It was quite a shock to lose John Noveske in the prime of his life, on this day, four years ago. He left a family, friends, and a great legacy of excellence in firearms manufacturing. He will not be forgotten and many a pint will be tipped back in his memory today, and over the next few weeks, as those who remember him gather at SHOT Show in Las Vegas.
May he rest in peace.
Not only do Michael and Kelly Rodriguez currently have knife designs with CRKT but they are both Soldiers. Michael is a medically retired SF NCO and his wife Kelly is still serving as a Senior NCO at the 44th Med Bde. Incidentally, they’re also both great Americans and have great sons. One of them is also serving in the Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd. I’m very proud to call them friends and I’m also very proud of the work they are doing in the knife industry. Like I said earlier, both of them have designs under manufacture with CRKT as part of the Forged By War Program. Mutual friend Ryan M Johnson of RMJ Tactical taught Michael how to forge knives and worked with Team Rodriguez to get their designs to CRKT where he has a few designs as well. Recently, they shared their designs and told friends about CRKT’s Forged By War program’s donation to charities. It’s always cool to hear the background story behind a product and they are sharing that with us now.
I can’t believe the day has finally come! About two years ago, on the way home from Blade Show in Atlanta, Michael asked me a question that he had once been asked by Ryan M Johnson. “Is there a tool or knife you wish you would have had when you were down range?” In fact, there was, and so I started thinking and putting those thoughts on paper. The Combat Stripping Tool was born. I was blessed that CRKT included me and my design in their Forged By War program.
I’ve always hated traditional trauma shears. Don’t get me wrong, they work, and for some things, they are the best tool out there. But for me and for most as my 18D husband agrees, I normally used them to strip clothes off of patients. And for that I thought there had to be a better way. Once shears get dirty with mud, blood, dirt or oxidation, they become difficult to open and close, and I know I’ve gotten a few hand cramps from some mascal (mass casualty) situations that I’ve been in. So I wanted to design a tool that was easy to use, easy to keep sharp, and didn’t take up to much space.
The CST does just that. It has an exaggerated bull-nose and thumb guard to prevent injuries to yourself or your patient. It has a textured grip to prevent slipping, a built in oxygen wrench, and a centimeter scale to verify tube placements or wound size. It’s also easily cleaned.
There will be a great video coming out soon that demonstrates how well it works. I admit that I was pretty amazed at how fast it strips uniforms off! I’ll share it when it’s out.
I’ve chosen Operation One Voice to receive 10% off all profits from the CST. Please check them out! They are a great organization that has helped my family a great deal.
Features:
Utility Blade for Cutting Fabric During Emergency Situations
Oxygen Wrench
Built In Measuring Scale
Specs
Blade Length 2.125″ (53.98 mm)
Blade Edge Plain
Blade Steel Feather Safety Razor Blade; SS, HRC 56-63
Blade Finish Satin
Blade Thickness 0.005″ (0.13 mm)
Weight 1.5 oz
Handle Glass Reinforced Nylon
Style Fixed Blade Knife w/Sheath
Sheath Feature Replacement Blade Included In Woven Polyester MOLLE Gear Compatible Sheath
Sheath Material Weaved Polyester; Black
Overall Length 8.0″ (203.2 mm)
This is the first official look at my design and a project from over 3 years ago. I gave a sneak peak last year . Meet my “Tecpatl”. I was asked by a good friend of mine (Ryan M. Johnson) if there was ever a knife I wished I had during my deployments that didn’t exist. I knew there was, I had always carried a push knife that was lightweight, easily deployable, didn’t take a lot of space on my kit, many different mounting options and had one purpose, to create space between me and a target so I could get to my secondary, support arrived or situation changed.
My only issue was that I could not operate my weapon without dropping the push knife. There are several knives that are called “Fighting Knives” which are very effective, but without spending countless hours of training they just look cool, are extra weight and take up space on your “lightweight” kit. All Combat leaders know training time is precious and should be prioritized. Rex Applegate understood this and I urge you to read his manuals not just on his techniques but his philosophy. I discussed at length with another great friend of mine (Bill Harsey) who worked with and knew Rex very well about my design. There were very few to zero flying knife attacks with a blade flashing back and forth as portrayed in movies, Rex referred to them who practiced this as the “Flowing Robe Boys” yes that is an actual quote. Combat has evolved, there is a reason we don’t charge into battle carrying a sword, battle axe and crossbow under a hail of arrows today. I do believe however Combatives or hand to hand should always be part of your training regimen. Knife fighting is an art, just like gun fighting, both are a beautiful art that require a lot of training. If you can afford the knife fighting training great, but if you find yourself in a situation where you need to wield a knife in combat I pray your well prepared. If you’ve ever been there, you know what I’m talking about, you rely on your training and instinct.
I wanted a knife that monopolized more than instinct, but your anatomy and physiology. Everyone can throw a punch (some better than others), its part of the fight instinct we are born with, not to mention the greatest transference of force is generated with a punch in line with a blade in a small space. A straight punch or downward slash with your wrist locked in its anatomical position uses the largest muscle groups in our upper body and if your trained in combatives or fighting your much more effective because you are trained on how to use your whole body in those movements. Your reach is increased because you are not forced to focus the cutting edge of a hand held conventional knife and guess where it will reach its intended target. Just picture it in your mind. This knife is an extension of your fist, your own body. The knife edge and point are always pointed forward towards the target (sound familiar?), mag changes with weapon and blade in hand present no danger of self inflicted wounds unlike other knives. The handle rests solidly in your palm giving the knife a stable foundation during use, but not too bulky which drastically changes the feel of gun in hand. The profile of the blade was designed utilizing several historic combat proven bayonets and the subsequent body movements necessary for their employment.
After I sketched it, Ryan Johnson noticed if you turned the blade upside down it resembled a skull, the resemblance is a complete after thought which I think is pretty cool. All I had to do was add a nose. So utilizing my culture I sketched up a version using Mexican Sugar Skull Art, with a mixture of warrior culture symbols. Which is what our Warriors are today, the evolution of Warrior Cultures from around the world and times past.
10% of total profits will be donated to the Special Operations Care Fund and the George W. Bush Institute, visit their websites and see how else you can contribute.
I want the thank Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT) for taking this “Forged by War” project on and working on bringing Civilians and Military together. We are all American Citizens… De Oppresso Liber
Features:
Black Powder Coat with Sugar Skull Laser Marking
Multiple Hand Deployment Options
Kydex® Sheath with Spring Loaded MOLLE Compatible Gear Clip
Specs:
SPECIFICATIONS
Blade Length 3.375″ (85.73 mm)
Blade Edge Plain
Blade Steel SK5 Carbon Steel, HRC 53-55
Blade Finish Black Powder Coat
Blade Thickness 0.203″ (5.16 mm)
Weight 5.6 oz
Handle Stainless Steel
Style Fixed Blade Knife w/Sheath
Sheath Material Kydex; Black
Overall Length 5.813″ (147.65 mm)
Episode 2 of TNVC’s Nightfighter series features Retired Marine Buck Doyle. I had an opportunity to train with him last year and he is a fantastic trainer as well as a fountain of knowledge. Yes, that’s really what the terrain looks like where Buck holds his training.
For more information on Buck Doyle, visit tnvc.com/nightfighters/buck-doyle.
Columbia, S.C. (January 2, 2017)- In an acquisition that strengthens the USA made AK market, JJE Capital (PSA’s parent company) announced the purchasing of a majority equity interest in the boutique firearms manufacturer and importer Destructive Devices Industries. Palmetto State Armory CEO Jamin McCallum was quoted saying “This move will allow a concentrated effort by both PSA and DDI to continue the growth of the all American made AK-47 and its variants.” David Fillers of DDI will continue with the company as a financial partner as well as in an advisory role, he was quoted saying; “It was time to take DDI to the next level, and the best way I saw to do that was to partner with a proven industry leader.” Both PSA and DDI will remain separate entities, but will partner on R&D and compatibility in all related fields in order to pass on the benefit to the customer. This level of detail will be acquired through a joint venture between the two companies known as the “AK Excellence Center” which will be located in Columbia, SC and will focus on new developments for the iconic firearm. DDI also announced that its focus moving forward will be the US production of quality rifles. DDI will continue to stand behind all imported items that were previously sold, but from this point forward will no longer be a firearms importer. Adam Ruonala, Chief Marketing Officer of Palmetto State Armory said; “This move is a chance for two innovators of the American AK platform to come together, and with that kind of creativity at the helm, there is no telling how far this ship can go!”
**Attention Shot Show 2017 Attendees**
Don’t forget to stop by the High Ground booth, we are located on the main floor at Booth 15166. Come by and say hello to the HGG team and check out the newest gear for 2017!
For more information visit www.shotshow.org or www.highgroundgear.com.
O P Tactical figured since we were getting a real warrior as Secretary of Defense, they ought to celebrate the event by offering a War Department T-shirt, complete with the original logo. For those of you unfamiliar, the current Department of Defense (Initially named the National Military Establishment) was created 70 years ago in 1947, during the post-WW II reorganization of the National Defense Act. Before that, there was a War Department and a Navy Department.
With the release of its new patent-pending Caliber Matched Gas System (CAMGAS) barrels, PROOF Research has eliminated the issues traditionally associated with building 6.5mm and .260 rifles on 308AR/AR-10 platforms. Until now, AR-variant shooters looking for ballistic advantages from either of these calibers were faced with excessive bore pressures that necessitated makeshift solutions such as clipping buffer springs, adjusting buffer weights, and/or relying on adjustable gas blocks, to keep their rifles functioning properly.
PROOF’s R&D team has solved the overpressure issue with gas systems tuned specifically to the cartridge/barrel-length combination. “By moving the gas port, the pressure in the bore is given time to reduce to that comparable of a .308 Winchester with a rifle-length gas system, which is what the 308AR/AR-10 system was designed around,” said Greg Hamilton, PROOF’s research-and-development weapons specialist who’s also a 3-Gun and PRS competitive shooter. “The recoil impulse is noticeably smoother, which helps keep you on target while taking advantage of a more efficient projectile. Case extraction is also easier, with less case-head smearing, so the brass is in much better condition for reloading.”
In recent years, 6.5mm Creedmoor and .260 Remington have become increasingly popular in long-range shooting competitions. The .260 in particular represents an outstanding caliber for a military counter-sniper role—out to roughly 1,000 meters—in smaller- to mid-sized weapon systems. It offers exceptional accuracy and superior ballistics over the ubiquitous .308 while dishing out substantially less recoil and enough energy to make it a legitimate contender for military and law enforcement applications.
“I’ve been using prototype CAMGAS barrels, in both .260 and 6.5 Creedmoor, in competition for almost a year with excellent results. Both rifles ran flawlessly through high-round, fast-cadence stages, firing hundreds of rounds with 100 percent reliability and zero maintenance or cleaning. From recoil to reliability, every aspect of performance was improved compared to the typical un-tuned barrel.”
Greg Hamilton, PROOF Research R&D Weapons Specialist, 3-Gun and PRS competitive shooter
PROOF Research currently offers Caliber Matched Gas System barrels chambered for 6.5mm Creedmoor and .260 Remington in three separate lengths: 20, 22, and 24 inches. Every CAMGAS barrel comes standard with an easy to install custom-length gas tube.
