PMCI May 2017

MAY 2017

CONTENTS 4 TRAINING: FORCE ON FORCE; A CASE FOR AIRSOFT IN THE REAL WORLD? WE GET TOGETHER AGAIN WITH ELI FROM PROJECT GECKO TO GARNER HIS THOUGHTS ON WHEN AIRSOFT IS APPROPRIATE IN RELATION TO TRAINING. 8 BOOK REVIEW: “WAR ON TWO FRONTS” 10 TRAINING: HORIZON MEDICAL FULL UPDATES ON SOME OF THE VERY BEST TRAINING IN THE UK 15 EDITORS COMMENT: A WHOLE NEW WORLD ORDER 16 GEAR ON TEST: THE PMCI TEAM MAKE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS 20 TACTICAL INNOVATION: VIPER RE-ENGINEERED VIPER HAVE BEEN MAKING TACTICAL KIT FOR YEARS, BUT HAVE THEY FINALLY HIT THEIR STRIDE? 24 TACTICAL INNOVATION: NEW DIRECTIONS FROM HELIKON-TEX 2016 SAW SOME NEW DIRECTIONS FOR HELIKON-TEX; 2017 TAKES THINGS TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL! 28 IWA 2017; THE PMCI TAKE AFTER TRAVELLING TO LAS VEGAS FOR SHOT THE UK TEAM BRING US THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE EURO EQUIVALENT! 33 KNIVES AND TOOLS: BIRLER AXE TRAMPAS TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT THE BIRLER AXE, ONE OF THE GREAT PRODUCTS TO EMERGE FROM COLUMBIA RIVER KNIFE AND TOOL’S “FORGED BY WAR” PROGRAM 36 FIREARMS: KIMBER DOWNRANGE WITH ANOTHER AMERICAN ICON, THE KIMBER FAMILY OF 1911S! 40 TECH: AIMCAM IT’S A FULL BLOWN PAIR OF SAFETY GLASSES WITH A 1080P CAMERA, WHAT MORE DOES A SHOOTER NEED! 44 SKILLS AND DRILLS: ANDY GETS HIS TEETH INTO THE OFT FORGOTTEN SKILL OF POINT SHOOTING 48 SPECIAL REPORT: BLUE FORCE GEAR ALL THE VERY LATEST FROM THE US GEAR GUYS! 53 BOOK REVIEW: “COUNTERINSURGENCY IN PARADISE; SEVEN DECADES OF CIVIL WAR

Editor (UK): Bill Thomas Editor (International): Dan Eastes Graphic Design: Baz Thakur Publisher: Nigel Streeter PMCI Magazine is a digital-only publication, published bi-monthly and available FREE OF CHARGE via the PMCI app on the following platforms: Apple iOS, Android, Windows 8, and Windows Phone.

For more information visit our publishing partner: www.PocketMags.com PMCI can also be read online at: www.issuu.com Calibre Publishing Limited Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6PL Tel: 01684 878 003 Web: www.pmcimagazine.com ©Calibre Publishing Limited 2014

IN THE PHILIPPINES” 55 INDUSTRY VACANCIES: LOOKING FOR WORK? JUST CHECK HERE. Copyright © Calibre Publishing 2017. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the publisher in writing. The opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The Editors reserve the right to edit submissions prior to publication.

Thank you for downloading this Edition of PMCI, the FREE digital publication dedicated to PMC Operatives. PMCI is written by individuals with first hand knowledge and experience of the subject they write about - people like Col. Gerry Schumacher (USSF Ret.), author Simon Chambers and ex-TL Dan E, all of whom have an intimate understanding of what the role entails and the day to day challenges faced by PMCs. PMCI will provide a platform to review and discuss the things to matter to all of us, such personal equipment, training, employment and lifestylestyle management - and these are also our core fundamentals. We hope you enjoy this Edition of PMCI and if you have any feedback or comments, or would like to contrubute to future issues, please let us know by email to: editor@pmcimagazine.com

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Letter, idea or question?

Got something to say? A question for our experts? An article or article idea? Drop us a line and let us know. Either email the editor (editor@pmcimagazine.com), write to us at the Calibre Publishing address above, or talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.

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TRAINING:

FORCE ON FORCE

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TRAINING:

FORCE ON FORCE For this issue PMCI is once again privileged to have the input of our good friend Eli from Project GECKO; to date many shooters see airsoft replicas as simple “toys” but Eli tells us otherwise!

B

ack when I was in the IDF SF we always had issues when it came down to proper force on force training. The issues were normally oriented around budget and tools, but before we will get into it let me start this article with a clear statement; unlike many others, I am not writing this article to feel better, nor to find an excuse to justify folks with SEAL patches or Crye precision goodies with a beer in their hands. No. I am writing this article as an instructor who is interested in human behaviour and its effect on my students.

Also keep in mind that this article context is within the use of Airsoft in CQB trainings and settings (10m below).

Airsoft is a “toy” like platform that either is powered with an electronic or gas mechanism. Honestly, I’ve got no idea how it works or what airsoft gun was used to find Bin Laden. What I do know is how much potential those airsoft variants have. In this article, I am going to describe what are in my opinion the benefits.

1. Punishment & Reward in the human learning process.

“Wisdom is nothing more than healed pain.” –Robert Gary Lee There are dozens of systems on the market that are available for training for the purpose of Force on Force. Some of those platforms, such as MILES or other great inventions are optics

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based solutions which collect normally virtual data (lasers, zone, distance, etc.). In addition to that, training solutions like FX, UTM, Paintball or Airsoft are more mechanical, immediate tools that integrate more rewarding aspects such as recoil, indication of hit zone (made by projectile), weapon operation (in some gas blow back variations you have an identical bolt mechanism), but above all that, those platforms deliver the ultimate learning stimulus; pain.

Pain has been that personal guidance that brought the human race to where it is today, the most innovative, powerful and adaptive species on this planet. If we look at it from an historical point of view, humans are inferior in design. In the old days when we felt the cold of the coming winter, we developed clothes and prepared our food based on painful experiences from the year prior. We felt the pain of the solid earth and designed 40,000 years ago what we call today shoes.

From personal experience, the majority of students (whether experienced or not) will understand the fine fundamentals of each topic they learn by the application of punishment or reward. In other words, when I teach students how to, let´s say, slice the pie correctly in CQB, they would understand the bigger picture aka the concept, but they will often disregard or dismiss important fine details such as how to hold the gun correctly in CQB, to avoid different types of exposures that normally form my experience leads to devastating results.

WHEN THE CLICK IS MADE.

The majority of students will correctly understand 90% of their false or slightly incorrect perceived information about, let’s say a certain tactic or movement, only when they will receive physical feedback. A great example for a physical feedback in this case would be a simulated ‘threat’ with an airsoft gun, shooting the individual who exposes himself before he successfully ‘’slices’’ the room from the outside. Since the human behaviour isn’t really comfortable with this uncomfortable feeling, the individual will adapt and change or recalculate what he learned into over calming this new feedback; pain.

Airsoft guns do just that. And in extreme low cost in comparison to FX or other tools. While the sound of most airsoft guns perhaps not necessarily mimics the sound of a real gun, it does – unlike other tools – triggers that fear of pain.

3. DRY FIRE REALISM If you would go every day to your local shooting range, say over a course of one month, you’d be shocked how rarely you would see the same faces again (applies to all backgrounds). Truth has to be spoken; even in countries or states like Texas, where gun laws are quite ok, the majority of people have no time, will nor money to go to the range regularly. That’s where airsoft stretches its relevance beyond most tools in the spectrum of training. See, the majority of airsoft weapons, especially Gas Blow Back variations, have a very close to reality weight and mechanism. From manipulation drills, to interface interaction with the bolt catch (that gives same training feedback as it would be a real one), or a simple focal vision training with pistols that simulates a fairly nearly similar pivot effect that a standard pistol has, you have the very unique possibility to train for perfection and fill up that ‘repetitions log’ on each of your motoric skills before you actually hit the range!

It was not so long ago, that such capability was quite rare and unreachable even for service men.

FORCE ON FORCE

4. BUDGET While many people like to dismiss airsoft guns as a tool for “wannabes” (a statement well deserved) you would be amazed how many units or organisations are recognising the benefits of using airsoft guns. Its maintenance, accessory flexibility or projectile cost against effectiveness is outstanding in terms of

TRAINING:

2. FORCE ON FORCE If paper targets are the mirror of skills then human targets are the battle scars of skills, and scars don’t heal. 90% of the training’s I got to witness throughout my career as a student / instructor were done in shooting ranges and around paper targets. This is one of those unconscious sins that many instructors get away with. The problem with paper targets is that they reflect linear excellence rather than reality-based, unbiased feedback. Now it is true we cannot shoot humans or cows in the shooting range, but the importance of a repeating Force on Force (FOF) training should be existent in any training. You are probably asking why, so let me help you.

When it comes down to training, I want to have authentic training data rather than controlled one. Let me repeat it in civilian language; I would like to receive feedback that was not influenced by any foreign interests. Instead, I would be more interested in raw, hard and authentic feedback that will point out viciously at where is my mens weakness.

With that being said a true and solid training feedback (and often success) is normally generated by how the target is interacting or evolving in according to the user XYZ decisions

whether it is tactics or movement. FOF allows us to witness reaction times, human behaviour, decisions, orientation phases and much more. It is training through authenticity.

This is basically why FOF is more critical and way more important than the shooting range, especially when it comes down to CQB contextual training. The shooting range is merely a mechanical laboratory for specific skill sets which are constructed in theatrical mechanism while FOF is the live experiment with uncontrolled results.

TIP : Paper targets are like empty cars; put a driver into it, and it is faster and unpredictable.

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TRAINING:

FORCE ON FORCE

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costs and logistics. For the majority of people who do not need to calculate the cost of logistics it might not mean a lot, but the price of 1€ (2€ in some nutcases) per FX bullet is one (in the line of many other) reasons as of why many officers and soldiers receive less and less hours on practical force on force training and just get fed up with dry Powerpoint presentations. And as mentioned above, FOF is probably the ultimate summary type of training.

5. FUCK YOUR “MILSIM”; IT’S CALLED EXCELLENCY. While military simulation eventing or “Milsim” is honestly another word for drinking beer or wearing insignias that were never earned, I like to use the word “Excellency” to describe people who are engaged in airsoft based training’s, rather than all of these pretending to be Special Forces or astronauts.

Ever since I got out of the military and started to do tactical course overseas, I came across a wide spectrum of individuals.

Some of them were active LEAF, some were not. Some were Government, and some were civilians. But what was similar to those different colours and shapes of people was their desire to excel, to perform, to become a better team player, a great first responder, a better shooter, a better thinker. I always thought that those types were not so common at first, but the more my journey continued across different countries the more I started to recognise, those types of people were actually existing, but in the shadows. Some good examples for you to look at would probably be Robo Murray, Kireru Airsoft, Alex Smith of CAG, Stirling AS UK and many others you probably never heard of.

Those are individuals who strive to excel and achieve by training and setting an example.

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My sincere thanks go to Eliran Feildboy, Founder, CEO and Chief Instructor of Project GECKO for allowing PMCI to reproduce this article which first appeared on their website. Eliran was born in Israel, and before he moved to Germany he served in the IDF in one of their SF units.

Project GECKO is a company which specialises in the field of Tactical Training and Consultancy services. Find out more by visiting www.projectgecko.info

FORCE ON FORCE

Thanks for reading.

And a small tip to the ‘average joe’; regardless to your background and level of achievement, do not forget your origins and level of training. Be true to yourself and earn your status. Know that you are still learning, and master of nothing. just like the rest of us all.

TRAINING:

WHY DO I TELL YOU THIS? Putting all those nonsense games and BS culture aside, those airsoft guns are merely a tool. But that tool gives you an option to turn your average time in the range or in the patrol car into a lifestyle of training. Become proficient in first aid and medical applications. Become effective and careful with firearms. Or become a better civilian who can cooperate and understand emergency services in edge scenarios, become a useful person to society that sees those in need.

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BOOK REVIEW War on two fronts

WAR ON TWO FRONTS Shortly after the launch of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the war in Iraq became the most confusing in U.S. history, the high command not knowing who to fight, who was attacking Coalition troops, and who among the different Iraqi groups were fighting each other. Yet there were a few astute officers like Lt. Col. Christopher Hughes, commanding the 2d Battalion of the 327th Inf. Regiment, 101st Airborne, who sensed the complexity of the task from the beginning.

In “War on Two Fronts” Col. Hughes writes movingly of his “No-Slack” battalion at war in Iraq. The war got off to a bang for Hughes, when his brigade command tent was fragged by a Muslim sergeant in the 101st, leaving him briefly in charge of the brigade. Amid the night-time confusion of 14 casualties, a nearby Patriot missile blasted off, panicking nearly everyone while mistakenly bringing down a British Tornado fighter-bomber.

As Hughes battalion forged into Iraq they successfully liberated the city of Najaf, securing the safety of Grand Ayatollah Sistani and the Mosque of Ali, while showing an acute cultural awareness in doing so that caught the world’s attention. It was a feat that landed Hughes within the pages of Time, Newsweek and other publications. The Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne then implemented creative programs in the initial post war occupation, including harvesting the national wheat and barley crops, while combating nearly invisible insurgents.

Conscious that an army battalion is a community of some 700-plus households, and that when a unit goes off to war the families are intimately connected in our internet age, Hughes makes clear the strength of those connections and how morale is best supported at both ends.

Transferred to Washington after his tour in Iraq, Hughes then writes an illuminating account of the herculean efforts of many in the Pentagon to work around the corporatist elements of its bureaucracy, in order to better understand counterinsurgency and national reconstruction, which T.E. Lawrence characterised as like learning to eat soup with a knife. To read this book will help you to understand the sources of mistakes made and still being made and the process needed to chart a successful strategy.

Written with candour and no shortage of humour, intermixed with brutal scenes of combat and frank analysis, this book is a mustread for all those who seek insight into the war in the Middle East, and became winner of The Army Historical Foundation s Distinguished Writing Award for Excellence in U.S. Army History Writing- Journals, memoirs and letters, June 2008.

Price: UK£14.95 Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Casemate; Reprint edition (16 Jan. 2017) Language: English ISBN-10: 1612004318 ISBN-13: 978-1612004310

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TRAINING : FREC LEVEL 3, FPOS LEVEL 4 & MEDICINE IN REMOTE AREAS

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TRAINING FREC LEVEL 3, FPOS LEVEL 4 & MEDICINE IN REMOTE AREAS Requirements for the dreaded “paperwork” are constantly in flux, and many of us struggle to keep pace with the changes; with all the hype and social media posts regarding the change to the FPOSi Certification and FREC Level 3, one of our “active” PMCI contributors has now completed both qualifications with Horizon, one of the leading Security and Medical providers in the industry, and this is what he reported back.

I

wanted to train with Horizon and see what they have to say to the people on the ground. Horizon is an internationally renowned and accredited security and medical company founded in response to the growing need for bespoke solutions for individuals and corporate clients. They offer a comprehensive range of services in the provision of security consultancy, security management, manned guarding services, training and manpower solutions.

Horizon were the first training provider to deliver the FPOS level 4 and FREC Level 3 course in January 2017 while having the awarding body representatives observing. Horizon instructors also contributed to the new course syllabus: their experience is impressive, from current NHS paramedics to Army Medical Corps Medics, with military and civvi experience around the world including many years in Iraq and Afghan on both government and commercial operations. They currently

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provide training to many organisations and agencies in Iraq, Afghan, Libya, Europe and at their HQ in Scotland. During my time at Horizon I sat with the team to ask them what they think.

PMCI: There’s been a lot of discussion and social media posts about the FPOS Level 4, FREC Level 3 including length of course, cost and which one should people do. What advice would Horizon give?

HORIZON: It’s ultimately down to the individual needs. What we would say is that one course isn’t replacing the other.

Its two different awarding bodies with similar syllabuses but different testing criteria - both cater for the requirements of the security industry. If your sole interest is to work internationally in the security industry the FPSO Level 4 is recognised globally and for those people in particular the European contactors FPSO Level 4 is currently the best course for you. If you’re a British operator and/or anyone who has an

interest in working in the UK in a professional medical capacity either for a career, part time or during rotation then FREC Level 3 moving onto FREC Level 4 is the route we advise. We’ve had guys who have done both courses to cover all eventualities.

Both the FREC and the FPOS course are approved criteria for the SIA, so it really is down to individual needs. As we know things within the industry can change quickly and other providers may advise differently however as it stands we feel that’s the best advice we can give for now.

PMCI: What are the main differences between the old FPOS course and the new Level 4 qualification and the introduction of FREC Level 3?

PMCI: What type of people can attend Horizons Security & Medical Courses?

HORIZON: Our doors are open to anyone that wants to train and improve themselves and their skill set. Predominantly our students are from the military or private security sector however we also train ambulance technicians, private healthcare professionals, doctors, remote medics, allied healthcare professionals and those who wish to go on expeditions and deploy to remote areas including current and post hostile regions.

We’re also seeing an increased number of first responders, female students and service leavers using their ECLAS credits.

PMCI: What type of training equipment and environments do you provide for your students to learn and gain experience?

HORIZON: It’s imperative that we use all the current and necessary medical equipment that’s used on the front line of everyday emergencies both here in the UK and abroad in hostile regions where many of our students deploy. We use live tissue demonstrations including the lungs and heart, state of the art mannequins, IV and IO training devices and real amputees and other actors as causalities. Our dedicated environment rooms and external Middle Eastern vehicle check point can also be adapted to represent other traumatic scenarios such as road

traffic accidents and provide different scenarios and experiences for our students to train in.

The environment rooms have special effects which include fake blood, temperature control, snow, lightning, flashing lights, smoke and sound effects covering a range of noises such as large crowds, screaming, gun fire and explosions all of which adds to the intensity and realism of the experience and training we provide our students.

We also provide the PPE equipment and weapons systems reflective of those currently used on operations. On our CP courses we use a dedicated training facility, top of the range vehicles, and 4x4’s, airsoft weapons and carry out a live introduction shoot as well as IED simulation.

PMCI: You mention your CP Course, what other courses does Horizon provide?

HORIZON: In addition to our FPOS Level 3 & 4, FREC Level 3 & 4, we also provide Medicine in Remote Areas (MIRA), MIRA Refresher, Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), Pre-Trauma Hospital Life Support (PTHLS), Advance Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Major Incident Medical Management (MIMMS), and Off Shore Medic.

We also provide a 21 day Close Protection Course, Hostile Environment Training where we have been very fortunate to provide our students with interviews with companies such as Gardaworld, Olive Group, Minimal Risk, Page Group and Control Risk following the course. We also provide Maritime Security (MSO), Weapons Competency, Basic & Advance Surveillance, Conflict Management and NEBOSH. PMCI: How do people reading this get in touch?

TRAINING : FREC LEVEL 3, FPOS LEVEL 4 & MEDICINE IN REMOTE AREAS

HORIZON: The FPOS Level 4 is now 5 days. The FREC Level 3 is also a 5 day course and at Horizon they both cost the same.

The FPOS course has increased by a day; the course content has increased and there’s a greater emphasis on extra-curricular study both before the course and in the evenings during the course. Its awarding body is Edexcel/Pearsons.

The FREC Level 3 also requires a certain amount of teaching hours to be achieved before certification and there is a workbook to be completed with experience, additional training and CPD (Continuing Professional Development) before moving onto the FREC Level 4. The awarding body is Qualsafe.

We also offer an AOFA (Association of First Aiders) FPOS Level 3 certificate which is SIA accredited. This is mainly for our European students as the method of testing is more appropriate for courses run from our Romanian, Bulgarian and Ukrainian training centres. All of our students also have the opportunity to attend MIRA (Medicine in Remote Areas) which is accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons and can add to your additional learning credits for moving onto the next level. Plus it is a sought after qualification by many contracting companies.

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TRAINING : FREC LEVEL 3, FPOS LEVEL 4 & MEDICINE IN REMOTE AREAS

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HORIZON: Please feel free to browse our website, call or e-mail our head office in Scotland, or send us a message on Facebook or LinkedIn.

So, what do you need to know about my time with Horizon?

Firstly I was a paying student on this course and have attended and witnessed many others over the years. Booking the course was painless; I had a few questions to ask before I booked online and they were answered with 24hrs each time. The online booking is an easy step by step process.

To get to the training centre was also painless: I flew from London to Glasgow airport. From there, there are a couple of options: either £20 taxi journey to Bonhill or by train to Alexandria which cost about £5 with a short taxi to Bonhill, again about £5.

I was met by Jodie Acty who is the Horizon HR Manager.

Jodie was great and briefed me on the accommodation. Jodie tries to meet everyone at the accommodation whenever she can; it’s always good to see a friendly face when you arrive somewhere for the first time and it came across as very professional first impression.

The accommodation has single bed bedrooms. Each has a desk, set of drawers, clothes rail, mirror and TV. They all have individual radiators so you’re in control of the temperature of your own room. The gym has a full set of weights and a couple of benches, a set of kettle bells and a resistant machine with pull up bar. There isn’t a treadmill but that’s what the Scottish

hills are for. The accommodation toilets don’t have a hand dryer which caught me out the first time but that’s not a bad thing as it’s not going off all hours of the night while you’re trying to sleep and you’ll be please to know the showers are constantly hot! The kitchen has a microwave, kettle, toaster, George Foreman-type grill and plates and cutlery. It also has a washing machine, tumble dryer, fridge, vending machine, ironing boards and an iron but no cooker. Overall the accommodation is in good condition, clean, warm and attached to the restaurant, bar and training centre.

The bar and restaurant on site is open to the locals. It wasn’t particularly busy but the people we met were friendly and approachable. The food is excellent value for money and a good size however during busy times it can take a while for your food to arrive. This happened to me three times during the two week period however they do offer a pre-order service and meal discounts for all Horizon students.

Most of the things about the training centre have already been mentioned in the questions above. The environment rooms are excellent. The clinical training room is just that, a replica of a hospital/med centre clinical room. Having the special effects working during practical sessions added a new dimension to your training. In the desert room I was sweating like ten men and in the artic room I was icers. The lecture room is large, heated with a projector and plenty of whiteboards which you’ll be thankful for when you are there.

The Horizon team: it was good having Paul the Managing Director and Chris the Operations Manager around. They interacted with students and regularly came into the lecture room to see what was going on. Chris Morris and Tom Johnston were excellent. The pace they taught at gave everyone the chance to get a grip of the respective subjects. They mixed real life experience and situations with photos, videos and demonstrations. They didn’t think twice about repeating themselves when they had to and they answered every question with an example of their own personal experience not just theoretical text book jargon. Training didn’t end at 17:00: those students that wanted to stay carried on running through practical scenarios in the environment rooms and each morning we went over what we learned the previous day. Chris and Tom made the lectures interesting and we were regularly laughing and spinning dits which made the day go by quickly, and with the practical sessions, it definitely didn’t feel like death by Powerpoint. The exams were like being back at school , sat in a quiet room at a desk with no books or mobile phones, the way it should be. The final practical session had all sorts of problems thrown at you, most of which made you question yourself but once you finished and were debriefed you realise how far you’ve come and how well you’ve improved your skills and knowledge. I highly recommend Horizon as your training provider.

E-mail: training@horizon.uk.com Office Tel: 0800 689 1199 Overseas: 00 44 (0) 1389 755551 Website: www.horizon.uk.com Facebook: Search Horizon or @closeprotectiontrainingUK LinkedIn: Horizon Security Solutions

EDITORS COMMENT I am a real devourer of the Sunday newspapers, and whilst I

leave a communication vacuum that many are eager to fill with

hold the majority of the tabloid press in utter disdain there’s

ridiculous observations and statements. I’ll take gun control as

something about those weekly “broadsheets” that, when time

an example here.

and geographic location, allow I come back to time and again.

When I travel overseas in less than hospitable environments

With the benefit of taking a weeks-worth of news and distilling

when it is legal to do so I will carry a firearm, and I’m comfortable

it into more in-depth stories rather than just a “knee-jerk” reaction

with that because I’ve trained with them for years. Trampas and

piece to mollify the salivating masses the “Sundays” somehow

the majority of our US-based contributors will carry concealed

seem able to give at least a modicum of accurate information.

on a daily basis and train regularly, and even the UK team will

I’ve become increasingly ambivalent about most online news

train as best they can on a regular basis. Note that one singular,

sites, especially with the upturn of so-called “fake news” stories,

all-important word; TRAIN.

and often when an incident takes place overseas I resort not to

After events in London many made the cry that “UK citizens

the “streams” but to the comments of guys I know and trust who

should be allowed to carry a firearm” and I have to say that I’m

are there on the ground; social media and instant messaging,

all in favour of that. What I am most definitely NOT in favour of

despite all their shortfalls, are absolutely invaluable when it

though is the thought that just because an individual carries a

comes to getting the facts straight and fast.

firearm they can be of use in any hostile situation. In my opinion

This has led me to ponder though just how reliant we have

without the correct training, not just in weapons –handling skills

become on the all-pervasive “world wide web of things”, and

but also, and perhaps more importantly, in the mind-set behind

just how fast we expect information to be disseminated, which

the deployment of a weapon, a “guy with a gun” can be as much

may strike you as a little strange given that PMCI would not exist

a hindrance as a boon.

itself without the internet! However, what concerns me most

By all means read the news, keep abreast, and keep utterly

about the intrusions of the “net” into our daily lives is the fact

vigilant but please don’t go thinking that having a gun on your belt

that information is piled upon us continually, very often allowing

will help you change the world; the guys that do that have years

no real pause for thought before a further deluge comes down

of training under their belts and watching a few videos online isn’t

upon our already confused brains.

going to give you even 1% of the skill that they have amassed.

Change is inevitable and a new order of things is coming into

Weigh what you read and see in fullness and back that up with

being right now; nobody can be unaware of the current “rattling of

speaking to those “on the ground” before you comment further.

sabres” on an international stage, and changes and even potential

Wherever you may be people, train hard, stay vigilant and

changes in the governments and structures of the western world

keep safe.

EDITORS COMMENT

A WHOLE NEW WORLD ORDER

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FIRST TACTICAL CANYON DIGITAL COMPASS WATCH AND SUMMIT SIDE SATCHEL

GEAR ON TEST

If you’re a regular reader of PMCI then you’ll know that we’ve been working very closely with emergent US brand First Tactical, and have had the pleasure of dealing with them direct both in the USA and in the UK so the team members on either side of the “Big Pond” have really been able to exchange their thoughts on some really great products.

First Tactical have a thorough belief that the gear they produce is the very best that they can make it, and they’re more than happy to put “their money where their mouth is” when it comes to getting physical products out to us for our usual “let’s see if we can break it!” gear reviews.

Two such products have recently landed with the PMCI crew and the first of these is the CANYON DIGITAL COMPASS WATCH. This tactical watch is the best of both worlds, durable enough to stand up to the toughest jobs and environments yet sophisticated enough to wear every day. Featuring an oversized display with a digital second hand, compass function, and an innovative utility strap it’s a solid piece of kit that feels right as soon as you put it on.

The Canyon Digital Compass features an innovative digital second hand allowing users to visualise seconds counting down based on their needs, as they would with a traditional analogue watch, and coupled with an enlarged time readout the digital second hand enables

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you to complete any job with precision and ease. Featuring a ruler (cm/in) and Morse Code guide on the back of the band you will be equipped for any situation, and STEALTH MODE switches the tactical watch to mute as you enter silent tactical situations.

This however is not what I’d call “subtle” as at 2.4in / 60mm long, 2.1in / 55.5mm wide, and 0.6in / 15.5mm thick this is a timepiece and tool that looks like it really means business, although the broad band width of 0.9in / 24mm makes it very comfortable to wear, even for extended periods. Functions include World Time and three alarms in addition to the compass feature, and the watch is waterproof to 10 metres. So far it’s proved to be a first rate watch, but of course we’ll report back later with a long-term test report.

As we’re always on the run the watch will no doubt prove indispensable, but amongst the team there’s one piece of gear that well all go through on a regular basis, and that’s satchels! Unlike many “go to work” bags our satchels and work bags take one heck of a beating, being not only thrown around in planes, trains and automobiles but also being dragged to the range and out into the field.

I shudder to think of the number I’ve trashed over the years!

This conveniently designed Summit Side Satchel provides extra storage that works with your other carrying gear for maximum efficiency. Top haul handle, a reliable internal hook/loop mounting platform, and a hidden back CCW pocket make this satchel one of a kind and perfect for your EDC needs. The back pocket opens to a normal pocket, while the back wall opens at the top, revealing the CCW compartment.

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GEAR ON TEST

The clever design easily lets you switch from velcro to buckle closure and back again as your mission changes.

With a capacity of approximately 495 cubic inches / 8 litres and weighing in at just 1.75 lbs / 0.8 kg the Summit benefits from five external and ten internal pockets along with areas of MOLLE on both ends and on the front; there’s also a velcro section on the front for your nametape or unit patch. The whole bag is bomber-tough as it’s made from 1000D nylon, backed up in critical areas with 10mm closed cell foam. All the “hardware” is solid as the bag has YKK zippers and Duraflex hardware throughout. To round things out there’s a solid reinforced carry handle and a padded non-slip shoulder strap.

These days I tend to travel with just a small notebook computer and a small digital camera which the Summit swallows easily and safely; the size of the Summit is absolutely perfect for holding all your EDC items along with the “tools of the trade” so if you’re in the market for a well-made, durable and versatile bag then you should really check it out!

For more information on First Tactical gear please visit www.firsttactical.com, or if you’re in the UK www.firsttactical.co.uk

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GEAR ON TEST

SOURCE HYDRATION UPDATE KIT

If you’re going to be at the very heart of the action, moving fast and covering ground then staying properly hydrated is going to be a key part of how you set up your gear. Bill takes a close look at the very latest innovation to hit the market from Source Hydration.

Over the years as a keen outdoorsman, and indeed as a tactical shooter required to wear heavy kit and body armour at times, I’ve always been fascinated by the very mechanics of how our body operates, and what we need to do to maintain peak levels of performance. Probably one of the most important aspects of this is maintaining proper levels of hydration. I was once told by a top mountain athlete that “if you feel thirsty you’re already heading towards dehydration” and that has stuck with me.

I’ve tried many different methods of maintaining full hydration whilst on the go, and was an early adopter of the bladder system where you carry your water inside your pack or on your plate carrier, utilising a hose and bite valve system to take water on board quickly and easily.

About three years ago now I switched to using products from Source, and do date I’ve not looked back!

SOURCE was founded in 1989 by Yoki Gill and Daniel Benoziliyo and now employs more than 200 workers. It has always been a ground-breaker in hydration technology and is well known in the tactical gear, hydration and travel accessories categories worldwide, having been around for over 20 years, and currently selling in more than 25 countries. Designed by soldiers, Sources’ head designer and much of its key personnel are ex- officers from the IDF elite forces.

Sources’ mission is to provide soldiers or professional users around the world with a comprehensive state of the art load bearing and hydration gear solution, so they can successfully perform their present and future missions.

Their aim is to bring traditional textile oriented military gear such as backpacks, water canteens, combat vests and body armour into the next generation of high-end, innovative gear. Source is unique in their holistic approach, looking at the fighting soldier as an integrated platform/ system rather than a carrying mule that bears whatever is “loaded” on it. All their products are produced in-house at their ISO 9001 certified factory, located in Tirat-Carmel, Israel.

At IWA this year I managed to meet in person with the team from Source, and they very quickly brought me up to speed with their very latest developments, and one that impressed me greatly was the “Hydration Update Kit”. The “ILPS 2L-3L Low Profile Hydration + UTA” is their latest low profile hydration reservoir design, conceived for ballistic vest integration, which holds a 2L bladder inserted in ballistic vest, 3L in a pack. Maximum utilisation of their low profile technology reduces the depth of the carrier, making it a truly low profile hydration system.

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The upgrade kit also comes with their “UTA Rapid Refill Adapter”; up until now, as easy as Source bladders are to fill, getting more water into them has meant taking the entire thing out of your pack or the hydration pouch traditionally worn on the rear of the plate carrier. In the real world this has become known as “NAGT” (Not A Good Thing”) as of course this means a stop, or at least a lengthy refilling process. Speaking to the guys from Source they pointed out that if you’re with a buddy this can be faster, but if you’re on your own you’ll need to remove your pack, or indeed your plate carrier to carry this out; they also told me that snipers have learnt to watch for this happening and that they have actively targeted personnel in the process of refilling their system in the field.

With the UTA Adapter though you can refill your bladder directly through the drinking hose! By unplugging the “bite” part of the valve you can replace it with the UTA Adapter, which is a rubber “collar” device that allows you to mate the tube with bottled water or indeed a tap. Holding a bottle up like an IV Drip allows gravity to fill the system, approximately 1.5 litres per minute; if you have access to a tap with decent pressure you can load-on up to 2 litres a minute.

All of this can be achieved withoutt removing your pack or plate carrier, and makes “bombing up” with a water “replen” a simple and swift affair. For the guys out there putting their lives on the line to do the job for real, this could quite literally be a life saver! Hopefully this is never going to be an issue for most users, but using the Source Hydration Upgrade Kit will certainly make life easier.

My thanks got to the team at sourcetacticalgear. com for kindly supplying the test sample, and Source military products can be easily found in the UK by visiting http://www.uktactical.com

NOTCH GEAR HATS

I didn’t expect was the comfort while wearing hearing protection. Traditional hats have a metal button on the top of the crown, but instead, the Notch Gear caps are flat, buttonless with a small patch of Velcro on top for either IR ID patches or to work in conjunction with Velcro altered hearing protection bands. On top of working well, the hats simply look good. Throughout the day on the range and through the week on the show floor, people would stop Craig and I to ask about the hats. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from all of our firearms industry contemporaries assured us that Notch Gear was definitely on the right track!

Aside from making a great hat, the company is making a difference in the world as well. While researching the company, I came across this statement from Notch Gear discussing the background of its founder, why the company was started and what they contribute outside of the sport cap business.

“Our founder, Paul Cunningham, is a veteran of the US Marines who had always been frustrated with traditional hats because he loved to wear them and sunglasses but was never able to wear them together the way he wanted to; he was always forced to choose one or the other. Notch was born out of his search for an answer to this problem.

A Yuma based company, Notch was also founded on the principle that it is better to give than it is to receive.

So for every hat you purchase, you provide 5 meals to children in need through our partner, Children’s Hunger Fund. They’ve been rated as one of the most cost effective charities around by Forbes.com.”

Now the guys and I have spent a considerable amount of time wearing caps from Notch Gear, I can speak for us all in saying these hats are highly recommended for not just shooters but anyone who has to spend time wearing hearing and eye protection. The caps are comfortable and form to the wearers head quickly. Retailing between US$24.99-$27.99, this is a best buy for the quality product offered. To find a Notch Gear hat that’s right for you, check them out at http://www.notchgear.com

GEAR ON TEST

REVIEWED BY BIG T - Trampas Swanson A good while back now while surfing the web, I stumbled across a Facebook page representing a company called Notch Gear Hats. Almost immediately, I was captured by the unique design. These hats were no ordinary team themed baseball caps, these were the first specifically made caps to address a common annoyance in the shooting sports world; the battle of the hat versus the eye protection! Those of you, who have ever worn both on the range know exactly what I’m talking about, for others, let me explain.

Coming from a law enforcement background, it was common to be required the standard “eyes” and “ears” to be worn on the range, but also caps. In our department, like most, the patrol guys had their traditional “campaign” hats but also low profile caps similar to the ones issued to me and my team on SWAT. Either way, everyone had to endure the squared eye protection either pushing the cap up unnaturally high or the hat pushing the eye protection down and causing vision problems. The main problem was always the brim of the cap. As a grown man, not wearing gold chains and having a rap album, I like to wear my caps appropriately with a good amount of curve in the brim to protect my eyes from any blinding light or flying debris.

Even the slightest proper curve in a cap’s brim normally will engage with the top of the shooter’s eye protection and start to cause problems. The only ways to traditionally wear both items is to either wear the cap very high up and look like Gomer Pyle or to flatten the brim and look like today’s modern pseudo-male, Justin Bieber wannabe, who apparently never watched a John Wayne movie a day in his life and leans too much to his effeminate side.

What I saw on the Notch Gear website was a way around this little fashion battle through the use of the company’s “notch” system. These adjustable and flex fit caps made

by Notch Gear feature a notch cut out on each side of the cap’s brim wear it would normally engage the top of common eye protection, thus allowing the curved brim to come down around the eyepro without obstruction. I immediately reached out to Notch Gear and inquired about field testing these hats and within a week, I had a pair of the new operator FlexFit hats ready to go!

When the hats arrived, I contacted fellow writer and friend, Craig Reinolds about trying one of them out for himself. A few weeks later, Craig and I arrived in Las Vegas for the firearms industry’s largest event of the year, SHOT Show. To kick the week’s events off, Industry Day at the Range was a full day of shooting stations from nearly every firearms manufacturer in attendance. What I discovered while wearing the Notch Gear hat for the entire day in combination with my Oakley Tombstone shooting glasses is just how comfortable the hat was over the course of events. The hat seemed to lock my eyepro into place so I didn’t have to worry about any adjustment at all. What

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MEET THE MAKER - VIPER TACTICAL

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RANGING IN In the UK warmer weather will soon be with us, and as our thoughts turn to spending more days out on the range, Bill looks at some great new kit from VIPER that’s just perfect for “running and gunning”.

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Each year I get a little tingle of excitement and eagerly anticipate the phone call from the team at VIPER to let me know that their new clothing and kit for the coming year is ready to take a look at, and it’s always a great privilege to get to see it all before the main launch at IWA in Germany.

So in mid February 2017 I made the journey to VIPER HQ in Befordshire,UK and caught up on all that’s new and improved and I have to tell you that there are some pretty exciting developments to look forward to in terms of new clothing accessories, and tactical gear. Over the past couple of years I’ve seen a distinct improvement in the quality and finish of VIPER gear, but unlike many they’ve made the decision to keep their pricing extremely keen and sensible, which means that putting together either a solid set of gear for the range isn’t going to empty your wallet!

I’ve been in discussion with some local groups to offer some assistance on the range so it’s going to be a Summer with even more shooting/training days for me to enjoy, as I’ll keep up my own regular training regime in addition to any courses I run or attend. To do this I want kit that is going to look smart but be very, very functional indeed and within the VIPER line of products there’s everything I need.

You might ask what I look for in relation to training/range gear and the easy answer to that is kit that is going to be comfortable all day long, will allow me good freedom of movement, but also offer me good levels of protection from the elements; I do live in the UK after all!

SUBTLE YET EFFECTIVE

VIPER upped the ante in 2016 with their extended range of solid block colour products; black, tan, green, and grey. A new alternative to traditional blue or black, the fallback of the trainer, TITANIUM grey is less traditional and therefore a less recognisable as a “uniform”, but I’m a great fan of plain green so that’s the route I decided to take for my own kit. What VIPER have done with their new gear is to look very closely at some key clothing pieces initially, and keep things ultra-low profile and pared back. Whilst all the features that you’d expect are present they’ve been added in a much more subtle way so as not to immediately scream out “tactical”, which is exactly the “look” I’m after.

The VIPER TACTCAL T-SHIRT carries forward into the new range, and is a great piece to wear next to the skin. It’s made from super-heavyweight 220gsm cotton with a straightforward round neck and two upper sleeve pockets with Velcro. This is a great design, fits well and works extremely well in the Summer months. Should I desire something a little “smarter” VIPER have now added a really nice TACTICAL POLO to the mix; this is extremely lightweight and comfortable, and is made from a breathable synthetic fabric. The polo features velcro panels and pen pockets on both arms so is absolutely perfect as range wear.

With its combat fit and host of features the Viper BDU PANT is a hard wearing rip-stop polycotton trouser in a classic design which can be worn in active situations and used to carry a full range of equipment such as tools, maps, range cards and even spare magazines. They have a four button fly, sliding waist adjusters, a reinforced seat, and drawstring tie bottoms. There are two regular thigh pockets, two buttoned back pockets, and two deep cargo pockets so you really can tuck away a lot of gear. These are also great value for money!

MEET THE MAKER - VIPER TACTICAL

The first items are two solid ballcap designs; the ELITE BASEBALL CAP is a classic, no-nonsense design made from a mix of ripstop tear resistant nylon and cotton. It has a front Velcro ID panel and simple Velcro side adjustment so one size fits most. The new FLEX FIT cap again uses a rip-stop fabric and velcro but this time marries it up with breathable mesh on the rear half, which is absolutely perfect for Summer use

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MEET THE MAKER - VIPER TACTICAL

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Last but by no means least I’ll look at what in the line if things get cooler; there are three entirely new fleece models to look at, and my choice from them is the TACTICAL HOODIE; constructed of a lightweight and durable fleece it’s the perfect mid-layer, and although it does sport velcro on both arms it’s very low-key. It’s quite close fitting, which is technically correct to maximise breathability, but the hood and “kangaroo” pocket means that you can really warm yourself up easily. The TACTICAL ZIPPED HOODIE is essentially the full-zip version of the simple Hoodie and it comes with two front handwarmer pockets and velcro on both sleeves; if you’re intending to really use one of the new models as a dedicated layering garment then this is probably the one you’ll want to look at, as the full front zip does make things easier in relation to mechanical venting. Should you feel that you’re overheating a bit then you can easily open the zip by increments to increase airflow around your body core.

If you do want to stick with something more traditional, with a full range of features then the SPECIAL OPS FLEECE JACKET is going to tick all the boxes. Made from a 250gm polyester fleece the “OPS” benefits from two zipped sleeve pockets with velcro panels, one zipped chest pocket, two zipped lower front pockets, elasticated cuffs and an elasticated waist draw string. This is a really classic “tactical” fleece that will work equally well under a shell jacket or plate carrier.

My choice for outer shell is the TACTICAL ELITE JACKET; this is an established VIPER design, and I’ve been wearing a black version for some time now and it’s really stood up well to an awful lot of abuse! The Elite jacket is made from water resistant Micro-Shell material, offering maximum comfort on all but the very harshest of wet weather days, and there’s even a hood with an adjustable peak stashed away in the collar. There are three external pockets in the main body area of the jacket, two upper arm utility pockets with velcro patches, and a small zipped pocket on the lower left arm for ID cards or small map cards. The main closure is a strong two-way YKK zip, and there are also underarm zipped vents to you can regulate your core temperature effectively, and

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elasticated cuffs with velcro. This really is a cracking jacket which offers super value given the level of performance it provides!

Available in UK sizes 6-12 the TACTICAL SNEAKERS are an ultra-lightweight boot which has a sports-fit. You might want to consider going up a size up from your standard tactical boot sizing; I’m usually a good UK size 9 and was advised to go for a 10 and the fit for me is perfect with no unnecessary volume, and no felt pressure in evidence. The boots have a Cordura side and tongue, and an overall suede finish which looks great; the clever choice of Cordura here means that the weight is kept down and the durability up. They also have a vented instep to help with breathability, and a multisectioned sole for better manoeuvrability and grip.

The ankle cuff is reinforced with the same suede material as the toe area of the boots, and this helps both with comfort and support. The Tactical Sneakers are never going to give you as much ankle support as something like a full tactical boot, but there’s certainly enough there for range work!

This is a clothing setup that’s incredibly versatile and should have me covered for all eventualities. VIPER will also be extending their range of gloves this year, and I’ll come back to that range in another issue, but I will say that I have fallen for one of the new models, the PATROL GLOVE. This is a little cracker in terms of minimalist design, but then again for range work I don’t need a full-on tactical model, just something that will give my hands protection from bumps and grazes; the PATROL just right for this.

BELT UP!

I’m going to need to carry a pistol if I head overseas to attend any courses so the first thing I’ll add to the belt is a MODULAR ADJUSTABLE HOLSTER; this is a great design as it’s a fully adjustable holster which takes virtually all pistols, with a single mag pouch at the front. There are two threads on rear with press studs, to attach to the VIPER modular system. Of course I’m going to need to “feed the beasts” that are my primary and secondary, so I’ll be needing to carry additional magazines for both pistol and carbine, along with a spare shotgun shell or two. Luckily VIPER have just brought in a new magazine pouch with the new line called the ELITE STACKER, and it’s a very, very

nice “taco-like” design. Open topped with bungee retention there’s the main pouch which will easily accommodate most rifle or carbine magazines, whilst on the front there is a smaller pouch which carry pistol magazines, shotgun shells, and a small knife or multi-tool should you need one. This front pouch can be removed and mounted independently. Should you wish to have everything pre-set there is also the MODULAR MAG RIG which accommodates three rifle magazines, four pistol magazines/ tools and benefits from additional MOLLE attachments and adjustable bungee retention.

I always carry a dump-pouch and the new model in the range is a HUGE improvement on the old roll-away offering; the ELITE DUMP POUCH is a much neater affair that still offers space to tuck away three or four mags in the main compartment which has a stiffened neck and bungee closure. You also have a main front pocket with velcro closure which is perfect for range cards and/or tools, and there’s a neat elasticated mesh pocket on the side. Last but by no means least comes the new MICRO UTILITY POUCH which could be used for just about anything as it’s incredibly neat and versatile; I always like to have a small first aid kit on my belt so that’s what I’ll be using it for, although VIPER do also offer a dedicated IFAK. I have to say that the new range features some of the best designs that I’ve ever seen from VIPER, and the colours that they’ve achieved are really very, very good indeed; I’d go as far as saying that in my opinion that TITANIUM is one of the best grey tones on the market right now, although all the kit featured is available in multiple colours. In addition to the extremely affordable clothing, tactical gear and accessories there are also pack models that will be coming in to go with all to go with it all and add further to the existing lineup; I’m testing a couple of the models at the moment and will report back on those in due course. 2017 is already shaping up to be another great year for VIPER; I for one can’t wait to see what they do next!

To keep up to date with the new VIPER tactical products as they become available please visit www.viperkit. co.uk. You can also follow VIPER TACTICAL via their Facebook and Instagram pages which are regularly updated.

MEET THE MAKER - VIPER TACTICAL

Once again in relation to gear I want to keep everything light and mobile as possible; normally I would train in a plate carrier and battle belt, but as I’ll be shooting at “things” and (hopefully!) not getting shot at I can dispense with the upper body protection and just concentrate on the belt setup. As I want to keep everything fairly smart and uniform I’ve decided to replicate my usual belt order, as it works perfectly for me, in plain black rather than camo.

The basis for this will be an ELITE WAIST BELT. This fully modular belt acts as a platform for you to build and customise with MOLLE pouches. It’s made of of 600D Cordura, and internally uses the padded Ventex system to enhance comfort for user, but still has a Full MOLLE exterior. The belt fits up to 52’’ waist and the interior webbing belt is included; there are also four D-Ring attachment points should you wish to add a harness at any point.

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TAC GEAR - HELIKON-TEX NEW LINES

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HELIKON-TEX NEW LINES Following our successful trip to IWA 2017 our self-confessed “kit monster” Bill Thomas brings everyone up to speed with new footwear, clothing and equipment seen at the show, starting with an overview of this year’s update from Helikon-Tex!

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o my mind the remit of our manufacturer features and articles has always been about finding kit that’s on a budget, but that is going to be 100% fit for purpose and give a good, long “service life”. Helikon-Tex are one of those manufacturers that are constantly pushing the boundaries of garment and gear manufacture forward and 2017 saw some serious updates to the new lines that were introduced this time last year; these new designs feature new fabrics and technologies, and there is quite literally something for everyone!

Helikon-Tex are no newcomer to the tactical market as they were established in 1983. Initially their business activities were mainly concentrated with military surplus sales. However, changing trends and market demand in the mid-nineties set a new development direction; in 1999 they decided to start their own military and tactical clothing production.

Their ever-expanding range is proof that the decision was the correct one as they now offer full-spectrum lines of top quality combat uniforms, waterproof and windproof sets, fleece jackets, underwear and head gear. Their hefty catalogue also includes quality bags and backpacks, tactical

belts, MOLLE system pouches and accessories, as well as camping and survival equipment. Widely used by law enforcement, security, and military personnel, along with outdoor enthusiasts Helikon-Tex clothing and kit has gained a thoroughly well-deserved reputation for quality and durability amongst users.

I’ve bought items from Helikon-Tex on numerous occasions and I am always keen to get “hands-on” when they drop something new into the marketplace. I’m lucky that I’ve got to know the family behind the brand, and that they keep me fully up to date with new releases, so when Jedrzej, the son of the founder, spoke to me at SHOT and told me I needed to come and see him at the German show as they had “a few new pieces” you can bet your last buck that I was going to do exactly that!

2017, ANOTHER YEAR OF ADVANCEMENT!

Helikon-Tex always have a really splendid stand at IWA each year, and 2017 proved no exception to that; it was simply stunning! Not only do they work with the best quality fabrics and components with strict quality control measures in place, but they also work with some unusual camouflage patterns which makes them quite unique, and in fact right at the front

ROLLING IT OUT!

Last year Helikon-Tex introduced their new categorisations for their HTX “Range Line, Medical Line, Outback Line, and Urban Line”, and 2017 has seen them really add some “meat to all areas. The HTX Lines Project was a whole new concept of product development within Helikon-Tex. Everything went according to a plan, and they have obviously entered the second year of the roll-out with new energy and new ideas. They have the right people, combining to create one of the most innovative design teams in the industry. Their new approach has revolutionised the R&D division, enabling them to present several dozen entirely new, original products throughout the Range, Urban, Bushcraft and Medical product lines.

Their products are no longer only used by the uniformed services, which have known and appreciated Helikon-Tex kit for years, but also shooters, Militaria aficionados, rescue team members and a wide circle of outdoorsmen. Their designers endeavour to make the gear more and more versatile, to meet the ever changing and growing requirements of the customer.

They are delivering a complex gear solution; they have everything you may need, and more. Most of their products are now fully modular, to allow the combination of parts of different lines. Their first aid pouches for instance are equally usable in a vehicle or a range kit bag. This year they have pushed that a step further with their Versatile Insert System, allowing a practically unending variety of configuration options, from waist bag to backpacks, to bags.

They cooperate with the best specialists, not only in their native Poland, but beyond the borders as well. They use the comments and exchange experiences with Khyber Interactive Associates and its lead instructor Dr Wes Doss. Training Squad is one of the most experienced firearms instruction companies, offering firearms and combat shooting training for the Polish and international markets; Helikon-Tex have been able to harness the considerable experience of their instructors, to assist in codesigning the new products in the Range Series and this has led to some particularly exciting developments!

NEW VISIONS, NEW PRODUCTS!

The Urban Line is the Helikon-Tex “take” on both the challenges and routines of a modern world, merging tactical, sporting and EDC elements into one. Pants, daypacks, and light casual garments are all oriented to give you sharp looks and enough space to hold all your daily “stu-ff”. “Low Profile” is a rule they follow with their new Urban Line designs.

TAC GEAR - HELIKON-TEX NEW LINES

of the stand were two completely new camouflage patterns from the Hyde Definition PenCott “family”; PenCott and HelikonTex go way back so it wasn’t a surprise to see them amongst the early adopters of the new patterns, and it’s great to see the work of a British designer, Dom Hyde, being represented so very well.

WildWood is a new pattern developed at the request of Polish Special Forces, through a long collaboration between Hyde Definition and Helikon-Tex. It is based on the well-proven and widely used PenCott pattern geometry. Creating WildWood Dom strived to create a pattern optimal for transitional and woodland areas of the moderate climes of mostly CentralEastern Europe.

He started the process by re-appraising GreenZone, adding more brown shades, while de-saturating greens. He used inthe-field digital colour sampling to create the palette for WildWood and then evaluated several iterations as digital prints in the field. Analyses then informed the process to optimise and finalise the colour values and standards for production.

WildWood incorporates all of the features that make the PenCott patterns some of the most advanced and effective concealment solutions on the market today.

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TAC GEAR - HELIKON-TEX NEW LINES

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New for this year in “Urban” is the URBAN HYBRID SOFTSHELL; by combining three first-rate materials they have created a lightweight, expandable and breathable urban jacket.

The Urban Hybrid Softshell protects from wind, while the DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating repels rainwater. Four pockets allow equal distribution of every day carry essentials, while small size allows it to be carried folded in a backpack while not in use. The GREYMAN TACTICAL JEANS AND PANTS are tactical with capital “T”, yet discreet. They’re cut straight and simple.

A crotch gusset gives ease of movement, and the waistband is elasticated and velcro-fastened to allow precise adjustment.

Belt loops will take even a 50 mm wide belt, and there are nine pockets; two main classical cut, two inset, adding a flair of designer flavour, four back, and all are spacious, while simple and functional. The Tactical Jeans were a stand out product for me, and I shall definitely get me a pair of these!

The DEFENDER Mk2 short sleeve and DEFENDER Mk2 long sleeve shirts are an update on the existing and well respected DEFENDER model, whilst the ALPHA HOODIE is all new; this is a product designed to warm the body quickly. It can be used as a standalone garment or warming layer. Shoulder and elbow reinforcements prevent the fleece elements from wearing thin, as proved with their old PATRIOT jacket. There are two smaller pockets on the upper arms and two full-sized pockets on lower front; the chest pocket has a wiring eyelet.

In terms of gear in the Urban Line there are new models such as the innovative BAIL OUT BAG which can be transported open and attached to a car seat; on separating from the seat, it morphs into discreet backpack! The RAIDER BACKPACK is an advanced EDC backpack for any occasion. The main chamber has a Velcro panel to attach inserts compatible with the Versatile Insert System, an elastic band cuffed pocket and a zippered

one. A new URBAN COURIER BAG comes in both medium and large sizes for everyday use, and there is also a new, larger version of the popular WOMBAT bag.

In the Patrol Line there are two main areas of interest this year; this is a very, very strong category for Helikon-Tex already with some well-established, and thoroughly tried and tested designs. The new PenCott patterns feature strongly here as you’d expect, and there’s been a fabulous addition in the form of the GUARDIAN CHEST RIG. This is a universal carry platform specifically designed to accommodate a basic ammunition load and personal equipment. It’s designed to work along with a backpack and belt kit, to optimise the configuration of your combat gear. Depending on the number and size of magazines the height of the fixed pouch flaps can be adjusted and exchangeable magazine/handgun inserts can be arranged accordingly.

In the Medical line there is a great new AUTOMOTIVE MED KIT which has been designed as a main vehicular first aid kit.

Its compact, flat form allows it to be fitted under car seats or be attached to car upholstery, inside door or seat pockets, while

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SINGLE PISTOL WALLET and the DOUBLE PISTOL WALLET.

the lack of sharp edges prevents snagging. The Automotive Med Kit is ideal for shooting range training session medical support, and fits perfectly in the Helikon-Tex Range Line Rangemaster kit bag side pocket. The new MICRO MED KIT is the smallest of their medical inserts, holding bare essentials like examination gloves and plasters, plus a simple resuscitation mask. A rubber-covered handle assists in drawing it from the pouch or pocket, while a reflective paramedic cross provides easy identification amongst other kit.

The RANGE LINE though really got a very serious upgrade this year with a whole range of new, innovative products. The TRAINING MINI RIG has been designed for people who spend much time at the shooting range such as instructors, shooting aficionados, competitive shooters, and training nuts like me.

The minimalistic, symmetrical layout of the TMR was inspired by one of the most famous tactical shooting instructors. The rig can accommodate a basic load of magazines, some additional ammunition in bulk, multitool, flashlight, and range cards; in fact it will swallow all you need for an advanced, serious training session. I have a TMR inbound for full evaluation so I’ll update this more fully over time.

In realtion to new clothing the RANGE POLO SHIRT was designed by professional shooters and is dedicated for shooting range use. The fabric is nice to touch and quick-drying; the sides are covered with VersaStrech covers, protecting the areas vulnerable to wear and tear from a pistol belt and belt-mounted equipment, and the elbow area has internal pockets for Low Profile Protection Pads. Mesh lining in shoulder area enhances the functionality. Two velcro panels on upper sleeves allow easy personalisation, and there are there are two upper sleeve pockets and sunglasses loop.

The RANGEMASTER GEAR BAG and RANGE BAG are designed for dedicated shooting range use where you need to grab a whole bunch of stuff real quick. The bag is designed to facilitate

The SERVICE CASE is for cleaning items and was designed to conform the larger range bags. No matter, at home or on the range, this is a dedicated cleaning kit pocket with a bespoke organiser for cleaning rod, tips, cleaning rags, oil bottle, tools, spares, and all essential you-name-its. The main space has been separated into two organisers: one fixed (zippered mesh pockets and elastic loops) and one customisable. The stiffened bottom of the Service Case is covered in contrast-coloured fabric.

The MINI SERVICE POCKET is a more compact pouch containing firearms essential cleaning kit, and internal organisers keep your tools, rods, brushes and oil bottles in tidy order. It also has a so called ‘dirty’ pocket sewn-in for used cleaning items.

Good bean bags are one of the basic precision shooter’s tools. When it comes to weapon zeroing, long range competition or tactical shooting properly matched shooting bags make each of these tasks a whole lot easier. The four bag family (Cube/Pillow/Roller Large/Roller Small sold separately) of the ACCURACY SHOOTING BAG with synthetic filler is compatible both for use with a precision rifle or tactical carbine. Helikon-Tex have really pushed things further with their SRT-ALPHA TARGET STANDS and PXQT/RXQT- PISTOL/RIFLE EXCERCISE/QUALIFICATION TARGETS but these deserve some serious copy space of their own so I’ll report on these in detail in the next issue of PMCI. This is a serious update to the already extensive range of topquality products offered by Helikon-Tex and I am really looking forward to getting “hands-on” with some of the latest gear; rest assured that as I do I’ll recap on all of them in the “Gear On Test” section. All the new designs are available online to look at in the new Helikon-Tex catalogue so for more information on the individual pieces please do visit https:// issuu.com/helikon-tex/docs/helikon-tex_2017_ master_catalog. If any of the gear featured in the article is of interest, then simply head to www. military1st.co.uk who will be stocking up on the new lines just as fast as the products are released!

TAC GEAR - HELIKON-TEX NEW LINES

and promote compartmentalisation of the contents. Some of the pockets feature inner specialised organisers for maintenance tools and compounds; in fact both bags work with the new Versatile Insert System.

The DOUBLE UPPER RIFLE BAG 18, as the name implies, has been put together to safely and comfortably carry a scoped AR-style rifle with extra scoped upper, or two AR-style SBRs or two AKs in basic configuration. There are three external pockets, velcro panels (Versatile Insert System®-compatible), velcro restrains for weapons and elastic loops for cleaning accessories. The bag has integral carrying handles and stowable carrying straps. There’s also two new pistol options in the shape of the

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IWA 2017 SHOW REPORT

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IWA 2017 SHOW REPORT Every March now the PMCI Team make their way to Nuremberg in Germany for the IWA Outdoor Classics Show and 2017 proved to be a very special year indeed; Bill reports back on a show where there was lots to see, and many new trends to take note of!

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he IWA Outdoor Classics Show has to be my most favourite event of the season; although SHOT (at the moment!) is still bigger there’s a certain something about the show in Germany that always brings a frisson of excitement and expectation. Held in early March each year “IWA” brings to Europe the very best in firearms, optics, accessories, clothing, and gear.

When I first started attending the show the tactical gear industry was tucked away from everything else, very much the poor relation; IWA itself is directly preceded by ENFORCETAC which initially was the home of the professional end-user, but these days Hall 9 is as big a part of the show as any of the others! Since “tactical” got its own space I’ve seen a sure but steady influx of manufacturers and each year the show just gets better and better for our industry; “Tactical” now dominates Hall 9, and there are only a few outliers or folk that are attending their first IWA that are not there so it makes my life a lot easier going from stand to stand. And IWA continues to grow!

For the 2017 show the number of exhibitors was up around four per cent on the previous year to 1,515 (1,455 in 2016) from 57 countries, while trade visitors increased by around eight per cent to more than 49,000 (45,530 in 2016) from 120 countries. The figures for visitors, exhibitors and display area are determined and certified according to the standard

HITTING HALL 9!

I look at SHOT in the USA mainly in relation to firearms, and related accessories, but for me IWA is all about clothing, footwear, gear, and accessories. Last year I had the great pleasure of introducing a friend from general shooting sports to Hall 9, and to say they were shocked is a huge understatement, as if you’re not prepared for the gamut of “tacticool” that you need to run it can be a little intimidating. Of course I’ve been visiting these stands ever since my very first IWA a good few years back, and my response, given with a wry smile was “welcome to my world”.

Like many of you that will be reading this my entire working life is devoted to the arcane practices undertaken by the artificers of all things “tactical”, and IWA for me is truly like coming home, getting to see old friends and new alike, and catching up with all that’s innovative and improved. On the Friday morning I purposely left an hour before my first appointment as I knew that getting through the hall to the Press Room would involve a lot of “glad handing” and back slapping; as it transpired an hour was barely enough, and in fact that coffee had to wait as I only just made it to my first port of call on time, and that was with Helikon-Tex. Helikon-Tex always have a really splendid stand at IWA each year, and 2017 proved no exception to that; it was simply stunning! Not only do they work with the best quality fabrics and components with strict quality control measures in place, but they also work with some unusual camouflage patterns which makes them quite unique, and in fact right at the front of the stand were two completely new camouflage patterns from the Hyde Definition PenCott “family”; PenCott and Helikon-Tex go way back so it wasn’t a surprise to see them amongst the early adopters of the new patterns, and it’s great to see the work of a British designer, Dom Hyde, being represented so very well; I’ll be reporting back on this story in full at a later date. Last year Helikon-Tex introduced their new categorisations for their HTX “Range Line, Medical Line, Outback Line, and Urban Line”, and 2017 has seen them really add some “meat” to all areas. The HTX Lines Project was a whole new concept of product development within Helikon-Tex. Everything went according to a plan, and they have obviously entered the second year of the roll-out with new energy and new ideas. They have the right people, combining to create one of the most innovative design teams in the industry.

Their new approach has revolutionised the R&D division,

IWA 2017 SHOW REPORT

definitions of FKM, the Society for Voluntary Control of Fair and Exhibition Statistics.

Eight out of ten exhibitors and almost two-thirds of trade visitors flocked to Nuremberg from countries other than Germany, making the IWA Outdoor Classics one of the most international events at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre. This event is exclusively for trade visitors and professional users; children and young people under 18 years of age are not allowed to attend.

Tickets for the IWA Outdoor Classics are issued only to visitors from appropriate specialist suppliers, official bodies and security companies on submission of relevant credentials Flying in to Germany late on Thursday night the doors to the show proper opened bright and early on the Friday morning, and after a brief visit to the professionally run Press Room (I do run on coffee you know!) it was time to get rolling; as much as I like to see as much as possible when I visit IWA, experience has taught me that you need to make a schedule and stick to it. It’s simply just not possible to see everything, but with so many friends in attendance there was a constant “heads up” flow of information in relation to exciting new products.

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IWA 2017 SHOW REPORT

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enabling them to present several dozen entirely new, original products throughout the Range, Urban, Bushcraft and Medical product lines; you’ll see a more detailed report on this starting on Page 24 of this issue.

UK-based VIPER upped the ante last year with their initial range of TITANIUM products. TITANIUM has really been chosen for urban and industrial areas, and it breaks with tradition and introduces a grey colour blend for modern, built-up environments. A new alternative to traditional blue or black, the fall-back of the trainer, grey is less traditional and therefore a less recognisable as a “uniform”. What VIPER have done with their new gear is to look very closely at some key clothing pieces initially, and keep things ultra-low profile and pared back. Whilst all the features that you’d expect are present they’ve been added in a much more subtle way so as not to immediately scream out “tactical”, which is exactly the “look” prefer myself. I have to say that their new range features some of the best designs that I’ve ever seen from VIPER, and the grey colour that they’ve achieved is really very, very good indeed; I’d go as far as saying that in my opinion it’s one of the best grey tones on the market right now, although al the kit they showed in Germany is available in multiple colours. In addition to the extremely affordable clothing, tactical gear and accessories there are also pack models that will be coming in to go with it all and add further to the existing lineup; you can read in more detail about the new VIPER products starting on Page 20. I’m testing a couple of the models at the moment and will report back on those in due course; 2017 is already shaping up to be another great year for VIPER and I for one can’t wait to see what they do next!

Talking of colours and patterns there are a couple more companies that really stood out for me, and the first of these was ATACS. Now I’ve been lucky enough to have worked with the team that started the ball rolling ever since the initial introduction of ATACS AU a few years back; closely on the heels on the pattern we saw ATACS FG and ATACS LE roll out, but then things went a little quiet. I know for a fact that the guys have been working quietly behind the scenes, but for me this was the first time I’d seen a full representation of their two new

“transitional” patterns AUX and FGX; both were very impressive indeed and I’m already speaking to them about a full update to come soon.

Equally impressive was the new “Urban Frost Grey” from our friends at UFPRO; this is a different take again on the “grey” subdued colourway, and I have to say it was very striking indeed. This new colour is already being incorporated into some of their existing designs, but they also had new garments to show in the shape of the P40 Urban Pant and Shirt, the M1 Urban Jacket, and the Delta OL 3.0 Jacket and Pant; all of these

GOOD GEAR TO GO!

are very impressive garments and they all illustrate just how well UFPRO understand the fabric technologies they use, and how this goes into a garment to give absolutely first class performance.

Other clothing standouts for me were several new models of pant from Pentagon, including the very cool-looking, outdoor pursuits inspired “Hermes” Pant, and new garments from Claw Gear such as the “Enforcer” Pant and “Rapax” Softshell Jacket. I took the opportunity to pay a quick visit to First Tactical to take

Now for me a trip to IWA would not be complete without a meet-up with the crew from Warrior Assault Systems! This is gear that I’ve been using myself for a number of years, and in my opinion their DCS DA556 Plate Carrier Combo is one of the best on the market. My current DCS has now given nearly four years of service and still shows no sign that it’s not ready to take even more abuse! I was pleased to see though that Warrior have not rested on their laurels; the “Recon” Plate Carrier is now available in two styles, and I was interested to finally get my hands on the two new variants of the “Covert” Plate Carrier.

Helikon-Tex bowled me over with a completely new and extensive set of “Range Line” nylon kit, and fellow Poles Direct Action added additional embellishments to their “Spitfire” Plate Carrier, whilst finally introducing the “Tiger Moth” and “Tempest” Chest Rigs. UR Tactical showed a fine line of tactical gear and accessories, also in the new PenCott colours which bodes very well for an overall camouflage solution, and First Tactical had a great new rolling duffle and a fine first responders duffle; all of these will be fully evaluated by the PMCI team over time.

I managed to have an excellent meeting with the new team behind Gerber and there’s an awful lot to report back on in relation to their new models; Leatherman had new things to show, and it was also fabulous to reconnect with SOG Knives and Spartan Blades both of which I met at SHOT Show.

IWA 2017 SHOW REPORT

revisited LOWA to check out the new models they were showing off, including the INNOX mid which I did the initial review on last issue; they also had some new low cut models which look excellent. Salomon had some new colours in evidence, and both Bates and Rocky had some tactical models that were worth a look. Industry veteran ALTAMA also entered new territory with their OTB maritime Assault Mid. UK brand Magnum had a new model which they were shouting about, and for good reason as the design looks totally new for them, and I hope to secure a pair of the new “OPUS” boots for evaluation in due course.

One clothing and footwear trend that seems to be growing larger and larger is the range of “crossover” models, obviously designed with those “tactical athletes” in mind; certainly all of the clothing is looking to take a cue from both the outdoor pursuits and athletic markets, and some of it is very smart indeed. Once again Helikon-Tex had great additions to their line with this type of garment, and a pair of the new “Greyman Tactical Jeans” are certainly high on my “post-IWA shopping list”, and Pentagon, Blackhawk!, and 5:11 are also hot on this particular trail too!

IT’S A WRAP!

another look at their new “Defender” pants and combat shirt, and their new “Operator” boot looks absolutely first rate too; these models are due for release this summer and I’m pleased to say that test samples have already been booked. I also

I did speak to many more great manufacturers large and small, including my good mates at SHIELD Sights and IMI Defense, but as always three days at the show just seemed to fly by! I also proudly attended this year’s meeting of the Tactical Beard Operators Club, and it was absolutely awesome to see so many of my “Bearded Brothers”, not only from the rest of Europe, but further afield as well.

IWA 2017 was a tremendous show both for me personally and for PMCI, and I hope to see just as many folk from the international tactical community in Nuremberg next year; the show has already been fixed for 9 - 12 March 2018 so get it in your diary and I’ll see you in Germany for the next one!

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KNIVES AND TOOLS

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CRKT: BIRLER AXE

Perhaps the top two key words in the outdoor / firearms industry over the past 3 years have been “bushcraft” and “tactical”. At times, these words have been overly used, incorrectly used and at times, completely used for marketing and nothing else. Designers sitting behind a desk, locked away in a corporate office tag these key words to products just to make sales goals without due consideration for the end users whom may depend their lives on them.

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hat I am dismayed the most to find as an industry writer is how very few of these designers actually have “real world” experience of combat or surviving in the great outdoors. It seems one company, Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT) shares the same feelings on the subject as I do.

In 2013, the founder of RMJ Tactical (one of the top designers of military, LE and civilian edged tools) Ryan Johnson assisted CRKT in developing a program he had already been working on featuring combat veterans with varying degrees of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Johnson, who designs some of Columbia River Knife and Tool’s top selling products, developed the Forged by War program to bring on board who found designing and forging steel into custom tools as a way of working through their personal challenges. Drawing from their experience earned in combat situations, each veteran designer has been creating tools they wished they’d had available to them on the battlefield. These folks have the knowledge, experience and insight to truly do something special with the opportunities CRKT’s Forged by War program offers.

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Last year, I reviewed an RMJ Tactical designed combat axe produced by CRKT called the Kangee. The balance and handling were great which lead to a very successful article which had readers wanting to see more axes in the future. This year during SHOT SHOW, I had the opportunity to have a personal tour of CRKT’s booth by one of their designers who wanted to point out another top choice from the company. This pick happened to be part of the Forged by War program, called the Birler designed by a Vietnam veteran and blacksmith, Elmer Roush. With over 40 years of blacksmithing deep in the Appalachian Mountains, Roush turns out historical inspired axes, hatchets and Viking replicas in his Brasstown, North Carolina shop.

When the Birler axe arrived at my office a few weeks ago, I was very pleased with the compact size and overall feel. One look at the Roush designed CRKT Birler axe clearly reflects his passion for the fighting axes of past warriors. Made from 1055 Carbon steel, the axe head offers a good bit of a bearded profile which is a huge favorite of mine. This allows the end user to choke up higher on the handle and really work the tool in close quarter combat situations.

The eye of the axe is set deep back towards the flat hammer style poll or butt to give the blade a good weight despite the small overall structure of the axe. Leading down the overall 16” length of the tool is a slightly rough finished haft or handle made from what is described as fine Tennessee Hickory. While I’m not particularly a fan of the handle’s finish, I did really like the design of the belly and pronounced grip and swell knob. These features really add to being able to retain the axe during use.

One thing I will point out before discussing the axe’s performance in the field is its factory edge or lack thereof. I describe the sharpness of the Birler’s bit (blade) as “clearly lawyer proof”. As I removed the rubber bit cover and plastic hang tabbed holder, I was very dismayed. I fully understand the dangers of shipping razor sharp blades, but this IS after all, supposed to be a cutting tool. For some, this may be an issue, for me, it was a good excuse to see my friend, Simon Michael at Atavistic Edgeworks and let him work his sharpening magic. Simon is yet another one of Jacksonville, Florida’s hidden local talents with whom I trust only him to the high calibre cutlery that comes through our Swanson Media Group office. Regardless of the blade being valued at $5 or $500, Simon has always delivered razor sharp edges on our tools. The Birler Axe would prove to be no different than previous results upon returning from Atavistic Edgeworks a day later.

SPECIFICATIONS • Blade Length • Blade Steel • Blade Thickness • Weight • Handle • Overall Length

KNIVES AND TOOLS

FIRST LOOK

5.165” 1055 Carbon, 50-55 HRC 1.113” 25.2 Oz Tennessee Hickory 16”

FIELDCRAFT

Once the new arm hair shaving Birler returned to the office, I looked for the first excuse I could find to hit the woods. Given my background in edged weapons training, my first thoughts

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KNIVES AND TOOLS

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with the Birler were along the lines of a tactical / fighting axe review like the feature I did on the Kangee. The balance and design certainly lend themselves to fitting the role of a fighting axe perfectly, but the Birler axe certainly offered a more multipurpose role such as camping and survival than the Kangee (not to mention, I was fresh out of villagers to lay siege to at the time). This lead me to research more along the lines of the lightweight, camp axe features the Birler features.

As with most products tested, the Birler spent a few weeks out in the field at our private training grounds widely known as “The Swamp”. Fellow writer, Craig Reinolds runs a small permanent campsite set up on the grounds in which all things bushcraft are experimented, studied and tested among the pines, Spanish palms and hardwoods. During its stay at Swamp base camp, the Birler axe was used to fell small trees, split kindling, notch logs and limb up saplings to be used for tent poles. With its new razor edge, the Birler’s 5” head filled the roll of a compact field axe perfectly despite a small blister formed at the base of my thumb due to the less than glass finish of the haft. In the future, I foresee sanding the haft with fine grit and restraining it to a smoother texture.

One surprise I found with the Birler axe was how well it drove wooden tent stakes into the ground. Despite the light weight of the axe, its design allowed me to get solid strikes accurately onto the roughly finished stakes I constructed from leftover saplings. The flat, hammer like rear of the axe made it perfect for using as a wedge to baton through larger logs needed for firewood, not to mention, it works great for cracking pecans and walnuts. While is not a substitute for a good full size axe, it is certainly much easier to carry on your belt or in your pack when spending the weekend hiking or bushcrafting in The Swamp for the weekend.

FINAL THOUGHTS

During my time with the Birler axe, I was pleased with its performance and even more pleased after carrying it in my pack for a while. Compared to reviews I have previously done involving full size axes, the Birler axe was very handy to have

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around the campsite. As for its use as a fighting axe, the beard of the axe was well designed for trapping limbs, raking weapons and keeping the head in close for quick strikes. For extended strikes, the recovering of the axe head was slightly awkward but manageable as I feel the balance design for the lower half of the haft (handle) is mainly for chopping while the upper half for combat strikes. At the end of the day, you will find YouTube “experts” with zero combat training or experience that point out things they like and things they don’t with no clue nor appreciation for its primary design of being a kick ass tool for environments where kicking ass and taking names is the mission directive.

Retailing for $89.99 US, it is priced a bit more than your standard camp axe found at your local Walmart, but there again, I have never seen an axe there I would go to war with either. For the price, I really wish the company had included the optional leather sheath in which CRKT sells offers for $24.99 US (since wrapping up my review, the current online price of the Birler axe has regularly be found for around $54.99 US).

Without the sheath, it’s a little difficult to carry it safely. I used a strip of leather from a shop apron to cover the bit while transporting it in the field. Overall, I like the axe and will be the first to admit to paying much more than the MRSP price of the Birler for other axes in the past. If you want to help a good cause while picking up a well-designed small axe, you should check out the Forged by War program at www.crkt.com.

This partnership between CRKT and veterans doesn’t just help those involved in the Forged by War program, but other people outside the program as well with 10% of the CRKT® net profits of the program donated to the veterans’ charity of choice. Elmer Roush’s charity of choice for this tool is the Green Beret Foundation. Just as important as the proceeds generated for this Foundation is the much-needed awareness brought to the charity to get others like Roush, Johnson and Columbia Knife and Tool involved.

Roush’s service and dedication to helping other veterans like him through CRKT’s program is why I end this review with simply, THANK YOU.

FIREARMS: KIMBER

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KIMBER; AN AMERICAN ICON When it comes to the venerable “1911” style handgun there is one name that springs to mind immediately, and that is Kimber. Bill Thomas takes a look at the history of the company and also brings us the latest updates on their considerable range of pistols.

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hen I was lucky enough to spend a few years living in the USA I’m going to admit that I most certainly made the most of my time there when it comes to shooting in general and firearms training in particular. Whilst there I was able to visit the range at least once a week if not more often and as the range was only a few miles from MacDill AFB you never quite knew who you’d be shooting next to.

Mt regular shooting partner there though was Rob S who appeared in the old “Head to Head” section of PMCI, a priorservice veteran and no stranger to “The Circuit”; Rob still instructs to this day and when it comes to running a handgun I’m going to tell you now that the old dog definitely knew some new tricks, and he was more than happy to share these. It was with Rob that I had my opportunity to first get “hands on” with his Kimber Custom .45, and I’ve been a fan of that wellrespected gunmaker ever since!

The company history tells me; “Kimber was founded as “Kimber of Oregon” in 1979 by Greg and Jack Warne in the small town of Clackamas, Oregon. Jack Warne moved to Oregon

compromise in features, materials or performance.

The company measures success by product quality and customer satisfaction, not sales volume or market share. After all, if you trust a Kimber for protection, or shoot one in competition, quality is everything; that mindset comes naturally. From the top down, Kimber is made up of dedicated shooters who insist that their guns be the best.

Kimber quality has led to unprecedented demand, as organisations like the USA Shooting Team, LAPD SWAT and United States Marines assigned to Central Command chose Kimber.

American shooters did too, in a big way, and Kimber has become the world’s largest producer of 1911 pistols. At Kimber, quality will always be paramount and the true measure of success.

Kimber builds the world’s finest 1911 pistols right strictly in America, something that makes sense, as few things are as American as a 1911 .45 ACP! Virtually every critical component of every pistol is manufactured inside the Kimber factory. The finest raw materials come through the front gate and Kimber does the rest, the only way to ensure that every part meets unequalled standards.

“Quality is the true measure of value. On the strength of quality, Kimber has become the world’s largest producer of 1911 pistols. Compare a Kimber with any other brand of 1911—or any other type of semi-automatic pistol—and see for yourself why Kimber is what all guns should be.”

FIREARMS: KIMBER

in 1968 after Portland-based Omark Industries purchased the Australian firearms manufacturer, Sporting Arms (or Sportco), he founded in Adelaide, South Australia, following World War II. Following its founding, Kimber of Oregon, which quickly built a reputation for accurate .22 long rifle calibre rifles, began to expand its product line and eventually acquired a second manufacturing plant in nearby Colton.

In the late 1980s, the company began to struggle after a private stock offering fell short of covering the costs of developing the M89 Big Game Rifle. In 1989, Kimber of Oregon was sold to Oregon timber baron Bruce Engel, who founded WTD Industries, Inc. Engel had difficulty running Kimber and soon the company sought bankruptcy protection. However, Kimber of Oregon’s assets were liquidated.

In the mid-1990s, Greg Warne tried to revive Kimber, but much of Kimber of Oregon’s original tooling had ended up in a junkyard north of Portland. Greg soon found a financial backer in Les Edelman, who owned Nationwide Sports Distributors. The two purchased the original tooling and partnered to found Kimber of America. The company grew quickly, but Edelman forced Warne out after acquiring a majority interest in the company.

While Edelman was partnering with Greg Warne, he had also invested in Yonkers-based Jerico Precision Manufacturing, which manufactured hand tools and mechanical components for the defence industry, and was adjusting to cuts in defence spending. Edelman decided to connect Jerico Precision’s existing infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities and Kimber’s reputation and extensive network of dealers to build a line of M1911-style handguns. He eventually moved Kimber’s production line to Jerico’s facilities in New York, ending Kimber’s presence in Oregon.” And the rest, as they say, is history.

Kimber was founded with the singular purpose of building fine sporting firearms, better even than classics from the golden age of American gunmaking. Modern manufacturing techniques would be embraced and used to advantage, but assembly, fit and finish could only depend on practiced hands. There would be no

2017 UPDATES

At the beginning of this year Kimber announced the release of exciting new looks and customer-requested feature updates to its Kimber CDP, Covert, Eclipse, Warrior, TLE II and Stainless II 1911-style handgun families.

The iconic classic Kimber CDP (Custom Defense Package) 1911 family now features a charcoal grey KimPro II frame, silver KimPro II slide and small parts, flat top slide and thin slide serrations.

Ultra CDP models feature a flush-cut barrel and Round Heel Frame. These new features are offered in addition to 3-dot tritium

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FIREARMS: KIMBER

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night sights, Carry Melt treatment, 30 lines-per-inch front strap checkering, ambidextrous thumb safety and rosewood grips (rosewood Crimson Trace Lasergrips are available on Ultra CDP).

Five models are available, chambered .45 ACP and 9mm.

Kimber Covert pistols have been completely transformed, with new features that include a grey KimPro II finish on the frame and slide for additional resistance to the elements, matte black small parts, digital camouflage Crimson Trace Lasergrips and a flush-cut barrel (on Ultra models). These pistols also offer 30 lines-per-inch front strap checkering with a border base, Tactical Wedge 3-dot tritium night sights and a tactical bumped grip safety for a higher grip on the frame. Three models are available, chambered in .45 ACP. The striking look of the Kimber Eclipse handgun family has been elevated to a new level, featuring all-steel construction, a grey KimPro II frame, brush-polished slide, matte black small parts, 30 lines-per-inch front strap checkering, tritium night sights and black and grey G-10 “Cyclone� grips. Three models are available, chambered in .45 ACP, 10mm and .38 Super.

The ever-popular line of Kimber Warrior pistols now features a lanyard slot mainspring housing, Kimber Tactical Rail, 24 lines-per-inch front strap checkering, G-10 grips and a KimPro II finish that provides outstanding additional resistance to chemicals, moisture, salt and UV light. Five models are available, chambered in .45 ACP. Three new models have been added to the Kimber TLE (Tactical Law Enforcement) II family, each featuring extended magazine wells and new G-10 grips. 14 TLE II models are available, chambered in .45 ACP, 10mm or 9mm. Kimber Stainless II models also received an upgrade for 2017. All Stainless II models now feature a fibre optic front sight for faster sight acquisition. Four models are available, chambered in .45 ACP and 9mm.

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MICRO 9

Earlier this year Kimber also announced the expansion of its Micro 9 product line to include five new variants. The Micro 9 is a premium micro-compact carry pistol chambered in 9MM. Introduced in January of this year, the Micro 9 blends Kimber dependability with superior design, offering sought-after smallscale 1911 ergonomics, a single action trigger, superior safety features, all-metal construction and American-made quality.

The Micro 9 barrel and slide are machined from stainless steel for superior resistance to moisture, while the frame is shaped from the finest aluminium for integrity and strength. One of the most important Micro 9 design advantages is the single action trigger with a short, smooth pull that ensures accuracy and confidence.

FIREARMS: KIMBER

The thumb safety, slide release and magazine release are pure 1911 in design. Other standard features include a lowered and flared ejection port for flawless ejection and a bevelled magazine well for fast, positive loading. Sights are steel, not plastic, and mounted in machined dovetails for additional durability.

“Micro 9 set a new level of expected quality when we launched the platform earlier this year,” said Winslow Potter, director of product marketing. “With the addition of these new line-extensions, we’re confident that Micro 9 will better suit our customers’ specific needs and individual personalities.”

I was extremely lucky to spend some time with Kimber on the range whilst visiting the USA to attend SHOT Show, and I have to say the newer models stack up to that much-loved Custom

owned by my friend that I shot over ten years ago. Whilst their offering has changed in that time, Kimber’s core values of making dependable, superbly manufactured handguns obviously has not, and in a world where things seem to transform quite literally overnight I’m very happy that this is the case!

For more information on Kimber handguns and all the other firearms goodness they offer please do visit www.kimberamerica. com

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TECH: AIM CAM

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AIM CAM - LOOKS THAT COULD KILL The World’s very first line of sight sports action camera has landed. But why should you pick AimCam over all the GoPro, Contour and various other camera systems? Read on to find out, as guest contributor Scott A explains...

I

ran into AimCam whilst at the SHOT Show and after a quick demonstration I was impressed so asked “Do you guys have a UK or European office?” They answered: “Yeah, we’re based in Derbyshire.”

Nothing like flying 3,000 miles to meet guys from just down the road!

WHO ARE AIMCAM?

AimCam came about after four years of research and built on an idea from Skeet shooting (a form of clay pigeon) about how to best capture true line of sight when participating in aimed shooting sports. They have patented their camera system that’s hugely adjustable to capture line of sight while, at the same time, can be easily setup to function as an everyday video camera for all activities. That’s why their catch Phrase is “See It Your Way”; I do love a good pun!

Existing products, such as GoPro or even the Oakley Airwave glasses (which are very expensive), use a fixed, centrally or side-located camera that records what the user is seeing with the use of both eyes. These, however, do not record an accurate representation of what the user sees when aiming down the barrel of a rifle, shaft of an arrow, billiards cue or any other

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activity requiring precision. This is because a dominant eye is being used whilst aiming. This is the development of a product that allows users to record their training from a realistic “FirstPerson” perspective; you could call it “Doom Cam” after the computer game but then you’d get sued. As well as the great POV (Point Of View), it acts as an excellent training aid showing you exactly what a person is seeing, not just your perception of what they see. The potential for documentation of activities such as shooting and allowing spectators the opportunity to see what the sports man is seeing/doing for the first time is great, thus increasing uptake and audience participation in shooting sports.

The AimCam team are all sportsmen and women, so naturally they took great care to make sure that their products are perfectly suited to the needs of everyone who shares their passion for Aiming sports. They carried out extensive market research to gather feedback from hundreds of potential customers from around the world and the final product design and specification incorporates many of the features which you, their potential customers needed, be it shaving grams off the frame to make it even lighter, or allowing for interchangeable lenses (or even no lenses at all).

SAFETY FIRST

When I chatted to the guys at SHOT the glasses had a slightly lower safety rating, which took them just shy of our normal safety limits. “These need to be rated at least Z87 certified to be real contenders” was my immediate thought and we chatted about this and how it would be beneficial for them. Around two weeks after I landed back in the UK I got an email from Jamie at AimCam, saying they had just passed the Z87 testing and sent the certificates along to me. Now that is an impressive service!

THE CAMERA

The 3M Pixel CMOS Camera will run HD 1080p and will last about an hour (using a 3.8v, 780mah battery). Recording time will vary according to the resolution setting used and the card capacity. Here is the average recording storage times for an AimCam camera with a 32GB SD card: • 1080p Full HD (30 fps): 4h 20m • 720p (60 fps): 4h 20 • 720p (30 fps): 8h 05m • WVGA (60 fps): 8h 05m The video format is MOV with H264 Compression and an internal speaker is built into the glasses too.

They recommend the classification of the SD card to be Class 10 or above. The glasses can also run on an external power source for longer recording, so no need to ever stop. Using the app you can also use the built in WiFi to live stream to any device in range!

The fully adjustable camera can slide along the glasses above your left or right eye, and tilt in any direction to suit your filming needs.

TECH: AIM CAM

What’s more AimCam are still listening to their customers, so if you have feedback on how you’d like to be able to use your AimCam they will be delighted to hear from you.

ARE THERE ANY CATCHES?

It’s a full blown pair of safety glasses with a 1080p camera, what are the catches? Well, there are a few but they’re not going to apply to everyone.

There are no prescription inserts available just at the moment and there is only a single style of frame, so if you have a potato head and they don’t fit you, then you are stuck. Also the price isn’t exactly budget but then I think it is very fair at UK£240. A good pair of Oakley or Wiley X glasses will set you back around £100 normally and you’ll struggle to find a good sports camera for £140, especially one of the quality that AimCam has.

AimCams are provided with a full warranty as you would hope and yes, the camera can take a hefty impact and survive!

But no, you cannot take them swimming, so your “SEAL Team 6 live action movie” may have to wait!

CONCLUSION

With interchangeable lenses and a sports strap these are a great offering for those who love to record their shooting training, or any sport they can think of. In a world of GoPro, drones and

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TECH: AIM CAM

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phone cameras, the AimCam offers something slightly different and it does it really well. I can think of a number of great opportunities to use these, from racing cars and mountain biking, to law enforcement.

I love an item with potential and I love new technology. I saw this and saw huge potential, especially from a teaching point of view. Now imagine if you coupled it with the MantisX, you would truly have all the feedback from a student’s shooting performance and see exactly what they see!

For more information, videos, and stockist details please visit http://aimcam.com

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AR FOLDING STOCK ADAPTER GEN 3-m The only AR compatible folding stock adapteR • Works with direct impingement or gas piston systems 5.56 to .308 • Fits A2, carbine, mil-spec, commercial or pistol buffer tubes and stocks

hinge

Low hinge reduces interference when charging weapon

Retaining Pin Uses standard, bu mil-spec buffer retaining pin

Ionbond

4140 HARDENED Steel Low-profile housing, locking lug and latch

SET SCREW

Prevents adapter loosening from receiver

DLC finish

ADJUSTABLE hinge tension

TOOLESS BOLT CARRIer EXTENSION Install and remove without tools for easy maintenance REPLACEABLE O-RINGS Prevent additional damage to the adapter in the folded position SYMMETRICAL DESIGN Eliminates interference with buffer retaining pin Installation Tool and Flange included

QUICK DETACH

Sling attachment point

SPECIFICATIONS Housing Weight: 8.5 oz Bolt Carrier Extension: 2 oz Adds 1.3 inches to length of pull CNC Machined 4140 Steel

www.LAWTACTICal.com Copyright © 2015 Law Tactical LLC. All rights reserved.

SKILLS AND DRILLS: POINT SHOOTING

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POINT SHOOTING Due to the modern shooting techniques that have dominated the world of tactical and defensive shooting, most of the “old school” shooting drills have become obsolete over the years. But just because new skills and drills are invented it dose not mean that the old tactics are useless.

O

ne skill that seems to have run its course is ‘point shooting’, or shooting without using the sights to aim. It wasn’t long ago that I offered some of my students a chance to sign up to a point shooting course and I was met with a barrage of sniggering.

Now I know I’m getting on a bit, but I’m not that old that I trained in point shooting as my SOP, but I have taken an interest in it, as it does serve its worth on the battlefield. I have studied many gun fights (with handguns) and found no matter what training you have, when the brown stuff hits the fan instinctive body movement can and does take over.

A typical gunfight ranges between zero and seven feet, close quarters fighting. If one extends the handgun out towards the intended target at such close quarters, then it can easily be knocked down or even taken away from the shooter.

One of the reasons we extend the handgun towards the target is to acquire sight alignment. But at such close quarters acquiring the sights is not so important. To be honest, if you can’t hit a man size target at these distances then you really should be questioning your skills.

One of the techniques still used today is the ‘speed rock’.

This requires the shooter to draw the handgun from the holster and simply rock it towards the target whilst arching his back at the same time. This is OK if you have something like a vehicle bonnet to lean back on to steady the rock, but if you have no support you can be overrun in a close quarters fight. The speed rock is an example of point shooting skill.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Point shooting has been around for an age, but it wasn’t until Colonel Rex Applegate took an interest that it became a recognised skill. Applegate was assigned to the military police corps at Fort Lewis Washington 3 Intelligence Division. At this point the US Army was still shooting combative handguns at bull’s-eye targets. In 1942 Applegate was asked by Colonel “Wild Bill” Donovan to learn all that he could about how close quarters shooting was being addressed both with and without weapons.

He was ordered by the US Army to form a combat section for the Military Intelligence Training Centre at Camp Ritchie, Maryland. His duty was to train the personnel in all types of combat, ready for their deployment on special missions. He helped develop close quarters battle techniques recognised by the US Army and Law Enforcement Agencies by late 1944.

This interest prompted the US War Department to produce and develop a training film based on the Camp Ritchie Military Intelligence system for the training in the use of handguns in combat. The training film was called “Film Bulletin 152” or FB152, the only training film to be produced by the US Army about handgun training in CQB situations, and was not intended to be the final word in combat handgun shooting, but to set the standard by which all other development in this type of shooting should follow.

Since FB152 was made, point shooting has been restudied, refined, and reworked due to the ever changing development in training techniques, technology, and the way we fight battles. Since WW2, the theatre of war has changed so much that, although the principles of point shooting are the same,

CLOSE UP AND PERSONAL

W E Fairbairn instructed his students to adopt the crouch position.

This is an instinctive reaction when under stress. The knees bend slightly, the head lowers, and the shoulders raise and roll forwards. At the same time you drop your weight and tighten up the abdomen. In most cases the hand will raise to protect the head. Adopt this position but lower the shooting hand with the handgun grasped firmly with the correct grip on the weapon.

Stand with the shoulders square to the target and the weapon in the low ready position. The arm, elbow, and wrist should be

locked tight with the wrist canted slightly to the right. This will bring the bore of the handgun in line with the centre of the target. The weak hand is used to aid balance and to protect the head. From this position the handgun is raised to eye level and the handgun is superimposed onto the target.

Remember that the target will be at close distance. There may not be time during a gunfight to make these fine adjustments to the starting position during high stress situations, so Fairbairn suggested the three-quarter hip position. This requires the shooter to raise the handgun up to chest level, with the elbow bent slightly, allowing the handgun to point more naturally at the centre mass of the target.

SKILLS AND DRILLS: POINT SHOOTING

the techniques have been redeveloped to allow us maximum advantage.

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SKILLS AND DRILLS: POINT SHOOTING

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Point shooting was restructured around 1990. The idea of canting the wrist to the right was dropped. Students were now being instructed to grip the handgun so that the bore line of the weapon was in line with the shooting arm. This method was much easier to learn. Although the bore line of the handgun was not at centre line with the target, effective and acceptable hits on the target were achieved.

This method was limited to extreme close quarters shooting due to the angle of error. The further the target from the shooter, the more the shots travelled to the left due to the handgun pointing across the centre line of the target. No matter which point shooting position you chose to adopt, the weapon must be held in the low ready position and then raised to the target and not pushed or cast out to the target, as this will cause the wrist to snap at the end of the movement, causing the weapon to dip and rounds to land below the intended point of impact. In some extreme cases, rounds have even ended up in the ground way in front of the target.

So why don’t we use the sights to aim if we bring the gun up to eye level? If we bring the gun up to eye level and then concentrate on focusing on the sights we have to align the sights properly and then superimpose them on to the target before we can take the shot. This can take too long, especially at such close quarters that we may be overrun by the adversary before we can gain a correct sight picture. Using the sights means that we have to concentrate and focus on three different objects (rear sight, front sight, and target) at three different distances.

We can only physically focus on one object at a time.

Even with plenty of practice, this can be too long a process for us to achieve in combative terms. When time is not on our side, making these fine adjustments to the sighted aim and

48

producing a correct sight picture before we make a conscious decision to shoot is not an option. In a close quarters gunfight we can simply bring the handgun up and superimpose it onto the target and shoot with the desired effect. It’s that simple.

SPECIAL REPORT: BLUE FORCE GEAR

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SPECIAL REPORT: BLUE FORCE GEAR

Over the years there are certain gear manufacturers that always seem to be at the cutting edge of innovation; many are in reality quite modest organisations, but ones that put their heart and soul into truly excelling. With this criteria in mind Bill takes a look at Blue Force Gear from the USA.

I

n my mind Blue Force Gear are one of the “quiet achievers” in the world of tactical gear. Although their equipment is used by the very finest “warriors” deployed around the world today, they always seem quite low key about things, letting others rave about what they produce. They are also continuously innovating and at SHOT Show earlier this year I had a chance to re-connect with them and find out what is new.

If somehow you’ve not come across them before Blue Force Gear, Inc. is a United States manufacturer of body armour, Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) gear, firearm slings, and other tactical equipment that was established in Pooler, Georgia in January 2004. They design and manufacture equipment for law enforcement, U.S. and Armed Forces, professional users, and clued up civilian shooters. Much of the equipment they offer has the benefit of both an NSN and a NIIN for directly supplying the military.

Blue Force Gear, is derived from military nomenclature dating back to World War I, “Blue” being for Allied forces and “Red” for enemy forces. The iconic Blue Force Gear logo is a stylized reticle or crosshair; reticles in weapon optics serve as the aiming point for the rest of the weapon system, and likewise, their logo is an aiming point of reference, and I quote, “Reminding us that we aim for perfection, the same perfection for which our core customers strive.

Non-shooters may mistakenly refer to our reticle mark as a blue bullseye or a blue target. Our logo symbolizes key brand elements of BFG: • The reticle itself communicates that Blue Force Gear is a brand for shooters.

• It is intentionally different than any actual scope reticle.

• The outer ring signifies our global brand reach, the world of our customers, the big picture.

50

• The inner ring reminds us that BFG is a tight circle and a family business.

• Crosshairs sharpen as they near to center to signify our passion for improved accuracy, quality and precision • The rearward cant reminds us that we must be aware of the past in order to propel our brand into the future. The cant also reminds our team that we aren’t perfect and will never achieve absolute perfection and therefore we must strive to become Always Better™

The blue coloration represents that our brand serves the Blue Force, the good guys, whether military, LE or prepared patriotic citizens.”

Since they started out back in 2004, they have strived for excellence in all they do and to exemplify that excellence in their products and design. Time and again they have proved that they are are devoted to those they serve to deliver innovative gear with superior quality. Blue Force Gear is not satisfied with making the same thing as everyone else, merely changing the

BANG ON THE MONEY!

colour or style. They design by a code of advancement; if they can’t make something better than what is currently available, they don’t make it. By continually innovating, their products will always be different. In their own words; “We are proud to have pioneered technological innovations that have revolutionized load carriage and weapon carrying establishing the world’s standard in weapon slings and the world’s lightest, MOLLE compatible load carriage. Of course we are not stopping there. We are continually improving our gear lineup and looking for more ways to improve the tactical gear industry and ultimately the warriors here at home and worldwide.”

WHAT CAME BEFORE…

Blue Force Gear are probably best known for their firearm sling, the Vickers Sling. The Vickers Sling is named after Larry Vickers.

Larry Vickers, a retired US Army 1st SFOD-Delta combat veteran,

This is of course all just a “snapshot” of what Blue Force Gear produce, and when I saw them in Las Vegas not only did they already have their well-established and well respected products on show, but also a few new things as well!

SPECIAL REPORT: BLUE FORCE GEAR

took part in “Operation Just Cause” and participated in “Operation Acid Gambit”, a mission to extract a CIA operative, Kurt Muse, from Modelo Prison in Panama City. Blue Force Gear and Larry Vickers both originally designed the Vickers Sling product line, the Vickers Combat Application Sling (VCAS).

On May 1, 2012 the Vickers Combat Application Sling was assigned NSN: 1005-01-604-0627. Combat trials led by U.S. Marines validated the issue of the NSN in combat trials in Afghanistan for their new M27 Infantry Rifle. The sling was fully authorised for use on the M4, M4A1 and M16 series of rifles by the United States Marine Corps, joining over 100,000 other Blue Force Gear slings already issued across the United States Armed Forces.

Blue Force Gear also looked at body armour and load carriers, and their PLATEminus is a super-lightweight yet durable plate carrier that fits Small Arms Protective Insert (SAPI)/ESAPI plates. It has a front and back plate insert for the plates, along with MOLLE channels on the outside. The PLATEminus V2 is a variant of the PLATEminus. To run alongside their plate carriers Blue Force Gear also produce a full range of pouches and accessories such as the Ten-Speed Ultralight Dump Pouch, the Ten-Speed Triple M4 Mag Pouch , Ten-Speed Single SR25 Mag Pouch, Medium Horizontal Utility Pouch, and a Medium Vertical Utility Pouch; all the pouches carry both an NSN, along with an NIIN for the Multicam variants.

They also reinvented MOLLE to be the world’s lightest with their Helium Whisper pouch attachment system and highperformance laminate, ULTRAcomp. Unrivalled innovation and attention to detail set Blue Force Gear apart from others in the tactical equipment industry.

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SPECIAL REPORT: BLUE FORCE GEAR

First up they were showcasing the latest evolution in the PLATEminus Plate Carriers line with the all-new KLAUX Plate Carrier. The KLAUX sets itself apart from other armour carrier systems currently available by using a patent-pending quick attach buckle. This distinct emergency-release system is built directly into the front attachment points of the vest, and this allows the vest to immediately release and can easily be shed when the user pulls the release cable (conveniently hidden beneath the chin protector.) The KLAUX Plate Carrier also greatly reduces reassembly time. Rather than spending up to 30 minutes, which is common practice for many competitors’ gear, most end users can reassemble the KLUAX Plate Carrier in as little as 30 seconds, which means that this carrier can easily be used in training where the user becomes familiar with the exact carrier they will be using in the field.

The Blue Force Gear Micro Trauma Kit Now!, also known as the Micro TKN, is the smallest version of the Trauma Kit Now! available on the market. This pack, which is available for purchase filled or unfilled, is designed to hold essential lifesaving gear in a small easy-to-carry pack that takes up minimal space. The supplies inside of the Filled Micro TKN include: • Quick clot combat gauze • HyFin vent chest seal (2 Seals included) • Cleer medical trauma bandage 4” flat pack • Decompression needle • Six 2in. x 9in. Frog Tape • Size 28 Nasopharyngeal Airway • One pair of heavy-duty medical gloves in tan

The Micro TKNTM is constructed to be worn horizontally and is less bulky than the typical pouch, which makes it ideal for everyday carry by law enforcement professionals, low-profile mission sets and prepared civilians. The inner carrier can be easily deployed with one finger or one hand from either the left or right side by pulling the BLIP featured pull-tabs.

“Whether downrange, in the hunting field, or in everyday life Blue Force Gear believes in a mindset of readiness,” said Tom Kaleta, Director of Marketing. “Hunters carry seemingly every device, scent cover, and tool imaginable, but few I’ve ever encountered carry a trauma kit that contains more than a few bandages. This kit takes up very little room, weighs virtually nothing and contains the tools to treat the three most common battlefield injuries. Why would

50

every shooter not carry a Micro TKN?” The Micro TKNTM has two main components: the outer MOLLE or belt-mounted pouch using the Ten-Speed technology; and a removable insert to keep medical supplies organized.

Blue Force Gear’s Marking and Recognition Chemstick Organizer Dispenser, or MARCO, is a more efficient, effective and compact way to carry marking lights for room clearing.

With the MARCO dispenser, users can save critical time during preparation during pre-mission tasks by not having to unwrap, tape and bundle chem sticks.

The dispensers design makes it simple for users; simply open the Mylar package with the pre-loaded dispenser, insert the MARCO dispenser inside of the belt or MOLLE holster and proceed with the mission. The design prevents the accidental activation of a chem stick, which can cause unwanted light. In addition to being used during missions, the MARCO dispenser also has valuable application to the wider user when out in the field at night. The 2-inch mini chem sticks deployed from the MARCO dispenser provide the equivalent light of a 4-inch chem stick as seen through Night Vision devices and are selfilluminating, continuing to glow rain or shine.

And last, but by no means least comes the Blue Force Gear Pocket Holster; this is the company’s first foray into the everyday carry (EDC) market. The manufacturer of battle-tested weapon slings and battle equipment has used its revolutionary field gear development experience to create the ULTRAcomp Pocket Holster.

Designed with Blue Force Gear’s proprietary highperformance laminate called ULTRAcomp, the new EDC pocket holster exceeds military standard materials in tear and abrasion resistance while remaining versatile and ultra-lightweight for the carrier. ULTRAcomp removes extra bulk while solidly securing and concealing a pocket pistol, creating the thinnest pocket holster available today.

By reducing the weight and bulk over a standard pocket holster, the ULTRAcomp Pocket Holster provides additional comfort to the carrier and protects both the weapon and interior of the pocket. The secure weapon positioning that the holster provides ensures safe and accurate grip and weapon removal from its pocket holster. The ULTRAcomp Pocket Holster is currently available for the SIG SAUER P238/938, KIMBER MICRO, GLOCK 42, and RUGER LCP/ LCP2.

These are all incredibly valid additions to what is already a comprehensive range of products, and I certainly like the new direction in relation to EDC items. All Blue Force Gear products are the net result of meticulous research, design and testing and I for one am very interested in adding an ULTRAcomp Pocket Holster to my own gear pile for those “trips abroad”.

Whatever your tactical gear needs might be, Blue Force Gear are well worth a look!

For more information and distributor details worldwide please visit www.blueforcegear.com

COUNTERINSURGENCY IN PARADISE; SEVEN DECADES OF CIVIL WAR IN THE PHILIPPINES (ASIA@WAR) Philippines has seen civil unrest, insurgencies and separatism movements ever since independence in 1946. Endemic corruption, human rights violations, ethnic strife and a shaky economy have fuelled wars that have been raging on and off for almost 70 years, wars that are all but unknown outside directly interested parties.

the ongoing civil war in the Philippines. Morris has travelled extensively in the Philippines during and after college and has been working on this project on and off for over a decade. He has published two magazine articles on the Philippine Air Force’s history and contribution to the civil war.

Book Review

Against this backdrop the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have been increasingly underfunded, and have to make do with obsolete planes, ships, light armoured vehicles, and artillery dating back to World War II. Since the end of the Cold War, the Philippines have been in the unique and unfortunate situation of simultaneously facing the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group and so called lost commands, the Marxist uprising of the New People s Army, while trying to maintain a tenuous cease fire with the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

While previous publications have discussed human rights issues, the Huk Revolt of the 1940s and 1950s, the military unrest in the 1980s, and the socio-political structure of various rebel movements in the Philippines, this is the first major work exclusively covering the military history of the Philippines in the 70 years of independence. The insurgency of the Huks, and early Moro separatist rebels, the Moro and Marxist revolts against Marcos dictatorship, and the counter-terrorism operations of recent times, are discussed in relation to the transformation of the military threat and the corresponding transformation of the AFP, from a conventional military, towards the deployment of elite forces and extra-judicial means to suppress a series of revolts which have threatened the integrity of the state.

Richly illustrated with exclusive and unique photographs, artworks and maps, “Counterinsurgency in Paradise” provides a unique source of reference about the often forgotten, if not outright ignored conflicts in the Philippines since 1945. Asia@ War, following on from the highly-successful Africa@War series, replicates the same format; concise, incisive text, rare images and high quality colour artwork providing fresh accounts of both well-known and more esoteric aspects of conflict in this part of the world since 1945.

Aaron Morris, from the United States, is a licensed attorney and historian. In 2011 he graduated Cum Laude from the University of Richmond School of Law and earlier earned a BA in History from George Mason University. He developed an interest in armed conflicts in the developing world while a high school student.

He specialises in medieval Central and South Asian history, and post-World War Two South East Asian and African military history.

A chance visit to the United States Marine Corps museum with his father in the ninth grade helped develop his interest about

The book “Counterinsurgency in Paradise” is his first publication through Helion and Company.

Price: UK£16.95 Paperback: 80 pages Publisher: Helion and Company (4 Oct. 2016) Language: English ISBN-10: 1910294063 ISBN-13: 978-1910294062

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http://www.iscgulf.com/

Exploration Logistics Group

ISSG Sea Marshalls

http://www.frontiermedex.com/

http://www.issg-seamarshals.com/

G4S Maritime

Janusian Risk Advisory Group

http://www.g4s.uk.com

http://www.riskadvisory.net/

Genesis Security Group http://genesissecurity.com/

Global Executive Outreach http://www.geo-ops.com/

Global Risk Security http://www.globalrisksecurity.co.uk/

Global Solace http://www.solaceglobal.com/

Global Strategies Group http://www.globalgroup.com/

Grail Security http://www.grail.co.za

Halliburton http://www.halliburton.com/en-USage

Halogen Security http://www.halogensecurity.com/

Hart Maritime http://www.hartsecurity.com

Hill & Associates http://www.hillassoc.com

HP TerraMarine International http://www.hpterramarine.com/

56

Kroll

MUSC

http://www.kroll.com/

http://www.sps-global.com

Longmoor Group

Naval Guards

http://www.longmoor-security.com

http://www.navalguards.com

Lotus Maritime Security

Neptune Security

http://www.lotusmaritime.com

http://www.neptunemaritimesecurity.com/

Lotus Projects

NNK Group

http://www.lpyemen.com

https://www.nnkcorporation.com

Maersk

NYA International

http://www.maersk.com/pages/default.aspx

http://www.nyainternational.com

Magregor Protection Services

Ocean Marshalls

http://macgregorprotectionservices.com

http://www.oceanmarshalls.com

March Security

Ocean Protective Services

www.marchsecurity.com

http://oceanprotectionservices.com

Maritime Risk International

Oceaneering International

http://www.maritimeriskinternational.com/

http://www.oceaneering.com/

Marsec

Olchon

http://www.marsec.eu.com

http://www.olchon.co.uk/

MAST

Olive Group

http://www.mast-commercial.com

http://www.olivegroup.com/

McRoberts Maritime Security

Orchid Security

http://www.mcrobertsmaritime.com/

http://www.orchid-office.com/

Merchant Maritime Warfare Centre

Oxberry Risk Strategies

http://www.mmwc.org/

http://www.oxberryrisk.com/maritime_services

Minimal Risk

Pilgrim Group

http://www.minimalrisk.co.uk/

http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com

MSS

Pilgrim Security

http://www.mss-uk.com

http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com

MTResolution

Pistris

http://www.mtresolution.com/

http://www.pistris.com/Index.html

Protect Asia Group

Securescot

http://www.protectasia.com/

http://www.securescot.com

PVI Ltd

Securewest International

http://www.pviltd.com/

http://www.securewest.com/

Raven Special Projects Ltd

Security Networking Events

http://www.ravenspecialprojects.com

http://snespecialprojects.com/

Red Cell Security

Security Networking Events

http://www.redcellsecurity.co.uk

http://snespecialprojects.com/

Redfour-MSS

Securoquest

http://www.redfour-group.com

http://www.securoquest.co.za

Saladin Security Group

Shield Risk Consulting

http://www.saladin-security.com/

http://www.shield.eu/services/maritime-security/

Saladin Security

Shipguard

http://www.saladin-security.com/

http://www.mss-uk.com

Salama Fikira

SMS

http://www.salamafikira.com/

www.specialistmarineservices.com

SMS

SPS

www.specialistmarineservices.com

http://www.sps-global.com

Tor International

Tactical Intel

http://www.torinternational.com/

http://www.tacticalintel.com/

Trojan Securities International

Thalassic

http://www.trojansecurities.com/

http://www.thalassic.co.uk/

Orchid Security

Tor International

http://www.orchid-office.com/

http://www.torinternational.com/

Blackstone Consultancy

Torcuss

http://www.blackstoneconsultancy.com/

http://www.torcuss.co.za/

Pilgrim Group

Triskle TSL

http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com/

http://www.triskelservices.com

Maritime Risk International

Triton Security

http://www.maritimeriskinternational.com/

http://www.tritoninternationalltd.com

International Maritime Security

Trojan Securities

http://www.intmarsec.co.uk/

http://www.trojansecurities.com

Raven Special Projects Ltd

Veritas International

http://www.ravenspecialprojects.com/

http://www.veritas-international.com/

Salamanca Risk Management http://www.salamancarm.com

Sea Marshalls Ltd UK http://www.seamarshals.com

SEAL http://www.sealsecurity.com/

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