Davis Ind. Derringer

[Cactus Jack Arizona]

I'm thinking about buying a little Derringer. One local shop has a .38Spl Derringer and a .22LR Derringer, both are made by Davis Ind. There seems to be a lack of good opinions about them floating around the internet. Before I decide to purchase one of these little Derringers, does anyone have anything good to say about them here on this board? Are they dependable? Are they akin to Saturday night special junk? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[w_houle]

I was looking to buy a derringer, not to say that I have a particular model in mind. I don't have any experience with any brand, but can't think of how hard it would be to make. I mean it can't be more than a dozen parts. What's to mess up?

 

[SJ78]

My relative had a 38 Davis . I shot it
maybe 8 rounds at the range . It seemed fine . I think for the price they are good . But i would only keep it for defense. I dont think it would hold up with continued range use.

 

[RyanM]

Pretty junky. I would feel distinctly ripped off if I paid more than $75 for the .38, or $50 for the .22.

 

[greyeyezz]

Had a few in 22WRM. One the break open lever fell out after about 50 rds. The other, firing pin broke after a box of ammo.

Don't waste your money.

 

[MICHAEL T]

My dealer got 3 in couple mo back All 3 returned wouldn't fire . I'll pass and get a Kel Tec in 32 or 380. Gee I ve all ready done that My KelTec's work fine and a lot faster in to action and hold more rounds.

 

[Bo]

I've got one, not even a good paper weight. Pass on it. It takes 2 men and a boy to pull the trigger and can't hit squat with it.

 

[CDH]

Derringers used to be reasonable options for SD because there were no other pistols that were as small and chambered for powerful enough cartridges as were/are the derringers.

But today, Derringers are just plain silly. Take a typical .38 or .357 derringer and lay it on top of a Rohrbaugh R9S (9mm 6+1) or Kahr PM9 and you'll see that these are smaller and lighter pistols that are easier to carry and conceal.

Derringers are an obsolete curio at this point for serious self defense use.

 

[dmazur]

I believe someone had a AD with one in Oregon not too long ago. It fell out of a bike bag or something and landed on a garage floor and discharged. (Hard to call this one a ND, as it wasn't improper gun handling really...) I think the owner got shot in the leg.

I believe the current production ones have some kind of safety, and this one didn't. Result was someone lowered the hammer on a primer and all was well until it got dropped on concrete.

I think even the NAA mini-revolvers have a notch between the chambers for the hammer to rest in, acting as an effective safety and permitting all chambers to be loaded.

So, if for some reason you can't convince yourself something else is better, at least make sure the derringer has a safety...

 

[zombienerd]

I was also looking at a derringer, as I saw a few earlier that fit into a custom belt buckle Would be neat to be "open carrying" and "Concealed" at the same time... How many people would think it's real with all the "fake gun" buckles out there?

Only downside to that one is it only came in .22 or .22LR

 

[Cactus Jack Arizona]

Thanks to all who gave me something to think about. I've decided against the Derringer. It doesn't appear to be a good idea.

 

[Snowdog]

I don't know. I've got the D32 (.32 magnum) and it's never failed to fire. It's not much of a shooter simply due to the design, but it has about 300 rounds of .32 long and .32 magnum put through it (and a handful of .32acp after I found it would fire this cartridge).
The safety fell out after the first 100 rounds of Georgia Arms 100gr JHPs and I never really wanted to take the time to send it in for repairs; it's a Davis LOL But hey, it still works.
I paid around $90 for mine in the 90's. I would suggest rather strongly against their teflon finish as it comes off quite easily. The chrome offering should hold up far better as it has on my Davis P-380 (yeah yeah, it was a purchase from long ago so put a sock in it).