Yeah, we know … Last New Year’s Day you wrote “Shop For Christmas!” in your monthly Day-Timer, and you were determined not to repeat last year’s 2300 hours-on-December 24th Christmas “shopping” debacle. Remember? Your partner got a handcuff key and a dusty box of Federal HydraShoks right off the shelf in your closet. You hoped he wouldn’t notice there were eight rounds missing. He did. The guy who patiently nursed you through the academy got a six-pack of Bud Lite with a bow made outta yellow Crime Scene tape on it — and the list goes on. You were determined never to let that happen again, so you carefully penciled in that reminder, and then repeated it every month — for a while.

In May, you began abbreviating that reminder to “SFC,” and by the first of December you couldn’t remember what it meant. “Southern Fried Chicken”? “Sergeant First Class”? “Something Forgotten Completely”?

Okay, so Santa Claus, you’re NOT, but we can fix that. Fortunately, like so many other things in life, all you need is the right little rectangle of plastic. AMEX, Visa, MasterCard, whatever; just bust it out, check your limit, and start reading.

Great Gift Goodies

The DeLuxe Law Enforcement Cleaning System by Otis Technology contains everything needed — and extra stuff just wanted — to clean pistols from 9mm to .45 caliber, and rifles from 5.56mm to 7.62mm, plus 12-gauge, and it all fits neatly into a zippered pack the size of a big fist! This feat is achieved with precision modular components including their patented Memory-Flex cleaning rods. Give it to your partner with a note inside reading, “Keep ‘em clean and running, pardner — The life you save could be MINE!” www.otisgun.com.

Oakley Half Jacket XLJ Eyewear

So your beat-buddy still wears those ‘70s SuperFly shades he picked up for $1.99 at The Bargain Bin? Get him some seriously stylish — and seriously protective — high-tech vision protection. Oakley’s Half Jacket XLJ interchangeable-lens sunglasses block 100 percent of UVA, UVB, and UVC rays plus harmful blue light up to 400nm, while maintaining precise clarity at all angles. Of course, the Plutonite lenses are shooting-grade, offering superior shatter resistance. Get the “XLJ Array” set, which includes clear, smoke and amber lenses in a tough, semi-rigid case, as issued to elite military units worldwide. www.oakley.com.

The slug-stopping “Academy Pad” by Safe Directions

You safety-check, field-strip, load and unload pistols constantly, and often, this requires pulling the trigger and dropping the hammer on a presumably empty chamber. That word — “presumably” — has ended friendships, careers and lives, with a bang.

Safe Direction Ballistic Containment Systems builds a slug-stopping barrier into a variety of range bags, gun cases, fanny packs and there’s even the “Academy Pad,” which clips right into a three-ring binder — just like the one you lug your Rules, Regs & Procedures around in. Whenever you need a safe direction, just put that muzzle into light contact with the Safe Direction logo, and it’ll stop most factory loaded handgun rounds. This is a gift that can save a pal’s badge or even his life. Learn more about them and check the lineup at www.safedirection.com.

Streamlight’s new Stinger DS LED

Those of you who thought Streamlight’s rechargeable Stinger tactical light couldn’t be improved on were wrong. Take a look at the brand new Stinger DS LED. Yup. It’s got a shockproof 3-watt super-high flux LED pumping out 80 lumens of bright, balanced light. The user can choose between three levels of power — and battery conservation — with the dual-switch system, for up to 6.75 hours of runtime on “low.”

Other features include a tough anodized aluminum barrel with a non-slip rubberized grip. Charge it up before you wrap it — your “giftee” will want to play with it as soon as it’s unwrapped. Check out www.streamlight.com.

Three new handcuff models from Hiatt offer ascending levels of security

For that partner who’s always borrowing yours and sorta forgetting to give ‘em back, give one of the three new high-tech and high-security Hiatt handcuffs. For patrol trolls and detectives, the UL-1 is our top choice. When opened they snap into rigid position, yet fold back up easily for carry. For correctional dudes, Model 2103 Rigid Handcuffs conform to the user’s hand and work smoothly for both right and left handers. They provide tremendous pain compliance leverage when your “clients” get festive. If your pal is working SuperMax or the SHU, new maximum-security HSS9s are made for the strongest suspects and craftiest cons. They feature 25 locking positions and a pick-resistant lock in addition to the standard keyhole, so once you cuff ‘em, they stay cuffed. Check ‘em out at www.hiatts.com, and get a pair for yourself.

One photo won’t do it — Maxpedition’s Operator Tactical Attaché has to be handled to be appreciated..

Find a dealer who’s got Maxpedition’s Operator Tactical Attaché in stock and go see it. No photo can do it justice; only hands-on examination can. The ultimate cop-office-go-bag was designed from the ground up for cops who can both pound the keyboard and hit the streets hard. Thoughtfully engineered spaces securely hold a laptop, handguns, magazines, legal pads, evidence gear, water bottles, ‘cuffs, and you-name-it.

Consider this maker’s reputation for tough, highest quality military and LE gear, guess the price and then look at the tag. You’ll be surprised. The equally tough little clamshell Barnacle case holds cell phones against a screen-friendly separator and opens wide for other pocket clutter. Okay, get yourself the Urban Wallet. All come in assorted colors. www.maxpedition.com.

The Night Sentry is one of those gifts that says the giver is thoughtful, perceptive and caring — and when’s the last time anyone said that about you? Almost anything hung on a belt, like flashlights, holsters, cell phone and pepper spray holders, can be attached to Night Sentry’s one-piece, injection-molded polymer chassis.

All the gear your friend might need in an emergency positioned on the side of their bed, right between the mattress and box spring. It’s had great reviews from both officers and armed citizens. www.diamondsentrydistributors.com.

Photon Light’s “Fusion” is a multi-misson utility light

Walking up on a vehicle stop, directing traffic during a power outage, maneuvering around an accident scene — all can be deadly because your flashlight is forward and you’re “blacked out” to the back. The Fusion was already a great multi-mission morphing headlamp/belt light/stand-alone utility light, offering a dual-color eight-LED array with full brightness control and five safety features including SOS, when the designers at Photon Light thought about your blacked-out back.

By the time you read this, they’ll offer blue strobing LEDs in addition to the primary white modules, so you can simply get out of your cruiser, clip it on your belt facing to the rear, and warn those drivers coming up behind you. Give this one with a note saying, “Watch your six, pal, but light it up, too.” www.photonlight.com.

The GunVault Mini is strong, safe and fast

GunVault. You know you’ve wanted one since you saw their first ad. So, give one and get one for yourself. Secure your pistol in the GV1000 Mini or a pistol, tac light and valuables in the GV2000 Multi, and relax with the knowledge it’s stored in a real, quality vault with the instantly accessible “No-Eyes Keypad.” Select from over 12 million touch-codes, and your choice of audible confirmation or silent mode when you’d rather slip Roscoe out quietly. A tamper indicator tells you about invalid entry attempts and the on-board computer will shut the system down after repeated incorrect tries. See all the GunVault models including the fingerprint-recognizing “Bio” at www.gunvault.com.

Gifts On The Cutting Edge

You don’t have to be a captain to give, get or just enjoy the Captain from Spyderco Knives. Jason Breeden’s unusual design delivers extreme cutting power from its hollow ground reverse curve VG-10 blade, and the textured G-10 handle scales are virtually bombproof. It’s a big knife in a small package. www.Spyderco.com.

SOG’s Bi-Polar is the first dual-tool assisted-opening knife and a great gift for any cop. On one end is a hefty 3" main blade and on the other a V-Cutter that zips through seat belts, cord, fabric and light wire. Dual locking bars assure stability and safety. There’s even a glass breaker on the butt. See it at www.sogknives.com.

Al Mar Knives’ Backup 1 and Backup 2 are almost too pretty to carry — but they should and will be carried, because they’re ideally suited for their named purpose. Both orient naturally in the hand and they are fast!. The BU1 is a penetrating 4" tanto blade, while the BU2 is a slashing 3" hawkbill. Fitted and finished to Al Mar’s superb standards, this is “artwork that cuts,” but don’t frame them — use ’em. www.almarknives.com.

Okay, you’ve gotta buy at least two of these, because you’ll definitely keep one. The Wilson Tactical Cop Tool has become so popular with LE personnel people are just saying “the cop tool” and others know exactly what they’re talking about. The WTCT is a knife, chisel, scraper, pry bar, glass breaker, rope and seat belt cutter and a whole lot more. A cord-wrapped full tang handle and kydex sheath wraps it up. Now, you wrap it up. www.wilsontactical.com.

John Morrison
Field Editor - American Handgunner, GUNS Magazine
American COP & Shooting Industry Magazine
ThatGunWriterGuy@yahoo.com
Ph:(Landline) 406.257.0946
Cel: 406.270.3172

USPS/FedEx/UPS:
John Morrison
432 E Idaho PMB C-473
Kalispell MT 59901