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Jim Dickson

The 3 Deadliest Gunfighting Pistols of All Time

By the numbers, the infamous Luger has been involved in more combat kills and casualties than any other handgun.
By the numbers, the infamous Luger has been involved in more combat kills and casualties than any other handgun.

Collecting the timeless gunfighting pistols: The Luger, the 1911A1 and Single Action Army.

The three greatest gunfighting pistols of all time, based on the number of kills and casualties made with them, are the Luger, the M1911A1 and the Colt Single Action Army. The circumstances surrounding these exploits are not likely to ever be duplicated again so their positions seem safe for all time.

The Luger

The author believes it is the best pointing and most accurate military pistol ever issued.
The author believes it is the best pointing and most accurate military pistol ever issued.

Used worldwide in the first part of the 20th century, the Luger saw its greatest action in German hands during the two World Wars. It was during the First World War that it earned the distinction of being the only pistol that was a major tactical weapon capable of winning a war. But for the entry of the United States in the war, it likely would have tipped the scales in Germany’s favor.

The story is rarely told today, as the victors write the history books and the losers’ exploits are often deliberately left out whenever the history re-writers can get away with it. Such is the case with the story of the Luger.

While World War I was defined by barbed wire, machine guns and artillery, combat in the trenches was an incredibly close-quarters battle. Entrenching tools and knives often had the advantage over rifles and bayonets in the crush of battle in the confined spaces of the trenches. This is where a pistol is best. Even at the closest quarters you can hold off your enemy with your left hand while you shoot him with the pistol in your right.

It was reported that the British and the French were reluctant to issue pistols to all of their rank and file because the soldiers were mutinying in large numbers. Also, the pistol was still an officer’s badge of rank and something that just wasn’t shared with enlisted men.

The German army had a different attitude. It was run like a very strict authoritarian family. Mutiny was never a consideration. When the troops needed pistols the Fatherland set out to supply them, despite the fact that the Luger pistol cost three times as much to manufacture as the Mauser rifle.

The Luger proved up to the challenge. It took in stride the mud, dust and sand maelstrom that was a WWI artillery barrage and kept on working when the famed Smith & Wesson Triple-Lock Revolvers were jamming. It would continue firing when its barrel was bulged from being clogged with mud. A Browning-style gun with the slide over the barrel is jammed solid until a new barrel can be installed when its barrel is bulged.

This feature saved so many German lives in the First World War that when the P38 was designed, the army specifications demanded a fully exposed barrel on it. All the Luger needs for reliability is a magazine spring that is as strong as you can get in the magazine and proper ammo—standard velocity ammo of the proper overall length. Hot loads cycle the action too fast for the magazine to feed cartridges in position to chamber before the bolt rides them down. This was never a problem with German army issue ammo.

A larger problem was the fact that the average German soldier was not a pistol shooter. The Luger handled that problem better than any pistol before or since. The Luger is the best pointing pistol ever made, bar none. Just point at the target and you hit it. It is as simple as that. It is also the most accurate pistol you will ever find. Most any good Luger will shoot a 10mm group with 9mm ammo at 25 yards.

Armed with the Luger the German troops proved a terror in trench fighting. Every stormtrooper was issued one regardless of rank, and production was geared up to equip every combat soldier by late 1918 or 1919. The Luger was a key factor in the new stormtrooper tactics as well as the new infiltration strategies of General Von Hutier and Colonel Bruchmuller, which had knocked Russia out of the war. The intensity of the trench fighting and the number of kills made by the Luger was staggering.

World War II saw more intense fighting with the Luger often being used against Russian human-wave assaults. Sometimes it was the officer’s only weapon and sometimes it was the last thing he had loaded magazines for. At those close ranges one could hardly miss. Once more the tally went up drastically. Add to these figures the numbers of the other countries’ armies that used the Luger and you get a number far exceeding any other pistol.

A well-worn, pitted Remington Rand M1911A1 from WWII that will still shoot 2½-inch groups at 25 yards all day long. There is play in the slide to allow plenty of room for dirt and sand, but it does not hurt its accuracy one bit. It has never jammed under any conditions. This is a gun to stake your life on.
A well-worn, pitted Remington Rand M1911A1 from WWII that will still shoot 2½-inch groups at 25 yards all day long. There is play in the slide to allow plenty of room for dirt and sand, but it does not hurt its accuracy one bit. It has never jammed under any conditions. This is a gun to stake your life on.

The 1911A1

The number two spot in numbers of enemies killed should go to the M1911A1 .45. During the first part of the 20th century Americans took great pride in their skill with a pistol. There have always been American soldiers who prefer the pistol to the rifle at close range, “close range” being a relative term that some will take out to 100 yards or more. Nothing is faster on target than a pistol and that fact has saved the life of many a pistoleer in combat.

Some readers will disagree with the author’s number two ranking of what many call the “World’s Greatest Fighting Pistol.” But remember, he is using historical numbers of kills and casualties.
Some readers will disagree with the author’s number two ranking of what many call the “World’s Greatest Fighting Pistol.” But remember, he is using historical numbers of kills and casualties.

Ramping up pistol production took priority over rifle production when America entered WWI. Unlike the French and British, the Americans were quick to issue pistols to anyone who needed one. WWII saw more handgun use with house-to-house and jungle fighting all within easy pistol range.

Americans got their first look at human-wave assaults with the Japanese banzai charges in the Pacific Theater. They experienced them again in Korea when the Chinese communists obeyed their Russian advisors and launched the same sort of human-wave assaults Russia had used against Germany in WWII. The M1911A1 has also seen close-quarters fighting in Vietnam and subsequent wars.

The M1911A1 is the most reliable pistol in harsh conditions that is possible to make. I have seen an M1911A1 throw sand out of every joint with the first shot and keep on firing. An unaltered military M1911A1 will tolerate more rust, dust, sand and mud than any pistol ever made and continue to fight.

Its FMJ 230-grain bullet is a sure fight stopper with a hit to the vitals. It is a natural pointer, and with a little practice many shooters can’t seem to miss with it. My Betty has shot every coin out of the air with one as long as I had pocket change to throw for her. While it comes in second to the Luger in the number of people killed with it, the M1911A1 remains the ultimate fighting pistol.

The Model 1873 Colt Single Action Army revolver with a 4¾-inch barrel in .45 Colt, the classic gunfighter’s weapon of the Old West.
The Model 1873 Colt Single Action Army revolver with a 4¾-inch barrel in .45 Colt, the classic gunfighter’s weapon of the Old West.

Colt Single Action Army

Cocking the Colt Single Action Army is done with the thumb laid crossways over the hammer so the hand remains positioned as high as possible for accurate pointing.
Cocking the Colt Single Action Army is done with the thumb laid crossways over the hammer so the hand remains positioned as high as possible for accurate pointing.

Finally, we come to the classic gunfighter’s revolver, the Colt Single Action Army .45 Model of 1873. The old cowboy sixgun is what the public thinks of when they think of a gunfighter’s gun, although its tally of kills is below that of the Luger and M1911A1.

Most of its kills were racked up on the frontier where many a pistoleer insisted it was as accurate as a rifle out to long carbine ranges, and would proceed to prove it to any doubters.

Today’s shooters often can’t get the same results because they don’t grip it and cock it correctly. If you cock it like you would a double-action revolver with the thumb held lengthways behind the hammer, it will throw your grip low to the round bottom of the gun, and it will tend to shoot to one side or another without ever pointing very well.

The correct way is to lay the thumb crossways on the hammer and cock it as you would one of the old cap-and-ball Colts with the vertical hammer. This throws your grip high. You should have the cocked hammer forced against the top of your hand, with the ball of the hand behind the trigger finger squeezing one of the flat Colt logo panels, and the thumb squeezing against the other.

The old gunfighter’s secret grip is necessary to make the Colt Single Action point its best. The palm of the hand is against the backstrap, not beside it. The grip is as high as possible with the hammer spur digging into the back of the hand. The flat Colt logo panels at the top of the grip are squeezed between the thumb and the ball of the hand at the base of the trigger finger, both of which are angled downward. The trigger is hooked by the first joint of the trigger finger, while the tip of the trigger touches the tip of the thumb. Squeezing the flat logo panels aligns the gun with whatever you are pointing at, and squeezing the trigger is converted into a steadying force instead of a disruptive force – enabling the shooter to get the maximum accuracy from the gun and cartridge.
The old gunfighter’s secret grip is necessary to make the Colt Single Action point its best. The palm of the hand is against the backstrap, not beside it. The grip is as high as possible with the hammer spur digging into the back of the hand. The flat Colt logo panels at the top of the grip are squeezed between the thumb and the ball of the hand at the base of the trigger finger, both of which are angled downward. The trigger is hooked by the first joint of the trigger finger, while the tip of the trigger touches the tip of the thumb. Squeezing the flat logo panels aligns the gun with whatever you are pointing at, and squeezing the trigger is converted into a steadying force instead of a disruptive force – enabling the shooter to get the maximum accuracy from the gun and cartridge.

Put the first joint of the trigger finger over that narrow trigger, and if possible touch the tip of the trigger finger to the tip of the thumb. This puts the gun’s backstrap against the center of the palm of your hand. Squeezing the flat logo panels aligns the sights with whatever you are pointing at, and squeezing the trigger at the same time converts the act of pulling the trigger into a steadying affect, instead of disrupting the aim.

This is the only pistol I have shot like this. Many people say the single action rolls back in the hand with recoil. I have never felt any recoil nor have I experienced the gun moving in my hand with this grip. This is an old gunfighter’s secret and I believe I’m the only writer ever to put it in print.

The 19th century design of the SAA does have its limitations. Since it lacks a hammer bar safety like later revolvers, it must be carried with the hammer down over an empty chamber for safety. This is accomplished by loading one chamber, skipping one, loading four and then cocking. You can now lower the hammer down on an empty chamber.

Since it is almost as slow to reload as a cap-and-ball revolver using paper cartridges, you don’t want to take this gun into a gunfight where you have more than five opponents. However, it is so fast and sure with those five shots that you will find it an excellent choice for five or fewer enemies. The .45 Colt, like the .45 ACP, was designed to stop a 1,500-pound cavalry horse with one shot, which it does easily. Obviously, man stopping comes easy with either caliber.

These pistols all share an ease of accuracy due to the best pointing characteristics possible. They are all very reliable in service use – with the M1911A1 being the most reliable pistol of all time. Even today there is no handgun approaching its level of effectiveness in combat. Anyone planning on using a pistol for gunfighting should confine his search to these three.

This article is excerpted from the Gun Digest 2015 annual book.

The Rhino Revolver

The 6-inch Rhino .357 in all its glory.
The 6-inch Rhino .357 in all its glory.

As one of the most innovative revolvers to be marketed to the American shooter, the Chiappa Rhino revolver fires from the bottom chamber to reduce reset time and recoil.

The Chiappa Rhino is the most innovative revolver to be marketed to the American shooter in more than a hundred years. It fires from the bottom chamber of the cylinder instead of the top for a more straight-line recoil that reduces muzzle jump and perceived recoil. Its innovative lockwork gives a 50 percent shorter trigger pull and a faster reset.

It is a major improvement in revolver design. This extends to the layout of the gun as well; the hand rides much higher on this gun than on conventional revolvers. Cowboy Action shooters will appreciate that, because one of the secrets of shooting the Colt Single Action Army was to hold it as high in the grip as possible; only then did it live up to its reputation as a natural pointer.

This also aids in putting the recoil more in line with the arm, instead of having the axis of the recoil above the hand as in a conventional revolver. Thus you don’t have the muzzle flipping up like that of a conventional revolver. The layout of the revolver results in its being 1 1/2 inches shorter in overall length than conventional revolvers with the same barrel length. Its imprint under clothes or in a pocket for the 2-inch barrel model is not as easily recognizable as a handgun as a conventional revolver is.

The Rhino is available in both fixed and adjustable sight versions and in barrel lengths of 2, 4, 5 and 6 inches, so there is something for everyone. Rifling is 6 grooves with a 1:18 3/4 inch twist. Working parts are steel and the frame is made of a high strength aluminum alloy called Ergal.

The Rhino’s low bore axis (bottom) results in more controllable recoil than that of a conventional revolver (top).
The Rhino’s low bore axis (bottom) results in more controllable recoil than that of a conventional revolver (top).

The mechanism is far different from that of conventional revolvers, as you would expect. Pulling the trigger moves an interlink lever by means of a connecting rod. This lever in turn moves both the hammer and the cylinder rotation pin, compressing a spiral spring through two levers. The interlink lever drives these two levers to push on the two spring ends which then propel the hammer and return the trigger and the rest of the mechanism to rest.

The Rhino’s double action is operated through a mobile hammer sear that cocks the hammer until it is released upon reaching the preset position, similar to the operation of a traditional revolver. The single action requires a different method due to the low position of the hammer. It was necessary to use an external hammer actuator that uses a lever to push the hammer down until it engages the counter-hammer, blocking it in the armed position.

When the trigger is pulled, the hammer is released by the interlink lever which pushes up the counter-hammer and allows the action to fire. If you wish to uncock the gun it is necessary to push down the counter-hammer, pulling the trigger to the end and gently releasing the hammer actuator as you would with a standard revolver.

The Rhino’s cylinder is released by a lever on the left side of the revolver. When pushed down, this lever engages the locking pin in the center of the rotation shaft. A spring makes the locking pin recoil and at the same time pushes back the pin in the breech shield, thus releasing the cylinder. Once the cylinder is released, it can be pushed to the left to allow the loading and unloading of the weapon.

A closer look at the Rhino’s inner workings.
A closer look at the Rhino’s inner workings.

You will encounter a slight resistance when pushing the cylinder to the left as you have to overcome the spring pressure of the second locking system of the cylinder. This consists of a spring loaded detent pin placed in the frame of the gun on the opposite side of the breech shield, which is wedged into a specific seat in the rotation arm of the cylinder. The arm of the cylinder is wedged in a special joint which allows ample space for opening of the cylinder for quick reloading.

Safety is a big part of this revolver’s design. The gun cannot fire without the cylinder being locked in place because if the small piston placed in the center of the rotation shaft of the cylinder is not perfectly seated into its notch in the breech shield, the cylinder opening lever will be in the low position, blocking rotation of the cylinder and stopping the whole mechanism.

The revolver cannot fire if the cylinder chamber in the six o’clock position is not aligned with the barrel. A pin placed on the trigger interferes with the plug blocking the cylinder and prevents the trigger from being fully pulled if the plug has not gone into its corresponding notch in the cylinder.

The internal hammer makes the Rhino extremely safe from accidental firing caused by falls and shocks. Nevertheless a special safety prevents the accidental release of the hammer when the revolver is cocked in single action. An accidental release of the hammer could happen only if the gun fell from a great height or as a result of abnormal wear of internal parts.

The Rhino’s light-gathering front sight.
The Rhino’s light-gathering front sight.

In this case the hammer cannot hit the firing pin as a solid plug on the left side of the frame would interfere with the interlink lever preventing the gun firing. This safety can only be disconnected by pulling the trigger fully through.

Advanced design means breaking with tradition and this makes the Rhino a real attention getter. When my 6-inch barrel sample gun arrived at Tucker Guns, it created quite a stir among the employees and customers. There were two standard reactions: “What in the Hell is that?” followed by “That’s weird!” Then the comments start to become complimentary: “Nicely machined!” “Points good!” “Has a good trigger pull,” etc. Everyone had to see it and play with it and all came away liking it.

I was the first gun writer to get one of the 6-inch barrel guns. Up to then everyone had gotten the 2-inch barrel snubnose. That’s fine for it’s purpose but I wanted to get all the accuracy and hunting potential out of the .357 Magnum. I am one of a long line of hunters who condemn the use of the .22LR for game shooting because of the high number of wounded animals that escape to die a lingering death after being imperfectly hit with the diminutive .22LR.Like many older hunters, I say the .32-20 is the best small and medium game cartridge, but it’s a bit hard to find today. Cost trumps humanity and sportsmanship for many folks so the .22 gets used and a lot of game dies a lingering death.

However, the .357 Magnum can be considered a larger-bored .32-20 with a little more killing power – not enough for deer but a far more sure and humane killer of small and medium game than the lowly .22LR. No, the .357 won’t spoil a lot of meat or be too powerful, and anyone with enough hunting ethics to want to kill their game cleanly without suffering will feel a lot better about using it than the .22LR.

Exploded view of the Rhino.
Exploded view of the Rhino.

The Rhino is produced by Chiappa Group in Azzano Mella in Northern Italy from all milled parts made on site. This is a very high-tech, modern facility dedicated to turning out a quality product. Its American subsidiary is Chiappa Firearms Ltd. This group is headed up by Ron Norton and their job is the development and marketing of Chiappa products in North America.

I test fired the Rhino extensively. I had 770 rounds of .38 Special and 500 rounds of .357 Magnum for a total of 1270 rounds. The breakdown was:
.38 Special
100 rounds Georgia Arms 148-grain wadcutter
100 rounds of CorBon 147-grain FMJ
150 rounds of Winchester 130-grain FMJ
100 rounds of BVAC 158-grain lead HP
100 rounds of Remington 158-grain lead     RN
100 rounds of Federeal American Eagle 158-grain lead RN
120 rounds Winchester 130-grain JHP Bonded PDXI
150 rounds of NWCP 110-grain Manstopper
.357 Magnum
300 rounds Winchester 125-grain JHP
100 rounds Remington 125-grain JSP
100 rounds of North West Custom Projectile 110-grain Manstopper

I find the FMJ loads very useful. They offer increased penetration on bear or attackers in heavy clothing or behind cover. Sometimes more penetration is better, and not enough can get you killed. The military doesn’t use FMJ ammo for nothing. If the advantages of FMJ over expanding bullets in combat weren’t clear, no nation would have signed the treaties banning expanding bullets in combat. Creating a casualty behind cover is more important than stopping power in most military situations.

Anytime you fire a lot of .38 Special and .357 Magnum lead bullets you will have a lot of leading in the bore to clean out, and that is a feature that is no respecter of brand names. It is important to clean the residue at the front of the .357 cylinder out thoroughly if shooting .38 Specials as fouling can quickly build up on any revolver and interfere with chambering the longer .357 Magnum cartridges.

Firing the Rhino was a lot different from firing a conventional revolver. The grip rides much higher in the hand and what appears to be the hammer is a cocking lever that goes back down after the totally hidden internal hammer is cocked. A bright red cocking indicator pops up at the rear of the receiver to let you know it is cocked if the rearward single action position of the trigger wasn’t enough.

The cylinder is opened by that strange looking lever on the upper rear left side. Once moved back, this lever permits the flat-sided hexagonal (for concealability) cylinder to swing out for loading or unloading. The rear sight is framed by two green dots and the front sight has a red dot.

These are formed by plastic rods with exposed surfaces to catch the light in front of the sight blades, so you always have a bright group of dots even in poor light. Trigger pull was 4 pounds single action and 11 pounds double action as measured by the Lyman trigger pull gauge from Brownell’s gunsmithing supplies. This is quite acceptable, although I would prefer both to be lighter.

The Rhino stainless is quite an eyeful.
The Rhino stainless is quite an eyeful.

The Rhino’s barrel lies much lower than on other pistols and you can appreciate that and the short trigger travel on double action rapidfire. It is very fast and controllable. I just wish Bill Jordon was alive to see this because I think he would like it. Accuracy is all you need for hunting.

At 25 yards I was shooting and hitting 1 1/2- and 2-inch chips easily and centering a gratifying number of them with all ammo fired. I am not worried about missing any game fired at with this gun. I can think of a lot of rifles I would have less confidence in. The pistol points well for instinct shooting and is easy to hit with.

Aside from hunting, there are those who use the .357 Magnum revolver for police work. These users should try out the Rhino and see if its qualities make it the best choice for them. There is a lot of personal preference involved in choosing a revolver but many of those using the .357 Magnum revolver will be glad that they tried out the Rhino.

There are many factors one considers when selecting a revolver, some real and some imagined. The realities of the advantages the Rhino offers should more than offset its unconventional looks. Remember, the first revolvers looked pretty funny to everyone in 1836 but they sure did displace the single shot pistol.
The moral? Don’t be afraid to try something new. You might like it.

This article is an excerpt from Gun Digest 2012.

Testfire: The 9mm Parabellum Kel-Tec PF-9 Pistol

The Kel-Tech PF-9 in 9mm Parabellum.
The Kel-Tech PF-9 in 9mm Parabellum.

Imagine a 9mm Parabellum pistol that is lighter and as small or smaller than most .32 ACP pocket pistols. Want one? Well, you can have one – because that is just what the Kel-Tec PF-9 is.

Imagine a 9mm Parabellum pistol that is lighter and as small or smaller than most .32 ACP pocket pistols. Want one? Well, you can have one – because that is just what the Kel-Tec PF-9 is. A 14.5 ounce powerhouse only .880 inches thick, 5-3/4 inches long and 4-1/4 inches tail. Compare that to the famous Colt Model M .32 ACP at 24 ounces and 6-1/2 inches long or the Savage 1907 .32 at 19 ounces and 6-1/2 inches long and you will begin to appreciate just what has been done with this 9mm pistol.

Designed to be the smallest possible 9mm, it still is a practical general purpose pistol: not an easy feat to accomplish when dealing with extremes of size and concealability. The Kel-Tec will comfortably perform most anything asked of the average pistol.

While some will point out correctly that a larger, heavier gun is more controllable in rapid fire and steadier to aim and fire, the fact remains that there is always a place for the smallest possible gun. In the first place, there are many people who will not carry a full-size pistol every day and so end up unarmed when their lives depend on having a weapon.

A .25 ACP Baby Browning in the hand is better than a Thompson submachinegun in the gunsafe when you are being attacked, and concealability is always easier in direct proportion to gun size and thickness. That’s why you don’t find people concealing Barrett .50 caliber rifles on their person, although the idea is not entirely without merit.

The PF-9 gobbled up 100 rounds of Remington and 40 rounds of Winchester Supreme hollowpoints without a hitch.
The PF-9 gobbled up 100 rounds of Remington and 40 rounds of Winchester Supreme hollowpoints without a hitch.

The more compact the pistol, the more options you have for different places and ways to conceal it. While we normally think of the .25 ACP when referring to vest pocket pistols, the fact remains that the 9mm PF-9 fits quite nicely in the modern vest pockets and it rides well concealed there. If it were any heavier, it would not.

When my old friend the late Geoffrey Boothroyd was asked by Ian Fleming what pistol his character James Bond should carry, Geoffrey said the Walther PPK. Ian repaid him by promoting the former private Boothroyd of WWII to Major Boothroyd, armorer to James Bond, in the James Bond series of books. Had the Kel-Tec been out then, I strongly suspect Geoffrey would have had James Bond carrying it instead of the Walther.

The PF-9 is a well-made, properly thought-out design that functioned with total reliability during my test firing. The gun is designed with places for dirt, fouling and miscellaneous debris to escape from the action so that it does not jam. There is a gap between the slide and part of the frame that will allow quite a bit of crud to get out at once – a desirable feature, because dirt always finds its way into guns but often is trapped there with no way to get out.

Get sand inside the lockwork of a revolver and you will find out just what I mean. It will lock up tighter than a bank vault until you disassemble it to get the sand out. Sadly, many automatics are even worse in this regard, but not the Kel-Tec.While you’re not likely to drop your PF-9 into a sand dune in the middle of the Sahara, it’s nice to know that it’s practically immune to pocket grit.

The PF-9 fits the hand weIl and does not recoil excessively. The recoil is a bit sharper than on a heavy full-size pistol but nothing that would bother women or children. That’s important because children need to grow up shooting and they don’t need a vicious kick or muzzle blast to discourage them while you are teaching them to enjoy shooting. The ergonomics of the grip and its texture combine to form a well-pointing gun that properly distributes the felt recoil across the hand comfortably.

The PF-9 has a double action trigger pull like a revolver instead of a safety. That is a very good way to go on a small hideout gun where you don’t need to waste time fumbling for a safety. The double action trigger pull is all the safety you need. The trigger requires the slide to be jacked to the rear to reset it so you won’t waste time repeatedly snapping on a misfire if you get a bad primer.

The PF-9’s trigger pull is light and can be held short just before the hammer falls when you are trying to shoot groups. I began my test session with 40 rounds of Winchester Supreme Elite 147-grain jacketed hollowpoints and 100 rounds of Remington 115-grain jacketed hollowpoints. These two loads are state-of-the-art, modern hollowpoints that give maximum explosive expansion with maximum weight retention.

They work very well on coyotes and other varmints, both four-legged and two-legged. I set up a target at 25 yards and began shooting from a sandbag rest. The gun was able to consistently make 2-inch groups, which of course is very good for this type of pistol and far better than most shooters are ever going to be capable of without a sandbagged rest.

After all, this is a defensive pistol designed for ease of carry and maximum concea!ability. Firing without the rest proved the gun was fast pointing and easily controllable in rapid fire. The sights are clear and weil defined without being so big that they get in the way. 

The PF-9 in a Blackhawk! size 4 nylon pancake holster. The pancake is the most comfortable and concealable holster style ever designed.
The PF-9 in a Blackhawk! size 4 nylon pancake holster. The pancake is the most comfortable and concealable holster style ever designed.

The rear sight can be adjusted for windage if necessary. The frame features a rail for a laser sight or a flashlight in the modern style. I don’t like either, especially on a subcompact pistol where they add bulk. Flashlights and lasers, like tracers, draw return fire. In my opinion, a laser’s not something to be wildly flashing about in the dark.
Unlike many guns I have known, the PF-9 disassembles fast and efficiently.

Unload the pistol and pull the slide back, locking it open by pushing up the slide stop. With the rim of a cartridge, pull the assembly pin out of the gun. Holding the slide firmly, release the slide stop and allow the slide to move forward off the frame. Remove the recoil spring and the barrel and you are done. Do not loosen the extractor spring screw.

The Kel-Tec PF-9 shown between a Colt .32 and a Savage .32, two of the most popular pocket pistols of all time. The PF-9 is shorter and thinner than both – and it’s a 9mm.
The Kel-Tec PF-9 shown between a Colt .32 and a Savage .32, two of the most popular pocket pistols of all time. The PF-9 is shorter and thinner than both – and it’s a 9mm.

To put the gun back together, put the barrel back into the slide, push the recoil spring guide with springs into their hole in the slide, and hook the base of the recoil spring onto its half-moon cutout in the barrel. Make certain that the barrel and recoil springs are well-centered when putting them back in the slide. Push the slide onto the frame until the back lines up with the grip. If the slide does not go on easily, make sure that the hammer is half cocked and the barrel and recoil spring guide are centered.

While pushing down on the top of the barrel, pull the slide back all the way, compressing the recoil springs, and push up the slide stop to hold the slide in place. Looking into the assembly pin hole, align that hole with its cut in the barrel and insert the assembly pin until it snaps onto the spring. Pull the slide back to release the slide stop and release the slide, working the slide a few times to check the action. Do not dry fire this pistol because you can damage the firing pin and extractor spring screw by dryfiring.

A modern polymer frame pistol, the PF-9 is also very reasonably priced, as are all Kel-Tec firearms. Suggested retail price is $333 for blued guns, $377 for parkerized, and $390 for chrome finished guns. I would recommend the parkerized finish for any pistol that will see hard service. Unlike most specialized pistols, this one can reasonably serve as a family’s only pistol, doing double duty as a carry gun and a bedside burgler gun in the same manner as the old topbreak S&W and Iver Johnson revolvers have done for over 100 years.

Since the PF-9 is a pocket pistol, and a very good one, some will choose to carry it directly inside a jacket or pants pocket. I prefer a holster, both because of the extra protection it offers and because it keeps the pistol oriented for immediate access. I have always found the pancake holster design to be the best for comfort, concealment, and gun security. I tried carrying the PF-9 in a Blackhawk! size 4 nylon pancake holster and was well pleased with the combination.

It fit well on both the gun and me. Made from a multi-layer nylon laminate with polymer hardware and stainless steel or brass snaps, the Blackhawk! is ideal for use in wet marine or humid environments. It features an adjustable safety strap system that lets it work on multiple guns within a certain size range. The two polymer safety straps have velcro fasteners on them that, with the aid of a special tool that comes with them, adhere to the velcro in the slots in which they’re inserted. They are then permanently in place unless the tool is used to seperate the velcro layers. The system actually works quite well.

Of course the Blackhawk holster works well in everyday concealed-carry service, too. It’s an interesting modern answer to age-old holster problems and offer a solution that will give good service in all conditions at a most reasonable price. It’s are available from Blackhawk Products Group, 6160 Commander Parkway, Norfolk, Virginia, 23502. You can also check it out at www.BLACKHAWK.com.

While the 9mm Parabellum lacks the authority of the .45 ACP as a manstopper, it holds its own quite nicely with the various .38s and even the .357 Magnum. It nicely eclipses the performance of the 9mm Makarov and the .380, .32, .25 and .22 LR and can be made in a thinner and lighter package than the .45 ACP.

Like the 1911-A1, the PF-9 holds seven cartridges in the magazine and one in the chamber for a total of eight rounds. Compare that to the five or six in a bulkier snubnosed .38 and the case for the PF-9 becomes clear. It’s available from Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc., 1475 Cox Road, Cocoa, Florida, 32926. They probably won’t mind if you visit their website at www.kel-tec.com.

This article appeared in the 2011 65th Edition of the Gun Digest annual book.

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