Seecamp

L. W. Seecamp Co., Inc. is a manufacturer of high quality, hand made pocket pistols located in Milford, Connecticut from 1981 to present. Seecamp pistols are known for their high quality, fit, and finish.

L. W. Seecamp Co., Inc. was started as a pistolsmithing company in 1972 specializing in double action conversions for the 1911 Colt .45. At the time, there were no commercially available DA .45s anywhere in the world.

In 1978, Seecamp got into pistol miniaturization. The Seecamp patented spring system then introduced is now used in Glocks, Kimbers, Colts, Para Ordnances, Kahrs, Springfields, etc. Almost every locked breech miniaturized semi auto pistol now uses the Seecamp spring system that allows for miniaturized semi auto locked breech pistols.

In the early 1980s Seecamp went from gunsmithing to gun manufacture, beginning with the LWS.25.

All Seecamp pistols are double action only (DAO), and are similar in size. Barrel length is 2.06 inches, and weight is 11.5 ounces. Grips are glass-filled nylon and checkered. These pistols are not equipped with sights because they are intended for use at close range. The Seecamp, like the Czechoslovakian CZ 45 pistol, utilizes a very compact and reliable DAO trigger mechanism. Each pull of the trigger first cocks then releases the hammer. The hammer follows the slide after each shot and rests in the down position.

The original Seecamp model was the LWS .25 ACP, made from 1981 through 1985, with a total production of about 5000 units. It used traditional blowback operation with a magazine capacity of 7 rounds. The .25 ACP model was dropped shortly after the introduction of the .32 ACP version.

The LWS 32 is chambered for hollow point ammunition only. Operation is through chamber-ring delayed blowback where a raised ring at the rear of the chamber retards the rearward motion of the slide. This model uses a magazine with a capacity of 6 rounds. This is Seecamp's most popular gun. During the height of demand, production guns were selling out years in advance with individual guns selling for up to US$1000. Current MSRP is US$425 for the standard model, US$525 for the California approved model that has a trigger mounted safety.

There were 200 sets made in both .25 ACP and .32 ACP with matching serial numbers. In 2000, the model LWS 380 was introduced in .380 ACP. Production is very limited, and the MSRP is US$795.

In 1997, North American Arms introduced their Guardian pistol in .32 ACP as well. While Seecamp sales remained strong, demand waned and current production is selling for or close to the suggested retail prices. Further competition is provided by Kel-Tec in the form of their P32 and P3AT polymer-framed pistols which are bigger in profile but lighter and thinner.

References

* "Blue Book of Gun Values", 26th Edition. S. P. Fjestad. ISBN 1-886768-55-2.

External links

* [http://www.seecamp.com/ L.W. Seecamp Company Home Page]