It's obviously not suited for armed combat aka Jack Bauer walking the streets. And neither are most of us.
I see a lot of complaining about speed of deployment and that is exactly why it's not the top pick for that. It wouldn't even get consideration by any competent user, so why complain? It's like saying a slip lock jack knife in the pocket won't get into action very fast. Of course not - a clipped lockback with Assisted Opening would be better.
It's two shots. Ok. Not magazine fed, yet Derringers sell well with just two shots, and others in this class were only one shot. Most are not self loading.
So, who do these sell to? To somebody who acknowledges and already understands it's not their primary firearm in street combat. Knowing that, they aren't bothered with it in that role because they know and understand it's not suitable.
It's a last ditch back up style gun. Even the Palm Protector wasn't an IDPA type race gun, and I exaggerate to make the point - comparing it to one is just trash talking it.
Evaluate it for what it is, not what someone thinks they should use walking the mean streets. Nobody would attempt to use just a two shot derringer, a Stinger Liberator, or Double Tap as their duty gun. But some do carry them - they are Back Up Guns, meant for the last resort.
In less combative situations, they are also something to have, which is better than nothing - or even a pocket knife, which we know isn't what you bring to a gun fight.
As for it being an AOW, I believe the question was already resolved and why it is going into production. That leads to it's price point and where it will be on the marketplace. Is there anything else like it? No. And that alone will be the draw, there will be some who would be happy to own it. The trade in this category of guns with collectors is fairly brisk, there is more demand than supply, and the older examples - which aren't made any more - are trading for good prices.
It's not about immediate self defense, it's about owning a lethal weapon in a different guise. Entirely what drives interest in the Magpul MPG9 and others. It's something that has a limited interest, yes, but the hurdles to jump in getting one mean you have to be an adult, and have the entry fee. So, the casual shooter and gun carrier isn't getting one. And just as well, the odds one of them would misuse it are a lot higher. We may balk at the anti gunners notions we are a bunch of beer swilling rednecks or domestic terrorists, but they do exist and we recognize one when we see them in the news. A $500 premium keeps the riff raff from owning one. Instant reputation protection. Is that deserved? Do other makers jack their prices up and tell you that you are buying quality? A $1,200 AR15 doesn't materially differ from a $650 one, they are just bullet launchers. It's the owners who repeat the hype that one is "far superior."
That might be damning it with faint praise, I don't think Bondhus is going to complain much as they bank the deposits and get production rolling. I see it creating a new class of firearms. It's modern steampunk - check the finishing, what kind of screws, shaping, etc. Lots of plain black guns are out there, this isn't. It looks more like a digital camera, and sitting on a shelf with them would make it disappear. Like a lot of titanium neck knives or other self defense items, it fits into a category of lethal pocket jewelry, and the EDC crowd will eat it up.
If you tend toward lockbacks with G10 scales in alternating colors, AAA flashlights with lumen ratings expressed in hundreds, titanium key chain tools or cell phone cases, it's a natural. Getting dissed it's not a duty gun is valueless. It's not a doublestack DA belt holster duty gun, geez, why even mention it? It's an interesting take on a back up gun, and will likely do well for the short time the market allows.
If it grow legs and goes into another caliber, gets a discreet holster, someone offers CF or G10 blast guards, Crimson Trace offers an upgrade laser, so much the better. So far, tho, I'm hearing arguments based on a pretentious comparison it can't do what it wasn't built or designed to do.
Well, Camry's aren't capable of hauling a pallet of sheetrock, either.
