A few years ago I was in need of prop gun for a 90 mile stagecoach reenactment I was participating in. At the time all I had were semi-autos. My nearby Cabela's was having a sale of used guns they had taken in on trade. I took the morning off work and arrived before the doors opened.
I was looking for either a revolver or a lever action rifle, but cheap was the name of the game. The first gun that peaked my interest was the dandy birds head grip revolver pictured below. My hands caressed its surfaces and I soon knew this was the gun I was going to buy.
I quickly learned why it was priced at just under $20, that's right, "20". The action was locked up. I could not pull the hammer to half or full cock, nothing appeared to function and it was very dirty. What the heck, how could I go wrong.
I purchased it without a second thought. Later that night I sprayed it down with Hoppes Elite gun cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes. Then I attempted to work the action and after a few frustrating minutes was able to disassemble the gun. That is when I found out that the barrel was clogged. I first thought rust, but the rest of the gun was in good condition. Then I saw some shinny spots and decided it was lead. I soaked the barrel with a lead remover product and eventually got the barrel clean. It had no rust.
This little revolver has a safety and someone failed to engage it when dry firing it. This peened over ever chamber to the point that a .22 cartridge could not be loaded. I took a small file and enlarged the chambers until a .22 would slide in easily.
My FIE Lil'Ranger now shoots like a champ. Providing tight groups at 25 feet while shooting one handed. I could not have been more happier with my $20 investment.
At the time I purchased this gun, I didn't know who FIE was. I later found out that it stood for "Firearms Import Export". They imported guns mostly from Europe. I have been told that this revolver was made by Tanfoglio of Italy. Not sure if this is true.
