Handguns have long been a part of our American culture — with Old West pistolaros on both sides of the law proudly displaying their deadly hardware on the hip. Pecking order was often established by how quick to the draw rivals were. It was during this era that the famous slogan “God created men, Colonel Samuel Colt made them equal” took root. Colt was an American inventor/businessman who is credited with making the mass production of revolvers commercially viable.
But good and bad guys alike — mostly those with devious intentions or a paranoid disposition — often kept a hidden backup handy should the need arise, often referred to as a pocket pistol. Early examples included a wide range of single- and multiple-barrel derringers that could be easily stashed in a vest pocket, in a boot, under a hat or, for the ladies, tucked in a garter belt. Others included a wide range of diminutive guns such as the four-shot pepperbox pistol from Sharps in which the firing pin rotated to the barrel to be fired. Other designs incorporated a single barrel capable of swinging out or tipped up to load or various downsized revolvers.
For the most part, New Age handgun owners are a discreet lot — preferring to keep their handguns cleverly concealed. This is reflected in not only the compact handguns designed specifically for concealed carry, but the wide array of holsters built to comfortably stash these guns out of sight. Tactical retailers in the know understand that concealed carry handguns are still being purchased in large numbers for service carry as well as personal protection and home defense — that there is a robust and consistent market for these firearms. And it can’t be overstated that educated gun buyers will arrive at your store or click on your website having already done the research, looking for specific makes and models. Be sure to do the research and have those most popular examples and others on hand. Here are a few to get you thinking about increased sales opportunities.
Anderson Manufacturing Kiger-9c
Built on an original polymer frame with over-molded locking blocks, the Anderson Kiger-9c is a striker-fired handgun with strong lines, from its serrated stainless-steel, DLC-coated slide and barrel to its aggressive grip texturing and extended beavertail. Thumb and forefinger texturing is mirrored on each side of the frame and the trigger guard undercut for enhanced handling and ergonomics. A short, crisp trigger pull allows for confident, quick and accurate shots on target while an integrated, beveled magazine well with improved channel allows for reliable magazine changes. A forward Picatinny rail provides easy mounting of weapon lights and accessories. The Anderson Kiger-9c is compatible with most Glock 19 Gen3 aftermarket components and affords the shooter a discreet, everyday carry handgun. MSRP: $429.
www.andersonmanufacturing.com/kiger
Archon Firearms Gen 2 Type B
Building on the success of the Gen 1 Type B, Archon Firearms’ Gen 2 Type B Pistol by PTR combines the best of Gen 1 features with a new adaptable grip system. With interchangeable grip textures and a unique modular design, this pistol can be customized to fit individual shooter grips and also allows for easy modification between full-size, compact and sub-compact configurations. The game-changer, however, lies in the AF-Speedlock technology, which incorporates a low bore axis along with a patented breech locking mechanism. As a result, the barrel remains straight during the slide cycle, allowing the entire slide to nest deeper into the grip for a dramatic reduction in muzzle rise and a tangible decrease in felt recoil. MSRP: $960-$999.
Armscor STK100 Ultra
The STK100 Ultra from Armscor blends the advantages of a striker-fired pistol with everything handgun shooters love about 1911s. Available in full-size, mid-size and compact models, the STK100 has an all-aluminum body and a new integrated mag well that allows for faster reloads. It is equipped with an aluminum grip that adds just enough weight to reduce felt recoil while still being comfortable to carry all day. This 9mm 17-round capacity gem has a textured grip angled like those on a 1911 to give the shooter greater control. With a frame designed for durability, it has all the advantages of metal for the price of polymer. Other features include a 4.49-inch barrel, fixed front and rear white-dot sights and a black anodized finish. MSRP: $449.
Canik Mete MC9L Black
The Canik Mete MC9L 9mm Black Striker-Fired Micro-Compact Pistol has an increased magazine capacity — from 15 to 17 — compared to the MC9. It supports an overall length of 6.27 inches, a width of 1.14 inches, a height of 5.43 inches, a 3.18-inch barrel length and an unloaded weight of 22.22 ounces. It ships in a hard case and includes two 17-round magazines, an inside the waistband holster, three backstraps, tool kit and punch, speed loader, pinky rest and cleaning kit. The MC9L will be initially offered in Black, Flat Dark Earth (FDE) and two-tone Black/FDE and accepts all standard and extended capacity Canik magazines. MSRP: $499.99.
Citadel .380 ACP Cerakote Baby 1911
Weighing just 23.52 ounces and sporting a 3.75-inch stainless-steel barrel and 6.375-inch overall length, the Citadel Baby 1911 Pistol from Legacy Sports International is a great everyday concealed carry handgun. Chambered in .380 ACP, it is a light recoiling handgun with a crisp trigger pull and a magazine capacity of seven rounds. Other features include front and rear grooves on the slide, comfortable beavertail grip safety and skeletonized hammer and trigger. The Citadel Baby 1911 has mounted dovetail front sights and snag-free dovetail rear sights. It ships with two seven-round magazines and is available in a variety of Cerakote colors including Midnight Bronze, OD Green and Tactical Gray. MSRP: Starting at $599.
FN America Reflex XL MRD
The FN Reflex XL MRD Micro Compact Pistol was designed for optimized shootability and maximum concealed carry capacity. Designed with proven internal hammer-fired operation and 3.8-inch cold-hammer-forged, stainless-steel barrel with recessed target crown, this 9mm handgun is internal-hammer operated with a 5-pound single-action trigger and an easy-to-rack slide. The FN Reflex XL MRD also comes with an optics-ready slide, compatible with the most popular concealed carry red-dot sights, and ergonomic updates to the grip, which includes interchangeable backstraps, a new palm swell, an enhanced trigger guard undercut and an extended beavertail — for an excellent blend of shootability and concealability. It is also equipped with a high-visibility tritium front night sight with orange-painted ring paired with all-black, squared U-notch rear sights. MSRP: $719.
Girsan Witness2311 Brat
The Girsan Witness Brat is a compact, double-stack 1911 pistol with a 3.4-inch barrel, with features that make it a formidable concealed carry solution. It comes with an 11-round magazine in .45 ACP or 17-round magazine in 9mm for high-capacity protective firepower. Standard features also include Novak-style low-profile 3-dot sights, extended beavertail grip safety, ambidextrous thumb and grip safety, locked and cocked carry, skeletonized hammer and trigger, removable magazine well, full-length accessory rail, hard travel case and, of course, excellent accuracy. It is equipped with a bull barrel lock up and accessory rail and carries an EAA limited lifetime warranty. MSRP: $679.
Jacob Grey TWC Hex
Jacob Grey Firearms has added the TWC Hex to its growing lineup of innovative, high-performance firearms — combining form and function to deliver a handgun that meets the needs of professionals and enthusiasts alike. It is equipped with a visually striking hexagonal grip module pattern that enhances grip and firearm manipulation while setting the TWC Hex apart with its modern aesthetic. Other key features include a ported slide and barrel, pinned grip safety, optics-ready design, advanced trigger system, integrated Picatinny rail and enhanced sights. From the sleek hard coat anodized finish in either Midnight Black, Battle Brown or Duty Green to the precision machining, the TWC Hex embodies Jacob Grey’s mission to deliver firearms that exceed expectations. MSRP: $3,499.99.
KelTec PR57
The KelTec PR57 Compact Concealed Carry Pistol is chambered in 5.7x28mm and features a rotary barrel and a top-loading design. It is ultra-lightweight and maintains an impressive 20-round capacity. The PR57 comes with two 10-round stripper clips and an optics plate. The top-loading design makes the frame profile slim and compact. Its 20 rounds fit into the grip of the gun and can be manually inserted one at a time, or by using two of the provided 10-round stripper clips for a quick speed load. The PR57’s innovative rotary barrel design sets it apart not only in appearance, but by dramatically reducing its overall weight — nearly 40% lighter than the next lightest 5.7mm pistol on the market. MSRP: $399.
MAC Duty 9 Double Stack The Military Armament Corp MAC Duty 9 Double Stack Pistol is built to exacting standards by Tisas, with a new slide cut design. Chambered in 9mm, the MAC Duty 9 Double Stack is equipped with a 5-inch bull barrel that is QPQ Tenifer finished with an 11-degree target crown to keep recoil at a minimum while maximizing accuracy. Other key features include 4140 hammer forged steel Tenifer QPQ-coated slide, 4140 hammer forged steel black Cerakote frame and barrel, skeleton hammer and skeleton trigger with overtravel adjustment and 4.75-pound +/- .25-pound trigger weight. The MAC Duty 9 has a black Cerakote competition removable aluminum mag well and fiber optic front and black serrated rear sights, and it comes with two Checkmate 17-round magazines. MSRP: $1,099.99.
Mossberg MC2c Optics-Ready Compact 9mm
Mossberg’s feature-rich Optics-Ready MC2c Compact Pistol features an optics-ready slide that allows easy direct mounting of micro-dot sights. Double-stack magazines offer 14+1/16+1 or 10+1 capacity; and an ergonomic ultra-slim profile makes the MC2c comfortable in the hand and easily concealable. It combines superior ergonomics, performance-driven features and an increased shot capacity, making it a great choice for concealed carry or home protection. Slides are 416 stainless steel with a DLC finish, and angled serrations ensure positive slide manipulation. Sights are dovetail mounted, snag-free white 3-dot configuration. The MC2c frame is made from high-tensile-strength, glass-reinforced polymer that features Mossberg’s signature aggressive grip texturing and palm swell for a confident, firm grip under a variety of shooting conditions. MSRP: Starting at $571.
Ruger RXM 9mm
Ruger and Magpul Industries RXM 9mm polymer-frame striker-fired pistol offers maximum flexibility and customization via a removable stainless-steel Fire Control Insert set inside an interchangeable Magpul Enhanced Handgun Grip (EHG). The RXM’s slide features a black FNC nitride finish and allows for direct optic mounting of RMR-, Delta Point Pro- and RMSc-pattern optics. Co-witness-height steel sights feature a tritium front night sight, and front cocking serrations and a precision-rifled barrel complete the premium slide assembly. The pistol is equipped with a flat-faced trigger and easily actuated magazine release, slide release and takedown lever. The Magpul EHG offers consumers 3/4-scale TSP texture, which provides a comfortable, secure grip. The RXM ships with two Magpul GL9 magazines, with either 15- or 10-round capacity. MSRP: $499.
Savage Arms Stance XR Micro
Chambered in 9mm, the Stance XR Micro Pistol from Savage Arms has all the features and functions of the Stance, now with an expanded 13+1 capacity. It is equipped with a quick-release optics plate that allows shooters to quickly change optics, and its thin profile makes it both functional in the hand and easy to conceal. Standout features include its ambidextrous magazine release and slide catch, allowing for quick and effortless operation for both right- and left-handed shooters, and its stippling grip texture ensures a secure fit in the hand, providing a 360-degree grip with finger indexing. Additionally, the pistol comes with two interchangeable backstraps, offering the ability to adjust the grip size to individual preferences. MSRP: $539-$659.
Sig Sauer P365-Fuse
Full-size capability and micro-compact concealment combine in the all-new optics-ready Fuse from Sig Sauer. Built from the roots of the P365, its 21+1 capacity meets a razor-thin 1-inch-wide grip module for unmatched versatility and shootability. The Fuse delivers the accuracy and grit of a full-size pistol with its 6.875-inch optic-ready slide, for improved sight radius and enhanced control. Equipped with a fiber optic front sight, black serrated rear sight and a 4.3-inch carbon steel barrel with DLC finish, the Fuse provides improved ballistic performance from today’s defensive ammunition. Other key features include a Polymer LXG grip module with laser engraved texture, 1913 accessory rail, removable mag well, nickel-plated, flat-faced trigger and interchangeable backstraps. MSRP: $779.99/Base model; $1,099.99/Romeo-X equipped model.
Taurus GX2
The Taurus GX2 combines user-friendly features with exceptional performance, making it an excellent choice for a wide range of shooters. With its ergonomic frame and intuitive design, it provides comfort and control, and its 13-round 9mm capacity delivers reliable firepower, making it a great option for both everyday carry and personal defense. The smooth striker-fired action, built-in safety features and corrosion-resistant finish ensure it stands up to any situation, from the range to real-world defensive needs. By incorporating features typically found in higher-priced models, Taurus says this gun sets a new benchmark for performance and reliability in its category. With modern features and a design built for comfort, the GX2 is a firearm is designed for exceptional value. MSRP: $309.99.
Wilson Combat Project 1
The Division 77 Project 1 Pistol from Wilson Combat features an all-new innovative optic pin system that allows seamless transitions between RMR, RMSC and DeltaPoint Pro footprints. An increased rear slide width and a relocation of the optic to the rear of the slide for unobstructed chamber access are ideal for SROs and longer red-dot sights. A precision-cut ported slide seamlessly fits an integrated compensated barrel for low recoil and quick target acquisition. Other features include a cover plate with dovetail rear sight and integrated firing pin stop and advanced RPG guide rod that enhances reliability and ease of use. The Project 1 comes standard with an integrated mag well, flat trigger, PVD-coated barrel, user-changeable TRAK pattern grip panels and much more. MSRP: $4,195.
