Not only did Kitfox Design Group recently launch a new website, but they’ve filled their dance card as well, at least for the near future. If you want them to create a unique patch design for you, they’ve still got some opening for the 2020 NRA Annual Meeting next spring. However, they have some slots open for meetings at SHOT Show if you’d like to discuss future collaborations.
We are happy to report that Mean Gene Leather is running just a little slow on fulfilling orders. Normally this would be a cause for concern, but in this instance a good sign.
Not too long ago, MGL’s founder Gene Higdon suffered a heart attack at home and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. He was released a few days later with a couple of stents and assorted other ticker-upgrades. Since then, per the doctor’s orders, he has been “taking it easy”, and then later this week he’ll be back at with the sawbones to deal with two more blockages (which will be treated with medication).
These orderlies will be reinforced with other young’uns shortly – in fact, there will be at least five of them on duty by Friday.
Some of Gene’s grandkids keeping him out of the shop.
If you have an order outstanding with MGL, hang in there – it’s coming. You can still order most items off the website, but be advised: it won’t be there by Christmas, and will probably take somewhat longer than normal to ship.
Of course, in Mean Gene’s world, “taking it easy” would normally mean a 40-50 hour work week instead of his normal 90+, but happily he’s been assigned a couple of orderlies to keep him in line.
For additional information, contact info@meangeneleather.com.
St Charles, MO – Propper International is proud to announce Kevin Dixie, owner of No Other Choice (NOC) Firearms Training and community advocate, as our newest Brand Ambassador.
Kevin’s positive influence has grown exponentially over the past several years as he nurtured his national “Aiming for the Truth” program (recently awarded non-profit status) that reaches out to families throughout the country to educate them on how gun rights can benefit the African-American community, with an emphasis on having “no other choice” before employing a firearm in self-defense.
“Being an instructor is more than teaching people about protecting their lives,” Kevin said. “It’s also about teaching them to value themselves. I’m happy to be aligned with Propper, a brand that believes in people the way that I do.”
Prior to founding NOC, Kevin spent 10 years working in Prisoner Processing for the City of St. Louis Police Department.
“Kevin’s passion for educating people is inspirational,” said John Negrau, VP of Marketing & E-Commerce for Propper. “He has worked with Propper as a sponsored shooter for the past three years and we are excited to expand our relationship and have him aboard as a Brand Ambassador.”
In addition to his own video channel, Kevin has appeared on NRA TV, front and center on the cover of Time magazine, on a wide assortment of other industry video channels, and was recently a featured speaker at a pro-gun rights rally on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
Chris Sizelove has joined Chappy and John Spears as a principal instructor and Breaching Program Manager for Forge Tactical, a full service government and law enforcement training and consulting firm.
Chris joins Forge after retiring from the Army after twenty years of service; sixteen in the 75th Ranger Regiment as an infantryman, followed by four years with the Defense Intelligence Agency.
While in the 75th Chris became an SME and instructor for carbine, pistol, CQB, and forced entry TTP’s as well as joint operations in general as an assaulter and strike force senior NCO. He was a sniper, and served in a Sniper/Reconnaissance element; and was the Master Breacher for 75th. Chris also developed and instructed covert carry and vehicle TTP’s for specific roles.
Prior to joining the Army, Chris was fortunate in that he was local to Gunsite Training Center where he worked while in high school as a range hand and professional brass picker-upper. It was there that he met men like Jeff Cooper, Louis Awerbuck, Chris Dwiggins and Pat Rogers – and his decision to join the military was sealed.
Twenty years and thirteen combat deployments and overseas tours later, Chris is returning to the training industry and is honored to work with Forge Tactical in an effort to provide training and expertise to those that seek it in order to benefit themselves, their teams, and their communities.
To learn more about Forge Tactical, visit the website at forgetactical.com; or email chappy@forgetactical.com.
> After a Communist government came to power in Laos in 1975, the U.S. was a safe destination for displaced Lao and Hmong. McRae Footwear helped many refugees start a new life in Mount Gilead, NC.
DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, the U.S. secretly recruited thousands of citizens in Southeast Asia, including Laos, to support the war against the Communists and North Vietnamese. In the mid-1970s, when the U.S. pulled out of these countries, many Southeast Asians fled. They led their families on perilous treks to refugee camps in Thailand and other countries. In the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, many Lao and Hmong, a mountainous tribe with its own ethnic designation, emigrated to the U.S. to start a new life. They settled mainly in Minnesota, Wisconsin, California, and North Carolina.
“The language barrier at times made training difficult, but the Lao and Hmong had an excellent work ethic and made – and continue to make – a huge contribution to our business.”
— Victor Karam, Director, McRae Industries
One prominent Laotian military officer who fought alongside the U.S. armed forces was Geu Vang, an army colonel fluent in seven languages. After settling in Minneapolis, MN, with his family in 1981, he soon assumed a leadership role in helping Lao and Hmong refugees adapt to their new American lives.
“Our people were suffering,” says Geu. “They had lost everything. Many were deeply depressed. I wrote a letter to several organizations in the U.S., seeking job opportunities for refugees so they would not be reliant on public assistance.”
Mass exodus: Scores of Lao and Hmong sought refuge in Thailand – and many eventually moved to the U.S.
Branson McRae, president and CEO of McRae Industries, received Geu’s correspondence and invited Geu to visit him in Mt. Gilead, NC, in 1987. Looking to add employees to his shoe factory in Wadeville, Branson was drawn to the Lao and Hmong work ethnic and spirited sense of community. Geu saw tremendous opportunity for his people and relocated with some 20 families to Mt. Gilead to start work with McRae. Jobs ranged from sewing to inspecting boots and operating lasting and vulcanizing equipment.
A new life across the ocean: Geu Vang, a former Laotian army colonel, was instrumental in acclimating Laotians to America.
Branson owned a tract of land in Wadeville and decide to put it to good use by providing housing for his new employees. He added 20 mobile homes on one-and two-acre lots on a hillside near the plant, offering each Lao and Hmong family a lease-to-own contract. Soon dotted with chicken farms and vegetable gardens, the community was christened Samthong Village. Translation: “Pot of Gold.” The development was within walking distance of the McRae factories and community schools.
Today, Samthong Village is home to 30 Lao and Hmong families. Geu and his wife, MayKao, who have six children and seven grandchildren, continue to be cornerstones of the community. Along with his liaison work, Geu teaches a Laotian Sunday School class at Mt. Gilead First Baptist Church and serves on the Board of Deacons.
Building community: Laotian culture is preserved for the Lao and Hmong living in the Mount Gilead area.
Lao and Hmong employees currently make up about 15 percent of McRae’s workforce.
“The company gives its workers many incentives for productivity, ” Geu says. “The more boots produced, the more the take-home pay. McRae also provides generous health insurance and a partial match on a 401K plan.”
“Branson had a huge vision for our community, and he listened to our needs. He gave us a new start. He helped us to become independent. And he continues to inspire each new generation.”
A generous heart: Branson McRae is remembered as a benevolent employer and engaging mentor to the Lao and Hmong community.
Schmidt & Bender GmbH & Co. KG of Biebertal, Germany and EuroOptic, LTD of Montoursville, Pennsylvania are proud to announce that EuroOptic will assume commercial distribution of Schmidt Bender product in the United States and territories. Schmidt Bender’s long history and reputation for demanding perfection mesh perfectly with EuroOptic’s pride in quality products and presence in the precision shooting and hunting world – making for an exciting and synergistic partnership.
In addition to assisting in streamlining Schmidt Bender’s extensive catalog for the smoothest possible presentation into the US market, this opportunity also offers EuroOptic and Schmidt Bender the chance to drive momentum for the latest technologies that Schmidt Bender has introduced, including the DT II+ locking double-turn turret with configurable MTC (“More Tactile Clicks”) functionality, the Multi-Turn 2 (MT2) 39.3 milradian .5cm turret, and the LRR-Mil and GR2ID long-range reticles, all of which represent substantial contributions to the long-range and precision/tactical shooting community.
For additional information regarding Schmidt Bender products, please visit the links below or contact Schmidt Bender Inc or EuroOptic via email.
EuroOptic, LTD
www.eurooptic.com/schmidt-bender-riflescopes
sales@eurooptic.com | 570.369.3920
Schmidt Bender, Inc
l.welch@schmidt-bender-us.com | 540-450-8132
Miami, FL, U.S. –1791 Gunleather®, an innovative manufacturer of premium handcrafted leather and Kydex® gun holsters, increased dealer assistance with the addition of Crow Shooting Supply as a new wholesale partner. Crow Shooting Supply is a nationally-recognized distributor that provides small gun shops and retailers with firearms, ammunition, reloading equipment, and shooting accessories in order for their businesses to flourish and expand.
By joining Crow’s Shooting Supply’s members’ only website, shops and retailers can access Crow’s wide variety of products at wholesale pricing. “Crow Shooting Supply will stock our products and provide convenient user-friendly ordering with efficient delivery in order to help retailers achieve success,” 1791 Gunleather CEO, Ramiro M. Romani stated.
Retailers interested in obtaining 1791 Gunleather products through Crow Shooting Supply may call 1(800) 264-2493, or visit www.crowshootingsupply.com. For information about stocking 1791 Gunleather, contact 1791 Gunleather National Sales Director, Janette Palmer janette@1791gunleather.com. For more details about 1791 Gunleather visit www.1791gunleather.com
FirstSpear, LLC is pleased to announce that on November 22, 2019, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) of the United States Patent & Trademark Office rejected Crye Precision, LLC’s petitions challenging the validity of FirstSpear’s U.S. Patents related to FirstSpear’s innovations in laser-cut and laser-fused personal protective equipment (PPE) and load bearing equipment (LBE). FirstSpear’s patented technology is already in use in products purchased by and widely used by US Special Operations, the US Army, the US Marine Corps, the Department of Justice, and many of our NATO allies. The decisions of the PTAB uphold the validity of FirstSpear’s patents and find that Crye’s petitions failed to establish any reasonable likelihood of unpatentability of any of the claims of the FirstSpear patents. The decisions dismiss both of Crye’s inter partes review (IPR) petitions and reject all of Crye’s arguments attacking FirstSpear’s patents. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,974,379 and 9,565,922).
Crye filed the petitions in June 2019, in an apparent attempt to gain leverage over FirstSpear in patent litigation pending in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis in which Crye claimed that some of FirstSpear’s products infringe their U.S. Patent 9,173,436. The recent decisions from the PTAB clearly demonstrate what the industry has understood for years: FirstSpear pioneered and perfected many game-changing products developed around laser cut / laser fused technology, including FirstSpear’s well-established 6/12 line of vest platforms; and FirstSpear’s technology was and is unique and was appropriately and properly granted U.S. patent protection.
“It is unfortunate that Crye has chosen to waste so much time and money threatening the industry, tying up the U.S. courts and patent office, and trying to take credit for the work of others,” said FirstSpear CEO & President Scott Carver. “However, we can now fully move forward assisting the U.S. government and our industry partners in the development and fielding of the next generation of improved lightweight individual equipment to the warfighters and first responders who need it.”
FirstSpear is grateful for the PTAB’s decision upholding the validity of its patents.
