Platatac has introduced their new KRAIT pants. Constructed from a hard wearing cotton drill fabric, many of you will like these because they don’t incorporate cargo pockets. Instead, there’s a low-profile bessom pocket for phones as well as reinforcement for knife and light clips on the hand pockets.
Offered in Grey, Khaki and Olive.
www.platatac.com/platatac-krait-pants
Geissele Automatics has given us a peak at what they’ll be releasing at SHOT Show.
They’ve been making optic mounts for a DOD customer since the Spring of this year and these mounts will be available in 2016.
There’s also a new ambidextrous charging handle and Aimpoint T1/T2 mount.
Finally, there’s an optic mount for the 50 BMG.
Earlier this week, Smith & Wesson’s lawyers sent out a slew of Cease & Desist letters to companies that made modification to their M&P line of pistols as part of the Brownell’s M&P Dream Gun project. Specifically, S&W was concerned over use of their trademark.
It has recently come to Smith & Wesson’s attention that you have developed and are promoting for sale an “M&P Dream Gun,” (the “Infringing Product”). To create this product, you have modified an authentic Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm pistol by, inter alia, changing the grip texture and shape, machining the slide, and adding numerous accessories and replacement parts, while retaining the S&W Logo on the product. The December 18, 2015 Apex press release announcing this product and explaining Apex’s intent to exhibit the Infringing Product at the January 2016 SHOT Show exhibition is attached to this correspondence as Exhibit B. The numerous alterations made to the original design of Smith & Wesson’s firearms constitute not only unauthorized modifications to Smith & Wesson’s proprietary designs and misuse of Smith & Wesson’s trademarks, but present significant safety and quality concerns. Indeed, these modifications void the Smith & Wesson factory warranty on these products. Your advertisement and display of the Infringing Product to promote your gunsmithing services, and other products and services, constitutes misuse of Smith & Wesson’s trademarks and must cease.
But that wasn’t all. They went on to make some rather serious demands.
These intellectual property and safety and quality concerns are extremely serious and demand your immediate attention. Accordingly, we demand that you:
1. Confirm in writing that neither you nor any third party will display the Infringing Product, or any similar product, at the 2016 SHOT Show or make any other commercial display or promotion of such Infringing Product;
2. Cease the sale of any firearm modified by you or any other third party that bears any Smith & Wesson trademark, including, but not limited to the S&W® Marks or the M&P® Marks;
and3. Turn over to Smith & Wesson your inventory of the Infringing Product, or any Smith & Wesson product modified by you in the first instance that bears any mark owned by Smith & Wesson.
If we do not hear from you by January 5, 2015, Smith & Wesson will pursue its rights and remedies to the fullest extent permitted by law without further notice to you.
Naturally, these letters hit the internet and the backlash was swift. Fortunately for S&W they jumped on the grenade and have released a joint statement with Brownell’s.
Smith & Wesson, Brownells Clarify Brownells/Apex Dream Gun Issue James Debney, President and CEO of Smith & Wesson, said, “I would like to clarify that we fully support the Brownells Dream Guns Project and we appreciate that it showcases the many ways in which our customers – loyal fans of our M&P brand – can choose to customize their M&P firearms. Our decision to contact the companies that worked on the project was intended to protect the trademarks that support the M&P brand. When a product bears the Smith & Wesson and M&P trademarks and is purchased new with our lifetime service policy, we want to be sure that the consumer knows it has passed our demanding quality standards. In our efforts to protect that promise and to preserve the brand that we and our customers cherish, we did not fully understand the intent of the Dream Guns® Project and we overlooked the opportunity to convey our enthusiasm for the creativity and innovation that Brownells and all of the companies involved have demonstrated. We look forward to seeing the firearm on display at the upcoming SHOT Show in January and at the NRA in May.”
“Yesterday I spoke with James Debney, President of Smith & Wesson, who called me regarding the M&P Brownells/Apex Dream Gun®,” said Matt Buckingham, Brownells President. “It was a simple misunderstanding about the intention of the project. He made it clear that Smith & Wesson is excited to have their product featured in this fun and unique way. For our part, we are honored to include it in our Dream Gun lineup. Smith & Wesson is a legendary brand in this industry and we continue to be proud partners with them.”
Brownells Dream Guns are inspirational firearm builds to provide customization options and ideas for customers who may wish to personalize their own firearms. The guns are not sold as is, and are used on Brownells’ website and at tradeshows to display Brownells’ wide selection of items available to customize firearms.
To view Brownells’ full listing of Brownells Dream Guns, visit the Dream Gun Page at Brownells.com.
What’s so ridiculous about this entire “misunderstanding” is that it could have been prevented with a simple phone call. S&W needs to seriously reconsider its relationship with its current legal counsel. These boneheaded C&D letters have cost them immeasurably in customer goodwill and made them look like buffoons. Other brands take note. Don’t pull a Smith & Wesson; especially right before SHOT Show.
Yesterday, Stag Arms President pleaded guilty to a single felony count of possession of an unregistered machine gun. In the plea deal, Malkowski agreed to step down as well as sell the New Britian, Connecticut-based company in addition to paying a fine of $100,000. Stag Arms not only surrendered its FFL to manufacture, Malkowski will also no longer be able to own a firearms company.
Today, Malkowski is scheduled to plead guilty in US District Court in New Haven to a misdemeanor count of failure to maintain firearms records.
Stag Arms’ issues were first noted during a routine ATF inspection in July 2014 where they found numerous record keeping errors as well as missing machine guns which turned out to be either unregistered or misregistered. Most of the issues revolve around a failure to serialize receivers which must be accomplished within seven days of manufacture.
Stag Arms issued this statement:
NEW BRITAIN – Tuesday, December 22, 2015 – “Stag Arms, LLC today announced that the company and its founder, Mark Malkowski, have reached a resolution with government officials stemming from an investigation that began last year relating primarily to the timing of recordkeeping during the manufacturing process and compliance with federal firearms manufacturing and registration requirements. Both Stag Arms and Mr. Malkowski cooperated fully with the government throughout the investigation. While both Stag Arms and Mr. Malkowski believe that public safety was never compromised, they have agreed to enter guilty pleas and to pay significant fines, because doing so is in the best interests of the company and its employees. Mr. Malkowski has also agreed to transition the business to new ownership and is in advanced talks with a potential buyer. Mr. Malkowski will continue as a marketing consultant to the business and the industry for a period of time following the sale. Stag Arms takes its obligations to comply with all laws and regulations very seriously and has made comprehensive changes to ensure that similar problems cannot happen again and that best compliance practices are maintained in all of its operations.”
– Stag Arms, LLC
The Virginia State Police released this announcement yesterday. It is very important for those visiting the Commonwealth of Virginia who previously enjoyed reciprocity for their CCW permit. The action was taken at the direction of Virginia’s Attorney General, Mark R. Herring, who had the VSP review concealed carry rules in each of the states that currently have reciprocity agreements with Virginia. Likewise, Virginians will need to pursue alternative CCW licensing from other states such as Utah or Florida which offer non-resident options, if they plan to carry while in other jurisdictions where it is legal.
This is the second firearms restrictive executive action taken by Democrat Governor Terry McAuliffe’s administration. The previous move prevents open carry of firearms by non-LE in Executive branch agencies and buildings.
Legal review conducted in 2015 pursuant to § 18.2-308.014 of the Code of Virginia identified several jurisdictions that currently fail to meet the statutory requirements for recognition of the concealed carry permits they issue. As a result of that review, effective February 1, 2016, concealed carry permits issued by the following jurisdictions are NO LONGER VALID in Virginia:
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Delaware
Florida
Idaho
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Minnesota
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Washington
Wisconsin
Wyoming
As a result of this revocation of recognition Virginia concealed carry permits may no longer be valid in the jurisdictions listed above. Permit holders should, prior to travel, contact each jurisdiction to determine if their permit will be recognized prior to carrying concealed in that jurisdiction.
According to the legal review conducted by the Attorney General’s Office, certain states will no longer recognize Virginia concealed handgun permits because Virginia no longer recognizes that jurisdiction’s concealed handgun permit. These states are:
Florida
Louisiana
North Dakota
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Wyoming
Virginia extends reciprocity or recognition to citizens holding both resident and non-resident permits/licenses from the following jurisdictions as set forth below:
Listing of states with which Virginia has Reciprocity Agreements (A formal written agreement exists between the two jurisdictions):
Texas
West Virginia
Listing of states with which Virginia has mutual recognition (Jurisdictions have informally agreed to honor permits issued by the other):
Michigan
Utah
Oklahoma
Virginia non-resident permit holders
Virginia non-resident permit holders should contact each jurisdiction to determine if their permit will be recognized prior to carrying in that jurisdiction.
www.vsp.virginia.gov/Firearms_Reciprocity
Today, we’re introducing a new company to the High Angle Solutions rotation, Atlas Devices, LLC. Atlas Devices is a world leader in tactical access for SOF. Look forward to future High Angle Solutions posts from Atlas, in addition to CTOMS and DMM.
ATL System Introduction
The Atlas Tactical Ladder system designed by Atlas Devices is an extremely versatile tool for SOF teams to increase their current tactical access capabilities while generating new ones never before possessed. The ATL System can be used for collapsible bridging, extended reach, weight reduction, ladder/bridge range increase, and more, in scenarios and locals including:
The core of the Atlas Tactical Ladder system is a rigid 7 ft collapsible ladder (P/N: ATL) weighing under 10 lbs. In addition to vertical climbing, the ATL can also safely bridge gaps with a 400 lb load. Its joint locking system can be set to auto-locking mode for rapid deployment or manual lock whisper mode for silent deployments. The collapsed profile can be packed within a torso dimension for ease of employment by all infiltration methods including MFF and AIE operations.
The ATL has a suite of accessories that enhance the capability of the ATL by utilizing unique design features that integrate into the ATL core ladder/bridge system. All accessories are tool-less for rapid don/doff. Atlas Devices is currently finalizing safe working load ratings for a 15 ft bridge configuration of the ATL. Additional mission profiles and ATL capabilities that we’ll be highlighting in upcoming High Angle Solutions features include:
Stay tuned for more information.
Atlas Tactical Ladder Introduction from Atlas Devices on Vimeo.
Get the full Atlas Catalog here: atlasdevices.com/pdf/Atlas_Devices-2015_Catalog.pdf
For more info visit www.atlasdevices.com or email sales@atlasdevices.com.
High Angle Solutions is a weekly feature by DMM, CTOMS, and Atlas Devices.
Check out this interesting documentary on Historic European Martial Arts.
If you’re interested in taking up HEMA as a practice, check out www.hemaalliance.com.
Internet forums and gun blogs are all worked up that Naval Special Warfare is adopting the Glock 19 force wide. So naturally, I started getting questions about it but I didn’t realize it was a big revelation or for that matter, a secret. You see, select elements of NSW have been using Glock 19s for years, just like other SOF, due to its reliability and concealability.
Early models were said to be adapted for use in maritime environments by equipping them with maritime cups for the firing pin. As I understand it, over time, use of the Glock 19 began to proliferate throughout the community. Earlier this year some East Coast SEALs conducted an evaluation and the decision was made to adopt them on a wider scale.
However, they haven’t purchased additional pistols yet, nor completed a fielding plan. If there are any new users, the pistols most likely came from SOFSA.
