Wilson Combat's 9mm "Texas BBQ Special" takes center stage on the cover of the November/December issue of American Handgunner. The handsome gun, with its heavy engraving on its stainless steel slides and frame, looks fit enough to have been carried by legendary Rangers to an old-fashioned Texas barbeque. In order to see if it shoots as well as it shines, Contributor John Taffin takes the pistol for a spin at the range.

"The Wilson Combat Texas BBQ Special is a gun one would not only be happy to shoot but very proud to show," writes Taffin. "The 1911 design is more than a century old, and as I write this, it is my 76th birthday — yet, the Wilson Combat Texas BBQ shot exceptionally well in my hands and I would expect a younger shooter to make it literally stand up and sing."

In Will Dabbs' "True Love, Total War and a Young Soldier's Pistol," a WWII hero gets his 1911 back. The soldier in the story happens to be Dabbs' grandfather-in-law, Eddie, who found a way to keep love near even as he fought in Europe during the Second World War.

"It's easy to forget there was once a time when the entire planet was at war," Dabbs writes. "When the very notion of liberty was mortally threatened, Eddie and countless others left home, hearth, and family to do literally whatever it took to cover the bill. Harvesting some of the Fiesler Plexiglas from an aircraft, he fashioned a clear grip for his 1911 and sandwiched a photograph of his young wife underneath it. During those dark years of fear, pain and loneliness, Eddie's pistol remained throughout a quiet testament as to who ultimately held the deed to his heart."

Also in this issue of American Handgunner is a feature on the GLOCK G43, a look at the hand-crafted Luger Carbine from Kustom Ballistics, a roundup of personal defense items and a piece on the enduring legacy of Gerber Knives.

The Micro Crimson Carry from Kimber Manufacturing is the main prize in the November/December Giveaway. Also in the giveaway is the TK15C tactical flashlight from Fenix, an Excelsa folder and several products from Maxpedition, including the Mag-Bag-Pal shooter response bag, JK-2-Concealed-Carry-Pouch and 2A patch. Enter to win this free giveaway, valued at $1,259.91, a www.americanhandgunner.com/giveaway.

Can't get enough of American Handgunner? The November/December issue has three online-only features, including one on pistol presentation and why a swift, sure draw is a necessary skill. Readers can sign-up for a free digital subscription to receive new issues of Handgunner online a www.americanhandgunner.com/digital-version.