As 2025 rattles to a close, and the empty brass hits the floor, there’s no better time for reflection. And like most years, the editors at Bleecker Street Publications did exactly that… perhaps a little too hard. Somewhere between reminiscing about deadlines past and staring a bit too long into the bottom of an ale mug, we accidentally tuned in to our ancestral frequency.
Naturally, this summoned the Editorial Prophets.
Four of them, to be exact.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
They emerged not from the misty hills or sacred groves, but from a perfectly acceptable local tavern… one with questionable lighting, sturdy wooden tables, and ale that tastes better the longer you’re there. Gathered around a table, these wise (and mildly unhinged) figures debated the victories of years gone by, the chaos of the present, and what the future might hold once the calendar flips.
Politics? Gear? Culture? The fate of mankind?
All discussed. Loudly. With hand gestures.
Between gulps of ale and knowing nods, the prophets laid out their visions for 2026. Predictions forged from experience, instinct, and just enough superstition to make things interesting. Whether they prove frighteningly accurate or wildly optimistic remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the discussion was spirited, the laughter was plentiful, and no pint was left untouched.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
2026 Predictions — Ballistic Looks Ahead
Overseer — Linas Černauskas
- You will be able to legally wager on SHOT Show bingo.
- KelTec engineers develop the impossible — a magazine-fed revolver.
- The crew from Bottom Shelf discovers, by accident, the cure for cancer at the Circus Circus Bar in Las Vegas, but they all die from Dysentery before they could tell anyone.
There Can Only Be Fred — Fred Mastison
- In an attempt to continue to push the growth of the lever gun market, some company will offer a suppressed belt-fed lever gun to draw in the tactical consumer.
- The ATF will finally hire someone that knows what a gun is and in turn terminate the 3,000 English majors that had previously been employed there.
- Taurus will continue to push their heavy revolver line by introducing a two-shot .50 BMG revolver for African backcountry hiking.
The Celtic “I Have A Fox On My Head” Sage — Joshua Swanagon
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
- Historians make a final determination that the rock was actually the world’s oldest tool. Knife industry shook to its core.
- Trump signs an executive order, reversing the ATF’s primary function from restricting Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to providing Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to American citizens.
- Glock spends the entirety of 2026 trying to outsmart “Glock switch” makers. In a final act of desperation, the Glock LI bolt-action is finally released.
Shaman Mechanic — Ben Tirpak
- Driven by expensive repairs and a growing DIY culture, a rugged, highly modified, and heavily armored “Mad Max” or overlanding-style vehicle will become a dominant trend in vehicle customization.
- As high-tech automation makes many new products harder and more expensive to repair, essential SKILLSETS—such as plumbing, welding, electrical work, and appliance repair will experience a significant surge in demand and corresponding income.
So from all of us at Bleecker Street Publications, we wish you a Happy New Year. May your mags stay full, your predictions come true (the good ones, anyway), your hangovers be short, and your laughter long.
See you in 2026.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
