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LifeCard Review: Foldable Pocket Pistol

The LifeCard from Trailblazer Firearms takes pocket carry to a whole new level with a foldable, ultra-concealable design. But does it hold up? Come find out.
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    What would you say if I told you that you could buy a .22 LR or .22 Magnum gun that folded up and is the same width and height as a standard debit or credit card? 

    Yup, you can pack some .22 protection in a package just about the size of a Mastercard or Visa.

    Lifecard
    LifeCard

    It’s called the LifeCard and it brings an ultra-concealable option to gun owners who need to be extra discreet.

    How does it handle in real life? Well, I took one for a test drive and in short, it’s an interesting option if you want a very tiny, .22 caliber option.

    $282
    at GrabAGun

    Prices accurate at time of writing

    Prices accurate at time of writing

    Available Coupons

    But follow along as I evaluate the LifeCard and give you all the specs, features, and info you need to decide if this is a gun you need to add to your life.

    Table of Contents

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    LifeCard Specs & Features

    The LifeCard is the same height and width as a standard bank debit/credit card. It measures 3.37 inches wide and 2.12 inches tall.

    The gun’s thickness is a bit more than a plastic card, about half an inch — but that’s to be expected. It does, after all, have to shoot a real projectile.

    An unfolded LifeCard
    An unfolded LifeCard

    Overall, though, this thing is tiny

    As for weight, it tips the scales at a whole 7 ounces. 

    The LifeCard comes in two varieties — a .22 LR or .22 WMR — and MSRP is pretty much the same across the board, between $309 and $359 depending on finish.

    But It’s All Folded Up!

    The real selling point on the LifeCard is its ability to fold so it fits in your pocket. 

    Its idea is simple — if you get into a situation where you don’t have your everyday carry gun available, you can use the LifeCard as a last-ditch method of protection.

    lifecard-bottom
    All folded up

    It doesn’t take a lot to ready it for action — more on that below — so it makes sense to have and not need it, versus the converse. 

    Stick it in your pocket and forget about it. Just take it out before you throw your pants in the washer…

    Shooting the LifeCard

    For this review, we tested out the .22 Magnum version.

    Neither one of these rimfire cartridges is known for generating lots of recoil or noise when shot out of a normal-size gun.

    .22LR (CCI vs Winchester vs Super Colibri)
    .22 LR (CCI vs Winchester vs Super Colibri)

    But, shooting this little guy tends to generate a bit more pushback and noise than when it’s shot out of those other guns so ear (and eye, of course) protection is a must.

    This gun is not one that you want to tote around open and ready. There’s no safety, and without a trigger guard, there’s nothing that keeps the trigger from snagging on something like a pocket or jacket. In short, carry it folded.

    It’s got a bit of pushback to it.

    Ok, but how do you shoot it?

    To shoot, you first want to point it in a safe direction. Then slide the release lever forward on the non-barrel section of the gun and unfold it.

    The barrel pops up and a round loaded in the LifeCard.

    Pull the barrel-side release lever and pop the barrel up. A covered slot allows you to store three extra rounds.

    lifecard-barrel-up

    Once the barrel is open, you can load in a .22 cartridge into the chamber. After a round is in the chamber, the barrel can be closed up, and the cocking lever pulled to the rear. This can be tricky, as the spring is pretty tight. Also worth mentioning, it’s easy to flag your hand with the muzzle, so be wary of that.

    To unload, open the gun as described above and pry the empty casing out with a fingernail.

    The One Big Glitch

    The only drawback that I see with the LifeCard is the lengthy process to fire but that’s kind of a given.

    Whether that’s something that would keep you from owning one is your call.

    Downside

    In terms of novelty, this gun is pretty much up there at the top. I’m sure that novelty factor causes some to buy it — you just won’t see something like this in many shooters’ range bags. 

    Also worth mentioning, $360 could buy you a compact or sub-compact 9mm pistol with seven or more rounds available in ready-to-use magazines that you don’t have to unfold to use.

    That said, most traditional firearms don’t have the folding capacity and they tend to be a whole lot larger than the LifeCard. 

    Engraving on the LifeCard

    By The Numbers

    Reliability: 5/5

    Building a gun this small takes some expertise and attention to detail. Trailblazer has done that.

    Ergonomics: 3/5

    So, you expect a full-size grip with this tiny little gun? Nope.

    Accuracy: 4/5

    It shoots pretty much where you look, considering there are no sights. In terms of practical accuracy, the LifeCard works well enough. Let’s face it, you’re not going to try 25-yard shots with this unfolded, newfangled piece of modern ingenuity.

    Value: 4/5

    This gun’s MSRP is $359, with prices ranging from $309–$359. I see the value of it being in my pocket all the time.

    $282
    at GrabAGun

    Prices accurate at time of writing

    Prices accurate at time of writing

    Available Coupons

    Overall: 4/5

    It’s really hard to apply traditional firearm metrics to this gun since it is so unconventional. It’s tiny, so does that mean it’s made out of less-than-desirable materials and put together quickly to save money?

    LifeCard's muzzle
    The LifeCard’s muzzle

    Not at all. This gun is made out of steel, aluminum, and (some models), polymer — all used in the correct locations. And, it did go bang every time we pulled the trigger. Its main virtue is its size — it folds up to make one teeny package.

    Conclusion

    For what it is, the LifeCard works. I call it a “get-off-me” gun, much like some of the little ultra-lite snub-nosed revolvers, or a .32 ACP. 

    Sometimes you just can’t or won’t carry your “normal” gun. That’s where the LifeCard comes in. This is a gun that can, quite literally, go with you everywhere.

    What do you think about the LifeCard? Let me know below. For more backup gun recommendations, check out our Guide to Backup Guns!

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    16 Leave a Reply

    • Ben Ploshay

      How do I buy a threaded barrel for the life card gun?

      August 31, 2023 8:34 pm
      • Rural hick

        Just go to their website. The threaded barrel is a non- NFA part, so it can be mailed to your door.
        AFSIK, they only make it in 22lr in black finish at this time.

        September 22, 2023 8:28 pm
    • John E Doshier

      I got mine and bullets just fall out of the barrel. Want a refund. Garbage!

      May 26, 2023 5:13 pm
      • Ryan Parsons

        What round did u use that fits?

        July 8, 2023 8:33 pm
      • Jason

        I'm confused? Is this a troll comment? If just the bullet falls out, then that's an ammo issue, if the whole cartridge falls out, then my guess is you bought the clone from Temu that has the 6mm barrel diameter I've heard about. The Lifecard is actually really well made and is super reliable, especially for a rimfire. I use it as my backups backup. 9MM main, .380 pocket pistol, and the Lifecard when all else fails.

        August 31, 2023 4:13 pm
    • David

      I would rather carry a Seecamp .32 ACP, Kel-Tec P32 or NAA Mini Revolver than this LifeCard because all of these guns can fire one-handed and have a capacity of 5+ rounds.

      March 24, 2022 6:15 am
    • Daniel Hancock

      Why not just carry an NAA mini revolver in 22WMR? Five times the capacity and less mass.

      March 23, 2022 7:22 am
    • Donnie

      Got one just for the fact I can carry it everywhere no problem for places I can not carry normally. It’s fun to shoot I’m doubt I’ll ever put a ton through it since it’s just not designed for that. Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

      March 23, 2022 5:06 am
    • Max

      I have one of these. I have to be honest, for what it is, I love it. I bought their leather wallet case for it. It sits in my back pocket and no one is ever the wiser. It took practice, but now i have a way to pull it out, open it up, and palm the "grip" with one hand behind my back without looking. I then practiced bringing it around to in front while brining my support hand to it and pulling back on the charging handle so by the time it's in front, in ready to just pull the trigger at what's in front of me.
      Sure it's a novelty to most, but something is better than nothing and with practice, it can become much easier to use as a last ditch effort

      March 23, 2022 5:00 am
    • Charlie

      Just a gimmick. Has no real useful purpose. Takes WAY too long to get it ready to fire. If you have your heart set on a .22 get a Heritage for half the price. and it is ready to fire. Barkeeps are small.

      March 22, 2022 7:05 pm
    • Ed

      I happen to own a LifeCard, and this review is spot-on. I bought it for fun, but have carried it on occasion and will argue that it has its place in practicality.

      Examples: Weddings, Christmas parties, or other events where I wear tight fitting dress clothes and cannot conceal even a small Ruger LCP without some severe printing and drawing attention to myself. There is literally no other option I have found that does not draw suspicion, besides the LifeCard.

      Also to those who bash it and say it would be better thrown at an attacker than to fire, I assume that means you'd rather be shot with a 22 mag round, than have a 7oz piece of aluminum thrown at you? I hope your life insurance is paid up!

      Again, great review! Accurate, concise, and reviews it for exactly what it is- a last ditch effort, better than nothing gun!

      March 22, 2022 7:03 pm
      • Riley david

        Unless you’re 4 foot 10 inches a ruger lcp is tiny in a pocket. Size of a wallet. Maybe buyers remorse?

        March 22, 2022 8:34 pm
        • Jason

          I have one and have no buyers remorse. I do in fact have a .380 LCP as a backup to my Shield or Reflex 9MM, and the life card is my last ditch effort gun. Do I ever expect to fire it? Other than the range, NO. But it is a really cool thing, and neat to own. If someone has the money to spend, and already has a centerfire carry, who cares?

          August 31, 2023 4:16 pm
    • William

      This firearm is a gimmicky piece of junk. You’ll miss the first shot. Even if you don’t, it will not reliably stop anyone. It may be more effective if thrown.

      March 22, 2022 6:28 pm
    • Monte Walsh

      Thanks for the review, I’ve been curious about this. To me it’s more of a novelty than a useful tool. On certain occasions I do carry a NAA 5 shot, not as a primary obviously but more of a means to get to a bigger weapon…
      different strokes…

      March 22, 2022 5:32 pm
    • Siv

      The only time I will need to bring out my gun is if I'm in a life or death situation. I don't think I'd trust my life to a single 22 round that probably won't even stop the threat unless I get super lucky. A knife would be better for defense than a "lifecard".

      March 22, 2022 5:28 pm
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