ELi5: In a wild west movie or game, when a gunslinger puts their revolver into their holster it often makes a “click”. (for example in Red Dead Redemption 2). Would this happen in real life, and if so, what is it caused by?

Question

ELi5: In a wild west movie or game, when a gunslinger puts their revolver into their holster it often makes a “click”. (for example in Red Dead Redemption 2). Would this happen in real life, and if so, what is it caused by?

In: 19

Answer 1

I was usually under the impression they tend to pull the hammer back on the revolver, to save a little time in pulling the trigger and to show intent you are really planning to fire. If holstering the weapon they would slide it back in and simultaneously flick the hammer back into neutral and that would be the click sound.