[PapaScout]

Ok,

My Dad has given me this little toy gun. I can't seem to find much out about them unless they have become Cobra now?

I would not exactly feel comfortable carry the little beast but I'd like to shoot it for the novelty.

Are these guns safe? I know I should probably take it to a competent gunsmith for checking over but don't want to be laughed out of the shop.

Should I just melt it in the forge and have done with it?

Advice please.

PapaScout (Ron)

 

[QKShooter]

You'll not ever read/hear too much in the way of anything good about Davis firearms.

They are decently bottom of the barrel firearms.

Many of their semi~autos were mostly made of Zinc alloy & not steel.

Please don't shoot it unless you have a gunsmith check it out & even if he tells you it's safe to shoot...shoot low power ammo in it.

 

[PapaScout]

The double-barrel is steel but the frame (what little there is, of course) is non-magnetic.

 

[RSSZ]

I suppose that they have their place. The ONLY place would be with the muzzle resting firmly on the BG's second button. Of course if he had a blade you'd be a gonner already.

I haven't heard much about them. I'm not sure that I know anybody that has one. Had a lady show up to my class (CCW)with a derringer (unsure what brand)and I sent her home.Some of them have the "Rugerish" transfer bar safety. I have heard good things about the workmanship on the American Derringer brand. But now your talking (guessin') $300+.

I'd have to advise, go with a very small revo or auto. In used condition they aren't much money anyway.

I wouldn't want to enter into a BG(s) thing with just two shots and NO chance of a reload on the horizon.

This,IMO only. I would say that the Davis is mo betta than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Your dad gave it to you so you should keep it. Tell him you love it and that it shoots great. Don't take it to a gunsmith. Don't put any money into it.
Also,when invited to a gunfight......well,you know. --------

 

[QKShooter]

That's what I thought.

I deleted the "Check It With A Magnet" out of my above post until I could try to research if it was all steel or combination Steel & Diecast.

Here is the story on Zinc Diecast...it's fairly strong when it's first cast but, then it DOES get brittle with age. That is a problem in firearms.

Zinc DieCast scares me a little bit when it's old.

I sure wouldn't turn it into a fishing sinker just yet...get it checked out & then if OK ~ shoot the mildest ammo you can find for it.

And as you always should anyway...wear good, proper, eye protection.

 

[havegunjoe]

I've got one in 9mm. Got it real cheap. It's not suppose to be your primary for a running gun battle keep that in mind. For what I intended it for I think it does the trick. I on occasion bring it in a pocket when I can't have my regular carry gun on me. For example I recently went to a concert where I knew they would do a check on my sides and back. The little derringer in my pocket was undetected.

I've shot it several times and had no problem. It is simply for sticking in the face of an attacker at very close range. It is better than not being armed.

 

[PapaScout]

Thanks QKShooter, RSSZ, and havegunjoe.

My Dad has had this for probably 10 years now and does not want it anymore. Not exactly a family heirloom. :smile:

It would not be carry gun for me - even if it was safe to shoot. I have my BHP and my S&W 442 as a backup (sometimes primary) for that.

I think I'll just leave it in the safe so that I have it when he asks after it.

Thanks again for the input!

Ron

 

[rachilders]

I've had a Davis Derringer .38 for about 15 years. It is not my first (or second) choice as a CC weapon, but it IS about as concealable a weapon in a "major" caliber that you'll find. It's not designed for anything other than "up close and personal" use, but if push comes to shove, I'd rather have 2 shots from a .38 derringer than 5-6 from a .22 pocket auto... or nothing at all. Besides, most self defense shootings - at least according to statistics - happen at 7 feet or less and require 3 or few shots. It may ot be the best main carry weapon, but it makes a very concealable, major caliber BUG.

As for the gun itself, it's been reliable (at least mine has with the 100 or so rounds I've shot with it over the years), and about the easiest gun to clean, conceal and maintain you can find. The closest thing you'll find to it in size currently, and I bought one as the derringer's replacement, is the KT P-3AT. In fact, I now keep the KT in the same holster I originally got for the derringer.

 

[frankmako]

it is a free gun. yes they are not the high end as most guns, but.... it will go bang when you need it to. this is a "bug" and that's all. take it to the range, fire some shots, then put it in your jacket pocket.

 

[totallygentle1]

My daily carry weapon

I own the same davis industries D38 model i am a truck driver it is always in my pocket people approach me while i fuel ans stuff ask for money it is not as obvious reaching in front pocket for gun then reaching under shirt cause alot of us truck drivers keep money in our front pocket cause sitting on a wallet for hoirs suck but i also carry a 9mm 17 shot at all times i will ise the darringer when i am face to face with someone who is triying to mug me it is small enough to maneuver in pocket and actually shoot thri pocket remeber upclose and personal

 

[ghost tracker]

No, they're not safe.
No, they're not valuable.
Best use? Find a (ridiculous) gun buy-back program and turn it in. Some offer $50-$100 for ANY handgun! :biggrin2:

 

[Kilowatt3]

10-1/2 years may not quite break the record, but it's definitely a contender!!! :35:

 

[SIGP250]

Ok,

My Dad has given me this little toy gun. I can't seem to find much out about them unless they have become Cobra now?

I would not exactly feel comfortable carry the little beast but I'd like to shoot it for the novelty.

Are these guns safe? I know I should probably take it to a competent gunsmith for checking over but don't want to be laughed out of the shop.

Should I just melt it in the forge and have done with it?

Advice please.

PapaScout (Ron)

Davis was bought by Cobra after it was "sued out of existence in 1998."

"Davis Industries is known as one of the "Ring Of Fire" companies which basically branched out from Raven Arms after the 1968 gun control act. These include Raven Arms (George Jennngs), Jennings/Bryco (Bruce Jennings), Davis (Jim Davis), Sedco (John Davis), and Lorcin ( Jim Waldorf an old friend of the Jennings family)."

I have a video of a guy shooting a new Cobra .380 with a pot metal frame. The slide blew off after shooting about 10 rounds of 90 grain WWB.

What is the history of Davis Industries Firearms

 

[5lima30ret]

I had one years ago in .22 magnum. One of the barrels would not reliably fire a round. I lump it into the same category as the Charter Arms AR-7 I used to own "a very bulky paperweight". (They were not heavy enough to be a good boat anchor!):image035:

 

[keepitsimple]

Safe to shoot? Eh, probably. I hear they have durability issues with steady diets of the lighter and faster moving ammo, so slow and heavy is likely the way to go and under no circumstances should you shoot +P in it.

I had a cobra derringer in .38 special, satin with the rosewood stocks, and it hurt to shoot because there wasn't really much to hold onto putting all of the recoil directly in the palm of the shooting hand, extracting the spent cases was difficult, and the trigger was stupid. The easiest way to fire it was to put your finger on the bottom at the very end of the trigger and pull it up, not back. That method provided the lightest pull weight at 15 lbs. (no joke). Accuracy from the top barrel wasn't bad considering how short it was. Bottom barrel was off-axis and shot 6 inches left and 4 inches down at 15 feet consistently.

Also, don't try to load it with the hammer all the way down in the 'fired' position. Since the firing pins extend past the breech face with the hammer full down, there's a possibility of inadvertently dimpling fresh primers when you close the barrel if you try to load it with the hammer down instead of in the half-cock notch. Dry firing is also a no no because of this, as firing pins have been known to break off inside the firing pin channel of the breech face when un-cushioned.

 

[bustoff]

Had a lady show up to my class (CCW)with a derringer (unsure what brand)and I sent her home.

Didn't you try to educate her? Our instructor brought a number of his personal guns for us to try. That was nice of him. Holsters, too.