The latest range from Bul Armory has quickly caught the attention of the New Zealand pistol shooting community. While inspired by the time-tested Glock, the Bul Axe pistol series has given pistol shooters something to think about, given that the Bul Axe far eclipses the Glock in almost every way! These Israeli-designed and manufactured pistols ship from the factory with pre-fitted accessories and custom work many spend thousands investing in for their striker-fired pistols. On the Bul Axe, high-quality performance modifications come standard. Some of the features and performance upgrades include an aluminium flat face trigger, extended slide release, flared magwell, an ambi-thumb rest, precision frame cuts, steel sights (Glock dovetail), high double undercut trigger guard, extended beavertail, slide lightening cuts, and for the more expensive Tomahawk models an RMR optic cut and gold PVD spiral fluted barrel.

The first thing you’ll notice about a Bul Axe in hand is the aggressive grip pattern. For new shooters, the bite of the grip on the hand may feel even harsh! But to experienced shooters, this feature is a major point of difference. No more having to attach grip tape to keep a reliable hold mid-magazine! The grip angle is also comparable to that of a standard 1911/2011, which allows shooters to transition to the Axe without having to retrain muscle memory as many find with the Glock’s unique and more aggressive open-slanted grip.

The Bul Axe ships in two main formats with sub-models with further variations within each model. The first option presented to buyers is whether to purchase the compact model or a full-size Axe. In the full-size edition, the main advantages lie in the larger 17-round magazine, which is reduced to 15 rounds in the compact model. Furthermore, the full-size features a 4½ inch barrel compared to a 4″ barrel. Yet, in the final analysis, the two show slim performance differences or advantages to the shooter. Perhaps some may argue that a longer grip and sight radius increase (distance between the front and rear sight) affords small advantages in high-level IPSC competition with tight margins for error.

For the compact Bul Axe, shooters have three options to choose from and just two in the full-size version, respectively. The compact edition Bul Axe comes in a selection of the Cleaver, Hatchet and Tomahawk variations. The full-size Axe comes in just two variations, the Cleaver and Tomahawk. Both these models in the full-size form factor are identical to their compact counterparts with the exception of up-scaling.

The Cleaver, while the cheaper option, in some ways is the standout pistol in the Axe lineup. All of the premium features listed above on a handgun that costs only slightly more than a Glock! The Cleaver provides a truly rewarding bang for your buck and a seriously competitive package demanding shooters’ consideration. The difference between the Cleaver and Hatchet models is only slide machining. Quite noticeably, the Hatchet patterned machining is more intricate and detailed. Understandably, this extra machining increases the price and simultaneously provides an agreeable aesthetic that some may appreciate over the cheaper Cleaver model.

In the Tomahawk variation, those with the extra cash to invest are rewarded with a premium finish handgun. The Tomahawk has all the features found in the Cleaver and Hatchet, with some notable extras. The first feature is an open-topped slide cut which reveals a custom spiral fluted highly durable PVD gold finish barrel. Moreover, the weight-reducing machine cuts are pleasing to the eye and, more importantly, provide the perfect grip for racking the slide. One final addition to the Tomahawk is its out-of-the-box optics-ready RMR footprint.