I saw my first RAVEN AND JENNINGS!

[Black Majik]

LOL... I didn't even know these guns were on the CA approved list.

I've read so much on how Jennings and Ravens were POS's from multiple gun forums, but never saw one in the shops. You know the feeling, you always see pictures of it... but wonder what its like in real life. Kinda like a celebrity... always see "on screen, in magazines" but seeing it in person for the first time gives that you that tingly feeling.

Well today I stopped by a shop in Socal, the shop usually doesn't get much business, there's still a empty spot from when I bought my S&W 686 2 months ago...

Through the display case there it was... 2 Chrome Jennings and 3 chrome ravens. They certainly do look alike at first glance, I had to read the tag on em'.... I was soo tempted to hold it and check it out in person but first, it'd be embarassing to show interest in a jennings or raven and second, I was afraid it'd fall apart in my hand from all the propaganda/truth/lies/rumors I read on these forums.

Well... that was certainly an interesting experience. I even think they come with fake pearl or ivory grips.

I did hold a Browning Practical HiPower. I flinched/jerked while trying to pull the trigger because the magazine was out and I forgot about the magazine disconnect.

 

[Zundfolge]

Only Raven I've seen in person I got to see the business end of ... didn't like it much

I imagine there have been some in gun shop display cases, but I think my mind purposely blocks them out

 

[444]

I bought a Raven on my 21st birthday. Shot it quite a bit. Never had a problem with it. I was totally satisfied with it. Bought another one a couple years ago as a momento of the first handgun I bought when I came of age.

 

[sgt127]

I think if there were truth in advertising, they would display pictures of Ravens, Lorcins and Jennings laying in an alley with a little trash and a few broken beers bottles around. Thats where I usually see them after somebody we are chasing dumps them...

Maybe under the seat of a 70's Monte Carlo in a Crown Royal bag.....

Though I must admit, I rarely see them jammed, and I'll bet, they don't generally get the best of care.

 

[blazer610]

I must admit that in the early '80's I owned a Jennings J-22. I those days easily cancelable firearms were scarce. At that time I also owned a Colt Series-70 Government and a 4" Python (sill have them). I couldn't afford a "choice" concealable weapon and those 2 Colts were not easy to hide during a Florida summer.

With choices and funding very limited in the early 80's, I plucked down $54 for the Jennings. It was a gun to carry when you couldn't carry a gun, as Yogi Berra might say. It did comply with the first rule of gun fighting. However it failed miserably in its compliance with rule #2. Remember, this was way before Kel-Tec, Seecamp, Kahr, NAA, and a host of other well made, easily concealable guns that are everywhere today.

That cheap little piece of pot metal actually worked pretty well. I fed it a strict diet of Remington Yellow Jacket hollow points and it functioned 100%.
I didn't shoot the gun all that much. Just enough to trust that it was better than nothing.

My career often took me into harms way. That little underpowered hunk of junk gave me great comfort knowing that I did have at least some means to defend myself in a bad situation. I believe that some gun is better than no gun. If feel that I got my $54 worth out of it.

A year or so later I had secured enough funding to pick up a nice little Walther PPK and I traded the Jennings for a wet suit.

All in all, the little Jennings had its place in its time.


Larry

 

[22/22mag]

I have 2 .25 cal ravens bought new a few years ago that have shoot every time no missfeeds or jams .Cost $45 ea. Wish I could say that about some new Kimbers,Para,Springfield,Berettas, that have cost a hell of a lot more.....Wonder if they made a .45 Raven.......

 

[mfree]

".45 Raven"

They do, it's just configured a little differently. See, it's kind of egg-shaped in the grip, with vertical and horizontal grooves. Most of them came/come in olive drab, and the firing mechanism is pretty odd, you pull this little pin and the action then releases (you'll see the slide lever flip up and fall off). be wary though, they like to hangfire a lot, so hang on tight if it doesn't fire right away

Not really, but it's probably the same effect.

 

[CZ-100]

OK I confess.... I too own a .25 Raven..

Never had a problem with it it shoot every time I squeeze the trigger.

It was the 1st handgun my oldest son shot, He now has a P-22

 

[Majic]

They have always gotten bad press. Most gun owners looked down their noses at them. They have been bad mouthed for being cheap and cheaply made. Almost everyone of them I have ever seen worked. The only ones I have seen that were troublesome were chambered in .22lr and that may have very well been ammo related.
What more could you ask of a $100 brand spanking new pistol?

 

[Brasso]

Maybe under the seat of a 70's Monte Carlo in a Crown Royal bag.....

So true. I about choked when I read that.

Remember now, we're not supposed to profile.

 

[Bainx]

Well of course they are apporoved on the Kali list.
Heck, they are made in Davis, Kali....one of the most liberal outposts in the U.S. I might add!

 

[Monkeyleg]

"Maybe under the seat of a 70's Monte Carlo in a Crown Royal bag..."

Ah, yes. Crown Royal. The choice of pimps and prostitutes from coast to coast. Get drunk, get laid, and the lady gets a free purse.

As for the Jennings and Ravens, I've only handled a Jennings once. I'm actually surprised to hear people on this thread say the guns work.

 

[Dionysusigma]

I've noticed that too... someone will call a HiPoint or a Jennings crap just because they retail for under $140.00 brand new...

... whereas they'll praise their Kimber Eclipse Target II, even though it has yet to feed an entire mag without a malfunction of some kind.

 

[cracked butt]

I think they are kinda cute, though if I wanted a gun that small I think I'd opt for a baby browning, cute gun, cute name as well.

 

[blue86buick]

Once at the range, when the only gun I owned was a .22LR rifle, I had brought a box of CCI Blazer 9MM, in the hopes a kind soul there would let me shoot it through their gun. Well, I found someone, and they let me, and I put that whole box through their pistol without a single malfunction. What gun was it, you say? Why twas but a Bryco Jennings Nine!


course, the thing chewed up my thumb nuckle a little...didn't notice until i'd shot all 50 rounds.

 

[dogngun]

Jennings, Raven

I have had several Jennings j-22's, and some of them have worked. I never owned a Raven because they reminded me of those old gun shaped cigarette lighters, but I know where there is a .25 Raven for sale.Maybe...

I actually enjoyed shooting these little guns, and the Jennings are only marginally less reliable than big name .22LR's of the same size. They work great for 2 mags worth.

Mark

 

[drf]

I have a Bryco arms .380 which I bought 12 yrs. ago when money was very limited...
I put about 10 rds through the brutal little pistol and the whole slide blew off of the top......

I put the POS back together and removed the pin, broke the trigger off and have never shot it again.....

I am one who agrees that these pistols shouldnt be on the market...

I am not speaking for the above guns, I have never owned or shot one, but the .380 I have and what I have read and heard about them...Is unsafe and shouldnt be sold....drf