I Carry: Springfield Range Officer Elite Compact 1911 in a Galco Kingtuk Air Holster

Welcome to another episode of "I Carry," Shooting Illustrated's weekly video series covering the guns and gear needed to put together an ideal everyday-carry kit. Today, we have a Springfield Armory Range Officer Elite Compact pistol in a Galco Gunleather KingTuk Air holster, paired with the company's Inside-the-Waistband Magazine Carrier. Rounding out the gear is a SureFire Titan Plus flashlight, a Steel Will Censor 1312 knife and a Galco CLB5 Carry Lite Belt.

The Gun: Springfield Armory Range Officer Elite Compact ($1,044)

In 2017, Springfield Armory upgraded its popular Range Officer lineup with several new Elite offerings in 9 mm and .45 ACP. The gun we have here is the Compact chambered in 9 mm, which is built on a forged aluminum frame mated to a forged-steel slide and finished in the company’s Black-T finish.

The pistol features a 4-inch match-grade bull barrel, along with Springfield Armory’s new Gen 2 trigger, designed to provide users with a clean trigger pull. The gun also sports a Tactical Rack rear sight, which allows for one-handed operation off a belt, table or other flat surface, a fiber-optic front sight and an ambidextrous safety.

The gun weighs 29.5 ounces unloaded and has a magazine capacity of eight rounds.

The Holster: Galco KingTuk Air ($59.95)

We’re carrying the Elite Compact in the KingTuk Air from Galco. Designed for inside-the-waistband wear and is based on the company’s original KingTuk design, the holster is tailor-made for added comfort in hot, humid climates, thanks to a ventilated steerhide back plate that allows moisture to escape. The leather backer is paired up with a molded Kydex shell that provides friction retention.

The holster is secured with metal belt clips that work with gun belts up to 1.75 inches wide. Carry height and cant can be adjusted by moving the clips up and down on the backer.

The Mag Carrier: Galco Inside-the-Waistband Magazine Carrier ($49.95)

A backup magazine for the Elite Compact can be carried securely inside the Galco Inside-the-Waistband Magazine Carrier, which is made from steerhide and features a slim profile that minimizes the amount of space taken up by the carrier in the waistband. The carrier comes with both a Santoprene belt loop and a metal clip and fits belts up to 1.75 inches wide.

The Flashlight: SureFire Titan Plus ($99.99)

A great EDC flashlight to carry with this setup is the SureFire Titan Plus, which is tiny, measuring just over 3.3 inches long and weighing only 2 ounces with the AAA battery inside of it. The light, made of nickel-plated brass for corrosion resistance, features a twisting bezel that operates the light in three modes. At its highest setting, the Titan Plus produces 300 lumens of light with a full hour of run time.

The Knife: Steel Will Censor 1312 ($64.99)

For those looking for a dedicated do-it-all blade for self-defense and other duties, the Censor from Steel Will pairs up well with this kit and is designed for daily carry use, featuring a 3.54-inch blade finished with the company’s black-traction coating. The knife features a full-tang curved nylon handle that is designed to provide extra control, and the company includes a nylon belt sheath for easy carry.

The Belt: Galco CLB5 Carry Lite Belt ($36.95)

Securing this rig, we have Galco’s CLB5 Carry Lite Belt. Designed as part of the company’s Carry Lite lineup, the belt is made from black-dyed doubled-up center-cut steerhide paired with a nickel-plated brass buckle for an attractive, non-tactical look. The belt measures 1.5 inches wide.