A few years ago, I ordered a Condor Multicam Ballcap (TC-008: Tactical Cap - Multicam) to go with the rest of my Multicam gear. I wanted one of those cool "contactor" style caps with the velcro front for a patch, but I was not willing to spend major bucks. It seemed Condor would work- I knew they made some other quality products, but when the cover arrived I was disappointed. The cap was licensed Crye Multicam to be sure, but it seemed cheaply made and didn't wear well due to what I can only describe as a lack of structure. The hat just collapsed and looked sloppy when worn. A few months back, I noticed a friend's sharp looking Multicam cap and asked who the manufacturer was. I was surprised when he told me it was Condor- the same manufacturer I had been disappointed by. I decided to give it another try. Sure enough, the new cover is far better than the old one. The material feels thicker and the cap stands properly when worn. The "new formula" is much better. It's good to see that Condor is constantly working on not only releasing quality, low cost gear, but also upgrading and updating items as necessary. At Black Bag Resources, we are proud to carry the full line of Condor products.

On July 13 our good friend TSgt Edilberto "Bert" "Suave" Malave was on the CV-22 that crashed. He is in recovery and doing well, but he obviously has a long road ahead of him. "Suave" is one of those guys who is always smiling, and I think he would get a big kick out of it if ALL you guys would send him a get well message. Send him a friend request or send him a private message and wish him well. His facebook page is linked here. Thanks, everyone!

That's right, the Black Bag Resources online store is LIVE. It is extremely small and under construction, but you can place an order. Look for updates and products in the coming weeks. Please keep in mind: I have no intention to run a full blown web store. I believe the heart of this business is direct consultation because it provides much better and more personal service. The store will be used to offer featured products and Black Bag Resources branded items (like T-shirts) to help support other aspects of the business. Credit card processing will be done through Square. As soon as I can set up discounts for our Facebook fans and regular customers, you will be able to take advantage of that feature as well. In the mean time, be sure to leave a note in the comment section of the order form.

I know it looks like I haven't been doing much lately, but I promise you- I have been busy.
Black Bag Resources now has:
Upgraded Mobile Capabilities- I finally bit the bullet and got a smart phone, allowing me to get emails, phone calls, facebook updates, etc. all on the go. This is going to make for some fun "interactive activities" for you guys in the near future.
Credit Card Processing- I know it's been a pain paying with cash/checks/money orders, and lots of folks have asked/begged/demanded for an upgrade. Hand in hand with the new smart phone, I've set up a Square account to not only process credit cards but do it anywhere and anytime you need it.
Upgraded Shipping Capabilities- I still intend to use USPS for the majority of orders, but by utilizing Stamps.com Black Bag Resources will be able to process and ship out orders quicker. That translates to reduced lead times and means you get your products in your hands sooner.
Upgraded Internet Access- Again, this integrates with the smart phone, because Optimum provides me with WiFi access and reduces operating costs on mobile data.

You guys know I don't just jump into things blind, so it's been a lot of research before settling on these products and services. The good news is this: As of today it is all up and running, ready to serve you better!

I had a blast at the Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Convention. I met a bunch of cool people, met some folks already familiar with Black Bag Resources, gave away some goodies and prizes, saw awesome costumes, bought a ton of neat stuff, and generally geeked out.
I have a bunch of people to thank:
My friend/customer/contributing writer/camera guy and first time Con wing-man Matt Bell
League of Hot Geeks
Tommy Castillo and Sammy Castillo
Eric "The Smoke" Moran
Dale "That Gears Guy" Harvey
FUBAR
ZQCostume
The Gotham Sirens: Han Pan, Lucid Cosplay, and Victoria Centeno
Alliance LARP: Scott and Dee Kondrk
Miguel Melendez: Thank you for the photos and continued support!
Zombie Survival Crew

For more photos, follow us on Facebook by clicking the link!

Sorry, gang. There's no blog post today. We're off to the Wizard World Comic Convention in Philadelphia. I plan on meeting celebrities, checking in with the Zombie Survival Crew, scoping out some amazing costumes and cos-players, buying some art and t-shirts, and maybe picking up a comic or two. In short, we'll be letting the geek flag fly and having a blast! If I'm really lucky, I might get to torment Jarret "The Diffuser" Crippen like I did last year at the costume contest. (You can check out the videos from The League of Hot Geeks aka GeekpinEnt on Youtube...)
What does all this mean to you? I usually give away a few goodies at events like this. So if you're going to the Wizard World Comic Convention in Philadelphia on Saturday, here's what you'll need to do:
Find the guy in the Black Bag Resources "Who's Watching Your Back?" T-shirt and introduce yourself! Just to see who is really paying attention- If you're one of the first 4 people to tell me, "Blue Shemaghs are cooler than any other color!" I'll hand one over on the spot.
See you there!

Somewhere in your gear or emergency kit is a magnesium fire starter. You know- the one that looks like a block on a keychain with a ferro striker in the side (this is the one we sell from Coghlan's). You learned how to use it years ago: scrape shavings of magnesium off the block and strike the ferro to ignite the shavings or other tinder. You were taught that you could use your knife as long as it was made from carbon steel and had a good sharp edge to strike with. The problem with using your knife as a striker is that it can be hard on the edge or you'd end up shaving too much material off the ferro insert- shortening the life span of the fire starter. Here's a cheap solution that turns the fire starter into a complete tool and saves your knife from unnecessary wear.

Pick up an inexpensive hacksaw blade for less than $3 and cut a 3-4 inch piece off the end. (I use a Dremel tool with a cut off wheel.) Attach that piece of hacksaw blade to your fire starter with an 8-12 inch piece of paracord. The serrated edge of the hacksaw striker does a good job at both shaving the magnesium and striking the ferro insert. The cheap little piece of hacksaw blade has the carbon content needed  to generate a spark and stands in for your knife as the striker- taking one of your knife's chores off the list it has to perform. With some practice, you can short stroke the end of the ferro rod with the hacksaw stiker using just a little bit at a time.

Cleaning and maintenance are critical to the proper function of your firearm. It doesn't matter if you're a recreational shooter or a professional who counts on a weapon to defend lives, you need to service that equipment. There are tons of products available to clean and care for your firearm. Here are some of my favorites:
(Click on the photos for more info!)

Hoppe's Boresnake or Viper:
These are the fastest way I've found to clean the bore of a rifle, shotgun, or pistol. They are caliber specific, so make sure you get the right size. To keep them in service after several uses, I wash mine with dish soap and let them air dry completely.

Break Free CLP:
The CLP stands for "Clean, Lubricate, Protect" which is exactly what the product does. It covers all three needs with one product and is safe to use on all finishes including: stainless steel, parkerized, blued, chrome, etc. (Available at WalMart)

Otis Technologies Cleaning Kits:
Simply the best field expedient cleaning kits available, Otis has several models to suit your needs. For overall versatility, I recommend the FG-750 Tactical Cleaning System. Most kits now include an orange chamber flag. It's made of acrylic so it can also direct light into the bore.

Otis Cleaning Patches:
There are lots of patches out there, but I like these for use with or without an Otis kit. If the 3" patch is too big, just cut it down.

Cabela's Pistol Cleaning Kit:
It's a handy set of rods and brushes that store in the handle. There's no excuse for going without one in the range bag. (Cabela's exclusive)

TAPCO Chamber Flags:
In addition to being a chamber flag, it works as a pin pusher. It also has a small, flat blade for adjusting scopes. I have several and they always prove handy. Available for rifle, pistol (also fits .22 rifles), and shotgun models.

Wheeler Hammer and Punch set:
The set includes various brass, steel, and plastic punches as well as a small hammer. This set is ideal for working on firearms of all types, and will make your next project easier.

TAPCO Intrafuse AR Armorer's Tool:
TAPCO's version of the AR combo wrench is the best one I've found, and it's handy for working on all your long guns, not just your AR.

TAPCO Handguard Removal Tool:
This one is AR specific, but it makes short work of removing your handguards. Once you use it, you'll wonder why they don't include on with the rifle.

Cosmoline is a heavy duty rust preventative commonly used to protect firearms during long term storage. Usually antique and military surplus firearms will come covered in the thick, brown jelly. It can be a pain to remove, but here's one solution...
All it takes is hot water!
I got this tip from an antiques dealer in Gettysburg, PA. They specialize in Civil War era firearms and told me they simply give the entire disassembled firearm a bath in boiling water. They said they leave the components, including the wood stock, in the water only for a minute- just long enough for the cosmoline to liquify and run off.
Here's my application: I recently purchased a Mosin-Nagant 91/30 and it was covered in cosmoline as you'd expect. I wiped the bulk of the cosmoline off the rifle with a rag before disassembling it. The small parts were washed off in the kitchen sink and larger parts in the bath tub. I boiled several pots of water and poured them over the parts until they were clean. I used a pan to prop up the breach end of the barrel and poured hot water down the bore. Using tongs and mitts to handle the hot metal parts, I turned each and repeated the process. Personally, I couldn't bring myself to risk messing up the wood with the hot water, so I mixed some dish soap and warm water and wiped the stock down until it felt clean and dry to the touch.
After the parts cooled, I went over everything with Break Free CLP to clean and lubricate as well as prevent any rust. Cleaning the bore only took 5 or 6 passes before I was getting a clean patch. The entire process took just under an hour.
It's a simple process that takes a lot less time and effort than some others I've heard about.

We all know there's about a million uses for duck tape/duct tape/100 mph tape. No matter what you call it, it's one of those items that always proves handy. Just when you think you've got most of them figured out, somebody comes up with another trick. In this case, my buddy Tony showed me a way to make this essential tool more portable.
I've seen people who will wrap just about everything they carry with duck tape to make sure they have it on hand, but I've found that it can inhibit some items from being as useful as they should be. Tony's trick is to take a standard US business card and wrap it in duck tape. This gives you a convenient way to carry a flat pack of several feet without the bulk of a roll. It also means you can keep it handy without cocooning your other gear.