PMCI - October 2017

OCTOBER 2017 

CONTENTS 

4 DSEI 2017: THE PMCI TEAM RECENTLY TRAVELLED TO ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT 

DEFENCE SHOWS IN THE WORLD, THE MIGHTY DSEI SHOW IN LONDON! 

10 TRAINING: THE UNIVERSAL COMBAT STANCE 

ONCE AGAIN WE ARE JOINED IN THIS ISSUE BY ELI FROM PROJECT GECKO WHO BRINGS 

US HIS THOUGHTS ON A CRUCIAL AREA OF FIREARMS TRAINING. 

15 EDITORS COMMENT: “VANISHING MINDSET, VANISHING SKILLS” 

16 GEAR ON TEST: THE PMCI TEAM MAKE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE LATEST 

GEAR TO HIT THE MARKET. 

22 TACTICAL INNOVATION: PROPPER GEAR 

GETTING THE LOWDOWN ON THE VERY LATEST FROM A RESPECTED TACTICAL INDUSTRY 

MARKET LEADER. 

26 GOOD GEAR TO GO: FIRST TACTICAL UPDATED 

BILL TAKES A LOOK AT SOME GREAT GEAR FROM FIRST TACTICAL THAT’S IN THE PROCESS 

OF BEING LAUNCHED RIGHT NOW! 

30 TECH: ETYMOTIC 

PROTECTING YOUR HEARING WHILST TRAINING OR “ON THE JOB” IS ALL-IMPORTANT 

AND ETYMOTIC HAVE THE SKILLS TO BRING US THE BEST. 

34 KNIVES AND TOOLS: ADKINS WOOD & KNIFE 

UNIQUE DESIGN AND QUALITY FROM THE US KNIFEMAKER IN THE FORM OF THE “BUSH 

GATOR” BLADE 

38 FIREARMS: BUIDING AN “INSTRUCTORS RIFLE” 

TRAMPAS TAKES US ON A JOURNEY TO CREATE HIS PERFECT INSTRUCTORS RIFLE 

42 TECH: NEO MAG 

A MINIMALISTIC AND INNOVATIVE WAY TO CARRY A SPARE MAGAZINE COVERTLY 

44 PERSONAL DEFENCE: SOG BATONS 

SOG ARE WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR KNIVES AND TOOLS, BUT THEIR NEW RANGE OF 

BATONS IS SIMPLY STUNNING! 

46 SKILLS AND DRILLS: ANDY BRINGS US PART II OF HIS VEHICLE “TIPS FROM THE TOP” 

48 BOOK REVIEW: “TACTICAL USE OF LOW SIGNATURE WEAPONS FOR MILITARY AND POLICE” 

50 INDUSTRY VACANCIES: LOOKING FOR WORK? JUST CHECK HERE. 

Copyright © Calibre Publishing 2017. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval 

system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the 

express permission of the publisher in writing. The opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The 

Editors reserve the right to edit submissions prior to publication. 

Thank you for downloading this Edition of PMCI, the FREE digital publication dedicated to PMC Operatives. PMCI is written by 

individuals with first hand knowledge and experience of the subject they write about - people like Col. Gerry Schumacher (USSF 

Ret.), author Simon Chambers and ex-TL Dan E, all of whom have an intimate understanding of what the role entails and the day 

to day challenges faced by PMCs. 

Editor (UK): Bill Thomas 

Editor (International): Dan Eastes 

Deputy Ed (USA): Trampas Swanson 

Graphic Design: Baz Thakur 

Publisher: Nigel Streeter 

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2

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NEWS: DSEI 2017 

NEWS: 

DEFENCE AND SECURITY EQUIPMENT 

INTERNATIONAL (DSEI) 

In September 2017, PMCI travelled to the ExCeL centre in London to attend the Defence and Security 

Equipment International (DSEI) Show. Whilst contentious in some circles this is an event that shows 

the future for all things military and security oriented, and what a future it looks to be! 

I 

f you pick up any decent newspaper or visit any sensible 

online news feed these days you are undoubtedly going 

to find a story that relates to tightened defence spending, 

if not outright cuts in funding. With procurement budgets 

being sliced on an almost global level it becomes 

increasingly important that new and innovative ways 

are found to counter the prevailing threats that we find 

ahead of us, and the DSEI show aims to showcase the 

very best of them. 

From bullets to bandages, and from fighter jets to warships DSEI 

brings to the international procurement community a unique 

format featuring 1,600 exhibitors with 40 international pavilions 

that attracts over 35,000 visitors including international 

delegations from existing and both traditional and developing 

defence and security markets. The complexity of both national 

and international security grows each and every year, and 

DSEI aims to provide a “one stop shop” for inter-operability by 

melding the areas of maritime, land, air and even cyber in one 

place at one time. 

It’s a bold show that has developed and evolved from 

the traditional “Exhibition” format; between 1976 and 1991, 

the British Army Equipment Exhibition and the Royal Navy 

Equipment Exhibition were held on alternate years in Aldershot 

and Portsmouth respectively. Overseas delegations attended by 

invitation only. 

In 1993 the two exhibitions were combined and held every 

other year until the British government decided to privatise 

the exhibition. Exhibitions company Spearhead launched the 

first DSEI, then known as Defence and Systems Equipment 

International, in 1999 at Chertsey in Surrey. 

4

In 2001 it moved to its current location at the ExCeL Exhibition 

Centre in London Docklands. DSEI’s name was changed in 2009, 

replacing the word Systems with Security. 

In April 2008, DSEI was acquired by Clarion Events. The Clarion 

Events’ portfolio of defence and security events is acknowledged 

as the world’s leading forums where high level government 

officials and senior military personnel converge. Leading 

global equipment and services providers meet to share ideas, 

discuss industry developments, conduct business, and develop 

partnerships and network for future growth. Whilst military 

systems and technology are at the core of the industry and the 

events, the sector is also diversifying and adapting to meet the 

changing needs of the world. In addition to the threat of war, 

national security can be threatened by humanitarian disasters 

resulting in mass displacement of people or food and water 

shortages, terrorism or pandemic. 

All defence and security exhibitions in the UK including DSEI 

can serve only the legitimate defence and security industry which 

is the most tightly regulated industry in the world. This means 

exhibitors and visitors must adhere to the highest regulatory 

scrutiny, complying with UK and international laws, treaties 

and conventions. DSEI itself works closely with government 

departments including MOD, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 

BIS and Home Office to ensure this strict compliance with all rules, 

regulations and laws. Furthermore, the UK Government itself is 

responsible for inviting international delegations. 

2017 CAPABILITY ZONES 

DSEI is divided into dedicated capability zones to make it more 

manageable to navigate, as it truly is a gargantuan show! DSEI 

2017 featured its strongest aerospace offering to date, comprising 

fixed, rotary wing, and unmanned platforms. The popular Air Zone 

was fully supported by the Royal Air Force and Joint Helicopter 

Command and included a capability area dedicated to the 

aerospace supply chain. With an impressive array of static displays 

expected to feature around the ExCeL concourse, as well as a 

notable line up of rotary assets operating in the maritime domain, 

DSEI was the must-attend event for the entire aerospace sector. Air 

Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier KCB CBE DFC, Chief of the Air Staff, 

delivered a keynote address at DSEI on Wednesday 13 September 

in the West Theatre. Chaired by Air Marshall Philip Sturley CB MBE 

FRAeS and industry expert Howard Wheeldon, the Air Capability 

Conference examined “The Next Generation of Air Capability”. 

The Naval Zone was the most comprehensive dedicated Naval 

Zone in DSEI history. In addition to the 1,600 DSEI exhibitors the 

Zone incorporated over 50 specialist naval exhibitors and was 

fully supported by the First Sea Lord and Royal Navy. The Naval 

Zone was one of DSEI 2017’s greatest strengths with 16 nations 

represented, twice as many than the 2015 show. It provided 

the DSEI audience with unrivalled networking opportunities, 

insights from key decision makers and the opportunity to see 

first-hand the industry’s latest vessels in action with interactive 

presentations and waterborne demonstrations. DSEI 2017 hosted 

eight warships and a number of rotary assets that operate in the 


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6NEWS: DSEI 2017 

maritime domain. Admiral Sir Philip Jones KCB ADC, First Sea 

Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, delivered two keynote addresses 

at DSEI 2017. The first on Day Zero, Monday 11 September at the 

Maritime Capability Conference, and the second as the opening 

keynote in the Naval Zone on Tuesday 12 September on the 

exhibition floor. 

The Land Zone for DSEI 2017 grew by 52% and surpassed the 

achievements of the 2015 event by introducing new features 

such as a dedicated showcase which opened up opportunities for 

even more suppliers to attend. This was complemented by the 

announcement of General Sir Nick Carter KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen, 

Chief of the General Staff as keynote speaker. DSEI’s offering to 

the land sector was further strengthened by the Land Capability 

Conference which took place on Monday 11 September as part 

of the DSEI Strategic Conference programme. 

Led by the British Army, the conference focused on ‘The Future 

of Robotics & Autonomous Systems in the Land Environment’. 

The emphasis on land systems innovation continued into the DSEI 

exhibition from Tuesday 12 September to Friday 15 September, 

with the event’s extensive offering from specialist exhibitors 

in the Land Zone. In addition, the Land Seminar Programme 

followed four central themes: Develop, Deliver, Generate 

and Operate, and People & Skills, focusing on transforming 

productivity, Army adaptation and intelligent procurement. 

Delegates saw speakers including Major General Chris 

Tickell, Director Capability, and Lieutenant General Paul Jaques, 

Chief of Materiel (Land) from the British Army. 

The dedicated Security Zone showcased security equipment 

and systems to counter priority threats, such as Cyber Attacks 

and terrorism, as well as an enlarged Special Forces and tactical 

equipment area. DSEI 2017 centralised the security sector’s 

expertise with a bespoke community in order to 

increase networking opportunities for both exhibitors 

and visitors. 

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As well as this the Minister of State for Security The Rt 

Hon Ben Wallace MP made a Keynote Address on the 13th 

September. In 2015 the security zone was a huge success 

which resulted in a record number first-time exhibitors 

showcasing the latest equipment and technologies in 

conjunction with a catalogue of prime contractors such 

as Fujitsu, Dell, BAE Systems - Applied Intelligence, BT, 

CISCO and Intel. 

Showcased within the Security Zone were products 

and services ranging from security & special forces 

training, tactical equipment, perimeter security covert 

& overt surveillance & camera equipment and PPE, with 

exhibitors including CEIA, Palo Alto Networks, International 

Armoured Group, Barrett Communications, SFD Global, H. 

Henriksen, Bergans and BeaverFit. 

DSEI 2017 also saw an enhanced Joint Zone with a 

plethora of products from exhibitors within the following 

sectors: C4ISTAR, Communications, DIO, Electronic Warfare, 

Joint Enablers, Logistics, Medical, Robotics & Telemedicine. 

Following the huge success of 2015’s Medical 

Innovation Zone the area was expanded to include more 

companies along with an award winning demonstration 

area which once again was organised with a team from 

Defence Medical Services (DMS) Medical Directorate. 

General Sir Chris Deverell, Commander Joint Forces 

Command commented; “DSEI 17 will offer Joint Forces 

Command the opportunity to report on our plans for the 

future, in particular on operationalising our Warfare In The 

Information Age concept. I am looking forward to it.” 


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A SUCCESS FOR LONDON 

As with any major defence show DSEI has its share of critics, but 

in a world where borders and allegiances are shifting seemingly 

on a daily basis, the importance of the show as a benefactor to 

the UK economy should not be undervalued. The UK defence 

industry represents ten per cent of UK high technology 

manufacturing and is the number one exporter in Europe, 

second only to the US globally. DSEI, which is based at ExCeL 

London, is a crucial part of that industry. The industry employs 

over 300,000 people and generates over £35 billion per year 

to the UK economy. The industry also works hand-in-hand with 

the UK Armed Forces from factory to frontline, for example over 

6,000 industry personnel are currently working alongside our 

troops in Afghanistan. 

The economic benefits are not just about the defence 

industry either, but directly benefit the London economy itself. 

The 35,000 exhibitors, visitors and contractors attending DSEI 

occupy over 100,000 room-nights at London hotels during the 

week of the event, generating an estimated £23m direct benefit 

to the London economy in the process, even before taking into 

account all of their associated expenditure on travel, restaurants 

and the like across the capital during their stay. 

We live in a world today where defence and security budgets 

are all under scrutiny, if not direct attack, and the DSEI show 

brings together the relevant “players” in the community in one 

place at one time. If we are to be protected we must support 

such shows as DSEI, not protest against them. It would be a 

naivety not to acknowledge that millions, if not billions change 

hands at shows of this nature, but if that money is well spent 

to support a safer future for all then it should be seen as an 

investment, and not a draw on increasingly limited funding. 

DSEI 2019 takes place on Tuesday 10 September 2019 to 

Friday 13 September 2019. The PMCI Team certainly enjoyed 

their time at this year’s DSEI; we are but a humble publication in 

a vast marketplace and our priority as ever is on the individuals, 

the guys that will have their boots in the mud on the front line, 

so we hope that you’ll enjoy this gallery of images from the 

2017 show. 

8 

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tactical 

CROPS Tactical specialises in ‘Small Team Tactics’ for operations within high risk environments. 

Delivering our enhanced training packages to Military, Law Enforcement, Government 

agencies and civilians within credible security positions, from both foreign and domestic 

communities. 

Our training facility is based in the United Kingdom, close to the midlands and within 350 acres 

of private countryside. It’s at this location we conduct our ‘craft’ away from the general 

public. We fully understand the discreet nature of work our candidate’s undertake in their 

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We ‘the instructors’ come with decades of operational experience within high stress theatres, 

working as small teams and individuals. We are current, and still, very much an operational 

organisation. Over the past twenty years, we have operated in 42 countries. 

For more information please contact us at: info@crops.uk.com 

www.crops.uk.com


TRAINING : THE UNIVERSAL COMBAT STANCE 

THE UNIVERSAL COMBAT STANCE 

For this issue we are again pleased to be joined by Eli from Project Gecko, this time to give us some 

insight as to how and why he and his team train their students the way they do when it comes to 

the all-important Combat Stance. 

Recently during one of our Project Gecko 

shooting courses, I heard several students 

arguing about whether a tactic or a shooting 

stance should be 100% universal or on the 

other hand a purpose designated (CQB / LR 

context for example) stance that might not be 

100% universal but more human behaviour 

compliant and flexible. 

Back to the students argument; I asked 

the student: “What does a universal stance 

mean for you?” 

He replied that the stance can be used in a firefight, hand 

to hand combat, in close quarters or on 200m. In a few 

words something that is legit for every task, doesn´t matter 

how different the context might be. 

This sounds really efficient and simple in the first place 

right? It left me thinking quite often about it, because each 

fight has different priorities so the stance also has different 

tasks to fulfil. Nevertheless, the utilisation of Tactic, Terrain 

and Equipment plays a major role in our ability to do A B C…. 

As a small example you can ask a kitchen chef if he is 

using only one knife to prepare his food? 

The answer is clearly no, because every meat is different. 

So is fighting. 

So for those who want a short summary, there is no 

universal combat stance, merely indifference’s that are 

normally dictated by the designation of your task. Let’s look 

into some fundamentals and principles. 

STABILITY EQUALS TIGHT GROUPING RIGHT? 

When you ask the average shooter why the shooting stance 

is so important, he will typically roll up his eyes and will say 

“Tight grouping bro.” Not so correct. 

A shooting stance, or lets be more accurate, a combat 

stance, is a stance that allows you not only to be relevant 

to the application of action itself (shooting /punching for 

example), but also to what is going to happen straight after 

you take the decision to pull the trigger or deliver a blow with 

your fist. The combat stance should be one fluent movement 

that will allow you to remain proactive and responsive. In 

reality, human targets are extremely dynamic. 

One of the most important characteristics of the combat 

stance is mobility. But what is meant with mobility? 

10

MOBILITY 

Mobility equals survivability. One of the key components in a 

combat stance is applying a body posture that will allow default 

behaviour compliant of different parts of the body for a dynamic 

mobility. Majority of combat stances, like the German NSAK, 

are quite good for shooting, but terrible for rapid reactionary 

body mechanics such as moving away from the shooting tunnel 

instead of moving into it. 

Compared to the modified IDF combat stance that we teach 

at Project Gecko, there is a huge difference in the leg position. 

Through the different leg position we achieve the following 

advantages. 

1. On Demand - In other words it has to be simple but effective 

that the individual could employ the body posture literally on 

demand as a behavioural default. 

2.Proactive – In most cases entering a combat stance is done 

in a reactive manner, as the need for the stance obviously is 

triggered by something. But by being proactive for example you 

can say this: 

The initial posture in the modified Israeli combat stance nearly 

forces the shooter into moving (not only stepping like NSAK) 

sideways rather than in a linear manner towards his threat 

(which increases fatality chances drastically). 

3. Human Behaviour Compliant – We’ll get to this point later. 

Additionally what we need to increase in our performance 

tremendously is a solid manoeuvrability provided by the legs on 

demand. Only through this we can maintain our centre mass in 

balance while simultaneously being able to move in any given 

direction as fast and safely as possible. 

We reach this through bended knees and a nearly straight 

torso. Through “squatting” we increase the muscle tension what 

leads to a more stable position. The closer we get to the 90° in 

the knee joint, the less mobile we are. So what we want is to 

find the perfect balance between manoeuvrability and stability. 

Typically we keep the hips projected in 45°, while the 

opposite feet to the rifle pointing towards the threat or point 

of interest. 

Now after we talked about getting into optimal conditions 

we also need to talk about how to hold them. Through the 

physiology of the muscles we know that the leg muscles create 

more energy when they get slightly stretched. So similar to a 

sprinter getting ready at his/her starting block, we also get into 

a slightly bended knee position to provide optimal conditions. 

ECONOMIC USE OF ENERGY IS KEY 

During long operations the soldier needs to carry all of his 

equipment for days. Normally the weight of the average 

assaulter loads out is around 25 or 30 kg. (Dependant on role). 

Due to the fact that magazines and other essentials must be 

reachable, most of the weight is normally in front. 

So what happens now if we lean forward towards the 

enemy? Our lower back needs to work more to stop us from 


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falling over. We talked about physiology of the muscle before, 

so we want to continue here with more information about 

muscles. 

Basically we can say there are 3 types of muscle fibres. 

• Slow Twitch (ST) Type 1 

• Fast Twitch (FT) Type 2a 

• Fast Twitch (FT) Type 2b 

We want to focus now only on Type 1 and Type 2b... Both 

have different characteristics and we want to summarise 

them quickly. Most muscles have both muscle types within 

with different distribution which leads us to the following; we 

can say that nearly all muscles fibres in the back musculature 

are Fast Twitch, so quickly exhaustable. On the other hand is 

the distribution in the Quads pretty even what leads to the 

conclusion that the musculature in the legs can be stressed 

longer before they show the same symptoms. So what we want 

is a nearly straight back to reduce the stress on the lower back 

to a minimum because a physical exhaustion will reduce the 

capability and ends in a lower ability to work under pressure. 

WHY RISKING TO GET HIT? 

There is a motto in the German Army which says “Wirkung vor 

Deckung” which means effectiveness before cover. 

To minimize the vulnerability they teach you to stand with 

the plates towards the enemy so if somebody is shooting 

back the chance is higher they get hit in the plate. Before we 

continue I want you to ask yourself a question; if somebody 

is punching you, is your first natural instinct to go towards or 

away from the threat? 

So what happens now is that we try to change our deepest 

instincts which only show up when it comes to life threatening 

situations. We don’t want to get too much into the neurosciences 

and human behaviour in a firefight but let me explain you 

something with the example of “Neuronal mapping”. 

To learn a simple movement it takes 300-500 repetitions. 

To change the learned procedure it takes about 5000-7000 

reps because as soon as you get tired you fall back into the old 

pattern. This may come out of a sports related context but is 

also expressive for combat. 

So all this effort only to hope the enemy is hitting you in the 

310mm x250 mm plate? 

We asked ourselves the question: “Why are you taking the 

risk to get hit in first place, when you also could get out of 

line of fire first?” Additionally it is a fact that a moving target 

is always harder to hit which increases our chances to survive 

drastically. I think it’s also the place to note, that most tactics 

were created in theory and a sterile environment where 

everything is obvious and black and white. People are training 

in a square area with the targets placed perfectly parallel to the 

back because our brain tends to like everything in an exact order. 

THE CONCLUSION 

The problem is that the reality is a pure chaos and everything 

else then sterile. So following the old saying “train how you 

fight” we try to keep the stance as usable as possible to provide 

optimal conditions to start a moving firefight. Having this in 

mind it gets clearer that there is no use in finding a perfect 

position to shoot in any given direction but more finding a 

position which gets you out of the enemy line of fire as quick 

and as safely as possible in the first place and second gives me 

the opportunity to return fire as fast as possible. 

Based on Bio-mechanics, Neurosciences, and Human 

Behaviour under stress and years of combat experience we 

designed our stance on the needs of a firefight to improve the 

capability of every student from the beginning. Knowing that 

every human is different we adapt on the individual needs of a 

person through trained instructors with scientific background to 

provide the best training progress possible. 

Our thanks go to Eli for allowing us to share both the words 

and pictures featured in this article; for more articles, reviews, 

and details of the training courses offered by Project Gecko 

please do visit www.projectgecko.info 

12

TRAINING : THE UNIVERSAL COMBAT STANCE

EDITORS 

COMMENT 

VANISHING MINDSET, 

VANISHING SKILLS 

In this issue you’ll find the report and photo gallery of what 

we saw at DSEI in London this year, and what a show it was! 

However, when getting ready to head off to the city I found my 

head turning towards the current security situation; whilst I did 

not for one moment question my intent to attend the show it 

did go through my mind that I needed to, as they say, “have my 

head on a swivel”. 

Further recent atrocities, perpetrated by cowardly pond-life that 

live in the darkest pools of our ever more fragile societal lake, 

bring personal safety and security to the forefront. This summer 

I have undergone major surgery and although fitness is returning 

I am by no means at the top of my game right now. Physically 

I am slower and less agile than I would normally be, although 

mentally I hope I’ve still got all my marbles in the jar! 

People were just not engaged in their situation, on the phone, 

noses stuck to the screens they seemed to drift past me like 

aimless ghosts. Crowded trains and tubes make line of sight all 

but impossible, and the thought that the majority around me 

were not in any way “switched on” had me shaking my head. 

I am not saying in any way, shape, or form that the threat of 

terrorist attacks should stop us doing anything, buy why will 

people not learn to be more aware? Skills that once were taken 

for granted are perishable, and erode all too easily if they are 

not worked on. 

Whilst PMCI is squarely aimed at, and indeed designed for those 

that wish to enhance their personal skillset for professional 

reasons, it strikes me that we are becoming equally as valid as 

a publication for the wider community. Surveillance and CQB 

skills are not necessarily needed for modern everyday life, and 

thorough knowledge of tactical clothing, equipment, knives and 

firearms are frowned upon by many, but it’s the mindset that is 

the thing. 

EDITORS COMMENT 

I found myself thinking how I might be able to react if an 

“incident” were to occur, but once I started out on my journey 

I realised that all things are relative. Mixing with tourists and 

commuters both it struck me just how unaware people are, 

both spatially and situationally. Okay, I work day in, day out with 

the firearms, training and tactical communities so perhaps I am 

more aware than many, but the seemingly blissful lack of any 

kind of place and time in others shocked me more than I would 

have liked. 

If the mindset to be aware, to recognise where and when you are 

in life, even to simply survive is lost then we truly have already 

started to hand over to those that would see ill done to us both 

as individuals and as a society. 

Wherever you may be people, switch on, train hard, stay vigilant 

and keep safe. 

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SKELTON BOOT FROM DR. 

MARTENS SERVICE COLLECTION 

“Dr. Martens” boots will be a familiar brand to many 

of you as they have a long and somewhat colourful 

history! But what happens when a boot maker best 

known for “fashion” turns their attention to footwear 

for the professional user? 

GEAR ON TEST 

If you’re of a certain age or a keen follower of fashion 

then I’m absolutely certain that at some point you’ve 

undoubtedly owned a pair of “Doc Martens”. Since the 

first Dr. Martens boots in the United Kingdom came out 

on 1 April 1960 quite literally millions of pairs have been 

sold worldwide, but the whole story began much earlier 

than that, and has a distinctly military heritage. 

Klaus Maertens was a doctor in the German army during 

World War II. While on leave in 1945, he injured his ankle 

while skiing and after that he found that his standard-issue 

army boots were too uncomfortable on his injured foot. 

While recuperating, he designed improvements to the 

boots, with soft leather and air-padded soles made of tires. 

Using a salvaged cobbler’s last and a needle, Maertens 

made a prototype shoe and showed it to an old university 

friend and mechanical engineer, Dr. Herbert Funk. The two 

went into partnership by using disused military supplies 

to begin producing their unique shoes 

In the late 1950’s , British shoe manufacturer R. Griggs 

Group Ltd. bought patent rights to manufacture the shoes 

in the United Kingdom. Griggs anglicised the name and 

trademarked the soles as “AirWair”, and the rest, as they 

say, is history! 

Now Dr. Martens have produced “industrial” models 

of their boots for years, but their “Service Collection” 

marks the dawn of a new era in design and materials. 

Dr. Martens have been collaborating extensively with 

police and security officers to fully understand their 

needs. This comprehensive research has culminated in 

the “Skelton” which offers a unique sole with a high grip 

tread that provides comfort, durability and outstanding 

slip resistance. 

The 8 inch boot is non-metallic throughout with sturdy 

moulded eyelets, and benefits from a tough leather and 

nylon upper with a very nicely padded bellows tongue, and 

a padded collar. Inside you get a durable EVA (ethel vinyl 

acetate) midsole; the midsole is that part of the boot that 

effectively provides cushioning and stability for the foot 

and you’ll find EVA in virtually all high quality performance 

footwear, so this is absolutely spot on. The Skelton’s also 

benefit from a “Softwair” insole and a moisture wicking 

lining to help keep your feet comfortable for extended 

periods of time. 

I was lucky enough to be sent a pre-release sample of 

the Skelton’s by the nice folk at Patrol Store a couple of 

months ago, so I’ve been able to give them a really good 

try before writing this review, and I have to say that other 

than a prominent “Dr Martens AirWair” logo on the heel 

cup you’d be hard-pressed to recognise these as “DMs”, 

as the design is right on trend with the style of the very 

latest tactical and professional boots out there. 

Weighing in at just 735g per boot (size 10) The Skelton’s 

feel light on the foot, and that special outsole really does 

give you some bounce in your step! The toe and lower foot 

area of the boot is of one piece leather construction, with 

no seams to rub across your toes, and is a comfortable 

broad fit. The heel cup however is relatively narrow, and 

combined with a solid lacing system which keeps the foot 

positioned well, and helps to avoid unnecessary movement 

which could lead to blisters. 

With the great British “summer” living up to its usual 

mix of weather I’ve had chance to wear the Skeltons in 

most conditions other than snow, and I have to confirm 

that the moisture wicking lining does keep the foot dry 

in the heat, again helping to avoid blisters or “hot spots”. 

Whilst the boots are not quoted a being waterproof thus 

far I’ve not experienced wet feet, and regular maintenance 

of the leather and nylon elements will no doubt give 

performance longevity. 

I’ve put a fair few miles under the soles of the Skeltons 

already and so far they’ve proved to be a comfortable and 

protective pair of boots. With a UK retail price iro £73.00 

these are a cracking pair of boots that will undoubtedly 

bring even further success to the Dr. Marten brand, and 

bring great performance to a whole new group of users! 

Our sincere thanks go to the team at www.patrolstore. 

com for providing the test sample, and you can expect to 

see the Skeltons loading up onto their comprehensively 

stocked web store in the very near future. 

16 

pmcimagazine.com

BCB FIREDRAGON 

Visitors to the world’s leading Defence and Security 

Trade event, DSEI, were able to see for themselves a 

new fuel made from sugar beet which British soldiers 

are now using to heat their combat rations and warm 

their drinks. PMCI takes a closer look. 

163 year old Cardiff-based survival equipment 

manufacturers, BCB International Ltd, have developed 

the world’s first solid bio-ethanol fuel called ‘FireDragon’. 

Following extensive laboratory and field trials, the UK’s 

Ministry of Defence (MoD) decided to replace traditional 

hexamine fuel tablets with the novel ‘FireDragon’ fuel 

which is made in Great Britain. 

BCB International’s Managing Director, Andrew Howell, said: 

“Warm food raises a soldier’s morale, energy and 

concentration levels. Unfortunately, for far too long soldiers 

were also unknowingly inhaling toxic fumes each time they 

used hexamine fuel tablets to cook their food in the field. 

“FireDragon is a safer and cleaner alternative. The 

FireDragon fuel boasts many features. It is made from 

sustainable natural ingredients, it is non-toxic, burns 

cleanly, can be ignited even when wet and if necessary 

can be used as a hand cleanser.” 

Many Armies, and indeed Cnotracting companies, 

worldwide are still issuing their personnel with hexamine 

fuel tablets. But as Andrew Howell explained, the British 

Army’s decision to make the switch to ‘FireDragon’ has 

encouraged others to rethink their military rations heating fuel: 

“There is a growing body of evidence about the health 

risks associated with hexamine based fire-lighting fuels. 

This combined with the UK MoD’s decision to use a superior 

alternative, has led to those in charge of combat feeding 

programmes in other armies to reconsider hexamine’s 

suitability as a fuel for the future. 

“We are currently in discussions with several armies 

that are interested in integrating ‘FireDragon’ into their 

operational ration packs.” 

BCB formulated and developed the ‘FireDragon’ gel to 

help people who venture in the great outdoors cook their 

rations and boil their brews quickly, safeguard their health, 

while protecting the environment. The fuel is non-toxic, 

non-drip and made from 100% natural ingredients. It is 

easy to light, burns cleanly and BCB’s research shows that 

it boils quicker than meths. 

FireDragon Gel fuel is an ideal companion when it comes 

to efficient cooking in hostile environments. Whether in 

driving rain, the freezing arctic or searing heat, the fuel will 

perform in extreme conditions. The fuel is also relatively 

inexpensive and comes supplied with a small lightweight 

cooker which can be packed with three ‘FireDragon’ fuel 

blocks. 

• Easy to Light 

• Quick Boil – Boils quicker than meths. 

• Non-Drip – The non-flowing gel and bottleneck widget 

prevent leakage. 

• Clean Burn – The gel produces very little soot. 

• All Weather – FireDragon gel is waterproof and will burn 

even when wet. The ultimate all weather gel fuel. 

• Non-Toxic – Gives off an odourless clean burn. 

• Environmentally Friendly – Made from 100% natural 

ingredients, FireDragon is kind to the planet. 

• FireDragon Gel is supplied in two sizes: 250 ml and 1 Litre. 

For more information and some excellent video of the fuel 

in use please visit www.firedragonfuel.com 

GEAR ON TEST 

pmcimagazine.com


HELIKON-TEX WINDRUNNER 

WINDSHIRT & FIRESPARK “STEEL” 

At IWA earlier this year we were introduced to some 

great new additions to the Helikon-Tex line, and it’s 

great to see those starting to filter through to the 

market now. Bill has been testing a couple of items 

from their “Outback” and “Bushcraft” collections and 

brings you his initial findings. 

GEAR ON TEST 

I really like the fact that Helikon-Tex have started to 

categorise their clothing and equipment as it makes life far 

easier when you’re looking for a particular item. As a keen 

outdoorsman I’m therefore every bit as interested in what 

they have in the “Outback” and “Bushcraft” categories in 

addition to the “Range” and “Patrol” lines as good outdoor 

equipment can act as the backbone for any situation. 

The “Outback Line” is their technical clothing and 

accessories line concept; everything from baselayers 

through all intermediate levels of insulation for both 

dynamic and static activities to outer layers including 

windshirts, softshells, hardshells and Climashield parkas 

is included in this category. Accessories developed for the 

Outback Line will focus on travel, gear packing and outdoor 

expeditions. 

It’s that time of year where I live where the north 

wind is starting to pick up, and although I’m not yet 

ready to transition into a fully-fledged hardshell I do want 

something that can be worn over a microfleece to add an 

additional layer against wind chill, and ideally I look for 

garments that are lightweight and have a minimal pack size. 

The new Windrunner windshirt is an ideal carry item 

because of its minimum weight and size when folded. At 

just 190g (size XL) it’s ultralight, tight-woven Nylon fabric 

protects you from the wind, and if the DWR coating is 

regularly maintained, also from light rain. The Windrunner 

would also be an ideal garment for any kind of outdoor 

training. Mesh ventilation slats in armpits allow increased 

air circulation for when you’re really working hard, and 

on a cooler day, worn on top of a fleece, it keeps your 

all-important core warmth from escaping and protects 

against wind chilling. A large front channel pocket easily 

accommodates a cap, gloves or a buff , and two small flat 

pockets inside the larger pocket help to organize small 

items like smartphone or ID. 

Additional features are sparse and minimalistic in 

that there is a lightweight hood, elasticated cuffs and 

a drawstring hem, and that’s it. On a garment like this 

though you don’t need a massive amount of features as 

that just increases bulk and weight. 

The Windrunner has been with me a little over a month 

now and I have to admit that I absolutely love it; it’s a 

superb piece of kit that gives you just that little extra 

protection when things start to get cooler, and therefore 

I would thoroughly recommend it to you. 

Body heat of course is all important when it comes to 

your efficiency, and another recent release from Helikon- 

Tex is their “FIRESPARK” firesteel. Designed and tested by 

specialists in bushcraft and survival techniques, a new 

FIRESPARK firesteel is a modern rendering of classic piece 

of equipment. A hollow aluminium handle may be used to 

house water purification tablets, tinder or rolled banknotes. 

Instead of the traditional carbon steel though the 

FIRESPARK makes use of a long Ferrocerium rod; While 

ferrocerium “steels” function in a similar way to natural 

flint and steel in fire starting, ferrocerium takes on the 

role that steel played in traditional methods; when small 

shavings of it are removed quickly enough the heat 

generated by friction is enough to ignite those shavings, 

converting the metal to the oxide, i.e., the sparks are 

actually tiny pieces of burning metal. This long spark rod 

with durable handle make starting a fire with FIRESPARK 

and knife a breeze; combined with my favourite bushcraft 

knife created for me by Josh Curry of the Athena Knife Co. 

in the USA, the FIRESPARK is absolutely awesome, sending 

an array of sparks away with every stroke! 

I am really enjoying the roll out of the new Helikon 

categories, and rest assured I’ll update things just as soon 

as another test piece arrives in the office! 

For more information please visit www.helikon-tex. 

com for country stockists, and in the UK check out www. 

military1st.co.uk for the very latest brand updates. 

18 

pmcimagazine.com


GEAR ON TEST 

CANNAE PRO CLOTHING 

US Brand Cannae Pro are fast becoming known and 

respected for their packs and bags, but they also make 

some cracking clothing. The team at PMCI got their 

hands on it and took a very close look. 

Cannae Pro you may well ask, who are they, where have 

they come from, and why should I be interested? Valid 

questions all which I’ll endeavour to enlighten you on. 

Cannae Pro Gear is now one of the fastest-growing 

tactical brands in the USA, producing superior quality gear, 

apparel and accessories. Based in Long Beach, California 

Cannae Pro works with active operators from specials 

operations units, law enforcement, first responders, 

and enthusiasts who specialise in the tactical, hunting, 

and active/outdoor markets to develop a cutting-edge, 

practical and diverse product line. 

Cannae Pro Gear was founded by Robert Hollander, 

Chairman and CEO, a noted brand builder who has created 

and successfully launched numerous products, including 

those for the automotive industry and NASCAR, in addition 

to his ground breaking marketing of the 1996 Summer 

Olympics in Atlanta. Cannae’s experienced team is led 

by the company’s COO, Andrew Work, who has built an 

international reputation for product development, sales, 

and merchandising of consumer products ranging from 

outdoor, tactical, extreme sports, and lifestyle accessories. 

Named for the famous battle at which Hannibal defeated 

a vastly superior Roman force in 216 BC (historians consider 

“The Battle of Cannae” one of the most brilliant military 

victories ever!) Cannae Pro’s stated mission is to provide 

the best possible products that they possibly can. 

RANGE READY! 

Although you might think that the gear is the high point of 

what’s on offer from Cannae Pro I’d like to introduce you 

to their excellent clothing range. It’s a tight, meticulously 

thought out collection that right now amounts to just 

six items, Operator Tactical Polos both long and short 

sleeve, the Centurion Performance Pullover and Rig Fleece 

Performance Pullover, a superb Battle Ready Tactical 

Hoodie, and last but by no means least the Shield Soft 

Shell Jacket. 

The Shield Soft Shell Jacket is a comfortable, flexible 

jacket which has been designed for the professional user. 

Made from water and wind resistant Poly Soft Shell with 

a bit of elastic makes this a lightweight, all-weather jacket 

that provides soft and durable warmth with the flexibility 

to “move and groove” in extreme situations. 

Features include an easy-entry chest zipper pocket, 

wide and deep abdominal side zipper pockets for heavy 

objects/concealed carry, side zip openings for side holster, 

generous sized inside pockets, and an easy-access left arm 

zipper pocket. In addition, there are patch fields on both 

arms to customise your ID or team patches, and velcro cuff 

straps help keep the heat in and the cold out. 

The Battle Ready Full Zip Hoodie is the ideal tactical hoodie. 

Made from cotton, poly fleece and a little bit of elastic, 

this lightweight tactical hoodie provides soft and durable 

warmth with the flexibility to manoeuvre in extreme 

situations. Features include easy-entry chest zipper pocket, 

wide and deep abdominal open pockets for heavy objects/ 

concealed carry, easy-pull hood/hem cinch straps, and 

easy-access left arm zipper pocket. In addition, there are 

generous patch fields on both arms to customise your 

identification patches. 

Maximum comfortable and flexibility makes The Rig 

Fleece ½ Zip Tactical Pullover the preferred choice of the 

everyday user. Made from a durable polyester fleece with 

a terry weave interior with a bit of flexible spandex, this 

20

lightweight tactical pullover combines the elements of 

tactical manoeuvrability with everyday comfort. Features 

include easy-entry chest zipper pocket, along with wide 

and deep abdominal zipper pockets for heavy objects/ 

concealed carry. 

Extreme situations call for high performance gear. 

Engineered for flexibility, The Centurion Performance 

Pullover provides the active user an ideal alternative for 

any scenario. The arms, shoulders, and chest material 

are made from a durable wind-resistant poly soft shell 

to absorb the tough contact while the body is made of a 

super soft breathable poly micro-fibre. Plus, a bit of flexible 

spandex is added throughout for tactical manoeuvrability 

with everyday comfort. Features include easy-entry left 

arm zipper pocket, elbow patches for additional durability, 

generous patch fields on both arms to customize your 

identification. I have to admit that this style is being 

discontinued soon, but my advice is to grab one if you can! 

Last but by no means least are the two polos; The 

Professional Operator Polo (long or short sleeved) is the 

ideal attire for the everyday use. Made from soft and 

comfortable cotton plus a bit of spandex, this polo provides 

the user the tactical mobility and flexibility any job requires 

while looking professional. Features include left arm 

pocket organizer, radio clip openings on the shoulders, 

and generous patch fields on both arms. 

These are all really super bits of kit which really show 

what Cannae Pro are capable of when it comes to highly 

functional yet comfortable clothing and I certainly hope 

that there will be more to come from them in this respect! 

Scott Country International are currently busy sorting out 

retailers in the UK and I’m absolutely certain that we’ll be 

seeing a lot about Cannae Pro in the immediate future. I 

for one am looking forward to really putting test pieces 

through the mill, and I’ll report back in more detail when 

I’ve done so! 

For more details on Cannae Pro gear go on over to 

https://cannaeprogear.com. For the UK please do visit 

www.scottcountry.co.uk in the UK and simply type 

“Cannae” into the search box! 

GEAR ON TEST 

pmcimagazine.com


MEET THE MAKER - PROPPER 

PROPPER GEAR 

Although not “fashion driven” per se tactical clothing and gear brands appear to go in and out of vogue, 

but there’s one brand that’s been with us for 50 years and that’s Propper from the USA; Bill takes a look at 

the brand and what they have to offer us. 

Over the years I’ve owned clothing and gear from just about 

every major tactical manufacturer out there; some of it 

has been absolutely first rate whilst other items have 

been relegated to the “not fit for purpose” bin, and I’m 

afraid to say that once I’ve found a brand wanting it takes 

an awful lot to rekindle my faith in them. 

Whilst I was living in the USA and out on the range a 

lot more regularly than I am now I looked for relatively 

inexpensive yet hard-wearing tactical clothing, and found it in the form 

of the Propper BDU pant; believe it or not, even after many years and 

many washes the pants are actually still going, although in fairness they 

do look a bit beaten up and faded these days; that however is after 

nearly 16 years of use, so I’m not going to quibble in any way that this 

kit is not fully “fit for purpose”! 

22

PROPPER GOOD! 

Founded by William S. Propper in 1967, Propper 

International is a manufacturer of the American Army 

Combat Uniform, Propper Battle Dress Uniform and 

iconic white Navy “Dixie Cup” hats. Their line of products 

includes high-quality tactical apparel and uniforms, military 

footwear and combat accessories for Military and law 

enforcement, service personnel, firefighting professionals, 

public safety and outdoor enthusiasts. This year, they 

proudly celebrate 50 years of providing outstanding 

military, law enforcement and tactical apparel and gear 

to folks like us who understand what it takes to get the 

job done right. 

The 4,000-square-foot Propper “think tank” is dedicated to 

the research, development and design of new products. It’s 

where Propper transform gear concept sketches to finished 

prototypes that feel as authentic and durable as the real 

thing. From there, their product development and global 

sourcing departments work hand-in-hand to bring their 

biggest and best ideas to life. 

Propper cut and sew their clothing and gear in their 

very own 9001-2008 ISO-Certified production facilities in 

Haiti and Dominican Republic. Propper’s Berry-Compliant 

production facility in Puerto Rico handles additional cutting 

and sewing, in addition to pattern-grading, permanent 

press, permethrin treatments, stone washing, enzyme and 

garment dying, and certified GORE-TEX seam sealing. 

Their 200,000-square-foot distribution center in Dickson, 

Tennessee is EDI capable, RFID capable, and government 

bill and hold capable, helping them deliver everything 

users need on time, and on spec. Propper’s website tells 

me that their core values are: 

• Authentic - From design to delivery, we’re driven by 

good people making really good gear. If it’s anything else, 

it isn’t ours. 

• Deliberate - We’re calculated when it comes to what 

we make, how we make it and who we make it for – a 

difference you can feel in every stitch, every seam and 

every pocket. 

• Responsive - Like our gear, our flexible service, fast 

shipping and product customization are designed to bring 

you more than you’d ever expect. 

• Proven - We’re the leading gear and apparel supplier for 

the U.S. Department of Defense, having met their evolving 

needs for 50 years. 

To put this last point in perspective for you in that 50 years 

Propper has a hugely impressive track record, and the 

numbers, whilst staggering, speak plainly for themselves; 

• 120,000,000 GARMENTS produced for the US military. 

• 30,000,000 MILITARY PERSONNEL have worn Propper 

garments. 

• 8,100,000 TOPS to the US Military. 

• 11,800,000 TROUSERS to the US Military. 

And these already impressive numbers don’t even take 

into account things like gloves, sleeping systems, webbing, 

nylon gear, and even GORE-TEX rain suits (they’ve supplied 

over a million GORE-TEX suits to the US military and 

coastguard since 2004!) so you might say that this is a 

company that know more than a little about making good, 

solid, durable, and above all reliable clothing and gear! 

UP TO THE MINUTE 

You might think with all of this going on that Propper would 

be pretty comfortable to rest on the laurels and just keep 

cracking on with those military contracts, but that’s far from 

the truth of the matter. Like any company worth their salt 

they’re always looking at new fabrics, new technologies 

and new methods of garment construction so that they 

can offer the user the very best they can! 

Whilst they do still manufacture both the classic 

BDU and the more modern ACU in a massive array of 

camouflage patterns (and yes, you can still buy M81!) it’s 

in some of their latest directions that they’ve completely 

re-kindled my interest. To go back to an earlier comment 


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my Woodland ACU is years old now, but still performing, so 

Propper are definitely a brand that I personally trust. 

To illustrate what I mean about new directions though 

I’m going to take a look at a few of their very latest 

developments, starting with the FULL ZIP TECH SWEATER. At 

£90.00 it combines the comfort of a stylish sweater with 

the functionality of a tactical jacket. Featuring a full zip-up 

front and stand-up collar, the Propper Tech Sweater is crafted 

from high strength anti-pilling fleece fabric, which makes the 

exterior durable but keeps interior warm and comfortable. 

Reinforced fabric around the elbows and shoulders offer 

additional resilience and durability, while elastic binding at 

the sleeves make sure the sweater fits you perfectly during 

any activity. Two dual zippered hand pockets and side zippers 

allow quick access to bottom layer or your beltt, while the 

vertical zippered chest pocket provides safe storage for 

documents. 

The Full Zip Tech Sweater from Propper offers excellent 

freedom of movement with superb protection against the 

weather and is perfect for casual wear as well as tactical use. 

Priced at £56.00 the PROPPER V2 HOODIE is a classic bit of 

design updated with some new twists; Crafted from highly 

stretchable and lightweight smooth-faced jersey fleece 

material, the Propper V2 Hoodie comes with 3/4 front zip 

closure, contoured hood for added weather resistance, and 

two zipped pockets for storing smaller tactical essentials. 

Warm and comfortable, the new V2 Hoodie is perfectly 

suited for both covert field duty and casual wear and is ideal 

for a variety of outdoor activities. I love a good hoodie so 

one of these will most 

definitely be on my “wish 

list” for the winter! 

The PROPPER MEN’S 

LIGHTWEIGHT TACTICAL 

PANTS come in at a walletfriendly 

£44.00; made of 

durable and breathable 

Polycotton Ripstop fabric, 

these fully functional 

Men’s Lightweight Tactical 

Pants feature relaxed 

fit construction with 

action-stretch waistband, 

reinforced seat and knees 

for added durability and 

durable YKK zip fly with 

multiple easily accessible 

pockets for all storage 

needs. They’re perfect for 

tactical or for everyday 

use, so this is a case of 

money well spent! 

With a slightly higher price-tag of £62.00 the PROPPER 

MEN’S STRETCH TACTICAL PANTS are made of highly stretchable 

Nylon and Spandex fabric mix, these fully functional Men’s 

Stretch Tactical Pants and feature relaxed fit construction 

with an action-stretch waistband, reinforced seat and knees 

for added durability and durable YKK zip fly with multiple 

easily accessible pockets for all storage needs. These are a 

bit more dynamic than the standard tactical pants, and it’s 

certainly easy to see where your money is going here too. 

Now I’m really just touching the tip of the iceberg with 

these four garments. Speaking to the team at Military 

1st they are aiming to offer their customers a massive 

selection of Propper’s high-quality products, including a 

comprehensive range of tactical pants, combat shirts and 

field uniforms, waterproof jackets, hoodies, vests and soft 

shells, as well as low-profile backpacks, duffles, gun cases, 

utility pouches and accessories such as belts, hats, socks and 

patches. It’s most definitely a case of “watch this space”! 

Propper products are constantly being added at www. 

military1st.co.uk who kindly provided the test 

samples for this article, so take my advice and 

go and check out what Propper can offer you 

at your earliest convenience! 

24


TAC GEAR - FIRST TACTICAL 

UPDATE - FIRST TACTICAL 

We are extremely pleased that the PMCI team have been working closely with US Brand First 

Tactical since they launched in Europe last year, as well as in America; since then they’ve gone 

from strength to strength and Bill brings you the very latest updates on what’s new and innovative. 

It’s really edifying when you support a brand that 

enters the market and within a year you see them 

gaining great plaudits from reviewers and users alike. 

I’ve been very fortunate to have met the First 

Tactical Team in person a couple of times now, and 

they are super people that are intent on delivering the 

very best tactical kit and clothing that they possibly can. 

Solid as their initial “launch range” was it’s become 

very apparent to me that they are not a company to sit on 

their laurels though, and 2017 has seen some cracking new 

designs launched, designs that are already hitting the stores, 

and continue to do so! 

Let me take just a moment to recap on who First tactical 

are; essentially they are an American brand with “real world 

roots” who are focused on providing the end user with a 

product that is specific to their requirements, and guided 

by innovation and reliability. Their design process combines 

both advanced technical materials with state-of-the-art 

components. First Tactical products are built to offer fully 

functional gear precisely created for professionals in the 

military, emergency and police services. 

Working with real users from the tactical world, First Tactical 

strives to fully understand customer demand through a 

circular development process: Listen, Engineer, Field Test and 

Deploy. 

First Tactical listens to its customers through regular 

product development sessions with real users in the field. They 

also ensure they engineer cutting-edge product to transform 

common gear into incomparable tools for professionals. 

Through the use of Field Testing, First Tactical’s products 

are put under scrutiny in the most demanding conditions to 

ensure they withstand a variety of environments. 

A year since I received it, and after some pretty extensive 

“use and abuse” my original Tactix 1 Day Plus Pack still 

looks and performs like new; I’m not at all kind to my kit as 

obviously I need to give you all the “heads up” on where best 

to spend your coin when you’re not exactly “loaded”, and 

I’ve got to say that First Tactical is worth every penny. Based 

on my experience of their nylon gear I recently got myself 

one of their Canyon Digital Compass Watches which offers 

the best of both worlds, durable enough to stand up to the 

toughest jobs and environments yet sophisticated enough to 

wear every day. Featuring an oversized display with a digital 

second hand, compass function, and an innovative utility 

26

strap it’s a solid piece of kit that feels right as soon as you put it on. 

The Canyon Digital Compass features an innovative digital 

second hand allowing users to visualise seconds counting down 

based on their needs, as they would with a traditional analogue 

watch, and coupled with an enlarged time readout the digital 

second hand enables you to complete any job with precision 

and ease. Featuring a ruler (cm/in) and Morse Code guide on 

the back of the band you will be equipped for any situation, and 

STEALTH MODE switches the tactical watch to mute as you enter 

silent tactical situations. 

This however is not what I’d call “subtle” as at 2.4in / 60mm 

long, 2.1in / 55.5mm wide, and 0.6in / 15.5mm thick this is 

a timepiece and tool that looks like it really means business, 

although the broad band width of 0.9in / 24mm makes it very 

comfortable to wear, even for extended periods. Functions 

include World Time and three alarms in addition to the compass 

feature, and the watch is waterproof to 10 metres. So far it’s 

proved to be a first rate watch, but of course I’ll report back later 

with a long-term test report 

NEW AND IMPROVED 

As a few of us at PMCI have been running First Tactical gear 

for a while, and have been extremely pleased with design, 

performance and durability we know that they are a brand we 

can trust, and in turn recommend to you, and the good news is 

that new models currently being introduced have really moved 

their game forward. 

Earlier this year at SHOT their head designer, Cory, introduced 

me to the new “Defender” shirt and pant, and I have to say 

that this is to date the most overtly tactical clothing that they’ve 

put together! First Tactical’s Defender Series Shirts are the best 

of both worlds again; performance built to handle any mission 

while maintaining the sharp look needed when on by the 

professional user. In the performance department specialised 

pockets boast ample space for oversized gear, a specialised yoke 

eliminates unwanted bulk, and oversized sleeve pockets accept 

patches or embroidery. Creating the perfect warm weather 

shirt was at the forefront of their design as articulated elbows, 


pmcimagazine.com



running gussets, and vented mesh locations provide advanced 

movement and breathability. 

The Defender Series Pants offer a total of 28 (yup, you 

read that right, 28!!!) specialised pockets which give ample 

space for oversized gear, magazines, and all other equipment. 

Articulation is at the forefront of design as articulated knees, 

running gussets throughout, and vented mesh pockets provide 

superb freedom of movement and breathability. Ventilation in 

multiple key areas make these the ideal warm weather pants. 

The Defender Fabric features a breathable cotton and Cordura 

Nylon blend. The 2-way mechanical stretch Nyco, is one of the 

first to the market and has double ripstop fabric that is moisture 

wicking and perfect for warm weather. 

Continuing down the clothing route, if you fancy something 

that will be equally at home on the airsoft field as well as being 

perfect for everyday use then the new Velocity Series Tactical 

Pants are most certainly worth a look. With the Velocity Series 

Tactical Pants, First Tactical took the fit and function of their 

existing Specialist Pants and found innovative ways to provide 

them at a lighter weight. The Velocity Series Tactical Pants 

boast a double micro ripstop polyester/cotton blend fabric, 

Teflon Shield+ stain repellent finish, and a mechanical two-way 

stretch perfect for when you need flexibility and performance. 

Running gusset construction gives you full motion ability, while 

triple needle stitching at critical seams makes them bomber 

tough and durable. The lightweight fabric and minimal layers 

make these the ideal tactical pants for most of the year other 

than full winter. 

And there’s also some new accessories to round things 

out even further! First Tactical’s Slash Patrol Glove combines 

extreme tactility with long-term durability; featuring a Kevlar 

lined palm, these great gloves will give peace of mind when 

dealing with sharp objects either in the woods or especially in 

an urban setting. Notching things up a level the Slash & Flash 

Hard Knuckle Glove boasts a Kevlar lined palm that is Level II 

certified and a flame resistant Nomex jersey so you can be ready 

for any situation at hand. Finished with a hard, TPR knuckle 

protection and TouchTac fingertip this design comes together 

to give a really complete and functional tactical glove. In terms 

28 

pmcimagazine.com

of headgear new models include a new, fully adjustable ballcap 

and a superb lightweight beanie for when things chill down. 

STEPPING IT UP! 

One of the most regular debates I see online gear chat groups 

is that of boot choice. Obviously for the UK a fully waterproof 

boot is going to be a firm favourite, and recently I’ve seen some 

absolute “BS” written about the efficacy of lined or unlined 

footwear. Whilst a boot with a waterproof lining will give you 

immediate protection from the elements it’s a huge misnomer 

that this type of model requires no maintenance! Absolute 

“black arts and wizardry” that is… 

All boots require maintenance (I’ll go into the whys and 

wherefores another time…), but just because a boot is unlined 

with an internal membrane or the like doesn’t mean it won’t 

protect you IF you look after it properly. 

But sometimes you just need a boot that suits your foot 

shape and your enviroment, and if you’re going to be more 

in a CQB or range training setting rather than the dark, dank 

backwoods then the latest model from First Tactical is going to 

definitely be worth a look! Built for speed and comfort the First 

Tactical Operator Boot features a lightweight yet tough synthetic 

upper providing agility while welded construction ensures the 

boots can stand up to high-level use and abuse. 

Lightweight and breathable while maintaining an unmatched 

level of durability needed for extended use the Operator Boots 

benefit from a Torsion Flex fiberglass reinforced composite shank 

that is 75% lighter than steel. The Operator takes inspiration 

from athletic shoes, providing the flexibility and comfort you 

expect from a running shoe but with the durability of your 

favourite tactical boot. From Ortholite foam to enhanced airflow 

pockets this boot is well ventilated and will provide comfort in 

the warmest of environments. 

Overall the latest additions to the First Tactical range of 

clothing and footwear look absolutely spot-on, and test samples 

of both the Defender Shirt and Pant and the Operator Boot have 

been booked for further review. Be certain that I’ll report back 

in more depth on these in the future. 

First Tactical are most definitely a brand to keep an eye 

on as they seem to be getting everything right so far. Their 

range, although there are both male and female styles, is still 

tight with strict adherence to the very best principles of both 

design and quality control; speaking to the guys at Military 1st 

they’re expecting the Defender gear to be landing with them 

imminently, with the Operator Boots not far behind, so I’d 

bookmark www.military1st.co.uk and keep up to date with 

their Facebook page for updates! 

To find out more information about the brand 

please do pay a visit to either www.firsttactical. 

com or www.firsttactical.co.uk. For new products 

please make sure to visit www.military1st.co.uk 


pmcimagazine.com


ETYMOTIC 

ETYMOTIC GUN SPORT PRO (GSP 15) 

ELECTRONIC EARPLUGS 

When it comes to range training there are two absolute necessities that we need, commonly referred to 

as “eyes and ears”. Whilst eyepro definitely has some “cool guy” appeal, looking after our hearing as 

well as our sight is vitally important! Bill delves a little deeper. 

Over the many years that I’ve been involved on 

shooting it’s always been the case that I’ve 

invested in my own eye and hearing protection, 

and the advent of the “noise-cancelling” ear 

defender meant that I could actually carry on a 

conversation on the range whilst ensuring that 

I was fully protected. As with “eyepro” hearing 

protection continues to move forward. 

In the not too distant past if you wanted “noisecancelling” 

technology then it was a case of over the ear muffs, 

but as I’ve discovered from quite painful personal experience 

having the ear completely covered and encased can lead to 

irritation and even dry skin and rashes, especially in hot/dry 

or hot/humid environments. Whilst all the leading “earpro” 

manufacturers provide cleaning and sterilising “kits” for their 

ear defenders they are not always the most convenient items 

to carry with you; I always try to at least use a sterile alcohol 

wipe at the end of each day of shooting, but even so there are 

times when even this has been a challenge. 

Over the ear “muffs” are not always the most appropriate 

form of hearing protection either, and for those involved in 

low profile Close Protection duties, the “muff” is a real nono; 

there’s nothing that screams out “I am armed” more than 

darn great cans! To this end, for both personal and professional 

reasons I started looking around for alternatives. 

30

ETYMOTIC 

Etymotic Research, Inc. is an engineering-driven research, 

development and manufacturing company. The name “Etymotic” 

(pronounced “et-im-oh-tik.”) means “true to the ear.” Mead 

Killion, Ph.D. founded Etymotic Research in 1983 to design 

products that accurately assess hearing, improve the lives of 

those with hearing loss, protect hearing, and enhance the 

listening experience of all users. 

With deep roots in acoustic research and the hearing aid 

industry, Etymotic invented insert earphones in 1984. Etymotic’s 

original earphone design used balanced armature receivers, 

which established these speakers as the gold standard for 

high definition in-ear earphones. The first versions were used 

for diagnostic testing and precision auditory research (ER-1, 2, 

3). Etymotic produced the first noise-isolating high-fidelity inear 

earphone, the ER-4 (1991), which became the basis of all 

subsequent in-ear earphones and in-ear monitors worldwide, 

and created an entire category of consumer electronics. The ER-4 

earphones are still produced and channel-balanced to within 1 dB 

in Etymotic’s labs in the US. 

The early 1980s represented a new electronic age which 

saw the introduction of numerous technical devices to assist 

consumers in telephone communication and increase their access 

to and appreciation of music. Products such as personal portable 

radio/cassette players, FAX machines, cell phones and compact 

disc technologies were introduced. This time frame was also a 

period of advancement of in-ear technologies and greater public 

acceptance of hearing aids. On September 7, 1983, during a routine 

press conference, the news media observed that President Reagan 

was wearing a hearing aid in his right ear, which proved to be a 

priceless endorsement of hearing aids and helped boost sales to 

record levels. In fact, in 1983, U.S. hearing aid sales surpassed the 

one million mark for the first time in history. 

This atmosphere of innovative technology set the stage for 

the establishment of a new company that would focus on the 

design of high-fidelity products that measure, improve and protect 

hearing. Armed with two and one-half degrees in mathematics, 

a PhD in audiology, and more than 20 years of experience in 

electronic component manufacturing, Mead Killion took the giant 

step forward to initiate his own commercial enterprise during the 

summer of 1983. On the introduction of a mutual friend, Mead 

was joined by Ed DeVilbiss, who brought a high level of sales and 

business acumen, both of which were invaluable to the success 

of the company. 

The success of Etymotic Research is nothing short of 

remarkable. Etymotic Research developed insert earphones for 

audiometry and auditory brainstem response testing; otoacoustic 

emissions screening and diagnostic devices; directional and array 

microphones; a real-ear probe microphone for research; K-AMP 

and Digi-K hearing aid circuitry; Companion Mics; Musicians 

Earplugs; non-custom high-fidelity passive and electronic 

earplugs; personal noise dosimeters; a sound level meter and 

a direct-to-consumer personal sound amplifier. Along the way, 

Etymotic created an entirely new consumer electronics category: 

Noise-isolating, high-fidelity in-ear earphones. 

Never losing sight of its mission, Etymotic Research has 

expanded from audiology-based products to innovative devices 

for the high-growth consumer electronics and telephony markets. 

Etymotic has almost 70 employees and many consultants and 

colleagues who contribute to research and product development. 

Etymotic is rich in relationships with passionate people from all 

over the globe. This amazing group shares a common goal: To 

make the world a better place. 

ETYMOTIC 

pmcimagazine.com


ETYMOTIC 

ETYMOTIC’S GUNSPORT PRO EEARPLUGS 

Adding electronic hearing protection to one’s arsenal isn’t new. 

Hunters and marksmen have long been using passive earplugs 

and over-the-ear style hearing protectors. However, an inability 

to communicate while wearing some of these products, and 

the instability of bulky headphone-style muffs on the head, 

are clearly impediments. For these reasons, Etymotic’s in-ear 

electronic earplugs have distinct advantages. 

Properly sealed in the ear, electronic earplugs don’t move 

around. More importantly, it’s their ability to automatically 

amplify for better situational awareness, protect against 

continuous loud noise and blasts, and pass through normal 

sound that make Etymotic’s GunSportPRO electronic earplugs a 

particularly good choice for hunters and shooters alike 

The GunSportPRO model benefits from a Dual-Mode Switch, 

Automatic Hearing Protection + Blast Protection Mode, and 

allows natural hearing. They provides 15 dB of automatic 

hearing protection when noise exceeds safe levels, and also 

protect from blasts whilst amplifying up to 5X. 

In The Box you will find: 

• 1 pair electronic earplugs 

• Assortment of ACCU•Fit eartips 

• Durable neck cord 

• Filter tool and ACCU•Filters 

• Cleaning tool 

• Batteries (#10) 

• Protective case 

• User manual 

The GunSportPRO electronic earplugs are designed for gun 

sport enthusiasts in the field or at the range where enhanced 

awareness, clear communication and blast protection are 

desired. They allow natural hearing when no background noise 

is present and gradually protect from loud continuous noise 

from vehicles, machinery or gunfire from nearby shooters. 

At the flip of a switch sound is amplified, improving distance 

detection up to five times for enhanced awareness. 

The GunSportPRO electronic earplugs use Etymotic’s ACCU 

Technology with high-definition balanced-armature drivers, 

high-sensitivity microphones and proprietary wide-dynamicrange 

compression K AMP signal processing. The little units 

amplify sound up to five times, but switch to noise-cancelling 

mode when a blast occurs. And, they are much more natural 

looking than either oversized muffs or those orange foam 

plugs. Active circuitry allows the wearer to hear naturally as if 

nothing is in the ears. 

Innovation, education and hearing conservation are central 

to Etymotic’s mission. Etymotic’s products are used by scientists, 

hearing practitioners, hearing-impaired consumers, professional 

and amateur musicians, and others who insist on superior sound 

quality. Audio engineers, audiologists and musicians working 

together have generated over 100 patents issued and pending. 

And for us as shooters there’s the GunSportPRO, a dedicated 

model that offers all the protection we need, along with light 

weight and small pack size, so perhaps it’s time that 

we all tried something new! 

For more product and stockist details please do 

visit www.etymotic.com Please note that PMCI 

readers get 10% off at Etymotic.com using the code 

EHP10TP at checkout 

32

NUREMBERG, GERMANY 3-6.3.2017 

hall 9 booth 222 

Large carry-all bag designed for bushcraft use – perfect for daytrips. 

It has a wide shoulder strap, two zipper secured pockets for smaller items and PALS/MOLLE 

compatible side panels with additional sleeves for folding saws, knives or axes. 

Features: 

YKK ® zipper closure, 

One external zippered pocket one internal, 

2 internal waterbottle pockets, 

Built in sheaths for Knife/axe/saw, 

PALS/MOLLE side panels, 

Compression straps, 

Detachable, adjustable wide carrying strap.


KNIVES AND TOOLS 

BUSH GATOR 

BY ADKINS WOOD AND KNIFE 

If you spend a lot of time exploring the great outdoors, one of the most critical supplies you regularly 

find yourself requiring is a tough blade. As Trampas has often expressed in his knife reviews, a good 

handling knife can mean the difference between life or death in extreme circumstances. 

Unfortunately, terms such as “bushcraft” and 

“survival” have been grossly over used and 

misused for commercial purposes. Large name 

companies are stamping out tools overseas 

mislabeled for what they consider a new rising 

market of bushcrafting seeing only profit to 

be made. These companies often incorporate 

famous faces, poor designs and inferior steel for 

real world use. The truth is, the best bushcraft 

tools are still being made by small companies, often in garages 

and backyard shops outside of the manufacturers “day jobs” 

right here in the good ‘ol USA. 

So just what makes a good quality bushcraft blade? To not 

only help answer that question but to build a perfect example 

of a hard use tool, I reached out to my good friend and blademaking 

Viking madman, Wes Adkins of Adkins Wood and Knife. 

Located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Wes has been quickly 

making a good name for his company in the blade industry 

during the past few years. Prior to becoming friends with the 

hard-working craftsman, I was a fan of his work long before. 

One look at the unique designs and quality within the wide 

range of noted projects from Adkins Wood and Knife will tell 

you why Wes is on track to be a big deal within the industry 

very soon. 

34

PROJECT PLANNING 

Through my initial conversation with Wes about the project, 

we agreed the blade would be designed to carry with minimal 

equipment. This would require the knife to serve in a wide range 

of duties such as a carver, skinner and chopper all in one. For this 

to be accomplished, the blade needed to be larger than the small 

utility blade from Two Rivers Knife Co that I regularly carry in my 

outdoor kit in conjunction with a 19” camp axe from Hoffman 

Blacksmithing Company. While not meant to be overly large and 

prevent the knife to be easily manipulated in fine skill tasks, the 

bushcraft blade would need a good “heft” to it to cut through 

small timber. These parameters would still support my oftenstated 

opinion against “survival” blades over 12” in length. 

Basically, in my humble opinion, “This isn’t the Australian 

Outback and I’m no Crocodile Dundee!” If every presented against 

a knife wielding threat, I dually plan on there being no, “That’s 

not a knife, this is a knife”, scenario, it will be classified as a 

shooting after the threat is introduced to my other daily carry, a 

Glock model 19. Large knives look cool, but add bulk and offer 

limited uses, most in which a good hatch or axe could do better. 

As time progressed on with conversations weekly between 

Wes and I regarding what would be labeled the “Bush Gator” 

project, the design and build were slowly taking place. In true 

bushcraft style, Wes decided the 4140 steel needed for the knife 

would come from a repurposed guide bar from a saw. This was 

an endearing gesture for us both since we have a huge passion 

for reusing items from the past to give them new life and Wes is 

a licensed forester by trade. Combined with a hollow grind, some 

“experts” will say this wouldn’t be the best choice of material 

and steel for a bushcraft knife. This was my first thought before 

keeping in mind the wide range of uses the knife will have 

to perform, the razor-sharp edge would be fairly easy to keep 

honed. If this were to be a small blade, I would prefer a flat 

ground edge in 1085 carbon steel or a Scandi grind on a large D2 

steel blade for just chopping. 

With a small treatment of Modern Spartan Accurizing Oil 

applied to the slightly heated metal, the quench is in no way 

affected and the microscopic pores are sealed with dry lube to 

protect it from hours or even days of wet, muddy conditions as I 

do with all my knives. After using this product for over four years 

now, I have yet to need to clean any of my blades beyond rising 

them off and wiping them clean. 

The last thing discussed before Wes would shut the workshop 

doors and complete the project would be the sheath. A simple, 

straight forward Kydex sheath to hold up against the elements 

sporting a BullGator Camo, “the meanest camo on the planet”. 

I specified this camo pattern to match the camo attire my 

Swanson Media Group team uses in the field due to its superior 

performance in blending with a wide range of environments. 

Combined with pull-the-dot soft loops, the sheath was meant to 

be placed on and off belts and gear quickly as needed yet hold 

the blaDE SECURELY THROUGH ANY TERRAIN. 


pmcimagazine.com



36 

SPECS 

Blade Length: 5” 

Overall Length: 10” 

Weight: 11 oz 

Steel: 

4140 (Repurposed from a saw guide bar) 

Edge: 

Hollow Grind 

Finish: 

Raw / worn / oil quenched 

Scales: 

Jade Ghost translucent G10 with carbon 

fibre pins and tubing 

Sheath: Kydex featuring BullGator Camo with 

Pull-the-Dot soft loops 

Retail Price: Knife / $365 or complete knife 

/ sheath package / $400 

Website: www.adkinswoodandknife.com 

www.facebook.com/AdkinsWoodandKnife/ 

www.instagram.com/adkinswoodandknife/ 

THE BUSH GATOR ENTERS THE SWAMP 

A few weeks after my last discussion with Wes Adkins, a 

package from his shop arrived at my door containing the Bush 

Gator. As I unwrapped it from the rustic burlap bag inside the 

box and admiring the new Adkins Wood and Knife patch that 

accompanied it, I finally had the custom knife in my hand. 

I unsheathed the blade with a crisp “pop” from the kydex’s 

secure grip on the knife and immediately liked the feel of the 

knife. The contour of the 5” handle fit very well in my hand as 

the 5” beefy blade was surprisingly well-balanced. Much to 

my delight, Wes added a personal twist to the knife just below 

the plunge line and above the guard. A recessed edge for 

safely cutting fishing line and 550 paracord was added without 

sacrificing the rigidity of the blade’s design. 

The Jade Ghost translucent G10 grips featuring pass through 

carbon fiber pins were well designed and offered a wide range 

of benefits over traditional wood options. In the sunlight, these 

grips would often resemble the under belly of an alligator. 

The pass-through pins offer great lashing points to turn the 

blade into a makeshift spear for fishing, hunting or predator 

defense. 

As impressive as the blade looked, I was ready to see how it 

would perform. The following weekend, I took a trip out to our 

private training grounds affectionally known as “The Swamp”. 

This property offers a little bit of everything from a 

bushcrafting / camp area, shooting range with movable steel 

and paper targets and even a wetland access for torture testing 

gear. With recent heavy Florida rains, the blade’s two-day old 

Modern Spartan Accurizing Oil treatment would get just as 

much of a test as the edge would. 

As I started out with a few push cuts and light chopping to 

gather materials for finer work later, I was welcome with a light 

rain shower as I moved from task to task. The hand-cut thumb 

jimping or groves along the spine allowed for great traction 

in applying pressure as the blade sliced into small sticks for 

notching. As the water began to bead off the knife, I found the 

G10 scales to continue offering a secure purchase on the knife 

during heavy chopping swings. The wide blade cut deep into

the 4” tree sapling as I began to section it out. Before long, I 

had enough wood to start splitting for firewood. I began to use 

one of the small logs to baton the Bush Gator through the wood 

like a hot knife through hot butter. Most of the timber used was 

local white oak with a few small pines mixed in but it all split 

easily while the blade still retained a sharp edge an hour later. 

Once it was time to start a small fire and make camp, the 

previously mentioned thumb jimping worked well in tossing an 

arch of sparks from the ferro rod as I worked it. Within minutes, 

the dry leaves and feathered wood I had protected against the 

temporary shower went from smoking to a nice blaze in the 

clean air. In no time, the larger sections of wood were ablaze 

and I had a full on campfire thanks to the Bush Gator. 

The cord cutter came in handy several times while 

constructing toggles while stringing the cordage needed to 

put up the temporary shelter utilizing a medium size tarp. I 

have often had paracord skip off flat blades and send the 

edge rocketing upward from the applied pressure, but the cord 

cutter zipped through everything quickly and cleanly. Small 

details like this instead of goofy saw backed blades and archaic 

bottle openers are what make Wes’s designs functional while 

remaining minimalistic. 

After surviving its first day in “The Swamp”, I left impressed 

with the new Bush Gator’s performance overall. While this 

was just its first trip out for a couple of hours of bushcrafting 

between photo and video shoots for other projects, I was 

eagerly ready to schedule much more time with this knife. 

Thankfully, my schedule opened a bit over the following 

weeks allowing for several more trips to The Swamp. Thanks 

to the metal treatment I did on the knife immediately after 

receiving it, the elements did not harm the blade in any way 

despite the less than optimum care I performed other than 

re-sharpening the blade. 

During one such trip, I inadvertently batoned the Bush Gator 

through a nail that was lodged into the piece of wood I was 

cutting. After realizing what had happened, I inspected the 

edge for any deformation due to the nail. Other than a bit 

of dullness, the edge was still perfectly intact. Any second 

thoughts on using 4140 steel were completely out the window 

at that point to say the least. 

Another lesson learned came in the form of adding a length 

of paracord for a lanyard. Two specific reasons come to mind 

immediately. The first is for having an anchor for keeping control 

of the knife when chopping for long periods of time and your 

hand cramps causing the knife to come out of your grip. The 

lanyard prevented me from having to search the immediate 

area for where I may have pitched my knife. Secondly, the 

lanyard offered extra cordage during one outing when I failed 

to replace used cordage from a previous trip. By using the 550 

paracord used for the lanyard, I saved myself a 45-minute 

round trip to complete my outing. This could have been a much 

greater cost if it had occurred during a weekend excursion deep 

in the woods. 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

After spending a long, hot summer with the Bush Gator, I have 

come to really appreciate its abilities as an overall bushcraft 

knife. The goal of this project was to construct a blade that 

could handle a wide array of tasks for the end user to travel as 

light as possible when in the outdoors and still have enough 

to survive. I feel like this is exactly what Wes Adkins provided 

in the Bush Gator project with his unique style and top-quality 

work. I enjoyed the way the knife handled during small, intricate 

tasks while still offering enough mass and size to baton through 

small logs and chop down tree saplings. 

Retailing for US$365 without the sheath and US$400 with 

it, the price is right in line with any custom, handmade knife on 

the market. Sure, you can find cheaper knives, but to be able to 

call up a craftsman like Wes Adkins at Adkins Wood and Knife 

and have him build your dream knife to your specifications is 

well worth every penny! I highly recommend taking the time to 

discover exactly what your outdoor style and needs 

are and then discuss it with Wes to start your own 

bushcraft project soon. This is a first-class company 

providing top notch blades for those who know 

what they want. Don’t just take my word for it, 

visit www.adkinswoodandknife.com today and 

find out for yourself! 


pmcimagazine.com


FIREARMS: INSTRUCTOR RIFLE 

BUILDING THE INSTRUCTOR’S RIFLE 

When anyone discusses the topic of the 

perfect carbine/rifle on the AR-15 

platform, the answers vary everywhere 

from traditional A2 sight 16” barrel 

to sub-6 lb. carbon fibre ultralight 

minimalistic configurations ranging 

from 7” to 14” barrels. There have 

been tons of books and even more 

“experts” chime in with their builds 

and theories to pigeonhole one set up to handle every situation 

whether it was to sell guns, land government contracts or just 

for the “warm-fuzzy” of being the one who came up with the 

idea. The truth is, there is NO one singular perfect set up that 

fit every shooter’s style or preference. What does exist however 

is a certain basic list of items proven from in-the-line-of-fire 

experienced shooters have come to agree should be on any 

fighting rifle. Top quality parts consisting of iron sights, good 

trigger and a white light for low-light fighting are all on the 

must-have list. 

As a former SWAT operator, current NRA certified firearms 

instructor and gun writer, I have had the opportunity to shoot a 

wide array of off-the-shelf AR-15 rifles. Some shot better than 

others, some handled much better. A few rifles offered more 

bells and whistles than others while discovering the price didn’t 

always dictate every increase in any of the noticed results. 

What I learned the most from every rifle I tested was, in 

most cases I always had to add or remove some aspect of each 

one. While it’s great to start with a rifle that just needs a few 

tweaks, additions or subtractions I tend to see things 

from an economic stand point due to the limited gun budget 

most of us live with. Whenever you take parts off, you are 

removing an item you paid for to be on the rifle only to buy 

another part to replace it. This leads to wasted money sitting in 

38

a parts bin collecting dust. With an investment in time learning 

some highly suggested AR-15 armorer skills and the right tools, 

you can build a rifle to your exact specifications and forego 

wasted money. 

Recently, I decided to upgrade from the 10-year-old Smith 

and Wesson Viking Tactics edition AR-15 I have been shooting for 

1000’s of rounds over the hard shooting decade. To compliment 

my old reliable rifle, I wanted a rifle specifically for teaching the 

classes I offer through my company, the Swanson Training Group, 

the sister company of the Swanson Media Group. The old S&W 

rifle has served me very well through numerous classes I have 

taken as well as taught over the years but as the industry changes 

and technology improves, it was time to incorporate some newer 

products on the market for a slimmer profiled rifle. To save money 

and not waste unwanted rifle components, I decided to build my 

instructor rifle rather than buy an off the shelf rifle. 

UPPER / LOWER 

To start this project, I reached out to my good friends at Sons of 

Liberty Gun Works (SOLGW) in San Antonio, Texas. These Lone Star 

lead slingers (plus one wild Aussie) take their rifle craft seriously 

and hold all their products to the strictest standards. SOLGW 

has a great reputation for Mil-Spec (or better) 7075-T6 forged 

lowers with their contours being fully machined leaving no flash 

marks from the forging. Small details like that offer absolutely no 

worries with combining them with other top-quality parts from 

other areas of the industry. This would be the perfect place to get 

a stripped upper and lower receiver for my new rifle’s skeleton. 

Within a week, I had my rifle’s starting point on my office desk 

and ready to move forward. 

BARREL 

The next step was to find the heart and soul for instructor rifle 

build commonly known as it’s barrel. This would be an important 

factor in how my new rifle would accurately perform with various 

available ammunition was well as handle around barriers and 

obstacles when not on a traditional square one-way range. For 

this choice, I reached out to Ballistic Advantage and chose their 

economically priced Modern Series 16” 5.56mm government 

profile barrel. These affordable barrels offer a lot of the same 

qualities as high-end barrels offered by other companies and a 

1 MOA guarantee where most do not. I choose to go with the 

16” length to keep the rifle maneuverable without sacrificing 

too much loss in velocity as a longer service rifle length while 

also forgoing the need for a tax stamp that most of my students 

wouldn’t have with their rifles either. Very rarely do I see ATF 

classified short barrel rifles, aka SBRs, in my classes. To enhance 

reliability, I opted for the med-length gas system and tube to 

slightly reduce recoil and back blast commonly found in carbine 

length systems. 

SPECS 

Length 16” 

Material 

4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium 

Profile 

Government 

Finish 

QPQ Corrosion Resistant 

Gas System Length Mid-Length 

Gas Block Journal .750” 

Twist Rate 1:7 inches 

Muzzle 

1/2x28 Threaded 

Weight 

28oz 

TRIGGER 

One of the items I regularly stress to my rifle students is a good 

trigger. Too often, I have seen good shooters ruin their shots 

with gritty, overly heavy and poorly constructed triggers. For my 

instructor rifle project, I chose to go with an ELF drop-in match 

grade trigger from the great folks at Elftmann Tactical. I met 

these guys at SHOT SHOW in Las Vegas earlier this year and was 

immediately impressed with both them and their products. 


pmcimagazine.com



When it comes to understanding what makes a lightweight, 

100% reliable trigger for the AR platform, these guys “get it”. 

The adjustable trigger ranges from 2 3/4 to 4 lbs. with the 

heavier of the weights being what I left it set on. These triggers 

offer almost a non-existent creep and one of the crispest 

breaks of any trigger on the market. If you’re going take quick, 

close quarter shots as well as longer range, precision shots, this 

trigger is the one you would want to use. 

HANDGUARD AND LIGHT 

For my choice for a handguard, I wanted to incorporate a design 

Bill and I discovered earlier this year again at SHOT SHOW in 

Las Vegas, NV. You may have heard of the company, Hardened 

Arms, who have a very good reputation in the firearms industry 

but you may not have seen their cutting edge white light 

intergraded handguard combo titled the LumaShark. This M-Lok 

compatible free float 12” handguard is designed to eliminate 

bulky bolt-on lights and cables while giving the rifle’s overall 

profile a slimline feel and look. 

The LumaShark incorporates two pods under the rail 

towards the muzzle end which house interchangeable twin 

bulbs and easy click “on-off” tail caps. According the innovative 

folks at Hardene Arms, these pods allow for CREE lights in 

1,150, 500, and 200 lumen outputs as well as infrared and 

laser offerings. What caught my attention immediately was the 

equal access to light regardless of whether the shooter was 

right or left handed. In a lot of my training, students shoot from 

the weakside almost as much as they do from the strong side 

once the basic fundamentals are achieved. This seemed like 

the perfect item to incorporate into my instructor rifle. 

BOLT CARRIER AND FLASH HIDER 

During the process of deciding which parts I wanted to 

incorporate into the rifle build, I had the good fortune to start 

working with the folks at GemTech on a few future projects. 

Through my interactions with the company, I really got to 

see what top of the line products they produce and how it all 

works hand in hand with their suppressors. One project I can 

freely discuss now involves using the instructor rifle to test 

ammo for reviews and feature the results with both suppressed 

and unsuppressed data. 

To make the instructor rifle suppressor ready and to ensure 

the best performance in suppressed and unsuppressed modes, 

I chose to use the GemTech bolt carrier group and quick detach 

flash hider. GemTech’s bolt carrier group offers a switch on the 

side of the carrier to maximize performance when running a 

suppressor. The quick detach flash hider allows for a simple 

twist to remove the suppressor and result in saving a lot of time 

when switching back and forth when gathering data. 

STOCK, GRIPS AND MAGAZINES 

To finish off the major parts of the instructor rifle, I turned to 

a longtime trusted source for rifle accessories, MagPul. All my 

rifles feature some sort of MagPul product whether it be a pistol 

grip, foregrip or stock. To keep the same feel and reliability as 

my other rifles, I chose the MOE SL-S Mil-Spec stock, MOE K-2 

Grip and the M-Lok MVG Vertical Grip. 

Another set of standard equipment I like to use on most 

of my rifles are MagPul’s MBUIS or back up iron sights. These 

pop-up style sights are lightweight, reliable and simply work 

well without breaking the budget. While offered in 5 different 

colors, the traditional black sights have always stood out the 

best when acquiring a quick sight picture. 

In addition to these parts, I ordered a stack of new PMAG 

30 round magazines and an extended magazine release button 

MagPul calls their Enhanced Mag Release. The new magazines 

will compliment all the exact same mags I use for all my 

other 5.56 rifles. My general rule of thumb when it comes to 

magazines in general is to have at least 10 per firearm I own. 

FIT AND FINISH 

With a parts kit from CMMG, buffer tube assembly from 

Bravo Company and an ambidextrous safety lever from Strike 

Industries, everything was in place to get the rifle components 

finished and ready for assembly. If you have ever assembled a 

rifle using parts from different manufacturers, you will notice 

a lot of parts may be different hues of the same color such as 

black. While this does nothing to the performance of the rifle, 

I do prefer a clean and professional look to the rifle I will use 

to teach shooters paying their hard-earned money for the best 

services I can provide. 

To add a good looking and durable finish to the rifle project, 

40

I reached out to the Cerakote masters at Blowndeadline Custom 

Cerakote. When it comes to firearm finishes, this company 

is perhaps the best in the industry and comes with a lengthy 

waiting list for projects, regularly between 6 to 8 weeks. When 

you want the best, you must be patient. Trust me, this was well 

worth the wait. Roughly six weeks later, my parts returned with 

an amazing Multicam camo finish on them. After a couple of 

hours in the shop, my new instructor rifle was ready for its new 

optic to be mounted and sighted in. 

OPTICS 

For the past 3 years, I have religiously used the SPARC II red dot 

by Vortex Optics. This small, hard use optic ships with 3 different 

mounting optics including the co-witness pedestal mount I often 

use in conjunction with back up iron sights. For this new project 

quickly coming to an end, I decided to update my optic to the 

newer SPARC AR. This is a fixed pedestal mounted red dot with 

all the great features of the SPARC II but runs on an easy to find 

AAA battery instead a specialty watch battery most red dots 

run on. A lot of times when I may have a battery fail, I am not 

able to hunt down a store that I can find a flat watch battery but 

AAA batteries can be found everywhere including hotel remote 

controls or a friend’s kestrel unit IF I were to need to “borrow” 

one. Once mounted, the SPARC AR lined up perfectly with the 

MagPul back up sights and my build was officially complete and 

ready for range time. 

RANGE TIME 

Like a kid with a new toy, I couldn’t wait to get to the range and 

put the new rifle through its paces. Once the red dot was bore 

sighted, I shot all my test rounds from a bench rest to reduce as 

much human error as possible. My first 3 round group at 50 yards 

to start dialing in the optic. Striking high and to the left, I made 

a couple of quick adjustments and sent the next 3 down range. 

While not perfect, there was one round in touching the top of the 

bullseye. One quick adjustment and my next 3 rounds where all 

inside the bullseye. What impressed me the most was how tight 

each 3-round grouping was. In each round of fire, at least 2 of the 

3 rounds were touching. 

Moving back to the 100-yard mark, I wanted to test my 50- 

yard sight in and see what my hold under would be further out. 

After the first 3 rounds went down range, I was roughly an 

inch under the bullseye which was normal for a 16” barrel 5.56 

rifle. The first group measured an impressive .76”. I returned to 

the bench and shot two additional 3-round groups at 100 yards 

on the other two available targets on the board. The second 

grouping measured .75” and .74” for the third. Without cleaning 

the barrel, I decided to fire a fourth round of 3 shots which 

resulted in another .76” group. To say I was happy with a sub- 

MOA rifle build was a huge understatement. The quality parts 

from trusted manufacturers definitely paid off. 

Over the next few weeks, the rifle would continue shooting 

well during CQB drills as well as stretching out a bit to 200 and 300 

yards on steel. I was very happy with the performance received 

from the Ballistic Advantage barrel. With two builds pending for a 

local not-for-profit, I can definitely see using these barrels in both 

with no problem. 

Two big differences in the new instructor rifle compared to 

my old S&W rifle come in the light control and trigger. First, while 

working through low-light drills on an indoor right, I was very 

impressed with the LumaShark handguard / light combo. 

This seemed to be quite the gamechanger for a fighting rifle. 

I no longer had to over reach my thumb or hand during fire to 

manipulate the white light and using the dual light mode allowed 

me to determine just how much light I wanted to use on target. 

Secondly, my old S&W rifle featured a Geisselle trigger that was 

cutting edge for its time. The ELF drop-in trigger from Elftmann 

Tactical cut all the felt creep out of the trigger and narrowed the 

margin of error for other shooters who tried my rifle. I enjoyed 

how crisp the trigger break felt with each shot and how short the 

reset seemed to be. I found my shots came slightly faster while 

still being as accurate due the smoother and shorter reset. 


Over the period of four months, a lot of thought and consideration 

went into the instructor rifle build. I was able to catch up with 

some good friends in the industry and see firsthand what new 

products were on the market revolutionizing the rifle scene. 

With all the lasers, lights, bipods and other accessories, it would 

have been very easy to weigh my new rifle down with things 

not required on the project. By doing the research and having 

a realistic budget for the build, and spending the time on the 

range getting it all dialed in, I feel 100% confident in my new 

instructor rifle. In the end, my result was an affordable, accurate 

and reliable rifle with a clean, professional appearance. What 

more could you ask for? 

If you are thinking about building your next AR-15 platform 

rifle, I urge you to consider some of the great manufacturers 

and products I had the pleasure of working with. I choose each 

company based on their strong reputations for quality parts and 

personal experience with how durable they are in the real world. 

Below I have listed the name and websites for each company. 

Until next time, Train Hard and Continue the Fight! 

INSTRUCTOR RIFLE SPONSORS 

Sons of Liberty Gun Works - www. sonsoflibertygunworks.com 

MagPul - www.magpul.com 

Ballistic Advantage - www.ballisticadvantage.com 

Hardened Arms - www.hardenedarms.com 

GemTech – www. gemtech.com 

Elftmann Tactical - www.elftactical.com 

Blowndeadline Custom Cerakote – www. 

blowndeadline.net 

Vortex Optics - www.vortexoptics.com 


pmcimagazine.com


TECH: NEOMAG MAGAZINE CARRIER 

NEOMAG MAGAZINE CARRIER 

The firearms industry is a wonderful microcosm of the world financial market to observe with its trends, growth, 

rise in popularity and success from big business and small entrepreneurs alike. Trampas gets together with one 

of the latter to see what they have to offer! 

For shooters like me who love the industry so much 

that we invest our careers into both the “hardware” 

(guns, ammo and equipment) and “software” 

(training) aspects of it, one must always stay on 

top of the newest techniques and products. As a 

firearms instructor, I have noticed a huge increase 

over the past 10 years in people from all walks 

of life pursuing their state rights here in the US 

to obtaining a concealed carry permit for their 

handguns. As a direct result of this trend, the request from NRA 

instructors such as we employ with my business, the Swanson 

Training Group has sharply risen as well. As the managing 

editor of the Swanson Media Group, my fantastic team is always 

flooded with new firearms, gadgets and holsters claiming to 

make concealed carry easier, more comfortable and efficient. 

During my trip to this year’s largest firearms industry event 

in the world known as the SHOT SHOW, I had the pleasure of 

meeting a sharp minded inventor by the name of Graig Davis, 

owner of a company by the name of NeoMag. Graig and I 

discussed a few issues about carrying concealed which face 

people who do so all the time. 

The first was the lack of people carrying spare ammunition. I 

mentioned to Graig the fact that when I was in law enforcement, 

we carried not only the ammo in the pistol but an additional 

two spare mags as well but when I was off duty, I normally 

just carried the gun. The reason why was because when I was 

on duty, I had a large utility belt to hang handcuffs, gloves, 

42

holsters, batons, keys, and mag pouches on. Off duty, I could only 

fit my wallet and cell phone into my Wrangler jeans. If I tried 

to toss in a spare magazine, it would sink to the bottom of my 

pocket wedged under my wallet or tangled into keys. As a strong 

supporter of the right to carry a firearm concealed, Graig wanted 

to create a minimalistic way to carry a spare magazine that would 

help promote gun owners in carrying spare ammo. 

ALL THE BEST COMPONENTS 

Using the best quality materials available, Graig set out to build a 

magnet based pocket clip versatile enough to be used with a wide 

range of magazines. All Graig’s research and efforts resulted in a 

product known simply as the NeoMag. Made from CNC machined 

steel with a black nitrite finish, the NeoMag has a titanium pocket 

clip and powerful neodymium rare earth magnet. The steel black 

nitrite finished wings come in small, medium and large to secure 

magazines from twisting out of the grasp of the magnet. 

Graig told me; 

“As an avid second amendment supporter and concealed 

carry advocate I wanted the best way to carry a backup magazine. 

I engineered the NeoMag to use the best materials in the most 

minimal package possible. The NeoMag is completely made and 

assembled here in the USA. My goal is to provide you the best 

product and customer service possible.” 

I left the show with samples of each size to try out once I 

returned home to Florida. My choice in a daily carry firearm is 

often dictated by weather and clothing choice and can range from 

as small as a Glock 42 .380 (size small) and as large as my custom 

Les Baer 1911 .45 ACP (size large). The highest percentage of 

the time will find my Glock 19 9mm in an inside-the-waistband 

holster with a size medium NeoMag. What makes the NeoMag 

so versatile with only three size options is the open frame design 

which accommodates single and double stack magazines. The 

titanium pocket clip has a very strong retention to prevent it from 

working loose out of your pocket. Even with a full-size magazine 

sharing my front pocket with my wallet (you can thank my 

chiropractor for that habit) the NeoMag comfortably holds the 

magazine upright and ready for quick deployment. 

Currently, I am well into my third 

month using the NeoMag carriers 

daily and I do not leave the house 

carrying concealed without my spare 

magazine and NeoMag. Retailing 

for US$44.99 each regardless of size 

ordered, you will find they quickly 

pay for themselves compared to other 

systems on the market you would 

order and only use once or twice. I 

should point out, if you are a fan of 

using aftermarket pistol magazines 

built mostly from polymer such as 

Magpul and ETS magazines built for 

Glock pistols, these mag carriers will 

not work due to the lack of metal in its construction. The good 

news is, if you use Glock factory magazines, the 

NeoMag works perfectly! Look for NeoMag to become 

a household name for shooters in 2017! 

For more information on the very latest from 

Graig and NeoMag please head on over to https:// 

theneomag.com 

TECH: NEOMAG MAGAZINE CARRIER 

pmcimagazine.com


KIT: Q SERIES BATONS BY SOG 

Q SERIES BATONS BY SOG 

Over recent years, the market has been flooded with a wide range of “multi-tools”. This is due to an increased 

demand in “all-in-one” products for the growing public with the trend to streamline their lifestyles and yes, 

even their tools. 

Ageneral rule of survival, even in the “urban 

jungle”, is to carry items that serve at least 

three functions or it is just perceived as added 

bulk to your daily carry. Products range from 

bottle openers to lasers but all similar in shape 

and size. Truth be told, the multiple purpose 

tool platform has rarely changed from its Swiss 

Army knife roots starting in 1891. Over the 

years, various manufacturers have only added 

bulk and reduced user friendliness in the process. 

Earlier this year, SOG Tools debuted their take on the multipurpose 

tool in the form of what they titled the “Q” series at the 

industry only SHOT SHOW in Las Vegas, Nevada. This new series 

of tools takes the platform in a new and different direction by 

simplifying and slimming down the traditional form by putting 

it into a small baton. While only the pre-production models 

were on display at the show, I arranged to get a sample of the 

first two batons in the four-part series once they were released. 

A few months later after a pair of push backs on the actual 

production release, the SOG Q1 and Q2 batons arrived at the 

office for review. Each baton comes in a clear plastic box similar 

to a new cell phone accessory with only the baton and a one 

page instruction guide. Each baton was roughly shaped like a 

medium size highlighter in a very attractive black and matte 

grey anodized finish. Both offered a SOG branded metal clip to 

hold the baton upright in a pocket or backpack. 

44

Q1 Specs 

Closed: 5.6” 

Weight: 2.4 oz. 

Features: Replaceable pressurized ball point pen 

Flat screwdriver 

Bottle opener 

Scissors 

MSRP: US$54.00 

Q2 Specs 

Closed: 6.3” 

Weight: 3 oz. 

Features: Straight edge blade 

75 Lumen LED flashlight 

Bottle opener 

Flat screw driver 

MSRP: US$67.00 

I have been carrying both the Q1 and Q2 batons regularly for 

over a month in my range pack and daily “go” bag with mostly 

positive results. Let’s take a look at some quick “pros and cons” 

have found during my time with these SOG tools. 

PROS 

I liked that the batons are slim and easy to slip into my pocket or 

even clip into an outside Molle loop on one of my bags if I need to 

quickly store them. There was no noticeable bulk and did not flop 

around in my gear like a traditional multi-tool would. 

The Q1’s replicable pressurized pen came in handy when 

needed because I habitually do not carry an ink pen in my kit 

although I am always finding myself in need of one. The fact I 

can easily find inexpensive replacement cartridges for the pen is 

a huge plus. 

The Q2’s straight blade arrived out of the box razor sharp and 

ready for real world use. I have used the blade regularly without 

having to re-sharpen it yet. 

The Q2’s 75 lumen LED light is bright, easy to use and holds 

up to having been accidently dropped several times on tile, 

hardwood and concrete. It’s tough, bright and very user friendly. 

Changing out the battery is fast and easy. The use of a very 

common AAA battery is a huge plus because it doesn’t involve a 

trip to a specialty store to replace. 

With the Q1, the scissors feature a few years ago would not 

have very much use other than being the only allowed cutting 

device to fit TSA standards. However, at this point in my life, I 

am a father for two young daughters who are constantly buying 

clothes, toys and other items in need of having tags, strings and 

wire holders cut off in a hurry before the world ends. My formerly 

least favorite multi-tool feature has now become one of my 

most used. While a straight knife blade could do the same task, 

the scissors offer a quick and safe way to cut small items while 

having small children hovering about in the zone a straight knife 

may swing once finally cutting through. 

CONS 

As with any product, there were things not very useful for my 

daily duties such as the bottle opener. Again, looking at social 

trends, the world is moving away from traditional bottles without 

twist-off tops which made the bottle opener feature on both the 

Q1 and Q2 an archaic item for my needs. 

The flat head screw driver on the end of this opener tool was also 

not much use as the world is predominantly full of Phillips head 

screws if not individually licensed proprietary patterns. This space 

on each baton would be much better suited by eliminating two 

items for one decent sized Phillips head driver. 

While I liked the Q2’s straight blade, I did end up poking 

myself in the finger with it a couple of times when I first learned 

out to fold the baton to expose it. The end of the blade is very 

close to the top of the baton where the hand naturally wants 

to apply pressure to fold it. There is a definite self-correcting 

learning curve built in for most end users. 


Coming away from the SHOT SHOW, I was concerned about the 

MRSP of the Q series ranging from US$54 to over US$100 with the 

Q4. The product offers a limited number of features for the price 

of some full-size tools. After spending time with the Q1 and Q2, I 

clearly see where the value lies. 

Both batons reviewed were very well-made, light-weight, 

easy to use and very durable. SOG has built a great reputation 

for quality products in the industry and the Q series looks to be 

yet another hit for this respected company. If you are 

looking for easy to carry daily items that meet the 

needs of urban survival, I urge you to check out the 

Q series from SOG (www.sogknives.com) for yourself 

and find out which is right for you. 

KIT: Q SERIES BATONS BY SOG 

pmcimagazine.com


SKILLS AND DRILLS: VEHICLES PT2 

SHOOTING FROM VEHICLES PART 2 

Last month Andy brought us the first part of his tutorial and advice on shooting from vehicles, and this time 

he wraps things up concentrating on the important differences in operating with Left Hand Drives. 

To recap on the last issue as PMC’s we often find 

ourselves in transit, be it on route to or from 

work or with a VIP. The chances are that we will 

be safe, if all goes to plan that is, but in our line 

of work we all know that that’s not always the 

case. In fact we should always plan for the worst 

case scenario and train accordingly. Shooting 

from vehicles isn’t hard to do, it just needs time 

and practice to achieve the desired skill set. 

Like all shooting skills, shooting from vehicles is a perishable 

skill and will soon be lost once it has been mastered if you 

don’t keep up to date with training. 

This time I’ll concentrate on working from left hand drive 

vehicles as we’ll often be needing to deal with these when 

working overseas. 

DRIVER - THREAT TO LEFT WINDOW: 

Use the right hand to release and remove the seatbelt. The 

left hand and arm should be placed flat across the chest so the 

seatbelt does not get caught up when it returns home. Lean 

forwards and reach for the handgun with your right hand. It’s 

important to make sure that the seatbelt is clear of your body 

before you draw the handgun from the holster. The biggest 

problem here is the proximity of the steering wheel. 

Once the handgun is drawn and out of the holster trace 

the muzzle of the weapon over the top of the steering wheel 

as you present it to the threat. The method of tracing the 

weapon over the steering wheel ensures that the muzzle of 

the gun does not flash any part of your body nor is it likely 

to be knocked out of your hand by catching on the steering 

wheel itself. Remember not to present the weapon out of the 

window. 

DRIVER - THREAT TO RIGHT WINDOW 

Use the right hand to release and remove the seatbelt. The 

left hand and arm should be placed flat across the chest so the 

seatbelt does not get caught up when it returns home. Lean 

forwards and reach for the handgun with your right hand. It’s 

important to make sure that the seatbelt is clear of your body 

before you draw the handgun from the holster. Twist your 

body towards the threat and and engage your target. 

If you have a passenger in the vehicle, the first thing 

that needs to happen is that the passenger needs to lean as 

far forwards as possible. Remove the seatbelt as before and 

grasp your weapon. Remember that the vehicle is dead so 

you will not be trying to drive away. Draw your weapon being 

cautious of the orientation of the muzzle at all times. Bring 

the weapon up from the holster, with the muzzle pointing 

towards the roof of the vehicle, then bring it around the back 

of the passenger. DO NOT muzzle sweep the passenger. Extend 

the weapon towards the threat. This will give you room to 

shoot to the right with the weapon passing the passengers 

back. Use your weak hand to assure the passengers position. 

(This drill will ensure that spent cases will hit the 

passenger seat and not the passenger also it negates muzzle 

flash burns to the passengers face). Do not shoot in front of 

the passenger as the empty cases and muzzle flash will cause 

serious harm and burns to the passenger. 

DRIVER - THREAT TO THE FRONT 

Again you still have to remove the seatbelt as described 

above, however the draw is the simple task of presenting 

your weapon to the target. Remember that care and attention 

must be paid to safety. There is still a great risk that you can 

46

flag yourself (or passenger if your drawing the weapon from the 

right) with the muzzle. 

Unless you have armoured glass in your vehicle then all the 

shots you fire can go straight through the windshield. Ejected 

cases will be thrown to the right and may cause any harm to a 

passenger sat beside you in the vehicle. Unless the passenger 

takes action, instruct them to sit well back into their seat so as to 

prevent empty cases hitting them in the face. 

PASSENGER - THREAT TO LEFT WINDOW 

The first action is for the driver to push themselves as far back 

into the seat as possible. Reach down with your left hand and 

unlock the belt from the anchor. The right hand and arm should 

be placed flat across the chest so the seatbelt does not get caught 

up when it returns home. With the seatbelt out of the way you 

can lean forward and draw you weapon. Trace the muzzle of the 

weapon over the dashboard to avoid the muzzle flashing any part 

of your body. It is also very important to make sure you don’t 

muzzle flash the driver also as you draw the weapon. Twist your 

body to the left towards the threat. As you present the weapon 

to the target, make sure your muzzle blast is clear of the drivers 

face. Serious injury or death may occur if caution is not taken here. 

PASSENGER - THREAT TO RIGHT WINDOW 

Remove the seatbelt as before. The right hand and arm should 

be placed flat across the chest so the seatbelt does not get 

caught up when it returns home. Lean forwards and reach for the 

handgun with your right hand. It’s important to make sure that 

the seatbelt is clear of your body before you draw the handgun 

from the holster. Twist your body towards the right and extend 

the weapon towards the threat. Again remember to keep the 

weapon in a close-quarters retention position and not to present 

the weapon past the window in order to avoid the weapon being 

taken from you. 

EXIT 

Once the shooting stops or you have suppressed your adversary 

enough it’s time to exit the vehicle. Using your weak hand, reach 

for the door handle and open it. Use your outside foot to keep 

the door open making sure it doesn’t swing back and close or 

trap you as you exit. Exit the vehicle while keeping your eye 

on the threat at all times and slowly retreat to the rear, or side 

depending on the orientation of threat, of the vehicle. If the glass 

in your vehicle is armoured then you will have to shoot through 

the V created by the windshield and the door, otherwise you can 

put rounds through the glass. Once at the rear, or side, of the 

vehicle you will need to reload and quickly assess your situation. 

The use of smoke, if you have it, can aid you in your extraction 

and provide Concealment until you can get to safety or a backup 

vehicle. 

Studies show that most people tend to shoot at the biggest 

targets and in this case it’s the vehicle, so try to put as much 

distance between you and the vehicle as possible without 

compromising personal safety. Of course you will have to have 

anyone that is sat in the back of the vehicle exit while you are 

giving covering fire. 

Most vehicles are soft skinned and won’t stop a round. The 

only parts of a vehicle that are most likely to stop incoming 

rounds are the engine block and wheels, but don’t rely on these 

to save your life. Even the bodywork can play tricks on you. A low 

powered round may not penetrate the skin but can easily ricochet 

off a flat surface, such as the hood, and skip right into you. A 

general rule of thumb is to stay at a minimum of 6 foot away 

from the vehicle to help reduce ricochets from hitting you. 

Just like all shooting skills and drills this must be practiced 

regularly for it to become second nature. Take it slow when 

running this drill and get it right first time every time as you may 

not get a second chance if you have to run it for real. 

SKILLS AND DRILLS: VEHICLES PT2 

pmcimagazine.com


TACTICAL USE OF LOW-SIGNATURE WEAPONS FOR 

MILITARY AND POLICE 

Our Editor Bill was interested to read in his “Instructor Build” 

how Trampas had created a rifle that could be used equally 

well both suppressed and unsuppressed as tactical marksmen 

are employing low-signature firearms fitted with one or more 

devices to reduce both the sound and flash of the gunshot more 

and more. 

BOOK REVIEW 

When used with subsonic ammunition, a suppressed lowsignature 

rifle presents the ultimate in covert stealth for a wide 

range of missions. Although I’m more than aware of the science 

behind suppressors themselves I wanted to place this in a far 

wider context so decided to do some delving into the subject and 

came across “Tactical Use of Low-Signature Weapons for Military 

and Police” and what a gem of a book it has turned out to be! 

Online sources state that “A suppressor, sound suppressor, 

sound moderator, or silencer is a device attached to or part of 

the barrel of a firearm or air gun which reduces the amount of 

noise and visible muzzle flash generated by firing. Suppressors 

are typically constructed of a metal cylinder with internal 

mechanisms to reduce the sound of firing by slowing the escaping 

propellant gas.” 

But reading “Tactical Use of Low-Signature Weapons for 

Military and Police” takes this much, much further; it’s like 

getting an exclusive look at the notebook of one of the eminent 

experts on subsonic ammo and cutting-edge suppressors, Mark 

White. In this slim book, White dispels the myths about silencers 

and reveals the true nature of firearm suppression, including 

an illuminating examination of subsonic ballistics, a topic that 

usually gets short shrift in terms of research and development. 

In clear and precise terms, he explains the science behind 

the use of subsonic ammunition and suppressed weapons for 

both military and law-enforcement applications. With the right 

equipment and subsonic ammunition, a bullet discharged from 

a suppressed .308 rifle can be quieter than an arrow shot from 

a bow. My advice is to read this superb little book and find out 

for yourself how professionals determine the best firearm and 

ammo combinations for suppressed fire. 

Paperback: 118 pages 

Publisher: Paladin Press (1 Mar. 2012) 

Language: English 

ISBN-10: 1610046463 

ISBN-13: 978-1610046466 

48

Advanced Security Protection 

http://www.advancedsecurityprotection.com/ 

AKE Group 

http://www.akegroup.com/ 

Ambrey Risk 

http://www.ambreyrisk.com 

Antipirates.Org 

http://www.antipirates.org/ 

APPDS 

http://www.appds.co.uk/ 

Aquatic Marine Ltd 

http://www.aquaticmarineltd.com 

Protect Asia Group 

http://www.protectasia.com/ 

Secopex 

http://www.secopex.com/ 

Aspida 

http://www.aspida.org/ 

Associated Risk Maritime Risk Management 

http://www.associated-risks.com 

Bancroft Maritime Security Solutions 

http://www.maritimesecuritysolutions.co.uk 

Bechtel Corporation 

http://www.bechtel.com/ 

Black Pearl 

http://www.blackpearlmaritimesecurity.com/ 

Blackstone Consultancy 

http://www.blackstoneconsultancy.com; 

Blue Hackle 

http://www.bluehackle.com/ 

Blue Waters Partners Global 

http://www.preparedex.com/ 

BP Global 

http://www.bp.com/ 

Britam Defence 

http://www.britamdefence.com/ 

British Maritime Solutions 

http://britishmaritimesolutions.com 

BW Offshore 

http://www.bwoffshore.com/ 

Calibre International Security 

http://www.calibre-international.com/ 

Chilport 

http://www.chilport.co.uk/ 

Chiron Resources 

http://www.chironresources.com 

Clearwater Special Projects 

http://www.bodyguarding.co.uk/ 

Control Risks 

http://www.control-risks.com 

Decatur Maritime Security 

http://www.decaturms.com/ 

50

Drum Cussac 

http://www.drum-cussac.com/Index.aspx 

Dryad Maritime 

http://www.dryadmaritime.com/ 

Edinburgh International 

http://www.edinburghint.com/home/ 

Elite Maritime Protection Services 

http://www.elitemaritimeprotection.com 

EOS Risk Management 

https://www.eosrisk.com/ 

Erus Maritime 

http://www.erusrisk.com 

Espada 

http://www.espadaservices.com 

Ex Military Recruitment 

https://www.exmil.co.uk 

Exploration Logistics Group 

http://www.frontiermedex.com/ 

G4S Maritime 

http://www.g4s.uk.com 

Genesis Security Group 

http://genesissecurity.com/ 

Global Executive Outreach 

http://www.geo-ops.com/ 

Global Risk Security 

http://www.globalrisksecurity. 

co.uk/ 

Global Solace 

http://www.solaceglobal.com/ 

Global Strategies Group 

http://www.globalgroup.com/ 

Grail Security 

http://www.grail.co.za 

Halliburton 

http://www.halliburton.com/en-USage 

Halogen Security 

http://www.halogensecurity.com/ 

Hart Maritime 

http://www.hartsecurity.com 

Hill & Associates 

http://www.hillassoc.com 

HP TerraMarine International 

http://www.hpterramarine.com/ 

Hudson Trident 

http://hudsonanalytix.com 

ICTS 

http://www.icts.co.uk 

IMSA Ltd 

http://www.imsaltd.com/ 

International Executive Recruiting 

http://www.iernetwork.com 

International Maritime Security 

http://www.intmarsec.co.uk 


http://www.intmarsec.co.uk/ 

International Security Network 

http://www.isn.eu.com 

ISC Gulf 

http://www.iscgulf.com/ 

ISSG Sea Marshalls 

http://www.issg-seamarshals.com/

Janusian Risk Advisory Group 

http://www.riskadvisory.net/ 

Kroll 

http://www.kroll.com/ 

Longmoor Group 

http://www.longmoor-security.com 

Lotus Maritime Security 

http://www.lotusmaritime.com 

Lotus Projects 

http://www.lpyemen.com 

Maersk 

http://www.maersk.com/pages/default.aspx 

Magregor Protection Services 

http://macgregorprotectionservices.com 

MTResolution 

http://www.mtresolution.com/ 

MUSC 

http://www.sps-global.com 

Naval Guards 

http://www.navalguards.com 

Neptune Security 

http://www.neptunemaritimesecurity.com/ 

NNK Group 

https://www.nnkcorporation.com 

NYA International 

http://www.nyainternational.com 

Ocean Marshalls 

http://www.oceanmarshalls.com 

March Security 

www.marchsecurity.com 

Maritime Risk International 

http://www.maritimeriskinternational.com/ 

Marsec 

http://www.marsec.eu.com 

MAST 

http://www.mast-commercial.com 

McRoberts Maritime Security 

http://www.mcrobertsmaritime.com/ 

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 

http://www.olivegroup.com/ 

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 

52

Pistris 

http://www.pistris.com/Index.html 

Protect Asia Group 

http://www.protectasia.com/ 

PVI Ltd 

http://www.pviltd.com/ 

Raven Special Projects Ltd 

http://www.ravenspecialprojects.com 

Red Cell Security 

http://www.redcellsecurity.co.uk 

Redfour-MSS 

http://www.redfour-group.com 

Saladin Security Group 

http://www.saladin-security.com/ 

Saladin Security 

http://www.saladin-security.com/ 

Salama Fikira 

http://www.salamafikira.com/ 

SMS 

www.specialistmarineservices.com 

Tor International 

http://www.torinternational.com/ 

Trojan Securities International 

http://www.trojansecurities.com/ 

Orchid Security 

http://www.orchid-office.com/ 

Blackstone Consultancy 

http://www.blackstoneconsultancy.com/ 

Pilgrim Group 

http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com/ 

Maritime Risk International 

http://www.maritimeriskinternational.com/ 


http://www.intmarsec.co.uk/ 

Raven Special Projects Ltd 

http://www.ravenspecialprojects.com/ 

Salamanca Risk Management 

http://www.salamancarm.com 

Sea Marshalls Ltd UK 

http://www.seamarshals.com 

SEAL 

http://www.sealsecurity.com/ 

Securescot 

http://www.securescot.com 

Securewest International 

http://www.securewest.com/ 

Security Networking Events 

http://snespecialprojects.com/ 

Security Networking Events 

http://snespecialprojects.com/ 

Securoquest 

http://www.securoquest.co.za 

Shield Risk Consulting 

http://www.shield.eu/services/maritime-security/ 

Shipguard 

http://www.mss-uk.com 

SMS 

www.specialistmarineservices.com 

SPS 

http://www.sps-global.com 

Tactical Intel 

http://www.tacticalintel.com/ 

Thalassic 

http://www.thalassic.co.uk/ 

Tor International 

http://www.torinternational.com/ 

Torcuss 

http://www.torcuss.co.za/ 

Triskle TSL 

http://www.triskelservices.com 

Triton Security 

http://www.tritoninternationalltd.com 

Trojan Securities 

http://www.trojansecurities.com 

Veritas International 

http://www.veritas-international.com/

TACTICAL 

Patented 

Lazer Cut System 

The new Viper Tactical Lazer Cut Molle System is a lightweight and innovative 

platform that allows the user to customize and alter to their operational needs. 

Using the most advanced manufacturing techniques, the Lazer Cut System 

is based on our strongest 600D Cordura which is cut out on the latest laser 

flatbed machines. It is then reinforced with tough, yet lightweight, webbing sewn 

onto the reverse side, adding strength and durability, making for a compact, 

lightweight and hard-wearing platform. 

Taking any Lazer Cut System product as a platform, a totally unique operational 

tailored setup can easily be achieved by simply adding or reducing compatible 

pouches and equipment. 

Our Lazer Cut System is compatible with other Molle/Modular systems. 

patent number: GB2491624 

LAZER RECON PACK 

Capacity: 35ltr (approx) 

Material: 600D Cordura 

Dimensions cms: 45 x 25 x 33 

Colours: V-Cam, Coyote, 

Green, Black 

Internal hydration sleeve 

Multiple compression straps 

Padded Ventex back and straps 

Waist strap 

Grab carry handle 

Velcro ID panel 

2 x V-Lock 

1 x D-Lock 

srp: £45.00 

LAZER SPECIAL OPS PACK 

Capacity: 45ltr (approx) 

Material: 600D Cordura 

Dimensions cms: 51 x 40 x 24 

Colours: V-Cam, Coyote, 

Green, Black 

3 zipped compartments 

Hydration system pocket 

Multiple compression straps 

Quick release belt strap 

Velcro ID panel 

2 x V-Lock, 1 x D-Lock 

srp: £59.95 

ALL AVAILABLE IN 

V-CAM, COYOTE, OLIVE GREEN & BLACK 

>GET THE TACTICAL 

ADVANTAGE

PMCI - October 2017

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