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Archive | May, 2012

Review: NukoTools PunchRing Gen2

By on May 31, 2012 in EDC, Survival

The NukoTools PunchRing Gen2 is an improved version of the original PunchRing. The original was pretty good. This new one is even better.

Overview

The PunchRing is designed to be a discreet last ditch defensive tool. It can be carried unobtrusively on your key ring or in your pocket. Like the original, this PunchRing Gen2 is made from G-10 which is a completely non-metallic material that is very durable.

It can be easily slipped onto your finger with the long end wedged back into your palm and the sharp end projecting forward. Once it is in this position it can be used for punches, gouging, scraping, and other nastiness. The leading edge is quite sharp. I found it to be sharp enough to roughly cut paper (not cleanly but it will do it) and cut packing tape.

Left to Right: Gen 2 PunchRing, Original PunchRing

Improvements

The PunchRing Gen2 is larger than the original in order to support a larger finger hole. I know several people with thicker fingers who weren’t able to use the original PunchRing but that find this new one to be perfect due to the larger finger hole. The newer model is also made from slightly thicker G-10.

The sides of the PunchRing Gen2 have two scallops. These scallops reduce the thickness of the PunchRing, allowing your fingers to sit closer together when you make a fist which is more comfortable. If you have the PunchRing on your index finger, the scallop can also make a great thumb rest.

In Use

Hitting something really hard with the PunchRing is no picnic for the wearer or the recipient of the punch. Thankfully, it is far worse for the recipient. I tested it with several hard hits into phone books (remember those?) and found that the broader, thicker Gen 2 PunchRing was more comfortable than the original but it still gets old quickly. It can be really hard on your palm, but the sharp leading edge of the PunchRing does a tremendous amount of damage to the phone books.

I also found that you don’t really need to punch with the PunchRing. It can be used much like a push dagger or even like a kubotan to attack pressure points. I suspect that someone with more training than me would find other ways to use it.

Conclusion

You must have realistic expectations for a tool like this. The PunchRing is obviously designed as a tool of last resort. It is a last ditch self defense tool. You will likely tear up your hand a bit if you have to use it but, rest assured, the recipient of your attention will be feeling it far more.

Check out the PunchRing Gen2 on the NukoTools website.

Advanced Outfitters Dopp Kit 2.0

By on May 31, 2012 in EDC, Survival, Tactical Gear

The original Dopp Kit from Advanced Outfitters was a lightweight organizer that could be used for anything from a toiletry kit, to a first aid kit, to a gear organizer. The new Dopp Kit 2.0 has the same basic pocket layout as the original (2 large pockets and a front sleeve pocket) but it now weighs even less.

Dopp Kit 2.0 (top) and the original Dopp Kit (bottom)

The bag-in-bag method of organizing your gear can be very convenient. However, the weight of all of those small organizer bags can really start to add up. The Dopp Kit 2.0 is made from rip-stop sil-nylon. This allows it to be slightly larger than the original but a bit lighter and, more importantly, keeps the total weight of your gear down.

If you are looking for a convenient and versatile way to organize gear that won’t weigh you down, check out the Dopp Kit 2.o from Advanced Outfitters. You can contact Advanced Outfitters through their website, on Twitter, or on the Usual Suspect Network.

S.O. Tech VIPER Flat IFAK Pouch

By on May 30, 2012 in Tactical Gear

I have always said that someone should make an IFAK pouch that lays all of the first aid contents out side by side instead of stacking them. It would make for a much flatter pouch. Well, it turns out that S.O. Tech read my mind when they released the VIPER Flat IFAK Pouch.

The VIPER Flat IFAK Pouch is wider than most IFAK pouches but that allows it to be far thinner. It is designed to ride on the back of a battle belt, below the plate carrier. I think it could likely work very well mounted on a plate carrier itself especially on the sides where many people already mount their IFAK. It certainly wouldn’t be as bulky or in the way as a typical IFAK pouch mounted on a plate carrier.

The VIPER Flat IFAK Pouch is also very accessible. All of the IFAK kit items are placed in a tray that rides in a sleeve. The sleeve is what is actually mounted to your gear. The tray can be pulled out from either side which makes accessing a kit that is mounted on the back of your belt fairly easy.

This really looks like it could be a versatile alternative to the typical bulky IFAK pouch. The VIPER Flat IFAK Pouch might even open up some mounting possibilities that traditional IFAKs can’t provide. Check out the S.O. Tech VIPER Flat IFAK Pouch on SKDTAC.com.

Innovative Arms Warfighter Adjustable Receiver

By on May 30, 2012 in Guns

When I build or assemble a rifle, I like to do it right. Nothing bugs me more than having to rig something or accept substandard performance out of a weapon because a certain accessory only partially accomplishes a purpose. This can be especially true when you are suppressing an AR-15. Suppressors are really starting to take off in popularity these days as more and more civilian shooters are willing to navigate the red tape that comes with enjoying the benefit of these tools.

The best, and most expensive, route to suppressor success with an AR-15 is to buy a rifle (or complete upper receiver) from a high end manufacturer that builds it from the ground up with a adjustable gas block (switch block). Aftermarket adjustable gas blocks of varying quality are available but may be difficult to fit or install. Also, most are of the less robust “clam shell” design (versus a pinned gas block) that only uses screws to tension the device around the barrel. Running a suppressed gun “wide open” (without an adjustable gas block) is certainly an option, but be prepared for the extra wear and tear and filth that comes with being over gassed.

Innovative Arms is now offering an adjustable (stripped) upper receiver for direct impingement AR-15’s through Palmetto State Armory. This eliminates the need for a switch block and allows proper function of the rifle in suppressed/unsuppressed mode by simply toggling a switch built into the upper receiver. Any AR-15 owner with a vise, block, and armorer’s wrench can theoretically simply swap upper receivers and have a no-compromise rifle that is suppressor ready. Other benefits include the ability to switch settings without risking burning your fingers and slowing the cyclic rate by about 100 rounds per minute. It is certainly an interesting development if it lives up to its manufacturer’s claims.

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