I think this speaks for itself…
Archive for the ‘Industry’ Category
In Case You Were Still on the Fence About Cheaper Than Dirt
Tuesday, December 18th, 2012Cheaper Than Dirt Suspends Online Firearm Sales
Tuesday, December 18th, 2012
Cerberus Selling Freedom Group – WOW, That Was Fast
Tuesday, December 18th, 2012“It is apparent that the Sandy Hook tragedy was a watershed event that has raised the national debate on gun control to an unprecedented level.”
-Cerberus Capital Management
Early this morning Freedom Group‘s owners Cerberus Capital Management announced the decision to sell. FGI Companies include Remington, Bushmaster, DPMS/Panther Arms, Marlin, H&R, NEF, LC Smith, Parker, Dakota Arms and Mountain Khakis.
Their full statement –
We were shocked and deeply saddened by the events that took place at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT on December 14, 2012. We cannot comprehend the losses suffered by the families and friends of those killed by the unthinkable crimes committed that day. No words or actions can lessen the enormity of this event or make a dent in the pain that was inflicted on so many.
In 2006 affiliates of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. made a financial investment in Freedom Group. Freedom Group does not sell weapons or ammunition directly to consumers, through gun shows or otherwise. Sales are made only to federally licensed firearms dealers and distributors in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. We do not believe that Freedom Group or any single company or individual can prevent senseless violence or the illegal use or procurement of firearms and ammunition.
It is apparent that the Sandy Hook tragedy was a watershed event that has raised the national debate on gun control to an unprecedented level. The debate essentially focuses on the balance between public safety and the scope of the Constitutional rights under the Second Amendment. As a Firm, we are investors, not statesmen or policy makers. Our role is to make investments on behalf of our clients who are comprised of the pension plans of firemen, teachers, policemen and other municipal workers and unions, endowments, and other institutions and individuals. It is not our role to take positions, or attempt to shape or influence the gun control policy debate. That is the job of our federal and state legislators.
There are, however, actions that we as a firm can take. Accordingly, we have determined to immediately engage in a formal process to sell our investment in Freedom Group. We will retain a financial advisor to design and execute a process to sell our interests in Freedom Group, and we will then return that capital to our investors. We believe that this decision allows us to meet our obligations to the investors whose interests we are entrusted to protect without being drawn into the national debate that is more properly pursued by those with the formal charter and public responsibility to do so.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and communities impacted by this tragic and devastating event.
Tactical Tailor Licenses Blue Force Gear’s Helium Whisper
Monday, December 17th, 2012Blue Force Gear has just announced they have licensed their Helium Whisper technology to Tactical Tailor. Helium Whisper technology is a single piece modular backer made of a high performance laminate called ULTRAcomp that can be integrated into virtually any load carrying pouch during manufacturing.
“Providing exactly what the customer requires is our goal, incorporating this technology into our product allows us to do it very easily, that’s exciting,” said GW Ayers, Tactical Tailor’s Director of Sales. “Helium Whisper will support our efforts to fulfill an immediate SOF LCS Contract requirement.”
Tactical Tailor is the second company to license this lightweight technology after Velocity Systems announced in July it had licensed Helium Whisper which resulted in significant weight and manufacturing savings.
“We are excited to have engineered a system that other respected load carriage companies are choosing to utilize,” said Ashley Burnsed, Blue Force Gear’s CEO. “At the end of the day, we are all working towards the same goal – to improve the soldier’s safety and survivability.”
Blue Force Gear provides the backers directly to the licensee and they develop the best way to integrate them into their pouch designs. They can reduce weight up to 60% over traditional MOLLE attachment systems.
UPDATE – Tactical Tailor MALICE clip fans fear not. They aren’t going to stop using them or manufacturing them.
Daniel Defense and National Firearm Finance – Offering Financing for LE Officers
Friday, December 7th, 2012This is pretty good news for LEO trying to get a rifle on a limited income. Daniel Defense is working with National Firearm Finance to offer financing for rifle purchase.
National Firearm Finance is dedicated to providing manufacturer direct prices and low-cost consumer loan financing to US Law Enforcement Officers including local, municipal, county, state and federal law enforcement officers for the purchase of firearms, firearm accessories and law enforcement specialty products.
Jay Duncan, Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Daniel Defense said, “Daniel Defense has been working diligently to find a qualified lending partner to offer their consumer lending services to LE agents, allowing them to purchase our LE packages under fair and reasonable lending terms. We have found that partner in National Firearms Finance and we are excited to launch the program.”
Dean Waters, Founder, National Firearms Finance said, “Our mission at National Firearm Finance is to be the preferred firearm financing source to Law Enforcement Officers. We aim to be the best at what we do and likewise, we want to partner with the best firearms manufacturers. We are extremely excited to announce our partnership with Daniel Defense in offering low cost financing for the purchase of select Daniel Defense Law Enforcement Rifles.”
While the terms and the conditions of the loan are based on the LE agent’s credit history, rates are as low as 6.78%. Learn more at their website.
The Daniel Defense LE packages offered under this financing plan are the Special Services Package, Lightweight Package and the Patrol Rifle Package. All the packages come equipped with an Aimpoint PRO, Blue Force Gear VCAS Sling, and 3 Magpul PMAGs.
www.danieldefense.com
www.firearmfinance.com
SAIC Announces Layoffs
Thursday, December 6th, 2012A recent article in the Washington Post details the looming layoff of 700 employees by defense giant SAIC.
What I find funny is that the WP article makes it sound like SAIC is doing all of this great stuff for the employees facing cuts like career counseling and retraining as well as two months notice. The thing is, by Federal law, they have to do those things. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) requires employers with 100 or more employees to provide notification 60 calendar days in advance of plant closings and mass layoffs.
It’s unfortunate to see more workers being laid off and I’m starting to see shades of 2008 all over again, except this time it’s defense rather than other sectors of the economy. The slowdown was coming but impending Sequestration threatens to force even deeper cuts to defense spending. This is bound to send ripples through the economy.
SAIC is making moves to split its business in order to evolve with the economy. Currently, plans call for a $7 billion-a-year Solutions company to focus on IT for Defense, Engineering and Medical. The other new business will be ~$4 billion-a-year services business like we commonly see today providing systems engineering and technical assistance, financial analysis and program office support.
FELLFAB to Acquire Integral Tactical
Wednesday, December 5th, 2012This is pretty exciting news. FELLFAB is a well known supplier of soft goods to the military and transportation industry. They maintain manufacturing facilities in Canada as well as the US.
FELLFAB CEO Glen Fell and Integral Tactical President Evan Jones jointly announce that an agreement has been made by both companies for the acquisition of Integral Tactical by FELLFAB. FELLFAB will relocate Integral Tactical’s operation to its headquarters early 2013. By combining FELLFAB’s manufacturing scale, engineering excellence and project management expertise with Integral Tactical’s user driven, innovative approach to design and incorporation of new materials, the parties believe that they can offer their mutual customers a high quality Canadian made product to meet their evolving equipment needs, on a scale not previously possible.
Evan Jones sold Integral Designs to Rab about two-and-a-half years ago to concentrate on the tactical side. Evan is a Veteran of the South African Defence Force who emigrated to Canada and has always built no-nonsense clothing and equipment based on his experience.
TangoDown iOCover
Sunday, December 2nd, 2012The iOCover is now part of weapon accessory manufacturer TangoDown.
iOCover hit the scene a few months ago via a Kickstarter campaign. Billed as a “One-Handed, Built-in Lens Caps for Micro Optics” the iOCover is designed specifically to fit the Aimpoint T-1.
They made their Kickstarter goal and we threw some funding in the pot in order to secure a prototype. It was a win-win for us. We helped out a young entrepreneur and received a sample to try out. It’s been on a couple of rifles here at SSD and works great. The only issue was color matching during the prototyping phase but they’ve long since worked that out.
As you can see, it armors the optic, is easily removed and replaced to provide camouflage to the factory Black finish and incorporates lens covers that can be snapped inside one another during operation.
We’re pleased to see TangoDown working with iOCover on this project and look forward to purchasing more for the rest of our T-1s.
