The 2009 Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show offered an array of options for law enforcement personnel. In this second part of a two-part series, we present some of the new equipment available for PDs on a budget. See the March 2009 issue of Law Officer for part 1.
Magpul
P.O. Box 17697
Longmont, CO 80308
877/4MAGPUL
www.magpul.com
The company that makes the country's most popular AR-15 magazine introduced a new sling at the show. For those who can't decide between a one- or two-point sling on their carbine, Magpul's sling will work as either. The sling has attachment points at each end, with a metal ring a few inches above the rear, spring-loaded attachment device. This attachment can be easily released by pulling on a short cord in the event an adversary were to grab an officer's carbine and try to turn them into a Frisbee. The forward attachment is an alligator style clip that can be attached to the ring just above the rear of the sling or to a metal loop on the forward end of the gun. A quick-pull buckle tightens or loosens the sling for the optimal firing platform. Like all things from Magpul, the sling is both well thought out and solidly constructed.
Benchmade
300 Beavercreek Rd.
Oregon City, OR 97045
800/800-7427
www.benchmade.com
I recall several instances during my three decades in law enforcement when I could have used a glass-breaking device. During those situations, I used a large flashlight or a baton, which sent glass flying all over. In those situations, I would have given anything for the Houdini Rescue Tool from Benchmade. This handy multi-tool has a seatbelt cutter, glass breaker, LED flashlight and safety whistle built into a slim, polycarbonate grip that can be carried just about anywhere. It's available in both yellow and black.
I was given the opportunity to use the Houdini to break a small glass pane that was on hand. With an easy downward push, I was able to shatter the pane into small pieces. If this had been a car window, the glass would have broken easily, with no risk of injury to either the occupants of the vehicle or the officer who would have been breaking the glass. The hook-shaped seatbelt cutter is very sharp and a small tug on the grip is all that's needed to rip right through a nylon seatbelt strap. If I were on the street, this is a piece of kit I'd want on hand.
Insight Technology
9 Akira Way
Londonderry, NH 03053
866/509-2040
www.insighttechnology.com
Compact combat lights with both incandescent and LED bulbs are becoming increasingly plentiful as technology improves. There are a number of companies making quality lights, and all are good, but not all are simple to use if multiple modes of light are available in a given unit. A light that offers a disorienting strobing feature has been deemed useful by many officers, but the feature can be difficult to get at because turning a knob or end cap is required to achieve the effect. In a fight, this might be all but impossible. Insight Technology introduced its new WX150 Procyon at SHOT with a strobing feature that requires nothing more than flipping a switch up and down to activate it.
In addition to the strobe, the Procyon offers a very bright 150 lumens of LED lighting power, but without the dull "fog-like" light that sometimes accompanies the use of an LED. Insight has found a way to make its LED "whiter and brighter," offering a light beam that is more like an incandescent bulb, which means that finding and fighting a threat will be that much easier. Like all Insight weapon lights, the Procyon slides easily on and off the rail of almost any modern firearm.
The WX150L is the same light described above (pictured), but with a laser aiming dot for those who prefer that sighting device.
Kahr Arms
130 Goddard Memorial Drive
Worchester, MA 01603
508/795-3919
www.kahr.com
Another addition to the backup/deep concealment handgun market is the new Kahr Arms .380. Kahr caught a lot of attention with the introduction of its new gun, which rivals the Ruger LCP in size. This six-plus-one capacity firearm is a trigger-cocking, double-action only, semi-auto loader with a Browning-style recoil lug and a passive striker-block with no magazine disconnect. With a barrel of only 2.5 inches, a weight of 9.9 ozs. and an overall length of 4.9 inches, this is a truly compact handgun. The slide is made entirely of stainless steel. The frame is black-polymer, with textured grip panels. A premium match-grade Lothar Walther barrel rounds out the package.
Drift adjustable dot/bar sights are used, but tritium three-dot sights are available on request. Two magazines are included with each gun, in the event one is lost or damaged. I've always felt that each semi-automatic firearm I own should have five magazines at minimum, and the more the better. This is no problem with the Kahr because additional magazines are available for purchase on the company's Web site.
I admit to being a fan of the Ruger LCP .380 and carry it regularly, but this little gun did catch my eye. This is going to be a very popular pistol. If you're interested in getting one, order it now: This gun is going to be back-ordered for quite a while.
