The Australian Army continues to monkey with the F88 “Austeyr” despite their Special Operations components abandoning the weapon in the late 90s in favor of the M4. This briefing, presented at last year’s NDIA Small Arms Symposium outlines the incremental improvements made to the weapon. “Improving In-Service Small Arms Systems; An Australian Experience” was presented by Mr. Graham Evenden of Thales Australia. They have worked very closely with the Australian Army to enhance the F88. But, to what end?
While this video has been around for awhile, it is still a great story. Larry Vickers recounts how he met Blue Force Gear founder Ashley Burnsed and created the Vickers Combat Application Sling.
Here is a copy of the main marketing material that Mossberg was passing out at SHOT Show for their new Flex system that allows you to rapidly reconfigure 500/590 series scatterguns into a variety of setups. Wonder if any after market companies will build to the Tool-Less Locking System standard.
Smith & Wesson has a new M&P15 MOE rifle This one is the M&P15 MOE Mid-Length MAGPUL SPEC Series with Magpul furniture and S&W/Magpul co-branded lower receiver (a forged lower based on the original Magpul billet lower). The MOE Mid- comes with the DVD set Art of the Tactical Carbine I and II along with the appropriate Magpul goodies.
The Sphinx, a Swiss SDP pistol is the weapon that stood out most for me at Media Day on the Range (well, other than the Bulldog gatling gun, but you can’t easily carry that concealed or on duty). It has to be hard to come up with a new pistol design that doesn’t mimic what has been done before or try to just combine the various strong points from other pistols and put ’em all together. Not only do most people already have their favorite (often displaying loyalty to the point of zealotry) but barring the advent of an incredibly unique new idea or some new material it’s hard to do something truly original. I really liked the Sphinx, and can say in honesty that it might be one I’d purchase and carry (depending on departmental restrictions and holster availability). That’s the first time in a long time I’ve been able to say that.
Soldier Systems: The Sphinx 9mm Pistol
Joey at War Sport warned us we’d like the Sphinx (they’re owned by Kriss, which he distributes) and he was absolutely right. Sphinx Arms is initially marketing the weapon to military and LE personnel, but are definitely interested in selling to the civilian market. Right now it’s all black, Double-Action/Single-Action with an ambi decock lever and mag catch. One of the really interesting things about it (besides the streamlined way they built the frame, so there’s almost nothing to catch or drag on) is the upper frame, which is built of hard-anodized aluminum (I like the way the Swiss shooters said aluminum) with Teflon inserts. It has a nice integrated recoil buffer, full length guide rods that are machined in (not inserts) and a standard Pic rail with 4 notches.
Though I didn’t notice it at first, the grip is actually interchangeable, with three components. It’s built to withstand extremes of temperature and you can switch the grips out for different shooters (small, medium and large) which might be a plus to agencies where matching the grip of smaller framed officers is a concern (like some female and smaller male LEOs) to some of the hulking neanderthal types (also including some female and many male LEOs).
Soldier Systems Daily: Another view of the Sphinx
The last thing of note are the Defiance sights, which are apparently exclusive to the Sphinx (due to the noise and everything going on I wasn’t able to determine if they were going to eventually offer Defiance sights for sale to retrofit other pistols). Defiance sights are fiber/Tritium day/night green sight with a 2-dot rear sight.
I may wind up getting a Sphinx, if the price is right; if so I’ll give you a more thorough review.
Black is Back by Popular Demand. Black Camo Form that is.
We’ve spoken about the benefits of Camo Form in the past. The tape-like material not only does serves to provide visual camouflage for your weapons and sensitive items, it also enhances the grip and can also help deaden noise created when gear rubs together. Additionally, it leaves no residue when removed.
Reintroduced into the line at SHOT Show, Black has been quite a hit. “Feedback from the 2012 SHOT Show has been great,†said Tanya Brooks, vice president of sales. “Tactical gear buyers were very excited to see the return of this very popular color.â€
“We saw a huge increase in demand after halting production of black Camo Form,†said Travis Huisman, chief operating officer at McNett. “Our customers spoke, we listened and black Camo Form is now back on the shelves.â€
Black CamoForm rejoins MultiCam®, Realtree AP™, Realtree Max-4®, Snow, Standard Desert, Digital Desert, Standard Woodland, Digital Woodland, Universal Camouflage, Mossy Oak® Brush, Mossy Oak® Shadow Grass, Mossy Oak® Break-Up and Mossy Oak® Obsession.
