This Company Is Teaching Kids What Courage Really Looks Like | Ep. 12 feat. Brian Sullivan

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show Episode: This Company Is Teaching Kids What Courage Really Looks Like | Ep. 12 feat. Brian Sullivan
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
Release Date: May 14, 2025

---

Introduction

In Episode 12 of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, host David Rutherford welcomes Brian Sullivan, known as Sully, the creative force behind Black Ops Toys. The discussion delves into the intricate world of highly detailed 1:6 scale action figures, exploring Sully’s passion, the company’s mission to honor real-life heroes, and the challenges faced in bringing these meticulously crafted figures to enthusiasts worldwide.

Background of Black Ops Toys

David Rutherford opens the conversation by expressing his long-standing appreciation for action figures, reminiscing about his collection of vintage GI Joes and their role in fostering imagination and free play during his childhood.

"I grew up in the '70s and so like big gym toys and GI Joe's... I actually have a collector's edition from the frogman back in the '50s original."
—David Rutherford [03:39]

Sully attributes his journey to a mix of passion and serendipitous opportunities:

"Sometimes God has a plan and sometimes things work out a certain way... it’s a lot of passion and a lot of play skills."
—Sully [04:18]

Inspiration and Vision

Sully shares the inspiration behind Black Ops Toys, emphasizing the gap in the market for highly detailed, historically accurate action figures:

"1:6 scale wasn’t necessarily even talked about in these markets... We wanted to upgrade those essentially and make them better quality."
—Sully [06:47]

David Rutherford highlights the uniqueness of Black Ops Toys' offerings, particularly noting the realism and craftsmanship:

"When I saw your quad NOD helmet mounted, full DEVGRU style helmet system, that’s when I was like, man, this is a master at his craft."
—David Rutherford [07:48]

Craftsmanship and Detail

The conversation delves into the painstaking process of creating each figure, with Sully detailing the replication of real-life gear and gear functionality:

"We look at real kit in real gear, see how it works, and then we try to make it to scale... It has a removable magazine you can pop out. You can actually move the bolt."
—Sully [07:48]

David marvels at the level of detail, underscoring the museum-quality standard of these figures:

"These figurines are the most incredible pieces of art you've ever seen... fully detailed, just like the real thing."
—David Rutherford [08:14]

Legacy Figures and Historical Significance

Sully discusses the selection process for legacy figures, focusing on modern military heroes and ensuring authenticity through family and teammate inputs:

"We do basically one legacy figure a year... contact the family first, collect data from teammates, and create a lifelike head sculpture."
—Sully [12:51]

David shares a poignant story about John Chapman, a Medal of Honor recipient, emphasizing the emotional and historical weight Black Ops Toys brings to its creations:

"John Chapman is a big deal... his actions on that incredible day... it's a beautiful gesture on your part."
—David Rutherford [17:56]

Sully echoes the sentiment, highlighting the purpose behind honoring such figures:

"I want it to be a good project. I want it to bring people together... represent the human being to fans and those who appreciate art like this."
—Sully [19:40]

Manufacturing Challenges and Future Plans

The discussion shifts to the complexities of manufacturing these detailed figures, with Sully explaining the collaboration with manufacturers and the aspiration to scale production:

"Everything on these figures is hand done... we worked with Barrett Firearms... made a 1:6 scale firearm."
—Sully [20:59]

David envisions a broader distribution strategy, advocating for mass production to bring these figures into mainstream retailers like Walmart and Target:

"We need to bring this type of toy back into the mainstream... into big box stores."
—David Rutherford [35:45]

Sully reflects on potential partnerships and the importance of maintaining quality while scaling:

"A perfect partnership would be to have somebody who knew the manufacturing side... decrease the cost, increase the amount we produce."
—Sully [37:44]

Community and Customer Engagement

David emphasizes the cultural impact and the nostalgic value of these action figures, hoping to foster intergenerational connections through shared interests:

"I want, every little boy or teenage boy or even girls... what are some of the girl-focused figurines you've had in the past?"
—David Rutherford [34:10]

Sully underscores the inclusivity and creativity these figures inspire:

"I want people to talk about it, to do it together... have something that you’re proud of."
—Sully [24:41]

Conclusion

David wraps up the interview by lauding Sully’s dedication and the cultural significance of Black Ops Toys, encouraging listeners to support and engage with the company:

"I absolutely love what you do... visit blackoptoys.com... you got to promise me, when you're done with the Chapman one, you'll come back on."
—David Rutherford [40:19]

Sully expresses gratitude and enthusiasm for future collaborations:

"I would love to do that. That'd be super cool."
—Sully [41:13]

Key Takeaways

• Black Ops Toys specializes in highly detailed, 1:6 scale action figures that honor real-life military heroes.
• The company emphasizes historical accuracy and craftsmanship, ensuring each figure is a museum-quality representation.
• Challenges in manufacturing and scaling are addressed through potential partnerships and maintaining quality control.
• The mission extends beyond collectibles, aiming to inspire and foster connections through shared appreciation for heroism and artistry.
• Future plans include expanding distribution channels to bring these figures into mainstream retail environments.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "Sometimes God has a plan and sometimes things work out a certain way... a lot of passion and a lot of play skills."
  — Sully [04:18]

• "We look at real kit in real gear, see how it works, and then we try to make it to scale."
  — Sully [07:48]

• "John Chapman is a big deal... it's a beautiful gesture on your part."
  — David Rutherford [17:56]

• "Everything on these figures is hand done... made a 1:6 scale firearm."
  — Sully [20:59]

• "I want people to talk about it, to do it together... have something that you’re proud of."
  — Sully [24:41]

• "Black Ops Toys is exactly what defines America... deserves to be brought back into the mainstream."
  — David Rutherford [40:19]

---

This episode of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show offers an in-depth look into the dedication and artistry behind Black Ops Toys, highlighting the importance of preserving and celebrating the legacy of real-life heroes through meticulously crafted action figures.

Transcript

[David Rutherford]

You're listening to an iHeart podcast.

[Ameca Insurance]

At Ameca Insurance. We know it's more than just a car. It's the two door coupe that was there for your first drive, the hatchback that took you cross country and back, and the minivan that tackles the weekly carpool for the cars you couldn't live without. Trust Ameca Auto Insurance Amiga Empathy is our best policy.

[Greenlight]

Get this adults with financial literacy skills have 82% more wealth than those who don't. From swimming lessons to piano classes, us parents invest in so many things to enrich our kids lives. But are we investing in their future financial success? With Greenlight you can teach your kids financial literacy skills like earning, saving and investing. And this investment costs less than that. After school treatment. Start prioritizing their financial education and future today with a risk free [e-mail] iheart.

[Jenny Garth]

Greenlight.Com iheart this is Jenny Garth from 9021 OMG. Aging is a natural process as we all know and we at the deep dive we embrace it. But I will tell you one thing about aging that I don't care for. It's the symptoms that stem from changing hormones, especially as you get closer to perimenopause and menopause. That's why listeners, I want to tell you about Happy Mammoth's Hormone Harmony. It's all over social media. Happy Mammoth, the company that created Hormone Harmony, uses science backed ingredients that have been proven to work for women. Hormone Harmony is perfect for those menopause symptoms that put a woman's life on hold. Hot flashes, night sweats, racing thoughts, low moods, poor sleep gas, no desire to be in bed next to someone. If you know what I mean. Yeah, Hormone Harmony can help with all of these things. I've noticed a little extra pep in my step since I started taking the Hormone Harmony supplement and I love feeling more energetic. For a limited time. You can get 15% off on your entire first order@happy mammoth.com just use the code Garth at checkout.

[Caulipower]

It's Wednesday night after a long day and the last thing you want to do is cook dinner from scratch. But you still want a Saturday satisfying, tasty meal without the guilt. Enter your freezer's sidekick Caulifower. From thin and crispy cauliflower crust pizzas to all natural white meat chicken tenders and more. Cauliflower is gluten free, always satisfies every craving and is ready in minutes. Cauliflower is available in freezer aisles nationwide. Visit eatcolipower.com where to buy to find.

[Thumbtack]

A Store near you, avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to, don't know the difference between matte paint, finish or satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro. You just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all in the app download today.

[David Rutherford]

What's up, everybody? Welcome to the David Rutherford show again. Man, I've been so excited about this interview for like weeks on end, but I, I am, I am beyond just honored and excited to welcome Sully from Black Ops Toys to the show today. Sully, thank you so much for coming on.

[Sully]

David, thank you for having me. I'm super stoked to be here.

[David Rutherford]

You know, one of the things man and I, you know, we were chatting yesterday about it. You know, I grew up in the 70s and so like big gym toys and GI big, the old school GI Joes. I actually have a, a, you know, a collector's edition from the frogman from back in the 50s original. And, and, and I just love the whole idea behind what those toys can do for free play in the imagination. You know, tell us a little bit about, you know, what was the inspiration for wanting to get into this incredible business and becoming, in my opinion, probably the best out there at doing what you do.

[Sully]

You know, creative dumb luck. Sometimes God has a plan and sometimes things work out a certain way and, and it's just a lot of, lot of passion and a lot of play skills.

[David Rutherford]

Okay, all right. So it. Was it one particular figurine that, that got you that you saw or was it just you saw this void in the space? I mean, you know, you go back to the old figurines and you know, the, I think the, the part, you know, the clothing was always okay. It was decent. They had used to have those like, stretch bands, you know, the back. And it was real basic. But what, what those people do versus what you do. And for our listeners out there who aren't familiar, Sully and his company, Black Ops Toys, they produce the most realistic 1:6 figurines that you will ever see in your life. I found him a few years ago on Instagram and you know, it just, it's. These figurines are the most incredible pieces of art you've ever seen. You can get a Navy SEAL in full. Hey ho. Equipment. I mean down to his oxygen mask is perfect. His goggle. Oh, what do you got there for us.

[Sully]

Sully, this is Chris. Kyle.

[David Rutherford]

Oh my God.

[Sully]

This is 1:6 scale. So 1/6 scale is essentially 12 inches tall. And when I got started, I loved back in the day, I love the old school GI Joes I drew up on the three and three quarter. I always had an affinity though, because I wanted to see more detail. And then I got into 1:6 scale. I got laid up and my grandma had bought me a couple of these and I had started to mix and match the pieces and kind of get creative with them and use one parts from one, put them on the other and kind of customize and make my own. And that kind of got the ball rolling. And I saw opportunity because 1:6 scale wasn't necessarily even talked about in these markets. Over here. We had old school GI Joe, the 12 inch action man. When you were growing up, you're not, you're not that much older than me, but that's, that's kind of the where it started. And we saw toy stores like Toys R Us carried. These companies got called 21st century, which were these 12 inch, you know, old school action figures. And you could have modern military, you could have World War II, you could have good guys, you could have bad guys. They even made vehicles. But that's where I kind of got my, my kickstart with this stuff. And then what I did was I was, I wanted to customize and kind of make them better. And that's kind of how we all got into this. So, yeah, that's where we're at.

[David Rutherford]

I remember like my biggest gripe always was, you know, the weapons were always so bad, right? The weapons were bad. Like if you had, if you got one other piece with it, it wasn't great. But what you're doing is like nothing I've ever seen before. I mean, like when, I mean, I found a couple people over, I think it was over in the Asian market that was doing it. But when I got to you and I saw, like I told you last night, we were talking when I saw your quad NOD helmet mounted, you know, full devgru style helmet system, that's when I was like, man, this is a master at his craft. How long did it take you to figure out how to get that detail and what was the process?

[Sully]

So, so the way to get the detail is to replicate the real thing and scale it down. So when we do our, basically we look at real kit in real gear, we see how it works, how it functions, and then we try to make, make it to scale. And 1:6 scale. And like these weapons, for example, like this is a sniper rifle. This has a removable magazine you can pop out. It has a metal round.

[David Rutherford]

Wow.

[Sully]

You can actually move the bolt. The bolt moves.

[David Rutherford]

Oh my gosh.

[Sully]

Bipod comes down, you can change the scope out, cheek riser comes up in the back. But it's fully detailed, just like the real thing. The object was to get as realistic as we could for something that would be a museum quality, hyper detailed action figure to put on your desk.

[David Rutherford]

Wow. And so when you first began, I mean, obviously these types of detailed, I mean they're not even toys. Like you said, these are pieces of art, right? These are museum quad pieces of art. How do you begin to even find where to do that or how to do that? Like, I mean, did you have to invent all of this from scratch yourself?

[Sully]

No, no, I didn't have to invent it all. I just had to figure out where to go to do it. We tried to, obviously we started buying and selling, we started becoming a distributor and we started to carry the products that were already made. What we wanted to do is we wanted to upgrade those essentially and make them better quality. So we went out with the idea of if we're going to do something, let's, let's do something where we, we do something based on a real person. So let's, let's create a figure that's a legacy, that, that is a real person during a real tour of duty. And let's create that and create all of the gear that he wore and allow that to represent that human being to fans and to people that would appreciate art like this.

[David Rutherford]

Wow. Well, and you held up the Chris Kyle doll that not dial, but a figure, you know, which is, I mean, for me it's, it's, it's not only just is the, is, is what you're creating. Cool. But you know, I, I had the incredible opportunity to, you know, I was one small little fraction of, of, of influence in, in his development as a frogman. You know, he went through SQT when I was in an SQT instructor. But man, when you, when that came out, when I found that figurine, I was just so overwhelmed because, you know, the whole idea of what can take place in these images, you know, you know, where you, you, I mean, think of all the people that, you know, have these profound respect for not only these individuals, these heroes in their lives, but also these time frames, these moments. Because I think that that's also a big piece too. Right? You can create a piece for somebody that embodies a whole memory or whole idea of time frame within, with whatever spectrum you're doing, whether it's a John Wick figurine or it's a Vietnam or a World War II. Is that kind of the hope that you're doing with, with these?

[Sully]

Yeah. So essentially it's a snapshot in history, right? So it's a snapshot and the person was there, this is who they were, this is represented them, this is what they used. And it's, it's a snapshot in history and it's a piece of history, to be honest with you. These are so small batch. Like we don't do anything over 300 to 500 units and that's worldwide. So these are very small batch, very meticulous and very just pieces of creative art that represent that character in that snapshot of history.

[David Rutherford]

How do you, how do you pick who you who or what time period you want to do?

[Sully]

That's a really good question. We've, I'm into modern stuff. I'm into modern military stuff, so that's kind of my genre. I'm obviously a lover of all the stuff, modern war movies, you know, characters, books, Navy SEALs, you know, they, I, I, I look up to, to people like that and I wanted to honor this, this class of people. And so to do, to pick somebody, we don't do many of these, so we do basically one legacy figure a year. So it's very small amount to do that. We obviously we want to contact the family first. We want to make sure that we get permission. And then we want to collect all the data we can from teammates, from family, whether it's high school photos, yearbook photos, in order to create the lifelike head sculpture. So that's a big portion of it. And then we want to check in with teammates to see exactly is this the correct gear? Is this what they used? Get any pictures that we can and just kind of build a file. And from that file, then we start the process of prototyping.

[David Rutherford]

Wow, that's incredible. Can you list some of the, some of the legacy figures that you've done? You love hot, spicy things and you like your food to have a little punch to it. Then please go to Firecracker Farm and check out their pepper infused salt and these beautiful salt shakers. So that way you can spice up your meals like I do every single day. Man, my eggs have never been the same since I got myself some of their wonderful spiced salt. Man. Again, check out Firecracker Farm when you go there. Type in rut 15, that's Romeo Uniform Tango 15 for your discount. And you are going to have a whole new appreciation for spicy food. Hoo yah.

[LifeLock]

Not everyone who handles your personal information is going to be as careful as you are. And it only takes one mistake to expose it to hackers and identity theft. Maybe that's why there's a new victim of identity theft every five seconds in the United States. Fortunately, there's Lifelock. Lifelock monitors hundreds of millions of data points a second for threats to your identity if your identity is stolen. A LifeLock US based restoration specialist will help solve identity theft issues on your behalf, Guaranteed or your money back. Plus, all LifeLock plans are backed by the million dollar protection package. Meaning Lifelock will reimburse you up to the limits of your plan if you lose money due to identity theft. You can't control how diligent others are with your personal information. But with Lifelock you can help protect it. Act now and save up to 40% your first year. Call 1-800-LIFELOCK and use promo code iheart or go to lifelock.com iheart for 40% off. Terms apply.

[Ameca Insurance]

Every day our world gets a little more connected, but a little further apart. But then there are moments that remind us to be more human.

[Jenny Garth]

Thank you for calling Amica Insurance.

[Sully]

Hey, I was just in an accident.

[Caulipower]

Don't worry, we'll get you taken care of.

[Ameca Insurance]

At Ameca, we understand that looking out for each other isn't new or groundbreaking. It's human. Ameca empathy is our best policy for period protection.

[Greenlight]

You can put on and forget about nothing. Beats Nyx. Leak proof underwear. North America's number one leak proof underwear brand. Let's face it, life can be unpredictable. But your leak proof underwear shouldn't be. That's why millions of people choose Nyx for periods, for light leaks, for everyday freshness. Nyx undies are super comfy, super absorbent and made to handle whatever your day throws at you. Day two of your period covered your daily run. No problem. That big sneeze? You know the one? Yep. We've got you. And with styles like bikinis, boy shorts, thongs and high rise plus sizes from extra small to 4 XL Knyx makes it easy to find your perfect fit size. Say goodbye to stress and leaks. And say hello to undies that work just as hard as you do, no matter the leak. Find the style and level of protection you [e-mail] and use code FLO15 for 15% off. That's kn Ix.com code flow15 for 15% off NYX for your leaks for your life. This message comes from Greenlight. Ready to start talking to your kids about financial literacy? Meet Greenlight, the debit card and money app that teaches kids and teens how to earn, save, spend wisely and invest with your guardrails in place with Greenlight, you can send money to kids quickly, set up chores automate allowance and keep an eye on what your kids are spending with real time notifications. Join millions of parents and kids building healthy financial habits together on Greenlight. Get started risk [e-mail] iheart avoiding your.

[Thumbtack]

Unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes so you don't have to don't know the difference between matte paint finish or satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro, you just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all in the app download today.

[David Rutherford]

Wow, that's incredible. Can you list some of the, some of the legacy figures that you've done?

[Sully]

Sure. So we've done Chris Kyle, we've done Mark A. Lee.

[David Rutherford]

Oh, that's one of my favorites. Man, Mark was such a team. 3 human being yeah, good.

[Sully]

Human being good.

[David Rutherford]

Yeah, really solid.

[Sully]

We've done Mark Forester which was a cct. Currently we have, we have two legacy figures on the plate that are upcoming that we're currently working on.

[David Rutherford]

Are they secret? Can you, can you lock, can you tell us right now?

[Sully]

I'll tell you one. So one right now is John Chapman.

[David Rutherford]

Yes.

[Sully]

So that's, that's a big deal and there's a great story behind that. And maybe that's, that's for another time, but there's a great story behind that.

[David Rutherford]

Well, let me, let me just tell everybody. John Chapman is metal. Really when you think about the G wat was the first individual in an, in an event and it was actually part of Roberts Ridge where Neil Roberts of Frogman at Dev Group was shot. Well, fell out of a CH47 after a rocket because they were trying to take out a Dishka anti aircraft gun. He fell out of the back and then was in a running gun fight with these Taliban guys and Al Qaeda guys. They came back for a rescue mission and Chapman and another frogman who also received the medal of honor for this, they assaulted this machine gun nest by himself, essentially by themselves. And Chapman led the charge. And it's the only medal of honor Story that is actually filmed in real time. You can look it up on YouTube, go. And you'll see John Chapman Predator view of Medal of Honor and you can watch his whole movement. I was in country not a few months after this happened and it was one of the most profound things that was permeated across the SOF community of what he did on that incredible day. So the fact that you're honoring him is just overwhelming. Not only, I think, for the entire SOF community, but for anybody who's been, you know, actively paying attention to the GWAD over the last 20 plus years. So just, Sully, thank you so much for wanting to, you know, memorialize these men and these incidents in such a profound way. It's just really a beautiful gesture on your part.

[Sully]

You know, I, I, I feel like, like it's not just, it's, I love, I love to do this type of thing and I love to have, have it be for the right reason, if that makes sense. I want it to be a good project. I want it to bring people together. I want it to be for the right reasons and I want to do it the right way. So I'm excited to, to be able to do that. Yeah.

[David Rutherford]

Well, another place I just want to chat about is, is and obviously everybody go, Chuck, check out at Black Ops Toys on Instagram. It's where I found him. It's incredible. But he's also got this really cool YouTube channel as well where you describe in detail how you put it all together. And I remember watching the first one and I was just like, I think one of the ones that really struck me before is you had this six gun shooter belt. I forget what figurine it was for, but you have your little tweezers and you're putting the ammunition in the belt itself. So, you know, can you give us some kind of understanding of how long the process takes? What are some of the more difficult aspects about the manufacturing both of the weapon systems or ammunition? And then most especially the meticulousness of the kit and the gear that you have.

[Sully]

Right. So pretty much everything on these figures is, is hand done. It's got some sort of hand involvement in it as far as the, the weapon systems. They're, they're super intricate. So example, we, we worked with Barrett Firearms about, I think, I want to say seven or eight years ago, we did a Barrett M Rad for them for shot show. And they sent us a Barrett Imrad and we looked at it, scaled it down 3D, modeled it and then produced it. But we Produced all the parts essentially that made the real kit injection molded and made a, made a 1:6 scale firearm.

[David Rutherford]

Wow.

[Sully]

Super, super cool.

[David Rutherford]

First thing in my head is like, can they fire?

[Sully]

Right? That's what everybody asks. No, they can't fire. No, they can't fire.

[David Rutherford]

Wouldn't that be cool? Yeah, you had your, like, in the future you'll be able. They'll have like their little AI components and the dude will be on the desk and then all of a sudden.

[Sully]

It'Ll be like, the video's coming. Yeah. So we're starting to see video animation from AI and they're there. A lot of people are animating their figures right now. So it's very, very cool.

[David Rutherford]

That's awesome, man. I'm going to have to look those up.

[Sully]

What I'd like to say is you got to think about these things, like model kits. So back when you were a kid, you know, our standard customer base is, you know, anywhere from 25 to 55. And these are guys that love models, they love to tinker, they love firearms, they love to put stuff together, they love to upgrade things. So when you come into the industry and you start to look at this stuff, you know, it blows everybody away. You know, if you have a figure on your desk and somebody walks into your office, the first thing they do is go, what is that? That is so cool. Where can I get one? So it's, it's got that kind of pow and that. Wow. But you can start with a mitten box. Figure mixing box is basically just a figure design, like the Chris Kyle or the Mark Lee. And it comes with everything you need in the box and you put it together with tweezers and with, you know, some patience. We do have a YouTube channel where I do build guides and I kind of show you how to put stuff together, how things work. But really, I mean, this is something that's, that's kind of an escape for people. This is something that you can tinker with, you can concentrate on and you can make something that's absolutely fantastic.

[David Rutherford]

That, that's incredible. I, you know, one of the, I think, great lessons when, with little kids, I mean, back in the day, you know, my uncle used to take me to these model, little model shops in western Michigan. You know, the Dutch used to have these and, you know, we'd go in and he'd be like, all right, this is a battle scene from Gettysburg or whatever. And you can get them and assemble them or you can get them and paint each, each figurine and, you know, you have the little guides and all that stuff. And there was just something that I think, you know, ingrained in me as a child. The beauty, the meticulous, the thoughtfulness of those, those, those, those figurines and the way you know it. And, and then also more importantly, the time with my uncle and, or the time with my dad or whatever it might have been. Is, is that a part of this that you, you, you hope is happening when people purchase these, that they're having that type of exchange with, with their children?

[Sully]

You know, I, I want people to talk about it, I want people to do it together. It's just like building an RC car with your kid. It allows you to be creative and that's a huge deal now, you know, to actually enjoy something and be able to fidget with it and do something with it and have something that you're proud of. And this is something that takes time, it takes patience and it takes dedication. But you can become a master class action figure builder and you can just upgrade these things to your heart's content.

[David Rutherford]

Well, you know, another, another really cool thing is I, you know, as I, it's so hard for me because obviously I told you I have four daughters. And so you know, the extent of my action figures as a kid or for them as kids was Barbie, you know, and that was short lived. So as I, as I'm scrolling through, you know, Spetsnot's guy, oh, I want that one. Or my personal favorite, all the variations of the private military contractor because you know, he spent so much and I'm like, dude, I wore that exact kit back in 05. You know, it's like it sucks me in and, and I was joking with you, you know, I told you my, my, my new wife Jada, you know, is, is like, is like I, you know, I have in my, my old office, you know, all these little, you know, things all over the place and she's reduced that down except for my, you know, I've got my life and I show her. I go, I'm going to get this one. She goes, you're not getting that one. And I was like, I'm going to get this. And she's like, you're not going to. So like let me, these are not inexpensive pieces obviously. And when what, you know what, what do you see in terms of the feedback you're getting from people who are purchasing these for you, from you people.

[Sully]

That, that see these. Absolutely love them. And typically a customer that buys one is going to buy more. And what you're able to do on our website is you're able to buy a mint in box unit, but you're also able to buy the parts and pieces. So we take mint in box figures and we part them out. So you can buy the chest rig from this one, you can buy the weapon system from this one, you could buy the sneakers from this one, you could buy the head sculpt here. So you can kind of mix and match and create your own to your heart's content.

[David Rutherford]

Well, that's what I got when I, you know, every time I go to your website, like my. It's funny, we were sitting around dinner and it was after dinner and. And I'm. I'm scrolling through my. My kids are like, what are you doing right now? And my oldest walks over and. And I'm staring at. I'm literally staring at Vietnam H gear, right? And. And. And she goes, what are you doing right now? And I was like, I'm assembling the perfect action figure. Leave me alone. Right? And I think that that's such a cool aspect of it. Like, you can. You have so many different parts and so many different pieces of kit and clothing that you really can. That's my. The other aspect, you can generate your entire own world or an idea with what you want to see. And this doesn't. It's not just regulated to a particular time period. I mean, you have, you know, movie action figures, you know, whether it's John Wick and you know, I love the. You have the boxes with the gold pieces in them and, you know, his weapons and so you could take all those and fuse them together. Do you. Do you find that a lot of people like to do that? Sorry for the interruption. I know you're loving this interview as much as I do, but I just want you to be aware and to. To put on your calendar. May 31st, me. On our Patreon account, avidrutherfordshow. I will be giving a live motivational event about performance, about what I've learned over the past 30 years of trying to figure out what about the human condition enables us to succeed or what drives failure in the most extreme environments imaginable. That's May 31st on our Patreon account. Don't miss it. Booyah. Back to the interview.

[Ameca Insurance]

Every day, our world gets a little more connected, but a little further apart. But then there are moments that remind us to be more human.

[Jenny Garth]

Thank you for calling Amica Insurance.

[Sully]

Hey, I was just in an accident.

[Caulipower]

Don't worry, we'll get you taken care of.

[Ameca Insurance]

At Amica, we understand that looking out for each other is isn't new or groundbreaking, it's human. Amica empathy is our best policy.

[LifeLock]

Not everyone who handles your personal information is going to be as careful as you are. And it only takes one mistake to expose it to hackers and identity theft. Maybe that's why there's a new victim of identity theft every five seconds in the United States. Fortunately, there's LifeLock. LifeLock monitors hundreds of millions of data points a second for threats to your identity. If your identity is stolen, a LifeLock US based restoration specialist will help solve identity theft issues on your behalf, guaranteed or your money back. Plus, all LifeLock plans are backed by the million dollar protection package, meaning Lifelock will reimburse you up to the limits of your plan if you lose money due to identity theft. You can't control how diligent others are with your personal information, but with Lifelock you can help protect it. Act now and save up to 40% your first year. Call 1-800-LIFELOCK and use promo code iheart or go to lifelock.com iheart for 40%.

[Greenlight]

Off terms apply for period protection. You can put on and forget about nothing. Beats Nyx leakproof underwear North America's number one leak proof underwear brand. Let's face it, life can be unpredictable. But your leak proof underwear shouldn't be. That's why millions of people choose Nyx for periods, for light leaks, for everyday freshness. Nick's undies are super comfy, super absorbent and made to handle whatever your day throws at you. Day two of your period covered your daily run. No problem. That big sneeze? You know the one? Yup. We've got you. And with styles like bikinis, boy shorts, thongs and high rise plus sizes from extra small to 4XL, NYX makes it easy to find your perfect fit. Say goodbye to stress and leaks and say hello to undies that work just as hard as you do, no matter the leak. Find the style and level of protection you [e-mail] and use code flow15 for 15% off. That's knix.com code flow15 for 15% off nix for your leaks for your life.

[Thumbtack]

Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes. So you don't have to don't know the difference between matte paint, finish or satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro. You just have to hire One you can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all in the app download today. It is Ryan here and I have a question for you. What do you do when you win? Like are you a fist pumper, A woo hooer, A hand clapper, a high fiver? If you want to hone in on those winning moves, check out Chumba Casino. Choose from hundreds of social casino style games for your chance to redeem team serious cash prizes. There are new game releases weekly plus free daily bonuses. So don't wait. Start having the most Fun [e-mail] no.

[David Rutherford]

Purchase necessary VGW Group void where prohibited by law 21/ terms and conditions apply. So you could take all those and fuse them together. Do you, do you find that a lot of people like to do that?

[Sully]

A lot of people love this hobby. The issue is that the hobby hasn't seen a lot of growth. And the reason I think that it hasn't seen a lot of growth is in the last couple years we've seen kind of the decline of the real American hero type action figure. We don't, we don't go into Target and Walmart and, and see GI Joe and you know, World War I, World War II, modern stuff. We just don't see it. So everything has gone more soft and more towards, you know, other flavors.

[David Rutherford]

Yeah, other flavor. Good. Well put, well put. Well, I'll tell you what he on the David Rutherford show, our main objective, right, is to kind of bring all of that stuff back, right. You know us as Gen Xers. You know, it's like man, these iconic action figures or these iconic movie like I talk about it all the time like the dose I had as a kid and again I'll contextualize it with these types of figurines. We would go to my grandmother and grandfather's house and my grandmother was a massive John Wayne fan and she had multiple John Wayne dolls. She had one from Rio Bravo which is like the first like shoot em up movie I remember as a kid. And she had one from when, you know the Green Berets and, and you know, and his classic Green Beret. And I just was fascinated by these, these really unique aspects of, of, of masculinity and, and the, in the ideal role model or the hero.

[Sully]

Yes.

[David Rutherford]

You know, forget the 80s where it was you and Commando and Bruce Willis and I, I love your Bruce Willis figure out there too from Die Hard, you know. You know, so how, what do we do? Like where, I mean is it, is it as much Just word of mouth that people find you or is that the best way you think people are being reintroduced to these ideas?

[Sully]

You know, getting it out there is hard. It's very, very difficult. Um, it's difficult because of social media and in algorithms. I, I don't know if you want to go into this real quick, but algorithms essentially see anything 2a, anything firearms related and they kind of put it on the back burner so people can't see it. And so they put it as regulated goods and they flag your posts and then you can't be shown to new followers. So we've had a real hard time getting it out there. But the best people, the best way to do it is to tell people about it, to show them a physical, like, look at what I got. You want to see where to get it? This is where you get it. And you know, just telling people about it.

[David Rutherford]

Yeah, I, I bet people who actually have the figurines are like, I don't want anybody else to know about this. Like, I've got the, I've got the coolest thing in the whole world. It's, it's just mine and nobody else. Well, I mean that's, that's the main reason why I wanted to have you on is, man. I want, you know, every, you know, little boy or teenage boy or even girls because I know you make some really cool, cool girl figurines too. What, what, what are some of the girl focus that you've had in the past as well too?

[Sully]

Typically the female stuff that I've done is just PMC related. So we've taken all sorts of modern kit and created a female version of a pmc. So we're allowed to take the best and the jeans and whatever's cool, I guess, whatever I think is cool, we can put on a figure and do something neat with it.

[David Rutherford]

When I saw you had the, the contractor with the vans, with the multi cam vans, that's when I was like, dude, that's it. I'm like, I'm in love with Sully. You know, I didn't even, I don't even know who you are. And I'm like, God, I, you know, at some time our paths are going to cross and I'm going to, you know, I'm going to get to meet this guy. Because you, you, what you're doing, Sully, is, is so unique and it's so needed. Right? We need to get back to delivering these types of, of, of of figurines. I mean, what I would love to see is you Know, you get so big in terms of manufacturing that you can produce, you know, the, the next lower model. So you can mass produce these things and we can get them into Walmarts and Target.

[Sully]

Wouldn't it be great, man, to do a big box store, but to have something cool, like something that you want to walk in there with your boy and go, which one do you want? Let's buy all of them. Let's go play in the backyard. Let's do something cool.

[David Rutherford]

Well, I, it's so funny, you know, I, I told you I'm real close with Sean Ryan. And you know, I as, with four daughters, you know, I, I, I, that that time has passed it like he's got a young son who's only three. And I keep telling him, hey man, can I send him this one? He's like, no, not yet. You know, he's like, bro. You know, he's like, bro. He loves trains. And I was like, let me give him one of these though. He's like, he's like, not yet, dude. So I mean, you know, how does that happen? How do we get to a place where that can take place? I mean, you know, is there a manufacturing that can do that for you? Is there a partnership that if you were to like, imagine the perfect partnership, what does that look like? In order for you to scale your.

[Sully]

Business, man, a perfect partnership would be to have somebody who, who knew the manufacturing side but stateside, so stuff we can do here locally to, to decrease the, the cost would be great. There's stuff that, that I partner with a company called Easy and Simple. And they, they are the best in the business, in my opinion, at making military action figures.

[David Rutherford]

Wow.

[Sully]

And, and they do all, everything is super hand detailed. So every head sculpt is hand painted. Every uniform is stitched correctly in scale. So it's very, very high end, detail oriented focus when it comes to producing these things. So I would love to be able to bring at least parts of that here so we could decrease the cost, increase the amount we produce and get it out there into mainstream retailers.

[David Rutherford]

Oh my God, that would be unbelievable. You know, now you got my, my wheels turning. As I'm starting to think of all the, the billionaires. I know that, right?

[Sully]

How many do you know?

[David Rutherford]

Quite a few. So I'm trying to process like, all right, what does this factory look like? How big is the machining? I mean, obviously this company that you work with, I mean, they have to make these molds. Every single one of these molds. Correct?

[Sully]

Correct. Yep.

[David Rutherford]

Wow. And so, so just that process alone, you know, and I think it goes back to that idea of manufacturing and bringing that, that mentality back to at least the states. I'm assuming the group you work with is overseas, Correct?

[Sully]

It's overseas.

[David Rutherford]

Okay. All right, so. So, you know, I mean, the whole idea, man, of being able to have somebody work with you in your own back or you are, you know, working with this new factory or manufacturing organization where you live and I mean, and just being able to produce these at scale is just a no brainer for me. But you're right, there is this kind of cultural hurdle that we need to get over. Thankfully, I think we're starting to see that a little bit. But still, I know there's a lot.

[Sully]

Of work that needs to be done.

[David Rutherford]

There's a lot of work to be done. All right, so Sully, you know, what's, you know, give us a final, you know, couple ideas or, or concepts about who, what would this gift be great for, who, who benefits it from it. And, and just, you know what. And then finish with just, you know, why is it such a passion for you to be able to do this?

[Sully]

Sure. When we started this whole thing and you kind of nailed it on the head is, is we want, wanted to produce kind of a hero, right? We want, we want something that people go in and they see and they're like, I want to be more like that person. I wanna, I wanna live my life like nobly and I want to do things, you know, for other people. And the projects are, are amazing. Right? So the family, you know, obviously they get a piece of history. They get an icon of a person that they loved. And other people that, that look up to that person or know about that person can now have something that represents them and kind of their character on their desk, which is kind of cool.

[David Rutherford]

Oh, amen to that. Sully, brother, I just, I absolutely love what you do. If you're listening to this, go visit blackoptoys.com, go through the website, find all these, they have pre made already boxed all the different pieces. But I'm telling you, this organization, this company is exactly what defines America. This company is the group, it's the. This is what we need. We need to bring this type of toy to this type of historic momento back into the mainstream. So Sully, I can't thank you enough, brother. And you got to promise me, when you're done with the Chapman one, you'll come back on. We'll do a whole nother thing. You can describe it go through the whole thing with us.

[Sully]

I would love to do that. That'd be super cool.

[David Rutherford]

Perfect. Well, thank you so much Sally. God bless you and I hope you crush it.

[Sully]

Thank you very much. God bless you and thank you for doing this. I appreciate it.

[LifeLock]

Not everyone who handles your personal information is going to be as careful as you are, and it only takes one mistake to expose it to hackers and identity theft. Maybe that's why there's a new victim of identity theft every five seconds in the United States. Fortunately, there's LifeLock. LifeLock monitors hundreds of millions of data points a second for threats to your identity if your identity is stolen. A LifeLock US based restoration specialist will help solve identity theft issues on your behalf, guaranteed or your money back. Plus, all LifeLock plans are backed by the million dollar protection package, meaning LifeLock will reimburse you up to the limits of your plan if you lose money due to identity theft. You can't control how diligent others are with your personal information, but with Lifelock you can help protect it. Act now and save up to 40% your first year. Call 1-800-LIFELOCK and use promo code iheart or go to lifelock.com iheart for 40% off. Terms apply.

[Caulipower]

It's Wednesday night after a long day and the last thing you want to do is cook dinner from scratch. But you still want a satisfying, tasty meal without the guilt. Enter your freezer's sidekick Caulipower. From thin and crispy cauliflower crust pizzas to all natural white meat chicken tenders and more, Kullie Power is gluten free, always satisfies every craving and is ready in minutes. Cauli Power is available in freezer aisles nationwide. Visit eatcolipower.com where to buy to find a store near you in the heat.

[Greenlight]

Of battle, your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming [e-mail] Dominate every match with next level speed, seamless streaming and performance that won't quit so you can push your gameplay beyond performance performance with Intel Core Ultra processors for the next era of gaming. Upgrade to smooth high quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6e and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the tech search power [e-mail] lenovo Lenovo.

[Sully]

You know, some people say that Odoo business management software is like fertilizer the way it promotes growth and all. But other people say Odoo is like a magic beanstalk because it grows with your company and is also magically affordable. And there's some people who would even say Odoo's individual software programs come together to build the perfect suite. Like building blocks. Well, Odoo is all of these things. Fertilizer, magic beanstalk, building blocks for business. So sign up [e-mail] o d o o.

[Caulipower]

Millions of people have turned to Claude, the AI assistant from Anthropic because it just feels different. Where other AIs often sound a little robotic, Claude has been designed with special research that informs its character, meaning that Claude just gets it when it comes to empathy and emotional intelligence. That's why Claude has become the if you know, you know, choice for dating advice, career coaching, gathering your thoughts for those important life decisions, and more. Give Claude a try for free at Claude.com that's C-L-A-U--E.com and let us know how you feel the difference.

[David Rutherford]

You're listening to an iHeart podcast.