Thursday, July 02, 2009
Steiner Safari Binoculars: Featuring the Steiner 8x30 Binocular
Steiner binoculars feature many innovative designs and features. Their binoculars were created to outperform the competition and remain your favorite travel companion. One specific design spec has catapulted their Safari binoculars line to the forefront of travel optics. The sun can be your best friend, or your worst enemy. Unwanted glare and UV rays can put a damper on your long awaited vacation, and Steiner has the binocular that will prevent you from missing anything.
The new Steiner Safari Pro series block almost 100% of UV-A and UV-B light and reduce glare like the best sunglasses to project a smooth, comfortable viewing image that is easy to enjoy. A Steiner Safari proves to be a professional in its industry, with its pro UV coating that is standard on all Steiner Safari Binoculars. This special technology enables you to see deer, elk, hawks, or any other subject far more clearly in tough light situations than with the naked eye. The optics reduce harmful UV radiation while providing maximum glassing comfort, leaving your eyes feeling relaxed and thankful.
One binocular that exhibits this technology at a premier level is the Steiner Safari 8x30. The Steiner 8x30 sports a new ergonomic design that was made to rest gently in your hand while you experience its glamour. At only 18 ounces, the Steiner Safari 8x30 binoculars fight against fatigue for your hands, and also your eyes with its convenient Sports Auto-Focus. Similar to Steiner Military binoculars and Steiner Marine binoculars, versatility was not left out, as these binos work well in the parched desert plains of Africa, all the way to Central Park, New York City. Birding, sporting events, hunting, or any other outdoor leisure activity can benefit from the optimum clarity of a Safari binocular. OpticsPlanet is an authorized dealer of Steiner binoculars and Steiner binocular accessories. Keep up to date with the newest from Steiner here at OpticsPlanet Blog.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Roof Prism Binoculars or Porro Prism Binoculars?
There is an ongoing debate between porro prism binoculars and roof prism binoculars: which one is better? Which binocular is more rugged? Are porro prism Bushnell binoculars better than roof prism Leica binoculars? What are the main functional differences? Everybody has their own preferences, and we can fill you in on how to decide which type of binocular is best for you.
First of all, it is necessary to know what a prism is. A prism is the glass component of a binocular that corrects the orientation of the image produced. If there were no prisms, then the image would be upside down. Most binos such as Steiner binoculars and Zeiss binoculars offer both porro and roof prisms.
Porro prism binoculars have the classic binocular shape: the eyepieces and front lenses are never in a straight line. They do not require phase correction for sharpness, and they are less expensive. Also, the light transmission of a porro prism binocular is better than that of roof prisms.
Roof prism binoculars, on the other hand, tend to have smaller, more slender bodies, similar to compact binoculars. It is more expensive to manufacture the straight tube design, but they are much more comfortable to hold. Compact binoculars with a hinge focus knob allow for one-handed operation. Due to the sturdy prism casing necessary in a roof prism binocular, they can be more rugged than your average porro prism.
With this information you should be able to comfortably choose which type of binocular is best for your goals and your budget. To find out more about how binoculars work, read our special how to buy binoculars guide! Always your information resource, stay connected with OpticsPlanet.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Common Questions about Night Vision
Night vision is one of the departments that brings up many questions from customers. With our large selection of Bushnell Night Vision, Yukon Night Vision, ATN Night Vision, and more, it is easy to get submerged into the world of night vision devices. Night vision is a very special technology that is also very fun and exciting, yet many cannot imagine what type of use is applicable to them. Do you need a night vision equipment device?
Many outdoor enthusiasts use nightvision such as night vision binoculars for camping, hiking, fishing, boating, and nature viewing. Other uses include surveillance, search and rescue, and property management. The main science behind night vision is the image intensifier tube, which amplifies ambient light by accelerating electrons and striking a phosphor surface just like a television set. If there is no light, then the device will not work. As the generations graduate from Gen 1 night vision all the way up to Gen 3 night vision, the intensifier tube increases in quality, thus improving the amount of illumination. Gen 4 night vision devices only removes protective coatings from some surfaces.
Protecting your digital night vision investment means avoiding usage during the daytime. They may be used for short periods of time with day filters on them but this is also discouraged. Remember, 80% of the cost of the device is the intensifier tube. Even with the lens caps on, the tube may end up with burned images on it if left on. Night vision riflescopes are made to withstand the recoil up to .308 Winchester caliber. Any more than that and your eyes are in trouble.
To learn more about night vision and its applications, check out our extensive how-to pages about how night vision works and how to buy night vision. OpticsPlanet is the number one resource and retailer of night vision. Don’t be left out in the dark.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tactical Flashlight for On or Off Duty
The flashlight is a staple in any toolbox or tactical belt, and select companies place a heavy emphasis in the design and engineering of their tactical flashlights. SureFire, Streamlight, and Pelican all have produced extremely popular law enforcement flashlights that keep our streets and back alleys safe and secure. Regular flashlights won’t cut it in a dangerous scenario, so make sure you pay attention to these best buys.
Streamlight Stinger flashlights have been the standard for law enforcement nationwide. Their C4 LED technology almost triples the brightness of an LED and creates an intense beam that pierces through the darkness. Without taking up much room on your duty belt, the Stinger DS LED flashlight delivers maximum light and minimum battery consumption. The LED bulbs give you the clearest light possible, and even add a strobe function that helps officers in tight situations.
Pelican 7060 Flashlight was created from the minds of both public and private sectors. The City of Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) partnered with Pelican Products to develop a flashlight for all its police officers. After replacing an older police flashlight, Pelican flashlights are now trusted by the force for its formidable light beam, ergonomic grip, and dependability.
The Surefire Defender has been called the best defensive flashlight in the business. Its best application is for quick on/off lights, and the Surefire flashlight is an impressive size for using as a weapon. Despite its compact body, it emits a brilliant light with no rings, hot spots, or shadows.
OpticsPanet carries Streamlight flashlights, as well as SureFire flashlights and Pelican flashlights, all at the lowest prices. These led flashlights are guaranteed to protect you from the dark, and continue to light the way for years to come. Never settle for a discount led flashlight from a no-name brand; stick with the brands that you trust to provide you with the best tactical flashlights and other optical equipment. All of this and more can be found on the pages of OpticsPlanet.net.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Nikon Binoculars: Featuring the 10x42 Monarch ATB
Nikon binoculars have always been binoculars that are built to last, and Nikon Monarch ATB 10x42 binoculars are some of the finest of their line of sport optics. These Nikon 10x42 binoculars smash the competition with precision-aligned optics and ultra-rugged construction. Nikon has maintained an unwavering commitment to the study of light, and with binoculars like these, you can fully experience premium optics and imagery.
Time and time again Nikon binoculars are put to the test. Whether it endures long mornings in the stands, or tough, muddy nights in the trenches, a Nikon Monarch binocular will be there for the long haul. Customers are excited about the heightened resolution and great price of these binoculars. They also rave about the consistency and guaranteed performance as well. With a close focusing distance of 2.5 meters and a waterproof casing that protects up to 1m for 5 minutes, you’ll never meet a more sophisticated binocular in its class.
Keeping in stride with all of their products, Nikon binoculars contain unique and superior technologies that offer greater performance and functionality on all planes. Looking for more advice? Consult our Nikon Binocular Reviews and find out what other customers think about their binoculars. As always, you can turn to our helpful How-To guides and find out How to Buy Binoculars. OpticsPlanet.net is your one stop for Nikon gear, and tips on how to use it the best.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
My favorite holster, and why.
I'm not going to showcase a product, and tell you why it's good, or tell you about the latest and greatest thing. I'm going to tell you about a couple of holsters I bought back in the mid-80's at a shop in Bensenville, Illinois, a couple of blocks from where I worked at the time.
I had moved from Anderson, Indiana to Chicago during the summer of 1983, and wasn't exactly flush with extra income. A very close friend of mine back in Indiana and I had spent a number of years shooting together - he had a Ruger 10/22 and I used my Dad's 3rd generation Colt Woodsman .22. At some point, I let him know about a handgun that I had seen in a magazine that appeared to be within our means, and was getting pretty good press. It was a Taurus PT92. I shopped around for the best price I could find in the area, and purchased a blue model from a gun shop in Lincolnwood on Devon. My friend in Indiana purchased an identical model locally. We were both very proud of the fact that we paid in cash for our purchases.
Being one to accessorize - even back then - and in possession of my very first credit card, I bought a couple of black Bianchi UM84 holsters - one for for myself, and one for my friend. I picked up a couple of web belts at an army surplus store in Northlake, and on one of the many trips back home in my 1983 VW Rabbit known as "Moe", I presented my friend Tim Justice with the holster and belt.
Over the following years, we spent many camping trips together in Tennessee at my Grandparents farm, now my farm, and continued to shoot together and show off any new toys to each other. In every picture I have of him where we were out with our meager gun collections, he has on that belt and holster. He never saw any need to upgrade to anything else.
My PT92 was stolen in a burglary around 1990, along with my entire firearm collection, including the first and last firearm I ever financed, an H&K SP89 and a very special 10/22 that was a christmas gift from another close friend. That year for christmas I gave him a power strip for his Commodore 64 computer - and it turned out to be broken. He will never let me forget this. In my defense, I was just about broke, was on my way out of Chicago when I picked it up at Home Depot in Elmhurst, and gave him the power strip before he gave me the rifle.
I do still have the UM84 holster, even though the Taurus and the 10/22 are long gone. A Chicago Police Tac Team later recovered the PT92, stuffed in the pants of some kid selling drugs in Chicago. Because I lived in Oak Park, they were unable to return it to me, as handguns were (and remain) illegal in Oak Park. While over the years I have rebuilt and expanded my collection, I never bought another PT92 - it wouldn't have been the one that was my first handgun and had the memories attached to it.
I like to dig that holster and belt out of a box in my basement, full of things that I can't bear to get rid of, even though most of them serve no useful purpose any longer. I like to take out and turn it over in my hands, and open and close the flap, play with the clever little cleaning rod that was included with the holster, and feel the history - my history, and my friend's - that is in that holster. Occasionally I put it on with that web belt (let out a couple of inches, as one packs on "muscle" over the course of 25 years), tuck my thumbs in the belt and remember those times, and those trips.
If you're reading this, you probably have a piece of gear that reminds you of something similar. A holster that came with a gun you inherited when a father passed away, like my buddy Bob and the .25 Colt Automatic pistol his father owned and apparently carried most of his life - a surprised ambulace crew (in handgun-free Oak Park) handed it to his wife when Robert Sr. died of a heart attack a few years ago, safely tucked away in a wallet holster that had been restitched and reinforced using copper wire, of all things. Maybe it's something your Dad or Grandfather brought back from WWII, or a brother brought back from Viet Nam or Korea. Maybe it's a pair of binoculars that an Uncle used at your high school football games, or that you and your Mother used for birdwatching.
Maybe your treasured item is synthetic and will never look much different than it did when it was new, like my UM84, or maybe it's made of leather or metal and carries a memory or good story in almost every scratch and ding and dent.
Go and dig out your item and think about where it has come from, what it has gone through and where it has been. You might be reminded of where you have come from, what you have gone through and where you have been. Consider giving something that you treasure to a loved one - a son or daughter, or a favorite niece, or just someone you think will "get it". That way it won't end up in a rummage sale when you're no longer here and all those memories and history will be lost and forgotten as if they had never happened.
My very good friend Tim Justice passed away Sunday, May 31, 2009, at the age of 48, surrounded by his family.
He was born May 23, 1961, in Anderson, Indiana, where he lived well, laughed often and loved much throughout his life. I am going to miss my shootin' and camping buddy.
I'm also going to make sure his remarkable son Tyler gets my UM84 holster and belt.
Now, all you tough guys out there go and tell someone that you love them.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Streamlight Sidewinder LED Flashlight
"You're going to blog about THAT?"
I think it's like the Three Stooges gene - you either have it, or you don't. You either laugh with glee when the pies start flying, or you just can't understand what's so funny about three grown men slapping and hitting each other.
I have both the Three Stooges gene and the Cool Flashlight gene*. My wife has neither, so she is genetically incapable of understanding the attraction of Larry, Moe and Curly or the Streamlight Sidewinder. I would place this firmly in the "heywaitaminutewhatchagottherebuddy" territory at the airline security checkpoint. It doesn't look like your average flashlight, because it's not.
I was sort of sad to see the demise of PentagonLight, because of the neat little angle-head LED light they manufactured. The Streamlight Sidewinder will duplicate the angle-head feat, and do some additional tricks.
The Sidewinder is rectangular - making it pretty hard to lay it down and have it roll away. The surface is covered with a slightly raised ribbing, reminiscent of picatinny rail spacing. Starting at the base of the light, there is a knurled metal disk that is laser etched with the serial number of the unit and the name of the manufacturer, Streamlight Inc. Turning the knob counterclockwise unscrews the knob, and releases the rubber o-ring sealed endcap.
Someone put some thought into this endcap - it's attached to the body of the light by a stranded metal cable; you're not going to lose this part. The knurled knob screws into a brass fixture inside the case, and when tightened compresses the o-ring, making the battery compartment waterproof. As the endcap is not directional, it is impossible to put it on the wrong way. It also has small holes that will accomodate a length of paracord, should you wish to add a lanyard to the light. The base of the endcap is flat, allowing you to stand the light up, and the positioning of the lanyard holes don't interfere with this design feature - it will stand with a lanyard attached.
One thing I really appreciate is that there are two raised protrusions on opposite sides of the main case marked with a "+" that indicate the direction the two AA batteries should be inserted. You know that when batteries fail, they fail in the dark, and it's handy to be able to tell by touch how to insert the batteries, instead of looking for your other light, or holding a lighter in one hand, the light in the other and the batteries in... well, you see my point.
Attached to the case by a single screw is a spring-steel clip, that engages the raised ribbing on the case, and prevents the clip rotating. The screw mates with another brass fixture, and can be moved to the opposite side of the light, for reasons that will become clear shortly. If desired, the clip can be removed completely, and is manufactured in such a way as to be compatible with a proprietary Streamlight helmet mount.
About three quarters of the way up on the main body, there is a pivot point that allows the head of the light to be moved in an arc of 185 degrees. This pivot is about as far away from "fragile" as you can get. It's simple and sturdy - I can't imagine under what circumstances it could possibly fail. It does not have any spring-loaded detent, allowing you to precisely position it anywhere along the arc of travel. You know how most things that have those little "stops" in the adjustment always seems to be just a little too much, or not quite enough? Not a problem with this design. Put it exactly where you want it, and it stays there.
The top quarter of the unit houses the LED lamps. Plural. There is a white LED, a red LED, a blue LED and a green LED in the model that I tested. There is also a model that has an IR LED in place of the green. The white LED sits in a reflector, and the other three sit in recesses in the lamp housing, focusing the colored lamps to some degree and minimizing the possibility of being seen from oblique angles.
The LED lamps are controlled by a clever dual-purpose black control knob/button on the side of the lamp housing. About the size of a nickel, it has a sealed, flexible push button in the center. Pressing and holding this button causes the Sidewinder to cycle up and down through the 4 brightness levels available. To select a brightness, simply release the button when you reach the level you want. If you're not paying attention and you pass the one you wanted, it will be back in about a second.
If you push the button twice in rapid succession, the light will strobe slowly at the high output level. It will strobe on any color setting, and the colors can be changed while the unit is on.
If you grasp the knob that houses the power switch and pull outwards, you can rotate it to one of four positions - white, red, green and blue for this model. While not labeled, there is a raised pointer that you can feel - it doesn't take too long to figure out that when the pointer is towards the pivot, the light will be white.
The fact that this control knob/button is on the side is what makes the repositionable spring steel clip a nice feature. If you're going to attach this to a MOLLE vest, for example, you can determine wheter the control is on the left, or right side.
The face of the unit has a polycarbonate lens with a scratch-resistant coating, and the cap holding this lens in place is held by four screws, instead of being glued or sonically welded. This leads me to believe that the lamp modules may be serviceable, or that the lens is replacable.
I like that the housing is flat - I can lay it on the dashboard or hood, and it dosen't roll away. I like that it can stand up, and function as an angle-head light, especially when I was wrestling with S-Video, RCA and who-knows-what-else cables on the back of my own personal fire hazard/home entertainment system. There is some halo effect on the beam of the green and blue leds, but not on the red or white. The spring steel clip really grabs on and holds on - it takes a serious pull to take it off, so be careful not to fling it straight up into the ceiling, as I did.
The Sidewinder is available in OD Green or Coyote Tan, and in the white/blue/red/green configuration, or in white/blue/red/IR.
*The Three Stooges gene and the Cool Flashlight gene are not officially recognized by the Human Genome Project. Please send research donations to Mark H. in care of the Tactical Store. Nyuk-nyuk.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Steiner Commander Protect Those Who Protect
The military and law enforcement professionals in the United States hold more than our liberty at stake. Steiner, the renowned manufacturers of the world’s most sought after binoculars, understands the tactical demands that are brought to life by the honorable men and women who protect this country’s territorial integrity. Steiner binoculars bring the most impeccable details, clearest optics, rugged construction, and the light-weight portability necessary to secure our freedoms. Now you can protect your family with the same treasured mil-spec binoculars that are issued to the government’s most elite.
You sit nestled on an overpass, observing from an undetectable distance an approaching catastrophe. Your trusted pair of Steiner 15x80 Commander Binoculars does not let you down one bit as you quickly pick up signals from your partner to lay down spike strips. You successfully put to an end what could have been a deadly vehicular pursuit. As you sheath your Steiner Binoculars, you say to yourself, no other time could call for a more superbly fashioned optical comrade.
Do not settle for anything less majestic than a Steiner binocular. Steiner has ensured the military and law enforcement arenas that their Police Series and Military Series are built for everyday use and available to consumers everywhere. Steiner Optics may have been conceived in Germany, but OpticsPlanet.com is the best place to get them. Stop by today and feel the difference.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
But I really NEED another bag/case/balllistic nylon thing...
Okay, my divorce is assured. We now carry Maxpedition products.
"Your honor, the parties are claiming 'irreconcileable employee discount'".
I can probably sneak a couple in, based on my patented "Glock Theory" (if my wife doesn't see two of them together, she thinks there's only one), and then a couple more under the guise of "product testing", but when I add the 92 products that we now carry (literally - and that doesn't count color options) to the seven I already own, she's going to suspect something. My wife is quick like that.
Four or five years ago, before I worked here, I ordered a product called the Fatboy from Maxpedition. At the time, I was reading a lot about the longhunters and early explorers, and was intrigued by the concept of the "possibles bag", but I really didn't want to wander around in the woods or ride the Metra train to work with a fringed leather shoulder bag.
A possibles bag, for those of you who aren't muzzleloaders or history buffs, is a shoulder or belt bag that carries the gear you couldn't live without, in the truest sense of the phrase. Powder, balls, a ball mold, lead, charcloth, flint and steel, pemmican or parched corn, a compass - those types of things. A modern day expolorer or hunter might carry ammo, spare magazines, a fire starting kit, a first aid kit, Powerbars, a GPS unit and a cellphone. An urban expolrer might carry an iPod, flashlight, lighter, notebook, water bottle - you get the idea. If you are fortunate to live in a state other than Illinois or Wisconsin, it might contain extra magazines for your legally concealed firearm, or the actual firearm.
For most of the year I am an urban explorer in Chicago, so the firearm was out of the question, but I still had a number of things I carried during the course of the day, and while enjoying the one -hour train ride to and from work. Some days you just don't feel like carrying a briefcase.
I called up Maxpedition after seeing an ad in one magazine or another. A gentleman named Tim Tang answered, and was happy to discuss the products with me and take my order. I have since learned that Tim Tang is the President of Maxpedition. I don't know if I just got lucky that day, if he was walking by the phone, or if someone called in sick, but I think it speaks volumes that the President of the company answers phones and takes orders. Three or four days later (because I am too cheap to pay for expedited shipping) I received a box at work. My Fatboy S had arrived.
Keeping in mind the times that I am out of state and wandering around in the woods, I had ordered the Fatboy S, which is designed to be worn on the left-hand side of the body, thus keeping my right side open for my holster and my Glock. The initial impression upon removing it from the carton was that this thing was sturdy. Sturdy, as in you could just about build a doghouse out of this material. I'm kind of a fanatic about the stitching on my gear, and if you're like me, Maxpedition products will just about bring tears to your eyes. If they made luggage, you would not feel out of place checking into a snobby hotel with your suitcase. Because I'm basically lazy, and didn't pay attention during sewing in home economics in high school, let me steal from Maxpedition's own description:
1000 denier water and abrasion resistant ballistic nylon fabric
DuPont Teflon fabric protector for grime resistance and easy maintenance
YKK high strength zippers and zipper tracks
UTX-Duraflex nylon buckles for low sound closures
Triple polyurethane coated for water resistance
High tensile strength nylon webbing
High tensile strength compositenylon thread
#AS-100 high-grade closed-cell padding material for superior shock protection
Internal seams taped and finished
Paracord zipper pulls
Stress points double-stitched, bar tacked or "box-and-x" stitched for added strength
So basically, it's tough stuff. I took it home, and set about the task of figuring out what all I could stuff into the Fatboy that would be appropriate to a commute and not get me thrown in jail. There's a pouch on the side that has a flap and velcro closure that was a perfect fit for my Surefire G2. There's a springloaded attachment point (kind of like the H&K sling attachment) for a key ring where the shoulder strap joins the main body, although I chose not to use it because on the left-handed model, it would position the keys behind me. On the right-handed model, the standard Fatboy, there is also a cell phone pocket with a Duraflex buckle closure, that holds a Glock 36 magazine like it was made for it. There are a couple of attachment points that would accept any kind of MOLLE attechment, and a couple of "double-wide" attachment points that provide a safe and secure spot for a folding knife with a clip, like a Spyderco. In a zippered pouch on the side opposite from the G2, I stuffed a handful of cables for my iPod and camera. In the front pocket I threw one of those .99 clear ponchos. Inside, I placed my iPod, camera, a couple of Powerbars, a notebook and more pens and pencils than anyone really needs, along with a good multitool in case I needed to unscrew a window on the train. Hey, have you ever seen one of those commuter train wrecks? I don't want to be going "Gee, if I just had a phillips head screwdriver, I could take this off and get the heck out of here...". Also, I carried a paperback novel in case the window frame used hex screws...
I still had quite a bit of room left over in the Fatboy, and the adjustable storm collar made me feel like nothing was going to fall out if I threw it down on a seat on the train. The front pocket held a hip flask like a glove. The perfect travelling companion.
Currently I no longer ride the train, but I use it to keep all the things together that I don't want to leave in the car overnight - the iPod, camera, the XM Radio, sunglasses, handheld ham radio, flashlight, multitool and the like. The Fatboy has a stable, flat bottom, and sits nicely upright in the passenger seat, so I have easy access to all the things I need during a commute or a trip. Because of the stability, I imagine it would be useful in a patrol car or emergency vehicle as well.
Because I just can't resist ahving a small bag in the trunk with things that would help to get me home in an emergency, I have a second Fatboy in the trunk that carries a titanium cup, a small stove, gas cannister, water filter, a small thermal bag, a poncho, a knife and a few other items necessary if you're stranded in the wilds of Chicago. When I get out of state and into the woods, it carries four Glock magazines in addition to a compass, the water filter, a real poncho, some paracord, a firestarter, knife, sharpener, flashlight and a compass.
The point is not to show that I have waaaaaaay too much stuff, but to show the versatility of the Fatboy. I've carried it on planes, trains, automobiles and on a hovercraft in Denmark. It's been to work with me, in the woods with me, and I've stuffed it full of coasters at the Guinness Brewery at St. James Gate. It has functioned as a camera bag at weddings, a radio bag at the Dayton Hamvention, a handy place to carry concealed depending on the season (when not in Illinois). It has been dropped, dragged, lost, found, pushed, pulled, dunked and hung from trees. It has carried bourbon and baby bottles (although not at the same time). And it still looks and functions like new.
Every Maxpedition product I have ever had the pleasure to examine has been of the same high quality and with the same attention to detail. I currently own three Fatboys, a Roly-Poly, a Proteus Versipack, a Pug wallet (which Maxpedition has replaced with the Spartan Wallet) and a Volta Battery Pouch. My next purchase will be a Last Resort Tactical Attache (unless my wife is reading this, in which case my next purchase will be flowers).
This stuff is great. They are innovative, well made products - over-engineered in a good sense. They are solid, attractively designed and incredibly priced for the level of quality and construction.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have an employee purchase form to fill out.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Santa: Better late than never
I suppose that an introduction is in order. My name is Mark, youngest of three boys and born of a military family. My interest (obsession, if you ask my wife or close friends) with military and law enforcement equipment came pretty early on. My Dad was a World War 2 veteran, seeing action in the Philippines. My Mom found that a good way to keep me occupied for hours at a time was to let me page through the photo album of his service.
I was 5 years old in 1965, and my Dad had been out of the service for about 20 years. And in MY mind, he was Captain Balls, single handedly responsible for winning the war. I was fascinated by the things that I saw in that album - my Dad standing guard in basic training with an M1 Garand, my Dad kneeling in the jungle sporting a mohawk haircut and holding a monkey. I was still years away from appreciating the photographs of the topless locals or understanding the notation "hubba hubba!", but I'm told I kept asking about the things he was using - the gear he was carrying, the objects that he and his buddies used.
Being fortunate to grow up in an era when it was not a Bad Thing to be interested in firearms and all things military, I spent a fair amount of time (and lawn mowing earnings) at the Army-Navy Suplus store in my hometown. The smell of musty web gear still takes me right back to happy hours spent digging through packs, boots, canteens, gas masks and assorted other unidentifiable items. I was never allowed to purchase the gas masks because of - according to my Mom - "what might be left in them".
Although that store is long gone, I still have some of those purchases - an aluminum canteen and faded cover, an "Ike Jacket", which was too large then and too small now - and I am grateful to have inherited most of my Father's firearms and associated gear.
Our family subscribed to Popular Mechanics. PM made it a point each month to keep a kid like me on the edge of my seat reading about new technological advances in the equipment being developed for our fighting forces, you just had to find it among the lawn mower repair and cabinet building articles. While nothing much came of the .99 cent plans I ordered for the personal hovercraft, getting to see the cutaway drawings and pictures of the military gear was mighty heady stuff in grade school. Who among us hasn't spent hours doodling battle scenes, fighter planes and guns on our notebooks? As I understand it, doing that today can get you kicked out of school. By God, we had it good. And we didn't shoot each other, either.
I was unable to follow in the footsteps of my Father (Army) and my brothers (both were in the Air Force) as the flat-footed diabetic division was not in need of enthusiastic recruits in 1978. However, my fascination with the pieces of equipment in those faded photos, and the gear I saw in the pages of Popular Mechanics has not faded.
And I still doodle battle scenes, fighter planes and guns. I'm just better at it now.
Assuming you are still with me after that introduction, I'm going to start out with a product that I purchased multiples of before coming to work here, the Blackhawk CQC Serpa Holsters.
The founder of Blackhawk, former Navy SEAL Mike Noell has a few memories of his own concerning equipment. Operating well inside northern Iraq, he had a pack give up the ghost and dump "a ton" of gear onto the ground. Inconvenient at best, a situation like that becomes more memorable when the ground is mined. Understandably, that made an impression on Mike, and he said if he got out of that situation alive, he would make equipment the way it needs to be built, so his buddies wouldn't have to go through the same experience. I imagine the language may have been a bit more colorful at the time, but you get the idea.
True to his promise, the Blackhawk Serpa CQC holster is made like it should be. In technical terms, this thing flat out rocks. It's hard to even pick a feature to start with, there are so many good things designed into this product. In case you're not familiar with the Serpa CQC, it is a polymer holster - in all but the lowest level holster, it is a carbon-fiber composite, which makes it exceptionally resistant to impact. Your firearm slips into a holster that is molded to the correct shape and size (no generics here) and once seated, a retention device automatically locks the firearm into place with a satisfying click.
When I say "locks", I mean just that. I had the good fortune to work at the largest gun shop in Illinois last summer. On the sales floor, we had a display supplied by Blackhawk for the CQC. The intention was that one would step on a metal plate with both feet, and the adjustable vertical tube would position the Serpa CQC in about the right spot to practice a draw with a dummy gun. In a move that would not surprise my wife at all, I decided that the best use of the display was not as the designers intended, but to demonstrate the retention power of the holster. I liked to have a customer stand NEXT to the display, grab the gun and lift the gun, holster and the heavy all-steel display off the floor, all suspended by the retention mechanism in the holster.
So how do you release the firearm when you need it in a hurry? You need to remember to bring one piece of gear with you, each and every time you leave the house. You may even have it with you now: Your trigger finger. If you practice good discipline, and draw your weapon with your index finger aligned with the frame of the gun, your fingertip engages a small paddle. When the paddle is pressed, the firearm is released. It takes about thirty seconds for it to become second nature. If it takes more than a minute for you to master, please send your firearm to Mark H., in care of Tactical Store. You should not be allowed to have that firearm.
Just kidding - don't send it in, please have it transferred through your FFL holder...
Check back, we will link to a couple of video clips that demonstrate how fast this holster is.
Because this is a composite holster, it retains it's shape - so reholstering is just a matter of shoving it back in, two hands are not required. A good thing, as law enforcement and military users may on occasion not have the luxury of using two hands to squeeze a leather holster open and fasten a thumb break. As soon as the firearm is returned to the holster, the retention engages again. Again, nothing new to learn.
We've established that it is not difficult to learn how to use the Serpa CQC. I can almost hear you wondering, "so what's so special about it?" How does "free holsters" grab you? Well, maybe not technically "free", since you have to buy the first one, but you are getting 10 holsters in the basic system. How? It's like this: Take the holster out of the package, and you have a belt loop, vertical holster. If you own a phillips head screwdriver, here's where the fun starts. As a strong-side belt holster, you have the choice of three angles - vertical, and two degrees of forward cant.
That's three holsters.
If you move the holster to your off side, and use the two degrees of rearward cant, turning it into a fine crossdraw holster, useful if you are fortunate to live in a state that allows CCW, and you spend any time in a car.
That's five holsters.
Remember that large object remaining in the package? The Serpa CQC also comes with a paddle, that allows all the same angle adjustments.
Two times five is... hold on - ten! Right? Yeah, ten! If we wanted to get really technical, the belt slide is adjustable for belt width, and also for ride height, but we'll call it ten for the sake of argument.
If that level of customization isn't enough for you, Blackhawk also offers a new-for-09 product, the Serpa Quick Disconnect System. It installs between the holster and the belt loop, paddle, shoulder harness, drop-leg tactical platform, duty jacket slot, or Mod-U-Lok. In addition to being able to move the holster quickly between mounts, it allows you to position the holster at any angle - all 360 degrees, in case you need a specific angle that isn't covered in the standard holster.
The Serpa CQC is just one of a growing number of products from Blackhawk that seem to be designed by people that actually USE these products, and realize that the products may literally mean the difference between going home or going down for good.
And speaking of people who actually use the products we sell, with the exception of a certain unnamed suburban Chicago Commander who writes tickets for avoiding obstacles in the road such as cones that have fallen from telephone trucks, I am personally grateful for the tough and often thankless job that you all do. If you are reading this from another country, we all owe you a debt of gratitude for the job that you're doing. If you're reading this stateside, I appreciate you working to keep order and make it possible for me to be out and about.
If you're like me, and are not involved in military or law enforcement, go buy a police scanner and listen in and see what these fine men and women have to go through that we never hear about on TV or read in the police blotter.
Hopefully, over time, we can let you know about products that can help you to do your jobs, be safer and come home at the end of the day. If there's something we don't carry, and you think it's the greatest thing since perforated toilet paper, let us know. We listen to our customers. And let us know what's not working for you. Many of the manufacturers welcome input, and respond.
And thanks for reading.
Now go doodle a tank, or bomber, or firetruck or something.
Mark