Nagant M1895
Introduction
Nagant M1895
Left side view of Nagant M1895 revolver as produced in 1941. Note the 7.62x38mmR cartridge with its case enveloping the bullet alongside.
Source: CC BY-SA 3.0 -
© Mascamon
Léon Nagant
1938 - 1945 (Tula)
1941 - 1945 (Izhevsk)
Russia/USSR - Tula arsenal
Russia/USSR - Izhevsk arsenal
56-N-121 (GRAU index)
Description
Introduction
The Nagant M1895 is a pre-World War 1 revolver of Belgian origin. The M1895 was developed specifically for the Russian Empire from the earlier Belgian M1886 revolver in 9.4mm Nagant. The M1895 was produced in Belgium for a few years until production was established in Russia. The Nagant revolver is best known for its unique gas seal design and long cased ammunition.
Design
The M1895 uses a proprietary rimmed 7.62x38mm cartridge in which the case extends beyond the bullet. A fixed 7-shot cylinder is used which is loaded and unloaded via a gate one cartridge at a time. The M1895 has a double action trigger. For use by regular soldiers this was often modified to single action only to conserve ammunition. The unique feature of the M1895 and its predecessors is the gas seal design. The cylinder is pushed forward upon pressing the trigger and combined with the expanding brass case a gas seal is formed with the barrel, resulting in a high muzzle velocity.
Firepower
The M1895 has a 7-shot cylinder and fires the proprietary 7.62x38mmR Nagant round. The double action trigger allows for a reasonably fast rate of fire. Reloading is very slow compared to contemporary top break or swing out cylinder designs. Although the gas seal design proved useful for older black powder designs, the 7.62x38mmR is not more accurate or faster than contemporary smokeless powder cartridges.
Users
The M1895 was acquired in large numbers by the Russian Empire and subsequent Soviet Union. About 2 million were produced until 1945. These saw service in the Russo-Japanese War, World War 1, the Russian Civil War and World War 2. After World War 2 some Nagant revolvers ended up in various conflicts in Asia and Africa. Although the Tokarev pistol was introduced in the 1930's the Nagant M1895 was produced until the end of World War 2 to meet demand for as much firearms as could be acquired.
Details
Media
Nagant M1895
Nagant M1895 revolver on display in a museum.
Source: Vitaly V. Kuzmin
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
Nagant M1895
Nagant M1895 revolver produced in 1938 at Tula arsenal and captured by US forces during the Korean War on display in a museum.
Source: Joe Mabel
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
Related articles
Tokarev TT-33
The Nagant M1895 was supplemented and replaced in Soviet service with the Tokarev pistol.