High Standard .22 Mag Derringer

[JFrame]

Two old well carried friends. Another .22 magnum & Case XX Canoe.

View attachment 916252

Love that pic, and that combo!

.

 

[bannockburn]

C&L

Nice pairing of a couple of pocket companions!

 

[TTv2]

I happened to be reading a Gun Digest for 1968 and there was the HS .22 Magnum only $40 US for either caliber

the Colt Junior 6 shot .22S or.25 ACP auto was $43.25
the Browning .25 6 shot was $39.50 for the standard or $64.50 for the lightweight
the Beretta Minx 6 shot auto in .22S or .25 ACP was $41
the Astra Cub 6 shot in .22s or .25ACP was $37.50
the diminutive Bernardelli .22S or .22L 6 shot was $44 and the 5 shot .25ACP was $48 (Dad had one and pocket carried when needed, loose)

So it was priced right there with the competition and I remember folks making comments to the effect that they would rather have two sure shots with a .22 Mag than six maybes with .22s or .25ACP.

Most seemed to be under the impression that they were going to get the same power from a .22 Magnum belly gun they would get from a .22Magnum rifle.....

Dad also looked around that time at the S&W .22 auto, (Chief decided Auxillerymen should be armed even off duty but a tiny gun would do) but a regular cop a new S&W auto that had a jam about the time Dad was ready to purchase.

Never saw the Bernardelli VP stutter on .25 ACP FMJ and it was minute of can at 15 yards despite the small size and ridiculous excuse for sights in Dad's hand. He carried with the chamber empty and would do a one handed cock. I shot it at 3 to seven yards only... when at 3 going for a burst of five rounds generally at the head of a target or the first round or two anyway. At five and seven I aimed (quickly) COM and pumped two to three at a more sedate cadence.

I don't recall any of the small town cops or auxillery using any sort of pocket holster other than a hanky or cut down ( or sewn up) eyeglass pocket slip.

Different times and different places, 1968 was.

-kBob

Interesting to see the prices of things back then, according to the internet $1 then is worth $7.58 today, so everything was around $300. Today we're able to get polymer guns for around $200, largely due to CNC machining and the use of said polymers.

BTW, unless these were different guns, the Beretta is an 8+1, not a 6 shot. I think 9 rds vs two .22 Mag is enough of an improvement in firepower to make it a good choice and I can believe people thinking back then that .22 Mag was going to have rifle power because the extra 18 inches of barrel is really just for show. SMH, I'm glad that stupidity isn't commonplace anymore.

With the advent of proper .22 Magnum handgun ammunition, they make a lot more sense today. I wouldn't mind seeing both a 2 shot derringer, but also a 4 shot like the Mossberg Brownie return.

 

[GEM]

Here's a 22 LR 4 barrel, however, I don't really know if they made it to market. Never saw one.

https://iverjohnsonarms.com/derringers.html

I was always enamored by them from watching the Yancy Derringer show. Later, I read that the star, Jock Mahoney, was Sally Fields' step dad and molested here - according to her book. Sigh, the world stinks at times. Sorry for the diversion.

 

[Fyrstyk]

That IJ 4-barrel gun looks an awful lot like the old Sharps 4-barrel Derringer.

 

[JONWILL]

I had a couple of them. Kind of neat guns but I never ended up keeping them

I pulled the trigger with my middle finger. I never could get a decent grip using my index finger.

 

[Walkalong]

I pulled the trigger with my middle finger.

I'll try that

 

[Speedo66]

I had one for a while when they first came out, but didn't hold onto it long. Wanted more than 2 shots, and felt the Fitz type trigger guard wasn't my safest option. There was also wobble at the barrel hinge which didn't impress me. Sold it to another officer who pocket carried it off duty.

At that time the .22 Magnum had a reputation of being able to get through vests which a .38Spl. couldn't. But probably not from that barrel length,