In the 21st century, with all the advances in technology, all the modern semi automatic and automatic weapons, which nowadays can be small enough to fit in a pocket, or a small handbag, you might think that a weapon as old as the revolver has no place in facing the dangers that lurk on the streets of the modern world, but in fact the demand for an accurate, reliable and concealable weapon was never higher than today. Most major weapons manufacturers, including the venerable revolver manufacturers of the old days, now offer modern revolver designs for the modern detectives
The Snub-nosed revolver has been the favorite weapon among undercover detectives for decades. The compact design made it much easier to conceal the gun during their secret missions. Here are some of the best and most effective Snub-nosed revolvers ever made.
Smith and Wesson J-frame
The classic revolver with a modern statement against outlaws, nowadays offered in over forty different configurations, the Smith and Wesson J-frame is the number 1 reference for an accurate revolver utilized in deep concealment. During covert detective work, Smith and Wesson also offers repairs and modifications in their “performance center” where your snubie can get a personal touch, even for practical or fashionable purposes, as sometimes you could want a new grip to go with your new fedora…
The small J frame snubbies feature barrels from 2-inches to 3-inches from the factory with an overall length of 6-inch to 7-inch,which are capable of(depending on cylinder/barrel configuration) firing various different cartridges, from 22LR as a practice and training round and up to the most preferred combination today – the powerful 357 magnum and .38special, where both of these rounds can fit into the same cylinder. The cylinders hold 5 rounds standard in .357M and .38SPL,7 rounds for the 22. As in the 20`s and 30`s, the J frame is still as small as a mouse, but roars like a lion.
Sturm and Ruger co. LCR series
Like most other snub-nose revolvers, LCR is small and holds five rounds in the cylinder. What makes it stand out is the weight. Where most snubies are completely made from metal, the LCR is partially made from polymer and keeps the weight further down. The weapon is also available in ten different configurations with any rings and whistles you could think of in a snub-nose. It offers barrel lengths from 1-inch to 3-inch ,with a weight of under 500 grams in any configuration.
Taurus View
This Brazilian novelty looking revolver is the smallest of its class, featuring a stubby 1-inch to 5-inch long barrels, weighting in around 300 grams unloaded and under a half kilogram fully loaded. Its best feature is the side plate on the right made from translucent polymer which allows you to see each part of the trigger mechanism as the weapon operates, hence the name Taurus view. A feature which could be very useful in training new shooters. Despite the unusual design, the weapon is still a reliable and dependable revolver in battle.
Chiappa Rhino series
The most sci-fi looking snubbie on our list, designed by the genius Emilio Ghisoni, the designer of the Mateba revolver series adored by most anime fans, is the Chiappa Rhino. Made by the Italian weapons manufacturer Chiappa Arms ,this revolver features a six round cylinder in many configurations and barrel lengths available from 2-inch to 6inch. Just like on the Mateba revolvers, the Chiappa Rhino fires bullets from the chamber on the lowest position, where on a standard revolver round is fired from the top-most cylinder.
The barrel of this gun is also inline with the firing hand, with the grip being placed high on the frame to minimize recoil and add accuracy on the level of an Olympic sport pistol. It`s available in many different calibers as well with the 2-inch barreled snubbie model featuring a metal or polymer frame.
Century Arms 38-3
Talking about obscure looking modern weapons the Century Arms 38-3 has the potential to be the flagship of the category. Based on the S&W J frame with the barrel inspired by the Mateba/Chiappa series and a weird looking top side to make the design as snag free as possible. This make the weapon perfect for safe pocket usage so that it can be pulled out as fast as possible.
The snubbie also features a built in laser pointer to add some accuracy, and as the name suggests, it`s chambered for the .38 special cartridge. So, what`s that “3” in the title? Well, it refers to the cylinder which is basically cut in half to make it even lighter and thinner for easier pocket use, thus it has only 3 rounds of ammunition available before a reload. It`s only 1-inch thick and sports a 2-inch barrel with a weight of around 400 grams unloaded.
KBP Instrument Design Bureau OTs-38
As the name implies this revolver is a full instrument package, and is Russian made (besides the wooden grips of course). It is also the most unique in operation in our list. A revolver can’t traditionally use a suppressor as the gap between the barrel and the cylinder allows gases of burnt powder to escape, thus negating the effect of the suppressor. Also a traditional revolver does not have a manual safety either, but this exquisite piece of machinery have both of those features.
Much like the previous two in the list, the barrel of OTs-38 is lined up with the bottom most chamber of the cylinder ,the top piece is a laser pointer which can be removed and is also available as a infra red laser. All of these interesting features in this at first glance ordinary looking revolver are in fact only the top of the iceberg.
This 5-shot snubby also uses specialized ammunition to keep it silent. The 7.62x42mm SP4 ammunition is silent all by itself without the need for a suppressor. The OTs-38 is so silent that you could not hear the difference of it being fired and dry fired (pulling the trigger and dropping the hammer without ammo in it). This weapon is utilized by Russian special investigation units, intelligence squads and the federal security service (FSB). The OTs-38 is ideal to be used as both a concealed carry, and a standard sidearm.
The snubbie is not going to go away anytime soon, even with the prevalence of the semi automatic and automatic pistols in hands of professionals today since it is easier to train, to use, to hide and equally adequate for self protection purposes in dark alleys at night investigating the known and unknown. We’ll certainly be seeing more Snub-nosed revolvers in the future as well
About the author -:
This article was written by weapons and tactical expert Lorenc Berisha. Lorenc contributes to fresh INFOS with weapons related articles. You can follow him on Facebook for more updates.
