Borne of steel mined from the Bresca region of Italy, Tanfoglio’s Stock III Extreme 9mm and Witness Polymer Carry 10mm form a formidable duo in the January/February issue of American Handgunner.

Built for competition, the Stock III Extreme in 9mm showcases speed, accuracy, reliability and dynamic ergonomics. And it’s brimming with custom parts hand-fitted by master gunsmiths. “I can see why the Xtreme is the darling of the Production Division [of the IPSC] and frankly, also qualifies as a perfectly sound home-defense gun too. Protect all week; compete that weekend. … It can do both,” lends Publisher Roy Huntington.

More of an EDC gun, the Witness Polymer Carry in 10mm is a working gun, built tough with attention to keeping things affordable and functional. Roy shares, “It’s not fancy, but it’s solid, predictable and could most definitely protect you. It’s a sort of ‘everyman’s’ gun and deserves a good look.”

Nighthawk Custom’s Heinie Long Slide 10mm put Mark Hampton in “Hog Heaven.” Sporting a full-size frame, 6-inch match-grade barrel and Shadow Camo Urban Gray finish, Mark’s extended run with the test gun (equipped with a Trijicon RMR) resulted in zero jams or malfunctions — and five-shot groups at 25 yards measuring a fraction over 1 inch. “See what happens when you combine quality ammo with a premium handgun? I am totally convinced this would make a serious hunting tool for hogs, whitetails and such,” he contends.

Kicking off 2019 with a prize catch, a SIG SAUER P320-M17 tops the Handgun Of The Month giveaway. The pistol is a variant of the Army’s M17 and is dressed in a Coyote Tan finish with a 4.7-inch barrel, SIGLITE front night sight and removable night sight rear plate. The winner will also receive a Tuff Writer Precision Press Pen and Aluminum Ear Carabiner, and a pair of Wiley X polarized sunglasses. The combined value of the package is $1,039.95. Readers are invited to enter the free drawing by visiting www.americanhandgunner.com/giveaway

Arriving just in time for the holidays, the Jan/Feb issue includes the seasonal appearance of the “Handgunner’s Gift Guide” featuring hand-selected items sure to make gift giving a breeze this year. Toast the new year with “Champagne Taste On A Beer Budget,” David Freeman’s roundup of affordable alternatives for gun lovers. And in the Cop Talk installment, lessons can surely be learned from the legacy left by the “most feared gunfighter of his time” and notorious cop-killer, John Wesley Hardin.

Exclusive content is only a click away: Mike Cumpston revisits the groundbreaking design of the Taurus Radical .380 Curve. Log on to www.americanhandgunner.com/digital-version to find out more, and access previous issues of American Handgunner. The January/February issue can be purchased and downloaded as a PDF. Kindle and digital versions are also available.