The pistol known as the Daniel H9 is manufactured by Daniel Defense. Like a few unusual, if innovative, handguns before it, it has design elements and a potential that has more than a few gun enthusiasts watching its progress very closely – and very critically. This is due in no small part due to the history of its immediate predecessor, the Hudson H9.
That earlier variant of the H9 took SHOT Show 2017 by storm. Its revolutionary design offered a modern striker-fired action with the superior ergonomics of the venerable 1911 platform. Unfortunately, that promise was delayed by a number of issues and ultimately by the demise of the designing/parent company, Hudson Manufacturing.
From Hudson H9 to Daniel H9
Fast-forward to the 2024 SHOT Show; Daniel Defense announced they had bought the rights to the H9 and released it as the appropriately named Daniel H9 (aka DD H9). Initial reception seemed to echo that of its progenitor…until it didn’t.
The reliability of the new H9 was markedly less than satisfactory. So much so that many in the gun community volubly questioned why a manufacturer of DD’s quality and standing would have released it for commercial sales. Comments and even headlines like “Despite a promising design, the Daniel H9 pistol failed to deliver…” and the simpler, “Daniel Defense H9 – Oops!” In fairness, other commentary was more moderate, but even many of those expressed dubiety and disappointment, particularly given the $1300 price tag.
DD H9 Re-Boot
Fast forward again. After a troubling year of user-reported malfunctions through the Spring and Summer (an interesting and stark contrast to a few glowing reviews by “influencers”), Daniel Defense has relaunched the gun. It has been upgraded, DD advises, with an improved recoil spring assembly, a re-engineered 4.3-inch cold hammer forged barrel, and a few other tweaks.
Here’s hoping those fixes are actually fixes. Many, if not all, of us at the Cadre Dispatch want to see it succeed. 🤞🏽
(New) New Daniel H9 Features
Refined over the course of a reported million test rounds, the updated Daniel H9 features the same sleek lines and low bore axis as the original, but with further refinements that are uniquely its own.
Daniel Defense describes this in part, “Fully remastered since its original release in January of 2024, this new version of the Daniel Defense H9 was forged in the crucible of more than 1,000,000 test rounds. Not because it was required. But because we owe it to you that every firearm stamped with our name advances the legacy of battle-hardened reliability we’ve proudly built together.”
The gun features a 7075 series aluminum frame with integral knurling on the back and fore strap, as well as the matching black G10 grip panels. The frame has a full Picatinny rail for weapon light options and a scalloped trigger guard with ample room for a gloved hand. The frame also has an ambidextrous slide release as well as a reversible magazine release button.
The Daniel H9 retains the sliding one-piece single action trigger as seen on the 1911 but features a trigger blade safety in lieu of a manual thumb safety. The alloy steel slide has a DLC-coated slide to match the anodized frame. It features forward and rearward cocking serrations and measures no more than 1 inch thick for discreet carry. The slide wears a dovetailed rear notch sight and a fiber optic front sight, but the pistol comes from the factory optics ready.
The relaunched pistol ships in a hard case and three steel-bodied 15-round 9mm magazines. MSRP is $1,299.00.
Only (range) time and hard use will tell if the new-new Daniel H9 will perform; all but the most die-hard DD detractors seem to be saying, “We hope so!”
Additional Information:
- Dedicated page on the Daniel Defense website
- DD H9 product page at Daniel Defense
- Daniel Defense statement on H9 pistol (April of 2024)
- DD H9: a critical look
- H9 discussion on Reddit
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