Claridge Family Collection Hi-Tec S-9 S9 5″ Pistol Semi-Auto 9mm
SOLD FOR: $1,025.00
LSB#: LSB251002JC009
Make: Claridge
Model: S-9
Serial Number: 902471
Year of Manufacture: 1990-1993
Caliber: 9mm
Action Type: Closed Bolt, Semi-Automatic Blowback
Markings: The left side of the frame is marked “CLARIDGE HI-TEC ™ 902471”. The right side of the receiver is marked “9mm NATO PAT.PEND NORTHRIDGE. CA. U.S.A.”
Barrel Length: 5” threaded Match Grade button rifled barrel.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is an adjustable hooded pin sight. The rear sight is an adjustable rectangular notch integral to the frame.
Stock Configuration & Condition: Tubular steel forged one piece lower integral with the pistol grip and trigger guard. Magazine is fed through the pistol grip. Charging handle on the upper left side and bolt catch. Threaded barrel for barrel shroud extension. The grip rates in Excellent condition.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: 1X Modified 15rd 9mm Beretta 92 magazine in Like New Condition.
Type of Finish: Stainless Steel, Black
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. There is modest handling and operational wear. There is thinning on the leading edges and scattered scratches and scuffs. The markings are crisp. Overall, this handgun rates in about Very Good Condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. Telescoping bolt cloned after the SA-VZ23 submachine gun. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Total of one magazine.
Our Assessment: The Claridge Hi-Tec S-9 emerged in the early 1990s as a distinctive American pistol design that drew inspiration from earlier European telescoping-bolt concepts, most notably the Czech SA vz. 23 submachine gun. Produced during a brief and experimental period of domestic manufacturing, the S-9 combined industrial aesthetics with unconventional engineering, featuring a tubular steel receiver, forward-mounted magazine well in the grip, and a simple blowback system housed within a compact upper assembly. Its threaded 5-inch barrel, adjustable sights, and utilitarian layout reflect a time when small manufacturers explored alternative approaches to semi-automatic pistol design outside the mainstream service-pistol market.
Chambered in 9mm, a cartridge introduced at the turn of the 20th century and widely adopted for military and civilian use worldwide, the S-9 carried the familiar ballistic profile associated with service handguns of its era. This example retains a bright bore, crisp markings, and the characteristic industrial finish that defines the model, preserving the visual and mechanical identity of a short-lived but notable American pistol design from the early 1990s. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! – L.S.
