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I just acquired a NIB Jennings JA-22 pistol. Purchased new in 1988 per the receipt in the box. (Not Bryco or Jiminez) I have read up on the history of these firearms and evolution of the companies. The reviews seem to be varied with some indicating them to be reliable for a low end gun and others indicating they may be the "Yugos" (automobile) of firearms. Considering just keeping it wrapped up in the plastice with shipping oil as a curiosity in my modest collection, but my other half wants to shoot it. Any experiences or opinions are appreciated. It was free so there's no great loss if it remains a paperweight. Thanks

If it was free, then you got your money's worth.

...all things considered, I'd hunt the pawnshops till I found a High Standard Sentinel Deluxe revolver and trade it towards it...you'd have a much better gun you could shoot for a coupla generations, and someone would have access to an affordable better-than-nothing pistol...and that's as charitable as I can get towards a Jennings...

Crossfire wrote:If someone paid you to take it off their hands, then you got your money's worth.

There. I fixed it for you.

A-R wrote:

Crossfire wrote:If someone paid you to take it off their hands, then you got your money's worth.

There. I fixed it for you.

I knew of the reputation of the pistols when I got it. I didn't want to insult my friend when he gave it to me. I just wondered if anyone here had actual experience with them. He also handed me a S&W Model 17-2 at the same time. I don't need to solicit any opinions on that one.

AndyC wrote:

puma guy wrote:I just wondered if anyone here had actual experience with them.

I'll deny it to my dying day.

Heck, take it out and shoot it - it might be perfectly fine.

plan to when I take the model 17 for a ride!

Quote: "I'll deny it to my dying day."

Well, I'll come clean. I still have a Jennings .22 bought way back when I was college-kid-broke. Mac and cheese broke. Working a part time job pouring concrete for $2.60 and hour - if that give a clue as to the age of this trot line weight. It shot OK for a while but for many years has been retired with the firing pin stuck in the forward position. Can anyone spell slamfire?!! I keep it around to sometimes pull out of the safe before classes to use as an example of what not to risk one's life on. And it's "safe queen" companion: An RG .22 with 2" barrel. Which last time, I tried it, actually went bang 4 times out of 6.

great single shot if you don't care where it hits and doesn't feed...

Greybeard wrote:Quote: "I'll deny it to my dying day."

Well, I'll come clean. I still have a Jennings .22 bought way back when I was college-kid-broke. Mac and cheese broke. Working a part time job pouring concrete for $2.60 and hour - if that give a clue as to the age of this trot line weight. It shot OK for a while but for many years has been retired with the firing pin stuck in the forward position. Can anyone spell slamfire?!! I keep it around to sometimes pull out of the safe before classes to use as an example of what not to risk one's life on. And it's "safe queen" companion: An RG .22 with 2" barrel. Which last time, I tried it, actually went bang 4 times out of 6.

We all know AndyC has shot just about everything so his denying it is futile........

We carried Rohm RG's back in the sixties and I tried my best to NOT sell them but there was always someone with $11.88 that wanted one. Your experience is what I was after. As in how long would it last. I think some of them were made of Zamack, so it's not surprising. A lot of RG's spit shaved lead from poor cylinder alignment.

AndyC wrote:

puma guy wrote:I just wondered if anyone here had actual experience with them.

I'll deny it to my dying day.

Heck, take it out and shoot it - it might be perfectly fine.

You gotta take that FAL out of your sig line. I've been eyeballing them lately, and I'm blaming you.

If it is unfired and you have the box, I'd leave it that way.
Its probably worth more as a safe queen than it will be once its fired.
I see no reason to fire it either.
Buy your other half a good little .22 like the Beretta to shoot.

Chemist45 wrote:If it is unfired and you have the box, I'd leave it that way.
Its probably worth more as a safe queen than it will be once its fired.

That would be my take. NIB, wrapped up in original plastic, who knows what it might be worth as a collector's item 75+ years from now? Look at the value some collectors today place on oddball shooters from pre-1900.

It ain't worth much at all to shoot, so why not safe it, bring it out as a conversation piece, bequeath it, and hope that its curiosity value makes it worth something down the line...

...I'd put it in a Ziplock...so the fumes don't stink up yer collection...

speedsix wrote:...I'd put it in a Ziplock...so the fumes don't stink up yer collection...

I saw several new Jimenez (nee Jennings) pistols for sale at the "Real Gun Show" in Pasadena. So I guess that would be an oxymoron.?. Sorta like Yugo automobile and political ethics.