Outer’s Compact Handgun Cleaning Kit

By John Taffin

I had stopped to see my friend Cactus Tubbs at Boise Gun as I do every couple weeks. Mostly for just a visit, but I never know what I might run into. He’s usually down at the far end of the counter in the revolver section. As we were talking he said, “Oh, I almost forgot. I have something I think you’re going to want to see.”

What he had was something Ruger had dropped about eight years ago. I never could understand why the finest cap-and-ball (percussion if you prefer) pistol had been discontinued. Rarely seen anymore, here were four Ruger Old Army black powder pistols, all with original standard 8-inch barrels with adjustable sights. I had recently shot my Ruger Old Army in the Idaho State and Territorial Muzzleloading Matches and managed a 95×100, offhand, 1-handed, at 25 yards. There is no doubt in my mind Old Army revolvers will shoot.

I looked all four over and quickly pushed away the blued one as the finish had been ruined in storage. The three stainless steel sixguns, however looked as if they had been fired very little. One by one I removed the cylinders to inspect them and look down the barrel. One of the barrels was either leaded, pitted, or simply dirty. The rest of the gun was in awfully good shape and I asked Cactus if he had a bore brush. “We might have one upstairs, but…” (and I knew “but” meant he didn’t want to go upstairs). “Wait a minute,” he said as he headed over to another section of the store. He came back carrying what turned out to be one of the neatest gadgets I have seen in a long time. It was packed in plastic and marked “Outer’s Compact Handgun Cleaning Kit For .44-.45-Cal Handguns”.

The Outers Compact Handgun Cleaning Kit (above) comes packed in its handle
for either .22, .38/9mm, .40/10mm, .44/.45 and one for the .45/.410 Judge.
The rod of the Outers Compact Handgun Cleaning Kit (below) expands to double
length and accepts the four accessories provided.

Opening the plastic revealed a round, black handle about 6 inches in length and 1-1/2 inches in diameter. It also had a 4-inch rod sticking out from the bottom part of the handle making it look like a weird screwdriver. It turned out to be one of the most useful tools I have ever seen. The top of the handle unscrewed to reveal a storage compartment with a bronze pistol brush, both a .44 and .45 caliber nylon spear pointed jag, and a wool mop. The 4-inch rod extended the length long enough to use with 8-3/8-inch barrels. I ran the barrel brush down the Old Army barrel and whatever was in the barrel disappeared revealing a pristine barrel. I wound up buying two of the Old Armies and there was no way I was going to let this Outer’s Kit get away. It now rides in the back of my Chevy 4×4 pick up with all my other shooting necessaries. Not only does this tool have the four accessories mentioned, there is also room in the handle for some patches and a small vial of bore cleaner. This is one of those things you wonder how you ever got along without. The price was $15.95 and these are probably in every well-stocked gun shop.

Outers Guncare
1 Vista Way
Anoka, MN 55303
(800) 379-1732
www.outers-guncare.com

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