1991 S.H.O.T. Show review

Shooting Industry, March, 1991 by Bruce Hillman

Many new companies were in attendance at the 1991 SHOT Show, swelling the overall figures to 1,172 exhibitors. The Show has continued to grow since the very first one in St. Lou in 1979.

SI talked with many of the exhibitors about business volume, and many said they wrote more orders the first day of the Show than in four days in Las Vegas.

Overall, the outlook is bright for retailing in 1991 with many exciting new products to draw in new and repeat business. Without further ado, here's a capsulized roundup of what caught SI's eye at the Show.

  The New .40 S&Ws
   * AMT
On Duty
American Arms
Sabre
   * Auto-Ordnance
  1911-A1
   * Heckler & Koch
   M HK P7-M10
   * Springfield Armory
   Omega Match
   * Star
    Firestar
   *   SIGARMS
     P229
   *  Taurus
      PT 100
   *  Smith & Wesson
      4053/4054
  The New 9mms
   * Beretta
     92 FSS
   * Browning
     BDM
   * Colt
     Model2000
   * Daewoo
     DP51
   * Springfield Armory
     Sub-Compact P9
   * Ruger
     SP101
   * Mitchell Arms
     Parabellum 08
   * Ruger
     P89DC
   * Smith & Wesson
     MODEL 940

* AMT

On Duty - .40 S&W & 9mm, double-action semiauto, alloy-framed with a 13+1 round capacity. The On Duty sports a 4-1/2" barrel and weighs in at 32 ounces. The frame is hard-anodized and the barrel and slide are stainless steel. The grips are made of carbon fiber.

* American Arms

Sabre - .40 S&W & 9mm, double-action only, blowback semiauto, stainless or blue, 8+1 capacity in .40, 9+1 in the 9mm. The SITES S.p.A. manufactured pistol includes a polygonal-rifled barrel, 3-3/4" long. The overall length in 7", the weight only 26 ounces. The PX/25, a double-action .25 caliber version of the PX/22 is also new. The PX/25 capacity is 7+1 rounds. The frame is lightweight alloy with a deep blue-black finish. Circle Number 402

* Auto-Ordnance

1911-A1 - .40 S&W with an 8+1 capacity. The standard finish is blue, with a white three-dot sighting system and texturerd wrap-around grips. The barrel length is 4-1/2" and the overall weight is 37 ounces.

* Beretta

92F-EL - High polish blued 92F with gold tones on the safety, hammer, magazine release and firing pin block. The Beretta 92FSS is the new stainless steel 92. The magazine capacity for both is the standard 15+1.

* Browning

BDM (Browning Double Mode) - 9mm, selectable for either revolver or pistol mode, steel framed and only 31 ounces. The safety doubles as a decocking lever. The hammer can be manually cocked when in the double-action mode. The extended blade on the magazine floorplate allows the mode selector to be easily operated. Look for the BDM about mid-year after the Secret Service order is filled. Hi-Power Practical: A two-tone 9mm with blued slide and silver-chromed frame, Pachmayr grips, round hammer and removeable front sight. Buck Mark four new models: Standard Nickel, includes contoured rubber grips. The Target 5.5 Gold is highlighted with a gold anodized frame and rib and includes walnut grips. The Field 5.5 rounds out Browning's offerings with a field version of the Target 5.5.

* Colt

All American/Model 2000 - 9mm (with two other frame sizes to follow for .40 S&W & .45 ACP), polymer-framed, double-action, locked-breech, rotary barrel, modular pistol. The barrel & slide work as a unit moving to the rear until the barrel lug rotates in the cam block and stops. The barrel lugs align to allow the slide to continue its travel to the rear and extraction and ejection occurs. The pistol breaks down to eight major parts including the magazine. Look for it about mid-year.

* Daewoo

DP51- 9mm, single or double-action, alloy-framed, 27 ounces, 13+1 capacity. Sandblasted black or polished. This Korean-made entry into the 9mm market appears to be geared toward the police/military market. Other Daewoo products have made it to the civilian market, expect this one to also.

* New Detonics

Ladies' Escort - Ladies version of the Combat Master, .45 ACP, single action, 6+1 capacity. The grips are thinned as is the frame to better fit smaller hands. The thumb safety and the magazine release have been redesigned for smoother use. Two spare magazines are included. Detonics even has a toll-free number for ladies with questions (800-388-GUNS). There are three color combinations available: the Royal Escort (pictured); the Jade Escort, with jade-colored grips and slide; and the Midnight Escort, satin stainless with black grips and slide.

* Feather Industries

Guardian Angel - .22LR/.22 Magnum derringer-style pistol (two shots) with a drop-in breech block in both calibers, polymer-framed. With the push of a button, the block slips easily in or out of the frame. Expect the Guardian Angel about mid-year.

* Freedom Arms

Model 252 Silhouette & Varmint Models - .22LR, five-shot, single action, stainless steel with matte finish, 3-3/4 pounds. The Model 252 features a two-point firing pin which strikes the rimfire case head in two places, 180 degrees apart. The hammer has been lightened to speed lock time. It is built on the same frame as the 454 Casull. An extra cylinder in .22 WMR is available for the Varmint Class revolver Perhaps the best single action .22 made.