The Reform Pistole, better known today as the Schüler Reform, is a
.25 ACP
The .25 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol) (6.35×16mmSR) is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled centerfire pistol cartridge introduced by John Browning
John Moses Browning (January 23, 1855 – November 26, 1926) was an American firearm designe ...
semi-automatic pistol
A semi-automatic pistol is a type of repeating single-chamber handgun ( pistol) that automatically cycles its action to insert the subsequent cartridge into the chamber (self-loading), but requires manual actuation of the trigger to actuall ...
designed by August Schüler, patented in 1904. It was produced between 1907 and 1914 at his factory in
Suhl, August Schüler Waffenfabrik, as well as some licensed production at other factories. It is sometimes known as the Breveté, due to stamping on the magazine referring to "patented", or D.R.P 177023, its patent number.
The Reform is a unique attempt to reduce the bulk of a traditional
double-action revolver
A revolver (also called a wheel gun) is a repeating handgun that has at least one barrel and uses a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold up to six roun ...
. It replaces the
cylinder with a
magazine
A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...
-like block of four chambers and barrels arranged vertically. Each barrel holds one cartridge, and the entire assembly is slid down into the frame of the pistol, not unlike the
clip
Clip or CLIP may refer to:
Fasteners
* Hair clip, a device used to hold hair together or attaching materials such as caps to the hair
* Binder clip, a device used for holding thicker materials (such as large volumes of paper) together
** Bulldog ...
seen on a top-load
bolt action rifle. When loading the magazine, the uppermost barrel stops slightly below the hammer. The friction provided by a small spring-loaded stud at the bottom rear of the magazine prevents it from falling out of the gun.
Connected to the trigger is a lever that moves upward when the trigger is pulled. The lever engages a
rack-like series of indentations on the back of the magazine that raises the magazine so that the next barrel to fire is moved in line with the
hammer
A hammer is a tool, most often a hand tool, consisting of a weighted "head" fixed to a long handle that is swung to deliver an impact to a small area of an object. This can be, for example, to drive nails into wood, to shape metal (as w ...
. The mechanism is similar to the action used by most revolvers to spin the cylinder one position. At the end of the trigger pull the hammer is released and fires that round.
The lower three barrels have a small hole drilled into the barrel above them. When any of these were fired, gas from the round is ported into the barrel above, ejecting the cartridge case rearward. The hammer has a large extension on the top that deflects the shell away from the user's face. Because the bottom-most barrel has no next round to eject it, that shell must be removed manually. A notch on the top of the magazine aids in removing it upward by pinching the notches with the forefinger and thumb.
References
*
External links
Review: the Schüler Reform pistol - a 4-barrel German "revolver"
Early semi-automatic pistols
{{Pistol-stub