Etymology

[thompal]

Why does one "rack" a slide??

Why not actuate the slide? Or operate the slide? Or even manipulate the slide. One could even SLIDE the slide. But "rack?" From where did this term come?

 

[mike8170]

To me, the the correct terms are "cycle the action" or "charge the weapon". Those are what I used in the Army and what each manual states. I am curious about the "racking" term myself.

 

[sloughfoot]

Posted with no additional comment....

Semi-automatic pistol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Hookeye]

Probably a mechanical term (correct or incorrect) used to describe a slide's movement on rails.

Scanned the wiki link's material, didn't see it. Forgive if a repeat.

 

[Fullmag]

Just thinking; does it come from the magazine, having the cartridges (proper term) placed in a rack.

 

[thompal]

Just thinking; does it come from the magazine, having the cartridges (proper term) placed in a rack.

Hmm, possibly. But then, why wouldn't we say we "magazine" the slide? Or, (for the less-informed) "clip" the side?

 

[AJBB87]

I feel like it has something to do with the sound a dropped slide makes, or the sound of "racking in a load" with a pump action shot gun.

From the definitions I've found, "rack" is the wrong term for the action of cycling a slide.

But how else would you describe that sound?

 

[Kernal1984]

This is getting deep.

I too am now curious as to the origin of this questionable descriptive term of which is being discussed.

 

[printcraft]

See, now I'm really confused.

I thought rack had something to do with boobs or being kicked in the nutz.

 

[Fullmag]

This is getting deep.

I too am now curious as to the origin of this questionable descriptive term of which is being discussed.

Agreed it's getting deep.

Adding to the thought about the sound it makes, to me it's more
SN-I-CK SN-A-CK, rather than rack. Who wants to say "snick-snack' that 9, and let's get shoot'en."

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Rack? Who uses that silly term?

The correct term is "reciprocate".

 

[rockhopper46038]

I'm guessing it derives from the mechanical definition of a "rack", as in a "rack-and-pinion" setup, were the "rack" is a bar (usually toothed, but doesn't have to be) which moves from one extreme to another extreme in a fixed plane. But that's just a guess.

 

[printcraft]

Agreed it's getting deep.

Adding to the thought about the sound it makes, to me it's more
SN-I-CK SN-A-CK, rather than rack. Who wants to say "snick-snack' that 9, and let's get shoot'en."

Sounds like rap song.

 

[PapaScout]

I'm guessing it derives from the mechanical definition of a "rack", as in a "rack-and-pinion" setup, were the "rack" is a bar (usually toothed, but doesn't have to be) which moves from one extreme to another extreme in a fixed plane. But that's just a guess.

Yep! Linear actuation although in the case of a slide no gearing.