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While military sidearms are generally associated with NCOs and officers, the use of handguns was much more widespread in the Second World War. Many soldiers carried handguns in addition to their main small arm, and this was especially true of paratroopers, military police, and generally any enlisted man who felt the need for a little extra firepower. And as with the other small arms of World War II, most handguns were distinctive and unique to each respective nation. As a result, the handguns of the era have become quite iconic and in some cases even a bit infamous. From the...

Why the Glock 19? Modern polymer materials combined with more consistent action and superior corrosion resistance simply performed better than SIG’s all-metal design. Navy SEALSs and SIG: After the United States military shifted away from the iconic albeit somewhat aged M1911A1 to the more modern Beretta M9 in 1985, Navy SEALs decided to go in a different direction, opting to carry the SIG Sauer P226, which was dubbed Mk 25 in SEAL service.

Hopefully, it doesn’t happen. Hopefully, we are never forced into a bad situation that requires us to rely on a firearm. However, if it ever does come to that, you need to know that you have the tools to put food on the table, keep predators at bay, and defend what is yours. Thankfully, some of these tools are already available to you. I’ve put together a list of five of the most popular utility guns that are reliable, durable, and available on the market. When the going gets tough, these guns will not let you down, and they won’t...