Author: Jack Bogart

Modular, Vacuum-Rigidizing Military Equipment Protection System for Drones, Optics, and Mission-Critical Gear. [SCOTTSDALE, AZ] KOR is honored to announce the award of a contract from the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for its advanced KOR Protective System, a modular, reusable military equipment protection system designed to safeguard mission-critical equipment in the most demanding operational environments. This award validates KOR’s breakthrough approach to protective packaging for defense applications, supporting operators who require reliable shock and vibration protection, rapid deployment, and adaptable load configurations across dynamic mission profiles. KOR 4214 Double Panel Protective System A New Standard in Military Equipment Protection The…

On 13 March, 2026, the Department Of War’s Director, Operational Test and Evaluation Office (DOT&E) released their 2025 annual report to Congress. DOT&E provides oversight for acquisition related testing of new capabilities and releases an annual report. The report covers acquisition programs from each of the services and United States Special Operations Command, as well as missile systems. You can check it out here. This article concentrates on the Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) and Ammunition (W&A) and NGSW – Fire Control (FC) section. As a reminder, the NGSW system includes the M7 Rifle, M250 Automatic Rifle, 6.8mm ammunition common…

Alpha Foxtrot Attila Compact 1911DS pistol with extended magazine.Alpha Foxtrot is now shipping the Attila Compact, a double-stack 9mm 1911 that’s small enough to carry.Double-stack 9mm 1911s are incredibly popular these days, but most are too big and heavy to comfortably carry concealed. Alpha Foxtrot is helping to remedy that with its Attila Compact 1911DS.Featuring a 3.5-inch barrel with an integrated compensator, it should be supremely shootable despite its small size. Thanks to its slim-profile aluminum frame, it should be pretty light on the belt and easy to conceal, too. It feeds from Glock 43X/48-pattern magazines, and each pistol ships…

Bark River Knives, a well-known knifemaker based in Escanaba, Michigan, has shuttered its business in the wake of revelations regarding the steel used in some of its blades. The fixed-blade knife manufacturer has now admitted to using Chinese steel in several of its models, even though the knives were labeled and marketed as CPM 154 steel and made in the USA. Bark River’s owner Mike Stewart made the announcement via Facebook on Monday and said the company had concluded all business as of Friday. Stewart also took full responsibility, saying “it was 100%” his fault and that he had made…

Back in 2022, I did a YouTube video called “Do Knifemakers Know How to Heat Treat?” I found video clips where knifemakers explained how to heat treat and how it works, and then I pointed out the misconceptions and misunderstandings they had about metallurgy and heat treating. It worked well because responding to how the knifemakers explained things let me address commonly repeated, untrue claims. Because when I cover my own material, I’m typically just teaching, rather than correcting misunderstandings. However, a handful of comments on the video said I was being unfair or unkind to the knifemakers. Metallurgy is…

It’s no secret that Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company have been steadily raising season pass prices year over year. Since the 2021/22 season, the full Epic and Ikon passes have gone up around $400, while the Epic Local and Ikon Base passes have gone up around $220. Both full passes now cost over $1,000, and this year, the prices went up again. DiCello Levitt, a law firm with offices nationwide, asserts that those price increases are the result of anticompetitive business conduct. That’s why this week, the firm filed a class action lawsuit against Vail Resorts, Inc. and Alterra…

Key Facts: Half-Time successfully reached at the EDF-Project “MARTE” Actions on track: First technical work packages closed, significant Milestones and Deliverables achieved and approved Strong European industry cooperation confirmed Bonn, 23.03.2026 The European defence sector entered a new era of industry- and Ministry of Defence-cooperation in the domain of Main Battle Tanks. Funded by the European Defence Fund (EDF), the MARTE project (Main ARmoured Tank of Europe) is far more than a technology project, it is a cornerstone for Europe`s strategic autonomy and military relevance in high intensity land warfare. MARTE aims to design Europe`s future Main Battle Tank as…

The Chevrolet versus Ford rivalry is legendary. Camaro versus Mustang. Silverado versus F-Series. Traverse Z71 versus Explorer Tremor. It might not be a comparison you’ve thought about, but these are both off-road spec versions of volume sellers vying for buyers’ bucks. I’ve driven both the ’26 Traverse Z71 and ’26 Explorer Tremor. Both seat at least six people, are AWD, come with factory all-terrain tires, and have turbocharged engines. So how do they compare, and is one better than the other? 2026 Chevy Traverse Z71 Traverse Z71 Off-Road Equipment In 2024, I attended the latest Traverse launch in Georgia, which…

March 23, 2026 – Steadicopter, a leading developer and manufacturer of rotary unmanned aerial systems (UAS), has announced the launch of its dedicated Steadicopter UAS Academy, a comprehensive training program designed to equip customers with the operational expertise required to maximize the capabilities of the company’s advanced rotary UAV platforms. The academy provides structured training programs delivered by Steadicopter’s expert instructors, many of whom bring extensive operational, aviation, and unmanned systems experience. The courses are designed to provide operators, mission commanders, and technical teams with deep knowledge of rotary UAS operations, enabling them to effectively deploy the systems across a…

After several years of struggling to turn a profit, REI Co-op will reduce benefits for its employees. The retailer confirmed the news to GearJunkie last week, after Bloomberg reported on an internal memo from REI’s CEO. Scaled-back benefits include slower accrual of vacation days, switching from guaranteed retirement contributions to a “company match,” and changing sick days from an across-the-board policy to one that “aligns” state by state with what is legally required, according to a memo from REI CEO Mary Beth Laughlin. REI will also reduce wages for new employees, starting this summer, according to news reports and statements…