I saw the Dixie Derringers
at a local gun & knife show about 3 weeks ago; first I'd heard of them. They were in a dealer's display case right next to a couple of NAAs. The Charters fared badly by comparison . . . The NAAs exhibited much nicer finish.
To their credit, the Dixie Derringers seemed to be solid & had minimal cylinder play. I couldn't check the timing and action, due to gun show rules (weapons were rendered "safe" via plastic ties; I didn't want to ask the dealer to cut a tie and let me check it out, as I had no intention of purchasing one.
Even if the NAA customer service, finish, and well-earned reputation for quality weren't factors (yeah, right!), I would have "passed" on the Charter simply because of the safety. It's a crossbolt, hammer-block type located at the upper rear of the frame. It appeared awkward and subject to inadvertent activation
and also added an unnecessary projection on a pocket revolver.
Gotta agree with Jim March on the Black Widow. I purchased a used model, and was extremely impressed. It was well-used, though, and test firing produced 1-2 failres to fire per box of ammo (regardless of brand of ammo). The main spring is just fatigued (it'll be going back to NAA for refurbishing
). Its accuracy and controllability, coupled with the amazingly small cylinder diameter, make it a top-notch backup pistol, or "immediate action" weapon for those occasions when my bigger sidearm is less accessible (due to concealment concerns in the SC summertime). Not wanting to go without its availability while NAA has it, I purchased a second model. This one is new, with the improved cylinder pin release, is 100% reliable, and I LOVE IT!
IMHO, any company trying to compete head-to-head with NAA, offering a nearly identical product at a similar price, needs to give its R&D staff a reality check.
If it were a (very) slightly larger model, chambered for, oh, say, .32ACP, we might have a winner (for those of us inherently distrustful of pocket autos).