DRG Manufacturing LLC has officially announced they’ve hired Jason Curns as their new Chief Operations Officer (COO). If you didn’t know, he’s pretty much a badass in the world of firearm manufacturing.
“I am elated to join the Team at DRG Manufacturing.”
Jason comes to DRG as the former Vice President of Grey Ghost Precision and the MKI and MKII Rifle platforms designer. He was also crucial in the pistol slides GGP offers. Now combine that with his 13 years in the firearms manufacturing industry and 12 years of experience in compliance, customer service/logistics, and supply chain—DRG believes this will make his
transition into the new role easy.
“Curns’ commitment to quality and innovation coupled with his incredible knowledge and experience made him an ideal addition, and he will be integral in the future success of DRG,” and “I’m proud to have the most elite team there is in the firearms industry.”
-David Rybacki, DRG Manufacturing Owner
Joining the DRG team at their cooperate office in Lake Zurich, IL, Jason’s duties as the new COO will include overseeing all CNC OEM projects and provide support to the Business Development department
“It is extremely exciting to see true American Manufacturing being done to such a high degree of quality. I look forward to utilizing my leadership and organizational skills to add to their processes and make improvements where possible. It has always given me great pride to offer the very best OEM products in all my endeavors. With all the capabilities of DRG, I will be able to offer more solutions that are of the highest quality standards companies can rely on.”
Long and short are two terms often used in various descriptors of firearms technology. Two of the most critical items that use long and short are gas pistons and actions. I recently stumbled someone asking what’s the difference between a short-stroke gas piston and a long-stroke gas piston, as well as long and short actions in rifles. Since long and short are both in the name, I figured we could jump in headfirst and answer the questions: read on to learn more about the long stroke piston and short stroke piston (and maybe a little about direct impingement).
Suppose you’re looking for a water-resistant battery charger. In that case, the Flex3 or Flex7 Powerbank might be for you.
LedLenser Flex3 Powerbank
The Ledlenser Flex3 Powerbank gives users six different functions. Not only can you charge your flashlight batteries anywhere, at any time, but it’s also water-resistant. Even better, the power bank acts as a battery charger for your cellphone, shows your charge level, acts as battery storage, displace a capacity check, and doubles as protection against short circuit.
The Flex3 also offers space for a 18650 type battery (included) and a 3400 mAh capacity.
If you’re interested in purchasing this Powerbank, it’s compatible with F1R, H8R, MH10, MH11, ML6, MT10, NEO10R, P7R, iH11R, and i.
The Flex3 is also IP65 rated, meaning it protects against not only water, but also dust. According to Ledlenser, this makes it great for outdoor activities.
The company also claims it charges 30% faster, compared to charging inside your P7R flashlight.
Ledlenser Flex3 Powerbank Specs
Battery: 18650 Li-ion 3.6v
Battery Capacity: 3400 mAh
Depth: 63 mm
Length: 109 mm
Material: PC
Weight: 88 g
Width: 27 mm
MSRP: $49.95
Ledlenser Flex7 Powerbank
Just like the Flex3, the Flex7 Powerbank offers six different functions: power bank, battery charger with charge level indicator, secure battery storage, display for a capacity check, double protection against short circuits, and fast battery replacement, according to Ledlenser. On top of that, it’s also water-resistant.
The difference between the two Powerbanks? The Flex7 contains two 18650 type batteries, as opposed to the one battery included with the Flex3. And unlike the Flex3, it has a 6800 mAh capacity.
If you’re interested in purchasing this Powerbank, it’s compatible with F1R, H8R, MH10, MH11, ML6, MT10, NEO10R, P7R, iH11R, and i. It too, can charge your cellphone, is IP65 rated, and has unique USB ports for water and dust protection.
Ledlenser has announced the official release of their P7R flashlight. They claim they have the best-selling flashlight, and this particular one is great for every day or on-the-job use.
Not only does it shine at 1,000 lumens, but we’re told this handheld light shines a beam to almost 700-ft., which is pretty impressive. And if you run it on low-power mode, it’ll last you up to 40 hours before you’ll need to recharge it.
What’s really cool about this particular light is its programming feature. Using Smart Light Technology, you can actually program individual light functions, according to Ledlenser. You can even go from a close-up wide flood beam to a focused long-distance beam.
The P7R also uses a Floating Charge system, which Ledlenser said means the light recharges quickly in its wall-mounted charging cradle.
So, suppose you’re looking for a light with a low power function to save battery and make glare-free reading a thing or looking for high-power. In that case, Ledlenser claims they can give you both in their P7R flashlight.
Special features include an end cap switch and a focus lock, which fixes the present degree of focus in place. The P7R is also rated IPX4, which means it is protected against water splash, no matter the direction.
If that’s not enough for you, the light warns you when the battery is getting low—meaning you won’t randomly run out of battery without warning. There’s also a charge indicator on the light, which shows you the battery’s charge status.
If you decide the P7R Flashlight is the light for you, here’s what’s included in your purchase:
1 battery pack
Floating charge system
Belt pocket
Hand strap
Mounting material
USB cable
MSRP: $89.95
Ledlenser P7R Flashlight Specs
LED
LED Configuration: 1 x Xtreme LED
Luminosity: MAX 1000 lm – MIN 20 lm
Lighting Range: MAX 210 m (688.967 ft) – MIN 40 m
Battery Duration: MAX 40 h – MIN 2 h
Casing and Battery
Battery: 18650 3.7V
Battery Capacity: 8.14
Water Resistance: IPX4
Rechargeable
Height and Weight
Length: 158 mm (defocused)
Head Diameter: 37 mm
Weight: 210 g
For more information, you can go check out the Ledlenser P7R on Ledlenser’s website.
The designs coming out of the Emerson Knives, Inc. shop are ever-evolving, and Mr. Emerson never lets any grass grow under his feet. He has maintained the original designs that launched the company (if it’s not broken, don’t fix it), to his credit. That said, he steadily releases fresh material, which is a boon for those who enjoy new things.
Enter, stage left, the “new” Emerson Seax (it is pronounced “Sax”, as in short for saxophone), introduced in 2018.
While this design is new for Emerson, as Ernie points out, it is not a new concept, having been used back in Viking times. Ernie has been a fan of Viking weapons and tools for many years, and this prompted him to pay homage to this blade design, which was originally used by Vikings in a fixed blade configuration.
Emerson Seax Specs and Features
The Emerson version is a folding knife with an overall length of nine inches. To be clear, this is not a small knife, and when the user holds it, he knows that he’s holding a serious blade.
The blade length is 3.9 inches and features a V Ground chisel edge that is obscenely sharp. The first time I used it to cut some heavy plastic, it glided through the material as if it weren’t even touching it. I’m accustomed to very sharp knives, but this one deserves mention as being one of the sharpest. The style of the blade might be referred to as a Wharncliffe, and it has a swedge on the spine near the tip. The finish is stonewashed.
Despite its substantial size, the knife only weighs five ounces, which is less than many knives in the Emerson line that are not as large as this one. It has a sort of streamlined feel to it; the size is there, but it’s not bulky.
A comparison shot to show the size of the Seax versus the Emerson Commander. The Seax is not a small knife!
The materials used to build this knife are standards that Emerson often adheres to in their line of folders. Blade material is 154 CM at an RC hardness of 57-59, making sharpening a breeze. Blade thickness is .125 inches; stout, but not overly so. The locking liner is Titanium, with the off side being stainless steel. Standoffs hold this knife together, and do a great job of it, being both strong and allowing the knife to be cleaned quickly and easily. There is a clip for attaching the knife inside the user’s rocket, and it works very well, as expected.
Functionality
Some attributes from a user’s perspective are the thumb ramp that also serves as the Wave feature. The Emerson Wave will have this knife opening as it comes out of your pocket should you decide to open it in that fashion, and is probably the fastest way to open any knife on the market at this time.
The large Seax folds into a small package for the pocket. It’s like having a straight razor in your pocket.
Unless someone comes up with an engineering miracle, it will likely remain so. If the user does not want the knife to deploy as soon as it exits the pocket, there is a thumb disc that works very well for opening the blade.
Toward the forward end of the handle, there is a choil/guard that prevents the user’s hand from slipping onto the blade. Combined with the thumb ramp and rough-textured G-10 of the handle, the knife is locked nicely into the user’s grip. The handle also has some nice architecture, which helps it to mate with the user’s hand comfortably and securely. The butt of the handle features a lanyard hole for folks who are so inclined, and it also comes to a sort of point in the event that one wishes to strike with this area.
The Seax feels lively and comfortable in the hand.
My impression?
Most of the Emerson knives that I’ve reviewed so far have been ones that I’ve carried for years, and so I’m intimately familiar with them, their strengths, weaknesses, and characteristics. Not so with the Seax — Emerson was kind enough to send this knife for a review (thank you, EKI!), and so I’ve only had this one for a short time.
Despite that, it’s plain to see that the quality of this knife is in keeping with the Emerson tradition, so no surprises there. The materials are among the best available, and the action of this knife is seriously nice! It’s extremely smooth on opening and closing, with an extraordinarily solid lockup. There is zero side to side wobble of the blade.
Also, Emerson uses a regular head screw for the pivot screws of his knives, so the user can adjust the pivot to his or her preference since some people like their knives to open faster or slower. As a bonus, the slot in the head of the screw is extra wide, so if your pivot needs adjusting and all you have is a coin or similar object, you can complete the task with something that is typically available. These are small touches, but they’re well thought out and mean a lot when you’re in the field without a toolbox.
The knife feels lively in the hand, probably due to its modest weight and streamlined design. I’d even say that elegant would be appropriate for this design. The long, straight edge reminds me of a straight razor, and for slicing, this knife is stellar!
Emerson touts this design as being useful for combat or utility, and I’m already confident that it is great for large cutting tasks, as it’s very efficient at slicing. For combat, I’d prefer to have something that is a bit more “stabby” because stab wounds are vital for putting down an attacker. That’s just my non-objective opinion. Still, this knife would fill the role of a combat knife well, and quite a few others have expressed similar opinions of its effectiveness.
Overall, the Emerson Seax has a lot to offer in a lightweight, sleek package that many people will undoubtedly appreciate. I have a number of friends who have owned this model from the time of its release, and they have been singing its praises from the gate. You should check one out.
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The Ontario RTAK II is an impressive field knife, to say the least. It’s not something that I carry around with me, but there are occasions where it comes in so very handy. From time to time, I have to clean up fallen trees from the back yard, and this knife will take the limbs off in a most handy manner. Limbs up to an inch in diameter usually come off with one swing.
With almost no effort, the RTAK II sinks into wood. Seriously, I barely swung the blade and it went in that far!
Surefire has been making high-quality flashlights for years and is the choice of professionals the world over, including the highest level military operators and law enforcement professionals, as well as discriminating civilians from all walks of life. They are a solid company that stands behind their products.
The Surefire Sidekick, which is the least expensive light that they offer in their product line, retails for $29.99, which makes it reasonable for just about everyone who needs a quality light. I ordered the pocket clip for the light right away ($10), which I highly recommend.
The attached clip adds versatility. Clip it to the pocket or the bill of your hat for hands-free operation.
Among the many benefits of backing us on Patreon is access to the loot we hand out to our supporters. We’ve given a lot of swag and plunder away since we first called the banners. Unfortunately, we’re not terribly bright so we didn’t record it all or post it online.
That’ll change now. As we go forward we’ll update this page with new contests and giveaways (or the big ones, anyway). We’ll also announce on Instagram (@house.morningwood), so be sure to keep an eye on that frequency too.
As far as decanters go unless you are storing your booze in the skulls of your enemies you likely can’t come up with a more classy booze storage device for your war room then the Medieval Knights Helmet Decanter.
If this thing doesn’t scream opulence and grandeur I don’t know what does!
Not only does it have a decanter inside the helmet but it has room for 4 shot glasses so you can share a victory drink with your battle buddies.
The metalwork on the Medieval Knights Helmet Decanter is also very well done.
We never thought it was possible to have a toss-up in our heads on the globe booze storage but now the knights helmet might just be edging it out.
One thing to be said about Emerson Knives is that they do love variety! The company makes something for everyone who enjoys edged tools. Large knives, small knives; you name it — they’ve done it, and are doing it as we speak. This article will focus on the Emerson Roadhouse tactical folding knife. Let’s get the obligatory technical specifications out of the way first, then dive into the meat of the matter.
