Handguns are extremely convenient to carry, but when you need to take a well-aimed shot from more than a dozen yards there are some significant limitations. In a world where terrorism is usually perpetrated by single individuals and lone police officers are often the first to intervene, a standard GLOCK 17 might not be enough anymore. Looking to fill that gap, B&T is now releasing their USW or Universal Service Weapon, a handgun designed to be compact to carry, but expandable to fill the role of a pistol caliber carbine.
B&T’s USW is compact when folded and stowed, but with the push of a button a skeletonized stock can be deployed from the side of the gun to provide stability. The barrel is also threaded for B&T’s line of silencers (or whatever you have a stamp for). There’s a Picatinny rail for lights and lasers under the barrel, and extended magazines are available from day one.
On the back B&T has worked with Aimpoint to develop a slimmer and lighter version of their red dot sighting system for the back of the firearm. The red dot is attached using a Picatinny festooned bridge to the frame of the firearm instead of the slide, adding some height but B&T considers it more stable.
Since the bridge for the red dot makes it impossible to rack the slide normally there’s a set of cocking serrations on the front of the slide with raised edges to make it easier to grip and rack the firearm.
It doesn’t have the barrel length or other features to truly be considered a pistol caliber carbine, but it gives much more stability and accuracy than a handgun alone.