revolver nomenclature - crane vs. yoke?

W.E.G. · Feb 22, 2010

I've always called the part that swings out, and supports the cylinder, the CRANE.

I've seen that part elsewhere (i.e. S&W parts lists) called the YOKE.

Is it proper to use those terms interchangeably?

As a second, and somewhat related, question is there a specific reference that should be used to describe the area of the revolver frame that is opposite the crane/yoke? I'm referring to the area where the model number is usually stamped.

murphydog · Feb 22, 2010

Colt (and probably other companies) calls this part the crane, but I think everyone will understand either term.

I call this area of the frame the upright, but this may just be me. I also call it "the vertical part of the frame under the barrel with the cylinder out"

Gun 4 Fun · Feb 22, 2010

Technically the part that swings out is the crane. The part of the crane assembly that the cylinder rides on is the yoke barrel, which ties (or yokes) the cylinder to the crane.

I have never heard a term officially ascribed to the upright part of the frame other than "frame" or crane recess.

dfariswheel · Feb 22, 2010

S&W has always called it the yoke, as does Taurus.
Colt, Ruger, and Dan Wesson call it the crane.

To make sure I stayed "on the same page" with parts houses and the factory I called it what the manufacturer called it.

dant · Feb 22, 2010

ta daa.............

Gun 4 Fun said:
Technically the part that swings out is the crane. The part of the crane assembly that the cylinder rides on is the yoke barrel, which ties (or yokes) the cylinder to the crane.

I have never heard a term officially ascribed to the upright part of the frame other than "frame" or crane recess.

thank you, thats it in a nutshell folks..............

handejector · Feb 22, 2010

Gun 4 Fun said:
Technically the part that swings out is the crane. The part of the crane assembly that the cylinder rides on is the yoke barrel, which ties (or yokes) the cylinder to the crane.

I have never heard a term officially ascribed to the upright part of the frame other than "frame" or crane recess.

S&W has always used the term "yoke" for the whole part.
Some other brands use the term "crane"
They are the same part.

In S&W terms, the recess it fits into is the "yoke cut".

Gun 4 Fun · Feb 22, 2010

Lee is correct in his post above, and it is stated as such in the SCSW, but the reason I said "technically" is because a crane refers to a swinging mechanical apparatus, while a yoke is a stationary one. They do indeed both perform the same function on a revolver in that they tie the cylinder to the frame, so either is acceptable in my opinion, even though S&W uses the term yoke. It is probably a simple matter of them wanting to be different from their competition in their terminology.

handejector · Feb 23, 2010

Nah, I really don't believe they were trying to be different from Colt in naming that part. I think in the engineer's mind, he named it by what it does- it "yokes" (hitches, ties, connects) the cyl to the gun.

If it had merely been an attempt to be different from Colt, what about all those other "troubling" names:

Trigger- Actuator? Hammer Release?

Hammer- Banger? Primer Hitter? Striker?

Frame- Main Thing? Big Part? Foundation?

Barrel- Bullet Tube? Bullet Guide? Pipe?

Cylinder- Rotator? Turnie Thing? Rounder?

Front Sight- Barrel Lump? Front Aiming Device?

Rear Sight- Alignment Groove?

Cyl Release- Opener?

tomcatt51 · Feb 23, 2010

Want to be banished to the Ruger Forum? Call it a crane. On a S&W it's a yoke. Now I guess we can get on to more important business, like argueing about "stars" and extractors

Gun 4 Fun · Feb 23, 2010

handejector said:
Nah, I really don't believe they were trying to be different from Colt in naming that part. I think in the engineer's mind, he named it by what it does- it "yokes" (hitches, ties, connects) the cyl to the gun.

If it had merely been an attempt to be different from Colt, what about all those other "troubling" names:

Trigger- Actuator? Hammer Release?

Hammer- Banger? Primer Hitter? Striker?

Frame- Main Thing? Big Part? Foundation?

Barrel- Bullet Tube? Bullet Guide? Pipe?

Cylinder- Rotator? Turnie Thing? Rounder?

Front Sight- Barrel Lump? Front Aiming Device?

Rear Sight- Alignment Groove?

Cyl Release- Opener?

Ya got me on that one

dant · Feb 23, 2010

yeah, I seem to recall way back at the 'school' they referred to the cylinder tubing as the "upper crane leg......." crane, yoke, we ALL know what is being meant......"star......extractor...ratchets.........

Lee are you a walking dictionary ???? we still use "do-dads and thingamajigs.".............

or them other "whatchamacallits......."

NDAR15MAN · May 14, 2022

Could someone be nice enough to show a picture of the yoke on a S&W revolver? I am having a hard time understanding what that actual part is. Thanks. MD

Hair Trigger · May 14, 2022

NDAR15MAN said:
Could someone be nice enough to show a picture of the yoke on a S&W revolver? I am having a hard time understanding what that actual part is. Thanks. MD

Here you go:

revolver nomenclature - crane vs. yoke?

W.E.G.

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