The Model of 1899 represents the beginning of the K-frame line of revolvers. There is a lot of evolution from
1899 through the present , and lots of good articles have been written about this development. This
posting is a discussion about the 1899 barrel itself.
The Model of 1899 is the culmination of the ideas about the side-swing, or hand-ejector cylinder. In the Model
of 1899, there is no front lockup ; ie, there is no lug under the barrel to catch and secure the end of the
extractor rod. Rather, it just hangs out there, all by its lonesome. The following link is a picture of a
4 inch 1899 nickel target, illlustrating this feature of the extractor rod.
Another apsect of this feature is the flat area under the barrel. From the picture above, this flat area is actually
a projection downward from the bottom of the barrel. In the subsequent evolution of this design, and particularly
the 1902 1st change model., the barrel diameter is increased slightly, and the flat area under the barrel is no
longer a projection, but rather is ground into the barrel.
In the photo above, the downward-projecting flat area serves the purpose of filling the gap that would otherwise
occur, between the top of the extractor rod, and the bottom of the barrel. Also, having a flat area provides a
place to stamp the serial number.
The Model of 1899 was offered in three standard barrel lengths: 4 inches, 5 inches, and 6 1/2 inches. Non-standard
barrel lengths were available on special order: 6 inche and 8 inch examples are known to exist. And now we get
to the heart of this matter !
There was a meeting of the NW SWCA collectors Aug 25th. I gathered up my 1899 targets, which represent
all the barrel lengths. Among them is serial number 1404, shipped in Aug of 1899 as a 6" nickel gun. In checking
the gun, I noticed that there is no flat area under the barrel, but that the barrel is round. Being a 6 inch gun, it
was a special order. The same thing is true of the 8" blue, but that was also a special order. The following link shows
the underside of 1404, along with that of 038, a 6 1/2" nickel target.
I have examined 15 to 20 1899 targets, and to my recollection, all had a flat area under the barrel - with the exception of the
8" gun. Somehow, I missed 1404 over the years. Curiously, the OD of the rounded barrel is about the same as those with
projected flats. There is a noticeable gap between the top of the extractor rod and the bottom of the rounded barrel. Apparently
this was not a problem for the factory, so it makes one wonder if some of the very early 1899's had rounded barrels.
Ed Cornett has two guns , with round barrels, Serial numbers 100 and 225 are both standard 6 1/2" .
Now that is interesting - because it suggests that the very early 1899's may have been round barrels without flats.
Another interesting one is 367. It letters as 6", and its flat area is only 9/16" long. The standard lengh for the flat is about
1 & 1/16 " . I'm sure that the barrel on 367 was a standard 6 1/2", and was shortened to 6" by cutting 1/2" off the forcing cone,
turning another 1/2", and cutting additional threads. This is an accepted techinque to repair cracked forcing cones on 1899's.
This works because there is no lug under the barrel.
The open question, to members of this forum, is : do any of your 1899 revolvers have a round barrel with no flat area ?
It would appear, from the scant evidence above, that it is not only the special-order 6" barrels that may be round, but that
some of the early regular production barrels were also round. If any of the forum members do have round-barrel 1899's,
I would be interested the barrel length, as well as the serial number or shipping date.
Any feedback information would be appreciated !
Regards, Mike Priwer
1899 through the present , and lots of good articles have been written about this development. This
posting is a discussion about the 1899 barrel itself.
The Model of 1899 is the culmination of the ideas about the side-swing, or hand-ejector cylinder. In the Model
of 1899, there is no front lockup ; ie, there is no lug under the barrel to catch and secure the end of the
extractor rod. Rather, it just hangs out there, all by its lonesome. The following link is a picture of a
4 inch 1899 nickel target, illlustrating this feature of the extractor rod.
Another apsect of this feature is the flat area under the barrel. From the picture above, this flat area is actually
a projection downward from the bottom of the barrel. In the subsequent evolution of this design, and particularly
the 1902 1st change model., the barrel diameter is increased slightly, and the flat area under the barrel is no
longer a projection, but rather is ground into the barrel.
In the photo above, the downward-projecting flat area serves the purpose of filling the gap that would otherwise
occur, between the top of the extractor rod, and the bottom of the barrel. Also, having a flat area provides a
place to stamp the serial number.
The Model of 1899 was offered in three standard barrel lengths: 4 inches, 5 inches, and 6 1/2 inches. Non-standard
barrel lengths were available on special order: 6 inche and 8 inch examples are known to exist. And now we get
to the heart of this matter !
There was a meeting of the NW SWCA collectors Aug 25th. I gathered up my 1899 targets, which represent
all the barrel lengths. Among them is serial number 1404, shipped in Aug of 1899 as a 6" nickel gun. In checking
the gun, I noticed that there is no flat area under the barrel, but that the barrel is round. Being a 6 inch gun, it
was a special order. The same thing is true of the 8" blue, but that was also a special order. The following link shows
the underside of 1404, along with that of 038, a 6 1/2" nickel target.
I have examined 15 to 20 1899 targets, and to my recollection, all had a flat area under the barrel - with the exception of the
8" gun. Somehow, I missed 1404 over the years. Curiously, the OD of the rounded barrel is about the same as those with
projected flats. There is a noticeable gap between the top of the extractor rod and the bottom of the rounded barrel. Apparently
this was not a problem for the factory, so it makes one wonder if some of the very early 1899's had rounded barrels.
Ed Cornett has two guns , with round barrels, Serial numbers 100 and 225 are both standard 6 1/2" .
Now that is interesting - because it suggests that the very early 1899's may have been round barrels without flats.
Another interesting one is 367. It letters as 6", and its flat area is only 9/16" long. The standard lengh for the flat is about
1 & 1/16 " . I'm sure that the barrel on 367 was a standard 6 1/2", and was shortened to 6" by cutting 1/2" off the forcing cone,
turning another 1/2", and cutting additional threads. This is an accepted techinque to repair cracked forcing cones on 1899's.
This works because there is no lug under the barrel.
The open question, to members of this forum, is : do any of your 1899 revolvers have a round barrel with no flat area ?
It would appear, from the scant evidence above, that it is not only the special-order 6" barrels that may be round, but that
some of the early regular production barrels were also round. If any of the forum members do have round-barrel 1899's,
I would be interested the barrel length, as well as the serial number or shipping date.
Any feedback information would be appreciated !
Regards, Mike Priwer
