Norton’s Universal Cleaning Sticks (UCS) are super simple, yet super useful cleaning tools. They are a much better option than using a toothpick to reach all of the gunk in your gun. I know that I’ve broken plenty of those, but no more. Norton’s UCSs are thin, chemical resistant plastic sticks about the size of a popsicle sticks. They are designed to help you reach the little nooks and crannies of your firearms. Each end is sloped to a point. You can fold a cleaning patch over the end, and pass it along rails, under extractors, against bolt faces, and such, to get the crud out of the hard-to-reach areas. You can also use them to gently pry under the disassembly bars of Beretta and 1911 style pistols. They are also small enough to throw in a cleaning kit, and forget about them, until they’re needed.

A forum member on m1911.org, allstop, reported that his UCSs did not hold up to Hoppe’s No. 9 solvent. He said that it began to eat away at the sticks during his very first use. See his thread on the subject here. Seeing this, I decided to chop one up, and test it. I soaked one piece in Hoppe’s No. 9 solvent and another in Rand CLP. These were the only two things I had on hand, so it’s all I tested. I let them soak, completely covered, for about 6 hours, and there was no damage. I then took them from being completely covered and removed most of the fluid. I figured that maybe the air exposure mixed with the chemical may have a different reaction than the full submersion, but this was not the case. They sat partially covered for about a week and, still, there were no signs of deformation. Allstop did have the orange UCS, and I tested the green, so there may be a variance in material there, but I doubt it. I believe they may have changed their formula to make them more chemical resistant, since his original post dates back to October of 2007.

They are sturdy, useful and cheap. There’s not really a whole lot to say about them, except: Get some!

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: “Used to help provide complete cleaning and assist in the disassembly of modern weapon systems.” – CountyComm website

Target Market: Firearms owners

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Thin
Sturdy
Flexible
Inexpensive
Chemical Resistant
Gets all the gunk out

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: Norton’s UCS are available in many colors, including Neon Green, Orange, Brown, Yellow, and Green.

What others are saying?: Some users have had corrosion problems with solvent, but I have not seen this to be the case. Others seem to really like them.

“Cheap in price, but not in quality.” – cutlerylover

Price Point:

MSRP = $1.25

I need it now! Availability: You can get Norton's Universal Cleaning Sticks from CountyComm.com

Our Rating:

+-Useful +-Sturdy +-Inexpensive

Score: 8.5

Although my current geographical situation precludes me from carrying concealed, being a good American consumer, and a lover of all things gun related, I still get holsters every once in a while. Perhaps, it's just in case hell freezes over and NJ becomes a shall issue state, or maybe as a pinch of preparedness. Either way, just like my firearms collection, the handguns that I have holsters for are varied. Outside the waistband holster for the like of my Sig 226 and kydex IWB holster for my Glock 19 and now the N82 Tactical Original for my little J-frame or Glock 19.

In carry philosophy, there are a few ideals which need to be lived up to in varying degrees. One is the concept of that the best carry handgun is the one you have with you, it is the one that you will have on your person every day no days off. This can be lived up to, depending on where you are located, where you travel, work, etc. Another one is more in the application of the holster. The weapons security is crucial in a defensive scenario. You could need to run, drive, or carry someone, basically anything that would require two hands in the middle of, or after, the shooting. For the very same reason you use a holster in the first place and carry it concealed, you want to carry that defensive tool in as safe and secure a manner as possible. What I am getting at is re-holstering ability. If you pocket carry with no holster, then it’s a moot point, but if you're carrying using a holster, the ability to re-holster that defensive tool could be a deal breaker in your philosophy of use.

To me, these are the two biggest considerations, aside from concealability, to consider when choosing a holster. A concealed carry permit does you no good if you can’t carry safely in all manner of dress or it is not comfortable and you leave it at home. So, to me, the consistency of your carry slightly edges out re-holster ability.

Something else that impresses me is the price. The most powerful impact of the concealed carry movement is that it re-took the right to self defense from the elite and rich and brought it back to the people. The affordable price point on the original design makes a very comfortable, secure carry system available to more people which, in my book, is a good thing. Put a used J-frame in this holster and for less than 300 bucks total you will have a reliable proven gun with great defensive loads in a comfortable, secure holster and, all-in-all, will be a system that can pretty much disappear on most people.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: Concealment, Comfort.

Target Market: Entry level carry

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Suede leather backing
Neoprene midlayer
Steel Clip
Comfortable against the skin
Neoprene stops body oils and sweat from contacting firearm
Thin and minimalist design improves concealability

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: They make this same holster but with a different clip that makes the unit tuckable. They also make the professional line which is a polymer molded unit attached to the same comfortable platform. N82 products page

What others are saying?:

Big Tex Outdoors Youtube

Price point:

MSRP = $39 +9.50 shipping Retail = $39 +8 shipping at Tacdaddy.com

I need it now! Availability: You can buy these at the above mentioned sites and a quick Amazon search yielded two left handed models on there but no right handed models.

Our Rating

+-Comfort +-Concealability +-Construction

--No re-holster ability

Score 7.5