I know a whole lot about auto...

Question
I know a whole lot about auto pistols, but very little about revolvers. I know that my Glock will hold more rounds, is very reliable and you can't hardly break it, but i still like revolvers. The only thing that stops me from getting one is that I have heard so many stories about how many problems they have. Like sprung cranes, going out of time, broken firing pin spurs etc. Exactly how fragile are revolvers? What if i drop it or bump it hard or sit on it or whatever? Will it develop a problem? What i am asking is, can i trust a revolver to withstand some abuse? I want a taurus small frame. Thank you for your time.

Answer
Jason,

First of all, let me commend you on your choice in a revolver.  Although not a big revolver man myself, the only one I own is a Taurus CIA in .357 (Although I only shoot and carry .38 +P in it).

The revolver will be lighter to carry than your Glock, owing to the fact that it will hold less rounds (you'll have to determine in your situation whether that's a plus or a minus).

Modern revolvers are not all that fragile.  I can't imagine a modern one developing timing problems in a single user's lifetime, unless it was "monkeyed" with.  Ditto broken firing pins - no more likely to happen on a modern revolver than on a modern auto.

Modern revolvers are really only fragile when they're open.  If you abuse the crane/cylinder in the open position, you may well find it not working.  But other than that, dropping it, bumping it, or sitting on it won't make a difference.

Regarding reliability:  I'd keep it as clean as possible.  The mechanism is fairly intricate.  In the early days of autopistols (say, before the 1950's) revolvers were much more reliable than autopistols, owing largely to primitive springs and bullet lube that would gum up an auto in short order.  Today, autopistols take the edge in reliability (something I still have trouble convincing "old timers" of), but a revolver reasonably maintained and carried in a quality holster will serve you well enough.  I doubt you'd have any problems with it whatsoever.

BTW, one advantage a revolver does have over an auto is that it can be fired from inside a pocket more than once, particularly if it is one with a concealed hammer.