Store Update

Decided to close the eBay store. No worries! We are still very much in business. It's just that when we first started out, I thought we could use Ebay if not for our main selling channel, but for marketing and promotion, and we just haven't been using it as much as I anticipated. So, perhaps I'll investigate Amazon marketplace as an alternate channel.

I have an exciting announcement and a bunch of updates to roll out on the DarkThreads.com Web site on Monday, so stay tuned!

Straight from Iraq

This looked interesting. US soldiers deployed in Iraq answer your questions in a series of webcasts. Go to goarmy.com where you can ask your own questions. Watch some video clips there now.

When Hell Freezes Over 2

DarkThreads is proud to be a co-sponsor for:

When Hell Freezes Over 2

A Milsim Productions Event

Saturday Feb. 7th and Sunday Feb. 8th, 2009
Location: Battlefront Paintball
5600-5724 W Liberty St
Hubbard, OH 44425

This is a milsim, airsoft event.

"Civil War isn't over yet, It's just beginning.

After the government was pushed back by The C.A.L. (Coalition for American Liberties) C.A.L. armies popped up all over the east coast. The War is spilling over into neighboring states, but where will the next attack take place? Find out in the next few weeks as we release more Intel on the growing tension between what's left of the U.S. Government, and The C.A.L."

Uniform restrictions:

Tan (CAL) vs. Green (US)
No ACU is permitted at this event!
No winding mags.
There will be one support gunner per 12 players.

Player classes:

Rifleman - 400fps /w .25g
Grenadier - 400fps /w .25g
Support - 425fps /w .25g
Sniper - 550fps /w .25g

Camping permitted on Friday, Feb. 6 and Sat. Feb. 7; there is a limited number of indoor camping spaces available to pre-registered players.

There are also several hotels, food, and Walmart available within five miles of the site.

The first 100 people registered will we receive an event T-shirt and Patch.

Raffles, and on-site vendors:
Amped Airsoft
DarkThreads

Pre-registration: $50
Walk-on: $65

Pre-reg here, or just look for the button on the DarkThreads.com Home page

Registration will be closed at 11:59 pm on Jan. 18, 2009.

More details TBA - http://milpro.wpairsoft.com/

Email: darkthreads@gmail.com

DIY "raid" mods

Modifying off-the-rack clothing is nothing new to me. I've been doing it since I could reach the foot pedal on my mom's sewing machine. So, when one of my airsofting buddies wanted me to move the pockets around and add some velcro onto an old BDU jacket of his, I thought nothing of it. Same goes for when DI asked me to install a "secret" inner pocket in his pants...woops, maybe I wasn't s'posed to share that, doh! Anyhoo, I keep getting requests for these sorts of modifications and it got me curious. I eventually stumbled upon some companies offering "RAID" mods to ACUs and BDUs. To get an idea of what I'm talking about, take a look at http://prostores2.carrierzone.com/servlet/emdomusa/Categories?category=BDU

I would like to offer some of the same types of services, because, well, I am already fully equipped and capable of doing so, and I would be interested specifically in what modifications you would be most interested in.

How would you describe a "raid" mod to a jacket? to pants?

What sorts of modifications would you find most useful?

Would you prefer to buy clothing that has already been modified, or would you be more interested in having your existing uniform modified?

Currently, I am offering a special for a 4-pocket BDU jacket mod that includes the following features:

Remove chest pockets and re-attach on shoulder/sleeves
Remove lower pockets and re-attach on chest (angled in towards center, if you prefer)
Add velcro closure to the inside of all pocket flaps

$20

Basically, this makes it more like the TRU. I can think of lots more mods to do, and I'm working on a price sheet, but in the meantime, please let me know what you think. Thanks!

Correction:

Correction: the gas pistol is actually KWA, not Classic Army, sorry my bads. ~MIRV

New products

I have to say that I'm really impressed with the performance of the new Classic Army Sportline M15A4 Carbines that we just got in. I find this rifle very easy to handle, easy to access the battery, and I think it would make a great "starter" rifle, if not a good value for someone on a budget. It's also very accurate, consistent, and reliable, so far. We've got six of these in stock right now, and we'll be at Airsoft Assault this Saturday. $175 including tax. Link to our Web store page.


Some other new items we'll be demoing:

Devgru operator throat mic


KWA Glock 17 gas pistol

Congrats, Gen. Dunwoody!

Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man. ~Ann E. Dunwoody

Dunwoody becomes first female four-star general

WASHINGTON – Call it breaking the brass ceiling. Ann E. Dunwoody, after 33 years in the Army, ascended Friday to a peak never before reached by a woman in the U.S. military: four-star general. At an emotional promotion ceremony, Dunwoody looked back on her years in uniform and said it was a credit to the Army — and a great surprise to her — that she would make history in a male-dominated military.

Read more.

Congrats to Airsoft Assault on reaching the 1k mark!

I know first-hand how hard it can be to start a new business and keep it going through these difficult times, so congrats to Airsoft Assault for reaching the 1000-player mark!

In celebration of this milestone, they just announced a pricing change: repeat players only pay $15 now, and $5 off all rentals. First-timers still pay $20, afterwhich they get the repeat-player deal. More details on their Web site.

Veterans Day

The history of Veterans Day

Formerly known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day in the US is a time for Americans to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of our veterans. It's also a day to contemplate peace. This would be a good time to honor and thank any veterans you know, both living and deceased, for their service to this country.

Today, I will think about my grandfather who served in the army during WWII, and who just passed away this year. He was a kind, decent, and honorable man.

What does Veterans day mean to you? How will you celebrate it?

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day
http://www.military.com/veterans-day/history-of-veterans-day.htm

Veterans advocacy:
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ - Wounded Warrior Project
http://www.saveourvets.com/
http://www.iraqwarveterans.org/ - Iraq war veterans
http://www.kitchentablegang.org/ - helping veterans in VA hospitals

Update

I had alot of fun at airsoft assault yesterday. I was there at 9 am to participate in a Firefight theme game hosted by the Ghost Walkers, and we also brought the DarkThreads store to vend our wares.

The theme of this game was GI Joe. The Firefight ruleset makes it more of a LARP than just a skirmish. Players get points and certain attributes to play with, and in addition to fighting off the enemy, they might have other problems to solve. In this particular game, a smoke machine simulated "toxic gas" and the players had to wear gas masks while searching for components to repair the ventilation system. They also had to "hack" into a computer system in order to turn on the lights (we started the game with lights out), and they had to fend off mooks, henchmen, robots, and a remote controlled "tank." I was a mook/henchman on the Cobra team, so my job was to harass the Joes and thwart them from their objectives. It was fun, yeah. Maybe next time I'll play a Joe. So far, I've earned 12 experience points for playing OPFOR.

Around 3pm-ish, AA opened up for regular play and they ran the bank heist scenario again. I wanted to play, but having already played all morning made me pretty tired, so I just minded the store and hung out in the staging area. From what I could tell, the bank heist must have been a good time, as well.

It was a long day. By the time DI and I got home last night, we were both dead tired. I feel pretty good today, tho, after soaking in a hot tub. :)

NEW DarkThreads Gear!
We rolled out some new uniform styles this weekend. We now have tiger stripe camo, and a digital version of multicam, called X-Camo (not a Crye-licensed product, but very convincing anyway). DI set up the table with a sample of each uniform and the Save Phace mask to go with it. We have a Save Phace mask for every loadout! I will blog about this in more detail later, after I get all the photos up.

IN OTHER NEWS:
Did I mention that I'm revamping the darkthreads online store? I'm hoping to roll out the new site very soon, so stay tuned.

Awesome and funny military photos

Just stumbled on this great collection of military photos, some funny, some interesting, some are just awesome. Includes images from around the world, and some really old vintage photos, as well.

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/11/awesome-military-funny-pics.html

Which one is your favorite?

We are going to the Shot Show in 2009!!!

The SHOT Show is the world's largest showcase of firearms, hunting and outdoor products. It provides a forum like no other for the industry to show off its newest products that will adorn the shelves of gun and sporting goods shops in the coming year.

http://www.shotshow.org/

Woohoooo!!!! I feel so 31337 right now.

This Saturday at Airsoft Assault

Yo Joe! and Bank Heist 2

Yo Joe!

* 9:30am to 3pm -> Cost $20

Bank Heist 2: Robber’s Revenge

* 3pm to 10pm -> Cost $15
* (Those who played during Yo Joe will have their admission already covered.)

Darkthreads will be there vending most of the day. Let us know if you want us to bring anything in particular.

In other news, I have been hard at work overhauling the darkthreads.com Web store. It will have a slick new design, better functionality, and navigation when it goes live, very soon.