Otis Bone Tool NSN Number?

[NorCalRefuge]

I just picked up an Otis Bone Tool, and noticed it has a very prominent NSN number on the packaging as well as printed directly on the tool itself.

Just good marketing, or is this thing actually used by some NATO or US troops somewhere? (I don't know if just anyone can get an NSN number, or if it actually means something).

[divingin]

NSN is like a UPC code for the government.

It is not requested by the manufacturer, but is generated when an agency purchases the item (does not have to be issued, used, or anything else, as far as I know; just the possibility of repeat orders will trigger the generation of an NSN.) Procuring agencies include parts of the US Gov't, US military, NATO members, and some military subcontractors.

[NorCalRefuge]

NSN is like a UPC code for the government.

It is not requested by the manufacturer, but is generated when an agency purchases the item (does not have to be issued, used, or anything else, as far as I know; just the possibility of repeat orders will trigger the generation of an NSN.) Procuring agencies include parts of the US Gov't, US military, NATO members, and some military subcontractors.

Interesting... so some agency is using the Bone tool then - or at least purchased some at a point. I guess it lends itself as some sort of pedigree, ie. some agency thought it was something worth purchasing.

[SkyHawk]

Interesting... so some agency is using the Bone tool then - or at least purchased some at a point. I guess it lends itself as some sort of pedigree, ie. some agency thought it was something worth purchasing.

Otis makes a lot of stuff with NSN, and yes some are commonly issued

https://otisdefense.com/nsn-listings/

This one is pretty commonly deployed IIRC

https://otisdefense.com/5-56mm-soft-pack-cleaning-kit/