Handguns – October-November 2019

A STANDOUT 1911

48 HANDGUNSOCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 WWW.HANDGUNS.COM

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pr ovided by the bull profile bar-
rel. I was immediately impressed.
After that, I did the accuracy test-
ing, and my results are found in the
accompanying chart. Though the
gun’s mechanical accuracy potential
was great, the KC9 really shined
during practical drills on steel and
cardboard targets where the gun’s

excellent sights and trigger made

hits look easy.

Most importantly, the gun ran

with every load I fed it without any

hint of a malfunction. The 9mm car-

tridge’s taper makes it want to feed

and extract, and that’s certainly

part of the gun’s reliability equation.

I actually had a case-head failure

on my second to last round of Super

Vel ammunition during the accuracy

testing, and the gun cycled never-

theless. I was wearing my shooting

glasses, so no harm was done.

With today’s threat of active shoot-

ers, I’m no longer satisfied carrying

a handgun that only allows me to

make hits at short range. The threat

has evolved, and so must our tools

and methods. With this in mind, I

loaded a half-dozen FMJs into the

magazine and shot at a 12-inch steel

plate at 90 yards from the seated

position, resting my arms across

my knees. I was able to hit the plate

four out of six times, which tells me

the gun is up to the task.

With a slide that is a quarter-inch

shorter than other Commander-size

1911s, the KC9 may not be fully com-

patible with all holsters designed for

that handgun. This isn’t an issue be-

cause Ed Brown has commissioned a

holster designed specifically for the

KC9. Made by S&S Leatherworks,

this hand-tooled black leather and

crocodile pancake-style OWB hol-

ster retails for $225. For the record,

though, the KC9 worked fine in the

Commander-length holsters I tried

it in.

Although the KC9 is not available

for sale in California, Golden State

fans of Ed Brown who own a Kobra

Carry are in luck. Ed Brown is offer-

ing an upgrade program whereby ex-

isting Kobra Carry handguns can be

retrofitted to the KC9 format. Once

this conversion is completed, Kobra

Carry owners will have the option of

using their handguns with either the

.45 ACP or the more compact 9mm

upper just by swapping slides.

For those who desire a premium

carry gun, one that embodies the

best features of the 1911 but in a

more agreeable package in terms of

concealment, the KC9 is worth some

serious consideration. The solid

construction, excellent sights, great

trigger, dependable reliability and

impressive accuracy provide a level

of confidence that is tough to match

at this price.

< The slide is machined with a series of flats, giving the pistol a unique look.

The bull barrel dispenses with the traditional bushing, which saves hand-
fitting expense.