If you are looking for one stop shopping to quench your thirst for nylon gear news from a variety of sources, then head over to Tactical Gear Digest where the reader drives content. Readers post stories and content from different source sites and are encouraged to vote and comment on the content.
They have been around for some time but recently updated their site to make it more user friendly. Additionally, they are running a new member drive and are giving away a Blackwater Gear Rifle Case.
There’s a new forum in town and it’s not quite like anything we have ever seen before. In addition to free general memberships, the staff at Global Spear will offer special consideration to those members who choose to disclose their backgrounds. Such information will be kept confidential but will add considerable weight to a poster’s contributions. The goal is to avoid having the unqualified dispense advice that could get a forum member injured or killed.
Additionally, Global Spear seeks to provide unbiased product evaluations free from the influence of corporate shills. Evaluators must disclose how they obtained the product and any affiliations they might have with the product’s producer. The establishment of a poster’s credibility will also help to temper the voice of fan boys as they rush to defend the object of their affection’s latest turd polisher.
Global Spear also envisions a forum where small business owners can go and exchange information on how to better serve the market as well as themselves.
I am very excited about the possibilities being offered here. Visit www.GlobalSpear.com to learn more.
On 29 December, 2009, Crye Precision was granted 7,636,948 patent for their “Combat Shirt and Armor System” and this may prove to be just as important as when Crye unleashed their combat uniform on an unsuspecting market. It’s not often when you see a new concept fundamentally change the way we look at something but that is exactly how it worked out. I don’t think Crye even believed it would take off like it did. Even if you consider that the idea was radical at the time, when you saw it, you “got it”. It just made sense. Thinner, wicking material where you wear armor, built in knee and elbow pads. Everyone wanted one and that was the problem. Demand soon outpaced capacity and just like nature, the market place abhors a vacuum. Soon everyone had their own version of a combat shirt. Eventually, Crye caught up with demand, but the genie was out of the bottle so to speak.
The patent is very specific in many areas, almost too much so, and in others like so many patents, it’s virtually obtuse. No idea whether Crye will attempt to defend their intellectual property but at this point with so many versions out there, including the issue Army Combat Shirt and Airman Battle Shirt it would almost be Crye vs everybody. Read it and weep.
Adam, owner of the Israeli tactical gear maker Smamit passed away January 31st of lung cancer. He will be missed by freedom loving warriors the world over who used his gear. Smamit had been around for years and have even graced Soldier Systems Daily with an article on his PaLoop. A veteran of the IDF, he is survived by a wife and two daughters.
Rumors have swirled for some time that Blackhawk Products Group has been for sale. A recent article by “The Deal Pipeline” confirms this. Brazos Private Equity Partners LLC was seeking to purchase the company but Blackhawk withdrew from negotiations over pricing issues last Thursday. The deal was to be financed with an estimated $80 million debt package provided by GE Capital Corp and Chicago’s Madison Capital Funding LLC, with a $20 million mezzanine debt piece from Golub Capital. Wachovia Securities (owned by Wells Fargo) has been serving as Blackhawk’s financial adviser and seeking buyers for the company.
This indicates two things about Blackhawk; how much the market feels the company is worth and the fact that Blackhawk doesn’t agree with this assessment. Over the last year the soldier systems industry has experienced numerous buyouts with manufacturers such as Eagle Industries, Tactical Assault Gear, and OTB Boots going to larger companies who are using the purchases to foray into this market.
On 14 January, 2010 RDMI (Robinsom Arms) filed suit in US District Court for Utah against Remington, Bushmaster, Rock River Arms, and Magpul Industries based on alleged infringement of their patent.
Below is the actual suit taken from court records.
Robinson Arms Lawsuit Alleging Patent Infringement
This is the third patent related suit filed against Magpul this year. The initial suit came from A.R.M.S. over their dual aperture rear sight followed by Vltor in October alleging violation of their patent on the Modular Firearm Buttstock.
Reading through the filing I find one thing a bit odd. It claims that the ACR has been offered for sale, which still has not happened, particularly in the state of Utah. Based on this it seems to me that the case was brought a bit prematurely and was staged to have the most dramatic effect during SHOT Show unless it was intended to delay the release of the ACR into the market. But then why include RRA?
Over the last few weeks I have repeatedly heard rumors concerning three separate companies that are supposed to be going out of business. In one case, the rumor is unsubstantiated and in the other two partially true.
1. Specter Gear is going out of business – Not True. They displayed at SHOT Show, their website is still up and, they are answering the phone.
2. Brigade Quartermaster is bankrupt – Partially True. True, they didn’t show up at SHOT Show and their booth remained empty, and true they did settle outstanding bills a little short. Sold to Ira Green, long time producer of uniforms and insignia for military and law enforcement, their main strong points are a solid reputation with their customer base going back over 30 years and a presence in military exchanges and clothing sales stores including kiosks and actual store fronts on several bases. If they can get the vendors worked out, expect them to come back strong.
3. Command Arms Accessories – Partially True. Currently undergoing a rebranding and are now called EMA Tactical.
In order to celebrate their 25th anniversary, LBT has lunched a new web presence which features expanded content, podcasts, product information sheets and access to the full line of products.
Visit www.londonbridgetrading.com soon.
