Abstract: A slide for a semiautomatic pistol includes features that reduce weight while maintaining structural rigidity and performance of the slide. The semiautomatic pistol slide may include one or more weight-reducing recesses and a structurally supportive insert within each weight-reducing recess. Methods and systems for fabricating semiautomatic pistol slides and other articles of manufacture that include weight-reducing recesses with structurally supportive inserts therein are also disclosed. Such a method may include a compression molding technique. Such a system may include a compression molding assembly.

Abstract: An insert for a collapsible firearm receptacle of a concealed carry holster includes a body that may fit snugly into the collapsible firearm receptacle. The insert may also hold the collapsible firearm receptacle in a somewhat open arrangement to facilitate the ready insertion of a barrel of a firearm into the collapsible firearm receptacle and removal of the barrel of the firearm from the collapsible firearm receptacle. The insert may include an outer wall, a front wall, and a rear wall that define an interior of the insert. The insert may also include a lip that protrudes outwardly to extend beyond an upper edge of the collapsible firearm receptacle. Concealed carry holsters that include the insert are also disclosed, as are methods of using the insert and concealed carry holsters that include the insert.

Abstract: A printing-reducing strap configured for use with a concealed carry holster is capable of interacting with the concealed carry holster in a manner that reduces printing of a handgun carried by the concealed carry holster by pulling the handgun into the body of an individual who wears the concealed carry holster. The printing-reducing strap includes a first end capable of being secured to a holster body of the concealed carry holster and a second end capable of being secured to a portion of a waistband of the concealed carry holster located adjacent to a handgun receptacle of the holster body. Concealed carry holsters that include printing-reducing straps and methods for reducing printing by handguns carried by concealed carry waist holsters are also disclosed.

Abstract: A lubricant for firearms includes a base and nanoparticles dispersed throughout the base. The base may include a hydrocarbon or a mixture of hydrocarbons. The base may be in a liquid form or in a semisolid form. Fat from an animal source, such as porcine fat or, more specifically, bacon fat, may be employed as a hydrocarbon of the base. Fat from an animal source may be rendered or otherwise clarified. The nanoparticles may include nanospheres, which may have an average diameter of about 100 nm or less. The lubricant may also include a hydrocarbon from a vegetable source (e.g., a vegetable oil, etc.), a hydrocarbon from a petrochemical source, and/or a synthetic petrochemical lubricant. The lubricant may include a fragrance to impart it with a desired scent (e.g., a bacon scent, etc.). Methods for lubricating and cleaning metallic surfaces of firearms are also disclosed. In such a method, nanoparticles from a lubricant may be introduced into and retained within microscopic crevices in the metallic surfaces.