Groomsman gifts: Handguns. now which one?

Status
Not open for further replies.
I keep looking at all the options. I think I MUST have the NAA revolvers. They are just awesome (and the only thing on my list that is new AND quality except the derringer or CB revolver).

Now I just need to find a deal on them.

.22LR or mag, 1 1/8 or 1 5/8 barrel, stainless with wood grip (black 2nd choice). SO far CTD has them for $166. I'm probably better off buying local after shipping and additional transfer fees at the local FFL.
 
Another vote for the NAA revolvers. Seems like a great choice. Something most gun people might not buy for themselves, but should be lots of fun to own and shoot.

If someone gave me a Krap-Tec, I'd give it back, and we would no longer be friends. I'd rather have a $100 Home Depot gift certificate. Or even a 12-pack of Budweiser.
Click to expand...
I assume your just joking around, but honestly if someone was so ignorant as to give back a gift I picked out for them, there would be no need for them to drop me as a friend, I would gladly do the dropping. :mad:
 
As a groomsman I’d take any gun and be happy, but for your budget I rather have the black powder revolver then any of the others; even though I’ve never shot black powder.

You can buy them from Cabelas for under your budget without any of the legal hassles and this one even comes with the starter kit.

http://www.cabelas.com/Black-Powder/Pistols-Revolvers

I don’t know if it’s crap or quality but I’d be ecstatic to get one. You can even get free shipping.
 
mdauben said:
Another vote for the NAA revolvers. Seems like a great choice. Something most gun people might not buy for themselves, but should be lots of fun to own and shoot.


I assume your just joking around, but honestly if someone was so ignorant as to give back a gift I picked out for them, there would be no need for them to drop me as a friend, I would gladly do the dropping. :mad:
Click to expand...
I would describe about 50% of the gun brands out there as rightfully argued in terms of quality. Kel Tec doesn't make the list for me. I would be thrilled to own one and I would trust my life to one like I would my Glock, Remington (BA, shotty), Winchester (BA), or DPMS AR.

And I also think that was a joke. I wouldn't a have a friend who drinks that beer anyway!:barf::neener: (I live in oregon where we have about 50 micro breweries worth of beer to choose from)

Back on topic: Any thoughts on where to laser an NAA mini? ON the top of the frame above the cylinder? On the left side of the frame? Cylinder? I think the cylinder will get more wear... maybe... They are so small there aren't many places to laser!
 
I think the NAA Mini is the best option. It's not something most people would buy for themselves but would be really fun to have.
I think a really nice knife from a quality manufacturer would be the 2nd best option. I gave my best man a really nice Case lock-back 27 years ago and he tells me he never uses it because he doesn't want to mess it up. Just keeps it in his gun safe and brings it out to look at every once in a while.
 
gave my wife a NAA for a wedding present with her new initials on the top strap. So if you are getting one for the guys, why not for the girls also?
 
I would go with the NAA. I don't have one, but a friend has several. They are very well made and fun to shoot. Not only that, you could have shooting matches and see who is the best shot for less than the price of a six pack. Best wishes!
 
I purchased a derringer once, (a double barrel .410/ 44 combo). and they are great if you 4'8", and 100 lbs... I am 6' 3", 220 lbs with big hands. the Kel tec 9 was almost too small in my hands, the derringers were even smaller After one shot I gave it to my Dad for a present... It kicked like a mule... I don't think he has ever fired it.

I think the size of your groomsmen should be considered
 
DavidE wrote,
I'd rather get a $200 knife than a $200 gun.

Were I the giver, no legal hassles to worry about, either.
Click to expand...
I'm with DavidE on this one. You can get a pretty nice knife for $200.

A $200 knife is probably something I'd really like to have, but it is something I may be hesitant to spend so much money for since it would be such a luxury. That is a great gift in my mind.

On the other hand, a $200 pistol is something I may buy if I had an extra $200 sitting around. It is not something I would really cherish since my other guns are worth at least $300 more than that. It is not something I'd ever take the effort to save up for to buy for myself. If I saw a $200 knife that I really liked, I'd save up for that.

Of course they are your groomsmen, and you know what they would like better than us.
 
NAA = good choice

I always wanted one, got one, then determined it was fairly useless as any type of back up to my back up carry piece.
Cocking, aiming and firing that thing under any sort of stress would require more practice than I cared to allocate. (no offense to those who think it's a great carry piece...my opinion)

That said... they ARE little works of art, and for your purpose, they exude class much moreso than a KT, or some of the other options in your price range.

Nice gift, OP. Since they are so unique, I'll bet in 15 years your groomsmen wil each have them as opposed to a KT or other inexpensive gun which may have been traded off.


A nice auto knife would be a great secondary option if you run into snags w/firearm purchase.


*also, thumbs up to Zak...BP pistols and that pic you displayed - very cool idea
 
JTQ said:
I'm with DavidE on this one. You can get a pretty nice knife for $200.

A $200 knife is probably something I'd really like to have, but it is something I may be hesitant to spend so much money for since it would be such a luxury. That is a great gift in my mind.

On the other hand, a $200 pistol is something I may buy if I had an extra $200 sitting around. It is not something I would really cherish since my other guns are worth at least $300 more than that. It is not something I'd ever take the effort to save up for to buy for myself. If I saw a $200 knife that I really liked, I'd save up for that.

Of course they are your groomsmen, and you know what they would like better than us.
Click to expand...
I am confident they will appreciate just about anything I would buy them, especially any item that is of high quality for the class of firearm it is in.

For example, a $200 hi-point is not worth a damn in quality compared to an H&K. However, a $200 NAA mini is a very high quality firearm (I forgot the other mini revolver MFR I saw, but the NAAs are known to be much better).

The other thing is that these will be part of a matched engraved set of firearms. I am sure that if one of my friends was having trouble paying a mortgage or something and they opened their safe to head to the pawn shop (they would sooner sell their clothes, cars, food, electronics, and windows out of their homes) that they would not grab the engraved memento from a wedding that cannot be replaced. I think a surplus AK or higher valued and easily replaced glock would go first.

My groomsmen will probably leave these weapons to their kids when they pass away like all the other nice guns they own. I doubt they will have any special meaning to their kids though, which is fine.
 
They will appreciate anything you buy, but that doesn't mean they'll use it.

I got a pewter mug as best man many years ago. I appreciated it, but I haven't used it a single time. It's stored in a box somewhere.

I have 3 NAA revolvers I've owned 15 yrs and shoot them maybe once every 2-3 yrs. If you can get them bought and engraved for $200 each total, that's a pretty good price. (my vote is for the .22 magnum. The Pug if you can swing it)

I have had a knife in my pocket since I was 10 and use it several times a day. My current one is a Sebenza that my wife got me 3 yrs ago for a landmark occasion. I think of her many times each day as I use it several times throughout.

I suspect my kids will fight over this one because I use it daily, making it identifiable with me. I have other knives they know nothing about and therefore have very little meaning to them.

Best wishes on your upcoming marriage!
 
I think the PF9 would be a great, practical option. I would love to have one.

However, I think the NAA is the right choice. It's something most folks wouldnt buy themselves and they are handsome. I know my brother in law gave us all stainless, leather wrapped flasks with our initials engraved. It's a treasured, sentimental possession. I think that NAA is something that will be easy to be kept in good shape and something that will bring fond memories whenever it's brought out.

Congratulations.

edit: Definitely need to get the bayonets to match. CQC can be unpredictable!

double edit: I don't know if the street price falls in your range, but that NAA Earl is one good looking mini-revolver
 
hookers, haha.

The earl is cool, but too big to be a mini in my book... based on the length.

I stumbled on some single shot shotguns too. H&R and Rossi Both make break away single shots for about $125... now we are talking shotguns in the handgun forum, AHHHH!

I found a source on the .22 Magnum NAA Minis for a little under $200 each including transfer and a check.

I also found a source on polish compact makarovs, for about $180 apiece. That is super tempting too...

I keep thinking about going out with "the guys" and shooting these things every now and then. The minis, single shotty, or a makarov would all be good for that.
 
The P64 can be a fun gun if you're a collector, but I have yet to see one that was in god functional condition right off the truck. They generally have atrocious trigger pulls and need replacement springs to get them working properly. My first one needed two hands to pull the trigger in DA.

I was looking at some of the NAA's yesterday. They really are little jewels. I would be happy as heck to be gifted one.
 
zoom6zoom said:
The P64 can be a fun gun if you're a collector, but I have yet to see one that was in god functional condition right off the truck. They generally have atrocious trigger pulls and need replacement springs to get them working properly. My first one needed two hands to pull the trigger in DA.

I was looking at some of the NAA's yesterday. They really are little jewels. I would be happy as heck to be gifted one.
Click to expand...
All things being considered (cost, impression upon gifting, longevity, shooting fun/value, functionality, class factor, build quality) All point to NAA. I appreciate your comments on your personal experience with the 63. I have heard that their triggers are stiff... Made me want to spend the extra $30 for a "real" makarov.
 
I can tell you that I would never buy a NAA revolver but I think they are cool as hell. I would certainly love one as this sort of gift.

As for like a bersa/keltec...I may use it more but it's probably a less exciting and memorable gift
 
Last edited:
My 0.02. I would choose the derringer in a smaller caliber, maybe 38 special or 380. I would get one for myself as well, because I think it would make the gift more special - so I would choose a less expensive gun and get 5 instead of 4 at $200.

Everyone has their personal preferences when carrying a gun, so they should buy ones that fit them. So, I would not try to buy a carry piece, ie PF9, P64, makarovs, etc. I would want something that is special and fun and presents well in a beautiful box because that is the way it will likely be seen by your friends most. So, cost and presentation wise, the derringer makes the most sense to me, and I think it would look stunning in a presentation box (which really doesn't need to be expensive at all - it may be able to fit in a jewelry box).
 
Also, if any of them carry, you may want to get a pocket holster for the derringer or NAA so that you can gift at the rehearsal dinner and they can carry them on your wedding day.
 
If I were receiving it, I'd like the derringer in .38spl or the NAA with the longest barrel within your price range. Great idea!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

stonecutter2
  • Locked
Handguns as Groomsmen gifts
2 3 4
Replies
99
Views
10K
MT GUNNY
M
marksman13
  • Locked
  • Poll
Help me decide on a carry pistol...
2
Replies
47
Views
2K
rj112275
R
U
  • Locked
Handgun for the wife.
2
Replies
25
Views
1K
zxc
Z
C
  • Locked
  • Poll
I Need Your Help
Replies
19
Views
818
45crittergitter
4
O
  • Locked
Stop me if you've heard this one...
Replies
14
Views
916
DR
D
Back
Top