Is a Unertl 1911 worth the price? Well, that would be up to the individual user, but I can say that the folks at Unertl put a lot of TLC into each gun. In the case of the UCCP, there are numerous features built into each model that cannot be ignored. Every part contained inside any Unertl pistol, including the UCCP, is either machined or EDM (electrical discharge machining)--no MIM (metal injection molding) parts are found anywhere. Unertl believes that MIM parts shorten the life and degrade the quality of any gun, and they will not be used.

The rear sight was nicely serrated at 24 lines per inch--something the author prefers.

The stainless steel barrel is match grade and can be obtained in either a heavy cone configuration or a standard barrel/bushing. The frontstrap is checkered to 24 lines per inch to offer a solid hold regardless of the conditions experienced.

Other features include:

• Ambidextrous extended frame-mounted thumb safety with a single side safety being an option.
• Extended beavertail grip safety with enhanced palm swell for positive engagement.
• Extended magazine release.
• Either a one-piece magazine well for faster reloads or a standard mainspring housing with no magazine well for reduced bulk.
• The option of a short or long match trigger depending on user hand size.
• All surfaces coated with industrial-grade Teflon S for corrosion resistance. The finish also offers enhanced lubrication properties.
• All edges rounded and contoured to ensure a snag-free concealed draw.

Each UCCP pistol comes with four premium-quality eight-round magazines with base pads. In the case of my test gun they were Chip McCormick, but Wilson's are also used. A locking pistol case, a set of hearing protectors and a set of eye protection round out the accessories that come with each gun. Every Unertl pistol has a full five-year warranty that covers everything except obvious customer abuse.

The frontstrap of the UCCP was checkered 24 lines per inch.

Repelling an attack and keeping the owner alive is the primary function of a concealed carry gun, and to accomplish this task the gun needs to run without fail. The late, great Jeff Cooper once stated that a defensive handgun needs three essential features: good sights, a good trigger and total reliability. I would add that the gun needs to fit the end-user, but then the 1911 fits just about anyone regardless of hand size. People with large hands may want a long trigger.

Each UCCP comes with a set of high-visibility night sights that are made by Unertl. Unertl offers these sights for a wide range of autoloaders, and I have these on several of my guns. I can personally attest to their durability and high visibility. On my test UCCP, the rear sight was nicely serrated to help reduce glare, and while many will say that this feature is not really necessary, I respectfully disagree. I have found that rear serrations help me focus more easily on the front sight. The trigger on the test gun was a crisp five pounds with a short and easy-to-control reset. There were no rough spots found anywhere in the trigger action, and such a trigger makes the gun easier to shoot. Without a doubt, the UCCP meets Col. Cooper's essential standards with no problems.

A winter storm arrived at the deadline for the author's shooting test, so he used his gun club's indoor range to check the UCCP's accuracy and reliability.

Reliability can only be evaluated by shooting the gun and doing so a lot. A few rounds fired for accuracy do not test a gun's long-term reliability. I am the first to admit that I cannot shoot enough in a simple test to truly test this either, but I did intend to give it a heck of a try.