Travel to San Francisco

[ALHunter]

Going to be in San Francisco for a week on business. Any recommendations on defensive weapon I can carry legally? Gun and ASP baton are out. I am thinking I am left with a pocket folder.

[TexasRifleman]

Wear a skirt and act crazy.

Works for the natives......

Unfortunately a folder is about the best you can do. That's what I carry when I have to
go into that place.

[tarrigoni]

A folder is it.

You can't even (legally) carry a little fixed blade like a Hideaway Knife. You may be able to carry pepper spray though.

[R.H. Lee]

AFAIK, OC spray is legal everywhere in Calif. I'd use that waaayyy before I considered a knife.

[Tokugawa]

Don't worry, if you are attacked ,all sorts of bystanders will run to your assistance, just like they helped those three kids who drowned.

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Pepper spray is your best bet- even better is staying away from the usual suspects; bad neighborhoods, even then your biggest problem is gang on gang violence. More of an annoyance is our own brand of aggressive panhandling (read begging) homeless; they come on strong but fold in the pinch. If you’re in a hotel, talk to the doorman or concierge if you’re looking for a good restaurant or something.

Oh and bring a jacket; we’re in our foggy season.

[4v50 Gary]

Stay within the tourist spots and you'll be OK. Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach, Chinatown, Market St. (from the Ferry Building up to Powell where the Cable Car turns around).

If you want to catch the cable car, there are three lines. Catch the California line as there are very few tourists on them. The other two lines (which takes you to North Beach or to Ghiradelli Squre) are crowded with tourists. From your hotel, get to Van Ness and catch a Van Ness bus to California. Hop off there and catch the cable car from it.

Best foccacia bread is at Liguria Bakery on Stockton and Filbert. It's up the street from St. Peter & Paul (church where Scorpio tried to snipe the priest in the original Dirty Harry). $3 a slice and mmmmm good!

If you want to go to the Japanese Tea Garden, you can catch the N Judah Streetcar out to 9th Ave. Walk north bound on 9th to Golden Gate Park (1 block) and continue straight until you see the Tea Garden (off to the right).

Buy your tickets to Alcatraz on line now if you want it (Blue & Gold Fleet). They generally sell out a couple of days in advance and then you have to pay bigger bucks to get aboard.

Do bring a warm jacket. It does get foggy out there in the Land o' Rice a Roni & Cable Cars.

[dpesec]

The only problem with OC is getting it there. Remember you can't transport it by air :cuss:

[Sam]

Nothing personal ther Quarterbore but I'm telling AlHunter that he needs to take his business elsewhere. Can't support them what is agin' our ways.

ALHunter,
Give your business to someone that wants it.

Sam

[rick_reno]

I used to carry a G19 there - it's was small and invisible. Never had to draw it, it's a pretty safe city if you avoid the obvious bad areas.

[Daniel Flory]

The last time I visited, I carried a SAK Soldier when I was there which wasn't for defensive purposes at all. I had to pick up some stuff at a unique store in the Mission district and when I went there I carried a Spyderco Persian.

Honestly, it is times that this that I'm happy I spent all those hours conditioning and learning to fight empty handed.

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Mr. Flory's observation rings true.

And Sam, no offense taken. By all means people should vote with their pocketbooks where applicable.

[ALHunter]

Thanks all, a folder it is. I used to live in NYC, so my situational awareness is well honed. I don't plan on being in any "bad" areas, but as a Boy Scout, I do plan on being prepared for anything.

Off hand, anyone know if there is a blade length I need to be concerned about?

Sam - boss is sending me on this trip, not my choice at all. If I could pick my business travel destinations it'd be Alaska first, then the beautiful states of Montana, Wyoming, N. Dakota, Texas. Never been to any of them, but maybe someday.

[R.H. Lee]

Thanks all, a folder it is. I don't know that cutting someone in SF is a good idea, the AIDS and syphilis capital of the country. You really want to get close enough to possibly exchange blood? I'd much rather keep them the hell away from me and leave their blood intact. OC 'em and scoot. But it's your choice.

[wdlsguy]

The only problem with OC is getting it there. Remember you can't transport it by air :cuss:

I think that has changed:

"One 118 ml or 4 Fl. oz. container of mace or pepper spray is permitted in checked baggage provided it is equipped with a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge."

http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Permitted_Prohibited_9_6_2005.pdf

[gunut]

If your going to San Francisco..............
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.....:rolleyes:

[GEM]

As mentioned before, you can take OC by air. I went to San Francisco a couple of years ago. With common sense and awareness you do fine.

In fact a group of us organized after business and went to a range south of the City and rented some Glocks to shoot. I got into a friendly discussion with an archetypal looking biker giant sized dude who let me shoot his 44 Mag Anaconda.

Sometimes folks living in gun states start to freak out when they go to others. A discrete folder and appropriate attitudinal training works well. I've been to NYC, other places in NYS and Toronto. Still here and no troubles.

Good food - yummy!! We did seafood and Japanese.

[TexasRifleman]

I don't know that cutting someone in SF is a good idea, the AIDS and syphilis capital of the country. You really want to get close enough to possibly exchange blood? I'd much rather keep them the hell away from me and leave their blood intact. OC 'em and scoot. But it's your choice.


You're taking that chance anywhere these days.....scary stuff.

[seed]

As someone else said, avoid the bad areas (especially at night) and you should not have a problem. Like any other city, it has its problems and some unique ones. But it ain't Beirut. I think you're gonna be alright.

Having lived virtually my entire life in this gun-unfriendly state, I have found that people who have problems are the ones looking for it...literally. If you just do your thing, all the while looking confident and self-assured and avoiding trying to stare someone down when you catch their eye, you will not ever have a problem. I know it sounds stupid, but I never have problems while others I know have problems all the time when they go places. The biggest difference between them and me is that I do what I said above.

[Jubei]

Another option to getting your OC there is to ship it to the hotel that you will be staying at. The hotel should have no problem holding a package for you if you have a reservation. I've done that a few times right after 9/11 when the airport security was particularly nutty. On the return I would either ship it back to my work, or else I would find a suitable subject, and give it to them with instructions on how to use it (a waitress that was particularly friendly, and a hotel housekeeper that was very cute).

Jubei

[hso]

No known blade length limits for folders in Cali except for switchblades so you can carry as large a folder as you want.

I always carry a cane and folder, but I train with both.

Keep your wits about you, avoid problem areas, carry pepper spray with a knife as backup and you should have your bases covered.

[JJE]

A folder is it. You can't even (legally) carry a little fixed blade like a Hideaway Knife. You may be able to carry pepper spray though.

Sorry, that's incorrect. In CA, you can carry any folder (except for autos with a blade 3" or longer) single or double-edged, concealed or not. You can carry any fixed blade regardless of length or number of edges, but it can't be concealed and must be worn at the waist. ("Gimmick" knives like cane swords, belt-buckle knives, butterfly knives and all the usual suspects are banned.) Cities and counties can have more restrictive laws, but SF does not. Here in Oakland, for instance, there is a 3" limit for both folders and fixed blades. Openly carrying a large fixed blade may be a problem for tourists, not because it is illegal, but because they may go onto private property that has its own rules (a ballpark, for instance). Solution: open carry a fixed blade when you are on the street, and conceal it when you walk into a restaurant, tour boat, ballpark, etc. Folders can be concealed until needed.

Your biggest risk is SF is being run over. The traffic is bad and drivers are too. If you stay basically sober in public and ignore the panhandlers you will have a hard time getting into trouble in SF.

[Big Mike]

I recall reading about "combat Canes" one time and these were even allowed on planes??

[Otony]

I carry a cane virtually every time I head into the city. In fact, I just bought a hefty Irish Blackthorn at www.lollysmith.com to replace the garden variety cane I typically carry. A good cudgel in the hands of a determined indiviual is not to be taken lightly. I especially appreciate the fact that the poor son of the sod who made my latest stick seems to have somehow neglected doing a good job trimming the bottom third of the cane of its thorns! While the pointy ends are certainly gone, there is enough left to give new meaning to the phrase grabbing the wrong end of the stick....youch!

BTW, Lollysmith sells their Blackthorns for $29.95 plus shipping, which is less than half what a decent Blackthorn typically runs. Their site shows each stick individually, so you truly know what you are getting. I would be very surprised if you were unable to board the plane with something as simple as a good stick.

As well, there is always a Doug Ritter Benchmade in my right pants pocket, usually a Surefire G2 in a jacket pocket, and occasionally a custom neck knife. There may or may not happen to be something useful as an improvised set of brass knuckles riding herd as well. I cannot stress improvised enough.

Some other comments were interesting in terms of where to frequent. Guess what, violent crime in The City occurs every where, including the tourist areas. I will concede that it is less likely there, but it still happens.

You didn't mention where in town you will be, but the usual rules apply. Watch your back, Condition White is not acceptable, be aware of your surroundings. Oh, and carry yourself like you mean it, as that is the best deterent of all.

[thorn726]

You can't even (legally) carry a little fixed blade like a Hideaway Knife.
not true. SF has a weird law, but it relates only to homeless loiterers.
standard CA knife law- over 3 inches sheath knife must be open carried=
but EXception, if you are caught loitering with said knife, you are infracting or whatever

personally, i guess id go for the pepper spray, me actually, i go for knowing my surroundings.

man i can't imagine what it must be like to be a regular person.
worrying about possible muggings all the time.
broke folks like me dont get mugged, we just get beat up for being in the wrong place at the wrong time/ so i try to avoid being in that place.

the only place id really stay out of- you do NOT want to be in hunterspoint/bayview on foot after dark.

otherwise, SF is much less frightening than any other city. police presence is HIGH in any well trafficked areas, you have to really be an idiot blundering down a side alley blotto to get mugged in SF i think.

Oh, and carry yourself like you mean it, as that is the best deterent of all.

there it is. there are too many easy targets in SF, if you arent one of them, BGs keep walking

[Otony]

"you do NOT want to be in hunterspoint/bayview on foot after dark"

um, +10 would be about correct I think

[seed]

The Tenderloin is not the best place either.

[QuarterBoreGunner]

As I said before, HP/Bayview... yeah not so nice, but and here's the big caveat: if you're not buying drugs or selling drugs, or are in a member of the two competing gangs, Big Block or Westmob, you're a non-combatant. Yeah yeah I know non-coms can catch random rounds as well, but it's rare.
Western Addition, Vis Valley and Excelsior; same story.
The TL is mainly hooker/john/pimp stuff and the homeless smackin' each other around.

ALHunter- heed all the previous info and you'll be good to go.

[justsurvivingincalifornia]

If you want OC spray try at http://www.taborshooters.com/ he is near the SFO airport San Francisco. Also the owner is a retired PD/USMC great guy.
Ask him what leagal knife to carry, he sells them too.

Oh yes try not to look like a tourist.

[gunsmith]

If you love the smell of stale urine:neener:

I lived in North Beach for a few years and it just keeps getting worse ...do not go there on weekend nights it is where all the wannabe gang bangers hang out. If you like loose women though you'll love it.

I peppered so many homeless thugs when I lived there, I allways carried 2 or 3 cans of spray and one of them were the big grizzly bear spray cans ...you can find them in SF at the REI store in the SOMA district.
The street people there are rude and smelly and they are spoiled rotten too, they are so used to a witless liberal public that they howl with indignity when stood up to.
When you are downtown and you look at the big tourist maps the homeles creeps "offer" to help do not give them any money they don't have a clue anyway. don't spray into the wind. don't hesitate to fight back.
remember ...they threatened you! :evil: