TACCOM 2022 – Part 2

DAY 2

I started the day by heading back to Wolverine to have a closer look at the B&T APC and GMH9. I have heard some suggest the APC is too heavy but I did not find that to be the case

That having been said, I did prefer the feel of the GMH9 and I do like the FDE and this was one of my show favourites

As was this BlackBox custom S&W M&P! I love the rough texture and it pointed so well (super easy to find the red dot).

Lots of nice customized Glocks

I also went back to Tamgha to check out the Wolverine-M folding shotgun. I have seen a folding AR and folding Glock at SHOT Show but never a folding shotgun. Perhaps I should go back and take a video because the way it flicks or snaps open in one motion is so cool!

In anticipation of several knife-related seminars today, I will cover some knife booths. First, MAP Impex with Damascus hand-made in Pakistan. My favourite was the karambit with camel bone scales.

Next the Pocket Blade, where I think I found their namesake and my new EDC

My friends at Rangeview Sports brought a great assortment of knives

And now for the first seminar on Filipino martial arts. This was one of the highlights of TACCOM 2019 but this time there was an added bonus, the man behind the shell of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Michaelangelo, Datu Shishir Inocalla!

Some warm up drills

Datu Shishir addresses the crowd and does some solo work…cowabunga

and is then joined by his training partner, who happens to be the owner of MGear

after beating on him for a bit, we switch to another partner, an incredibly skilled one at that (he also showed me some moves before the show..again, incredible!)

He gives a quick lesson in FMA to Jeff

Yes, today I met Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Michaelangelo

Alright back to some browsing before the next seminar.

As you probably know from my past reviews, I LOVE Surefire!

This time I was looking for some specific things when I visited their booth. James Yaeger passed away last week so I wanted to cover the Tactician, designed with his input. This 800 Lumen light has a somewhat unique combination of features. For example, the tailcap button is for “temporary on” only and you have to twist the tailcap for “constant on.” Meanwhile, twisting the front bezel switches from low output to high output with Maxvision (designed to fill your peripheral vision).

I also wanted to look at the X400U and new X300turbo from Surefire’s weaponlight series.

The X400U is a laser/light combo

while the X300turbo is the longest throw pistol light on the market (over 500 meters!)

Of course, I could always use a Dominator

Next a visit to CRAFM, Montreal’s premier gunstore. CRAFM is a very strong supporter of IPSC, as you can tell by the very high end firearms they sell (e.g. SVI Infinity) and the fact they sponsor IPSC Champion shooter Alex Berdat.

Alex competes with the Alien

The Anaconda is more my style/speed lol

Alex with CRAFM’s proprietor Frank, again a strong supporter of the shooting community.

Ok, time for the next seminar! Tracey Wilson introduced a panel of women involved in the shooting industry. Each gave their background on how they got into shooting and shared strategies for getting more women involved.

Tracey then introduced Rod Giltaca,

To a big crowd

Rod spoke about the CCFR’s approach and what we can do in the current political climate.

Next Steve from Crusader Arms gave us a background on the company and introduced the new Templar in technical detail.

With some swag for the highly inquisitive audience

And now for my most anticipated presentation, Master Ken, who arrived with police escorts, presumably to protect everyone else!

Master Ken shares his philosophy

And then gets a volunteer to demonstrate knife defense…yes! More knife fighting!

Master Ken assures us that the training knife is as dull as Canadians

As this was only my second seminar in Ameri-Dote, I don’t feel qualified to share the secrets of the art…so you can just enjoy the pics of his knife defense.

Next his knife knot defense technique

Single gun disarm

His “John Wick” defense against a dual pistol wielding attacker

Finally his “Backstreet Boys” defense against a gun held to the back of your head…co-demonstrated with none other than Canuck pro-staff shooter and CCFR Gunnie Girl, Lynn!

After the demonstration we had the opportunity to buy some swag.

I had bigger plans though…my favourite Master Ken video of all time is his “Twisted Tea” defense breakdown after that incident in the convenience store where a guy knocked someone out with a can of the famous drink. I brought a can for Master Ken to sign and he graciously did so.

Even better, he personally demonstrated his “Boston Tea Party” technique!

But it didn’t end there and what happened next could only happen at a show like TACCOM!

So after Master Ken’s demo, I finally had the chance to visit Premier Body Armor. I was especially interested in their Everyday Armor T-Shirt. It was just as great as I expected (and exactly what I am looking for) but they did not have it in my size so I will have to order one.

I also looked at their conventional vests

with available Eclipsys cooling system (so thin that my camera had trouble focusing on it)

Backpack inserts

Then while looking at the armor plates on their table, I noticed something interesting…what could it be?

A bulletproof can cooler!

Now I have a Twisted Tea assault can infused with Master Ken’s awesomeness and bulletproof protection! This must be on the level of Thor’s Hammer!

As I ponder what I can accomplish with my Mjolnir, Jerrika brings us back to reality with her informative presentation on hunting culture in Aboriginal communities and some of the special challenges they face.

Then yet another knife defense seminar! Of course, this is highly interesting to me as a “knife guy” who has taken a few of these seminars, it is also highly topical given the rise in knife crime such as that very recent mass stabbing.

Tirsia Tactical demonstrating the core principal of their TRICOM system of getting to the outside line. The instructors were using the Aku Strike T-16 Mimic training knife that “beeps” to simulate a stab/slash (these are great, I have one as well from a seminar I did with Doug Marcaida)