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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 AnalysisIn February 1942 Smith Corona, a company primarily known as a typewriter manufacturer, was contracted to produce the 1903A3 rifle. The original contract was for some 100,000 rifles. The Army’s confidence in the ability of the 1903 rifle was inherent in the following contract as the number specified was for some 380,000 rifles. However, creating the machinery and setting up production meant that the first rifles were not produced until late 1942. Finally, in December 1942, …

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 …

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 Winchester Model 54 rifles were the first successful bolt-action sporting rifles manufactured by Winchester and were available from 1925 until the Model 70’s began appearing on dealers’ racks in 1937. The model 54 was really a form of sporterized Mauser and lacked refinements being sought by the bolt action-minded sportsmen. The Model 70 offered stronger action, more checkering, improved safety, and a much-improved trigger.Of course, the Winchester Model 70 rifle needs …