Jennings J-22 grips
Jennings J-22 grips
The Jennings J-22 was introduced in 1978 by Jennings Firearms in Irvine, California, as the company's flagship product and most iconic "Saturday Night Special" pistol. Founded that year by Bruce Jennings (son of Raven Arms founder George Jennings), the firm emerged amid Southern California's "Ring of Fire" manufacturers, producing cheap, high-volume handguns to fill the gap left by the Gun Control Act of 1968 import restrictions
Chambered in .22 LR (with a .25 ACP J-25 variant), the J-22 was a simple blowback-operated, striker-fired semi-auto featuring a 2.5-inch fixed barrel, Zamak (zinc alloy) frame and slide, heel-release 6-round single-stack magazine, fixed sights, and ultra-light ~12–13 oz weight for pocket carry. Priced around $100 at launch, it targeted budget buyers seeking affordable plinking or self-defense
The pistol gained notoriety for reliability issues, poor accuracy, and safety concerns—most infamously, a 2002 BATFE warning highlighted drop-fire risks from inadequate trigger bar/sear clearance, similar to the Nambu Type 94. Despite criticism, it sold in huge numbers as part of the Ring of Fire era
Production shifted under Bryco Arms (late 1980s–1990s) after Bruce sold/restructured, then to Jimenez Arms post-2003 Bryco bankruptcy—continuing as the JA-22 today. The J-22 remains a controversial, collectible symbol of inexpensive 1970s–1980s American firearms manufacturing
The grips are compatible with various modifications of the J-22 / J-25 model:
- Jennings J-22
- Jennings J-25
- Bryco Arms J-22
- Bryco Arms J-25
- Jimenez Arms JA-22
- Jimenez Arms JA-25