Personal Protection

In the 19th century, the derringer was the supreme example of a highly concealable personal protection firearm. But it had obvious limits. According to Mia Astine, author of “The Micro-Compact Gun Phenomenon, manufacturers recognized those deficiencies and gradually began to improve the design and performance of concealable handguns.

“The Model Vest Pocket pistol, introduced by Colt in 1908, is a prime example of this evolution,” Astine says. “This small, semi-automatic pistol significantly outgunned derringers in capacity and firepower. Chambered in .25 ACP, the Colt Model 1908 featured a 6+1 round capacity, a significant leap forward from a derringer’s single or double shots. The semi-automatic action allowed for quicker follow-up shots, making it more effective in self-defense scenarios.

“These early pocket pistols were compact and offered greater firepower, but users still looked for higher capacity, ease of concealment, and smooth ergonomics when shooting.”

The introduction of polymer-framed pistols marked a significant advancement in compact firearms. But early models often had ergonomic issues, and so manufacturers began to address these user complaints by improving grip textures, installing enhanced trigger systems, and designing more intuitive mechanics. As manufacturers refined their designs, the focus shifted to increasing round capacity and improving ergonomics without enlarging the handgun, leading to the development of polymer models that pushed the boundaries of what a small handgun could offer in terms of firepower and comfort.

Which leads to us to the modern micro-compact pistol. According to NSSF, some 22 million new gun owners have entered our world over the past five years. Many of these new owners are women who are interested in small concealable personal protection firearms. Micro-compact pistols are a great option here.

Modern micro-compact handguns are now equipped with features unheard of in early pocket guns. Many come optic-ready, allowing for the easy addition of red-dot sights. Improved trigger systems, enhanced grip textures, and integrated night sights offer a level of sophistication and functionality that meet the demands of today's firearm users.

One of the industry’s most compelling stories of the past year and a half has been the acquisition of the Kinetic Group by Czech conglomerate CSG. Kinetic, once part of Vista Outdoor, owns iconic ammo brands Federal, CCI, Remington. The announcement to buy Kinetic set off a firestorm  of criticism, much of it uninformed, says Jason Vanderbrink, CEO of Kinetic.

“Many of the major firearms companies are foreign owners with U.S. operations. Becoming part of CSG will have no negative affect on the business,” he told me recently. “Under new ownership we can expect more capital investment, which will fuel more research and development.”

CSG also provides another competitive advantage: it is privately held. Publicly held companies have to deal with various distractions, such as quarterly earnings reports to Wall Street as well as various required government filings, all of which direct resources and time away from the business at hand.

“Getting out of the public markets and into private markets allows us to really foster growth,” Vanderbrink says.

All of which should be good news for retailers.