The A-TACS camo pattern is growing in popularity. Mayflower Research and Consulting is offering their kit in A-TACS.
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It took a little longer to close the previously reported deal, but I received word this morning that Para USA is now under the wings of Freedom Group, Inc. This rounds out FGI’s portfolio by adding the groups only pistol manufacturer.
In a release issued today, FGI gives up little but the basics. No word about the terms or cost of the acquisition. This
“We welcome Para into the Freedom Group Family of Companies,” stated. E. Scott Blackwell, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Freedom Group Inc. “Para USA is a leader in handgun technology and their fine products exemplify quality, innovation and performance. Para is a perfect complement to our industry-leading family of brands, and our success in 2011 with the Remington R1 – 1911. We look forward to deploying both human and financial resources to continue to develop and supply current and future handguns for consumers and our channel partners. We also wish to thank all its employees for their continued dedication that has made Para a success.”
Para will continue day-to-day operations at their Pineville, NC based facility.
Read MoreThe hits keep coming. This time, Freedom Group fired Advanced Armament Corporation’s plant manager, Lynsey Thompson, yesterday. A source told me that the move signals Freedom Group, LLC’s intention to fold the AAC operation into the existing Remington factory in Ilion, New York. Remington Defense is a subsidiary of Freedom Group that oversees the operation of AAC.
“The rumor that we are moving the operation to New York is one hundred percent untrue,” says E. Scott Blackwell, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Freedom Group, LLC, when asked about the rumored move. “We have zero intention of moving AAC to New York; We’re hiring 5-7 new people and we just purchased a new [coordinate measuring machine] that we’re putting in there.”
Thompson’s firing marks the loss of the third of the three top positions in the Remington Defense subsidiary. Prior to her termination Kevin Britingham was fired from his position at the head of AAC as Remington Defense’s leader, Jason Schaubel, resigned. When asked about the reason for Thompson’s dismissal, Blackwell defered to company policy that prevented him from discussing personel matters decisions.
“We have moved some companies to New York in the past, we’ve learned lessons from that and AAC is not moving to Ilion, New York,” Blackwell told GearScout today, “AAC is doing just fine where it is. We’ve got a great workforce and there’s no reason to pick it up and move it to a facility where they’re producing firearms.
Blackwell will visit AAC’s Lawrenceville,GA, facility Monday along with other Freedom Group executives, including FGI CEO Robert Nardelli for meetings with AAC employees.
“We’re invested in the place, there’s good people down there and their focused on growing the business its a great brand great products great history and we intend to grow it,” said Blackwell.
Read MoreGrey Ghost Gear has their new catalog up and ready to view.
http://www.greyghostgear.com/catalog
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SHOT show isn’t just for buying guns. It’s a great time to shop for corporations, too. I just heard from a credible source that Freedom Group is sealing the deal to buy pistol maker Para-Ordnance today. This makes sense since pistols sales have been a growing sector of the firearms industry and something that Freedom Group doesn’t have in its portfolio.
I’ll head over to the Para booth and see if they have anything to say about it, but I expect to hear an announcement before the end of the week.
Read MoreI just heard from Ops-Core that they have been bought by integrated life support systems company Gentex. What we know comes from the press release, provided after the break.
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It turns out that shakeup at AAC a couple weeks back may have spawned some aftershocks. I’ve gotten word from two reliable sources that Jason Schauble has resigned his position as Vice President at Remington Defense effective January 1, 2012.
He sent out an email to his friends in industry yesterday stating that he resigned for “personal reasons.” He also said that John Day would take over his position on an interim basis. That leaves Day running both AAC and a large chunk of Remington Defense.
Read MoreThe 2012 National Defense Authorization Bill has gotten some attention recently, though not nearly as much as the wrangling over payroll tax cut extension. Bear with me, there’s gear news in here. People are not upset about what’s in the bill (S.1867), but what’s not in the bill. There was language in an early draft of the bill that explicitly protected American citizens from another portion of the bill that authorized detention of America’s enemies by the military. Somewhere along the way, the bill was amended and this language adding protection to U.S. citizens was struck from the bill.
Protectors of civil liberties were enraged and news reports circulated and opinions were formed. I’m not going to get into the politics, but as I said, there is actual gear news in here.
Since the NDAA is the blueprint for next year’s military spending, many companies’ profits are staked to its passage. Surefire among them. 99%ers and hackers have taken up the call and are threatening all kinds of action against those whom they perceive were involved. Surefire, along with AAC, won what could be a healthy portion of government’s suppressor business (it’s an IDIQ contract), so portions of the Internet see them as supporting the idea that Americans can be indefinitely detained by U.S. military forces.
The DoD is buying a lot of gear and Surefire isn’t alone in getting lumped in with supporters of the bill, Honeywell and Bluewater Defense were also called out. Surefire felt strongly enough to draft a response, which I’ve included below.
Statement from Surefire:
We’ve been made aware of various articles pertaining to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and SureFire’s alleged role as a lobbyist and/or financial supporter of the bill and its primary political backer, Sen. Robert Portman. The news reports are using our associations with a Political Action Committee (PAC), a former consulting group, and a government contract to infer that we support indefinite military detention of American citizens without charge or trial. These reports are false and misleading. Our association with this bill has nothing to do with citizens’ rights and SureFire is now the casualty of a disregard for sound journalism.
We’ve never supported the removal of citizens’ rights let alone do we have any connection with those responsible for the injustice. Any news outlet alleging SureFire’s support of anti-American rights, is reporting lies. SureFire’s support of unrelated parts of the NDAA does not constitute support for every part of the bill like those that are now being contested.
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I’m getting credible reports that Kevin Brittingham was escorted from the premises of Advanced Armament Corporation this morning.
I’m told Freedom Group reps and lawyers were on hand with security guards to lead AAC’s founder out of the building. John Day from Freedom Group is rumored to be the interim president of AAC.
The firing comes as Brittingham is reportedly only partway through the contract he signed when he sold AAC to Freedom Group back in 2009. I don’t think this will end quietly or easily for Remington or their parent company the Freedom Group.
UPDATE: I spoke with AAC’s John Hollister who said, “Kevin is no longer with AAC, but it’s business as usual today.” Hollister didn’t elaborate on any other aspects of the story except to confirm that Mr. John Day is “in the building today.”
Read MoreBAE just sent out the following press release:
ARLINGTON, Virginia – Sgt. Dakota Meyer and BAE Systems OASYS have resolved their dispute amicably. Sgt. Meyer has filed a dismissal of the case today with the court. The following statements have been issued reflecting closure of this matter:
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