Seecamp
Encyclopedia
L. W. Seecamp Co., Inc. is a manufacturer of hand made pocket pistol
s located in Milford, Connecticut
from 1981 to present.
L. W. Seecamp Co., Inc. was started as a pistolsmithing company in 1973 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 (5.2 cm), and weight is 11.5 ounces (326 g). 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 Czechoslovakia
n 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$446.25 for the standard model, US$525 for the California approved model that has a patented trigger mounted safety.
There were 20 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 unaffected, with a near clone alternative now available, current LWS 32 production is selling for or close to the suggested retail prices. The LWS .380, however, still commands well above MSRP as demand exceeds supply. (Typically 150% MSRP) 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.
The market tends to follow Seecamp's lead. With the introduction of the .32 ACP version, ammo manufacturers began to make self defense .32 ammo at a time when .32 was considered nearly obsolete. The above-mentioned NAA and KelTec models would not have had the market success without Seecamp whetting the public appetite.
The same is true of the .380 ACP round, once considered 'too small' by many. It is the current fad among self defense weapon manufacturers with the introduction of multiple models in the last few years (Ruger, Kahr, Baby Eagle, Sig, S&W, etc.).
Pocket pistol
A pocket pistol is an American term for any small, pocket-sized semi-automatic pistol or, less-popular, any other handgun of small caliber, suitable for concealed carry in either a front or rear pocket of a pair of trousers, or in an exterior coat pocket...
s located in Milford, Connecticut
Milford, Connecticut
Milford is a coastal city in southwestern New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, located between Bridgeport and New Haven. The population was 52,759 at the 2010 census...
from 1981 to present.
L. W. Seecamp Co., Inc. was started as a pistolsmithing company in 1973 specializing in double action conversions for the 1911 Colt .45
.45 ACP
The .45 ACP , also known as the .45 Auto by C.I.P., is a cartridge designed by John Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic .45 pistol and eventually the M1911 pistol adopted by the United States Army in 1911.-Design and history:The U.S...
. 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 (5.2 cm), and weight is 11.5 ounces (326 g). 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 Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
n CZ 45
CZ 45
The Vzor 45, commonly known as CZ 45 is a compact blowback operated semi-automatic pistol chambered in .25 ACP. It was made in Czechoslovakia and later in the Czech Republic...
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
.25 ACP
The .25 ACP centerfire pistol cartridge is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled pistol cartridge introduced by John Browning in 1905 alongside the Fabrique Nationale model 1905 pistol...
, made from 1981 through 1985, with a total production of about 5000 units. It used traditional blowback
Blowback (arms)
Blowback is a system of operation for self-loading firearms that obtains energy from the motion of the cartridge case as it is pushed to the rear by expanding gases created by the ignition of the propellant charge....
operation with a magazine capacity of 7 rounds. The .25 ACP model was dropped shortly after the introduction of the .32 ACP
.32 ACP
.32 ACP , also known as the .32 Automatic is a pistol cartridge. It is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning, initially for use in the FN M1900 semi-automatic pistol...
version.
The LWS 32 is chambered for hollow point
Hollow point bullet
A hollow point is an expanding bullet that has a pit or hollowed out shape in its tip, generally intended to cause the bullet to thin upon entering a target in order to decrease penetration and disrupt more tissue as it travels through the target. It is also used for controlled penetration, where...
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$446.25 for the standard model, US$525 for the California approved model that has a patented trigger mounted safety.
There were 20 sets made in both .25 ACP and .32 ACP with matching serial numbers. In 2000, the model LWS 380 was introduced in .380 ACP
.380 ACP
The .380 ACP pistol cartridge is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning. The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case. It was introduced in 1908 by Colt, and has been a popular self-defense cartridge ever since...
. Production is very limited, and the MSRP is US$795.
In 1997, North American Arms
North American Arms
North American Arms is a United States company, headquartered in Provo, Utah, that manufactures small pistols and mini-revolvers.The company was originally named Rocky Mountain Arms...
introduced their Guardian pistol in .32 ACP as well. While Seecamp sales remained unaffected, with a near clone alternative now available, current LWS 32 production is selling for or close to the suggested retail prices. The LWS .380, however, still commands well above MSRP as demand exceeds supply. (Typically 150% MSRP) Further competition is provided by Kel-Tec
Kel-Tec
Kel-Tec CNC Industries Inc. is a United States manufacturer of firearms. Founded in 1991 and based in Cocoa, Florida, the company has manufactured firearms since 1995, starting with small, affordable semi-automatic pistols and expanding to rifles. Kel-Tec is a privately-owned Florida corporation....
in the form of their P32
Kel-Tec P-32
The Kel-Tec P-32 is a compact semi-automatic pistol using the short-recoil principle of operation. Chambered in .32 ACP, it is popular for concealed carry in the United States. It was designed by George Kellgren, the Swedish firearms designer associated earlier with the Husqvarna, Intratec, and...
and P3AT
Kel-Tec P3AT
The P-3AT is a locked-breech, double action only .380 ACP pistol designed and manufactured by Kel-Tec based on the P-32. The frame is made of polymer with an aluminum insert, and the slide and barrel are steel...
polymer-framed pistols which are bigger in profile but lighter and thinner.
The market tends to follow Seecamp's lead. With the introduction of the .32 ACP version, ammo manufacturers began to make self defense .32 ammo at a time when .32 was considered nearly obsolete. The above-mentioned NAA and KelTec models would not have had the market success without Seecamp whetting the public appetite.
The same is true of the .380 ACP round, once considered 'too small' by many. It is the current fad among self defense weapon manufacturers with the introduction of multiple models in the last few years (Ruger, Kahr, Baby Eagle, Sig, S&W, etc.).