When looking at the entire long history of firearms, the compression makes it look like clear progression. Muzzle loaders begat breech loaders, single-shot arms to multi-shot affairs, manual operation to automatics — and a whole lot between each and more beyond. But once you dive deep into the details, it’s less a linear line and more stepwise; more akin to a staggered and slanted staircase.
Some designers, and some individual designs, are the upward steps that make it to that next level. A firearm can’t just be good, but it has to be the right gun at the right time, too. These can be arms that are easier or cheaper to make, significantly more capable, have better business minds behind them, or are heavily subsidized by governments. (Usually they are a combination thereof.)
Since this is a letter for CONCEALMENT magazine, here I’ll just briefly address semiautomatic pistols, where the most influential leaps in design came from the minds of John Browning, Carl Walther, and Gaston Glock. If you’ve been around awhile, undoubtedly you can cite individual models that changed what came after, like how KelTec’s P3AT and the SIG Sauer P365 shook up the CCW pistol landscapes of their day.
Once these major steps are made, seemingly every other company in the industry will copy, clone, iterate, or produce parts for them, piling onto the popularity. It is much easier to remake existing items than to engineer new things, and thanks to advances in materials science and manufacturing methods sometimes the clones can actually be better than the originals (see our article on Carrying Springfield’s SA-35 Detective). This process can also lead to lower consumer prices, adding to the advantages.
But it’s also safe. New designs are risky. They take time. Investors want an immediate return. And in a world where a movie has to hit a billion dollars in the box office or it’s a flop and an album has to hit platinum or the artist is dropped, you just get another Glock — or these days, a 2011. Yippee.
Yet here in this environment, gracing the cover of CONCEALMENT 52 is the Bulwark, a novel 9mm design from Wilson Combat. What initially appears to be a Gaston/Browning mash-up is far more than meets the eye. It’s weird, cool, and risky — which means you’ll never see it from most of the manufacturers out there.
Will it be the next step? The odds say not, but you’ll never make the leap if you don’t even try.
[You can get CONCEALMENT magazine wherever quality periodicals are sold, score a physical or digital subscription here , or read some of the articles linked online below]
Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles.
Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession.
At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience.
Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products.
NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOIL
For years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we’ve compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included).
Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We’ll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers – your guide to the firearms lifestyle.
You want this. Trust Us.
Read the full article here