In observance of the Memorial Day weekend we will not be distributing any of our services on Monday, May 25. The Outdoor Wire Digital Network will resume our normal distribution schedule on Tuesday, May 26. If you have important news to distribute prior to the holiday weekend, please submit it by 4:00pm Eastern today, Thursday, May 21. News arriving later will not make tomorrow's final editions for the week. Please note that Tuesday's edition of The Knife Wire will be the last before Blade Show.
Dead Air Silencers announced that multiple products, including the Nomad LTi XC, Nomad Ti XC, Enhanced Brake for Nomad Suppressors, and Mask, received 2026 Editor's Choice Awards from Hunt Alaska. CEO Ernie Beckwirth praised the recognition, crediting the company's team dedication to producing high-performance suppressors for hunters and shooters.
The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and partners including Maryland Shall Issue, Firearms Policy Coalition, and Maryland State Rifle and Pistol Association have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review Novotny v. Moore, challenging Maryland's "sensitive places" carry ban that restricts firearm possession in numerous public locations despite the Bruen decision.
Firearms Policy Coalition petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court in Novotny v. Moore to strike down Maryland's Gun Safety Act of 2023, which bans public firearm carry. The case involves FPC members, Maryland Shall Issue, and the Second Amendment Foundation, represented by Cooper & Kirk, PLLC and Mark W. Pennak.
The NSSF funded a lawsuit challenging Virginia's ban on Modern Sporting Rifles and standard-capacity magazines, filing an emergency motion for preliminary injunction in Fauquier County Circuit Court. Plaintiffs including Erick Black, Britton Condon, Clark's Gun Shop, Optimus Arms, LLC, and Hexmag USA, LLC argue the law violates the U.S. and Virginia Constitutions, with enforcement set for July 1, 2026.
Meprolight will showcase its battle-proven optics at The Tactical Games at The Sawmill Training Complex this Memorial Day Weekend, offering hands-on demonstrations and exclusive event pricing on products including the MVO riflescope series, Tru-Vision SR, M22 PRO, MCO PRO, and MMX4 magnifiers.
Walther Arms is hosting the Walther Shop Stop on May 22, 2026, at FrogBones Family Shooting Center in Melbourne, Florida. The event features live product demonstrations, private instruction from professional shooters Santiago Lopez, Parker Patrick, and Jay Beal, a Walther drift car driven by Caleb Quanbeck, and exclusive deals and giveaways.
Media Lodge announced a partnership with Lexipol Media Group to represent their first responder digital media network, including Police1, FireRescue1, and EMS1, enabling consumer brands to reach off-duty police officers, firefighters, and EMTs through integrated marketing opportunities.
Celerant Technology hosted its 2026 Client Conference in Dallas, introducing major product updates including Skylar IQ AI retail agent, Customer Engagement Suite, and redesigned POS interface. The event brought together firearms retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and industry partners including SIG SAUER, RSR Group, NASGW, Silencer Shop, and Project ChildSafe to discuss regulatory changes and retail technology solutions.
Arsenal Inc., a premier American importer and manufacturer of Kalashnikov pattern firearms, is offering 20% off its entire catalog to Virginia residents in response to the state's newly signed assault weapons and high-capacity magazine ban taking effect July 1, 2026. The Virginia Crisis Support initiative runs through June 22, 2026, and includes firearms, magazines, and accessories available through ArsenalInc.com and K-VAR.com.
Magpul released three new M-LOK products: an Index Stop, Thumb Shelf, and SVG Grip designed to improve firearm control and mitigate recoil. All accessories are ambidextrous, available in multiple colors, and constructed from durable polymer with mil-spec hardware included.
VKTR Industries announced a collaboration with Shark Coast Tactical and Exigent Defense Suppressors to release the "Kentucky Truck Gun," featuring a 10.5 inch piston VK-1 rifle with Exigent LE556 Suppressor, Holosun sight, and additional tactical components available exclusively through Shark Coast Tactical.
PROOF Research launched PXT (PROOF Exponential Twist), a groundbreaking rifling technology that improves barrel durability, accuracy, and shootability. The innovation uses a progressively changing twist profile to reduce bullet stress while maintaining rotational stability, delivering 30-100% increased barrel life and 20-50% improvements in consistency and accuracy. PXT barrels are available in multiple chamberings with the Elevation FDX starting at $3,499 and Elevation MTR FDX at $3,799.
SoundGear and Realtree have partnered to introduce the SoundGear Shield x Realtree Special Edition, a 93 dB electronic hearing protection device designed for hunters and shooters. The collaboration combines SoundGear's advanced sound management technology with Realtree's exclusive accessories to promote hearing conservation and outdoor safety.
Beretta USA and Langdon Tactical Technology unveiled the 92G Elite Combat LTT, a competition-grade pistol featuring enhanced ergonomics, a Toni System compensator, fiber-optic sights, and three 22-round magazines. The pistol is available through authorized dealers at $1,299 MSRP.
Blue Force Gear unveiled the patented BFG Integrated Stealth Harness (ISH), a certified system combining a combat gun belt and climbing harness into one lightweight platform. Weighing just 1 pound 9 ounces total, the ISH serves as a combat gun belt, helicopter restraint system, and certified rappel harness rated to hold over 3,000 pounds.
Zanders, a national distributor based in Sparta, Illinois, is now stocking the Henry H023 Lever Action Supreme Rifle chambered in .450 Bushmaster caliber. Built by Henry Repeating Arms with premium craftsmanship, the rifle features a blued barrel, walnut stock, ambidextrous safety, and match-grade trigger for hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts.
XS Sights launched pre-drilled Tritium Standard Dot front sights for Ruger SP101 revolvers, featuring dual-illuminated tritium lamps with green or orange photoluminescent Glow Dots for improved target acquisition in various lighting conditions. The sights are priced at $75.99 and backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty plus 12-year illumination warranty.
Sarsilmaz and SDS Arms announce co-sponsorship of the 2026 CMP Bianchi Cup, taking place May 21–24 at Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club in Hallsville, Missouri. Sarsilmaz will showcase firearms including the SAR9 series, SAR9 SOCOM models, 7/24 series, and K12 hammer-fired steel pistol.
Winchester will be featured alongside Bass Pro Shops on the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in the 2026 Coca-Cola 600. Winchester is honoring the 250th Anniversary of the United States with commemorative ammunition packaging series, including limited-edition collectible designs celebrating American heritage and the nation's hardworking citizens.
Recently a pair of commentators opined that Jeff Cooper’s color code has nothing to do with readiness or awareness.
They make the point, and it is true, that the color codes were meant as a system to lessen your reluctance to use force. The aim is to be conditioned to appropriately respond to what appears to be a threat to safety.
However, in Cooper’s own words it appears that the color included awareness as a component in preparation to do battle. For example, he noted that you may be forgiven for losing a battle but you may not be forgiven for being surprised. The implication is that the color codes are based on awareness.
He went on to say that in Condition Yellow, one can be compared to a patrol craft on the surface of the ocean. He said that it’s like having a radar dish scanning 360 degrees all the time looking for potential threats.
That’s as clear a statement of awareness as he could make.
Cooper also typified Condition Yellow as a state of relaxed alert. As a note to cardiologists out there, he said that you could stay in Condition Yellow the rest your life with no negative side effects. It’s just a matter of observing the world around you and always looking, always being prepared, always being aware when you’re around people you do not know.
This in no way negates the remainder of the message of the two commentators. As to lessening the reluctance to use force, that is absolutely the thrust of mental conditioning for combat.
mage from the Sconce, Cooper's residence at Gunsite. It was taken in the armory at the end of a class - where I got to speak with him for a short time.
Jeff Cooper told me, on two occasions, that his inquiries demonstrated that people who won gun fights weren’t those who always shot the best scores on the range. Instead, they were people who could think when the emergency was in progress.
Too often, we’ve taken hard-learned lessons, reduced them to mnemonic devices -- reminders, a short-hand way to remind students -- and had that effort reduced to making the entire lesson a phrase, a bumper-sticker slogan.
That’s not the point of it. The point is to get people home at the end of the day. To do that, we illustrate those scenarios where good people lost – and, properly, won – surprise engagements. A way to win is not to be surprised, but to express a world-weary sentiment: “oh, no … I knew this could happen.”
To quote the master, “If you are attacked in Condition Yellow, you will probably win, assuming that you are armed, awake and aware.” (Emphasis added, quote from Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries, Volume 13, No. 1 January 2005)
Image from the armory in the Cooper residence. The drawing depicts an exercise from his pre-Modern Technique days.
It’s good that the current herd is going back to source material, but be careful not to cut too much off. The point of Cooper’s Color Codes is to be ready to take action when that’s necessary. But when you suspect a problem early, before it can develop, the planning stages – examining alternatives – is ongoing before the fight starts.
Trying to plan a fight during a fight is multitasking you don’t want to try. The more you can look at an approaching potential problem before it arrives, the more chance to assess an exit strategy.
