“Our law-enforcement section is now the second-largest law-enforcement show in the world. That, alone, creates a show within the show,” said Doug Painter, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, owners of the show.

The 2007 SHOT Show was the largest in the event’s 29-year history. Covering 656,100 square feet of exhibit space in Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, the ’07 event was 40,000 square feet larger than last year’s record-setting show in Las Vegas. There were 1,870 exhibiting companies at the Orlando show, which hit a total attendance of 42,216.

While other segments of the industry are posting increases at SHOT Show, none match the growth of the Law Enforcement/Tactical section. The figures clearly show this relatively new section of SHOT Show growing at an impressive rate, even faster than the explosive expansion of SHOT Show itself.

“I think L.E. and Tactical is bigger than my first two SHOT Shows,” one seasoned industry insider observed. Such growth, driven by demand in the marketplace, translates into a section that’s louder, faster paced and more profitable for dedicated L.E. dealers and those with an L.E./Tactical sales component.

“It’s beyond fantastic,” said Tommy Millner, Remington president and CEO, of the response to the company’s L.E./Tactical products. “We had our best year in the history of the company in all of our military and law-enforcement businesses. It’s a combination of great new products and a lot of focus from some really terrific people. I couldn’t be happier. With the introduction of our broader tactical product lines, we’re going to make 2007 an even better year.”

Smith & Wesson, for the first time, had a separate booth in the L.E./Tactical section.

“Traffic in the booth was impressive, as was the response to our new and existing product portfolio designed especially for law-enforcement professionals,” said Mike Golden, Smith & Wesson president and CEO.

“The show has been great for us, with outstanding traffic, as usual. There’s just the right mix of people and it’s a great venue for us to introduce our new products,” said Brian Lisankie, Aimpoint VP for marketing and sales.

Leupold celebrates its 100th birthday this year and unveiled a dazzling display of new optics at the SHOT Show, including those for law enforcement. At the Leupold booth, L.E. dealers and military and police personnel were drawn to the 1x14mm Tactical Prismatic.

“We continue to develop products for our military and law-enforcement professionals that are rugged and innovative. They’re products that have to work every time under the most demanding conditions,” said Tom Fruechtel, Leupold president and CEO.

Unlike electronic red-dot sights, the Tactical Prismatic does not rely on batteries to light up its red circle and center dot. The reticle is precisely etched directly into the glass, and a unique, removable Illuminated Module provides fail-safe brightness. True 1x magnification allows sighting with both eyes open. Coupled with a wide field of view, this allows rapid engagement of multiple moving targets.

The Tactical Prismatic measures just 4.5 inches in length and weighs 12 ounces, but it has, according to Leupold, the thickest, strongest maintube walls the company has ever built.

Call 1-800-LEUPOLD or visit leupold.com.

Dealers crowded Smith & Wesson’s L.E. booth, where the latest members of the M&P family were admired.

“Law-enforcement agencies represent an important, growing customer group for Smith & Wesson, and we are supporting that effort with multiple new products,” Golden said.

The new M&P45 in .45 ACP is offered with a black or dark earth-brown polymer frame, ambidextrous frame-mounted manual safeties and 4.5-inch barrels. The new M&P40 Compact is a companion piece for the original M&P40.

According to Smith & Wesson, well over 100 agencies are now holstering M&P pistols, with perhaps twice that number evaluating the firearm for adoption or authorized carry. In interviews with Smith & Wesson dealers from Maine, Michigan and Missouri, SI learned that in some areas, concealed-carry and competitive shooters were bringing the M&P to the attention of local law enforcement. In other localities, “civilians” spotted M&Ps on local cops’ belts and demanded the same gun from their dealers.

Visit smith-wesson.com.

Woolrich Elite Apparel is designed for L.E. and tactical users, but it’s a big hit with competitive shooters and outdoor enthusiasts, according to Fernando Coelho, who heads Backyard Outfitters, the exclusive distributor for the clothing line.

“We never anticipated this kind of demand. We knew the quality was there, the prices were kept competitive and we spent a lot of time consulting with professional hard-use operators in the design phase — but the enthusiasm goes far beyond the troops and officers we made the Elite Tactical Series for,” Coelho said.

Harlan Williamson, owner of Frederick County Firearms in Winchester, Va., says his sales of Woolrich Elite “have been nothing short of fantastic. In sizing, color, stitching and construction, this is the most consistent line of tactical clothing I’ve seen.”

Williamson reports that while his business is open to the general public, most of his customers are military special ops, federal, state and local law-enforcement personnel.

“Individuals have bought so many and liked them so much that local agencies are changing their equipment policies to authorize Woolrich Elite. Single-customer sales often run several hundred dollars. I’ve found the first sale is easy and repeat sales are effortless,” Williamson said.

Visit woolrichelite.com and click “Dealer Inquiries” to learn how to become an Elite Series Master Dealer.

After winning the DEA contract two years ago to supply the agency with Government Model ARs worldwide, Rock River Arms has signed up local and state L.E. agencies across the country. Those agencies and others may be customers for Rock River’s new uppers and complete rifles chambered for the 6.8mm Remington SPC round. Rock River also is looking for active demand from civilian shooters who are drawn to the SOCOM-inspired cartridge.

Jim Taylor, of SRT Supply in St. Petersburg, Fla., has high hopes for the new products, based on a foundation of solid sales experience.

“Rock River supports their products with national advertising and brand-name awareness, and the customer gets more for less,” Taylor said. “Rock River is clearly a better weapon and we have customers asking for it by name. Rock River delivers and their customer support is outstanding.”

To become a Rock River Arms Premier Dealer, call (309) 792-5780. Visit rockriverarms.com.

L.E. dealers at the Steiner booth were ordering the company’s Military/Marine and Police model binoculars, then staying to check out the new rubber-armored waterproof Peregrine XPs. They also caught sales and marketing VP Sven Harms’ heads-up about a mid-2007 release. The 10x42mm Compact Tactical will be a completely new design using “interference mirror technology” and incorporating the Steiner Universal Military Reticle (SUMR) into what the company says is it most “shockproof and ergonomic model yet.”

Watch for it in the pages of SI and at steiner-binoculars.com.

At the Hardigg Storm Case booth, Kathleen Stauffer explained why her company, Tactical Express LLC of Fairfield, Conn., sells and heavily promotes the Hardigg line. When Tactical Express received a rush order, they looked to Hardigg Storm Case for help.

“This was an emergency order for a federal customer,” Stauffer said. “Hardigg Storm Case not only came through, they delivered literally overnight.”

Stauffer was so impressed with Hardigg’s professionalism, customer service and product quality, she says she is now “a big carrier of Hardigg Storm Case for federal clients. It’s easy to promote a brand that ‘gets it’ and understands the end user as well as Hardigg does.”

Hardigg Storm Case protective cases are made from virtually indestructible patented HPX resin and all models — currently 19 and growing — are guaranteed watertight and fitted with self-regulating Vortex pressure valves. Other features include press-and-pull latches, wide, soft-grip handles with rigid cores and molded-in lock hasps for security. They are sized for every application from small electronics and optics to multiple long-gun cases.

Visit stormcase.com.

“In 2006, the excitement was created with the introduction of the PS90 and FS2000 semiauto carbines,” said Rick DeMilt, senior VP of sales and marketing. “This year, we’ve followed with the introduction of two new models of the PS90, and there’s a huge wave of interest in our new FNP-45 pistol. Dealers can easily see where the research and expertise we put into development of military arms results in direct benefits for them.”

Also driving sales is FN USA’s Stocking Dealer Program, which has been expanded for 2007.

“Now, when a dealer buys nine guns, he gets a $2,000-plus product — a new PS90 Triple Rail with aluminum Mil Spec C-More Systems 4-MOA dot sight — absolutely free. That translates into hard cash in a dealer’s pocket instantly. The dealers love it and there’s more coming — more new marketing and promotional materials, more programs being written right now. Just watch!”

Watch for them in SI and at fnhusa.com.

Among others, LaserMax made a possibly risky decision to forgo supporting booths in both Firearms & Accessories and the L.E./Tactical area, concentrating their resources in one larger space in the general section. The gamble paid off, as LaserMax’s L.E. customers invested the “walk time,” as well as their buying bucks. Recognizing that action attracts more attention than static displays, LaserMax used a large-screen plasma TV to play FirePower TV’s recent brutal torture test of five brand-new LaserMax-equipped SIG P220 Combat pistols.

Dealers watched five P220 Combat prototypes bearing LaserMax internal guide-rod sights get crunched by Caterpillar tractors, frozen, fried and dropped five stories to concrete, dragged down a gravel road behind a Humvee and into a creek, and blown up with a simulated IED. The final result? The SIGs kept shooting and the lasers were still pulsing on target. The point was made. Dealers placed orders and then made tracks to Sigarms’ booth.

Visit lasermax-inc.com and click on “For Dealers.”

At the Sigarms booth, the new SIG Elite models, with their distinctive beavertail over wood stocks and a Short Reset Trigger in SA mode, caught the attention of Steve Saridakis, of S&S Firearms in Tempe, Ariz.

“The Elite looks great and Sigarms’ ‘To Hell and Back Reliability’ is 1,000 percent accurate,” Saridakis said.

Saridakis logs about 20 percent of his handgun sales to peace officers, balanced against 80 percent public-consumer sales. Saridakis finds that the same qualities that make Sigarms a top choice for cops also drive his booming civilian concealed-carry, defensive and competitive-shooting sales.

“With the extensive lineup of Sigarms products, there is always a firearm that will fit their needs. It’s great to be a SIG-nificant dealer for Sigarms. I feel as though I am part of an extended family,” Saridakis said.

Visit sigarms.com.

L.E. types, some uniformed, were handling the goods at ThermoLogic’s booth, where they found high-tech self-heating hunting apparel. Using a new process, the entire inner lining of the ThermoLogic garments are warmed, not just “hot spots” — the wearer is wrapped in radiant heat. Before they could ask, “What about something for cold-duty cops?” manufacturer’s rep Kevin Morris assured them, “We’re working on it!”

Morris reported that a design team will be assessing existing duty apparel and conducting research with police officers to assure that the end product isn’t just a “heated has-been” design, but one that is superior in fit, function and protection, as well.

“We want to do this right the first time,” Morris said. “So look for us to be ready to warm up ‘America’s Finest’ next winter.”

Call (412) 325-7875 for dealer information.

“When we started talking to John Benner of TDI about developing and producing his knives, we knew they were good,” said John Stitt, Ka-Bar’s VP of sales. “Well, we underestimated how good and we have the track record to prove it. It blossomed into one of the most respected lines on the market and continually gets rave reviews.”

Stitt emphasized that quality has been kept high while prices remain very affordable, and he guarantees dealers, “We have put the same pride the Ka-Bar name brings to the military into our L.E. line of products.”

Click on “Law Enforcement” at kabar.com.

Sturm, Ruger had a booth in the L.E./Tactical section displaying three very tactical-looking Mini-14 rifles. Sporting black synthetic adjustable stocks, accessory rails and a variety of sights, they would fit right into any metro police department’s arsenal. When will they be available?

“Ruger is exploring many options for the law-enforcement market,” said Ken Jorgensen, Ruger’s media-relations coordinator. “We know there is an interest in the Mini-14/Ranch Rifle as a platform, and we are looking at a number of versions featuring stock variations, equipment rails, various barrel configurations and finishes. As we assess the needs and desires of the L.E. market, we can better determine the product mix that makes sense.”

Look for Ruger’s L.E. announcements in SI. Visit ruger-firearms.com.

At the HK Booth, Andrew Clyde, of Clyde Armory in Athens, Ga., placed another order for the company’s firearms. A Class-3 dealer, Clyde specializes in sales to law-enforcement agencies and individual officers. He began offering HK products like the UMP submachine gun in .40 S&W and 9mm MP5 SD and expanded his sales to encompass the range of HK firearms.

“HK firearms are consistent in their accuracy and reliability,” Clyde reports. “That makes for loyal, repeat customers. The HK pistols are one of the most ambidextrous handguns on the market and HK has made night sights much more affordable for agencies and officers over the past few years, at about half the cost of others.”

Clyde said breakage is rare with HK products, even under the heaviest tactical and training use, and on those rare occasions, HK has been very responsive. Clyde named the USP Tactical .45 Auto and the P2000 as favorites with local peace officers.

View the L.E./military and civilian lineups at hk-usa.com.

Three T.A.G. staff members raided the Spec-Ops booth, examining new Spec-Ops products.

“The bottom line is, Spec-Ops takes the end-user approach, designing gear according to the operator’s needs. They’re huge on ergonomics, making their products as easy as possible to use under stress and prolonged wear. Plus, they use the best materials, stitched for strength, and it’s all made in the U.S.A., and that means a lot to us. Spec-Ops Brand gear is one of the top reasons we are successful,” Quinlan said.

Most of Quinlan’s customers are military and law-enforcement professionals purchasing equipment they are not issued, or improvements on issue gear. He and his crew report that fast-moving L.E. products include T.H.E. Pack, X-System accessory pouches, the General Purpose Pouch and the Lone Star Rig, a “one-sling, one-size-fits-all” quick-adjustable, single-point sling designed for close-quarters use.

Jeff Wemmer, Spec-Ops president and CEO, described the company’s guarantee as, “Simply put, if it’s our fault — materials and/or workmanship — we’ll repair or replace it anytime, anywhere. If it’s your fault — you survived and your gear didn’t — we’ll fix it ASAP and, depending on how good your story is, we’ll most likely do it for free.”

Visit specopsbrand.com. Interested dealers should call Brian Wise at (432) 923-2747.

At the Point Blank Body Armor booth, John Malin praised the merits of the Rapid Deployment Body Armor Bag (RDBAB).

“I had been looking for a product like this for a long time. No one had done it quite right. I thought it had a lot of promise. Well, it has shown surprising promise, it’s getting great reception at agencies I’ve shown it to, and I’m already making good sales,” Malin said.

Malin owns Atlantic Tactical, a national sales organization supplying federal, state and local L.E. agencies.

The Rapid Deployment Body Armor Bag, conceived by a career governmental security agent, was designed as a discreet weapons and heavy body armor carrier that can, in a few seconds, be donned as an operational vest capable of defeating multiple high-powered rifle rounds. Point Blank Body Armor now handles marketing of the unit.

Malin said he recently supplied several armor-equipped RDBAB units to a highly placed public official’s personal-protection unit, for both domestic use and foreign travel. He pointed out that they had asked for an even more discreet, less attention-getting version of the RDBAB, and Point Blank had come through enthusiastically. Malin is sure that sale alone will fuel even more sales — the agents are extremely pleased.

Watch the RDBAB in use at rapiddeploymentinc.com. Go to pointblankarmor.com for a list of distributors.

Gun dealer Steve Barlow navigated his way to Aimpoint’s booth to check out the CompM4, but stayed to buy the new Micro Series electronic red-dot sight.

“My law-enforcement customers have been waiting for something exactly like this,” said Barlow, of Barlow’s Custom Guns in West Valley, Utah, a major L.E. distributor in the region. Barlow said the sheer versatility of the Micro, coupled with the known quality of Aimpoint, will make it a winner.

The stubby 3.6-ounce Micro features a 1x parallax-free red dot measuring 4 MOA. It is designed to fit any handgun, sub-gun, shotgun or rifle equipped with a Picatinny rail. It also can piggyback onto larger optics to provide close-quarters speed on a long-range tactical platform. Two models, the H-1 and R-1, are designed to meet most sporting and tactical needs, while the military-targeted T-1 includes night vision device compatibility and an extra-bright setting for use in glaring desert sunlight or when using laser-protection filters.

Visit aimpoint.com.

“I sell a lot of ARs,” said gun dealer Vern Slunaker. “I mean a lot, and 95 percent of them leave my shop with one or more Command Arms accessories on them, like their CBST 6-position stock, the four-rail handguards, pistol grips or forend vertical grips. The magazine couplers are popular, too.”

Slunaker and his wife, Paula, own and operate S&S Custom Tactical in Slidell, La. While they do brisk general-consumer business, L.E. and individual officer sales are the heart of their trade. Slunaker said CAA products are in great demand and add significantly to his profits.

“I just filled a major order from a state agency and every weapon was outfitted with CAA gear. I’ve never had a failure with their products and we have some very rough users. It’s combat-proven gear. I really appreciate CAA’s fast-track shipping, too. I rate their dealer support as excellent,” Slunaker said.

Go to commandarms.com and click “Dealer Log-In/Signup.”

Manzella Gloves, long a giant in snow sports, hunting, general outdoor and industrial gloves, is now offering an L.E. line. The offerings aren’t hunting gloves simply done in black, said Bill Brooks of Bill’s Uniform and Gunsmith Shop.

“It’s obvious that Manzella didn’t take just one police-glove design and trim it differently for each L.E. application, either. Every single model in their line seems to have been designed from the ground up, specifically for its purpose and the flexibility and protection needed by the end user,” Brooks said.

As a police officer himself, Brooks used Manzella tactical gloves on duty before he began carrying them in his shop. Even with that knowledge, Brooks said, he’s still learning more about the line.

“They really do have a glove for every need and they’re all first-quality. I also like the hanging wall displays and use two of them, keeping a good variety in stock,” Brooks said.

Brooks named Manzella’s SWAT 20, Commander, Inspector and Patroller gloves as top sellers and termed dealer support from Manzella as “excellent.” Great deals on displays are available with initial orders.

Call 1-800-645-6837 for dealer info, and view the gloves at manzella.com.

Trijicon is celebrating its first 25 years with the introduction of a trio of sights. For placement on handguns, carbines, shotguns and rifles, the super-compact RedDot Sight measures 1-inch wide, 1.7-inches long and less than an inch tall, and weighs 1/2 ounce.

The new ACOG TA33 — a 3x30mm dual-illuminated optic with long eye relief — can be mounted further forward than other ACOG models. A choice of red or amber chevron aiming points perch over Bullet Drop Compensated calibrations for .223 and .308 ammo, ranging out to 600 meters.

Trijicon staffers took note when SOCOM troops reported they were taping, wiring and even gluing small reflex sights onto 4x32mm ACOGs for a faster close quarters combat (CQB) capability. When the troops talk, Trijicon listens, and the result is the new ACOG ECOS, the Enhanced Combat Optical Sight.

The sight combines a Docter Optic reflex sight and all the attributes of the 4x32mm ACOG. In addition to meeting the strong military demand, Trijicon is making the ECOS available for public and L.E. sales, decked out in the new dark earth-brown finish.

Visit trijicon.com.

“People who depend on their handguns for their lives want the best and that’s Kimber,” said Randy Schutz, of Stirling Partners LLC in Greenfield, Ind. Schutz’s sales are primarily to small, specialized military and law-enforcement units and individuals, and he has found that he doesn’t really have to sell Kimber firearms — all he has to do is offer them.

“I was hesitant about laying out the money to become a Kimber stocking dealer, but after only one year, I think it’s one of the best investments I’ve made in this business,” Schutz said. “Picking up a Kimber pistol is like putting on a fine pair of handmade gloves. You can really tell the difference between Kimber and their competitors. My customers feel that difference, too.”

Schutz said the Ultra Carry compact .45 autos are very popular off-duty purchases for officers who carry full-size 1911s in uniform, while Kimber’s standard-frame 1911s are solid-selling upgrades offering a price range to suit almost any serious professional.

He appreciates Kimber’s attention to fine details, like beveling both the front and rear of ejection ports to more reliably clear ejected brass — and his customers like it, too.

“If you’re not carrying Kimber for your L.E. customers, you’re missing out,” Schutz said.

Visit kimberamerica.com.

Wilson Tactical has been making high-end knives, impact weapons, specialized firearms and accessories for some time, but Ryan Wilson could never have predicted the response to one of his smallest, least-expensive products — the “Cop Tool.” It’s a 6-inch combination chisel, pry bar, cord and fabric cutter, scraper and serrated blade constructed of 3/16" D2 steel. Cop Tool is now on the belts of hundreds of police officers and EMS personnel.

The device has attracted a fresh wave of dealer attention to Wilson’s other products. Wilson Tactical has a three-tier dealer/distributor program with increasing levels of benefits.

View the details at wilsontactical.com; click on “Contact.”

“Not only are the products extremely durable, but the ballistic protection is the best on the market,” Miller said.

Originally intended for military use, Revision’s Army-issue Sawfly ballistic glasses were released for the law-enforcement market and sales have skyrocketed. Sawfly glasses have earned the military’s highest rating for ballistic protection, and also provide 100 percent UV-A, B and C safety levels. Lenses offered are clear, “solar” for bright sun, and “high-contrast” for low-light image crispness.

Miller also said that Revision has been very supportive to her as a dealer and she considers the pricing to be very competitive.

Visit revisioneyewear.com.

Riding high on the recent introduction of their I.S.M. Integrated Sighting Module, Insight Technology debuted the Typhoon H2X at SHOT Show. The 80-lumen handheld flashlight has all the usual tactical light features, plus a strobe function. It’s joined by the SSL-1, a weapon-mountable illuminator with a Luxeon high-intensity LED and waterproof, shockproof features similar to that of the Typhoon. With these new products to add to their inventories, Insight dealers at the booth seemed pleased. One of them was Bob Griggs, of B&H Gun Rack in Merritt Island, Fla.

“From a dealer’s perspective, Insight Technology is a hot commodity that every dealer should stock. Insight offers good profit margins along with great customer support,” Griggs said.

He reports that his many L.E. customers often demand Insight because of the company’s reputation for shock and weather resistance.

“The M3 and M6X models are absolutes; you have to have them, and Insight has brought the price down on their entire X-series. I would recommend to other dealers that you always have at least two of the popular models on hand — one to show and one to go,” Griggs said.

Insight’s primary distributor for dealers is RSR at rsrgroup.com. Also, visit insighttechnology.com.

Hollander, who has been around FMG Publications for over 25 years, added, “I’ve never had that response from so many readers, in so short a time — ever!”

Tom’s experience in the law-enforcement section of the SHOT Show is indicative of the kind of energy the men and women of law enforcement often show. They are a motivated, money-spending tidal wave and American COP is at the crest of that wave.

Edited by a 30-year veteran police sergeant, COP shows its street-savvy heritage with in-your-face editorial covering the gear, gadgets and guns cops so dearly love. But it’s all done with an interesting twist to the story.

“Many of the articles we run in American COP are hardwired directly to an officer’s safety. They read it in COP, apply it in the field, and are safer for it. What they learned in our pages has already saved lives. I know, because they tell us,” said Dave Douglas, COP editor. “You won’t find that to be the case in the run-of-the-mill cop magazines out there.”

Which means American COP delivers the kind of info cops don’t get in the mainstream media — and you can be a part of that message. Today’s L.E. market is full of exciting innovation. From the basic guns and holsters of the beat cop, to specialized high-performance gear like lights, digital technology, less-lethal and other specialty products, working cops everywhere have a need to find what they want and need nearby.

Work with Dave and the staff at American COP to get the gear cops need into their hands. Dealers, if you’re not stocking at least a cross-section of L.E. products in your store, you need to seriously consider doing so.

According to Doug Painter, president of the NSSF, FMG Publications has played a significant role in drawing cops to the SHOT Show.

“We’re getting more and more law-enforcement personnel, in good measure, thanks to you and your (FMG Publications) efforts with American COP magazine. We are thrilled with that,” Painter said.

It’s time to have American COP on your side as a beat partner to help you fire up your L.E. sales.

For more information on how to offer COP for sale in your store, call 1-800-597-8065. To discuss advertising in American COP, call (858) 605-0206.

Roy Huntington is the editor of American Handgunner magazine and the editorial director of FMG Publications’ consumer magazines. A 21-year retired police officer, he created American COP magazine in late 2005.