FirstSpear TV

Vertx Announces All-Expenses Paid “Ultimate Hog Hunting Safari” Giveaway for SHOT Show 2017

December 8th, 2016

Cincinnati, Ohio (December 2016) – Vertx®, a premier tactical and outdoor brand of apparel and gear, in conjunction with Last Shadow, is pleased to announce the 2017 SHOT Show Giveaway Package. The package includes an all-expenses paid, 3 day 2 night experience for 2 to the best helicopter hog hunting and aerial gunnery experiences in Texas. The package valued at over $10,000 includes three unique experiences- a nighttime ground hog hunt with nods and thermals, a 2 hour helicopter hog hunt and a nighttime bow fishing experience.“On behalf of the Vertx team, we’re very excited to offer such a unique experience,” says Darrell Morrow, Vice President of Vertx. “Much like the brand itself, our giveaway represents our objective of innovating in all aspects of our business with input from end users. The experience we’re offering is a testament to that objective. I’m proud to partner with Last Shadow, a great organization, on this giveaway.”

For the nighttime ground hunt, Last Shadow will provide you and your guest with the latest night vision and thermal optic equipment and train you to use it- you will then traverse the Texas landscape in search of hogs. The helicopter hog hunt is one of the most popular hunting experiences in the world. Hunting hogs from a helicopter doesn’t compare to anything else. Last Shadow offers riveting hunts in the best location on earth to hunt destructive pigs. This activity helps end the devastation of prized Texas farmland. The package includes use of guns and unlimited ammo.

“I have been a Vertx customer for a number of years and know they have a great product line,” says Barrett Blume, Owner of Last Shadow. “That’s why I was excited for the opportunity to work with them on their 2017 SHOT Show giveaway. The experience that we have built with the Vertx team is one that will truly be unique and remembered by the winner.”

To read the Terms and Conditions and enter the giveaway please visit www.vertx.com/lastshadow for (1) entry or visit the Vertx booth at SHOT Show 2017 (Booth 126) for (5) entries.

How Difficult Is It To Purchase A Firearm On Your DoD Installation?

December 8th, 2016

What does it take to buy a gun at your Exchange or MWR facility?

What do US servicemembers in good standing and legal gun owners have in common?
1) Not felons
2) Not convicted of domestic abuse
3) Legal residents of the United States
4) Not drug addicts
5) Not mentally ill
6) Not fugitives from justice

In addition to the “Nots”, all US servicemembers have had at least rudimentary training in firearms and inculcation into a mindset of if-then decision making. Some are better than others; not everyone is a Tier Zero special operator but most should be expected to responsibly own and operate a weapon. In theory, this should make them entirely acceptable gun candidates for responsible firearms ownership under the Second Amendment and even the most ardent of gun controllers have a hard time generating a valid, sound counterargument. If you can be trusted with a M-4 with 210 rounds of ammunition under high stress conditions for 15 months at a stretch while deployed, surely buying a shotgun shouldn’t be a multi-day ordeal of paperwork. All decisions have consequences.

Nonetheless, the purchase of firearms varies widely from installation to installation. Some just require proof of exchange privileges, proof of residency (PCS orders or Driver’s License), money, and a 4473 filled out. Others attempt to involve Command authority to an onerous level of mother-may-I-permissions with a rank based hierarchy of permissions. Fort Stewart in 2014, for example, required a memorandum from the Commander for Soldiers E-5 and below.

Take the poll. Remember, the focus of the poll is the PURCHASE, not the carriage or storage of weapons on base.

Comment professionally about YOUR purchase experiences at various installations. SSD wants to know “How hard is it for Joe to buy a gun at your installation?”


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Thulsa Doom

Thulsa Doom is a long-time reader and occasional contributor to SSD. He is recently retired from the Army and has been stationed on Army, Air Force, and Navy installations with both cerebral and retard-strong Army and Joint assignments. A rifleman, historian, linguist, analyst, master of the electromagnetic spectrum and man-about-town, he currently resides in the Eastern United States and works as a DoD contractor.

You Never Know Where They’ll Show Up

December 8th, 2016

The Trump Hotel in DC, courtesy of Dave H of Quantico Tactical.

Magpul Introduces Medium Coyote Tan To Their GEN M3 PMAG

December 8th, 2016

Shipping in February, 2017 is the new Medium Coyote Tan color to Magpul’s popular GEN M3 PMAG. Previously only offered in Black, they’ve came up with a way to make really strong Tan mags. The GEN M3 PMAG also recently completed an exhaustive magazine evaluation by the US Army and it did very, very well.

Some will question why this new color. The answer lies with the US Army which requires a “Small Arms Weapons Neutral” band of colors. Unfortunately, FDE, although popular, isn’t in that band of colors. Magpul is just giving the customer what they want, and we benefit from it as well. Look for a new NSN for the MAG556-MCT soon.

The Veterans Family of Brands: VFOB Try & Buy event

December 7th, 2016

The Veterans Family of Brands (VFOB), an organization bringing together like mission-minded companies, and individuals with a passion for supporting US Military and First Responder Veterans and their families through the manufacture and market insertion of top quality products and services!


Minden, NV. (May 2016) – What if every time you purchased an outdoor product, you were supporting Veterans and their families? The Veterans Family of Brands, LLC. The VFOB is holding a Try & Buy Distributor show event at The Pro Gun Club, Boulder City, NV, just south of the Las Vegas strip, on 15-16 Jan, just prior to the kick off of the 2017 SHOT show. This event brings together exhibitors from VFOB as well as friends of VFOB for a unique event! There are still some tables and a couple range slots left for exhibitors who would like to demonstrate their wares to outdoor industry buyers and industry and national media! Interested exhibitors can contact us at info@veteransfob.com for more info. Very few spots remain! The event is free to industry media and buyers, but RSVP is required to be put on the list as only buyers and media will be allowed to attend. RSVP to info@veteransfob.com.

Check out some footage from our last distributor show which was hosted by VFOB company, Axelson Tactical last spring!

Many VFOB VIPs will be on hand to meet you, and work with you on the range!
Navy SEAL Veteran – Jared Ogden – CEO of VFOB corporate member Triumph – Systems
Navy SEAL Veteran – Master Chief Ron “Reaper 01” Bellan – CEO of VFOB corporate member Reaper Outdoors.
Army Ranger Hall of Famer & Green Beret – Chief Gary O’Neal – Author of American Warrior and spokesperson for VFOB corporate member Frontier Tactical
Navy SEAL Veteran – Charlie Melton – CEO of VFOB trainer and dealer Charlie Mike Precision, and Master Sniper Trainer who trained greats such as Chris Kyle, Marcus Luttrell, and many more!
Youth competitive shooting phenom – Miss Kyleigh Hayworth – sponsored 3 gun shooter by the VFOB!
Navy SEAL “Frogman” Veteran – Dwight Settle – CEO of VFOB corporate member SEAL 1, LLC
25+ year Veteran of the FBI – Mr. Will Long – CEO of VFOB corporate member LCG Tactical and many more Patriots and Veterans of our military and first responder corps!!!

VFOB partner distributor Wingspan Distributors will be on hand to assist Dealers with their 2017, stocking orders after they get a chance to get out on the range to try products and meet with VFOB and Friends of VFOB companies! Please check out the Events tab at www.veteransfob.com for a full list of exhibitors!

VFOB will also be hosting a reception Monday night at The Foundation Room – in Mandalay Bay hotel and casino starting at 8:30pm! This event will be open to all who attend the event. Please be sure to pick up your exclusive invite at the info table on site!

PR and media questions can be directed to info@veteransfob.com.

Interested Manufacturers, Dealers, and Individuals can visit www.veteransfob.com for more details and follow VFOB on social media at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Bradford x Beyond Limited Edition Guardian5 Knife

December 7th, 2016

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Beyond Clothing has released another collaborative knife with Renton, WA-based Bradford Knives, a Guardian5 knife, limited to 100 blades. The Guardian 5 is made of CPM-3V steel with a nimbus finish, and comes complete with a custom contoured canvas micarta handle.

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All knives include a custom kydex sheath. Sheaths are compatible with all major clip accessories, including G-Clip, Tek-Lok, Sm. Tek-Lok and MOLLE/PALS attachments.

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The Guardian5 is proudly made in the USA.

www.beyondclothing.com/beyond-x-bradford-guardian5-fixed-blade

SOTECH Celebrates 20 Years Launching Its Bravo Bag Sale

December 7th, 2016

This December, SOTECH is running a series of events leading up to our 20 year anniversary on 1 January 2017! We begin with the debut of SOTECH’s 3 Day Assault Pack A1 Bravo which we are abbreviating to call it the Bravo Bag. It is launching just in time for Christmas. To celebrate the holidays and the launch of our new Bravo bag we are extending a special introductory price of only $99, that’s 30% off! Bag is 100% Made in the USA with US materials and like everything we make BUILT TO SURVIVE THE WORLD’S WORST.

20 years in business is just another anniversary to large corporations, but to a small business – a service disabled veteran owned small business, that 20 year milestone means a lot. We intend to do our best to thank our customers and supporter who helped SOTECH to make it this far, so stay tuned as we get closer to January 1st!

Key Features:
* Constructed of 500 Denier Cordura® Nylon
* Front facing zipper pocket, ideal for such items such as tablets, keys, wallets, etc.
* Rear zipper compartment accommodates up to 15.5″ laptops
* Breathable spacer mesh backing
* Interior sleeve accommodates laptops, files and other slim items
* Interior female Velcro® for add-on tearaway Velcro® pouches
* Volume: 20 liters
* Lifetime Warranty
* Made in the USA with US Materials

Overall Dimensions: 19″ x 11″ x 6″

Order yours ASAP in order to guarantee it for Christmas delivery.

Get your Bravo Pack Here.

A Date Which Will Live In Infamy

December 7th, 2016

President Roosevelt called December 7th, 1941, “A date which will live in infamy.”

This is the 75th anniversary of the Japanese attack on the US fleet at Pearl Harbor. This year is a landmark anniversary, but generally, we no longer even hold ceremonies commemorating that day.  As our greatest generation passes on, let us honor their sacrifices to keep America free.

I’d also like to take a moment of silence for the 2402 Americans who were lost on that day, along with the hundreds more who were wounded during the attack.