PMCI September 2018

SEPTEMBER 2018
CONTENTS
4 TRAINING FOR AK USERS: BART FROM THE ESA JOINS US THIS MONTH AFTER SPENDING
SOME QUALITY TRAINING TIME WITH THE “MINI JACK” FROM POLISH MANUFACTURER
WBP ROGOW
8 THOUGHTS FROM THE SHARP END: OUR NEWEST CONTRIBUTOR, CALLSIGN “LUNCHBOX”
BRINGS US HIS THOUGHTS ON MORE TO CONSIDER ABOUT LIFE IN THE PMC WORLD
13 EDITORS COMMENT
14 GEAR ON TEST: “GEAR FOR THE GOOD GUYS” BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE PMCI TEAM
18 TACTICAL INNOVATION: BILL TAKES RETURNS TO SPEAK WITH THE GREAT TEAM AT
TASMANIAN TIGER TO FIND OUT WHAT’S NEW FROM THEM
22 GEAR: HAIX BOOTS: EVEN THE PUBLISHER OF PMCI LIKES TO GET HIS “BOOTS ON THE
GROUND” AS NIGE TELLS ALL ABOUT HIS HAIX BOOTS
26 GEAR: TACTICAL DENIM: SOME THINGS CHANGE, SOME STAY THE SAME! BILL BRINGS
US THE CASE FOR THE VERY LATEST “TACTICAL” JEANS
30 FIREARMS: SIG P320: THE SIG MODEL P320 RECENTLY WON THE MILITARY MODULAR
HANDGUN SYSTEM TRIALS IN THE USA; PMCI GETS HANDS ON AS TRAMPAS HEADS TO
THE RANGE
36 KNIVES AND TOOLS: EMERSON KNIVES COMMANDER: TRAMPAS TAKES A LOOK AT A
HIGH-QUALITY KNIFE FROM A BLADE COMPANY THAT’S BEEN AN INDUSTRY LEADER FOR
YEARS, EMERSON KNIVES, INC.
40 TECH: LOKSAK PRODUCTS: NEED TO PROTECT YOUR ALL-IMPORTANT “TECH” WHEN
YOU’RE ON THE MOVE? LOKSAK HAVE THE ANSWER
44 INNOVATION: TACTICAL JAVA: MOST FOLK WE KNOW OPERATE ON CAFFEINE! THE PMCI
CREW SIP THEIR WAY THROUGH SOME GREAT BREWS!
46 SKILLS AND DRILLS: LOW LIGHT: MANY CONTACTS TAKE PLACE IN POORLY LIT
ENVIRONMENTS SO IN PART 1 OF “LOW LIGHT” ANDY GIVES US SOME MORE TOOLS TO
IMPROVE YOUR HANDGUN PERFORMANCE
50 BOOK REVIEW: “SPECIAL FORCES BERLIN: CLANDESTINE COLD WAR OPERATIONS OF
THE US ARMY’S ELITE, 1956–1990”
52 INDUSTRY VACANCIES: LOOKING FOR WORK? JUST CHECK HERE.
Editor (UK): Bill Thomas
Deputy Ed (USA): Trampas Swanson
Graphic Design: Baz Thakur/ Havoc Design
Publisher: Nigel Streeter
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2

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FEATURE: JACKED TO THE MAX
JACKED TO THE MAX
This time we’re very pleased to be joined by a guest contibutor who you might say knows a “thing
or two” about AK variants, as Bartosz Zukowski, Firearms Instructor and Close Protection Operative,
from the European Security Academy brings us his thoughts on the “JACK” from Polish manufacturer
WBP ROGOW.t
The concept for this assault rifle was born in 1945 in
Russia and it’s the Fixed one of stock the bestknown rifles weapon
systems worldwide Karabinki with over z kolbą 500 stałą million sold!
Everyone already knows what kind of weapon I’m
talking about; JACK it’s the 7.62x39 “Automat mm classic Kalashnikova” version and
its variations produced
JACK
by
7,62
different
wersja klasyczna
countries in last
decades. Why do armies all over the world love
it? It’s simple, because of it’s substantial reliability
under harsh conditions, low production costs
compared to contemporary Western weapons,
availability in virtually every geographic region and ease of use.
You can add to it that it was JACK present 7.62x39 and mm tested polymer on over version 60 major
wars all over the world and you JACK have 7,62 a complete wersja polimer answer.
There are many variations of AK that are manufactured
by different countries all over the globe, but today I’d like to
talk about and share my thoughts about a short version which
comes from a family owned company in Poland, WBP ROGOW.
THEY CALL THEIR JACK PRODUCTS 7.62x39 mm THE tactical JACK. version
With the JACK I have been working JACK before 7,62 wersja on taktyczna many occasions as
an European Security Academy instructor. They are part of our
armoury and widely used on various courses such as Tactical
Carbine, PMC, MSO and Combined Firearms Course. They’ve also
been present at the ESA from early 2017 with around 50,000
Folding stock rifles
Karabinki z kolbą składaną
JACK 7.62x39 mm underfolder
JACK 7,62 z kolbą składaną
Mini JACK 7.62x39 mm underfolder
Mini JACK 7,62 z kolbą składaną
Mini JACK 7.62x39 mm sidefolder
Mini JACK 7,62 z kolbą składaną
Rifle m
4

ounds fired each and they still do their job, but of course they are
sent to the factory for service on a regular basis. Today however
I’m not interested in writing about the JACKS we have at the
European Security Academy; I want to write about their shorter
versions, the MINI JACK, which came into the market recently.
I was looking for a short version of AK for myself for a long
time as I’m an AK person for various reasons. When I saw that the
MINI JACK was released on the market that was it, I had to have one!
There was a problem; it came with a few variations, so which
one to buy? All of them were looking good, too good to buy only
one piece, so I decided to go for two. My choice was MINI JACK
7.62x39mm with a polymer butt stock, piccatiny rail and front grip
(I’ll refer to it as TACTICAL VERSION) which gives the rifle a tactical
touch. My second choice was a wooden version of it with a classic
“AKMS” style foldable stock which I’ll refer later as MINI JACK
AKMS. What’s interesting about the AKMS version is that it also
has a top front piccatiny rail where you can mount a red dot for
example. It’s a very nice concept which leaves options for upgrade
to the user without spending more money on special components.
UNBOXING
This is the process that everyone is excited about. I received two
carton boxes without any advertisement; I think it’s a positive
thing for low profile transportation from the shop to your home.
They had a handle and were well made for the purpose. I
wouldn’t use them for every day range carry, but to get your rifles
from shop to home it’s a good solution.
WHAT’S INSIDE
This is the question everybody is wondering about. What gadgets
have the manufacturer added, are there going to be any extras?
Maybe an extra magazine? Cleaning tools? Ok let’s talk about it.
When I opened first box I’ve found TACTICAL VERSION of MINI JACK.
Inside the box was THE JACK itself, a 30 round polymer transparent
mag, front grip and warranty card.
The AKMS version came with the same accessories, but front
grip wasn’t there which makes sense as there is no place to attach
it and I was fully aware of that fact, so no complaints.
They both looked good, shiny and new, you could still see oil
and grease on some parts. Ok let’s get them in hand and try them!
FIRST IMPRESSION
They both looked like well-done rifles to me and once I had them
in my hand they felt very solid without any wobbling and moving
parts which are not supposed to move. First in my hands was the
AKMS version. Time to open the stock and dry try the mechanical
parts. Once I pressed the butt stock button the stock was ready to
open and with one smooth movement I’ve done it till it clicked
nicely in place. The wooden parts are finely finished and I got a
feeling that I had really nice quality piece of wood in my front hand!
As for the TACTICAL VERSION It was also well built, but if I have
to be very picky the piccatiny rails could have been finished a
bit better, but I was comparing it to a top shelf AR15 rail which I
have in my collection. It does the job and any accessories can be
mounted on it without any issues.
GETTING IT READY FOR THE RANGE TEST
I was very lucky when I went to the range as I had with me two
operators who have served in various conflicts. Their opinion
matters to me as they have had look at the rifles through a
FEATURE: JACKED TO THE MAX
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6FEATURE: JACKED TO THE MAX
“work” perspective giving me valuable feedback on how they
will perform in real life conditions, as well as some tips for
improvements.
First of all let’s take the Tactical version and get it ready by
attaching the front grip. It’s a very easy operation as all you need
is a hex tool to screw it. I’ve attached it to the middle section
of short piccatiny rail, as I’d like to have some space at the front
due to my grip which hooks only two of my smallest fingers
around the attached grip itself and the rest grabs the front of the
carbine around the gas pipe. Everything was fine till I decided to
attach the magazine. There was a problem with attaching the
mag and detaching it due to too long grip mounted to close to
magazine slot. Some solutions here which I can recommend is
to either:
• Remove the grip completely.
• Place it to the front, but then you have to be careful as very
hot barrel is quite close to your front hand.
• Change the grip to a smaller-low profile one which I’m going
to do.
On top of that manufacturer used silver screws to mount the grip
which are shining out and do not fit the rest of the construction –
please change it with next generation! What is a big plus for the
TACTICAL VERSION is that it has larger fire/safety selector, which
I’ve found very good especially when we were doing dynamic
drills. It’s also great for beginners and those with small hands.
The AKMS VERSION did not have this issue ad there was no
place to mount any grip and I had to go classic which I like too.
I was very sceptical about the polymer magazines they add
as a set for the JACKS. I know from previous experience that
they can cause malfunctions and the ones we use at EUROPEAN
SECURITY ACADEMY were way too loose and when you had it
attached to the rifle it was waving to you from left to
right screaming: PLEASE CHANGE ME FOR THE METAL
ONE!
So expecting that I’ve attached one to MINI JACK and started
looking for issues; I was surprised. I found none. There was no
moving from left to right, they sit nice and tight, just like the
original metal versions. Wow! I see that manufacturer have
upgraded them for a better fit with success. We did a test on
metal ones and they also work well with MINI JACK.
LET’S DO IT!
Ok, it was time for a range test and see how these well-made
and good looking rifles are at doing their job. Both of the rifles
were 7.62x39mm calibre semi auto only, but the manufacturer
can produce them in full auto too if you have a permission to
own one.
When we took them for a safety check we immediately
noticed that parts were moving very smooth and nice.
Everything fits very well and you got a feeling that there is
a quality piece of equipment in your hand. There was plenty of
manufacturer grease inside keeping the working parts in good
condition. Let’s load it and rock and roll.
First of all we loaded 5 rounds each and tried the weapon
on nice and slow target shooting. It worked very well, the sound
of it was a music for our ears. Due to the short barrels there is a
specific blast, and all of us enjoyed the experience.
The rifles worked nice and smooth. Next step was an accuracy test.
We tried at 50m distance from kneeling position and factory
sights. It was not an easy job, but the JACK has proven to be very
accurate at this distance. Any spread you can see on pictures is
probably the fault of an operator rather than a rifle itself at this
distance, but let’s be honest, if you buy a short barrel carbine to
work at close distance ranges up to 50m the MINI JACK does the
job. I’m sure you can improve the accuracy if you add a scope or
at least red-dot to it.

Next question we asked ourselves was how it’s going to
perform when we use constant fire for a while….well…we
loaded five full mags 30 rounds each and we constantly fired
with fast mag changes. The barrel went almost red, but there
were no malfunctions and both rifles performed very well. In
fact the factory grease which was used on working parts has
disappeared and became a powder, but the rifles did not blink
and fired happily all 150 fast rounds at one go. We in total
spend around 1000 rounds for each JACK that day and there
was no problem with them at all.
Manipulation and handling. Both rifles are very ergonomic
and easy to use. The charging handle and fire selector work very
well; remember that TACTICAL VERSION has larger selector for
easy use, but we did not have any issues with AKMS VERSION
either. Magazines load and unload swiftly. It’s worth mentioning
that the TACTICAL VERSION has also larger magazine release
button which helps in fast mag changes especially under stress.
There are however few things that myself and other two
operators would like to share with you. All those who used
AKMS before know that the shape of the butstock may be a
little problematic to be solidly fixed in your shoulder specially
when plate carrier is to be worn, but once you find a correct
place it sits nice and tidy, giving very good weapon control.
There may be also issues with changing shoulders from right
to left when having our AKMS on sling as this specific metal
butstock loves to catch the sling; but it’s not a JACK problem, it’s
the AKMS in general.
In terms of butt stock of TACTICAL VERSION everyone
complained that the end of it which connects with your
shoulder should have some anti-slip material to be finished
with. We had a situations when the butt stock was sliding off
the shoulder and plate carried due to too smooth a plastic
finish. It can be easy fixed by DIY job, but it’s up to the users
THE DREADED
PLASTIC MAGAZINE
personal preferences. We all also agreed that would be nice if
the manufacturer would add an adjustable AR style butt stock
in future generations of JACK’s. We also found out that AKMS
VERSION can find it’s place in PMC world where there is a need
of carrying rifles inside a vehicle as due to foldable butt stock;
it’s a very good alternative to the AKSU74, great for a security
job in HR areas where operators are on the move.
Overall both the MINI JACK AKMS and TACTICAL turned out
to be very good, well made and smart short rifles for range
practice, CQB drills and PMC work. The Polish factory WBP ROGOW
has proven to deliver quality products for very reasonable
prices and also what’s important they are constantly looking
for improvements treating user feedbacks very seriously. I’m
looking forward to test their next product in the future.
For more information please pay a visit to www.wbprogow.com
FEATURE: JACKED TO THE MAX
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THOUGHTS ON THE INDUSTRY
THOUGHTS FOR THOSE ENTERING THE PMC PROFESSION
Once again we’re joined by Callsign: LUNCHBOX who this time brings us the benefit of his experience
at “The Sharp End”, bringing us his thoughts on what being a contractor in the private sector REALLY
means!
My experience in private military
contracting spans the timeline since
2003 to the present. I have watched
the industry grow with unprecedented
demand early on with the advent
of Operation Iraqi Freedom and find
myself still involved with the ongoing
NATO missions in Afghanistan as well
as North of the Sahel. I have seen the
good and the bad and often in the span
of the same contract.
So, let me distill for you five useful observations so
both those looking to enter the profession today have
an opportunity to share from a set of eyes with a pool of
experience, and as well, give opportunity for those with
experience a chance to reflect and take measure of the words
herein as well.
Your Grand Adventure is Tethered to Responsibility.
Opportunity is exciting. The chance to enter a semi-permissive
zone or non-permissive environment to engage your wits
and ply your skills appeals to the very nature of who we
are as beasts and man, but first things first… An honest selfassessment
must be conducted.
8

When you are offered a position or are careening through the
offerings on your favorite job listings website(s) be sure to
measure yourself, your skill-sets and basket of experiences, and
truly ask if you are a sound match for the listed job criteria.
Be honest. Are you the man for the job? Lives will depend on
your expertise, seasoned judgement, and wilful engagement in
times of crisis. Reflect deeply on this before pursuing any billet.
Companies today are not quick to hire personnel just to fill a
slot. They will look for you to be vetted and come with garnered
recommendation. It is essential that you have what they are
looking for and you must be able to marry your training and
experiences to a sound Resume/CV, and have at the ready, a
host of available references that the potential employer can
contact for discussion as well. You will be measured against
others competing for the same. It is your responsibility to be at
your best given the game.
This was not always the case, and I can recall a number
of instances in 2004 and 2005 where the men fielded were
square pegs jammed into a round hole because they lacked
the needed training or experience and, in a fit of unconscious
incompetence, overestimated their own abilities against the
tasks and demands of a shifting battlespace and an enemy who
learned quick. Many of you reading this, I am sure, can recall
instances similar. For those yet to see it, let us hope you do not,
but I suspect it is only a matter of time.
No Joke - The Golden Conex is a Myth. Logistical support
for your task order and contract can vary greatly. Make sure to
realize ahead of time that being accepted for a job overseas
does not mean you will have everything on-hand to operate
with gusto and efficiency. The latest weapons, transpo, gear, and
accomodations your imagination conjures will be available, will
be just that- imaginary. You will be disappointed. My suggestion,
get over it now.
Prior to deployment. Take with you the basic snivel gear, and
things that will promote your immediate efficiency on the job.
When you arrive at your duty station reassess your needs and
your ability to find solutions locally before making a list of things
to have shipped in via mail (if that is even an option).
Your motto must become - ‘Make do, do without, find an
alternative, or repurpose what you have on hand...’’. Always
look to remain flexible and open minded when it comes to
equipment, accommodations, and gear. If the essentials are
covered well, do not worry about the brand. If you do not like
how things are or what you have, just wait - it will change (for
better or worse).
Soft Skills are just as Important as Hard Skills. The
inevitable focus of Private Military Contracting always circles
back to weapons employment, gritty engagements, and hard
won, if brief, combat. While the Private Military Contractor
(PMC) will manage violence, it is not as frequent on present day
missions as the stories and tall tales of others would have you
believe. A crucial point of a seasoned and consistently employed
PMC is his soft skill set. Your ability to bring to the table and
provide daily leadership, manage administrative needs, plan
operations, and see to the essentials of training, instruction, and
drills for your team will be the lion’s share of your job.
THOUGHTS ON THE INDUSTRY
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THOUGHTS ON THE INDUSTRY
So, a word of advice- be as expert with your people skills
as you are with your gun fighting skills both are equal in
measure of your consistent employability.
Use Your Time Wisely. Not enough can be said on this
subject. Your use of time once in the field will make or break
you. To complete your given task orders means you have to
prepare and execute daily. If you are not maintaining your
rest, fitness, and organizing ahead of time, it will lead to
degraded capabilities, mistakes, and it will all be on display
for your teammates and employers.
My suggestion; make personal discipline a primary focus.
If you see others slipping into bad habits, do not follow
the crowd. Be a paragon not the pariah and you may keep
employed and busy a while longer.
Reputation- Be Humble and Far-sighted. I have seen it
again and again on small and large jobs. Ego investments
grow like a cash crop and are often a momentous stumbling
block to future employment. Do not become ‘That Guy’. Keep
your ego in check.
When someone lands hard or makes an error, be patient
and help them out. If you both survive the mistake, then you
have built trust which pays off in spades down the road. If you
rush to judge and spotlight others’ errors, you will become
damaged goods no matter how altruistic your cause. Make
sure if you end up counseling others to remember, sooner
or later, you will make mistakes and be counseled too. Be
humble and guard your reputation at the same time.
Take in these five points, put them into introspection and
apply them where need be. These lessons came
to me the hard way. If these points can help you
avoid assumptions and mistakes and keep you
level-headed when entering and maintaining a
PMC Career, then this has been time well spent.
10

TACTICAL
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Taking any Lazer Cut System product as a platform, a totally unique operational
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patent number: GB2491624
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Our training facility is based in the United Kingdom, close to the midlands and within 350 acres
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We ‘the instructors’ come with decades of operational experience within high stress theatres,
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For more information please contact us at: info@crops.uk.com
www.crops.uk.com

EDITORS
COMMENT
“BAD TO THE BONE?”
Imainline press I’m not surprised at all by this!
f most people had to describe a Private Military
Contractor I believe it would be something along the
lines of “big muscle guy, impressive beard, many tattoos,
plate carrier with lots of magazines, ball cap, and plaid
shirt” and from many of the images we see in the
The PMC is often viewed as “that badass guy” who
makes a buck or three putting himself in harms’ way,
and in some cases that is of course true. Once again the public
image is driven by what we are shown, what is placed neatly in
front of our faces, not necessarily in the best light. Many otherwise
intelligent people will view “The Contractor” as not much more
than a gun for hire, a simple “bullet catcher” who has to follow a
certain path because that’s all they know…
Of course this is, just as with any vocation, the very visible tip
of an obvious iceberg. Many of the guys that I know who are, or
have been, out on “The Circuit” are massively removed from this image.
Many of the guys who work “CP” are quiet, unassuming guys
that often wear tailor-made suits whilst on duty, looking every bit
at home in the world of the diplomat or banker that they serve.
And let’s not forget “The Grey Men”, those that have taken
surveillance to the level of an art-form. By need they once again
are unassuming and quiet, able to melt into the background of any
situation; they could be the person serving you coffee or watering
the plants, and if you sat next to them you probably wouldn’t
imagine for a moment what they actually do for a living!
And then of course there’s the “experts” that head out to “terra
incognita”, the medics, nurses, engineers. Then there’s the “data
guys” who spend their time not only surfing but “working” the
worldwide web. These skills may or may not be secondary to
their proficiency with a firearm, but once again you’d probably
not recognise them if you bumped into them in a corridor (you
probably wouldn’t as their spatial and situational awareness would
negate this…).
And I use the term “guys” as a catch-all as there are many
female contractors out there too. Gone are the days when “The
Warrior Way” was the domain of the male of the species, and for
many of you big, muscly, bearded men reading this you’d be wise
to remember the phrase “deadlier than the male”!
My point in all this is to illustrate that the “contractor” of days
gone by is exactly that; gone. These days you’ll need one heck of
a lot more than the ability to shoot straight and fast to “hack it”
in the private sector. You’ll need smarts, skill, great continuation
training, and a mind that is able to adapt swiftly to different
surrounding and situations.
In short, you’ll need a brain, and that of course is
the deadliest weapon of all.
Wherever you may be people, switch on, train hard,
stay vigilant and keep safe.
EDITORS COMMENT

pmcimagazine.com
GEAR ON TEST
DIRECT ACTION RUCSACS
For any “gear tester” having longevity and continuity
are extremely important; three years on from the
originals Bill takes a look at two of the latest, upgraded
pack models from Direct Action and likes what he sees.
At the IWA Show in Germany earlier this year I spent some
time with the Polish guys from Direct Action checking out
the updates to their pack line, and I have to say that things
are moving on apace! I’ve been using their original DUST
and DRAGON EGG packs over the past couple of years since
their introduction, but new approaches mean that the new
variations offer even more for the user.
The Direct Action line is a series of professional products
dreamt up and brought to fruition by former Polish “SF”
guys, and their input really shows. The range includes
kit made to the highest specification and features bags
and rucs, MOLLE system pouches and accessories, head
gear, tactical clothing and footwear. Designed with law
enforcement and security personnel in mind, the Direct
Action range, now steadily becoming more and more
available, will answer the needs of all professional users.
As a tester for the original models it was a real treat
for me to receive the very latest DUST and DRAGON EGG
models to try courtesy of UK retailer Military1st who stock
the entire pack line in multiple colourways, both block and
in camouflage patterns.
At 25L the DRAGON EGG MKII pack is absolutely perfect
as a neat, day patrol pack. Made of durable and water
resistant 500D Cordura material, and now available in
a rather nice two-tone “look”, the DRAGON EGG pack
is a tactical low profile hydration backpack, perfect for
tactical use. The pack comes with two hydration bladder
compartments, a dedicated laptop storage compartment,
an admin section with multiple inner sleeves and pockets,
comfortably padded shoulder straps with added chest
fastening for extra comfort, and a removable hip belt
with quick release buckle. A very attractive laser-cut
MOLLE/PALS compatible system and number of a lateral
compression straps allow for high level of customisation
and flexibility, while the multiple storage compartments
offer a huge amount of carrying space; there’s even an
awesome little paracord drag handle. Thanks to the egg
shape, the pack is lower in height and narrower in width
than other packs with a similar capacity and this makes it
more comfortable with belt kits or ballistic vests.
Again made of durable and water resistant 500D
Cordura fabric the DUST MKII pack is the perfect tactical
low profile EDC hydration backpack. With a capacity of 20L
the pack comes with hydration bladder compartments,
padded laptop storage compartment and large front admin
organiser with multiple inner pockets and a transparent
map pocket. Padded shoulder straps and a removable
hip belt allow for comfortable wear even with belt kits or
ballistic vests, while a laser-cut MOLLE/PALS section offers
an additional platform for mounting of MOLLE accessories
like water bottle pouches and first aid kits. Multiple side
compression straps offers high level of customisation and
flexibility and allow the backpack to be adapted to the
size of the carried kit, preventing it from shifting inside
the bag. This uniquely flexible hydration pack represents
a perfect storage solution for mission essentials, hydration
bladders, EDC kit and laptops and is perfect as a one-day
patrol pack or light travel bag.
The original Direct Action packs have proved massively
functional ad exceptionally durable, and the finish and
quality of construction of both the upgraded packs is
absolutely first rate; I’ve already loaded them and given
them a good drag around and they show every sign of
lapping up abuse and coming back for more!
If you’re in the market for a new ruc for 2018 then
I’d suggest you take a very long, hard look at the latest
Direct Action models; you’ll find the entire range at www.
military1st.co.uk
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WILEY X SABER ADVANCED
EYEPRO
Our resident “Tactical Padawan” Kelly might still be
learning, but her choice of Wiley X for eyepro shows
that she’s learning fast! This time she brings us her
thoughts on a real favourite of ours, the Wiley X Saber
Advanced.
During my time in shooting sports I’ve lost count of how
many different brands of eye protection I’ve tried over the
years but there is one brand that stands apart from the
crowd for me thanks to their commitment to safety and
fashion-forward design: Wiley X. Admittedly, I am a huge
fan of the WX range - having a rather large collection of
their shooting glasses and other eyewear, but there is one
pair that I just keep coming back to - the Wiley X SABER
ADVANCED shooting glasses. The WX SABERs come nicely
presented in their own branded Microfibre case that has
a couple of belt loops on the back and a clip on the zip,
which makes them super easy to keep on you whilst
you’re on the range, so first impressions are – they look
professional and utilitarian. In the pack that I chose, you
get three lenses – Smoke Grey, Light Rust and Vermillion
(other configurations are available) along with some
accessories such as a cleaning cloth. The matte black frame
with Wiley X branding is really lightweight, sleek and low
profile which is an added bonus.
Let’s talk about the specifications, although they look
like just another set of shooting glasses they are packed
with high spec features. They meet MIL-PRF-31013 ballistic
impact, ANSI Z87.1-2003 high velocity and ANSI Z87.1-2003
high mass standards ensuring your eyes are cared for
during shoots. Everything about these glasses shows they
are dedicated to protection and clear vision. The lenses
offer 100% UVA and UVB protection which means they are
perfect for those bright summer days and all the lenses
feature a T-shell anti scratch hard coat for clearer vision
and a prolonged lens life. As I’ve said above the design is
really lightweight and low profile and that’s because they
are designed to be compatible with Night Vision Goggles
and ear defenders. Even though the glasses are super low
profile they still feature an ultra-foam brow bar that helps
prevent debris and sweat entering your field of view.
Each lens has a specific purpose too: The vermillion
(or pink) lens is good in medium to low conditions. It
helps increase contrast and brightens targets as it blocks
blue light, is comfortable for longer wearing-times and
improves visual depth. The smoke grey lens is perfect for
bright light conditions as it has maximum glare reduction
and it absorbs all colours equally which preserves the same
colour perception that you’d have without sunglasses. The
light rust is my go-to for low light shoots as it enhances
contrast in medium to low light conditions and filters out
most of the blue light waves which is the chief component
of glare and haze.
Now we’ve got the specs, how easy are they to use and
how do they fit? One thing I was pleasantly surprised with
is how easy the lenses are to swap out – the frame and
nose piece easily detach from the lenses. The first time
they are changed they can be a bit stiff but they loosen
off in time. The dual injected non-slip temple tips are
adjustable and can be swapped out for a tactical goggle
strap. Although the temple tips are adjustable and fit most
heads, a tactical goggle strap ensures a really snug fit for
when the activities are particularly rough. The Wiley X
SABER ADVANCED also features an adjustable wire core
nose piece for a truly unique fit.
So what’s the verdict? I think WX have done a fantastic
job on the SABER Advanced Shooting Glasses - they are
ballistic rated, are packed to the nines with features that
are dedicated to keeping your eyes safe and your vision
clear, all in a fashion forward design. This set in particular
retails for £63.95 from the wily.eu website.
GEAR ON TEST
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FIX-IT-STICKS
Clint gets his hands on a unique modular cleaning kit
for the AR platform, one that would have solved many
ills during his military career!
GEAR ON TEST
A couple months ago, PMCI Deputy Editor Trampas Swanson
and I were at the northeastern Florida private training
area we affectionally refer to as the “Swamp” working on
some review projects, zeroing a couple of scopes and the
iron sights on one of my personal firearms. He grabbed
his Fix-it-Sticks kit and started to torque down a scope he
was fooling with. Having never seen Fix-it-Sticks products
before I was immediately intrigued. While looking over
this cool little tool kit, Trampas grinned and said, “If you
like that one, check this out.” He then threw a second
small black molle pouch on to the shooting bench. When
I opened this small pouch, I was surprised to find not
only the Fix-it-Sticks you would expect to find in these
awesome little kits. But, a complete mini modular AR
tool kit including a castle nut wrench, bolt carrier group
scrapper and the ever-elusive front sight adjustment tool.
I was floored thinking about all the stuff I’d lugged
around in pouches and pockets during my time as an
Infantryman, stuff that was necessary to keep my issued
rifles running under the most extreme of conditions. From
the original M16 cleaning kits we kept in the buttstock of
our M16A2 service rifles while I was in the Marines in the
early 90s. To the meticulously pieced together kits each
Soldier put together on their own and stashed in their
rucksack or butt-packs while back when we used them
while I served in the Army. I thought about all the pieces,
and parts I had cobbled together and still to this day carry
around in my range bag. Barbers brushes, toothbrushes,
dental picks, green scratch pads, T-handle cleaning rods,
screwdrivers and theses cutdown pieces of metal clothes
hanger we used as punches. All stuffed in old-school ALICE
pouches or those little rubberized bags meant to be shoved
in the buttstock of the M-16A2 service rifle.
I spent most of my military career assigned to light
infantry units, first running around the hills of Southern
California or the triple canopy jungles of Okinawa. Later, it
was the winter wonderland that is Up-state New York, the
Bosnian forests or the mountains of Afghanistan. Were we
lived and worked on our feet. We carried everything we
need to live and fight in the rucksack on our backs. When
you carry your whole world on your back every ounce
counts. Every ounce saved was another ounce of food,
water or round of ammo we could carry. Every piece of
kit one carries needs to serve a purpose or its just wasted
weight, which translates to wasted effort. Damn, I wish
the Fix-it-Stick AR-15 Tool Kit would have been available
back when I was a young Grunt. It would have saved a
lot of room and a lot of weight.
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These cool little kits contain all the necessities, one needs
to keep an AR platform weapon running in the field. The kit
contains – a set of Fix It Sticks, Bolt Carrier Group Scraper,
Metal Pin Punch, Castle Nut Wrench, Bronze Scraper, Steel
Pick, Non-Marring Plastic Pin Punch, Cleaning Brush Bit, A2
Front Sight Adjustment Bit, a Set of Brass Cleaning Rods
which can accept 8-32 threaded attachments, a set of
two-bit adapters to allow for 8-32 threaded components,
12 Chrome Plated 1/4” Bits. All of the bits are contained
in a molded bit holder that is designed to hold any bit
or accessory with a standard 1/4” base and any 8-32
threaded component. All contained inside of a custom
built black cordura pouch. This pouch is closed with the
industry standard YKK zippers and with the ubiquitous
Molle webbing on the back to allow it to be mated to
other Molle compatible platforms and a large loop panel
of Velcro on the front.
Soon after that range trip with Trampas, I received my
own Fix-it-Stick AR-15 Tool Kit. First thing I did was to
pull out a scale and verify my initial thoughts. The Fix-it-
Sticks AR-15 Tool Kit weighs in at a measly 11.3 oz. Just
for comparison I pulled a loaded 30 round PMAG from my
range bag. That PMAG loaded with XM193 55grain FMJ from
Federal Lake City weighed in at 17.5 oz.
The Fix-it-Sticks AR-15 Tool Kit was immediately put to
work, since I had a pile of parts on my work bench that
needed to be put together to build an AR-15 pistol. This
pistol is intended to be a test platform for future testing
and evaluation projects and hopefully will be gracing the
pages of PMCI sometime soon. The Fix-it-Sticks AR-15 Tool
Kit made short order of the build. Everything was right
there in one location. Gone where the “where did I put
that” thoughts and the constant search for just the right
tool. Retailing at approximately $100, this tool kit offers
quality tools in a compact package. More importantly, the
Fix-it-Sticks AR-15 Tool Kit is compact enough to guarantee
that it will not be left out of your kit based on it weighing
too much or being too bulky.
The Fix-it-Sticks AR-15 Tool Kit should be part of the
standard load-out for everyone who carries an AR style
rifle whether it’s on the range, in the tree stand or on
the battlefield. I know it is one of the items that I will be
‘gifting’ to those individuals I know who head down range
to make sure they are able to keep their weapons in battle
ready condition at all times. If you’re anything like me and
can appreciate a compact, lightweight yet compressive
solution for an AR specific tool kit look no further then Fixit-
Sticks website at https://store.fixitsticks.com/ where
you will find not only the AR-15 Tool Kit we’ve discussed
here, but their other innovative tool kit solutions as well.
GEAR ON TEST
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MEET THE MANUFACTURER
TASMANIAN TIGER
One of the great things about the tactical gear world is working with manufacturers year in and year out
and seeing how they progress with new directions, new designs and new products. If you’re looking for
some rugged load-bearing and tactical gear then German brand Tasmanian Tiger have just moved things
on yet again!
I
t’s been my great pleasure to work with
Tasmanian Tiger over the past couple of years
since I met them at IWA back in 2015, and
although at that time they had a really superb
range of gear on offer they’re one of those
brands that just keeps on innovating and
improving what they of-fer to the discerning
buyer of tactical kit.
They’re also another brand that’s more than happy to
“put their money where their mouth is”, making sure
that samples are readily available for immediate and
long term testing. It’s one thing to bring you “news” of
product releases, but it’s quite another to be able to try
individual items over an extended period of time, drag
them through the mud, grit and empty shell casings on
the range and then say what we REALLY think...
The brand is slowly but surely reaching out to customers
around the globe now, and for my PMCI colleagues and I
based in the UK getting hold of the gear has just become
a whole heap easier; Prisma Worldwide Ltd, is a UK
based agent, distributor and online retailer focused on
selling primarily include the Tasmanian Tiger range of
tactical products for Military, Police, Covert, Special Forces,
and First Responders. Focused on, but not exclusive to
Tasmanian Tiger, they offer a full range of backpacks,
plate carriers, tactical bags, pouches and clothing.
To recap on the company in the spotlight though,
registration of the brand TASMANIAN TIGER in Germany
took place in 1991 although the company history as a
whole dates back as far as 1980! As a premium supplier
of professional military and police equipment, all Tasmanian
Tiger products are made of the very best quality fabrics
and components with the best func-tionality. Their
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comprehensive development work is always based on the
user’s specific needs and requirements. From prototype
to series production, all products are manufactured in the
company’s own production facilities. This ensures that
a consistently high level of quality is maintained. Every
step in the production process, from purchasing materials
to manufacture to the final checks, is precisely defined
and checked regularly by independent test centres to
inter-national standards. Every product is checked before
it leaves production and is given a serial number that is
then stored in the company’s own database.
amount of adjustment in both height and width. This rig
has put up with numerous hours on the range both in the
UK and the USA, is massively durable, and comfortable to
wear for extended periods of time.
TEST AND RE-TEST!
One of the items I’ve had on “long term test” is the TT
CHEST RIG MK II PC. This is a real quality chest rig made in
500D Cordura, and it comes with four integrated magazine
pouches and two utility pouches, and on top of that you
can of course attach an infinite number of addi-tional
MOLLE compatible pouches to meet your own personal
requirements. The four integrat-ed magazine pouches with
adjustable velcro flaps can hold the majority of magazines
currently in use, and the two utility pouches on the sides
can each handle a one litre water bottle.
The rig is designed with the option to carry ballistic side
plates and is covered with MOLLE webbing for attaching
extra pouches; Tasmanian Tiger offer an extensive range
of different pouches to go with the rig. There’s a large
map pouch on the inside, a removable bib with a small
document pouch on the inside, and the whole thing is
lined with 3D mesh. The H-style shoulder straps feature
quick release buckles on both ends, and there’s a generous
In terms of packs Tasmanian Tiger offer an extensive
range to cover all eventualities, but two specific models
have been undergoing test alongside the chest rig, and
have recently been up-dated. The original 37L MISSION
had acres of MOLLE webbing and some velcro patches
for insignia on the outside; all these excellent features
remain but the exterior now features Laser cut MOLLE
which pares things back neatly. The main compartment
can be compressed with side straps for secure carriage of
varying loads and there is a comfortably padded back with
an internal support frame. The ergonomic shoulder straps
are well padded and fully adjustable both at the top and
bottom for a comfortable set-up. There’s a sternum strap
with a neat emer-gency whistle buckle and a padded
waist belt with two small zippered pouches, also fully
removable. I’ve been using the original MISSION for some
considerable time now and it genu-inely has become
my absolute favourite; I’ve used it twice now during our
annual mountain test, and this year ended up having a
conversation about it with some French Mountain Troops I
met on the trail. They were very impressed by the design,
and spoke approvingly of the fact that one of their training
cadre swore by Tasmanian Tiger gear!
If you want something neat and compact though, and
again made in 500D Cordura, the ESSENTIAL pack has been
upgraded with Laser Cut MOLLE and increased in size from
a small 6L all-round daypack to a much more usable 15L
capacity. It features two compression straps around the
whole pack, MOLLE panels on the back and side, a webbing
carry handle, and comfortable yet low-profile shoulder
MEET THE MANUFACTURER
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MEET THE MANUFACTURER
straps again featuring the sternum strap. The pack is simply
one large compartment with a hydration bladder pocket,
and makes a superb “grab bag” or “range-mate”; the fact
that it weighs just 565g is a bonus in itself!
Tasmanian Tiger have also upgraded their offering in
the medical range; we spend a lot of time in PMCI talking
about dedicated training in this all-important area, and TT
definitely have some great products to cater for this.
Whilst I’ve not yet had chance to test their new packs in
this par-ticular range I have had some of the smaller items,
and they’re every bit as good as the “big stuff”. I’ve been
trying out a couple of their Tourniquet Pouches recently, and
both are little corkers. Up until recently I’ve been using a
Kydex holder for my CAT, but both the TT TOURNIQUET POUCH
and TT TOURNIQUET POUCH II have proved very easy to use,
whilst at the same time holding the CAT securely in place.
I’ve got a TT TOURNIQUET POUCH on my personal plate carrier
at the moment next to my tear-off FAK and it sits perfect-ly
using just a single row of MOLLE.
I’m very pleased to say that Tasmanian Tiger are gradually
making well-deserved in-roads into the UK, and all the
models here are becoming more easily available from some
quality stockists around the globe. All the packs and tactical
gear are available in multiple colour options, includ-ing
camouflaged versions so there’s something in the range to
suit an environmental requirement.
Thus far in my testing I’ve been very impressed by the
build-quality and attention to detail in all the models, and
the comfort levels for all are very high indeed. If you are in
the market for a new pack, chest rig, or even some simple
medical kit then I would thoroughly recommend you check
out www.tasmanian-tiger.co.uk or www.tasmaniantiger.
info where you’ll find further details of both the products
themselves and international stockist details.
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TAC GEAR - HAIX
HAIX BLACK EAGLE GTX
A few of the PMCI Team are already intimately familiar with HAIX boots, but Nige brings us his
thoughts on the latest model in their ever-expanding range.
After 30 years of various forms of training, I have
come to appreciate the protection provided by
a decent pair of boots and believe me when I
say, twisting your ankle in the middle of session
is no fun!
Over the years I have worn boots from a
variety of manufacturers but is was only back
in June 2014 that I came across HAIX, when I
reviewed a pair of their “High Liability Combat Boots” , kindly
provided by the guys at Patrol Store in the UK. Fast forward to
2018 and those boots are still part of my regular “wardrobe”
and are as good today as they were four years ago, so when I
was contacted again by Patrol Store, asking if I’d like to take a
look at one of HAIXs’ latest boots, I couldn’t resist.
SO WHO ARE HAIX?
HAIX are a Bavarian-based company that take pride in the fact
that all their products are manufactured wholly in Europe, which
is also where they source all of their raw materials. Short for
Xaver Haimerl (the founder of the company), HAIX was founded
in Mainburg in 1948 and uses “practice-based” research and
development techniques to develop products for specific
markets and uses. For example, the HAIX FIRE HERO boot was
developed specifically for fire-fighters and is now considered to
be one of the safest in the World for fire-fighter use, whilst the
RANGER GSG9 service boot was based on the experiences and
mission requirements of the German SWAT unit. Their range
encompasses the emergency services, workwear, forestry,
military and streetwear.
BLACK EAGLE GTX
The (snappy) full title of these boots is (deep breath)… “HAIX
Black Eagle Athletic 2.0 V GTX Mid/Sage” and what first caught
my attention on the box label was the “Mid/Sage” bit. The last
pair of HAIX boots I reviewed were fairly solid brown leather,
whereas the uppers on these are constructed of a “velour
leather/textile combination” and are green. I have never had a
green pair of boots before and I was intrigued to see whether
the HAIX version of “sage” was going to be subtle or “loud”. I
need not have worried, as on opening the box I was presented
with a really nice-looking pair of boots in a muted shade of
green… perfect!
Immediately obvious was the lacing, which features a
closed lacing system with a quick closure and lace pocket. Let
me explain what that means… Simply put, you don’t have to tie
the laces!
22

The top of the laces are covered by a “HAIX” monogrammed
flap, held in place by Velcro (more about that shortly) which,
when lifted up, reveals a “quick lock” system and a pocket. It is
an absolute doddle to use… Put the boot on, tighten the quick
lock, roll the excess lace up, tuck it into the pocket, fold the flap
down and fasten with the Velcro. I didn’t time it but reckon you
could probably get both boots on and fastened in less than fifteen
seconds!
The textile part of the upper is nicely finished with a “crosshatch”
pattern, which is double-stitched to the leather at all
maximum stress points and the closed eyelets are nicely positioned
to provide easy adjustment and stability when the lace is fastened.
Inside the boot you’ll find GORE-TEX 3-layer laminate, making it
waterproof and highly breathable. This is assisted by the “HAIX
Climate System”, a nifty system that uses a pumping action to
promote air circulation and release warm air through the Micro-Dry
lining at the top of the boot.
Underfoot is an anti-bacterial insole, a two-layer midsole with
stabilisation zone for optimal pressure distribution on all terrains
and a rubber running sole that meets EN ISO 20347:2012, plus up
front you’ll find a solid, yet flexible toe-cap.
SO, WHAT ARE THEY LIKE?
Let me just say, from the moment I put these on for the first time,
I liked them!
Before I do anything with a new pair of boots I’ll wear them
around the house for a couple of days to make sure that when
I head off out in them, I’m not going to end up crippled after a
couple of hours (did that once, not going to do it again)! You know
when you put on something new and it just feels “right”? Well
that’s how the Black Eagle’s felt for me. They were light on the foot
but didn’t seem to suffer any loss of stability or strength because
of it and while they were not “carpet slippers”, they certainly
didn’t feel like hobnails either! The lace system was simplicity itself
and when fully loosened, there is ample space to easily get your
foot in and out of the boot (no shoe-horn or foot powder required
here). So confident was I that they would be OK, the first time I
wore them for any length of time was on a visit to the Outdoor
Trade Show in Manchester, six and a half hours of driving and a day
spent walking around an exhibition on one of the hottest days of
the year to that point.
It turned out that my confidence was fully justified. Not only
didn’t my feet feel tired at any stage, when I got home and finally
eased them off (expecting the usual “whiff” of hot feet and sweaty
socks), I was pleasantly surprised to find neither!
TEST ONE PASSED WITH FLYING COLOURS!
Test two involved a visit to my favourite proving grounds, the
Malvern Hills, to see how they would perform on the slopes,
rocks and grass of this beautiful location. Once again they didn’t
disappoint and remained comfortable and stable, even when
traversing a fairly steep slope which put maximum lateral pressure
on my ankles. I had hoped to check out whether they were truly
waterproof but the stream I normally use was barely a trickle, so
TAC GEAR - HAIX
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TAC GEAR - HAIX
I am afraid I cannot comment but, knowing both HAIX and GORE-
TEX, I am pretty confident this would not be a problem. Grip-wise,
I couldn’t fault them, even when scrambling up a slope of loose
rocks, although the lack of rain also meant I couldn’t test them on
wet grass either!
All in all, I was very impressed with the Black Eagles, except
for one, tiny niggle (which I alluded to earlier)…
I (stupidly) wore long trousers to the show in Manchester
which (obviously) extended down over the front of the boots. The
Velcro patch used to hold down the lace “pocket” is not very large
and as the hem of my trouser legs passed over it, they caught
the edge of the pockets and lifted them up. This resulted in the
bottom of my trouser legs sticking out at the front, which is not a
major problem but was just “annoying”.
Other than that, I couldn’t fault them and, although I haven’t
yet worn them for any length of time, I am pretty certain that
they too will become part of my working wardrobe!
HAIX Black Eagle Athletic 2.0 V GTX boots are
available from Patrol Store (www.patrolstore.co.uk)
in UK sizes from 3 to 15, in Low, Mid and High styles
and a variety of colours. Many thanks to Patrol Store
for providing the review sample. You can also found
out more about the range by visiting www.haix.
co.uk or www.haixusa.com
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TACTICAL
DENIM
MOST OF US LOVE A PAIR OF BLUE JEANS AND FOR MANY OF US THERE’S
A PAIR IN OUR WARDROBE FOR THOSE “SPECIAL RANGE MOMENTS”,
ESPECIALLY WHEN COMBINED WITH A BIT OF “TACTICAL PLAID”! THE
CLOTHING MANUFACTURERS APPEAR TO HAVE TAKEN NOTE OF THIS
AND NOW THERE’S MORE “TACTICAL DENIM” ABOUT THAN EVER
BEFORE; BILL TAKES A LOOK AT HIS PERSONAL PICK OF THE CROP.

The use of a pair of jeans for range use has been
with us for some considerable time, and it’s a solid
sturdy “look” when you combine your favourite
denim with a check shirt, plate carrier and ballcap;
it’s a sight you’ll see on ranges worldwide and in
training videos online, mimicking that “old PMC”
look that we all know and love. Over the years I’ve
used blue jeans on the range many, many times
and they’ve always been particularly comfortable.
From a technical clothing perspective however I’d be the very
first to scream about the reasons why you shouldn’t use denim
(not particularly breathable, slow to dry, heavy and abrasive
when wet, etc, etc…) but the fact of the matter is that strangely it
just works in most conditions other than in a torrential downpour.
The fact is that denim is a durable, hard-wearing fabric, and a pair
of jeans bought at your local supermarket or dollar store can set
you back just pennies these days.
The same properties that have made denim such a popular
fabric since the day when Jacob W. Davis first started making
work wear and Levi Strauss & Co took this to mass production
are pretty much those that we look for in good range kit, but of
course the features that we also like are rarely present in a pair
of jeans… or at least they have been absent until now.
Late last year my favourite pair (come on, we ALL have a favourite
pair of jeans, don’t we!) of jeans finally got to the point where
they were pretty much irretrievable; whilst a rip in the knee is
liveable, when the backside literally drops out it’s definitely time
to buy a new pair! I’ve been working quite closely in the last
couple of years with Military1st in the UK and the great team
at Helikon-Tex in Poland and have been waiting for their “Grey
Man” jeans to make it from concept to reality; Helikon-Tex have a
couple of projects though that have been a “slow burn” and sadly
this concept garment has not yet made it to production. Luckily
though the fabric is there, and they’ve incorporated this into their
UTP model.
Purpose Designed for Law Enforcement and Tactical Users
Durable and functional Helikon “Urban Tactical Pants – Denim”
are ‘mid-profile’ trousers so that they look less like a uniform,
which of course is perfect if you’re carrying or loading up with
equipment but want to do so in a “low key” way.
The trousers feature a number of useful pockets placed at the
front, the rear and on both thighs. The two front hands pockets
have extra strong edges that are intended for clips of folding
knives. There are also two internal symmetrical pockets, sewn in
diagonally to the belt area and made of material lighter than the
pants themselves; these two pockets are intended for carrying
objects like telescopic batons or an extra pistol magazine, in a
discrete, comfortable and secure way. Two large rear pockets with
hook-and-loop fasteners also have two auxiliary small pockets
placed inside. These small pockets are the equivalent of two
interior pockets at the front of the pants. It is worth adding their
depth may be adapted by sewing them at a certain height or by
unstitching pleats. These are perfect for carrying a small flashlight
or a multitool. The trousers also feature big, diagonal, symmetrical
thigh pockets, divided in two. The smaller have a hook-and-loop
fastener and are perfect for carrying mobile phones, magazines
for AR or pistol magazines. The larger pockets feature YKK zipper
and a single pleat that increases their capacity.
These quality pants fit well in the waist thanks to a flat elastic
tape sewn in the rear part of the belt area, and are zipped with
a durable metal YKK zipper and fastened with big hook-and-loop
TACTICAL: TACTICAL DENIM
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TACTICAL: TACTICAL DENIM
fastener. All the UTP series trousers also feature profiled front
and rear part of the leg around the knees. The front knee part
is additionally strengthened with two layers of material. In turn
these two layers create an internal pocket which is perfect for
a lightweight knee pad if you so desire. All these characteristics
ensure freedom of movement and limit raising trouser legs
while crouching or kneeling.
Designed to fit female body shape, the Women’s Urban
Tactical Pants from Helikon-Tex feature a classic jeans ‘neck’
shape to limit them riding up or down, and elasticated waist
with YKK zip fly and velcro, and reinforced knees with internal
kneepad compartments for optional padding. The Women’s UTP
Pants also features one leg length for individual adjustment,
twelve various sizes tactical pockets and seven wide belt loops.
Whilst the “denim” fabric looks great, it also performs
extremely well too as it has a four-way stretch capability which
actually moves with you, and is not in any way restrictive. The
fabric is solidly “heavyweight”, more like serious workwear
than “casual” attire, and it seems perfect for the rigors of the
range or extended use in an urban environment. Designed with
Law Enforcement and tactical users in mind, the UTP Pants from
Helikon are also suitable for all outdoor pursuits and even daily
wear!
EVERY DAY WEAR
Whilst the UTP pants in denim do the job to the “nth degree”
they are quite heavy still, and even though they are pared
down there’s still a distinct “tactical feel” about them; I’ve
been wearing the Helikon-Tex “jeans” for a while and they’ve
certainly, like all good jeans, lost that new, starchy feel and
softened down considerably. As I’ve been so impressed with
this model I started to look around my other favourite gear
manufacturers and found another couple of pairs that I really
like from Clawgear and Pentagon.
The Pentagon Tactical Rogue Jeans have been designed
and constructed specifically for tactical purposes whilst keeping
in mind the aesthetic of casual fitting jeans that you would
wear every day. They’re solidly made from 100% Cotton Stone
Washed Denim Fabric, but with a diamond crotch for ease
of movement. There are two mag pockets above the back
pockets, a groin fillet pocket, and front hand pockets
with reinforced fillets. They’re finished off with a quality YKK
self-locking fly zip, and there’s triple stitching at stress points for
extra durability. These definitely look and feel more like classic
blue jeans, but the extra features make them just that little bit
more usable in tactical terms.
After training in my newest Clawgear Raider tactical pants
recently and loving them to bits I decided to have a bit of a
trawl on their website to see what they were up to “denimwise”,
and I have to say that my Austrian friends seem to have
a liking for jeans, as they offer their Blue Denim Tactical Flex
Jeans in Midnight, Midnight Washed, Sapphire, and Sapphire
washed finishes! These are “tactical jeans” that look exactly
like the one’s you’d buy from a fashion store, but combine the
durability needed to resist rips and tears with the comfortable
fabric desired for daily wear. The stretch characteristics of the
fabric provide a superior range of motion when necessary. The
jeans additionally also have many helpful features for tactical
operations, the range and every day carry. They’re a regular fit,
built from a durable stretch fabric (94% cotton, 4% polyester,
2% elastane), and have double needle construction with bar
tacks in high-stress areas. There’s a hidden compartment for a
rifle or carbine magazine on backside, a hidden pouch inside
to hide a passport, money, or ID card. The left front pocket
conceals a pistol magazine stabiliser, and there’s even a silicone
coating inside the back pockets to help you get items in and out
with minimal fuss!
Now I’ve had time to look around even further it would
appear that most of our favourite manufacturers have jumped
on the “denim train” so there’s now a whole heap of models
out there to look at. Whilst I’ve detailed my personal three
“best buys” above, like any bit of kit you should “try before you
buy” to see what best suits and fits you.
I’m all set for “tactical jeans” now, and I’m looking forward
to wearing them not just each and every day, but also in game
as part of my regular range apparel now
AUTUMN IS HERE!
For more information on the entire UTP range from
Helikon Tex and the Pentagon Jeans please visit www.
military1st.co.uk. For more on the Clawgear range
please simply check out www.clawgear.com.
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FIREARMS: SIG SAUER P320 X-VTAC
SIG SAUER P320 X-VTAC REVIEW
When the US military searched for a new service pistol to replace their aging Beretta semi-automatics,
SIG SAUER answered the call. After a long, grueling series of expert testing, the polymer, striker-fired
SIG model P320 beat out submissions by other top names in the industry such as Glock, FN and Smith &
Wesson to win the Modular Handgun System trails; PMCI gets hands on as Trampas heads to the range!
As the announcement came in January of
2017, the model P320 would be renamed
the M17 with a compact version titled the
M18, both chambered in 9mm. Sadly, initial
design flaws reported possible cartridge
ignition when dropped onto the rear of the
slide. Fortunately, the internal issue that
caused the problem seemed to have been
corrected quickly. Military representative
reports show the new training and equipment have already
begun to integrate smoothly.
Since the $580 million military contract announcement,
civilian sales have seen an all time high for P320 and spun
off three new variants under the X-series. The new variants
sport subtle custom features to make each unique and
more functional. Of the three models (P320X-Frame, P320
X-VTAC and P320 X-Carry), the most striking must be the
X-VTAC. This week’s article not only looks at the P320 X-VTAC
variant’s design specifications but why it is a superior option
to the original design as well.
To start with, I had the opportunity a few months ago to
extensively shoot a standard issue P320 SIG SAUER in 9mm.
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The relatively straight drop grip angle and long trigger pull left
me with a less than stellar opinion on the pistol. While I wasn’t
overly impressed, my time with the standard P320 laid a great
foundation for reviewing variants of the base model in the future.
Little did I know an opportunity was only a mere 3 months later.
When I learned the X-VTAC variant would be available
for testing soon after, I was excited to give the P320 platform
another chance. Why would I be excited about a second round
with a pistol I wasn’t very fond of the first time tested you ask?
Not only does the X-VTAC feature the much better designed
“X” frame, but SIG teamed up with someone I deeply respect in
the firearms training industry, gunfighting guru and Viking Tactics
founder, Sgt Major Kyle Lamb (Retired). This collaboration added
much needed extra features to basically create a factory custom
pistol offered to SIG shooters.
FIRST LOOK
When the sample pistol arrived at my local FFL dealer for pick
up, I rushed to the gun shop to check it out. When I opened the
standard black plastic SIG SAUER gun case, I was captivated with
the good looking two-tone finish. The slide came direct from the
factory with a smooth, non-reflective Flat Dark Earth Cerakote
finish that was in good contrast its black polymer frame. While
looks do nothing for performance, I have never liked colorful
or decorative colors on guns. Also, I have always felt non-black
colors on firearms were better as accent tones rather than full
schemes. Perfect case in point, as much as I liked the Glock 19X
derivative of their company’s military contract submission, the
pistol’s lines seem to have been lost in the completely coated
brown finish. I was happy to see SIG take a different approach
with their civilian offering.
Anyone who has had experience with the standard P320
would immediately recognize the slide reduction along the top
and sides. These reductions were put in place to aid in reducing
muzzle flip during recoil. To begin with, the slide’s top surface
was milled down leaving only a small hump at the original slide
height for the front and rear sights to mount. Down the center
of the slide’s top, a series of grooves were cut running from the
base of the rear sight hump to front sight parallel to one another.
These grooves can have an influence on glare reduction, weight
reduction as well as aid in eye focus on the front sight.
Atop the slide were a set of front and rear sights from Viking
Tactics (VTAC) that differ greatly from the standard white 3 dot
FIREARMS: SIG SAUER P320 X-VTAC
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system offered with the P320. These new sights offer basically
two sights in one.
The top set are a bright green in the rear sight and fire red in
the front sight. Below these are a set of small night sights that
glow brightly under extreme low light settings.
A subtle change was made to the slide’s wide curved top
profile by cutting to a steeper angle. In working the action, the
slide felt thinner in my hand due to those cuts and the deep
cocking serrations that were located at the front and rear of
the slide. Located above front serrations were one of the most
noticeable weight reductions made in the form of what SIG
calls “lightening cuts”. These two cuts ran approximately 1.2”
across the side of the slide. If press checking a pistol is your
“thing”, these cuts did not interfere with doing so smoothly.
The X-Carry frame used by the X-VTAC was noticeably
different from the standard P320 as well. The shortened dust
cover and rail still offered plenty of space for a tactical light
but gave the overall appearance of the gun a 1911 look with
the bottom of the slide being exposed. The grip used the same
textured stippling as the original P320 but came higher up on
the frame to give it a more controllable feel. From the rear of
the frame stretched an extended beaver tail that felt great in
the hand during dry fire. Again, this seemed to give a nod to
the 1911 design.
Finally, my inspection came to the trigger. This was not a
high point of my experience with the P320 testing prior to this
article. Fortunately, the X-VTAC was equipped with the X-Trigger
in a straight configuration that I had hear so many great things
about. According to my research, this trigger was roughly the
same 5.8 lb. pull weight as the standard trigger but offered
two items to make the felt weight seem much lighter. First
the straight configuration feels more comfortable to the trigger
finger and allows a reduced angle in which the weight is pulled.
Secondly, the actual distance of travel and point at which
the trigger breaks is reduced. Instead breaking past 90 degrees
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on the trigger’s path of travel, it breaks earlier at the 90 degree
mark where a larger muscle in the finger is exerting pressure
than when it goes past that position. Without getting into a
term paper on biomechanics, I will just say that using larger
muscles and tendons to do a job is always a large benefit over
smaller ones.
An added benefit of the P320 series including the X-VTAC
is the serialized fire control group which by ATF standards is
classified as the actual firearm. The serial number is visible
through a cut out in the frame. For around $40, additional
frames including a shortened grip version can be purchased
to change the overall carry size of the pistol. To change out
frames, the pistol must safely be field stripped and the take
down lever must be rotated upward and removed from the left
side before. Next the fire control pack is simply lifted up and out
of the frame for removal. This is especially handy for those who
like to change up the color of their guns from time to time.
320 X-VTAC SPECS
CALIBRE:
ACTION TYPE:
FRAME SIZE:
GRIP TYPE:
FRAME MATERIAL:
SLIDE FINISH:
SLIDE MATERIAL:
ACTION:
TRIGGER TYPE:
BARREL LENGTH:
OVERALL LENGTH:
OVERALL WIDTH:
HEIGHT:
WEIGHT:
9mm Luger
Semi-Auto
Full-Size
Modular Polymer X-Series
Stainless Steel
Flat Dark Earth
Stainless Steel
Striker
X-Series Straight
4.7 in (119 mm)
8.2 in (208 mm)
1.3 in (33 mm)
5.6 in (142 mm)
28.7 oz (0.81 kg)
RANGE TIME
For the initial range session, I took a trip to our private training
grounds affectionally known as “The Swamp”. With the X-TAC
being chambered only in 9mm, I had SIG SAUER send along
some of their SIG branded 115 grain Full Metal Jacket 9 mm
ammunition for use in breaking in the barrel and testing. After
loading up the three factory supplied 17 round magazines, I
started with a few basic double tap drills at 3 yards on 2” inch
circular targets. Immediately, I noticed how tall VTAC sights
appeared to be. At the given distance, my shots impacted
roughly 1.5” low. Shot after shot, my groups were consistently
one jagged hole working out to 7 yards. Even early on, X-VTAC
barrel lived up to high standard of accuracy SIG SAUER is well
known for.
The primary focus of the first range session was to get a
good volume of rounds through the barrel. During both slow
and rapid fire, I wanted to test its reliability and to see how
it functions and performs as that round count grew. The first
300 rounds sent down range on the first day not only saw zero
malfunctions but provided stellar accuracy at typical defensive
ranges as well. Notes from this session included sights, trigger
and recoil management. The sights were clear and easy to
require after the first shot. The trigger felt great and provided
a very short trigger reset. Recoil was very manageable and
allowed for a quick recover for follow up shots. Towards the end
of the session, it began to rain as I was shooting. The textured
grip of the X-VTAC really excelled at staying functional even as
the pistol started to really get wet. As I changed magazines,
the cocking serrations were also easy to use without a single
slip with wet hands. These points were almost an afterthought
while shooting but compared to other handguns I have shot in
the rain; the SIG was rock solid while soaking wet.
The second range test session would be a completely
different dynamic for testing overall. Instead of being outdoors,
this session would be held on a plush indoor range at On Target
Sports located in Orange Park, Florida. Prior to opening for the
day, fellow Swanson Media Group writers, Clint Steele and Craig
Reinolds along with myself, met with the range manager, Tyler
Smith. Our team was allowed in early and given exclusive access
to a private booth of multiple lanes to get started. RSO’s Todd
and Wayland gave us full VIP treatment as the SMG team set up
cameras and equipment to get our test session completed.
For this test session, shooters took turns running the X-VTAC
with a verity of ammunition including Remington 115 grain
FMJ, Hornady 124 grain JHP, Winchester 147 grain bonded
JHP and SIG branded 115 JHP. As the pistol chewed up each
brand of ammo, the biggest noticeable difference in recoil and
performance came with the 147 grain loads from Winchester.
The recoil was slightly lighter while shot groupings across the
board seemed to be slightly lower at 15 and 20 yard strings of
fire. These results seem to be typical in every pistol I have used
when shooting this brand and grain weight, even pistol caliber
carbines. The groupings were still much better than my original
testing of the P320.
It’s no secret, I as well my teammates, Clint and Craig are
primarily Glock guys when it comes to what we choose to
carry daily. With that in mind, there was a bit of critique from
the team regarding the height of the sights. As I noted during
my first session, the height of the sights indeed take time to
get use to and adjustments need to be made according to the
distance from the target. With the lower height of the Glock
sights, point of aim / point of impact seem to be a bit more in
line with the barrel.
All shooters enjoyed the straight trigger and commented
on how crisp it broke. Everyone loved the short trigger reset
and overall good feel of each shot breaking. With Clint being
left handed while Craig and I are shoot primary right handed,
it is not uncommon to see strings of fire fade to one side at
FIREARMS: SIG SAUER P320 X-VTAC
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FIREARMS: SIG SAUER P320 X-VTAC
times for one shooter and off to the other with another shooter.
This pistol kept rounds impacted dead center in the middle
regardless of shooter. I think this had a lot to do with the
controllable recoil and ambidextrous comfort of the grip and
short trigger travel regardless if I am shooting strong or weak
handed.
As Clint Steele pointed out, the ambidextrous forward
swept slide lock was very comfortable for a left-handed
shooter. I completely agree as it made the pistol easier to
operate when I ran the gun through a few “weak hand only”
drills. By giving the slide stop a forward swept, it prevents the
shooter’s hand from riding up and inadvertently engaging the
lever thus locking the slide back during shooting. By having
an ambidextrous slide stop, the shooter does not have to
change techniques or grip when switching hands, only mirror
the motions of each hand. Clint wrapped his part of the test
session with the overall assessment of the P320 X-TAC being
primarily positive. In his opinion, Clint stated the pistol was the
first example he has seen of SIG’s acknowledgement of lefthanded
shooters. With roughly 15% of the world’s population
being “wrong handed” as Clint likes to point out, the firearms
industry has traditionally over looked these fine folks.
Craig Reinolds added the sights took some getting use to
due to their height in relation to natural point of aim. Despite
the learning curve, even Craig’s first 5 round grouping at 5 yards
was one jagged hole in the dead center X of the target.
A valuable training lesson arose from Craig’s time helping
with testing. As the target was moved further back with cycle of
shooters taking turns, Craig noticed his shots were still holding
tight, center groups but jumped a full 2 inches low once he
started to change stance to align with the target further out.
As Craig did so, his eyes would need to change focal planes
in his prescription glasses. Since his glasses were bifocals, as
the target moved further out, Craig’s eyes would switch from
the top level to the bottom behind the glass. How Craig’s eyes
then perceived where the center of the target was changed.
Obviously, this had nothing to do with the pistol itself,
but with the huge number of shooters out there who wear
glasses, this has been an issue I as a firearms instructor have
seen often, but never read about in training courses or firearms
publications. As for the pistol, Craig’s final thoughts on the pistol
were very encouraging. Both Craig and Clint had not previously
had experience with the standard P320 so the X-VTAC was
a fresh experience for both. Craig felt the SIG was very well
designed and comfortable to use even for a diehard loyal Glock
fan.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As the 120 day testing period expired, I was pleasantly
surprised with my new outlook on the SIG P320 series. Overall,
I thoroughly enjoyed testing the SIG SAUER P320 X-TAC pistol.
The redesign of the “X” frame combined with the subtle
changes made to the slide and frame address the items I was
not originally found of when I previously tested the standard
P320. If I had to pick one specific change that really made the
difference, it would be the X-trigger. While most of the changes
were either cosmetic or weight reducing, the trigger change
from the standard P320 helped keep tighter groups and make
for an overall more comfortable range session.
SIG sets the MSRP for the P320 X-TAC pistol around $918,
which is almost $300 in difference from the standard P320.
For those who may initially be turned off from the price gap,
consider a few items before even looking at what the actual
price under MSRP can be found for. The upgraded trigger is
around $200, and the enhanced frame would cost hundreds of
dollars to recontour from an aftermarket company before you
even factor in the cost of a set of V-TAC brand sights that usually
run for $150 - $ 175. For those who enjoy recontour and two
tone look of the Cerakoted FDE slide, consider the $300 - $400
mill work and $80 - $100 cost from an aftermarket supplier for
refinish. For most factory custom pistols of this degree, prices
commonly exceed the $1200.00 mark.
If you are in the market for a duty size 9mm pistol with a
wide array of extras, I highly recommend the SIG SAUER P320
X-VTAC. This variant of the standard P320 is miles ahead of the
original and straight out of the box, outperforms most guns in
its class. In my opinion, X-VTAC is well on its way to winning the
hearts and minds of shooters on ranges across the country.
Before I close, I would like to extend a special thanks to the
amazing staff at On Target Sports in Orange Park, Florida for
hosting another great experience testing guns and gear. Until
next month, Train Hard and Continue the Fight!
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KNIVES: EMERSON KNIVES COMMANDER
EMERSON KNIVES COMMANDER
Throughout the history of mankind, no item of equipment has been more underrated yet more used than a
good knife. From war zones to daily civilian life, the need for a quality blade arises at every turn. Trampas get
to grips with a model that suits him very well indeed!
Ifind myself in agreement with many serious blade
users that a solid fixed blade is the first place to look
for good carry knife. Unfortunately, our society has
evolved to make carrying one much more difficult and
less socially acceptable. Whether it’s non-permissive
foreign countries, restraining liberal controlled state
laws or simply daily attire, there are many situations
that carrying a decent sized fixed blade would just not
be possible and / or legal. This is where the concept
of the “tactical folder” comes into play as what I consider the
best option for most applications. This month, I’m going to take a
look at a high-quality knife simply titled the “Commander” from a
well-respected blade company that’s been an industry leader for
years, Emerson Knives, Inc.
The tactical folding knife is a complicated tool to specifically
define. It’s the consensus of most in the blade industry that a true
tactical folder would include, at a minimum, these characteristics:
1.) One hand operation (open / close);
2.) Blade locks open;
3.) Pocket clip;
4.) Solidly built, especially the pivot and lock; and,
5.) Blade design that can be used offensively.
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While Bob Terzuola is often considered the Father of the Tactical
Folder due to his use of the disk thumb lever, pocket clip and early
use of the Walker liner lock, it is Ernest Emerson, who is widely
known in the current blade industry as the Father of the MODERN
Tactical Folder. Much like Henry Ford didn’t invent the car but
did improve and modernized it to a much larger scale, Emerson
seems to have picked up where Terzuola ended. Drawing from his
vast background as a machinist and accomplished Material Arts
instructor, Ernest Emerson was able to bring tactical folding knife
concept to the world platform through not only through high quality,
large scale production but also an incorporation of the blade into
military, law enforcement and private military training as well.
By the end of the 1990’s, the company’s flagship model, the
Commander was born to immediate success. As with all Emerson
products, the Commander is constructed 100% in the US and
prouldly made completely of US parts. Named Best Overall Knife
of the Year in 1999 at the knife industry’s largest annual event, the
BLADE SHOW in Atlanta, the Commander managed to land several
military and law enforcement contracts including official use by the
US Navy SEALS and other elite units around the world.
Aside from the Terzuola-like disk thumb stud, Emerson created a
forward pointing hook along the spine of the Commander’s spine to
act as a blade catch to prevent opposing blades from riding up and
cutting the user’s hand. This hook was discovered to quickly deploy
the blade when drawn from the right-hand pocket. Emerson listed
this as a “wave-shaped opening feature” which transcended into
other blades under the company banner with much success.
Over time as these blades were seeing significate time in the
field, reports of a third benefit came in “unofficially” that this wave
feature also made a decent bottle opener for libations during down
time.
Most success and failure stories aren’t truly about the innovation
as much as they are in the details that go along with it. The
Commander’s overall construction using top quality materials is just
as much a part of its success as anything. The recurved blade is made
from 154 CM steel featuring a chisel-grind to give the end user a flat
surface to easily keep a working edge on the knife out in the field
with commonly found items such as a rock, piece of glass or small
whetstone. Perhaps the most important notation to be made about
the Commander’s construction is the use of standard components
rather than proprietary screws heads and complex locks. The large
flat head pivot screw and Phillips head screws used to secure the
grip scales can be replaced quickly with a trip to any local hardware
store. When in the filed these items can be easily “reallocated” from
other items found in the surrounding environment and replaced
with a common multi-tool.
Additionally, just like any serious shooter would work out
with a training gun such as a blue gun or SIRT pistol, Emerson
manufacturers a Commander training knife. This trainer is equipped
with a blunt tipped recurved blade with bright blue scales that are
widely accepted as a training device color. From the wave opening
device to every tiny screw, the Commander is replicated to the
fullest degree. This trainer is the perfect way to safely become
very proficient in using the Emerson Commander for defensive and
offensive purposes. More on this later…
COMMANDER SPECS
Overall Length: 8.75”
Blade Length: 3.75”
Handle Length: 5.00”
Handle Material: G-10
Weight: 4.9 oz
Blade Steel: 154 CM
Hardness: 57 – 59 RC
Lock Mechanism: Linier (Titanium)
MSRP: $240 - $265
EVERYDAY CARRY KNIFE
Once the Commander and Commander Trainer arrived for review,
I began to carry the trainer for the first week just to get into the
practice of deploying the blade smoothly while remaining safe. All
too many times I have had to risk learning the hard way with test
knives, now that I had a training blade offered, I would take full
advantage of it. Towards the end of the week, I began to switch
back and forth between training blade and live blade while working
on rapid deployment of the blade. The blade deployed smoothly
ending in a crisp lock up with the Walker liner lock.
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KNIVES: EMERSON KNIVES COMMANDER
This lock was easy to manipulate one handed, even when wearing
my light weight operator gloves from Outdoor Research.
On Friday, the live blade gave me an idea just how sharp
is was straight out of the box and into my pocket. The incident
occurred when I accidently double clutched my draw stroke and
felt a slight tug on the top of my rear pocket. Later than night, I
realized that slight tug was the blade effortlessly slicing through
the pocket of my jeans. Our Swanson Media Group Instagram
and Facebook followers got a kick out of the candid photo of the
damage posted later the next week.
Once the second week rolled around, I only used the trainer
in the evenings working with various techniques in my personal
training before prepping the Commander for the next day’s attire.
For the next 5 weeks, I carried the Commander while alternating
between my front and rear right hand pocket depending on if the
day’s attire dictated my Glock model 43 or model 19 pistols.
Later in the test and evaluation process, I would experiment
with weak side carry as well opposite my Glock carried in my Lion
Guard inside the waist band carry holster custom built by Alaska’s
elusive Doc Burger. Thankfully, no further articles of clothing were
harmed in the testing of the Emerson Knives, Inc products.
With its wide, beefy razor sharp 3.75” blade and 5” G10 grip,
the Commander is a very intimating tool coming in at 8.75” in
overall length. The 4.9 oz weight and wide profile make it feel
like a true tool in the user’s hand rather than Grandpa’s old apple
peeling jack knife. It was very well balanced with its center point
located mid-finger grove in which your index finger would grip.
I was very pleased with how natural the Commander felt in
my hand during strikes and heavy cutting work. I could quickly
index the blade on target and make precise cuts quickly when
needed just as easily as making long, deep cuts into thick material
such as meat, denim or rubber innertube.
For those familiar with the weather in Florida, it rains almost
every afternoon during the summer and fall, so using the
Commander in the rain was a regular occurrence. Regardless of
how wet the scales on the knife became, it and the trainer’s grip
remained sure. When using on the range wearing gloves, the grip
almost seemed to bite into the palm of the glove as pressure on
the knife was increased. I was impressed how sure it felt in the
hand yet not rough or uncomfortable to the skin.
To prevent rust and premature wear, Emerson Knives offers the
Commander in two good looking blade finishes, a nonreflective
stonewash or black Cerakote. The sample sent was the latter
option which held up extremely well over the test period.
38

Maintenance with the test knife was extremely simple. With just
a little bit of Modern Spartan Accuracy oil applied after brushing
the dirt and grime from normal exposure to the elements with
a toothbrush from the Dollar Store, the Commander was ready
to go. To keep the razor-sharp edge on the chisel edge of the
conventional V-Grind, I turned to our media group’s “go to” knife
sharpening guy, Simon Michael at Atavistic Edgeworks. Simon’s
work with our test blades has never failed to impress no matter
how sad the condition of some of the lesser knives may be in
when turned over to him.
The major advantage in performance the Commander has is
in the recurve design of the blade. When cutting with from base
to tip in a draw stroke such as an offensive strike, the recurve of
blade aids in pulling through the subject matter such as flesh,
fat or muscle tissues rather than cut the surface and ride along a
straight edge. This yield, faster, deeper and possibly more lethal
cuts distributed by the end user. This is the biggest aspect in which
this design really excels, and Ernest Emerson specifically build the
Commander with that in mind.
To safely practice these techniques, Emerson had the
forethought to design a trainer knife, originally just for instructors
within his combat system, but now widely available to anyone
wishing to enhance their skills safely. The Commander Trainer
gives you the feel of a live bladed Commander in your hands
and puts an added sense of reality into your skill building. The
first few times I deployed the blunt blade in use on my training
partner, I hesitated to quickly double check to make sure I had not
accidently grabbed the wrong blade before mistakenly carving
him up like a Thanksgiving turkey. The action and overall feel are
seriously real. The balance between the two blades are within an
1/8” of each other despite material being ground off to form the
live blade thanks to holes strategically drilled into the trainer’s
blade. Retailing for $119.95, I highly suggest investing in one if
you choose to carry an Emerson Commander.
If I had to find a negative to report on the Commander, it
would only be in the lack of options with the pocket clip. Secured
on the end opposite of the pivot screw, the clip only allowed for
the knife’s wave opening feature to fulling engage when carried in
the front right or rear left pocket. This seemed to slightly alienate
the knife from left-handed users but with a bit of adaptation
and focused training, they were just as quick deploying the
Commander as their right-handed counterparts.
Final Thoughts
With an average retail price found between $240 - $265, I feel
the Commander is priced very fairly in the middle of the high-end
production tactical knife market with one of the most rock-solid
names in the industry backing it. Knives with blades made from the
super steel currently in vouge this week can run upwards of $400
- $500 but usually require more difficult means of keeping them
functionally sharp. Speaking from years of experience breaking
lesser constructed blades in the same price range regularly as a
SWAT operator and Deputy Sheriff, the quality of Emerson Knives
far exceeds their price tags.
During the T&E period, I thoroughly enjoyed carrying the
Emerson blade daily and well intend to continue doing so in the
future. I could go on about the numerous uses I had the occasion to
put the blade to good use, but in the end, the Commander simply
speaks for itself. The battle proven, well thought out design is a
testament to Ernest Emerson’s creativity and vison for a rugged,
solid performing tactical folding knife. Whether for
deployment or everyday carry, I suggest trying an
Emerson Commander for yourself.
Until next month, Train Hard, Continue the Fight!
KNIVES: EMERSON KNIVES COMMANDER

pmcimagazine.com
TECH: LOKSAK INC. SHIELDSAK
LOKSAK INC. SHIELDSAK
Whilst we’re always interested to bring you reports on the “hard” tools of the trade the PMCI team are always
searching for those clever, advanced bits of kit that will make your life “out there” easier, and LOKSAK products
certainly fit the bill when it comes to protecting your all-important “tech”.
W
elcome to the Digital Age!
From the information people share,
the finances businesses exchange
and even the wars countries fight can
be attributed to our full immersion
into the advanced technological era.
For most people, this just means
their music and movies stream faster
on their smart phone, but there
are hidden dangers behind allthis
tech we face every day. Mastery of the inner workings of this
technology can wrongly empower those “in the know”. The
real danger in this leaves the rest of society in grave danger of
being at their mercy via the term, “cyber terrorism”. In a simple
key stroke, someone’s identity, life savings, vital information
and credit can be ruined or stolen. The defence to avoiding
being in peril is simply education on measures to best protect
you and your assets.
During this year’s annual “industry only” firearms and
technology trade show known as SHOT SHOW, several writers
on the Swanson Media Group team including PMCI writer, Clint
Steele and I were roaming the show floors to bring our readers
the best of the best offered. Due to the size of our team, Clint
assisted in running point for his team while I covered meetings
with industry representatives, shook a few hands and got some
key promo photos with other industry figures. Towards the end
of the week, I caught up with Clint as we were wrapping on
the day and I could tell he was excited about something. I was
told there was someone and something I needed to see in
the Military / Law Enforcement Only Exhibition Hall. As with
anything, if it’s important to one of our team members, it’s
important to me. I followed Clint to roughly the centre of a
heavily crowded display area in which the LOKSAK Inc. booth
was located.
According to Clint, he and team member, Jared Peltz had
spent some time earlier learning about RF technology and a new
scan / skim blocking fabric bag LokSak offers called the LOKSAK.
As a former Marine, retired Army NCO and a current board
certified Security Specialist Clint recognized the significance of
this product and wanted to bring it to my attention. Upon our
arrival, the LOKSAK staff was running back and forth talking to
various CEO’s, industry buyers and VIPs, when a pair of the reps
stopped and introduced themselves and asked if I would like to
check out their products. After introducing me and discussing
40

several of their products, one of the staff stated I would enjoy
meeting the owner of the company.
A minute or two later, we were joined by an older lady with
her arm in a sling, who reminded me of my mom through reading
her demeanour. The woman carried herself in a way that was
tough, independent and capable of sensing bullshit from a mile
away. I had seen this lady in the corner upon our approach earlier
as she watched buyers and VIPs without a word or movement
as they circled the LokSak, Inc booth and making small talk with
reps. Clint and I explained the basis of what PMCI Magazine stood
for and that we would be interested in getting their products in
front of those who could benefit the most from them as far as
safety and integrity goes. As a smile came across her face, she
knew we were legit.
After our initial dialogue, this intimidating lady broke form and
warmly introduced herself as Linda Kennedy, owner of LOKSAK
Inc. and a now gracious host to her booth. The next half hour, her
charm and passion about advanced technology really shined. Her
pride in what appeared to be simple, straight forward products at
first glance really came through as were eagerly learned about
the tech that went into them. Linda’s pleasant demeanour and
humour truly made our experience enjoyable as Clint and I were
quickly trying to get up to speed on exactly how the products
were intended to be used. I may not have known everything I
needed to know at the time, but due to Linda’s obvious security
knowledge and Clint’s determined interest, I knew this was
something to personally investigate deeper.
PRODUCT FIELD TESTING
As we wrapped up our interview with everyone at LOKSAK, Linda
sent us on our way with a few samples of their Radio Frequency
Infrared and Skim / Quick Scan Technology blocking LOKSAK bags.
These lightweight, fabric bags with handy Velcro closure were
basically mini Faraday cages for portable protection during travel
abroad or everyday storage. The three sizes provided for review
were a small bag for cell phones or wallets, a medium bag for
tablets and a large bag for laptops up to 17 inch screens. Having
limited knowledge originally on this technology, I researched
it for weeks trying to grasp how the skimmers and RF Infrared
readers worked. The more I learned, the more I wondered why
everyone isn’t using them.
Coming from a law enforcement background, working with
agencies such as FBI, SBI, ATF and DEA while assigned to SWAT, we
often took cell phones, tablets, laptops and desk top computers
into evidence. Protection from RF signals that could steal info or
wipe devices clean would be a must. Ten years ago, I only knew
Faraday cage devices to be large boxes used to prevent an Electro
Magnetic Pulse (EMP) attack. Today, this and much more is
achieved through the SHIELDSAK’s thin, fabric bags that can easily
still fit in their protective hard shell Pelican cases. The SHIELDSAK
protects not only electronic devices but any item with an ID chip
such as a credit card or passport as well.
A bonus of being invisible to a criminal’s scanners is the device
is also invisible to anyone else as well; for those who personally
TECH: LOKSAK INC. SHIELDSAK
pmcimagazine.com

pmcimagazine.com
TECH: LOKSAK INC. SHIELDSAK
or professionally need to go “off the grid”, the SHIELDSAK
will drop you off the map. Most devices these days are GPS
enabled, even when the device is shut off. Simply turn off the
device, drop it in the SHIELDSAK and poof, it disappears from
detection. To test the sample bags, I left my devices such as
my tablet and cell phone powered on and dropped them in
the bag. I attempted to call my cell phone with no results and
locate both devices via online tracker with no sign of either
of them. After removing both from their SHIELDSAKs, they
immediately popped back up on locater and had no evidence
of prior contact received during testing. Despite having already
ready great results from much deeper official testing, I couldn’t
help but still be very impressed seeing the results first hand.
According to our DOD sources, the SHIELDSAK was tested by
Keystone Compliance using the Mil – DTL – 83528 C. For those
unfamiliar with this term, it is a military detail specification that
lists out different materials that are used as conductive gaskets
and for other sealing applications. This military specification is
active, meaning that it can be used to procure materials. There
are several different types of material under this specification,
mostly composed of silicone and fluorosilicone with conductive
metals/particles to provide electronic/ radio frequency
shielding. According to test data, the LOKSAK was placed up
against several of its closest competitors on the market and
either met or exceeded the performance of all of them.
TECHNICAL SPECS
• Surface resistivity: 0.5 ohms/ Max – Average .2 ohms/
• Shielding effectiveness: Tested from 30 MHz to 10 GHz
[average attenuation of 72 (dB)]
• Abrasion resistance: 1,000,000 cycle
• Temperature range: -22 F to 194 F (-30 C to 90 C)
• Retail: $59.99 Phone
$99.99 Tablet
$199.99 Laptop
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, my experience with the LOKSAK products was a very
positive and eye opening one. The products are simple to use
even when the technology that goes into them isn’t. During the
interim between receiving the products, doing the research and
completing this article, I have been able to study several similar
competitive items and long term studies on them. The short
report is, most RF Faraday cage style products on the market
don’t live up to the hype. Not the case with SHIELDSAK. Whether
it’s the Tier One tech or just voodoo magic, the products work
and do so very well.
Even better than solid, well-made products, the people
that make up the company are just as awesome. From day
one, the owner, Linda Kennedy and her staff were extremely
insightful and helpful with me fully understanding the depth of
their products. The time and energy the LOKSAK, Inc. personnel
spent in presenting their products to us and the open door
to any questions during the review process they offered was
outstanding.
Everyone I spoke with was not only well versed in the
full range of the company’s products but fluid in very detailed
information which shows how much they devote themselves
into both the products and the customers who purchase them.
As I was told, it isn’t the just products that are at risk, its people
and those people are who LOKSAK Inc. aims to protect most of
all. I commend the company for their “people first” philosophy
and assure them, I will definitely be a loyal customer from now
on due to that.
Finally, it is perhaps my favourite thing about LOKSAK Inc.
that they don’t just only manufacture the SHIELDSAK for military
/ law enforcement contracts and civilian sales. Other products
include dry sack bags for everything from cell phones to long
guns for long term storage in all elements. The quick fastening
seals on their products are strong enough to hold my full 220
lbs. of weight when stepping on a sandwich sized storage bag
filled with air. As technology is getting smaller, faster and more
dangerous, thanks to LOKSAK Inc, the protection against it being
used against us is getting more affordable and easier for the
untrained user to put into action. I highly recommend readers
to learn more about the LOKSAK and how it could benefit your
needs. To find out more about the wide range of
great LOKSAK Inc products, visit them at www.
LOKSAK.com and discover a retailer near you.
42

‘A Tactical Blend’
Our mission:
As a veteran own company it is our mission to donate from our profits to
Military and Law-Enforcement charities, we are dedicated in supporting
those who support us.
Here at CROPS Coffee we are deploying two tactical blends onto the ground.
‘The Colombian’
This specialty grade Colombian is classified Supremo, a medium bodied coffee
with fruity undertones, a well-balanced cup. It is a delicious coffee with
character and hearty aroma.
‘The Brazillian’
This is a Brazilian Santos coffee which has a medium body yields a low acidity,
with an amazing aroma it is the perfect coffee whatever time of the day.
www.cropscoffee.com
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pmcimagazine.com
THE GOOD STUFF: TACTICAL JAVA
THE RISE OF TACTICAL JAVA
Once upon a time in the UK the tactical community operated on copious amounts of “NATO Standard” tea, but
these days you’re more likely to see some very special coffee products taking pride of place. Bill and his mate
Angelo give us the lowdown on two of the most popular brands to emerge!
“Green Eyes, Black Rifles” - Bill
I
’ve purposely chosen to use the title of Kyle Lamb’s
excellent book in relation to my look at “tactical java”
as there’s so much synchronicity between where he
comes from, and where the guys at Black Rifle Coffee
Company (BRCC) originate, and it just so happens that
Viking Tactics are also a partner!
In the words of Founder and Owner of Black Rifle
Coffee Company, Evan Hafer;
“I started Black Rifle Coffee Company to provide a
high-quality, roast-to-order coffee to the pro-2A and veteran
communities. Between deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, I
worked to refine both my coffee roasting skills and my firearms
skills. I have spent over a decade researching coffee, refining
my roast profiles and (of course) drinking what I roast. Black
Rifle Coffee is quite literally the combination of my two favorite
passions. I take pride in the coffee we roast, the veterans we
employ and the causes we support”
Black Rifle Coffee Company is a premium small-batch, roast
to order, veteran-owned coffee company, and just like One
Shot, BRCC support veterans, their families, and other veteranowned
businesses in the USA so money from your purchases
of your favourite “black nectar” goes directly to support
those that have served and their families. As I’ve spent time
living, shooting, and playing airsoft in the USA I have many
friends who are either serving or prior-service so this is pretty
important to me personally.
Add to this that I’m an absolute “caffeine bitch” who starts
his day, each and every day, by grinding my own beans and
making a pot of the finest brew and you can see that I’m not
going to endorse a coffee just because it has an AK on the
packet… although that is of course a consideration! I’m the guy
that will take a grind, and grind it even further to get the best
possible depth of taste, not to mention STRENGTH!
At BRCC they import their high-quality coffee beans from
Colombia and Brazil, then they personally blend and roast every
one of their ass kicking coffees and ship directly to you. They
develop each of their explosive roast profiles with the same
mission focus they implemented as Special Forces Operators
serving their great country. All BRCC blends are available in
whole bean and ground which is absolutely perfect for me!
• JUST BLACK; no frills, no froth, no foam. Just. Black. Sourced
from Central American and Colombian Supremo beans.
• AK-47 Espresso; the AK-47 never fails to deliver a reliable
dose of wake the hell up and is, of course, my personal favourite!
44

A blend so fine even Kalashnikov himself would be proud, built
with Colombian Supremo roasted dark, it’s the indestructible
espresso!
• SILENCER SMOOTH; let other sub-par coffees clamour for
your attention. Silencer Smooth operates on another level; the
quiet professional. 100% Colombian Supremo roasted to precise
specifications for a complex flavour.
• BEYOND BLACK; in the words of BRCC themselves, “The colour
black brings to the psyche power, elegance, formality, death, evil,
and mystery. An enigmatic colour, associated with fear and the
unknown. We took this challenge and charged headstrong. Now
we are beyond black.”
• CAF; the only blend of coffee worthy of its name, “Caffeinated
As F**k” is designed for the coffee head who needs to pull out
all the stops. This contains twice as much caffeine as an average
cup of coffee, and seriously does come with a disclaimer! Drink at
your peril!
As Angelo will tell you below I can think of no better reason
to buy coffee like this rather than a “high street” brand than
that money actually goes to the veteran communities; far from
being a “fad”, buying and drinking this coffee actually MEANS
something.
“ONE SHOT MILITARY STIMULATION” - ANGELO
As many of you probably know I have been writing reviews
on many different types of product for some years now. I have
covered many different products from hardware to consumables
and also many different types of situations covering pretty much
all scenarios. But this review is something new for me but it is
about a subject I do know quite well, this review is all about the
brown stimulation liquid known to most as COFFEE!
A few months ago I was contacted by a mate in the UK called
Nick Woodhead about reviewing a few products for him and also
a new product he was bringing to the marketplace. At first he
was a little tentative to reveal what it was due to the fact there
would be obvious comparisons made to a very similar operation
in the real world of the military, namely The Black Rifle Coffee
Company (BRCC) which Bill talked about already, but there’s
numerous charities to support, and therefore space for all that do
such sterling work!
Coffee is a subject I am very familiar with as my father
imported it for many years along with many other products but
coffee was the big winner. So I guess you could say it’s kind of
running in my blood and until I’ve had my first cup of the day I’m
a little, let’s say, “unresponsive”.
One Shot Coffee Company; first of all it’s coffee, secondly
it’s linked with guns, but more importantly for every purchase
a donation goes to Scotty’s Little Soldiers. This incredible charity
in the UK is there to support children and their families through
the aftermath of losing a parent in military conflict. A link to the
charity will be at the bottom of this review for you to go and
check out.
After quite a few conversations with Nick he informed me
that he was thinking of releasing several different blends of
coffee from the more flavoursome to the downright “boot up the
arse” caffeine kick. There would also be merchandising to help
market the products, tin mess cups, T shirts, flags etc etc, well you
get the picture. Below you will see a list of the various blends and
what I thought of them. But please remember one thing each
time you take a sip or a gulp and that is part of what you paid for
the coffee is going to help a fantastic charity!
All the blends are created using the finest Latin American Arabica
beans blended with others that will remain a secret and are
available in whole bean or ground format. And there’s even some
very convenient sachets.
• ONE IN THE CHAMBER; This was the first of the samples I
received and I’ll have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. It has a
really nice full flavour with a definite hint of caramel or toffee.
• BELT FED; Another very full bodied blend that was quite dry
with a woody taste to it and definitely had more of a kick than
the first sample.
• ONE SIZE FITS ALL; Now I really liked this one, an everyday
quaffing coffee that was quite mild but still had a full flavour.
• FUBAR; If you like your coffee to plant a size 10 boot up your
arse then this is the one for you. A genuinely big stimulating hit
from this after the first couple of gulps.
• YIPPEE KI YAY; Die Hard, Bruce Willis? This was actually my
least favourite of all the blends. I like my coffee to be all about
flavour, if I get a good kick off it then that is a bonus. This one
seemed a little bit flat to me.
• COFFEE SACHETS (BAGS); Now these were a huge hit with the
lads on a recent weekend jolly earlier in the year. Pop the bag in
a cup and add boiling water, leave for about three minutes and
add sugar and milk to taste. Some of the lads were getting up to
three cups from one bag; they were from Yorkshire so I’ll forgive
them for that!
So there you have it, a totally different product that’s out
there for you to try and also help a good cause. I personally think
it is a fantastic idea.
Angelo would like to than Nick for the samples and also Alex
Bailey for the help with the merchandise. Bill sends his thanks
to Ben at Hereford Kit Company for his help with the
background of BRCC. To find out more about those brews
mentioned pleases do visit
http://scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk,
www.oneshotcoffeeco.co.uk, and www.hr4k.co.uk
THE GOOD STUFF: TACTICAL JAVA
pmcimagazine.com

pmcimagazine.com
SKILLS AND DRILLS: LOW LIGHT SHOOTING
LOW LIGHT SHOOTING
Low light environments are one of the most hazardous places to be in when you need to fight. Your adversary
will use the low light to their advantage by hiding in the shadows and waiting for you to wander into their
sights, not to mention the obstacles and obstructions waiting for you to trip over, so Andy takes a look at the
skills needed to operate in this challenging environment.
T
here are many ways that we can extract an armed
bad guy from a building, but it might come down
to you having to hunt them down and your only
way is to go in with artificial light and seek them
out. This scenario, of course, has its downfalls for
you as any artificial light source can and will give
your position away. In this article we will look at
some of the different methods we can utilise to go
hunting in the dark with white light and come out
of the situation safely.
One of the main problems we face during low light encounters
is target identification. During low light situations we have to be
100% sure that we can ID our target before shooting. It is all
too easy to shoot your partner or other innocents in the dark
thinking that you have just seen your adversary, not to mention
any collateral damage. Remember you need to ID your target
and if you’re not 100% sure then don’t shoot and you should
never shoot at an unidentifiable noise in the dark. Of course,
when the light fades, so the iron sights on your weapon start to
deteriorate…
The use of tritium night sights are a good idea if you can add
them to your chosen platform, if not a splash of light sensitive
paint on the front sight blade helps maintain a view of the muzzle
orientation. The use of Red Dot or Holographic Refraction Sights
also gives good weapon orientation. But knowing where your
sights and muzzle are pointing is one thing, pointing them at the
target or finding the target in low light is another.
The use of white light (a flashlight) is the most common way
of lighting up your target. White light can be just a simple flashlight
held in the hand or a purpose-designed weapon mounted Tac
Light. We will look at both in more detail.
The weapon mounted light is probably the easiest to use as
this will give you the chance to go hands free as it were. With the
light securely attached to the weapon, both hands can be used to
operate and shoot the weapon, and this is a must if you are using
a long gun as your primary. A designated weapon mounted Tac
light that is fixed underneath the gun and near the muzzle, will
give you maximum light output with little or no shadow cast from
the weapons muzzle. A light mounted behind the muzzle and
front sight, such as on the side of a long gun, will cast a shadow
from the barrel but will greatly enhance your sight acquisition by
silhouetting your front iron sight on the target. Where you decide
to mount the light is a personal preference.
46

Casting a shadow made by the barrel is no big deal as the shadow
will only be small and you won’t have the light on constantly. The
most important thing is to make sure that you can operate the
weapon without any hindrance from the light. I use a dedicated
weapon mounted Tac light for both my primary and secondary
weapon systems. This combination gives me familiarity of the
operation of the light with both guns.
The light fits to the rail under my handgun and on an accessory
rail fitted on the side of my long gun. The light is operated easily
by my support hand thumb. Having the same type of light fitted
to both weapons enables me to use the Tac light without having
to think about the different operations of two different lights on
two different weapons. Also if one fails I can swap them over and
operate them as normal.
If you decide to use an ordinary flash light, instead of a
designated weapons mounted Tac light, you will have a number of
operating options to choose from. If at all possible you should use a
light with a duel tail switch. The first mode will give you continues
light when activated and the second mode will only work if you
keep pressure on the switch. It is this second mode that you will use
the most when in a tactical situation. There is a growing number of
tactical flash lights on the market that offer a strobe setting, this is a
personal preference if you decide to go down this route. One thing
that I have come to live by is having a hand held tactical flash light
with a lanyard attached. If it has one, use it. You can drop the Tac
light from your grip during reloads and stoppage drills and still have
it ready for use in a second.
HANDGUNS
The Harries method, named after its inventor Mike Harries, is held
securely in the support hand in a dagger fashion with the thumb
on the tail switch. The strong hand wrist is then placed on the back
of the support hand for stability and support and both move at
the same time whilst searching. The Harries is the most stable of
the many flash light techniques and orientates the beam with the
muzzle at all times. This is a great method of searching whilst in a
hostile environment. Although this is not a true two handed grip on
the handgun, it does give support to the strong hand during firing.
HARRIES
The second technique I want to look at, and probably the oldest, is
the FBI technique. This technique involves the weapon being held
and fired with the strong hand whilst the support hand holds the
Flash Light up and out to the weak side of the shooter. This can be a
tiring technique as the arm can be extended for long periods of time
whilst searching. One of the downsides to this technique is that the
light does not always shine in the same direction as the muzzle. As
you search, the light tends to wander away from the weapons point
of aim leading you to follow the light with your eyes and forget
about the direction of the weapons muzzle.
The third method is the Chapman technique, named after Ray
Chapman, and is best suited for the shooter to hold the light whilst
in the isosceles position, but it can work in the Weaver stance as
well. The light is held in the palm of the support hand secured
by the index finger and thumb. The tail switch is operated by the
thumb of the strong hand. Although this is not an ideal grip on the
handgun it does enable the shooter to maintain a two handed grip
on the weapon at all times. It can also be uncomfortable if you have
a large bodied light. The light is activated by pulling the light back
onto the strong thumb.
As you search, if possible, do so without light and try to rely on
any natural night vision you have. Only put the light on for a short
a moment as and when you need it. Using the light too often will
give your position away to any adversary waiting in the dark ready
to attack you. Once you have lit up the area you need to see into,
turn off the light and move away from your position at once. Your
adversary may have spotted you and they might be getting into
position to counter attack. Remember light on, light off, move.
If you do see someone in the shadows don’t just shoot,
remember you have to ID your target. Shine the light into their eyes.
This may disorientate them and also destroy their night vision. If it
is an innocent person then no problems, but if it is your adversary
then they will be confused and startled by the light as you assess/
engage them. Some modern tactical flash lights have a strobe
effect that when shone into the eyes of your adversary will cause
disorientation, confusion and will slow down any attack reflexes,
however do not rely on this as the recipient may be intoxicated with
drugs and/or alcohol.
If it is at all possible you should try to light areas that you cannot
see into from behind cover as this will protect you, to some degree,
if the light does give away your position. Sweeping the area with
light will enable you to gain the full picture, then switch off and
move to another location within the immediate vicinity.
FBI
CHAPMAN
SKILLS AND DRILLS: LOW LIGHT SHOOTING
pmcimagazine.com

pmcimagazine.com
SKILLS AND DRILLS: LOW LIGHT SHOOTING
Bouncing the light beam off of a wall or ceiling to light another
area can help you to maintain your tactical advantage. This
method will give you a defused light that might not give your
position away as your adversary may be unaware as to where
the light source is coming from. Hunting in the dark without your
adversary being able to trace the light beam back to your position
is very important, but remember, even when bouncing the light
you should move out of your position as soon as possible.
Being in any dark environment and then flashing light around
will start to destroy your night vision. It’s a good idea to close your
shooting eye when you turn your light on and search with your
non shooting eye to save your natural night vision. Of course if
you do see your adversary then you can open your shooting eye
and engage the target.
Next time I’ll look at transferring your Low Light Skills to the
“Long” but as they say “practice makes perfect”. Keep a Tac or
weapons mounted light with you when running drills on the
range and get used to using them. It’s not only night time that
you may want to use white light. Early evening range time is
always a bonus to your training program as it will condition you to
low light environments. The use of white light changes the way
you hold the weaponso it makes sense to make the most of your
training sessions.
48

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Low-profile housing,
locking lug and latch
SET SCREW
Prevents adapter
loosening
from receiver
QUICK DETACH
Sling attachment
point
TOOLESS BOLT CARRIer
EXTENSION
Install and remove without
tools for easy maintenance
REPLACEABLE O-RINGS
Prevent additional damage
to the adapter in the folded
position
SYMMETRICAL DESIGN
Eliminates interference
with buffer retaining pin
Installation Tool and Flange included
SPECIFICATIONS
Housing Weight: 8.5 oz
Bolt Carrier Extension: 2 oz
Adds 1.3 inches to length of pull
CNC Machined 4140 Steel
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PMCI
BOOK REVIEW
SPECIAL FORCES BERLIN:
CLANDESTINE COLD WAR
OPERATIONS OF THE US
ARMY’S ELITE, 1956–1990
BOOK REVIEW
Highly classified until only recently, two U.S. Army Special Forces
detachments were stationed far behind the Iron Curtain in West
Berlin during the Cold War. The units’ existence and missions
were protected by cover stories, their operations were secret.
The massive armies of the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact
allies posed a huge threat to the nations of Western Europe.
US military planners decided they needed a plan to slow the
juggernaut they expected when and if a war began. The plan
was Special Forces Berlin. The first 40 men who came to Berlin
in mid-1956 were soon reinforced by 60 more and these 100
soldiers (and their successors) would stand ready to go to war
at only two hours’ notice, in a hostile area occupied by nearly
one million Warsaw Pact forces, until 1990.
• Their enemy: the Armies of the Warsaw Pact, over 1 million strong.
• Their mission: Buy NATO time in the event of a Soviet attack
against Europe.
• The odds against them: Suicidal.
Like all American Special Forces units, Detachment “A” traced
its origins to the Office of Strategic Services, but its methods of
operation were unlike those of any other “SF” unit. The book
describes the unit’s origins and the reasons for its existence
through recently declassified files and first person histories
of those who served there. These voices will show the unit’s
evolution as the enemy and the environment changed. The
men relate the details of their improbable mission, how they
prepared, and how it was to be accomplished. It is told from
the soldiers’ viewpoint along with the strategic overview from
the top.
Special Forces Berlin was a one of a kind unit that had
no parallel. It left a legacy of a new type of soldier expert in
unconventional warfare, one that was sought after for missions
such as the attempted rescue of American hostages from Tehran
in 1979. With the U.S. government officially acknowledging
their existence in 2014, their incredible story can now be told.
But this is also a history that may only be told once. Few records
remain and many of the men who served in the units are gone.
No official history was written and the words contained in
this work may well be the definitive history of this very unique
US Army unit.
James Stejskal is a former US Army Special Forces soldier who
served on special operations in many “interesting places”
worldwide before retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer 4. He was
then recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency to serve again
as a senior Case Officer in Africa, Europe, and the Far East before
finally retiring from active service.
He is now a military historian and the author of two other
well-received books: “Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold
War Operations of the US Army’s Elite, 1956-1990” and “Horns
of the Beast: The Swakop River Campaign and World War I in
South-West Africa, 1914-15.” This is his third book.
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Casemate (February 3, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 161200444X
ISBN-13: 978-1612004440
50

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Aquatic Marine Ltd
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Protect Asia Group
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Secopex
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Aspida
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Associated Risk Maritime Risk Management
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Bechtel Corporation
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Black Pearl
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Blue Waters Partners Global
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Decatur Maritime Security
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52

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Exploration Logistics Group
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Global Risk Security
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Global Solace
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Global Strategies Group
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Grail Security
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Halliburton
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Halogen Security
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Hart Maritime
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International Executive Recruiting
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International Security Network
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ISC Gulf
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ISSG Sea Marshalls
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Janusian Risk Advisory Group
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Kroll
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Longmoor Group
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Lotus Maritime Security
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Lotus Projects
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Maersk
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Magregor Protection Services
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MTResolution
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MUSC
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Naval Guards
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Neptune Security
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NNK Group
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NYA International
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Ocean Marshalls
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March Security
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Maritime Risk International
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Marsec
http://www.marsec.eu.com
MAST
http://www.mast-commercial.com
McRoberts Maritime Security
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Merchant Maritime Warfare Centre
http://www.mmwc.org/
Minimal Risk
http://www.minimalrisk.co.uk/
MSS
http://www.mss-uk.com
Ocean Protective Services
http://oceanprotectionservices.com
Oceaneering International
http://www.oceaneering.com/
Olchon
http://www.olchon.co.uk/
Olive Group
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Orchid Security
http://www.orchid-office.com/
Oxberry Risk Strategies
http://www.oxberryrisk.com/maritime_services
Pilgrim Group
http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com
Pilgrim Security
http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com
54

Pistris
http://www.pistris.com/Index.html
Protect Asia Group
http://www.protectasia.com/
PVI Ltd
http://www.pviltd.com/
Raven Special Projects Ltd
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Red Cell Security
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Redfour-MSS
http://www.redfour-group.com
Saladin Security Group
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Saladin Security
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Salama Fikira
http://www.salamafikira.com/
SMS
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Tor International
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Trojan Securities International
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Orchid Security
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Blackstone Consultancy
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Pilgrim Group
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Maritime Risk International
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International Maritime Security
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Raven Special Projects Ltd
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Salamanca Risk Management
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Sea Marshalls Ltd UK
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SEAL
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Securescot
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Securewest International
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Security Networking Events
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Security Networking Events
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Securoquest
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Shield Risk Consulting
http://www.shield.eu/services/maritime-security/
Shipguard
http://www.mss-uk.com
SMS
www.specialistmarineservices.com
SPS
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Tactical Intel
http://www.tacticalintel.com/
Thalassic
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Tor International
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Torcuss
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Triskle TSL
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Triton Security
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Trojan Securities
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Veritas International
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COVERT BOOT
BROWN BLACK TITANIUM
n Durable slip/oil resistant outsole
n Suede/Cordura upper
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