Have you ever noticed that folding firearms seem to be among the fastest-growing oddball genres of firearms? I call myself an eclectic collector, so these things catch my eye. For years, we had the KelTec SUB 2000 and then the Chiappa Badger series, but not much more.
Then they opened the floodgates, and they came from everywhere. We had the S&W FPC, the Trailblazer Pivot, and then even odder options from B&T and ZEV. As the idea evolved, guns like the Ounce, the Switch, and the Rock Island Armory Pak-Out broke from the rifle-only meta to produce pistols and shotguns.
Why a Folding Gun?
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Of course, ARs jumped on the train with not just folding stocks, but custom options like the FOLD-AR with a folding barrel and folding stock design. These things are everywhere these days, and a big question many people have is: why?
Why do these folding firearms exist? Why are they popular? Today, we are going to explore those very questions.
Novelty
Let’s face it, a gun that folds in half is just novel. It’s neat, it’s weird, and if it works, why not? I think a lot of these guns sell for the novelty factor. I purchased my first SUB-2000 because it seemed neat.
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The recent B&T and Zev offerings don’t just fold, but fold into what appears to be a box. Back in the Cold War days, several folding SMGs existed to be a bit of a disguised special operations/spy weapon. I don’t think they were ever used very much, but both the United States and Russia produced them.
The B&T and Zev designs inhibit the spirit of these guns. They look like blocks, but after some Michael Bay Transformer noises, they turn into firearms. There’s a novelty in the design that’s different from the typical AR or polymer-frame, striker-fired 9mm.
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Compact Design
These folding guns often become a lot more compact. Compact guns are easier to store, easier to travel with, and easier to use all around. This isn’t a new phenomenon. People have seemingly always appreciated smaller guns.
Look at yesteryear: most shotguns and many rifles produced from the 1900s to 1960s were take-down designs. Separating the barrel from the action was an easy way to make these weapons more compact for traveling and storage.
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The need persists, but the method to make it so has evolved. Folding guns fill the same role. Especially since it seems like the only take-down guns are ARs and guns that use a similar upper and lower design. Being able to fold the gun is superior for quick access and convenience.
Enhanced Concealment
If you can make a gun smaller, it becomes easier to conceal. It could be a truck gun, a bag gun, or, in some cases, a PDW. The B&T and Zev options would be quite suitable to address the rise of the PDW. Of course, carrying an SBR might be tricky in your state, but surely the non-rifle, really big pistol versions are possible.
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In a hiking pack, something like the Chiappa Big Badger in .410 can be handy, and still remain concealed. That’s a different kind of concealed carry, but it’s still viable. In terms of general concealed carry, the High Standard Switch and the Third Bay Ounce are both micro-sized handguns.
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These are very easy to conceal and even eliminate the need for a holster. The triggers are covered when folded, rendering them safe without the need for a holster. Folding guns often don’t look like guns, which again, is a benefit for concealment purposes.
Because the NFA Sucks
Even with tax-free tax stamps, the NFA still sucks. The paperwork, the restrictions, and the general hassle you have to deal with can be a serious downside. To get an ultra-short weapon, you have to deal with the NFA, or a folding gun. These guns can’t be fired folded, but remain ultra small when folded.
Most of these guns are SBR-sized unfolded, thanks to the magazine in the pistol grip design. Of course, you are limited to pistol caliber rounds for the most part.
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Outside of SBRs, folding guns also skate around the AOW rules. The AOW category covers a lot of guns, including disguised guns. However, as folding guns, they unfold into a firearm that looks standard and does not qualify as an AOW. This applies to the Ounce, the Switch, the B&T, and Zev.
Fold It Up
I’m going to keep folding my guns. I love these things. I like the novelty a lot, and a few I find handy for camping, hiking, and even concealed carry. They aren’t the guns I turn to for general tasks, but I find myself enjoying them immensely.
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