#Handgun

The Military Times is reporting that the US Army has opted not to accept the proposed M9A3 handgun by Beretta. The move is not surprising, but it is surprising how quickly the Army acted. Not known for quick decision making, the Army has claimed the M9 does not meet the MHS requirements.

Evans Machining, a well-known (to the industry) behind-the-scenes machine house has announced the launch of the Nite Owl Firearms brand of handguns. Their first handguns will be revealed at the SHOT Show with release scheduled for this year. Introductory MSRP for the 100% US made handgun will be $675.

How exactly does a 1911 work? To fully answer that question, one used to have to get a set of punches, a hammer, a set of gunsmithing screwdrivers, a parts list, a 1911 of course, and a couple of hours of time. However, animation takes this one step further, and Jacob O’Neal (the artist behind the Silencerco animagraphic) has created one of the most thorough pieces of gun-related informative animation I’ve yet seen.

Strange Guns has finally uncovered the identity of a pistol that was for some time a mystery to that site: The BSW pistol prototype, a weapon that was a competitor to the Walther P38, and one of the few handguns with a gas system (more on that below):

If you like high-dollar 1911s, and want to show some Texas pride, there’s a new handgun for you. From the press release:

GunBroker has for auction two very interesting STIs. WeaponsMan has covered the story:

Bersa has introduced its first polymer-framed .380 ACP handgun to the US market. From the press release:

Politics of the incident aside, gun guys have been seizing on the testimony that Officer Wilson’s sidearm had two “clicks” before the gun detonated as designed. Some have been assuming that it was light primer strikes or even a bad primer. By the Marshall’s explanation, its something even simpler… the handgun was not in battery.

LifeSizePotato is the YouTube channel of a collector of rare, antique, unusual, and high quality handguns, which hosts video reviews of the weapons he collects. This week, he stepped outside of his box a little bit to review the Strike One handgun, a modern polymer commercial grade handgun unlike his regular features.

I love the G42 and even had a chance to review the pistol earlier this year. In that review, I did bemoan the capacity (but understood why it was designed that way). Fortunately, the aftermarket is stepping in to add capacity to the diminutive 380 handgun.

Diamondback, a company known for their small .380 pistol has released a full sized double stacked 9mm pistol.  Looking loosely like a blend of the  XD series pistols and Glock, the pistol striker is exposed when cocked for a tactile indicator as well as a Glock style slide release.

STI is now making “lite” versions of the company’s existing Duty One pistols.  These new lightweight pistols use aluminum, standard width frames.  Three versions of the new guns are now in production:  the Duty One Lt 3.0, Duty One Lt 4.0 and Duty One Lt 5.0.

Depending on your point of view, a First Aid Kit holding a handgun and magazines might have a touch of irony. At SHOTShow 2014 G-Outdoors debuted a new line of discreet handgun cases. Designed to be discreet and deceptive, the cases are meant to allow to keep the handgun close whether you are at home, the office, or in a vehicle.

It’s likely that every review of Walther’s new PPK/S .22LR will include some Bond reference – and why shouldn’t they?  Bond made the PPK/S iconic, and according to Walther’s marketing team, the PPK/S .22 was re-introduced due to a re-kindled Bond fervor.  This is certainly in no small part due to (a) Daniel Craig’s surprising fittedness in the role and (b) the re-introduction of the PPK as Bond’s sidearm in Skyfall.  (Please ignore the fact that the Skyfall PPK had three LEDs that would have likely blinded the operator when in use).  To give you some background that likely won’t be covered in other articles on this variation of the PPK:  Ian Fleming, Bond’s creator, was issued the diminutive and hardly-lethal “Baby Browning” .25ACP when Fleming served in WWII-era Naval Intelligence.  Resultantly, Fleming’s James Bond carried the similarly non-lethal .25ACP  Beretta 418 because Fleming considered that appropriate (although he confessed in print that his firearm-related knowledge was extremely limited).  Boldly, Geoffrey Boothroyd, a firearm expert and prolific writer himself, wrote Fleming to inform him that the 418 was “a lady’s gun”, and instead suggested that Bond carry the more powerful S&W Airweight revolver instead.  When Fleming insisted on an automatic, Boothroyd suggested the PPK in .32/7.65mm.  Consequently, in Dr. No, a service armorer named “Major Boothroyd” made a brief appearance to issue Bond his new PPK.  While Fleming immortalized Boothroyd out of gratitude, he and Boothroyd also inadvertently propelled the PPK to legend status.  Fifty-five years later, the Bond franchise is going strong, its fans prompting the Stateside re-introduction of the PPK/S in .22LR.

In October, Steve posted information about the new FX 45 Titan Lightweight from American Tactical Imports.  Since that time, the specs have slightly changed, but the price remains substantially the same:  $597.95 US.