SHOT Show is always good for a few off-the-wall products, and 2022 was no exception. Leading the way was the Ounce Oz semi-auto .22 LR handgun from Third Bay, LLC.
The Ounce actually weighs 8.5 ounces full loaded, but it takes as its motto Benjamin Franklin’s famous line: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Whether the Ounce would effectively prevent much of anything remains to be seen. The gun is designed to be carried folded in a shape that measures 3.75” x 3” x 0.75.” Users point the red barrel away from them before hitting a switch that unfolds the handle and joins the firing pin and trigger mechanism.
Ten rounds of .22 LR are loaded into the top, and the semi-auto gun drops the spent casings down through the handle.
Inventor Bill Osborne was inspired to design the Ounce after a friend was violently assaulted. She was uncomfortable carrying a loaded gun, so he set out to design a firearm that could not be accidentally discharged while being carried.
The Ounce is incredibly light and incredibly small, and we found the unfolding mechanism to be quick and intuitive.
But without testing it ourselves, we can’t speak to reliability or durability. That gun derives its light weight from the thin metal used in construction, and the feeding mechanism is full of small moving parts.
It also goes without saying that having to unfold a firearm in a stressful situation presents safety risks of its own.
Osborne told us he’s tested the gun with a variety of ammunition, and he imagines most users opting for “self-defense” .22 LR like the Federal Punch, CCI Stinger, and CCI Velocitor.
The Ounce Oz will come with an $899 MSRP and should start shipping within the next 2-3 weeks.
Click HERE to learn more about the Ounce Oz.
If you manage to get that out of your pocket, assemble it, and shoot the bad guy he is really going to be pissed off if he notices.
I forget the reason Bond abandoned his lil Beretta for the ppk, but being fiction he coulda chose the Dardick. Anybody remember the fabled (cursed) Chauchat? Unjam it, mon frere, and shoot it some more, it will smooth itself out….. those are some uuugly toolmarks, thar, bubba
looks like a real jamomatic.
I like the innovation, but I echo everyones spit take at the $900 price tag. For that money you can get a Ruger 22/45, trick it out AND 1000rnds (even at today’s ammo prices). For $900. It’s a great novelty, might even pass as an ankle backup/bug out bag “break glass if needed” gun, but nothing more. High $200 -low $300 tops.
For those who don’t want to bring a SWITCHBLADE to a gun fight…
More fodder for Ian.
I have a ruger lcp2 22lr that holds 10rds with the stock mag and 14rds with a tandemcross extender Floorplan. The only thing that stops it is the occasional bulkpack dud.
Cost $300
I will just keep my HAND FAZER THANK YOU CAPTAIN KIRK
excellent
I like to see unique ideas that are out of the norm. I’d love to have one just for fun, but not paying over about $250. Sorry, it’s not that novel.
Not that novel? Show me another one like it!
All those small moving parts, can’t imagine some pocket, or purse lint getting in there and gumming up the works.
The number 1 rule of a defensive weapon is reliability. You really need to trust that when the time comes it will go bang.
And don’t get me started on the fact the top feed magazine completely illuminates any chance of accuracy (beyond arms length.
The lint problem was foreseen by the engineer team and the deluxe package includes a small battery operated fan and lint brush.
Waaaaayyyy overpriced. I appreciate innovative ideas as much as the next guy, but would would buy NAA, KELTEC, or Beretta before spending that kind of money on a .22. Too reminiscent of the little 22 zip gun from years ago
Another violation of the KISS rule.
Extremely skeptical of this. Too fiddly, too small caliber and WAAAY overpriced. Also does not look like a gun. I’ve used a pocket pistol (AMT Back-Up) in self defense many times. The perp saw my gun and fled. No shots fired. This doesn’t even look like a gun. Get a Kel-Tec P3AT, like I have now or Ruger LCP. These are DAO and very safe.
Beretta 21A bobcat for 1/3 the price if you insist on a .22
Because the original Zip22 wasn’t expensive enough!
Over priced by a mile, and how do you clear a malfunction? Because rimfire ammo WILL malfunction. I do not care how well made your firearm is. A certain percentage of rimfire ammo will simply not fire.
I will put this gun into the “better than nothing” category, but I will not buy one for more than the price of North American Arms revolver. If the NAA gun has a misfire, you can just keep firing.
I don’t love what look to be metal debris in the complex mechanism, and the tool marks are scary. Drunk monkey running the knee mill? Innovation is good, but it seems impractical. If attacked, you’re already a step behind, and every tenth of a second can count. Modern revolvers are stupid safe, tho not safe for the truly stupid.
Incredible and we thought we’ve invented it all already. When do you start selling or taking orders?
nope for 900 get some thing better..dont bet ur life or some one you love on this..1 to many small part.2.22lr.3.900.oo really?remember folks a 22lr has NO stopping power..yup it can kill but a 300lb pissed off bad guy is bad..that is what you will get w 22lr unless u get just the correct spot..o well neat gizmoe .be well stay safe folks
Nice but $899.00 not that nice 😠😠😠😠😠
$899 ?? That’s nuts! They might sell 2 or 3 at that price.
Love the innovation, despite the questionable practicality.
Cool, but way to expensive
Geez! Violently assaulted but still unwilling to get a gun that’s actually usable and learn how to use it.
And the answer is some Rube Goldberg contraption. “Hold up! I gotta unfold my Roscoe!”
Osborne must have the hots for this girl really bad.
I would just get her a Sabre Mk 6 and move on.
This guy can’t be serious $900 for this gun? Was thinking it would sell at $150-$200 and maybe I’d buy one out of curiosity sake, but $900 if he sells one gun I’d be surprised. I’ll bet gun stores won’t even buy it to put them on their shelves. Wow.
Q approved.
MSRP $899,, maybe opt for two Ruger LCP .380’s,, his and hers,,, with lasers and a couple boxes of ammo. Pretty much same pocket sized, more stopping power and don’t have to call time out and ask bad guys to wait for unfolding
An interesting innovation, but $900?
Hope springs eternal…
At first glance, I said WTH ??? I read the article and said same. I watched the video and what I had seen made ALOT more sense. A picture imight be worth 1000 words, but (in this case anyway) a video is priceless. That said, if his sole motivation was to make people who are afraid to carry a loaded gun feel more “comfortable” I’m afraid this will serve as a swing and a miss. When they hit that switch and that thing unfolds from its carry position, it will undoubtedly have the opposite effect. Just my opinion. Extremely innovative. Check. Possesses a certain “cool factor”. Check. Trust it to be reliable. Crickets. Hell, I could never even get my Krap-tek PMR-30 to feed reliably and that’s a “tried and true” design. Not sure how this thing feeds, so maybe that solves/prevents the issue. Wouldn’t mind it as a novelty piece, but not to trust my life to and NOT for $899.
Neat Idea . Too many moving parts ( to be shot often , and stay reliable ) probably. Also , $900 ?? , a bit pricey for a 22 pistol.
Is anybody really gonna pay $900 for this gimmicky piece of junk?
Cool. But not $900.00 worth of cool. Sounds like the guy wants to recoup his R&D, manufacturing and marketing costs as quickly as possible ( who dont?) . I predict it will be another blip in firearms history.