WSJ article on Cobra derringers

[p..]

I realize it's behind a paywall. Short version is they ran a story today about derringers lighting off if loaded then dropped, and did include a little bit of info about how current carry handgun designs are safe, but unless you already know the subject, you might come away from reading the article with the idea that all small guns are unsafe.

The article strikes me as if they're basically trying to draw attention to Cobra specifically, and get the design pulled from the market, or support federal "drop safe" legislation. I'm a little weak on the current regulations for this (I think it's up to the individual states, correct?) so pardon if I'm stating this wrong.

Small, Cheap Guns Are Back, and Some Question Their Safety

 

[Dennis in MA]

AnnoyingSkiInstructorVoice: "If you're gonna carry a derringer as your only gun, you're gonna have a bad time."

 

[tuna]

I bought a Davis years ago, then put some .22mag barrels from Cobra on it a few years later.

If carried with the hammer down, I can see an accidental discharge.

The trigger is horrendous, I think it’s a 45# pull. And the safety is pretty positive. You’ve got to be a professional idiot to screw this gun up.

I can hit a dinner plate at 10 feet with mine. It’s my gun to carry when I can’t or don’t want to carry.

I wouldn’t charge the taliban with it, but I wouldn’t want to be hit by it, either. Good enough for what it is.

 

[Palladin]

Davis, Jennings, Cobra all the same crap. anyone who carries one with a round in the chamber is a moron. IMHO, the article is using the term derringer, but most likely, is including the single action autos as well. The derringer manual advises to carry in the half cock position with the safety engaged

 

[DONALDG-HOG]

These guns have a hammer block safety. I can't imagine mine going off based on a drop. Likely that the moron responsible for negligent discharge carried with the hammer resting on the firing pin without engaging the safety.

 

[Reptile]

Larry Stankiewicz, a 62-year-old retiree and former military policeman, was shot in the stomach in September after his dog knocked over a pair of pants that had his Cobra derringer in the pocket. As he convalesced in his rural Michigan home, Mr. Stankiewicz scoured the internet for more information. When he found the owner’s manual online with its pages of warnings, he was astonished, he said.

“I thought, ‘Why is this gun on the market?’”

-----
If all else fails, read the manual!!!

 

[LittleCalm]

Article starts off by implying that guns go off by themselves. It was pretty comical. Usually WSJ does a decent job but I didn’t think this article was all that good. The comments were pretty much focused on the fact that these people don’t read safety manuals.

 

[W.E.C]

Larry Stankiewicz, a 62-year-old retiree and former military policeman, was shot in the stomach in September after his dog knocked over a pair of pants that had his Cobra derringer in the pocket. As he convalesced in his rural Michigan home, Mr. Stankiewicz scoured the internet for more information. When he found the owner’s manual online with its pages of warnings, he was astonished, he said.

“I thought, ‘Why is this gun on the market?’”

-----
If all else fails, read the manual!!!

Yes, in today’s litigious country, it probably had lead poisoning warnings if you eat the bullets.

 

[Dennis in MA]

Article starts off by implying that guns go off by themselves. It was pretty comical. Usually WSJ does a decent job but I didn’t think this article was all that good. The comments were pretty much focused on the fact that these people don’t read safety manuals.

The WSJ is very economically right-wing. As they should. There are theories and there are facts. Liberal economists don't quite understand that. But social issues. . . . the WSJ can run either way. They've had a history of being wishy-washy on gun control. I applaud their ability to not align themselves 100% with any person or party. They have a right to think on their own. They are WRONG on this issue, but they have that right. . And I can happily align myself with them about 85% of the time. And respectfully disagree the other 15%.

Next we'll find out that Colt SAA's have the same problem. Have a round under the hammer, there is no safety to stop it from firing when dropped. Go figure! A spur-trigger derringer doesn't have a hammer block safety???? REALLY!!??!?!?!?!?!? Sounds like the guy in the article needs one of those guns that you need to say a special 15-syllable password in order to get it to fire.

 

[p..]

The WSJ <...> And I can happily align myself with them about 85% of the time. And respectfully disagree the other 15%.

It's the only newspaper I can stand to read on a regular basis. I get it delivered, and read it every morning. The stories usually seem to me like fact based news, rather than propaganda. I was a little surprised by that one.

 

[FiremanBob]

It's the only newspaper I can stand to read on a regular basis. I get it delivered, and read it every morning. The stories usually seem to me like fact based news, rather than propaganda. I was a little surprised by that one.

Much of WSJ's seeming objectivity comes from its writing style. It's similar to NPR in that way. You have to read carefully to see through the propaganda.

The best propaganda has that attribute.

 

[M125X]

It's the only newspaper I can stand to read on a regular basis. I get it delivered, and read it every morning. The stories usually seem to me like fact based news, rather than propaganda. I was a little surprised by that one.

Only one I’m subscribed to as well. Great paper. Well worth the $$$

 

[p..]

Much of WSJ's seeming objectivity comes from its writing style. It's similar to NPR in that way. You have to read carefully to see through the propaganda.

The best propaganda has that attribute.

If NPR used to be good at it, they've lost their fine touch and have started swinging a sledgehammer. I used to enjoy listening to podcasts like This American Life, but the interviewers now strike me as openly disrespectful or disparaging to ideas that aren't left leaning, and lean a little too hard (which is to say at all) on tear jerky music to emphasize when the listener should be sad. Not very good propaganda unless you're preaching to your choir.

 

[Dennis in MA]

Much of WSJ's seeming objectivity comes from its writing style. It's similar to NPR in that way. You have to read carefully to see through the propaganda.

The best propaganda has that attribute.

Hmmmm. Despite protests here and elsewhere for years that they were unbiasedf, I never was UNable to see through NPR's hidden bias. Had a client a few months ago talk about how unbiased the PBS News Hour is. I watched it. It's hard to spot. They use the same MO as NPR - "if we talk in a monotone, it can't be construed as biased." Grab your stopwatch and check. They are totally biased. It's the same whiny feels crap that MSNBC spews, but without the whiny feels voice.

But the WSJ biased??? Hmmmmmmmmmm. They are economic conservatives, bordering on economic libertarians. And history and simple economics shows that's actually the economic RIGHT place to be. (People can wax eloquently about Socialism, but it doesn't work. Period. Ever. EVER EVER!) Their bias isn't usually a problem. They don't like Trump. They didn't like Obama. Nothing against the political party of each. They don't like the MEN. I appreciate that about them.

PLUS, they keep about 99% of their OPINION on the Op/Ed pages. Unlike Bloomyburp's "news" it isn't filled with how the author FEELS about the story. Occasionally an author's bias will come through, but the editors at WSJ work hard to eliminate that. Last newspaper in the country to do so.

 

[rwl1955]

Only one I’m subscribed to as well. Great paper. Well worth the $$$

Me Too! The Globe just banned me so f*** them!

 

[seanc]

Hmmmm. Despite protests here and elsewhere for years that they were unbiasedf, I never was UNable to see through NPR's hidden bias.

But the WSJ biased??? Hmmmmmmmmmm.

I don’t understand how anybody could NOT see that National Politburo Radio is Not a radically leftist organ.
I can help but scream at the radio.. even the game shows.. and WSJ is like print version of chamber of commerce radio.. not as blatantly left. But still pretty leftist.

And on the derringer the hammer block IS the safety. On my Davis, it was the only safety. The 90lb trigger does not count.

A negligent discharge as a result of failure to RTFM.

 

[DarrenL]

I would like to take this opportunity to point out that my cobra derringer is a pos that only fires out of 1 barrel, has a trigger pull that Superman would complain about, and is the same size as a 6 shot 380. I bought it for a song and still got ripped off.

Also, are we sure it’s the dogs fault?