I love the videos from Hill People Gear. In addition to the views, there’s also a sneak peek of a new product.
Archive for March, 2016
Hill People Gear Presents – in the field: Cochetopa Spring
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016American Knife & Tool Institute Partners With West Virginia Citizen’s Defense League To Pass West Virginia House Bill 4145
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016February 25, 2016 – Cody, WY – The American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) today, in partnership with the West Virginia Citizen’s Defense League (WVCDL), applauded the passage of HB 4145. The legislation allows a law-abiding citizen of West Virginia, who is 21 years of age or older, to lawfully carry a knife, open or concealed, without needing to first obtain a government-issued permit.
AKTI is a non-profit 501(c)6 organization which represents all segments of the knife industry and knife users, promoting reasonable and responsible knife legislation and enforcement. We believe that law-abiding citizens should be able to carry their essential and valuable tools without the fear of arbitrary, inconsistent and ineffective governmental restrictions.
“We are extremely pleased to see HB 4145 pass the West Virginia Legislature,” said AKTI’s Executive Director, Jan Billeb. “We believe that HB 4145 will be beneficial to all citizens in the State of West Virginia. It allows for eligible persons to carry the knife of their choice. This positive legislation would ensure that law-abiding West Virginia citizens are not criminalized for possession and carry of a tool.”
AKTI worked closely with WVCDL, who was instrumental in the momentum behind the legislation. WVCDL is a non-partisan, non-profit, all-volunteer, grassroots organization of concerned West Virginians who support our individual right to keep and bear arms for defense of self, family, home and state, and for lawful hunting and recreational use.
“The West Virginia Citizens Defense League is proud to have authored HB 4145 and is extremely pleased with the legislatures decision to support the rights of West Virginians,” said Art Thomm, WVCLD’s Vice President. “The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk for signature. The WVCDL urges the Governor to support West Virginians and sign the bill into law”
First Tactical – Hard Knuckle Glove
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016
First Tactical’s Hard Knuckle Glove is designed as a reliable, durable tactical glove. It is constructed of goatskin and a midweight, snagproof stretch woven material. The knuckle designed is isolated and hidden, allowing independent knuckle splay and rotation. Additional features include reinforced neoprene padding and TouchPoint fingertip design.
First Tactical’s Hard Knuckle Glove is available in Men’s sizes, in Black.
GIBBZ Arms Modular Attachment (GAMA) Goes After Magpul’s M-Lok Patent
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016During SHOT Show there were murmurs about a looming patent confrontation between Gibbz Arms and Magpul. It seems that Gibbz Arms had developed an accessory attachment system for firearms that they were about to release under the name of GAMA, for GIBBZ Arms Modular Attachment. Below are the components of GAMA.
Granted, Gibbz hasn’t publicly used the word ‘Magpul’ but the primary similar design to what we see here is M-Lok. There is also the Manticore Arms ARC LOK system so perhaps Gibbz Arms is going after them as well. But regardless, Magpul M-LOK has been mentioned to me more than once in connection with this move by Gibbz Arms.
Yesterday, Gibbz not only formally announced the product, but we are told they also started sending out notices to licensees of Magpul’s M-Lok attachment system. Below is an example. No word yet on whether they’ve contacted Magpul or Manticore Arms directly as well.
Gibbz is looking for its own licensees and at this point, we don’t know what the terms of that license looks like. However, we do know that licensees of M-Lok don’t pay any fees and that they entered into their agreements with Magpul in good faith. It will be interesting to see how recipients of these letters react.
This is the Gibbz patent application. Don’t let the dates lull you into just dismissing this off hand. Although you notice a filing date of 21 September, 2015 and a publication date of 14 January, 2016, it’s a continuation of an application filed 26 January, 2013. And therein lies the rub. Who did what, when, and what are the claims? It sounds like Gibbz Arms and the companies with similar systems already on the street are going to have to work this one out.
Update: Below are PDFs of the original patent drawings for the GAMA System from 2013, as well as the revised drawings from 2015. Click the images to view the full document.
Original – 2013
Revised – 2015
US Elite Quick Guide to the Velocity Systems Scarab LT Plate Carrier
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016 
This is a cool graphic that wraps up the features of the Velocity Systems Scarab LT. The shoulder straps on the Scarab LT are really cool and accommodate a wide variety of shoulder shapes thanks to the D-ring attachment.
Available in Black, Coyote, Ranger Green, Wolf Grey and MultiCam. Carrier size corresponds with plate size.
www.us-elitegear.com/velocity-systems-scarab-light-plate-carrier
1947 LLC Announces Partnership With Tacticaltrim
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016 
3/1/16 – 1947, LLC located in Portsmouth, RI USA is pleased to announce a partnership with Tacticaltrim of Berlin Germany.
Tacticaltrim is licensed by 1947, LLC to offer the suite of MULTICAM® fabrics & webbings to EU and EMEA countries. Tacticaltrim will assist EU and EMEA companies with fabric procurement FOB Germany. By handling duties, credit terms, VATS and transportation costs, Tacticaltrim will make the ordering process more efficient for companies located in the before mentioned regions.
Companies are free to contact 1947, LLC directly with pricing, fabric inquiries or any information regarding the MULTICAM® pattern. The Tacticaltrim partnership does not refrain companies from buying directly from 1947, LLC however Tacticaltrim will streamline the purchasing process for EU/EMEA clients.
The MULTICAM® hang-tag and sew-in labels will be fulfilled by Tacticaltrim for these purchase orders.
Please stop by Booth 9-305 at the IWA Outdoor Classic to say hello March 4th – 7th.
39th Annual Airborne Awards Festival
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016The 39th Annual Awards Festival is scheduled for April 13-16, 2016. This Festival serves active duty and retired airborne soldiers of all services. It serves to extend the brotherhood of the airborne ethos.
The Internet Claims Another Victim – ‘Soldier of Fortune’ Magazine To Cease Hard Copy Publication, Go Digital Only
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016According to the Wall Street Journal, Soldier of Fortune magazine is ceasing publication of the hard copy edition and going digital-only beginning with the April 2016 issue which should hit newsstands soon. Publisher Robert K Brown, LTC (USAR, Ret) is 83 now and putting together a monthly magazine is no joke. While I don’t blame him, it’s sad to see it go. I’m hoping they’ll improve their online presence. I’d like to keep up but their site needs some work.
Quite frankly, I am bummed. I grew up with Soldier of Fortune; literally. Although I didn’t read the magazine from the very first issue, I started reading it in 1978, after it had been around for a few years. I still read printed magazines, including SOF. Perhaps I feel like I’m being forced to consider my own mortality. When you’ve seen something since you were a kid, it’s kind of a shocker to see it go. SOF has had its ups and downs over the years but it was a magazine written by some guys who had been-there-done-that and definitely influenced more than one generation over its 40 year run. What are your memories?
In the future, Soldier of Fortune’s content will be found at www.sofmag.com.
