#Blackhawk

In Norse mythology, the valkyries were angelic female shepherds of the dead slain in battle, who chose from among them the warriors who would prepare for the coming of Ragnarok, and and who would whisk the chosen away through the sky to Valhalla. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, valkyries became reality – after a fashion. Great aluminum machines with whirring blades carried men into battle for the first time, and, when needed, swooped down onto the battlefield to carry off the wounded for treatment. The age of airmobile infantry – the age of the helicopter – had begun.

Orbital ATK, the defense contractor who manages and operates the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, will soon be bought by defense giant Northrop Grumman, according to an article released on Reuters. The purchase price is expected to be close to $8 billion USD. From Reuters:

The S&S Precision Holster Extender Gear Retention Track (GRT) is a three position adjustable belt adapter for a duty holster.

Without any doubt in my mind, the AR-15 is the rifle of both today and the future for American shooters. The guns are reliable, easy to shoot, easy to maintain and are very easy to modify for even novices. Quite literally, you can build one of these guns from a block of aluminum that has only been partially machined using hand tools. I suspect that this market will continue to grow as more people discover these rifles and current owners decide to spend more time customizing their existing guns.

BLACKHAWK!, makers of holsters, ballistic nylon bags/cases and entry tools has quietly announced a new line of sound suppressors to their product line. The details are scant at the moment, but from the looks of it, BLACKHAWK! will be offering a full line of silencers that will cover anything from .22lr to handguns to magnum centerfire rifle cartridges.

Just days ahead of the National Rifle Association’s Annual Meetings, Blackhawk announced a new concealed carry holster that offers a variety of ways it can be worn. It is called the Leather Tuckable Pancake Holster.

A lot of time is spent by shooters discussing tactics and gear, but little time is spent by most people on other survival skills and gear. For example, relatively few people know the basics of how to deal with a gunshot would, how to apply a tourniquet or even know what to do if someone is choking. Fewer still have the medical tools they might need in an emergency.

Everyone makes mistakes, and everyone who uses guns for long enough will make a mistake or two. Sometimes, though, they make those mistakes at the most cringe-inducing times (such as this famous incident from 2004 involving a DEA agent). Unfortunately, gunsmith and firearms instructor Patrick Sweeney had a brush with firearms unsafety while filming a recent segment for Guns & Ammo TV on the Blackhawk! Serpa holster, see below at 2:23:

Blackhawk recently announced a new series of holsters that can be used in a variety of carry positions. The new rigs are called the TecGrip holsters. According to the company, the holsters can be purchased as either an inside the waistband or pocket rig.

BLACKHAWK! was founded more than two decades ago, but the idea for its existence started a little earlier, in 1990. At that time, the company’s founder, who was a Navy SEAL, was attempting to cross a minefield, and his pack failed. As the story goes, he watched his gear fall from the useless pack and vowed to one day make his own truly durable, reliable equipment – should he get out alive, of course. He did, and made good on his vow, founding BLACKHAWK! which has gained an undeniably solid reputation in the industry for everything from packs to holsters to boots.

Blackhawk announced several new fits in the company’s SERPA line of holsters. The guns that SERPA holsters are now available for include:

The USMC will be replacing their nylon pistol holsters for Blackhawk’s polymer SERPA Level 2 Tactical Holster. The holster is controversial because if not careful, a shooter can hook their finger in the trigger when drawing it and discharge the gun into their leg.

The firearm industry consolidation continues. ATK, a major player in the defense industry, has purchased Blackhawk Industries.

Ruger has embraced the .327 Federal Magnum and added it to their line of GP100 and Blackhawk revolvers.

Knoxx (now part of Blackhawk) have launched a thumbhole variant of their recoil dampening Talon (shotgun) and Axiom (rifle) stocks.