Without further ado...
First of all, from the looks of this thing it would appear to be very gawky and awkward, and feel strange in the hand (at least compared to your garden variety Colt or Remington). Not. It's quite pleasant to hold and the grip fills the hand quite nicely. It's surprisingly well-balanced even with it's 8-inch barrel (from muzzle to forcing cone) and the round barrel is pleasingly tapered. Balance is very good as is weight. While "Duelist1954" (Mike Beliveau) complained about the very long, somewhat awkward hammer reach in his video, I experienced no such issues (though it is longer than a Colt or Remington). Lock-up is very positive due to the wedge shaped bolt and cylinder leades (which, if you noticed, there are 12 rather than 6...which give you a true safe lock-up between 6 loaded chambers...not that it ever stopped me). The coolest part of this gun, quite frankly, is the thumbscrew which upon removal allows you to break the action like a Smith & Wesson Schofield for cylinder removal; even if it does nothing to aid loading, (and it doesn't; don't kid yourself) it's still off-scale on a "cool factor". Trigger pull is very pleasant and crisp with a very short throw. The hammer face is flat with no crevices to snag caps and drop them into the action (also known as "cap-sucking")and if it did, there are no openings on the hammer/action for them to drop into. Some photos...
The basic action. Note the extra notches cut into the cylinder to add a safe locked position out of battery...
Hammer face & profile...
Front sight, dovetailed for windage adjustment...
Loading lever arrangement, very much like an early Colt setup (e.g. 1851 Navy)
Trigger position at full cock (note the short trigger throw in full cock position)
Loading lever appears plenty long for leverage...
...although the catch release pin is sharp and can snag on clothing or gunleather...
The stocks are nice, a one-piece affair, with a rounded butt and no bottom strap as on a Colt or Remington.
Here's the thumbscrew that holds it together...
...when removed, it allows it to break like a S&W Schofield...
...for easy cylinder removal.
The grip spur. Looks uncomfortable but in truth, feels just fine!
Of course, the proof is in the pudding. I won't know how this thing REALLY handles until I've shot it, but I have a feeling I won't be disappointed.
