OK, my SHOT Show lethargy is officially ended (if declaration works, I might have cracked the code on something pretty important), so it's time to start plowing through the things I carried back from SHOT and intended to share with you.

Actually, I assembled a list of a "must-haves" from SHOT and another list of things I could live without. Since I have a theory about being unnecessarily negative, you'll have to ask me personally about the things that will never get a "like" from me on Facebook. Positive conversation is far less wearing. In fact, that might even explain why some people who say "you never call anymore" are correct. I don't call. If I want to be depressed, I watch C-Span.

First, a bias alert: I love flashlights, watches and travel cases of all types. Ditto knives, tools and most of the other gadgets that make prehensile digits fun. And if it can make electricity without my plugging into the power grid, well, I'm about as happy as I can get at my age.

As I'm racing toward personal obsolescence, I've found that anything that makes the trip brighter, easier to cut and lighter (a big one) is fine by me. So the new trend toward lighter and more efficient tools and devices is right in my wheelhouse.

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2055139.jpeg> It tells time! It illuminates your way! It's not available-yet. Surefire incorporates several great buzz-words (rechargeable, accelerometer, lumens) into a watch that Batman would love. Now, I only hope that it doesn't require a second mortgage to own. OWDN photo.

Since I like flashlights and watches, it's pretty predictable that when Dick Williams of Surefire told me about their new 2211 Wristlight, I made a beeline to their booth to check it out. Holy sundials, Batman, a watch with a 200-lumen, rechargeable flashlight built right in!

It's not available, and I can't tell you when it'll hit stores. That's because the aforementioned Mr. Williams said "I will hit you if you ask me when it's available." He can't hit us all, but every conversation I have with him will begin with "I'm not asking, but...." until I find out how, when and where I can get one.

A lifelong fan of the 1911-style semiautomatic pistol, I've only recently discovered that it's possible to take that gun completely apart for cleaning. Not because the gun wasn't ever capable of being taken down- because I'm pretty much incapable of keeping all the springs under control (and in inventory) from the time I strip until I reassemble.

The barrel bushing tool is great, but the other end of the slide has a detailed assembly (and itty-bitty spring) that has kept me from really breaking the gun down for detail cleaning.

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2055141.jpeg> It's a combination tool that not only makes disassembly of the 1911 slide assembly easy, it makes it simple. (Below) The SFP spring fixture also means you can check recoil springs to determine if this key spring is sprung -or not. OWDN photos. http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2055143.jpeg>

No more. The Surgi family over at Secure Firearm Products have remedied my fumble-fingers with a tool that makes disassembly of the 1911 slide (and others) simpler.

There's not much to say about a simple tool that is designed to accomplish two key steps on the 1911.

And they hit me with another cool-tool while I was there. The recoil spring is a key item in the 1911 - but measuring the specs of that spring isn't something just anyone could do. SFP has designed a "fixture" to contain that spring, allow you to simply attach it to a spring scale, and quickly determine if your spring's the thing that's preventing your master-blaster from running effectively.

No word when they'll be available, but you can check their website(www.securefirearmproducts.com) for updates. While you're there, check out their firearms cases. I have a couple and consider them to be best-in-class. Mine have been dropped, dragged and are still straight-and-true. To me, that's the test of cases. Not inexpensive, but transporting good firearms demands great cases.

Another transportation item caught my eye - and caused an outflow from my wallet- at SHOT. Watershed(www.drybags.com) is an Asheville, North Carolina company that says it has a "love/hate relationship with the water". As kayakers, they love playing on the water, but don't necessarily want everything they own to get soaked.

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2055144.jpeg> The Ocoee Duffel from Watershed. Open (top) it has room for a camera bag insert. Closed (below) it offers real waterproof protection. Watershed photos. http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2055145.jpeg>

They also didn't like the quality of dry bags. Seemed the PVC material most bags were made of didn't work for them. Not only did it dry out, wear out and give off toxic fumes, they didn't really keep gear dry.

Rather than complain, they decided to make a better bag. Having owned more than one dry bag (which is where the expression "leakproof seals will" must have come from), I took one look and fell for their Ocoee duffle. It features their ZipDry closure (waterproof to 300') fused seams, and is made of polyurethane coated pack cloth.

It also features a series of lashing/compression straps that can make the Ocoee bag (MSRP $84.95) perfect for toting around my camera gear. I didn't spring for the Photo Kit plus, because my normal camera bag has the pull-out divider system that will drop right into the Ocoee. If you don't have one, you can pickup their photo kits for either the Ocoee or Chatooga (MSRP $96.95) bags.

If you're into the high-speed/low-drag world of the military, they also make bags that have a buoyancy system that make them suitable for scuba or SEAL/Recon type operations. If you're a mere mortal (like me), Watershed probably has a bag that will fit your needs -at a price that won't cause hyperventilation or wallet dehydration.

Lots of other products at SHOT Show caught my eye- including the many options for capturing solar energy and converting it to electricity. But that's a longer story for another time.

In the meantime, we'll keep you posted.

-- Jim Shepherd