Author: news

Aberdeen, NC – Jan. 14, 2025 – Ferro Concepts and Spiritus Systems®, two of the leading manufacturers of nylon and tactical equipment designed for military and law enforcement professionals, have announced the proposal of an established universal standardized zipper and layout specification for both back panel and front flap attachment points for plater carriers. This standardization, the Universal Carrier Attachment Standard (UCAS), will enable universal compatibility between vendors and support efficient modernization efforts for the warfighter. Currently, a universal standard for front flap and back panel attachment systems on plate carriers does not exist. This gap in product synchronicities leads…

Watchtower Firearms is now shipping its new commander-size, 1911-pattern, double-stack pistol, the Watchtower Apache Commander. This 9 mm 1911 double-stack pistol was designed by Watchtower Firearms as an everyday carry, medium-size gun. It’s optics-ready out of the box and includes a mounting plate on the back of the slide for red-dot sights that use the Trijicon RMR footprint. With red-dot shooting in mind, the new Watchtower Apache Commander also includes coarse and aggressive slide serrations making it easier to rack the slide and bring the gun into action around the mounted red-dot. This new pistol is available both in a…

Killer Innovations to Exhibit at SHOT Show 2026, Showcasing New AR Platform Advancements Tumwater, WA – Killer Innovations, the engineering-driven manufacturer behind Icon Defense and Velocity Defense, today announced that it will exhibit at SHOT Show 2026, taking place January 20–23 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Attendees can visit Booth #70929 to experience the company’s latest advancements in the AR platform, including the debut of its new 2110 and 2115 product lines. Known for precision manufacturing, cutting-edge design, and a relentless focus on performance, Killer Innovations continues to push the boundaries of modern firearm components. At SHOT Show 2026, the company…

Introducing ProTact by Haartz LaserFusion Vigr Developed by Haartz in conjunction with FirstSpear®, ProTact by Haartz® LaserFusion™ Vigr™ is built on Haartz’s proven military-grade materials to capture the benefit of FirstSpear’s patented LaserFusion™ technology and is considered the standard for tactical gear attachment system platforms. ProTact LaserFusion™ Vigr™ combines durable woven nylon fabric with an innovative, unbroken loop element, engineered to deliver unmatched strength and durability. The material is proven durable across environmental extremes, features a PFAS-free DWR finish with high bond durability, and is optimized for laser-cut, PALS-compatible slots. Haartz is the first official partner for FirstSpear’s new Vigr™…

Paris, 13 January 2026 – Meeting in an extraordinary session at the end of December, the Board of Directors of GICAT (the French Land and Airland Defence and Security Industries Association) decided to select General (Ret.) Marc Ollier to ultimately assume the position of Delegate General of the Association. He will succeed General (Ret.) Jean-Marc Duquesne, who has held the post for eleven years, at the end of July 2026. In light of the departure in mid-January of the Deputy Delegate General for Defence, Armaments Engineer General Martine Poirmeur, General Marc Ollier will serve as Deputy Delegate General for Defence from…

Imagine walking back to where you parked your car and finding nothing but an empty space. That gut-punch moment quickly turns into panic: your vehicle is gone, and you have no idea where to start looking. Cars, trucks, trailers, and campers are major investments, and losing one, whether permanently or even temporarily, can disrupt daily life in ways most of us never anticipate. The good news? Today’s car security options make it easier than ever to protect your vehicle and recover it if the worst happens. Highly visible anti-theft devices that deter criminals before they strike and discreet GPS trackers…

In judging a knifemaker’s standing one might consider sales or social media metrics, but these can be fickle indicators, subject to the changing fads and potentially distorted by commercial production volume. Industry accreditations and awards are perhaps a more stable metric, and many makers have received such recognition for their work. But perhaps the highest honor for knifemakers is the praise and respect of their peers and, in the words of his peers, Michael Vagnino is seen as a master to the other Mastersmiths of the American Bladesmith Society. From my discussions with numerous knifemakers about Michael for this article,…

The early morning sun was no match for the frigid November wind. I was climbing my way along a technical ridgeline with airy drops on both sides as my fingers lost feeling and shivers set in. The wind was so strong that I first donned Norrøna’s Møre thermo60 jacket over my shell until I could find some shelter to re-layer. It thankfully fit naturally in that configuration. Once I found a good stance, I slipped it underneath my shell for the summit push. Within minutes, my core was toasty, and I was once again having fun. By the end of…

I am a couple of days early, but with all of the January content on the homepage, the December Knife News column looks pretty out of place. So here is January’s column. As always it comes with the caveat that it is not always the freshest by the time it hits these digital pages, but it is a good record of things we find significant enough to make it into the physical print magazine. GSM Outdoors Adds Smith’s Products to Family of Brands Irving, Texas based conglomerate GSM Outdoors has added Smith’s Products to its ever expanding family of…

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — When Soldiers took to the field for Project Flytrap 4.5, they were not only testing emerging counter-unmanned aerial system technology but also tackling a challenge facing multinational operations: how to move sensor data quickly, reliably and securely across networks. Project Flytrap is a recurring C-UAS experimentation series in Europe focused on assessing passive and active sensors, and defeat capabilities against group 1-3 UAS in a coalition environment. Conducted by V Corps alongside U.S. and partner nation forces, the exercise series is designed to identify capability gaps, test new technologies and refine tactics under realistic operational…