I’ve seen this a number of times now:
Unfortunately the thing will qualify as an SBR* under the NFA which means the thing will probably never hit production.
I’m kinda torn on this one because of the legal issues. It clouds my judgement when I look at the utility of the idea so I had a lot of negative thoughts initially, like: What’s the point? You’re still shooting a pistol round out of a short barrel. It’s not something you can holster so forget carrying it concealed, and who the heck totes around a 9mm carbine for personal defense?
I mean, what kind of nut job would… oh wait, I sometimes tote a Kel-Tec Sub 2000 with me when I travel.
That thought got the gears turning. The Sub 2000 leaves the internals exposed when you fold it up. This doesn’t do that. The Sub 2000 also looks like a gun if somebody were to actually see it. The FMG-9 looks like a storage container or a goofy flashlight.
Just like the Sub 2k it’d be slower to deploy than a pistol, provided the pistol was actually on your hip, but the FMG-9 might kick-ass as a purse carry gun. Quit rolling your eyes. I’m serious. The thing folds up to a size that look about like a long paperback book and totally covers the trigger. I’m sure it’d do very well for purse carry. Leaving the mall late at night? Grab your “flashlight” from your purse as you escort yourself to the car.
I’d also make a handy “under the seat” gun in urban environments. I bet Reginald Denny would have found one handy.
If we didn’t have SBRs so tightly regulated I bet Kel-Tec would take the thing to market, somebody like Bushmaster would come out with something comparable, and we’d se some competition. Marketing would set to work thinking up applications for this critter that aren’t immediately obvious to me, and it’d probably sell.
*: SBR: Short Barreled Rifle. If it has a shoulder stock and the barrel is than than 16″ it qualifies under federal regulations as an SBR. Subject to the same transfer regulations as a machine gun. Totally illegal in my home state of Michigan.
