by David Crane david@defensereview.com Smith & Wesson has just come out with a high-tech lightweight, five-shot .357/.38 Special +p revolver that’s actually light enough to be carried comfortably inside the pocket of a pair of cargo pants(you need pockets large enough, of course). Now, I realize that "high-tech" and "revolver", don’t usually go together well in a sentence, but bear …

Class III Supply, out of Hermitage, PA, is now marketing what is definitely the lightest, and probably the best 5.56/.223 light machine gun in the world, currently in production. Designed by the great Jim Sullivan(who is still alive, by the way), and manufactured by ST Kinetics out of Singapore, the Ultimax 100 5.56 LMG is gas operated and uses the …

FN has a bunch of new pistols on the table. Perhaps most importantly, they’ve just re-introduced the classic Hi-Power Pistol in Mk III configuration. This, of course, used to be known as the Browning Hi-Power Mk III, but Browning’s name will no longer be on the gun. Now, it’s called the FN HP-SA. FN is apparently working with members of …

Tom Kivlehan used to be the chief armorer for the Marine Corp’s MEU SOC unit. In fact, Tom was in charge of building the Marine Corps’ famous MEU SOC 1911 .45’s, as well as all their sniper rifles. Since leaving the Corps several years ago, Tom has started his own company in Stafford Virginia, called Guntek, and now uses his …

The November 2001 edition of SAR (Small Arms Review) has an interesting article, written by Charlie Cutshaw, about American built Ak’s being built by Arsenal USA. Apparently, production of these rifles is being overseen by Ivan Kolev, formerly of Arsenal Bulgaria, who "holds the equivalent of a master’s degree from Tula Institute in Russia and is one of the world’s …

This is one very interesting company. International Cartridge Corporation has teamed up with Sinterfire to create and produce specialized training and tactical ammunition for SWAT and special operations use. Both types of ammunition utilize powdered metal technology in creating non-jacketed lead-free rounds that can do literally just about anything the customer needs it to do, depending on what needs to …

Hey everybody, I’m sorry for the lack of updates over the last couple of weeks, but I’ve been travelling, and extremely busy. I actually just got back in town, and will shortly be writing about my experience at TREXPO East, the most important tactical and special operations technology show in the country. I had a really great time there and …

The September 2001 issue of SAR (Small Arms Review) has an interesting article on a mini High Power produced by gunsmith Art Leckie. The article is written by Peter Kokalis. If you’re not crazy about the mini Glocks, or you already own one of them and now you just want something a little higher end (and single action), then you …

S.T.I. International has a new compact hi-cap .45 designed specifically for CCW holders, called the V.I.P. The new gun holds ten rounds, and is obviously designed to give people an alternative to carrying a Glock 30. The main plus over the 30 is it’s 1911 layout which includes a frame mounted sweep-down safety. It’s main disadvantage, compared to the G30, …

A new bullet-proof backpack is on the scene. Made by Safe-T-Gear, the backpack is designed to make people a little safer in an uncertain world. The backpack contatains a panel of level II kevlar. For more details, you can visit Safe-T-Gear’s site by clicking here. Worth checking out.