I've been carrying a blue 3AT for a few years also. It would make "smilies" before I broke out the needle files and Dremel, but it's been great since then. BTW, a buddy came over last week to show off his little Ruger LCP-------a COMPLETE forgery of the 3AT but prettier-----and I noticed his gun makes smilies too, so it's not just a cheap Kel-Tec issue apparently. Easy fix regardless.