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Stout Gear

By on June 20, 2015 in EDC, Knives, Survival

If you like hard working, custom knives that offer big performance at a reasonable price (who doesn’t?), Stout Gear should be on your radar. I have purchased one of their Ibex models and I’m seriously impressed. I like it so much that I am already making room in my budget to pick up their Scout model! You can stay tuned for a full review of the Ibex.

Stout Gear Ibex

Ibex

Stout Gear offers several models in several sizes so it is difficult generalize their knives but there are a few things that characterize them. One of those characteristics is good cutting geometry. These knives are made for hard work so they are very thick at the spine and in order to make them cut, Stout Gear uses very tall, slightly convex primary grinds and then applies a 20 degree, polished bevel. The result is a tough edge that cuts very well.

They also have large, hand filling handles with comfortable contours. You’ll find deep bellied, drop point blade shapes on most of their knives. Their work is extremely clean (look at those plunge lines!). They also use tough, high quality steels that are well suited to the tasks envisioned for the knife. Most of their knives use CPM S35VN which is one of the only modern stainless steels I have been able to warm to because it is fairly easy to sharpen. I can sharpen anything, I just don’t care to spend a lot time doing it!

The Scout

Thankfully, Stout Gear is not one of those companies that sells you a great knife and sticks you with an afterthought of a sheath. I could probably write whole post just about the sheath. It is completely unique and very functional. It is a kydex sheath that is constructed much like a leather sheath in that is has an HDPE (tough plastic) welt between the outer layers of kydex. This allows the kydex layers to retain the knife without contacting the blade. This prevents scratching the blade and dulling of the edge by contact with the kydex and all the grit that ends up in the sheath of a knife that is actually being used. The sheath also features metal belt loops that Stout Gear makes themselves. It has to be the most bomb-proof sheath system I have ever seen.

All of their knives have starting prices below $300 – most well below $300. They cost less than many production knives with similar features (thick premium steel, sculpted G-10 handles, quality sheath, etc.). You need to get to know Stout Gear.

Wolverine

Wolverine

TacStrike Goes Back to Their Roots

By on June 19, 2015 in Tactics and Training

TacStrike-LogoTacStrike started out as a builder of steel targets for people who trained others or trained hard themselves. They are going back to those roots by significantly trimming their target offerings down to those that fit their mission and by reducing prices in a big way.

From TackStrike:

Roanoke, VA – June 19th 2015 – TacStrike Systems, a leading target manufacturer and retailer, is pleased to announce a return to the core principles that made TacStrike the trainer’s choice. This move is the culmination of many influences and a desire to serve shooters more efficiently and with lower pricing. A previous move to expand the target line to be all things to all shooters dilutes our goal and makes us appear to be just another target maker. However, by redirecting focus back to the foundation of the company, streamlining and eliminating the clutter TacStrike will be serving you faster, more affordably and with proven items for your training.
As of today TacStrike’s target lineup consists of a dozen items. Targets proven by the industry’s leading instructors to be the best for the job of training fighters. This streamlined approach allows a significant reduction in prices, by more than a third in some cases, speed up delivery times and handle your needs both before and after a sale with more care.
When your rifle costs a months salary and a case of ammo is equal to a romantic weekend getaway getting quality targets at a price that doesn’t break the bank makes everyone a more motivated shooter. So here is an sample of the new prices
1/4 Scale Steel Target Systems are now $175. Down from $220
1/4 Scale Ultra Lites Steel Targets are now $155. Down from $199
Full Size Steel Target Systems are now $299.95. Down from $399
4 Packs of Arch Frame Target Carriers are now $99.95. Down from $150
With the movement to this pricing structure there are now two pricing structures. The manufacturing cost and retail. Low costs and streamlined like this makes the everyday ordering procedures simple for everyone. When a quantity of item(s) is needed shipping shifts from individual boxes to pallets and freight shipping which can save even more when outfitting a range.
TacStrike’s superb quality and craftsmanship hasn’t changed and the NO BS Warranty is still in place. If you ever experience a problem with a product TacStrike will work with you to make it right as fast and painless as possible.

So join an industry leader as quality, price and customer service take a front seat to low cost, low quality alternatives.

Jessica Brown – First Junior Female to Complete Trooper

By on June 19, 2015 in Other

The MGM Ironman is billed by its organizers as “The Toughest 3 Gun Competition on Earth” and no one will argue that. If you follow the MGM Ironman, you know that if you drill down even deeper into the depths of this competition, there exists a whole new level of tough found in the Trooper Division.

Trooper is a division of competiters at the MGM Ironman who compete with their own, even more grueling, set of rules. They carry every single bit of their equipment on their person for the entire match – from sign in to completion. If they run out of ammo because they have exhausted what they are carrying, they are done. Want a back up gun? You have to carry it. Moving to the next stage? Do it in one trip or you’ll have to carry all your gear back and start over. It is a real test of the shooter and their equipment, and I am just scratching the surface of the rules. As you can imagine, many shooters don’t finish the event due to physical and equipment breakdowns.

jessica brown trooper

It’s easy to look at the rules and think that Trooper Division is not for young ladies but this year (the 11th year of Trooper’s existence) there was a historic first. Jessica Brown, a Junior Female, completed Trooper. She started the day with 150 pounds of gear (which is 25 pounds more than her body weight) and ended the day finishing 24th out of 33 finishers.

Russell Phagan, founder of Trooper Class, is marketing manager at KE Arms, one of Jessica’s sponsors. The following is the press release that they sent over following her historic accomplishment:

Jessica Brown became the first Junior female shooter to complete the MGM Ironman in trooper division in its 11 year history.

Her loadout started at 150 pounds, 25 pounds more than her bodyweight.  Jessica persevered while many adult male shooters drop out of this division every year for lack of ammunition, lack of physical preparedness, injuries, or firearms breakage.

Jessica placed 24/33 Troopers.

Thanks to our Industry partners that helped her succeed in this endeavor:

Brethren Armament
Whiskey Two-Four
Nightforce Optics
Honor Point, LLC
Gun Show Ammo
The Suarez Group
MOA Precision LLC

If you have a daughter looking for a role model, show her this post. I know I’ll be showing my three daughters!

Congratulations Jessica.

jessica brown trooper 2

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