Sphinx AT 380

rodgers330 · January 22, 2005, 05:12 PM

Every once in a while you get lucky. I stopped by my favorite dealer to pick up a transfer and left with this Sphinx AT380 for $200 out the door. He took it in trade knowing it would sit on the shelf forever as nobody recognizes Sphinx handguns as a quality piece. There is no evidence it's ever been fired but I've got to pick up a second mag. Anyway, since you don't see too many of these, thought I'd post a couple of pics.

xrageofangelsx · January 22, 2005, 05:48 PM

Not a bad looking gun! Don't know much (anything) about them, but it looks nice. Let us all know how it shoots with a range report.

Ozzieman · January 22, 2005, 05:58 PM

I went looking because I have never heard of them and was interested. There is not that much out there but 200 is very cheep, since most places that list them are quoting +500$.
If it functions well and holds up you should have a good buy.
Where is it made, there just is not that much information on the gun you have.

This is a sight that has magazines for it
http://www.hoosiergunworks.com/catal...ne_pistol.html

This is a loacation that has several for sale
http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976510071.htm

chameleon · January 22, 2005, 06:29 PM

I have the exact same model. You could get one without the ambi safety.
Mine is very, very accurate, and a beautiful gun.
The problem is its size, as it is the same size as my Kimber Ultra Elite.
My Sphinx has a very smooth trigger. When ever I pull it out of my safe or range bag, people love the looks of it.
I never got a custom holster for it, so it never spent time as a carry piece.
Yeah, I did carry it in an Uncle Mikes holster, but no many times.

Good luck with yours, as you did get it for a great price. I wouldn't sell mine for twice that price.

rodgers330 · January 22, 2005, 06:31 PM

Ozzieman, Sphinx is best known for their clones of the CZ-75. The company was originally ITM but changed their name to Sphinx Systems in 1991. Some accounts suggest the Sphinx guns are an improvement over CZ's. They are fairly expensive and recognized for their high quality. They are manufactured in Switzerland. I think they closed during the late 1990's but have since resumed business. They were seeking a US distributor and their web site, http://www.sphinx-systems.ch/, indicates that Sabre Defense Industries in Nashville is their only US distributor. Oddly, Sabre's web site makes no reference to Sphinx.

The AT.380-M is a DAO handgun that accomodates 10+1 rounds-- a nice advantage over most 380s.

chameleon · January 22, 2005, 06:37 PM

My Sphinx has Sile Dist. written on the frame. All this talk about it, I had to drag it out of the safe. I forgot about the ambidextrous mag release, and slide release, and safety. Ahh but that trigger is still as smoth as I remembered.

Thanks for the updated history on this wonderful gun.

gudel · January 22, 2005, 07:23 PM

cool gun. how about better pics now?

FirstFreedom · January 22, 2005, 07:39 PM

That's pretty neat looking..let us know how it shoots.

Ozzieman · January 22, 2005, 08:00 PM

I have a Walther PPKs (build by smith and wesson) and with over 400 rounds in it it still wont shoot two complete mags in a row.
What a piece of junk, we have a gun show coming up in a couple of weeks and I will look for one, with what every one here has said about it, it looks like a good gun to dump the piece of crap walther I have on.
A curse on Smith and wesson for building such a piece of crap

PsychoSword · January 22, 2005, 09:24 PM

I saw a used one at the beef jerky, belt buckle, 50 year old ammo and cheap knives show today.
$499

I had never seen one in person before, I was surprised, I thought it would be a little bit smaller.

I'm glad I brought three copies of my C&R along.

Did see a nice looking SKS Paratrooper with a poorly fitted recoil pad (like all the rest at the table) for $190 and the guy said he would throw in a couple of boxes of ammo, but I passed.

rodgers330 · January 22, 2005, 10:11 PM

a couple more pics for Gudel

106RR · January 25, 2005, 02:20 AM

A handsome and well made piece I'd say. They were adopted by the New Jersey Correctional officers as an off duty piece. It seems that the union demanded and got ambidextrous pistols. I don't know of any other LEO groups that used them.
I talked to a Swiss guy at their booth last year and he said they might get a distributor in Colorado. I'll try and find him again this year.

rodgers330 · February 9, 2005, 11:02 PM

Sabre Defence's web site now indicates they will become Sphinx's U.S. distributor as of September, 2005. Considering you can find brand new CZ's in the $400 to $500 range, you have to wonder how many $2000 CZ 75 clones they'll sell.

http://www.sabredefence.com/html/what_s_new.html

Palehorse__ · February 14, 2005, 09:23 PM

I agree here on the price tag issue. The way to look at it is this: The CZ in the $400 +/- range is a pretty good deal. The $2000 for the New Sphinx 3000 in whatever model seems STEEP! Consider this - a Timex watch will keep time fine and many will last you a lifetime. They're also cheap. A Rolex can cost anwhere from $2000 - to over $100,000. It will also keep time very precisely and will usually last more than one lifetime. But the price difference is HUGE. Same goes for the Sphinx. It's the Swiss attention to detail and craftsmanship that set it apart from the rest of the pack of mere "man-stoppers."
Personally, I own a Sphinx AT 380-M (M indicates the safety option). I paid about $360.00 in Washington State in 1995. I have the 11 round clip (pre 10 round limitation law). I absolutely LOVE the weapon. It's compact, SOLID, accurate, easily disassembled, reliable... The list goes on and on. I am planning to purchase the 3000 Titanium model when it's available in September.
The guns are more than clones of the CZ - personally I don't put them in the same league with each other. Sphinx is banking on its Swiss manufacturing and craftsmanship. For those who value this and want a piece that stands above the competition, they'll shell out the money.
Those that see it as overpaying in many instances have a valid point. A less expensive weapon may be just as reliable, or at worse perform marginally inferior. It's a choice - plain and simple. I will give a glowing testimony every time someone asks me about this eye-catching little side arm. The gun has been a very good performer, and only when firing the really crappy gun show cheap as hell ammo has it ever had a jam. The personal defense rounds never jam and I'd go into battle with it any day (maybe not as a primary weapon due to calibre).
That's all - just thought I'd put my 2 cents in. Sphinx GOOD, bad guys still BAD...

PsychoSword · February 15, 2005, 08:36 PM

Are they all Double Action Only?

Palehorse__ · February 16, 2005, 04:26 PM

Sphinx developed their own addition to the double action mechanism. They developed something called the Safe System that they patented. This mechanism decocks and secures the trigger system after each shot... Sounds wierd until you see it in action. The hammer itself is just a rounded flat piece that hits the pin inside the gun. After each shot that hammer is in the "decocked" position, but still ready to fire the next round. This allows instant use in any situation. If there is a round in the chamber, all you need to do is unholster and pull trigger - deadly simple and works like a charm!!!

Jehzsa · February 16, 2005, 05:57 PM

One thing you will notice is that after firing it a couple of times, the right side safety will dangle and be loose. If you take the slide off and look there inside, you will see that it can be tightened with a very small allen wrench. Until the next time. A glitch that they could never fix. Perhaps Loc-tite.

Also don't over-tighten the grips. The more you tighten them, the more it will distort the shape and you will notice the ends separating from the frame. Tricky because, after firing they do tend to come loose. I fed mine Hirtenberger. It kicks. But in a good sense.

Beyond that, a wonderful gun. Feels great in the hand, especially with finger extension mags. And you got a very, very good deal.

January 22, 2005, 05:12 PM	#1
rodgers330 Member Join Date: December 30, 2004 Posts: 21	Sphinx AT 380 Every once in a while you get lucky. I stopped by my favorite dealer to pick up a transfer and left with this Sphinx AT380 for $200 out the door. He took it in trade knowing it would sit on the shelf forever as nobody recognizes Sphinx handguns as a quality piece. There is no evidence it's ever been fired but I've got to pick up a second mag. Anyway, since you don't see too many of these, thought I'd post a couple of pics.

January 22, 2005, 05:48 PM	#2
xrageofangelsx Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2004 Location: Ohio, Indiana and sometimes Kentucky. Posts: 409	Not a bad looking gun! Don't know much (anything) about them, but it looks nice. Let us all know how it shoots with a range report. __________________ Caution: Author suffers from foot in mouth disease.

January 22, 2005, 05:58 PM	#3
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 2,577	Never heard of it I went looking because I have never heard of them and was interested. There is not that much out there but 200 is very cheep, since most places that list them are quoting +500$. If it functions well and holds up you should have a good buy. Where is it made, there just is not that much information on the gun you have. This is a sight that has magazines for it http://www.hoosiergunworks.com/catal...ne_pistol.html This is a loacation that has several for sale http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976510071.htm

January 22, 2005, 08:00 PM	#9
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 2,577	Thanks rodgers I have a Walther PPKs (build by smith and wesson) and with over 400 rounds in it it still wont shoot two complete mags in a row. What a piece of junk, we have a gun show coming up in a couple of weeks and I will look for one, with what every one here has said about it, it looks like a good gun to dump the piece of crap walther I have on. A curse on Smith and wesson for building such a piece of crap

February 9, 2005, 11:02 PM	#13
rodgers330 Member Join Date: December 30, 2004 Posts: 21	Sabre Defence is new Sphinx Distributor Sabre Defence's web site now indicates they will become Sphinx's U.S. distributor as of September, 2005. Considering you can find brand new CZ's in the $400 to $500 range, you have to wonder how many $2000 CZ 75 clones they'll sell. http://www.sabredefence.com/html/what_s_new.html

January 22, 2005, 06:29 PM	#4
chameleon Member Join Date: August 18, 2004 Posts: 54	I have the exact same model. You could get one without the ambi safety. Mine is very, very accurate, and a beautiful gun. The problem is its size, as it is the same size as my Kimber Ultra Elite. My Sphinx has a very smooth trigger. When ever I pull it out of my safe or range bag, people love the looks of it. I never got a custom holster for it, so it never spent time as a carry piece. Yeah, I did carry it in an Uncle Mikes holster, but no many times. Good luck with yours, as you did get it for a great price. I wouldn't sell mine for twice that price.

January 22, 2005, 06:31 PM	#5
rodgers330 Member Join Date: December 30, 2004 Posts: 21	Ozzieman, Sphinx is best known for their clones of the CZ-75. The company was originally ITM but changed their name to Sphinx Systems in 1991. Some accounts suggest the Sphinx guns are an improvement over CZ's. They are fairly expensive and recognized for their high quality. They are manufactured in Switzerland. I think they closed during the late 1990's but have since resumed business. They were seeking a US distributor and their web site, http://www.sphinx-systems.ch/, indicates that Sabre Defense Industries in Nashville is their only US distributor. Oddly, Sabre's web site makes no reference to Sphinx. The AT.380-M is a DAO handgun that accomodates 10+1 rounds-- a nice advantage over most 380s.

January 22, 2005, 06:37 PM	#6
chameleon Member Join Date: August 18, 2004 Posts: 54	My Sphinx has Sile Dist. written on the frame. All this talk about it, I had to drag it out of the safe. I forgot about the ambidextrous mag release, and slide release, and safety. Ahh but that trigger is still as smoth as I remembered. Thanks for the updated history on this wonderful gun.

January 22, 2005, 07:23 PM	#7
gudel Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2004 Location: Golden State Posts: 591	cool gun. how about better pics now?

January 22, 2005, 07:39 PM	#8
FirstFreedom Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,455	That's pretty neat looking..let us know how it shoots.

January 22, 2005, 09:24 PM	#10
PsychoSword Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2002 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,488	I saw a used one at the beef jerky, belt buckle, 50 year old ammo and cheap knives show today. $499 I had never seen one in person before, I was surprised, I thought it would be a little bit smaller. I'm glad I brought three copies of my C&R along. Did see a nice looking SKS Paratrooper with a poorly fitted recoil pad (like all the rest at the table) for $190 and the guy said he would throw in a couple of boxes of ammo, but I passed.

January 22, 2005, 10:11 PM	#11
rodgers330 Member Join Date: December 30, 2004 Posts: 21	a couple more pics for Gudel

January 25, 2005, 02:20 AM	#12
106RR Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2002 Posts: 197	A handsome and well made piece I'd say. They were adopted by the New Jersey Correctional officers as an off duty piece. It seems that the union demanded and got ambidextrous pistols. I don't know of any other LEO groups that used them. I talked to a Swiss guy at their booth last year and he said they might get a distributor in Colorado. I'll try and find him again this year.

February 14, 2005, 09:23 PM	#14
Palehorse__ Junior Member Join Date: February 14, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 8	Sphinx and its price tag I agree here on the price tag issue. The way to look at it is this: The CZ in the $400 +/- range is a pretty good deal. The $2000 for the New Sphinx 3000 in whatever model seems STEEP! Consider this - a Timex watch will keep time fine and many will last you a lifetime. They're also cheap. A Rolex can cost anwhere from $2000 - to over $100,000. It will also keep time very precisely and will usually last more than one lifetime. But the price difference is HUGE. Same goes for the Sphinx. It's the Swiss attention to detail and craftsmanship that set it apart from the rest of the pack of mere "man-stoppers." Personally, I own a Sphinx AT 380-M (M indicates the safety option). I paid about $360.00 in Washington State in 1995. I have the 11 round clip (pre 10 round limitation law). I absolutely LOVE the weapon. It's compact, SOLID, accurate, easily disassembled, reliable... The list goes on and on. I am planning to purchase the 3000 Titanium model when it's available in September. The guns are more than clones of the CZ - personally I don't put them in the same league with each other. Sphinx is banking on its Swiss manufacturing and craftsmanship. For those who value this and want a piece that stands above the competition, they'll shell out the money. Those that see it as overpaying in many instances have a valid point. A less expensive weapon may be just as reliable, or at worse perform marginally inferior. It's a choice - plain and simple. I will give a glowing testimony every time someone asks me about this eye-catching little side arm. The gun has been a very good performer, and only when firing the really crappy gun show cheap as hell ammo has it ever had a jam. The personal defense rounds never jam and I'd go into battle with it any day (maybe not as a primary weapon due to calibre). That's all - just thought I'd put my 2 cents in. Sphinx GOOD, bad guys still BAD...

February 15, 2005, 08:36 PM	#15
PsychoSword Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2002 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,488	Are they all Double Action Only?

February 16, 2005, 04:26 PM	#16
Palehorse__ Junior Member Join Date: February 14, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 8	Double action on the Sphinx Sphinx developed their own addition to the double action mechanism. They developed something called the Safe System that they patented. This mechanism decocks and secures the trigger system after each shot... Sounds wierd until you see it in action. The hammer itself is just a rounded flat piece that hits the pin inside the gun. After each shot that hammer is in the "decocked" position, but still ready to fire the next round. This allows instant use in any situation. If there is a round in the chamber, all you need to do is unholster and pull trigger - deadly simple and works like a charm!!!

February 16, 2005, 05:57 PM	#17
Jehzsa Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2004 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 731	One thing you will notice is that after firing it a couple of times, the right side safety will dangle and be loose. If you take the slide off and look there inside, you will see that it can be tightened with a very small allen wrench. Until the next time. A glitch that they could never fix. Perhaps Loc-tite. Also don't over-tighten the grips. The more you tighten them, the more it will distort the shape and you will notice the ends separating from the frame. Tricky because, after firing they do tend to come loose. I fed mine Hirtenberger. It kicks. But in a good sense. Beyond that, a wonderful gun. Feels great in the hand, especially with finger extension mags. And you got a very, very good deal.