I had no intention of doing another one of these until we were back from IWA.

(Booth 3-131 with Herr Prommersberger and Booth 3-523 with Herr Schumacher) but just too much has happened or needs reporting to let it drag out. Our “dance card” is filling up. Contact Pauletta soon if you need a “sit down” in Nuremberg . Current plans also have us in Israel in April, back in Germany in May for the STI-European Open, and then the Czech Republic in August. We'll try to get to Asia at least once before the year is over.

We had the four new guns at SHOT. The “Stinger” and the “Lawman” went over VERY well. The “Wasp” and the “Hornet” went over O.K. We'll bring the first two to IWA, but maybe not the others. The surprise, for us, was the continued HOT interest over the LS and BLS. These may become icons. (Please note and remember that the slide stop on the LS/BLS series of guns is NOT designed to lock the slide back after the last round.) Descriptions and pictures of the new four are on the website.

Comment from last times with updates : During the first quarter of '04 we will be adding people in Sales (added), Q.C. (added), Materials (added), Machining (some added), Gunsmithing (added some, some to come), Documentation, (added) and Assembly. Probably as many as a dozen, total.

SHOT Show good news (from our side): One word. OVERWHELMING!

SHOT show bad news (from your side): Three words. Longer lead times.

The “Preferred Dealer Program” apparently filled a need for many business people in the U.S. and we consider it to be an initially gratifying success. This should be a winning and profitable foray for a great number of new associates.

If I tried to explain the magnitude of our business increase, you wouldn't believe us or you would probably be deterred from ordering for a long time. It doesn't scare us, so it shouldn't scare you. Because we started preparing for a large amount of growth last September, the only lead-time impact of consequence is to complete guns. While parts are in real good shape, we just couldn't anticipate the steady swell of gun orders becoming a tidal wave with this abruptness. When you're quoting lead-time to your customers, you've got to tell them 14-16 weeks plus travel time if you don't have it in stock. I may be a little high, but it's better that way. Manufacturing has asked that we add an additional 4 weeks for any custom job. And maybe a little money, but that hasn't been decided yet. Any input will be appreciated.

Several of you have realized the perils of not maintaining an inventory, or of not re-ordering until you are out of something, and done something about it. For those of you who haven't caught on, these folks are placing large orders with monthly delivery schedules so that they are, in effect, at the head of the line at the start of each month. This might be something that more of you want to consider. It's just a suggestion.

We are adding several new parts and options to the price list and should get copies to you in the next couple of weeks. Nothing major. Mostly clean up. The only “Major” item is the Tactical style frame and Short Block. This will be in 5” steel, only. In case you haven't noticed, the single stack magwell and steel main spring housing are already there.

At the SHOT, a couple of Distributors (who are the only STI outlet in their country of residence) asked to be listed under “Dealers” as well as “Distributors” so that all levels of customers could find them. We've got no problem with that. Just please re-remind us and we'll make it happen.

Welcome aboard to Apollo Arms in Greece and Conavesa S.A in San Salvador . You're in excellent company.

Congratulations to Ricardo Lee of Panama and Matthew Workman of Australia for coming to the factory for a few days training on the mechanics of the products. And, to Richard Ong of Singapore for coming back for a “refresher” course.

Most of you know that we have become the U.S. Importer of OKO “Red Dot” scopes and accessories. We got our first major shipment in for inventory just after the SHOT Show. There are some parts in their line that we probably will not carry, but most of it looks pretty good. They've even got a scope for “air soft”, BB, and pellet guns called the G-Dot. The new “slide mount” unit, to compete with the “Doctor”, looks pretty good too.

Sorry, but we still choose to NOT sell the 4.15” slide separately. Nor barrels of one length, sculpted for another.

We're down to about a hundred S-1 and S-2 compensators and blanks. When they are gone we will be dealing in the TruBor (T-1, T-2, T-3) style only. We'll be out of the “screw on” business.

The transition to the new, all encompassing “Factory Management” software system has not been painless, but we never expected it to be and are progressing very well. We flipped the switch to bring all of the final modules on line on Friday evening, Feb. 27 th . As I told you earlier, “add ons” or changes to orders are no longer possible. Sorry, but the system won't accept them. Any add on is a new order, must be $250.00 or more, takes it's place in line, and is invoiced separately. Any changes would require that the old order be cancelled, with a cancellation or restocking charge, and a new order placed. The new order takes a place at the end of the line. The Sales Department is offering to hold your new orders for a period of time, if you wish, before they actually keypunch it in. They have decided that a one-week hold is probably appropriate based on history. If you don't want that hold period (it's for your benefit, remember) please tell them when you place your order that that's your “Final Answer”. Within this month, we'll be able to provide a complete STI part number list to all of you who want it. Please let me know. Also, please remember that by mid-year you should be able to enter and track your own orders. Ain't technology wonderful?

Have fun. Sell a bunch. Do good. Not necessarily in that order!