10 Best American Made Handguns for Concealed Carry

If you’re like us, you probably love supporting American companies and feel a sense of pride when using products made in the USA.

If you’re looking for a new pistol and want to invest in one that’s made in the USA, then you’ve come to the right place. From Adams Arms to Sig Sauer, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 American made handguns for concealed carry to help you in your search.

So keep scrolling to check out each of the guns that made our list and learn a bit about what makes each one an excellent choice for concealed carry, home defense, or whatever you need it for.

Kimber Micro 9

Starting our list strong is the Kimber Micro 9. Manufactured in Troy, Alabama, this popular handgun comes in various styles, but we will focus on the ESV model here. Each Micro 9 model is chambered in 9mm Luger and features a single action trigger with a short, smooth pull, making it great for shooters looking for a mild recoil.

Each Kimber Micro 9 frame is built from strong aluminum and is most closely compared to a 1911 with a similar thumb safety and magazine release. The Micro 9 ESV features steel sights versus the standard plastic sights and is available in a variety of styles. Weighing in at 15.3 ounces and coming standard with a 7-round magazine, this pistol has it all.

For more information on the Kimber Micro 9, visit Kimber’s website here. Or, if you are looking for Sig Sauer P365 holsters because you already own this popular pistol, check out our holster options for the Sig Sauer P365.

Kel Tec P-3AT

Made in Cocoa, Florida and designed for deep concealment, the Kel Tec P-3AT is nearly invisible when carried correctly. Known for its simplicity, this is one gun we couldn’t resist putting on our list.

Chambered in .380 ACP, the P-3AT is tiny but mighty. This sub-compact pistol features an internal safety and integrated sights. Built with a polymer frame and steel slide, this popular weapon weighs only 7.7 ounces and comes standard with a 6-round magazine.

While this firearm has been discontinued by the manufacturer, you may be able to find one through a third-party dealer if you decide it’s the right one for you.

For more information on the Kel Tec P-3AT, visit Kel Tec’s website here. Or, if you are looking for holsters because you already own this popular pistol, check out our holster options for the Kel Tec P-3AT.

Ruger American Pistol Compact

It’s right in the name: the Ruger American Pistol Compact is an all-American handgun we couldn’t resist adding to this list.

Ruger manufactures firearms all across the U.S., including in Southport, Connecticut; Newport, New Hampshire; Mayodan, North Carolina; and Prescott, Arizona.

The compact Ruger American is similar to its larger full-size counterpart. With many features that concealed carry owners love, this popular firearm doesn’t have many disadvantages.

The Ruger American Pistol Compact is available in 9mm Luger with a 17-round magazine or 45 Auto with a 10-round magazine. The 9mm model is also available in a state-compliant option with a 10-round magazine.

It features a recoil-reducing barrel cam, ambidextrous slide stop, and a Picatinny rail in a smaller package. It’s built with a gray Cerakote® one-piece, high-performance, glass-filled nylon, and stainless steel slide that adds to its durability.

For more information on the Ruger American Pistol Compact, visit Ruger’s website here. Or, if you are looking for holsters because you already own this popular pistol, check out our holster options for the Ruger American Pistol Compact.

Sig P365

The award-winning Sig Sauer P365 pistol, made in Newington, New Hampshire, is one of the most commonly used firearms for concealed carry. This lightweight and easy-to-conceal handgun is an excellent choice for whatever you need it for and is one of the best American made handguns on the market.

This micro-compact pistol is chambered in 9mm and is known for its smooth shooting. It features Sig’s factory trigger and sights that customers know and love. This striker-fired gun is built with a lightweight stainless steel frame and a carbon steel barrel coated with a durable Nitron finish. It comes standard with two 10-round flush magazines, though an optional 12- or 15-round extended magazine is available for those who want a greater capacity.

Weighing only 17.8 ounces, the P365 is an excellent choice for concealed carry. Overall, there are many reasons why people love the P365.

For more information on the Sig Sauer P365, visit Sig’s website here. Or, if you are looking for Sig Sauer P365 holsters because you already own this popular pistol, check out our holster options for the Sig Sauer P365.

Smith and Wesson M&P Shield

Of all the Smith and Wesson firearms we could have included in our list, the M&P Shield, made in Springfield, Massachusetts, has earned its place. This striker-fired gun is available in 9mm or .40 S&W. The reliability of this exceedingly compact pistol is right up there with Glock and Sig Sauer.

The ergonomic grip of the M&P Shield 3.1” is what makes many people find it so comfortable to hold. The M2.0 version of this pistol uses an even more aggressive grip texture and has a slightly better trigger. Weighing only 20.6 ounces, this ergonomic firearm has a 7- or 8-round magazine plus one in the chamber if that is how you prefer to carry.

For more information on the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 3.1”, visit Smith & Wesson’s website here. Or, if you are looking for holsters because you already own this popular pistol, check out our holster options for the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 3.1”.

Kahr CM9

If you are looking for a double-action-only pistol, look no further than the Kahr CM9. This durable concealed carry weapon has many quality features at a reasonable price. It is manufactured in Worcester, Massachusetts, helping the CM9 earn its place on our “Best American Made Handguns” list.

The Kahr CM9 is a textured polymer-framed pistol with a “Browning-type” recoil lug and passive striker block. This subcompact firearm is chambered in 9mm, with a heavy trigger pull you would expect from a double-action-only gun. It features base handgun sights, the only difference being that the front site is polymer rather than steel.

The CM9 comes standard with a 6-round magazine and weighs only 14 ounces making it a popular choice for a CCW.

For more information on the Kahr CM9, visit Kahr’s website here. Or, if you are looking for holsters because you already own this popular pistol, check out our holster options for the Kahr CM9.

Remington R51

Made in Ilion, New York, the Remington R51 is one of the oldest gun models on our list and is comprised of many patented elements and mechanisms. You probably know Remington for their quality rifles, and they didn’t skimp on the quality of their handguns either.

Chambered in 9mm+P with a standard 7-round magazine, this popular pistol features a locking breech block within the slide. The trigger has the feeling of a 1911 and looks similar as well. It has no external safety, making for a quick and straightforward draw.

The R51 is built with aluminum alloy and a stainless steel barrel. This gun model comes in a .40 caliber model and the option to add night sights to either model.

Check out your local firearms dealers to find one of these discontinued beauties. Or, if you are looking for holsters because you already own this popular pistol, check out our holster options for the Remington R51.

Adams Arms AA19

One of the newest guns on our list is the Adams Arms AA19. This compact pistol has quickly become popular and sold out in many locations. Adams Arms, which is headquartered in Brooksville, Florida, is best known for making rifles but spares no detail when it comes to handguns.

Built with a polymer frame, textured grip, and the Adams Arms profiled VS19 slide, this gun is made for performance. Chambered in 9mm Luger, this popular pistol comes with not one but two 15-round magazines and features a Picatinny rail. The Adams Arms AA19 also comes optics ready for select optics models.

While this striker-fired pistol may be newer to the concealed carry and home defense market, its accuracy and durability earned it a place on our list.

For more information on the Adams Arms AA19, visit Adams Arm’s website here. Or, if you are looking for holsters because you already own this popular pistol, check out our holster options for the Adams Arms AA19.

Mossberg MC1sc

Mossberg has been around for over a century and is headquartered in North Haven, Connecticut, with many of its firearms being made in Texas. Their guns are known for being incredibly reliable. Mossberg designed the MC1sc specifically with concealed carry in mind.

The Mossberg MC1sc is a subcompact striker-fired pistol chambered in 9mm Luger. Built with a polymer frame and crip trigger, you can see this handgun was built for concealed carry at first glance. It features an optimized grip angle, a flat-profile trigger, and a reversible magazine release. The entire weapon has a snag-free design, from the dovetail sights to the rounded edges. Weighing only 22 ounces, this compact gun comes standard with a 6-round flush magazine and a 7-round extended magazine.

From the safety features of the Mossberg Safe Takedown System to exceptional ergonomics, this is one handgun that simply had to be included on our “Best American Made Handguns” list.

For more information on the Mossberg MC1sc, visit Mossberg’s website here. Or, if you are looking for holsters because you already own this popular pistol, check out our holster options for the Mossberg MC1sc.

Springfield Armory 1911

We already mentioned the 1911 once, so you shouldn’t be surprised it made its way onto our list. While there are quite a few 1911 models to choose from, Springfield Armory manufactures theirs in Geneseo, IL, and was an obvious choice for our list.

The modern 1911 features the classic battle-proven design with slight modifications from the original 100-year-old design. It is a single-action only semi-automatic pistol, most commonly chambered in .45 ACP. From sub-compact to full-size, these guns are available with or without rails to suit your needs.

For more information on the Springfield Armory 1911, visit Springfield’s website here. Or, if you are looking for holsters because you already own this popular pistol, check out our holster options for your specific 1911 model.

Which is Right for Me?

Now that you know what the best American made handguns are, the hard part is choosing between them.

So, think about what you need out of a concealed carry gun. Now that you have a better understanding of these firearms' differences, strengths, and weaknesses, you can make the right choice for yourself.

If you’re looking for belts or holsters to pair with your new gun that are also manufactured in America, we recommend visiting our Holsters by Gun Model page. Vedder Holsters is based out of Mount Dora, Florida, and all of our products are made and shipped in the U.S.

Looking for items beyond holsters and belts? Check out our Resources Page for popular product links like lights, lasers, first aid, maintenance, and more.