Description
The North American Arms The Earl 6 Inch is a miniature, 22 Magnum tribute to the 1860 era: a long octagon barrel, a faux loading lever and a stainless five-shot frame with wood grips. It shoots like an NAA mini and looks like a scaled-down cavalry revolver.
North American Arms The Earl 6 Inch Overview
NAA catalogs this model as NAA-1860-6 (UPC 744253002434). Distributor data lists a 6 inch barrel, about 9.75 inches overall, roughly 9.7 ounces, fixed sights and wood grips. The store title calls the grips rosewood. The look is the point here, but the long barrel also gives the most velocity of any small NAA revolver.
How The Earl Loads
The Earl works like other classic NAA minis. It is single action, so you cock the hammer for each shot. The lever under the barrel looks like a black-powder loading lever but actually releases the cylinder pin; you then remove the cylinder to load and unload, and reinstall it. Rest the hammer in a safety notch between chambers for carry, as the manual describes.
Six Inches of Classic Style
The long barrel gives a generous sight radius and tames the blast that makes pocket minis unpleasant to shoot. Accuracy is good for a gun this light, and the extra weight steadies the hold. It is still a tiny frame and grip, so expect to shoot it carefully rather than quickly.
Ammunition
The Earl 6 Inch is chambered only for 22 WMR (22 Magnum). Never fire 22 LR, 22 Short or 22 WRF in it. Magnum rimfire costs more per round than 22 LR and supply can be uneven, so buy a few boxes of the load you trust and test it in your revolver. Short barrels give up a lot of the velocity printed on the box, and loads designed for short barrels tend to expand more reliably than rifle-oriented ammunition.
Living With The Earl
Be realistic about what a tiny rimfire revolver does well. The Earl 6 Inch is loud for its size, flash is heavy in low light, and sights are minimal, so practical accuracy is measured in a few yards for most shooters. Rimfire ignition is less certain than centerfire, which is one more reason to test your carry ammunition. At almost ten inches long it is a belt-holster or display piece, not a pocket gun, and holsters for it are specialty items.
A Revolver With Character
Most buyers pick The Earl because it is fun: a conversation piece at the range, a handsome gift and a capable small-game revolver where legal. NAA also offers shorter Earls; the 6 inch version has the most dramatic proportions and the best velocity.
State Laws and Ownership
Pennsylvania buyers complete a standard handgun transfer with a PICS check at the receiving dealer, and carrying concealed outside your home or vehicle generally requires a License to Carry Firearms. Some states keep approved-handgun rosters (California and Massachusetts are the best-known examples) and may not allow the NAA The Earl 6 Inch; New York, New Jersey and several cities add permit steps of their own. Check your state and local rules before ordering, because we cannot transfer a handgun into a jurisdiction that prohibits it.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: North American Arms (Provo, Utah)
- Model: NAA-1860-6
- UPC: 744253002434
- Caliber: 22 WMR (22 Magnum)
- Capacity: 5 rounds
- Action: Single action
- Barrel: 6 in. octagon
- Overall length: about 9.75 in.
- Weight: about 9.7 oz (distributor data)
- Sights: fixed
- Grips: wood (store lists rosewood)
- Finish: stainless steel
Before You Buy
Federal law requires handgun buyers to be at least 21 years old when purchasing from a licensed dealer, and this NAA The Earl 6 Inch ships only to a valid FFL, where you will complete ATF Form 4473 and a background check before pickup. Inspect the revolver at transfer, read North American Arms’ owner’s manual before loading it, and confirm local carry rules before you put it in a pocket.
Who It Is For
The North American Arms The Earl 6 Inch is a great fit for western-style revolver fans, collectors and anyone looking for a memorable gift with real shooting ability.
Buy the North American Arms The Earl 6 Inch at MAG5 Firearms
MAG5 Firearms is a family-owned FFL in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Order the North American Arms The Earl 6 Inch online and ship it to your local FFL dealer, or browse our full selection of firearms for more revolvers. For factory details, visit North American Arms.
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