Daily Carry ?

[MaxSE PT99]

Hi all!

Let me first say that this is not a flame towards anybody in particular....just honest curiosity.....no harm intended!

I've been thinking recently and I have a question or 2 for you that daily CCW.

Why is it that some folks decide to carry an excessive amount of gear on a daily basis? (diregarding LEO's off duty that are required by their department)

I carry

1. Either a Norinco Commander, Charles Daly ECS, or a Beretta 96f
2. An extra magazine.
3. Ken Onion series assisted opener blade by Kershaw/
3. Cell phone
4. Wallet
5. some misc. pocket change

I just don't get certain things that people carry on a daily basis.

1. Expandable batons
2. Handcuffs
3. BUK (back up knife)
4. 2-3 extra mags

I can understand wanting to carry a firearm, some OC, an extra mag and a cell phone to alert the authorities in the even of a crisis.

But why the extra gear for non LEO's (batons etc....)

What is the mindset for the extra gear....?

I understand the force continuum, but will their actually be enough time in an unexpected enconter to use these extra items as a citizen and not in uniform? From what I've read, I think no.

Do you really think that you'll be able to utilize the baton, cuffs, in an expedient manner? Will you be able to detain somebody after the SHTF?

Thanks for the insight, as I'm sure I'll get some replies.....

Jon

 

[Edward429451]

But why the extra gear for non LEO's (batons etc....)

I have a PR-24 in the truck...I don't carry it on my person.

What is the mindset for the extra gear....?

For that vast grey area between fistfight and shoot!

 

[Valkman]

I like to carry my weapon, one spare mag, a Surefire flashlight and a knife. I'm not going to fight with the knife, I've always just carried a knife. But I do like to carry pepper spray for the guy who wants to start something like a fight, because I'm not going to fight like I used to and I'm not going to pull my gun in a non-lethal situation. It's a nice alternative.

Here's my Brommeland mag/flash pouch - I use it every day.

 

[Okiecruffler]

To a guy who only carries a 357 snubby and one speed loader*, it sounds like you carry alot of stuff. depends on your situation. In some cases the level of threat is higher and it requires more "stuff".


* Okay, I also carry a knike, either a CRKT M16 or a Mirage. But if the situation is bad enough that I need to use a knife for defense, it's bad enough that I need the snubby. I've gotten too old and slow to be getting into knife fights.

 

[jercamp45]

well.....

The cuffs, ASP, four spare mags and a large can of OC I carry on duty....
Off duty, its down to two mags.
In the car I have two more mags and a baton(sometimes a rifle)
I always have a decent blade(last year and a half a Camilus 'Cuda...sweet blade!!) and a ASP Kubaton/OC despenser(another very nice tool). The knife is cuz I always have a sharp tool handy(never know when you'll need it) and the OC is to bridge the gap, giving me a ten foot OC squirt or three AND a close in impact/control tool...and looks good in court, should that time ever come, to have a nonlethal tool in addition too the handgun.
My handgun, on and off duty, is a Colt CCO .45 ACP.
Jercamp45

 

[Iggy]

Lite load

I carry a spare mag and loose change in one pocket and house keys and pocket knife I got for graduation from 8th grade in the other.

Been packin' for nearly 40 years. I've needed everything but the spare mag.

So far, so good!!

 

[TonyB]

"for the guy who "only" carries a 357 snubby and a speed loader..."
That would be me too....I don't feel under armed..it's all about how you use what you got......
( I have enough stuff weighing my pants down.....)

 

[MrMurphy]

I carry a spare mag, Surefire, OC, knife, leatherman plus the gun.

I've nearly needed the gun twice. One of those times I'd have needed the spare mag if it'd gone more hostile than it did. In that same incident OC might have stopped it quicker. I didn't have it then, i do now.

I had and needed the Surefire then, and didn't have but needed it in the incident before.

I've used the Leatherman for everything from repairing cars and computers to minor field surgery and game dressing,and the knife for the same thing.


I keep the other crap in my truck, because yes, I've used all of it (No baton or handcuffs, just general survival stuff).

 

[dairycreek]

I carry the gun, one extra mag, and an "automatic" knife (legal here in Oregon). I use the knife all the time as it is really handy for a lot of stuff. Never needed the gun (thank goodness). Try to keep my carry stuff to a minimum. Good shooting

 

[Marshall]

CARRY GUN
POCKET KNIFE, KERSHAW DWO (HAVE ALWAYS CARRIED A POCKET KNIFE)
SPEED STRIP
CASH AND CHANGE (I NEVER CARRY CASH IN REAR POCKET)

 

[Bravo11]

Carry weapon, usually KelTec P11
pocket knife w/clip, usually Kershaw Scallion
Cell phone
wallet & keys

 

[Valkman]

What you wear your stuff IN makes a big difference. Besides gun, spare mag, Surefire, knife and OC I also have a wallet, cell phone, keys and a Swiss Army knife that I've always carried.

But I wear Royal Robbins 511 shorts or pants, and this stuff doesn't even fill up all the pockets. If I was to wear jeans I'd be bulging all over!

I carry my wallet in the front right lower pocket and money in the front right upper pocket (with other knife clipped on pocket). Left upper pocket gets keys and Swiss Army knife, and there's a separate cell phone pocket. OC goes in the front left lower pocket, and gun, mag and Surefire go on the belt. The two rear pockets are empty.

 

[Angus Podgorney]

I carry a spare mag and loose change in one pocket and house keys and pocket knife I got for graduation from 8th grade in the other.

Iggy, I've been carrying the same Buck folding pocket knife that I got for my birthday when I was 16! (too many years ago to mention). I just recently upgraded to a Crawford Kasper but I still carry the Buck. I will give it to my 9 year-old son when I think he's rady.

Ed

 

[MaxSE PT99]

Greetings all!

Thank you for all of the replies so far. I didn't expect this many, this soon.

Seems as though evreyone that has posted has made a good point. Guess it just depends on your percieved threat that influences waht you carry.

I startedt this thread due reading some others about what people carry. It just seemed like a lttile overkill. If i can find the one post I'd be able to make my point a little clearer. This one gentleman stated that he carries:

1. Gun
2. 4 spare mags
3. Big can of OC
4. 3 knives, 2 a lockblade - 1 a throwing knife
5. BUGs - a .32 in his front pocket, and a .357 on his ankle
6. Baton
7. Flashlight

I cant even remember what he had hidden away in his vehicle.....

This just seemed a little outrageous for somebody to carry evreyday while not in a posisition of authority (LEO). I'm glad to see that most of us don't go to that extreme......

Thanks once again for the replies folks i appreciate the insight you all have.

Jon

 

[Okiecruffler]

It really does depend on your situation

Like I said, now I carry a 357 snubby and one extra load. But before I became a nurse I used to run a back route for a company that picked up the canceled checks and took them to the clearing house. But some people thought we were picking up cash. The fact that we did this in little Mazda pickups with campershells should have clued them in, but they weren't that bright. Several drivers had been held up, often by groups of people. Back then I carried a glock with 2 mags. Several drivers carried shotguns. Now the most dangerous thing I do is wash my truck.

 

[Zundfolge]

Jeez ... all I carry is;
Steyr S40
Cell Phone (and I wouldn't have one if it wasn't issued at work)
Wallet
Keys


that's pretty much it ... I don't carry a spare mag and I almost never have cash (change included).

 

[cordex]

I carry three knives, for different purposes (boxes, abuse, when I really need something sharp).

I carry one or two guns, depending (usually just the 1911).

 

[Valkman]

Our CCW instructor at The Gun Store had two full size Glocks on, and four spare mags around his back between them. What he was expecting in the way of a robbery I don't know but it seemed a little much to me.

I carry a spare mag only in case of a malfunction - I don't expect I'll need that many rounds. I carry a Surefire because of the East Coast blackouts and because I've been in a casino that went dark.

It all depends what you're comfortable with, I guess.

 

[Nick96]

As far as weaponry goes - typically it's just a snub revolver (.38 or .357) and the 5 rounds they hold.

I've got weapons that carry more rounds- and extra speed loaders & mags - just haven't seen the need to lug all that stuff around though.

I live a pretty tame life though - and try to remain aware of what's going on around me so's I don't NEED a weapon.

And, as a pracitical matter, I don't first hand recall any situations locally where LE people needed to reload in a gun fight - much less private citizens protecting their own hides (and I live near and work in a 4 million plus population metropolitan area). The ligitimate self defense use of handguns that I'm aware of involved the use of less than 5 rounds of ammo to resolve. Granted, there may have been situations where sprays, clubs, multiple reloads, assalt rifles, long knives, etc. were employed - but such stories just never made the evening news.

A .38 revolver or 12 gauge shotgun seems to be ample weaponry in 99+% of real world defensive encounters I'm aware of. The problem seems to center on not having a gun at all when needed - as opposed to the particular type & caliber of gun or related accessories.

 

[Gunz]

I have experimented in my youth with the overkill carry of gear. At the time, I was not as confident of my unarmed defensive techniques. As I get older, and find myself better prepared and more observant of my surroundings and situations, I am down to one SP101 hammerless. If there is something else that makes me feel nervous, I may carry a second revolver in 38 Spl. The only knife I carry is a Safekeepr 2 or 3. I like the Home Depot box cutter knives for general work because the razor blades are cheap to replace. That is about it. I used to carry spare mags and such but all that weight strained the muscles on my back. I HAVE felt better able to control a situation when I am armed, because I live in a rural area, and have come across unleashed dogs, bears, and small critters with rabies.

 

[V-fib]

SP101 3†w/ speedloader
2 knives
pepperspray
small flashlight

Doesn’t seem like allot.

 

[rcm]

Assisted opener and S&W 38. I think if I need more than that I'm screwed anyway. I keep all the rest of the crap in a backpack. I hate brief cases or the like.

 

[WorksForMe]

S&W CS40 in some manner of concealment rig, one spare mag, in case of malf or so I have more than 8 rounds. Otherwise a wallet, cell phone and keys. Don't imagine I need more than that unless I'm looking for trouble.

 

[Nick96]

Gunz,

Sounds like we have both arrived at the same station in life. At one time we've carried all sorts of "extra stuff" - but with age and experience have come to realize that being "prudently prepared" doesn't require the strapping on of a "Batman Equipment Belt" to get through the day.

 

[Ky Larry]

Daily carry:
1. 45 ACP Kimber Custom Defender II
2. Wallet
3. Comb
4. Spare mag
5. Cell Phone
6. Keys with P-38 can opener I've had since 1971.
7. Buck pocket knife

I also have a 12 gauge Winchester pump and 25 rounds of #00 buck shot in my pick up for serious social work.