 Anyone who digs leverguns will be salivating over Ruger's new Marlin Trapper in 45-70. Not only is this arguably America's most venerable cartridge but a 16" barrel is the golden mean for a carbine for all seasons and eventualities. I know people love their black rifles but lever action rifles make me weak at the knees. Personally I don't need 30 rounds for anything nor can I afford to shoot that much of the currently overpriced ammunition available in local gun stores. Shooting for me is about pleasure: a lazy summer afternoon at the range with friends, a few tin cans, a box of bullets and a little competitiveness compelling the worst shot to spring for a round of beers later on. Maybe it's my age, but I don't need to imagine stressful combat scenarios and race to engage multiple silhouette targets to prove my tactical aptitude. Besides, in any such real-life scenario I'd probably opt for evasion, ducking and diving to get to cover rather than risk catching stray lead. No. Shooting for me is catharsis. Breathing deep. Making the best shot I can. Slow and steady. And this is where the Marlin leverguns shine especially now Sturm Ruger has introduced their cold-hammer forged barrels with ballard rifling and Skinner sights. Their improved manufacturing processes aim to create tight tolerances, resulting in a reliable, attractive longarm. Multi-layered quality control procedures, including daily function and accuracy audits plus multiple inspections, have resulted in a high-quality product. However, all these improvements come at a price - nevertheless if you were to take a previous generation Remington built Marlin for $700 and customize it as per the specs on the above-pictured Ruger-built Trapper, you'd end up at a comparable cost, so in fact it's a good deal considering you save yourself the headache of finding a competent gunsmith and all the time he'll assuredly take to complete the work. The issue will undoubtedly be availability: levergun fans are fond of Trapper length rifles so I'm certain you'll be hard-pushed to find this puppy at your local FFL anytime soon. Meantime, click here for some drool time: WEBSITE.
 Charter Arms exclusively manufacturers revolvers, in the United States, and has been doing so for decades. Douglas McClenahan, a young gun designer who had previously worked for Colt, High Standard, and Sturm, Ruger founded Charter Arms in 1964 to produce handguns. His first pistol was a five-shot revolver called the "Undercover" chambered for .38SPL - they still make it, and it's excellent. McClenahan's innovation was to avoid using the side plate designed by other revolver makers: he innovated a one-piece frame, giving his revolver the requisite strength to safely shoot high-powered loads. McClenahan simultaneously reduced the number of moving parts used in the lockwork and created the transfer bar safety preventing the hammer from contacting the floating firing pin unless the trigger was pulled all the way back. This revolutionized the SA/DA revolver and this inbuilt safety design has been emulated by all other manufacturers since. In my opinion the lockwork is superior to other manufacturers' designs in that when you are decocking a Charter Arms revolver there's no snag when you let out the trigger to activate the transfer bar - it's smooth and confidence inspiring.
The latest edition to their extensive lineup is the above-pictured 6-shot Boxer in 38 Special. The snubnose revolver is one of the most tried and proven platforms and the 38SPL is a stellar round - this is a handgun that can be stowed loaded and forgotten about until needed, even if years should pass in the interim. Semi-auto pistols are not so forgiving: you have to give them weekly attention, make certain they're oiled and that the magazines are switched out so the springs don't compress and fail you during battery. If you are the type of gun owner who simply wants the peace of mind without the headaches of range membership, carry permits, maintenance checks etc, a Charter Arms revolver is the way to go. Just take it out after you buy it and run a box of ammo through it to make sure it runs flawlessly, then clean it and stow it where you need it. Manufacturers are turning out such voluminous numbers of firearms to keep up with the demand that there are always faulty units that enter customers' hands, irrespective of marque or ticket price. Charter Arms are renowned for their customer service so even if one of their excellent revolvers fails to meet your expectations, they'll take it back and repair it pronto. You can see the new Boxer here on their WEBSITE. |
the afd blog
Previews and reviews on newly available items are written-up by our team as quickly as we can find them. Please let us know if we've missed something debuting on the market. As a firearm enthusiast or an AFD listed company you are welcome to submit a blog entry about a new product. You may also submit a firearm related commentary, idea or nostalgic musing: we like things celebratory of American ingenuity and manufacturing. All entries are subject to editing and/or fact-checking. Archives
April 2023
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