The National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the law enforcement community. The NTOA currently has more than 40,000 members from specialties that include patrol, TEMS, crisis negotiations, canine, corrections, sniper, protective operations, explosives, command, tactical dispatchers, behavioral sciences and more.

The NTOA Member Tested & Recommended Program is a trusted evaluation process in which active-duty law enforcement professionals rigorously test tactical gear in real-world operational scenarios. These products are reviewed and scored by experienced law enforcement members to ensure they meet the high standards required for tactical use. The program provides unbiased, expert feedback that helps agencies select reliable equipment, making the NTOA and its reviewers highly respected authorities in law enforcement gear assessments.

How the Program Works

1. A manufacturer MUST provide the NTOA with up to 8 samples of a product.
2. The NTOA selects field testers to test product samples in real world scenarios.
3. Field testers are required to test the product sample and complete an online review form.
4. Products are tested and scored on a scale of 0.0 to 5.0 in 13 possible categories. Scores will be averaged both individually and cumulatively.
5. Along with the ratings, testers also submit a short, written description identifying the advantages and disadvantages of the product.

See below how our range of Firearm Accessory and Knife products fared in the evaluations.

BALLISTA^® I AUTOMATIC FOLDER (DROP POINT)

The Ballista I Automatic Folder (Drop Point) achieved an overall score of 4.58 granting it the NTOA's Gold Status.

Individual Score: 4.62
This knife completely blew me away. I've owned countless knives from other big name companies throughout my military and law enforcement career. None of them come close in the quality and feel of this knife. Honestly, I wasn't even aware that a knife could be made as well as this to really differentiate itself from its competitors […] The American flag on the clip is a nice subtle touch as well. After using this knife for the past few weeks, I would not be settling for any other run of the mill knife at work. I would recommend this knife to any law enforcement officer.
- NTOA Member from Pennsylvania

COUNTERSTRIKE OTF AUTOMATIC

The Counterstrike OTF Automatic achieved an overall score of 4.57 granting it the NTOA's Gold Status.

Individual Score: 4.3
The Counterstrike is the perfect sized EDC pocket knife and if you are fan of OTF style knives, this will not disappoint. The overall size was perfect, enough texture for a solid grip and the switch is strong enough not to have to worry about an accidental activation. The blade was sharp and sturdy enough right out of the box. The take down and cleaning process is intuitive and easy for anyone to handle. If you are looking for a reliable, high quality blade, and perfectly sized OTF knife for EDC, this is a solid contender. You will be hard pressed to find a similar style knife that checks the boxes and performs as well as the Counterstrike.
- NTOA Member from Pennsylvania

MINI INCURSION^® OTF AUTOMATIC

The Mini Incursion OTF Automatic achieved an overall score of 4.53 granting it the NTOA's Gold Status.

Individual Score: 5
This is a great every day carry knife! Immediately when handling it, you can feel its quality. It's an attractive design, and in my opinion it's the perfect size. It's easy to conceal, but still a substantial size. The material that it's constructed of is incredibly durable stainless steel […] the quality is comparable with that of Microtech and Benchmade. The blade comes hand sharpened and honed. I was easily able to cut through a selection of materials, including cloth, cardboard, rope, vegetables and aluminum foil. Altogether, I was very impressed with every aspect of this knife.
- NTOA Member from Florida

DEKA^® MANUAL FOLDER

The Deka Manual Folder achieved an overall score of 4.39 granting it the NTOA's Silver Status.

Individual Score: 5
The knife itself was sturdy with absolutely no blade play (sturdy, not jiggly whatsoever). The knife itself was incredibly sharp and impressively well made using CPM 20CV Stainless Steel with a cerakote (matte style ceramic) coating, making the knife very visually appealing. Remaining mindful of intent behind purchase, the weight of the knife was impressively light, weighing 2.3 oz. […] the knife was again, unbelievably sharp. The quality was impressive too, with both the handle and blade feeling strong in the hand. For me, I’d absolutely buy again. I believe this knife packs a punch without being too big bulky or heavy.
- NTOA Member from California

AR-15/M16 OVERMOLDED^® COLLAPSIBLE BUTTSTOCK

The AR-15/M16 OverMolded Collapsible Buttstock achieved an overall score of 4.36 granting it the NTOA's Silver Status.

Individual Score: 5
When I was issued my department M4, I tried several different collapsible buttstocks. This one was extremely comfortable and adjusts easily […] Several times searching buildings and trainings with the rifle, you need to have the rifle hang comfortably and easily go back on target. This buttstock allowed all of that. For the price offered, this is an excellent choice at an affordable rate. I absolutely highly recommend this product for anyone looking for easy to use comfortable option outside what comes with the rifle.
- NTOA Member from Rhode Island

BALLISTA^® I AUTOMATIC FOLDER (TANTO)

The Ballista I Automatic Folder (Tanto) achieved an overall score of 4.32 granting it the NTOA's Silver Status.

Individual Score: 5
The locking mechanism is a simple slide lock and can be easily manipulated by your thumb, once the safety is off, just push the recessed button and the blade launches out at mach 10. The metal clip is low profile and when clipped to your pocket the knife is fully concealed […] The knife has easily cut through multiple different materials with ease including aluminum. I have yet to resharpen the blade as it has maintained its edge and does not appear to dull […] I am truly impressed with the overall build and quality of this knife. As someone who owns ZT knives, CRKT and Microtech, this Hogue is a strong competitor, well done Hogue.
- NTOA Member from Connecticut

FRAY^® FIXED BLADE

The Fray Fixed Blade achieved an overall score of 4.29 granting it the NTOA's Silver Status.

Individual Score: 4.62
I've been carrying the Hogue Fray for a while now, mostly during work and everyday tasks, and it's been a solid knife overall. I've used it to cut rope, evidence boxes, zip ties, and other common materials, and the edge has stayed sharp longer than I expected. The design is very ergonomic which is convenient when the other hand is occupied […] and gives me a secure grip in different weather conditions. The build quality feels excellent, and it seems durable enough to handle daily use without showing much wear […] Overall, it's a dependable knife that balances comfort, convenience, and durability, making it one I'd confidently carry every day.
- NTOA Member from Pennsylvania

AR-15/M16 OVERMOLDED^® BEAVERTAIL GRIP

The AR-15/M16 OverMolded Beavertail Grip achieved an overall score of 4.16 granting it the NTOA's Silver Status.

Individual Score: 5
I received the Beavertail grip and installed it on my APF SBR rifle, that came stock with a Magpul hard hand grip. I have used it now for a few hundred rounds and can say it's a night/day difference compared to [Magpul]. It makes indexing the rifle easier and smother. After shooting with the new grip, at the end of the day my hand was not hurting compared to before. I have larger hands and the grip is larger itself so makes it easier for me to handle and index on each shot.
- NTOA Member from Minnestoa