or its modern look-alikes such as the Ruger Vaquero and Beretta Stampede. Until the 1970s, when older-design revolvers such as the Colt Single Action Army and Ruger Blackhawk were re-engineered with drop safeties (such as firing pin blocks, hammer blocks, or transfer bars) that prevent the firing pin from contacting the cartridge's primer unless the trigger is pulled, safe carry required the hammer being positioned over an empty chamber, reducing the available cartridges from six to five, or, on some models, in between chambers on either a pin or in a groove for that purpose, thus keeping the full six rounds available. This kept the uncocked hammer from resting directly on the primer of a cartridge. If not used in this manner, the hammer rests directly on a primer and unintentional firing may occur if the gun is dropped or the hammer is struck. Some holster makers provided a thick leather thong to place underneath the hammer that both allowed the carry of a gun fully loaded with all six rounds and secured the gun in the holster to help prevent its accidental loss. Six guns are used commonly by single-action shooting enthusiasts in shooting competitions, designed to mimic the gunfights of the Old West, and for general target shooting, hunting and personal defense. Notable brands and manufacturers Robert Adams Armscor Astra Charter Arms Chiappa Firearms Cimarron Firearms Colt's Manufacturing Company Fabrique Nationale de Herstal Freedom Arms Griswold and Gunnison Harrington & Richardson Iver Johnson Janz (revolvers) Kimber Manufacturing Korth Magnum Research Manurhin Mateba Arms Meriden Firearms Co. Merwin Hulbert Nagant North American Arms Remington Arms Rossi Royal Small Arms Factory Sturm, Ruger & Co. Smith & Wesson Taurus Firearms United States Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company A. Uberti, Srl. William Tranter Webley & Scott Dan Wesson Firearms Gallery See also Gunspinning List of revolvers Russian roulette Turret gun References External links —Revolving gun —Improvement in firearms —Revolver —Revolver —Repeating firearm —Revolver American inventions Firearm actions 1836 introductions Western (genre) staples and terminology