does anyone own a saturday night Special ?

[22250Rem]

Back in the 70's & 80's there were tons of 25 ACP Ravens around and they were cheap and plentiful. They fit right into the prevailing media mindset of that era as a typical " Saturday Night Special". There were a few eras of Raven production that had some quality problems but for the most part they were halfway decent for what they cost. Bottom line, though, is that they're still an el-cheapo handgun. Here's one that got traded in at the LGS in 1995 and the owner told me to take it off his hands for 25 bucks. So I did.... Just for grins. Checked my log book and its had 207 trouble free rounds put through it since 1995 with the last 6 rounds being fired in 2010 as a function check. Now its kept as a curiosity item. Never did carry it other than just to the range and back. Nowadays these things are scarce... Not that it makes them valuable, desirable, and collectible..... Just scarce.

 

[stchman]

There is a difference IMO between a cheap gun and a low quality gun. Companies like SAR and Tanfoglio make inexpensive guns that are well built. Companies like Jimenez, Raven, Jennings, Lorcin, Davis, make inexpensive guns that are of low quality.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

I have a little QFI .25 ACP. Pretty decent little gun, actually. Accurate (sort of) and reliable (no, really). I like it. I think I paid $40 for it, a long long time ago.

 

[496 polara]

I always thought a "saturday night special" referred to a snub nose .38 special.I have several of those.

 

[Jim Watson]

No, that is a Pocket Rocket, a term found on a gunzine cover and adopted by the anti-gun movement for a good quality concealable weapon.

 

[mistermills357]

I had a Jennings .380, that I got for $50.

 

[JayZee]

You know, that is weird..

I was developing a fascination with the caliber (ended up with a Bauer and two Taurus PT25s, but never did get a Raven.)

I own a PT25 and I LOVE it. Pre-lock gun made in the early 70's. 100% reliable. One stovepipe when I held it funny/thumb riding. I have fired maybe 250 rounds through it since I have owned it. Bought from original owner. I have a LOVE for the 25 ACP now. I have retained about 90% of my brass. Most get dropped nearby easily grabbed between loading magazines. Bought some dies, will reload plinking with some No3. Buckshot. Maybe load some 55grainFP lead nose REALLY hot.

I think it is a shame though. "Saturday Night Specials" are STILL guns and people who are not prohibited should have a right to them. Gun CONTROL is about just that. Poor people get stuck with scraps. Some od the Spanish revolvers are NOT bad guns. I'd rather a revolver SNS, in .38 myself.

 

[JayZee]

There is a difference IMO between a cheap gun and a low quality gun. Companies like SAR and Tanfoglio make inexpensive guns that are well built. Companies like Jimenez, Raven, Jennings, Lorcin, Davis, make inexpensive guns that are of low quality.

Completely agree, and which is why I think the 1968GCA is bullcrap Lots of old guns like Iver Johnson or H&R are MUCH better quality than Hi-Point. The old top break revolvers are better quality than most pot metal Jennnings.

 

[Blacksmoke]

Back in the 1970s I owned a Spanish made clone of the Colt 1908.

 

[plinky]

Another one of those vague terms. When I think of crime guns, they may be cheap makes or pretty nice but they are usually so abused and broken that no legal buyer would want them, other than as a project. That is just my perception though,

I had a Jennings .22 briefly. It jammed a little and then spontaneously disassembled in use. It's shame too. It was a pretty little thing. Satin/teflon chrome with rosewood laminate grips. Made to look at more than shoot.

Closest thing I have now is an old, rough H&R Sportsman. It looks bad and fires about 50%. The black market would saw the barrel off and call it good.