#CrimsonTrace

If one were falling for the marketing hype, they might seem to believe that the release of the Generation 5 Glock is a big deal… Sadly, its not just Glock trying to push removal of maligned finger grooves and flared magazine well as a basically new handgun, other companies are piling on as well.

Crimson Trace announced the company was now selling a pair of Laserguard products for the Ruger LCP II handgun. The new Laserguards are available with either a red laser or green laser.

The one-of-a-kind LiNQ flashlight/laser system from Crimson Trace is now available for your AK-47 or similar firearms. This new offering will fit any stamped receiver AK-47, but no milled receivers. It also will interestingly enough fit the Springfield Armory M1A Socom 16 CQB. You will also need a section of Picatinny rail (at least 2 3/4″ in length) to accommodate the flashlight/laser unit near the front of the rifle.

Crimson Trace has introduced another version of their Laserguard laser sight this time for Springfield Armory XD Mod.2 pistols. The new sight fits all types of XD Mod.2 pistols: the 3″ and 3.3″ barreled Sub-compact models, 4″ Service model and the Tactical model with a 5″ barrel.

I will make no apologies for my love of polymer, striker-fired sub compact carry pistols. For the most part they are inexpensive, reliable, lightweight and accurate. Plastic pistols also can lack soul, character and style. Accepting to review the Kimber Micro 9 Crimson Trace pistol was a conscious choice to both push me out of my comfort zone and to return to a steel framed platform with classic lines – in a size that can be easily concealed by any shooter.

The most common Crimson Trace laser grips out in the wild are for the 1911, most often found on Kimbers as well as other manufacturers’ pistols. The laser grips have become part of a daily carry for many 1911 guys to include many of the guys I know that carry a 1911 every day. Since being acquired by Smith & Wesson there have not been many changes made to the Crimson Trace product lineup with the new Master Series laser grips being the first refreshed offering.

The advances that manufacturers have made in the development of lights and lasers in the past five to ten years is nothing short of amazing. I, like most of you, remember a time when attaching a weapon light to a firearm was a head-turning event at the range. Thankfully, the idea of proper illumination has gone mainstream.

Like most modern shooters, my tech side is in an eternal battle with the analog part of my life. On the one hand, third generation night vision is something I can see researching to death. On the other hand, a simple lever action rifle with well-finished wood is pure heaven.  Anyway, the Crimson Trace Linq wireless light/laser combo definitely strokes my techie side. But is it suitable for practical defensive use?

The Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation may change names next year. The company announced an unscheduled stockholder meeting for December to seek approval to change the company’s name to American Outdoor Brands Corporation. This seems to reflect what I’ve said previously about the company diversifying its holdings.

In late July we reported on Smith & Wesson working on a deal to buy Crimson Trace for $95 million dollars. On August 29th Smith & Wesson announced that the deal has gone through, Crimson Trace is now theirs. The cash deal gives Smith & Wesson a new platform to develop a line of electro-optics with instant brand recognition bypassing hurdles in proving a product to the industry.

In the business world, company acquisitions happen frequently. The purchase of a company can happen for various reasons, but it is all done to help the bottom line.

Crimson Trace recently grabbed the firearms industry headlines by being purchased by gun giant Smith and Wesson (for a cool $95 million). And although that alone is definitely enough to capture our interest, they’ve also recently announced a new product that is notably different than the products for which they’re known. The new product? Crimson Trace Laserless Grips.

In a press release earlier today Crimson Trace has announced that they are now going to be producing grips with no laser. Crimson trace has a well known history of producing some of the very best laser aiming aids with over 2 million sets shipped over the last 20 years. They have also built up OEM partnerships with some of the biggest names in the manufacturing business like Kimber, Ruger, Smith and Wesson, Springfield and more. The new laserless grips open a new market for the Oregon based company and add to the options that will give shooters even more options past the over 200 products currently offered.

Earlier today Smith and Wesson Holding Corp. announced that they have inked a deal to acquire Crimson Trace Corporation in a $95 million cash deal, pending some final adjustments. The acquisition of Crimson Trace is the latest of several companies that have been purchased by the $1.66 billion company. In 2014 Smith and Wesson purchased Battenfield Technologies; the parent company for Caldwell, Frankford Arsenal, Wheeler, and other brands; in a $130.5 million dollar deal. In a relatively quiet move earlier this month, Smith and Wesson also acquired Taylor Brands in a $85 million cash deal.

Honor Defense announced that Crimson Trace was now making the Laserguard for the Honor Guard line of self defense handguns. The new Laserguard will use a red aiming laser and will be deisgnated the LG-498.