Author: news

A Montana Army National Guard pilot pled no contest to a misdemeanor trespassing charge after landing a military helicopter on private land to collect elk antlers. The charge stems from an incident in May 2025. Three Montana Army National Guard members were flying a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter on what was described as an authorized training flight when they diverted from their mission. The helicopter landed on private ranch land in Sweet Grass County without the landowner’s permission. According to prosecutors, the landing was deliberate, made to allow the crew to collect elk antlers. Witnesses later reported seeing the helicopter on…

Knife people love to argue about steels, locks, and edge geometry, but in the woods you are far more likely to lose a folder because the pocket clip quietly let go than because the blade or pivot actually failed. The clip is the weak link between your expensive tool and the forest floor, and when it bends, loosens, or snags, your knife can vanish without a sound. If you treat the clip as a disposable accessory instead of life support for your edge, you are effectively gambling every time you step off the trail. When you think about catastrophic knife…

Civivi is, like every other manufacturer this month, ramping up for major product reveals at or around SHOT Show, one of the biggest events of the year for the production knife scene. But they’ve already got some new stuff revealed, including a stout little folder called the Vexron. The Vexron has a name like some sort of sleek futuristic spacecraft, but it is built rugged and tanklike. The 2.98-inch blade has a wide profile, a tweaked spear point with a chunky topside swedge above the hollow grind primary bevel. Rendered in good ol’ 14C28N, the Vexron blade will be a…

By Joe Kurtenbach Posted in #Gear Editor’s Note: In today’s article, author Joe Kurtenbach reviews the 9mm Speer Gold Dot Carbine ammunition in a Springfield Armory SAINT Victor Carbine. Speer provided the ammunition for testing. When the editor-in-chief of The Armory Life reached out to me and asked if I’d be interested in testing out a new Speer loading — the Gold Dot Carbine 135-gr. 9mm — I jumped at the chance. Speer is a brand with a reputation for quality, and I was very interested in learning more about it. So, I put in a request for a…

EchoCore Suppressors Signs Exclusive Agreement with Silencer Shop North Conway, NH (January 7, 2026) — EchoCore Suppressors is proud to announce an exclusive distribution agreement with Silencer Shop, the world’s largest and most trusted suppressor distributor. Under this new partnership, all five EchoCore models — including the award-winning Sector 5.56 Full Size and Sector 5.56 Compact — are available exclusively through Silencer Shop’s national dealer network, are in-stock and shipping now. Founded on precision engineering, advanced materials, and additive manufacturing, EchoCore Suppressors has quickly emerged as one of the most innovative names in modern suppression. This exclusive partnership with Silencer Shop ensures EchoCore products are accessible to enthusiasts,…

Earlier this year at The Shootist’s Holiday at NRA’s Whittington Center in Raton, NM, I met Jason Cloessner, who calls the shots at Lipsey’s Guns regarding what firearms the company wanted specifically modified by the manufacturer to be sold only as a “Lipsey’s Special.” One of his choices this year is a 2-inch-barreled, J-frame Smith & Wesson Model 432 chambered in.32 H&R Mag. The most intriguing thing about Cloessner’s decision was that the small-caliber revolver would be presented to the shooting world by Lipsey’s as a defensive gun. In 1986, when the .32 H&R Mag. cartridge was introduced, the cartridge…

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) proudly announces the launch of Ruger® Harrier™ rifles, a completely re-engineered line of modern sporting rifles (MSRs) that represents the latest evolution in AR-pattern firearms. Manufactured at Ruger’s recently acquired Hebron, Kentucky factory, Harrier rifles are designed to deliver superior fit, function and aftermarket compatibility. Initial Harrier rifle offerings include two rifles chambered in 5.56 NATO (.223 Remington compatible). Both models feature a rigid, free-floated 15-inch handguard with M-LOK® accessory slots, but differ in configuration to meet varying shooter preferences. Model 28600 features a mid-length gas system, Magpul® MOE-K2® grip, Magpul DT Carbine…

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. – Beginning in Calendar Year 2026 (CY26), all brave volunteers will be greeted by the iconic campaign hat, as the U.S. Army has canceled all future procurement of the women’s bush hat and authorized the campaign hat to be worn by all current, and future, drill sergeants. “There’s a single standard when screening and certifying Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) for service as a drill sergeant, a single standard that we hold all serving drill sergeants to, and moving forward, there will be a single standard drill sergeant uniform” said Command Sgt. Maj. Michael McMurdy, Senior Enlisted Advisor…

Whether it’s spoons, jerkbaits, bladebaits, or crankbaits, I love fishing treble-hooked lures. You can’t beat the feeling of a fish smoking a moving lure. I despise storing them, though. Sticking them in most tackle boxes results in a giant, tangled mess. Instead of quickly swapping lures and making your next cast, you’re left vigorously shaking a wad of sharp objects, trying like mad to free the one you’re after without stabbing yourself. Fortunately, we live in 2026, and fishing equipment is becoming increasingly specialized. Tackle boxes are no exception. There are boxes that specialize in storing just about any lure…

A National Model for Efficient Workforce Development, Reduced Government Burden, and Stronger Economic Outcomes ATLANTA, Jan. 5, 2026 — The Veterans Training Empowerment Center (VTEC) , a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to military workforce development and an approved U.S. Army Career Skills Program (CSP) provider delivering on-base training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and recognized with Guidestar’s Platinum Seal of Transparency, today announced the expansion of the VTEC Fort Gillem National Training Center. This centralized, military-focused workforce hub is designed to support soldiers, veterans, military families, and civilian learners while providing direct, measurable benefits to federal and state agencies. The Fort Gillem…