History of the Ruger Pistol

Although primarily known for its long guns, the Ruger line of pistols extends back to the founding of the company.

Officially the Strum, Ruger, & Co., Ruger was founded in 1949, which makes it somewhat of a newcomer to the American gun maker scene. Despite being founded by Alexander Strum and William Ruger on $50,000, Ruger is now a public company worth $1B today.

Ruger is the largest gun manufacturer in the United States today, having produced 1.67 million guns in 2015, including revolvers, pistols, rifles, and shotguns. By comparison, in the same timeframe, Smith & Wesson produced 1.47 million guns.

Long guns make up the majority of Ruger’s sales, but their line of pistols makes up 38 percent of their firearm sales in 2016.

Beginning with a .22

Despite rifles making up the largest portion of gun sales for Ruger, the company was founded on its pistol. In 1949, when Ruger opened its doors, it started with only one product – a rimfire semi-automatic .22-caliber pistol designed by William Ruger himself. This became the inaugural member of the MK line.

The first of these pistols shipping in early October of 1949, and by the end of the year the company had shipped over eleven hundred guns, with five thousand more on back order by February of the next year. Demand only increased, and by the middle of 1950 Ruger was producing one thousand pistols a month with nine thousand more on back order.

Even before the .22 was launched, Ruger was considering expanding their line to include a target pistol. He hired John “Jack” Boudreau, a self-taught gunsmith and successful target shooter since 1932. Boudreau held a patent for an Olympic-style Free pistol and had proved the Ruger pistol made for an excellent target gun by winning several matches with it in September of 1949.

The Ruger .22 remains the bestselling autoloading pistol in its caliber, having produced and sold more than two million to date.

The Centerfire Addition

It took almost 40 years for Ruger to add a centerfire pistol to its product line. In 1987, the company released the P-Series, starting with the P85 9mm. Since its release the P-Series has continued to evolve and improve, living up to Ruger’s expectations that their products would be so good he’d “want to own one, even if it was made by the competition”.

Following on the heels of the P-Series, Ruger has produced the LC9 and LCP, with the LC standing for “Lightweight Compact”. The LC9 is a 9mm recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol featuring a locked breech, a loaded chamber indicator, and a magazine disconnect safety.

The LC380 was introduced by the company at the 2008 SHOT show. It’s a tiny, ultra-light pistol making it ideal for concealed carry and as a police backup weapon.

Ruger has since introduced a number of additional auto and semi-auto pistol lines, including the SR-series with a 9mm entrant in 2007 and a .40 caliber version in 2010. In 2011, the company introduced the SR1911, modeled after the famous Colt M1911. In 2015, Ruger released the American Pistol, a semi-auto that uses a Browning-type locked breech short recoil action.

The article History of the Ruger Pistol originally appeared on Clipdraw

The History of the XD Pistol

The XD is a fairly recent edition when compared to some of its counterparts, such as the 1911 and the Ruger. Despite being a modern addition, the XD has an interesting and varied past. Based off of a Croatian pistol, the XD was adapted and has evolved to meet the needs of the U.S. market.

An Inauspicious Beginning

The path to the development of the XD pistol had its humble beginnings in eastern Europe. It’s foundations tie back to a service pistol from Croatia known as the PHP. This sidearm, initially created by industrial parts manufacturer I. M. Metal, was first produced in 1991.

While the design was solid, it was challenging to manufacture anything during the early 90s in the midst of the Yugoslav War. The result was a pistol that had promise, but initially experienced issues in quality.

The designer, Marko Vukovic, and his team continued to make improvements to the weapon over time. There were two later releases of the PHP – the HS95 in 1995, and in 1999 the release of the HS2000.

Adoption in Europe

Thanks to the improvements developed over the ten years since it’s initial release, the HS2000 became a reliable, well-made pistol. In fact, the increases in quality lead to both the Croatian military and Croatian law enforcement to adopt the handgun as the standard issue sidearm for officers and military personnel.

The Move West

Despite its success in eastern Europe, the HS2000 experienced challenges in the move to the lucrative U.S. market. Initially sold as only a 9mm, the pistol was considered cheap by American gun enthusiasts, and the $200 price point didn’t help to shake that perception. The pistol saw limited success in its first few years in the U.S.

But in 2002, Springfield Armory, Inc., acquired the licensing rights to the HS2000. Re-branding the handgun as the X-treme Duty 9x19mm Parabellum – or the XD-9 – the handgun began to catch the interest of the American market.

The XD Evolves

Since then, Springfield Armory has continued to evolve and expand the line of the XD series.

Initially, ten models were added to the XD family. This included the inclusion of 3 separate calibers, the introduction of multiple colors and finishes, as well as supporting 5 different cartridges, and offering 7 barrel lengths.

The improvements and re-branding paid off, and in 2006 the XD-45 was recognized by the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence and American Rifleman as the Handgun of the Year, while in 2009 that distinction went to the XD(M).

Springfield has continued to evolve and improve the pistol since then, creating new lines and features to the approval of gun enthusiasts and concealed carry owners. For instance, in 2012, significant fail-safe editions and other features were introduced in the XD-S line, with a 9mm pistol added to the S series in 2013. Sights were also upgraded, and the grip was improved to include anti-slip surfaces and aggressive texturing where needed.

Despite humble and even difficult beginnings, the pistol we now know as the XD has proven itself as favorite, thanks to flexible choices and good design. It’s clear why this pistol has received multiple awards and appeals to many gun owners.

Purchase your Clipdraw for XD here.

The article The History of the XD Pistol originally appeared on Clipdraw

History of the 1911 Pistol

With a long history and a storied past, the M1911 pistol is arguably the most influential handgun in the modern era of firearms. Designed by John Browning and developed by Colt, the M1911 was the self-loading answer to multiple requirements for a modern sidearm by the U.S. military at the turn of the century.

A Design Driven by Need

As the 19^th century was drawing to a close, the U.S. military found itself involved in a number of conflicts – first the Spanish American War and, as a result, the Philippine-American War. As the U.S. military engaged with the Moro guerrillas, they found that the M1892 revolver didn’t have the stopping power needed for the close warfare of a jungle campaign.

The U.S. military set out to find a new standard issue pistol, one that was self-loading, reliable, and be a minimum .45 caliber. In 1906, six designs were submitted for consideration and three were eliminated quickly. Re-designs of the remaining three pistols, from Savage, Colt, and DMW, were requested, but only Savage and Colt submitted new weapons for consideration.

Testing and refinement of the weapons continued from 1907 to 1911. The most telling success was a test conducted at the end of 1910, in which 6,000 rounds were put through a single pistol. A widely acknowledge story from that test was when the Colt firearm became hot during the tests, it was simply immersed in water to cool. The Savage was reported to have 37 defects coming out of the firing test. The M1911 had none.

The Beginning of the 1911 in Combat

On March 29, 1911, the Colt design was adopted by the U.S. Army as its service weapon, and in 1913 the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps followed suit.

The timing of adoption couldn’t have been better, providing military troops with a self-loading and reliable sidearm just in time for two important conflicts – the Punitive Expedition to capture Pancho Villa in 1916, and U.S.’s entry into World War I.

While the Punitive Expedition failed in its task of catching Villa, it did introduce many future military leaders, such as George S. Patton, to the use of the M1911 in combat. But the irrefutable proof of the pistol’s success in what it was designed for – short range stopping power – was shown in the trenches of WWI.

Manufacturing of the pistol was expanded from Colt’s factory and the U.S. government’s Springfield Armory to include contracts to Remington and North American Arms Company.

Following WWI, the firearm saw additional improvements to the design. An arched mainspring housing, ergonomic improvements, a shorter trigger, and improved sights were added and became the M1911A1.

Following its success in these military campaigns, many law enforcement officers began to adopt the M1911. The U.S. Border patrol, FBI, the Prohibition Service, and the Texas Rangers were among the most well known of the agencies who began using the pistol.

The 1911 in Modern Wars

As the U.S join World War II in late 1941, the standard firearm for the service men and women in the military was the M1911. During this time, nearly 3 million pistols were produced. The weapon continued to play an important role in additional conflicts of the 20^th century, including the Korean War and Vietnam.

In 1985, the U.S. military replaced the M1911 with the M9 9mm pistol as the standard sidearm, but the same challenges experienced with the smaller caliber in 1902 remained, and the military once again turned to the M1911 as a service arm.

In the post-war United States, the M1911 became the practice and competition firearm of choice for many recreational shooters. As the popularity of the 1911 increased for competition shooting and personal safety, so did the market for accessories and custom gunsmithing. Several recent trends, including concealed carry, have rekindled interest in the M1911.

With over 100 years under its belt, it is undeniable that the M1911 has cemented its place in history. From military usage to modern competition and concealed carry, Browning’s design remains a reliable choice.

To carry your weaponwith a slim IWB profile, buy a Clipdraw for 1911.

The article History of the 1911 Pistol originally appeared on Clipdraw

History of the Glock

Many of today’s most popular pistol companies have long histories. Glock is one of the exceptions to that rule. A relative newcomer to the space, Glock combined new ideas with the staples of engineering knowledge to produce a pistol that would impact the entire handgun industry.

A Beginning Without Guns

Glock KG was founded in 1963 by Austrian engineer Gaston Glock. Glock at this point was already a successful businessman with experience in injection molding.

Within only a few short years, in the early 1970s, Glock was manufacturing military equipment, including grenade casings, machine gun belt links, and field knives. Gaston Glock was also asking his military contacts what they wanted most from a firearm.

The list was daunting. They wanted a pistol that was reliable and durable. They wanted something that would be easy to learn. They also wanted something that was simple to fire. And they were looking for a weapon that would have a larger ammunition capacity than current options.

A Military Request

In 1980, Glock received a formal invitation to create a new service pistol. Taking the requests of his contacts into consideration, the G17 was developed. The sidearm used a new 3-party internal safety system that was revolutionary to the industry and included the trigger, drop safeties, and firing pin.

Understanding that simplicity is key to reliability, Glock developed the pistol with, on average, only 35 parts. With fewer parts to clean or wear, the gun was durable and easy to maintain.

Other requirements from the Austrian government included being lightweight with a hammer-forged barrel. To address this, Glock designed the handgun with a polymer frame. The weapon also offered a 17-round capacity.

Thanks to these innovations, the Glock pistol was adopted as the Austrian Army’s standard service pistol in 1983.

Global Adoption

Shortly after it’s incorporation into the Austrian military’s usage, the G17 went through NATO durability testing and passed with flying colors. This set the stage for it to become the preferred pistol of international law enforcement agencies.

It was also at this time and because of its proven durability that the Norwegian Army accepted the Glock as the sidearm of choice for its service men and women.

The Move to the United States

Following its successes in Europe, Glock made the move to the United States in 1986. The features which made the G17 attractive to European military and international law enforcement caught the eye of U.S. police departments.

The gun came to the U.S. at exactly the right time. Law enforcement across the U.S. was feeling the pressures of addressing an increasing and aggressive drug trade in the 80s, and the pistol gave police an advantage that they were missing. Not only did it have a larger capacity than their standard sidearm, but the ease of use, consistent trigger action, and light weight resulted in officers finding the weapon easy to learn while also increasing their marksmanship.

With law enforcement in the U.S. switching to Glock pistols, the gun became a well-known, and therefore, attractive option for the civilian market.

The late 80s also saw more improvements to the pistol. The second generation of the Glock was released in 1988, with more calibers being added to the lineup. The G19 Compact and the G17L Competition pistols were also introduced that year.

A Boost from Popular Culture

As the Glock became popular with seasoned professionals, the entertainment industry began to feature the pistol in films. The year 1990 was a big year for the Glock in popular culture. First, the pistol appeared in on the TV Show Law and Order. Later that same year, Bruce Willis’s character, John McClain, used the weapon in Die Hard 2, cementing the pistol as a fixture in popular culture.

As the 1990s progressed, Glock added additional pistols to their line. Additional models were introduced throughout the 90s, expanding the caliber and capacity of the Glock pistols to answer the demands of a wider audience. The Glock 17T is also introduced during these years, providing law enforcement the equipment it needed to safely train.

The third generation of Glock pistols was introduced in 1998, with a rail for adding accessories such as tactical lights and lasers. Advancements continued on the pistols, including the addition of the G36 Slimline in 1999, and safety and regulatory additions like integrated key locks in 2001.

By 2007, less than 40 years after being adopted as the Austrian Army’s service weapon, Glock had sold more than 5 million pistols worldwide, and today, Glock continues to improve and evolve their pistols.

For the slimmest possible IWB concealed carry, buy a Clipdraw for Glocks.

The article History of the Glock originally appeared on Clipdraw

Sharp Dressed Man – Concealed Carry When You Need to Look Good

Casual days make it easy to conceal carry your gun. A sweatshirt or sweater, jacket, or even an untucked t-shirt or button down keeps just about any way you carry your weapon under wraps.

But what about when you’re getting dressed up? Whether it’s for work or for a night out, looking polished shouldn’t mean you can go without protection. But a tucked in dress shirt hardly provides the coverage you need for most concealed holsters. And wearing a suit coat for an entire day can be uncomfortable and, depending on the time of year, hot.

There are ways to carry your gun without showing it to the world even when dressed in a suit or simply khakis and a tucked in polo. IWB concealed carry wearing business casual attire can be easier than you think if you have the right product!

Check out our solutions:

• Clipdraw Selection Guide
• Trigger Safety Products

Garment Over Top

While wearing a jacket all of the time might not be realistic, there may be instances where you’ll only be dressed up for a short period of time. In these cases, it may be completely reasonable to use your Clipdraw and don a sports coat or blazer to hide your gun.

Another option for very dressy occasions, or for business dress, is to consider a vest. Button down vests are a common garment for formal occasions, but many men wear vests as a regular accessory. A vest may also help to conceal your weapon, but make sure to spend time practicing your draw with this slightly more constricting garment on.

Another option if you’ll be wearing your jacket 100% of the time is to consider a shoulder holster. However, a shoulder holster may cause more problems than it solves. Most people are unfamiliar with carrying their weapon this way, and more importantly, have little practice in drawing their gun from this location. Without practice, owners run the risk of pointing the gun at themselves or accidentally pointing it at others while they draw from a shoulder holster. Without a lot of practice, this type of carry isn’t recommended.

Make Room at the Waist

More realistically, though, you’ll want to wear your weapon in such a way that you can remove your jacket throughout the day or go without something like a vest. Even in these instances, you have options.

One option is to use an inside the waistband holster that also allows you to tuck in your shirt. These “tucker” holsters provide the option to tuck your shirt in over your gun, but behind the clips.  You’ll want to make sure to purchase pants large enough to accommodate the extra bulk of the gun and holster at the waist and wear shirts with extra room so that they can be bloused over the clips.

This type of carry can be safer than the shoulder holster but still requires practice. Drawing your weapon means using your support hand to untuck your shirt while you draw with your strong hand. While this may sound complicated, with practice you will be able to get your draw down to under 2 seconds.

Another option is a pocket carry. However, a pocket carry may limit your choice of weapons you can carry, since a pocket holster and gun may produce a bulge if they are too large.

For safety sake, it is important with a pocket carry to use a holster designed for this purpose and not just place the weapon in your pocket. You should also plan for that to be the only item in the pocket. Accidents can and have happened to people who have reached for a wallet or keys in the same pocket their weapon was stored in.

It will take a little more planning but carrying a concealed weapon while wearing dress clothes or simply a tucked in shirt is achievable. Whichever method you decide to use, practice will be the most important thing you do to ensure safety and your peace of mind.

Add a Saf-T-Blok for extra safety:

The article Sharp Dressed Man – Concealed Carry When You Need to Look Good originally appeared on Clipdraw

ClipDraw Offers New Custom Engraved Products

Gift giving can be a challenge, especially for men. Under normal circumstances, it’s hard to decide what they will like, how much to spend, or even where to begin.

The stakes are raised when you’re shopping for someone special, or the gift is for a particularly meaningful occasion. Best friend’s big birthday? A gift for your best man? A thank you for the man who raised you? These can put extra pressure on finding the perfect item.

ClipDraw is here to help. With our new line of custom engraved products, it’s easy to find that special gift that speaks to how important the receiver is to you, no matter what the occasion. We’ve got you covered for Father’s Day, an anniversary, for groomsman’s gifts, and even for no reason at all.

We know it can be hard to choose, though, so we’ve put together a few suggestions to help make your choices easier.

For the Outdoorsman

Outdoorsmen have a myriad of tools, toys, and gear that they need. Campers need tents and cooking equipment. Hunters want calls and blinds. And anglers hope for lures and reels.

But one thing that every outdoorsman needs is a high-quality pocket knife. And they will all tell you that they have different knives for different purposes.

Makes sure that they have one that reminds them of you forever. With a custom engraved knife, they will think of you and appreciate the gift every time they use it, whether that is to cut their line free from a tangled hook or slice an apple for a quick snack on the trail.

Engraved Black Folding Pocket Knife

For the Handyman

Whether working on their car, doing a DIY home repair or improvement, or building something new, a handyman uses a lot of specialized tools. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room in his tool chest for a multitool.

Our 10-function stainless steel multitool is perfect in the garage or in their pocket. Have it engraved with “World’s Greatest Dad”, “Thanks for being there”, a meaningful date, or anything else that will set this tool apart for your gift recipient.

Custom Engraved 10 Function Stainless Steel Multi Tool

For Mr. Prepared – or Mr. Unprepared

Some people seem to be ready for any situation, inspiring confidence in friends and family. Others we loveably acknowledge their shortcomings, seemingly forgetful or unprepared at the best of times.

Regardless of which camp your intended recipient falls into, they will appreciate a mini Maglite flashlight, engraved with a special message.

The ultra prepared will appreciate the thoughtful gift, as well as the extra lamp stored in the tail cap. It’s water and shock resistant, making it perfect no matter when or where the need arises.

Your less prepared friend or family member will love this light, too. The beautiful case allows them to keep it close for emergencies. Plus, it comes with two AA batteries so that it can be used immediately – even if your gift recipient doesn’t have any on hand.

Engraved Flashlight

For Always Being Remembered

Some people and some occasions call for something a little more special than others. If you’re also buying that special gift for someone who loves the practical, choosing the right item can be anxiety-inducing.

Take the anxiety out of gift giving with our beautiful silicone band bracelet. This bracelet has a fully adjustable band to ensure a comfortable and secure fit. The stainless steel plate can be engraved with messages of support, love, quotes, or even bear important medical information. It’s as perfect for the crafts or tradesman as it is for the corner office.

The article ClipDraw Offers New Custom Engraved Products originally appeared on Clipdraw

Appendix Carry – Why Clipdraw is Superior

One question to consider when conceal carrying your weapon is how you plan to carry it.

Will you carry inside your waistband, behind the hip?

Or in a shoulder holster?

As you think through your options, you might also want to consider an appendix carry with Clipdraw.

What’s Appendix Carry?

Thinks of every cowboy and action movie you’ve ever seen. Sure, the cowboys carry a weapon in a thigh holster, the action heroes behind their hip in their waistband.

But when they are in a pinch? They tuck that handgun into their waistband in front. That’s appendix carry.

With your gun tucked in the front, it’s easily accessible and quick to draw. It’s also fairly well concealed under an untucked t-shirt, polo, or button down.

However, this has been a polarizing topic. Proponents strenuously defend the method, while others claim it isn’t safe or comfortable. We’re here to look at the truth.

Clipdraw Pistol Draw Demonstration

Is it Safe?

Critics of appendix carry often talk about how it’s not a safe location. And it’s true that, should your weapon accidentally discharge, the damage done could be significant.

This position points your holstered weapon at your thigh, and as any student of human anatomy will tell you, the thigh is where you keep one of the biggest blood vessels in your body – the femoral artery. This large artery supplies blood to your legs, and damage to it can be fatal.

We have to remember, however, that anywhere you carry your firearm, if not handled with care and safety, can be dangerous to you or someone in your immediate area.

The measure of safety of a carry position is in how you handle the weapon.

For instance, an accidental discharge of the weapon can be prevented in any carry position by following the rule to keep your finger away from the trigger until your gun is pointed down range.

This falls under proper handling and eliminates one of the factors that could cause your weapon to go off unintentionally while carried in the inside front of your waistband.

Concerns around the trigger being pulled while holstered is also a matter of common sense gun safety. Using a trigger guard or lock will prevent the trigger from accidentally being pulled.

Is it Comfortable?

The answer to this question is different for everyone and has largely to do with body type and how much you plan on sitting or bending over while your gun is holstered.

Most people who find appendix IWB to be comfortable are those that don’t have a lot else taking up space in their waistband. Or, to be blunt, the more slender you are, the more comfortable this carry position is for you.

But waist size isn’t the only component to consider for comfort.

Given where the weapon sits in a front carry position, many find sitting uncomfortable and bending over – say, to tie your shoes – downright painful.

The only way to know if this position is comfortable for you is to try it.

1911 Draw Demonstration

Benefits of Appendix Carry

The biggest question, of course, is why would you consider holstering your weapon this way at all. Carrying your weapon in the front of your waistband has several advantages.

The jury is divided when it comes to draw speed. Detractors of the carry style say that moving your clothing to pull from the waist slows you down.

Supporters claim that the gun is easier and quicker to grab, especially in tight quarters.

There is also a protection factor. It’s easier to protect your firearm from someone trying to grab it when it’s in front of you than when it is situated behind your hip.

The usefulness and comfort of IWB carry is largely a personal choice. If you’ve tried it before and found it to be uncomfortable or inconvenient, you may want to give it another try with a holster specifically designed for front of the waistband concealment.

You might find that with the right equipment, appendix carry lets you enjoy the multiple benefits it offers.

Helpful Guides:

• Clipdraw Selection Guide
• Clipdraw Models

The article Appendix Carry – Why Clipdraw is Superior originally appeared on Clipdraw