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Most officers who carry Glock pistols will know exactly what I mean when I say that the new Glock G21SF is "...just a Glock." But such flippancy should in no way be taken as a negative comment because one of the line's most positive features is that once you know how to use one Glock, you know how to use all of them.
During my law enforcement career I never had a malfunction or a problem with any of the Smith & Wesson pistols that I owned or was issued. Needless to say, I like Smith & Wesson pistols.
I think that you'll have to agree that there is a certain amount of irony in seeing a 1911 wearing the S&W logo. After all, it was Colt that brought the gun to market and produced millions for the military and for civilian consumption. But S&W didn't just copy the original design. It has made some changes to the time-honored 1911 to update the gun.
SIG’s new 2022 pistol isn’t the first sidearm to have a polymer frame, but it’s a welcome addition to a new tradition of sidearms that has continued to grow in popularity.
One of the most frustrating things that can happen to you as a law enforcement officer is being forced to carry a handgun that you dislike. So what can you do if your issued sidearm doesn’t fit you or you just don’t like it?
Can an AR-style pistol really hold up to combat conditions? The rugged and accurate PLR-16 can.
There can be no denying that the most popular semi-automatic pistol of all time is John Moses Browning’s venerable Model 1911. The Model 1911 served the U.S. Army for almost a century; its popularity with civilian shooters knows few bounds, and it dominates the action pistol shooting sports. Oddly enough, however, the 1911 never gained much of a following among American law enforcement agencies. The reasons for this can be summed up in two words: tradition and litigation.
With refinements like a radical dehorning, a DAK double-action-only trigger, tritium front night sight and chambering for the potent .40 S&W cartridge, the SIG 229 SAS possesses everything that an officer or agent could need. And it should. This newest member of the SIG is designed for professionals who carry their guns all day, every day.
Despite the howls of protest and dire predictions that continue to emanate from the traditionalists among us, I believe I am on firm ground when I state that polymer-frame pistols are not only here to stay, but will continue to capture an increasing share of the U.S. police market.
I would be willing to bet cash money that if you were to ask any veteran American law enforcement officer who is over the age of 35 to tell you what a “Military & Police” is, he or she would answer “Smith & Wesson’s most popular revolver.”
You probably think you have seen every possible rifle that can be derived from the basic AR platform. Think again.
A good law enforcement handgun does not have to be new and exciting to remain viable in the market. A good duty or off-duty sidearm is not a fashion statement; it's a tool.
With the right tests you can determine whether a pistol makes the grade as your next duty or off-duty weapon.
Back in the late 1990s, a new polymer pistol called the HS 2000 hit the market. Made in Croatia by I.M. Metal, the HS 2000 suffered from poor marketing, a poor supply of holsters and accessories, and ultimately, poor sales.
Police officers are tasked with being true “jacks of all trades.” One of the biggest drawbacks to this designation is the amount of gear and paperwork officers are required to carry out into the field with them. It’s like having your entire office in your car and on your belt! Maintaining these items is one of the most commonly overlooked, but most important, aspects of our job.
If you started your law enforcement career carrying a Smith & Wesson M19 in a Sam Browne rig, chances are that you’re pretty darn close to retirement. Chances are too that you’ll also remember the splash it made when Detonics introduced the CombatMaster in 1977.
Today's police handgun market abounds with full-sized, medium-sized, and compact .45 ACP pistols. But until recently the designers of these weapons all labored under a seemingly insurmountable constraint: size.