What is the point in the Mauser Zig-Zag?

Question

What was the practical purpose of the Zig-Zag pattern on the Mauser Zig-Zag? I know that a later gun named the Webley-Fosbary used something similar to help make it have an automatic function but the Mauser doesn't look like that is the purpose for it at all.

Answer 1

The groove is a cam pathway that rotates the cylinder to fire the next round when the hammer is pulled back.