Small, Cheap Guns Are Back, and Some Question Their Safety

[question everything]

More Americans than ever are carrying concealed handguns, but some of these small pistols are coming under scrutiny for accidentally shooting their owners.

(snip)

The number of Americans with concealed-carry permits soared to 17.2 million this year, almost four times the number in 2007, according to Crime Prevention Research Center, and 12 states now allow it without a permit. One of the beneficiaries has been Utah-based Cobra, whose small guns, some called derringers, are easy to conceal and among the cheapest available, selling for as little as $100.

Cobra has also been sued at least 15 times in the past decade by people who, like Mr. Barthel, allege that flaws in the guns it manufactures have caused injuries or death. Among the plaintiffs: A Texas man shot in the leg in 2017 when a duffle bag with his derringer fell; a Louisiana woman shot in the leg in 2016 when she dropped a purse that held her derringer; an Alabama man killed in 2014 when a Cobra pistol accidentally discharged.

(snip)

In the owner’s manual, Cobra warns against carrying a loaded derringer and says to keep the manual safety on: “DO NOT carry a loaded gun with a live round in the chamber while walking, or climbing or anywhere you might slip and fall, dropping the gun. A gun that is dropped, bumped or jarred with a live round in the chamber might accidentally discharge even with the safety on causing injury to you or someone else.”

More..

https://www.wsj.com/articles/small-cheap-guns-are-back-and-some-question-their-safety-1543833002 (paid subscription)

[TreasonousBastard]

1. Some might ask-- what's the point of carrying if it's unloaded?

[Paladin]

5. In which case, some might label the gunshot wounds described in the OP as self-inflicted. (nt)

[yagotme]

8. "Well, a gun that's unloaded and cocked ain't worth nothin'"

Rooster J. Cogburn

True Grit

[mitch96]

2. "with a live round in the chamber"

Even 150 years ago a cowboy knew that.. Yes it was a six shooter but you always kept the chamber that was under the hammer empty. That way if the gun fell out of the holster or got bumped by a little dogie the hammer would only hit the empty cylinder.. The ultimate safety..
Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans taught me that!!!
Happy trails
m

[Straw Man]

3. Fortunately, revolvers now have transfer bars.

They block the hammer until the trigger is pulled, make it safe to carry with all the chambers full.

A derringer with an empty chamber under the hammer is an unloaded derringer: not exactly a useful self-defense tool. Derringers have seen their day, in any case. Technology has progressed to the point where semi-auto pocket pistols holding six or seven rounds are barely larger than derringers, and are much safer and more reliable.

Then there are the NAA mini-revolvers, which hold five rounds and let the hammer ride safely in a notch between cylinders.



In short, there is no reason to carry the traditional two-shot over/under derringer unless you're heavily into Old West cosplay.

[3Hotdogs]

4. Time for, "....., I just fuckin' shot myself."

[jimmy the one]

6. hi groucho

Time for, "....., I just fuckin' shot myself."

I remember that video, poor gun sap learning how to snap fire, misfired.
Hey you seen harpo zeppo or chico anywhere?

[3Hotdogs]

7. There was a segmant on public radio about a month ago.

This guy from Brooklyn talking about his father who had no sense of humor.

He comes to find out that his father was Chico.

[jimmy the one]

9. oh brother

There was a segmant on public radio about a month ago.
This guy from Brooklyn talking about his father who had no sense of humor.
He comes to find out that his father was Chico

Haha, cruel irony. Our own kin too!