Welcome to another episode of "I Carry," Shooting Illustrated's weekly video series covering the guns and gear needed to put together a potential everyday-carry kit. Today, we have a Nighthawk Custom Border Special 1911 in a Galco Gunleather holster. We also have a Galco belt, a High Noon Holsters magazine carrier, a SureFire flashlight and a CRKT folding knife.
Nighthawk Custom Border Special (MSRP: $3,645)
Designed with input from Shooting Illustrated’s very own Sheriff Jim Wilson, the Border Special from Nighthawk Custom contains numerous features specifically engineered to make it a natural pistol for concealed-carry. From the Commander size to the concealed carry cut on the grip, the Border Special has more than a dozen custom touches centering on concealability and shootability.
A match-grade barrel, lightweight trigger and scallop texturing on the frontstrap and mainspring housing make the Border Special a joy to shoot. The concealed carry cut removes material from the end of the grip, one of the more-common areas that prints under lighter cover, while a dehorning process removes all sharp edges on the pistol to make it comfortable to carry all day long.
Yes, there’s no getting around the premium price. It’s significantly more expensive than a run-of-the-mill polymer nine millimeter, no question, but you’re also getting more, as well, with attractive wood stocks and a gold-bead front sight. There’s room for Ferraris and Maybachs next to the Camrys and Accords in the automotive world; consider custom guns like the Nighthawk Custom Border Special to be the ballistic equivalent of an Italian supercar or German luxury sedan.
Galco Avenger Belt Holster (MSRP: $120)
Galco’s Avenger line of belt holsters is designed for everyday use and longevity, with premium steerhide construction, a reinforced mouth for easier re-holstering, molded sight rails and a neutral cant. These holsters are designed to fit belts up to one and three quarter inches wide, and come in black or tan for either right- or left-handed shooters.
Galco SB1 Dress Belt (MSRP: $90)
Galco’s SB1 Dress belt is a rigid, polymer-backed belt that’s not bulky or utilitarian-looking. Rolled out earlier this year, the premise behind the SB1 series was that gear belts could look good, too. With a one and a quarter-inch width and three finish options, the SB1 allows you to carry your gear in style without sacrificing support and rigidity.
High Noon Holsters Tie Breaker Magazine Carrier (MSRP: $44.95)
With a single-loop attachment and minimalist body, the High Noon Holsters Tie Breaker magazine carrier is designed for simplicity. Two screws increase or decrease retention as desired, and the one-way-snap allows for rapid attachment that’s quite secure. Available in a variety of finishes, the Tie Breaker can be ordered for single- or double-stack magazines.
SureFire EDCL1-T (MSRP: $165)
Released late in 2017 as an enhanced version of the excellent EB1 Backup light previously covered on I Carry, SureFire’s EDCL1-T light features low and high operation, a 220-yard throw, 45-hour run time and a maximum output of 500 lumens, all on a single CR123A battery. Operation is quite simple: a light push activates the low setting while a firm push activates high for momentary on, while turning the tailcap slightly will turn the EDCL1-T on low, and turning the tailcap further will activate constant-on high setting.
CRKT Maven Folding Knife (MSRP: $69.99)
Columbia River Knife and Tool’s new Maven folding knife is new for 2018 and is a Richard Rogers design. Featuring a 8Cr13MoV-steel, 3.68-inch plain-edge blade, the Maven weighs 4.8 ounces. With G10 scales, ball-bearing-pivoting system and a flipper opening mechanism, the Maven deploys quickly and is steady in the hand. A liner-lock releases the bead-blast-finished blade when the Maven is ready to be closed.
