cpileri:
I have owned two DUO’s over the years, the first being in the middle 1950’s. Both were in good shape, functioned reliably with “hardball†ammunition, which was the only kind available at the time, and were as accurate as any vest-pocket pistol of it’s type, including my little Colt model 1908. I think we would have seen a lot more of then if the Russians hadn’t taken over. If you have/carry one you want it in good condition because repair parts and magazines aren’t easy to find. I had one aftermarket magazine and it wasn’t worth zip.
Jim:
I am never wrong, just frequently confused. I carry no torch for the Raven, but examples I tested were functional, at least for a time, and parts and spare magazines are easier to find then for a DUO. Literally millions of Ravens were made, and they provided some protection for people who couldn’t afford to buy anything better. They’re pot-metal construction is certainly not the best, but it is better then nothing. While a goodly number of them have been featured in crimes and unintentional (so-called “accidentalâ€) shootings the number of these “misused†guns is a tiny fraction of the number produced.
I define “bad†to mean that a gun’s condition has deteriorated to the point that reliable and/or safe function has become questionable. In a DUO this usually involved corroded chambers, broken striker/firing pins, weak springs and bad magazines. A “cheap†Raven is better then a “qualit†gun that won’t work – but not by much.
