New NAA Owner - Sidewinder 1.5"

[SV24]

Hello all, I've posted here a few times over the past year or two debating which NAA mini to buy. I've always loved these little revolvers but was holding out for a great deal, as I have a lot of other hobbies and interests outside of guns and didn't really "need" an NAA (I know those are fighting words on this forum). Well, Southern Ohio Gun just had the Sidewinder on sale for $195 + shipping, and I couldn't resist at that price. I absolutely love this little gun - as everyone here says, the craftsmanship is exceptional - I can't wait to shoot it! What does everyone use to clean out the cylinders? I think I could maybe use a pipe cleaner coated in oil? I don't have anything small enough to push a cleaning patch through the cylinders / barrel.

I was about to order a holster on amazon when I saw my cigar lighter sitting on the counter - I remembered that it came in a small sleeve. I found the sleeve and it, hilariously, fits the sidewinder perfectly. I cut a small piece of high density foam and put it into the bottom corner of the lighter sleeve, then I used drill bits of increasing sizes to drill through the holster fabric and foam block to create screw holes for an extra clip I had ordered on Amazon a while back. I think it came out really nice for what I wanted - an IWB holster as small and light as possible, for clipping onto gym shorts when walking the dog.

Anyway, I know you guys love pics - took quite a few with my Spyderco Mini Persian that I've had and carried daily for the past 12+ years. Glad to have another classy carry piece - the Sidewinder!

[jennflip]

sv24--wow,must be a hellagood camera---some of the best photos on here---

[Skip Ellis]

They went quick - I just went to the website and they're 'out of stock'. Oh, well...I'll keep looking.

[SV24]

sv24--wow,must be a hellagood camera---some of the best photos on here---

It's actually just my smartphone camera (galaxy S8) haha - my Olympus mirrorless camera takes considerably better photos, but I just wanted to upload some quick ones - I'll take some better ones in the future!

To Skip Ellis, Southern Ohio Gun (SOG) had them for $249 for about a month and I held out. Then they dropped them to $229 and I continued to hold out - they were in stock the whole time. They dropped it to $195 on I think 6/14 and they were in stock until yesterday. I had posted the deal on reddit gundeals - that may have given it the visibility to sell out.... I should have posted it here as well, my apologies.

[SV24]

They went quick - I just went to the website and they're 'out of stock'. Oh, well...I'll keep looking.

Just checked and they're back in stock! May want to place an order quickly if you want one! Shipping comes out to about $20 - mine with the CC fee and shipping was $220 shipped exactly

[autofull]

great buy. i love mine with two cylinders. i put a 90 degree white dot shotgun sight on mine. oh , cool holster ya made there. try some pug rubber grips on her. i bet ya like em.

[Ruger]

Please keep in touch SV . . .we need to hear your opinions, hope and dreams, along with seeing more of your PICTURES!  Don't be a lurker . . jump up to the firing line and pull the trigger!

[billmeek]

Welcome to the forums SV24.  Great pictures of your new Sidewinder.

I picked up the phone and called Southern Ohio Gun. The lady I spoke to checked inventory and they had one in stock!  But they didn't have my local gun shop's FFL on file and wouldn't take the order FFL or hold it.  So I called my local dealer and had them email it to SOG.  In less than 10 minutes the last one had sold (before I could order it). 

The price would have been a bit higher since they charge 3% for credit card transactions (required for phone orders) and shipping ran about $24.  It still would have been a good deal on a Sidewinder. 

[Canoeal]

"I was about to order a holster on amazon when I saw my cigar lighter sitting on the counter - I remembered that it came in a small sleeve. I found the sleeve and it, hilariously, fits the sidewinder perfectly. I cut a small piece of high density foam and put it into the bottom corner of the lighter sleeve, then I used drill bits of increasing sizes to drill through the holster fabric and foam block to create screw holes for an extra clip I had ordered on Amazon a while back. I think it came out really nice for what I wanted - an IWB holster as small and light as possible, for clipping onto gym shorts when walking the dog. "

Yeah, back when I was still trying, I made one out of an old glasses case, and kayak outfitting foam inside to fit the BW with a Venom Laser...

[Dinadan]

Very nice sharp photos, SV24. I hope you enjoy your Sidewinder as much as I have enjoyed mine. Nice Spiderco, too!


As far as cleaning goes, there are a lot of choices, but I have one of these Hoppe's kits (among others) and it is about as compact as you can get.

[Bigbird48]

OK 2 things I'm gonna harp on, One the pick of you holding the gun hammer cocked and finger on trigger, Thats a BIG NO NO and don't say hey its not loaded 2 you hand made holster does not cover the hammer looks like you could push the gun into the holster and actually cock the hammer. Think about getting a good holster for your gun. Theres a few here on the forum that make custom Mini Holsters

[SV24]

OK 2 things I'm gonna harp on, One the pick of you holding the gun hammer cocked and finger on trigger, Thats a BIG NO NO and don't say hey its not loaded 2 you hand made holster does not cover the hammer looks like you could push the gun into the holster and actually cock the hammer. Think about getting a good holster for your gun. Theres a few here on the forum that make custom Mini Holsters

I figured I'd get a concerned comment on the cocked hammer pic - I didn't have any .22 WMR ammo in the house at that time, as this is my first .22 WMR gun, and so yes I'm gonna say it, the gun was unloaded haha. As far as the holster, if you check that picture down into the holster with the foam block, the front of the Sidewinder frame (the part of the frame that the crane retracts into, under the barrel) hits that dense foam block and won't allow the gun to go any deeper into the holster. I've tried pushing it down farther but that's as deep as it will go - the dense foam block acts as a stop. I'll look into some other holster options, but most of the options I've seen on here are beautiful but heavy looking pocket holsters - I scoured the internet for a minimal IWB holster but didn't find anything as slim or small as what I made - if you know of any options I'd love to see them!

[Canoeal]

The DeSantis sold by NAA doesn't cover the hammer and the elastic cord makes it impossible to remove it from the holster one handed...
I made sure mine would both cover the hammer and come out one handed. After that picture was taken I wrapped it in Kinesio tape so it would grip the pocket better. I made several different ones, of different materials, before I stopped wasting my time...and bought some like.

[Uncle_Lee]

What a good way to wake up...................
Pictures, pictures, & more pictures.

Nice choice on minis.

[RogueTS1]

Welcome SV to the forum. We expect to see you and hear from you often. That includes photos now and again. Great gun and great photos.

[linux_author]

congrats on the excellent choice - a Sidewinder!

i carry mine every day

willie
on the 'sidewinding Gulf of Mexico'

[Bigbird48]

A good pocket holster need to be large enough to hold it upright in your pocket and rid git enough so you can draw the gun with out the holster coming out with the gun. Rick makes a holster with a kind loop at the top that you press your thumb against while drawing the gun. This keeps the holster in the pocket and allows for a smooth quick draw. The holster is not heavy. he has a scale ask him to weigh one .

[BladesNBarrels]

I just received my first NAA pistol - a Sidewinder Combination with a 1 1/2" barrel.
I am looking at holsters and think I want a belt cross draw when driving, and a pocket holster for concealment.
There is also a 3-D printed belt slide plastic that clamps onto the cylinder.  Anyone try that, yet?

[Bigbird48]

Rick at Desertgun leather can make you a fine driving holster and pocket holster for your new Mini. He has made many for forum members. He's here quite often

https://www.desertgunleather.com/shop/?category=North+American+Arms

I just received my first NAA pistol - a Sidewinder Combination with a 1 1/2" barrel.
I am looking at holsters and think I want a belt cross draw when driving, and a pocket holster for concealment.
There is also a 3-D printed belt slide plastic that clamps onto the cylinder.  Anyone try that, yet?

[BladesNBarrels]

Thanks for the link.  I sent an email to see if he will make a driving holster for the Sidewinder.
Here are a couple of pictures of the printed cylinder clip on's.
They don't cover the hammer and I don't know how they would stand up over time, so I am probably not a buyer.

[Honky Tonk Man]

Most of the Kydex neck holsters have the Mini hanging barrel up.  Good for deployment, but not too sure I'd feel good about a gun pointing at my head all day. 

[BladesNBarrels]

I thought I would try a couple of carry alternatives for the Sidewinder.
I bought a Sticky Holster and it fit the pistol very well.  I had it in my right front pocket. I had to put my left hand on the outside of the pocket when I withdrew the Sidewinder in order to hold the holster in the pocket.
I put on the Holster Grip and found that the pistol does not fit into the Sticky Holster.
So the choice seems to be either the Sticky Holster with the Standard Grips, or the Holster Grip without being able to cover the hammer.

[Gus1759]

I tried the folder with my mini and didn't like it. Went with a pocket holster from Ric and put SS grips on it

[RogueTS1]

Now that is the way to do it Gus. I like the looks of that very much.

[squeezle]

That Black with white stitching is sharp !!!!

[Bigbird48]

I'm not sure thats white thread looks more lime green on my computer

That Black with white stitching is sharp !!!!

[Canoeal]

I too found the sticky a little to tight for my BW, so i modified it a little. As a pocket carrt I am not worried about the gun falling out, so I re-sewed the seam with a little more room...

[Rick_Jorgenson]

I tried the folder with my mini and didn't like it. Went with a pocket holster from Ric and put SS grips on it

I recognize that holster! 

Thats Black Leather with Zombie Green Stitching ( a classic look in many circles! ) 

[Gus1759]

I get a lot of good comments on the black with zombie green thread.  Thanks again Ric