[SHOT 2026] First Shot: SAS Veteran Christian Craighead with Steyr ATC

This year’s SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range was opened by 22 SAS veteran Christian Craighead firing the day’s First Shot. Craighead took to the firing line and first ceremonial shot of SHOT 2026 from Steyr’s new ATC Rock 5”.

 Christian Craighead is a 28-year British military veteran first serving with the Parachute Regiment, joining the Pathfinder Platoon before successfully undertaking the renowned selection process to join the Special Air Service, the UK’s legendary Tier 1 special forces unit. He gained global notoriety in 2019, when he single-handedly shifted the balance during the terrorist attack on the Nairobi DusitD2 hotel complex in Kenya. Craighead led a group clearing each floor of the office and car park buildings and escorting civilians out of harm's way. The iconic image of him entering the hotel was seen around the world and he gained the nickname ‘Obi Wan Nairobi’.

Steyr Arms is the First Shot sponsor for 2026 and in honor of the First Shot, Industry Day at the Range will be making a donation to The Silent Warrior Foundation. SHOT Show is the 9th largest trade show in the entire United States of America. Over the next few days attendees from 126 countries and all 50 states will be walking the 13.9 miles of SHOT Show aisles. Check out our earlier article about SHOT Show for more information.

Speaking to Craighead after he fired the first shots of SHOT 2026 he explained that he’s genuinely excited about the new pistol from Steyr and was honoured to take part in the ceremony. He then, completely off the cuff, gave us a run down of his favourite features of the pistol praising the decocker, controls, machining and ergonomics of the ATC Rock. He noted how the ATC Rock’s features remind him of one of his favourite pistols, the classic SIG Sauer P226, and the new pistol surpasses it.