I've been mildly irked from time to time lately by a couple of pistols that seem to have simply disappeared. The first, the Bersa TPR9T, is simple to explain in that Bersa's had its keister handed to it in the US market with longer barreled (5") competition 9mms. Bersa seems to have decided to build its position in the US by bring in more service (as opposed to just compact) pistols before trying to bring in more competition models.

The second, though, the Archon, seems a bit harder to account for.

The Archon came in at a premium even though it was a new design, and seemed to find buyers. It seems I wasn't the only one who followed its tortured developmental history through being a Russian service pistol, then a pistol jointly produced in Russia and Italy to now being apparently made in Germany. (see http://www.outdoorlife.com/sto...-plastic-9mm-review/ for a condensed version of the story.)

When they first came out in the US, I figured I'd bide my time in hopes of a less painful price. They did become more widely distributed, and prices for the basic model started creeping down into the mid-$800s.

Then the Kung Flu hit.

Now the danged things seem to be in stock at a couple of places I've never heard of, out of stock at every place I've actually heard of, and very very rarely available at that...auction site at absurd prices. The company's website is still up, but their pistols are basically nowhere to be found.

Does anyone know what happened to Archon? I understand all the impacts Xi's Sneeze has had on international trade, but I'd think they would have a hard time staying in buisness unless they managed to sell pistols.

I was super excited about this pistol as well. I picked one up and shot it. It was flat shooting but just not overwhelmingly flat. With the difficulty of getting additional mags, it became a safe queen.

It ended up being sold at the last herd culling.

The company sort of fell apart. I actually went to shot in '19 or '20 with a badge from them. They were trying to get setup while funding it from one of the Gucci Glock companies (ZEV maybe?)

I handled it, and while I didn't have any complaints it didn't really bring anything new to the table. Neat also-ran but that was it.

According to them that they are having issues getting them in country. I placed an order for 3 pistols late 2020 and every now and then I inquire about when they will come in. All I get is that they are waiting, but I can buy a Salient Arms Strike 1 for $1500! Something tells me they are never gonna arrive.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: p08, January 30, 2022 05:00 PM

Ugghhh. Well, sounds like I may be out of luck unless I go on the used market. Still, that makes mags, parts and service a PITA when all I really wanna do is try something different. I'd like to be more optimistic but it took them a while just to get some pistols to Salient Arms in the first place so I guess that no good news and a couple of scary possibilities adds up to "probably no joy".

Fingers crossed for the VIS 100, maybe?

According to Atlantic Arms, the VIS 100 is coming in the 2nd quarter of this year. As for the Archon Type B, I believe it was Atlantic Firearms that actually had them in stock a few months ago.

^^^ Yep, and I'd be happy to do buisness with them again. But the Archon was out of stock there about the time I posted the OP.

I was intrigued by the action of the Strike One, but when I saw the type in the Archon, I concluded it was operationally just another Plastic Pistole.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Watson:
I was intrigued by the action of the Strike One, but when I saw the type in the Archon, I concluded it was operationally just another Plastic Pistole.

It is, but has a very very low bore axis which should make it have less muzzle flip. I know my Shadow Systems has less flip than my Glock 19. The SS has a slightly lower bore axis than the Glock.

At the time of release the shape of the trigger was touted as a big deal as well. That was, IIRC, just before the P365 began making the perfectly straight trigger de rigueur.

I've got 2 Strike ones.
One is 9mm and the other is 40S&W.
I absolutely love them both and have plenty of magazines.
The Bergman locking block is the shizzle !

quote:

Originally posted by p08:

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Watson:
I was intrigued by the action of the Strike One, but when I saw the type in the Archon, I concluded it was operationally just another Plastic Pistole.

It is, but has a very very low bore axis which should make it have less muzzle flip. I know my Shadow Systems has less flip than my Glock 19. The SS has a slightly lower bore axis than the Glock.

If that’s what you are looking for (low bore axis), then go forth and get a Steyr A1 or A2.

Buddy of mine has the Archon TYpe B. He's a firearms instructor for a .goc agency. He really likes it and says it shoots super flat. His biggest gripe was the lack of holsters from his favorite brands for it.

If .guac can't find a holster, then surely that means there just aren't that many around? And it ain't like the pistol wasn't hyped, either.

quote:

If that’s what you are looking for (low bore axis), then go forth and get a Steyr A1 or A2.

Advice worth trying, folks.

quote:

Originally posted by reloader-1:

quote:

Originally posted by p08:

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Watson:
I was intrigued by the action of the Strike One, but when I saw the type in the Archon, I concluded it was operationally just another Plastic Pistole.

It is, but has a very very low bore axis which should make it have less muzzle flip. I know my Shadow Systems has less flip than my Glock 19. The SS has a slightly lower bore axis than the Glock.

If that’s what you are looking for (low bore axis), then go forth and get a Steyr A1 or A2.

I have a Steyr L9 A2, it is a HUGE gun! Shoots soft, but I have to do something about the rear sight. I use reading glasses so the trapezoid rear is fuzzy. I can hit combat style shooting, but accuracy is impossible. I want these Archons because they sell for for $300+ over cost.

https://www.trijicon.com/produ...ght-sights-for-steyr

Any of these will work for your L9-A2