The Nagant M1895 was chambered for a proprietary cartridge, 7.62×38mmR, and features a gas-seal system, in which the cylinder moves forward when the gun is cocked, to close the gap between the cylinder and the barrel, providing a boost to the muzzle velocity of the bullet and allowing the weapon to be suppressed.

[9] Seven Nagant revolvers were used by communist revolutionaries to kill the Russian imperial family and their servants in July 1918.

[9] Nagant revolvers were used by the NKVD and Red Army units until the end of World War II, with a total of 2,000,000 produced.

The cartridge, also unique, plays an important part in sealing the gun to prevent the escape of propellant gases.

The barrel features a short conical section at its rear; this accepts the mouth of the cartridge, completing the gas seal.

In British service the Webley Revolver used a top-break cylinder and star extractor to simultaneously eject all spent cartridges and in American service the Smith & Wesson Model 10 employed a similar system but with a swing-out cylinder.

The Nagant with its side-loading gate, and ejector rod to remove spent cartridges individually in succession was for all its novelty, outdated as a military revolver in this regard.

When fired, the crimp expands into the forcing cone, completing the gas seal and ostensibly increasing muzzle velocity by approximately 75 ft/s.

Aftermarket cylinders for .32-caliber can be installed, allowing the Nagant to safely fire .32 H&R Magnum or .32 ACP[citation needed].

In the 1880s, Luxembourg purchased a total of 190 Nagant revolvers, with the standard model chambered in 7.5mm, and the Gendarmerie receiving a black powder 9.4x22mm variant which could also affix a spike bayonet.