Sunday Showcase Recap

Recap on the 7/7 Sunday Showcase

The GLOCK G17 is a full-size semi-automatic service pistol that shoots the 9x19mm pistol cartridge. It is a popular choice for self-defense, with sixty-five percent of U.S. law enforcement agencies selecting Glock pistols due to their reliability and simplicity. The pistol features a short-recoil-operated striker fire system and a Safe-Action trigger system designed for shooting in stressed situations. The main frame is constructed of high-strength polymer, while the milled steel slide and the barrel are treated with a matte black Tenifer finish for extreme resistance to wear and corrosion. The pistol is also impervious to corrosion caused by perspiration and humidity. An integral accessory rail allows for the attachment of aftermarket tactical flashlights or laser sights. Overall, the GLOCK G17 is a reliable, easy-to-operate, and maintain handgun, making it an ideal choice for self-defense, whether it be in the field, at home, or on duty.

Taran Tactical Innovations is a company famous for providing top-notch gun customization and competition-inspired accessories. Taran Butler, the founder of this company, is a renowned shooter who has won numerous championship titles across various competitions. He is an expert with pistols, rifles, and shotguns and holds the title of Grandmaster in both pistol and multi-gun, which speaks volumes about his expertise in shooting sports. As a competitive shooter and trainer, he has the ability to identify crucial areas for improvement for each weapon platform he chooses to run. Every cut, every tuned part, and every enhancement is done with the utmost care and precision to become faster, more consistent, and more accurate. The milliseconds he buys you on the gun translate into being miles ahead of the competition.

The TTI JW2 Combat Master is the culmination of the ultimate competition pistol platform combined with master levels of tuning to create a handgun like no other. Wielded by Baba Yaga himself, this is the pistol used by John Wick in the 2017 film John Wick: Chapter 2. Based on a Glock 17 Gen 3, the TTI JW2 Combat Master is expertly crafted with slide lightening cuts to improve the cyclic speed and reduce perceived recoil. The forward-swept front and rear slide serrations give a solid purchase for weapon manipulation. The extended-release helps drop the magazine without breaking your grip for faster reloads. The single undercut trigger guard lets you choke up higher on the gun for better recoil control. The TTI Competition magwell assists with magazine insertion, helping to guide the magazine into the firearm. The grip stippling helps the shooter get a good purchase on the pistol and maintain a solid hold. The trigger has been tuned for an enhanced break and reset. The match-grade Bronze coated barrel offers unmatched accuracy, consistency, and reliability. Other features include a TTI fiberoptic front sight, TTI base pads in flat black, and laser engraved TTI logo. 

Robert Hillberg, a research engineer at High Standard Manufacturing Company, created the Wolverine pistol. Hillberg had learned about aluminum casting during World War II while working with aircraft guns. The Wolverine is a .22 semi-automatic pistol produced between 1956 and 1958, with a limited production run of 13,371 units. About 500 nickel-plated models were made, while the rest were finished in different shades of anodized blue. The pistol featured plastic grips that came in black, dark brown, or white; white grips were mostly found on the nickel-plated models. The frame of the pistol was made using investment casting by Alcoa, which was a new concept in the gun industry at the time but is now widely used by most major gun manufacturers.

The .22 Whitney Pistol production began in January of 1956, as stated in THE WHITNEY PISTOL book. The first pistols were roll-marked with "WHITNEY WOLVERINE." The designer of this unique pistol was Robert L. (Bob) Hillberg, who held more than forty patents in firearms design. Unlike most pistols produced in the 1950s that were replicas or at least bore a resemblance to an existing model, the Whitney Wolverine was a unique design with futuristic features that resembled no existing model. It was marketed under different names, such as "Lightning" and "Tomorrows Pistol Today," as announced in outdoor magazines.

Bob Hillberg, who passed away on August 12, 2012, shortly before his 96th birthday, considered the Whitney pistol as his most significant design achievement. He was so involved in firearms design that he once remarked after editing an article about his life and times, "My God, I must have Hoppes Number Nine flowing through my veins!" Undoubtedly, Robert L. Hillberg will be remembered as one of the greatest firearms designers of the 20th century. It is intriguing to consider what the future could have held for Bob Hillberg and the Whitney Firearms Company if they had not signed a marketing contract with Galef.

The Colt Single Action Army (also known as the SAA, Model P, Peacemaker, or M1873) is a single-action revolver handgun. It was designed for the U.S. government service revolver trials of 1872 by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company (today known as Colt's Manufacturing Company). The Colt SAA has been offered in over 30 different calibers and various barrel lengths. Its overall appearance has remained consistent since 1873. Colt has canceled its production twice but brought it back due to popular demand. The revolver was dubbed the "Peacemaker" and is a famous piece of Americana and the American Wild West era due to its popularity with ranchers, lawmen, and outlaws alike. Today, they are mainly bought as memorabilia by collectors and re-enactors. Its design has influenced the production of numerous other models from other companies. The SAA, at one time or another, was offered in dozens of calibers from .22 rimfire to .476 Eley, though the .45 Colt has always been the most common. A scaled-down .22 rimfire version called the Scout or Frontier Scout was available in the late 20th century.

Appomattox, Virginia, derives its name from the Appomattox River, which honors the Appomattoc Native American tribe of the Powhatan Confederacy. Originally situated near present-day Petersburg, the Appamatuck people inhabited the region where the town now stands. During the Civil War, Appomattox served as a crucial railroad depot on the Southside Railroad, three miles west of the historic Appomattox Court House. It was at this court house that Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, marking a pivotal moment in American history and effectively ending the Civil War. Today, Appomattox is renowned for its historical significance, preserved as the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. The town was originally named "Nebraska" in 1855 and later renamed "West Appomattox" in 1895 before becoming the county seat in 1894. It continues to honor its past with annual commemorations at the national park, including a luminary ceremony to remember the emancipation of 4,600 slaves from Appomattox County alone.