I first saw the Roscoe revolver while visiting the Heritage Manufacturing booth at the 47th annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show). I'm pretty sure it was the giant, grainy, black-and-white photograph on the exhibit wall that drew me into the display of revolvers with deep, glossy frames and numerous grip varieties. As I excitedly began handling the Roscoes, I couldn't help but say to myself, "I knew the dame was trouble the minute she walked into my office," as I pictured the smoke swirling in the air from a half-smoked cigarette around an ashtray filled with cigarette butts; meanwhile, a femme fatale stands in the doorway. I knew immediately this was a firearm I wanted to write about and research its history.
The Roscoe is Heritage Manufacturing's tribute to those who fought crime in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Detectives, police officers and private eyes in movies all carried revolvers, either on their hips or tucked neatly into shoulder holsters under their jackets. Picture Film Noir, those movies from the ’40s and ’50s, enhanced by dark shadows, silhouettes and foggy backgrounds. That is what the Heritage Roscoe evokes in my mind.
Through online research, I discovered that the name Roscoe is an old slang term commonly used in the early to mid-20th century to refer to a pistol or revolver. I tried, but with no luck, to find out where the term originated; however, no sources provided a definite answer. According to some, the term first appeared in cheap dime-store books and movies from the late ’40s. My favorite example of someone using the word “Roscoe” for a firearm came from the “Andy Griffith Show.” Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife notices a boy looking at his revolver and says, "Oh, you're interested in the old Roscoe, huh? Roscoe, revolver, that's what the civilians call it. We refer to it as a Roscoe, heater or an old persuader."
Available in a two-inch or three-inch barrel, the Roscoe is considered a snub-nosed revolver. (Although some die-hards on firearm forums say the barrel must be less than three inches to qualify.) A short barrel is ideal for concealment, fast draws and close-quarters shooting (from retention). Again, picture the private eye in the movie quickly drawing a revolver from his shoulder holster beneath his raincoat and pointing it right at the chest of the gangster standing only three feet away from him.
Getting to Know My Roscoe
When my Roscoe arrived and I unboxed it, the first thing I wanted to do, just like with any other firearm, was to do a little dry fire and get a feel for it in my hands. I opened the cylinder and covered it with my SafeSnap training disc. Although dryfiring a revolver is safe, using a SafeSnap absorbs the kinetic energy, in turn, protecting the metal.
While on the topic of dryfiring, Mike Barham, media and PR manager at Galco Holster, shared the following with me when I asked him for tips on revolver shooting, "Because proper trigger control is required to make hits on target, it's absolutely critical that the revolver user masters the DA [double action] pull on a revolver." That meant I needed to spend some time dry firing and getting used to the long, heavy trigger press of the revolver.
Mike also said, "Revolvers are a viable option for self-defense, especially close-range encounters." When the person defending herself needs to make a contact shot against an attacker, she can keep pressing the trigger, and the gun will continue firing, unlike with a semi-automatic, where it most likely will go out of battery.
Making it Mine
Although the Roscoe arrived with nice looking, classic checkered-wood grips, I always enjoy adding a little personalization. The Taurus website offers numerous small frame, classic grip styles to choose from, and my eyes (and heart) were drawn right to the pearl version. At just $29.95, the cost seemed like a pittance in order to switch out the grips and personalize this gun more.
Installation of the new grips was simple; once I unscrewed and removed the original grips, I simply inserted the stud that came with the new set into the grip holes while on the frame (for stabilization) and then screwed them in place using the screw provided in the packaging. I LOVE the new look of the Roscoe with the pearl grips. Stylish, classy and perfect for any "dame" who wants to look chic while carrying her revolver. Changing out the grips is also a great way to make a set of his-and-her revolvers. Hmmm, that might be a great gift idea for a couple that shoots together and enjoys nostalgic guns.
If I decide to carry the Roscoe, I plan on spending a lot of time dry firing as well as practicing loading, unloading and reloading. (On a side note, every time I handle the Roscoe, I start talking like a detective with a weird curl to my lip.) I also have two holsters; one is outside the waistband, and the other is a shoulder rig. I've carried on my hip for a long time now, but a shoulder holster is definitely something different. That's going to take some practice in front of a mirror, for sure. Then, once I am confident on the range with my shot placement, I know this revolver will make a nice carry piece.
About the AuthorMichelle Cerino, aka Princess Gunslinger, is a firearms trainer, writer, hunter and adventuress. She entered the firearms industry in 2011 as a national training company's co-owner, president and trainer. At the same time, she began competing in both 3-Gun and NRA Action Pistol, becoming a sponsored shooter.
Currently, Michelle is the managing editor at “Women's Outdoor News” and the author of numerous posts on the site. As a firearms trainer, she works with Apex Shooting and Tactics, instructing the Faster Saves Lives program in northern Ohio. Michelle also manages the social media for FASTER Saves Lives and Vera Koo. You can find more of her writings at “Shooting News Weekly” and the NRA's “Shooting Sports USA.”
