GORE-Tex Professional

Posts Tagged ‘FirstSpear’

Gotta Love the Power of the Internet

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

Last month, we posted an article about a Hill People Gear project, the Bike Frame Bag. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones to see the utility in their design. Our friends at Predator Intelligence also mentioned the weekend project. Turns out, a lot of folks also thought it was a good idea. It seems it was enough for HPG to work out production issues with FirstSpear.

They will begin selling the Bike Frame Bag soon. Multicam will sell for $25, and any other color will sell for $20. Here’s the kicker, they are looking for your input on which color to produce first. Go to their projects page and participate in the survey. They’ll make up their minds on Friday, so make your vote count.

www.hillpeoplegear.com

MiliPol in Review

Friday, October 28th, 2011

Courtesy of the Polish military magazine Special Ops. Special Ops is printed bi-monthly with a circulation of nearly 10000 copies. They started in 2009 and have become Poland’s top SOF dedicated journal.

Revision Batlskin

Photo: Bartosz Szolucha

Remington Adaptive Combat Rifle

Photo: Andrzej Krugler

Brügger & Thomet MP45

Photo: Andrzej Krugler

FirstSpear Siege

Photo: Andrzej Krugler

Princeton Tec Charge

Photo: Andrzej Krugler

Sako TRG M10 Multi-Caliber Configurable Sniper Weapon

Photo: Andrzej Krugler

Inforce Weapon Mounted Light

Photo: Andrzej Krugler

Arc’teryx LEAF Alpha Jacket in MultiCam

Photo: Agnieszka Szwed

Camelbak Mil-Spec Antidote Reservoir

Photo: Agnieszka SzwedHeckler & Koch Bundeswehr G28 Designated Marksman Rifle

Photo: Agnieszka Szwedwww.special-ops.pl
www.facebook.com/MagazynSpecialOps

Ronnie Fowlkes Joins FirstSpear

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

Today, FirstSpear, announced the addition of Ronnie Fowlkes to their leadership team. Fowlkes will serve as FirstSpear’s Director of Business Development, drawing on 20 years of industry and firsthand professional user experience to compliment FirstSpear’s unique high speed, customer driven business model.

A former U.S. Marine and St. Louis PD SWAT/HRT team member, Fowlkes has been intimately involved for more than two decades in the development and delivery of top quality gear for our men and women in uniform. Prior to joining the FirstSpear team, Fowlkes served as Military Products Sales & Business Development Manager for ITW and as Manager of Business Development at Eagle Industries. In his new capacity, Fowlkes will interface directly with Professional Users from both the Law Enforcement and Military communities, utilizing his operational and business development background to further evolve and market the innovative designs created by First Spear’s Product Development Team.

“Ronnie brings 20 years of unique industry experience working with operators that rely on the performance of their equipment every day. His addition will help FirstSpear continue to expand our portfolio of tactical warfighter equipment, with a total focus on solutions targeted to the professional user,” said FirstSpear President and founder Scott Carver. “I have worked personally with Ronnie in the load carriage and personal protective product space for many years and we are excited to have him as part of our team.”

“FirstSpear’s commitment to providing the professional user with products that offer enhanced performance with minimal weight, and their in-depth understanding of the unique mission needs of the warfighter makes FirstSpear a standout in this industry,” said new Director of Business Development Ronnie Fowlkes. “I am very pleased to have the opportunity to be a part of the FirstSpear team and am looking forward to continuing my work with the professional user community to develop and field the mission critical, high-quality gear that they need to be combat effective.”

FirstSpear designs are produced with direct input from the end user and by developers who take into account specific mission needs, resulting in innovative, capability-driven products. The FirstSpear production facility is located in Fenton, MO and this new venture has lead to the creation of more than 80 skilled manufacturing jobs with plans to continue this growth in the near term.

Congratulations to both Ronnie and FirstSpear. It’s a great match.

www.first-spear.com

Whiskey 5 – FirstSpear

Friday, September 30th, 2011

Who
FirstSpear develops, designs and manufactures tactical equipment that directly increases the lethality and survivability of the modern day U.S. warfighter. FirstSpear’s products are developed with direct input from the end user, taking into account specific mission needs. The end result is innovative, capability-driven products that precisely meet the wants of the user.

What
FirstSpear is dedicated is the rapid design and delivery of innovative personal protective equipment and enhanced lightweight load carriage solutions to U.S. and allied warfighters, and professional users. FirstSpear’s emphasis is on meeting the very unique and ever-evolving mission needs of each warfighter, and to this end maintains very open dialogues with end users to ensure excellence in product functionality. The company’s equipment is built to government specific requirements to achieve the best combination of weight and durability.

Where
FirstSpear is headquartered in Fenton, Missouri. The company conducts significant work on research and development, and these efforts, as well as prototyping and substantial manufacturing work, are conducted out of Missouri. In keeping with FirstSpear’s commitment to domestic manufacturing and ensuring that the technologies used by our soldiers and professional users remain here in the United States, the company provides fully Berry Amendment compliant products to the US Military.

When
FirstSpear was founded in 2010 by a team of experienced industry professionals and former U.S. servicemen with over 30 years of experience in the load carriage field. Members of FirstSpear’s team have successfully designed, developed, and fielded some of the world’s most significant load-carriage systems currently in use by the U.S. Department of Defense. FirstSpear unveiled their full suite of 60 products in July of 2011 and has been filling orders since the company’s inception in late 2010.

Why
FirstSpear’s core mission, the one that really matters, is to support the men and women who risk their lives for our country and our freedoms. The FirstSpear team is working every day to make equipment that is lighter, with increased functionality and durability to broaden warfighter capabilities. The company strives to continually raise the bar in equipment excellence and will continue on this path of innovation for years to come. FirstSpear is honored and privileged to support the modern day warfighters’ missions, and thanks them for their loyalty.

www.first-spear.com

MDM – FirstSpear

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

20110927-100244.jpg

It’s a big show with small surprises. One of the best products out there is the Missing Link. This patent pending device allows you to adapt any PALS equipped pouch for use with a gun belt. You simply loop the MOLLE webbing thru the Missing Link and it Velcroes into place on your belt. This devise literally cuts in half the number of pouches you need to purchase by increasing the versatility of your standard MOLLE pouches. I have a few and love them.

www.first-spear.com

FirstSpear Platform Combinations

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

By now most of you have already checked out FirstSpear’sâ„¢ website or catalog and you will have noticed that they have worked hard to develop a system. Three of their platforms are designed to work alone or in concert with one another: The Sleeperâ„¢, The Beat Upâ„¢, and OAGREâ„¢.


The Sleeperâ„¢
Designed in conjunction with Crye Precisionâ„¢, the Sleeperâ„¢ is designed to wear over or under garments and can be worn alone or in conjunction with the other platforms featured in this article. It gets its name from


The Beat Upâ„¢ PC (Plate Carrier) – SAPI/ESAPI/SPEAR
The Beat Up gets its name from WW II’s Long Range Desert Group (LRDG). They referred to a raid as a “Beat Up” and FirstSpearâ„¢ developed it for just this sort of operation. It can be worn alone or in conjunction with the other platforms to beef up their protection level.


Operational Assault Ground Reconnaissance Exploitation (OAGREâ„¢) Tactical Vest
The OAGREâ„¢ was actually first conceived for use by Recce elements but the Assaulters saw it and recommended a few changes. It is great for those who need a more traditional load bearing or assault vest. It can be worn alone or over The Sleeperâ„¢. That you can add The Beat Upâ„¢ allows it to be instantly uparmored for the task at hand.

Here are some shots of various combinations. The Beat Upâ„¢ attaches to the other platforms via ITW G-hooks that attach to a discreet tab system.


Beat Upâ„¢ / Sleeperâ„¢
– shoulder straps and padding removed from Beat Upâ„¢
– Beat Upâ„¢ cummerbund attached to Sleeperâ„¢
– optional Beat Upâ„¢ attachment kit connects Beat Upâ„¢ to discreet tabs on Sleeperâ„¢


OAGREâ„¢ / Sleeperâ„¢
– Plate and soft armor inside sleeper
– Foam shoulder and waist pad removed from OAGREâ„¢
– Assaulters Gun Belt attached to OAGREâ„¢


Beat Upâ„¢ / OAGREâ„¢
– cummerbund, shoulder straps, and padding removed from Beat Upâ„¢
– optional Beat Up attachment kit connects Beat Upâ„¢ to discreet tabs on OAGREâ„¢

FirstSpearâ„¢ has gone to great lengths to incorporate the latest material technologies such as printed Velcroâ„¢ into their designs. Additionally, their products are Berry compliant and offered in Black, Coyote, Khaki, Ranger Green, and MultiCam.

www.first-spear.com

More on New Dutch Camo

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

We recently posted a photo of the new Dutch camouflage pattern. Now, our friends at LEAFGEARhave posted several photos of the new proposed barracks dress in the woodland pattern on their Facebook wall. While not definitive, it gives you an idea of what it will look like out in the wild. Offered by COBBS Industries, the garments are manufactured by NFM who used the design of their Combat Jacket from the GARM line. We are HUGE fans of the NFM stuff, some of which will be brought into the US this fall by FirstSpear. Add in fabric provided by TenCate and you have to consider how exciting it is to see so many European companies working together to make this happen.

FirstSpear Commercial Catalog

Monday, July 18th, 2011

FirstSpear’s launch last week was a big success. Here’s their commercial catalog. There is also a Government catalog for qualified agencies with some items that will not be available for the open market.

FirstSpear Commercial Catalog

www.first-spear.com