This week we focus on an FS product that’s been around for awhile. Offered in both Carbine and Long Gun lengths, the FirstSpear Arms Case is a modular carriage and storage solution for your weapons. What’s more, these fit inside Storm cases for storage and transport.
Boasting haul loops on either end as well as a wrap around handle, the Arms Case also offers an external storage pocket with a Velcro panel for removable identification markings.
The carbine length Arms Case is 36″ and the long Gun variant is 43″. As you can see, the interior features 6/12 slots and the weapon tiedowns can be configured to accommodate a variety of weapons. Both will accept scoped weapons with standard 20 or 30 round magazines attached as well as a removable 6/12 Organizer Panel which allows you to configure the interior how you see fit. It attaches to the interior of the Arms Case via “G” Hooks and when removed, can be hung on a hook, nail or door knob while you reconfigure your kit. But for the Arms Case, modularity goes beyond just setting the interior up. In addition to managing your internal configuration, you can also integrate the entire Arms Case into many hard cases as a padded weapon insert in order to consolidate your gear and protect it for long haul transportation.
The Arms Case closes with a 3/4 zipper that allows you to open it flat.
Additionally, it accepts an optional shoulder strap for ease of carry.
FS Shoulder Strap and 6/12™ Organizer Panel are sold separately. Shipping now in in Black and Coyote.
Carbine 36″ x 13″ (fits Storm case iM3100, not included)
Long Guns 43″ x 13″ (fits Storm Case iM3200, not included)
Tags: FirstSpear
Perhaps someone more knowledgeable can comment on why soft sided long gun cases are so popular even though they don’t meet FAA and TSA guidelines for shipping weapons by commercial air carrier. I see them at the airport where I work every now usually accompanied by the sad faces on their owners when they are told they cannot place their weapons in checked baggage onboard their flight because the case is soft sided. It would seem to me that if you buy a case you would want one that can be used to carry your gun everywhere, including in checked luggage on a flight. Soft sided cases are prohibited by TSA and FAA. By the way, I think the TSA and FAA rules on this are ridiculous, and from a security standpoint, many of the high end soft sided cases appear much more secure than a $29 cheap plastic case from a big box store.
Totally agree with your last sentence regarding the TSA/FFA policy. I am an individual who flies frequently on Civ-air and always uses Pelican/Storm cases in different sizes. However, I cannot stand using my “hard-cases” when I’m local going back and forth from home/range or training center. From my experience it’s easier and less cumbersome to carry in a “soft-case” for local or non-flying interstate (free-states) travel, then load up a large Pelican case that takes up more room then needed in an SUV or pick-up. My $0.02.
The TSA/FAA are concerned about the ease of opening a soft arms case to access the weapon. This does not necessitate the need for a hard case if safety precautions are taken, but hey – its the TSA, competency is not common.
Direct quote from their guidelines: “Locked cases that can be easily opened are not permitted.”
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition
Speaking as a retailer, they aren’t that popular, at least quality ones made in the US. We pretty much stopped selling them aside from one model due to them not being worth stocking, the sales levels were far too low. This could just be my customer base, but in my 12+ years experience in web sales, they sell horribly slow and are not worth stocking.
Hard cases, that’s another story, not as bad, but not good either.
YMMV
Probably the US ones are not very popular because they seem to be 5 times the cost of imports! Voodoo, Drago, Condor can be had for $50 around here and work just fine for getting guns to and from range.
We sold less expensive imported ones as well, no gravity.
I believe this soft sided rifle case is designed to fit inside a Pelican case which is an excellent combo if traveling by air. I use a similar combo (soft case inside Pelican) when I travel with a long gun and find it much more versatile than the foam set that comes in a hard case.
On the enough, that’s exactly what it says the article, “What’s more, these fit inside Storm cases for storage and transport.”
I have one of these cases and it kicks ass, I just wish they made one a bit shorter for SBRs. Its pretty hard to find a nice “short” case made here in the USA though anymore…