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Bryant Ridge's Analysis: In 1880, Daniel Myron Lefever patented the first commercially successful hammerless breach-loading shotgun. He had been involved in several unsuccessful firearms businesses after the Civil War, but his new shotgun design quickly became popular. Unfortunately, “Uncle Dan” lost control of the Lefever Arms Co. in 1883 after a fire. The founder was named Superintendent of the company bearing his name, but A. Ames Howlett became president. After years of success, …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: Stevens Arms was an American firearms manufacturer founded by Joshua Stevens in 1864 in Chicopee, Massachusetts. The company introduced the .22 Long Rifle round and made a number of rifle, shotgun, and target pistol designs. By 1902, they were advertising themselves as "the largest producers of sporting arms in the world". They were purchased by New England Westinghouse on May 28, 1915, and again by Sa …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The Smith & Wesson Model 48 was first produced in 1959 and was chambered in .22 WMR, a rimfire cartridge that had been introduced by Winchester earlier that year. The gun's performance quickly gained popularity among enthusiasts and continues to be a favorite to this day. However, the Model 48 faced a tough challenge in 1986, when semi-automatic pistols began to dominate the handgun market. Due to low consumer demand, production of the Model 48 was stopped. …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The Lawman revolver featured a fixed sight design and was initially equipped with a narrow, grooved Service-type hammer and trigger. Later models adopted the wider Target hammer used on the Trooper Mark III. The grips originally were narrow Service grips, but later versions often came with Target grips. Nickel and Coltguard-finished models were paired with Pachmayr "Signature" rubber grips, which featured Colt medallions. It was available with 4-inch and 2-inch heav …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The Smith & Wesson Model 659 is a standout semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9mm, known for its rugged stainless steel construction and versatility in both tactical and personal defense roles. Manufactured between 1982 and 1988, the Model 659 features a stainless steel frame and slide with a satin finish, giving it a sleek and durable exterior while offering enhanced corrosion resistance. The pistol is equipped with a 4-inch barrel, which strikes a balance betw …