Slimmest pistol design?

[wasrjoe]

I am sure this has been covered before - in fact I remember reading about this when I lerked long ago - but I could not find it in search. Perhaps I used incorrect criteria, I don't know.

So - what's the slimmest pistol design out there >=.380? I would prefer something >=9mm, but I figure .380 isn't anything to sneeze at either.

 

[SDC]

You should take a close look at the H&K P7; off-hand, I can't think of any other pistol (9mm OR .380) that's as slim as the single-stack P7s.

 

[at-home-daddy]

I'm not familiar with the P7, but I believe the Kel-Tec P3AT (.380) is the slimmest .380 on the market...around 3/4".

 

[Okiecruffler]

I had an American Arms Escort for awhile that was probably only about an inch wide. Not a half bad pistol really.

 

[Greg Bell]

In 9mm probably the Kahr. The P7 is uber-thin tough (1.1 at its widest). I don't fool with junk so I can't say about Hi-points, Kel-tecs, Glocks, Lorcin, etc.

 

[MacPelto]

Kahrs are thin, plastic Kahrs are real thin.

 

[P95Carry]

The Rohrbaugh R9 ... (9mm) .. is about at its thickest at bottom of grips ... fractionally over 0.90 inch. It's slim!

 

[Coltdriver]

And if you can find one the Colt Pocket Nine is between the Kahr and the Rorbaugh in slimness.

 

[Rival]

This slimmest pistol design that I know of is Russian PSM, highly concealable weapon specifically designed for covered ops

It is only 18mm thick - that's 0.7 of an inch. It uses special 5,45x18mm ammunition with steel core, it goes through Class II armor and can engage targets behind car doors effectively... It proved to be very deadly little pistol back in Russia as it is often weapon of choice for people who kill for living.

Needless to say you can't obtain this handgun outside of Russia, same goes for the ammo.
It has very interesting safety lever designed to be turned off at the same time when you are cocking the hammer - look at how the safety lever is positioned...

 

[gvass]

Slimmest real (bigger than .380 ACP) gun (the PSM not qualify) is probably the Detonics Pocket9 in 9 mm Luger

 

[LAK]

Browning's BDM (9x19mm) is a pretty flat piece, and the Star BM and BKM is pretty trim as well for a 9.

 

[N.M. Edmands]

Thin Pistol

S.T.I. LS Series, .765" across steel. 1911 ! 9mm or 40 S+W.

 

[TRDBucket]

I'd vote for the LS9 from STI.

 

[MJRW]

Kel-tec lists their P11 as 1" wide.
Kahr lists all their 9mms as 0.9" slide width.
Rohrbaugh lists their slide width as 0.812" wide.
H&K lists the P7M8 as 1.14" wide.

"I don't fool with junk so I can't say about Hi-points, Kel-tecs, Glocks, Lorcin, etc."

Nor do you fool with anything resembling a reasonable opinion.

 

[Greg Bell]

MJRW,

I keed, I keed!

 

[MJRW]

I re-read what I said. It didn't come off anywhere near my intent. It was an attempt at sarcastic jest but I failed miserably.

 

[Tom Servo]

I second the Kahrs. My MK9 pretty much disappears in the waistband. I also carry a Sig P239, which is extremely thin and shoots as well as any service pistol.

 

[JNewell]

I've never gone at 'em with a ruler, but I think you might find that the thinnest pocket pistols are (were) the Colt M1903 (.32 ACP) and M1908 (.380 ACP). These are very thin, slick pistols. They are a little large by today's standards, but extremely thin. Excellent shooters, btw.

 

[Johnny Guest]

Colt Pocket autos - -

JNewell - - Yep, design is a century old and they are still very slick little pistols. Not only sleek 'n slim, but characterized by a total lack of projections. Only problem is the cotton-pickin' WEIGHT!

I can't help but fantasize about a 1908 .380, modernized a bit. Polymer frame, and losing about 3/4 of an inch from slide length should bring weight down to about 16 oz. Add some more-visible-but-still-low sights, and this would be an excellent pocket gun, even today. Heck, while we're changing things around - - Modern technology should enable us to go with a locked breech 9x19mm version, with the same exterior dimensions.

Best,
Johnny

 

[Michael Zeleny]

Needless to say you can't obtain [the PSM] outside of Russia, same goes for the ammo.

To the contrary, see page 41 of the current Lagardere Arms Catalogue. A USGI stationed abroad can readily import one of these "civilian" gems. However, the last PSM that I saw on the American market was priced at $4,000. To be sure, all 5.45x18mm pistol ammunition is armor-piercing, and therefore banned in the U.S.

 

[Michael Zeleny]

H&K lists the P7M8 as 1.14" wide.

The SIG P210 frame measures out to 25mm, under 1" wide. The grip plates measure 30.5mm at their widest point.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I was going to suggest the 1903 Colt 380, but the Colt Pocket Nine was pretty skinny too.

Ever see a Star 9mm with sheetmetal grips? that would be skinny.

 

[at-home-daddy]

Earlier I wrote:
"I'm not familiar with the P7, but I believe the Kel-Tec P3AT (.380) is the slimmest .380 on the market...around 3/4".
------------
...but since I was going on memory, I thought I'd best doublecheck and, sure enough, according to the Kel-Tec site, the width of the P3AT .380 is .77".

 

[P95Carry]

Modern technology should enable us to go with a locked breech 9x19mm version, with the same exterior dimensions.

Johnny Guest ..... the R9 weighs in at 12.8 ounces with mag out ... it is slim to the extreme possible and yet - offers 6+1 in 9x19. It is locked breech, and just a tad smaller than PM9.

Mine has become a more and more constant pocket companion .. and even when loaded is no great burden in the pocket.... and, just checked weight ''fully stoked'' ... almost exactly 17 ounces all in. Not bad!

 

[themic]

RAP 401 is right at or about 1" wide.
I think the Kel-Tec P3AT and P11 are the thinnest feeling in my hands
But I've never held a Kahr PM9