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Bryant Ridge's AnalysisThe Ruger Blackhawk is a six-shot, single-action revolver manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Co. It is produced in various finishes, calibers, and barrel lengths. In the early 1950s, Westerns were popular in movies and television. Colt had discontinued the iconic Single Action Army before World War II, and few single-action revolvers were available to meet market demand for cowboy-style revolvers. In 1953, the new firm of Sturm, Ruger & Company introduced the Single-Si …

Bryant Ridge's AnalysisThe Browning Citori shotguns are highly reliable and make for excellent investments. Introduced in 1973 as an alternative to the successful Superposed model, the Citori has been manufactured in numerous calibers and configurations, making it suitable for a wide range of applications as an over-under shotgun. This particular example features 28" barrels chambered for 12 Gauge 2 3/4 inch shells, with threaded Invector Plus Chokes. The Citori is an aesthetically pleasing shot …

Bryant Ridge's AnalysisIn 1905, Smith & Wesson enjoyed the success of its Hand Ejector Series of double-action revolvers featuring a swing-out cylinder. The company had spent 10 years perfecting these revolvers and had started manufacturing them in the I- (.32 cal.) and K- (.38 cal.) frames. Plans were underway for a new, larger .44-cal. frame and the first cartridge for this new frame would be an updated version of the .44 Russian round. To create the new cartridge, Smith & Wesson’s eng …

Bryant Ridge's AnalysisThe P38 (originally written Walther P.38) is a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol developed by Carl Walther GmbH as the service pistol of the Wehrmacht at the beginning of World War II. It was intended to replace the costly Luger P08, the production of which was scheduled to end in 1942. The first design was submitted to the German Army and featured a locked breech and a hidden hammer, but the Army requested that it should be redesigned with an external hammer. The P38 concept was …

Bryant Ridge's AnalysisThe Ruger No. 1 is a single-shot rifle with a hammerless falling-block action in the Farquharson style. It was introduced and manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Co. in 1967. To load ammunition and cock the rifle, an underlever is used to lower the breechblock. While commenting on his work at Ruger, Lenard Brownell said about the No. 1, "There was never any question about the strength of the action. In testing it, I remember how much trouble I had trying to tear it up. In f …