Sam Trisler

Dan Wesson double action revolvers are back. It has been about 10 years since there have been new production DW revolvers on the market. CZ USA, which bought the Dan Wesson company in 2005, have made pistols under the name but until late last year a very limited number of revolvers. And not just any revolver, the awesome Dan Wesson model 715 is back and it looks like it is here to stay.

The bottom of the range box has standard bulls eye targets in a couple of different sizes. But the coolest part is the shelf on top that you can set things on and hang things off of. I was curious how well this part would hold up but it did great. The design is well thought out and the card board is thick and sturdy. We used the shelves to hang empty cans off of and to set plastic bottles and apples on. The tops of the shelves also have a slot in them that can hold clays.

In the realm of budget 1911s the American Classic stands out for the “extras” they come with. I am not talking about the other stuff in the box, I mean the stuff on the pistol its self. This is a solid commander sized 1911. Metro Arms offers a lot of bang for your buck on this pistol. There are a few fit and finish issues and the mold lines left on some parts does bother me some. But that is being a bit nit-picky. The American Classic Commander works and shoots like a champ, and that is what really matters, right?

Yep, Winchester made a 1911. But it is not the 1911 you are looking for. This is the 1911 SL. The SL stands for self loading. This 1911 is a shotgun. Unlike the other 1911, this one was not designed by John Browning but he influenced the design in an interesting way.

The 1911 is now 104 years old. Some of you will say that it is not relevant and is, at best, an historic relic that deserves some respect. I am not of that camp. I carry a 1911 as an EDC. But I don’t carry one that looks like it came off of John Mosses’ work bench. Over those 104 years there have been some great and simple modifications to the original design that makes for a better EDC.

So this gun is not exactly old. But Ruger stopped making them in 1973 and they have become more and more collectable and valuable. The name 3 Screw is in reference to the 3 Screws on the side of the frame. The new models have 2 pins. If you are fan of the single action revolver and have never shot one of these you owe it to yourself to do so. In my opinion, they are just about the best production single action revolvers ever made. Bear with me while I attempt to back that statement up!

As I was writing the most recent Shooting History review on the Winchester 1873 I got to thinking about how that one lever action is called “The Gun That Won The West”. If nothing else that is some very clever marketing for sure. Not to belittle the ’73, it is a very fine rifle. But saying it single handedly “won” the west is a bit of a stretch. Then there is the whole issue of if The West was won, stolen, liberated or invaded. But that is a discussion for a different time and place. Let’s talk about guns!

I have had the TNW ARS in for a couple of months during this review process. I carried it in a backpack in my Jeep as a survival rifle. Thankfully I never needed it to be that but I am confident it would have filled the roll nicely. I live in a big town, but travel into rural areas a couple of times a week. A breakdown type carbine is a great choice for my situation. Pack a bag with the Areo, 4-5 loaded magazine, 2 boxes of ammo, a first aid kit, water and a bit of food and I have a great little survival kit.

1873 was a big year in the firearms world. Colt’s new single action was adopted by the Army and Winchester came out with their best lever action to date. Originally chambered in .44 W.C.F., aka 44-40, the 1873 Winchester was the most powerful of the lever guns when it was introduced. This was a huge step forward from the rimfire .44 caliber used in the Henry and earlier Winchester rifles.