I've been considering the Guardian as my next handgun purchase. I really like the size and they appear well made. I did a search but didn't find much concerning this pistol. I would be very interested in hearing all the pros and cons of this gun. Are they reliable? Do they fire all types of ammo (not just Silvertips)? Are Guardian owners satisfied or should I just just go for a P32? Thanks for any info.
NAA Guardian
- Thread starter Doug S
- Start date
Kentucky Rifle
New member
A NAA Guardian is one of the .32's I own
I like it and carry it in a Hedley back pocket holster. It seems lighter in the Hedley. My Guardian is a little ammo sensitive. However Fiocchi FMJ and HP work perfectly in it. So do Silvertips. (Almost) Hydra-Shoks and the old-style, short Cor-Bons jammed. Right now the Guardian is loaded with Glasers. Perfect function there, too. If you get the Guardian, you'll have to find the ammo it likes. Also the right holster. The P-32 is lighter and less finicky regarding ammo. It has fired everything that I've ever stuffed into the mag. But, even though it's lighter and thinner, it's bigger. I'd advise spending some time at the gun shop and picking the most comfortable one. I bought both, and a Seecamp to boot! The one thing that I'm absolutely sure of is the Hedley holster. If you buy one of his back pocket models, you'll be absolutely happy with it.
I guess I've been more confusing than helpful! Sorry!
Kentucky Rifle
I like it and carry it in a Hedley back pocket holster. It seems lighter in the Hedley. My Guardian is a little ammo sensitive. However Fiocchi FMJ and HP work perfectly in it. So do Silvertips. (Almost) Hydra-Shoks and the old-style, short Cor-Bons jammed. Right now the Guardian is loaded with Glasers. Perfect function there, too. If you get the Guardian, you'll have to find the ammo it likes. Also the right holster. The P-32 is lighter and less finicky regarding ammo. It has fired everything that I've ever stuffed into the mag. But, even though it's lighter and thinner, it's bigger. I'd advise spending some time at the gun shop and picking the most comfortable one. I bought both, and a Seecamp to boot! The one thing that I'm absolutely sure of is the Hedley holster. If you buy one of his back pocket models, you'll be absolutely happy with it.
I guess I've been more confusing than helpful! Sorry!
Kentucky Rifle
muzzletalk
New member
What are the price of these guns?
Kentucky Rifle
New member
Muzzletalk
Approx:
1) NAA Guardian--$349.00
2) Kel-Tec hard chrome P-32--$275.00
3) Seecamp--The price is all over the place! The retail is $425.00. But there is such a waiting list, you'll never find one for that price. I saw a Seecamp at the last Louisville gun show for $950.00!!! At the show before that, they were $795.00. I got lucky. Seecamps, sadly became illegal in California. During the somewhat crazy goings on during the last presidential election, a NIB California Seecamp came up for bid on Auction Arms. It was still sealed in the factory box! I guess nobody noticed because I bought it for $470.00. (And THAT was pure luck!) My Seecamp is by far the best, most handsome and tiniest .32ACP I own. Seecamps are mostly hand-built. I carry that one in a Hedley back pocket holster also. Looks just like a wallet. I also purchased a Haugen Handgun Leather "Boxter". It hangs right on my belt and looks like a cell phone holster or a "Palm Pilot" holster. Most people go with the Palm Pilot description. The Boxter has a shark skin flap. Tough stuff, shark skin. I've had it for a few months and the shark skin has absolutely NO mars on it. I need some shoes made out of this stuff! I think they would last forever.
Kentucky Rifle
Approx:
1) NAA Guardian--$349.00
2) Kel-Tec hard chrome P-32--$275.00
3) Seecamp--The price is all over the place! The retail is $425.00. But there is such a waiting list, you'll never find one for that price. I saw a Seecamp at the last Louisville gun show for $950.00!!! At the show before that, they were $795.00. I got lucky. Seecamps, sadly became illegal in California. During the somewhat crazy goings on during the last presidential election, a NIB California Seecamp came up for bid on Auction Arms. It was still sealed in the factory box! I guess nobody noticed because I bought it for $470.00. (And THAT was pure luck!) My Seecamp is by far the best, most handsome and tiniest .32ACP I own. Seecamps are mostly hand-built. I carry that one in a Hedley back pocket holster also. Looks just like a wallet. I also purchased a Haugen Handgun Leather "Boxter". It hangs right on my belt and looks like a cell phone holster or a "Palm Pilot" holster. Most people go with the Palm Pilot description. The Boxter has a shark skin flap. Tough stuff, shark skin. I've had it for a few months and the shark skin has absolutely NO mars on it. I need some shoes made out of this stuff! I think they would last forever.
Kentucky Rifle
I have a Guardian .32. It's a nice pistol. Solid, strong and extremely well built. The frames are made by Kahr. I paid $279 for mine, but it was a consignment sale at my favorite shop. I got an Autauga .32 at the same time for $229. I did a lot of research before getting it. Mine is totally reliable and has never jammed or stovepiped on any type of ammo.
NAA is now shipping the Guardian .380. It's slightly larger than the Guardian .32, smaller than the Beretta Tomcat, and alot smaller than the Kahrs. It ain't cheap at $450, but size wise, there's no competition. Ask your dealer about it.
NAA is now shipping the Guardian .380. It's slightly larger than the Guardian .32, smaller than the Beretta Tomcat, and alot smaller than the Kahrs. It ain't cheap at $450, but size wise, there's no competition. Ask your dealer about it.
George Hill
Staff Alumnus
Its a very well made little gun.
CNC milled with hand fitting... you cant beat that.
Everyone that works on them (and the Mini Revolvers) are gun nuts like the rest of us.
I have heard people say that they dont want to buy a Kahr because that would give money to the Moonies... and NAA because that would give money to the Mormons (NAA is in Provo so I bet some of the employees are). So I guess the Guardian is an off limits pistol because according to that logic your giving money to BOTH! I dont get that - they like 1911s and that was designed by a Mormon!
Anyways... All that aside - its a dang good pistol and it will serve you well.
CNC milled with hand fitting... you cant beat that.
Everyone that works on them (and the Mini Revolvers) are gun nuts like the rest of us.
I have heard people say that they dont want to buy a Kahr because that would give money to the Moonies... and NAA because that would give money to the Mormons (NAA is in Provo so I bet some of the employees are). So I guess the Guardian is an off limits pistol because according to that logic your giving money to BOTH! I dont get that - they like 1911s and that was designed by a Mormon!
Anyways... All that aside - its a dang good pistol and it will serve you well.
The NAA Guardian .32acp is an extremely well made pistol in both aesthetic appeal, workmanship, and design. It is also a bargin for its features given its reasonable price. I paid $300. It isn't a handmade Seecamp but it is a fine pistolve nevertheless.
My Guardian shoots Corbon, Winchester Silver Tips, and Fiochi without any hicups or problems. The Guardian isn't a range gun or a tack driver and its sights are more for show than a functional purpose. However, you don't need sights for the Guardian given its dual purpose of personal self defense in close range settings and ultra concealability.
The stock rubber grips on the Guardian, while nicely designed, did not allow a good grip purchase with my larger hands. Instead, I replaced them with the Hogue/NAA custom smooth wood grips [$40.00] with custom stainless allen grip screws. Instead of just making the Guardian more pleasing to the eye, the wood grips give me, at least, a better purchase on the Guardian. The custom grips also place my hand in the proper shooting position for this automatic and guards against contact of the slide with my hand.
I carry my Guardian in a Desantis Pocket Holster. It allows both front and back pocket carry without identifiable printing through jeans or dress pants. The Guardian is also just 13.5 ounces in weight--making it a perfect "allthetime" concealed carry or backup weapon. As the saying goes, I have other handguns to choose from in my safe with greater capabilities, but the Guardian usually is my main concealed carry pistol because of its ease of use, weight, and concealability.
The Guardian has the option of a finger grip extension for its magazines. Some find that this allows for a better grip. It didn't in my case and made my grip dangerously high, high enough for the slide action to cause harm to the fleshly part of my hand between my index finger and thumb. Also, the finger extension often snagged or got caught on the edge of my pocket when attempting to draw the weapon.
I looked at the Kel-Tec P-32 and seriously considered it as an alternative the the Guardian. However, in my opinion, it doesn't have the workmanship, quality, or good looks of the Guardian. However, it is lighter and has a higher magazine capacity. It is thinner in width than the Guardian, but longer in the frame and grip than the Guardian. I think that the P-32 is cheaply made, but many swear by it and have traded it for their Guardians.
Personal preference controls. Get what's best for you. Try all of the .32acp makes before buying. It's what works for me. Also, NAA customer service is excellent if you have a problem.
Good luck! Stoic.
My Guardian shoots Corbon, Winchester Silver Tips, and Fiochi without any hicups or problems. The Guardian isn't a range gun or a tack driver and its sights are more for show than a functional purpose. However, you don't need sights for the Guardian given its dual purpose of personal self defense in close range settings and ultra concealability.
The stock rubber grips on the Guardian, while nicely designed, did not allow a good grip purchase with my larger hands. Instead, I replaced them with the Hogue/NAA custom smooth wood grips [$40.00] with custom stainless allen grip screws. Instead of just making the Guardian more pleasing to the eye, the wood grips give me, at least, a better purchase on the Guardian. The custom grips also place my hand in the proper shooting position for this automatic and guards against contact of the slide with my hand.
I carry my Guardian in a Desantis Pocket Holster. It allows both front and back pocket carry without identifiable printing through jeans or dress pants. The Guardian is also just 13.5 ounces in weight--making it a perfect "allthetime" concealed carry or backup weapon. As the saying goes, I have other handguns to choose from in my safe with greater capabilities, but the Guardian usually is my main concealed carry pistol because of its ease of use, weight, and concealability.
The Guardian has the option of a finger grip extension for its magazines. Some find that this allows for a better grip. It didn't in my case and made my grip dangerously high, high enough for the slide action to cause harm to the fleshly part of my hand between my index finger and thumb. Also, the finger extension often snagged or got caught on the edge of my pocket when attempting to draw the weapon.
I looked at the Kel-Tec P-32 and seriously considered it as an alternative the the Guardian. However, in my opinion, it doesn't have the workmanship, quality, or good looks of the Guardian. However, it is lighter and has a higher magazine capacity. It is thinner in width than the Guardian, but longer in the frame and grip than the Guardian. I think that the P-32 is cheaply made, but many swear by it and have traded it for their Guardians.
Personal preference controls. Get what's best for you. Try all of the .32acp makes before buying. It's what works for me. Also, NAA customer service is excellent if you have a problem.
Good luck! Stoic.
JohnWill-
Normally, I would agree with you about a .380 blowback pistol being a handful with only one finger on the grip. But I was able to hold the Guardian .380 at my favorite shop last weekend. It has a similar extension to the Guardian .32. That tiny bit of extra length in the frame plus the extension, make it easy to grip with both middle and ring fingers with your pinky curled under the magazine. I have large hands and was able to grip it far more comfortably than my Guardian .32. Size of the .380 is slightly smaller than a Tomcat and slightly larger than the Guardian .32. Call around and see if one of your shops has one. You'll see what I mean.
Normally, I would agree with you about a .380 blowback pistol being a handful with only one finger on the grip. But I was able to hold the Guardian .380 at my favorite shop last weekend. It has a similar extension to the Guardian .32. That tiny bit of extra length in the frame plus the extension, make it easy to grip with both middle and ring fingers with your pinky curled under the magazine. I have large hands and was able to grip it far more comfortably than my Guardian .32. Size of the .380 is slightly smaller than a Tomcat and slightly larger than the Guardian .32. Call around and see if one of your shops has one. You'll see what I mean.
GunreviewWebmaster
New member
NAA is good
I highly respect the NAA company. They produce good quality pocket pistols and pocket revolvers (including the NAA Mini revolvers). My only complaint with the Guardian is that heavy DAO trigger. It just feels rough to me. Other than that, the Guardian is a top notch pocket pistol.
I highly respect the NAA company. They produce good quality pocket pistols and pocket revolvers (including the NAA Mini revolvers). My only complaint with the Guardian is that heavy DAO trigger. It just feels rough to me. Other than that, the Guardian is a top notch pocket pistol.
Herb Fredricksen
New member
NAA Guardian .32
I wish I could say I have all the pocket pistols worth talking about. I don't, but I do have the NAA Guardian .32 and I'm very happy with it. It's solid as a rock. Empty and close up its as good as any pair of brass knuckles. I doubt the P32 can make the same claim. I bought the Hogue Pau Ferro wood grips, what a terrific addition they make to the look and feel. I like the mag finger extensions and would not use the pistol without them. When I grab that pistol with those grips and the finger extensions I have a fistful of trouble for anyone who cares to get so close I need to use it to the death. I'll bash it through his teeth and shove it down his throat until he chokes on it if I must.
Only God knows when I will be in that position that requires that I defend myself or die. I might wish for a bigger gun and for more room in which to operate but close up the Guardian will do what any other gun will do, and it wiill do it with great style.
Herb Fredricksen herbfred@cpcug.org
I wish I could say I have all the pocket pistols worth talking about. I don't, but I do have the NAA Guardian .32 and I'm very happy with it. It's solid as a rock. Empty and close up its as good as any pair of brass knuckles. I doubt the P32 can make the same claim. I bought the Hogue Pau Ferro wood grips, what a terrific addition they make to the look and feel. I like the mag finger extensions and would not use the pistol without them. When I grab that pistol with those grips and the finger extensions I have a fistful of trouble for anyone who cares to get so close I need to use it to the death. I'll bash it through his teeth and shove it down his throat until he chokes on it if I must.
Only God knows when I will be in that position that requires that I defend myself or die. I might wish for a bigger gun and for more room in which to operate but close up the Guardian will do what any other gun will do, and it wiill do it with great style.
Herb Fredricksen herbfred@cpcug.org
I have one in .32 and find it to be 100% reliable and my carry gun 80% of the time. It makes for great pocket carry, jeans, jacket and even works on my ankle while wearing jeans.
Though its a small caliber, the ability to carry it in most light dress situations make it a terrific choice.
Chris
Though its a small caliber, the ability to carry it in most light dress situations make it a terrific choice.
Chris