Since the gun used a lot of Ruger parts, figured this might be a good place to hunt for additional history on these revolvers.
I own 2 of them. See pic below.
Here is what I know of the history. Hoping someone can add to it.
D-Max started out as a 3 person operation in Bagley, MN. The owner, his wife, and brother-in-law. Can`t recall any of their names.
Started production in the early 90s. I recall handling serial #3 at a gunshow in Waterloo, Iowa when they first started trying to market them, but can`t recall the exact year.
Their original gun was the Sidewinder. A 6 shot .45 Colt/ 3" .410 with a screw in choke. They built this gun for a few years at pretty low volume selling direct to dealers mostly in MN, IA, and the Dakotas.
Later they made at least a few of a new model called the L5 Sidewinder.
Nearly identical to the original except it was a 5 shot in 45-70. Also used a new serial number range.
They planned to chamber the L5 in other calibers such as 30-30 Win and .375 Win. But do not know if any were actually made in those calibers.
Shortly after that, they moved to somewhere in South Dakota and increased production. Also added short frame guns in .454 and .45 Colt cal.
Both models used more than a few Ruger parts. They are basicly over grown Blackhawks.
Not long after that they were bought out by Magnum Research.
Under Magnum Research the gun became the BFR with some design changes.
Some of the very early Sidewinders tended to unscrew the choke when fired. At some point they changed to a left hand thread to prevent this.
(note that the choke must be removed to fire .45 Colt instead of .410 shot shells.)
This is about all I know about the company. I would guess their total production was only about 2,000 guns of all types. But that is just my best guess.
In the pic below are a pair of D-Max Sidewinders.
The lower one is a stardard 6 shot .45/.410 with a 6.5" barrel. Serial #20X.
The top one is a later L5 in 45-70 with a 7.5" barrel. Serial #2X.
I own 2 of them. See pic below.
Here is what I know of the history. Hoping someone can add to it.
D-Max started out as a 3 person operation in Bagley, MN. The owner, his wife, and brother-in-law. Can`t recall any of their names.
Started production in the early 90s. I recall handling serial #3 at a gunshow in Waterloo, Iowa when they first started trying to market them, but can`t recall the exact year.
Their original gun was the Sidewinder. A 6 shot .45 Colt/ 3" .410 with a screw in choke. They built this gun for a few years at pretty low volume selling direct to dealers mostly in MN, IA, and the Dakotas.
Later they made at least a few of a new model called the L5 Sidewinder.
Nearly identical to the original except it was a 5 shot in 45-70. Also used a new serial number range.
They planned to chamber the L5 in other calibers such as 30-30 Win and .375 Win. But do not know if any were actually made in those calibers.
Shortly after that, they moved to somewhere in South Dakota and increased production. Also added short frame guns in .454 and .45 Colt cal.
Both models used more than a few Ruger parts. They are basicly over grown Blackhawks.
Not long after that they were bought out by Magnum Research.
Under Magnum Research the gun became the BFR with some design changes.
Some of the very early Sidewinders tended to unscrew the choke when fired. At some point they changed to a left hand thread to prevent this.
(note that the choke must be removed to fire .45 Colt instead of .410 shot shells.)
This is about all I know about the company. I would guess their total production was only about 2,000 guns of all types. But that is just my best guess.
In the pic below are a pair of D-Max Sidewinders.
The lower one is a stardard 6 shot .45/.410 with a 6.5" barrel. Serial #20X.
The top one is a later L5 in 45-70 with a 7.5" barrel. Serial #2X.
