SELMA, N.C. — August 31, 2026 — Lynx Defense, a Selma-based manufacturer of American-made range bags and shooting gear, has been nominated for the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in NC competition for its flagship Pistol Range Bag.
Small Business Category · First-Round Voting
Vote Through September 2
One vote per day, per category, with a verified email address.
The annual statewide competition, organized by the NC Chamber, celebrates products manufactured in North Carolina and the companies and people behind them. Now in its seventh year, the 2026 competition includes 88 products manufactured across the state. Lynx Defense is competing in the Small Business category, which recognizes manufacturers with fewer than 100 employees.
"We started Lynx Defense with a pretty simple goal: make better gear and make it here," said Michael Savage, founder and owner of Lynx Defense. "Our Pistol Range Bag was one of the first products we built, so seeing it recognized in a statewide competition celebrating North Carolina manufacturing means a lot to us. We're a small company, and everything we make is designed, cut, sewn and assembled right here in Selma. It's pretty cool to see something our team builds every day competing alongside products from manufacturers across North Carolina."
Built in Selma, North Carolina
Lynx Defense was founded in North Carolina in 2013 and manufactures its products at its facility in downtown Selma. The company specializes in purpose-built pistol bags, rifle cases, backpacks and shooting accessories, with an emphasis on organization, durability and domestic manufacturing. Every Lynx Defense product is designed, cut, sewn and assembled at the company's Selma facility.
About the Nominated Pistol Range Bag
The nominated Lynx Defense Pistol Range Bag is built from 1000D Cordura nylon and designed to carry one to two handguns along with magazines, ammunition and other range equipment. The modular bag includes removable handgun and magazine inserts and an integrated rollout range mat.
The Pistol Bag has been part of the Lynx Defense product line since 2014 and remains one of the company's flagship products.
About the Competition
The Coolest Thing Made in NC competition was launched by the NC Chamber in 2020 to showcase North Carolina manufacturing and raise awareness of the industry's impact on the state. The 2026 competition will ultimately name winners in three divisions based on manufacturer size: small, medium and large businesses.
How Voting Works
Public voting for the first round is open through Wednesday, September 2. Voters may cast a vote once per day in each category using a verified email address. Semifinalists will be announced September 9, with the three statewide winners scheduled to be announced October 1.
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Through September 2 | First-round public voting — one vote per day, per category |
| September 9 | Semifinalists announced |
| October 1 | Three statewide winners announced — small, medium and large business |
First round closes September 2
You can vote once a day until the first round closes.
About Lynx Defense
Founded in 2013, Lynx Defense is an American manufacturer of premium range bags, rifle cases, backpacks and shooting accessories. The company designs, cuts, sews and assembles its products at its manufacturing facility in Selma, North Carolina. Lynx Defense focuses on durable materials, practical organization and products designed around real-world use.
Learn more at LynxDefense.com.
Media Contact
Michael Savage
Founder & Owner
Lynx Defense Corporation
103 N. Raiford St.
Selma, NC 27576
LynxDefense.com
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