COP .357 Derringer


The COP.357 is a 4-shot Derringer-type pistol chambered for.357 Magnum. The double-action weapon is about twice as wide, and substantially heavier than the typical.25 automatic pistol, though its relatively compact size and powerful cartridge made it an option for a defensive weapon or a police backup gun.

Construction and operation of the COP .357

The COP.357 is quite robust in design and construction. It is made of solid stainless steel components. Cartridges are loaded into the four separate chambers by sliding a latch that "pops-up" the barrel for loading purposes, similar to top-break shotguns. Each of the four chambers has its own dedicated firing pin. It uses an internal hammer, which is activated by depressing the trigger to hit a ratcheting/rotating striker that in turn strikes one firing pin at a time. Older "pepperboxes" also used multiple barrels, but the barrels were the part that rotated. The COP.357 operates similarly to the Sharps Derringer of the 1850s, in that it uses the ratcheting/rotating striker, which is completely internal, to fire each chamber in sequence.
Two complaints about the COP.357 are that it is too heavy to be used as a backup gun, and that the trigger pull is too heavy for rapid fire, even heavier than most modern revolvers.
A smaller caliber version the "MINI COP" was also manufactured in.22 Magnum.

History and usage

It was designed by Robert Hillberg, based on his earlier work on the Hillberg Insurgency Weapon. It was manufactured by the now defunct COP Inc. of California, US. In 1990 it was manufactured by American Derringer for a short time.