The first of the series supported by ADS, LBT, Soldier Systems, and Iron Clad Media Alliance, "By Our Hands – Stories of American Industry" features London Bridge Trading (LBT) with Founder Doug McDougal and VP of Manufacturing Ken Beasley showing the viewer an inside look of the company and narrating their philosophy, experiences, and their company being itself a melting pot of people and cultures just like the USA.

ADS TV, produced this series of videos to show the industriousness and perseverance of the American Industry, especially in the tactical gear industry, explaining…

"As American Manufacturers and Suppliers we are hit with new challenges each day standing between us and achieving our goals -- rising costs, unstable budgets, ever-changing requirements, and more. But no matter what we encounter, we push forward and meet those challenges head on without hesitation for one simple reason -- our customers, the Men and Women defending our freedom each day, at home and abroad."

The challenges will get even bigger as American winds down its military commitments abroad even further as the people are weary of the wars and the economy requires more attention.  This will mean that fewer orders for gear will happen in the future if there will be a reduction of forces and theatres of operations. An even bigger challenge for the tactical gear makers such as LBT will be competition also from overseas, especially with gear based on their own designs ripped off by some manufacturer in Asia which profits also from low labor costs. What's worse with this is the dilution of the markets of by these competitors selling their designs and at inferior quality  that will affect the reputation of the owner.

It's also a message to those who buy gear, especially the airsoft community, where a good number of its members buy the ripped-off designs and depriving American businesses and workers the revenue to keep their livelihoods and continue on making excellent tactical gear.  Perhaps having been spoilt by cheaper products just to have that "look", they just look the other way when a company shutters due to losses. All in the name of being able to source something cheaper.

It's a call for Americans to buy more things made in the USA as companies such as LBT are something to be proud of. For non-Americans, it's to show appreciation for the products they have spent  money and hard work to develop to protect the men and women of the US Military and allied countries. Indeed, a great number of the loadouts that we use in airsoft are mainly inspired by the designs of LBT and other American gear makers. The only difference is that many of us opt to buy cheap and not American.

But there's also hope as the video also mentioned that a lot are also coming home, even those that were outsourced are coming back perhaps due to rising costs of labor especially in China, and that intellectual property theft may have become unbearable.

Thus, before ordering the gear or accessory that you need for your airsoft kit, look into the possibility of supporting your local industry by buying things made by Americans even if you find something cheaper. You might be causing one company to lose money and cost honest workers their means of living.