In January 2012, History’s Modern Marvels aired “Tiny Weapons,” an episode on weapons small enough to fit in a pocket, from police backup pistols to compact submachine guns. When the producers needed hands-on footage of the North American Arms Mini Revolver, they came to Gun Websites.
The footage came from a Gun Websites video recorded in 2011, “NAA vs. Freedom Arms.” In the episode, the Mini Revolver is shown in hand and then taken apart on camera, cylinder out, pin and all. Gun Websites is credited in the episode’s end credits under Stock Footage, and the credit is now listed on IMDb.
The Episode
- Show: Modern Marvels, History
- Episode: “Tiny Weapons”
- Original air date: January 16, 2012
- Gun Websites credit: Stock Footage
- Where to see it: North American Arms Mini Revolver segment, about 11 minutes in; Gun Websites in the end credits
“Tiny Weapons” made the case that small does not mean harmless. A gun that disappears in a pocket or a palm is a serious tool, and the North American Arms Mini Revolver is one of the best-known examples. It is a five-shot, stainless steel, single-action revolver chambered in .22 Long Rifle or .22 Magnum.
The Takedown History Used
The shots that made the episode are the hands-on ones. A Mini Revolver has no swing-out cylinder. To load or unload it, the cylinder pin comes out the front and the whole cylinder drops free. That simple, slightly old-fashioned takedown is exactly what the camera caught.
From the Original Video
The 2011 video compares North American Arms mini revolvers with the Freedom Arms minis that came before them, side by side in both calibers. A few lines from it hold up well:
“From a few feet away, most people are going to think they’re the same revolver.”
“North American Arms are definitely a stronger little revolver. This one I suspect was designed to be kind of a novelty, where this one is really designed with use in mind.”
The video also covers the belt buckle holsters both makers offer. The buckle holds the revolver until it is released into the hand. Freedom Arms models use a stud on the side of the frame for theirs.
Watch the full video below. It is the same footage History licensed for “Tiny Weapons.”
On the Record
Gun Websites has been building gun content online since 2004. Being asked to contribute to a national History broadcast was a milestone for the channel. Now the Gun Websites credit on IMDb makes it a permanent part of the record for the network, the channel and everyone who has worked on its videos.
More press, broadcast and media credits are collected on the As Seen On page. For more on mini revolvers, visit Revolver Buyers Guide.com, part of the Gun Websites Firearms Network.
The guys and gals at Gun Websites.com encourage you to take a CCW class every year, practice at least once a month and carry every day.