And nope, it's not a single stack, pocket-size 9mm Glock to compete with the Shield, XDs, etc. like the buying public has been clamoring for for years. Believe it or not the two most innovative handguns are coming from Remington & Arsenal.
First up is the Remington R51 which is going to be a 9mm version of an old (early 1900's) but innovative even by today's standards action in a compact and well thought out package. Retail price will be below $400 and they claim it will be in dealers February 1st. You can bet your ass I'll have one of these sooner than later.
Up next is the Arsenal Strike One. This is a standard size frame handgun with lots of innovative designs and a few new patents. One design feature is the height of the slide over the frame is SUPER short. This coupled with an aggressive grip & standard size frame will make for a rapid shooter's wet dream due to the recoil mitigation it presents. It's been in production in various calibers for years now but never imported to the US. Arsenal claims we will see it in 9mm in this country this year. Price on this one is still not settled (sounds like sub $800) but assuming it's not too high I will own one of these also.
Neither of them is what I would consider very attractive or even aesthetically appealing until you dig into their design features. The beauty, much like my beloved Glock, is in the function.
Which brings me to my final point: As a self proclaimed Glock fanboi I'm saddened to report that with each passing year of Glock's inability to check the pulse of the consumer I'm an owner of more and more handguns by other manufacturers and becoming less and less of a Glock fanboi. Glock may have the lion's share of the market but their inability to adapt to the markets quickly (or at least at all) will be their eventual demise. Not a demise so much as eradicated from the face of the earth but they won't be the volume seller of handguns unless something changes at the corporate level. Market share is going to competition year after year of them not bothering to offer what it is the buying masses are flocking to in record numbers. It should be no surprise that the conceal carry crowd is growing at quickening rates and if Glock still thinks they're G17 (or even G19 these days) is the perfect carry weapon then they're more out of touch with reality than I thought. Their release of a single-stack .380 (Glock 42) to compete with the likes of the LCP and other 'pocket' 380's tells me they agree with this at least in part. Time to wake up Glock, your competitors are beating you at your own innovation game.
First up is the Remington R51 which is going to be a 9mm version of an old (early 1900's) but innovative even by today's standards action in a compact and well thought out package. Retail price will be below $400 and they claim it will be in dealers February 1st. You can bet your ass I'll have one of these sooner than later.
Up next is the Arsenal Strike One. This is a standard size frame handgun with lots of innovative designs and a few new patents. One design feature is the height of the slide over the frame is SUPER short. This coupled with an aggressive grip & standard size frame will make for a rapid shooter's wet dream due to the recoil mitigation it presents. It's been in production in various calibers for years now but never imported to the US. Arsenal claims we will see it in 9mm in this country this year. Price on this one is still not settled (sounds like sub $800) but assuming it's not too high I will own one of these also.
Neither of them is what I would consider very attractive or even aesthetically appealing until you dig into their design features. The beauty, much like my beloved Glock, is in the function.
Which brings me to my final point: As a self proclaimed Glock fanboi I'm saddened to report that with each passing year of Glock's inability to check the pulse of the consumer I'm an owner of more and more handguns by other manufacturers and becoming less and less of a Glock fanboi. Glock may have the lion's share of the market but their inability to adapt to the markets quickly (or at least at all) will be their eventual demise. Not a demise so much as eradicated from the face of the earth but they won't be the volume seller of handguns unless something changes at the corporate level. Market share is going to competition year after year of them not bothering to offer what it is the buying masses are flocking to in record numbers. It should be no surprise that the conceal carry crowd is growing at quickening rates and if Glock still thinks they're G17 (or even G19 these days) is the perfect carry weapon then they're more out of touch with reality than I thought. Their release of a single-stack .380 (Glock 42) to compete with the likes of the LCP and other 'pocket' 380's tells me they agree with this at least in part. Time to wake up Glock, your competitors are beating you at your own innovation game.