Well, My Dad's first large handgun purchase was a Lorcin .380. This was around 1994 when the Clinton Ban was passed by congress but before it went into effect. My Dad, not knowing much about handguns, wanted one of those dangerous pistols that were going to be banned since no more would ever be sold to the public (he didn't now about the sunset or that you could still buy the same guns with 10 round mags). So he drove to the local dealer and asked to buy one of the soon to be banned guns. The jerk dealer sold him a Lorcin .380 (not even a hi-cap). My Dad drove home and placed this lorcin in his gun safe, happy that he had at least one "large" caliber pistol that the politicians didn't want him to have. The lorcin sat in the gun safe until 2005 and was never fired or even removed from the box (yes 2005).

As a gift around 2004 I gave my Dad a Beretta 86 cheetah, in .380. We also started to go to the range together on a regular basis. My Dad even got a CCW permit and carries his Beretta religiously. On one trip to the range my Dad says "lets try this Lorcin I have had in the safe". Not wanting to crush my Dad and explain to him how he was taken by the jerk gun dealer and that I thought Lorcin was a total piece of sh-t, I agree that it would be nice to try the lorcin. Dad cleaned it well the night before and we took it to the range. Imagine my surprise when that Lorcin went through about 100 rounds of Remington 95 gr. ball ammo without a problem! I couldn't believe it. Neither could others at the range.

Now my Dad cleans his guns well after every trip to the range, and that Lorcin has been to the range at least 5 times and probably gone through 500 rounds of 95 gr. ball ammo without a failure (we won't try hollow points since the gun will never be carried for CCW). What's more, the gun is "accurate" enough to keep all rounds on the paper of a 100 yard rifle target at 50 feet. I have since explained to my Dad that Lorcin is not known for high quality firearms (I tried to be gentle about it) and he agrees that the beretta is the better choice for CCW.

So the last time we were at the range, there was another gentleman there with a Lorcin just like my Dad's. It was jamming every other round and acting like a total piece of sh-t (like you would expect a Lorcin to be). So my Dad walked over and took a look at it. It was completely covered in gunshot residue, completely unlubed, and looked like it had never been cleaned since it left the factory. The owner said something about how it never worked since he bought it. Dad then explains to the owner what needs to be done to the Lorcin to make it reliable (basically, how to clean it) and the guy listened. So now my Dad is now known as the Lorcin expert (A great title indeed).

Here is what I learned from this whole story, regardless of what gun you can afford, there is no excuse not to maintain it and keep it clean. How can anyone expect a cheap gun to work if they will not even do the most basic of maintenance, i.e. keeping it clean? When you start with a dirty gun you are already starting with a disadvantage before you even fire the first round for the day.

I also learned that there is no substitute for doing your own research. Had my Dad done this in 1994, he probably would have bought a hi-cap beretta over a Lorcin that the shop owner recommended. Thankfully the shop went out of business years ago, their reputation around town was pathetic by the time they closed the doors.

The final thing I learned, don't insult a brand or type of gun until you have actually tried one out. I still wouldn't recommend a Lorcin for self defense (there are better choices for the same price) but I would be honest if a friend wanted to buy one on the cheap as a range gun and tell them about my Dad's experience with his. I always see posts on the internet that a person's Uncle's Best Friend's Barber had a bad experience with brand X and therefore no one should ever buy one. I think it would be better to just say "I have no experience with brand X, but I do own Brand Y and  here is what I think of it".

OK, I have wasted enough time and am going to the range!

I think you know that any claim that a Lorcin actually works requires video.  I mean there is more footage of bigfoot for pitty's sake.

Quoted: I think you know that any claim that a Lorcin actually works requires video.  I mean there is more footage of bigfoot for pitty's sake.

I concur.


"Lorcin Expert" huh?...I'm thinking your old man needs a ball cap or sweatshirt identifying himself as such

It happens.  I was known as the "raven king" where i used to live because i knew how to fix the few things that go wrong and i could do a nice job cleaning up the crappy factory trigger.

SW

Well, since it actually works, there is only one thing you can do now:

Spraypaint it gold and stick some Glock sights on the side of the slide.

Quoted: Quoted: I think you know that any claim that a Lorcin actually works requires video.  I mean there is more footage of bigfoot for pitty's sake. I concur. "Lorcin Expert" huh?...I'm thinking your old man needs a ball cap or sweatshirt identifying himself as such

Well I have no way to take a video and put it on the internet, but I could get a notarized statement from the guy that runs the ODNR range to verify my statement.

I like the hat idea, I actually see my Dad wearing that at the range.

some advice: do NOT run that lorcin w/ anything but quality, FMJ ammo...i'll guarantee that if you try to run some JHPs/etc in it, it will loose its track record of 100% reliability

PS: your dad probably got a lemon

This is good stuff. You know it's funny, I always here people mention lorcin'as an example when talking about the lowest quality of guns. Funny thing is I've never actually seen one. I've seen Raven 25s from phoenix arms, I've seen Jennings and Davis cheapies and the ubiquitous High points but I've nary ever seen a Lorcin.  

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: snip/ "Lorcin Expert" huh?...I'm thinking your old man needs a ball cap or sweatshirt identifying himself as such Well I have no way to take a video and put it on the internet, but I could get a notarized statement from the guy that runs the ODNR range to verify my statement. I like the hat idea, I actually see my Dad wearing that at the range.

hell, I might wear something like that to the range

I'd say thats believable.  I bought a used Davis 380 that had a nice smooth trigger and ate up about 200 rounds without issue other than the "indicator" on back of the firing pin breaking off.  This didnt affect the cycling of the gun, but after the 200 round run the firing pin shattered and the guns just waiting till I can get it to a gunshow.