Recently Clark asked me to review a pair of Mitchell Arms single action revolvers in .45 long colt for carryconcealed.net. I bought this pair of "Bat Masterson" specials in 1991 right after I returned from the Gulf War. They caught my eye in a local gun shop in Las Vegas Nevada. The "Bat Masterson" Special configuration means they are nickel plated with walnut grips and a 4 ½ inch barrel. This was supposed to be the design specifications that Bat Masterson sent to Colt back in his wild west marshalling days.

The pair I bought have consecutive serial numbers so I've placed them in the category of family heirlooms. That means I shoot them only rarely and some day when I'm gone my three daughters can fight for them. So much for the history of the guns let's get to the performance review.

I personally like the look and feel of the old west "Peacemaker" style of handgun.

I'm a big guy and these .45 caliber single actions fit well in my hand. I find the weapon easy to aim with a simple point and shoot style. These two guns are as accurate as any single actions I've ever fired. With a two-hand grip in a weaver or isosceles stance, they consistently place 6 rounds inside the 9-10 ring from 15-20 yards.

Since they fit the hand and are so well balanced, you can move into 10-15 yards and fire one in each hand. When firing both in rapid succession, alternating left, right, left, you give up a little accuracy but still are able to place the 12 shots inside the kill zone on a man-size target. The reason is simple. The old "peacemakers" fit your hand so well, aiming them is as simple as pointing your finger.

I'm a .45 caliber kind of guy. I own two 1911s and a lever action rifle in .45 long colt. Some people may prefer a smaller caliber and the single actions come in a variety of calibers. My daughter shoots a .22 colt and loves it to death. In my opinion, a single action revolver is a great weapon for target shooting, basic plinking and yes even personal/home defense. My father carries his Ruger single action in his car on cross-country trips.

My wife and three daughters have fired these guns and can handle the recoil just fine. They won't tell you that they enjoy putting 50 or more rounds through them. But they can hit what they aim at and no how to handle them. As for safety, a single action is just about the safest handgun you can have. For someone who is new to guns and perhaps a little intimidated, they're great. They are almost bomb proof. The weapon is not going to fire unless you pull the hammer back and pull the trigger. My overall rating would have to be 10 out of 10 for fun and home defense.

Please look for future articles from Sgt. Striker on womens self defense comming soon.