There are a lot of companies currently making 1911 pistols. Industry insiders tell me it is easier to manufacture a proven design than it is to go through the time and expense to create something new.

The Unertl Concealed Carry Pistol is a classic Commander-size 1911 with all the right features. And it's a totally "made in the USA" handgun.

This is OK, as the 1911 has certainly proven itself when lives are on the line. It makes sense to go with something you know will work if you must rely on it when going into potential danger.

For this same reason, I don't mind paying more if the added expense is justified. The truth is, I put no price tag on my life, and I am willing to spend whatever it takes to give me the kit I need not to just survive but to prevail. You know, to win.

SPECIFICATIONS Unertl Concealed Carry Pistol
MANUFACTURER:	www.unertlordnance.com
CALIBERS:	.45 ACP
BARREL LENGTH:	4 1/4 inches
OVERALL LENGTH:	8.6 inches
WEIGHT:	40 ounces with magazine
CAPACITY:	8+1
HEIGHT:	5.9 inches
WIDTH:	1.3 inches
OTHER FEATURES:	External extractor, match-grade barrel, all parts machined or EDM. Choice of one-piece magwell or standard mainspring housing, heavy cone-type barrel or standard bushing barrel, long or short match trigger
FINISH:	Teflon "S"
SIGHTS:	Unerti fixed low-profile night sights with tritium inserts
PRICE:	$2,195

Bill Jordan said it many years ago: There is no second-place winner. In a gunfight, second place is either hurt or dead. No price can be put on one's ability to win. And while it is true that no particular piece of gear can assure victory, top-quality gear sure helps.

Unertl, a company known for many years for its high-end sporting and tactical scopes, is one of the new faces in what I call the "1911 wars." It offers a small line of high-grade, custom-level 1911 pistols intended for defensive use.

The most recent addition to the product line is being directed at the concealed carry market, which is ever expanding due to the number of states authorizing their citizens to carry concealed handguns. Combined with the large number of military, law enforcement and private-security personnel who also carry concealed, it makes a lot of sense for any gun manufacturer to have a model intended for covert carry situations. Unertl Ordnance has addressed this need with the Unertl Concealed Carry Pistol, or UCCP.

In short, the UCCP is a Commander-size pistol with a 41?4-inch barrel that is manufactured to a very high standard. Unertl handguns are not inexpensive, but the company believes the prices are justified by the time and effort put into each gun.

The UCCP comes with both long and short triggers.

Director of operations Aaron Davis tells me, "We buy the best components that we can from sources all across the U.S. They must be American-made components, as we will not use anything other than U.S. parts. Once we have these--and they are not cheap--we build [our guns] one at a time using craftsmen who have been building 1911 pistols for 20-plus years. These guys know how to put a 1911 together and what it takes to make the best 1911 money can buy. Yes, Unertl guns are costly, but you won't find a better gun anywhere, including the top-end custom guns."

Tim Beghtol, director of manufacturing, adds, "After building 15,000 to 20,000 1911s, you learn what not to do."