Folding Pistols

Folding firearms of one kind or another have been around for a long time. In this video, we take a close look at three folding pistols. They’ve gotten a lot of attention recently: Some people think they’re actually dangerous, while others think they have a lot of practical value, not only for emergency survival situations but also for concealed carry.

Three Folding Pistols

The first is a Glock 19. Press in on the back of the grip and it folds down and locks in against the barrel. Then a 21-round magazine can be inserted and the whole thing makes a nice rectangular package.

Next is a Glock 43. Again press in on the back and fold it against the barrel, and insert an extended magazine. Both of these are made by a company called Full Conceal, whose motto is Concealment Without Compromise.

The third is the LifeCard .22LR from Trailblazer Firearms — motto The Last Gun You’ll Leave Behind. It’s a single-shot .22LR Derringer. When folded, it fits into a holster that can be clipped to a belt and looks smaller than many cell phones.

Safety Concerns

Does it make sense to have a folding pistol as a self-defense weapon? Are they a good idea or just a novelty? Are they even safe? Are they safe to carry with a round in the chamber, as recommended by Full Conceal? We examine the inside of the Glock 19.

The secret of the engineering is in the trigger, which is very different from a standard Glock trigger and is what makes the gun safe. All standard Glock safeties are intact, but the Full Conceal Glocks have two extra safeties.

So the answer to the question is this reckless or inherently dangerous is a firm no.

Concealability

The next question is, is this really any smaller or more compact than a regular Glock 19? Is it better for concealed carry? Think about what is the most difficult part of a pistol to conceal: it’s the grip.

We examine this and much more in this comprehensive video.