Each January issue, the Law Enforcement Product News (LEPN) magazine publishes the Top 20 Most Popular products for the previous year - based on unbiased, straightforward, pure and unadulterated reader requests.
Years past held a heavy favor to firearm accessories, with a slight peppering of what I'd label as "various duty gear."
While some things change ... some things just don't.
If you're a subscriber, you may recall the LEPN: December 2015 issue where the magazine published 2015's most popular products of Officer.com. These included everything posted online whether it was published just last year or four years prior. LEPN puts a bit more limitations. Eligible products for the LEPN: January Top 20 Product section needed to be published in the December 2014 issue up to and including the October/November issues. This involves sifting through hundreds of products.
The Top Products included SIX KNIVES
These included two from Columbia River Knife & Tool - the Graphite Knife and a compact version of the Otanashi noh Ken tactical knife, "the Shizuka noh Ken."
As Editor, I've sat with the data and did more calculations than I really wanted to. This was a close race. The folder Graphite Knife took the top spot by a single inquiry. That's how interested LEPN's readers are in these products (take that how you will). CRKT was kind enough to send over the Graphite knife for a cover photo shoot - they didn't mess around with this design. There's a grip on the inside handle, its a mesh-pattern and stops the finger from sliding well enough. Opening is smooth, it's the closing I (personally) have issue with.
There's a lever integrated in the handle. And right above the heel of the knife you push down to unlock the blade. I'm merely an editor, but the Eagle Scout in me yelps with focused concern because now my fingers are dangerously close to where that blade is heading. Admittedly I may be closing this wrong.
I did some digging and found this knife on CRKT's website - it runs well under $100.
Other knives in the Top 20 include, Boker USA's Urban Survival LE, the ax-shaped Boker Plus Carnivore, IWI's Tavor Tactical Combat Folding Knife, and the Buck Ops Boot knife. Take a look at the Urban Survival LE ... there's an integrated glass breaker and handcuff key.
Firearms & Accessories
As far as I can remember LEPN's readers have always had a strong interest for new firearms and accessories. Rifles, shotguns, handguns or holsters, expect to find at good handful in every year's Top 20. This year this category filled almost half the section.
Included was the Beretta Model 1301 Tactical semi-automatic shotgun, Bond Arms Backup, the (not surprising) GLOCK 43 9mm, the Stealth Operator Compact Holster from Phalanx Defense Systems, a lead-free ammunition round concept from Advanced Ballistic Concepts, Smith & Wesson's integration of a Crimson Trace laser sight on its Bodyguard revolvers, MG Industries' 9mm Hydra rifle, and the LaserMax CenterFire WeaponLight (mounted on a Glock 42 and/or 43). Don't forget the Gun Detailing Assortment set from RamRodz - a bag of 250 non-caliber specific swabs of various sizes to help keep your firearms clean.
I have had the Bond Arms Backup in my hands during a writer's conference, clicking it open and closed gets addictive ... fast. If you get a chance, go for it, you'll know what I mean.
But wait, there's duty gear ...
Something else I have come to expect for Top 20 is a new handcuff key, medical supplies and at last a couple flashlights. This year there were two new handcuff keys, two medical kits, and two flashlights. While, I mentioned the Urban Survival LE already, ASP's Auto Key takes the assisted opening concept from the knife industry and makes that key so slick and smooth you don't have to worry about snagging you pocket anymore.
Interest in Safariland's Sons Shield Trauma Kit and Chinook Medical Gear's LEMK-OR (the OR stands for Officer Response) Medical Kit shouldn't be a surprise either. With law enforcement officers are first on the scene why should victims wait for quick medical attention? If not these specifically, check out kits for yourself and get one in the patrol car.
Each flashlight in the Top 20 puts out more than 2,000 lumens: Nitecore's P36 and SureFire's UDR Dominator (at 2,400). Albeit though, the SureFire's shape will get your attention - compare the two and you'll know what we mean.
The Top 20 Most Popular
CRKT, Graphite KnifeBoker USA, CarnivoreBeretta, Model 1301 Tactical ShotgunCRKT, Shizuka noh Ken KnifeBoker USA, Urban Survival LE KnifeNitecore, P36 FlashlightBond Arms, Backup FirearmRamRodz, Gun Detailing Assortment SetThe Safariland Group, Sons Shield Trauma KitGLOCK, Glock 43 FirearmChinook Medical Gear, LEMK-OR Medical KitPhalanx Defense Systems, Stealth Operator Compact HolsterIWI US Inc., Tavor Tactical Compact Folding KnifeAdvanced Ballistic Concepts, Lead-free Ball and Frangible Round AmmunitionSmith & Wesson, Crimson Trace sights on the Bodyguard HandgunsMG Industry, 9mm Hydra RifleLaserMax, CenterFire WeaponLight on the Glock 42 and 43SureFire, UDR Dominator FlashlightBuck Ops, 616 Boot KnifeArmament Systems and Procedures (ASP), AutoKeyCongratulations to each and every product of this list. You can find them all and more right here within Officer.com's Product Guide.
Law Enforcement Product News publishes its Top 20 Products section in the January issue each year.
