Celebrate 20 years of the TLR-1

Gerber Center Drive

October 18th, 2016

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This is the Gerber Center Drive, a brand-new made-in-the-USA multitool that’s launching today, and Gerber sent us a pre-production model a few days ahead of the launch to check it out.

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The Center Drive is manufactured from stainless steel, and features 14 individual tools within its frame.

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The pliers are spring loaded, and are released upward via a side-mounted sliding button, purposely designed for one-thumb activation, rather than the swing open design on traditional multitools.

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The pliers consist of a needle nose point with a standard center, as well as rotatable carbide wire cutters and a wire stripper.

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The main blade on the Center Drive is a 3.25″ fine edge blade. According to Gerber, this blade is “30% larger than the competition”; press materials use the main blade on the Leatherman OHT for the size comparison. The blade also locks into place when fully extended via a tension lockbar.

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The opposite arm of the Center Drive features the following tools:

  • Pry bar
  • Nail puller
  • Bottle opener
  • Serrated Blade
  • Awl
  • Fine & course sided file
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    These tools lock into place when fully extended and can be retracted by using a thumb-break slide release on the opposite side of the arm, which also incorporates a lanyard hole. The arm opposite this one features both a 3″ ruler as well as an 8cm ruler.

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    Easily the most impressive feature of the Center Drive is the tool of its namesake, the full-size center axis driver. Unlike traditional multitools, which typically feature a lower profile driver, the Center Drive’s driver juts out of the tool’s frame 3.25″ and curves inward towards the center axis, allowing for improved torque and rotation. The center axis driver features a magnetic attachment head, which supports any number of standard bits. Like the blade, the center axis driver locks into place via a tension lockbar.

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    The Center Drive also features this bit storage slot which snaps into place within the frame and rotates outward, allowing quick access to a second bit. By default, it comes with a flat head bit already inserted.

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    The Center Drive comes with a 12-bit kit, in addition to the Phillip’s head and flat head bits that are already included with the tool. It also comes complete with a nylon and elastic sheath which accommodates both the Center Drive and the bit set. The sheath can be mounted by the rear to a belt either vertically or horizontally via its rear straps.

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    By Gerber’s own admission, unlike the Center Drive itself, both the bit set and pouch are made in China. Regardless, the tool itself is USA-made, and it has a host of great features that should make for an excellent option for EDC or just a functional backup tool.

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    You can read the official release from Gerber by clicking the link below

    Read the rest of this entry »

    Breakthrough Clean Technologies Partners with Midway U.S.A. for a Legendary Partnership

    October 18th, 2016

    October 17th, 2016: Breakthrough Clean Technologies is proud to announce a very special partnership with Midway U.S.A. as their newest online retailer. Midway U.S.A. will be offering Breakthrough Clean’s line of revolutionary cleaning products through its online web “Megastore”. Midway U.S.A has been offering quality products since 1977, and has recently locked in Breakthrough Clean along with their Solvents, Lubricants, and Cleaning kits.

    “Midway U.S.A. and the Potterfeld’s have been a bedrock in this industry for close to 40 years. They are an amazing family, and mentors for anyone that strives to work hard to build a great company in our industry. It is truly an honor for us, and it can no longer be denied that Breakthrough Clean is here to stay. ” – Gabriel Cabrera (Marketing Director/ Breakthrough Clean Technologies).

    To learn more about Breakthrough Clean Technologies visit: www.BreakthroughClean.com

    Breaking – USSOCOM Selects Mystery Ranch Packs, Again

    October 17th, 2016

    According to industry sources, USSOCOM has selected Mystery Ranch packs in the Assault, Patrol and Recce categories which were all part of a solicitation released last year.  Mystery Ranch has had packs in the SPEAR program for almost a decade and packs designed by Dana Gleason have been used by SOF for over 20 years. We’ll give you more details once we have them.

    Colt 6920LE-CCU

    October 17th, 2016

    The Colt Combat Unit Carbine combines a mid-length gas system, Magpul furniture and an M-Lok rail system from Centurion Arms.

    The carbine was developed with input from Mike Pannone, Daryl Holland and Ken Hackathorn.

    Look for the CCU this month from Talo Inc.

    Tactical Specialty: Mechanix Wear Police and Military Gloves

    October 17th, 2016

    Los Angeles, California –October 17th, 2016 – Mechanix Wear introduces Tactical Specialty (T/S): a line of specialized tactical gloves devoted to protecting the hands of military, police and SWAT professionals. Mechanix Wear Tactical Specialty gloves are designed to perform in a range of high-risk scenarios and environments whether you’re a police officer demanding high-dexterity patrol gloves, or an infantryman requiring military rated flame-resistant combat gloves.

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    Mechanix Wear Tactical Specialty gloves are available in 5 specialty models:

    1. Recon :: Leather Patrol Gloves

    2. Pursuit CR5 :: Cut-­Resistant Duty Gloves

    3. Tempest :: Flame-­Resistant Combat Gloves

    4. Breacher :: Flame-­Resistant Combat Gloves

    5. Azimuth :: Flame-­Resistant Operator Gloves

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    All T/S gloves come standard equipped with touchscreen technology throughout the entire palm to meet the growing demand for connectivity in the field. Flame-­resistant T/S glove models are built with high-­quality FR goatskin leather and Nomex® to meet ASTM D6413 & NFPA 1971-­07 ratings for flame and thermal heat resistance required by the U.S. military. From the patrol to forcible entry, Mechanix Wear Tactical Specialty gloves are built to weather the storm.

    Tactical Specialty Product Video “The Breach”: http://glov.es/TS

    Pray For Tom

    October 17th, 2016

    Some of you may know Tom Greer personally, but many will know him from his nom de plum, Dalton Fury. 

    Tom Greer has done a lot to make our lives better.

    He protected us, spending his youth in the Army, tackling some of the most challenging assignments available. Then, he informed us, telling the story of the hunt for Bin Ladin when no one else would. Later still, he entertained us, authoring a popular series of novels featuring a former special operator. 

    Now is our chance to give back.

    You see, Tom has been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and unfortunately, there’s really not a lot to say about that.

    However, Tom’s family has created a Facebook page for him, as he deals with his illness. Please go and like it and do whatever it is you do, whether it’s praying or sending out positive vibes, think about Tom Greer.  Please let him know how much you appreciate everything he’s done for us. 

    www.facebook.com/Pray-For-Tom-1811259205784426

    New Spec ACUs in MultiCam and UCP Available from Propper International

    October 17th, 2016

    Propper International has been a prime government contractor for decades, supplying clothing and individual equipment. They have just released the new ACU cut, for commercial sale in MultiCam and Universal Camouflage Pattern.

    For those of you unfamiliar with the new cut, concurrent with the release of the Operational Camouflage Pattern, the service made some changes to the design of the Army Camouflage Uniform.

    Coat

    – Mandarin collar has been replaced with a fold down collar design
    – Upper sleeve pocket hook and loop flap closure replaced with a zipper
    – Pocket lengthened by one inch
    – Elbow patch pad removed and hook and loop for patches removed, but double fabric reinforcement has been retained
    – Sleeve pen pocket reduced from three pen channels to two

    Trousers

    – Drawstring removed from waistband
    – Cord and barrel removed from cargo pocket and replaced with button closure
    – Knee patch pad removed and hook and loop for patches removed, but double fabric reinforcement has been retained
    – Hook and loop on lower leg pocket flap replaced with button closure

    For many, the MultiCam pattern is welcome, considering it outperforms the Army’s OCP. However, many of you may be scratching your heads over the UCP offering. This is because some organizations outside of the Army, continue to use the pattern.

    The uniforms are available in 50/50 NYCO or Battle Rip 65/35 PolyCotton in MultiCam and 50/50 NYCO in UCP.

    Whiskey 5: Raidon Tactics

    October 17th, 2016

    Whiskey 5 is a recurring Soldier Systems Daily feature that asks “Who, What, Where, When, and Why” of industry leaders, manufacturers and instructors — to let you hear how they describe themselves. It’s intended to give you a close and thorough look at some of the people that make our industry unique. We’ve found these basic 5 questions to be the basic keys to understanding. Past Whiskey-5s have included business from Provengo to Kryptek, and all sorts of other companies in between.

    Today we’ll be sharing an overview of North Carolina’s Raidon Tactics Inc.

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    Who
     
    Raidon Tactics is a training company located in North Carolina. It is run by Frankie McRae, a former Ranger and Special Forces NCO who instructed at the U.S. Army Special Warfare Center and School. McRae’s experience alone would make Raidon worth looking into, but Raidon’s entire instructor staff is comprised of seasoned professionals, with an aggregate total of over 100 years of Special Operations experience. Raidon offers one-on-one instruction for classes ranging from firearms fundamentals for new shooters to advanced skills for highly-trained special operations troops. Because McRae and so many of his instructors were Special Operations senior leaders who held positions in SF schools, and they’re close to Army SF’s heartland, Raidon maintains working relationships with military units to facilitate needed training.

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    What
     
    Raidon Tactics is a go-to company for those requiring realistic, relevant training from skilled, experienced instructors. Raidon offers individual and team training in rifles, pistols and shotguns, Tactical Casualty Combat Care/EMT/paramedic training, counter-ambush and PSD driving, surveillance, sniper/observer skills, aerial marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat, K9 handling, edged weapons, corporate and travel threat mitigation, and many other courses. Raidon trains military, law enforcement and private citizens of all ages.

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    When
     
    Raidon bought their facility in 2009, made improvements and opened the facility for training a year later.

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    Where
     
    Raidon Tactics is based in Bunnlevel, North Carolina, minutes from Fort Bragg. Raidon operates a low-restriction training facility almost 365 days a year, minus Christmas and Easter. The facility has numerous live fire training bays, a 360-degree ballistic shoot house, and 100- and 25-yard shooting ranges for the public. “Low restriction” means exactly that; Raidon students shoot from elevated positions, vehicles and other barricades. Firearms classes offer a full complement of steel targets to challenge shooting skills. Raidon also leases a 1000-acre farm for realistic scenario-based training; for example, students learning Sensitive Site Exploitation will get many false positives from explosives and other chemicals used for farming. Raidon has a hardball road for Vehicle Interdiction training, which is used often by Special Forces units on near Ft Bragg. Language skills can be tested in realistic scenario-based training exercises that employ multilingual role players to enhance realism. 

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    Why
     
    Because the military makes it hard to get good training.

    McRae dealt for years with the Army’s policy of ruining good training opportunities with bureaucratic obstacles and overbearing safety rules. After retiring he decided to open his own facility where he could provide the best training possible with the least red tape.  There are very few military facilities where a unit can incorporate evasive driving, CQB, hand-to-hand combat, TCCC, and small unit tactics into one exercise, without having to deal with an old-school sergeant major waving a reflective belt. Instead of drowning troops in unnecessary hurdles, Raidon Tactics has perfected the turn-key method of providing training to Special Operations units. Raidon Tactics even provides all weapons, ammo and gear to all of students in order to make training as painless and smooth as possible.

    Find Raidon Tactics online at raidontactics.com.

    Also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RaidonTactics

    You can read more about Raidon Tactics chief instructor Frankie McRae in this interview here:
    www.recoilweb.com/preview-zeroed-in-frankie-mcrae-81521