Waterboy, look what I found
In a great little shop in Rapid City, SD.
![[image]](images/uploaded/201911051918255dc1cb012c75c.jpg)
There you go Scotty!
- No text -
Exactly! LIke the one I carried through college.
It is the best of the design with the laminated grips and that sliding metal safety with ball detent. It was later changed to plastic with a hair-clip type spring. It worked but seemed cheaper.
You will note they have some "black" finish ones too. I could never get those to run reliably. The finish added to the outer dimensions and was a little draggy.
They all shot good though with some crude but easy to see sights. Barrels are pinned to the frame rigidly.
we sold a gazillion of those at our shop in Florida
the 22 version and the 25 caliber model. We sold them in black, high polished chrome and a satin nickel version. we sold them for $60 new. The only problem was you can't dry fire them. The firing pin is very fragile and snaps off easily. We used to keep a large box of firing pins for replacements.
The Jennings, Ravens, and Davis Derringers and the larger framed Davis 32s and 380s weren't as popular as they were considerably heavier and bulkier were all guns made by one family. The old man started it all with the Raven. They were sued numerous times and sold out a time or two before finally closing the doors.
I've always had the itch for a Beretta Bobcat
- No text -
my generation has the Beretta Minx, Jetfire,
which was the original flip up barrel and the little Baby Browning. I also carried the HSC 32 auto when i worked at a gun shop in the afternoons. The owner wouldn't let us carry anything bigger than a 32.
![[image]](images/uploaded/201911060605325dc262acc466e.jpg)
Today my favorite boot gun is my Budischowsky. It is a small double action stainless pistol in 25 auto. I had it literally in my cowboy boot.
![[image]](images/uploaded/201911060601175dc261ad47c04.jpg)
![[image]](images/uploaded/201911060602015dc261d954cf2.jpg)
That little .25 is a nice piece, hefty but well made.
I've always wanted a Colt .25 and missed several opportunities. I do have an Astra "Firecat" or M200 which is basically a refined Spanish version. It may well be superior in many ways. While they can fetch Colt level prices one can often find them in Pawn shops where the true value is not yet discovered. I paid $100 for mine. A grip Screw was too long or over tightened and they thought something was wrong with it. They needed replacing too.
The Astra has a grip safety and mag disconnect which I find a bit helpful on such a small piece. A rare exception for me. It is thinner than the Colt and almost the size of the Baby Browning, but has much better handling character. Total reliability and shoot-ability contribute to pocket piece accuracy. Parts and mags are around so you might want to keep a feeler out for a slick Astra 200.
![[image]](images/uploaded/201911061524525dc2e5c40cf5e.jpg)