RevolverGuy was back in Vegas again this year, hitting the ranges and hiking the floors of the 2026 SHOT Show, to bring you the latest news from the revolver world. With 13.9 miles of aisles, more than 830,000 square feet of display space, 2,800-plus vendors displaying their wares, and (if we’re being honest) a slightly jaded attitude from a reporter who’s been to so many SHOT Shows that they’ve long since lost their charm, I probably missed more than a few items. However, the following widgets caught my eye and seemed like they would interest our readers.
Please understand this is just a general roundup, and I’m not necessarily endorsing any of the following products, unless specifically noted. I just want to show you what’s cooking out there in Revolver World.
State of the Industry
Before we get into the hardware though, I’d like to make a few observations about the temperature on the show floor, and the state of our industry.
The first thing to note is the industry has definitely calmed down from the craziness of the early 2020s, with the severe shortages induced by panic buying and the introduction of millions of new buyers to the market. That frenzy, where anything that went “Bang” was sold (at full price!) before it even hit the shelf, is well behind us now.
The suppressor and optic markets are definitely hot right now. Their booths were consistently busy throughout the week and it looks like they’ll have a strong year, but the rest of the firearms market has definitely been cooling off. Even if they’re not saying it out loud, it appears most of the gun makers are getting ready for a difficult year–maybe several. The clues were both plentiful and readily visible for people who know the industry.
In today’s market, manufacturers actually have to pay attention to marketing, pricing, and salesmanship again, as they chase a customer base that has less money to spend (thanks to an economy that got wrecked in the early 2020s) and less interest in buying (because they’re mostly satiated from their earlier splurge, and don’t feel the same urgency to buy that they had when the gun-haters occupied the White House).
Most companies seem to be very concerned about the decrease in sales (the “Trump Slump 2.0”), and some are even a little panicked, I think. The concern is understandable, but the panic is not. Folks who’ve got a little gray in their hair recognize the slowdown is not a surprise or aberration, just a shift towards normalcy in a hyperinflated market that spiraled out of control around 9/11, and never really settled down before the next crisis du jour struck and upset everything again. This is normal. It’s going to be tough for the industry for a while, but well-managed companies will weather the storm.
I think the consumer will benefit from it. I predict we’ll see more incentive programs in the coming year (like the rebate programs that we saw last Fall), and/or additional value packages (upgraded sights or grips, free range bags, extra mags for the bottom feeders, etc.) built around slow-moving SKUs, to promote sales.
We may even see some price corrections in the coming year–as we saw in the new Ruger LCR offering, which cut almost $200 off the MSRP of the prior SKU, and in the new Lipsey’s Exclusive UC Revolver with the rubber grip, which cut $90 off the MSRP of the previous model with G10 grips.
I’m hoping we might also see a little more emphasis on serving niche customers with small runs of unique offerings (special makeups and distributor exclusives) that the manufacturers couldn’t afford to consider in prior years, when the market was overheated, and they were struggling to meet demand for the staples. When the market cools off and buyers are holding onto their wallets, it’s a great time to lure them back into the gun shop with those special editions (I know there’s an army of .45 Colt and .41 Magnum fans out there screaming, “Preach it, brother!”).
I suspect we may also see makers and distributors introduce new varieties of models throughout the year, rather than holding them for SHOT Show or the NRA Annual Meeting. These will be timed to maintain interest and energize sales in the same fashion that Colt has kept the Python on everyone’s minds for years by constantly introducing new barrel lengths and finishes.
So, as tough as it will be for the manufacturers, I think it will be good for us, as consumers.
Sales aside, the lingering issue of quality control remains with us, as consumers have become increasingly frustrated with products that don’t meet their expectations for reliability, durability and appearance. We’ll have a report for you soon about one revolver manufacturer’s ongoing efforts to reestablish a culture of quality in their company, but it’s definitely a problem that’s not limited to just a few brands. Much of the industry–particularly gun and ammo makers– needs to focus on building better products, and making sure the lemons don’t get out the door. It’s great for a company to have a good return policy or warranty, but it’s even better if your customer doesn’t have to use it.
I suspect this will be an ongoing fight in the new year. I hope the new products I saw at SHOT Show last week will impress us from the start, but I’ll be watching closely, as I know you will. I’m excited to see our industry create new and interesting products for RevolverGuys, and I really do hope they will turn out to be excellent in all respects, but I’d be fibbing if I didn’t say that my confidence has been shaken by the experience of the last few years. Here’s to hoping . . .
The slowdown may actually be our friend, here. In a market where sales are down, the machines and people aren’t working overtime, and companies have to improve their game to stay competitive, it’s a perfect time to get back to basics and focus on quality. Time will tell if they’re smart enough to take advantage of it, but the opportunity is there.
That said, let’s get on with the show.
Lipsey’s Night Guards
We start with the biggest revolver news of the SHOT Show, which, once again, was located under the Lipsey’s tent this year.
The return of the Smith & Wesson Night Guard revolvers was the dominant revolver-focused story of the show (and probably would have been the show’s biggest story, if it wasn’t for the 2026 Suppressor Surge, fueled by the termination of the NFA Tax).
As with 2024’s Ultimate Carry J-frame, and 2025’s Mountain Gun, this project was ramrodded by Lipsey’s Vice President Jason Cloessner. Jason was already discussing the Night Guard’s return with the attendees of the February 2024 Ultimate Carry media event at Range Ready Studios, and soliciting our feedback on the idea, so it wasn’t exactly a surprise to a lot of us that the gun was being developed. It’s a relief that I don’t have to worry about keeping the secret any longer, though.
The Night Guards are round butt, Scandium alloy, L-Frames with steel cylinders and three-inch, two-piece barrels. The guns feature enhanced sights, a matte finish and a host of custom touches designed to make them optimal choices for concealed carry and field use.
The guns are built in the “new pattern” of Smith & Wesson Medium-Large frame revolvers, with no internal lock (hurrah!), a new drop safety system, a ball detent locking system on the yoke (in lieu of a lockup on the tip of the ejector rod), a full profile forcing cone (much beefier than those on previous L-frames), and the necessary modifications to accept a two-piece barrel. In the fashion of earlier Scandium-frame guns, the hammer, trigger, cylinder stop and rebound slide frame studs are made from Titanium for improved strength.
The cylinder has a slight bevel on the leading edge and chamfered chambers. A stainless steel shield is built into the frame above the barrel-cylinder gap, to prevent flame cutting of the alloy top strap.
The front sight is a square-top (hallelujah!) XS Sights unit with a green-ringed night sight embedded. The sight is 0.130″ wide and is secured to the sight base with two roll pins, because previous experience with the original, single-pin Night Guards showed the sight tenons were prone to break under recoil, resulting in lost sights.
A traditional S&W adjustable rear sight with a square, 0.150″ notch is mounted on the rear of the frame. The blade on this rear sight has been properly deepened to allow the entirety of the green dot on the front sight to be seen when the sights are properly aligned (a wonderful detail that I wish we saw on more guns).
The Scandium alloy Night Guard frames and aluminum alloy barrel shrouds are black anodized. The stainless steel cylinders are also black and finished with a PVD process. The tough, MIM hammers and triggers are finished with black oxide. Completing the black theme are a set of Hogue Bantam rubber grips.
The Night Guards come in two flavors–a seven-shot, .357 Magnum Model 386 that weighs 24 ounces, and a five-shot, .44 Special Model 396 that weights 23 ounces. The MSRP for each model is $1,269.
I was able to fire both versions of the gun on Tuesday night at the S&W launch party, and walked away impressed with these pre-production samples. The actions were good, the sights were excellent (I really appreciated the square post up front, as round-top sights don’t work very well for me unless I’m just trying to acquire a coarse aim on a close target), and I encountered no stoppages in the brief session (nor did I hear of any that were experienced by the other shooters).
I fired the .357 Magnum Model 386 first, with the supplied, full-power, 125 grain .357 Magnum JHP ammunition, and it was a bit of a handful, akin to shooting a steel .44 Magnum. The lightweight gun smacked my hand pretty good with the hot load, and I was grateful for the Hogue Bantam grips, which took a little of the sting out, and enhanced my control of the flyweight L-frame. The significant blast from the Magnum ammo blew the hanging paper target (located about 5-7 yards from the muzzle) backwards about 60 degrees, and I had to wait for it to flutter back down before I could fire the next round–no matter, because I had to pull the gun back down from its apex and realign the sights, anyhow. I still had to wait for the paper, but the gun-ammo combination discouraged a rapid fire cadence in any case.
I fired the .44 Special Model 396 next, with the supplied High Desert Cartridge 200 grain FP TMJ ammunition, and felt an immediate relief from the recoil and blast. It was almost like I’d switched to a steel .38 Special loaded with 148 grain wadcutters! What a gentle combination that was, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the fat, .44 caliber holes show up in the miniature scoring key in the top corner of the silhouette target.
Neither of these Night Guards is designed for high volume training or significant shooting with full power loads. The Night Guard concept centers around a lightweight gun that’s easy to carry, yet capable of delivering the requisite power when you need it. You won’t run a bunch of high-zoot Magnums through the Model 386, or wrist bending, heavy .44 Special Outdoorsman loads from Buffalo Bore through the Model 396, but they’ll handle the power if you think you need it. A back country hiker or hunter could “load for bear” and have a lightweight gun that’s easy to carry and always present, if he wanted to. If a real emergency came up, where he needed the power right now, he’d probably be happy to have it on tap.
In an urban setting, the guns would probably benefit from a more middle-of-the-road choice, like one of Steve’s mid-range .357s, or the wonderful 200 grain .44s that he loads. There’s not a lot that you couldn’t do with one of those in these guns.
Charter Arms
Charter Arms has introduced three new series of guns this year, which will interest RevolverGuys familiar with the brand.
The first is the Boomer Series of snub revolvers, which are stainless steel, concealed hammer designs in 9mm, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, and .44 Special calibers with rubber finger groove grips. The Boomers all have gas ports in the top of the barrel, and come in both matte black and stainless finishes. What makes the Boomers different than the similar Undercover Off-Duty-series guns is the Boomers have no front sight on them. It’s a curious configuration to this RevolverGuy’s eyes (I’d prefer the sights and unported barrel found on some versions of the Undercover Off-Duty), but it’s bound to interest some consumers out there. The MSRP on the Boomers is $500.
The next is the Pathfinder II Series of revolvers, which represents an upgrade to the earlier Pathfinder guns. The Pathfinder II revolvers are small, aluminum-framed revolvers chambered in .22 LR, with 8-shot cylinders and 3.5″ barrels. The barrels on the new guns are machined from extruded stock (unlike the cast barrels of the earlier generation), and feature a vented-type sight rib, a TK Custom front sight that’s anodized orange for improved visibility, and an adjustable target rear sight. Matte black, matte stainless, and OD Green/Black finishes are available. The MSRP on the Pathfinder IIs is $510.61.
The last is the Walker, a small, aluminum frame snub chambered in .22LR or .22 Magnum. The Walker has an enclosed hammer, a black anodized finish, and a rubber boot-style grip.
chiappa Firearms
The attention-grabbing Chiappa Firearms Rhino revolver line gets a boost this year with some very colorful .44 Magnum special editions that I think are downright awful, but one of the Rhino 60DS L-Frame Special Edition .44 Magnum color schemes is tame enough to earn a spot in our roundup. Don’t get me wrong, the overall package still looks more like a hacksaw than a revolver to my conservative eyes, but at least I’m not looking for a pair of sunglasses to mute the colors.
These special edition guns will be limited to a run of 440 pieces, and the one that passed RevolverGuy muster will be finished with a navy blue Cerakote that’s laser etched with an American flag theme. A California-legal single action model will be available, for those behind the Golden Curtain. MSRP $2,145
It will certainly turn heads at the range.
Cimarron Firearms
The showpiece for Cimarron Firearms this year is the U.S. Cavalry Buffalo Soldier Model. This gun is a faithful recreation of the 7-1/2” Cavalry Model guns inspected by U.S. Ordnance Department Principal Sub-Inspector in Charge (what a title!) Henry Nettleton, who stamped his inspection marks in a non-standard location on the left side of the hammer and trigger guard (Cimarron reports approximately 3,000 guns were inspected and stamped by him, circa 1878).
Cimarron’s reproduction is made by Uberti, and offers a painstaking level of detail. The inspection marks replicate the exact initials, fonts, placements and proof marks that were found on these guns, which were largely issued to the 9th and 10th Cavalry “Buffalo Soldiers.” It reportedly took several years of research and coordination with Uberti to make such an accurate reproduction.
The gun features a blued finish and walnut grips, and is priced at $740 MSRP. Cimarron’s CEO, Mike Harvey, says, “this firearm is as close as you can get to the original,” and it looks like a real beauty that will make fans of these martial Colts very happy.
Colt
Our friends at Colt have released a blued version of the popular Anaconda revolver that is absolutely beautiful, and shoots as good as it looks. The blued .44 Magnum Anaconda will be offered in a variety of barrel lengths, but the version I was able to shoot at Media Day wore a 6″ barrel (MSRP $1,699).
I think the Anaconda is the finest double action .44 Magnum/.45 Colt production revolver on the market, and was especially pleased by how well the blued sample shot. While we only had very mild .44 Special ammunition available to shoot (Hornady 165 grain Critical Defense), the gun’s smooth trigger made it easy for me to get the hits on 8″ steel plates placed around 15 yards downrange.
The wood grips on the Anaconda look handsome, but you’ll want a better grip for extended shooting or .44 Magnum loads. I didn’t have a speedloader available to check the fit, but I suspect the speedloader relief on these grips is a little thin. The rear sight blade notch is still a little shallow for my eyes, but there are aftermarket solutions for that too.
Colt was also showcasing their Python/Anaconda RMSc Plate, which is installed in lieu of the rear sight assembly, and provides a mounting platform for red dot sights using the Shield RMSc and Holosun 507K footprints. The plate is currently available through Colt’s website, and (as a result of an agreement signed at the 2026 SHOT Show) will soon be sold through Midway USA, as well. MSRP $79
Though not a new gun, per se, Colt was also showcasing the return of the Night Cobra Special to the catalog. This Cobra variant has a black DLC finish, a brass bead front sight, and checkered wood grips in the old service-style. Honestly, the gun screams for a grip adapter and a hammer shroud, and I leaned on Colt to produce these as accessories, but won’t hold my breath waiting for them. The MSRP for this one is $999.
Incidentally, I was able to get a sneak peek at another gun that will be released later in the year, and can promise there’s some neat stuff coming from Colt’s. Stay tuned for more!
crimson trace
I didn’t see any new revolver products from Crimson Trace, but I was able to gain some insight on why we’ve had such a difficult time obtaining favorite products (like the LG405 Lasergip for J-frames) over the past few years.
As it turns out, the federal government issued new safety standards for products that use coin batteries in 2022, and these standards required a redesign of many Crimson Trace products. This interrupted the supply of goods and caused the shortages we’ve been experiencing. The good news, is that Crimson Trace is expecting to resume a more robust production schedule this year, and availability should improve.
Dan wesson
Their representatives have told me they have absolutely no plans to bring back the revolvers. Sorry, guys. Hopefully they’ll figure it out, someday.
Desantis Gunleather
Our good friends at DeSantis had a quiet year planned for new revolver leather, but did have a new product in their Wild Hog Premium.
The Wild Hog is a versatile holster that can be carried in the strong side or crossdraw positions, which features a snapped hammer strap for security.
Wild Hog holsters have been available in rough side out steer hide, or a hybrid ballistic nylon and saddle leather configuration, but the new Premium version is built from top grain steer hide, inside and out. The interior of the Wild Hog Premium is lined with smooth steer hide to protect the gun’s finish, and add a touch of class. Fits are available for the L-frame, Python, and GP100. The retail price is $135.99
Diamondback Firearms
The big news at Diamondback Firearms is the release of their first aluminum-framed snub revolver, the SDR-A. The SDR-A has a familiar profile in the rear, with a humpback that looks just like the one on the S&W Bodyguards (the REAL ones, not the new ones with the recycled name), but the twist is the SDR-A has a fully-enclosed hammer, like a Centennial. There’s no place for lint and other debris to get trapped in an open hammer channel on the SDR-A.
The SDR-A follows the now-familiar SDR profile, with a 2” barrel topped by high-profile fiber optic sights, a six-shot cylinder (in .38 Special +P, on this aluminum gun) that’s opened with a push-button latch, and a push-button release for the yoke assembly. The gun wears a set of Hogue black rubber grips that have a little shelf for the pinky finger, but since the gun’s grip frame mimics the J-frame dimensions, there’s a world of aftermarket grip options to choose from, if you’d rather put something else on there.
The barrel assembly on the SDR-A is a two-piece unit, with an aluminum shroud that’s secured into the frame with a barrel that’s screwed in from the front–a pattern we’re used to seeing in the new S&W revolvers. This should help to guarantee the sights are properly clocked.
The SDR-A has a glass bead finish and the gun weighs 15.6 ounces (around 5.6 ounces less than the stainless steel SDR). The trigger on the sample I shot at Media Day was smooth and made it easy to run the gun. I think Diamondback is pulling ahead of some of their competitors with their guns, and this SDR-A will keep that inertia rolling. Expect to see a more detailed review at RevolverGuy later in the year. The MSRP is $640.
EMF-Pietta Firearms
EMF, now doing business as Pietta Firearms (Pietta USA), is a prime importer of replica firearms manufactured by Pietta, in Italy, and has a host of special makeup 1873 Great Western II SAA revolvers coming in 2026.
The Keeper of the Plains model pays tribute to the American Plains Indians, and features a gold finish engraved with traditional lithographic art, a quote from Chief Sitting Bull, side plate engravings of buffalo hunts and Indian villages, and eagle feathering running down the grips. The gun is chambered in .45 Colt or .357 Magnum, and has a 4.75″ barrel. MSRP $1,332.90
The Cowpoke Revolver pays homage to the cattlemen of the American West, past and present. It features a silver finish with cattle-themed engraving on the frame and cylinder, cowboy quotes on the barrel, and a walnut grip that features a cowhide pattern. The 4.75″ barrel gun can be had in .45 Colt or .357 Magnum. MSRP $999.99
The Pendleton Round-Up model pays tribute to the annual Pendleton Round-Up in Pendleton, Oregon, which is billed as “the premiere celebration of western heritage [and] rodeo experience.” The Pendleton model features engraved rodeo themes on the frame and cylinder, the Pendleton Round-Up brand on the grips, and the Round-Up’s “Let’er Buck” tagline and first date engraved on the barrel. Both .45 Colt and .357 Magnum chamberings are available, with a 4.75″ barrel. MSRP $999.99
Pietta USA also had some aluminum-framed 1873s in .22 LR and .357 Magnum that looked like they’d be handy for training and field use. The finishes were matte, and the grips simple, making them the kinds of guns that you could subject to hard use and not worry about. The lightweight frames didn’t upset the balance or “pointability” of the guns.
I’m guilty of burying the lede here, though, by talking about all those SAA replicas, because the BIGGEST surprise of the 2026 SHOT Show for me was the announcement of the Pietta Blacktooth double action revolver.
The Blacktooth is Pietta’s version of the original-pattern Colt Python, and is advertised as being a 1:1 copy of the legendary Colt classic. The Blacktooth (whose name is designed to pay homage to both Colt and EMF’s new home state of Wyoming) is billed as being “true-to-original,” to the extent that Blacktooth parts will fit and function in the older Colt guns.
The Blacktooth sample I handled was reportedly the only one currently in North America, but the Pieta USA representatives at the show told me they’re hoping to bring guns into the country as early as the Spring. I was mightily impressed with the quality of the Blacktooth sample, and actually felt like I was holding a classic Colt with slightly different markings.
The gun will feature a 6″ vented barrel and checkered walnut grips that will remind you of the old Colt pattern. The frame is marked with a stylized horse and rider, and the barrel markings are completed in a font and size that invokes images of the original. The graceful sweep of the hammer and the feel of the original V-spring action were faithfully replicated. The blued finish was very nice–not quite a Colt Royal Blue, but certainly handsome and appropriately classy for the model.
A friend who’s a truly knowledgable Colt aficionado gave the sample a thumbs up, and felt the guns compared very favorably to past production from Colt’s. I was relieved to get the independent evaluation, and hear that I wasn’t just seeing things, in the midst of my excitement.
Oh . . . the MSRP? Would you believe they were quoting $1,104? Wow!
I was curious about whether Pietta USA would make spare parts available for sale, to help get some of the broken down, original classics back on the road. I was very excited to learn this is part of Pietta USA’s plans for bringing the new gun to market. If Pietta could help to provide the parts necessary to revive some old guns, while simultaneously giving us an affordable replica to exhaust at the range, we’d be in great shape.
I sure hope this thing doesn’t turn out to be vaporware. I’d be so disappointed. The Blacktooth was truly the biggest surprise of the show for me, and perhaps the gun that excited me the most. I sure hope the Italians and Pietta USA can pull this one off!
federal ammunition
Federal announced a product line extension with the addition of a 235 grain Power Shok JHP in .45 Colt that should make handgun hunters happy, and serve well in our lever guns as well. At 850 fps, it should pack enough energy to drive the bullet deep and promote some expansion as well.
Federal also announced an entirely new line of handgun ammunition called Terminal Ascent Handgun that features a bonded, nickel-plated bullet with a hollowpoint cavity that’s constructed similarly to their popular Punch bullet (with jacket skives, but no core skives, as the HST bullet has). The nose cavity of this bonded bullet is filled with an elastomer plug to help promote consistent expansion regardless of the target’s composition (whether it be skin, muscle, hard bone, or just fatty tissue).
The combination of the chemically-bonded bullet, jacket skives, and elastomer plug will help this bullet to upset appropriately (in a controlled, and early fashion), expand to the desired diameter, and remain intact as it plows deep into the target. The Terminal Ascent Handgun product line will launch with a 10mm Auto 203 grain, a .357 Magnum 157 grain, and a .44 Magnum 235 grain load.
galco
Our friends at Galco Gunleather had two revolver offerings of note this year.
The first was the Master Agent shoulder holster fitted for K-frame revolvers. The Master Agent was introduced a year or so ago, as part of Galco’s Masterbilt Series that features premium materials and hand work. The Master Agent had previously been available for the J-frame, but will now be available for the short K-frames as well (Note: Galco’s Mike Barham recommends barrels no longer than three inches on the steel frame guns, to preserve sufficient retention qualities and prevent the heavier gun from falling out).
The Master Agent features Galco’s excellent harness system and a tension screw for retention. It carries the gun diagonally, in a slight muzzle up orientation. This should be a dandy shoulder holster for your custom “Chopper” or snubby Combat Magnum. The retail price is $280.
Galco is also offering the strong side Masterbilt Revenger holster for N-frames in 2026.The Revenger has a belt tunnel up front and a loop at the rear, in the classic Nelson (Bianchi “Askins Avenger”) style, and a slight forward cant to help get the gun out. The retail price is $259.
Incidentally, Mike told me that a look at the numbers showed revolver products made up 25% of Galco’s recent sales. Despite all the noise about revolvers being passe’, it seems there’s sure a lot of folks out there who like and use them. With nine years of great coverage under our belt, I like to think we’ve been a big part of this “Revolver Renaissance.”
Henry Repeating Arms
The folks at Henry Repeating Arms will release versions of their Big Boy Revolver and their Golden Boy Revolver with adjustable rear sights and fiber optic front sights in 2026. Both Gunfighter Grip and Birdshead Grip options will be available.
I thought the new sight picture was pretty good, with a rear notch that let in sufficient light. I’m not generally a fan of fiber optic sights, but I think lots of eyes will appreciate the increased visibility dot, up front.
heritage Mfg.
Heritage Manufacturing, the sister company to Taurus, didn’t have any new revolver introductions for 2026, but I did notice a gun in their booth that had somehow escaped my notice in the past. I was super happy to see Heritage reintroduce the oft-missed Taurus Model 85 snub as the Heritage Roscoe in 2024, but failed to notice that they added a version with a 3″ barrel to the catalog somewhere along the way.
While it wouldn’t be my choice in an ankle or pocket holster, the longer barrel would be a real advantage on the belt, and would enhance concealment by making the gun less prone to rolling outboard. I’m glad I finally noticed it!
HKS
I stopped by the makers of my favored speedloader to see what was new in their world. The big news was the addition of a Haas CNC machine last year, which has dramatically increased production rates and improved product quality.
The team is working to develop new sizes of loaders to accommodate some popular, but underserved revolvers. It takes a lot of work to get a new design ready for the market, but we’re eager to see HKS fill some gaps, and we’ll keep you posted on their progress.
Lipsey’s
The Night Guards were the biggest of the Lipsey’s releases, but they weren’t the only ones, by any means.
A new variant of the Ultimate Carry J-frame was announced at the end of 2025, and made its formal debut at the show this year. The popular .38 Special and .32 H&R Magnum UC J-frames have been fitted with Smith & Wesson’s new UC Enhanced Rubber Grip (the final product of an effort that began in April of 2024, which I was pleased to participate in), which will likely replace the old rubber boot grip design that J-frames have shipped with for several decades.
The Ultimate Carry/Rubber UC Grips models will come in both calibers (.32 H&R Mag and .38 Special +P) and finishes (matte stainless, and matte black), and are priced at a MSRP of $679.
I shot the UCs with the UC Enhanced Rubber Grip in both calibers at the Tuesday night S&W launch party, and was very pleased with how the guns handled with their new shoes. The grips are made of a harder material than I suggested/envisioned during my early meeting with S&W Engineering, and I was concerned they might accentuate the feel of the recoil, but I found them to be quite comfortable, as a result of their superior shape. These covered back strap grips were much more comfortable than the softer, open back strap, OEM grips we’ve become accustomed to seeing on J-frames. I liked them so much that I plan to acquire some for the J-frames in my collection that don’t wear my favored Crimson Trace LG405 grips.
Lipsey’s also had an especially attractive variant of the Model 36 Classic that was launched in 2025. The new Exclusive is a collaboration with Field Ethos that’s as beautiful as it is functional.
The Lipsey’s Exclusive Model 36 Field Ethos “Tropical” is a bobbed hammer, 1-7/8″ snub chambered in .38 Special +P. The gun has a high polish blue finish with the Field Ethos logo on the right side plate, and a Performance Center action job. The snub barrel wears a gold bead front sight that is viewed through the gun’s U-notch rear sight.
The Tyler Gun Works custom walnut boot grips are a beautiful and functional accent to the gun. They’re properly relieved for speedloaders and feel great in the hand. The MSRP of this gun is $1,099.
The gun was dubbed the “Tropical” model, because it reminded the Field Ethos team of the type of gun a gentleman would carry in a hot, tropical environment under his linen suit. While I think I’d prefer a stainless gun in a steamy setting like that, there’s no doubt that this beautiful gun would serve you well in any environment.
Lubriplate
I’m happy to announce that our friends at Lubriplate are poised to jump into the consumer market with both feet. For those who don’t know the company, Lubriplate has been serving industrial customers (particularly the trucking and food industries) with lubricants and cleaners for over 150 years, but hasn’t made a concerted effort to chase the consumer automotive and sporting markets, to date. That changes in 2026, with a new consumer-friendly website and new product packaging that will hopefully make Lubriplate a serious player in firearms cleaning and lubrication.
Readers of last year’s report may recall my description of the firm’s PSX Bore Cleaner, which does an incredible job of attacking copper and lead deposits. I’ve been using PSX Bore Cleaner for the past year, and have been seriously impressed by the product, which has made short work of some big messes. How impressed? Well, my longtime go-to product for bore cleaning and cylinder face cleaning (both dirty jobs) has been replaced by PSX, based on my experience with it. Swab it on, let it sit for a while, and mop out the bore–it’s that simple. It does a really great job of cleaning up my dirty rimfires.
The firm’s RFX Oil, also discussed in last year’s report, has also been a smash hit for me over the past year. RFX is a low viscosity oil that was designed to endure the heat and carbon buildups found in the automatic weapons used by the military, and I’ve been very happy with its performance in my own (decidely NOT automatic) firearms. Again, this product has supplanted my old standby, since I started using it.
My friend who does a serious amount of reloading on Mark 7 reloading machines tested Lubriplate’s BCL brass case lube for me, and gave it an excellent report. He’s been a serious reloader for going on 60 years, and has used everything out there, so a positive report from him was meaningful. He appreciated both the lubricity of the product, and the way it applied, leaving a consistent layer on the brass that wasn’t messy or drippy.
My samples of PSX cleaner and RFX oil came in small bottles with screw top caps that didn’t do a good job of controlling the flow of the product, so I’m happy to see that Lubriplate has moved to needle oiler caps that will allow me to deposit just the right amount of fluid in just the right place. This enhanced packaging will help to make the products even better for consumers, and I encourage readers to check them out, along with Lubriplate’s BCL case lube, SFL Gun Grease, FMO Gun Oil, and FRX fishing reel oil (I know lots of you are anglers, too!), at the new Lubriplate website.
Magnum Research
Magnum Research has introduced a special edition of their BFR revolver in collaboration with the folks at Field Ethos.
The Field Ethos BFR Revolver features a 4.5″ octagonal barrel topped with a dovetailed gold bead front sight. The adjustable rear sight is supplemented with an optic mount cut for the Aimpoint Acro P-2 red dot sight, which will be part of the package. The unfluted cylinder holds five rounds of .454 Casull ammunition.
The gun is Black DLC coated, and wears a pair of custom Tyler Gun Works wood grips. The grip frame is marked with the Field Ethos logo, and has a swivel stud at its base. The trigger and hammer are attractively jeweled, to add a touch of flair.
Magnum Research will build only 25 of these guns, and the MSRP will be in the $6,000 to $7,000 range.
North American Arms
Switching gears from the biggest revolvers to the smallest, North American Arms has a few new items for 2026.
The Recluse was actually a mid-2025 introduction, but I saw it for the first time at the show. The Recluse is a swing-out cylinder, 5-shot, .22 Magnum revolver with XS Sights white dot sights installed. The fat grips have two finger grooves and a lot more material to hang onto than the standard grips that follow the frame’s profile.
The Pug-LR is a .22 Long Rifle version of the popular .22 Magnum Pug revolver, with a 1″ barrel and XS white dot sight system. Expect to see it hit the market around Spring.
The 22MS-BBQ is a belt buckle gun in .22 Magnum with a 1.13″ barrel topped with a half-moon front sight. NAA sold a .22 LR version of the oval buckle last year, and this year gets a Magnum size-up.
NRA
The National Rifle Association has had a tough run in recent years, but a reform group has mostly taken the reins from the corrupt leaders who stole and wasted our dues and contributions, and they’re actively cleaning house to get rid of the remaining rats in the cupboard. I have increasing confidence in the new leadership, and respect the tough decisions they are making to restore the organization and make it viable in the current political and economic environment. I’ll never forgive the old crooks for their betrayal, but I’ve cautiously resumed my contributions, while keeping a close eye on things. I support the leaders of “NRA 2.0” as they try to repair the damage and steer us towards a better future.
While all the political chaos was swirling around the larger organization, the NRA’s Law Enforcement Division stayed focused and continued to perform its duty of serving and educating America’s lawmen. They continued to teach valuable instructor-level firearms classes that certified lawmen throughout the nation to teach vital firearms skills to their fellow crime fighters. They also remained actively involved in the creation and advancement of reform legislation to fix issues in the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA, or “HR 218”), which enables active and qualifying retired officers to carry nationwide. I fully support these missions and the men and women of the NRA who make them happen.
When I checked in with my friends at the Law Enforcement Division at the show, they reminded me that many law enforcement officers are unaware that the NRA offers a special membership discount for them (starting with a $20 annual membership, with higher tiers and longer durations available), which includes a valuable $35,000 insurance benefit for the surviving family of members who are killed in the line of duty. Sadly, the NRA has paid $4.4 Million in these benefits since 2000, and while they hope to never have to do it again, they stand ready to help LE families in their time of need.
I highly encourage law enforcement officers who are not members of the NRA to look at the discounted membership offered by the organization–you won’t find a better deal than a $35,000 insurance policy for $20 per year.
I also encourage all RevolverGuys to join and support the new NRA, to help defend our precious 2A freedoms. I understand if you’re still upset about the theft committed by the association’s previous leadership–I am, too, but there’s a new team running things and they need our help to reform and rebuild our association, so please consider giving them your support. Also, if you’re an eligible voting member, please make sure to vote for the reform candidates in the upcoming February election.
REMINGTON
Remington Ammunition has added a new line of handgun hunting ammunition loaded with heavy, hard cast bullets for superior penetration. The Hard Cast ammunition line offers hard-cast, waxed-groove alloy bullets loaded in nickel-plated cases.
The hard-cast bullets will resist deformation and allow the heavy-for-caliber bullets to penetrate deeply into tough targets. The waxed grooves carry lubrication to help minimize lead fouling in the bore.
The new Hard Cast loads are offered in a mix of auto and revolver cartridges, to include 10mm 200-grain, .44 Rem. Mag. 260-grain, .357 Mag. 180-grain, and 9mm Luger +P 145-grain.
Remington also announced the addition of a new .45 Colt offering in the classic Core-Lokt line. The new .45 Colt Core-Lokt will feature a 237-grain JHP bullet in a nickel case, which is designed to offer large expansion with high weight retention, to plow a wide and deep hole in game.
Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson had a busy year with the Lipsey’s Night Guard, UC Rubber Grips J-frame, and Field Ethos Exclusives, but still managed to have one more revolver trick up their sleeve for SHOT Show 2026.
The Spec Series R Model 686 Plus No-Lock is the first revolver in Smith & Wesson’s Spec Series family, and it will definitely attract attention at the range. At its core, the gun is a 4.13″ barreled Model 686 Plus with a ported barrel, enhanced finish, and optical sight.
Starting with the most visible feature, the gun is topped with an Aimpoint Acro P-2 red dot sight mounted to a custom plate that attaches to the frame via the threaded sight mounting holes in the top strap. The closed emitter optic is one of the industry’s best, and facilitates fast and accurate work with the gun.
The barrel has a PowerPort forward of the red ramp front sight that’s designed to mitigate muzzle rise, and a seven-round cylinder that’s cut for moon clips (10 clips are included with the gun) and finished with a black PVD coating. The cylinder is opened via an extended release that’s finished with the same black PVD coating.
The stainless frame and barrel are finished in matte, Titanium-colored Cerakote. The gun is fitted with wood stocks and ships in a Savior Equipment pistol bag, with an adjustable rear sight unit that can be mounted when the optic and mount are removed, a Spec Series R knife, a coin, and a patch. MSRP is $1,999.
I shot the Spec Series R Model 686 at the Tuesday night S&W launch party and found it to be a very nice shooting gun, with a smooth action and a broad window to view the red dot through. As someone who doesn’t do much shooting with red dots, I had to lower the nose of the gun from my normal presentation attitude to find the dot in the optic’s window, but once it was there, the dot made it easy to connect with the target. The extended cylinder release was another feature I wasn’t used to, but it operated smoothly and I could see its utility on a competition gun, like this one is designed to be.
spohr
I got a chance to shoot some of the imported revolvers from German maker Spohr for the first time this year, to include a 5″ Club Edition, several 6-shot L562 Frame guns with various barrel lengths, and an 8-shot N643 Frame with a 6″ barrel. One of the L562s was fitted with an optional 9mm cylinder, fed by moon clips.
The Spohr revolvers feature mainspring and rebound spring assemblies that can be adjusted by the user, via screws that are concealed beneath the grips. The guns are machined from stock, and do not make use of any MIM components. The handsome grips are all made by Nill.
The Club Edition is the one with all the bells and whistles, to include a push button system for quickly removing the yoke and cylinder, skeletonized trigger and hammer, and rails cut on the top and bottom of the barrel. It’s offered in 3″, 4″, 5″ and 6″ barrel lengths.
The first three guns I fired suffered from light strikes, which sent the staff diving into them with tools to adjust the spring rates. This gave me a look at the adjustment mechanisms, which were intriguing.
The guns shot well enough, and I thought their styling was MUCH more attractive than some of the other German revolver brands (some of those look just weird, others downright fugly). However, I’ve shot some tuned S&Ws, Colts and Rugers that performed equally well, and looked better to my eyes. I couldn’t get too excited about the price tags on these imports, which are all north of $3,500, with most above $4,000.
I appreciate these guns for what they are, but frankly, I’m just not the target consumer for guns like this. I can understand why they would tickle the imaginations of some RevolverGuys and start their tongues drooling, but my tastes are more pedestrian. I’m the guy who would rather buy American and spend the sizable difference on ammo and training, but if you like and appreciate the exotic stuff, these guns are definitely for you.
standard manufacturing
Standard Manufacturing never fails to come up with something unique, and they did it again this year with the SR1 Double Action Revolver, which features an aluminum receiver mounted to a polymer grip frame, in the fashion of the Ruger LCR.
The SR1 ‘s most unique feature, aside from its radical styling, is the Glock-like trigger, which features a center blade that must be depressed to free the trigger for rearward travel.
The SR1 was displayed in two flavors, a five-shot .38 Special, and an eight-shot rimfire (both .22 LR and .22 Magnum chamberings are offered). MSRP is $489.
USFA
I tried to run down a pre-show rumor about the return of US Firearms Company, but didn’t learn anything new. The rights to the name were apparently purchased last year, and there were a few teasers released on social media about the company’s projected comeback, but there was no solid information to be found. We’ll just have to wait and see if this storied company can be revived, and if they can pull a second rabbit out of the hat by making a high quality Single Action Army-pattern gun at an affordable price.
That’s all folks!
Whew! So, that’s my report from the 2026 SHOT Show. As usual, some of these products will take a little while to make their appearance on the market, and there may be subtle changes that occur once they move to production, so keep an eye on the manufacturer’s websites for the details.
By the way, if you enjoyed this review, please consider supporting our work through our Patreon page, as we could use your help to pay for website hosting and all the other expenses that go along with RevolverGuy. I’ve never made this request in the past, but it’s getting increasingly expensive to pay the rent around here, with all the storage needed to preserve over nine year’s worth of images and articles. I think we provide the best revolver coverage on Al Gore’s internet, and don’t want to put it behind a paywall, so we’d appreciate any help you could provide. Thanks in advance.
I’m gonna go rest my feet (and my worn-out typing fingers), and enjoy being away from the crowds and chaos of Vegas for a while, while you let us know what you think of all the new releases in the comments, below. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on all these new products.
First of all, let me say that I just joined your Patreon. It’s long overdue, considering how long I’ve read this blog. I also intend to join the NRA. I was debating on it, due to past mistrust, but if someone like you thinks the “new” NRA is worth investing in then I’ll do it.
Now, as for SHOT itself, nothing here particularly interests me if I’m honest.
I’ve recently become a fan of Colt revolvers. I recently acquired a Cobra and a Python and am VERY impressed with them. In terms of fit and finish, the trigger pulls, they are the nicest revolvers I’ve ever owned. The Python especially; and I made it even better with fixed night sights from D&L Sports. They certainly weren’t cheap, but the quality is excellent. I would very much like to see Colt reintroduce an alloy-framed Cobra someday; if not, I’ll need to hunt down a vintage one.
With that out of the way, color me skeptical on the Pietta Blacktooth. While I think it’s impressive that they were able to clone the old Python, I’m not sure what the appeal is. The new Colt Pythons were specifically engineered to be stronger and more durable than the old ones; a new Python will last much longer under a steady diet of magnums. Additionally, Colt retained the smoothness of the action in the new one. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to examine a 1980’s Python, and could not tell the difference in smoothness from my new one. The only advantage I see to this Blacktooth is that its existence means parts for vintage Pythons to keep going.
While I have no intentions of purchasing a Diamondback SDR right now, I appreciate its entry into the market. I look forward to a review later on.
Thanks for the support, Axel, we definitely appreciate it!
I’m glad to hear you’re considering the NRA too, as I think it’s time for gun folks to support it again. The new team is showing me they’re serious about reform, and there’s no outfit that can do what the NRA can do. I’m a strong supporter of SAF, CRPA, and other groups (they’ve been getting all my “NRA money” for years now, in addition to what I was already giving them), but their roles in the fight for our rights are different. Each of these groups has their forte, and they complement each other.
I’m with you in your admiration of the new Colts. I agree the new 2020 Pythons are better guns than the old ones, being more durable and serviceable. They’re smooth, handsome, and assembled to a high standard. I think the sights and grips aren’t worthy of the rest of the gun, but that’s easily fixed in the aftermarket, as you’ve illustrated (BTW, I bet those Lauck sights are phenomenal, and hope you’ll tell us more about them).
I was still VERY surprised and excited by the Pietta gun, though. It would be interesting to do a “showdown” between the 2020 Python and the Blacktooth, if the latter ever becomes reality. I suspect the new Colt product would come out on top, but I’m still excited by the prospect that the Blacktooth could provide a means to rescue broken originals, and I think it’s neat to think that a shooter could get an understudy to the original for three figures ($1,104 MSRP probably means a street price in the vicinity of $900). You can’t get one of the new Colts that cheap, unless you get a matte gun on a special clearance (PSA was blowing them out for $800 after rebate last November). It would be nice for the owner of an original to not only be able to get it back on the road again, but also have a similar “beater” that he could shoot without reservation.
Yes, I’ve heard many complaints online about the adjustable rear sight Colt uses on their revolvers. Considering the quality of the Colt revolvers I now own, it sounds like a surprising oversight.
I originally considered the the Wilson Combat sight most people recommend, but I do prefer a fixed sight on my revolvers, and I re-read the articles here on D&L Sports. I decided to reach out to Mr. Lauck, since his work was so well regarded. He said he had one set of night sights left, and despite the hefty price tag, I went for it.
I can’t comment on how well they shoot, sadly, since it’s been too freaking cold for me to take my Python out (I was also waiting on some G10 grips from Altamont). I can, however, say that the D&L sights absolutely POP, and I’ve no doubt they’ll shoot as good as they look and feel (much like the Python itself). I’m really eager to shoot my Python (and Cobra), so I may end up sucking it up and throwing on some mittens if it means finally getting some trigger time.
If I’m able to attend Revolver Fest 2026 later this year, and if you’ll be attending again, I’d be happy to bring my Python and let you have a look at it yourself.
I’d like that, Axel. I have one set of Lauck sights on an L-frame and they’re both excellent, and pricey! I look forward to your range report on them.
Thanks for the roundup, Mike! I fully agree that the Anaconda is the nicest .44 DA on the market right now, and that gorgeous blued version might just mean I’ll need to pick up another one this year.
Nothing new from Ruger?
Yessir, the blued gun was a beauty. I think I can hear it calling you!
Not a single new revolver product from Ruger, sadly.
Very interesting stuff Sir!! Not to turn these replies into a Night Guard discussion, but I am really excited about them and I am doing my best to hold out a bit and see if something in the K Frame orientation is released. I also just orered a set of the new J Frame rubber grips from S&W. They should be arriving in a couple of days and I intend to use them on my well worn Smith 642. When I saw them, I immediately remembered the article and discussions about converting the Taurus rubber boot grip to fit a Smith and I was excited that Smith released a similar grip.
Thank you for the time and effort you put into Revolverguy. Its easy to be critical of the products out there and I am sure it is hard for you to be the middle man at times hearing all of our gripes. I recently joined the Patreon hoping it helps Revolverguy to keep bringing us these great reviews! Thank you again!
Mark, thank you for the kind words and the support of what we’re doing. We couldn’t do this without the great participation and help of the readers!
I was invited to join a small team of consultants that visited S&W in early 2024, to provide feedback on the Model 10 Classic project. After the M10 meeting was done, I met an engineer who had just been given the assignment to design a new J-frame grip, and we had a sidebar meeting while other members of the group were discussing other projects. It was a great conversation, and I think it was very enlightening for him to hear from someone who actually did a lot of J-frame shooting, about what a good J-frame grip should do.
The new grip is pretty close to what I described. It checks off most of my Wish List. It’s made of a harder material than I suggested, but as I mentioned, it was comfortable during the very short session I had with it, by virtue of the shape. Grips are very personal, and what I like may be very different than what you like, but I think these new grips will be a definite improvement over the old style for most shooters, and look forward to getting more time with them. I’ll also be interested to hear more from you after you get a chance to shoot them!
Nice writeup. I have one question. In your description of Lipsey’s bobbed hammer Model 36 “Tropical,” you didn’t mention if the gun is DAO or not. I ask this because, while most bobbed-hammer revolvers are DAO, there was a fad in the 70s of bobbing the hammers of Model 60s but not making the guns DAO. The theory was that if you wanted to make a single-action shot, you would pull the trigger back enough to lift the hammer, grab the body of the hammer with your thumb, and pull the hammer back manually. I knew people who did it, though I never did. So, is the “Tropical” Model 36 DAO or not? (I’m not nagging; I added this in case my original question got lost during my long trip down memory lane.)
Honestly, 1811, I don’t know. I’ve always thought it was pure folly to attempt that maneuver, so I’ve treated every bobbed gun I’ve encountered as a DAO, and I didn’t think to check it.
Old 1811, I have just such a model 60 from back in 1989. I carried it and shot it a lot. I cocked it a couple of times, but it really wasn’t worth the trouble. Our range master who was also our armorer would bob the hammer because, “yall are just going to stick those things in your waist band without a holster. Hopefully this will keep you from shooting yourselves in the butt.” Not everyone believes such stories, but I’ll bet some here have similar stories.
What do you do if the gun gets cocked, and you decide not to fire the shot?
Oops!
“Dear chief, no one was more surprised than I was to hear my gun go off…”
They never believe that, either!
🤣
It’s DAO
Thanks for the confirmation, Jason!
Thank you.
WOW! The term .44 special revolver used with present tense verbs…who’d a thunk it.
I’ve had my eye on the 3” Heritage Arms Roscoe. Mainly because I wanted one from Smith and Wesson but was broke. AND shoulder holsters for snubbies. It sounds like a pretty nifty SHOT show. Especially for old guys like me.
Keep up the good work Mike!
Great report, with more than a little good news!
In no particular order, good on Pietta! OEM spec Pythons and Python parts should mean trained employees who can find their way around a Colt V-spring revolver and fix it. How about a custom shop, here in the US….but at minimum, brand new parts to keep my old Three Fifty Seven running until they pat me in the face with a shovel. P.S.: Will Pietta or Uberti please build us a replica of Frank Hamer’s “Old Lucky?”
Keep leaning on Colt to give us a hammer shroud with that Night Cobra–and an aluminum frame. Those grips look an awful lot like a 3/4 version of the Aircrewman grips.
The SDR-A delivers what a lot of us have been asking for–a shrouded M12 equivalent. I can understand why a manufacturer doesn’t trust the public with an SA/DA version, but it is a little disappointing.
Any idea why Smith quietly released, through Davidson’s, a new 432/632 sans adjustable rear sight and hi horns, with no publicity?
The Remington Hard Cast line needs a standard pressure .38 Special load.
Heritage missed a bet by not using a six shot cylinder. The base gun is a Taurus, and an 856 “Roscoe” is more in keeping with the spirit of the exercise. The J-frame Smith in .38 Spl came to the party late.
I suspect that Galco’s new shoulder rig will not hold the narrow-frame M12s securely, but what if?
Love those Night Guard sights. Period.
Thanks again! Your pain is our gain.
Lobo, don’t give up on the aluminum frame Cobra. We haven’t!
Old Lucky–that’s a neat idea, I’m surprised it hasn’t been done yet.
SDR-A–Personally, I’m a fan of the enclosed hammer. The Bodyguards are crud collectors in the hammer channel, and I really can’t see using the SA capability of a traditional Bodyguard. I’m glad Diamondback closed it up.
The Davidson’s guns were a “me too” project. They saw the great interest in the UCs and wanted a similar SKU. However, the UC is still a Lipsey’s Exclusive, so S&W cannot sell them to Davidson’s. The adjustments (rubber grip, gutter rear sight, brass bead front) were made to create a UC-like product for Davidson’s. The MSRP is $80 less than the standard UC, but $10 MORE than the new UC with the rubber grip, so I don’t think they will sell particularly well, and Davidson’s probably knows it.
I like the 5-shot cylinder on the Roscoe. It makes for a trimmer package, a better pocket gun. Taurus didn’t have a 5-shot snub left in the catalog, so it’s good to have options. If I want a 6-shot, I can buy an 856.
I’ve been playing with a two-inch Roscoe for a couple months now. Heritage told me the Roscoe is built on the 856 (thus 605?) frame. I speculate that a low cost six-shooter would take a serious bite out of 856 sales where a five-shot gat does not. I’ve come to think of the Roscoe as a Noir-styled Taurus 605 chambered for 38 instead of 357. That troubles me not at all; the little gun is a handful even with Specials.
Don’t feel bad about barely discovering the 3in Heritage Roscoe. A month ago I was at Turner’s in So-Cal & discovered it myself. And all for a sub-$400 price tag!
Thank you for the great, yearly shot show coverage!
For me, this was probably the most disappointing year since the current revolver renaissance began. However, there are some gems here. I still believe that the market needs more reliable, affordable (by modern revolver standards), lightweight, compact (D or K frame sized), six shot .38 Special revolvers. We keep getting niche offerings, but this obvious area remains overlooked by the big three. I’m glad to see Diamondback firearms bring a new offering to this segment with the SDR-A. I’ll be very interested to see if this turns out to be a quality product.
The new Pietta Python clone is a very pleasant surprise. I really love the old I frame Colt revolvers, and this has the potential to be a home run. In addition to a new offering, new parts for these old revolvers would be a wonderful sight to see. I hope that we will see a Revolver Guy review of this one as well.
The state of the speedloader market is abysmal. I’m really glad to hear that HKS has plans to expand their product line. I sure wish that someone would come along and produce a wider variety of quality push-style loaders. I echo the idea that speedloaders should be treated like magazines are for semi autos. One or two speedloaders being packaged with a new defensive revolver sure would be nice.
Factory revolver ammo has been seriously lacking in recent years. I still can’t believe Federal discontinued their classic SJHP options. The Remington SJHP loadings are great, and I hope the 158 grain .357 version becomes more readily available. With new defensive revolvers being made in larger frame sizes, there is a place in the market for full power .38 Special +P loadings. A 158 grain HST humming along at 900 FPS, from a four inch tube, would be fantastic. A modern FBI load with something like Federal’s syntech coating could be a good option as well.
My biggest disappointment has been with Ruger. They have sit on the sidelines while other companies have rolled out the new offerings. There is a huge gap in their lineup between the LCR/SP101 and the GP100. That could be addressed with a slightly larger six shot .38 LCR, the same treatment for the SP, or a new Six Series lineup. Any of those would be a godsend to revolver fans.
I love these yearly shot show debriefs and I hope the tradition continues. I’m also really looking forward to another great year of Revolver Guy content.
William, we see eye-to-eye on the gaps in the gun catalogs, and all I can say is there’s a group of folks doing their best to change that. We certainly do need more mid-frame options, to include some lightweights. A revised Six-Series from Ruger makes all kinds of sense, as does a +P-rated Airweight K and true (aluminum frame) Cobra. Hopefully we will get them.
My experience with Diamondback has been positive so far, and I expect the SDR-A will be a quality product. Standby for more details on this company and their move into revolvers.
The speedloader market is slow. Manufacturers can’t seem to design and produce new loaders very quickly, and honestly, there’s little incentive to do otherwise. Although we die-hards view them as essential equipment, most revolver shooters simply don’t buy or use them, so there’s little reason for a company to shell out the money needed to develop them. I don’t like it, but it’s true. My conversation with HKS was encouraging though, and I hope they will continue to develop the ideas they’re working on.
Regarding .38 Special ammo, the cartridge doesn’t have a lot of energy for engineers to work with, so designs like the HST are off the table because the physics don’t work. However, the Hydra-Shok Deep in .38 Special is a real performer, as the bullet design works very well with the available energy. I don’t think you’re likely to find a better load for small guns.
The older cup-and-core JHP designs, like the Remingtons you mentioned, need some velocity to do good work, and are better left to the bigger guns with longer barrels. The Federal 158 grain LSWCHP is still available in the Train & Protect line as a standard pressure load (Part # TP38VHP1), producing an advertised 830 fps from a 4″ test barrel–that’s pretty close to the old +P spec, I think. Not enough to make much diference. I’d still prefer the Hydra Shok Deep, from any barrel length.
I don’t think I’ve seen any mention of it on this blog, but 5 Star Firearms has released new push-release versions of their speed loaders. The DC Series.
I have yet to try any myself, as I am quite satisfied with my existing knob-style 5 Star loaders. I think they’re worth looking into though. The primary reason I prefer 5 Star over HKS is that their loaders, in my experience, are a lot more tolerant of different grips than the round body of HKS loaders.
No offense to HKS. They make affordable, quality speed loaders; their round body just doesn’t always play well with grips.
I’ve played with one of those DC loaders a little, and was underwhelmed. I much prefer their standard versions, which are excellent (even if the knobs turn the wrong way–Ha!). The 5-Stars, being made of aluminum, can be made with thinner walls than the HKS and they definitely fit past most factory grips better. The grip makers need to do better!
Hey there Mike – thanks for the write up! I’m a long time reader of the blog and a revolver guy. The way I explained it to my friend is that whereas semis rely on the ammunition to cycle, revolvers rely on the trigger finger; I trust my finger more than any ammo.
Like William I was also disappointed to see nothing new from Ruger. I’ve been a collector of J frames for a while, but between screws coming loose while shooting and the ejector rod loosening enough to lock the gun up, I could see shortcomings to the design. The Ruger SP101 seems to solve all of the shortcomings of the J frame – no screws (save for the grip and a tiny one for the cylinder push release) no side plate – and a far stronger lockup into the frame.
My personal holy grail revolver would be an SP101 no larger than a J frame, chambered in 38 special. It could be called the DC101 (deep concealment) or the BUG101, to give Ruger some ideas.
Thanks again!
When the SP101 first came out, I think in the early 80s, it was a .38 Special. A few years later, they were made in .357, but were marked on the barrel for 110-grain only. (My guess is they reamed out the .38 Special cylinders to take .357s, but the cylinders were too short to take .357 cartridges with longer OALs.) After they’d been on the market about five years or so, they finally were made compatible with all .357 loads.
Like you, I’d like to see a J-frame sized SP101. I’d also like a K-frame size, 6-shot version; call it a “New Security-Six.” In my opinion, the perfect concealed carry revolver is a fixed-sight, stainless steel .357 with a 3-inch barrel, and in the 80s almost every gun-carrying Federal agency (FBI, DEA, Marshals, the old INS) agreed with me and issued 3-inch K-frames or Rugers. I wish those guns were still made today. (In deference to my present decrepit frame, maybe a few lightweight versions of those guns would be in order too. The best thing you can say about getting old is it still beats the hell out of the alternative.)
If memory serves (the web this AM does not), the first “pocket rocket” conversions of the SP101 involved Mas Ayoob, and he essentially pestered Bill Ruger until the “110 Only” and, finally, the full monte .357 went into production.
Another notable conversion written up by Mas is the Travis Strahan the M10 (or M13) Smith 2″ chopped and channeled .357. And Rich Devoid would, and may still, ream the chambers of suitable K frame Smiths to .357.
I have one of those, and the result is a revolver that will, on occasion, put 5 into a ragged hole at 10 yards DA–with a 6th flier –but 3″ or more low and right. It also beats hell out of your firing hand. Perhaps I grow old.
Roundabout way of saying that steel may be the way to go with that perfect carry revolver, unless you keep it a .38. The mind recoils, pun intended, at a .357 lightweight.
Lobo, that’s how I remember it too–Rick Devoid did the reaming on Mas’ gun, and Mas showed it to Bill Sr. and convinced him to build it. I think Mas was able to fit 125/357 in his altered gun.
So, I went looking and found this explanation from Mas:
“The .357 Magnum proved to be the natural caliber for the SP. Rick Devoid rechambered one for me, and we con-firmed the gun was amply strong for the Magnum round and its cylinder just the right length for the 125-grain JHP, the best .357 combat load. One day over a meal, I was able to convince Bill Ruger, Sr. one on one to offer it in that caliber.(See “Ruger & His Guns” by R.L. Wilson, Simon & Schuster P.193.)
To stay with the .38-size cylinder window, it would need short cartridges, so the first SP101 .357s were stamped on the barrel “125 grain.” Sales immediately took off, and Bill decided it would be worth the six figures of re-tooling to extend frame and cylinder a 1/10″ or so to allow all factory .357 Mag rounds. Turns out it was worth the effort — .357 has been the SP101’s best selling caliber ever since.”
Thank you. I didn’t know about Ayoob’s involvement. I remember seeing the 110-grain-only .357s but I never heard any of the backstory. I never had an opportunity to compare the cylinders on the three models, so my conjecture about reaming out a .38 Special cylinder made the most sense to me. (Remember, I didn’t say that’s what happened; I only said I guessed that.)
Now that you mention it, I also recall reading Ayoob’s article about the .38-to-.357 K-frame conversions.
And I agree about lightweight .357s. Massad Ayoob (again; he’s everywhere!) once wrote an article where he stated that S&W employees referred to the Scandium framed .357 J-frames as “torture devices.”
WOW – My gun ‘sugar’ meter has spun into the ozone! Thank you for the detailed report from the show. Hopefully you had real comfy shoes.
The Blacktooth project got my interest. As one who has worked on more old Colt I and E frames than I care to remember, finding replacement parts became more of a problem than the effort was worth. If compatible replacement parts were made available, that would breath new life into the old (as in archaic) lockwork of the old Troopers, Pythons, Official Police, etc, and keep them going.
Colt introducing more ‘street friendly’ versions is a positive move forward. If I’m reading the tea leaves correctly, Colt is positioning itself to give S&W a real headache. S&W has long needed a wake-up call.
I suspect Ruger is focused on repurposing the Anderson Manufacturing facility to make their AR platform rifles as well as foraging into the SBR market.
The 3″ Heritage Roscoe was first shown in April last year at the NRA meeting. It looks well done, like the 2″ version (a rehashed Taurus 85), but definitely not a pocket gun.
The Nightguard revolvers would make good holster guns for daily carry. The .357 would more than likely be best served with a good .38 Special load, but it’s nice to be able to use the fire breather if needed – or wanted.
Lubriplate – that’s been around forever, and I first saw it in the late 1960s with the M14s. I still use it on my M14, FAL, and lubricating the internal lockwork on revolvers. Lubriplate and LSA (MIL-L-46000B) – great stuff !!
Ruger was indeed busy with the Anderson rifles (reintroduced as the Ruger “Harrier” line). They were also very active with the RXM pistols, the Gen II American Rifles, and the reintroduction of the Red Label shotguns.
No love for RevolverGuys, though.
Flavor of the month . . . when that market saturates, things will slow down. It’s a tortoise and hare game – with the revolver being the tortoise.
Is it just me, or does the finish on the new “blued” Anaconda look more like case-hardening?
It’s just the photo. You’re seeing fingerprint oil all over the gun. When it’s clean, and hasn’t been pawed by an army of shooters looking to shoot OPA (other people’s ammo), it’s an even, blackish blue. Quite attractive.
Thank you.
OPA is the best kind of ammo to shoot.
Amen
No mention of the Daewoo STRV9 revolver?
Refer to the intro paragraph! 😁
A positive comment about Smith and Wesson: their Night Guard’s yoke-to-frame ball detent lock seems like a nice setup. Now if they could only provide some decent quality control…
Yes sir Mike, another high-quality Shot Show summary. Very much appreciated for us armchair revolver guys. Very informative, thank you.
Hey, that SR1 38 Special, it looks to have some very radical sites with the triangle looking front sight and the cock-eyed rear. Anything further to add about those? Very different sight alignment.
I have considered adding a North American Arms 22 Mag Pug in the past, but I didn’t care for the pin/removable cylinder setup, however, a swing out cylinder, now that’s different.
Glenn, I’ve got no insight (pun intended) to offer on those. To me, they look like a variant of the old Steyr M pistol sights, which were regarded as odd, but fast to acquire.
Dealers are enabling the poor QC of manufacturers when they put obviously defective products out on the sales shelf, instead of returning them.
I’m thinking of two different examples of a certain premium revolver, at two different local shops. The first gun’s hammer was binding up badly when cocked, the other gun’s cylinder defied the efforts of staff to open it, including their gunsmith!
You read that right: a brand new revolver that you cannot check empty, out on the sales shelf…Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!
Truly UNSAT!
Props to HKS for working on speedloaders for new revolver models. Would like to see a model specifically designed for the Diamondback SDR. Their DS model works, but not well enough to keep me from ordering a few K6 (Kimber) from Speedbeez .
Those sights on the SR-1 are something out of the Predator movies. Quite neat looking, I must say.
Mike,
Thanks for all the recon and for reporting on what you saw. Kudos to Lipsey’s for waving the revolver guidon like they do. I am hopeful that S&W will endeavor to persevere on the Night Guards. Golf clap on the sights on those guns, also on the Mountain Gun-esque cylinder treatment. I hope they run… I also hope they see fit to build that elusive K frame Airweight. Thanks to Colt for bringing the night Cobra back, fingers crossed for the light weight!
Amen, brother! We need a real Cobra. I’m working on it!
Once again a great report on Shot Show and all things new.
I think most everyone who reads RG and thousands of others who purchase firearms, ammo and accessories are applauding your call for a return to higher product quality in the industry.
Bring back pride in their products.
Don’t see 3 inch K frame holsters in Galco’s new Revenger line, maybe it has to be ordered via custom order.
Thank you Mike for your past, present and ongoing contributions to the gun world.
Especially for those old fashioned things called revolvers.
Tony
Wow, a pretty ponyless Pietta python! I too find this exciting. I did have a chance (finally) to handle a diamondback revolver at my local, it was nice but not approved for agency carry so I’ll let someone else enjoy it. Haven’t yet found any Lubriplate products around. I’ll keep my eyes peeled. Thank you for the write up.
Copying the internals of an original Colt DA is foolish. I’ve worked on them for 5 decades and though they can be repaired they have a basically weak mechanical design. The diamond that controls the bolt stop wears quickly and is easy to mess up during fitting. Crazy.
The SAA action has its own flaws, but the Italians were never deterred and have made a good business of building them. Extra points for determination and courage! 😁
Agreed 🎯
I said Colt DA Mike
I know you did, but my point was that the Italians have had good success with another tricky Colt design, so I have little concern they could do the same with the old Python. I think they can pull it off, based on their success with the SAA. Fingers crossed!
Wow! This has me in dreamland!
Deep and wide rear blade! Hook me up S&W! In a variety of sizes for the revolvers you sold me with poorly regulated sights.
Night Guard! Must have! Once I get my paycheck for being S&W QC. Still waiting…
S&W square top XS sight! Awesome! Make me one for my UC and M&P. Only caveat is that it has to hit POA. Give me functional options and I will buy!
Cimarron, love it! But did you debur it? Every time I deep clean my Cimarron 1873 Custer (my great to the forth uncle, Thomas N. Way, died with Custer) I get slashed worse than shaving with a dull straight razor. That thing is sharply ragged! Only my 1860 Colt (Cimarron) is worse, that thing is awful! Unfortunately I’m a shooter, not looking for display pieces.
Colt! Did you finally make a smoothly rounded trigger for us? Cleaning the blood off my Python is tiring. If yes, please, I will take two!
NAA I’m totally in on the Pug! Ridiculous? I know. But I’m in.
Spohr, I want every one. No, really, I do! I just need the money… OK, I have the money. Just need hands without a tremor. Old is hard.
Jim
Mike,
Thanks for wearing out the shoe leather needed to find the classy needles in the tactical haystack.
“It’s great for a company to have a good return policy or warranty, but it’s even better if your customer doesn’t have to use it.”
Truer Words Never Spoken.
Great wrap-up Mike! In the old country at the moment, but very much look forward to our next face-to-face brother. 😉
Safe travels, my friend!
Great report Mike. I have to say several offerings have peaked my interest.
Since I’ve joined the ranks of the empty nesters, I’ve been trying to do my part to keep gun (and accessories) sales up. I’ve been trying to decide what would be my next purchase. I’ve been going back and forth between the 610 Mountain Gun, 66 Combat Magnum 2.75” and the 19 Carry Comps. Now that the Night Guards are back, they are in the lead. Now the problem is which one do I buy first. Maybe the 396 since I’m already seeing a few show up on Gunbroker. It would make a great replacement for 696 I stupidly sold several years ago.
The Diamondback revolvers definitely have peaked my interest. I liked shooting them at RevFest. I’ll probably buy one eventually. The SDR-A will definitely be a consideration. I like that they closed up the lint/dirt collection slot. I prefer DAO in defensive revolvers anyway.
I’ve thought about buying a NAA Pug but only in a .22 Magnum. We call them “get off me” guns. I usually carry two guns, why not three. Remember 2 is 1 and 1 is none, so 3 has to be better LOL.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks Mark. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Diamondback and think they’re going to outpace some competitors once more people get a chance to shoot them. They’re doing lots of things right. I’m not personally a fan of the humpback, and wish it would have been a Centennial-style frame, but the build quality on the one I shot seemed very good. I think they’ll sell well.
I agree the Centennial-style frame looks a lot better. I don’t understand why they chose the humpback shape, since the hammer is enclosed.
Mike, thanks for the detailed summary of the Shot Show. Your photos were exceptionally clear! I especially appreciate the info regarding the NRA LEO discount.
It’s surprising how many choices we have today: various calibers, gun makers, ammunition types, etc… not to mention the freedoms that most states afford their citizens. At last count 29 of our 50 states (53 states if you follow the “community organizer” from Chicago.). When I began my career in law enforcement there was very little choice: here’s your firearm, here’s your ammo- which you MUST use in your service and off-duty revolvers.
Revolver Guys are quite fortunate to have so many options available and we thank you for presenting us many of those opportunities.
BTW, I never knew that OPA had another meaning other than Grandpa!
Glad you enjoyed it! We’re fortunate indeed, to have such a variety of wares on the market. I just wish I had access to all of them–living in a restricted state is no fun. Gotta fix that.
We love both types of O-P-A, don’t we? 😁