The above is one of the reasons that I’ve been telling you, for about a year and a half now, that you need to get your stocking orders entered and scheduled into the system. That and the fact that our larger Distributors and Dealers have done just that. To those of you who are now wondering why your lead times are so long: I’m sorry, but I tried to warn you. Also, it does you no good to try and sweet talk or con your sale’s contact into "preferential treatment". They have NO input into our normal scheduling process. If your order is in, it’s in. If it’s not, it’s not. We are now taking orders for the fourth quarter of 2007. If you want to be sure and have product on your shelves for the Christmas season, you need to order soon.

A couple of those Special Forces groups are considering the Escort for a "backup". Sure wish we had the "Off Duty" ready to demonstrate. (Prototype models are being shown at select matches for feed back.) We are considering "bundling" this product into a package with the short (Model X2 style) Insight snap-on light. Any comments?

Here’s another of those "When they’re gone, they’re gone" deals: All of these items are aluminum frames for the "2011" series of guns. All are unused and carry full warrantee. They are the last of these that we intend to build. We will build guns on the "Tactical" frames if you wish, but the others will ship as bare frames only.

The Stinger is discontinued! Its’ volumes have just not been quite enough to warrant it displacing more popular products in the production line. We’ve got some Trubor barrel/compensators, some of those uncut blanks, and some slides left for those of you who would like to build your own but, like everything else, "when they’re gone, they’re gone".

With the Stinger now being history, it no longer makes sense for us to handle the OKO brand of red dot sights. We’ve probably got enough in inventory to honor warranty replacements for about a year but it will be for "factory defective" items only. We can no longer act as a repair station.

Because we got NO input from any of you about the potential finish change and price reduction on the Legacy, we’ve chosen to discontinue that product also. We still have a few in inventory with the PVD finish but "when they’re gone, they’re gone". It’s a shame. It’s a beautiful firearm with the toughest finish in the industry.

The first Texicans are here! Enough of them, anyway, to satisfy the writers and editors who have promised us covers and stories. With the finishes by Turnbull Restoration, they are awesome enough to have made the wait worthwhile! Shipping to you guys should start in early July.

We’ve launched the "USPSA (USPSA Single Stack, USPSA Double Stack)" guns into production. The pictures and descriptions are on the website now and they are being shown at matches.

Just for information (and future reference): You know that the T.A.S. (Tactical Adjustable Sight) has become a VERY popular item! Many of you have asked us to do it as a night sight and have been told that its’ height and shape prevent the installation of the tritium ampoules. We’ve tried "nine ways from Sunday" and it’s just NOT going to work. Sorry!

Just a little housekeeping to clear some confusion internally as well as for you guys: When you order slides, they automatically get the STI logo. If you don’t want the logo, you must specify that EVERYTIME you order.

Just a repeat of last month that still holds true: "Spartans are beginning to roll in and roll out on a regular basis now and are lookin’ better with every batch. Many of you have scheduled monthly releases through the end of this year at a given monthly quantity. Sometimes we actually have a few extra that are not committed to that schedule." If you want some of your orders earlier than scheduled, let your contact know.

The "6th Annual STI European open Championship" in Philipsburg, Germany was FANTASTIC! Karl Prommersberger and Herbert Jacob did it again and produced what has got to be the most enjoyable match in Europe. We had a great time and, I believe, all of the competitors did, too.

Speaking of IPSC matches, Victor Ferrerro and his excellent match crew (the same guys who produced the last World Shoot) in Ecuador get their chance to see what they can do with the "1st Annual STI South American Championship" in July. It will be held in conjunction with the "Latin American Championship" and between them will offer 24 challenging stages. We’ll be there to cheer ‘em on.

We’ll also be at the "European Championship" in France in September and at the "AustralAsian Championship" in Thailand in December. Both of those groups have vast experience in match production, too. They should both be great matches.

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