This is a very common question.
Milspec AN/PVS-14
This is a limited time only item because it is the actual standard-issue AN/PVS-14 kit for US forces. "AN" stands for Army/Navy." It is a factory-built unit for a DOD contract. Milspec units are only built for DOD contracts because the government pays to have the tubes undergo a requisite US Milspec Test Battery before they are approved for DOD purchase. These tubes are chosen in random lots from the line at ITT. Currently, ITT is only manufacturing Gen3 PINNACLE tubes. The tubes for these Milspec units are coming from the same place as he commercial-marked tubes and almost always pass the test. Milspec testing is looking for minimum specs and characteristics in certain zones and areas of the tube. It is not necessarily looking for cosmetic blemishes. But, they are not going to pass tubes that have spots all over the place either. These tubes have been very clean from what we have seen, however. The AN/PVS-14 kits are "as issued" to US forces and are the so-called "real deal." These limited-quantity units are approved for civie sale because they were either over-runs or from a backed-out contract. This happens every now and then. The kits come with more accessories and a 2 year warranty. Housings are marked with an NSN and are the only ones that can actually be called "milspec." While these are clean tubes, we do not get the chance to select the units with the cleanest images. They are already built by contract and are what they are. But, don't let that discourage you as they have proven to be very clean from what we have seen.
PVS-14 Night Enforcer
The Night Enforcer is the premier factory-built PVS-14 from ITT Technologies. It is a "commercial-grade" unit offered to Law Enforcement and Commercial Sales. Night Enforcers perform every bit as well as the milspec units because the tubes are coming from the same place and built to the same spec (although, you will never find two identical tubes, the specifications and characteristics such as signal to noise and line pair are all within the same specs). Although the Night Enforcers do not undergo milspec testing, they do have to pass ITT Quality Control which is looking for similar qualities. The Night Enforcer is our best seller and is and top of the line for PVS-14's. The tubes, housings, parts, etc. are the same as used by the milspec units. The only outward difference is that the labels do not have NSN's. These units have a 5-year factory tube warranty and a 3-year factory system warranty. Generally speaking, the Night Enforcers have the cleanest tubes (aesthetically) of any PVS-14 on the market. This goes especially for the ones we sell since we have a very good relationship with ITT and the distributor which tends to mean we get the pick of the litter. I would rate these a bit higher in aesthetic quality than the milspec units because we get the chance to select the units with the best images.
PVS-14 PINNACLE Autogated
These PVS-14's have the same housings and tubes as the above two. The difference is that we build them ourselves from parts purchased from ITT. The reason we do this is for a small market niche. When tubes leave the ITT factory, not assembled into complete units, they have to come with a data card that gives all the specs for that particular tube. These data cards let the end manufacturer know the quality of the tubes for building into their own units. Some consumers have a compulsion to know the exact data for their tubes, so they want the data cards. Factory-built units do not come with data cards since the tubes are already checked at the factory and proven to be within spec and high quality by passing the factory QC testing. Regardless, there are those who want to know the numbers. So, we build these units for that market. Quality is on par with the above two units, but unless you really have to have the data card, the value is better with the Night Enforcer because of the warranty or the milspec because of the added accessories.
Northrop/ Litton PVS-14
This PVS-14 is built by us, using an ITT PVS-14 housing and a Northrop Litton (now L3) tube. It is the least expensive PVS-14 we offer. While they are Gen3, they are not PINNACLE or Autogated. These tubes are original Gen3. If you are looking for a PVS-14 and can spend no more than $3395, than this is the one for you. But, honestly, you get a lot more for your money with the Night Enforcer.