North American Arms Guardian .32 ACP Pistol

The North American Arms Guardian .32 Is a compact double action only pistol constructed of stainless steel. Double action only means that the pistol is fired by pulling the trigger through a long and sometimes heavier trigger movement. In this case the trigger pull is a heavy 10 pounds. This gun is designed not to fire by accident and has no manual safety and so the heavy trigger pull is necessary and not the result of sloppy workmanship. Easily slipped into a pocket or purse, it can discreetly go where other firearms would attract unwanted attention. The magazine holds six rounds of .32 ACP ammunition. That's not enough ammunition to shoot a combat match, but should be adequate for close personal encounters. An extra round may be carried chambered or one can always carry additional loaded magazines.

I like the compactness of the Guardian .32. At a height of 3.3", a length of 4.4" and a width of 0.85", it can be tucked into the back pocket of your favorite jeans or into a purse and go unnoticed. With an unloaded weight of 13.5 ounces it is one of the lighter guns of this caliber. The gun is simple to operate, just point and shoot, with no safety buttons to get in the way. The stainless construction makes it less likely to corrode in the humid confines found in close body contact or to display scratches from rubbing against the keys and change in a purse. Personally, if this was my carry gun on a daily basis, I'd want a holster to keep lint out of the muzzle. Fortunately North American Arms has already considered this and has holsters available for purchase.

The sights on the Guardian . 32 are small and utilitarian meant for a snag free draw. Novak, Tritium, Guttersnipe and XS sights are available on special order.

Stripping the gun for cleaning is a simple process. Be certain the gun is unloaded. Remove the magazine, press the slide release button and remove the slide by lifting it and pulling it to the rear. This exposes the breech of the firearm for easy access for cleaning.

You won't notice carrying the North American Arms Guardian .32 until you need it. When that need arises, you'll be glad you have it and well prepared.

Information for this article was obtained at: http://www.northamericanarms.com/guard.html