I Have This Old Gun: Seecamp LWS Pocket Pistols

by
posted on April 7, 2021
While the trend of small-caliber pocket pistols was not new by the later half of the 20th century, some of those models available from different manufacturers left some things to be desired in terms of overall quality. In the 1970s, Ludwig Wilhelm Seecamp decided to make his own take on a quality pocket pistol. Seecamp was trained by a master gunsmith in Germany before emigrating to the United States after World War II, where he worked for Mossberg before venturing off on his own.

A spec-sheet for the Seecamp LWS-32.
A spec-sheet for the Seecamp LWS-32.

Seecamp started his own company, L.W. Seecamp Co., in 1973 as a pistolsmith and modification shop initially. The Seecamp company eventually began to produce its own small handguns, starting in 1981 with the released its first small pocket-size semi-automatic handgun chambered in .25 ACP, the LWS-25. The LWS-25 was later discontinued and replaced in 1985 by a second model chambered in .32 ACP, the LWS-32. 

A Seecamp LWS-32 with six-round single-stack magazine removed.
A Seecamp LWS-32 with six-round single-stack magazine removed.

Unlike most other small pocket-size handguns commonly available at the time, the LWS pistols were made to a higher standard of fit and finish. The Seecamp company only had a handful of employees at its peak, and all the pistols were assembled and finished by hand. The LWS handguns were remarkably small for a semi-automatic design of the time at 4.25" long, 3.25" high, under 1" wide and with a weight of 12.5 oz. loaded with a six-round magazine for the LWS-32 model.

A photo layout of a Seecamp LWS disassembled.
A photo layout of a Seecamp LWS disassembled.

The LWS pistols are also unique in terms of design operation and features. The pistols use a chamber-ring delayed-block action, in which an angular ring cut into the chamber causes a delay in the rearward motion of the slide until chamber pressures drop to a safe level.  The action also uses dual-nested recoil springs, a design feature that has become common in more recent compact handgun designs. Seecamp pistols also feature a double-action-only trigger with a hammer contoured with the back of the slide.

Shooting a Seecamp LWS pocket pistol.
Shooting a Seecamp LWS pocket pistol.

In many ways, the Seecamp LWS pistols paved the way for future generations of sub-compact handgun designs found in the market today. At the time of original production in the 1980s and 1990s, the LWS handguns were so popular and sought after by some circles that the prices in the secondary market were regularly higher than retail. During the height of demand, LWS handgun prices reached up to $2,000 per pistol and were selling out years in advance due to the slower output of the small Seecamp company.

After L.W. Seecamp passed away in 1989, his son took over the company and continued production of the LWS-32 out of a small shop in Milford, Conn. Production of the LWS handguns was taken over by Whaley Precision in 2014 and continues to the present day.

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to
americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.

Latest

New Guns Gear Nraam 2025 F (1)
New Guns Gear Nraam 2025 F (1)

New Guns & Gear At The 2025 NRA Show

The 154th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, held at the Georgia World Congress Center, April 24-27, was teeming with new guns and gear. Here's a taste of what you can see on the show floor.

Gun Of The Week: Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter

Welcome to American Rifleman’s Gun Of The Week. For this episode, we have a version of Smith & Wesson’s Model 1854 lever-action that’s specifically made for field use. Meet the Model 1854 Stealth Hunter.

The Armed Citizen® April 25, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

The Great FN Gun Giveaway At NRAAM 2025

Here’s a chance to win a custom, one-of-a-kind FN 545 Tactical pistol at the 154th NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits, April 24-27, in Atlanta, Ga. No purchase necessary.

Training With Moving Targets

Most target shooters understand static or bullseye-type stationary targets quite well, but did you know that adding motion into your training routine will improve practical marksmanship and the skills necessary to conquer defensive situations?

USA Shooting Celebrates 30th Anniversary

USA Shooting marks a historic milestone in April as it celebrates 30 years as the national governing body for international shooting sports within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.