Seacamp

[Diver43]

Years ago, I read an article in G&A about a super great pocket rocket in .32 acp. Always wanted one, but they were priced way above my military pay grade.

The other day I saw one in a LGS. Inquired about it, handled it, even out it in my pocket. It is heavier empty the my P3AT is loaded. Then I noted it also come in .380 these days.

Do I need a pocket .380 ? No
Is a cheap deal? No
Do I still want one? Yup but, once again talked myself out of it. Does anyone have one? Opinions?

[Gene L]

I've shot one, once. It was .380 and it was small, but it kicked pretty badly. As I recall, it had no sights. I've got a KelTec in .32 and it's very controllable. It's got "sights" but in name only. I look at it as a point and shoot. Not as well made as a Seacamp, but affordable and pocket-friendly. I recommend it. It also comes in .380. A long time ago I realized I'm not a gunfighter and the .32 suits me just fine.

[Wambli Ska]

I played with a few in .32 and .380. PLUS an oddity, if you were a good enough customer they used to sell you a set including those two chamberings AND a .25acp too. A friend of mine had all three and he had to wait over a year to get them from the maker. Nice enough guns but only priced at the price point because they were a low production novelty and very well made.

NAA (Guardian?) made a clone of them, not as refined in finish but a little tank of a gun and it sold in the $300s. I’ve owned two of those in .380 and passed them along. Again, more novelty than anything else though very high quality guns.

The design had their day and its past it’s prime, but if I saw one in good shape for a good deal I’d probably buy one AGAIN because they make me giggle, at least for a while while I gather my wits about me and realize once again that they have basically no place in my CCW rotation because they are too heavy to be a true pocket gun and way too small to be any more than a nasty surprise to someone who’s already on top of you.

But damn they are cute guns

[Wambli Ska]

Here’s several of the Gardians on GB, most not moving. Maybe one could satisfy your itch without paying Seecamp prices.

https://www.gunbroker.com/Semi-Auto-Pis ... 0%2F%20NAA

[CPJ 2.0]

If I was buying a pocket .380 I’d grab the Ruger and be done with it.
Because other than the “man I wanted one of these”, and “investment” factors, it beats the Seacamp in all aspects.

[Wambli Ska]

This .380 has a starting bid of only $250.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1030993100

[Wambli Ska]

BTW the correct name is SEEcamp…

[Diver43]

OK, you guys and myself talked me out of it.
Why? It's Heavy. It's expensive,
For back up or super hot summer days, my P3AT weighs way less and for what it's worth I already own and trust it as it has never failed to go bang.
But the sea/see camp sure is a neat little gun

[Wambli Ska]

Damn, we just suck at this enabling thing nowadays…

[Gene L]

Good move.

[PFD45]

I remember reading about the Seacamp in G&A. I drooled on every page.

I think the AMT Backup in .380 was similar (all stainless, small and heavy).

I got a Backup in .45 ACP like the pic. I MAY fire it again on a dare or in dire times. I put a few mags thru it. Teach emailed me how to mod a 1911 mag for 7+ rd mag instead of the factory 5.

[Bigslug]

If you're going for little bitty blowback guns, stick with the .32 around which most of them were designed.

The Colt Pocket Hammerless, the PPK, and a number of others - nice to shoot in the original .32; kind of abusive to the palm in .380.

In the modern crop of tilt-barrel, locked breech guns, the .380's great - in the old stuff, not as big a fan. It's an older version of how they crammed the .40 S&W into a bunch of 9mm chassis.

[Gene L]

I had a AMT Backup. About 30 years ago and SS guns were relatively new at the time. I read somewhere they had problems milling them. At any rate, it was a dog. Maybe they improved over the years or maybe I just got a bum gun but I don't think so.