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whiskeyjack
09-20-2012, 11:44
http://www.kitsune.addr.com/Firearms/Revolvers/Medusa_Model_47.htm


Medusa Model 47:

The Medusa is a very unusual revolver produced by Phillips & Rodgers that have the ability to chamber multiple calibers in the same revolver. The Medusa chambers, fires, and extracts 25 different cartridges in the .38/9mm/.357 ammunition range. The obvious advantage of this is that the person can use the revolver for targeting shooting with a lighter and less expensive caliber and switch to a heavier caliber for self defense.

The reason why the revolver can use multiple calivers is because of its special cylinder. The Medusa six shot cylinder design originally was designed by Jonathan Phillips. He was also a computer specialist for NASA and a competition shooter and he regularly carried multiple guns of different calibers to the range every time he went to shoot. The Medusa was an attempt to solve this because most of the weapons he carried were in the 9 mm /.38 range. This does not include the .357 sig because the round is a .40 caliber cartridge that necks down to .357. To withstand the varying pressures involved in the various rounds, the revolvers cylinder is made with mil spec 4330 modified vanadium steel (the same alloy used in the Gatling gun barrels of F-16 Falcon fighters) and is specially hardened. This cylinder is about twice as stong as any other revolver cylinder on the market. The Medusa uses special rims and springs to hold rimless (automatic pistol) cartridges.

The Medusa Model 47 is patterned after the Smith & Wesson K-Frame pistols. The Medusa's frame constructed from 8620 steel which has been spacially hardened. The match grade barrel is constructed from 4150 chromemoly steel with available barrel lengths of 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 inches. The barrel has 9 rifle grooves instead of the normal 6 to 8 for revolvers. The revolver has a matte blue finish. The grips are rubber. The weapon comes standard with adjustable rear sights and changeable front sights.

Weight: 2.38 lbs (1.08 kg) empty.
Caliber: Can chamber, fire, and extract almsot any cartridges in the .38/9mm/.357 ammunition range (Does not include .357 Sig).
Barrel Length: 2.5 inch (6.4 cm), 3 inches (7.6 cm), 4 inch (10.2 cm), 5 inch (12.7 cm), or 6 inch (15.2 cm).
Action: Double Action.
Range: 150 ft (45.7 m).
Cylinder: 6 rounds .
Made in: America.
Special: Very accurate, Unusual Revolver that can use multiple calibers.
http://www.kitsune.addr.com/Firearms/Revolvers/Medusa_Model_47.jpg

Very interesting gun I know the inventor personally and he is a family friend. Just curious if any of you had heard of it or handled it. I have and would say that more guns should be like this. If any of you want to sometime we can go shoot mine.

mine:

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/527833_10151415311243976_818734363_n.jpg

Wulf202
09-20-2012, 11:50
heard of it. rare as hell. they also made cylinders for a s&w that dropped on with minor smithing.

want one some day.

Zundfolge
09-20-2012, 13:43
Nifty piece ... got to handle one once and it was every bit as nice as a Performance Center S&W.

Would be an excellent "post apocalypse" piece as you could run whatever ammo you found lying around.

Inconel710
09-20-2012, 14:28
I had no idea there were 25 different straight walled .355 -.357 cartridges!

Jolly Green
09-20-2012, 17:48
That is cool! Just think if S&W mass produced that... could be a great back up heater.

blacklabel
09-20-2012, 19:11
That's awesome! Definitely a unique piece.

Colorado Osprey
09-21-2012, 04:50
I've heard of and seen one. There was much talk about them many years back (1995) as the gun that was going to change the gun industry.
Cadco was selling them after Phillips & Rodgers and they were touted as able to shoot 25 different cartridges.
In all truth including some obscure cartridges and wildcats there was 117 different cartridges the Medusa could shoot.

In 1999 Colt pre-sold 25,000 revolvers named the "survivor" utilizing the Phillips & Rogers extractor design. But due to having a Democrat President giving pressure to not release new gun designs Colt caved and dropped it never being made into production.

Interesting note- The bad guy in the Da Vinci Code had a Medusa.

Navy Seals have bought Medusa's and are supposed to still use theirs because they are capable of firing under water.

Whiskeyjack, that long barrel gun is supposed to be pretty rare.