In 1970, Jennings designed the inexpensive MP-25 pistol and founded Raven Arms,
which was also known as the original Ring of Fire company
A 1968 federal gun-control law prohibiting the importation of inexpensive handguns prompted Jennings to enter the firearms business.
In this photograph you could see the relative size of the Raven MP-25 when compare to small 'Candy Bar" type cell phone. Its ideal for deep concealment
Miami, Florida 31st May 2013: Before Jennings developed the MP-25, 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 approximately 2 million pistols. 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 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 son Bruce Jennings, George Jennings' ex-wife, and George Jennings' children; four of his daughter's children; and by Raven's former general manager.
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 . Some advocates of the gun claim that it is less prone to malfunction, despite its low cost.
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.
In shooting our newly acquired addition to the ES2 collection, we found that the MP-25, despite all its stories and labels as a "junk gun" shot well and when expending six magazines worth of .25acp ammunition (36 rounds), we experienced no jams or failure to feed. It should be noted that the MP-25 is a fixed barrel firearm and its size and weight makes one forgets that you have it on your person.
In November 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 son Bruce Jennings, George Jennings' ex-wife, and George Jennings' children; four of his daughter's children; and by Raven's former general manager.
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 . Some advocates of the gun claim that it is less prone to malfunction, despite its low cost.
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.
In shooting our newly acquired addition to the ES2 collection, we found that the MP-25, despite all its stories and labels as a "junk gun" shot well and when expending six magazines worth of .25acp ammunition (36 rounds), we experienced no jams or failure to feed. It should be noted that the MP-25 is a fixed barrel firearm and its size and weight makes one forgets that you have it on your person.
