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Archive for 2015

Safariland Names David Williams Vice President of Marketing

Wednesday, January 14th, 2015

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – The Safariland Group (the “Company” or “Safariland”), a leading global provider of a diverse range of safety and survivability products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets announced a key addition to its management team today, naming David Williams Vice President of Marketing.

A seasoned leader with global consumer brands such as Nike, Levi Strauss, Converse, and Lego, Williams brings a wealth of brand building, product creation, and commercial expertise to his new role. Most recently as Director of Specialty at Levi Strauss, Williams was a key stakeholder in the brand’s efforts to re-engage the ‘alpha’ millennial consumer. His tenure included leading the commercial launches of Nike-Levi Skate collaboration and Levi Commuter and Skate Collections.

At Safariland, Williams will focus on expanding marketing support for the Company’s distribution network, enhancing product knowledge, and growing digital media. Williams will report to Sean McCarthy, Safariland Vice President of Strategy.

“Our consumers give the highest level of service to their communities and we are tightly focused on their insights and needs,” said Safariland President Scott O’Brien. “Bringing Dave on board will amplify our ability to engage our consumers and strategic partners in creative and compelling ways.”

The hire comes on the heels of an overhaul of Safariland’s digital presence. Last year the Company re-launched its website on a mobile-optimized platform, bringing all of its brands home to one place with rich product content, informational videos, and a Holster Finder tool which quickly matches 300-plus holster models with over 3,800 different gun types.

Williams looks forward to contributing his diverse experience base to the Safariland family of brands.

“Performance and innovation are part of Safariland’s DNA,” said Williams. “I am energized by the opportunity to enhance and catalyze the dialogue that fuels our brand, our product engine, and our mission to help save lives.”

www.safariland.com

Congratulations!

Thank You and Beyond

Wednesday, January 14th, 2015

From Beyond

On behalf of Beyond, we would like to thank all of the teams that have put their trust in us in 2014. We have put all of the learnings and user feedback from 2014 into our new Axios Mod II line. We will be debuting Axios Mod II at Shot SHOW in Las Vegas and Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City. Thank you again, and we look forward to working with you in 2015.

Exelis To Demonstrate NextGen Night Vision At SHOT Show 2015

Wednesday, January 14th, 2015

Exelis will be demonstrating their NextGen Individual Soldier System Night Vision at their booth #10974 at SHOT Show 2015.

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The Individual Soldier System integrates voice, video and data into tactical networks allowing commanders to view what soldiers are seeing, send instructions like texts, alerts or images directly to the goggle’s display in a light and sound secure way. This system integrates the Exelis i-Aware Tactical Night Vision Goggle with the high-data rate SpearNet EVO radio using Jagwire to provide on-demand access to critical geospatial intelligence data, reducing the time from collection to decision.

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White Phosphor capability provides night vision users with a black and white image instead of the traditional green image that has become the signature view through most Generation 3 night vision technology. This is done using a P-45 phosphor screen, instead of the traditional P-43, allowing an alternate coloration closer to black and white imagery, which some users prefer. Exelis offers this option in its peak performance Gen 3 tubes.

www.exelisinc.com/pages/default.aspx

Daniel Defense Partners With Davidson’s

Wednesday, January 14th, 2015

Black Creek, GA- January 14, 2015- Daniel Defense, engineering and manufacturing the world’s finest firearms, precision rail systems and accessories, today announced a newly formed partnership with Davidson’s.

Founded in 1932, Davidson’s has grown into one of the nation’s top firearms wholesalers. Located in Prescott, Arizona, it proudly distributes over 80 brands of firearms to dealers nationwide. The company’s “Guaranteed Lifetime Replacement Program” and its consumer website GalleryofGuns.com are two of the company’s unique services designed to help promote the business of its dealers.

“Davidson’s brings a unique, innovative business model to our partnership, with a great reputation for their service and product offerings,” noted Bill Robinson, Director of U.S. Sales for Daniel Defense. “Our whole team is optimistic as January marks the beginning of this joint venture, a key factor in our continued growth.”

Daniel Defense will initially supply Davidson’s with five models, including the DDM4v11 in Mil Spec+ and Daniel Defense Tornado finishes, M4A1 as well as MK18 Pistol in both Flat Dark Earth and Black.

danieldefense.com

Get a Load of This – Perceived Carry Decoys

Wednesday, January 14th, 2015

The Year Is Still Young But This Might Be The Worst Business concept of 2015. Virginia Beach-based Perceived Carry Decoys claims that “perception is reality.” In a nutshell, PCD sells fake guns.

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From their website:

WHO ARE PCD DEVICES FOR?
-These devices are for those who wish to feel protected but do not want the hassle of owning an actual firearm
-PCD’s require no background check or permit since they are not actual firearms
-Store doesn’t have your favorite ammunition in stock?
-Want to wear in a parking lot and stow away in purse once you’ve reached your destination and not fear a discharge?
-Don’t want the fear of young children finding a loaded weapon by mistake?
-Give your unarmed security staff a more authoritative presence
Shop owners concerned about robbery
-Know someone who could benefit from carrying a handgun, but aren’t safety conscious?
-Don’t want to be approached by a criminal element?

As you can see, the uses and possibilities are endless.

Don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on something that may not be used? The all in one piece construction of these devices addresses all of these hurdles while still allowing for the benefits of open carry.

To their credit, they warm potential customers that their products aren’t for Home Protection, Law Enforcement Situations or Self Defense. But this is just a bad idea all around.

Magpul Adds New AK Accessories for 2015

Wednesday, January 14th, 2015

You asked, Magpul listened.

PMAG30 AK/AKM GEN M3 -7.62×39 Steel Reinforced AK Magazine, MSRP $26.95

Zhukov-S Folding AK stock- Right side folder for stamped rifles, adjustable LOP, optional cheek risers, integrated QD socket on hinge. Allows use of side mounted optics, allows firing from folded position (without cheek risers). Wedge block interface allows easy fitment and requires no adapters. MSRP $99.95

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Zhukov Hand Guard-Extruded and Machined anodized aluminum chassis with Polymer hand guard. M-LOK slots-side slots attach through to aluminum chassis. Ultimak compatible. Requires removal of Hand Guard retainer. Includes upper hand guard/gas tube cover. Fits stamped and milled rifles with 16.75-18.25mm barrels (Measured behind HG retainer) MSRP $99.95

MOE Stock-Fixed triangle stock for stamped rifles. Compatible with Magpul AK cheek risers. Includes storage compartment. Wedge block interface allows easy fitment and requires no adapters. MSRP $59.95

MOE AK Hand Guards- Both MOE Hand Guards install with stock hand guard retainer, extend further forward than stock hand guard, and include a blackened stainless steel heat shield. M-LOK slots. Ultimak compatible. Include upper hand guard/gas tube cover.

MOE AK- Fits AK-pattern rifles with no sling loop on hand guard retainer or rifles with loop removed. Symmetrical design extends forward of retainer on both sides. MSRP $36.95

MOE AKM- Fits AKM, AK-74, and AK 100 pattern rifles with sling loop on hand guard retainer. Allows use of sling loop or can be bridged with any M-LOK cantilever rail product. Asymmetric design requires no modification to rifle. MSRP $36.95

All AK furniture products will also be available in our new color-Plum.
All products shipping Spring 2015. More information and photos coming soon. These products will be at ATAC range day on Monday prior to SHOT show.

www.magpul.com

CSM Frank Grippe (USA, Ret) Joins the Grey Ghost Team

Wednesday, January 14th, 2015

For me, this is some of the biggest news I will post all week. Frank Grippe is a legend and I can’t wait to see what he does at GGG. Congrats to all involved!

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Dalton, ID—14 JAN 14—Grey Ghost Gear

Grey Ghost is proud to announce that former CENTCOM Command Sergeant Major CSM Frank Grippe (Ret.) has taken the Grey Ghost guidon and assumed the role of Senior Weapon Systems Adviser. In that capacity he will he will leverage the experience of a unique and unparalleled 33 year military career to hone and continue the GG mission.

CSM Grippe (Ret.) has worn the Army uniform his entire adult life. A soldier since 1981, he has served in infantry, paratrooper and Ranger units the majority of his career. He has been a fixture in Army leadership during virtually the entire Global War on Terror.

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Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis (Ret.), former CENTCOM Commander, says of CSM Grippe, “He is just one of the finest soldiers I have served alongside…He is a wild man. I love the guy.”

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Elements of Tactical Tailor and Grey Ghost leadership have had a professional relationship with CSM Grippe for many years. Tactical Tailor CEO Casey Ingels was a rifleman in 2/75 Ranger Battalion when Grippe was there in a series of billets, including Platoon Sergeant, Rifle Company First Sergeant and Battalion Operations Sergeant. GGP VP G.W. Ayers has known him since Grippe was the Senior Military Science Instructor at San Diego University.

“It’s pretty easy to say ‘soldier’s soldier’ to describe a man,” Casey says, “but if anyone ever truly merited that title, it’s Frank Grippe. He served on every command level from battalion to unified combat command while leading troops in combat. Am I proud to have him aboard the Grey Ghost team? There are no words to describe it.”

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GG Vice President G.W. Ayers says simply, “I cannot adequately articulate the pride we feel that a man of such stature and integrity has joined the Grey Ghost team.”

Grippe began his career as a rifleman in 1-509 ABCT. His first Battalion as CSM was 1-87 Infantry BN 10TH Mountain Division; he was later CSM for 1ST Bde, 10TH Mountain Division. He took both into combat in Afghanistan. Later he was selected for Division CSM for the 101ST Airborne Division and Ft. Campbell, fighting that division as Multi National Division North. He subsequently took the CSM billet for United States 1ST Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, fighting I Corps in Iraq for a year as the Multi-National Corps Command Sergeant Major. In his final assignment Grippe served as the senior enlisted adviser, United States Central Command, for 3 ½ years before officially retiring on January 1st of this year.

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“If you took a force of nature and made it a patriot,” says GG Director of Business Development Lindsey Lea, “it would look like Frank Grippe.”

Visit Grey Ghost Precision at SHOT, Booth #31000. Feel free to make an appointment to visit Grey Ghost Gear or GG’s new Senior Weapon Systems Adviser in their suite at the Palazzo by contacting Lindsey Lea at ll@greyghostgear.com.

Learn more about Grey Ghost Precision: www.greyghostprecision.com

Learn more about Grey Ghost Gear: www.greyghostgear.com

Follow them on Instagram: instagram.com/greyghostprecision or instagram.com/greyghostgear

Follow them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/GreyGhostGearGGG

Maglula – AR15 / M4, PMAG Range BenchLoader

Wednesday, January 14th, 2015

BenchLoader

Maglula’s new Range BenchLoader is an injection-molded, industrial 5.56 / .223 magazine loader made to load an AR-15 compatible magazine up to 30 rounds in a single hand stroke. It’s intended for daily loading of hundreds of magazines at shooting ranges and armories. Its design reduces or eliminates finger pain and injury, shortens load time, and doesn’t damage magazine feed lips.

www.maglula.com/product/ar15-m4-pmag-range-benchloader-5-56-223