Ryan Napoleon
Ryan Pistol Mfg. Co. · Revolver · Discontinued · 1875
Also known as: Napoleon, T.E. Ryan Napoleon
Overview
The Ryan Napoleon is a five-shot, single-action spur-trigger revolver chambered in .32 Short Rimfire, made by the Ryan Pistol Manufacturing Company (T.E. Ryan) of Norwich, Connecticut, during the late 19th century. Marked simply 'NAPOLEON' on the topstrap, it is one of the inexpensive 'suicide special' pocket revolvers that flooded the American market in the 1870s and 1880s. It features a solid frame, a fluted cylinder with rear-set locking notches, a bird's-head grip and a short octagonal barrel intended for concealed personal protection. Surviving examples are sometimes encountered with engraving coverage heavier than typical Norwich-made revolvers of the period.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 260 g (9.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 176 mm (6.93") |
| Barrel Length | 70 mm (2.76") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 210 m/s (689 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 119 J (88 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 14 m (15 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Nickel Plated |
Calibers
- .32 Short Rimfire · primary — also known as .32 Short, .32 RF Short, .32 RF
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Spur Trigger, Single Action, Fluted Cylinder, Bird Head Grip, Fixed Sights
Production
Production years: c. 1875-1890
Production figures are unrecorded; sold cheaply as a 'suicide special' under the Napoleon trade name.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Thomas E. Ryan
Discontinued: 1890
Notes
Sold under the 'Napoleon' trade name like many cheap solid-frame pocket revolvers of its day; the same basic gun was also chambered in .22 rimfire. Exact maker records are sparse, and most documentation comes from surviving auction specimens.
Background
Cheap solid-frame spur-trigger revolvers like the Napoleon earned the nickname 'suicide specials' in the 1880s, sold under a bewildering array of grandiose trade names to average Americans who could not afford a Colt or Smith & Wesson.