<P> At approximately the same time that the needle - fire system was developed, a pin - fire method was also developed . This method originally used a paper cartridge with a primer cap within a brass base, which quickly evolved into an all - brass cartridge . From the side, a stout pin was inserted into the cartridge above the cap . The gun's hammer pushed the pin into the cap and set off the primer . A revolver using this method had a cylinder with chambers that were bored completely through with a slight channel where the pin rested . This type of cylinder was first patented in France in 1854 . Loading these revolvers was accomplished by moving a loading gate that was mounted behind the cylinder . To remove the spent cartridges, a push - rod was used to back the cartridges out of the cylinder through the loading gate . </P> <P> Cylinders that use these cartridges are what most people envision as modern cylinders . These cartridges are all metallic and are struck at the rear by the hammer . The rimfire cartridges contain a primer around the inside of the rim . The centerfire cartridges have a primer cap pressed into the base . They are similar to the pin - fire cylinders as the chambers are bored completely through, but they have no additional holes or channels connected to the chambers . In 1857, Smith & Wesson held the patent for this bored through cylinder . Removal of cartridges from the early models was done one at a time with a push rod as in the pin - fire cylinders . Later models that had swing - out cylinders incorporated push rods with extractors that pushed all of the cartridges out in a single operation . </P> <P> In the 1850s, in competition with Colt's percussion revolvers, a revolver was developed that used a paper tape primer to ignite the powder in the chambers . This worked much as today's toy cap pistols . This basically worked the same as a percussion revolver, but with only one nipple that sent the ignition spark to a flash hole at the rear of each chamber . Each chamber was loaded in the same manner as the percussion revolvers . </P>

Does a revolver use a clip or a magazine