I Carry: Wilson Combat Glock G19 in an El Paso Saddlery 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 Wilson Combat-customized Glock G19 pistol in an El Paso Saddlery High Slide holster. We also have a SureFire E1B Backup flashlight, a Galco Gunleather Kydex Single Magazine Carrier, ZT Knives 0055 folding knife and a DeSantis Gunhide Plain Lined Belt.

The Gun: Wilson Combat Custom Glock G19

Wilson Combat might not be the first company you associate with Glock customization, since it made its name mainly on the production of high-end 1911 pistols. Recently, though, Wilson Combat began offering a la carte customization options for popular Glock models.

This customized Glock started out life as a standard Gen 3 G19. Wilson Combat took the gun and gave it a complete rework, adding this Starburst Pattern stippling on the frame, fitting a custom-fluted Wilson Combat stainless-steel barrel and finishing it with this attractive burnt-bronze Combat-Tuff finish.

Personally, I find the upgrades to be a welcome addition to the pistol. The enhanced stippling provides a more-solid grip, and subsequent testing proved that the Wilson Combat-fitted barrel did, in fact, improve the accuracy of the gun. What more can you ask for?

The Holster: El Paso Saddlery High Slide ($79)

For a comfortable and attractive outside-the-waistband rig, we turned to El Paso Saddlery and its High Slide holster. The company’s been in business since 1889, producing holsters and gunbelts by hand for a premium finish you can only get with a craftsman’s touch.

This holster is constructed with a flat back for comfortable belt carry and features hand-boned contours for enhanced fit and an attractive aesthetic finish. The holster fits belts measuring up to 1.75 inches wide and comes with an adjustment screw to customize the retention.

The Mag Carrier: Galco Gunleather Kydex Single Magazine Carrier ($45)

To carry my spare Magpul PMag magazine, I went with an effective option from Galco. The company’s Kydex Single Magazine Carrier is simplicity embodied, using a single sheet of molded kydex to provide a comfortable and secure staging point for a spare mag. The carrier ships with this belt clip as well as a belt slot, and a tension screw allows for magazine-retention adjustment.

The Flashlight: SureFire E1B Backup ($149)

SureFire designed its Backup line of lights initially as a handy backup option for law-enforcement officers. However, these small lights are great for any prepared individual, having been constructed with a strong aluminum housing and the company’s wide-angle MaxVision beam that produces a flood of area lighting. At its highest setting, this small light produces 400 lumens powered by a CR123A battery. Overall length is 3.87 inches, and the light weighs just under 3 ounces.

The Knife: ZT Knives 0055 ($275)

For those who appreciate the finer things in life, ZT Knives offers its 0055. No expense was spared in making this a handy, ergonomic, dependable blade for daily use. The knife itself is made from S35VN stainless steel, which is loaded with niobium, vanadium and chromium carbides to keep a sharp edge. The design also saves weight, thanks to handles machined entirely from titanium, and the blade deploys with ZT’s unique SLT flipper tab.

The Belt: DeSantis Gunhide Plain Lined Belt ($72.99)

To keep this entire rig secured, I chose the DeSantis Plain Lined Belt. This gun belt is cut from heavy saddle leather and features a gentle suede lining that keeps the belt anchored in place along the waist. The belt measures 1.5 inches wide and can be had in black or tan leather.