Raven Arms MP-25
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| Raven Arms MP-25 | |
|---|---|
| Image:MP25 1.jpg MP-25 with black finish | |
| Type | Semi-Automatic Pistol |
| Place of origin | Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | George Jennings |
| Manufacturer | Raven Arms |
| Produced | 1970–1991 |
| Number built | over 2 million |
| Variants | P-25 which is essentially the same |
| Specifications | |
| Caliber | .25 ACP |
| Action | Single Action blowback , striker fired |
| Feed system | 6 round magazine |
The Raven Arms MP-25 is a .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun developed by George Jennings in the late 1960s. In 1970, Jennings produced the inexpensive MP25 pistol and founded Raven Arms, which was also known as the original Ring of Fire company. Ironically, it was a 1968 federal gun-control law prohibiting the importation of inexpensive handguns that prompted Jennings to enter the gun business in the first place.
[edit] Background
Before Jennings developed the MP25, a friend who owned a small gun and pawn shop complained to Jennings, "I can't buy these guns any more, and I used to sell 500 of them a month." At the time, Jennings was running a machine shop that made parts for Southern California aerospace companies. Together, they cornered the market on small, inexpensive handguns, often called "junk guns" or "Saturday night specials." Raven Arms was born. Over the next 20 years, the company sold about 2 million guns. In parallel with this growth, gun-control advocates started pushing legislation in Washington, in state capitals and in city councils to ban inexpensive weapons.
In November of 1991, a fire destroyed the Raven Arms factory. Jennings retired and sold Raven Arms designs to Phoenix Arms. Phoenix was owned in equal shares by his ex-wife, Jennings' children; four of his daughter's children; and by Raven's former general manager. The mainstay of the new company is still the .25 Raven model. Phoenix also sells larger .25 and .22 pistols "designed for personal protection as well as sport and target shooting."
As detailed in a 1992 article by Wall Street Journal reporter Alix Freedman, from an interview with Bruce Jennings, Jennings calls himself "the leading expert in the world on Saturday Night Specials." Jennings rejects charges that his family's inexpensive guns play a greater role in crime than more expensive guns made by up-scale manufacturers. Bruce Jennings founded Bryco Arms in 1992. According to the ATF, George Jennings' son-in-law, Jim Davis, founded Davis Industries, and Lorcin Engineering was launched by Jim Waldorf, one of Bruce Jennings' old high school friends. These companies and several others also linked to Jennings are known in the trade as the "Ring of Fire."
[edit] MP-25 history
People have conflicting views on the City of Industry-made MP-25; some tout it as one of the best compact and inexpensive handguns ever produced, while others regard it as one of the worst handguns ever made — as it exemplifies the guns collectively known as a Saturday night specials, being both easily concealed and very affordable ($60-75 USD). Some advocates of the gun claim that it is less prone to malfunction, despite its low cost.
The MP-25 can hold six .25 ACP rounds in the magazine, plus one in the chamber, and is finished either in chrome or black. The grips can be either wood or imitation mother-of-pearl handles. There is a similar model called the Raven Arms P-25. Both have similar blowback and envelope designs and are essentially identical firearms. The Raven has two kinds of safeties: a push up safety and a sliding bar safety.
[edit] References
- Torelli, John (2006) "Raven Arms MP25 Pistol". Jersey Small Arms Gunsmithing website - accessed February 7, 2007
