Scored a LWS-32 Seecamp...

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MedWheeler

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Stopped by the pawn shop I frequent and they actually had a .32 Seecamp in the case. I've actually never seen one personally that I can recall, but have been curious for a few years now (maybe more.)

The story I got on this one was that it was sold earlier this week after a recent trade-in, and the buyer brought it back after he found he couldn't use it at the range with anything but HP ammunition. The RSO apparently told him that when he was observed having trouble with it. To him, HP ammunition is too expensive, I guess. The dealer only learned that when he brought it back. His boss was almost uncertain about selling it to me until the guy I was talking to told him that I knew pretty much everything about the model.

We agreed on $350 OTD for the gun and magazine only; nothing else came with it. I don't necessarily plan to carry it, as I already have a P32, but I have indeed carried other guns before after saying I wouldn't.

Here it is next to the no-safety Beretta Jetfire I got last month, and with my Bauer .25 I've had for several years. A .32 in a .25-sized package, and DA to boot..!

Incidentally, it's a Connecticut-manufacture, with a serial number in the low 15K range, if that's relevant at all.

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Nice! :thumbup:

Ive had a couple over the years and still have one. I always thought they were the guns to judge all other of the type by. Good shooters and you'd be amazed at how well you can shoot them, even at distances you wouldnt think.

The original guns were designed around the Winchester Silver Tips, and the magazines had/have a spacer in them so the shorter rounds would work reliably. I have used FMJ's in one of mine with fairly good success with the spacer removed.

They also have a more current list of other ammo that will work on their website. Silver Tips are salty!.

One thing you dont want to do, is pull the trigger with the mag out. The spring needs the mag for support. They included a spare in the box with my guns, which were new when I bought them. Ive never had to use the spares, but if you werent aware of the mag thing, you may want to read up on it, if you didnt get a manual with it.
 
Winchester white box is loaded with a flat point FMJ bullet which allows the cartridge to fit in the Seecamp's magazine.
 
I've heard that about the WWB, and I got oriented to that round's shorter profile the day I got my P32. I also got oriented to rimlock that day. ;)

That's the round I'll source for the LWS. If I do end up packing it around from time to time, I'd prefer a FMJ in it, anyway.
 
MedWheeler said:
...with a serial number in the low 15K range, if that's relevant at all.
Click to expand...

It is relevant in that I see you have the original "old style" second generation magazine. The new current generation magazines are an incredible work of art, so much so that I'd suggest you invest in one or more. I also recomment a least a new recoil spring. You never know how old and used the one is that came with your Seecamp.

Have fun with your new Seecamp. Great deal.
 
Over the summer, I picked up and put a couple of boxes of the PMC "Bronze" 60 grain JHP's through mine, and had no troubles with them. I believe they are in the updated, suggested list they have on their site too.

I dont remember now where I got them, but they were reasonable, around $20 for a box of 50.
 
Boy, I remember when Seecamp was selling these pistols for about $375. People bought them, then turned around and resold them with an asking price of $750. Demand for them was so high that they got it, at least some of the time. That must be around 30 years ago now, when even the $375 was steep for me.
 
According to posts in the Seecamp forum WWB isn't recommended even though it will fit. The heavier bullet is thought to cause long term problems. PMC HP's are a cheaper to WW Silvertips alternative according to Seecamp's website.
 
Nice find. Those were coveted back in the day. They truly are what a pocket gun is supposed to be. From what I understand, someone is making the again. Is that right?
 
Wow, I’m not surprised. It is fine little pistol. It was the oddball in its time in that it was designed to shoot something other than ball ammo when all other manufacturers felt it was fine to sell a pistol that would shoot nothing but ball. I can remember many owners of series 70 colts arguing that a .45 doesn’t need hollow points because it’s so big to start with.
 
TonyAngel said:
Wow, I’m not surprised. It is fine little pistol. It was the oddball in its time in that it was designed to shoot something other than ball ammo when all other manufacturers felt it was fine to sell a pistol that would shoot nothing but ball. I can remember many owners of series 70 colts arguing that a .45 doesn’t need hollow points because it’s so big to start with.
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Well considering .32 ACP FMJ only penetrates about 12.5" out of a short barrel I can see why manufacturers might have thought a JHP (at least one that will actually expand at that velocity) wasn't needed.
 
TonyAngel said:
I can remember many owners of series 70 colts arguing that a .45 doesn’t need hollow points because it’s so big to start with.
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And whats changed? :D

12.5" will work fine if you put them in the right place. And if you get the angle right, they will run around inside like an egg beater and scramble things up. :)
 
I have and carry more 32acp pistols than any other caliber, and own more 32acp pistols than 9mm Para, 9mm Mak and 9mm Kurz combined. The caliber is super reliable, very controllable, easily repeatable and effective at short ranges. The guns range in size from tiny to medium large and from over a century old to recently made.
 
bikerdoc said:
Have a chance to buy a 32 Beretta with the tip barrel for $250. Think I might.
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I think those were called the Tomcat or some such thing. Like the other tip up barrels, a pretty neat piece. It’s nice being able to chamber a round without doing the whole, inset mag, rack slide, top off mag and reinsert thing.
 
My Seecamp is my GOMA gun. Stick in their ear or eye socket, and say “ Get Off Me A**hole. That’s about maximum effective range, but it beats begging.
 
Mine has a serial # in the high 33K , so not sure about series. With the clip out the slide locks.

I have one of those leather deals with holes that allow you shoot it, but in the pocket it prints like a wallet.

Imagine somebody with a knife or club asking for your wallet, "Certainly. Here you go." ;)

Once I tried point shooting at a soda can about 70 yards away and amazingly hit it!

I like it more than my tomcat. Sometimes when I take novices shooting I'll put it on the table along with a Mark IV, a .357, a big horse pistol, and a 1911.
Inevitably they want the mouse gun over the Mark IV thinking it will kick the least. (snicker) thats why I only load one round in it at first. They tend to forget muzzle and trigger finger discipline when they find out that the mouse kicks like a NYC sewer rat.
 
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For those perusing this thread and wondering, the main reason the LWS-32 was made for HP ammunition was largely because it was made off the same frame as Seecamp's earlier gun that was in .25 caliber. Using a .25ACP gun's frame didn't allow for lengthening of the magazine well to accommodate the full-length .32 round. The forward edge of that portion of the frame is pretty thin as it is. At that time, the Winchester Silvertip was pretty much the only HP round available in that caliber.

On their web site, there is a narrative that explains why Seecamp feels that a .32ACP HP round is perfectly fine for defensive purposes. Keep in mind, though, that the gun was released long before the web site was. ;)

Just for the heck of it, I took a round of Fiocchi .32 FMJ from my P32 and put it into the Seecamp's magazine, then tried to fit the magazine into the well. The nose of the bullet is definitely forced to drag on the front of the well, and I didn't push it very far in. Then, I removed the round and replaced it with a PMC .25ACP FMJ round. With that round in place, the magazine easily slides upward into the well.

I don't have any HP or other "shorter" .32ACP ammunition on hand yet.
 
If you take the spacer out of the mag (its along the back), it will take some fmj's. At least mine did when I tried it.
 
TonyAngel said:
From what I understand, someone is making the again. Is that right?
Click to expand...

They must be. I was browsing one of the local shops a few days ago and was surprised to see six or eight of them (in both .32 and .380) in the display case, along with spare mags and Bear Creek pocket holsters. Didn't get a chance to stop and take a closer look, but there they were...

Edit: I stopped by the website posted by usp9... Apparently the holsters are made by Bear Creek for Seecamp to sell directly, which is a good idea. Bear Creek makes good leather.
 
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