Nano Oil for your Knives, Tools, and Firearms

Another Guest Author, by way of BB&C,  Jim Davis presenting Nano Oil:

Always on the lookout for cool, different ideas, I happened upon a product that caught my eye. Not just for the content of what's in the containers, but the way the containers deliver it to the target. Nano Oil offers some unique and innovative methods of dispensing lubricant onto firearms, knives, and anything else where you want to deposit a controlled amount of oil into a small space.

They have a few various dispensing containers that I'll outline here.

Nano-Oil comes in handy, syringe-like containers. Here is a package with three different weights: 5, 10, and 85 weights.

What Is It And What's It Good For?

First, though, a bit about Nano Oil. It does not contain any of the following: Silicone, PTFE Resins, Graphite, Molybdenum Disulfide know as Moly, Teflon, Copper, Lead, or Silver. They state that there are "absolutely no metals or harmful solvents."

StClair claims that Nano Oil is suitable for high temperature applications, extreme pressure (load bearing metal to metal), roller bearings, chains/sprockets, machine tools, marine equipment, metal working, mining and printing equipment, armaments, knives & multitools, and a ton of other uses. The list is quite expansive.

It works on bicycles, motorcycles, cars, tractors and farm equipment, and RC racers.

Regarding armament, they claim that it increases muzzle velocity and smooths all moving parts while protecting from rust and corrosion. The oil adheres to microscopic crevices and penetrates metals, which provides a very low friction dynamic.

Weights

There are a couple different weights that are offered for various uses.

*5 Weight. This is the lightest weight oil that is offered, noted for deep and fast penetration. They refer to it as "WD-40 on steroids."

*10 Weight. This is a light weight oil that is suitable for guns, flashlight threads, knives, fishing reels, locks, hinges, bicycles, bearings, cables, chains, sprockets, motorcycle forks, electric motor bushings, model railroads, and more. This one seems to be the most useful weight, in general, as it addresses a lot of different uses.

*85 Weight. This is a heavy weight formulation, developed for the M-14/M-1A and other rapid fire firearms.

I ordered and received one each of these weight lubricants in the Micro Oiler with stainless blunt needle, which contains 8cc/ml of oil. These are extraordinarily handy because that needle can get the lube precisely where you want it. Note that the same weight oils can also be had in 1/2 ounce and one ounce bottles.

One of the beautiful aspects of Nano-Oil is the blunt metal applicator tip that allows the user to get the oil where it needs to go. These are the micro oiler containers.

I also received an applicator of Nano-Grease NGL, which is a Lithium Complex Hi Temp & Extreme Pressure lubricant. The uses for it include bearings, boats, buses, cars, bicycles, chains, conveyors, dozers, excavators, graders, laundry equipment, and a bunch of other items. And since the M-1A/M-14 series of weapons are supposed to be lubed with grease, that was my main intention of buying this, as I am using it with my M-1A Scout Squad Rifle.

With the grease syringe, getting into the chamber area of the M-1A Scout Squad Rifle a snap.

Greasing up the operating rod on the M-1A is no longer difficult either.

Nano Oil states that adding its formulations to other existing lubricants will improve their anti-friction qualities.

I have not tried the following, but they are listed on Nano Oil's website:

Gasoline Engine Oil Treatment, Diesel Engine Oil Treatment, Manual Transmission Oil Treatment, 4-Stroke Engine Oil Treatment (Motorcycle, ATV, Snowmobile, Outboard Motors), Small Engine 4-Stroke Oil Treatment, Automatic Transmission Oil Treatment, and Marine Outboard Drive Treatment.

Dispensers

The first is a pen that has something similar to a ball point. The user presses the tip onto the surface where he wants to deposit oil, and the oil comes out. It's fairly controllable too, so you can get a small dot, a larger puddle, or a line. The pen container I received contains 16cc is 10 weight oil, which is listed as "All Purpose." I'd say it would work great for firearms, knives, and anything with moving parts in general. The cap even has a protrusion for hooking onto the user's pocket, so it can be conveniently carried anywhere. The container is white and not see-through. At the time of this writing, one of these pen dispensers costs $27. It appears that it should last quite a while.

The pen is a very handy container to have around!

The tip of the pen is similar to a ballpoint pen, in that when the tip is pressed, it dispenses oil. The user determines how much oil he wants to come out.

The next type is a Micro-Oiler, which is see-through and has a long, blunt, metal needle for getting the lubricant just where you want it.  This is especially useful if oiling knives and firearms. Normally, I run my knives dry or nearly so because oils tend to attract dirt and other gunk. The 5 Weight oil will be especially useful for knives because when it dries, it leaves very little residue behind, yet still retains lubricant qualities. This is good stuff!! A 3-pack of these dispensers with 5, 10, and 85 Weight lube, at the time of this writing, costs $49.00. At the rate in which I use lube, I believe these will last me for quite a while.

Finally, the grease dispenser is like a giant syringe that comes complete with a long, blunt metal needle, which gets the grease into those hard-to-reach places. This is especially useful when applying to the M-1A rifle, as it allows the user to get the grease into the areas where the bolt rides in the receiver. Those little grooves can be a pain to reach by other means, but with this setup, it becomes very easy. At the time of this writing, this one costs $21.75.

The grease syringe has a large volume and the metal tip is perfect for getting the grease where you need it to go!

Does It Work?

Naturally, I went totally overboard trying Nano-Oil out on most of my firearms. Those that know me will not be surprised, as I tend to go all-in on my endeavors.

So far, I've used Nano-Oil on my S&W CSX 9mm, S&W Airweight .38 Special Revolver, Glock 43X, Ruger MK IV .22 Long Rifle pistol, Two AR-15s, an AK-47 (AK-63D) Underfolder, and my M-1A Scout Squad Rifle from Springfield Armory. I plan to use it on my bolt action rifles and my Henry Arms Survival Rifle (AR-7). In other words, I will use this stuff on all my firearms and knives.

 

This AR pistol by Xtreme Gun Worx (of Emmaus PA) and the AK-63D Underfolder benefitted from an application of Nano-Oil.

The pistols that I tried Nano-Oil on, from top to bottom: Ruger MK IV .22LR, Glock 43X, S&W CSX, S&W Airweight 642 .38 Special revolver. They all said they liked Nano-Oil!

Speaking of knives, I've used it on my Emerson Knives Desert Roadhouse. Some of my Spyderco folders will also see Nano-Oil. The nice thing about the 5-weight oil is that it dries up and doesn't leave a gunky residue on knives, but the lubricating benefits still remain.

Getting oil into specific points of a knife action is now easy! Here we see the Emerson Desert Roadhouse getting some care.

I can honestly say that Nano-Oil is good stuff; my firearms' actions were nice and smooth after using it on them. So the quality of the oil and grease itself is sound. Beyond that, what I really found refreshing is the applicators that come with the oil. These really made all the difference when I used them to apply the oil, and they made the job so much easier on most of the guns.

Glock 43X frame rails getting a dose of Nano-Oil. Nano Oil is an obvious choice for gun care, but works well on a variety of other things as well - particularly knives and tools. 

And don't forget the inside of the slide where parts create friction.

Those hard-to-reach places that used to be a pain to get oil into now are easy to reach, so I expect this will improve the reliability and longevity of my firearms.

The cylinder of the S&W 642 getting some lube.

The Ruger MK IV bolt being coated with 10-weight Nano-Oil. Getting oil inside the receiver is now easy as well.

A special mention here goes out to the Nano-Grease. Applying it to my M-1A Scout Squad rifle is so much easier than trying to get grease into the area where the bolt goes than using a Q-tip. The metal syringe tip placed the grease precisely where I needed it, not only for the channel where the bolt goes inside the chamber and on the receiver, but also onto the operating rod. Kudos to Nano-Oil!

The M-1A Scout Squad Rifle from Springfield Armory is basking in the glory of being freshly lubricated by Nano-Oil.

The Ruger 10/22 will function smoothly with Nano-Oil applied. This is the compact model.

As well, applying it to knives also becomes a breeze, getting the oil in those hard-to-reach places without saturating the entire action of the knife in oil. The user has good control over how much oil comes out of the needles.

All in all, Nano-Oil has a successful product that really delivers (no pun intended). The price is not too high for what the user gets, and the supply should last quite a few cleaning and lubes for one's firearms. This is a great product that I wholeheartedly endorse.

About the Author:

Jim Davis served in the PA Dept. of Corrections for 16 ½ years as a corrections officer in the State Correctional Institute at Graterford and later at SCI Phoenix. He served on the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT), several of those years as a sniper, and also the Fire Emergency Response Team (FERT). For 25 years, he was a professional instructor, teaching topics including Defensive Tactics, Riot Control and Tactical Operations, Immediate Responder, and cognitive programs as an adjunct instructor at the DOC Training Academy. He was then promoted to the title of corrections counselor, where he ran a caseload and facilitated cognitive therapy classes to inmates. His total service time was close to 29 years. He was involved in many violent encounters on duty, including incidents of fatalities.

Sean O' Hare's Knife, the Badger

Here's a guest post, in conjunction with the good folks of Breach Bang Clear!

Sean O’Hare Knives has been making custom knives since 2001, and Sean began doing it full-time in 2009. He hails from Canada, and he is also a very skilled photographer. Sean makes fixed blade knives, including drop point hunters and tactical tantos, and folding knives, including flippers. If you’re into knives, you owe it to yourself to look him up on the ‘net and check out his knife creations. They are utterly beautiful, both in form and function. A Sean O' Hare knife can be very dressy and ornate, while others are simply well-executed and practical. For certain, he makes something for every taste that’s out there.

The fit and finish of his knives are extraordinary, whether we’re looking at the dressier knives or the knives intended for more hard, practical use. He prefers G10, stabilized woods, and Micarta for handle material on his fixed blades. He uses the stock removal method.

The grip fits most hand sizes like a glove!

The Badger Model   

I have an example of one of Sean O' Hare's knives that I’ve owned for quite some time, over ten years. The Badger model falls under the tactical class of knives, although it could certainly be used for a host of duties, including Bushcraft/Survival, defense, hunting, or knife reviews.

Blade

The blade of the Badger is made from CPM 154CM steel and is approximately 4 ½ inches long, although the choil adds a bit of length (I did not count the choil portion as part of the blade). Blade configuration is of the drop point variety. The blade stock is somewhat thick and stout, but the flat grind lends this blade as an excellent slicer. The CPM 154CM steel is not the latest, greatest wonder-steel, but it is a solid performer that’s been around for quite a while. Its virtue is that it is relatively easy to sharpen and holds an edge for a decent time under use. I’ve been delighted with it.

The Badger in its natural environment. Note the striking pommel.

Pommel and Handle

A guard is built into the knife in front of the handle to keep the hand from sliding up onto the cutting edge. In front of that is the aforementioned choil, which is helpful if the user wants to choke up on the knife for added control during finer cutting chores. The handle of the Badger is full tang, and it has a triangular striking pommel at the butt of the handle, complete with a lanyard hole and jimping. The pommel edges were sharp and tended to abrade my side when I carried the knife, so I took a diamond stone to them and rounded off the edges ever so slightly, fixing that issue. However, it would still be very effective as a striking surface.

Holding the handle on are three mosaic pins that go all the way through, securing the scales solidly. The handle is made from smooth dark green canvas micarta, yet it provides enough traction for a positive purchase. It allows the hand to slide around enough to reduce friction and eliminate “hot spots” when chopping with the knife so that there is no discomfort to the user. At the same time, the knife is not likely to slip out of the hand during use. Sean got this aspect spot on! In addition, the shape of the handle fits wonderfully into the hand, filling the hand well but not being so large as to be uncomfortable. Several people have tried the knife and, despite having various sized hands, each remarked that it felt as though the knife had been made just for them.

There is jimping on the spine of the blade, where the thumb is placed, which does a perfect job of anchoring the thumb to that spot while not being overly abrasive to the skin.

Sean O' Hare Knife Feel and Finish

In the hand, this Sean O' Hare knife has the most “lively” feel of any fixed blade I’ve ever handled. Not to sound corny, but it almost strikes me as “magical,” the balance, weight, and configuration just become a perfect extension of my hand when gripped. The knife’s weight is 6.2 ounces, and I’m sure the low weight contributes to the liveliness in the hand. The balance point is right where the handle ends, and the guard begins, making the balance perfect. Sean did his homework on this point, and the finished product reflects that.

The finish of the metal appears to be hand-rubbed satin, which gives a pleasing appearance. The overall fit and finish of this knife is outstanding.

Personal Opinion

For years now, this has been my go-to fixed blade when I’m venturing into the outdoors and deciding to have a fixed blade with me. I would feel very comfortable using this knife for camp chores or other woodland tasks such as building a shelter.

A great carry package for woodland jaunts. Fixed blade Badger, Spyderco Native, and Glock 43X.

Beyond that, I look at this blade as a serious defensive tool if it ever came to that. Let’s face it, if we ever have to use a Sean O' Hare knife to defend ourselves, we’re having an exceedingly bad day, but it is what it is, and I like to be prepared for all eventualities. And these days, one never knows what sort of misadventures might rear their ugly head. Knives never run out of ammo, if you know what I mean. And they’re relatively silent in operation. This particular knife would work great for defense, given its lightweight and nimbleness in hand.

The Badger is not huge, nor is it small, by any means. I’d call it slightly larger than medium-sized. It’s not something I conceal on my person when going about my daily travels. But for hiking and the like, it is just what the doctor ordered.

Here the belt clip can be seen. Clipping onto and off a belt is quick and easy, but the sheath is held securely once clipped on.

 Sheath and Sharpness

A word about the sheath: it is simple and excellent. Period. It consists of a piece of Kydex folded over and secured with rivets that allow cordage to pass through them if you want to lash it to a part of your kit. It has a belt clip that slips over your belt and hooks over it so that when you draw the knife, the sheath will not follow (see the photos, my description may not be the best here). It can be donned or removed quickly and easily yet remains secure when it’s on your belt. Tension retains the Badger in the sheath until it is drawn out.

The Badger in its sheath is a compact carry package.

How does it cut? Fabulous! Light wood cutting, chopping small branches, slicing through paracord, and a myriad of other tasks, passed with flying colors. However, it’s not a blade that I use regularly; I have smaller folding knives as my workhorses. Instead, the comfort that this blade provides simply by being there on my side makes it golden because I know it will perform, and it’s dependable when needed.

Final Thoughts

On top of all of what I listed above…this Sean O' Hare knife is simply a work of art. There’s no other way to put it, it just looks fantastic on top of being a functional piece of gear. Sean O’Hare is a real artist when crafting sharp, pointy things. If you haven’t checked out his cutlery, jump on the internet and look him up. Be aware, though, his knives are very much in demand, so it’s not certain if he will have inventory lying around ready to go out the door. There may be a bit of a wait, but I can personally tell you that it is worth it! There’s just something about holding a hand-made tool like this in your hand that gives a feeling of satisfaction.

These days, his fixed blade knives seem to be in the $425-$450 price range, but don’t quote me on that. Check ’em out, you won’t regret it!

 

About the Author:

Jim Davis served in the PA Dept. of Corrections for 16 ½ years as a corrections officer in the State Correctional Institute at Graterford and later at SCI Phoenix. He served on the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT), several of those years as a sniper, and also the Fire Emergency Response Team (FERT). For 25 years, he was a professional instructor, teaching topics including Defensive Tactics, Riot Control and Tactical Operations, Immediate Responder, and cognitive programs as an adjunct instructor at the DOC Training Academy. He was then promoted to the title of corrections counselor, where he ran a caseload and facilitated cognitive therapy classes to inmates. His total service time was close to 29 years. He was involved in many violent encounters on duty, including multiple unfortunate incidents of fatalities. He is a regular contributor to the KEEN INSIGHTS column on The Mag Life.

Review: MyMedic - MyFAK

Accidents happen. Burns, cuts, bumps and breaks can come to anyone at any time.  Having a first-aid kit to hand is a vital element to anyones preparedness loadout or lifestyle. Whether you're hiking in the bush, cutting firewood, camping, on a road trip, driving nails in the backyard or hitting pipe in the sandbox you'll want to be able to plug holes and tend to boo-boos to get on with the task at hand. I keep a generic first aid kit in the bottom of my day-bag, and have a small IFAK on my hiking belt, but there are some jobs they just aren't up to and frankly, being stuffed in the bottom of a pack does not make for rapid treatment in a critical situation.

This is where something like the purpose built MyFAK from My Medic comes into its own. Jam-packed with a very comprehensive collection of needful and useful items for treating a variety of ailments and accidental injuries. It does so all encompassed in a tactically minded form-factor. 

 With contents suitable for airway, bleeding, burn, hydration, outdoor safety, sprains and fractures and specialty surgical incident as well as topical treatment, the MyFAK  has packs that caters to both Basic and Advanced First Aid needs. (Available in two different configurations to suit your ability and need).

"By ordering MyMedic First Aid Kits you warrant that you have the required training and authorization to use the medical supplies contained within. MyMedic assumes no liability for their misuse."

  

https://mymedic.com/collections/first-aid-kits/products/myfak-firstaidkit

The 1000D cordura pouch measures 6.5" wide, 7.5" tall and 5" deep, its no slouch. The advanced kit weighs 1275g, the same size basic weighs a mear 975g. The front of the pouch is rigged with 6" of loop field, in 3 2" strips, with a secondary layer of 1" strips straddling these to provide 4 channels of MOLLE attachment, for those of us who like pouches on our pouches or for stowing additional accessories likepens, lights, cyalume sticks or pry-bars. A 1" wide nylon strap runs all the way around the pouch, with a fastex buckle to keep it fully secured to the backing and fully closed> This is especially important as the backing, which features not only two press-stud closure MOLLE straps but the entire back is hook and loop for tear-away capability. a 1" nylon grab handle allows for positive grip and when unbuckled the MyFAK can be torn off your pack, or load bearing gear for ease of access or to pass on to someone who needs it.

The rip-away design makes for ease of access for what is otherwise quite a bulky pouch. being able to get at it without it being strapped to yourself or a pack would greatly improve your ability to get the components you need in a timely and efficient fashion. Crucial in a medical crisis. The fastex clip is no hindrance to access and does a great job in securing the pouch, but it has two easy-grip rubber toggles with medic crosses to pull the oversized zippers open. A lightly hook-and-looped nylon tab acts as a pull tab to assist in pulling the pouch open and holding it spread. Folding down to the front loop fields to stow out of the way when not in use.

The pouches hook field backing also means once removed it can be stuck to other loop-field surfaces at your leisure.

Opening the pouch up reveals its Tri-Fold Design

MyMedic created this pouch to give you quick access to your First Aid Supplies. This tri-fold design makes it easy to see what you need, when you need it.

Working from the innermost layer forwards the front the back panel has three Elastic webbing loops to contain items, a mylar space blanket, a hank of paracord, a cyalume stick and a RATS tourniquet. Behind that are two pockets with bandages, including quick-Clot and a chest seal. The back most pocket has a hook and loop  closure tab to keep it closed until needed.

The middle panel has more elastic webbing securing more bandages, irrigation saline and suture kits. An additional pocket behind the elastic webbing holds a compressed compression bandage.

I'm really impressed with the amount of material squeezed into this kit, both by clever arrangement of pockets but also arrangement of items. I was tempted to reorganise the kit but quickly recognised I wasn't going to get it any better packed or sorted.



The third section of the internals is the zippered mesh lind pocket panel. It is filled with small items; medications, electrolyte sachets, swabs, lotions and gloves. The section is itself a tear-away as well allowing you to pass it over or just get at it without disturbing the rest of your pristine supplies.

Whilst the rest of the kit is full of bandages, burn kits, and hole closers, the medication pouch holds pain killers, anti-inflammatories, anti nausea and anti-dirorrerals and electrolytes. The mesh panel allows the plastic pouch wrapped medications to be rummaged through. Good if you find yourself off-Oregon trail and not fancying dying of dysentery.  The flip side of the medication pouch provides a smooth field for laying out items: bandages, sutures, tweezers and such as you work on your patient, or just as a cover to prevent debris falling in your kit.

So, apart from being jam-packed with all kinds of goodies and needfuls, being well put together as far as design and layout, and having an excellent quick-release and access options go, this is an excellent First Aid kit.

I find it a bit bulky and heavy to put on my person, say on a battle-belt or on a plate carrier, except maybe on the back. Personally I feel it's suitable to go on a pack, or on a dedicated medic's harness. One thing I saw on their webpage and successfully tried myself was fitting  it to the headrest of my drivers-side car seat. Putting it in easy reach for shot-gun or back seat passengers should the need for road-side assistance come up.

Secured by its Molle straps, to the headrest prongs, it can be accessed by its quick release Fastex clip and pulled free by the webbing drag handle. If needed it could then be reattached in an upright position and unfolded to access its components in a secured place for out the door or back seat triage as needed. Perfect for on-the-move treatment. 

I have a Cert 1 in first aid which is basically: bites, breaks, bleeds and burns and I feel the contents and setup of this kit is more than adequate for my needs, and beyond what I'm trained for in its Advanced format, but not beyond my ability in extremis.

Cross-Post: DIY Rattlecan Paint Job in Multicam Arid by FDE

Few would argue that good camouflage, used well is both effective and useful. One thing I've noticed if that done poorly it sticks out like a sore thumb. Camo patterns not matched up is one thing, as is not suiting a pattern to fit your surroundings. Another aspect is only doing portions of your kit. But we don't all have the spare currency to custom cerakote or hydro-dip our gear.

The resourceful people over at Fifty Shades of FDE (Flat Dark Earth) have put out a DIY guide for putting multicam style camo paint onto items with spray-paint cans.

• Primary Arms Stencils: MultiTerrain Stensil
• Rustoleum Flat Spray paint in French Beige, Khaki, Dark Taupe, Earth Brown and Green. (This mix for Arid MC)
• Masking Tape
• Newspaper for backing.

They put together a very informative and step-by-step clip on YouTube you should totally check out. Watch as they turn a scary black rifle into innocuous background foliage. Nice!
DIY Rattlecan Paint Job in Multicam Arid by FDE

Home Front: Rules of Threes (or more)

In survival, the rule of threes is a quick reference guide for how long one can generally stay alive in a survival emergency.

Originally posted on my birthday on Breach Bang & Clear you should go check out the other good reads there too! go there t orea dthe full article. 

Normally, it contains the following:

•   You can survive three minutes of severe bleeding, without breathable air (unconsciousness generally occurs), or in icy water.
• You can survive three hours in a harsh environment (extreme heat or cold). Think blizzards, the North Sea, at a Celine Dion concert ...
• You can survive three days without drinkable water.
• You can survive three weeks without edible food.

• When the Radiation alarm goes off, get out of Engineering, immediately . I'm looking at you, Midshipman 1st Class Peter Preston

hat-tricks!

Just the Tip: Hat Tricks

Hats. Pretty ubiquitous. Be it the classic Stetson of the cowboy, the sand, maroon or green beret of the bad-ass snake-eaters (colours depending on your nationality), the Akubra with corks and/or crocodile teeth of the Aussie bushman, or the perfectly curved and patch bedecked ball cap (or patrol cap) of the seasoned operator. These are often underutilized pieces of kit.








So, hats! They're not just head coverings and eye shields. Read all about it here on Breach Bang Clear

Review: "Rambo" mini machette

One of the self-appointed stoke rehab tasks I set myself was to clear some of the backyard jungle, to make way for an over-arching clean-up we badly needed. Normally for brush-clearing I would turn to my Ontario Blackwind, or perhaps one of my other-mid-ranged sized blades, or even turn to my petrol powered brush-clearer, but I wanted to get some physical exercise and didn't want to be swinging long-blades round where there were metal-posts and the like in there field of fire.

As it happened, I had had this particular blade sitting on the shelf, never used. The backyard jungle is clogged with morning glory vine. It's a fast growing and tenacious vine and needs a fair mount of chopping to get through it. I thought this would really do the trick. Weighing in at 1.25kg (2.75 lbs) with an overall length of 37 cm (14.5"). The blade makes up a hefty 20cm (8") of that.

See the rest of the article here on Breach Bang & Clear!

As a heavy-use tool, the "14" RAMBO TACTICAL Combat Survival FIXED BLADE KNIFE  Bowie Hunting Machete

Curated ReBlog: South Korean threat from North Korea

I'm going to be spotlighting some of  my fellow bloggers in addition to my own content to spread some love. First up is from Unprecedented Mediocrity by Jeff Edwards  who shares some opinions on "better them than us" with regards to the North Korea vs South Korea questions:

Check it out here:

http://www.unprecedentedmediocrity.com/nothing-wrong-south-korea-taking-brunt-north-korean-war/

"Or I will Bring Fury and Fire Like You Have Never Seen Before Upon You"
-POTUS

Review: Small Australian Business - Strategic Threat Solutions

Earlier in 2017, a new kid showed up on the tactical gear block when Strategic Threat Solutions was launched in the Australian marketplace. I knew the primary owner from his vocal support and membership with ZERT and online, so when I realized they were ramping up I thought it would be a good time for an interview to scope out what they're all about. As first seen on Breach, Bang & Clear!. 

Unfortunately tragedy struck earlier his year when the primary owner and my contact there was killed in an altercation with police. I'm not going to comment on the matter, but the business as a franchise in Australia ceased to exist at that point. 

Apocalypse Equipped would like to express its sympathy to the families of all involved and wish speedy recovery to all those involved.

What is STS?
Strategic Threat Solutions (STS) is a multi-dynamic business with its core focus on the tactical urban survival/preparedness market. We have three core areas which work in tandem with each other; those core areas are our retail, membership and training divisions. What started out as an Australian business has grown internationally into the US and Europe, including key strategic partnerships. Everyone involved believes in what we are trying to achieve, that is collectively having like-minded individuals changing mindsets and teaching people to think outside the box and become more situationally aware of the changing world we step foot into each day. We are trying to shake loose the chains of "the crazy doomsday preppers" and show people that being a "prepper" isn't all tin foil hats and conspiracy theories. It's a way of life. Most people are preppers and don't realize it. And that is why STS transformed from an idea into a business. We are the new kids on the block, but we are here to stay. 
 
That's the kind of grounded and thought-out philosophy I like to hear in a business plan.
Side note: I wonder how many RFID blocking wallets it takes to make a tin-foil equivalent hat?
 
When did you form?
STS formed unofficially well over two years ago when Nick, Rob and myself would discuss at length gear, training and ideas. We all met through another group, we are all members of the Z machine (Zert). It was through this group that we connected with other like-minded individuals who shared our passions. From there things started to grow. In March 2017, we officially launched STS to the Australian consumer.

It takes time to get a business up and running and build a dependable team. It sounds like STS have got themselves pulled together.
 
Who is your core team?
Our core team is Josh, Nick, Rob and another still active current serving ADF member who at this time will remain nameless given his working environment. We also have international partners who we will introduce at a later time. It's safe to say the reaction and support we have received internationally has shocked us. And we are bringing people on board to help assist us with our membership and training divisions overseas. 

 OPSEC is important, boys and girls.


Who are your core audience and target market?
Our core audience and the targeted market is the tactical, survival/preparedness sectors. But while the focus is there, we are keenly aware that this market is not "mainstream" here in Australia. We have noticed the trend shift as people realize we live in crazy times and being prepared to support and look after your family during a disaster is paramount.

Spot on for me, and one can only hope that as the idea becomes more mainstream, it will be easier and easier for us to source and share our interests.


What can you tell me about your American division, how are the two different?
Our American partner specializes in personal protection, medical and emergency crisis management. They play a vital role in our US market and will facilitate training to our members in the US once our membership division is up and active. They will also help assist our team in gaining certification in training practices that we can deliver here in Australia not only for our members but also when our training division begins to roll out packages to external agencies etc.
 
 I can hardly wait to get professional training to build on my self-taught skills. Having a go-to source for trainers and training is just what we need.


What do you plan to bring to the community that is currently missing?
We have noticed and looked at what is currently in the Australian marketplace, and while we will have similar products available to our customers we are going to focus on two main things providing quality gear at a reasonable, cost-effective price and specialized custom gear that suits each customer. While we - as a small business here in Australia - may not have the buying power of some of the larger companies, we work very closely with our suppliers to provide the best possible price and gear and reach out to custom makers to provide that right piece of gear. We enjoy working with other small businesses worldwide in finding that perfect piece of kit that people are after. Now with that said, while we supply the gear, we are working hard to supplement the equipment with training so people not only get the gear but the training that goes with it to help them understand just what it is used for. It's certainly a long process but we have measures in place and some experienced personnel on board to make it become a reality.   

With an outline like this, products with appropriate training as a one-stop shop, STS can position itself to leverage a whole lot of focus in the community. Good for them, better for us.
 
What do you see as your signature traits, skills, products?
Certainly, our signature trait, skills, and products will be in the urban survival/preparedness market. We have been lucky enough to get some fantastic support from the US with some of the world's best gear providers and manufacturers, namely Imminent Threat Solutions. Their urban survival gear is second to none, and it's just one of the companies we are excited to work with and to bring their gear to the Australian market. 
Being on a big island very far from the industry of the northern hemisphere can be a real drag sometimes. Having a local source for the gear we see and hear about online is excellent, especially when some of the brands are hard to get otherwise. 

Custom gear & training offerings?
Custom gear is one of the things we at STS are going to focus on. We have many custom gear makers on board helping us achieve just that. To name a few we have MUHL CUSTOMS (belts, rigging systems, speed-mags), LOTAR COMBAT (custom-made IDF ENDORSED knives), BTSC (custom compact survival kits), RONO solutions (custom weapon carriage systems/slings), Rare Element (custom lock picks and equipment), Battle Patches (custom made morale patches), Matteo's Signs (custom engraving and signage) and STS-US will be providing us with custom iFAKS and medical gear but also providing training services. While we focus on the urban "jungle" with survival and preparedness in mind, we also recognize the fact that all over the world the wilderness is at everyone's door. So, instead of spreading ourselves thing we have partnered with Australian Survival Instructors (ASI) who are leaders in the bush/wilderness survival sector and have them on board to assist us with all things primitive and bush survival orientated.



Who are your affiliate partners, Who do you hope to get, gear makers, training facilitators?
 STS has many affiliates that we are working with closely. Our affiliates are not only business related, but we have aligned with some other small Australian business that comes from a variety of backgrounds and believes in helping grow small Australian businesses. Our affiliates to date are: Battle Patches, Mind4Survival, Matteo's signs, Patriot radios, Delta Echo Apparel, RJM vertebrate pest control, Firearm Owners United, ZERT Australia, Encompassing Australia, A.S.I Australian Survival Instructors, Yamato, Zahal and Rift Recon.  

Lots of good lines here, rare and hard to get lines at least in Australia, til now. The STS folks have really pulled together some really interesting and desirable vendors and I look forward making use of that for sure!
 
We are always looking to expand our ever-growing network of affiliates that share our passions and goals. Our current gear makers we have mentioned previously, but we do have a few things working in the background at the moment that we are excited about and will release that information in due time. Our training facilitators, some we have mentioned, and again we don't want to spoil some of the things we have in store, but we are very excited with what we have developing.

I think STS is going to be a company to watch in the future not only for the products they will be carrying but also the lines of training and services that will be offered under their umbrella.

Travel made easier: carry-on cocktail kits for your flight or ride. Carry one for each of your favorite cocktails!