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[…] Shockwave, which appears to designate this version of the non-NFA model is magazine fed. The Mossberg Shockwave has so far […]

[…] or double stack to accommodate a variety of popular handgun models. Alien Gear Holsters (208) 215-2046 www.aliengearholsters.com The Rapid Force […]

The Performance Center Model 642 Enhanced Action represents a capable option for concealed carry/personal protection customers. Double-action only, it’s chambered […]

[…] technology with the design of the first usable German self-loading pistol — the Walther Model 1. Later, Fritz would continue this innovative thinking with the introduction of the first pistol with a single/double action trigger — the Walther Model PP — and, shortly thereafter, the widely recognized compact model PPK. In 1953, the Walther family constructed a new factory in the city of Ulm, Germany, where most of today’s Walther production continues to take place. After its centennial anniversary as a family enterprise, Walther entered into a new era of globalization by merging with Umarex in 1993. Under the current management of Wulf-Heinz Pflaumer and Franz Wonisch, Walther has flourished in the development of new law enforcement weapons, and replica firearms, air rifles and other sporting arms. Walther’s tradition of innovation is demonstrated in recently introduced models such as the Walther PPS and PK380, this year’s much anticipated PPQ polymer pistol in 9mm and .40 S&W, and a reintroduction of the company’s best-selling .22 LR pistol, the P22. “Throughout our long history and through our innovative products, Walther firearms have had a hand in shaping our industry,” said Pflaumer, Carl Walther GmbH president. “Today, our firearms are relied upon by police agencies, target shooters, amateur and Olympic athletes, and citizens around the world. The scope and impact of our work is not lost upon the employees here, as each takes tremendous pride in their job, holding it to the highest standards. We expect more big things to come, and would like to say a special thanks to all of our partners around the world for their continued support.” In 1999, the company opened a new chapter in its history when in it announced a joint strategic alliance with Smith & Wesson. Under the terms of the alliance, the Springfield, Mass.-based firearm manufacturer would distribute Walther firearms and accessories in the United States. Since this alliance, both companies have worked together on marketing and distribution, as well as on the design and manufacture of some of today’s models. “It is with great pleasure that we extend a hearty congratulation to our friends and partners within the Walther organization,” said Michael Golden, Smith & Wesson CEO. “To be able to celebrate an anniversary of this caliber speaks greatly about Walther’s commitment to high-quality products and dependable service. We are proud to support the iconic Walther brand, and we wish the company all the best in their ongoing success.” For more information on Walther, call 1-800-372-6454 or visit www.waltheramerica.com. For more information on Smith & Wesson, call 1-800-331-0852 or visit www.smith-wesson.com. >> Click Here Click Here SI0811 August 2011

[…] our website, www.respectremington.tv.” In 2010, NBC News’ “Dateline” attacked Remington’s Model 700 trigger system. This time, NBC went after Remington […]

[…] make guns fast enough.” What are the most popular selling models? Rick Kenny, sales manager at Kastle Keep in Largo, Fla., says Glock always sells well for him. “It’s not any particular model. It’s across the board. Glock pistols are very hot. The Smith & Wesson M&P also is a real hot item right now. Everybody has a caliber they like, but the most popular seem to be 9mm and .40,” Kenny said. Yes, handgun sales are hot, but are some sales being overlooked? Kenny thinks so. He says customers and retailers become so focused on the most popular firearms, they sometimes forget about other, equally worthy, handguns. The key to selling handguns properly, Kenny says, is to present your customers with as many options as possible, and to help them decide which option is best to meet their needs. “I don’t think dealers do a good job of that,” Kenny said. He says customers often tell him that another gun dealer told them to buy a specific model of handgun, and that “everything else is junk.” This annoys Kenny, who says retailers need to look beyond their own favorites to help the customer find the right firearm. “All the Ruger pistols are overlooked more than any other brand, but they’re also one of the most reliable handguns made,” he said. “People also tend to overlook Kel Tec. Colt is a fine gun that is often overshadowed, and Springfield is another manufacturer that gets overlooked.” Kenny said there are several specific models he’d very much like to get in stock so he can show them to his customers. “The Ruger SR1911 has been out for almost eight months and we have yet to see one,” he said. “We also aren’t able to get the Kel Tec PMR-30, which is a hot seller.” Glock continues to be a best seller in virtually every region of the country. This G21 sports Crimson Trace’s Rail Master Universal Laser Sight. Missed Add-On Sales Not only do dealers overlook certain handguns, Kenny says they also either forget or get too busy to encourage customers to purchase accessories. “Sometimes, when we get really busy and we’re trying to get to the next customer so we don’t ignore anyone, we forget to remind customers about accessories,” he said. “When we do have time, we let the customer know what accessories are available for the gun they just purchased. Fortunately, we have really good customers who jump in and help other customers if they can. That’s nice because customers like hearing something positive from someone other than the sales staff.” The one accessory that is selling very well these days, Kenny said, is laser sights from Viridian. “I think it’s because they’re green and they have good visibility,” he said. “It’s the new high-tech thing.” At the distributor level, Laurie Aronson, president and CEO of Lipsey’s, says the Glock G17 and G19, and Ruger LCP are the best-selling brands of handguns, in .380, 9mm and .40. “Ruger has done a tremendous job of executing their new launches with guns ready at the time of launch, plus they continue to innovate with new products,” she said. Aronson said retailers and their customers tend to overlook larger-frame revolvers across all manufacturers. “These days, most consumers are looking for higher-capacity pistols or small-frame guns for concealed carry,” she said. Ruger’s SR1911 is such a hot seller that many dealers still can’t get them in stock. Introduce Other Options At GAT Guns in East Dundee, Ill., Greg Tropino, Jr. says many new shooters are influenced by brand recognition. “They hear about cops carrying Glocks, or they’ve heard about the Springfield XD,” he said. “They come in and ask for the big-brand names.” Tropino said novice buyers often aren’t willing to look at options; they have an image based on brand name, and overlook firearms that might be more suited to their needs and experience. “Often they don’t know the differences between guns,” he said. Tropino says it’s important for retailers to introduce other options, and explain why those options might be useful to the particular customer. “You also need to have a variety of handguns in stock so customers have options,” Tropino said. “You need to motivate your staff so they show the customer what options are available, instead of allowing the customer to make assumptions about what he wants.” Tropino said retailers often overlook firearms from CZ-USA. “That’s a very underrated company that makes exceptional guns,” he said. “They’re one of the few companies who makes everything in house and doesn’t outsource parts.” At GAT Guns, the Smith & Wesson M&P gets overlooked, Tropino said. “Few new shooters are aware of it,” he said. “It doesn’t have as much product awareness as Glock and Springfield.” Experienced shooters are aware of their options before they walk in the door, Tropino said. “They do a lot more research, so when they do come in, they know what guns and what models they want to see. They do their own comparisons,” he said. Tropino said getting these customers to consider another manufacturer or model is difficult, particularly if it’s a gun the retailer doesn’t have in stock. Tropino also said salespeople often get so busy they don’t encourage customers to purchase accessories. “It’s hard to take an hour with one customer, even if you’re selling high-margin accessories, because you know you’re leaving other people unattended,” he said. “And because employees don’t have to do much to sell handguns, they develop bad habits and sometimes just hand customers what they ask for.” Tropino says this contributes to customers missing out on lesser-known but quality firearms, and retailers missing out on potential sales of these guns. “If you don’t encourage or incentivize your staff — or at least remind them to push both these guns and accessories — they often don’t make the extra effort,” Tropino said. The Springfield XD series, including the XD-S, is a best seller in many markets, but is passed over by some dealers and consumers, according to Rick Kenny of Kastle Keep. California Factor The entire gun-buying dynamic is different in California. “We really haven’t seen the increase in handgun sales as much as other states have,” said Joe Ferrero, gun buyer at Gun World in Burbank, Calif. “Here, the increase is minor at best; it’s only about 10 to 20 percent.” Ferrero said he thinks California customers are accustomed to the kind of regulations the rest of the country fears. “We already have so many regulations in place that I don’t think people here are as afraid of gun legislation passing as everyone else is,” he said. For the most part, Ferrero said, sales have been fairly normal. “We had a little increase at the beginning of the year, but our summer months have been spotty, which is typical for us,” he said. “Our best sellers are Glock, SIG SAUER and Smith & Wesson. In Glock and SIG, customers are buying 9mm and .40. In Smith & Wesson, it’s 9mm and revolvers in .357 and .38. In Kimber and Springfield, .45s are very popular.” In his situation, Ferrero said, he and his staff are able to keep up with the add-on sales of accessories such as grips, cleaning supplies, holsters and other products. “That’s where we make our money,” he said. “If you don’t up-sell people with accessories, you won’t stay in business very long.” By Carolee Anita Boyles Get More Features >> Click Here Glock21_CR-MRail-Master Glock Ruger-SR1911 Ruger XDS11 XD SI1012col Shooting […]

[…] Bad Blood tactical designs by custom knifemaker Sean Kendrick. With model names like Fire Spitter, Harbinger, Spiraling Demise and Partisan Nano, the line offers some wicked designs. The fixed-blade and folder line will appeal to young knife buyers. Visit www.hallmarkcutlery.com CRKT’s Lindsey Phelps holds the new Foresight tactical folder, a Ken Onion design. Edged Crowd Pleasers The much-anticipated Hogue EX-02 tactical folder has arrived — and fans of overbuilt tactical folders will be delighted. Designed by Allen Elishewitz, the EX-02 is almost a dead ringer for the noted custom knifemaker’s Tank model. Drop-point and tanto versions are available, and Hogue’s patented G-Mascus G10 handles come in a variety of color choices. Hogue also rolled out the EX-03, a budget-friendly version of their first tactical folder, the EX-01. Visit www.hogueknives.com. The Boker Plus Nano is a small knife that can play with the big boys. Designed by knifemaker David Curtiss of Curtiss Knives, the Nano has a surprisingly functional 1.89-inch blade with a handle of sturdy frame-lock construction. The front side features a chunky bright green Zytel Scale, with a beefy pocket clip on the rear. Visit www.bokerusa.com. Kershaw rolled out its new Cryo II, a pocket-friendly tactical folder designed by knifemaker Rick Hinderer. For assisted-opener fans, the company announced two special editions of their Blur model featuring green and brown aluminum handles, plus another with carbon fiber inserts. Visit www.kershawknives.com. Chris Reeve revealed his 25th anniversary Sebenza, and fans will be very pleased. The most obvious visual change is the addition of a second finger groove on the handle. Not as noticeable is an improved bearing system that decreases friction, along with a slight increase in thickness of the blade steel. Visit www.chrisreeve.com. TOPS Knives’ XcEST Bravo snub-nosed fixed blade has been a great success, and the new Delta folder version should also attract attention. The XcEST Delta features a 3/16-inch-thick N690C carbon steel blade and blue/black G10 handles. The company has also produced a knife — dubbed the Wolfhawk — for use with BattleBlades’ innovative Picatinny rail-mount sheath. Visit www.topsknives.com. Wilson Tactical shifted most of their offerings to company-branded collaborations a couple of years back, and the move has been a great success. Their latest offering, the C.U.B. (Combat Utility Blade), is a custom fixed blade by knifemaker Steve Woods. This impressive midsized belt knife features a 4-inch 154CM drop-point blade with 3-D machined G10 handles. Visit www.wilsontactical.com. Darrel Ralph’s HTM mid-tech series have been a boon to the custom knifemaker’s followers who are on a budget. New to the HTM line is a design by another noted knifemaker, Randall King, in fixed-blade form. The Desert Enforcer is a tour de force in sleek styling, premium CPM S30V steel and 3-D carved G10 handle scales. Visit www.darrelralph.com. Hogue has gotten into knives in a big way. Neil Hogue exhibits the EX-02 designed by Allen Elishewitz. Joyce Laituri (left) presents Spyderco’s new Puukko, while Michael Janich shows off the new Native 5 lockback folder. Sporters On Fire Southern Grind of Atlanta introduced its line of Bad Monkey folders. These knives feature ample 5 1/4-inch carbon fiber handles, and are offered in drop-point and tanto blade styles with optional black or tumbled satin finishes, available plain or serrated. Visit www.southerngrind.com. White River Knife & Tool of Coopersville, Mich., manufactures traditional and modern fixed-blade hunting knives, plus tactical models. The White River Caper, with a 6 3/4-inch drop point, has an easy-to-grip handle featuring a deep index finger choil. The knife’s 3-inch blade is versatile enough for skinning medium-size game, yet can handle delicate chores like caping. Visit www.thewhiteriver.com. Last year, we reported the untimely passing of noted outdoorsman Ron Hood, which occurred shortly after the release of his first collaboration with Buck Knives. The talented Hood had a second fixed-blade design on the drawing board. The Hood Punk is 11 inches overall with a 5.7-inch clip-point blade. The .175-inch-thick blade is constructed of 5160 carbon steel with a dark gray powder-coat finish for rust resistance. This knife will be a hit among Hood fans. Visit www.buckknives.com. By Pat Covert Get More Features >> Click Here Knife_Boker Knife Boker Knife_CRKT CRKT Knife_Hogue Knife Hogue […]

[…] thing people are buying is MSRs in .223, closely followed by 7.62×39. The next most-popular model everyone wants is in .300 Blackout.” The store carries .300 Blackout models from Bushmaster, Colt and SIG SAUER. Cupp said his customers hunt feral hogs throughout the year, using larger-caliber MSRs. His .22 sales are very good, driven by the low price of ammunition. “People use .22s for target shooting, squirrel hunting and for teaching kids to shoot,” he said. At SharpShooters USA in Roswell, Ga., customers like MSRs as well as more traditional firearms. “Most of our customers want a synthetic stock and a basic setup,” said Jason Perryman, general manager of SharpShooters USA. “I’m seeing a trend away from heavier and longer-barreled rifles with big magnification scopes, and seeing people buying hunting rifles that are shorter and more traditional, with a 24-inch or shorter barrel and a more traditional scope, such as 3-9X power.” Perryman said another prevalent trend is customers buying basic rifles with wood stocks and blued finishes. “The Ruger American has really done well for us,” he said. Other rifles Perryman’s customers are buying include the Remington CDL, Remington BDL Deluxe, Winchester Model 70 and the Ruger No.1. “Most people are buying .308, .30-06 or .270. I also have a few people buying 7mm Magnum and .300 Magnum,” Perryman said. Although he does see a trend in hunters using MSRs, Perryman said those firearms are less popular in north Georgia. “We’re starting to see more people who are into the modern sporting rifle for personal defense realize there’s an application for them for hunting,” he said. “That trend hasn’t quite caught on here in the northern part of Georgia. In south Georgia, though, there’s a lot more feral hog hunting, and the MSR is a very popular platform for that type of hunting.” Perryman’s customers’ favorite rifle calibers include: 6.8 SPC, .308 Arrow, .30 Remington AR, .450 Bushmaster, .458 SOCOM, .50 Beowulf and 6.5 Grendel. Perryman said MSRs lead the way in target shooting. “They’re mostly in .223, but we’re also seeing people buy .22 conversions to shoot .22 LR,” he said. “Several companies are building .22s and other caliber uppers for MSRs, which is the beauty of the platform. I think that is going to make them the mainstay for a lot of people down the road.” Since many MSRs have collapsing stocks, Perryman says a customer can buy one rifle and everyone in the family can shoot it by adjusting the stock to fit, along with changing the caliber to suit how the shooter uses the rifle. “There just aren’t any other firearms that have the versatility that the MSR platform has,” Perryman said. Bushmaster offers numerous models of modern sporting rifles, including the Varminter A-TACS. For 2013, the rifle features a Magpul Original Equipment rifle stock. Versatility Sells The versatility of MSRs has inspired improvements in traditional long guns, such as bolt-action rifles, as companies respond to consumer demand. The Ruger Guide Gun is one example. “We introduced our Guide Gun in calibers from .30-06 to .375 Ruger with a 20-inch stainless steel barrel,” said Ken Jorgensen, director of media relations for Ruger. “People seem to be looking for shorter barrels that are more maneuverable and don’t snag on things when you’re walking with the gun on your shoulder.” The versatility of the Guide Gun has great appeal for customers. “It has the adjustable butt pad system. It comes with spacers so you can change the length-of-pull,” Jorgensen said. “If you’re hunting in hot weather and all you’re wearing is a T-shirt, you can add a half-inch or an inch to the stock. Then if you’re hunting in cold weather and wearing six layers of clothing, you can remove spacers from the stock and the gun still fits you.” Ruger has developed a muzzle brake system that adds to the versatility of the company’s Guide Gun, African and Magnum Hunter rifles. “The muzzle brake comes with a dynamically-matched weight,” Jorgensen said. “Practice with the muzzle brake. When you go hunting, to reduce noise, you can take the muzzle brake off and put the weight on. Your point of impact will not change.” Today’s serious hunters are looking for versatility. “They want products that help them do a better job and give them options,” Jorgensen said. “For several years Ruger has been asking people what they’re looking for through our ‘Voice of the Customer’ program, and then designing, building and delivering those products. We have a lot of new people coming into shooting, and if retailers offer products that meet their needs, while educating them about what those products do for them, they’ll sell them.” One of the top sellers in competition shotguns at SharpShooters USA is Benelli’s SuperSport in 12-gauge. This model is the 12-gauge Vinci SuperSport ComforTech Plus. Hunters And Competitors At SharpShooters USA, Perryman said his shotgun market is geared more to the wingshooter, mostly for dove and quail. In addition, he moves a lot of shotguns to shooters who compete in skeet and sporting clays events. “Turkey hunting is not as popular with our customers,” he said. “Those customers who do turkey-hunt primarily use a Remington 870 or a Mossberg 590 pump-action, or a Beretta A400 semiauto, all of those in 12-gauge. We do have an occasional customer looking for a 12-gauge slug gun for deer hunting. Those customers primarily are looking to hunt out of state or on special state-regulated draw hunts.” Perryman’s most popular semiautos for hunting are the Beretta A400, the Benelli Super Black Eagle and the Mossberg 930. The most popular pump-actions for hunting are the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 and 590. His most popular shotguns for competition shooters are the Beretta A400 and Benelli SuperSport in 12-gauge. “Ninety percent of the shotguns we sell are 12-gauge,” Perryman said. “The Ruger American has really done well for us,” says Jason Perryman. New for 2013 is a compact version of the American Rifle, which features an 18-inch barrel. Hunting Accessories Perryman said the market for accessories is booming. “Customers who purchase a gun for hunting almost always purchase an optical sight, along with a sling and a carrying case. Then they purchase some sort of maintenance equipment, whether that’s a gunsmithing screwdriver set or a cleaning kit, he said.” Perryman said the store’s number-one seller in optics is Trijicon. “Trijicon makes glow-in-the-dark sights, and also build the ACOG for the military, which now has moved into the civilian market and is very popular,” Perryman said. “They also have their AccuPoint line, which is a phenomenal sporting optic.” Customers want to add a lot of accessories to guns, Perryman said. “They want to mount lasers and lights,” he said. “The people I know who hunt feral hogs use SureFire gun-mounted lights, which are legal here in Georgia as long as they don’t exceed 6 volts.” Connect With Customers Both Cupp and Perryman say selling firearms and accessories in this market is easy, but they haven’t lost sight of the need to educate customers and promote add-on sales. “If we get to the point when we see slow sales, we get on Facebook and post information about what we have,” Cupp said. “We have constant phone calls asking whether we have something. I got in a case of 9mm ammo and it was almost gone in less than two hours.” Perryman said SharpShooters USA puts a lot of effort into education. “We get people who are interested in Trijicon optics, but they’re on the high side and are out of some people’s price range,” he said. “We explain the technology and their quality, and most people see the value in the extra dollars they’ll spend. Once we get them sold on the first one, they come back and buy more of them.” Perryman said the store reaches out to its customer base through social media. In May, SharpShooters USA posted information about a sale on the Mossberg 400 Tactical Persuader 12-gauge on their Facebook page. The guns quickly sold out. “We put out a lot of information through social media,” he said. “Right now we’re trying to get more videos uploaded to our YouTube channel. We shoot a lot of video to inform customers about the products we offer, as well as products we don’t carry. We want informed customers.” By Carolee Anita Boyles Read More Feature Articles >> Click Here longgun1 longgun2 longun3 SI0813col

[…] buttpad, and it is designed to recoil parallel to comb, minimizing muzzle rise. Savage Arms Model 11 Trophy Hunter XP Youth Another popular option is the Savage Lady Hunter, designed with an extra-high comb to accommodate a woman’s proportionally long neck length. They also moved the pistol grip closer to the triggerguard and reduced the girth. A 20-inch barrel and reduced-size forend keep the weight of the rifle at the shoulder end of the stock where it can be better managed. The length of pull was reduced to 12 1/2 inches. Savage recently introduced the Model 11 Trophy Hunter XP Youth Muddy Girl scoped rifle package to appeal to young lady hunters. This combo features a factory-mounted and bore-sighted Nikon BDC 3-9x40mm scope on a Model 11 rifle. It sports a button-rifled barrel, detachable magazine and AccuTrigger. Savage minimized overall weight and redesigned the stock of the standard 11 Trophy Hunter around the dimensions of small-framed shooters. Offered in four calibers, its stock is dipped in Muddy Girl camouflage. Another popular firearm at Midwestern Shooters Supply is the Browning Citori Micro Midas. “The demand for the Micro gun is greater than the supply,” noted Boelkow. The pink camo Browning Micro Buckthorn Pink will appeal to small-framed rifle shooters who like something a little different. “Ladies like the extra-special feeling of having things designed for them,” he said. Both of these long guns from Browning were designed for youth and small-statured women. For 2014, Browning is offering their Growth Insurance program on the Midas Guns — if a full-size stock is needed in the future your customers will be eligible to purchase it for 50 percent off, making these guns a great investment. Fundraising events like Fall Fest are a great way to increase community support and make sales. Community Outreach Boelkow said Midwestern Shooters Supply is very family-oriented and strives to be a positive part of the community. Each year they hold a huge two-day community based fundraising event called “Fall Fest” that attracts more than 10,000 people. The free event helps raise funds for organizations such as the Lion’s Club, FFA and the local volunteer firefighters. It includes shooting opportunities, entertainment, food, auction items, more than 30 different manufacturers’ reps from outdoor companies and family-friendly activities. “It brings people into our community and is a great way to give back,” Boelkow said. “We want to keep a good standing in the community and this helps represent the shooting sports in a positive light.” Of course, it’s also the store’s biggest sale of the year. “We bring in specially discounted products just for that sale. I like to create a little bit of a frenzy,” he said. And it seems to be working, as he noted, “People start to line up at 8 a.m. on the day of the sale.” The Pink Passive Combo from Walker’s Game Ear caters to women in a colorful all-in-one package. Capitalize On Color Options After taking note of the popularity of colored guns, Kahr Arms has partnered with Davidson’s Inc. to offer a purple version of the CW9 and CW380. Both of these small, lightweight guns are designed for concealed carry. The CW9 has an overall length of 5.9 inches, weighs in at just 15.8 ounces unloaded and has a magazine capacity of 7+1. The CW380 is 4.96-inch overall, weighs 10.2 ounces and has a capacity of 6+1. Both feature adjustable white bar-dot combat rear sights and pinned-in polymer front sights. Walker’s Game Ear recently introduced a pink muff and glasses combo package made specifically to fit the needs of women. Called the Pink Passive Combo, this set includes Walker’s Passive Folding muffs, protective sport glasses and foam plugs. The muffs are specially designed to fit women with ultra slim ear cups and a smaller headband. The glasses are made of high-grade polycarbonate lenses and feature ratcheting lens pitch adjustment, as well as an adjustable nose pad. By Lisa Parsons-Wraith Read More Arms And The Woman >> Click Here aw1 aw3 aw2 SI1014_300

[…] the folder’s Titanium frame. The MSRP is $220 for the stonewashed model and $230 for the model stonewashed with anodized color. Benchmade Knives has added to the company’s already-popular Hunt series with the Grizzly Creek Folder. Based on a chassis similar to the popular Triage Rescue models, the Grizzly Creek sports a deep ground drop-point blade, attractive brown Diamondwood handle scales and a foldout gut hook in the base. This versatile folder’s MSRP is $185. Kershaw and Ernie Emerson have formed an alliance, with Kershaw bringing several of Emerson’s hot-selling CQC designs into their production cache. Eight Emerson iterations are included in the lineup. The MSRP for these budget-friendly knives range from $49.99 to $59. Attendees were impressed — awarding the CQC the BLADE Show Best Buy Knife of the Year honor. Dealers looking to stock traditional, multi-purpose folders should consider knives like the 382 Trapper from Buck Knives. Lindsey Phelps (left), CRKT sales manager, and Glen Klecker, of Klecker Knives, are seen with the custom and production version of CRKT’s Graphite folder — which features a Klecker Lock for safety. Popular Models Yield New Offerings Manufacturers often take into account that updated variations of best-selling models can provide the potential for additional sales — with alternative color and size options for customers. Savvy dealers might want to update their inventory. Country music star Zac Brown’s Southern Grind knife factory just keeps manufacturing hits. New for this year are fresh colors for their popular Bad Monkey folders. Monkeys with Coyote Brown and Ghost Green G10 handles were on display; the latter will get the attention of your zombie-obsessed customers. Bad Monkeys start at $249.95 MSRP. DPx Gear’s best-selling HEST/F folder now has a little brother. The HEAT/F has a variety of handy features, a Titanium alloy frame, D2 steel blade with built-in bottle opener and durable G10 scales — all in a condensed 6.24-inch (overall) package. The MSRP for the HEAT/F is $200. The word from Böker is a “Mini” version of their popular Squail folder is in the works. Designed by Nebraska knifemaker Charles Marlowe, the Squail has a liner-lock design with solid nickel steel bolsters, Linen Micarta scales and a purpose-driven drop-point blade. The MSRP is not available at this time, but the more economical Böker Plus division will produce the Squail. Fixed-blade knives have been booming in recent years and it was very noticeable at this year’s show. One of the brightest offerings was TOPS Knives’ Lioness model. The 7.6-inch Lioness is decked out in a Tactical Pink powder coat on all metal surfaces with Black G10 handle scales. A sleek 3.5-inch upswept trailing point blade gets the cutting chores done. Its MSRP is an attractive $129.95. SOG Knives built their company on quality fixed-blades, and their new Kiku models are no exception. Designed by knifemaker Kiku Matsuda, a legend in Japan, these namesakes feature aggressively modified Tanto blades with stout, eloquently sculpted Linen Micarta handles. Kikus come in large and small sizes, with a choice of blade finishes. MSRP for the large Kiku starts at $218, the small $188. For your customers on a budget, A.G. Russell’s Pocket Skinner and Hunter-Caper will be a quality option. At a MSRP of only $19.95 each, these two small fixed-blades offer a lot of value to the end-user. Both knives are 7 inches in overall length with 3.5-inch blades and come with injection molded FRN handles (available in black or orange) with matching sheaths, which feature ambidextrous thumb-release tabs. Available at a higher price point, the Spartan NYMPH slipjoint folder’s innovative design eliminates the need for a backspring. Tactical pens, like those from the Tuff-Writer Operator series, are growing in popularity and dealers can take advantage of this by enhancing their line of offerings. Tactical Pens When it comes to tactical pens, Tuff-Writer was a standout company at the BLADE Show. This company from Phoenix, Ariz., offers a broad range of finely machined aluminum and Titanium tactical pens with ink cartridges touted to have a shelf life of 100 years. The Operator series seemed to be popular with attendees. Several models from this series feature O-rings along the pen barrel to enhance the grip of the user. These pens start at $85.95 MSRP in aluminum and top out at $205 for titanium models. Fixed-blade options abound for dealers, and the 7.25-inch Tyrant from Camillus is sold with a leather sheath outfitted with a built-in sharpener for daily maintenance. More To Look Forward To In 2015 The 2015 BLADE Show will take place in Atlanta, Ga., from June 5-7, 2015. Dealers, you can look to coverage in Shooting Industry to provide insight on the latest knife trends to help you with with your knife-stocking decisions. By Pat Covert Read More Feature Articles >> Click Here knife1 knife2 knife6 knife7 knife3 knife4 knife5 SI1014_300