Danner Reckoning GTX

Brand & Oppenheimer Acquires Performance Textiles, Inc

January 21st, 2014

RED BANK, N.J. – January 21, 2014 – Brand & Oppenheimer Co., Inc. (B&O), a leading textile converter, today announced it has acquired the assets of Performance Textiles, Inc., a leading supplier of high-performance fabrics engineered for domestic and export customers, some of whom have worked with the company since its inception in 1988. The acquisition was sponsored by Praesidian Capital, which is an investor in B&O.

The consensual acquisition will complement B&O’s textile capabilities with a diversified product line targeted to sports, recreational products, high visibility work-wear, commercial, military and government end uses. Founded by Bill Gerrow and Peter Sullivan, Performance Textiles has an industry reputation for designing and producing some of the best fabrics available in the market. Safety, maximum performance, and durability continue to be the main focus and are critical for fabrics that are destined for use in parachutes, hot air balloons, and industrial protective vests.

“Performance Textiles is a unique and well established company in our industry with similar production processes and suppliers to ours,” stated Dan Pezold, B&O President and CEO. “The company has distinguished itself as a technology leader, and its technical expertise along with strong customer and supplier relationships are valued additions to our business. We believe our combined resources will benefit everyone in the textile supply chain.”

“We look forward to the new opportunities that come with joining the Brand & Oppenheimer family. Our combined resources will allow us to serve our customers with new and different textile solutions,” Gerrow stated. “What will not change, however, is the excellent service and development of textile technology solutions to which our customers have become accustomed over the past 25 years.”

According to Jason Drattell, Founding Partner of Praesidian, “Since our initial investment in B&O, the company has attracted new management and developed a more strategic focus. We believe that the acquisition of Performance Textiles is an important step in that strategic plan.”

A Tour of the Blue Force Gear Booth at SHOT Show

January 21st, 2014

Thanks to photographer Blind Owl Media, you get a quick tour of BFG’s booth at SHOT Show.

TD TV | Daniel Defense | Shot Show 2014

January 21st, 2014

TD TV visits the Daniel Defense booth to talk with Joe Scull about the new Cerakote Rifle. DD has developed their own cerakote color called: Daniel Defense MilSpec Plus. This color will be available in the V7, Mark18 Short Barrel Rifle, the V5 Lightweight and the M4A1. All available with the new updated Buttstock and Pistol Grip.

Check out more from Daniel Defense at
www.tacticaldistributors.com

See Beyond at OR

January 21st, 2014

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Main floor, booth #11006.

www.beyondclothing.com

Thyrm – Costa SwitchBack Tactical Flashlight Rings

January 21st, 2014

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Thyrm is pleased to announce the launch of the Costa SwitchBack™ Tactical Flashlight Rings in collaboration with Chris Costa of Costa Ludus.

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Chris brought his extensive operational and instructional experience to the SwitchBack™ design, evolving it into a very flexible, tactical tool that bridges the gap between flashlight and weapon-light.

SwitchBacks™ mount securely between the tailcap and flashlight body allowing for:
-Faster Deployment
-Enhanced Retention During Firearm Manipulation
-Natural, Two-Handed Shooting

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“Many of the original flashlight techniques developed by Ken Good and Dave Maynard are still relevant and we wanted a product that would work with their techniques in addition to newer methods of employment. Likewise, we have a lot of respect for instructors like Matt Graham who showed the community the benefits of additional retention features on flashlights. The SwitchBack™ builds off these techniques and enhancements, taking it to the next level of capability and durability.”-Chris Costa

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Made in the USA and currently available in two sizes, SwitchBacks fit the most popular SureFire flashlights including:

Large: G2X, 6PX, P2X and P3X Fury, and some older models

Backup: EB1 and EB2 backup lights (without tailcap shroud)

thyrm.com

Smith Optics Elite

January 21st, 2014

elite.smithoptics.com

USAF Updates Uniform Instruction AFI 36-2903

January 21st, 2014

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(Click to view .pdf)

Late last week, the US Air Force issued an update to AFI 36-2903, “Dress and Appearance of Air Force Personnel.” While there are numerous changes, I am happy to see a few. To be honest, most of these changes were happening anyway. It just made them OK.

Morale T-shirts are back! Like they ever went away. Squadron color T-shirts may once again be worn with the ABU or flight suit when in-garrison or on-station during unit temporary duty assignments and contingency deployments. Shirts must be one color throughout the squadron, and may have only a small squadron patch up to 5″ in diameter over the left chest. But, only on Fridays.

Morale Patches are back! if you’re wearing a bag anyway. And, only on Fridays. Remember those pithy little tabs everyone had made that went on the pen pocket Velcro when you cut off the flap? Those are back too. But only on, you guessed it, Fridays.

Sister Service Qualification Badges are back! Looking at the AFI, it appears that it’s now game on. Not only are sister service aeronautical badges authorized but also the Army badges previously authorized with the BDU such as Air Assault and Pathfinder. Based on what I saw in the AFI it also looks like badges such as USN warfare pins are now also authorized for wear on the ABU and service dress a similar fashion to a Group 4 badge in the US Army. Additionally, tabs like ‘Ranger’ and ‘Special Forces’ are also once again authorized for wear. However, for some odd reason, the US Army ‘Airborne’ tab is in the AFI and it has never been an individual award but rather a part of a unit’s Shoulder Sleeve Insignia. Although, admittedly, back in the day I saw Airmen assigned to joint units like JCSE wear it stand alone on their sleeve.

Unmanned Aerial System / Sensor Operator Badges? Yep, they join Cyber Operations and have their own badges now so they can be held in contempt by the other ‘Operators.’

No More Color Restrictions for Running Shoes! Pretty self explanatory.

No More Reflective Belts! That is unless your CC is a spineless, risk averse toad. Then, you’re screwed. It’s up to the local commander now.

No More Wire Hangers! I just threw that one in for fun. It’s only a rule if you’re named Christina Crawford.

You Can Wear Black Socks for PT Not sure why you’d want to, but you can.

Maintainers Must Wear Green Boots Black boots are out, sorry guys.

Cell Phones No Longer Have to be Black This is the one change to AFI 36-2903 that will have the biggest impact. Everybody is carrying a cell phone and most everyone has been out of regs for the past few years because somebody wanted everyone to have the same color of phone. The only guys with Black phones were the ones with taps on their low quarters. So, now that’s fixed and no more Letters of Counseling for that hot pink phone. Just don’t attach it to your uniform or purse and you’ll be ok.

Now, if the Army could just itself together and release the update to AR 670-1.

Manta With Attitude

January 21st, 2014

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The Manta Webbing Adapter from S&S Precision we mentioned during SHOT Show is now available for $14.95. The MWA allows you to mount your Manta Strobe to webbing such as MOLLE.

www.sandsprecision.com