Arminius HW-7S .22 caliber Revolver

Arminius is a line of revolvers manufactured by Weihrauch & Weihrauch GmbH & Co. KG, of Mellrichstadt, Germany, a manufacturer of target and sporting.

The Arminius HW-7S is a double-action revolver chambered in .22 Long Rifle, manufactured in Germany by Hermann Weihrauch (HW), under the Arminius brand name. It represents a class of rugged, affordable, and straightforward revolvers that found a global audience — particularly among target shooters, small-game hunters, and firearm enthusiasts looking for a budget-friendly rimfire option.

Specification:

• Caliber: .22 LR (some models may accept .22 Short or .22 Long)

• Action: Double-action / Single-action

• Capacity: 8 rounds (cylinder-fed)

• Barrel Length: Typically 4" or 6"

• Frame Material: Often steel or zinc alloy with steel-lined barrel (depends on version)

• Grips: Usually wood or plastic

• Sights: Fixed front sight, adjustable rear in some models

• Safety: Manual safety present in the HW-7S variant

The Arminius line of revolvers was named after the Germanic tribal leader who defeated Roman forces in 9 A.D., a fitting name for a line of no-nonsense, durable revolvers. The HW-7 series was part of a wave of post-WWII German firearms designed for civilian markets, particularly in Europe and North America.

• Manufacturer: Hermann Weihrauch Maschinenfabrik (Mellrichstadt, Germany)

• Introduced: Circa 1960s–1970s

• HW-7S Variant: The “S” typically indicates a safety improvement or steel frame variation over earlier zinc-alloy models.

Uses & Purpose

The HW-7S was never intended to be a high-end match revolver or defensive tool. Its purpose was grounded in affordability, simplicity, and utility.

✅ Common Uses:

• Target Shooting: Lightweight trigger (especially in single-action) and mild .22 LR recoil made it ideal for range training.

  
  

• Plinking: Cheap ammo and decent accuracy made it a favorite for informal backyard shooting.

  
  

• Training Gun: Used to train new shooters in basic revolver operation.

  
  

• Pest Control / Small Game Hunting: With good shot placement, it could be used for dispatching small animals.

  
  

• Collectors: Older HW-7S models have nostalgic or historical value, especially in countries where they were widely sold in the 70s and 80s.

The Arminius HW-7S isn’t a revolver you’d take into a high-level competition or rely on for heavy-duty tasks. But for what it was built to do — reliable plinking, casual target shooting, and basic training — it served well and earned a quiet reputation as a working-class rimfire revolver.

In many ways, it's a symbol of post-war European gunmaking: functional, affordable, and built for the everyday shooter. Today, it holds nostalgic value for collectors and still finds occasional use as a fun range gun.