2014 Field-Tested Holiday Gift Guide

The American Built Arms Company is a veteran-owned business that manufactures its rifles and components here in the United States. The two-piece MOD1 Hand Guard (left) is heat-shielded and designed to fit either gas-impingement or piston-driven AR-15 carbine platforms. The lightly textured gripping surface features a contoured hand stop. This hand guard can be fitted with mil-spec accessory rails attaching lights, lasers and vertical grips. The SBR P*Grip AR pistol grip (Upper Right) is molded to provide a low-profile form factor from advanced light-weight polymers. The weather-resistant internal storage compartment will hold two AA or one CR123 battery. The SBR V*Grip removable vertical grip (lower right) fits MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny rails and also has storage space for batteries. This sleek grip is a handy addition for bullpups and shotguns as well as AR-15s. MOD1 Hand Guard: $40.99 SBR P*Grip: $19.99 SBR V*Grip: $39.99

Advanced Technology International’s (ATI) X2 Scorpion pistol grips have been designed and contoured from top to bottom to manage felt recoil. The grip's frame is made of DuPont Extreme Temperature glass-reinforced polymer for strength and durability. The front strap has raised, aggressively textured touch points for improved grip traction while the back strap is made of a soft synthetic that absorbs the initial shock wave produced when a cartridge is fired. Each modle of the X2, currently available for Taurus large frame revolvers and AR-15 pattern rifles, has been engineered to provide an optimal grip-to-trigger fit for most hand sizes. MSRP: $24.99

BLACKHAWK! is known for providing a diverse set top-notch gear for military and law enforcement personnel. Among its offerings are some useful and affordable tools. A handy, compact multi-function knife for emergency services, or anyone who might have to face an emergency situation, is the Hawkhook. This little folder, which is about the same size as a pack of chewing gum, has a single serrated cutting blade that also features a glass breaker, wire stripper, flat-tip screw driver, bottle opener, and a recessed hook for cutting cords or seat belts. This tool arrives with a pocket clip for convenient carry. For those in the market for a heavy-duty fixed blade combat knife, the Gidion Tanto is constructed from AUS8A stainless steel with a black Ti-Nitride finish and CNC machined G-10 handle scales. The modified tanto blade is shaped for both piercing and slashing strokes. The blade is 5.00-inches long with an overall length of 10.25-inches. The knife arrives with an injection-molded nylon sheath and mounting hardware that allows it to be attached in several positions. HawkHook: $39.99 Gideon Tanto: $129.99

Caldwell's Deadshot Chairpod blends the portability of a folding chair with the steady support of their collapsible rifle rest system. This heavy-duty chair is fitted with a built in post and support assembly to keep a rifle steady when shooting. The swing-arm system allows for precise aiming with tension-adjustable up and down tilt points. The rubber over-molded front and rear forks and a retention strap ensure your firearm is held securely at all times. Backpack style carry straps are provided to allow the Chairpod to be carried to and from your shooting location. MSRP: $219.99

The new Evolution (E2) series from Fobus represents the company's next step in handgun holster design. The E2 features a light weight one-piece holster body, a steel reinforced rivet attachment, and a protective sight channel. The in-the-waistband paddle is rubberized to provide added comfort and stability. A tension adjustment screw is incorporated to allow the user to adjust the level of passive retention. These holsters are available for a variety of popular pistols and revolvers. MSRP: Starting At $37.99

One of the problems with the typical handgun cases found at sporting goods stores is that they look exactly like what they are: handgun cases. When transporting or storing handguns, especially in vehicles, it would be helpful to have some kind of urban camouflage to disguise the presence of the gun from those who would try to steal it. This is why G. Outdoors Products developed its line of soft-side, lockable zipper Deceit & Discreet handgun cases. These cases are designed to retain a pistol, and two spare magazines, while appearing to be innocuous every day items. Options include a jumper cable bag (shown), day planner, first aid kit, and even a tissue box container. MSRP: Starting at $29.99

LaserLyte has announced the latest additions to their popular laser training line up: the Trigger Tyme laser pistols. Available in Full-Size (LT-TTL) and Compact (LT-TTLC) models, these laser devices provide instant feedback so that anyone can practice trigger control anywhere and anytime with a semi-auto pistol feel, balance and weight. These trainers provide a simulated trigger pull of 5.50-pounds (similar to that of Glock pistols) with a realistic trigger take up and break. The integrated muzzle-mounted laser is activated by each pull of the trigger for up to 10,000 shots per set of batteries. The Trigger Tyme lasers can be used with LaserLyte Trainer Target systems. MSRP: $149.95

Bayco Products, Inc. is a company you may not have heard of, but they've been in the business of producing a wide variety of high-performance flashlights for industrial and professional applications for over 30 years. This includes their Nightstick line of lights for military and law enforcement. The Nightstick Xtreme Lumens Full-Size Dual-Light (Left) is a rechargeable hand-held flashlight with two distinctive sources of illumination in one package. The primary forward-facing focused LED is rated at 650 lumens with a useable distance of up to 275 meters. A secondary unfocused floodlight, rated at 600 lumens, is integrated into the housing to provide close-up work. Three activation switches, two near the lens and one in the end cap, allow both LEDs to be used simultaneously or separately. While the flood light simply turns on or off, the primary light has user-selectable settings including high, medium, low, and strobe settings. The light arrives with a USB-compatible charging bracket and wall plug. The Nightstick Xtreme Lumens Tactical Long Gun Light Kit (Right) arrives with everything needed to add a high-power tactical light to long guns with Picatinny or Weaver accessory rails. The TAC-460XL Xtreme Lumens tactical light has an 800-lumens rated LED paired with a high-efficiency deep parabolic reflector. The beam is distance rated at 205-meters, for long-distance target acquisition, while providing a wide secondary halo of light for close-quarters. The light is paired with a remote pressure switch so the user can quickly switch from the high, medium, low, or strobe settings. Xtreme Lumens Full-Size Dual-Light (NSR-9744XL): $133 Nightstick Tactical Long Gun Light Kit (TAC-460XL-K01) $92

Viking Tactics' RAND CLP is an eco-friendly, all-in-one product for cleaning, lubricating, and protecting firearms. This CLP enhances firearm performance and reliability using a rare vegetable oil base and a proprietary blend of nanoparticles to create a smooth and durable surface. The semi-auto pistols I pre-treated with RAND CLP cycled smoothly throughout their evaluations without the lubricating oils burning off, and then wiped clean with ease. The hard to clean surfaces of revolvers, including the forcing cone and cylinder face, came clean in a fraction of the time usually required to scrub away heavy carbon build up. RAND CLP is non toxic, odorless, safe to use with all metals, polymer, and wood. Suggested Retail: $14.99 (4-ozs.)

A good set of eye protection is one of the most important items a shooter can have in the field or at the range, so why not invest in a proven system that military personnel around the world trust to preserve their vision. Revision Eyewear’s Sawfly eye protection is fitted with superior high-impact polycarbonate lenses that exceed military ballistic impact requirements. The lightweight frame and thin arms fit comfortably with hearing protection ear muffs. The interchangeable lenses provide 100% protection from harmful UV-A, UV-B and UV-C rays. The Sawfly can also be fitted with an optional prescription lens insert. Suggested Retail: $89.99

The Tacprogear Covert Go Bag Light is a single-shoulder strap pack designed to provide a convenient handgun concealment system while hiking outdoors or trekking through town. The usual Tacprogear military-style external MOLLE straps have been left off to give it a more casual, every-day appearance. The Go Bag offers left and right-handed zippered access points for the dedicated pistol compartment. This specialized pocket features a hook-and-loop backing and Tacprogear's exclusive universal ‘wheel’ pistol support. For additional protection, the main compartment has a pocket sized to hold a standard 10" x 12" soft body armor ballistic plate (sold separately). Suggested Retail: $73

The Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Edition is designed to sharpen just about every kind of knife there is. Using a fully adjustable precision sharpening guide, variable speed and flexible abrasive belts it sharpens folding, hunting, serrated, and kitchen knives. The sharpening guide is fully adjustable from 15° to 30° so you can sharpen any knife to the angle you desire. The variable speed control provides the optimal belt speed for the task at hand. The WSKTS-KO Blade Grinding Attachment is a horizontal belt system for knife shaping, sharpening and honing tasks. This four-pulley attachment is fully adjustable from 10° to 35° (in 1° increments) and includes 1” x 18” engineered abrasive belts including a Norton ceramic P120, Norax X65 (P220), X22 (P1000), X4 (P1000) and a Micro-Mesh 12000. Clear, easy to understand instructions are provided. Ken Onion Edition Knife & Tool Sharpener (WSKTS-KO): $149.95 Ken Onion Edition Blade Grinder (WSSAKO81112): $99.95