Concealed Carry Handguns – August 2019

three-dot night sights: TruGlo Tritium

Pro. The front sight has a bright

orange ring around the tritium insert,

so the sight is highly visible night or

day, regardless of light conditions. The

rear sight is adjustable for windage in

its dovetail by loosening a set screw.

It features a front-side ledge that can

serve as a contact surface against a

belt, holster, boot heel or other solid

object so you can manipulate the

slide one-handed if dire circumstances

demand it.

The sights are excellent for close-

range combat purposes. I like a nar-

rower front sight on my general-pur-

pose handguns for better precision at

longer ranges. But for quick acquisition

in a defensive situation, these sights

are hard to beat and are exactly

what’sneeded for this type

ofpistol.

TAKEDOWN

Fieldstripping the EVO SP is not as

easy as some other pistols, but neither

is it diffi cult. With an empty gun and

magazine removed, you pull back the

slide until a notch in it aligns with the

slide lock release lever. The slide lock

lever can then be removed as you

would with a 1911 pistol.

The procedure becomes easier at this

point because there is no barrel bush-

ing. The slide can be moved forward

and off the frame, with easy access

to and removal of the captured recoil

spring/guide rod and barrel from the

underside of the slide.

I found that replacing the slide lock

release lever when reassembling

the pistol was a bit diffi cult as I

encountered some fi rm resistance. I

believe this would ease somewhat

after multiple takedown/reassembly

procedures.

Cuts in the slide

and frame are more

than just decorative;

they cut down the

weight of the gun

too. Kimber photo

THE SPECS

Model: Kimber EVO SP (CS)

Type: Striker-fired single-action

semi-auto pistol

Caliber: 9mm Luger

Capacity: 7 plus 1

Overall Length: 6.1 inches

Height: 4.03 inches

Width: 1.06 inches

Weight: 18 ounces (with empty

magazine)

Barrel: 3.16 inches, stainless steel with

deep crown

Slide: Stainless steel with FNC black

finish

Frame: Aluminum with KimPro charcoal

gray finish

Grips:Gray/blackG10withStiplex

texturing

Sights:Tritiumnightsights

MSRP:$1,047(CSmodeltested)

Othermodels:EVOCDP$949;EVOTLE

$925;EVOTwo-Tone$856;EVORaptor

$949

FALL 2019  CONCEALED CARRY HANDGUNS 57

“THE EVO SP IS A

SLEEK, WELLMADE

PISTOL THAT’S 100%

RELIABLE.”