As far as I’m aware, the Seecamp series of pistols consists of the smallest semi-auto guns on the market. Now, saying that is a little controversial. Guns like the KelTec P32 are lighter and thinner, but in terms of length and height, the Seecamp series has those beat. The Seecamp pistols hit the market in 1981, but Ludwig Wilhelm Seecamp began a firearms career well before the Seecamp pistols.
He worked for Mossberg and later created a series of double-action conversions for M1911 pistols. In 1978, he began specializing in pocket pistols. It was a good time for Mr. Seecamp to get into the business. The Gun Control Act of 1968 prevented the import of guns of a certain size that couldn’t meet an arbitrary point allotment.
The Restricted Edition Seecamp LWS-25
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The American market had a minor focus on small guns, but the market was fairly open, especially for something new. Mr. Seecamp aimed to make the smallest semi-auto out there, surpassing guns like the Baby Browning. His first pistol was the LWS-25, which was also the world’s first stainless steel, hammer-fired, double-action-only pistol. It made use of dual nested recoil springs due to its ultra-small size.
Seecamp Keeps Moving
The LWS-25 made waves due to its micro-sized design. The pistol was 4.25 inches long, 3.25 inches tall, with a barrel length of 2.06 inches. It could fit in nearly any pocket and disappear. The gun held seven rounds, plus one more in the chamber. The use of .25 ACP ensured reliable operation thanks to its centerfire design.
The LWS-25 wasn’t produced for a very long time. In 1985, the LWS-25 was replaced by the LWS-32. Small runs of the LWS-25 would still commence on occasion. The LWS-32 offered a significantly more capable round, capable of reaching through 12 inches of ballistic gel. Seecamp designed the gun and round to function with .32 ACP hollow points. The .32 ACP is semi-rimmed, and semi-auto handguns can be subject to rimlock when using hollow points.
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This wasn’t the case with the LWS-32 due to its design, and it’s only supposed to shoot hollow points. The LWS-32 utilized a chamber ring delayed blowback system to help with the increased recoil of the .32 ACP in such a small pistol. This system uses friction to delay the opening. The case expands into a ring in the chamber to delay the opening of the breech.
This system was also used with the LWS-380, which began production in 1998 and maintained the same overall dimensions as the LWS-25 and LWS-32.
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Seecamp also produced a series of sets with matching serial numbers, where you got the LWS-25 and LWS-32. It appears at some point, Seecamp also produced a triple set with the same serial number for all three pistols, but added zeroes to seemingly please the ATF.
The Restricted Editions
As you can see, this gun is stamped Restricted Edition. There isn’t a lot of information on what that meant. I even emailed Seecamp, who is under new ownership, and they weren’t quite sure. When Seecamp sold sets with matching serial numbers, they were all seemingly stamped “Restricted Edition.”
This points to the fact that the gun was sold as a set and seems to be the most logical answer. For a time period, the ATF was fine with the guns sharing serial numbers because they were different calibers and different models. They eventually changed their mind, and this practice was restricted.
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Afterwards, sets would still be made, but the serial numbers were slightly different. One example I saw used an A prefix, a 00 prefix, and then a standard serial number.
According to Bradford’s Auction Gallery, only 20 sets were ever made. Sportsman’s Legacy states that 200 sets were produced before the ATF changed its mind. My serial number is a three-digit number, and it seems likely that there were 200 sets, or at least 200 Restricted Edition pistols, produced.
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The other rumor is that Seecamp originally had an exclusive distributorship deal, and they were allowed to sell or give pistols to friends, family, and select customers, and those guns were marked “Restricted Edition.” I emailed Seecamp, and they confirmed that the sole agreement existed, and that Ludwig Seecamp sold guns to family and friends marked “Restricted Edition.”
A Little Bit of Both?
So maybe both the matching pairs and some special editions were produced with “Restricted Edition” stamped on the guns.
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A forum poster at Colt Forum posted photos of a Restricted Edition LWS-25 that belonged to a DEA Agent while in Turkey. That forum poster had several letters exchanged between the DEA Agent and Seecamp, and there was no mention of a secondary matching .32 ACP variant.
What’s really critical and why I think the Restricted Editions existed outside of pairs is that the letters are date-stamped 1981, which predates the .32 variant by four years.
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To add to the confusion, there was also a time period of custom serial numbers. One example I found at an old auction had a serial number of GRIZZLY01. That gun was also stamped “Restricted Edition.”
The Seecamp LWS-25
The LWS-25 I have has a three-digit serial number, which likely means it was handbuilt by Mr. Seecamp, his son, or one of the seven other gunsmiths they originally had working with them. Seecamp was a small company, and its guns had massive demand. So much so that Larry Seecamp, son of Ludwig, carried a blemished model to ensure customers could get pistols.
Waiting lists could be as long as two years to get a pistol. It wasn’t uncommon for someone to purchase a Seecamp and turn around and instantly flip it for substantial profit. A friend who has been in the industry for a long time told me that it wasn’t uncommon to see Seecamps flipped for 900 dollars in the 1980s.
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I feel fairly pleased to have such a low-digit, Restricted Edition of the LWS-25. Sadly, mine has broken grips, and I need to order a replacement set. Other than that, the gun appears to have been babied. It doesn’t have much wear.
In The Hand
The stainless design makes it a hefty 13.25 ounces fully loaded. The small size makes you think the gun will be light, but it feels a bit like a brick in your hand. There is no safety or slide release, and the gun uses a heel-style magazine release at the bottom of the grip. The gun has a magazine safety and will not fire with the magazine removed.
The LWS-25 and its younger brothers are designed to be pocket guns. They are supposed to be smooth with a snag-free draw. The general snag-free profile is emphasized by a lack of sights. It’s a point-and-shoot type gun.
The slide is heavily serrated with deep grooves to offer an excellent grip. You’ll need a good grip to rack the action. The dual nested recoil springs are fighting you with everything they have to keep you from racking the slide.
Shooting The LWS-25
The LWS-25 uses a blowback action, and the hefty weight, dual-nested recoil springs, and use of the anemic .25 ACP make it easy to shoot. The gun won’t beat your hand up, and it’s easy to control. I’m shocked there is no slide bite. It’s enjoyable to shoot.
The lack of sights makes this a true belly gun. It’s a close-range “get off me” gun, and I have a hard time hitting steel gongs beyond seven yards. If I take my time, find the right hold, I can hit steel; from the draw, it’s a little luck beyond seven yards.
On a man-sized target, it’s a bit easier to hit the target at 10 yards, but it’s not going to print tiny little groups. NAA produced a copy called the Guardian that introduced sights into the deal, and I think I’d rather have sights even if I’m only shooting at close range.
The double-action trigger pull is hefty and long, but smooth. It’s a nice double action. The double-action trigger, the lack of sights, and the teeny-tiny grip make this thing tough to shoot accurately.
The gun’s reliable enough. I’ve only shot 150 rounds and haven’t had any malfunctions. That’s not a lot, but .25 ACP isn’t cheap, and I don’t plan to carry this gun. It’s a collector’s item and a piece of history to me.
It’s still fun to shoot. The .25 ACP recoil and the near guessing game of where you’ll hit can be enjoyable. This isn’t the gun I’d carry for self-defense, but I can see the appeal for an insanely deep concealment gun.
Seecamp Today
Ludwig passed the company to Larry Seecamp. In 2014, Larry sold the company and retired. We lost Larry in 2018. Seecamp is currently owned by Whalley Precision, and guns are manufactured in Southwick, MA. The new owners are still producing these guns at a high level of quality in .32 ACP and .380 ACP.
I might pick up an LWS-32 and NAA Guardian .32 to round out my .32 ACP collection, but for now, I’m happy with the LWS-25.
