The Cimarron Thunderball is a single-action revolver chambered in .357 Magnum / .38 Special, built around a case-hardened steel frame with a blued steel barrel. The one-piece bird's head smooth walnut grip gives it a classic silhouette. At 2.6 lbs (41 oz) with a 3.5" barrel, it's compact enough for cowboy action shooting competitions and comfortable to carry as a sidearm. 
 

Key Specifications 

• Model: Thunderball 
• Caliber: .357 Magnum / .38 Special 
• Action: Single Action 
• Capacity: 6 rounds 
• Barrel Length: 3.5 inches 
• Frame Finish: Case Hardened Steel 
• Barrel Material: Steel (Blued) 
• Grip Description: One Piece Bird's Head Smooth Walnut Grip 
• Weight: 2.6 lbs (41 oz) 
   

Features 

The single-action mechanism requires manually cocking the hammer before each shot, which produces a clean, consistent trigger pull, useful in competition where shot timing matters. The fixed blade front sight and V-notch rear provide a straightforward sight picture. Chambering both .357 Magnum and .38 Special gives flexibility: lighter .38 Special loads for practice or reduced recoil, full-power .357 Magnum when stopping power matters.

Owners of the Thunderball frequently praise its craftsmanship and the case-hardened finish, which has genuine visual character that modern stainless or matte black guns can't replicate. The .357 Magnum/.38 Special pairing is popular. Shooters like running .38 Special for training and stepping up to .357 when needed.

Accuracy and reliability are consistent positives in user discussions. It performs well at the range and holds up at cowboy action events.

The main practical downsides: weight and size make it a poor choice for everyday carry, and the single-action design has a learning curve for newer shooters. Some users note that comparable modern revolvers offer more ergonomic options, though most buyers of this gun aren't looking for a modern design in the first place.