INTERVIEW: Everything under control with Treven Gear

A good friend asked me if it would be possible to customize the grip panel of his Glock 19 to fit his wishes and needs.

In his case, it was about reducing the material on the backstrap to decrease the grip circumference and distance to the trigger, and to improve grip by stippling (roughening the surface).

The first step is always a customer consultation where the exact ideas and wishes, as well as the technical feasibility, are clarified.

The first work step is then smoothing the grip panel surface and, if desired, reducing the grip panel and undercutting (see photo above).

Next, the fine border is stippled to create a contrasted boundary between the unmodified and stippled grip panel surface.

If requested by the customer, the stippling of the individual design or logo follows.

Subsequently, the remaining surface to be stippled is finished according to the customer's wishes with Fine or Tactical Stippling.

The final step is the quality assurance check.

SPARTANAT: With Kydex, you produce various holsters. Do you offer standard options or only custom-made ones?

Martin: I only offer custom-made options according to the customer's wishes.

My advantage is that I can also make holsters for exotic weapons or weapons with mounted laser/light modules.

Various carrying options, drawing angles (both fixed and adjustable), and, if desired, retention devices are also possible.

Left-handed holsters are also no problem, and the customer has a wide selection of colors and patterns.

SPARTANAT: How did you get into modifying firearms and making accessories? What is your background?

Martin: I completed a five-year apprenticeship as a gun technician at HTBLA Ferlach. My practical experience comes from my activities as a sports shooter and gun collector.

I started, like many other shooters, with precision shooting, which I have been pursuing for about six years. In the last two years, I have increasingly practiced dynamic combat shooting, which I do both in Austria and at the TCA (Tactical Combat Academy - www.tcacademy.at) in Slovakia.

My biggest advantage is that through this personal application, as well as through continuous contact with my customers, including not only sports shooters but also an increasing number of professional gun carriers such as members of police and military units and special forces, I can constantly develop new innovations and product improvements.

This allows me to receive valuable feedback, both from the sporting and law enforcement fields, and continually develop new designs and products, receiving test reports firsthand.

SPARTANAT: What are the advantages of a modified grip frame or a Kydex holster?

Martin: As mentioned above, when working on the polymer grip frame, I can tailor to individual customer requests and adjust the grip size to fit the customer's hand, within the material constraints. Especially shooters with smaller hands can improve the hand position, and as a result, shooting comfort and accuracy.

My undercut allows the shooting hand to be positioned higher on the grip frame, significantly improving the overall hand position.

Stippling greatly improves the grip's slip resistance. Even with wet hands, a secure hold on the firearm is guaranteed.

Due to my personal connection and practical experience, my stippling is designed so that the roughenings are placed in the relevant areas, for example where the support hand's palm rests on the grip, enhancing the practicality of the firearm even further.

Similarly with stippling, I have a lot of personal experience with Kydex holsters and feedback from my professional customers, allowing me to offer various holster designs rooted in practice.

Kydex is moisture-resistant, durable, and more long-lasting compared to leather, which explains its widespread use in both professional sports and by professional weapon carriers.

Furthermore, the color, texture, and pattern options are much greater.

MARTIN TREVEN (27) is the owner of Treven Tactical Gear. His specialized training: HTBLA Ferlach, specializing in firearms technology. Company purpose/philosophy: The production of individual Kydex firearm accessories (holsters, magazine pouches, knife sheaths, etc.) as well as grip modifications (grip reductions, fine stippling, and tactical stippling). Creation of Tacti-Cool Holster: The idea for founding Tacti-Cool Holster arose because, for years, he has been actively involved in shooting sports and found that there were hardly any holsters on the market in Europe that met practical requirements for tactical combat shooting.

TREVEN GEAR on the Internet: www.treven-gear.at