for reasons of manufacturability) handle and trigger guard module. The trigger mechanism is self-cocking, double-action, with an open hammer and a separate firing pin mounted in the frame. The drum is usually five-shot, folding to the left. The drum latch is mounted behind the drum on the left side of the frame. Sights are fixed, non-adjustable. For most revolvers, there are options with a Crimson Trace laser sight built into the handle. Another distinctive feature of Charter Arms revolvers is the wide choice of exterior colors. In addition to the traditional black and unpainted steel colors for weapons, various shades of pink, blue and other frame color options are offered, largely aimed at the female part of the consumer audience.

Galand Mle.1868

Published by admin on Sun, 02/08/2009 – 17:40

Revolver Galand Mle.1868 / Galand Sommerville / Galand Perrin

Tactical and technical characteristics of Galand Mle.1868: Caliber, mm – 11.5x15.5 Length, mm – 254 Barrel length, mm – 127 Weight without cartridges, g – 1000 Drum capacity – 6

In 1868, the famous French gunsmith Charles François Galand, together with his English partner A. Sommerville, received a patent for the original mechanism they developed for removing spent cartridges from a revolver.

In this design, the cartridges were removed using a lever mounted under the barrel and frame of the revolver, which was part of the safety bracket. When this lever was lowered down, the barrel and drum moved forward inside the frame. Almost immediately after the start of movement, the star-shaped extractor, placed at the rear end of the drum, locked, while the drum itself continued to move forward, and the spent cartridges, being removed from the chambers of the drum by the extractor, simply fell out.

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Nagan system revolver arr. 1895

At the end of the 19th century, the Russian army was armed with three types of 4.2-linear (10.67 mm) Smith-Wesson revolvers. It was a very good break-through weapon for its time, providing automatic extraction of spent cartridges from the drum during reloading. The disadvantages of these revolvers included their large mass, non-self-cocking trigger mechanism, in which the shooter manually cocked the hammer before each shot, and, most importantly, cartridges filled with black powder. A shellless bullet of such a cartridge at a distance of 25 m pierced three pine boards 1 inch (25.4 mm) thick, while for bullets from revolver cartridges with smokeless powder, even five such boards were not the limit. However, the main reason that prompted the Russian Ministry of War to announce a competition for a new army revolver was the transition of the Russian army to the caliber of small arms in 3 lines (7.62 mm). A rifle chambered for this caliber was adopted for service in 1891; it seemed logical that the army would also have a revolver of the same caliber in its armament.

To hold an open competition for a new 7.62 mm revolver, the Ministry of War in 1892 published tactical and technical requirements, according to which “a military revolver must have such a combat that one bullet can stop a horse at a distance of 50 steps. If the bullet penetrates four to five inch boards, then the fighting force is sufficient.” The revolver also had to have a mass of 0.82–0.90 kg, the initial bullet speed was required to be at least 300 m/s with good shooting accuracy.

It is noteworthy that in order to simplify the design and reduce the cost of manufacturing the revolver, it was necessary to abandon the automatic extraction of cartridges during reloading and not to use a self-cocking trigger mechanism, because it “has a harmful effect on accuracy.” The real reason for these requirements, which reduce the practical rate of fire of a revolver and obviously put Russian soldiers in worse conditions than other European armies, was the desire to reduce ammunition consumption.

According to the results of the competition, a non-self-cocking revolver designed by the Belgian gunsmith Leon Nagant was recognized as the best, however, during the military tests carried out in the cavalry and artillery officer schools, the opinion was expressed that the revolver should still be self-cocking, as was customary in all European armies.

The decree on the adoption of the revolver for service in the Russian Army was signed by Emperor Nicholas II on May 13, 1895. At the same time, the opinion of the officers was taken into account as follows: the revolver should be produced with a self-cocking trigger mechanism for officers, and with a non-self-cocking trigger mechanism for lower ranks, who during battle allegedly have less control over their actions and tend to waste ammunition.

Only the self-cocking version of the revolver was adopted by the Red Army.

The design of the revolver achieved a very successful combination of high firepower with sufficient accuracy, low weight and acceptable dimensions with simplicity of design, reliability and high manufacturability in mass production. The fundamental design feature of the Nagan system revolver is that at the moment of firing, the drum with the next cartridge is not only precisely aligned with the bullet entrance of the barrel, but is also rigidly interlocked with it, forming a single whole. This made it possible to almost completely eliminate the breakthrough of powder gases into the gap between the barrel and the front of the drum. As a result, the accuracy of the battle became higher than that of revolvers of other systems.

To equip the 7-round drum with cartridges, there is a special window on the right side of the frame. The cartridges are inserted one by one when the next charging chamber appears in the opening of the window. To extract spent cartridges through the same window, a rotary cleaning rod is used. Thus, it was precisely this scheme for loading and unloading a revolver that determined the main drawback of the Nagan system revolver - the lengthy process of reloading the weapon in conditions of fire contact with the enemy.

The revolver is fired with 7.62 mm cartridges, consisting of a brass cylindrical flanged sleeve 38.7 mm long with a Berdan-type capsule, a charge of smoky or smokeless powder and a bullet weighing 7 g and 16.5 mm long with a cupronickel silver jacket and lead. antimony core. Its leading part is made conical, with a diameter at the front of 7.77 mm and 7.82 mm at the rear. To increase the stopping effect, the bullet has a pad on the tip with a diameter of about 4 mm. The bullet is completely recessed in the cartridge case, and the area is 1.25–2.5 mm below the upper edge of the cartridge case. The charge consisted of smoky brown gunpowder or smokeless powder grade “P” (revolver), weighing 0.54–0.89 g, depending on the batch. At a maximum pressure of 1085 kg/cm2, the bullet acquired a speed of 265–285 m/s in the revolver barrel.

It should be noted that the relatively small powder charge makes the cartridge sensitive to temperature changes. Thus, in severe frost, the initial speed of a bullet drops to 220 m/s, which makes shooting at an enemy in warm winter clothes (a sheepskin coat or a sheepskin coat) ineffective.

For aiming when shooting, a slot on the frame of the revolver and a detachable front sight are used. The latter has legs that are tightly pushed into the groove at the base of the front sight on the barrel. During production, the shape of the front sight was changed several times. At first it was semicircular, then it was given a more technologically simpler rectangular shape. However, later they were forced to abandon it and return to the previous shape of the front sight, but with a “truncated” upper part, more convenient for aiming.

Along with self-cocking and non-self-cocking versions of the revolver mod. 1895, the following modifications are also known:

• revolver-carbine for the border guard corps, characterized by a barrel extended to 300 mm and an integral wooden butt;
• commander's revolver, produced since 1927 for weapons
• operational personnel of the OGPU and NKVD troops, distinguished by a barrel shortened to 85 mm and a smaller handle;
• a revolver for silent and flameless shooting, equipped with a BRAMIT silencer (Mitin brothers);
• training revolver of the Nagan-Smirnovsky system chambered for a 5.6 mm rimfire cartridge, produced in the 1930s;
• a sports revolver developed in 1953 by designers of the TsKIB SOO enterprise for the new 7.62×38 mm target cartridge “V-1”;
• sporting target revolvers TOZ-36 and TOZ-49, produced in the 1960–1970s. These revolvers have a non-self-cocking trigger mechanism, improved sights and an orthopedic grip;
• revolver R.1 "Naganych" in versions for firing gas or traumatic cartridges, produced by the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant since 2004.

In just 45 years (from 1900 to 1945), Russian soldiers received more than 2,600,000 revolvers of the Nagan system mod. 1895

History[edit]

The French gunsmith Charles Francois Galan, who worked in Liege and Paris, made a significant contribution to the development of revolvers. In 1872, he patented a double-action trigger mechanism, which was subsequently widely used throughout the world, in particular by Webley in England and Colt in the USA. Galan changed Adams's two-spring design to his own single-V spring trigger system. As a result, the trigger force and the length of its stroke increased, but the Galan system was an order of magnitude superior to earlier designs in reliability. Until 1872, the main self-cocking USM system was the Lefoshe, Adams, Trenter and Vebley Adams systems. All of them implied the presence of a separate spring that returned the trigger to its original position after the shot.

This was the most problematic part of all these revolvers - the spring is very compact, but at the same time quite tight. Its resource is developed very quickly, even modern replicas have insufficient resource. Galan's patent of 1872 was that instead of a single-feather (or double-feather like Adam and Vebley) spring, a V-shaped one is used, the long feather of which acts on the trigger, and the short one on the trigger. The same system is used in Nagan and many other systems. It was Galan who created the Velodog revolver, first released in 1894. However, as such, the pocket revolver class has been very popular since the 1850s, with the introduction of the .22 RF and 7mm Lefauche cartridges. True, in Europe and America, evolution took different paths - in Europe, self-cocking ones like Lefoshe ruled, and in the states, non-self-cocking ones, such as Colt New Line and Remington Iroquois, ruled. An additional surge in popularity came precisely from velodogs and precisely in connection with their trigger, which, unlike the bulldog trigger, was distinguished by its reliability. Almost immediately, this weapon began to enjoy enormous popularity, and soon began to be copied by arms companies throughout Europe, as it had the best combination of compactness and reasonable cost at that time. In addition, the bicycle dogs had a streamlined shape, due to which the revolver could be easily removed from a vest or trouser pocket. In the period from 1894 to 1914. Velodog revolvers were produced by Belgian and French manufacturers, and in 1910-1925. Numerous Spanish private firms and small workshops began to produce these weapons in large quantities. In addition, they were produced in Germany, England and Italy. Belgian revolvers had the best quality of manufacturing and surface treatment. The quality of Spanish products, which, as a rule, simply copied earlier designs, was generally inferior to their prototypes. Velodog revolvers use 5.75 mm Velodog centerfire cartridges (5.75×30 R Velodog), filled with smokeless powder and a jacket bullet. This cartridge also had the following designations: 5.5mm Velodog; 5.75mm Velodog; 5.8mm Velodog; 6mm Velodog. It was equipped with a jacketed bullet weighing 2.9 g and smokeless powder. With a two-inch barrel (51 mm), the muzzle velocity ranged from 200 to 230 m/s, which was approximately the same as a small-caliber .22 Long cartridge.

Ammunition used

Cartridges 12.5x35 mm R are assembled in a 32-caliber metal rifle case shortened to 35 mm for a pistol primer

.

• The standard PP 5.000
  , equipped with a jacketed bullet weighing 13.7 grams with a lead core, an initial bullet speed of 190 m/s and a muzzle energy of 247 J, was certified as ammunition for service weapons and was mass-produced at the Tula Cartridge Plant [10]. The bullet is held in the cartridge case by a polyethylene wad and additionally secured by punching, which prevents its removal and reloading of ammunition by criminal elements.

In the reference literature there are references that initially it was planned to produce 12.5x35 mm cartridges in several equipment options, including

:

• a bullet cartridge equipped with a lead spherical bullet weighing 12 grams with an initial bullet speed of 230 m/s and a muzzle energy of 220 J;
• traumatic cartridge equipped with a plastic traumatic bullet[11];
• signal cartridge[12][11] - released in small quantities;
• gas cartridge[12] - released in small quantities;
• blank (noise) cartridge - released in small quantities[12].

Small, but remote

Although the caliber of the new revolver was very small - only 5.75 millimeters, it nevertheless fired a jacketed bullet (that is, one that had a copper full-metal jacket), as a result of which it had a significant penetrating effect. The cartridge case was quite long and contained a charge of smokeless powder. With a barrel length of 30 millimeters, the initial bullet speed was 183 meters per second, which was a very good indicator. The drums, as a rule, had five chambers, which is why the bike dogs got their characteristic design - their drum protruded slightly beyond the dimensions of the revolver

Another important feature and distinctive feature of the bicycle dog was the folding trigger, so there was no guard around it. He could freely lean towards the barrel and did not interfere at all with removing the revolver from his pocket

The length of the trigger was longer than that of other revolvers, that is, it was a “good lever”, capable of cocking the hammer and turning the drum without much effort at the moment of firing, which was very important for such a weapon operating at close range. Classic bicycle dogs had a hidden trigger and could only fire by self-cocking. This was done both for the sake of the compactness of the weapon itself, and so that under no circumstances could it catch on clothing or the lining of a handbag. The only thing that was inconvenient was reloading the revolver using a special cleaning rod. It was necessary to push all five spent cartridges one by one out of the drum with a cleaning rod and also insert new cartridges into it one by one. But for civilian weapons this was quite acceptable. The combination of a monolithic revolver frame with a hidden trigger, the absence of a trigger guard and the presence of a long but not too “thick” drum not only gave the bike dogs an original and elegant appearance, but also allowed them to be worn with comfort, which other revolvers at that time could not boast of. Therefore, they were loved not only by cyclists, but also by those who had never ridden bicycles, but believed that they needed a “weapon just in case.” Well, bicycle dog manufacturers tried to satisfy the needs of consumers in every way available to them. Nickel-plated revolvers appeared, blued, decorated with engraving and notching, with handles trimmed with mother-of-pearl and ivory. These miniature revolvers were carried in specially made holsters made of fabric, often very reminiscent of a purse, or made of thin leather with a fabric lining. In addition, men could simply carry them in their vest pockets, and women - in their purses.

Revolvers Velodog

Revolvers Velodog

By the end of the 19th century, pocket revolvers appeared and quickly became widespread, united under the common name Velodog. Such weapons were originally intended to protect cyclists from dogs. The problem was truly serious, so much so that it gave rise to the emergence of a whole class of revolvers. However, the dogs gradually got used to this new means of transportation, and over time, pocket revolvers began to be used as weapons of self-defense, and simply for recreational shooting.

Velodog pocket revolvers owe their appearance to the French gunsmith Charles Francois Galan, who worked in Liege and Paris. This talented designer made a significant contribution to the development of revolvers. In 1872, he patented a double-action trigger mechanism, which was subsequently widely used throughout the world, in particular by Webley in England and Colt in the USA. Galan changed Adams's two-spring design to his own single-V spring trigger system. As a result, the trigger force and the length of its stroke increased, but the Galan system was an order of magnitude superior to earlier designs in reliability. Until 1872, the main self-cocking USM system was the Lefoshe, Adams, Trenter and Webley-Adams systems. All of them implied the presence of a separate spring that returned the trigger to its original position after the shot.

Velodog made in Spain. In this case, it is impossible to unambiguously determine the cartridge used by the caliber designation on the frame. It could be the 5.75mm Velodog, also called the 6mm Velodog, or the 6mm Longue Portee cartridge.

This was the most problematic part of all these revolvers - the spring is very compact, but at the same time quite tight. Its resource is exhausted very quickly; even modern replicas have insufficient resource. Galan's 1872 patent was that instead of a single-feather (or double-feather like Adam and Vebley) spring, a V-shaped one was used, the long feather acting on the trigger, and the short feather acting on the trigger. The same system is used in Nagan and many other systems. It was Galan who created the Velodog revolver, first released in 1894. However, as such, the pocket revolver class has been very popular since the 1850s, with the introduction of the .22 RF and 7mm Lefauche cartridges. True, in Europe and America, evolution took different paths - in Europe, self-cocking ones like Lefoshe ruled, and in the states, non-self-cocking ones, such as Colt New Line and Remington Iroquois, ruled. An additional surge in popularity came precisely from velodogs and precisely in connection with their trigger, which, unlike the bulldog trigger, was distinguished by its reliability. Almost immediately, this weapon began to enjoy enormous popularity, and soon began to be copied by arms companies throughout Europe, as it had the best combination of compactness and reasonable cost at that time. In addition, the bicycle dogs had a streamlined shape, due to which the revolver could be easily removed from a vest or trouser pocket.

In the period from 1894 to 1914. Velodog revolvers were produced by Belgian and French manufacturers, and in 1910-1925. Numerous Spanish private firms and small workshops began to produce these weapons in large quantities. In addition, they were produced in Germany, England and Italy. Belgian revolvers had the best quality of manufacturing and surface treatment. The quality of Spanish products, which, as a rule, simply copied earlier designs, was generally inferior to their prototypes. Velodog revolvers use 5.75 mm Velodog centerfire cartridges (5.75×30 R Velodog), filled with smokeless powder and a jacket bullet. This cartridge also had the following designations: 5.5mm Velodog; 5.75mm Velodog; 5.8mm Velodog; 6mm Velodog. It was equipped with a jacketed bullet weighing 2.9 g and smokeless powder. With a two-inch barrel (51 mm), the muzzle velocity ranged from 200 to 230 m/s, which was approximately the same as a small-caliber .22 Long cartridge.

Velodog revolvers use 5.75 mm Velodog centerfire cartridges (5.75×30 R Velodog), filled with smokeless powder and a jacket bullet. The photo shows the 5.75x30 R Velodog cartridge compared to the .22 LR (5.6x15).

Such cartridges had long sleeves, and the drums of these miniature revolvers, as a rule, had five chambers. Thanks to this combination, the bike dogs got their characteristic design. Revolvers of this type could also be produced chambered for the 6 mm Long Poti (6 mm Longue Portee) circular ignition cartridge, with a non-jacketed bullet. One of the main external distinctive features that can be used to determine whether a given specimen belongs to the Velodog or Bulldog revolvers is the presence of the trigger stop axis. Bulldog revolvers were equipped with a trigger stop that prevented the trigger from turning back further than necessary and helped to return the hammer after firing. The classic design of Velodog revolvers includes a V-shaped mainspring, which acts with one shoulder on the trigger and the other on the trigger. The descent stop, as a separate part, is not required for bicycle dogs. Thus, Velodog revolvers have only two axes - the trigger and the hammer, while Bulldog revolvers also have a trigger stop axis.

In general, the question of where the border lies between the Velodog and Bulldog revolvers has been discussed many times. Signs of Bulldog revolvers:

Centerfire cartridge in caliber 6.35 mm Browning, 7.65 mm Browning, .320 CB, .380 CB, .44 Webley, .44 Bulldog, .450 CB; Alternate extraction of cartridges with a cleaning rod retracting into the drum axis; Self-cocking trigger of the Adams, Trenter or Webley type. Features of Velodog revolvers: Circular ignition cartridge .22 LR, .22 Franzes, .22 Extra Long and .22 WRF (Francotte produced Velodogs for the American market in these calibers) or a central firing cartridge in caliber 5.7 mm Velodog, 6mm CB, 6.35mm Browning and 7.65mm Browning; USM with a V-shaped spring of the Galan type. The following classes were allocated to: Pappy revolvers of .22 Long and .22 Short caliber with triggers of both types; Revolvers with simultaneous extraction of cartridges (fractures, folding cylinders, etc.) and revolvers with extraction with the cylinder removed; Revolvers such as “Policeman”, “Constable”, etc. - essentially descendants of Webley RIC, but with a more advanced Adams-type USM, which is used by 95% of bulldogs; Revolvers of mixed types and designs. The trigger for 95% of bulldogs, regardless of caliber, the presence of a folding trigger and the date of production, is a trigger with a separate return spring. But 100% of all observed bicycle dogs, including those chambered for pistol cartridges of 6.35 mm and 7.65 mm calibers, have a trigger with a V-shaped spring, the lower stay of which plays the role of a return spring of the trigger.

Many Velodog revolvers were produced with open triggers. The Belgian Velodog of 5.75 mm caliber shown in the photo with a non-folding trigger is equipped with a safety lever, the lever of which is located on the trigger. Such fuses could differ in design, but the best design is considered to be one in which, in addition to blocking the trigger, it is also disconnected from the trigger.

Belgian Velodog with low-quality new nickel plating, new handle cheeks and a missing cleaning rod. The holster is also new. This state of affairs currently, unfortunately, dominates the antique weapons market.

Another important feature and distinctive feature of the bike dogs was the folding trigger. Moreover, the folding trigger of bicycle dogs has one interesting feature... The use of a V-shaped trigger spring resulted in a self-cocking force, often several times greater than that of bulldogs with a flat mainspring. And with the abstract length of the handle, squeezing the trigger with one finger becomes a non-trivial task. Therefore, many bicycle dogs have a straight and very long descent - designed to be pressed with two fingers when the handle rests on the palm. The methods for removing spent cartridges are different, but mainly it was alternate extraction using an Adams ramrod retracted into the axis of the drum.

The cleaning rod retracted into the drum axis is traditionally divided into two types: Adams (English) and Naganov (Belgian). The first one, with a ramrod bracket attached to the frame by a screw connection or screw, is so called because it became widespread after it appeared on Adams revolvers, although it first appeared on Lefoshe revolvers. In the second, the axis of the ramrod bracket is the barrel. It appeared on Nagant revolvers. Classic bicycle dogs have a hidden trigger and, accordingly, could only fire by self-cocking. This was done for the purposes of both the compactness of the weapon itself and to prevent the risk of the trigger needle getting caught on clothing when removing the revolver. Some models with a hidden trigger were equipped with a manually controlled safety lever, the small lever of which was located on the buttplate of the frame. Such a fuse, in the on position, blocked the trigger. The combination of a monolithic frame with a hidden trigger, the absence of a trigger guard and a long drum, gave the bike dogs not only an original, elegant appearance, but also made it possible to carry the revolver discreetly and comfortably.

On the frame of this Belgian Bulldog revolver, the third screw (trigger stop axis) and the stop itself are clearly visible. This revolver has some Velodog hallmarks - the 5.75mm Velodog cartridge used and the folding trigger.

Another Spanish Velodog, presumably made in 1925. The MAB mark on the left side of the frame here has nothing to do with the French company Manufacture d'Armes Automatiques de Bayonne, which never produced Velodog revolvers. Spanish Velodogs with this mark were made by Martin Anton Bascaran from the city of Eibar, who stamped MAB as his trademark. The weapon does not differ in the quality of manufacturing and surface treatment. This revolver uses the popular 6.35mm Browning cartridge and is equipped with a hammer locking safety.

Contrary to popular belief, the folding trigger was quite convenient to open with one movement of the index finger. However, manufacturers have begun to equip many models of bicycle dogs with awkward triggers. Most bicycle dogs did not have a trigger guard to protect against an accidental shot. Of course, such a weapon was less safe to carry than the larger Bulldog revolvers, most of which had a trigger guard. This circumstance, again, was the reason for the introduction of a trigger guard into the design of some samples of bicycle dogs. Velodog revolvers were also produced with open hammers. A number of such models, in order to increase safety in handling, were even equipped with safety pins, the levers of which were placed directly on the trigger. The design of such fuses could vary. For example, there were systems where the safety not only blocked the trigger, resting against the frame, but also disconnected it from the trigger.

Subsequently, many bicycle dogs were made with six shooters. And some options received a drum with a capacity of ten rounds. Even double-barreled systems were produced. Some models had a breaking frame, similar to early Smith-Wesson revolvers, or a side-hinged cylinder, like modern revolvers. With the advent of the Browning Model 1906 pocket pistol and the growing fashion for compact self-loading pistols, some bicycle dog models received new designs. He imitated the appearance of the highly sought-after semi-automatic pistols in general, and Browning pistols in particular. This type of bicycle dog, distinguished by a characteristic enlarged upper rear part of the frame, began to be called the “Browning style”. In addition, Velodog revolvers with typical distinctive features in their design could be made for other cartridges that are not typical for revolvers of this class. They were also produced for such fairly popular cartridges as .22LR (5.6×15 R), 6.35mm Browning (6.35×16 SR) and 7.65mm Browning (7.65×17 SR). Velodogs were produced in different versions, with different methods of surface treatment. Both blued and nickel-plated versions were made, and they could also be decorated with engraving and mother-of-pearl handles.

This photo shows one of the Velodog revolvers, called the “Browning style”. It has a characteristic shape for revolvers of this type, characterized by an enlarged upper part of the frame and even recesses on the sides in the barrel area, like in the front part of the bolt of the FN Browning model 1900 pistol. This is a Spanish counterfeit of the products of the French company Manufacture Frangaise d'Armes et Cycles de Saint Etienne, believed to have been made between 1915-1920. The marks were made with errors, including the “Belgian” inspector marks, which were not placed after 1901. This example is chambered for 6.35mm Browning.

Quite soon, as a result of the above changes in design, imitation and copying, Velodog revolvers began to lose their individuality due to the acquisition of features of other classes of revolvers. However, classic bicycle dogs remained a fairly popular concealed weapon even during the period of fashion for self-loading pistols. This is explained, among other things, by such qualities as constant combat readiness, unless the revolver was worn with the trigger folded, combined with safety in handling and carrying a loaded weapon. And even less expensive compared to Browning pistols. Revolvers of the Velodog type were popular self-defense weapons among both men and women; they were also used for recreational shooting at picnics. These miniature revolvers were carried in specially tailored holsters made of fabric, often very reminiscent of a purse, or made of thin leather with a fabric lining. In addition, men could simply carry them in their vest pockets, and women could carry them in handbags. But small-caliber revolvers were not serious weapons, since they could only be guaranteed to stop the enemy if they hit the head.

In Russia, Velodog revolvers were produced for some time at the Imperial Tula Arms Factory under the name Strelets. These samples used classic cartridges for this class of revolvers, had both folding and non-folding triggers, safety pins on the triggers, and were also produced with a hidden trigger. Extraction of the cartridges was carried out one by one. In general, in some details and in appearance, they resembled a Nagan system revolver. After the end of the First World War, the demand for bicycle dogs practically disappeared due to the oversaturation of the civilian weapons market with fashionable pocket self-loading Browning pistols of 6.35 mm caliber and their numerous copies, produced in huge quantities by Spanish manufacturers. Today, Velodog revolvers are not only collectible weapons, but also objects of a bygone era, a time when things were made not only conscientiously, reliable and durable, but also simply beautiful and elegant, symbols of the weapons fashion of the late 19th century.