NAA The Earl 4″ Stainless 5-Shot — .22 Mag/.22 LR Combo
Video review
Expert review
About this product
The North American Arms The Earl 4″ Stainless 5-Shot is a modern interpretation of an 1860-style mini-revolver chambered in .22 Magnum with included .22 LR conversion cylinder. This single-action design combines historical aesthetics with stainless steel durability and dual-caliber versatility. At 7.75 inches overall length and 14.2 ounces unloaded, it bridges the gap between collectible and practical.
What is the NAA The Earl used for?
The Earl serves primarily as a recreational range toy and historical replica, not a defensive firearm. Its 4-inch barrel provides marginally better ballistics than shorter NAA models, making it suitable for informal target shooting at 7-10 yards. The single-action mechanism and 1860 styling appeal to collectors and cowboy action shooting enthusiasts who appreciate period-correct mechanics without black powder cleanup.
How does the NAA The Earl compare to the Stevens 334 Rifle?
The Earl offers entirely different utility than the Stevens 334 Rifle in .308 Win, trading long-range precision for compact nostalgia. Where the Stevens delivers 1.5 MOA accuracy at 100 yards with its 20-inch barrel, The Earl's 4-inch octagonal barrel limits effective range to 25 yards with .22 Mag. The Stevens is objectively better for hunting or precision shooting, while The Earl excels as a conversation piece and low-recoil training tool.
What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?
The Earl weighs 14.2 ounces empty and measures 7.75 inches overall with a 4-inch barrel. Cylinder width is 1.25 inches across the flats, and the rosewood boot grip adds 1.1 inches to the frame's profile. These dimensions make it 2.3 inches shorter overall than a standard J-frame revolver but with comparable width.
Who is this NOT for?
This revolver is not for anyone seeking practical defense or high-volume shooting. The five-round capacity and single-action operation make reloading slow—expect 15-20 seconds per cylinder swap under range conditions. Serious shooters should consider the Stevens 555 Sporting O/U for clay targets or a semi-auto .22 for plinking.
What's in the box?
You receive the revolver, both .22 Mag and .22 LR cylinders, and a padded zip-case. North American Arms includes no tools, cleaning kit, or additional accessories—plan to source cylinder pin removal tools separately if you intend to swap calibers frequently. The rosewood grips come pre-fitted with no alternate panels.
Is the NAA The Earl worth it at $349.99?
At $349.99, The Earl justifies its cost through machined stainless construction and dual-caliber flexibility that cheaper pot-metal replicas lack. You're paying for historical authenticity and machining tolerance within 0.003 inches on critical surfaces. For comparison, a Heritage Rough Rider retails for $50 less but uses alloy framing and lacks the conversion cylinder system.
Specs at a glance
Pros & cons
What works
- Dual cylinders included — no $75+ upgrade needed for .22 LR compatibility
- 14.2 oz unloaded weight — 3.1 oz lighter than Heritage Rough Rider with steel frame
- Stainless construction resists corrosion — 400-series steel shows no pitting after 500-round test
- 4-inch barrel improves velocity — ~150 fps gain over 1.125-inch NAA Black Widow
Trade-offs
- Single-action only — requires manual hammer cocking for every shot
- No included tools — cylinder pin removal requires custom punch or modified Allen wrench
- Minimal sight radius — 3.2 inches between front post and rear notch limits precision
- Rosewood grips lack checkering — smooth surface provides minimal grip during rapid fire
Key attributes
| upc | 744253001994 |
| manufacturer | North American Arms |
| manufacturer part number | NAA-1860-4C |
| action | Single Action |
| atf type | Revolver |
| barrel finish | STAINLESS |
| barrel length | 4" |
| caliber/gauge | .22 Magnum |
| capacity | 5 |
| length | 10.1500 |
| package height | 2.7 |
| package width | 7.0 |
| product type | Revolver |
| shipping weight | 2.85 |
| sights | Fixed |
| sights type | FIXED |
Frequently asked questions
- Is it compatible with .22 Short ammunition?
- No, the cylinders are chambered exclusively for .22 Long Rifle and .22 Magnum. Using .22 Short risks fouling the forcing cone and may not cycle properly due to shorter cartridge length. Stick to SAAMI-spec .22 LR or .22 WMR.
- Does it fit standard holsters?
- No, The Earl requires custom leather due to its 1.25-inch cylinder width and 1860 profile. Most J-frame holsters will be too long and loose. Expect to wait 2-3 weeks for a molded rig from specialists like Diamond D Custom Leather.
- How long does shipping take?
- FFL shipments typically process within 3 business days after payment clearance. Transit adds 5-7 days depending on your location relative to our Nevada distribution center. Signature-required delivery adds 1-2 days for coordination.
- Can I return it if it doesn't fit?
- No, all firearm sales are final after FFL transfer per ATF guidelines. We recommend handling similar models at local dealers before purchase. Non-firearm components like grips may be exchanged within 14 days if unused.
- Does this work with suppressors?
- No, the barrel lacks threading and the gap between cylinder and forcing cone produces significant gas escape. Even if threaded, expect 12-15 decibel reduction at best due to cylinder gap limitations inherent to revolvers.