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Revolvers Are For Amateurs
If a character who has little combat experience needs to kill someone or defend himself, chances are he's going to be packing a revolver, especially a snubnose revolver, instead of a semiautomatic. The less advanced design, smaller ammo capacity, and the shorter barrel are a good visual metaphor for the character's vulnerability and inexperience in combat.

One reason for this is that revolvers are simple and reliable firearms compared with more modern designs. There's a minimum of moving parts compared to a semi-automatic, they are less picky about what ammunition they'll take, and they don't jam under normal circumstances, so they're lower maintenance and more reliable for someone who doesn't have a lot of experience with firearms in general. Revolvers on the whole are usually cheaper, and therefore something you're more likely to find on an amateur rather then a professional who has more money invested in his firearms is also a contributing factor, and because of their inherently simpler design, a low-end revolver will outperform a cheaply-made automatic pistol in a walk, making them all the more attractive to those on a limited budget.

Doesn't count for characters who live in a time where semiautomatic handguns were rare, unreliable, or nonexistent. Doesn't count for characters experienced in gunfighting who use small revolvers as backups to other, larger weapons or for easy concealment. Also doesn't count for modern characters who are Western freaks.

Compare and/or contrast Revolvers Are Just Better, where someone who does know what they're doing decides to pack a wheelgun.


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    Anime and Manga 
  • Zig-Zagged in Ghost in the Shell. In Stand Alone Complex, Togusa is frequently criticised for carrying a revolver. In the Ghost In The Shell manga he's convinced to carry a semi-automatic, in the third movie (the one based on the Anime series) he's finally received cybernetic implants and switched to a semi-automatic, although he keeps the revolver as backup. It's implied that he thinks Revolvers Are Just Better or is simply old fashioned (old fashioned family values, uses a gun almost as old as he is, few cybernetic implants).
    • It also allows him, in both the first movie and an episode of the series, to fire some sort of tracking device onto a car.

  • David Della Rocco in The Boondock Saints is given a "six shooter" when his mafia bosses Papa Joe and Vincenzo set him up to be killed — unbeknownst to Rocco, he was being sent to kill nine guys instead of the two guys they told him he would have to kill. He later uses the gun in his first vigilante murder, killing two of his ex-associates before emptying the gun into the bartender.
  • Ray Ferrier in The War of the Worlds brings one with him when fleeing from the alien invasion.
  • Seen in Reservoir Dogs where Mr. Orange and Mr. White try to carjack a woman. The woman hastily pulls a snubnose revolver and manages to shoot Mr. Orange.
  • In Death Wish, Paul Kersey's first gun is a Colt revolver.
  • Pre-Batman Bruce Wayne wields a snubnose revolver in Batman Begins when he plans to kill Joe Chill. He later throws it the river after Chill is gunned down by the mob and he is harshly chewed out for his intent by Rachel.
  • In Lethal Weapon, cautious family man Murtaugh carries a revolver, while the hot-shot badass Riggs carries an automatic. Riggs constantly calls him out on it. Lampshaded in Lethal Weapon 2, where Leo correctly guesses their weapons based on their personalities. Subverted in that Murtaugh is capable of doling out headshots with frightening accuracy and later carries a semi automatic pistol alongside his revolver as a backup weapon.
  • In Big Trouble in Little China, Jack, Wang, and Eddie arm themselves after breaking into Wing Kong territory. Supporting character Eddie winds up with a revolver, while the more combat-capable main characters Jack and Wang get a SMG and shotgun, respectively.
  • Nicholas Cage's character in Knowing decides he needs a gun, and appears very inexperienced, to the point of methodically reading the manual, and then proceeding to run around with his finger on the trigger, in direct violation of the many, many safety warnings in the manual. It appears to be a stainless N-frame Smith & Wesson with rosewood grips, so at least he has good taste.

    Live Action TV 
  • Noah Bennet in Heroes uses a snubnose revolver the first time he tries to kill a person with special abilities.
  • Perseus, a computer programmer, defends himself with a snubnose revolver in NBC's Chuck.
  • Threshold Shortly before going on a dangerous mission, Cavanaugh (who is experienced with guns) gives a revolver to Caffrey, who is not experienced with guns. She initially complains that he gave her "a girl-gun", but he clarifies that a revolver is more reliable and wont jam. He goes on to state that he'll give her shooting lessons when they have more time. While she doesn't use it on that mission, she does use it to save his life later.
  • Both Walter and Jesse of Breaking Bad seem unfamiliar with guns, and both end up buying small-to-medium sized revolvers when they need to arm themselves. Possibly subverted because Walter does so for a specific reason and on the advice of a competent-sounding dealer.
  • In the second season of Bones, Dr. Brennan acquires a S&W Model 500 revolver to use as her personal sidearm. Unfortunately, being chambered for .500 magnum, the pistol is ludicrously overpowered for her.

    Video Games 
  • Probably why Alan Wake, a thriller writer with supposedly limited experience with firearms, primarily uses a revolver.
  • Invoked in the first The Godfather: You are a newcomer to the mob and the first gun you get from your mentor is a snubnose. You only get better weapons, including a genuinely Better Revolver, later. In contrast, the sequel has you established as a high-level made man from the start and your starting weapon is an automatic.

     Real Life 
  • This is absolutely Truth in Television. Revolvers are recommended for beginning shooters or people just looking for a weapon for home defense, due to their relatively low maintenance, ease of use, and high reliability.
    • There is also an absolutely vexing and rather stupid tendency for guys to buy a defensive handgun for their wife, girlfriend, or mother. Often, due to lack of investment given to training and personal involvement on the part of the recipient, a frequent result is that a revolver is purchased. Picking a defensive gun is a choice that ought to be made based on the input, preferences, and choice of the one for whom it is intended. This is absolutely essential for handguns, as hands and quirks tend to be ridiculously variable and unpredictable; a great setup for one person can be absolutely horrific for another (revolvers also tend to pack greater recoil, especially true for the small, snub-nosed ones that tend to be selected for women).
      • The small, snub-nose revolver, despite its "cute/effeminate" appearance, is one of the more difficult guns to shoot well. While a practiced marksman can perform very well with one, the beginner will be tormented by the small sights and long, heavy trigger pull, which tends to cause the aiming hand to twitch and quiver. The novice should not be asked to hit anything smaller than a man's chest at more than ten feet. But then, that's precisely the kind of shooting that snub-nose revolver is designed for.
  • Inverted at the same time; most professionals, and trick shooters in particular, have a fondness for revolvers. With the proper technique, they can shoot faster with a revolver than a semi-automatic. Champion shooter Jerry Miculek, for example, has such accomplishments with a revolver as 12 shots on a single target in under 3 seconds and 8 shots on 4 different targets in 1 second.
  • The most common early-game blasters in Humans Vs Zombies are revolvers, in particular the Maverick, the Strongarm, the Firefly, and the Tek 6. Players who avoid The Virus long enough to earn the use of heavier blasters tend to be the more-experienced.

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