SHOT Show 2018 Honor Guard Update Tamara Keel February 1, 2018 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More At SHOT Show Industry Range Day we dropped by the Honor Defense booth to see what was going on with the Gainesville, Georgia-based handgun manufacturer these days. 2017 had to have been rough for anyone selling small single-stack nines, what with Smith & Wesson dumping massive Shield overstock at fire-sale prices, and the guys at Honor Defense acknowledged that they’d felt it. Their base offering, the Honor Guard 9, is effectively a direct Shield competitor, albeit with improvements like forward cocking serrations and one of the best factory grip textures on the market right now. Additionally, the HG9 uses ubiquitous Glock sights, giving access to pretty much the largest aftermarket sight selection possible. Near the end of 2017, the YouTube trend of hitting guns with hammers caught up with the Honor Guard 9. While it had passed ANSI/SAAMI drop tests, the HG9 fell victim to both a series of repeated heavy hammer blows to the rear of the slide (a not terribly relevant test) and the “-30° test,” in which the dropped pistol lands on the top rear corner of the slide. The latter is a very relevant test since it’s how polymer-framed pistols often land. The 3.8-inch long slide variant. Honor Defense initiated an upgrade program, which is standard on all current guns and can be retrofitted to all previous ones. The re-profiled trigger bar and heavier striker block spring increase the trigger pull to seven pounds, but the new configuration has been tested by multiple outside labs and features on a don’t-try-this-at-home-kids 10-foot drop on Honor Defense’s Facebook page. Going forward into 2018, the basic 3.2-inch barreled Honor Guard 9 is now accompanied by a 3.8-inch variant. The long-slide gun is available with a short dust cover as well as a longer dust cover with an accessory rail. If it were a little longer in the grip, the long slide would be awfully close to the mythical single stack Glock 19 for which people have been clamoring for the last twenty years. Will the removable chassis become the norm? Honor Defense is also leveraging the fact that their pistol design uses a drop-in “chassis” system for the lockwork, similar the Sig Sauer P250/320 and others, to offer bare grip frames on their website in a variety of colors and configurations. Since these aren’t serialized, they can be ordered directly to the owner’s doorstep should they decide that a change a change of color is in order. Hints were also dropped of a heavily redesigned v2.0 pistol on the horizon, as well as possibly a completely different firearm line to complement the HG9. Watch this space for future developments. Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.