This letter went out on Friday to SureFire customers as well as the press. It is a direct rebuttal to an article published by the Force Science Institute in their Force Science News declaring that grip-activated pistol-light switches are unsafe. Due to the length of the letter we ask you to (more…)
Late last year, Level Peaks Associates was gracious enough to let us check out a couple of products from c2rfast.
We shot this quick look video of the TacPad Chest in order to give you an idea of how the technology works. We’ve seen other products in the past that rely on chemlights or even powered light but they don’t illuminate the entire surface like this. Powered by a CR123 battery, it provides a back lit writing surface for tactical applications. c2rfast has taken great care to develop multiple products to accommodate various applications of the technology.
To learn more follow the jump. (more…)
First-Light USA makes a great medic light and this video does a great job of explaining its various points. One of our favorite features is the swappable Tomahawk Task Light for medics that can be configured as a Blue light for Fluorescein eye stain tests or UV light fluoresce certain fungal and bacterial infections. The rest of these light’s stats are nothing to sneeze at either.
For example, the Tomahawk TC3 features a proprietary mix of Red and Green LEDs that “highlight†blood. After much experimentation First-Light found the perfect mix of lights to make blood stand out from other colored fluids like petroleum which can mimic blood under blue light.
Additionally, the main white light is a 120 lumen LED that also has 3 brightness settings. It also features six IR LEDs that have 3 brightness settings and operate in a separate mode than any of the visible lights.
For more info visit www.adsinc.com/first-light.
Tags: ADS Inc, First Light USA
Posted in ADS, Lights | Comments Off on First-Light NV and TC3 Kits
Ever wanted to be able to scavenge the rest of the power from your partially depleted BA-5590s? If you’re deployed forward you probably have stacks of the things that have come back from patrol but you won’t send back out since they don’t have a full charge. But what to do with them? Some have crafted amazing Rube Goldberg contraptions to harvest whatever they can from the used cells. But now there is a dedicated solution. Phantom Lights has developed the Phantom Vulture, an LED light mounted on a flexible neck that attaches directly to a BA-5590. It straps into place and can run for weeks or months depending on the residual charge in the battery. Simple in design yet ingenious in inspiration. Well done! Now, come up with a way to power other 12v electronics from a 5590.
Wired online recently published a story based on a DoD IG report on the Marine Corps’ delay in fielding lasers for use at vehicle checkpoints in Iraq. Lasers work. It’s just too bad that bureaucracy reared its head. You will note that the Wired online article blames the Pentagon, when in fact the blame lay at the feet of the Marine Corps. And while this story isn’t exactly new, it is worth reading. Unfortunately, the writer didn’t do a good job of explaining the “why” as in “why troops might need green lasers”. When you are writing for a civilian readership that lives fat, dumb, and happy under the protective umbrella of the military yet at the same time abhors it, you have to lead them by the nose since they have zero frame of reference. The author says it in a roundabout way, but he doesn’t beat the readers over the head with it. So you get comments by the uninformed who think that green lasers are being used as weapons when in fact they are used to save lives as a nonlethal alternative to warning shots. In fact, they are now used by ALL services as part of their Escalation of Force Kits. But, probably the real tragedy in this story is that as the request languished in someone’s inbox, leaning forward in the foxhole I MEF purchased systems off-the-shelf. Of course, once the systems got to Iraq, someone in a position to do so directed I MEF to cease use of the systems. To add insult to injury, the recently released IG report recommends that the Marines investigate the purchase and “if appropriate, initiate administrative action.â€
Visit www.wired.com for the story and read the comments. These will give you an idea of why we don’t open up ours.
CTC Defense, the military sales division of Crimson Trace which is manufacturer of Lasergrips® and Laserguard® laser-sighting systems, recently announced the signing of a global reseller agreement with nLIGHT Corporation of Vancouver, Washington. The agreement gives nLIGHT improved access to Special Forces procurement programs via CTC Defense’s extensive relationships and also paves the way for continued technology collaboration between the two companies. nLight specializes in the production of high-power semiconductor lasers and components.
CTC Defense will also now resell a selective product portfolio centered on nLIGHT’s multi-functional aiming laser and rangefinder system which can be paired with an optional fire control module. CTC Defense has worked extensively with nLIGHT to pair their grip-activated laser sighting devices with nLIGHT’s electro-optical system expertise. “We’re excited to be able to offer the warfighter nLIGHT’s cutting edge laser technology, coupled with the instinctive user interface from CTC Defenseâ€, said Dan Hill, nLIGHT’s Program Manager.
The agreement covers the nLIGHT’s laser rangefinder family of products including a standalone or weapon-mountable system that provides precise range determination to 2300m on a 2.3m target and gives the operator the ability to illuminate targets with both infrared (IR) and green (visible) aiming lasers. The systems can be programmed to provide numerous ballistic solutions for a variety of weapons and munitions offering advanced fire control capability.
“nLIGHT Corporation’s advanced technology and electro-optic platforms are a great benefit to our large portfolio of domestic and international military/law enforcement customers. Their expertise in their field will be a true force multiplier for us,” said Dale Suzuki, Director of CTC Defense Division.
www.crimsontrace.com
www.nlight.net
Now that they have been out for a few weeks, we are able to give some additional information on the Laser Devices Civilian Class I Lasers available exclusively from Tactical Night Vision Company. This article will concentrate on the Dual Beam Aiming Laser – Intelligent² (DBAL-I2) Class I which happens to be an excellent value. It is offered in Black or Tan case with Green or Red visible laser.
TNVC took the unit out and was able to clearly discern the laser’s circular pattern to up to 100 yards but noticed degradation beginning at 115 yards. Additionally, TNVC found the lower power to work to their advantage in a CQB environment as more high powered lasers are prone to bloom on walls, particularly light colored walls. Finally, they found that the IR illuminator did not wash out the visible laser.
This is the first time that Laser Devices products have been offered to the public. Please note that it is STILL an ITAR controlled item. For more information, or to order visit www.tnvc.com.
Finally, SureFire has produced a product specifically for the ladies. The new Isis features a chrome plated aluminum body appointed with two rings of Swarovski crystals. It also incorporates SF’s new reactive tailcap which means you just touch the tailcap and it turns on, off, and switches between high ad low beam. Combining an LED lamp and TIR reflector the Isis delivers 10 lumens on low and 100 lumens on high. Plus, it uses SureFire’s new Lithium Ion rechargeable technology providing up to 12 hours on the low setting.
