Snubnosed revolver
A short-barreled revolver designed for concealment and close-quarters carry.
A snubnosed revolver—often called a snubbie, belly gun, or bulldog revolver—is a revolver built on a small, medium, or large frame, fitted with a short barrel that typically measures under 3 inches (7.62 cm). Many of these smaller models feature bobbed or shrouded hammers, and some are entirely hammerless, meaning the hammer is hidden inside the frame. This design helps the gun slide out of a pocket or holster without catching on fabric. Because the hammer has little to no external movement, shrouded and hammerless versions can even be fired through clothing. The trade-off is clear: these revolvers sacrifice long-range accuracy and distance in exchange for easier handling, carrying, and concealment.
Snubnosed revolvers were widely used in the United States until the 1950s and 1960s, when many states passed laws that restricted or banned carrying concealed weapons. Starting in the mid-1980s and continuing through the 1990s, numerous states adopted "shall issue" firearms license laws, which opened up new demand for small, simple, reliable handguns suitable for concealed carry. This led to a revival in the popularity of snubnosed revolvers across the country.
To meet this demand, manufacturers such as Smith & Wesson, Colt, Ruger, Taurus, and others introduced many new models. While most are still made from traditional carbon steel, stainless steel, or lightweight aluminum alloys that have been used for decades, some newer models use high-strength, lightweight metals like titanium and scandium. Polymer frames have also appeared.
Today, most gun makers produce snubnosed revolvers in larger calibers than before, including .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .45 Colt. Some companies also offer models chambered for .454 Casull, .460 S&W Magnum, .480 Ruger, .500 S&W Magnum, and .410 bore. Additionally, there are snubnosed revolvers that accept semi-automatic pistol cartridges such as 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP (the latter loaded using moon clips).
**History**
The first commercial snubnosed revolver was a six-shot Colt Single Action Army with a 3-inch barrel and no ejector rod.
- Barrel length
- Generally less than 3 inches (7.62 cm)
- First commercial model
- Colt Single Action Army Sheriff's Model (3 in barrel, no ejector rod)
- Notable early model
- British Bull Dog revolver (1872, 2.5 in barrel, .442 Webley or .450 Adams)
- First us double-action cartridge revolve
- Colt M1877 (1877–1909, offered in 2.5 in and 3.5 in barrels)
- First swing-out snubnosed revolver
- Colt Detective Special (1927, 2 in or 3 in barrel)
- Most produced model
- Smith & Wesson Model 10 (over 6,000,000 produced)
- Modern lightweight materials
- Titanium, scandium, aluminum alloys, polymer frames
Lore & Background
The first commercial snubnosed revolver was the six-shot, 3-inch barreled Colt Single Action Army revolver made without an ejector rod, officially called the Sheriff's Model or Storekeeper's Model, also unofficially known as the Banker's Special. The British Bull Dog revolver, introduced by Philip Webley & Son in 1872, was a popular 5-shot, solid-frame, double-action pocket revolver with a 2.5-inch barrel, chambered for .442 Webley or .450 Adams cartridges. The term 'bulldog revolver' became synonymous with large-caliber snubnosed revolvers. The Colt M1877 Double Action Revolver, manufactured from 1877 to 1909, was the first successful US-made double-action cartridge revolver, offered in barrel lengths of 2.5 and 3.5 inches, with shorter versions without an ejector rod marketed as the Shopkeeper's Special.
The Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless model, produced from 1887 to World War II, was a small, concealable, 5-shot, double-action revolver with an internal hammer and grip safety, designed for fast reloading and concealed carry. Similar hammerless designs were made by Iver Johnson and Harrington & Richardson. The FitzGerald Special, designed by John Henry Fitzgerald in the mid-1920s, was a modified Colt revolver with a 2-inch barrel, bobbed hammer, halved trigger guard, and rounded butt, serving as the precursor to the modern snubnosed revolver and specifically the prototype for the Colt Detective Special. The Colt Detective Special, introduced in 1927, was the first snubnosed revolver with a modern swing-out frame, chambered for .38 Special. The Smith & Wesson Model 10, in production since 1899, had its first snubnosed models with 2-inch, 2.5-inch, and 3-inch barrels made in 1936. The Smith & Wesson Model 36, introduced in 1950 as the Chiefs Special, was a 5-shot J-frame revolver with a 2-inch barrel chambered for .38 Special.
Reader's Guide
Snubnosed revolvers were popular in the United States until the 1950s and 1960s, when many states passed laws limiting or prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons. The passage in many US states of 'shall issue' firearms license laws from the mid-1980s to the 1990s created new markets for small, simple, reliable, concealed-carry firearms, resulting in a resurgence in the popularity of snubnosed revolvers. Demand has been met with numerous new models from Smith & Wesson, Colt, Ruger, Taurus, and other manufacturers. While most are made of traditional carbon steel, stainless steel, and lightweight aluminum alloys, some models use high-strength, lightweight metal alloys such as titanium and scandium, and polymer frames have also been used.
Most manufacturers now produce snubnosed revolvers in larger calibers, including .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, .454 Casull, .460 S&W Magnum, .480 Ruger, .500 S&W Magnum, and .410 bore. There are also snubnosed revolvers chambered for semi-automatic pistol cartridges such as 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP (loaded with the aid of moon clips). The Colt Cobra, a lightweight aluminum-framed revolver sold from 1950 until 1981, was chambered for .38 Special, .38 S&W, .32 S&W Long, and .22 LR. In December 2016, Colt announced a new run of the Colt Cobra with a steel frame. The Smith & Wesson Model 36 and its variants, including the Airweight Model 37, Centennial hammerless models, and Bodyguard shrouded hammer models, have remained significant in the concealed-carry market, with later introductions of 9mm Parabellum and .357 Magnum models using titanium and scandium alloys.
Did You Know?
- The first commercial snubnosed revolver was the Colt Single Action Army Sheriff's Model, made without an ejector rod.
- The British Bull Dog revolver, introduced in 1872, made the term 'bulldog revolver' synonymous with large-caliber snubnosed revolvers.
- The Smith & Wesson Model 10 is the most popular handgun of the 20th century, with over 6,000,000 produced.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a snubnosed revolver?
It is a compact revolver built on a small, medium, or large frame with a barrel shorter than three inches, designed for easy concealment. Shotters often call them snubbies, belly guns, or bulldog revolvers.
Why do snubnosed revolvers use shrouded or fully hidden hammers?
Minimizing external hammer travel lets the gun slide out of a pocket or holster without catching on fabric. In hammerless variants the mechanism is enclosed inside the frame, so the revolver can even be fired while still inside clothing.
What was the first commercially available snubnosed revolver?
The Colt Single Action Army Sheriff's Model, with its three-inch barrel and lack of an ejector rod, is generally credited as the earliest commercial example. The British Bull Dog of 1872, chambered in .442 Webley or .450 Adams with a 2.5-inch barrel, followed closely behind.
Which model was the first swing-out cylinder snubnosed revolver?
The Colt Detective Special, introduced in 1927, was the first revolver to combine a swing-out cylinder with a snubnosed profile. It was offered in both 2-inch and 3-inch barrel lengths.
Which snubnosed revolver has been manufactured in the greatest quantity?
The Smith & Wesson Model 10 tops the list with well over six million units produced. It has long served as a standard-issue sidearm for police departments across the United States.
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