Old Reliable

The Marines swear by them. Nobles pack them for status. Revolvers have made their way into the far future of Traveller. Revolvers trade the higher magazine capacity of the automatic pistol for reliability. In a far future setting that can be very reliable indeed, capable of being used in a variety of environments and easily cleaned and maintained.

A revolver is a natural choice for a ceremonial weapon. While it can still be used to defend against an assassin it is quite difficult to silence unlike an auto pistol. Thus it is the weapon of a defender, not an assassin. In some cases a planet will not have sufficient technology to produce automatic pistols and revolvers may be the only multishot weapons available.

In an earlier post (wow September of last year?) I added a few weapons I thought were missing from Traveller, chiefly automatic pistols of different calibers. Now here are some revolver variants.

Light Revolver ( 700 grams loaded; Cr120; TL 4): An older variety of handgun, the revolver fires 5 gram bullets with characteristics similar to those fired by the body pistol, but not interchangeable with them. No magazine is used: six cartridges are inserted into the revolver individually. Reloading takes two combat rounds, or one combat round if the individual foregoes the benefit of evasion. This is a concealable revolver that is only effective at short range. It's a reliable hold out weapon for emergencies but not something to use if you have a choice.

Light Revolver 2D

Characteristics - Length: 180 mm. Weight: 700 grams. Base Price: Cr 120.

Req. Dex 8 RDM -3 Adv. Dex 11 ADM +1

Nothing Jack Mesh Cloth Reflec Ablat. Battle

0            0      -2      -4       -4         -2        -7

Close     Short    Medium   Long Very Long 

+2         +1         -6            no       no

Medium Revolver ( 800 grams loaded; Cr120; TL 4): An older variety of handgun, the revolver fires 5 gram bullets with characteristics similar to those fired by the heavy body pistol, but not interchangeable with them. No magazine is used: six cartridges are inserted into the revolver individually. Reloading takes two combat rounds, or one combat round if the individual foregoes the benefit of evasion. This model revolver is popular with nobles who have little concern for their safety but must carry a weapon by custom. It is lighter than the standard revolver and easily hidden under robes.

Length: 180mm (some versions may be shorter or longer). Weight, unloaded:

700 grams (weight of six cartridges: 100 grams). Base price: Cr130 (six cartridges cost Cr5).

Medium Revolver 3D

Characteristics - Length: 180 mm. Weight: 800 grams. Base Price: Cr 130.

Req. Dex 7 RDM -2 Adv. Dex 9 ADM +1

Nothing Jack Mesh Cloth Reflec Ablat. Battle

+1            +1      -2      -3      +1         -1        -6

Close     Short    Medium   Long Very Long 

+1         +2         -3             -5       no

Super Heavy Revolver (1 600 grams loaded; Cr500; TL 6): An older variety of handgun, the revolver fires  12.5 mm bullets with characteristics similar to those fired by hunting rifles, but not interchangeable with them. No magazine is used: five cartridges are inserted into the revolver individually. Reloading takes two combat rounds, or one combat round if the individual foregoes the benefit of evasion. This revolver is often used by hunters for a hold out weapon in case their main weapon misfires. It has excellent stopping power. Some police favor the weapon for shooting locks off a door (always difficult with a pistol). Very few are made into ceremonial weapons due to their bulk. 

Length: 225mm (some versions may be shorter or longer). Weight, unloaded:

1500 grams (weight of five cartridges: 100 grams). Base price: Cr500 (six cartridges cost Cr15).

Super Heavy Revolver 4D

Characteristics - Length: 225 mm. Weight: 1600 grams. Base Price: Cr 500.

Req. Dex 8 RDM -3 Adv. Dex 11 ADM +1

Nothing Jack Mesh Cloth Reflec Ablat. Battle

+2           +2    -1      -3       -2       0         -5

Close     Short    Medium   Long Very Long 

+2         +1         -3             -5       no

Laser Revolver (1000 grams loaded; Cr 2000; TL 9): A variant high energy sidearm, firing high energy bolts in the same manner as the laser carbine. Lighter than the laser carbine, the laser pistol is capable of sustained action. The revolver foregoes the standard power pack for six chemical cartridges each powering a single shot. It is favored by nobles who are only allowed a 'revolver' by custom who wish to have more firepower. In practice it is not practical as most nobles wear reflec armor under their robes. A few find use among various overseers of low technology planets to awe the yokels (at least till they run out of energy cartridges.)

Length: 350mm. Weight unloaded: 1000 grams. (weight of six cartridges: 100 grams). Base price: Cr2000 (six cartridges cost Cr 200).  

Laser Revolver 4D

Characteristics - Length: 350 mm. Weight: 1000 grams. Base Price: Cr 2000.

Req. Dex 7 RDM -3 Adv. Dex 10 ADM +1

Nothing Jack Mesh Cloth Reflec Ablat. Battle

+2           +2    +1     +1     -8        -7         -6

Close     Short    Medium   Long Very Long 

+1         +2         -3             -5       no