Man, I try to maintain an open mind, and I hate to use the G word, but I'm gonna pull the Garbage card here.
I've just seen an ad in a gun magazine, for Rossi's new "lever action" rifle (or is it a handgun?). It is a hollywood style, cut-down version of the classic model 94, but with the buttstock cut down as well to just behind the pistol grip (with a steel butt piece no less).
Oldsters will remember this as the gun carried by Steve McQueen in Wanted, Dead or Alive. Youngsters will remember this as the gun carried by the femal first office in the one-season science fiction series called Firefly.
However you may remember it, I think it is utter garbage. Can't imagine how you would aim it, since the stock is so short that it won't fit in your shoulder, and the sights are so far forward that you can't hold it out and aim it like a handgun.
Maybe they are trying for a new group of customers, . . . shooters of great hollywood prop guns that are utter trash. If so, then they can probably sell those folks, for another $200 or so, a genuine carry holster for this thing, as worn by Steve McQueen. Wow, won't that be cool.
Mannyrock
Many go for the cool factor. I have a buddy that chops and adds this or that to different guns, they look mean but you can not hit the floor with them. The AR and AK pistols look neat till you shoot them. Some how I am not as good as any actor in Holly wood that can knock the eye out of a knat with these. i agree that the Mule leg, while looking good, is not practicle as either a hunting or defensive gun. But again people will buy stuff just for the cool factor.
I often thought a reproduction of the old volcanic pistol would be neat. A small framed lever in an actual pistol hockey stick look that shot 22LR, 32 S&W, or one of the short big bores like 44 Russian, 45 Schofield, or a Medium like 38S&W. I guess with a rachet system in the lever larger cases can be made like 45 Colt. The cost and availibility of ammo would kill the project except for 22LR. After all the Henry rifle, of the civil war fame, was made from the volcanic pistol.
