Fear & Loading: Holiday Lights, Sort Of

by
posted on December 14, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
crimson_-lede_crimson-trace-factory-1.jpg

Crimson Trace is offering up to $50 off lights and lasers, with no coupon code needed, on website and phone orders through Christmas day. The special prices also include laser and Blade-Tech holster packages—all guaranteed hits for firearm enthusiasts on your list.

I have Crimson Trace Lasergrips on several of my handguns. They’ve never failed me, point of impact/aim doesn’t wander and the company’s Free Batteries For Life program is icing on the cake.

A laser aiming system is a huge asset in a self-defense gun, especially one with intuitive activation that automatically lights if the unthinkable happens, adrenaline kicks in and stress robs you of a lot of fine motor skills. Everything the company produces is high quality, but a trip to the factory a few months reaffirmed that fact.

The staff seems universally excited about what it’s producing, which isn’t always the case during a factory tour. I know what you’re thinking, and you’re right. They probably told the employees to be on their best behavior and gave the practical joker who wears clown masks to staff meetings the day off.

The assembly line is where I learn the most about “atmosphere” of a company, though, and this one was different. By gun-industry standards this one was clean and employees wore a static-resistant lab coat of sorts. Most had smiles, and those who didn’t were simply going about their tasks in a businesslike, yet friendly, manner.

They did, however, entertain questions and being something of a ham radio “geek” (my family’s quote, not mine), I gravitated to one woman soldering contact points so fine I needed a magnifying glass to watch. I’m good, but this gal’s an artist. Seriously. It turns out all the soldering inside Crimson Trace products are done to military standards by staff with the certifications required to make those connections battle tough.

I’m in the habit of tearing apart electronics that die, just in case it’s something simple I can handle, and out of curiosity. I’ve never seen soldering work so meticulous being done in any factory, or even sitting on my workbench. Of course, part of the reason is I’ve never had a Crimson Trace product die.

Latest

Capitol At Dusk 2
Capitol At Dusk 2

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act is on the Move

The story of American freedom, now almost 250 years on since delegates to the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, leads irrevocably to the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.

Mixing & Matching Gun Parts: What’s The Catch?

How would one about verifying that parts from one gun would fit and function on another of the same make and model? What about aftermarket parts sold as replacement parts for hard-to-get original parts?

U.S. Army & Navy Award FN a $9.9 Million Contract for Machine Guns

FN America has been awarded a $9.9 million contract to supply the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy with FN M240B machine guns, continuing the supply of FN America’s longest-standing military weapons platform.

Review: Kahr Arms X9

When Kahr introduced the 10-round X9, it was first a matter of “about time.” However, after examining the pistol, it’s apparent that the company found a way to catch up with its competitors in a hurry.

Frugal Tactical: Retay USA's RA1522 Line

Largely known for its line of imported shotguns, Retay USA is moving into the tactical rimfire field with its collection of .22 LR-chambered RA1522 guns.

The Armed Citizen® March 9, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.