It’s amazing how Ian does not age. Six years later he looks and sounds the same.

This was literally THE template for plastic toy-guns in East-Germany! I know every detail of it - in dark green pvc...

No, a steel-to-steel fit wouldn't be gastight. The case is needed to bridge the gap into the barrel so that the brass can expand under pressure to form a gas seal.

The Nagant revolver was still being issued in the USSR long after WW2, to non-military and non-police personnel like armed security guards, postal and bank clerks (in some locations Sberkassa/Sberbank clerks handling cash were armed with them), even mineral exploration parties operating in remote locations. That practice continued well into the late Soviet period and into perestroika. The idea was that these folks needed something simple and reliable, that would not jam like a semiauto and didn't require much training, something "civilian". I think the last time I saw a Nagant was in the mid-1990s or early 2000s on a Special Courier Mail ("Spetssviaz") officer - they often handled valuables and sensitive communication. By mid 2000s-2010s it all but disappeared, as the police and armed security services kept expanding and were getting more and more firepower. Many security functions are now performed by the specialized branches of the police forces and they have all manner of modern weaponry.

The S&W revolving rifles were not gas seal designs, which is a large part of why they were such a commercial failure.

It honestly seems like it'd be FASTER to pull out the cylinder, load it, then put it back in.

Occasionally going back to the earlier videos shows just how much better production has gotten over time. Thank you, Ian!

Always thought it was cool how it has 7 not 6 shots just to be one better than the other revolvers

Another fun fact of the russian Nagant revolver is, that in several balkan states, like Romania, You can get amunition chambering silver bullets for this gun.

Tzarist: Only doubleaction for people who bought a rank Bolsheviki: DOUBLEACTION FOR EVERYONE!

....that poor defenseless napkin ..

shouldnt you call it a triple action since the trigger pull cocks the hammer, rotates the cylinder, AND cams the cylinder forward?

I should have bought one of these back when they were like $80.

A very interesting review, thank you! As a Russian born and raised in the USSR until emigrating, I can add that it's not that forgotten in Russia. Christened in Russia simply as "nagan[t]" ('t' is not pronounced in nagant in Russian, these guns were widely used by the Soviet civilian security (VOHR) - it was a standard issue of guards securing military factories and similar facilities at least until the end of the 80-s. Could be longer, but I stopped working at one of those factories in 89, so I cannot be sure. In fact, it may be still used by then these days, I wouldn't be surprised.

I'm in my 70's now and sold off all of my firearms to prevent hardship to my wife after I am gone. But this revolver makes me want to start collecting again. I will collect vicariously through your videos.

This is one of imperial legacy pieces, along with the Mosin's rifle, which remained in the USSR up until post-WWII times. Became one of symbols of Russian Civil War, used by both sides (the Red, the White, also different bands and anarchists). It still had been being manufactured during WWII (simple construction, low production costs).

You make it look fairly easy to shoot double action, I own one and you need two grizzly bears and a Clydesdale to pull the trigger.

I actually love these little revolvers. They are slow to load and unload. But you get 7 shots of very mild recoil. And very accurate IMO. I have 4 different variations, and a big lifetime supply of cheap surplus ammo.. They were cheap and easy to find when this video was made, but in 2020. I rarely ever see one at a shop or a show..

This system would also make it an ideal candidate for a revolver rifle. Impractical, but it would work.

nothing like those satisfying clicks when rotating the cylinder during loading

One of the only revolvers that can be successfully fitted with a suppressor. I've shot one of those!

That napkin getting destroyed in 1 frame was really funny for some reason.

I came here because of the computer game "Hunt:Showdown" which has a silenced Nagant revolver. I was quite skeptical when I first saw this, because I knew of the cylinder gap with revolvers... Thanks for showing us this quite unique gun :)

i duno theres something i really like about the guy demonstrating this... you no the kinda feeling you got with the cool teacher back at school fun but still learning ....i live in uk and have no access to any firearm of the sort and i find watchin these videos wicked lwell informational historic firearms of all sort i pretty much wouldnt see at all of or even no of there exsitantce will defently keep watchin

Hey, man! You have good diction, I am russian speaker but able to recognize and understand. Good overview, kind regards!

Shooting stars : *0_0* Shooting Tsars : *8D*

I wanted one of those so badly when they were like 100 bucks, missed my chance on finding one cheap. I had planned to use one as my concealed carry firearm until I learned the what the reloading procedure was.

I've heard stories that ruski's ammo made pre-WW1 had such tough cases, that you didn't even need the rod to extract them - just open the window and rotate the cylinder.

I hate how the companies that import guns scratch their names and serial numbers on guns like that. Mine is on the other side and it almost takes up the whole side plate with their name and the caliber and whatnot. Why can't they put it on the inside of the frame? It's a real eye sore.

Nicely put! Only couple things to add: It is 7.62 because barrels for Mosin riffles were used to make those revolvers, and shorter so-called "NKVD" version ... Also, it was produced during WWII because it was more handy to shoot from armored vehicles that TT if crew is in trouble.

I know this is a dated video, but I have to add (and I didn't go through all the comments, so it may already be on here) that the "pin" on the trigger is not to advance the cylinder forward, it simply is the lock to hold the cylinder in alignment with the bore. The mechanism that cams the cylinder forward is a wedge that acts on a block at the back of the cylinder that the firing pin protrudes through. When the hammer is cocked in either double- or single-action, the wedge is pushed upward and forces the block against the base of the cartridge. I've disassembled mine any times to study the action. It's part of what gives the gun such a heavy trigger-pull! Great video!

I have a 1925 dated one. I stoned that little block that pushes the cylinder forward just enough to fit 32-20 brass. I cast 95 gr, "boollits" with a little Alliant Bullseye and have a cheap fun plinker.

I love how even years and years ago Ian's showmanship always holds up. how he's been such a talented host for so long escapes me.

Nope, not even close. A .38 is roughly 9mm, while the M1895 has a 7.62mm barrel.

I've just recently come across an example of this odd gun, never fired and in as new condition. Ammo was part of the deal. I've learned quite alot since I've found this channel. Thank you Ian

I love these old intros, they remind me of school videos in the 80's or somebodys collage they made in Movie Maker. Its got a nice aesthetic. Just like the nagant revolver in fact. Vintage and pleasing to the eye in sort of an ugly way.

It's crazy because in PUBG, you can attach a suppressor to this revolver and I always wondered "if you're gonna give a revolver that feature, why THIS exact revolver given that it's not the fastest to reload or use?" Well, knowing that it incorporates a proper gas seal around the chamber which prevents a bunch of noise as gas escapes, which would normally render a suppressor useless, it'd work on this one. Thanks, Ian!

Ian, one correction. I've disassembled my Nagant many times, and it is not the trigger pawl that pushes the cylinder forward. The trigger pawl is strictly a lock, as on other revolvers, to keep the cylinder aligned with the bore. There is a block, that amounts to a breech block, that is actuated by a vertical sliding wedge. When the trigger is pulled, the wedge moves up and the block is pushed forward against the rear of the cylinder. Looking closely at the rear frame (with the cylinder removed) one can see this block with its corresponding hole for the firing pin. It is the trigger spring, the sliding wedge, the cylinder return spring, and the robust hammer spring that gives the Nagant such a heavy trigger pull. A lot of moving parts for one motion!

My grandpa, who was a tank driver during WW2, once said that you could safely shoot only Nagan out of a tank.

These are fun little plinkers! When WWII started, Russia had tons of refurbed Nagant revolvers in storage. They were still tooling up for Tokarev TT-33 production, so they distributed huge quantities of Nagant revolvers until TT-33 production was up to speed. SO many Nagant revolvers were issued in WWII that the Russian name for a pistol in WWII was "Nagant"-John in Texas

In the European sense of sidearms they were basically a badge of authority like a sword.Officers in the Imperial Russian Army and the Imperial Navy either bought or were issued limited contract Mauser C96s instead of the standard issue 1895 Nagant Revolvers.The Bolsheviks bought a lot of "Bolo" model short barreled C96s in the early 20s after their revolution.The Russian Communists realized that semi auto pistols were much better than slow reloading revolvers.The Russians still kept production of the Nagant revolvers until the end of WWII or later despite the issue of the Tokerev 33 pistol which is a simple Browning design with no manual safety.No matter how underpowered their handgun calibers are like the 7.62 Nagant,7.62 Tokerev,and the 9mm Makarov.they are still effective for personal defense as a 9mm Parabellum or a.45 ACP.The pistol is still the badge of authority in most eastern European countries.

Not a Briliant combat weapon but perfect for its main purpose... Shooting Traitors to the motherland...

I'm not a very big fan of revolvers in general but I do have one of these and it is a very valued part of my collection.

my 1940 Nagant Revolver is beautiful it pairs well with my 1944 M44 Mosin Nagant

Quality of belgian developpers, as usual very good !

Still have one. It was manufactured and printed in 1940s with USSR Star on it.

Wonderful how Ian demonstrates the cylinder-gap in most revolvers!

For me, all of these (Nagant, Mosin-Nagant, etc) trigger memories of Silent Storm. Always. Played that quite a bit before any WWI/II FPS.

Hey its still faster then a Reichsrevolver

I wonder why they dont use similar systems on other revolvers... It would be cool to have a suppressable 44 magnum :)

The best video i saw concerning the Nagant pistol! Thanks you!!

I've had 2 of these (at various times) and loved each one. I got pretty proficient at rapid firing in double action and fairly accurate as well. I loved taking it out to the range and (it always happens) eventually some young, inexperienced shooters start eyeing it. So of course I graciously offered them a chance to try it all the while talking about the wartime history of these fine revolvers. Watching them eat that up is almost as enjoyable as actually firing it. Sadly, I was forced to sell them off along with the rest of my collection (financial hardship).

Still in service in some Russian security firms...

I Enjoyed your commentary. Spectre

The design itself just looks so pure functional and steampunk I love it

First 5 seconds sounds like the opening beat to the most fire mix tape of the 1900’s

Hey, you know you can suppress that, right? *dodges thrown objects*

I remember back in the late 60s early 70s these things were always under a $15.00 bill and next to nothing in paper work.

I got one way back for under $100. At that time I could not find ammo for it so when I saw an add in Shotgun News advertising a cylinder that would let you shoot 32 ACP in your Nagant I bought it. I put a box of 32 through it and it went into the safe. I just love those old revolvers, I have to keep company to the Nagant an 1873 11mm French and the 1892 8mm also French service revolvers as well as a Webley .38 top break DA/SA Hong Kong Police with a weird safety on the frame.

I love your videos. I am politically handy capped. I cannot go to a shooting range. I love firearms history and the development of rifles and pistols. I cannot hold these treasures in my own hands but you have provided me with an indispensable tool with which I can enjoy my love of firearms through my eyes and ears.THANK YOU !!!!!!!!

re: gas seal, and the related mechanism. you skipped a part that pushes the cylinder forward, the sliding breech face. you can actually watch it articulate as you point toward the "cylinder lock kicker" operating on the trigger. i like the "they did it for velocity" argument, but i think the impetus was "accurate lock up". pretty much every revolver just has the locking bolt/plunger/cam lump locking the BOTTOM of the cylinder. tolerances mean "wiggly piggly" alignment based on the stacked up "slack in assembly" of a few parts. in the nagant, that is supplemented by "dead nuts on" alignment with the bore itself. the arrangement makes it a "must happen to function" event, so even the most shot to hell, rode hard and put up wet example will either "align properly", or fail to go bang entirely. compare that to the old 1920 vintage s&w military and police model i had, where about every 100th round was far enough off alignment you felt lead grazing knuckles on your shooting hand (but oh, what a SWEET pull that old trigger had in SA, maybe 2 lbs), more often in rapid DA shooting. that nagant CAN'T have that happen, ever, at all. that's a really humungous plus for a "plow boy army" of rural dimwits and urban loafers who can barely master tying their boots, lol. also in a trench, if i fire that nagant next to your face, you barely notice. do that with that taurus .44, i'm probably off your christmas card list for life, lol.

Given the set backs of a slow reload, and that it's a not so common round, It's a neat gun to fire and own. I have one myself and love firing it with others that have no clue what I'm shoting.

das video ist kurz und knackig - perfekt ! :)

10 years and Ian refuses to age

Clearly these were better at executions than combat. Great video, I have one of these but no correct ammo.

An S&W or Colt pistol using the sealing mechanism would be very interesting.

Scrolled thru some comments, but didn't see any mention that these were issued to tank crewmen. The narrow barrel enabled it to be fired thru the slits if enemy soldiers got too close, and the gas seal made it advantageous too, a bit less noise inside the tank.

something you might have missed....at 7:47 / 7:48 you can see it well..... but the recoil actually sends the rounds back.... after you release the trigger, the cylinder moves back and "re-seats" the rounds. just a little quirk i found interesting!

Prefer this kind of videos where you talk and shoots instead of the auction ones

this is the ideal assassin's weapon...think about it the casings are contained in the revolving magazine and the fact that the gun itself can be silenced

FWIW, that center cylinder unscrews and comes out with a small coil spring. Although obsolete by WWII, The Nagant filled a BIG GAP caused by Mother Russia still tooling up for TT-33 production. My .02 worth:)-John in Texas

My Dad had a Tsarist-era double-action Nagant for years. I had some fun at the range with it on and off for a while until I had to sell it during bad financial times... 😢 Fiocchi has made and sold ammo for the 7.62 Nagant for decades (which is what I used) and they may still have it, considering its newfound popularity. I do wish to get one again, but I'm on the lookout for a Polish-made one. They were made by Fabryka Broni Radom--the makers of the VIS Model 35--and they have "F.B./RADOM/Ng 30" (in three lines of text) stamped on the left side of the receiver.

What was with the camera man at the end? "Yah imma just zoom in on his shirt"

At first look I see that is the reproduction! Many years ago I found this one inside the ruin of home (under the old furnace) in Poland. It was from 1916 year (IWW time, and I found this near the field of battle from this time). I think, somebody found this one abandoned on this field by any Russian officer who tried to escape after the lost battle [Russian Army were beaten in this place]. And took home. But I was in this time a silly young boy (only 12 y.o.) and I showed this gun to other and, of course, I lost this. But I remember: It had the natural silver colour of steel. May it be during the time of war, a factory did not had the time to do something more because of mass production. May it be! But my "Nagan" (Russians as a rule did not speak this last letter) had definitely silver colour!

great video, thank you for posting this! I just recently acquired one of these it is awesome. I love the old stuff, keep up the good work.

A pretty innovative design for 1895 and a pretty hot round.

I just purchased one and have a question is the firing pin supposed to move thanks

3:26 Invalid test. Nagant muzzle was just past the end of the napkin, this one is well behind it.

I have one. It is a cool gun. Good demonstration on it. Just takes too long to unload and reload. Very historical gun. Fun to shoot.

I had a early single action model that I received without a firing pin. What a hell of a job to make a new one and get the profile correct so that it hit the back of the frame aperture properly to tip up the correct amount to align with the primer. Not having an original for a pattern made for a lot of trial and error fileing. I made cases out of fire formed 32-20 cases that are actually too short to seal the cylinder gap completely.

wait is it possible to just carry pre loaded cylinders that way you could just toss one empty cylinder out and put a new one in

Fun fact: KGB (Russian/Soviet secret service, mostly in 1950s) agents used suppressed Nagant revolvers for their undercover missions.

Had a Nagant years ago (from my grandfather) that got stolen. I finally found ammo for it and it shot very well. Mine had clear plastic(?)stocks with some sort of shiny foil under them. Not good double action, but more than adequate single action and pretty accurate out to 25 yards (4 inch groups). Still have several boxes of modern repro ammo.

I had one of these,and boy was it fun! Ammo was high,but it was fun.

is this considered a pre-1899 firearm?

In my opinion, the Nagant revolver was a downgrade from the older top-break .44 russian revolvers. The Nagant is significantly harder to load and doesn't seem nearly as user-friendly as the top-break designs. Just my 2 cents.

It may be impractical for use in a modern war, but you have to admit, it is pretty damn cool. Especially suppressed.

This man does not age!

These old Forgotten Weapon videos has got a serious 80's sex ed video vibe to them.

Даже эту рухлядь в РФ до сих пор не распродали до конца. При таком патроне и таком револьвере сомневаюсь что когда-нибудь кому-нибудь вообще смогут продать

Hey I came back from late 1890’s/early 1900’s Louisiana, it’s a horrific place over run by lovecraftian monsters and may I say, I used a nagant revolver much like that and it is a nice piece of kit, even was able to attach a home-made suppressor to it

For you, it's a forgotten weapon. For us Russians, it's a legend, the famous revolver of Red October and civil war. It's as culturally significant for us as a Colt Peacemaker might be for an American.

Uncircumcised bullet

those Europeans...always ahead..

For many prisoners that was the last thing they heard, a Nagant being cocked.

Хороший обзор! Спасибо. У меня таких два. ))

the nagant revolver is a smith and wesson 1892 with the combination of and mecanisom of a single action army and a webley IV revolver, thats why its the perfect revolver

Me and my buddies ride around the town on horseback with our M1895's requisitioning food.

I like your new OUTdoor show format where you get to see the item in ACTION yay Couldnt stay with those shows inside the museum room what a snore

Ian, eres un artista. Para mí, el mejor.