Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
Advertisement

Deep Concealment? So Deep.

By
Lars Smith
-
Deep Concealment Illustrated
PHLster makes excellent holsters and concealment systems Photo Credit: PHLster.com

Rhett Neumayer of Demonstrated Concepts LLC has been pushing the boundaries of what concealed carry, especially deep concealment looks like for several years now. Not only does he offer low or no cost training to people with little disposable income, but plenty of problems in their lives, he also does things with small handguns and Mossberg Shockwave style firearms that most people would consider crazy. If you’ve heard of the “cheek pistol” lately, this dude is why, and a lot of people are skeptical, but he’s got the video evidence to… uh… demonstrate these concepts, if you will.

In the above video, he provides evidence that NPEs (Non Permissive Environments), casual, hot-weather clothing, and a one-handed draw+firing grip need not be considered a hindrance to effective deep concealment, or armed self-defense. Using the Clown Car of carry guns, known for its sharp recoil as much as for absurd capacity, carried in the versatile PHLster Enigma, he teaches a B8 to sit the fuck down at 15 feet under sub-ideal conditions.

Concealed carry is commonly taught to be a series of compromises between comfort, efficacy, and firepower. Certainly a slung rifle would be a better choice for putting down a threat, but since most of us can’t, or won’t do that, it’s good to see what remains within the realm of possibility for people willing to put in the work, and think outside the box. Everyone looked at the stockless shotgun offerings that hit the market following the Shockwave, and we all laughed at the “Dumpster Defender” until Rhett showed us all how wrong we were. Then he did the same thing with large frame pistols clearly intended to use a brace, or be SBR’ed, carried in a shoulder bag. With the right grip and enough time on the gun, you can turn what was once broadly considered a gimmick range toy into a wildly effective SD gun.

Check out his YouTube channel if you’d like to see the crazy shit Rhett gets up to in Colorado, and hit up his website if you’re interested in taking a class from the Rocky Mountain Space Wizard.

ICYMI: Taurus® Introduces the New GX4XL 9mm EDC Pistol

By
Anna Martinez
-

Press Release: August 2022 (Bainbridge, GA) – Taurus, manufacturer of premium handguns for defense, hunting, and sport shooting, is pleased to announce the release the second model iteration in the company’s popular GX4 series pistols. The new GX4XL combines all the performance features of the original GX4 micro-compact 9mm with a new slide and barrel configuration for enhanced accuracy and terminal performance.

The GX4XL is built on the same award-winning polymer receiver as the GX4. Hailed for its exceptional handling characteristics in a micro-compact profile, the GX4XL’s hybrid stainless steel and polymer receiver includes a modular grip with standard or high-swell backstrap options for a custom fit, industry-leading grip texturing for optimal firearm control, an ergonomic and reversible magazine release to promote no-fumble mag swaps, and a class-leading flat-face target trigger with a generous trigger guard to accommodate all hand sizes.

What separates the GX4XL from the GX4 is its extended barrel and slide assembly. The GX4XL barrel is .64 inches longer than that of the GX4. This extended length translates to an increase in muzzle velocity and harder hits downrange. With this increased barrel length comes a longer slide profile and subsequent extended sight radius. Already noted for its remarkable accuracy, the GX4XL further tightens the point-of-aim/point-of-impact ratio. In short, the deep-conceal GX4XL’s micro-compact design gives up nothing in the kind of terminal performance, accuracy, and handling serious EDC practitioners demand.

The carbon steel slide found on the GX4XL is treated with a gas nitride finish to enhance surface hardness and reduce wear—a key consideration for a handgun intended for reliable everyday carry. Equally protected from wear and corrosion is the DLC-coated stainless-steel barrel. Not only does the Diamond-Like Coating boost surface durability, the coating’s inherent lubricity also reduces friction for smooth, reliable operation in the most austere conditions.

As with the GX4, the GX4XL comes with a serrated blackout steel drift-adjustable rear sight and a fixed white dot front sight. The rear sight dovetail cut and front sight mounting hole are compatible with that of common aftermarket sight systems, making tritium night sights an upgrade option.

Taurus GX4 9mm: Upping the Ante
For your comparison pleasure with the GX4 and GX4XL

For those who favor a micro red dot for their EDC handgun, the GX4XL is also available with the T.O.R.O. (Taurus Optic Ready Option) slide. This optional slide features a direct-thread (no plate) mounting system that accommodates the most common micro red dots on the market today:

  • Shield RMSc
  • Holosun HS507K X2
  • Sightmark Mini Shot A-Spec M3
  • Trijicon RMR® cc Red Dot (with adapter plate P/N: 10028170)

The GX4XL comes with two magazines—one 11-round and one extended 13-round magazine in both standard and T.O.R.O. slide configurations, and two 10-round magazines in standard and T.O.R.O. configurations for capacity-restricted states. All feature magazine and grip cuts to aid in magazine stripping, if necessary.

In keeping with the Taurus G-series handguns’ industry-best performance-to-price ratio, the new GX4XL pistols are priced at a consumer-friendly $429 MSRP for standard slide models and $459 for the T.O.R.O. slide option.

Taurus GX4XL Specifications

  • Caliber: 9mm Luger
  • Capacity: 10/11/13 rounds
  • Magazines: 1×11 + 1×13
  • Firing System: striker
  • Action Type: SAO
  • Front Sight: fixed
  • Rear Sight: serrated drift adjustable
  • Safety: striker block, trigger safety
  • Frame: stainless steel frame insert and polymer grip
  • Grip Material: polymer
  • Slide Material: carbon steel
  • Slide Finish: gas nitride coating
  • Barrel Finish: black DLC coating
  • Barrel Length: 3.7 in.
  • Overall Length: 6.43 in.
  • Overall Width: 1.08 in.
  • Overall Height: 4.40 in.
  • Weight: 20 oz.

The Epitome of 90’s Rifles

By
Keith Finch
-

The G36 has had a rough few years after its controversy about accuracy with the German military. It is still, and will remain, the iconic 90’s rifle. It was forward thinking and slickly designed and built to the standards of the time in the typical German overengineered way.

It has been thoroughly and independently proven that the assertions, like those made by certain members of the US Military that the M4 was a death trap for its soldiers, were hyperbolic in nature. The guns were built to spec, the guns are in the hands of professional soldiers not professional shooters. Professional soldiering is a multi-tool approach, competency with a rifle is a mere single bit within the whole.

When you consider the whole of the circumstances that surround the alleged controversy it becomes easy to see the series of events that triggered the inquiry. To be fair, the Germans were in need of either updating the 36’s with a few more modern creature comforts and ditching some of the good idea fairy items the 90’s spawned anyway, but ditching the 36 as a whole was probably unnecessary. An A1 variant with an updated accuracy requirement and modern ancillary compatibility would have done it nicely. But it is possible that the costs of doing so and the design itself would not be conducive to the changes, although the aftermarket has certainly shown it is feasible to do physically.

The Germans are very likely joining the US in an AR pattern rifle, HK416, that has been announced. Until they’re in Bundeswehr hands, that’s just something someone has written down and maybe spent a little money on.

The G36 typified the Kraut Space Magic image started by the G11, with the extensive use of polymers and the profile of the rifle looking distinct and futuristic. It used ambidextrous controls earlier than most people, folding stocks, an advanced optical sight system (for the time), and runs on the proven AR-18 short stroke piston setup. This gas system and barrel setup are used by the majority of modern service rifle variants.

The G36 has served a long time, and its phase out will probably not be hurried. The M16 is another well served weapon that won’t be gone for a very long time, especially with the M4A1 in service. These rifles were well designed, well built, and do their jobs, and the modern refinements are just that, refinements of working systems.

SIGs new MXC SPEAR LT doesn’t game change, it’s just doing its best to be ideally built for the current game.

The G36, like the M16, is sunsetting into a classic instead of a contender, and that’s alright. Appreciate the classics, they still do work.

Go follow 1911 Syndicate and James Williamson on the Tube of You’s if you aren’t. Good places to watch.

Gunfighting Footwork – Shooting, Moving, and Winning

By
Travis Pike
-

Footwork wins fights is a phrase I’ve heard way too many talented boxers say to ignore. I’m not a boxer by any means, but I do recognize the value of good footwork. In any fight, your footwork is pretty important, including in a gunfight. Having to move and shoot or just move while being shot is an important skill to have. The last thing you need to do is trip in a gunfight. Today we are going to explore what boxing can teach us about footwork in a gunfight and talk about a few drills you can practice to improve your footwork. 

The Basics of Footwork 

The basics of boxing footwork easily apply to gunfighting footwork. Obviously, they are two very different things, but the basics are largely the same. Like a boxer, you generally want to be facing the direction. You are moving with your head and feet oriented in the same direction. Lateral movements are important but should be used only for short movements. 

When moving laterally, do so with a purpose. When taking a lateral step, lead with the foot that is already in that direction. So if you need to take a lateral step, right lead with the right foot and have the left foot follow. 

When possible, you want to avoid crossing your legs. Crossed legs can make you off-balanced and make it easier for someone to knock you over, and increases your chances of tripping. It’s not necessarily bad footwork to cross your legs and sometimes can’t be avoided.

 

Move onto the balls of your feet. This helps you do a few things. First, it allows you to detect and potentially avoid tripping hazards. Second, it makes it easier to keep your knees bent, your weight balanced, and your body weight forward. If you bend your knees, you can absorb and cushion your impact, resulting in less upper body movement, which makes accurate fire easier. 

To help you maintain control of your gun, lean forward slightly as you walk forward. This allows your body weight to help resist recoil. With your body bent forward, tighten your core to lock into the position. Avoid taking large steps and keep them short and steady to limit movement in the upper body. 

Practical Footwork Application 

It should go without saying that you have to walk before you run. With shooting footwork, it’s more like you have to walk really slow before you walk at a normal pace. This takes effort and practice just to accomplish basic accuracy standards. There is also the fact you are wielding a gun while moving, and there is some inherent danger in that, so practice with dry fire, and when you go live, I’d suggest doing so under competent instruction. 

If dry fire is a bit too boring for you, then check out an air gun that’s semi-auto. Maybe an airsoft gun, or something like a SIRT. I’m a huge fan of the Mantis Blackbeard if you want to take the AR rifle route for this training. 

There are also two drills I like to practice footwork with that can be sued with dry fire, air guns, and dry fire devices fairly well. 

The Box Drill 

This isn’t the box drill you are used to, but a literal box. It can be made of cones or markers or anything that can create four corners anywhere from 7 to 10 yards apart. 

Start at the left rear corner and move forward with good form, with your gun up, dry-firing at the target. When you hit the front corner marker, begin making right lateral steps to the next corner. From there, make backward steps until you hit the final rear right-hand corner. From here, make left lateral steps to the rear left corner. Then repeat. 

Keep the gun up and practice dry firing at a target, or you can use four different targets for each piece of movement. Keep the gun up, focus on the basics of good footwork and keep moving. This drill gives you four different basic methods of movement. 

Mike Seeklander’s Shooting and Moving Multidirection Live Fire Drill 

That’s a mouthful, but this drill comes from Mike Seeklander’s Your Defensive Rifle Training Program book. The whole book is rock solid, and this particular drill is perfect for practicing more dynamic footwork. You’ll need two obstacles. They can be big trashcans, blue barrels, or poles. 

They should be spaced about five feet apart but in line with each other. Now with your stance assumed and practicing those footwork drills start walking in a figure 8 around the obstacles. You’ll face one direction the entire time and practice dry firing as you walk through the figure 8. 

This drill is a little tougher than the box drill because it constantly changes directions, and the movement is more complicated. Still, it’s easy to set up and practice even inside the home for your nightly dry fire practice. 

Keep Moving 

The good thing about having a gun is that you can hit a bad guy from a distance, so moving isn’t always required. However, it’s smart to be well versed in a multitude of skillsets, and being able to move and accurately shoot is certainly one of them. Like everything, it takes time and practice, but you’d be surprised by how effective you can be at landing shots while moving your feet if you get some practice in. 

Texas Carry Ban Shot Down

By
Lars Smith
-
TX Carry Ban
Photo Credit: Erich Schlegel/Getty Images

Citing the Bruen standard of constitutional-era law, and the vital role that young men under 21 played in the military and political efforts to form this nation, FPC (Firearms Policy Coalition) lawyers successfully made the case for striking down a ban on handgun carry by young Texans aged 18-20.

Precisely what threat legally vetted, law-abiding young people with firearms present to the general public is still unknown. What we do know is that Bruen is here to stay, and the consequences for arbitrary gun laws like this are dire. In this specific case, the law is not gone, but currently “on hold” for 30 days, to give the state time to appeal, and seek a stay of its own. In a state like Texas, one would imagine the argument is going to have to be pretty convincing to elicit much support from the general public, or their elected representatives.

Thanks in large part to national and regional pro-rights groups like FPC, the courts are currently filling with cases filed against the unconstitutional restriction of 2nd Amendment rights, such as this carry ban, and it’s looking like things are going to go the way of RTKBA for some time.

AWB Laws Taking Fire in Colorado

By
Lars Smith
-
AWB
Photo Credit: Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

It hasn’t even been 3 whole months since the Bruen ruling took the legs out from under most of the gun control objectives of organizations like MDA, the Brady Campaign, and Giffords. In that brief span, it seems like the gun-grabbing crowd continues to throw AWB (Assault Weapons Ban) and concealed carry bills that Bruen would seem to obviously preclude at the wall, hoping anything will stick. Why they want to get as many nails in their own coffin as quickly as possible is anyone’s guess, but you love to see it. NY and CA have garnered the most attention for their attempts to regulate shall-issue concealed carry into oblivion, generating an absurd circus of requirements, restrictions, and obligations on legal concealed carriers.

Colorado seems to want to join the club, getting in line behind California and New York to eventually get slapped by SCOTUS for their blatantly unconstitutional laws. Two such bills recently passed on Boulder and Superior county have had Temporary Restraining Orders placed on them by judges in a flurry of lawsuits filed by Rocky Mountain Gun Owners. The prognosis for these cases seems more and more to be in favor of liberty, especially for wildly onerous concealed carry regulation and of course the much vaunted AWB.

The anti-gun orgs seem to want to use Bruen to disarm it, claiming that what Clarence Thomas meant when he said that regulations on especially “dangerous” or “unusual” weapons, was AR-15s. You know, the most commonly purchased and owned longarm in the country? Somehow they are supposed to be unusual, if you listen to the gun-grabbers. While this interpretation could fall either way for state or federal judges, its impressively unlikely that SCOTUS would agree with any AWB, which effectively smothers these efforts in the cradle, no matter how long their zombie corpses wander the legal landscape.

Whether these recent middle fingers to Bruen die in lower courts, or make it to SCOTUS, it seems more and more likely that the anti-gun lobby is eagerly shifting into 6th gear as they speed toward a brick wall.

HUXWRX Safety Co. is now on Expert Voice

By
Anna Martinez
-

Just when we thought Expert Voice was a lost cause due to more and more brands being removed off the special pricing list they redeem themselves with adding suppressors!

Expert Voice, a well known website that offers deals for industry professionals on various brands is now offering the previous OSS now HUXWRX silencers we know and trust for 30% off MSRP.

The Products Available

In short, it looks like almost everything that is currently listed on the HUXWRX website.

This includes Suppressors, Accessories such as muzzle devices, and various merchandise.

Expert Voice HUXWRX Product List

So What’s the Catch?

In the past Expert Voice is known to not allow returns of products bought off their website. Due to a suppressor being a very different item versus say shoes, tents, etc, there may be different rules when it comes to this. Currently the website lists standard restricted states and FFL transfer rules. If you want to be sure how it will work when it comes to defects etc, it may go straight through HUXWRX but it is recommended to give expert voice a shout just to be sure in case something does arise.

Who Can Qualify for Expert Voice?

After checking the website for the latest in who can qualify it looks like almost anyone can have access to these deals. Previously they would ask for military, LE, first responder proof. While they still do that they also allow company email addresses with any company in any industry almost. They also state that even if you don’t have a company affiliated email to prove you are working with them a picture will suffice. Also to all the “influencers” out there. Look what they have to say about you.

“If you’re an influencer, pro athlete, personality, or just someone who talks to people every day about the products you love, you still can get in. Submit an application to verify your status.”-Expert Voice

See here to see who qualifies and sign up. The worst that can happen is they respond with a no.

Below is how the affiliations with Expert Voice works to get access to certain brands.

NEW RELEASE: PHlster Modular Holster Wedge Kit

By
Anna Martinez
-

PHlster, a company known for rethinking the concealment game and educating us about it with each launch. First came the PHlster Floodlight, an inside the waistband universal holster that retains based off of the light not the gun. Then came the Enigma, a holster that wears independent of your clothing and now has a whole community of Yoga Pant and Enigma wearers. Now, the PHlster Modular Holster Wedge Kit.

Why the Need?

We all know the pain of finding the right wedge when it comes to holsters. No one wedge will work with all holsters and sometimes it takes 6 tries to find that certain wedge that does work. Sometimes it even leads to us building our own out of yoga blocks. (PHlster released a self help video of this too) It could mean three different orders, three different shipping payments, and a plastic bin of wedges before finding the right wedge for that one holster. Truly frustrating..

PHlster solved these issues with giving us a MODULAR wedge KIT. Modular, meaning they can be stacked, stuck side by side, or switched out. Kit, meaning there is more than one. FINALLY RIGHT?! An order that can be placed once that comes with twelve wedge modules.

Two modules from the kit being used by stacking on eachother. Each module is sticky on the back.

The Kit

“The Modular Holster Wedge Kit provides a variety of stackable shapes which you can use in any combination or configuration to quickly and easily get the comfort and concealment results you need, with no permanent modifications to the holster. 

Each kit comes with two base pads, two spines, four half-circles, and four “bean” shapes, pre-cut hook tabs for each shape, and two pieces of adhesive loop. For a total of 12 wedge modules, this is enough to adjust two holsters, with enough modules and material left over to fine tune an extra magazine carrier or knife sheath.”-PHlster

Due to this being a kit the extra small modules within the kit can be used as mag holder wedges.

The Material

“Each module contains a proprietary viscoelastic foam encapsulated in stretchy plastic, RF welded in a fabric cover. Based on the technology from state-of-the-art ballistic helmet pads, the Modular Holster Wedges are extremely comfortable, retain their shape, reject sweat and moisture, and reduce uncomfortable rubbing and skin shear compared to other wedge materials. The fabric outer layer glides over the foam capsule and feels more like a firm gel than the typical foam wedge. “-PHlster

A screen grab of the product launch video. Jon is showing the gel on the inside of the wedge modules.

Basing off experience of helmet pads and wedges ordered online, there truly is a difference to the moldable shape of each. Wedges are often of a foam type that is stiff and will not conform to your body and can cause some annoying hot spots. However helmet pads do have more of a gel feel and will shape to your head. The material of this wedge kit has the conformity but still the strength to retain it’s shape. The sweat and moisture rejection is an added plus.

The Pricing and Availability

Currently in stock on PHLster.com the wedge kit prices at $44.00 for a kit of 12 wedge modules and 2 pieces of adhesive loop.

Note: “The Modular Holster Wedge Kit has a 12 month warranty. Think of them like underwear and expect to refresh or replace them after some reasonable period of time. If you need to return your kit for reasons other than defect or error, please keep in mind that kits that have been cut and worn are not eligible for a return. If you need individual assistance getting your kit dialed in, please email us at info@phlsterholsters.com or join the PHLster Concealment Workshop Facebook Group.“

The Product Launch

Below is a live stream of two days ago when the product was launched. Jon and Sarah Hauptman go over the product pretty in depth and answer questions.

Better Style = Better Concealment

By
The Suited Shootist
-

Men, especially “alpha” or “macho” men reject the idea that there’s value in understanding style as somehow frivolous or unmasculine.

What if I told you that there was a tactical reason to improve your understanding of clothes?

This extends well past the tropes of “shoot me first” vests and 5.11 pants. The truth is, once you understand how clothing is supposed to fit and drape, it’s a lot easier to pick out irregularities.

While some people will use this knowledge as an excuse to judge people, you can leverage it to your advantage.

Firstly, how someone dresses is a form of communication. If you’re in tune with stylistic cues, it’s easier to identify if someone’s behavior doesn’t jive with their attire. Here’s a prime example:

Sometimes these irregularities can be obvious, like mirror-polished wingtips on a convict, or sometimes they can be more subtle.

I’ll draw another example from my trip to Las Vegas:

During that trip, we went and saw Penn & Teller, and they were really good seats. We were maybe 6 rows from the stage, tops. Well from that distance, when Penn & Teller took the stage and started going their act, I was able to see every gimmick and hideaway that they had built into their stage costumes.

The show was still incredibly entertaining, but it definitely took a little bit of the wonder out of things. It was that much more obvious how they did a given trick.

Penn talks about how magic is, at its core, criminal. The only difference is that the “victim” a) knows what they’re in for and b) the “bad guy” isn’t doing it for nefarious purposes. That said, magicians and criminals use a lot of the same tactics. Misdirection, social engineering, and so on.

We all like to joke about the “grey man uniform” for concealed carriers, but when it comes to the criminal side of the equation, they’re much better at it, and have had far more practice, because they’re under an umbrella of much more severe consequence for getting it wrong.

So why not give yourself as much of an advantage as possible? With everyone striving to be stronger, faster, and more accurate than the bad guys, why not also develop a skill set that gives you x-ray vision as well? At best, you can avoid the problem entirely, and at worst you have more advanced warning before things kick off.

Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Maintain Balance

By
The Suited Shootist
-

Whether it’s Travis Bickle’s preparations in Taxi Driver, Vin Deisel’s “500 Street Fights” monologue from Knockaround Guys there are plenty of examples of how the pursuit of capability can overrun the rest of your life, and become this all-consuming initiative that can consume the very life you’re trying to defend.

It’s important to keep these things in perspective because, especially for those of us that have managed to get this far in life without having been directly impacted by criminal violence, there will always be this nagging doubt of “how ready am I really?”. This doubt, combined with the pervasive mantra of “good enough is never good enough” can drive someone into an unhealthy mindset if it’s not tempered correctly, and negatively impact your quality of life.

I’ll use examples from my own life:

Example 1:

For my 30th birthday, my wife took me to Las Vegas for the first time. We hit a bunch of great restaurants, I had a lucky streak at the tables as a first-time player, and we caught a couple of shows. Since we don’t visit Vegas regularly, she also wanted to take the opportunity to catch Britney Spears’ show back when she had a residency. It was the only thing she really wanted to do while we were there, so of course, I obliged.

Now, as with many young self-defenders of the era, I didn’t like crowds and I didn’t like that many people being so close to me. It wasn’t really a problem before or during the show, but afterward, when it let out I found myself in the middle of a sea of bodies, and it resulted in what I can only assume was an anxiety attack. I was overwhelmed with a sense of dread, even though I was in absolutely no danger. But “you’re not supposed to let people get close to you” and all those other cliches had conditioned me to fear this situation, so my system responded accordingly.

Example 2:

I was friends with several very capable shooters who would describe themselves as “ok” or “passable” in terms of their shooting ability. The problem with this was that they simultaneously were putting out content of them shooting at a level way higher than I could perform. This created a serious disconnect in my mind. I remember thinking to myself “If these guys are ‘just ok’ and they’re lightyears ahead of me in terms of shooting ability, then what does that mean for me? Do I even have a fighting chance, or am I as good as dead?” At that point in my development, I’d had maybe 100 hours or so of open enrollment training.

I reached out to another friend who I knew had first-hand experience with criminal violence, and could offer me a realistic perspective. His advice to me essentially was “You don’t get to pick the day or the enemy. If your number is up, can you die knowing you gave it your all and that the other guy had to work for it? Tier 1 dudes with millions of dollars in training with the latest guns and gear sometimes get got by illiterate goatherds in sandals with 60-year-old rifles.”

It helped me accept that there are aspects of this whole thing that are outside my control. More importantly, I would have missed out on some of the most fulfilling experiences of my life if I’d allowed the gun to dictate my life. I got to attend a dear friend’s wedding in New York, I took my wife to the Dominican Republic for our honeymoon, I had dinner with a Broadway cast in Chicago while they were touring, and I’ve seen The Pietà in person.

Cecil Burch tells a story about a student who, after taking Immediate Action Combatives’ coursework, finally took his wife to Rome after years of her asking, because he no longer feared traveling without his firearm.

Melody Lauer says “the gun is supposed to be an enabler, not a disabler”. Let your defensive capabilities allow you to live your life, not chain you only to the activities where you can bring a gun.

The Kolb Small Frame First Model – Tiny Inside and Out

By
Travis Pike
-

Who doesn’t love tiny guns? I’ve always had a thing for the little NAA .22 revolvers. Say what you will about their effectiveness, but they are well made. I also have an interest in the early days of small carry guns. Vest and pocket pistols are fascinating to me. When I ran across a Kolb Small Frame First Model at a local gun show at a low price, I jumped on it. It’s a great mix of all the things I love. 

The History of Kolb 

The Kold Small Frame First Model is an early concealed carry weapon that weapons like the NAA were certainly inspired by. These guns date back to the first few decades of 1900, and they have a rather complicated history. It starts with a gun company called Foehl & Weeks. They made small, inexpensive revolvers and had the first patents that would lead to the Kolb. After a few years in business, they went bankrupt. 

In a rather shady business move, the bankruptcy referee for Foehl & Weeks purchased the company and retitled it Columbia, and began producing firearms. They produced the same guns Foehl & Weeks produced and may have produced the first few super small 22 revolvers. Although this is unconfirmed and Columbia went out of business in 1898.

Henry Kolb came around in 1910 and began producing guns. He never occupied the same facility as Columbia, and there is no information he purchased their equipment or machinery. However, he began producing the Kolb Small Frame First Model, which was identical to the early versions of the gun that lacked a manufacturer’s mark. Foehl from Foelh and Weeks worked with Kolb, and the two took out patents on several of the mini-revolvers features.  

Kolb made the majority of these mini-revolvers. The smallest is my example, the Small Frame First Model. They also produced a Large Frame, but take Large with a grain of salt. It’s Large compared to the small, but it was still a pocket pistol. 

The Little Kolb That Could 

The Kolb Small Frame revolver was an interesting little firearm. The Baby Hammerless lacked a hammer and, like most hammer-free revolvers, had a pronounced humpback at the rear of the gun. These were double-action-only guns. The cylinders held six rounds of .22 Short and were tiny little guns. 

A small loading gate allowed you to load the gun a round at a time, but the process to do so doesn’t reflect modern, safe gun handling procedures. To unlock the cylinder, you have to place a little bit of pressure on the trigger. This unlocks the cylinder and allows you to rotate and load the cylinder. 

To unload (and safely load) the gun, you can just remove the cylinder. In front of the cylinder and on the frame sits a small release. Hit the release, and you can remove a pin. With that pin removed, the cylinder just pops out. The pin can also be used to punch out the spent rounds. 

The trigger is rather interesting. It folds forward and out of the way, much like the old Velo Dog guns. The folding trigger and lack of a trigger guard make the weapon incredibly compact. It can squeeze into the coin pocket of my jeans. 

The Kolb is 4.125 inches long, .8 inches thick, and 3 inches tall. It’s super small, and I could easily see it drop into a vest pocket. Across the front is a very optimistic front sight, but hey, it’s something to adorn the 1-inch barrel. 

The .22 Short Conundrum 

The gun was made for self-defense. It could disappear, be unseen, but heard when necessary. With that said, how much oomph does .22 Short offer? Well, not a whole lot. It most certainly lacks serious penetration and won’t reach established standards. The little 29-grain round moves at less than 1,000 fps from a decent barrel. I imagine it’s just chugging along from the 1-inch Kolb barrel. 

It certainly stings and could still be lethal. Even so, I wouldn’t trust the cartridge for anything more than squirrels. Even the .22LR runs laps around this cartridge. Although I probably wouldn’t want to shoot anything larger than 22 Short through the Kolb. 

The cylinder gap sits right above your finger, and the Shorts produce such a little bang that it doesn’t singe your finger. It doesn’t get your trigger finger nice and dirty. 

To The Range 

This over-a-century-old gun isn’t a spring chicken, so I only fired 24 rounds through it. Impressively the gun fired every round without issue. They all went bang. It’s not quiet, but it’s got a cute burp to it. The little gun moves a slight bit, but there isn’t real recoil. 

The trigger pull is a very long and heavy one. At ten pounds, it’s no Ruger LCR. It’s not exactly a great trigger, either. There is probably a ¼ inch of takeup before we get to the ultra-stiff double action. 

Accuracy…well, if the bad guy was right in front of me and I jabbed it into his belly, I’d likely hit him. I exaggerate, but it’s not an exceptionally accurate gun. It doesn’t group…it patterns. Still, it’s a fun little gun. 

I probably won’t shoot it much, but it’s a great conversation starter. The little gun is seriously cute and an interesting part of concealed carry history. Is it a great choice today? Oh no, but it’s an interesting curiosity. 

The Known Assailant

By
Lars Smith
-
Known Assailant home invasion
Photo Credit: YouTube

https://nypost.com/2022/08/31/woman-whose-dad-shot-dead-james-rayl-told-cops-victim-changed-after-split/

Known Assailant violence outnumbers Stranger violence, and we got a good reminder from Ohio recently. A young man decided that the best response to a breakup in 2019 would be leave a creepy voicemail, and then show up at his ex’s house the following day (which apparently happened to also be her parent’s house) and start banging on the door. The father of his ex girlfriend announced to James Douglas Rayl that he was armed, and that James needed to leave.

Knowing this was someone his daughter had dated, and once cared for, must have given him plenty of incentive to let the guy go, and usually “I have a gun, GTFO” is enough to dissuade. However, duly warned, Mr. Rayl decided that rather than leave, he would attempt to shoulder the door in. Given the terrible quality of modern construction materials, it was unfortunately quite soon that the door began to give way. Police reports indicate that the deadbolt was locked, but the doorjamb failed. The father, watching this happen, made the terrible but ultimately justified decision to fire 3 shots through the decorative door window, which would prove fatal to Rayl.

Besides the best possible advertisement for up-armoring your door frames, this is a lesson many of us need to take more seriously: Per FBI UCR statistics, you’re way more likely to shoot someone whose name you know (a known assailant), than you are a stranger. Does any of your training take this known assailant risk into account? Have you ever sat down and really considered who among your acquaintances you could, or couldn’t shoot? Who might be the most likely candidate to earn the title?

These aren’t fun or easy questions, but if you go by the numbers, it’s a lot better to have considered them now, than in the moment when your cousin’s high school friend shows up in your hallway with a bat because he heard said cousin talking about the pair of new SOLGW rifles you just bought. Being surprised by an assailant is always a poor way to start a lethal force encounter, but being surprised, and having you OODA loop blown apart because that assailant is someone you know or at least recognize. Now is the time to think about known assailant encounters, not in the moment when you’re scrambling to process the situation and react appropriately.

REASON: Are the Media Making Mass Shootings Worse?

By
Keith Finch
-

The short answer is, probably.

REASON has a 12 minute video here exploring that hard question but the numbers are chilling on it. I know that as we cover mass shootings too, they’re horrific events that do need coverage and exploratory examination.

Unfortunately, that coverage is also part of what is sustaining the problem.

The absolute tsunami of attention that is given to these events is intoxicatingly seductive to the attention starved, isolated, violent, and disassociated individuals who are most likely to carry out an attack. The coverage, the amount of people who will be talking about them, is an ultimate high that cannot be replicated outside that extreme outburst of violence.

Sure, we universally cover it as horrific. But the negative coverage isn’t a deterrent because the sheer volume of coverage is the incentive. These people do not, or have stopped, judging life by the positive average that most people do. People, by default, place some value on life. Some life, at least, usually most prioritizing theirs, then their close family and friends, and then assigning a neutral but positive value to people in general.

But that scale is broad, there are people who do not prioritize the continuation of any life, except usually their own. There are far more people who will put no more effort into the sustainment of life than voicing aloud that they’d rather not see bad things happen to people. The percentage of the population who will actively engage and do something, often titled active responders, is lower than we like to imagine. Even some first responders aren’t active responders, despite it being their job.

So while the population as a whole is unlikely to be influenced negatively by this coverage, the population is also rather lackadaisical in the grand scheme. They rely on the efforts of others whose ‘job’ it is, because it certainly isn’t theirs.

Meanwhile, the coverage is like the universe’s greatest hit of methamphetamine to a very small and very dangerous group of addicts who fall into a perverted category of active responders. Those who will use their faculties to destroy and get that high. Some may regret it, at least a little, afterward but that is too late, damage done. The temptation, the motivation, the event are already triggered. The past coverage and knowing the coverage will come is firmly emplaced in their minds and no other possible outcomes, nor the condemnation of the populace, matter in the slightest.

There is no replacing the need to cover world events, but it is also absolutely fueling the rare fires who crave this sort of macabre attention.

Anti-Gun Bill So Bad CA Won’t Accept It

By
Lars Smith
-
Anti-gun bill fails in CA
Photo Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times
SB918 had provisions for “…significantly expanding gun-free zones, requiring signage for private businesses where you “can” carry, doubling training requirements, and maintaining the ability to do in-person interviews, psychiatric evaluations, and allowing “time place, and manner” restrictions on permits” and was about as obvious an anti-gun finger to the Bruen ruling as California could muster.

What precisely it was that the California legislature, and their anti-gun proponents hoped to accomplish with this bill is still unclear. It plainly places restrictions on carry that have been outlined by the supreme court as unconstitutional as recently as 70 days ago, and was fated to die in court the moment it was conceived. Virtue signaling to voters is apparently the way to get re-elected nowadays, so it perhaps shouldn’t be surprising that this is going on, but we’re still impressed every time it’s this blatant.

Moms Demand Action were quick to take to twitter with their own hot take on the issue, with the decidedly Anonymous style hashtags #Novemberiscoming and #Expectus, seemingly suggesting that those who voted against this crusade to die gloriously in court after wasting taxpayer money pushing an obviously unconstitutional law were going to get voted out for their prudence and sensibility. It’s good for fundraising though, I suspect. Californians get to pay this anti-gun org to push legislators to pass a law that will then cost Californians even more money to defend in court, through appeals, and into its inevitable death. If we were more cynical, we might start our own grift to profit off of, and bankrupt people we hated too, but MDA and other anit-gun orgs seem to have that market cornered.

Anti-gun orgs and politicians will likely attempt to use this as proof that their liberty minded opposites are standing in the way of the will of the people, because who would oppose “common sense” gun laws, after all?

The Behlert Model 39 Mini Combats

By
Travis Pike
-

The art of gunsmithing seems to be mostly lost these days. I mean real independent gunsmithing, from the days of custom 1911s and crazy cut-down firearms like the ASP. It’s sad to see, and I think the 1970s established gunsmithing as an art and that a gunsmith could take a gun and make it exactly how you wanted. These days gun companies seem to produce so many different models it’s tough not to get exactly what you want. One legendary gunsmith that you should know is Austin Behlert. 

Austin Behlert was a master gunsmith, and his work was something of an art form. The Behlert guns were absolutely gorgeous guns, and he customized Hi Powers, K-Frames, 1911s, and S&W Model 39s and 59s. Today we are more or less going to focus on the Model 39 guns. In the 1970s, the Model 39 was a popular choice with master gunsmiths. 

Specifically, these smiths liked to trim the guns down to a smaller, more concealable size. At this time period, small automatics were in calibers like .22LR, 32 ACP, and maybe .380 ACP. If you want something potent, you went with a j-frame. A small 9mm wasn’t a thing, at least from the factory. So companies like Devel, ASP, and Behlert made them. 

Devel and ASP are very well known for their trimmed-down Model 39s, and Devel did do smaller 59s as well. Behlert turned nearly everything into a Mini Combat, as he called them. 

The Behlert Mini Combat S&W Pistols 

The Model 39 and 59 were both 9mm handguns that were fairly popular in the 1970s. The 39 was a single stack, and the 59 used a double stack magazine. The 39s modified to use 14-round magazines were popular with SEALs in Vietnam, and some were eventually turned into Hushpuppy pistols. These modified 39s eventually became 59s. 

Courtesy Steve Barnett Fine Guns

These were both full-sized pistols. They were DA/SA, hammer-fired guns with the 1970s design we all know and love. As we know it now, the 9mm round does fairly well from short barrels and is easy to control. This made them natural adaptions for men like Behlert to turn into compact fighting pistols. 

Making Behlert Mini Combat Guns

Behlert trimmed the frame, slide, and barrel of the Mini Combat pistols to reduce their overall size. You could just fit most of your hand on the grip. Austin trimmed the barrels to 3.5 inches. The package included a bobbed hammer to increase concealment. The trigger guard is reshaped and slightly squared with a slight hook to it. 

Rear sights were often pushed to the rear as far as possible to increase the sight radius. The rear sight would be adjustable, and the front sight rounded and reduced. The front sight wore a bright orange insert for quick sight acquisition. Edges of the slide were melted and rounded. 

Courtesy Steve Barnett Fine Guns

One of the most eye-catching changes is the addition of finger grooves. He seemingly carved them into the steel of the gun. While I’m not a finger groove fan, I am impressed by the work. They are sharp finger grooves that look like they held your hand on the little grip. At the rear, Austin trimmer the beavertail and rounded it for easy concealment. 

The trigger is reportedly wonderful. There isn’t a ton of information out there on these pistols. However, in researching this article, I found one constant comment: how nice the triggers were. Specifically, the double action trigger is reportedly wonderful, and a man who owned a Devel, ASP, and Belhert Model 39 commented that the Behlert had the best trigger. 

Courtesy Steve Barnett Fine Guns

These upgrades were a little less flashy than the ASP or Devel but impressive nonetheless. These guns are gorgeous, and 

The Legacy 

Sadly Austin’s Custom Gunshop closed upon his passing. He originally aimed to pass the shop down to his son-in-law, but his son-in-law lost his battle with cancer. Austin Belhert’s legacy is on fine work and master gunsmithing. He also frequently posted on the pistolsmith.com forum. His stories are wonderful, and it’s worth a read if you want inside knowledge on an age of guns and gunslingers lost to us. 

1...139140141...419Page 140 of 419
© All rights reserved © 2023 GAT Daily. Designed by GAT Marketing