Good Handguns For Concealed Carry:
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Glock 26 |
9x19mm |
10+1 |
$550 |
19.75 oz. |
26.10 oz. |
6.29" |
1.18" |
4.17" |
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A very potent little package. 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition in a relatively small and lightweight package. Recoil is manageable, and accessories are plentiful.
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Glock 27 |
.40 S&W |
9+1 |
$550 |
19.75 oz. |
26.98 oz. |
6.29" |
1.18" |
4.17" |
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Very similar to the Glock 26, the 27 sacrifices one round in the magazine for a more powerful cartridge. The 27's stiffer recoil may make the 26 the better choice for some people however.
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Kahr MK9 Elite |
9x19mm |
6+1 |
$900 |
22.1 oz. |
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5.3" |
.9" |
4.0" |
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The Kahr MK9 comes with 2 mags, one 6 round with a flush baseplate and one 7 round with an extended grip. The MK9 is one of the few compact auto-loading pistols whose frame is all steel, rather than a polymer. Although it is more compact than the small Glocks, it is heavier and more expensive.
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Ruger LCP |
.380 Auto |
6+1 |
$350 |
9.4 oz. |
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5.16" |
0.82" |
3.60" |
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One of the smallest and lightest firearms available, the Ruger LCP is a good choice for deep concealment or as a backup gun. The .380 Auto cartridge is a bit lower power than is ideal for self defense, but sometimes a small, easily-concealable firearm is the primary goal. When concealability is key, look no further than the Ruger LCP.
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Ruger SP101 |
.357 Mag |
5 |
$550 |
25.0 oz. |
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7.13" |
1.35" |
4.5" |
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Although available in several chamberings and a few different configurations, the version I recommend for concealed carry is the DAO (Double Action Only) .357 magnum version. An excellent cartridge for a self defense, a well-built all-steel frame, and a short 2.25" barrel make this a potent self-defense tool. The only possible disadvantage to this weapon would be that it holds only five rounds.
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Smith & Wesson 642 (637, 638) |
.38+P |
5 |
$500 |
15 oz. |
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6 3/8" |
1 3/16" |
4 1/2" |
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Simple. Compact. Reliable. Only 5 shots, but .38+P is a decently powerful cartridge and well-placed shots should have no difficulty in doing their job. No safeties to manipulate or slides to rack make the 642 a true point-and-shoot device.
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MORE RECOMMENDATIONS COMING SOON!
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Knives:
Many people routinely carry a knife and they may do so for any number of reasons. From tiny Swiss Army knives (which are very handy, by the way) to large fixed-blade K-Bars with 7-inch blades, there are many varieties of knives available. Some people carry a knife, at least in part, for self-defense. Seeing a knife as a self-defense tool is smart; in fact, one who has a good "self-defense mindset" will see almost everything around them as a potential self-defense tool. The problem in relying on a knife for self-defense should be obvious -- you should never bring (just) a knife to a gun fight! I recommend that everyone who has the ability carry a gun for self-defense. However, in many places, including schools and colleges, most workplaces, and Post Offices, you may be forbidden to carry a gun, and in those places, a knife may be better than nothing. Unfortunately, the criminals who would harm you will take no notice of those "gun-free" zones, and are therefore likely to be significantly better armed than you are. Carrying a knife for self-defense is a personal decision and it is not my place to recommend that you do. If you do choose to carry a self-defense knife however, it is important to make sure you select a good one. The following chart shows just a few of the many excellent self-defense blades on the market today.
Good Self-Defense Knives:
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Spyderco Military C36GBK |
$180 |
4.2 oz |
4" |
9.5" |
5.5" |
5/32" |
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CPM-S30V |
G-10 |
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The Spyderco Military came to life after Spyderco's owner Sal Glesser was asked, "If your son were going into the military what folding knife would you send him with?"
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MORE RECOMMENDATIONS COMING SOON!
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