Semi auto pocket pistols

[CLASSIC12]

I’m a full size gun guy, I never buy the compact version of a gun, like a 1911 commander instead of a Gvt model, or G19 instead of a G17. It’s probably linked to my own size, 6’3 and 250 lbs, made in Germany.

However I did buy just a few pocket size pistols over the years

It started with the Walther PPK in 7.65 Browning, or .32 ACP. As I was hanging around the LGS back in 1992, I saw it in a cabinet. Mmh, the James Bond pistol I thought. The owner further triggered my curiosity by explaining it is a Zella-Mehlis model, so built before the end of WWII, in what then became East Germany under soviet domination (Walther transferred its activities in Ulm). It was built in 1939.








The second one in a Bulgarian made Makarov, built in 1987. The reason I bought it at a gun show was the price : I was amazed that one could buy a 9 mm semi auto steel pistol for $ 160 (9 mm Makarov). And it was the official sidearm of the Eastern bloc.








The Beretta 1934 (made in 1937) was found in an acquaintance’s grandpa attic. It’s a very well made gun, solid, heavy and reliable. It also has the open top slide like the 92 series. It’s in .380 ACP, which we call 9 mm short in Europe.









The last two I bought to fill the third line on my permit. In Switzerland you may put up to three guns on the same permit but those have to be bought the same day from the same seller. That leads to some compulsive (and sometimes cheap) purchases that would not have been done otherwise.

A Colt Mark IV series 80 GM .380 auto. I really like this little gun. Made in 1992







I tried those whitish grips, but was never convinced so I’ll revert to the original ones in Black.



The last one is a toy really, I would not even shoot a cat with it from fear to piss off the cat. A Beretta 950 B in .22 short. It’s a fun gun though, minuscule and light, and it’s been reliable so far. I also like the tilting barrel. And it was $ 80 at an auction, opening bid.

[Gene L]

Like all of those!

[Jim PHL]

Love that gov’t .380. A good friend has one and has been thru several other, more modern, “better” carry guns but he keeps coming back to it. All steel but, at that size, not too heavy. Small and slim. He says it’s a fun shooter, too.

[bigwheelzip]

Interesting group. Our neighbor in Muhen had the PPK in his collection, and I thought it felt so ergonomic and balanced it would be a natural shooter.
And talk about seemingly inexpensive. This was sometime between 1983-85, when the CHF was about 2.95 to the dollar. But alas, the big splurge was on chocolate.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

[LVSteve]

That Beretta looks fantastic for an attic find. I also like winning auctions with my opening bid. Have scored quite a few things like that, and often when I fully expected to be outbid by a chunk.

[CLASSIC12]

Originally Posted by Jim PHL

Love that gov’t .380. A good friend has one and has been thru several other, more modern, “better” carry guns but he keeps coming back to it. All steel but, at that size, not too heavy. Small and slim. He says it’s a fun shooter, too.

It is fun to shoot and quite lively in .380 ACP

[CLASSIC12]

Originally Posted by bigwheelzip

Interesting group. Our neighbor in Muhen had the PPK in his collection, and I thought it felt so ergonomic and balanced it would be a natural shooter.
And talk about seemingly inexpensive. This was sometime between 1983-85, when the CHF was about 2.95 to the dollar. But alas, the big splurge was on chocolate.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

The PPK is even accurate at 25 meters

And I remember up to 4 CHF to the dollar. In early 90ies I had performance bonuses paid in dollars, mucho Swiss francs.

[ContinentalOp]

Don't have any pocket pistols in my collection yet (unless you want to count my 642, which I rarely pocket carry), but I do hope to add one to my collection this year. Looking real hard at the Beretta Pico.

[OLDSTER]

My EDC riding in a Jackson Leather holster.

[robertrwalsh]

Very nice little assortment there. Congrats.

[ISCS Yoda]

I am not sure what guns, exactly, qualify as a "semi auto pocket pistol".

But I happen to know that I can and have carried a number of semi-autos in pants pockets so here's some options:

.380s





9mm:







.32s and .25s:





(That Beretta is pushing it some for a pocket pistol)

[DWalt]

I was formerly an avid U. S. pocket pistol collector, and had examples of nearly all .32 and .380 pocket pistols ever produced (I was not interested in .25s). Most of them I sold off back in the 1990s. But the one that got me started was a .32 Walther PP with a Waffenamt stamp, back around 1964. And I didn't even keep it very long. My favorites were the Remington 51s, followed by the Savages.

[CLASSIC12]

Some targets, I shot those at 15 meters, I try at 25 very occasionally but it is a stretch for those.

Except for the PPK, that group was shot at 25 meters, it’s a really accurate pistol for its size

[kaaskop49]

Originally Posted by DWalt

I was formerly an avid U. S. pocket pistol collector, and had examples of nearly all .32 and .380 pocket pistols ever produced (I was not interested in .25s). Most of them I sold off back in the 1990s. But the one that got me started was a .32 Walther PP with a Waffenamt stamp, back around 1964. And I didn't even keep it very long. My favorites were the Remington 51s, followed by the Savages.

Haven't forgotten your .25 Galesi, have you? Me, I'm always looking for small guns.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

[JayFramer]

Originally Posted by CLASSIC12

I’m a full size gun guy, I never buy the compact version of a gun, like a 1911 commander instead of a Gvt model, or G19 instead of a G17. It’s probably linked to my own size, 6’3 and 250 lbs, made in Germany.

However I did buy just a few pocket size pistols over the years

It started with the Walther PPK in 7.65 Browning, or .32 ACP. As I was hanging around the LGS back in 1992, I saw it in a cabinet. Mmh, the James Bond pistol I thought. The owner further triggered my curiosity by explaining it is a Zella-Mehlis model, so built before the end of WWII, in what then became East Germany under soviet domination (Walther transferred its activities in Ulm). It was built in 1939.








The second one in a Bulgarian made Makarov, built in 1987. The reason I bought it at a gun show was the price : I was amazed that one could buy a 9 mm semi auto steel pistol for $ 160 (9 mm Makarov). And it was the official sidearm of the Eastern bloc.








The Beretta 1934 (made in 1937) was found in an acquaintance’s grandpa attic. It’s a very well made gun, solid, heavy and reliable. It also has the open top slide like the 92 series. It’s in .380 ACP, which we call 9 mm short in Europe.









The last two I bought to fill the third line on my permit. In Switzerland you may put up to three guns on the same permit but those have to be bought the same day from the same seller. That leads to some compulsive (and sometimes cheap) purchases that would not have been done otherwise.

A Colt Mark IV series 80 GM .380 auto. I really like this little gun. Made in 1992







I tried those whitish grips, but was never convinced so I’ll revert to the original ones in Black.



The last one is a toy really, I would not even shoot a cat with it from fear to piss off the cat. A Beretta 950 B in .22 short. It’s a fun gun though, minuscule and light, and it’s been reliable so far. I also like the tilting barrel. And it was $ 80 at an auction, opening bid.

It is a bit of a stretch to call the Makarov PM a “pocket pistol”. It’s really more of a compact service pistol. It was designed for uniformed military and law enforcement wear, and never to stick in a pocket. It also weighs 26 oz and the size and weight are above what most would consider in the “pocket class”. Great guns though!

[krsmith58]

Mr. CLASSIC12 , that is a wonderful collection of semi auto pistols . great looking and quite the variety . thanks for sharing . ohh by the way i am an orphan , house trained and can adjust diet as necessary to survive . just in case you might need a new son . or is that an old son . thanks again , kenny

[Cal44]

Great guns on this thread.

I have only one pocket pistol. A P238 HD (all stainless steel version)

The knife is a 2.4" Kershaw.

[ladder13]

Classic12, your collection amazes me.

[Valmet]

Lots of nice little guns in this thread. All I’ve got is an FDE-frame Kel-Tec P32.

[Delta Expatriate]

Consider me impressed, again. Great follow-up to your 9mm post of just a few days ago.

[Buford57]

RM 380 and back up

[ISCS Yoda]

Originally Posted by kaaskop49

Haven't forgotten your .25 Galesi, have you? Me, I'm always looking for small guns.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I had one of those!!!! Clever little gun. Sold to a friend some time back. Thanks for that memory!