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Bryant Ridge's Analysis: Smith & Wesson’s dominance in the .357 Mag. market changed forever in 1955; however, when Colt introduced its first revolver chambered in .357 Mag.: the Python. By all accounts, Colt executives also considered this to be the finest revolver the company produced at the time. No expense was spared in the manufacturing process, from the revolver’s timing and lock-up to its Royal Blue finish, this would be the pinnacle of Colt’s manufacturing prowess an …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The Smith & Wesson Model 14-8 Classic Series is a modern reintroduction of a legendary target revolver, originally derived from the postwar K-38 Target Masterpiece. Manufactured between 2009 and 2012, this revolver retains the precision and balance that made its predecessors highly regarded among target shooters and collectors. Chambered in .38 S&W Special +P, it offers enhanced performance with higher-pressure loads while maintaining the accuracy and smooth …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: Colt's introduction of the Model 1889 marked a watershed moment in revolver design, pioneering the first double-action revolver with a swing-out cylinder. This innovative design was swiftly adopted by the US Navy as the Model of 1889 and later by the US Army in the Model of 1892, which featured slight improvements. The commercial variant of the Model 1889 also gained immediate popularity among civilians. Colt continued to refine the design with subsequent models such as …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The AMT AutoMag II is a semi-automatic handgun that uses .22 WMR ammunition. It was manufactured by Arcadia Machine and Tool from 1987 to 1999 and is currently produced by High Standard. Designing a reliable autoloading .22 WMR handgun posed several engineering challenges, particularly with extraction. The slow-burning rifle powder of the .22 WMR cartridge creates a late peak pressure, which can cause the case mouth to expand and jam in the chamber when fired f …