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Monthly Archives: January 2014
Karbon Arms Shorts Out, Concedes to TASER
The U.S. District Court, District of Delaware has awarded TASER International $2.38 million in damages from patent infringements by Tampa, FL manufacturer Karbon Arms, LLC. Karbon Arms was also permanently restrained and enjoined from making, using, or selling any MPID or MPID-C, or any “substantial components” of their conducted electrical weapons thereof. TASER International filed its civil action against Karbon Arms in May of 2011. TASER claimed that Karbon Arms infringed on two (later three) patents held by TASER. In December of 2013, District Court Judge Richard Andrews cleared the way for a trial by ruling that Karbon Arms had infringed on TASER’s U.S. Patent 7,800,885. A trial date was … Continue reading
Timberline Tactical Dave Young Combat Breaching Tool
GATCO/Timberline has brought on board police trainer and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Dave Young to design their new Timberline Tactical Combat Breaching Tool. This tomahawk is 17″ overall with a full tang D2 blade at RH 60. Dave explains all its features in the video. MSRP will be $225.00. Dave has over thirty years of experience as a corrections officer, police officer, and Marine. He has dedicated his time to training LE and the Military in officer survival, force on force strategies, and tactics. He is the founder and director of ARMA Training. Thanks for your service, Dave! Randall
Posted in Knives, Misc., SWAT
Tagged GATCO/Timberline, Police Tomahawk, SHOT Show, SWAT Gear, SWAT Tomahawk, Timberline
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New Smith & Wesson Performance Center 686 Revolver
While I am on revolver kick, Smith & Wesson is releasing a brand new Performance Center version of their Model 686 Distinguished Combat Magnum. This 7 shot L-Frame model will have a 2.5″ barrel, bead blasted finish, unfluted cylinder, and custom wood grips. There is a red ramp front and adjustable rear sight. Other features to the PC 686 are a chrome teardrop-shaped hammer spur, chrome trigger with stop, precision crowned barrel, and a cylinder cut for moon clips. S&W’s Performance Center has tuned the action. Aaron and I shot this gun at Media Day. The trigger in double action was silky smooth. In single action, the hammer dropped with … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty, SHOT Show
Tagged SHOT Show, Smith & Wesson, Smith & Wesson police revolver
11 Comments
New ERGO Delta Grips for S&W J-Frame Revolvers
Overheard at the Show from some GunPressMediaInternetCommandos: “You gotta check out the new ERGO Delta Grips for the J-Frame. They are ultra-high-speed-tactical and probably will show up on immediate-action SpecOps outside of CONUS!” Maybe the word “Delta” fooled them. Maybe I exaggerate. Sigh, I checked the map and wandered down to ERGO’s booth in one of the rabbit warren ballrooms off the SHOT Show main hall. I have an affinity for my .38 Special revolvers and in the environment of .327 SmallBlock chambered AR-15’s and the latest in super Cryptoflage-patterned BDU’s, I could have used a bit of Old School Firearm-ery at that moment. The new Delta Grip by ERGO … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty, SHOT Show
Tagged SHOT Show, Smith & Wesson police revolver
1 Comment
Slide Fire Turns an AR-15 Upside Down!
At SHOT Show 2014’s Media Day at the Range, Slide Fire showed off a fixed mounted upside down semi-automatic AR-15 that mechanically bump-fired to shoot in “full auto.” Watching it chatter elicited much joy from the assembled press, who did not fail to gather when the demonstration dinner bell was rung. There were many remarks from those around me who said that they had thought that Slide Fire was a flash in the pan. There was surprise at the growing popularity of the product line, which kinda turns a semi-automatic rifle or shotgun (AR’s, AK’s, 10-22’s, Saiga’s, etc) into a fully automatic firing weapon. This is done with a modified … Continue reading
Shooting the New Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 380
We got to shoot the new Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 380 at SHOT Show 2014 Media Day at the Range. I uploaded the short video above. Since I have carried a Bodyguard 380 both off duty and as a secondary firearm on duty for the last several years, it was a familiar platform to me. No one I observed had any failure with the M&P 380’s at the range. In the video, I bobbled the trigger reset after the second shot. As a weak defense, I will just testify that I had been shooting a lot of very different guns that day. It is a good reminder, though, that … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, SHOT Show
Tagged SHOT Show, Smith & Wesson, Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380
11 Comments
TSSI TACOPS New Active Response Breacher’s Kit
TSSI‘s Don Wright showed me their new TACOPS Active Response Breacher’s Kit. It contains a very portable hammer, halogen tool, and bolt cutter, each of which can unfold and telescope to full size for added leverage. The tools are carried in a rugged nylon sling bag so the officer or operator can quickly transition to a handgun or long rifle, if needed. This set of tools and bag was specifically designed for active shooter situations, where, with proper training, an officer can come on to a scene and have breaching capabilities that were formerly only available to a SWAT team. The ARBK is small enough to ride unobtrusively in the … Continue reading
New Remington R51 Pistol
Remington Arms Company is introducing the new R51, a modern interpretation of the the Remington Model 51 “pocket pistol” from the turn of the century. The R51 is intended to be a 9mm Parabellum concealed carry pistol with a single-stacked magazine and 7+1 round capacity. Its futuristic looking exterior disguises 100-year-old technology—in a good way. The original pistol was designed in 1917 by John Pedersen and incorporated his locking breech block and hesitation-locked action. Yeah, I’m not sure exactly how those work, either. But they do provide a low bore axis for the R51’s fixed barrel. Remington goes on to say the Pedersen action absorbs some of the kick as … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty
Tagged concealed carry gun, Police Back-Up Gun, Remington, SHOT Show
4 Comments
Shooting the New Glock 42 at SHOT Show 2014 Media Day at the Range
As I wrote in Glock Misses Perfection…, I was glad we made it to the Austrian (and USA) gunmaker early at SHOT Show 2014’s Media Day at the Range. There was so much controversy regarding the release of the Glock 42 in .380 ACP that I haaaad to shoot one. ASAP. I own several Glocks. A G23, sporting a 22 round stick magazine, Speer GDHP’s, and Streamlight TRL-1S, is my current nightstand pistol. I carry a Gen 4 G27 daily in my role as a detective sergeant. I am not necessarily a fanboy. I own and enjoy a safe full of other maker’s handguns, but I admire the utility of … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty
Tagged Concealed Carry, concealed carry gun, Glock, SHOT Show
1 Comment
New Taurus View Revolver–Pushing the Limits of Minimalism
Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc. is pushing the envelope with the new “View” handgun. Where their large Judge model expanded the continuum in one direction, the View stretches the opposing limit for minimalism in a personal defense revolver. I was able to handle the View at Taurus’ SHOT Show 2014 booth. A few thoughts… Sporting a 1.41″ barrel and tiny hand grip, the profile of the View is smaller than even the most stripped down Smith & Wesson J-frame snubbies. My immediate concern is in the size of the handle. I have small-to-medium sized hands. When I gripped the View tightly, I could barely get my ring finger above the very … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, SHOT Show
Tagged Concealed Carry, concealed carry gun, Police Back-Up Gun, SHOT Show
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Rebar: Friend…or Foe?
SHOT Show is the fifth largest convention in Las Vegas. But larger still is the Concrete Convention next March (well, it has a different name, but you get the gist). I guess any convention makes sense to its attendees. At dinner, writers Richard, Aaron, and I were trying to figure out what kind of seminars you would have for the concrete, asphalt, and construction crowd. “Rebar: Friend…or Foe?” I said dramatically. Laughing, Richard suggested I use it as the title to an article. I think I also suggested, “Concrete Stamping and the Modern Aesthetic.” Rebar was better. I have been busily running around the Show floor for the last two … Continue reading
Media Day at the Range 2014
The high desert was good to us this morning. Temperatures were a balmy 45 degrees for SHOT Show’s Media Day at the Range 2014. Compare that to last year’s 28 degree deep freezer. The winds, though prevalent again, were also relatively tame. Richard, Aaron, and I rode out to Boulder City on one of the shuttle buses, arriving promptly at 0800 after the 45 minute commute from the Strip. Approximately 700 media members were invited to the morning session. The rest of the general media could come after noon. There seemed to be less of a crush this year, although we had a comical end to the bus ride when … Continue reading
SHOT Show 2014
Mid-January is that time of year when I pack up my gear for the annual Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas known as SHOT Show. Armed with a press pass, I will again assault Media Day at the Range and the Show floor to bring back any battlefield pick-ups of information I can record on my reconnoiter. I already published articles about two guns that will be “introduced” at the Show: the Glock 42 and S&W M&P Bodyguard 380. I have been receiving press releases non-stop for the last several months about new products that can be seen at SHOT. With over 1,600 exhibitors on hand, it … Continue reading
New Glock Model 42 Misses Perfection by 2mm
Haters, Haters, Come Out to Play! Glock has drawn much ire from firearms fans, pundits, and trolls over the company’s decision to manufacture a single stack .380 ACP pistol (9 x 17mm), instead of one chambered for the more powerful 9 x 19mm Parabellum. That lousy little 2mm of case length, it seems, has raised a hue and cry. The Glock pistol platform is accepted by many as a reliable and durable firearm. Simple in its lack of external controls, it has developed strong followings in the civilian, Military, and law enforcement markets. Ah, but the Teutonic stubborness of this Austrian company. For many years, Glockophiles have clamored for everything … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty
Tagged concealed carry gun, Glock, Police Back-Up Gun
5 Comments
New Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 380
Smith & Wesson has announced a variant of their popular Bodyguard 380. This will be marketed as the M&P Bodyguard 380, adding to their Military & Police line. Noticeably absent from this gun is the integral InSight laser. When I first wrote at BlueSheepdog.com about the LAPD approving the Bodyguard 380 for on and off duty use, back in April of 2011, the Los Angeles Police Department had mandated that both the laser and manual safety be deactivated. This version solves one of those requests. I am ambivalent about the InSight laser. I have kept mine functional and I occasionally use it at the range. The activation buttons’ stiffness can … Continue reading