Houston: A US company has designed a two-shot pistol resembling a smartphone that will be virtually "undetectable" in its locked position.
The gun is a double-barrelled .380 caliber folding pistol and will be available for purchase later this year at a price of USD 395, said the company that specialises in concealed weaponry.
"The idea follows the present-day demand for handguns that people can carry on a day-to-day basis, in a manner that makes carrying a gun easy," said the Minnesota-based company Ideal Conceal that has designed the gun.
"Smartphones are everywhere, so your new pistol will easily blend in with today's environment. In its locked position it will be virtually undetectable because it hides in plain sight," it said.
Kirk Kjellberg, CEO Ideal Conceal, said the prototype will be done in June and will likely be manufactured in October. He said his product is for those who want to carry a gun, when they need to "and not have to engage other people about why they're carrying that gun".
"We don't want anything sinister to go on with it… it's just made for mainstream America, not criminal enterprise," he said. "From soccer moms to professionals of every type, this gun allows you the option of not being a victim," the company said.
Marketing for the gun has begun and it has generated great interest with more than 4,000 requests, including from law enforcement, Kjellberg said.
"No one wants to be in a dreadful situation that may require you to defend yourself with the use of deadly force.
It's better to have a gun and not need one, than to need a gun and not have one," the company said.
Americans are deeply divided over gun rights between those who say carrying firearms is necessary for self-defense and others who support better gun control to end shooting deaths in the country.
