Bond Derringers and Bond Survival Kit (With Video)

Bond Line of Derringers, top of page,  and a Bond Arms Survival Kit we made up at our readers request. See video at the bottom of the page.

By Steven L. Doran

I became acquainted with the Bond when I saw one in the gun store a few years ago. Then I began to receive emails from readers across the country telling me about their Bond and how much they liked it. I thought I should give it a try.

The Bond Arms derringers are high quality. No one can argue that they make finest derringers ever built in the history of derringers. I do not know this for a fact. I assume they have very few returns, if any for product defects. They are built like a tank, yet carry very well. I do not think it would be possible for a competition shooter to shoot one out in a lifetime. The Bond’s are not just well built, they are handsome guns. Even non-gun people I know, ask me to see it, and want to handle it. Several have even said they wanted to buy one because it is simple to use.

The Bond is a single action firearm, meaning the hammer has to be cocked back in order for the gun to fire. They have a cross bolt safety, which is the only item on the gun I do not care for. It is a personal preference. However they do have a way to keep the cross bolt out of the way with a set screw that has already been installed. Loading and unloading the Bond takes seconds. The side lever is pushed downward, releasing the barrels which swing upward for loading. After loading, push the barrels down until you hear the click and feel it lock into place.

The Bond can be purchased with or without, a trigger guard, standard or oversized grips, different barrel lengths and the following calibers, 45 Colt/.410 e, .357 Magnum/.38 Special, .357 Maximum, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .45 GAP, .44 Special, .44 WCF, .40 S&W, 10 mm Auto, 9 mm Luger, .32 H & R Magnum, .22 Long Rifle and the New .327.

Once you have purchased a Bond to change calibers or barrel lengths you do not need to buy a new gun. All you do is order up the caliber in the barrel lengths available. Open the barrels as you would to load or unload, remove the hinge screw with an Allen wrench. Insert the other barrels and replace the hinge screw.

The basic Bond was not designed or built as a light weight gun. However I carried it day in and day out and forgot it was there. I even filmed other tests forgetting I had the gun on. I wore it in what they call their driver holster. It kept the gun handy and out of the way. I wore it on the trail every day and still do for snakes, and it is like not carrying a gun at all.

To shoot the Bond they recommend that you set the gun up to shoot the bottom barrel first. This is easily done, because they have an indicator on the hammer that tells you which barrel will fire first. The Fixed sight on the gun also is sighted in to the bottom barrel.

The version I have is the 45/410 with a 3 and 3.5 inch barrels and over sized grips for my meat hooks. I did not find a significant difference between the 3 and the 3.5 as far as recoil. I am sure the smaller grips would make a difference. The accuracy was also about the same. The big difference it the 3.5 will take the 3 inch 410 shot shells. Bond makes a 4.25 as well. Again not much of a difference, personal preference will apply.

I will tell you from personal experience that the Bond in 3 or 3.5 will absolutely decimate snakes instantaneously. With the 45 colt it is fairly accurate at close range, the 410 buck shot is a very serious load, and it would be my choice for personal defense.

As my readers know, I personally will not carry any derringer or min-revolver as my only gun. But for snakes, or as a back up you know when you pull the trigger it will go off and do what it was designed to do.

I am anxious to try the Bond in .22 to see how it does as a game getter in a survival situation and would like to see a barrel made in .22 Magnum. Bond has different names for their guns. For the trail I call it the perfect partner.

After we came out with the original Article on the Bond we began receiving a lot of emails asking how we would incorporate one in a survival Kit. Here is the results.

Check out the entire line of Bond Arms firearms and accessories online at:

As always please realize that with any gun; especially one you intend to use for survival or self defense you will have to practice. I always recommend no less than a half a day and no less than 300 rounds through the gun. You should be fully familiar with its operation, loading, unloading, cocking, de-cocking, firing and accuracy. If not keep shooting until you are totally comfortable. This gun is a lot of fun to shoot so it is not like you will be suffering during this process. Go out and have a great time.

Copyright © 2009 by Steven L. Doran, All rights reserved under international and Pan-American copyright conventions. No part of this article may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without written permission from the author Steven L. Doran.