19 January 2010
Due to the intricacies and timing of even internet (instant) publication, as I type this I'm preparing to go to Las Vegas for SHOT Show 2010. As you read it, however, SHOT Show is either going on or ended a few days ago (depending on which source you get your review link from). SO, understand that as you read through. As I prep for SHOT Show I can't help but be eager to see some of the new guns, knives, boots, lights, clothing, and more that the industry has come up with in the past year. SHOT Show usually means losing about five pounds, walking about 25 miles (not bad over four days) and "working" somewhere between 12 to 16 hours each day. Here is some of the stuff I'm looking forward to seeing.
Of course, one can't attend a show centered around "Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor" without having guns - and I mean a LOT of them. Every major and minor player in the gun manufacturing industry will be on hand and 99% of them will have impressive booths. I'm looking forward to seeing the 4tgh generation Glock pistols with their interchangeable grip sizes. I'm eager to see if Smith & Wesson has added anything new to its line of M&P weapons - both handguns and rifles. I'm looking forward to seeing if Kahr has added anything new to their lineup of super-slim 9mms or .45s. And finally I'm pretty surious as to how well the Sig Sauer P250 modular "2-in-1" gun looks and works.
Of course I'll also be on the look out for new knives. I like my edged tools and I KNOW there are going to be some neat ones revealed at SHOT Show. SOG Knives has picked up R. Lee Ermey as a spokesperson and we all know that veteran leatherneck won't put his name on something just for a paycheck. If it's not truly up to par, he won't associate himself with it. That says a lot about SOG and whatever new they are coming out with. Mil-Tac will likely have a couple new knives or tools out and I'm looking forward to see what their offerings have grown to include. Ernie Emerson and Emerson Knives announced a partnership with Les Baer to produce a matching set of the Emerson Combat Systems CQC .45 Pistol and CQC .45 Knife Set. They made that announcement last May and I haven't been able to get my hands on one or to see one yet. I'm looking forward to it. BLACKHAWK! Blades is usually good for a new piece or two, or (at a minimum) some new twist or improvement on an already-in-production model. Their 2010 catalog shows four new variations of the CQD Mark I and Mark II folding knives. Speaking of BLACKHAWK Blades, Mike Janich has moved on from there and landed at Spyderco Knives. There is always something new to see at the Spyderco booth!
In addition to guns and knives I'm somewhat of a flashlight freak, so I'll be on the look for new tactical lights. Since the LED lamp market blossomed and digital circuitry supported extremely versatile mutli-function multi-use lights, the industry keeps cranking out surprise after surprise. Night-Ops, another part of the BLACKHAWK Products Group will be sure to have something new (or I'll be surprised). SureFire is usually good for a couple new or improved lights each year and Streamlight is another good booth to visit.
Guns, knives, lights... boots, packs, holsters... there is so much to see and report on; many new pieces of kit to procure and test and let you good readers know about. In my four day visit to SHOT Show I have over 200 booths on my list of "must visit". I'll be seeking out what's new and improved in all of these categories of equipment:
- Camping / Backpacking
- Clothing / Apparel
- Footwear / Boots / Socks
- Guns (all kinds)
- Holsters
- Hunting / Fishing
- Knives
- Lights
- Personal Protective Equipment (primarily armor)
- Tactical Emergency Medical items
- Other (doesn't fit in any of the above)
Stay Safe!
