The Firearm Blog

The “2019 Detective Special” prop gun from the movie Blade Runner has been auctioned off for $270,000!

At first glance the gun looks to be some sort of auto-revolver. It is in fact a Steyr Mannlicher .222 Model SL rifle action and trigger group with some revolver parts tacked on. Note the double set trigger and Steyr’s iconic “butter knife” style bolt handle. It even retains the Steyr serial number.

Photo from a gunbroker auction.

Phil Steinschneider has a website detailing how be built a replica of the prop using a Steyr Mannlicher .222 Model SL action and a Charter Arms .44 Special Police Bulldog revolver.

Phil’s replica

Many thanks to Kevin for emailing me the Link.

UPDATE: Tam notes that this may still be classified as a firearm by the BATFE.

Readers have been asking me what is happening with the much talked about Charter Arms Rimless Revolver that keeps failing to make an appearance.

Charter Arms have issued a press released saying that they are manufacturing at capacity and cannot produce enough of their existing guns and will not introduce another gun until demand dies down.

Let’s be clear about what Charter Arms wanted to do initially. Needless to say, not producing the CARR this was NOT the plan when we first announced the new revolver. The 2008 election created this panic. Had the election results been different, firearm and ammunition demand and sales would not have exploded, and the new Charter Arms CARR revolvers would be in stores right now.

Bottom line, the CARR is not vaporware, there is simply no room in Charter Arm’s production line for new items. Additionally, Charter has several other new guns and models in addition to the CARR series, and those guns we won’t even discuss until things get back to normal.

I am not sure to be skeptical or not. The pistol was supposed to be on display at SHOT Show earlier this year. After SHOT the excuse given was patent problems. It was supposed to be on display at the NRA show, but again it was a no-show. They have since pulled all links on their website pointing to the Rimless Revolver page. Maybe they are legitimately worried about production, but refusing to even discuss the pistol seems like bad public relations to me.

Full press release is at AmmoLand.com

The new Charter Arms “On Duty” revolver is a double action .38 Special snub-nosed revolver designed for concealed carry. It has a low profile, partly concealed, hammer that allows it to be used in single action but is also less likely to be snagged on clothing.

It features:

* Lifetime warrantee
* Exclusive eight-groove gas sealing barrel,
* Exclusive three-point cylinder lock up, no screw side plates,
* Hammer block safety system
* Charter’s fastest factory revolver-lock time.

Specs:

Cartridge: .38 Special + P
Barrel length: 2″ stainless steel
Frame: 7075 aluminum alloy
Capacity: 5 round
Weight: 12 ounces

The MSRP is $400.

Production of the Charter Arms Rimless Revolver (CARR) has been delayed due to patent issues.

Due to our pushing to get the patent applied for and all of that paperwork submitted and the various legal tap dancing involved in having real guns ready for release at SHOT we were rushed.

We hope you understand. Probably the next opportunity to get it in the hands of everyone will be the NRA Convention in May. However, we will continue to work the legalistic patent process and plan (hope) to have the .40 ready for media test and evaluation in April followed very soon afterwards with production guns.

Read the full press release at AmmoLand.

More about the Charter Arms Rimless Revolver here.

Charter Arms have issued a press release heralding their “revolutionary new rimless revolver” the Charter Arms Rimless Revolver (CARR), that will go on sale Q1 2009.

Problem: The major drawback to rimless semi-auto cartridges in revolvers is they require specially made revolvers. These low-production, somewhat scarce and, highly-specialized revolvers are limited to sometimes fragile and expensive moon/half moon ammunition clips. Generally, only revolver aficionados and collectors bother with (.45ACP and 9mm Parabellum) rimless revolvers. While they may sometimes be fired without the specialized moon clips, generally the ejector rod will not eject the free-floating fired cases (got a pencil?).

Solution: Charter Arms has come up with an affordable revolver that chambers rimless semi-auto rounds in the same manner as a standard rimmed-cartridge revolver.

The first caliber on offer will be .40 S&W which will be followed by .45 ACP 3-4 months later and 9mm Parabellum (that will also be able to chamber .380 ACP) 3-4 months after that. All will be able to handle +P ammunition.

Initially only snubnosed models will be produced (2″ barrel for 9mm and 2.2″ barrel for .40 and .45ACP).

The MSRPs are:
9mm: $399
.40 S&W: $449
.45 ACP: $449

Although revolvers that fire rimless cartridges are not new, I am sure these will sell well. I think quite a few auto pistol owners but may balk at the thought of having to stock up on revolver caliber ammunition, but would be tempted by a revolver that chambers their favorite pistol cartridge.

Hat Tip: Ammoland

If you thought it was only the firearms industry going pink, you would be wrong.

Fishergirl Survival Rod & Kit

The fishergirl range complements pink guns such as the .38 ‘Pink Lady’ revolver.

Charter Arms Pink Lady