How to get prepared in three easy steps

[Donna Wolf]

You don't need one... Until you NEED one! Keep one around all the time. Maybe somebody you know will need it.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I rarely carry a flashlight-only if it's dark out. I do have one mounted on my HD rifle, have one on my nightstand with the EDC, and one in the car at all times. But I always have at least my Leatherman Micra on me.

 

[Boattale]

I have plenty of knives, flashlights, and guns. I carry them only when needed, which is seldom.

The advice to carry them all routinely is hogwash. All you're going to do is wear holes in your pockets.

ETA: In today's world, financial literacy is a far more important survival tool than carrying a pocketknife or a flashlight. I've seen plenty of lives ruined by poor financial decisions. None by the lack of a pocketknife.

No joke. But. I carry a good knife all the time. I keep good flashlights where they might be needed, Without reservation though, my life has been best served by being smart about money. That lets me have and do the things I need, want and like.

 

[23tony]

Frankly, I feel naked without my knife. I never carried one when I lived in CA, got one shortly after moving to NC and now I almost always have it on me. I use it all the time, typically at least a couple times every day. It's not a statement or anything like that, just that I find it useful too often.

 

[Legionnaire]

I don't remember when my Dad gave me my first pocket knife; I was eight, maybe? I've carried a knife of some sort ever since. Like you, @23tony, I feel naked without one.

 

[Ghost In The Fog]

I won't cry over a cheap $4 knife I got at Wal-Mart if it gets taken by someone at work. Taking a $200 Benchmade is a different story.

Last year we went to the Avs game and as we were walking through the parking lot I realized I had my knife on me. I didn't want to walk all the way back to the car to put it in the console vault with my gun so I paused as we were walking in and there was a low split rail fence lining the walkway. I slid it in an opening in the upright and memorized the location. When we came back out headed towards the car I pulled my 35 year old son aside and reached in a retrieved my knife. He just looked at me and shook his head and said "Walmart" I said yup and we had a good laugh and kept walking. I would have never done that with any of my good knives. I use them as everyday tools and break them frequently. I have plenty of expensive knives but I love the $3.99 (Now $4.99) Walmart knives.

 

[skoro]

I keep a 3" locking folder in a small cell phone pouch (remember those?) on my belt. I have small flashlight on my keychain. Both go wherever I go. The knife gets almost daily usage. The flashlight a little less. But both are there and ready for whenever, wherever I need them.

 

[shafter]

Outside of work I rarely need a flashlight on my person. In the truck or drawer is close enough. A pocketknife gets alot more use.

 

[toivo]

I have one of those tiny Swiss Army knives on my keychain -- so small that it's pretty worthless as a knife, except for maybe cutting the tape on packages. But the two things I find really handy on that knife are the scissors (tiny but sharp) and the tweezers. I probably use the tweezers more than anything.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I carry two knives and a cell phone any time that I'm wearing pants.
I station a flashlight, Bic lighter, heavier cutting tools, survival blankets, water and first aid kits at home, in each vehicle and at my desk.
I also carry a gun where legal and have appropriately placed back-ups and reloads.
I no longer carry Mini Maglites.
They're just too fragile.

 

[Olon]

I wish I had thought of this first, but Grant Cunningham had this on his blog a while back:

Grant’s Patented Plan To Becoming More Self-Reliant In Three Easy Steps ™:
1. Buy a pocket knife.

2. Buy a small high-intensity flashlight.

3. Carry them with you every day.

https://www.grantcunningham.com/2019/06/how-to-get-prepared-in-three-easy-steps/

And then he discusses the concept further: https://www.grantcunningham.com/2019/07/following-up-on-the-three-easy-steps-readiness-as-a-habit/

When thinking about preparedness, we tend to focus on the sexy stuff. Socking away a year's supply of MREs, bug-out bags, and particularly guns and ammo aplenty to ward off hordes of Zombies or the entire cadre of the Hell's Angels and Banditos combined.

But when you really get down to it, a pocket knife and a flashlight will probably solve 90% of the difficulties you run into on a daily basis. (No, I don't have a citation for that statistic. ) I know seldom a day goes by when I don't use one or the other. Often both.


Grant Cunningham makes this gun related.

Same here, except for short periods when I'm waiting for a replacement for the flashlight I lost...

https://notechtyranny.com/index.php?threads/flashlight-retention.100/

Add slip joint pliers to the list for me, though

 

[toivo]

I no longer carry Mini Maglites.
They're just too fragile.

I carry Mini Maglites all the time, and I've never broken one. Not doubting you, just curious: What kind of breakage have you experienced?

 

[theotherwaldo]

The LED bulbs keep coming loose in use and cause failures at the most awkward times.
I don't have these problems with other flashlights.

 

[readyeddy]

I carry a folding knife and a single AA LED flashlight. The flashlight gets used the most and I don’t even go out at night. I’m constantly using it to find stuff in the back of the closet, under the sink or some other dark corner of the house or car.

The knife also gets used regularly to open packaging or while barbecuing.

 

[shafter]

I have plenty of knives, flashlights, and guns. I carry them only when needed, which is seldom.

The advice to carry them all routinely is hogwash. All you're going to do is wear holes in your pockets.

ETA: In today's world, financial literacy is a far more important survival tool than carrying a pocketknife or a flashlight. I've seen plenty of lives ruined by poor financial decisions. None by the lack of a pocketknife.

Pure wisdom here.

I usually have a pocket knife on me but rarely need it. I have plenty of flashlights too, but unless I'm working, having one in the truck or in a drawer is close enough. As long as I know where to get one it doesn't have to be in my pocket driving me crazy. They're items of convenience rather than survival. Money on the other hand, can buy your way out of a lot of trouble.

 

[armoredman]

Been working in a Prison now for 4 years plus. Everyone said I was paranoid for carrying pepper spray and cuffs. Nothing ever happens at a level 1 prison. Until last Thursday just before the dinner meal. Both needed to be used. You never know when you'll get the call.

If you worked for me and you did NOT have handcuffs and gas, we'd be talkin'.
Can't carry a gun OR a knife inside the wire, but we have secure storage for in and out. The flashlight is always with me, Surefire G2 Nitrolon LED, ad I have needed it MANY times since I started, both on and off duty. Knife too, Benchmade Resistor. A good lock back knife has been very helpful to me many, many times.

 

[bdickens]

Pure wisdom here.

I usually have a pocket knife on me but rarely need it. I have plenty of flashlights too, but unless I'm working, having one in the truck or in a drawer is close enough. As long as I know where to get one it doesn't have to be in my pocket driving me crazy. They're items of convenience rather than survival. Money on the other hand, can buy your way out of a lot of trouble.

Once again, Mr. Cunningham never mentioned the word "pockets."

 

[JTHunter]

Small flashlights on both keyrings, mainly for door keys in the dark, or tight spaces in the vehicles. Both vehicles also have those 3 & 27 LED magnetic worklights from Harbor Freight in the gloveboxes.
I carry a single blade 3.5" folder in a leather case on my belt with a 3-blade pocket knife (clip, spey, & sheepsfoot) in my pocket. Don't carry string or tape unless I'm on an extended road trip. In that case, I carry a small toolbox with an assortment of screwdrivers, wrenches, tapes, clamps, etc.

 

[dodo bird]

Always carry a multi tool with a knife on it. (Leatherman). It is used a lot, especially the pliers. Sometimes a flashlight.

 

[daniel craig]

A knife, flashlight and the thing between your ears (which most people neglect) because you’d be surprised what you can do with purely wits alone.

 

[theotherwaldo]

BTW, I will no longer keep a Bic lighter in the car.
It burst from the heat.

 

[emartin]

I’ve been doing that for the last 20 years. I also have rolls of electrical tape everywhere.

Dont leave out the duct tape

 

[Trunk Monkey]

When I was in the Army I was selected for an M16 qualification range off post. It was only supposed to be one day but one thing led to another and our one day range trip became a five day FTX. I learned my lesson and after that I never left main post again without a possible sack.

In March of 2003 I drove to work one morning in a snow storm. I walked in the building and the El Paso County Sheriff's Department closed the only road in or out to the plant behind me. We were stuck at work for three days.

Again I learned.

Life happens and I never assume that I'm going to make it home when I planned to get there.

I put a small flash light in my pocket no matter what time I leave home or when I expect to be home.

I also still carry my possible sack to work every night.

 

[theotherwaldo]

-Don't forget rigger and gaffer tape... .

 

[magyars4]

We keep a get home bag in each vehicle...when we're traveling out of town we carry even more!
I always have my SAK, my carry piece, extra mag, lighter, Hankey, chap stick and my folding knife when off the farm.