Business Trip to NYC - Help!

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FranklyTodd

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Flying to New York City for business in two weeks.

Carry won't be possible in NY. Couple questions:

What is the best weapon I can take with me on the plane? Mini-Maglight? I can't really check any baggage, it's only a 2-day trip and I need to hustle from plane to client.

What would you buy when you got there? I'm thinking of buying a nice folding knife and/or some pepper spray upon arrival, then shipping it back to myself before coming home.

Any better ideas out there? I'm not exceptionally concerned, as I will be staying in a nice hotel and working ALL the time I'm there in (hopefully) decent places. Nonetheless, I've carried a gun every day for a few years now, and it would feel weird not to have something.

Thanks all!
 
I have done exactly what you mention: carry a mini maglight and buy a folder-which I shipped back home in a pre addressed stamped, padded envelope.

Other than that, no new ideas here.
 
op

seems like you've got the right idea. if cash isn't an object i would suggest a surefire light instead of a mini-mag. the push button on and off is much easier to use one handed and is probably brighter than the mini-mag, also if you wanted you could get one with the strike cap on the end that could also be used as a weapon if you couldn't get to your knife in time.

i know some people don't like the strike caps on their flashlights and call them tacticool and what not, but one thing i like about them is if you drop your light the chances of damaging the lens are lessened due to the height of the strike cap.
 
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Now, now we are a very safe city.
The again, if you need an armed bodyguard who is a peace officer for a specific function send me a PM.
 
Before you go you might want to get your affairs in order.
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Why do I keep humming the Hank Williams Jr. song Country Boy Can Survive:

I had a good friend in New York City
He never called me by my name, just hillbilly
My grandpa taught me how to live off the land
And his taught him to be a businessman
He used to send me pictures of the Broadway nights
And I’d send him some homemade wine

But he was killed by a man with a switchblade knife
For 43 dollars my friend lost his life
Id love to spit some beechnut in that dudes eyes
And shoot him with my old 45
Cause a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
Click to expand...
 
The NYC policy on CCW does tend to make one go blind with rage. Even holders of a NYS Carry Permit cannot carry in NYC. Now, having lived in NYC for close to 16 years, I can tell you that if it's a business trip, you probably won't be in the bad neighborhoods where you're likely to need a firearm. NYC is pretty damn safe for a big city. Just stay out of the bad neighborhoods come night time and you'll do fine.

Legally, I would avoid buying a folder that locks open because at one point a NYC DA defined that as a gravity knife, a weapon forbidden in NYC. You can carry a fixed blade of up to 4" in length provided it stays concealed though.
 
Buy a Surefire - it can be carried on. Or get one of those pens that can be used as an impact device.

Also, I've been to the city a few times lately and if you don't go bad places, you will be fine with some common avoidance sense. OC isn't expensive, if you do buy it - just toss it.

Do you have knife training, BTW?


Don't get scared by the country folk who fear the big city. :D
 
Thanks, GEM. I'm not country folk, I'm medium-city folk with a j-frame every day, a little scairt of the BIG city unarmed. ;)

I'm really not that worried, I've just gotten to the point I feel a little naked not carrying, and wondered if anyone had any ideas.

I will be staying in a nice hotel and working in a conference room in Manhattan for 15 hours per day. I doubt I will have time to get in trouble even if I wanted to!

Not to give away my age, but I have a good 10-15 years martial arts training including kubaton-type & edged weapons, among others, but it's been about 15 years... :) We even trained with a cane hapkido-style, but I am too out of practice with the cane and too self-conscious to fake a limp and drag one along...

I never trained using the brightness of a flashlight, just using it for the impact. So, I probably won't get a surefire in the next week - I have 1/2 dozen maglights at home - just as good if using it only as a pure impact weapon.

I really appreciate everyone's thoughts. I'll post another reply when I get home safe and sound so y'all can stop worrying about me... ;)
 
If you're gonna be in Manhattan, I wouldn't worry much. It's upscale, very low violent crime rate, esp. considering the population.

There are plastic knives out there, if you prefer the don't ask, don't tell policy with TSA/FAA.

As for lights, my go-everywhere is a Streamlight Microstream. Very durable, single AAA cell, quite bright, runs about 2-2.5 hours continuously on one cell. They cost about $20, so if you lose it, oh well.
 
Manhattan is pretty safe. NYPD is everywhere. It's when you go off the Island of Manhattan that things get... interesting. I've walked around Manhattan at 2am, and never encountered any problem. There's so many people on the streets that it's nearly impossible for something to happen without someone calling the police (probably by voice, given their density on the island).
 
Todd,

Let's give the folks over at NFW a chance to chew on this for a day or two. If they don't do it justice we'll bring it back to S&T...

lpl
 
There are plastic knives out there, if you prefer the don't ask, don't tell policy with TSA/FAA.
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Walking into a stadium with one of those is one thing. Walking into a courthouse is a whole other thing, you could be looking at a felony.

Walking into an airport with that is likely to get you acquainted with some of the more onerous provisions of the "patriot" act, in which case you may simply disappear for a while before they decide that they do want to charge you with terrorism.

Let's not forget that metal detectors are going out and body scans are coming in, so unless you intend to stash that plastic knife somewhere might uncomfortable, you'll likely be found out anyway.

In the world of stupid advice, your post reigns as the current king.
 
FranklyTodd, be prepared t have a great time!

For the last 12 to 14 years of so, the better half and I have been going up to 'New Yawk' on weekends for what we can see. Great museums, art gallerys, and resurants with food that will blow your socks off. We usually take the morning commuter train from Washinton D.C. up to NYC. Get there about mid morning and stay the day and sometimes overnight.

So far, I have not needed any knife but a sak classic, and once in a while my Opinel. Opening plastic packages and stuff. DO NOT WEAR A KNIFE WITH A POCKET CLIP. The NYPD will spot the clip and bust you. If you must absolutly carry a knife, make it something like a Gerber LST that can be tossed when you go home. Or mail it back to yourself and use for a beater knife.

Carry a stout metal pen, and an AA minimag and you're pretty set for over agressive pan handlers. Try getting used to a walking stick. The airlines never look twice at mine.

Like has been said, there is a police presence EVERYWHERE. If you yell for help, it will be fast in coming, and not all from the cops. We've found the people in NYC to be freindly, and will go out of thier way to help a visitor. One time, Karen and I missed our subway stop and decied to walk back to where we where going. Coming out of the subway, we were a bit disorientated, asked directions from a guy in a suit and carrying an attache case coming the opposite way. He turned around and walked us up back the way he had come, to point out where down the next block we had to turn left to get to this one art gallery we were looking for.

Forget what you'ver heard about NYC. That was thirty years ago, this is now. They have really cleaned up the city, and it's a great place to go. Just relax, stay out of lower Brooklyn after midnite, and enjoy yourself. If you're up early, go walk down the street till you find a hole in wall diner that has a lot of cabs parked out front. That will be a great place to have breakfast. For dinner, go to Nathan's and forget the hot dog, get the corned beef sandwich on rye. It's one of a kind.
 
Thanks, Carl. Unfortunately it's all work, so I'm not counting on a "great time," but you've helped make me feel very comfortable. I said above I would be in Manhattan. I just found out I will actually be in Queens for two full days. I know that isn't as fancy, but hopefully no less safe.

I love THR - you folks have been great!
 
I'm a big fan of MiniMag-sized lights. There are lots of pushbutton flashlights that size now, usually for close to the same price. I'd get one, stay aware, and be happy. :)
 
Funny, I just returned from a few days in Manhattan. I kept my eyes wide open for pick-pockets and various assorted folks, but never once felt even remotely uneasy. Midtown and (it seems) most of Manhattan is pretty safe. I swear there is a cop every 10 yards in Times Square.
 
"Still a worthy discussion, but I must report that the whole trip has been cancelled... "


Awww man, that's too bad. They got little hole in the wall places that serve a pizza that will make you never, ever. go to your local Pizza Hut again!
 
I know - I was dreading the trip when I learned of it, but have gotten comfortable and was looking forward to it.
 
NYC is a fun place, and going there for business you aren't going to have enough time to get into real trouble unless you look for it. Places where visitors go to are very safe, and will have lots of people & police presence.

I always carry a flashlight as well as a variety of other impact items, but if you really do run into criminals who wish you harm, they will probably be armed with guns, and you'll be SOL. Fortunately, all types of crime have gone down for the past decade in NYC.
 
Now, if you were going to Kansas city, St. louis, Cleveland, Atlanta, Detroit, or Birminham Alabama, they you have cause to worry. Some parts of Baltimore ain't too good at night either. Kind of like that Heston movie, where the mutants come out at night. :D
 
hub said:
How about a tactical pen.
http://www.botachtactical.com/smwemptapen.html

I have no idea if it is legal on the plane or to carry in NYC just throwing it out there because they look cool, are not too expensive, and use common refills.
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It has been said before, but just get a strong, well built, metal bodied pen, it will work just as well and be a lot less conspicuous. Cross, Waterman, Mont Blanc, Lamy, are all good, even the cheapies you get at trade shows that are made of metal are as good.
 
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