The Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trades Show is over for 2002. This is the annual manufacturer, distributor and dealer show for the shooting and hunting industry. All the new products and innovations were available for viewing.

Imagine an automobile show with at least six changes or improvements to every model by each manufacturer, including accessories.

The handgun industry has developed a number of new semi-automatic revolvers in the lightweight class for concealed carry. They have done this to meet the demand of the 33 states that have enacted concealed carry.

Triple K Leather goods has two purses for the ladies and fanny packs for both men and women.

Sarah and I were treated to a Smith & Wesson tour at the Shot Show, and they are alive and well since being purchased by Americans. They proclaim “American Owned-American Made” and are proudly celebrating their 150th birthday.

One of S&W’s newest products is a model 625 in .45 ACP with a four-inch barrel to meet new regulations by the International Defensive Pistol Association.

Many of their new pistols and revolvers are equipped with red and green HiViz front sights that are proclaimed virtually indestructible.

All new S&W revolvers have an internal locking system above the cylinder latch. The firearm can be opened but won’t fire if the lock is set. This is similar to Tarus, who has a lock behind the hammer. While many personal defense advocates have no use for locking their firearms, these two systems permit the owner to use his or her discretion.

Smith actually cut the margin on their new semi-autos. The model 410 is equipped with green HiVis sights and the 910 with red HiVis sights.

Smith & Wesson’s come with California certified locks.

S&W semi-autos come with Safe T Hammer, but owners are warned not to lock up a loaded gun.

Smith has three new performance center guns — an eight-shot model 627, a Schofield and a model 952.

Winchester was a featuring red-orange “Winchester Red” Suburban. I didn’t see a price, nor did I ask for one! They were also featuring a new nine-shot lever action 410 shotgun. It possibly could fill the bill around the farm or ranch for rats, etc.

Marlin has seven new rifles. Two are 17 Hornaday magnum rim fire, a beginners youth model .22, a clip fed .22 stainless steel semi-auto, a .38 spl lever action, a .44 magnum/sp in stainless steel and an upscale lever action .22.

The Marlin 1895 Guide Gun is now available in stainless steel. Wildwest Guns of Anchorage has developed a take down version for brush pilots. Prices start at $1,799.

At their national sales meeting, Coast Cutlery, the American importer of Puma Knives, introduced several new models.

Three knives of interest were the Puma exchange blade knives; the Puma-hunt with handle, white hunter knife blade, drop hunter blade and saw blade; the Puma-fish with a handle, filet, spear and scaler; and, of particular note, the Puma-horse with a handle, a half-inch serrated horse blade, a horse hoof knife and horse comb.

Gerber’s multiplier was introduced with a needle nose jaw, with a blunt nose, technician and cable cutter jaws.

As the reader can see, there are many new products and innovations. After three days of walking the Las Vegas Convention Center, only the surface has been scratched.

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Paul E. Rockhold