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 Wilson Combat Bill Wilson Carry 1911 in a Galco Gunleather Concealable Belt Holster. We also have a High Noon Holsters magazine carrier, a Galco CB3 gun belt, a Benchmade folding knife and a SureFire flashlight.
Wilson Combat Bill Wilson Carry 1911 (MSRP: $3,850)
The Wilson Combat Bill Wilson Carry pistol contains all of the concealed-carry-friendly upgrades that Bill Wilson himself prefers in a carry 1911. It features a compact aluminum frame, an integral accessory rail and a unique, proprietary X-TAC frontstrap and mainspring housing treatment that works in conjunction with the G10 grips to really anchor the pistol in the hand. The match-grade barrel is fluted, and comes with an accuracy guarantee of one and a half inches at 25 yards. That’s a firm statement in the company’s belief in its product.
The list of upgraded components and feature-rich offerings is impressive, and at the end of the day results in a pistol that is, quite simply, a joy to shoot. The grip-checkering is aggressive, so prolonged range trips will definitely benefit from a shooting glove to protect your mitts. The Bill Wilson Carry is available in .45 ACP or 9 mm, and we have the .45 ACP version here for “I Carry”. This version also has the gold bead front sight and flat dark earth frame, however other options are available.
Some will no doubt balk at the MSRP, which is a fair bit higher than most of the other concealed-carry pistols we’ve covered here on “I Carry.” The Bill Wilson Carry pistol isn’t just another 1911, however, and is a true “aspirational” model. If you’re a fan of works of art that really work, or simply want one of the finest working pistols around, though, it’s worth saving your pennies to acquire. High-end pistols are meant to be admired; in the case of the Bill Wilson Carry, it’s also meant to be used.
Galco Concealable Belt Holster (MSRP: $119)
In addition to fully covering the barrel, the Concealable Belt holster from Galco has two-piece construction, where the molding is on the front piece, leaving the back piece flat to better fit against the body. A grip-forward cant fosters rapid presentation, and premium steerhide construction with double-stitched seams ensure years of trouble-free use. The Concealable Belt holster fits belts up to one and a half inches wide and is available in black or havana brown. It also serves as the basis for Galco’s line of exotic holsters, which are available in stingray, ostrich, shark and other custom hides.
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 secure all day. Available in a variety of finishes, the Tie Breaker can be ordered for single- or double-stack magazines.
Galco CB3 Concealable Contour Belt (MSRP: $116)
Constructed of the same leather as the Concealable Belt holster (and in the same finishes), the Galco CB3 Concealable Contour Belt comes formed for increased comfort. The strap itself tapers to one inch to allow smoother feeding through belt loops and holster slots, and mates with a nickel-plated brass buckle. Reinforced and contoured to the body, this purpose-built belt makes carrying even metal-frame handguns easy.
Benchmade Griptilian ($210)
The Griptilian family of folding knives is one of Benchmade’s most-popular lines, and it’s easy to see why. With plain or serrated blade edges, multiple scale color options, blade styles and finishes, the user can design the exact knife they prefer, and have the knife delivered in a reasonable time frame. This particular Griptilian model features a plain, satin-finish CPM 20CV blade and Benchmade’s AXIS locking mechanism, which closes the blade using a sliding button rather than a liner lock or traditional lockback mechanism.
SureFire E2D LED Defender Ultra Light ($199)
SureFire’s Defender series gets an LED version with the E2D LED Defender Ultra. Offering two output settings, a clip set up to carry bezel-up or bezel down and a crenulated strike bezel, the Defender Ultra is a simple, do-it-all light. The grip offers a mildly aggressive texturing to anchor it in the hand, making it easy to hold onto under the worst conditions. 600 lumens are available in the high setting for a 2.25 hour run time and 5 lumens on low for a run time of 67.75 hours. The Defender Ultra is powered by two CR123A batteries.
