A few days ago Laugo Arms Czechoslovakia released a couple of new videos on its YouTube channel. For those who are not yet familiar with this name, the company is promoting the upcoming release of its first pistol, named ALIEN, which is going to offer the lowest bore axis of any semi-auto on the market.

Laugo Arms ALIEN, note that the bore axis sits below the beavertail of the grip. (Via Laugo Arms Instagram)

The first video offers a sneak peek into the manufacturing and testing facility of Laugo Arms:

At first glance, we can notice what appears to be a good degree of automation in the manufacturing process with CNC milling operations and relevant dimensional checks. What however looks particularly interesting is the modular construction of the pistol: the frame consists of two main components, the grip, which includes the trigger guard, and the “barrel housing”. The two components seem to be connected by two tabs in the upper element with pins passing through.

The implications of this construction system, which somehow recalls the one of SVI 2011s, are multiple: the grip module (likely not “the firearm”) can be modified or replaced and more importantly, Laugo Arms may in future make it in polymer to lower the overall cost.

The current price of the first, limited edition, pistols should be $5,000, therefore solutions to lower cost in the mass production model are certainly needed. The Laugo Arms ALIEN would still be a relatively expensive race gun, but most likely the manufacturer will aim to be more commercially competitive.

The second video shows a drop test which, according to Laugo Arms, is performed following NATO standards (most likely with a primed, empty, case):

The author frankly ignores if this is required by practical shooting rules, although the safety considerations of having a drop safe firearm on the shooting stage are fairly obvious. We are also not aware of the trigger setting adopted in the sample, it may be employing a heavier pull than what most competition shooters would prefer.

A note for those who are seeing this pistol for the first time: although it may look as striker fired, the Laugo Arms ALIEN actually adopts a peculiar upside down hammer, hinged on the upper, fixed, frame which also supports the sights.