Firearm: Glock G19, Gen4 (MSRP: $599)
I know what you’re thinking: The Glock 19 again? Well, there’s a reason for that. The Glock G19 is pretty much the Toyota Camry of concealed-carry handguns. Reliable and affordable, it’s a solid choice that offers much right out of the box. For more than three decades, it’s been a mid-size choice for concealed-carry duties, given the three-fingered grip and 4-inch barrel that make it easy to shoot and conceal. It’s boxy, but reliable; it won’t win any beauty contests, but it will go bang when you want it to, every time. While we won’t go so far as to call it perfection, it’s certainly considered one of the standards by which many others are judged.
While how well a pistol shoots and conceals is imperative in one’s choice for EDC, there’s another factor that might not be readily apparent: Aftermarket parts and accessories. It is entirely possible to construct a pistol that looks very much like the Glock without using any parts actually manufactured by the Austrian company – similar to Colt and the 1911 or AR-15. The pistol we have today has an aftermarket CMC trigger, extended magazine well from Magpul and a Striker Control Device from Tau Development Group installed, and we’ve covered those upgrades in previous episodes of “I Carry.”
Today, we feature another upgrade, and one that is common to Glock handguns. We’ve replaced the plastic Glock sights with Trijicon’s new DI night sights (MSRP: $150). This innovative design pairs twin tritium tubes at the rear with a green fiber-optic pipe on the front sight that is also lit by tritium. Under normal lighting conditions, the green fiber-optic pipe gives a noticeable contrast to the front sight, allowing an instinctive point-of-aim. In low-light conditions it’s a standard three-dot arrangement. Trijicon even includes the correct torx wrench to swap out the fiber optic, and two additional yellow filaments are in the box with the sight should a change be desired.
While some may never tinker with their handgun, others may heed the siren call of customization. When you start with something as ubiquitous as a Glock G19, there’s an entire world of options to make your pistol shoot better, run faster and just be more accurate. Do as much or as little as you like, but don’t worry that you won’t be able to find the right part—it’s a pretty good bet you will, if you’re working with a Glock.
Holster: Blackhawk Stache Premium (MSRP: $64.95)
Another area where you really benefit from a robust aftermarket is the world of holsters. There’s nothing quite as frustrating as having a great pistol that you shoot well, but you just can’t find the right holster for it. In the case of the G19, though, if the holster exists, it’s probably available for the G19. For today, we’ve got Blackhawk’s new Stache inside-the-waistband holster, released in February 2021. Constructed of injection-molded polymer, the Stache is designed to secure your handgun while being comfortable to carry. In the Premium configuration, a single magazine carrier is included that can be used separately or in conjunction with the Stache. Should the Stache be carried in the appendix position, the Premium setup includes a concealment claw to help keep the grip of the pistol pulled in tight to the body.
Modularity is the biggest draw of the Blackhawk Stache. The holster and magazine carrier are both ambidextrous, and can be changed from right- to left-hand carry with the turn of a few screws. Ride height and cant can be altered similarly, as can the depth of the concealment claw with small and large leverage pads to change how tight to the body the holster rides. A J-style clip is included for both holster and magazine carrier, but the rig is compatible with DCC monoblock clips as well as concealment-friendly tuckable options.
Accessory: MyMedic Everyday Carry Kit (MSRP: $49.95)
Carrying a personal medical kit just got a lot easier with MyMedic’s Everyday Carry kit. Designed to be carried on a belt or attached to a pack, this lightweight, water-resistant pack can be opened with one hand and has pockets oriented so that contents are easily accessible. Included in the Everyday Carry Kit are a vented chest seal, rapid tourniquet, compressed gauze and gloves, with plenty of room to add additional items if needed.
As with any first aid kit, training is recommended for items beyond the usual scrapes and bumps—there’s any number of Red Cross and independent sources for training on everything from basic first aid to emergency trauma care. However, even if you can’t immediately get training, having the gear close at hand still means faster response in an emergency, which is always a good thing.
