You definitely don't see many of the ODI's around any more. They're a nice addition to a serious 1911 reference collection.
Couple of minor points on the history-
Puffyfish said:
Word has it that when Seecamp died and shut down there were still 1500 frames and parts left over. ODI bought them and made these guns.
Louis Seecamp manufactured approximately 2000 conversions, all hand built customs. In 1980, well before his death in 1989, he licensed his design to ODI, who manufactured the ODI Viking between 1980 and 1982 as a production, rather than custom, double action 1911 conversion. The parts were all manufactured by ODI under license from Seecamp, but they were not Seecamp made parts. After ODI went out of business, Essex Arms bought out their remaining stock of parts, which did not include any frames. Depending on who you ask, Essex manufactured somewhere between 200 and 500 frames that were built up using the remaining ODI parts and sold as such.
Source: Larry Seecamp - Louis' son and owner of L.W. Seecamp, Inc., manufacturer of the Seecamp .380 pocket pistol.
Puffyfish said:
This design inspired the modern S&W autos and the Colt Double Eagle.
S&W's first semi auto was the model 39, introduced in 1954. Louis Seecamp began building 1911 conversions in the early 1970's, and ODI built their guns in 1980-1982 as noted above.
The double eagle shape and Idea was based directly although through different means on the Seecamp design. Source Retired Colt worker. Smith was going to change their trigger area shape a bit but decided to keep it after seeing the Seecamp. Source Retired S&W worker. Dates don't enter the equation.
Puffyfish said:
Along with his, these were the first DA/SA autos ever made.
The first DA/SA auto was the Walther PP, introduced in 1929. Again, quite a bit earlier.