Wilson Combat Bulwark, the rugged hi-tech pistol
Wilson Combat introduces the Bulwark, a 9mm Luger, double-stack concealed carry, defensive and duty pistol built to be rugged, reliable, and innovative
Wilson Combat Bulwark, the rugged hi-tech 1911 pistol
Recently introduced by Wilson Combat – a world-renown specialist in finely tuned 1911-type pistols for shooting competition, defensive, and tactical applications – the 9mm Luger Bulwark semi-automatic pistol aims at revolutioning the way defensive handguns are conceived via a long list of cutting-edge engineering and manufacturing features that make it both futuristic and reliably rugged.
Like many Wilson Combat pistols, the Bulwark is a compact gun, conceived for civilian personal defense and concealed carry, and for open and concealed duty carry by law enforcement personnel.
The Wilson Combat Bulwark feeds through double-stack metal magazines, offering an overall capacity of fifteen rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition (plus one in chamber), and features an internal hammer-fired trigger mechanism with a smooth, 1911-style linear travel trigger and a constant 1,7/1,9 kg pull (3.75 lb - 4.25 lb). The magazine release catch is reversible for left-handed use, while the slide hold-open release lever – which also dubs as disassembly lever – is located only on the left side of the frame.
Wilson Combat Bulwark 9mm Luger pistol – right side
Wilson Combat Bulwark 9mm Luger pistol – left side
The Wilson Combat Bulwark is built around a Fire Control Group – which is the serialized component, and thus legally the gun itself – contained within a stainless steel chassis that includes the trigger with its "Glock-style" blade safety, the internal hammer, and a high-profile grip safety that replaces all standard external safeties and acts by blocking the sear and trigger bar and by actuating the firing pin block when not fully depressed.
The fire control group is hosted within a matte black anodized, machined aluminum frame and grip module whose key distinctive features are a Picatinny-railed dust cover for tactical accessories, a squared trigger guard, an aggressive Wilson Combat BRICK slip-proof texture on the front strap and backstrap, and a set of removable G10 grip panels with the same BRICK texture.
The self-contained and serialized Fire Control System makes the Bulwark a modular firearm, as all other components can be replaced around it to adapt the pistol to numerous operational needs with little to no legal hassle; currently Wilson Combat offers the Bulwark in a compact version – centered around a 101 mm / 4" long, hand-fitted Match grade stainless steel barrel – but additional configurations in different sizes may be offered in the future.
The slide of the Wilson Combat Bulwark pistol is machined out of matte black nitride-finished stainless steel, and features a set of front and rear serrations, a series of carry cuts and ball endmill cuts, a heavy machine chamfer on the bottom, wide top serrations, and Wilson Combat's own Pin Technology machined micro red dot sight interface, directly compatible with most MRDS models currently available on the market.
Standing at 19 cm / 7.½" in overall length and tipping the scales at 944 grams (33.3 oz) when empty, the Wilson Combat Bulwark comes issued from factory with two proprietary double-stack magazines, a fixed red fiber optic front sight and a Wilson Combat Battlesight serrated black rear sight.
Interestingly, the Wilson Combat Bulwark was designed to maintain full compatibility most Glock 19 pistol holsters currently available on the market. The Glock 19 is arguably one of the most common civilian concealed carry defensive pistols and law enforcement service sidearms in the world today, and this speaks volumes about the market that Wilson Combat aims at taking on by storm with the Bulwark.
And truth be told, the Wilson Combat Bulwark pistol has what it takes to be a winner: with its rugged design, low bore axis, low recoil and precision manufacturing, it can take a beating and withstand years of hard use even in the harshest conditions, and keep performing.
However, like all Wilson Combat pistols, the Bulwark is not exactly an affordable handgun: basic MSRP on the US market starts at $1,800.00. Replacing the machined aluminum frame with a polymer one could knock down the retail price and make the Bulwark more affordable, and possibly truly a top seller, but there are no indications to suggest that Wilson Combat may actually want to take that road. After all, some may say, it wouldn't be a Wilson Combat anymore.
Visit the official Wilson Combat website for further information; all inquiries concerning local availability and pricing outside of the United States are to be addressed to the authorized Wilson Combat distributor for your Country.