Speedloaders, a simple idea

**Grey Bearded One** · March 17th, 2016, 02:01 PM

I was looking at an HKS speedloader the other day and got to thinking about how simple of an idea it is, like many inventions. So I got to wondering when they came out so I went to uspto.gov and looked it up. The original patent for the HKS speedloader was filed in 1971. Safariland's was patented a decade later.

Other than moon clips, were there any speed loaders before HKS's offerings?

Colt introduced the swing out cylinder in 1889, so, assuming that HKS was the first, that's over 80 years before someone came up with a faster way to reload those revolvers.

**Remington788** · March 17th, 2016, 02:10 PM

5 seconds with Google led me to
http://www.guns.com/2013/03/30/revolver-speedloaders/

**MT1** · March 17th, 2016, 02:15 PM

This might provide some additional information. http://www.guns.com/2013/03/30/revolver-speedloaders/

**MT1** · March 17th, 2016, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by Remington788

5 seconds with Google led me to
http://www.guns.com/2013/03/30/revolver-speedloaders/

Ahhhh... your gogglefoo is strong wise one.

**Grey Bearded One** · March 17th, 2016, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by Remington788

5 seconds with Google led me to
http://www.guns.com/2013/03/30/revolver-speedloaders/

Thanks. I figured that it was too simple of an idea to take 80 years to come to fruition. I remembered the Dade speedloaders, at least the design, but couldn't remember the name.

I still find it interesting how speedloaders fell out of favor after WW I and didn't see a big comeback until the 60s.

Your google-fu is stronger than mine.