Cobra Derringer

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Panzerschwein

Panzerschwein

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Hi everyone! Gettin' tore up tonight for New Years? Make sure to get a ride.

Now back on topic, I want a derringer chambered in .38 special. And no, I don't want a Bond Arms derringer. Why? The Bond Arms guns in .38 weigh 20 ounces and are HUGE... somehow, they are LARGER AND HEAVIER than a S&W Model 60 J-frame.

There aren't many choices in Derringers out there, but I am aware of the Cobra derringers. They make one in my caliber that weighs 14 oz and is smaller than a J-frame. That's more like it. I would want to get the 2" version with chrome finish and rosewood grips:

pix137016089.jpg

It love the looks of this gun. But, I know about these guns.

I know they aren't the best.

But just how bad are they? I know the trigger needs to be pulled in a downward motion, but that it's still a heavy trigger. Not a big deal to me. I have just always wanted a derringer as a fun range toy and well... just to have one. If it isn't very accurate that's no concern. I could possibly see this as being a deep concealed backup or car gun.

So again, how bad are these guns? I have the opportunity to buy one new in box for just over $100. Even if it turn out to be a dud, I'll sell the thing for whatever price I can get and won't be out much at all.

I just have always wanted a derringer, and not a lead brick like the better quality Bond Arms guns. They are very cool looking and I love the mystique and history. I know these guns aren't exactly of the highest quality, but for the occasional range toy and just as a novelty, I'd like one.

So, preferably from those with 1st hand experience with these, what do you think?

Should I get one?
 
Over the decades I've owned two Davis derringers (.22 WMR and .38 Special) and one Cobra (.38 Special). The latter was identical to the one pictured. Cobra, as I recall, bought Davis' derringers and tooling after they became defunct. All three were reliable in terms of going bang, but all of them were royal crap beyond that. They are cheaply made, have kludgy hammers, the lock screw would "walk" out under recoil, and they had horrid triggers. Accuracy, beyond point blank range, was nonexistent. All three were sold or traded off in short order and I eventually got over my fascination with derringers.

As a fun gun, maybe, but imho the neat-o factor wears off fast. But if you always wanted to give one a spin, and it is only a range toy as you mentioned, why not for a C-Note? It could be pretty cheap fun.

(Though you didn't mention it, it is worth saying: for CCW, forget it. There are so many other options out there that is no need to waste one's time on this miserable little pistolas.)
 
If you want a better quality piece that is the size of the Old West derringers look at a model from American Derringer Corp. I think they are still in business, but it's hard to tell since their website hasn't been updated in ages.
 
Yes I've heard of them, and it's almost impossible to get any kind of info on them or there products, or if they are even still in business. A quick Gun Broker search reveals only a few American Derringer guns for sale, and all look like used or old production guns. They also have no contact information whatsoever on their website, which appears to have been last updated in 2011.
 
I have one in 32 Auto. I discovered that by cutting the recess in the chambers that rim of the cartridge fits in it will also chamber 32 S&W. Even though the 32/Auto round sits slightly deeper it still fires every time. I brought mine foe use in Cowboy Action Shooting side.matches.

For me it is just a novelty. The small grip makes it hard to hold along with keeping your finger from slipping past the muzzle when shooting it.
 
With some digging, I managed to find an email address buried on their website. I emailed them asking where to buy one of their M1 derringers in .38 special. Let's see if they respond.
 
I have one by cimarron arms in 22LR that looks nearly identical to the picture.
The trigger is horrendous, the accuracy is awful, its only 2 shots of 22, and its ungodly loud, but I still like it.
It satisfies the first rule.
 
I've owned several Davis and Cobra derringers over the years and still own two. One in .22 magnum and one in 32 ACP. Every thing said about them is true, trigger is terrible, accuracy beyond a card table is iffy but they are fun. Plus Cobra will honor the Davis warranty ( lifetime ) and offers a lifetime warranty on their own. I will some times carry the 22 on walks with one of the chambers loaded with CCI snake shot. I also worked on the internals, got the trigger on the 22 somewhat better, didn't even bother with the .32. I'm even thinking about getting on in 22LR so I can play with CeeBees
 
Santa left one for me-----trigger is super heavy must be around 20lbs..can't hit broadside of a barn.LOL need to be in very close range...to me its a waste of money...
 
I see, I keep hearing that.

I'm thinking about passing on one now. Who are these things made for?? If Bond Arms can sell a bunch of $400 derringers, you'd think someone would be making a better derringer than this for less.
 
I had a Bond. I don't anymore.

I never did enjoy that thing much. I doubt I'd like a Cobra any better. They just aren't any fun to shoot IMHO.

The one derringer I could see owning as a novelty is an old COP four barrel gun. But the triggers are crap on them so given the price, it'll probably never happen.
 
I have an American Derringer, DA 38 bought several years ago. It seems to be fairly good quality. I can hit top of pie plate with one barrell, and bottom of pie plate with the other at 10 yds. Several rounds of shooting makes my hand sore.
Good look on your quest.
 
I think the Remington 95 style derringers were a pretty good design and gun for 1866.

It is no longer 1866.

I did carry one, in a pocket for woods walks, likely an RG as it was only marked Made in Germany and had German proofs and .38 Spezial.

Actually the bottom barrel shot point of aim at 12 yards.....and the top shot "somewhere else". At 3 yard the top worked well enough on targets with bullets and OK with CCI .38 Special Shot or hand loaded shot at "SNAKE!" ranges, also about three yards.

It was last shot with "real ammo" (has fired Speer plastic training bullets since)in 1991....and I did not fire that shot intentionally.

Mine did not have a cross bold safety like the Davis and Cobra seem to have and that, if it had been used, would have prevented that ND. Still, those things to this day give me the Willies.

-kBob
 
I have an American Arms in .45 acp. It's fun, and reasonably well made, but entirely unsuited for any serious use.

The hammer _must_ be on half-cock when reloading, or else the firing pin is fully extended and the gun can fire when the action is closed. Let that sink in for a sec. The safety is easily dislodged if the hammer spur is bumped. The vertical spread is measured in feet. The trigger pull is ridiculous.

As a range toy, sure. But not for anything else.
 
American Derringer has advertised that they would make guns on demand. There was a recent gun magazine ad that they would do a Semmerling. If they would still do a derringer, I dunno. Best to call them as that's how they seem to respond.

You certainly don't see new guns at TX gun shows - where you would expect.
 
Pretty rough on the hand

Had one of these for several years, I bought it specifically for the times when carrying concealed was almost impossible witha conventional firearm.
I use it mostly during the summer when I am wearing just shorts and maybe a T shirt, it fits nicely in my pocket and it doesn't really show. From that aspect it provides exactly what I wanted.
Shooting it is another matter! As previous posters have stated, it has a really heavy trigger pull, and after about 20 rounds my hand is sore from recoil. BUT, it is carried with the expectation that I will only fire the two shots and that's it! If I needed more than two rounds I shouldn't have pulled it for use anyway! Out to about 7 yards I can keep an aimed shot in a plate. Again to me that is acceptable.
So yes its fairly well built, its a nice hefty caliber and totally concealable. and as I noted , its a great little item for the summer months when I cant conceal anything larger.
It sure isn't the quality of my other carry guns but for the price and convenience it offers, for me it was a good buy.
 
We had a couple come through the shop, one 22, one 38. Both developed problems. After the second one our 'smith said don't send him any more. We'll sell Bond if someone just has to have a derringer.
 
I... don't think I want one of these anymore LOL!

They seem like junk, even worse than I though they'd be. Oh well. I'll put the money towards a different gun.
 
cooldill look I have had a couple before and a house fire took my last one! but I never had any trouble with them and also people expect a $159-$200 gun to be like a $1500 gun in which it isn't! but I liked mine and are going to buy another one in 22mag and use it for a snake pistol. but to tell you the honest truth theres nothing wrong with these pistols and they work just fine. get one and see for yourself if you don't like it you can either offload it to someone else or me as theres always a need for a small handgun so just give it a try you don't have much to lose and most likely get your money back out of it, if you don't like it...
 
FWIW, I had a Cobra .38spl derringer and really liked it. True the trigger was a beast, but after a little Emery cloth it got better. I actually got pretty good with it. I could hit COM at 10 yds with both barrels and a 6' round hay bales at 50 yds. Had to keep an eye on the barrel hinge screw, but other than that it was good for me. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another.
 
I owned a 38 Davis derringer briefly. It was probably due to my very large hands and subsequent poor grip control, but at seven yards I had to aim at the ground to hit a target. The target was three or four feet high. It was therefore useless to me and I traded it in on something else. YMMV.
 
Wasn't this the type of gun that was involved in that Cracker Barrel negligent discharge situation a few months ago?
 
All three were reliable in terms of going bang, but all of them were royal crap beyond that.
Click to expand...

I believe that to be true. I owned one cheap derringer in .38 Special, and won't ever again. I'd say a big knife is probably as - or more - effective, strictly in terms of personal defense. That's because the gun was so inaccurate, even at close range.

Guns that are only marginally accurate are one thing, but guns that are wildly inaccurate are very much another thing. You really do need to think about the innocent people that might be hit by a stray round in a defensive situation.

My brother has a Bond Arms, on the other hand, and it's pretty nice. And you can change out barrels to different calibers. Best wishes.
 
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