Beez Combat Systems already offers one of the widest array of color and camo pattern options in the tactical nylon business. Now they are offering Navy Blue on selected plate carriers for first responders. The Plate Carrier MOLLE II is one such example.
The partnership of Vertx with Matt Jacques of Victory First has been a fruitful one over the years. Now the two are making it official with the announcement of Victory First as a preferred training provider which will, no doubt, lead to some interesting training opportunities especially as it pertains to Vertx’s excellent line of concealed carry bags.
From Vertx:
Vertx®, a premier tactical and outdoor brand of apparel and gear, announced today its expanded partnership with Victory First, a leader in law enforcement, firearms training and consulting. The partnership will focus on utilization of Victory First’s expertise in tactics and training, while incorporating the Vertx line of concealed carry bags and packs for real world use. Additionally, Victory First will conduct training classes for Vertx, which will include relevant tactical applications.
“We’re excited to expand our business relationship with Matt Jacques and Victory First as a preferred training provider for Vertx’s EDC line of bags and packs,” says Darrell Morrow, Vice President of Vertx. “Matt brings a wealth of professional and industry knowledge that is essential for today’s prepared professional. His leadership through Victory First will help us ensure that all of our customers have access to the most relevant, useful training that complements the Vertx line of products.”
The Vertx line of EDC bags and packs is feature-rich and specifically designed to accommodate concealed carry in everyday life application. As a design consultant on all of the bags, Matt has intimate knowledge of their use in the field, and in everyday life when proper training and tactics are coupled with the right products.
“I believe in the products that Vertx brings to market, and I have been proud to have been involved as a consultant, so partnering with them from a training standpoint was a natural fit,” says Matt Jacques, Victory First Owner. “I am extremely picky about the products I use; and professional end users will tell you that having training with the right products can be the difference in a win or lose situation. The training we offer through Victory First will help our customers become more efficient and confidently reliant on the products they trust.”
Victory First will also manage a Train-The-Trainer program for Vertx that will help educate its sales force, dealer network and key customer groups on the design potential and benefits of training with Vertx products.
About Vertx
Vertx is a premier tactical and outdoor brand for the modern day prepared professional. Vertx designs world-class apparel, bags and packs that are created by best-in-class designers to combine a low visual profile with superior functionality. Since its inception in 2009, Vertx has earned trust among the nation’s top operators for exceptional performance, fit and durability. Vertx is a brand of Fechheimer, a Berkshire Hathaway Company. For more information, visit www.vertx.com.About Victory First
Victory First strives to provide real world tactics and firearms training to the Law Enforcement and Military markets, as well as to responsible firearm owners. Led by Matt Jacques, Victory First harnesses more than 20+ years of experience in various military, law enforcement and federal government assignments, incorporating proven methods of fundamental skills and tactical training for its students. Victory First also offers consulting to select clients, covering real-world use in product development, manufacturing, testing and marketing. For more information, visit their website at http://www.victory-first.com or Matt@Victory-First.com.
I recently shared with you how impressed I am with Streamlight’s ProTac Rail Mount 1 and its ability to be powered from a CR123A or AA battery. Streamlight has just announced that they will be bringing that same technology to their ProTac handheld lights in the new ProTac 1L-1AA.
The new light will feature anodized aluminum construction, a “unbreakable” two-way clip, anti-roll bezel, and Streamlights TEN-TAP programming to allow the user to choose between 3 different output sets including high/strobe/low, high only, and high/low. The light is also IPX7 waterproof (1 meter for 30 minutes).
The output is basically identical to the ProTac Rail Mount 1.
The new light will be on display at NRA 2016 so swing by booth #5391 to see it in person. You can also learn more by visiting Streamlight’s website.
Forward Controls Design recently released details of their patent pended, dimpled version of the ABC/R-F. It looks great (you can see a rendering of the 7.62 version below) but the details released are also an interesting window into the design process and the care that goes into it.
From Forward Controls Design:
I already knew that it wouldn’t be as simple as replacing serrations with dimples. On the standard ABC/R-F, the serrations extend from the top paddle downward, and gives the user’s finger more serrated surface to press on.
On the dimpled ABC/R-F, we used different sized dimples on the paddles and stalk. Large diameter dimples for the top paddle, and elsewhere, smaller dimples. The dimples are rounded at the bottom, but they’re fairly steep dimples to provide better traction. We reworked the dimples dimensions and arrangement patterns several times until we were happy with it.
The end result is an ABC/R-F that offers good traction from all angles of approach. The standard ABC/R-F’s horizontal serrations are best at offering resistance and traction at near vertical angle of approach, and very good when the angle changes, up to 50 degrees or so. Dimpled paddles put up nearly identical amount of resistance and traction, regardless of the angle of approach.
The 5.56mm version of dimpled ABC/R-F should be out in a month in limited availability. When the 7.62mm ABC/R-F comes out, it’ll have both the serrated and dimpled version.
The basic shape of the ABC/R-F is already designed to give the user tactile cues and now we can see the care that goes into extending these cues into even something as subtle as the surface treatment. I don’t know about you but I always find these types of peeks behind the curtain interesting.
I have used several different types of plastic water storage containers over the years and all of them have had significant downsides. Most of them have sprung leaks at the seams. They are difficult, especially when full, to dispense water from without spillage. They also take up a ton of space even when they are empty. I still have and use several of these plastic jerrycan style containers because they were the only way I had to carry a large amount of water to the range or when camping with the family but I have ceased using them to store water.
A friend of JTT recently told me about Surplus Swiss 20L Water Bags as an alternative to rigid plastic containers so I gave them a try. These water bags are black rubber bladders with heavy rope handles at each end. They have a large fill port and a push button spigot that makes dispensing water a snap.
The bags seems to be extremely durable to the extent that they can be dropped from head height or stood on when full without bursting – I have done both. The welded seems are massive and, given what I see and what I have read in reviews from others, it is difficult to imagine them leaking even with abuse. These have seemingly solved the durability issues that I have experienced with the rigid plastic cans.
The form factor of these bags provides some interesting functionality. First, because they are made from black rubber, they can be laid in the sun to heat the water and this is surprisingly effective. This ability to heat the water along with how easy they are to hang by the rope handles makes them very effective as a solar shower bag. The rope handles have a bit of plastic tubing on them that makes them very comfortable to carry even when full. Finally, they fold completely flat when empty which is a very welcome change if you are used to rigid cans.
Apparently, these bags used to be far more plentiful and inexpensive. That is never the case for long with good surplus items. There are now retailers charging $20+ for a single bag and the shipping is also quite expensive. After shopping around a bit, I purchased a few of them from MidwayUSA who had the best price I could find by a mile, especially when you factor in the shipping.
