Chiappa Rhino
Encyclopedia
The Chiappa Rhino is a revolver
produced by Chiappa Firearms
of Italy
chambered for the .357 Magnum
cartridge. Its most distinctive feature is that the barrel
is on a low axis compared to most other revolvers, since it fires from the lowermost chamber of the cylinder
, rather than firing from the topmost chamber. This is intended to reduce muzzle flip
by directing the recoil
into the shooter's wrist, rather than over it. Another distinctive feature is that the cross-section of the cylinder is hexagonal instead of cylindrical (though with rounded corners); this is intended to lower the weapon's profile in concealed carry applications.
), while the barrel, cylinder
, and other vital parts are made from steel
. The trigger may be used in either single-action or double-action mode. The external cocking lever is not actually a hammer
, as on most revolvers. Instead, it is used to cock the internal hammer and then falls back into place, minimizing the number of externally moving parts, but making the revolver more complicated internally. The gun is available in blued
and stainless
versions.
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
produced by Chiappa Firearms
Chiappa Firearms
Chiappa Firearms is an Italian firearms manufacturing company based in Brescia, Italy. It was founded in 1958 by Ezechiele Chiappa as Armi Sport. Total unit production is around 60,000 per year. Its U.S. headquarters are in Dayton, Ohio. Chiappa is to put RFID tracking chips into their firearms...
of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
chambered for the .357 Magnum
.357 Magnum
The .357 S&W Magnum , or simply .357 Magnum, is a revolver cartridge created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Colonel D. B. Wesson of firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson, and Winchester. It is based upon Smith & Wesson's earlier .38 Special cartridge. The .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced in...
cartridge. Its most distinctive feature is that the barrel
Gun barrel
A gun barrel is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion or rapid expansion of gases are released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at a high velocity....
is on a low axis compared to most other revolvers, since it fires from the lowermost chamber of the cylinder
Cylinder (firearms)
In firearms terminology, the Cylinder refers to the cylindrical, rotating part of a revolver containing multiple cartridge chambers. The cylinder revolves around a central axis in the revolver to bring each individual chamber into alignment with the barrel for firing...
, rather than firing from the topmost chamber. This is intended to reduce muzzle flip
Muzzle rise
The interchangeable terms muzzle rise, muzzle flip and muzzle climb refer to the tendency of firearms or pneumatic arms front end to rise up after firing....
by directing the recoil
Recoil
Recoil is the backward momentum of a gun when it is discharged. In technical terms, the recoil caused by the gun exactly balances the forward momentum of the projectile and exhaust gasses, according to Newton's third law...
into the shooter's wrist, rather than over it. Another distinctive feature is that the cross-section of the cylinder is hexagonal instead of cylindrical (though with rounded corners); this is intended to lower the weapon's profile in concealed carry applications.
Design details
The frame is made of Ergal (an aluminum alloyAlloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
), while the barrel, cylinder
Cylinder (firearms)
In firearms terminology, the Cylinder refers to the cylindrical, rotating part of a revolver containing multiple cartridge chambers. The cylinder revolves around a central axis in the revolver to bring each individual chamber into alignment with the barrel for firing...
, and other vital parts are made from steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
. The trigger may be used in either single-action or double-action mode. The external cocking lever is not actually a hammer
Hammer (firearm)
thumb|150px|Hammer with an integral [[firing pin]] on a [[S&W Model 13]] revolver The hammer of a firearm was given its name for both resemblance and functional similarity to the common tool...
, as on most revolvers. Instead, it is used to cock the internal hammer and then falls back into place, minimizing the number of externally moving parts, but making the revolver more complicated internally. The gun is available in blued
Bluing (steel)
Bluing is a passivation process in which steel is partially protected against rust, and is named after the blue-black appearance of the resulting protective finish. True gun bluing is an electrochemical conversion coating resulting from an oxidizing chemical reaction with iron on the surface...
and stainless
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
versions.