An Cosantóir

GEAR REVIEW (SURVIVAL KNIFE) €133.00 The manufacturer says… The Bravo One: Survival features a Drop Point* style blade crafted from D2 (DIN 1.2379) blade with a black PTFE-coated corrosion resistant surface which eliminates glinting meaning this knife is very suitable to undercover or personal protective use. The coating also helps it to retain its edge for longer. The blade edge itself is a combi- nation serrated and plain style, which cuts through rope and other material with ease. The 3.3 inch (8.3cm) blade is 3mm POHL FORCE BRAVO ONE 45%) and 1mm thick stainless steel plates, the knife is also light- weight enough (100g) to be easily transportable never weighing you down. The perfect knife to bring on a hunting trip or carry during any outdoor activity, it can be discreet whilst still being there when you need it. All Pohl Force knives are meticulously designed and constructed, handles made of fibreglass-reinforced plastic (fibreglass, feature individual serial numbers and include a signed certificate of manufacture inside their attractive carry/presentation pouches. Also included is a souvenir Pohl Force key chain. (* A slow convex-curved drop in the point characterises a drop- thick and has a hardness rating of 59 on the Rockwell Scale. With black 3mm thick point blade. The drop-point format lowers the point for control but adds strength to the tip.) Our tester, Cpl Seán Reilly (B Coy, 3 Inf Bn), says… This knife can be used for any amount of applications. I've used it for everything from skinning rabbits, gutting fish and sharpening sticks to setting up hides. The knife feels secure in your hand and with the grip there is no fear of it slipping, which is great for peace of mind. With the knife clipped into a pocket it sits comfortably and is close to hand when needed, without being an obstruction. After having used the blade for many different tasks during the trial it is still as sharp as when I first received it and I would definitely recommend it to soldiers, or anyone who pursues an outdoor activity such as hunt- ing, fishing or camping. Rating: Edge Retention 10 - Quality 10 - Ease of Operation 10 - Value for money 8 This month Team-Alpha are offering a Streamlight Sidewinder LED Light (value €80) as reviewed in our June issue. FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THIS MONTH'S PRIZE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: NAME TWO BRANDS ON THE TEAM-ALPHA.IE WEBSITE? Answers on a postcard to An Cosantóir's regular address or by email to subs@military.ie by the 20th Sept 2012. Winner will be the first correct entry drawn. The winners of last month's prizes are: Kieran Crawford - 5.11 Rush72 Backpack and Ciera Boyne - ESS Flyby Sunglasses COMPETITION www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 35 Sponsored by Team Alpha.ie 5.11 TACTICAL STRYKE PANTS €79.95 Available in Black/Khaki The manufacturer says… The 5.11 Stryke Pants with Flex-Tac™ is the next generation of the Tactical pants. Flex-Tac™ is a revolutionary fabric utilising proprietary fibres and developed exclusively for 5.11 Tacti- cal. The lightweight, breathable, poly/cotton ripstop incorporates mechanical stretch yarns, meaning the stretch and recovery of the fabric is achieved without the use of spandex. As a result, the breathabil- ity, colour retention, and durability of the Flex-Tac is superior to other cotton/spandex fabrics currently in the market. The 5.11 Stryke Pants with Flex-Tac™ is accessory pockets on each side, and two back flap secured wallet pockets providing you maximum storage capacity. The knees are discreetly reinforced with knee pad access inside. The redesigned self adjusting comfort waist with a lower profile look providing maximum comfort and range of motion. Another nice feature is the two front belt loops that also double as a badge holder. faster look utilising slanted inset side cargo pockets. In addition to the thigh cargo pock- ets there are two off-seam side pockets, two Our tester, Sgt Alan Hayles (5 Inf Bn), says… The best use for the Stryke Pants would be any sort of outdoor working environment. I have used them on numerous occasions hunting and found them to be very comfortable and durable, with all the extra pockets and soft areas around the knee caps makes them ideal for the hunting/outdoor environment. I have put the pants through rivers, barbed wire, gorse bushes, and mud and I found them to be an excellent piece of clothing and they never ripped. I normally use an old pair of DPMs and find that they can be soil-, stain-, and fade-resistant, and comes out of the wash ready-to-wear. 5.11 have redesigned the silhouette with a sleeker, very restrictive and tend to rip around the groin/pocket area fairly easily. I would have no problem recommending them to anyone, especially as they retail for €79.95 and because I rate them ten-out- of-ten. Rating: Comfort 10 - Fit (true to size) 10 - Grip 10 - Value for money 10

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