The SCOTTLOCK™ from JKAP Industries / SCOTTLOCK, LLC is the answer to a pressing need faced by many law enforcement officers and agencies. Designed by two veteran Florida law enforcement officers with tactical situations in mind, it’s a completely portable system that safely secures an AR-15 and keeps it close at hand for rapid access.

The idea for the SCOTTLOCK™ originated out of a tragedy. In February 2018, Sergeant Scott Myers and K9 Officer Scott Levin responded to one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history. Sergeant Myers was one of the first officers on the scene.

Upon arriving on scene, Sergeant Myers was forced to make a split-second decision as to whether to take the time to get his SWAT AR-15 rifle out of its locked, hard case in the trunk of his vehicle or save precious seconds and enter the school and engage the shooter (who had an AR-15) armed with only his duty pistol. As seconds count in any active shooter scenario, Sergeant Myers made the choice to go in without his rifle.

NECESSITY THE MOTHER OF INVENTION

The necessity for this decision weighed upon Sergeant Myers. Bringing only a handgun to a gunfight is definitely less than optimal. He figured there had to be a better way and set out to find one. He did not want another officer to be faced with the same decision he was forced to make.

Sergeant Myers researched different methods for securing a rifle in unmarked police vehicles. He quickly learned that there were only three methods. First, leave the rifle unsecured in the car. Second, store the rifle in a locked box (typically in the trunk). Third, secure the rifle in a permanently installed and mounted system. All three of these methods had drawbacks and clearly did not provide a great solution when a permanent mount was not practical (unmarked vehicles, rentals, leases, motor pool and personal vehicles).

He was certain that a portable AR-15 security/retention system could be designed that would allow officers to have rapid access to their rifle and be strong enough to prevent it from being stolen. Sergeant Myers sketched out a few ideas and showed them to co-worker and future business partner Officer Levin. Working together they refined and polished their idea and came up with the patent-pending SCOTTLOCK™. The pair brings a wealth of practical, real-world experience to their design.

Sergeant Myers is currently the supervisor of the Violent Crimes Unit for a municipal agency in Florida. He has been a law enforcement officer for over 23 years. He has been on the SWAT team for 17 years and has been a sniper since 2012. He is currently a member of the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force and spent several years on the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force. He started his law enforcement career on the University of Florida Police Department while simultaneously obtaining his MBA degree from the University.

Officer Levin is currently assigned to the K9 unit at a municipal agency in Florida. He has been a law enforcement officer for over 23 years. He was a SWAT team member for over 15 years, over 13 years of which were spent as a sniper.

TOUGH, PORTABLE & AFFORDABLE

Sergeant Myers and Officer Levin set three stringent requirements for the SCOTTLOCK™. It had to be tough, portable, and affordable. There was nothing available on the market that met all of these requirements. The SCOTTLOCK™ not only meets but exceeds all of these requirements.

The SCOTTLOCK™ is exceptionally tough. After brutal testing, they settled on heavy-duty steel plates and pins (all made of U.S. made steel), along with welded construction, to accomplish this. It has been described by some as “overkill.” When it comes to security, overkill is a very good thing.

The SCOTTLOCK™ is brilliantly simple. There are two steel plates. The base plate has three pins. The rifle is placed on the base plate with the center pin going through the trigger guard and the other pins positioned at the front and rear of the lower receiver holding it in place. The top plate goes over the center pin sandwiching the rifle between the plates. The plates are secured by placing the shackle of a padlock through a hole in the center pin. This design makes the SCOTTLOCK™ nearly impenetrable.

The SCOTTLOCK™ will not damage your firearm. All of the steel parts are covered by a military-grade polymer coating and the plates feature a layer of thick industrial closed-cell foam padding. It’s water and solvent resistant and made is the U.S.A.

The SCOTTLOCK™ works with many different types of locks. With the SCOTTLOCK™, a rifle can be anchored to the vehicle with either a high security cable or chain. One method, and the one that I use, is to loop the cable/chain around a seat track and then secure the free end to the SCOTTLOCK™.

The SCOTTLOCK™ can also be used without the cable in the same manner as a gun lock where theft isn’t an issue, but unauthorized access is. The SCOTTLOCK™ acts like a cage to the lower receiver and prevents access to the trigger, safety, magazine release, and assembly pins. Basically the gun is inoperable (and kid proof). The SCOTTLOCK™ allows the user to secure their rifle in a cruiser-ready / patrol-ready condition (bolt forward on an empty chamber, on safe, and with a loaded magazine inserted).

The design of the SCOTTLOCK™ allows it to be easily moved from vehicle to vehicle or from the passenger compartment to the trunk. It can be used anywhere a cable or chain can be anchored. The SCOTTLOCK™ requires no modification to your vehicle. Installation and securing your AR-15 takes less than a minute and no tools are required.

The SCOTTLOCK™ measures 8.5 inches by 3.5 inches and weighs 4.2 pounds. It is designed to work with any mil-spec AR-15. It also works with firearms with similar receiver dimensions, such as the SIG SAUER® MCX series. It will not work with firearms equipped with the Magpul® B.A.D. Lever™ or other accessories that protrude through the trigger guard.

The SCOTTLOCK™ greatly reduces the possibility of theft and is a huge deterrent to vehicle burglary. According to FBI statistics, a vehicle burglary occurs in the U.S. once every 23 seconds. Law enforcement vehicles are by no means immune and are often the target. Of course, no locking device is undefeatable. A thief with enough time and the appropriate tools can defeat any lock.

Although the SCOTTLOCK™ is among the very best methods to secure your firearm and one of the hardest to defeat, the company recommends covering the rifle with a blanket, towel, or rifle bag when leaving the vehicle unattended. As the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind.

FLEXIBILITY IS KEY

A key feature of the SCOTTLOCK™ is its flexibility. It has been tested with multiple configurations of locks, chains, and cables. Although the company only manufacturers the SCOTTLOCK™, they offer accessories that have been rigorously tested and meet their strict quality control standards. According to the company, they have had an excellent response from the field.

The end-user can choose the configuration of the SCOTTLOCK™ best fits their needs. For example, the company states that if an agency wants its entire department to use a specific keyed padlock that can be all keyed alike. The same is true for the combination style padlock they offer. The entire agency’s combination can be set the same. If an agency prefers both a cable and a chain, they can supply them too.

The company provided me with the SCOTTLOCK™, high security cable, and 7/16” shackle keyed padlock for a 30-day evaluation period. I was very impressed with how rugged this combination is. It’s an excellent combo for daily use.

Each of the configurations has its advantages. The HEXCHAIN and high-security padlock combination provide the most security. It’s virtually impossible to defeat this combination with common tools. The 15mm High Security Cable and high-security padlock combination is also very secure and is lighter and longer than the HEXCHAIN combination.

The company states that many customers are using the 15mm High Security Cable for daily use in the passenger compartment and then transferring the SCOTTLOCK™ to the HEXCHAIN in the trunk for overnight / long term storage of their rifle.

As noted, the company offers both a keyed and combination high security padlock. I was provided with the keyed padlock. Regardless if using a keyed padlock or combination style padlock, it’s recommended that you practice unlocking the padlock to improve your speed to access your rifle. What’s commonly refereed to as “muscle memory” is crucial in high stress incidents. Also, the key should be kept readily accessible. One suggested method is to use a retractable lanyard.

The SCOTTLOCK™ is not limited to vehicular use. It can be wall-mounted, as well. There are four holes in the base plate that can be used to permanently affix the unit to a wall. As of this writing, the company is finalizing a spacer that can be used if optics or other accessories require additional space between the base plate and the wall.

WARRANTY & PRICE

The SCOTTLOCK™ is covered by a fully-transferable lifetime warranty. It’s one of the best in the industry. There are no cards to fill out or receipts needed. The company will repair or replace the SCOTTLOCK™ in the event that it becomes damaged at no cost to you. It doesn’t matter how it was damaged, whose fault it was or where you purchased it (loss, theft, deliberate damage, or cosmetic excepted). The company will take care of you.

MSRP for the SCOTTLOCK™ package that includes your choice of a HEXCHAIN or High Security Cable and either a combination lock or keyed lock is $325.00. It comes with a 30-day money back guarantee.

The company offers a VIP Program that offers a special reduced price for all active duty, veteran, and retired military personnel and first responders (law enforcement & fire/EMS).

FINAL THOUGHTS

The SCOTTLOCK™ is an outstanding product that fulfills a pressing need that has heretofore gone unmet. The quality of the materials and workmanship are absolutely first rate. It more than meets all of the requirements that its designers set out for it. And it is 100% made in the USA. The SCOTTLOCK™ is NTOA Member Tested and Recommended.

One final thought. What is the cost of not having your rifle quickly at hand when lives are at stake? When you need your rifle, you need it quickly. Seconds count. Your AR-15 stored in your trunk is not efficient. In an active shooter situation time may be measured in lives. With that in mind, the SCOTTLOCK™ is a bargain.

RATING

DESIGN 5/5
CONSTRUCTION 5/5
UTILITY 5/5
VERSATILITY 5/5
PRICE 5/5
WARRANTY 5/5

TOTAL 25/25

I was provided with this product on loan as a courtesy from the manufacturer so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.

*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.”