Downsizer

Timeframe · November 30, 2006, 09:57 PM

I was looking thru my Gun Digest book and notice an odd looking gun called the Downsizer WSP.
Has anyone ever seen or shot one of these?They seem to be hard to find.

Erich · December 1, 2006, 09:14 AM

I think the company never really took off. Never seen one in the flesh.

texmex · December 2, 2006, 01:20 AM

http://www.downsizer.com/

They were always very expensive.

chris in va · December 2, 2006, 01:36 AM

They want $500...for that?

skidmark · December 3, 2006, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Has anyone ever seen or shot one of these?They seem to be hard to find.

My Downsizer WSP is a money-maker.

Fire off a .45 acp from the palm of your hand, with the muzzle a mere fraction of an inch from your trigger finger.

My standing offer is I will pay you $5.00 if you can fire, reload, and fire again in under 60 seconds. If you go over 60 seconds you owe me $10.00.

I demonstrate how to use the ball-detent release for the tip-up muzzle, and the proper method of employing the tactical reloader device (usually a BIC stick pen).

I've only paid out twice in over a hundred times. The WSP has a trigger pull that is greater than any of the strain guages my FFL has (max = 20#). My guess is 30# +. If that's not enough to slow you down, the "recoil" will.

Just about everybody who has fired the thing has uttered the same 2-word phrase immediately afterwards -- "Day Yumm!" [needs a good ol' boy accent for best rendition] That phrase is universally accompanied by a shaking/waving of the hand while simultaneously massaging the heel of the palm.

OK, I got the thing because I had some fun money after a good night of poker, and a long life of little to no brains. The thing is accurate, grouping (if you can call it that) under 6 inches out to maybe 12 inches. After that things widen up rapidly. Calling this a belly gun is being very honest about where you place it before pulling the trigger.

It's only use is as a last-ditch item, but between the alleged power of the .45 acp round coming out of the casing, and the damage inflicted by the muzzleblast of hot gasses, it ought to get the BG's attention.

One last thing. The literature that comes with it has the following warning in the largest type font: "Do NOT fire more than five (5) times in any 24-hour period." Experience suggests that severe blunt-force trauma injury may resullt.

stay safe.

skidmark

Edward429451 · December 3, 2006, 04:26 PM

LOL skidmark! Excellant write up on what looks like a super cool little pistol. I like it. Smaller than a playing card, pays for itself over time, whats not to like?

Granted, it fills a super small little niche, but a reloader like myself could cook up some slug the bore level loads and increase its shootability somewhat. My bet would have to specify they do it with factory ammo. Corbon anyone?

I wonder if that thing is rated for 45 Super? Nah, better not go that far, I do call em friends.

Too bad it's not 99.95 like it should be.

Erich · December 4, 2006, 10:14 AM

Great review, skidmark!

pogo2 · December 4, 2006, 06:00 PM

Follow the link:

Auction Arms comment on Downsizer

M2HB · October 21, 2015, 05:46 PM

Skidmark, do you still have the Downsizer and if so, can you do a YouTube video?

There isn't one video on this hand cannon.

DaleA · October 21, 2015, 06:27 PM

M2HB-Well skidmark last posted about four years ago so you might not be getting an answer soon.

Then again he might have just been waiting in the weeds for me to make a snarky comment and come out and thrash me properly.

Sigh. It's always a problem with these old sometimes dead threads popping up again. Good luck finding information about it.

skizzums · October 21, 2015, 06:41 PM

doesn't someone here have one? peggysue maybe? I remember seeing a poster's pictures not too long ago.

M2HB · October 21, 2015, 10:03 PM

I just liked Skidmark's bet that he had going. I want to see it in action.

There really isn't much info on the Downsizer.

The one YouTube video shows various pistols, but no Downsizer.

Having a YouTube video of him doing his bet would be awesome.

peggysue · October 22, 2015, 04:36 AM

Resurrected page after a decade!! I feel old. Here is my Downsizer. HURTS to shoot however IT IS unique. Not that many out there. I have all the smallest and then some. Here you go with my Pen gun.
Pic attached.

mkiker2089 · October 22, 2015, 05:38 AM

It looks similar to the Double Tap but with a distinct flair all it's own. I'm told the Double Tap is hard to use as well.

The irony to me is that I've been researching derringers and Double Tap is impossible to get in touch with as well. I've seen their guns so they are being made, but their website is horribly broken.

If they used something smaller than 45acp it probably wouldn't hurt as bad. Is that why a lot of derringers that I see in the wild are 22lr?

Slimjim9 · October 22, 2015, 07:26 AM

From the OP's pic I was going to say it looked like a Taurus Curve prototype but didn't get a sense of scale until peggysue's pic. That is I-n-s-a-n-e!

why don't you just hold the cartridge in one hand and hit it with a hammer?

Derringers- same thing. When your point of aim is measured in inches rather than yards, 22lr is about as effective as anything else.

peggysue · October 22, 2015, 07:44 AM

Mike it is VERY MUCH smaller than a Doubletap...see the link under my Downsizer pictures...shows them together.

DaleA · October 22, 2015, 11:12 AM

Peggysue-that really IS tiny.

Thanks for posting the comparison picture.

M2HB · October 22, 2015, 12:48 PM

Thanks for the picture.

I just wanted to see Skidmark put his bet on video. I think it would be funny to watch.

peggysue · October 22, 2015, 01:11 PM

Mike
By the way a 45 ported Double tap is only $191. 9mm less. At Budsgun http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...CP+3%22+Ported

skizzums · October 22, 2015, 01:43 PM

sue, is shooting the DownSizer really s bad as Skidmark claims? like fearing actual nerve damage by repeated use etc.? I could imagine it would feel like getting whacked with hammer with you hand under a small piece of steel...... but it does look handy indeed.

peggysue · October 22, 2015, 02:54 PM

I don't know never have shot either of mine a 9 and a 45. They did make slip over rubber grips for them to take the sting out. (On the right one.) I shot the Downsizer years ago ONCE.
The Doubletap are now 1/2 of the price as when they first came out on Buds. A deal and even ported.

mkiker2089 · October 22, 2015, 08:32 PM

most reviews say the Double Tap is a little painful to fire also. The Bond Arms guns aren't as small but the larger handle on them seems to make them more comfortable.

That said, I do kind of want a Double Tap now. Hopefully once people get used to Buds lower price we'll see them pop up on places like Gunbroker for less. Right now people are trying to sell used ones for more than the new ones cost.

Peggy, in your comparison pic, what is the gun in the lower left corner?

peggysue · October 23, 2015, 04:10 AM

COP 357 Derringer. I do not think they are making DT's anymore.

M2HB · November 3, 2015, 07:32 PM

peggysue, did you ever think about doing a YouTube video with your Downsizer? I still want to see someone shoot it with standard 230 grain ball ammo.

December 2, 2006, 01:20 AM	#3
texmex Member Join Date: November 21, 2004 Posts: 85	web address http://www.downsizer.com/ They were always very expensive.

December 4, 2006, 06:00 PM	#8
pogo2 Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2002 Location: Southwest Posts: 879	Auction Arms comment on Downsizer Follow the link: Auction Arms comment on Downsizer

October 21, 2015, 06:41 PM	#11
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	doesn't someone here have one? peggysue maybe? I remember seeing a poster's pictures not too long ago. __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

October 22, 2015, 07:26 AM	#15
Slimjim9 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2015 Posts: 783	From the OP's pic I was going to say it looked like a Taurus Curve prototype but didn't get a sense of scale until peggysue's pic. That is I-n-s-a-n-e! why don't you just hold the cartridge in one hand and hit it with a hammer? Derringers- same thing. When your point of aim is measured in inches rather than yards, 22lr is about as effective as anything else. __________________ Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.

October 22, 2015, 01:43 PM	#20
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	sue, is shooting the DownSizer really s bad as Skidmark claims? like fearing actual nerve damage by repeated use etc.? I could imagine it would feel like getting whacked with hammer with you hand under a small piece of steel...... but it does look handy indeed. __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

December 1, 2006, 09:14 AM	#2
Erich Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Albuquerque, NM, USA Posts: 2,543	I think the company never really took off. Never seen one in the flesh.

December 2, 2006, 01:36 AM	#4
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	They want $500...for that?

December 3, 2006, 04:26 PM	#6
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	LOL skidmark! Excellant write up on what looks like a super cool little pistol. I like it. Smaller than a playing card, pays for itself over time, whats not to like? Granted, it fills a super small little niche, but a reloader like myself could cook up some slug the bore level loads and increase its shootability somewhat. My bet would have to specify they do it with factory ammo. Corbon anyone? I wonder if that thing is rated for 45 Super? Nah, better not go that far, I do call em friends. Too bad it's not 99.95 like it should be.

December 4, 2006, 10:14 AM	#7
Erich Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Albuquerque, NM, USA Posts: 2,543	Great review, skidmark!

October 21, 2015, 05:46 PM	#9
M2HB Member Join Date: July 13, 2004 Posts: 30	Skidmark, do you still have the Downsizer and if so, can you do a YouTube video? There isn't one video on this hand cannon.

October 21, 2015, 06:27 PM	#10
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,313	M2HB-Well skidmark last posted about four years ago so you might not be getting an answer soon. Then again he might have just been waiting in the weeds for me to make a snarky comment and come out and thrash me properly. Sigh. It's always a problem with these old sometimes dead threads popping up again. Good luck finding information about it.

October 21, 2015, 10:03 PM	#12
M2HB Member Join Date: July 13, 2004 Posts: 30	I just liked Skidmark's bet that he had going. I want to see it in action. There really isn't much info on the Downsizer. The one YouTube video shows various pistols, but no Downsizer. Having a YouTube video of him doing his bet would be awesome.

October 22, 2015, 05:38 AM	#14
mkiker2089 Senior Member Join Date: October 5, 2015 Posts: 127	It looks similar to the Double Tap but with a distinct flair all it's own. I'm told the Double Tap is hard to use as well. The irony to me is that I've been researching derringers and Double Tap is impossible to get in touch with as well. I've seen their guns so they are being made, but their website is horribly broken. If they used something smaller than 45acp it probably wouldn't hurt as bad. Is that why a lot of derringers that I see in the wild are 22lr?

October 22, 2015, 07:44 AM	#16
peggysue Junior member Join Date: May 20, 2014 Posts: 1,835	Mike it is VERY MUCH smaller than a Doubletap...see the link under my Downsizer pictures...shows them together.

October 22, 2015, 11:12 AM	#17
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,313	Peggysue-that really IS tiny. Thanks for posting the comparison picture.

October 22, 2015, 12:48 PM	#18
M2HB Member Join Date: July 13, 2004 Posts: 30	Thanks for the picture. I just wanted to see Skidmark put his bet on video. I think it would be funny to watch.

October 22, 2015, 01:11 PM	#19
peggysue Junior member Join Date: May 20, 2014 Posts: 1,835	Mike By the way a 45 ported Double tap is only $191. 9mm less. At Budsgun http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...CP+3%22+Ported

October 22, 2015, 02:54 PM	#21
peggysue Junior member Join Date: May 20, 2014 Posts: 1,835	I don't know never have shot either of mine a 9 and a 45. They did make slip over rubber grips for them to take the sting out. (On the right one.) I shot the Downsizer years ago ONCE. The Doubletap are now 1/2 of the price as when they first came out on Buds. A deal and even ported. Last edited by peggysue; October 22, 2015 at 05:14 PM.

October 22, 2015, 08:32 PM	#22
mkiker2089 Senior Member Join Date: October 5, 2015 Posts: 127	most reviews say the Double Tap is a little painful to fire also. The Bond Arms guns aren't as small but the larger handle on them seems to make them more comfortable. That said, I do kind of want a Double Tap now. Hopefully once people get used to Buds lower price we'll see them pop up on places like Gunbroker for less. Right now people are trying to sell used ones for more than the new ones cost. Peggy, in your comparison pic, what is the gun in the lower left corner?

October 23, 2015, 04:10 AM	#23
peggysue Junior member Join Date: May 20, 2014 Posts: 1,835	COP 357 Derringer. I do not think they are making DT's anymore. Last edited by peggysue; October 23, 2015 at 11:15 AM.

November 3, 2015, 07:32 PM	#24
M2HB Member Join Date: July 13, 2004 Posts: 30	peggysue, did you ever think about doing a YouTube video with your Downsizer? I still want to see someone shoot it with standard 230 grain ball ammo.