Selected Handgun Detail

Manufacturer
	American Derringer Corporation More Info

About the Gun

Compact stainless-steel blowback pocket automatic with a single-action trigger, a frame-mounted thumb safety, fixed sights, and wood grips. It is American Derringer’s small semi-automatic, not a two-barrel derringer and not the manually cycled LM4.

Production

Production ran from the early 1990s through the mid-2000s.

Market value

MSRP at production was around $450–$550. Current used market value for examples in good to very good condition ranges $300–$500.

Cartridge Specifications
Cartridge:	.380 Automatic
Alias:	9mm Browning Short
More Info

Analysis

The American Derringer LM5 is a true semi-auto, unlike the manual-repeating LM4 Semmerling. This filled gaps in pocket semi-auto offerings from American Derringer, positioned between ultra-small derringers and more conventional sub-compacts, though its heavy-for-size construction and low capacity limit practical appeal compared to modern polymer pocket pistols in similar or larger calibers. Production status appears limited or discontinued for many years; American Derringer's current focus remains on their stainless derringer lineup, with no active promotion of the LM5 on official channels in recent data. Availability is mostly through secondary markets, where examples command premium prices due to rarity.