Have you ever shot a North American Arms mini-revolver? Neither have I, but when I strolled past their booth the other day I saw something I frankly haven’t seen from their designs before: elegance. They call it “The Earl” . . .
Like all NAA mini-revolvers, the Earl is a single-action rimfire with a spur trigger and a hammer notch safety. Unlike most NAAs, the Earl has a sight radius that’s longer than a Bic lighter. It’s available in barrel lengths from 2.5″ to 6″, and it has a lovely wooden grip that you can actually hold with an average-sized hand.
Can you say “snake gun?” It only holds five shots, but with a loaded extra cylinder in your pocket you can do a Josey Wales-style speedload in less than ten seconds. Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms.
MSRP for this tiny Remington 1858 seedling is in the low $300s complete with .22lr and .22 Magnum cylinders. Street prices are as low as the $260s.
It looks like came straight from 1858.
Maybe it has a big brother named Remington.
I like it.
I’d but it as a novelty, but it looks fun.
I have an “Earl” with a 4″ barrel ( they are available with a 3″) I love this gun! I have the magnum and regular L.R. cylinders, but seldom use the magnum because of the price of ammo.
I shoot it mostly after I’m through with my precision rifle shooting, and want to have a little fun plinking at a tin can.
These are great little guns, don’t knock them till you have tried them!
NAA makes neat little, novelity revolvers, I would be lying if I said I didn’t think they were cool.
Looks like a cool little piece.
NAA makes pretty good mini-revolvers. I have carried one as my pocket pistol for over a decade. I started with a 22LR model, now I carry a NAA Pug in 22WMR. The leather pocket holster I have keeps it well concealed and holds an extra 5 rounds. Surprisingly accurate and 22 mag is a decent round for deep concealment.
Yup. Quality is good and they fit anywhere. I rarely carry mine but I used to carry it more often for a few years. Actually fits perfectly in a jeans 5th pocket with only the handle sticking out (I have the standard .22 lr one with like a 1 1/8″ bbl). It’s come swimming with me more than a few times in lakes and rivers haha. Maybe it’s time to actually do a review on TTAG here. Mine still sees the light of day enough that it hasn’t been lost under lint in my safe.
Looks like it would be a fun range toy. It’s so light I’ll bet it bucks in .22 mag. The only .22 mag I have is a Ruger Single Six. The Ruger is a full sized weapon and the mag is barely felt when it fires.
Aw yeah, dat UT pride. I live less than an hour from the mothership. Need to see if they give tours one of these days. 🙂
The Earl is elegant. I got mine back in 2008 or 2009. They have been around a while.
I got mine right when the 3″ barrel one came out. I love it! It’s a mini revolver I can actually shoot out to 50 yards and hit pie-plate sized objects.
that looks awesome! If 22 is ever cheap and availabl eagain I may buy it
Did NAA ever put their break top revolver into production?
They made a limited run. I saw one at my local gun shop. Close to $500, if I remember correctly. Production costs and the price, I believe, did them in.
500 bucks would be a bit steep for what most folks would consider a range toy. I like break tops. But for that kind of money I can shop around and get something more suitable to play with, like an H&R 999 or a Webley.
Yes. They made 500, sold them for $500 each, and decided they couldn’t make them for a price that anyone would pay. The original 500 are now collector’s items, and good luck finding one at any price remotely resembling reasonable. (I know, because I tried to talk a friend into selling me his. No luck.)
On the Earl’s “boot grips” you can buy a set of those ($35) that will fit your existing NAA mini-mag revolver. Replacing the bird’s head grips makes the short-barrel .22Mag a lot more shootable without a major increase in bulk. They also offer a “magnum grip” and many other styles under “accessories” on their web site (www.northamericanarms.com). Excellent quality stuff, and they stand behind their products.
I really like that. I wouldn’t mind owning one.
I have the 2″, (hey, size doesn’t matter).
It’s a fun little plinker. Fits in a pocket quite nicely.
Looks classy.
I own the Black Widow (2″) and Mini Master (4″) models. Top quality build and very accurate. Both have the large sights, adjustable on the MM. I carry the BW everyday as my backup gun.
I have yet to see a product from North American Arms that wasn’t worth having. I love each and everyone of them save the auto’s (since I can’t have them in CA and never got a chance to try one out). On CA’s Safety List NAA only shows two revolvers good for CA. Both 1 1/8″ barrels and one in 22LR and the other in 22 magnum. I have the magnum version but I put the oversize rubber grips on it to better control the gun during recoil. The grips don’t really take anything away from its concealability at all. Being the same grips as the Black Widow (except the markings) it’s more of a ball than a Large grip. Easy to hang onto and covers all of the metal surfaces. I have the very same shaped grip made of faux ivory, awaiting receipt of my next NAA, a 4″ barreled Earl. Now this gun is not on CA’s list, but is exempt being a single action with a barrel longer than 3.5 inches. I could also get the Earl Hogleg or their Black Widow time and money pending. I’m sticking with the magnum chambering since it’s an ok, in your face defensive weapon with ammo going about the same as 38 reloads. Also I’ve not had a problem finding 22 magnum (actually easier than 22LR to find). I’d also have given my eye teeth for a chance (even at $500.00 for their short run top breaks), but that darn CA list got in the way again. Wheelguns should not be subject to the provisions of the California Safety Requirements at all and should all be exempt. Smithy.
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