The history of Ceska zbrojovka Uhersky Brod began in 1936 in the town of Strakonice where it was established as a branch of Ceska zbrojobka and production of a combined range of military and civilian arms commenced on January 2, 1937.  In the intervening years, the company endured the Nazi occupation and, after the end of the war, a major reorganization of the company took place with each division of the company a focused on the production of  industrial machine parts as well as firearms. Then, in July of 1988, the company was once again given its independence and reassumed its original name of Ceska zbrrojovak, s.p. and by 1992, the company was once again focused entirely on the manufacture of sporting firearms. Since then, CZ firearms have been available in the U.S. from such importers as Bauska, Action Arms, and Magnum Research. However, in 1997, CZUB came to the conclusion that it needed to manage its own destiny in the huge U.S. market and thus, they initially established their U.S. headquarters in Oakhurst, CA. but, are now located in Kansas City, KS.

The CZ 75 SP-01 pistol is a upgraded version, of the famous CZ 75 steel framed, double-action/single action, pistol that is specifically designed to be a military and law enforcement duty sidearm with an overall length of 8.15 inches, an overall height of  5.79 inches, and an unloaded weight of 41 oz. Also, it has an exposed hammer with a beaver tail extension to protect the shooter’s hand and the slide features fixed font sights with drift adjustable rear sights. In addition, it features a cold hammer forged, 4 5/8”, barrel chambered for the 9mm Parabellum cartridge and it contain 18 rounds in its steel magazine which is protected by a plastic bumper pad. Plus, it features CZ’s corrosion resistant, black, poly coat finish, rubber grip panels, and a 1913 Accessory Rail attached to the dust cover for mounting a tactical flashlight or a laser sight.

First imported into the U.S. in 1993, the CZ series of handguns has gained an almost cult-like following due to high quality construction and a highly ergonomic grip frame that is somewhat reminiscent of the Browning Hi-Power. In fact, most IPSC shooters choose a pistol with either a 1911 or CZ 75 grip frame which, in our opinion, says a lot about the popularity of this pistol. In addition, the CZ 75 SP-01 features a beefy, all steel, frame, slide, and barrel that results in very low recoil which enables the shooter to get back on target quickly for a follow up shot if necessary and greatly extends the service life of the pistol. In fact, many people report that the CZ 75 SP-01 has one of the most comfortable grip frames they have ever held and is one of the lightest recoiling 9mm pistols that they have ever shot. Also, while we would hesitate to call the rubber on the grip panels “tacky”, they certainly provide a more positive grip than hard plastic or even checkered wood grips do. Also, the CZ 75 SP-01 pistol features a beavertail extension and a deeper pocket for the web of the shooter’s hand designed to reduce the distance to the double action trigger to accommodate shooters with shorter fingers. In fact, the only drawback we see with the CZ 75 SP-01 pistol is that the heavy-duty frame and subsequent additional weight precludes the shooter from carrying it concealed and instead, relegates this fine pistol to the function of a duty pistol or competition pistol only. Otherwise, the design, construction, fit, and finish are absolutely top notch and we would be proud to carry such a fine pistol as a duty weapon.

Therefore, we find the CZ 75 SP-01 9mm pistol to be up to the usual, high quality, standards we have come to expect from the CZ brand name. Also, with the improved features found on the CZ 75 SP-01, we expect that this fine pistol will gain favor with both the law enforcement and military communities for which it was intended. However, some very notable IPSC shooters such as Adam Tyc and Angus Hobdell have also found favor with the CZ 75 SP-01 and thus, we expect that its popularity will grow in that community as well.

In 1963, a young gentleman named Gaston Glock began his professional career in working with plastics and metals. After spending the next 18 years learning his trade, Gaston founded Glock GES.M.B.H. in 1981and then proceeded to introduce a profound series of engineering feats that literally redefined what was possible in a modern pistol! In fact, today, Glock is the leading manufacturer of pistols worldwide and, their reputation for safety, durability, reliability, and ease of use has created a dedicated civilian and law enforcement following.

In fact, the model 17 was Glock’s first introduction to the market and it took us all by surprise because it is a polymer framed, striker fired, handgun with a steel slide and barrel chambered for the 9 x 19mm Parabellum cartridge. Also, it features a 4 1/2” barrel with Glock’s proprietary, right-hand twist, hexagonal, rifling with a twist rate of 1in 9.84 inches and a 17 round magazine (made of a hardened steel insert covered in high tech polymer) for a total capacity of 18 rounds. In addition, has a fixed front sight with a drift adjustable rear sight and features Glock’s “Safe Action” trigger with a standard trigger pull of 5 1/2 lbs. and a standard trigger travel of 1/2”. Plus, it also features a full length recoil spring guide, a molded rail under the barrel for mounting a laser or a tactical flashlight, and low profile slide and magazine releases. Last, it has an overall length of 8 inches and an overall height of 5 1/2″ and has an unloaded weight of 22 oz. and a loaded weight of 32 oz.

However, what really sets the Glock 17 apart from the other pistols that were available when it was first introduced is the fact that it has no hammer. Instead, it has an internal, spring-loaded, Striker very similar to a standard pistol’s firing pin. Consequently, when the slide is racked, the striker is partially drawn to the rear where it is held in place by the internal safety mechanism in a half-cock position. Then, when the safety lever on the “Safe Action” trigger is depressed, a small bar is drawn downwards; thus unlocking the striker which then requires a 1/2” pull on the trigger itself to reach the fully cocked position where it is then released to strike the cartridge’s primer. Also, by removing the hammer from the rear of the pistol, the lock time is decreased for greater accuracy. In addition, while some firearms enthusiasts may disparage this type of firing system, it does have the advantage of being double-action-only which can possibly decrease your liability in a situation where you are forced to use your handgun to defend yourself or your family and are then faced with a criminal or civil law suit. Plus, striker fired pistols tend to place the web of the shooter’s hand farther forward for better balance which tends to lead to better accuracy. Furthermore, the angle between the bore plane and the grip has been carefully calculated to be very ergonomic and thus, it does an excellent job of absorbing recoil and doesn’t cause the muzzle to rise alarmingly when the pistol is fired. Also, the pebbled sides combined with the checkered back strap, the checkered finger grooves, and the concave trigger guard, give the Glock 17 pistol a very comfortable feel that allows the muzzle to be pointed very naturally at the target without undue effort required to align the sights. In addition, regardless of whether you are a civilian with a concealed carry permit or a law enforcement officer, you undoubtedly know just how arduous it can be to have to carry a fully loaded, steel frame, pistol all day long. Consequently, the polymer framed Glock 17, weighing a mere 32 oz. when fully loaded, makes this an excellent pistol for all day carry.

Thus, considering that the Glock 17 is the most widely used pistol of choice by law enforcement officers worldwide with a civilian following that is just as large, it would appear that consumers have exercised their economic vote resoundingly for the Glock 17 pistol. Plus, with several other very popular models available in numerous different calibers, it would appear that Glock will with be with us for a long time to come.

The story of the first “plastic” handgun began with a young gentleman named Gaston Glock who began a career working with plastics and metals in 1963. Then, using the knowledge and experience he had gained, Gaston founded Glock GES.M.B.H. in 1981, and proceeded to shock the world of firearms manufacture by introducing an amazing series of engineering feats that literally redefined what was possible in manufacture of modern handguns! Consequently, Glock is now the leading manufacturer of semi-automatic handguns worldwide and, their reputation for safety, durability, reliability, and ease of use has created a dedicated civilian and law enforcement following.

Based upon on the popularity of their full-sized Glock 17, the Glock model 19 is a more compact version that features a polymer frame with a steel slide and barrel meant to fulfill the need for a slightly smaller handgun for concealed carry use. Consequently, it measures 7.36 inches in overall length and 4.99 inches in overall height and thus, it is has 0.67 inches less length and 0.44 inches less height to more easily fit in a shoulder holster or behind-the-back holster or in a woman’s purse. Also, the Glock 19 features a 4 inch barrel chambered for the 9 x 19mm Parabellum cartridge instead of the 4 ½” barrel used on the Glock 17 and it incorporates Glock’s proprietary, hexagonal, right-hand twist, rifling with a twist rate of 1in 9.84 inches. In addition, the Glock 19 features a 15 round magazine (constructed using a hardened steel insert covered in high tech polymer) for a total capacity of 16 rounds. Plus, the Glock 19 features Glock’s “Safe Action” trigger with a standard trigger pull of 5 1/2 lbs. and a standard trigger travel of 1/2”. Furthermore, the slide features a fixed front sight with a drift adjustable rear sight and a full length recoil spring guide, a molded rail under the barrel for mounting a laser or a tactical flashlight, and low profile slide and magazine releases. Last, the Glock 19 features an unloaded weight of 21 oz. and a loaded weight of 30 oz. with a standard 15 round magazine.

According to Glock’s web site, the purpose of the Glock 19 is to create a smaller, lighter, handgun for concealed carry use with the same firepower as its full sized brother the Glock 17. However, unlike many compact versions of full sized pistols, the Glock 19 does feel surprisingly good in the hand due the fact that the four inch barrel provides enough length and weight to be able to feel where the muzzle is without having to look at it and the grip frame is just long enough to accommodate a medium sized hand without the need to extend the magazine’s bumper pad. However, two major differences between the Glock 19 and a conventional handguns are the fact that the Glock 19 is fired by a “striker” similar to, but larger than, a traditional semi-automatic pistol’s firing pin. Consequently, when the slide is racked, the striker is withdrawn to the half-cock position where it is held in place by a steel bar which prevents its forward motion until the safety bar is withdrawn. This type of firing system in turn results in a Double-Action-Only trigger pull and, unlike the Double Action/Single Action trigger pull or Single-Action-Only trigger pull encountered on hammer-fired pistols, the Double-Action-Only trigger pull tends to adversely affect the shooter’s accuracy; unlike a single action trigger pull. Consequently, with a striker fired pistol, you are forced to accept a tradeoff between accuracy and liability by carrying the pistol in the half-cock position only and, instead of the trigger reverting to single action after the first shot as with a hammer fired pistol, the trigger retains its double action pull on each subsequent shot. On the other hand, the Double-Action-Only trigger system may possibly lessen your criminal and/or civil liability in the event that you are forced to use your handgun to defend yourself or your family and then face a law suit for having done so.

Next, concerning the grip frame, the angle between the bore plane and the backstrap has been carefully calculated to be very ergonomic and thus, it does an excellent job of absorbing recoil and doesn’t cause the muzzle to rise alarmingly when the pistol is fired which enables the shooter to get back on target faster for a follow up shot if needed. Also, the pebbled sides combined with the checkered back strap, the checkered finger grooves, and the concave trigger guard, give the Glock 19 pistol a very comfortable feel that allows the muzzle to be pointed very naturally at the target without undue effort required to align the sights. In addition, due to its polymer frame, the Glock 19 weighs a mere 30 oz. when fully loaded; making it an excellent pistol for concealed carry.

Thus, all things considered, the Glock 19 is a very well designed and meticulously constructed handgun with a long standing reputation for safety and reliability. Thus, it would be an excellent choice a concealed carry handgun for both civilians and law enforcement personnel since it pack the full power of the 9 x 19mm cartridge into a smaller, lighter, package.

As a major international manufacturer of firearms, Heckler & Koch’s stated mission is “to be the world’s premier small arms systems company”. In pursuit of that mission, H & K has been recognized as a leading designer of small arms and light weapons for over fifty years. In fact, the foundation of everything H & K does is based upon a dedicated commitment to excellence. Consequently, H & K’s leadership in the firearms industry rests on in-depth research and development as well as technological leadership and a self-stated obligation “to deliver the best possible products to their customers”. Consequently, they are the leading supplier of weapons systems to law enforcement and military forces worldwide in addition to manufacturing a premier brand of firearms for both commercial and sporting use.

Developed as a possible candidate for the Joint Combat Pistol and Combat Pistol programs conducted by the U. S. Military in their search for a new service handgun, the HK45 Compact is smaller and lighter than its larger brother the HK45 and features a black polymer frame with an integral Picatinny Rail that measures 7.2 inches in overall length and 5.59 inches in overall height with a 4 inch barrel chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge with a magazine capacity of eight rounds. Also, all HK45 barrels are made using H & K’s renowned cold hammer forging process and they all feature polygonal rifling and H & K’s proprietary O-ring barrel for superior accuracy. In addition, the HK45 Compact incorporates H & K’s unique internal mechanical recoil reduction system the reduces felt recoil by as much as 30% which can drastically improve the shooter’s control over the weapon and thus positively affect their accuracy in addition to extending the service life of the firearm. Furthermore, each HK45 Compact includes an extra backstrap that enables the owner to customize the feel of the pistol and it also features an H & K USP-style control lever which serves as both a safety and a decocking lever and which can be easily moved from one side of the pistol to the other for ambidextrous use. Last, the HK45 Compact can be converted to a wide variety of different configurations that incorporate different trigger firing modes including a Double Action/Single Action mode and a Double Action Only mode that uses H & K’s unique “Law Enforcement Modification” firing system to provide an enhanced double action trigger pull.

Now, we are all aware of the German people’s reputation for innovative engineering and precision manufacturing capabilities and consequently, it is no wonder that H & K has benefited from that reputation. In fact, it is quite possible that the argument could be made that they are perceived by consumers as being the pinnacle of firearms manufactures (with the possible exception of Sig Sauer), and they are certainly viewed amongst law enforcement and military personnel as being some of the best gear you can own. In fact, we really like the HK45 Compact not only because of its innovative features but, because it is ergonomically designed, lightweight, and the trigger configuration is user selectable and user changeable. In addition, we are especially pleased with the internal recoil reduction system because, firing a 230 grain, FMJ, bullet from a compact, polymer framed, pistol can be handful; especially if you are using +P loads! In addition, we believe that the ability to interchange the grip panels to adjust both the circumference and overall feel of the grip to suit each, individual, shooter is an excellent idea. Also, we like the feel of the low profile, frame-mounted, Control Lever as well as the slide release lever and the fact that the frame was molded with an integral Picatinny Rail that enables the shooter to mount a tactical flashlight or a laser sight on the pistol with no fuss. In addition, another feature of the HK45 Compact that we really like is the fact that it has a hammer instead of a striker as is the vogue with most pistols these days. The reason for this is that with a hammer-fired pistol, you have the choice to carry the firearm in either the half-cocked position or the fully-cocked position at your discretion which, in turn, provides you with either a double or a single action trigger. But, with a striker fired pistol, you are limited to the half-cock, double-action-only, trigger pull mode.

Consequently, the HK45 Compact is obviously a well designed and meticlously constructed pistol that definitely upholds the German’s reputation for fine machine work and excellent craftsmanship. Furthermore, it is both comfortable to hold and comfortable to fire thanks to H & K’s internal recoil reduction system and with a customizable grip frame via an interchangeable backstrap and grip panels, the HK45 Compact just may be the ultimate concealed carry .45 ACP.