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NRA 2014 Annual Meeting Recap
Majority of the folks that I’ve talked to head to the NRA Annual Meeting for the guns and gear. Heck why wouldn’t you? There’s probably more guns per square inch at the event than many get to see in a lifetime. I’m as gun crazy as it gets but after reflecting on what tickled my fancy the most about the show there was only one answer: the people. There’s a good chance that you’re thinking I’m crazy for believing that the people of the show are what was the coolest to see and you’re probably right. What I’m really talking about is how people whom we normally praise and look up to in the industrywalk among us as equals. It is truly remarkable how the people that we hold on this pedestal, take the time to not only stop and have a conversation with the Average Joe but do it in a manner that exudes character. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and talk to over a dozen of A-list firearms community celebrities while at the show and here are a few that were truly great to meet.
Chris Costa
Chris Costa- In the tactical community, he is one of the few men that needs no introduction. In case you don’t know who this bearded wonder is, let me break it down for you. Mr. Costa started his career out in the U.S. Coast Guard conducting counter drug missions in the Middle East, Europe, and South America. After 12 years of faithful service he went to work in the private sector for Applied Marine Technologies Inc., teaching homeland security personnel how to defend critical infrastructure. When that was all said and done, he took a join with a little company by the name of Magpul. While there he became president of the Magpul Dynamics, the training DVDs that we know and love. He left them and started his own training company, Costa Ludus. Basically everything the guy touches turns to gold.
Matt Hughes
Matt Hughes- For a man that could kill me with his bare hands, he sure didn’t act like it. He may have been one of the nicest guys I met at the show, that being said I still kept the jokes at a minimum. For those of you that don’t know, Matt is a 9 time UFC Welterweight champion. I was shocked to find out that he is actually going to the be the host of a new show on the Sportsman Channel titled “Uncaged”. The show airs this summer and will feature Matt giving viewers an inside look at some of the most challenging free range hunts in the world.
Kyle Lamb
Kyle Lamb- To call this man an operator would be an understatement. With over 21 years of service in the Army and 15 of those years with U.S. Special Operations, he’s spent a great deal of his life protecting this country. After conducting combat operations in Somalia (Blackhawk down incident), Desert Storm, Bosnia, as well as time in the current Iraqi war, he decided to start his own company Viking Tactics. Mr. Lamb is not only the president of the company which develops top of the line weapon accessories but also trains military, law enforcement and civilians the skills he’s learned while serving. If that wasn’t enough, he’s also the author of two remarkable books “Green Eyes and Black Rifles” and his latest “Leadership in the Shadows”. While at the show, Kyle was extremely active in not only taking the time to say hi to his many fans but along with that he gave a phenomenal presentation about his book Leadership in the Shadows. The once in a lifetime experience had people packed to the brim to listen to this hero talk about his experiences. According to a spokesman for the NRA “Kyle’s presentation was a big hit and greatly appreciated”.
Rob Pincus
Rob Pincus- I was fortunate enough to spend quite a bit of time with Rob at the Cannon Safe booth and I had a chance to dig a little deeper into the mind of this firearms training genius. Rob Pincus is the owner of I.C.E. training company, managing editor of Personal Defense Network, staff writer for S.W.A.T. magazine since 2001, developer of the Personal Defense DVD series, author of The Training Log Book and Combat Focus Shooting: Intuitive Shooting Fundamentals. While at the NRA Annual Meeting, Rob was a busy man giving several presentations on Home Defense Concepts and Defensive Shooting Skills Development. After bombarding Rob with questions from his favorite gun to best places to eat in Ohio, I was able to find out what he liked most about the show. According to Rob “It makes me happy to meet with the hundreds of responsible civilians and inform them about training and the mindset required.” All I can say is keep this guy on your radar because he has plenty of big things in the works.
Colion Noir and Amy Robbins
Colion Noir and Amy Robbins- Colion and Amy don’t draw their expertise from kicking in doors overseas or years as firearms trainers, rather it comes from embodying the voice of the pro gun younger generation. Colion is about as gun crazy as it gets and likes to consider himself an urban gun enthusiast. Last year Colion became an NRA commentator and quickly proved his worth with viral well spoken updates on what the leftists are up to as well as extremely well made gun reviews. Colion and co-host Amy will debut in a series titled “NOIR” on the latest digital channel NRA Freestyle TV. Viewers can expect to see everything from fashion to firearms to be covered in this new show which airs April 30th on NRAFreestyle.tv.
Along with the firearms communities finest, I had the chance to meet Clifton “Ton” Jones from the popular TV show Auction Hunters, the lightning fast Jerry Miculek, and a certain senator from Pennsylvania, all of which were polite and more welcoming than you could ask for. Am I crazy for heading to largest gun show in the world and getting more enjoyment out of the people? Without the people that attend the show and celebs that make up the industry, there is no NRA Annual Meeting.
I’d like to thank everyone mentioned in this post for taking time to speak with me even thought they were unbelievably busy at the show.
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Top 5 Firearms from the 2014 NRA Annual Meeting
Every year, thousands of people make their way from destinations across the country to the NRA annual meeting and some of us are even lucky enough to be paid to attend this firearms industry Mecca. No matter where you come from or what your profession is, we’re all giddy to see the latest offerings from the leading manufacturers. The 143rd NRA annual meeting went off without a hitch considering the wide talk of potential anti-gun protests. After covering every square inch of the 9 acres of guns and gear the Indianapolis convention center had to offer, I’ve narrowed down my favorite firearms of the show.
SIG Sauer MPX-P
SIG Sauer MPX-P – Who said us civilians couldn’t own a submachine gun? SIG has high hopes for this wicked multi-caliber “pistol”(wink-wink). Not only does this pistol remind me of a mix between an H&K MP5 and UMP, but it features SIG’s tried and true short stroke gas piston operating system. This means no matter what you’re doing or where you’re shooting this baby is going to function. What really excites me is the ability to quickly and easily change not only barrel length but caliber as well. SIG will be offering the MPX in 9mm NATO, 357 SIG, and 40 S&W. All this comes together to give you a small and nimble weapon system that is classified as pistol but readily takes advantage of SIG’s very own SB15 forearm brace. I was told at the show that we can expect this exact model to hit stores soon with an initial street price under $2k.
SPHINX SDP Compact Duotone
SPHINX SDP Compact Duotone – After being unimpressed at guns coated in every color of the rainbow at the show, I was caught dead in my tracks by this beauty. In my opinion if the Jericho 941 baby eagle and CZ75 came together and had a kid, this pistol would be the end result. The SPHINX SDP compact isn’t brand spanking new on the market but this Duotone model sure is. The SDP uses the same slide in frame and full guide rail design as the infamous CZ but is by no means a clone. You could say that this is a semi custom gun, seeing as how each slide is hand fit to rest perfectly in the metal frame. The folks at SPHINX couldn’t provide me with an estimated date as to when we can see this attractive 9mm at gun stores but after seeing it, I can’t wait to own one.
Faxon Firearms ARAK-21
Faxon Firearms ARAK 21 Upper Receiver– Ok, so technically this isn’t a firearm but it’ll turn any AR-15 lower into a gun we AR guys have always wanted. The ARAK-21 by Faxon Firearms aims to blend all the best features of the AR-15 and AK47 into one unit. There are other upper receivers on the market that try to make this happen, however with the ARAK-21 you don’t have to change a single thing on your existing lower receiver. What instantly grabs my attention is that this system no longer requires a buffer assembly to function, so now you can finally have that folding stock you’ve always wanted. Another great selling point for me is the easily adjustable gas system, a simple click of a knob allows you to shoot subsonic ammo. Also if you’re not satisfied with the ballistics of 5.56, this upper is available in the hard hitting 300 blackout round. With prices starting in the $1,100 range, you get quite a lot of versatility out of something that you can ship directly to your home.
SRM Arms Model 1216
SRM Arms Model 1216- Similar in size to some of the latest and greatest bull-pup shotguns on the market, The SRM Arms model 1216 is only 32.5 inches from muzzle to recoil pad. What that means for us shooters is an easily maneuverable semi-auto shotgun for clearing rooms or shooting out of a vehicle. Tired of cutting you thumb up when loading shells under pressure? Not a problem with the model 1216, this shotgun features a whopping 16 round detachable magazine. After blasting through the first 4 shells, you rotate the magazine one click over and go to town. Don’t worry about shelling out the big bucks for slugs and buckshot to make this thing run, according to SRM Arms it’ll function flawlessly with the lightest of target loads. Unfortunately picking up a unique semi-auto shotgun has it’s drawbacks (list price is $2,400), however I do think it’s worth it for what you’re getting.
FNH FNS-9 Long Slide
FNH FNS-9 Long Slide– Countless years of testing in various competitive shooting sports have spawned the FNS-9 Long Slide. The FNS-9 has been around for a while now and it only makes sense that FNH offer it in a long slide 5 inch barrel version. If you’re split between an XD or M&P, this pistol is more or less a fusion of those firearms but does it with the impeccable quality that FN Herstal has been known for. I had the chance to talk with competitive shooter Pat Doyle about the FNS-9, which he uses in USPSA. Pat pointed out several features that make the pistol one of a kind, like the front slide serrations, fully ambidextrous slide stop and magazine release, and the 3 included magazines that’ll go to hell and back for you. I was also clued in that those of us looking to upgrade certain key components of this gun for faster follow up shots should expect to see new offerings from the aftermarket in the near future. Based on the time I spent manipulating this pistol and from the features Pat pointed out, this was my favorite gun of the show. And with a street price of $500, I have a feeling it’s going to be extremely popular in the shooting sports community.
Every firearms manufacturer appears to be honed in to what we gun lovers want, and with the latest innovations as well as the reduction the MSRPs, it’s truly a great time to be in the market for a new gun. Let me know what you think of my Top 5 firearms from the 2014 NRA Annual Meeting, as well as any additions you might make, in the comment box below. As always guys, shoot em straight and be safe!
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What’s The Point? A Guide to Knife Blade Shapes
When talking about all of this crazy tactical and hunting gear, it helps to truly know what you’re talking about. Now no one on the face of the earth knows everything and no one said you had to. There are however a few building blocks or key bits of information that every gear junkie needs to know. No matter if you’re just getting into knives or want to brush up on the terminology, knowing the correct names of blade shapes is paramount.
The blade shapes that I point out are by no means the definitive guide to what is out on the market. There is absolutely no way for me to go over every radical blade shape in existence and doing so would be counterproductive. I would like to go over a few of the most popular shapes and give you the variety of uses that the blade will excel at.
Drop Point Knife-Gerber LMF II
Drop Point– This may be one of the most popular knife shapes on the planet. Don’t let its good looks fool you, the drop point is the workhorse of the bunch. You know you’re looking at a drop point when you see that large swooping belly and long spine meeting to a point that slightly “drops” near the tip, hence the name “drop point”. Due to that big belly, this type of blade shape is right at home skinning animals. And because of the shape of the blade, the tip is extremely strong. Also the thicker flat spine of this design allows for superior batoning (a technique to spilt wood by using a blade as a wedge and another log as a mallet). If you asked me, “Jeremy, if I was dropped on a deserted island and could only bring one knife which blade type should I bring?”, a drop point blade would be me choice all day, every day and twice on Sunday.
Tanto Blade-CRKT K.I.S.S.
Tanto- Sporting a design that originates from the days of the Samurai, you know it’s a Tanto blade when the spine of the knife meets the blade at a sharp angular point. If a tactical blade is what you’re looking for, then look no further. The Tanto blade is the go-to design for military and law enforcement personal. Because of the reinforced tip, this blade gets high marks for it’s piercing ability but it also provides ample chopping or slicing performance. In a pinch this could be used as a survival knife but the design hinders fine detail work as well as skinning game.
Clip Point- SOG Knives
Clip Point- Stemming from the days of the Alamo, Jim Bowie was the man that made this blade design famous with his Bowie Knife. This blade is similar to the drop point but the front point of this knife looks like it was clipped off. I wonder where they came up with the name for this blade style? There’s a reason you see this blade in many of the movies like Rambo and Crocodile Dundee, it screams “don’t mess with me or else”. The menacing clipped point allows the blade to plunge relatively easy into many surfaces. However due to the slim and sharp point, the tip is easier to break than its tanto and drop point brothers. What is lacks in strength, it makes up for in overall controllability. In my opinion if I couldn’t have a drop point blade for survival, then a clip point blade would be my next choice.
Spear Point Blade
Spear Point- Once again, there’s no secret where the name for this blade shape came from. A spear point is easily discerned by symmetrical double edges meeting at a center point. This design is often considered as a dagger and is the premier choice for a throwing knife. Thanks to the dual edges and reinforced point, the spear point has the ultimate piercing performance. Why should you pick up a spear point style knife? A medium sized fixed spear point could be lashed to a long stick in a survival situation to create an extremely useful way of hunting. This wouldn’t be my first choice for a deserted island due to the fact that the double edge makes it quite difficult to do any batoning. Also keep in mind that you lose the ability to choke down on the knife for detail work. I do think that if you need a knife solely for defending yourself, a spear point is the only choice.
Serrations
Serrations- Those little scallops that you see at the bottom of a blade aren’t there to make the knife look cool, they actually serve a purpose. The little points and small concaved edges of serrations make them cutting machines. When using the serrations you’ll cut much quicker than you would if you had a normal blade. The serrations don’t slice through objects like a plain edge, rather in a way they tear it apart. They’re great for utility tasks like cutting rope, slicing cardboard, and opening boxes. Many people are torn when it comes to getting a knife with or without serrations. On one hand they are great for utility tasks but on the other you lose some of that valuable space where a big belly could be.
Hopefully this gives you a better understanding of the terminology when it comes to some of the more common blades that are on the market. Personally, I own multiple knives in every blade shape. Everyday I wake up and decide what knife to carry that day. Whether it be a 5 inch tanto folder or a fixed drop point, they all do the same thing, they cut, slice, pierce, poke, and chop. The design of some knives allows them to be better at some tasks than they are at others. Remember you aren’t going to be able to do everything imaginable with a single knife, so it’s best to accept that now before you get your hopes up.
Still can’t make sense of knife jargon? Ask your question in the box below!
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