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Jennings 380

jojoashbyjojoashby Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
edited November 2010 in Ask the Experts
Anybody know anything about the Jennings 380. Local pawn shop has brand new one with extra clip for $100. I've been reading Jennings/Bryco? are cheaper models, and have a niche on lower caliber market.First hand gun purchase. Not looking to spend a whole lot first time out. Is this a reliable gun for that price, or should I steer clear?? Input would be appreciated...thanx.

Comments

  • jojoashbyjojoashby Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Can anyone tell me what this handgun may be worth. Its a jennings T380. It has very minor wear and use marks on it. Comes with two magazines. Gun wrenches and fires with easy. Thanks
  • Henry0ReillyHenry0Reilly Member Posts: 10,891 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Jennings handguns are made of cheap metal, are not considered reliable, and sold new for around $129 (in honest shops, I'm sure some retailers chargeed more).

    $50 is a fair price on a used one.

    Here's a similar gun on the auction right now with bid + shipping less than $50 total:

    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=197624615
    I used to recruit for the NRA until they sold us down the river (again!) in Heller v. DC. See my auctions (if any) under username henryreilly
  • Wolf.Wolf. Member Posts: 2,223 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Jennings guns belong to a class of guns that follow the pattern of generally being low end, low comparative cost and are usually a small, concealable, semi-auto, with its frame being cast from "pot-metal". Pot metal is a zinc-based alloy, with no standard as to what percentages of various metals are contained within the alloy. In fact the alloy content may vary significantly from batch to batch, sometimes being unknown, other than the alloy (hopefully) meeting some hardness testing prior to pouring the castings for the frame and slide. These guns are a good alternative for people without the means to purchase a better gun for self protection. As far as your gun is concrened, I don't believe it is worth the effort it will take you to sell it.

    These are low quality guns that are not meant to be fired repeatedly for targets or other sporting endeavors. They are strictly meant for up close, self protection and most of them will rarely see more than 50 rounds ever fired through them. Fire ten rounds through one, swab the slide rail area and you will see particles of the soft pot metal that have been shaved off. Reliability is not their strong point, but the guns offer at least something in the way of protection to those of limited means.

    These types of guns, the so called Saturday night special, were the first target of the anti gun lobby and were the first victims of the ensuing gun control legislation. The fees involved in purchasing such a low cost weapon jack up the purchase price to the point that many people of limited means cannot afford to buy even them. So, the people are criminalized by the system when they buy guns like this, or others, on the underground market. Unable to constitutionally prohibit ownership of guns, a corrupt government taxes and imposes fees on guns and ammuniiton purchases, hoping to jack the price up so high people cannot buy them and their manufacturers will fade away. For instance, if you legally sell your $50.00 gun in California, the buyer pays at least $38 in transfer fees and has to wait ten days to pick it up. $38 is 76% of the value (virtually doubles the cost) of the gun and in ten days, the potential buyer may have been vicitmized by those he sought to protect himself from.
  • andrewsw16andrewsw16 Member Posts: 10,728 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    As Wolf pointed out, these guns DO serve a niche in the firearms market. If that is all you can financially afford, it is better to have it than to just stand there cussing or begging for mercy at a home invader. I saw an article once that took the perspective that anti-Saturday Night Special laws were a roundabout method of racial discrimination. The logic was that the majority of the lower income buyers of these guns were minorities and that to deny these people the only affordable method they have for family defense was simply a way to disarm minorities. You wish everyone could afford a $1000 gun for defense, but economics are what they are. You get what you can afford. Learn to use it, clean it, and keep it ready. When you can, upgrade.
  • beantownshootahbeantownshootah Member Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The gun is worth between $40 and $100, depending on where you are located, and who you are selling to.

    To expand a little bit on what's already been said, Jennings guns are about the bottom of the barrel in terms of quality. They're made of inferior metal, they're not reliable, and parts breakage is not uncommon.

    To me the biggest drawback of these guns is that they are not drop-safe. In other words, in contrast to EVERY production gun made by the bigger name manufacturers (Smith and Wesson, Glock, etc) if you drop a Jennings pistol with a round in the chamber, it could go off (ie and kill you). That's NOT good.

    In my opinion, even for $50, there are better self-defense weapons out there.

    http://www.feelsafernow.com/telescopicstunbaton.htm

    http://www.pepperspraycenter.com/buy-pepper-spray/pepper-blaster-kimber-pepper-spray-gun-guardian-angel-p-326
  • rsnyder55rsnyder55 Member Posts: 2,526 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I bought a Jennings brand new thirty years ago as a novelty for $49.99 and as everyone has said they are pretty much the equivalent of a throwaway lighter.

    If you can afford just about anything else (with the exception of RG and the like), buy that.
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