DAMN! (Can I say that in a newsletter?) The SHOT Show buried us! We have never seen the likes of our reception in Vegas this year. New Distributors, old Distributors, new Dealers, old dealers, law enforcement agencies, military units both foreign and domestic! Just buried us!

What went over well? Everything we had and some that we didn't, but may!

Below are SOME of the requests that we got from creditable organizations. I'm looking for opinions here guys, so feel free to jump in.

1. An “LS” style pistol with a titanium frame.
2. A “Colt Defender” sized pistol.
3. A “low end” pistol, probably utilizing some parts of foreign manufacture.
4. A less expensive .22 long rifle using cast and MIM, rather than barstock, parts.
5. Some small pistol that accommodates the GAP cartridge.
6. Some variety of rifle that handles the .223 cartridge.
7. A revolver for the “Cowboy Action Shooting” crowd.
8. "Mouse guns". i.e. .380ACP and smaller pistols.
9. An "off shore" 1911 (like Springfield Armory does) built to STI specifications.

As usual, the very best seller was the “Edge” closely followed by the “Trojan”. The big surprise at this point is the “TargetMaster” moving into third place on the “most wanted” list. Its' largest reception is in Europe but many in the U.S. are trying it out now.

We'll, obviously, not be launching production on anything new until we've accommodated our current commitments but we will be looking at the next generation of products in the meantime.

A huge welcome to the many of you who are receiving this missive for the first time. As you can tell, this is not the first one we have sent. For history, please go to our web site ( www.stiguns.com ) and check into either "What's New" or "SkinnErgram". You'll soon find yourselves listed on our website. If you have a website of your own, let us know the address and we'll create a link so customers can find you.

The only factory capacity increases that we feel necessary for this coming year will be in the gunsmithing area. We have recently doubled the number of folks in that section and intend to add at least 50% more in the coming weeks.

It's the same deal as last year, guys. You need to pre-order and schedule your needs. I don't think that lead times will be coming down any time soon.

If you're going to be at IWA and want a "sit-down", please let Pauletta or Lori know as soon as possible. Several of you didn't schedule for the SHOT Show and had to wait or come back. Please make it easy on all of us and plan ahead.

On the European scene, we have now come to an agreement with Saul Kirsch of "Double Alpha Academy" fame. Saul will be a freelance representative for STI on the continent. Shooting our guns, on the STI European Team, etc. Congratulate him when you get a chance.

Because of the number of phone calls and orders that are coming in to the plant now, and my reluctance to add overhead in the Order Entry Department, we may be asking individuals and all Dealers (other than STI Preferred Dealers) to direct their inquiries to one of our Distributors. (They are all on our web site.) Those guys are inventorying quite a number of guns and parts now, and should be able to service single gun and parts orders better than we can. Also, since we no longer have a "custom shop", those folks can better service special requests.

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