XS Sights GAT (Glass Assault Tool)
By: Donald Mihalek
Photos: Jeff Goldberg
The vehicle is perhaps the most common deadly weapon law enforcement officers and military members face. Whether on the domestic or foreign battlefield, vehicles bring an element of unknown into any contact and the barrier it provides to suspects is often difficult to penetrate. When a suspect is inside the car, they are in their “home.” They have the ability to turn that home into a speeding missile or 3000 pound weapon.
What do you do when a suspect won’t come out? Past answers included letting the suspect drive off and turn it into a high-speed pursuit; negotiate the suspect out of the car or use a large breaching tool to break the window. All tactics fail on one point – it allows the suspect to control the scene.
Shouldn’t the law enforcement officer or military member be the one in charge?
US Army Master Sergeant (Ret.) Paul Howe and XS Sights teamed up and created the Glass Assault Tool (GAT), which finally “allows an operator to rapidly and effortlessly breach glass while keeping both hands on their primary weapon platform with no effect to their weapon’s zero or combat readiness.”
GAT on a SureFire X300 weapon light
GAT on a Rifle
The GAT is small steel “tooth” that is secured to the front of a pistol or rifle and can penetrate a car’s side and back window and most cosmetic glass on a building with ease.
LMTPD Officer and OIF Veteran Todd Hamski said, “The GAT for patrol or combat use is incredible.”
Lower Makefield Township (PA) Police Officers used the GAT on their pistols and they punched through side, rear and T-top vehicle glass like butter.
Master Sergeant Howe said, “The GAT-Glass Assault Tool is a simple device that attaches to your weapon in seconds and that can penetrate glass with ease. We attached four to rifles in our Basic Swat course and students shot over 500 rounds with the devices attached. They did not come loose or change their zero.”
If you are interested in a GAT, go to www.xssights.com.
Editors Note: If you plan on using the GAT on a weapon light please take note that you may need to make adjustments to your light compatible holster. I have added several photos of an unmodified Safariland holster as an example.
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