Radians Provides PPE For Disaster Relief
Radians CEO Mike Tutor and President Bill England responded to recent tornado
disasters in the Midwest with a significant PPE donation to Matthew 25: Ministries.
Also pictured are members of Radians’ new product development team.
Radians Provides PPE For Disaster Relief
Radians, manufacturer of quality personal protective equipment (PPE), announced a recent donation of nine pallets of safety products to Matthew 25: Ministries.
The disaster-response organization provides critically needed aid to more than 20 million people in need each year, most recently to communities across a multi-state region devastated by the December 2021 onslaught of tornadoes and powerful windstorms.
“The destruction from these devastating tornadoes is truly heartbreaking,” said Tim Mettey, CEO of Matthew 25: Ministries, during the crisis. “In the aftermath of disasters such as these, PPE supplies are in high demand to keep people safe while beginning the long process of recovery. We appreciate the generous support of corporate donors like Radians, who help us to provide hope and essential supplies to people who have been impacted by the disaster.”
“Massive destruction like this requires major clean up and new construction on a gigantic scale, so lots of PPE will be required. Radians is thankful we can give back by supplying the safety products that disaster communities need,” said Radians President Bill England.
Radians sent work gloves, anti-fog goggles and other safety eyewear, disposable foam earplugs, coveralls, jackets, AR/FR workwear and hi-vis apparel to Matthew 25: Ministries.
Federal, Easton Celebrate Centennial Anniversaries
Tracing their beginnings back to 1922, Federal Ammunition and Easton are celebrating an accomplished milestone this year: 100 years in business.
Federal’s official date of incorporation was April 27, 1922, but the festivities have already started. The company kicked off the year by lighting up a 100th anniversary sign on top of one of its silos in Anoka, Minn., and will offer throwback packaging, special merchandise, an exhibit at the Anoka County Historical Society Museum and more throughout the year.
“Many people and partners have contributed to our success and I’m proud to join the current team in making sure that tradition of excellence continues,” said Jason Vanderbrink, Federal president.
A special edition magazine, available now on newsstands, and coffee table book are also planned this year, along with accounts of Federal’s history on social media.
“The entire staff of 1,500 hardworking Americans in Anoka, Minn., is extremely proud to celebrate a full century of continuous and successful operation. We appreciate those who came before us to make this possible and look forward to taking Federal into its next century,” said Vanderbrink.
“Many people and partners have contributed to our success and I’m proud to join the current team in making sure that tradition of excellence continues.”
Jason Vanderbrink, President Federal Ammunition
Easton’s inception began with a family name, and is still a family-owned company today. Founder Doug Easton began crafting his own bows and arrows out of cedar and pine in 1922, before moving to Los Angeles to open Easton’s Archery Shop in 1929. Numerous advancements followed, including the first screw-in point system that would become the world standard and the production of the world’s first aluminum arrow, the 24SRT-X, in 1949.
Easton also developed the venerable XX75, while also innovating in the sporting goods (aluminum baseball and softball bats; aluminum-carbon hockey sticks) and music industries (aluminum drumsticks).
Easton’s son, Jim, and grandson, Greg Easton, have furthered the company’s legacy through the introduction and evolution of aluminum carbon (A/C) hybrids and small-diameter carbon arrows.
“The powerful draw of the sport, and the relentless push to innovate couldn’t make history without the millions who put their trust in Easton and share our singular aim of excellence. Of all the honors and achievements, archers are what keep Easton looking downrange, since 1922 to the next 100 years and beyond,” the company said in a press release.
The SI team salutes both brands for achieving this rare milestone.
Armasight Relaunches In 2022
Armasight will officially launch the brand under new ownership and leadership at SHOT Show 2022. Armasight returns to the market with a number of products, several strategic alliances and exclusive distribution arrangements with The Third Bull & Co. and USIQ Inc.
Founded in 2011, Armasight was acquired in 2016 and operated by FLIR through the end of 2019, when it ceased operations. In June 2020, the Armasight brand and intellectual property were acquired and added to the Ecentria portfolio. Armasight will continue the tradition of quality and innovation in developing and manufacturing products for military, law enforcement, search and rescue, hunting and outdoor recreation.
Dmitry Rocklin, an industry veteran of 25+ years and co-founder/president of Armasight when it was originally founded in 2011, has joined the new company as head of product. Armasight has manufacturing, assembly and product service facilities located in the United States, and leverages numerous aspects of Ecentria’s platform in its go-to-market strategy.
“Armasight is an excellent fit with Ecentria,” commented Mark Levitin, CEO of Ecentria. “The addition of Armasight’s product development acumen and manufacturing expertise to OpticsPlanet, The Third Bull & Co. and USIQ’s penetration into consumer, commercial and government channels is the realization of Ecentria’s vision and mission to be purveyors of gear for those who play, work and serve with passion.”
The Third Bull & Co. has assumed exclusive commercial distribution rights for the civilian market, while USIQ Inc. is the exclusive distributor to U.S. and foreign militaries and government agencies.
Celerant Integrates With Fortis
Celerant Technology has announced a partnership with Fortis (formerly BLUEDOG), a leading payment and commerce technology provider. By integrating Celerant’s point of sale and eCommerce software with Fortis, dealers can accept all major forms of payment, centralize sales and customer data from all channels, and process transactions quickly and securely with competitive pricing and no hidden fees. Dealers can also process firearm sales, and ensure compliance through Celerant’s integrated digital bound book.
“Celerant has supported the retail industry for many years, and our partnership is a natural fit,” stated Greg Cohen, Fortis chairman and CEO. “In today’s world, merchants really need to provide the flexibility, speed and security their customers demand. Celerant provides all the right tools that retailers need, and we believe integrating our commerce payments platform with their software is exactly what clients need to be even more competitive in the new year.”
By integrating with Fortis, dealers can have payments easily accepted and processed directly with next-day funding — making reconciliation quick and seamless. Fortis addresses the unique challenges of the outdoor and pawn industries, and processes firearm sales, including Title II/Class 3 and manufacturers.
“With more and more dealers expanding their businesses online, and industry trade shows back on schedule, it’s important to have multichannel payment options that can process transactions in any environment,” stated Ian Goldman, Celerant president and CEO. “Fortis is well-known in the firearms industry, and partnering with them provides our dealers with yet another great option to process payments.”
SAAMI Announces Ammunition Equivalency Online Resources
The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute Inc. (SAAMI) has added two new web-based resources. These new documents help to clarify the interchangeability of certain ammunition in a specified firearm chamber, and identify the names of equivalent and historical cartridges.
Both documents were developed by the SAAMI Joint Technical Committee and can be found on the SAAMI website under Informational Publications and Advisories.
The new documents are:
• Generally Accepted Firearms and Ammunition Interchangeability: This document lists generally accepted alternate firearm/ammunition combinations which will generally allow for the safe firing of an alternate cartridge in a specified firearm chamber. There is also information on shotshell interchangeability and commercial vs. military standards.
• Generally Accepted Cartridge and Chamber Names: This document lists equivalent/historical names for cartridges in common use.
“These important documents add to SAAMI’s technical library of firearm safety resources that provide guidance to both industry professionals and the firearm-owning community. They emphasize important safety and technical information regarding the proper matching of ammunition and firearms, and what precautions must be taken,” said Joe Bartozzi, SAAMI president and CEO.
Fiocchi Expands, Earns North American ISO Certification
Fiocchi of America (FOA), manufacturer of ammunition for world-class competitive shooters, hunters and defense professionals, announced the successful completion of its two-year pursuit of ISO certification for its North American headquarters in Ozark, Mo.
The ISO 9001:2015 certification is the global standard for authenticating a company’s quality management system. It considers customer focus, upper-level management practices and continual improvement processes to ensure quality products that meet industry standards, along with optimal customer service. Third-party evaluation and accreditation verified that Fiocchi meets all requirements of this ISO standard.
“Since 2020, the entire Fiocchi of America team has been working toward ISO certification,” said Jared Smith, GM of Fiocchi of America. “The journey involved development of documentation and the learning of a new process by every employee. To pass the certification, FOA had to undergo a Stage 1 and a Stage 2 audit by an outside third party. FOA passed with flying colors with zero nonconformances. This achievement would have been impossible without the teamwork and effort of every employee.”
Fiocchi of America also recently established a new, independent manufacturing operation in Little Rock, Ark. The state-of-the-art facility significantly expands Fiocchi’s manufacturing capability, and supports the company’s recent acquisition of famed shotshell manufacturer Baschieri & Pellagri.
“These are exciting times for Fiocchi as we continue to expand our stateside manufacturing capabilities,” said FOA President and CEO Anthony Acitelli. “Our new ISO certification is a welcome validation of our commitment to manufacturing the best products possible for our consumers, and to providing the best possible service for our industry customers.”
Shoot Point Blank Rebrands To Range USA
Shoot Point Blank, an operator of 32 indoor gun ranges in the U.S., has changed its name to Range USA. New stores opening in 2022 will carry the Range USA name, while the current 32 locations will be rebranded by the end of March 2022.
“Our mission is to develop responsible gun owners,” said Tom Willingham, founder of Shoot Point Blank and Range USA. “As part of that mission, we want to set the standard for modern, approachable, safe indoor gun ranges. We want to be the place everyone thinks of when saying ‘let’s go to the range’ — America’s gun range. Our new, easy-to-remember name will allow us to better do that.”
All Shoot Point Blank memberships, gift cards, classes and other items will remain valid. Only the name is changing — ownership, service, ranges and product selection will not change, according to the company.
Range USA is a leader in firearms education, teaching tens of thousands of people annually, while also being known for its welcoming, clean and bright locations with friendly, professional associates.
“We’re committed to treating customers right every time we have the opportunity,” Willingham added. “Our attitude is different because we have a clear mission — to develop responsible gun owners.”
Henry “Support 4 Sami” Golden Boy Silver
Henry “Support For Sami” Effort Raises Nearly $47,000
Henry Repeating Arms’ Guns For Great Causes charitable arm raised nearly $47,000 to benefit an 11-year-old Maryland girl suffering from multiple congenital heart defects.
Customers purchased 65 Henry “Support 4 Sami” Golden Boy Silver lever-action rifles to raise the funds that will help defray some of the medical expenses incurred by the family of 11-year-old Sami Bernadzikowski of Elkridge, Md. Sami has undergone five open-heart surgeries and over 30 catheterization procedures so far.
The rifles, priced at $650 each, sold out in less than 24 hours after the announcement of their availability. The first and last serial numbers went to an online auction block, and the hammer fell at $2,725 and $3,025, respectively.
“Time and time again, the Henry family steps up to the plate and knocks it out of the park with their unending generosity to help us with these Guns For Great Causes initiatives. To those of you who purchased one of these rifles or offered your support in some other way, I thank you for giving Sami another reason to show off that big smile,” said Anthony Imperato, CEO and founder of Henry Repeating Arms.
The “Support 4 Sami” edition rifles feature an engraved and hand-painted design that incorporates Sami’s whimsical, curious, adventurous spirit within each letter of her name.
Built on Henry’s Golden Boy Silver platform, the rifles are chambered in .22 S/L/LR and feature a nickel-plated receiver cover, genuine American walnut stocks and a deeply blued steel octagon barrel. Each rifle in the series bears a unique serial number ranging from “01OF65SAMI” through “65OF65SAMI.” Baron Engraving of Trumbull, Conn., donated the artwork and embellishments on the buttstocks.
Guns For Great Causes focuses on raising funds through firearms donations for sick children, children’s hospitals, active-duty military and veterans’ organizations and wildlife and habitat conservation efforts, among others. The program has raised over $250,000 for six families over the past two years.
Adam Gariglietti, owner of John’s Sport Center in Pittsburg, Kan., stands in front of a new
display made possible tby Real Avid’s Pro Shop Upgrade merchandising program. “The
packaging is top-shelf and looks like something that deserves to be in my store,” he stated.
Real Avid Launches Pro Shop Upgrade Program
Real Avid, an innovator in the DIY firearms market, announced its Pro Shop Upgrade merchandising program. It provides retailers of all sizes across the nation with new sales-boosting tools for their DIY customers.
Pro Shop Upgrade offers dealers branded aisle headers, standout end-cap presentations and other visual tools that engage customers with products.
Real Avid designs its packaging to provide maximum information on product application, use and benefits, and this on-product consumer education makes product selection easier and leads to increased sales, both for experienced gun owners and novices. It is especially beneficial for first-time firearm purchasers or DIYers, who are often reluctant to seek assistance, and can be confused by the multitude of aftermarket accessories on store shelves.
“Our product packaging has always captured the attention of the consumer. This Pro Shop Upgrade program amplifies our assortments, and takes our in-store merchandising to a new level. The result is maximized revenue for the store,” said Dave Steiner, president of Real Avid.
When customers educate themselves in a retail environment with hands-on product information, the process can prompt follow-up questions with knowledgeable staff, and lead to more accessories sales.
Real Avid believes knowledge builds confidence, and its Pro Shop Upgrade approach to merchandising can instill confidence in consumers to perform much of their own firearm customization and maintenance without relying on the services of a gunsmith. They are more likely to push these dealers through word-of-mouth advertising, as well.
The Pro Shop Upgrade offers flexible and engaging merchandising options for in-store displays to meet specific floor plans and traffic flow needs. Included are merchandising signage, mounting hardware, inventory backer cards, installation instructions and a detailed planogram.
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Ruger Donates $25,000 To WTTA
Walk The Talk America (WTTA), a non-profit organization designed to bridge the gap between the firearms industry and owners and the mental health industry, announces the donation of $25,000 from Sturm, Ruger & Co.
“This donation will go a long way to supporting the WTTA’s efforts to educate mental health experts and firearms industry professionals on the critical need for information and communication between and within our industries to help curb the tide of suicides and gun violence,” said Mike Sodini, WTTA founder.
“We’re happy to support the great work Mike Sodini and Walk The Talk America has done to bring mental health awareness and suicide prevention to the forefront,” added Chris Killoy, Ruger president and CEO.
For over four years, WTTA has spearheaded a movement within the firearms industry to bridge the gap between mental health and responsible firearm ownership with the goal of reducing suicide by firearm and gun violence. Through educational material, podcasts and training programs, WTTA is paving the way of educating mental health professionals about the gun culture and breaking down the negative stigmas around mental health for gun owners.
Big Horn Armory Supports Wyoming Hunters For The Hungry
Big Horn Armory (BHA), maker of big-bore firearms, announced a $2,000 donation to the Wyoming Wildlife Federation (WWF) to help support its Hunters for the Hungry program (H4H).
The donation helped offset the cost of meat processing, resulting in nearly 2,300 wild-game meals for food-insecure Wyoming families during the holidays.
“For the second year in a row, we [were] happy to donate a portion of our November sales proceeds to help out our community in Wyoming during the holiday season,” said Greg Buchel, president of Big Horn Armory.
The WWF’s H4H program was created in 2018 to connect hunters and meat processors with charitable food organizations in order to provide high-quality, nutritious food to community members in need. This program builds on a foundation of conservation stewards who look to give back to local communities by sharing the harvest and cultivating meaningful connections across Wyoming. During the last three years, over 14,100 meals have been donated through the program to food-insecure families in four Wyoming counties and the Wind River Reservation.
All hunters must first prepare their harvest for processing in the field, and follow stringent Wyoming Game and Fish Department guidelines. Distributing partners or WWF staff distribute the processed and packaged meat to local food banks, pantries and other food services.
“We cannot thank Big Horn Armory enough for their Pay It Forward campaign going to the Wyoming Wildlife Federation this (past) year. Big Horn Armory serves as such a great role model for local Wyoming companies (in) giving back to the community around them. Their donation goes right back into the work that supports people in need with Hunters for the Hungry, a program that is crucial during (the holiday season),” said Dwayne Meadows, executive director of WWF.
Brownells Supports Special Operations Wounded Warriors
After pledging a percentage of its online sales during Veteran’s Day week (Nov. 8–12) to Special Operations Wounded Warriors (SOWW), Brownells raised $137,000 for the organization.
Formed August 2012, SOWW provides outdoor experiences to a select group of both active-duty and veteran U.S. military special operations forces — those who have received wounds in battle and have been awarded the Purple Heart.
Many of SOWW’s typical fundraising activities, such as benefit dinners and live auctions, have been curtailed during the pandemic, making outside donations even more critical to its mission.
“We are very grateful for our customers who helped us fund this awesome organization,” said Brownells’ chariman Pete Brownell. “Thank you all for helping fund SOWW, and for supporting the warfighters who benefit from SOWW.”
“We are forever thankful for the continued support Brownells has offered Special Operations Wounded Warriors. They have been a partner in charity since our inception, and they continue to be a major source of funds and support of our efforts to help special operations veterans throughout the year,” said SOWW President Joel Pellicci.
EOTECH Announces New Manufacturing Facility, HQ
EOTECH is now operating in a new Michigan manufacturing facility and company headquarters, in Traverse City and Plymouth, respectively. Ideally situated within Michigan’s regional technology and manufacturing hub, both cities offer the company a talented labor pool and enhanced supplier access.
“The choice to move was clear. Both Traverse City and Plymouth welcomed EOTECH with open arms,” said Dean Loebig, EOTECH chief technical and operations officer. “Offering an economic development incentive proved these cities wanted our business; plus it’s a strategic place to base our operations.”
EOTECH opened its state-of-the-art, 22,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility, located at 2207 Traverse Field Road, Traverse City, Mich., last summer.
The company’s new headquarters, consisting of 67,000 sq. ft. of space, is located at 46900 Port St., Plymouth, Mich.
Revo Brands/ Real Avid Acquires Outdoor Edge Cutlery
Revo Brands, the parent company of Real Avid, recently added Outdoor Edge Cutlery to its family of consumer brands.
Revo Brands operates in partnership with Vertikal Brands, a holding company established by Clearview Capital, and is managed by a group of outdoor industry executives focused on the acquisition of premium brands in the outdoor industry.
With a focus on the DIY segment of the shooting accessories industry, Real Avid has built a reputation for premium cleaning and tool accessories. Since its founding in 2008, the company has experienced rapid growth from exploiting existing market gaps while also creating new product categories.
Outdoor Edge is a leading manufacturer of premium knives and hand tools designed for outdoor enthusiasts and professional tradesmen. Founded by David Bloch in 1988, the company maintains a diverse portfolio of patented, award-winning, performance-driven knives and tools a wide range of consumers have come to know and trust. Bloch will play a key role in continuing the success of the Outdoor Edge brand and products.
“I never imagined Outdoor Edge would evolve from my college knife-design project at Colorado School of Mines into the leading cutlery brand of hunting knives, replaceable blade knives and home processing sets. I’m grateful for the opportunity to assist with Outdoor Edge’s future through my passion for designing innovative knives and collaborating with our newly expanded team to take Outdoor Edge to the next level of growth for many years to come,” Bloch said.
Outdoor Edge will maintain an office and staff in Denver, and will relocate warehousing and distribution operations this spring to the Revo Brands facilities in Plymouth, Minn. No disruption of operations is anticipated.
“I couldn’t be happier having Outdoor Edge join our family of brands. We’ve admired the company for many years, and feel privileged to be able to lead it through its next stage of growth,” said Roy Wetterstrom, CEO of Revo Brands.
“The Vertikal team’s industry experience and focus on growth are a perfect complement to the strong foundation and great teams of people behind Revo and Outdoor Edge, which collectively will undoubtedly prove to be a formula for success,” said Jim Gianladis, CEO of Vertikal Brands and chairman of Revo Brands.
Winchester Wins U.S. Army, FBI Contracts
Winchester has been awarded contracts by the U.S. Army: a $13 million contract for the development of manufacturing processes for the 7.62mm cartridge and $20 million in cost-plus and firm-fixed-price contracts related to ammunition development, manufacturing facility requirements analysis and production capacity planning for the 6.8mm Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) program.
Work will be performed at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) in Independence, Mo., the United States’ only government-owned, contractor-operated small-caliber ammunition production facility. This project was awarded under Winchester’s $8 billion contract to operate LCAAP.
“Winchester is honored to have been selected by the U.S. Army to execute NGSW program activities at Lake City,” said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester Ammunition. “The NGSW program represents our military’s significant investment in the future U.S. Warfighter, and the work being performed under these contracts is the genesis for generations of NGSW programs to come.”
In addition, Winchester Ammunition has been awarded in three out of four categories on a recent FBI 9mm ammunition contract.
This annually renewable, five-year contract granted awards to Winchester in the following categories: FBI’s Duty/Service (Micro), Training – Reduced Lead and Frangible. Awards were made based on a competitive, three-factor evaluation including technical merit, past performance and price proposals.
Vista Outdoor Announces Acquisition Of Stone Glacier
Vista Outdoor Inc. announced its acquisition of Stone Glacier, a premium brand focused on ultra-lightweight, performance hunting gear designed for backcountry use.
“Stone Glacier is an enthusiast brand that is fast-growing, well-managed and a great cultural fit. Our centers of excellence, brand portfolio and distribution network will support Stone Glacier as they reach their next level of awareness, maturity and growth. Stone Glacier enhances our ability to enter and leverage the camping category, which has exploded in popularity over recent years,” said Vista Outdoor CEO Chris Metz.
Founded in 2012 by Kurt Racicot, Stone Glacier designs and manufactures gear touted as the lightest, most durable and most coveted by discerning backcountry adventurers. Based in the “Big Sky country” of Bozeman, Mont., the brand has established itself as the preferred choice of backcountry hunters, outfitters and guides throughout the world.
“The future of Stone Glacier is bright. This partnership comes at a great time for our business, and we are excited for the support Vista Outdoor will provide to accelerate our growth (as we) continue developing industry-leading products. We have been fortunate to build a following of the most-dedicated backcountry hunters, and it has always been our mission to bring the best products, service and innovations to market. This partnership ensures we will continue to execute on that mission at the highest level,” said Stone Glacier President Jeff Sposito.
Vista Outdoor used cash on hand and available liquidity under its asset-based revolving credit facility to complete the transaction. This is the seventh acquisition in the past 18 months for Vista Outdoor. The others are Remington Ammunition, HEVI-Shot, Venor, QuietKat, Foresight Sports and Fiber Energy Products.
Federal, Speer Ammunition Awarded FBI Contracts
The FBI has awarded Federal and Speer Ammunition contracts in all four categories of its handgun ammunition bid. This award keeps 35,000 employees trained and ready for duty. Three of the rounds will be manufactured in the Anoka, Minn., facility and the other will be built in Lewiston, Idaho.
Federal and Speer were the only brands to be collectively awarded contracts in all four ammunition categories: Service (Full Size), Service (Micro), Reduced-Lead Training and Frangible. Federal and Speer were the primary for the Training and Frangible rounds with secondary designations for the full-size and micro-service rounds.
“It is an honor our brands continue to be selected for use by the most trusted law enforcement agency and value the products we make,” said Jason Vanderbrink, Federal president. “The ongoing validation of the technology and performance found in every round of ammunition made by our highly skilled American workforce brings great pride to our company.”
This Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quality contract is a one-year base contract with four possible option years.
“We’re excited to build the FBI the best bullets on the market for both duty and training,” added David Leis, Federal and Speer’s VP of law enforcement, government and international sales. “This is a win for our engineering team as the FBI will be utilizing new as well as refined bullet technology in their firearms for both service and training.”
GSM Outdoors Acquires SOG Specialty Knives
GSM Outdoors, a multi-brand manufacturer of specialized hunting and shooting sport accessories, announced its acquisition of SOG Specialty Knives Inc., a respected U.S. manufacturer of tactical and purpose-built knives.
“Since 1986, SOG has been synonymous with austere-duty knives intended to meet the needs of defense professionals. Our acquisition of SOG represents an important expansion of the GSM family of brands, and we look forward to taking the brand to that next level of consumer support and product innovation,” said Eddie Castro, CEO of GSM Outdoors.
Originally known for its combat-inspired fixed-blade knives, SOG has since expanded its knives and specialty tools to include folders, multi-tools and gear intended for professional use, outdoor recreation and everyday carry.
“SOG is a prestigious brand among outdoor and tactical retailers nationwide, and the company enjoys an enthusiastic consumer base. We are understandably excited to add SOG to our portfolio of knife and utility tool companies, including Cold Steel. We look forward to working with our industry partners to further expand the SOG brand across the professional and outdoor consumer segments,” said Zach Henderson, GSM VP of sales.
/ gsmoutdoors.com
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