We live in sort of a golden era of firearms manufacturing. The brands we’ve known and loved for years continue to improve, and new brands are showing up like never before, giving the established brands a run for their money. It’s not a perfect era, by any stretch. Even the big-shot brands can move a little too fast and release a gun — unbelievably — with a critical flaw. And plenty of newbie brands — for myriad reasons — don’t last in the market because they cannot dislodge the established brands from consumers’ minds.
Success in the firearms industry is more than excellent manufacturing. Branding plays a critical role, of course, but it is not less than excellent manufacturing. So if a new firearms company can manufacture an excellent product and get buy-in from the gun community, there’s a good chance for that company’s long-term success. And with long-term success comes the honor of becoming a trusted brand, an achievement to be guarded at all costs. We have yet to see whether Honor Defense will become one of the established brands of the gun industry, but the company’s Honor Guard 9mm shows us we should give honor where honor is due.
A subcompact, the Honor Guard measures 6.2 inches overall, 4.6 inches tall, and weighs 22 ounces. There are smaller pistols for concealed carry, yes, but the Honor Guard hits the sweet spot for providing enough gun to fill a hand, enhancing control while shooting and manipulating controls, yet remaining eminently concealable. On a size scale from J-frame to Glock 19, two concealed carry staples, the Honor Guard is right in the middle. Compared to other single-stack nines such as a Ruger LC9s and Walther PPS M2, two more concealed carry wonders, the Honor Guard is slightly larger. But with the increase in size comes an increase in shootability. Credit the size of the stocks but also the purchase offered by their excellent texture.
Honor Guard offers simplicity of operation by featuring an ambidextrous slide release and magazine release along with a 7-pound, crisp double-action trigger stroke. There’s no tactical rail and there doesn’t need to be. The stocks’ sights are three-dot and bright and the gun comes with a flush-fitting seven-round magazine and a slightly longer eight-round magazine. Two back strap sizes allow for a choice in grip feel (I like the more pronounced back strap) and the gun is rated for +P ammo. Honor Defense offers a variety of colors and sizes, all built on this 9mm platform.
This is the second Honor Guard I’ve had in my hands, the first being one of the early production models. I put hundreds of rounds through the first one, and this one is getting the same treatment. But the range time with the Honor Guard borders on the best kind of boring. Just like the J-frame and the Glock, this new-ish 9mm functions reliably and accurately every time. And with a bit more in hand compared to the LC9s and the PPS M2, it is easier to shoot as well.
Just as important as its shootability is its carry-ability. Thankfully, plenty of holster manufacturers recognize the Honor Guard’s viability in the market, so there are numerous options for we concealed carry types. Packin’ the Honor Guard is a breeze: Its lightweight and skinny frame make appendix carry a great option. But strong-side OWB is great too.
There’ll be more to say as my review of this pistol continues. But so far, we’ve got a reliable, accurate, concealable carry gun that feels good in hand. In other words, excellent manufacturing. As the Honor Guard builds its brand on this foundation, we’ll have to give honor where honor is due.
