I saw a lot of the new and the cool at GunCon this year, but my absolute favorite was the Akos Arms Baza pistol chambered in .45 ACP. That might seem like an odd choice, but let me tell you about it first.
Specs
Akos is based in Pennsylvania and is a new manufacturer founded by Matthew Herd. Matt has done a little bit of everything—from engineering to patent law. But when those stopped giving him satisfaction, he switched to designing and making his own gun. The Baza is Herd’s first design and is inspired by the De Lisle Carbine (an awesome rifle used by the British SOE in WWII), the Swiss K31, and the AR-15. The pistol (or rifle) is intended as a modern interpretation of the De Lisle Carbine, with the accessory compatibility modern shooters demand.
The standard specs are as follows:
- Model(s): Baza Pistol
- Caliber: .45 ACP (SAAMI Spec +P ammo)
- Capacity: 13 rds.
- Operation: Straight Pull
- Sights: None
- Magazines: 1
- Thread Pitch: .578” x 28
- Finish: Type III Hard-Coat Anodized
- Barrel Length: 8.5”
- Overall Length: 24”
- Weight: 4 lbs. 10 oz.
- Price: $1,779.00-$1,859.00
A Purpose-Built Straight-Pull Pistol
The Baza Pistol in .45 ACP offers a unique take on the modern AR, combining a straight-pull bolt-action design with features aimed at suppressed shooting and reduced recoil. Starting at $1,779, the platform features an 8.5-inch threaded alloy-steel barrel, a Type III hard-coat anodized aluminum receiver, a full-length Picatinny rail for optics, and an SB Tactical SBA5 six-position adjustable brace (or you could purchase a folding-brace version).
The Baza pistol also comes equipped with a single-stage nickel Teflon trigger, weighs just 4 pounds, 10 ounces, and measures 24 inches overall with an adjustable length of pull from 11.25 to 14.5 inches. While its controls and ergonomics borrow heavily from the AR platform, the Baza is far from a standard AR-15. Akos Arms notes that the pistol utilizes a custom bolt derived from the AR-15, meaning standard AR bolts are not compatible. The same goes for the barrel. Likewise, the upper receiver is designed specifically for the Baza platform and is not intended to function reliably on other AR-pattern lowers without significant modification.
So, this is a quirky, non-standard AR that uses mainly proprietary parts. Why do I like it so much? Because it’s fun. The Baza Pistol in .45 ACP with a suppressor is about as quiet as you can get with a round that has some stopping power. And while this isn’t a semi-automatic, the straight-pull bolt was very slick and easy to manipulate.
It’s also not the same old thing we’ve witnessed the industry pump out in recent years. This is actually an innovative design that someone had to design from the ground up. Not borrow from existing platforms (Cough. Cough. All the Glock Gen 3 clones on the market). I genuinely had fun with it. And in today’s gun culture, that matters a lot. In practical terms, the Baza could make for a handy ranch rifle or truck gun. And in states that limit hunting to straight-wall cartridges, this could be an option. Especially for those who are recoil sensitive.
Zooming Out
The elephant in the room is price. $1,800 is a sizeable chunk of change, and people will scoff at it. But I understand the price. Matt and his team design and machine a lot in-house, which is reflected by the price. My hope is that these become popular and Matt optimizes his systems. That should then help out the price. But I think we are a ways away before that happens. Regardless, this was fun. And if you are looking for a fun suppressor host, check it out.