Today, a brief review of some of the new gear that's crossed over our threshold since SHOT Show.

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2033901.jpeg> Inside the easy to find package from Sportsman's Bench Products are six compounds that help you tighten, loosen or grip better -whatever your application.

First, a set of new products designed to help your equipment run slicker, stay tighter and generally maintain that solid, yet smooth, sensation. It's actually a neat little package that contains those items we never seem to have around our toolbenches, on our boats or in our backpacks when we need them: medium and permanent treadlocker, thread lubricant, anti-seize compund and a product we've not really used a lot: Anti Cam-Out fluid - a compound said to increase the grip strength between fastener head and tool by as much as seven-hundred percent.

The package is from Vibra-TITE, and it's the first line of threadlockers, adhesives, and lubricants to be licensed and endorsed by the National Rifle Association. The first package we received is a 6-pack container with small packages of each of their six products- along with a coupon good for $10 off an NRA membership.

We've only just started using them on our tool bench, but the Anti-Cam Out fluid performs as promised- helping us remove a partially stripped out screw with almost ridiculous ease. If you've ever tried to remove a damaged screw head, you know the thought behind the product-getting a grip without blowing out the remaining edges of the screw. We've also applied the Anti-Seize compound to the threads on the replacement screw-just in case.

Sportsman's Bench Products are made by Vibra-TITE, the bottle products division of ND Industries, a privately held company in Clawson, Michigan.

And it's no secret that most of us who enjoy the outdoors are absolute suckers for knives. Folders, fixed blades, utilities, whatever, edged tools aren't just a part of our sports, they're one of our passions.

If you own a fine piece of cutlery, you know just how easy it is to find that tool in your hand in virtually any situation, from shaving down anything from an arrow rest to a fishing rod grip or even a major job like hacking out a shelter when you find yourself at the mercy of the elements.

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2033903.jpeg> Johnson Adventure Blades' Baconmaker combination fixed blade and folding knives. The folder's strong, sharp and handy for small work, and the fixed blade baconmaker is made to help turn your latest hog hunting trophy into, well, bacon. Jim Shepherd photo.

That's why we were excited to learn that one Ka-Bar was offering two sets of folding and fixed blade knives from Steve Johnson. Johnson is best known for his PR work on behalf of Hornady Ammunition, but he's also the guy behind Johnson Adventure Blades (JAB), a line of knives offered by Ka-Bar.

Currently, we're flogging two of the three models JAB's offering through Ka-Bar, the Baconmaker and the Potbelly. The Baconmaker, in either the hefty 7 1/8 inch sheath model or the companion folder, is made for, well, sticking things without breaking. In a civilian application, the Baconmaker with its recurve blade rolls right through a boar's shields like a knife through butter. The folder is equally adept at everything from punching through leather to cleaning fish for a shore lunch. The sheath model carries an MSRP of $134.45.

The Potbelly hasn't yet made it to the field, but we're looking forward to using it as we get back afield in a few weeks. It's the type of knife that's the combination machete and kukiri - the big bodied knife that can be used for anything from fine cutting to slashing underbrush or pounding tent pegs with the flat side. It's going on the side of editor Jim Shepherd's daypack starting next week and we'll keep you posted on how it holds up. He is notorious for abusing knives.

Occasionally, we have the opportunity to look at products or projects in a longer-view. As a sample of what we're working on for you over the next few months, we have projects working to help you get a basic understanding of night vision and it's new popularity for certain types of shooting and depredation hunting applications. There's not a night-vision competition- yet, but we're betting that suppressed blackout shooting events aren't far off the horizon. We're starting to get the gear and familiarize ourselves with it- we hope those features are ready to begin in a few weeks.

And from a purely competitive viewpoint, our editor-at-large, Paul Erhardt has decided he's going to do more than provide our eyes-and-ears for this year's Steel Challenge. Erhardt's training to actually compete in the world's fastest shooting event, and we're going to document his progress, from deciding what to shoot, the holster and gear he's going to use and how he can practice without easy access to ranges.

With Erhardt at Steel Challenge and Jim Shepherd competing in this year's Bianchi Cup, we'll have our own shooting team (of sorts) on the ground for two of the country's highest-profile shooting events.

Nobody expects them to win, but we're all looking forward to reports on their respective progress. We're also looking forward to next week's series of reports from Shepherd as he travels to Arkansas to do some fishing on the world-famous White River.

As always, we'll keep you posted.