Handsome Holstering
For those who love the 1911 design, the only thing that can improve it is a perfect holster. I would be confident in gifting this handsome Versacarry Recon leather holster to any 1911 fan. The premium water-buffalo leather is the right amount of sturdy and supple and the stitching is strong. Choose between 3, 4.25 and 5-inch barrel lengths. ($59.99; versacarry.com)
Handiest Hook
This Dark Energy Carabiner Pro is the handiest way to keep a few useful tools close. First, it’s a locking carabiner that’s useful for holding your keys or attaching other objects to a bag. But this carabiner also has a glass breaker, flathead and Phillips-head screwdrivers, a bottle opener and a small blade. ($29.99; darkenergy.com)
Laser Training and Sighting
Even with many red-dot optics options available, lasers continue to be an excellent accessory to consider, as they both offer aiming assistance and a deterrent effect. And this rail-mounted green-laser option, the Steiner TOR-X, offers a brilliant pairing, as it also works with the Mantis-X training system so you can improve your speed and accuracy right at home. ($359.99; steiner-optics.com)
Posh Eye Pro
These War Bird Dead Space eye protection glasses will be at home both on and off the range—and they’re particularly useful when the wind is kicking up, thanks to their removable side shields. These are thin enough to be comfortable under ear protection and have high-
resolution polarization, plus the handsome brown tortoise patterning makes them stylish. ($89; warbirdpro.com)
Pump Up the Light
Nightstick is a long-trusted name in the defensive world, and I like what I’m seeing from them lately. This fore-end replacement light-and-laser combination for Mossberg 500/590/Shockwave shotguns sports ambidextrous controls, a 1200-lumen beam that lights up about 220 yards around you and a green laser that is easy to spot both night and day. ($199.95-$355.20; nightstick.com)
Authorized Use Only
If you like biometric locking systems, take a look at the B.O.S. Lock. This Florida-made product installs right on your gun’s Picatinny rail (with a bolt to ensure it stays there) and restricts the slide from coming forward unless it recognizes the fingerprint of the operator. It securely stores up to 50 fingerprints and has a USB-rechargeable battery. ($279.95; boslock.com)
Cleaner Cloths
Ballistol is one of just a few names I trust in cleaning products for my own firearms. And, while I don’t need these Special Care Cleaning Cloths for most of my guns, they’re perfect for the nicer ones. The cloth is made of a lint-free blend of cotton, bamboo and polyester to ensure there will be no scratching a nice finish and no cloth bits are left behind in the action. ($12 for a 3-pack; ballistol.com)
Basic Range Bag Upgrade
It’s likely that the gun owners in your life already have a perfectly fine range bag, but why settle for that? This Sentry Range Bag is spacious enough to hold everything you need. Its main compartment opens with dual zippers to allow easy access and can be segmented into three sections with removable padded dividers. Two other zippered compartments hold everything else; one of these has four elastic mag straps. The bag is made of a strong tear-resistant fabric with attachment loops for adding extra storage options if desired. It even has a lifetime guarantee. ($89.99; sentrytactical.com)
Sharpen Like a Pro
I usually hate sharpening my knives because it’s difficult for me to get the angle just right and maintain it; however, the Work Sharp Tools Professional Precision Knife Sharpener makes the process much easier. Simply lock your knife in, attach the correct guide rod with the appropriate sharpening, honing or stropping surface, set the angle, and move that rod instead of the knife. Voila—your angle doesn’t change with every twitch and your knife gets sharpened correctly. ($299.95; worksharptools.com)
Bag It Better
Voodoo Tactical’s 3-Gun Competition Weapons Case offers rugged durability and a lot of practicality. At 56x8x14 inches, it should fit most PRS rifles, and it’s built with plenty of mag pouches and pockets to stow all the other stuff. It has padded corners and hook-and-loop adjustability, so your typical hauling needs are well-met. What I really like about this, though, is the adjustable (and removable) backpack-style strap system that allows one to carry all that gear more efficiently. ($289.95; voodootactical.com)
Last-Minute Awesomeness
No matter how much I try, I almost always have an “oops” moment where I discover that I overlooked buying a present for someone. Luckily, an NRA membership—and particularly a life membership—is easily available to fill the void and is unique enough to be considered thoughtful. Sometimes it even comes with a little extra schwag! Get one for you or someone else at membership.nra.org.
