What else do you carry?

[mbt2001]

For another thread I (for a brief second) went way OT. When I saw what I had done rather than just delete it and finished, I decided to start this thread to talk about different strategies to "carry weapons" and other weapons to carry than just guns.

Obviously some of you have thought about it, some not, so I thought I would show you what I normally carry and how to see if there are others that have some different takes on it.

I usually carry a Smith and Wesson 6906, there are times when that is too big (summer in texas) so I carry a Lorcin .25 and / or a NAA .22. Most of the time I can carry the 6906, but when I walk the mutt, I have to carry something lighter because of the heat.

I also carry the below when I can, which is most of the time.

Neck knife (can be had cheap if you look)

Boot knife, pay attention to the type of sheath if you wear cowboy boots or "shoes". There are specific types of sheaths that will strap to your leg if you do wear shoes.

Mixture of a Kobutan and pepper spray

Regular clip knife if your back pocket

Pen knife

I have also thought about getting the pepper spray ring, but they don't have a manly enough one that I have seen yet.

Anyway, you can be very well armed with a minimum amount of money... If those do not work, then what chance did you really have? I mean a sniper could sight in on me from the far end of the street with a .50 cal and a thermal scope and all the situational awareness in the world isn't going to save me...

 

[B.D. Turner]

I carry more than one quality folding knife.

 

[Fred Fuller]

1) MINDSET

2) SKILLSET

3) Toolset

Well, the state of North Carolina REALLY frowns on carrying fixed blade knives. So several of your options are off the table for plain ordinary citizens here. But folders are OK, mostly. So I carry a couple of those- one accessible to either hand.

And the ASP Key Defender or Street Defender is an option.

NC is a "shall issue" state, so concealed carry permits are an option. Even without one it is legal to carry openly in your car, except on military installations, school campuses and other forbidden places.

But the toolset is far less important IMHO than the mindset and the skillset.

The mindset for me is defined by Jeff Cooper in the little book Principles of Personal Defense ( http://www.paladin-press.com/product/772/27 ), by John Farnam ( http://www.defense-training.com/quips/2003/19Mar03.html ), and by Skip Gochenour ( http://www.teddytactical.com/archive/MonthlyStudy/2006/02_StudyDay.htm , http://www.teddytactical.com/archive/MonthlyStudy/2007/02_StudyDay.htm ). The mindset is further refined on a monthly basis by Louis Awerbuck's column in SWAT, by the writings of numerous other excellent trainers and teachers in various other sources, including right here in S&T.

The skillset is a life-long accumulation that started with my father and both grandfathers, a collection of uncles, a hodgepodge of 'old men' mentors in the style of the book The Old Man And The Boy. It was added to with training, training, training- a hunter safety course, Red Cross First Aid, CPR, basic firefighter training provided by my volunteer department under the auspices of the State of Alabama, EMT-A training, and some formal knife school and gun school along the way. There has been a variety of chances to practice various skills in the real world along the way, and thankfully the vast majority has been practice in helping and healing.

Then there was the training to teach- instructor training on the job courtesy of the US Army, the very first class offered in eastern NC to train concealed carry instructors, NRA instructor certification in three disciplines.

That's mostly what I carry with me...

lpl

 

[csmkersh]

The following is my daily toolset. What's on me. Depending on what I drive, there may be an S&W M36 and speed-loader or a Colt DS & a Marlin 36Rc.

A cell phone, Colt Pony, Sypderco Endura and Case Stockman.​

​

 

[FerFAL]

Depends if I’m wearing as jacket or not, but mostly this is what I have on me:

*Either Glock 31 (357 SIG ) or Bersa Thunder 9 (9mm)
*For backup, a S&W M12 Airweight 2” barrel (38 special)
*Spare mag, EMB for the 9mm or more Gold Dot for the Glock.

*I always carry a Cold Steel Folder, a serrated “El Hombre” ( I think it’s called “Vaquero” now) that has an “S” shaped mean cutting blade, which is just perfect for slashing and stabbing.

*I have a AA LED light in my keychain, that has a quick release clip and could be used to stun an attacker or along with the firearm as a tactical light, tough I usually carry a Surefire G2 if I’m wearing a jacket, which is better for this.

*I also carry a small can of Sabre Red OC spray, and one in the car.

*And for luck, I’ve been carrying my Clover Leaf Zippo these last few weeks.

FerFAL

 

[VegasOPM]

Gun- G27 or S&W 642
Knives- Onion assisted opener and Puma folder
Multi tool- Leatherman Side Clip
Steel cased ballpoint pen
25 years of combatives and martial arts training

 

[BADUNAME37]

My cell phone, so I can call 911, OF COURSE!

 

[Geronimo45]

I tend to carry a knife or two.

Seriously, I carry either the Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn Mini-Covert folder or the A-F Combat folder... or both.

 

[Zedo]

A leash and a whistle for the dog . . .

 

[Griff]

- cell phone pen wallet keys etc
- small SAK with a keychain LED
- ridiculously bright high-speed low-drag tactical illuminator device flashlight torch thingy
- H2H and other interpersonal skills
- pepper spray
- 4" Folder
- normal CCW is a P3AT and a spare mag

Options, appropriate level of force if at all possible, etc. If a person pulled a pistol on every crackhead who tried to mess with them at gas stations, bus stops, convenience stores, and fast food places over the years, they'd probably end up spending more quality time with the cops than with their family. Options (and the training to use them) Good.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Cell Phone
Wallet
Keys with OC Spray
Decent folding knife, just a S&W or Gerber. I lose or dirty them up too often to carry a knife worth hundreds.
Either Walther P99 or Taurus PT140

 

[janobles14]

ruger p94 or glock 21 for primary.
taurus m85ul for bug
spyderco civilian
swiss army camper
palm treo

 

[Sean Dempsey]

iPhone 3g
Wallet
Pocketknife
Leatherman

 

[Tamren]

Always on me
- Cellphone
- Asp 14" Baton

Almost Always on me
- Multi Tool

I used to have a cheap Cold Steel folding knife, and a sturdy little LED Flashlight which have both been lost during the move from IA to CO which I have yet to replace.

I'm going to add my CZ-75 to the mix once I get my concealed carry permit.

 

[Zedo]

Baton, handcuffs, shelter half, mace, entrenching tool, Alice pack, ammo belt, combat boots, MRE's, tinfoil hat, decoder ring, Swiss Army knife, canteen, mess kit, fire starters, butane lighter, cell phone, GPS, change of underwear, foot powder, gun oil, cigarettes, toilet paper . . .

This topic has been beat to death.

 

[Mandirigma]

3 knives: Fixed blade Kbit and tanto, case sodbuster jr.
gun n spare mag(s): G19, G33, or 1911
Surefire E2D
Zippo
Keys, Moneyclip, Phone

 

[KC0QGL]

My daily tool kit:
Bresa .380
NAA mini .22lr
AAX2 1 watt LED light
window punch/hand cuff key
S&W Black OPs
Buck folder
Gerber multi-tool
cell phone
keys
Approx. weight 4 Lbs.
A little side my brother-in-laws cargo pants (black BDU) tip the scales at 20+ Lbs.

 

[memphisjim]

i carry 2 beatty eyes

 

[qwert65]

gerber paraframe knife
cell phone
wallet
keys
small led light
handkerchief
cash

 

[Biker]

I carry a gun, a general task knife and the Will To Win.

Always been enough for me.

Biker

 

[Sheldon J]

HK USP .45
spare mag
OCS
Kershaw
M6X
Plus the usual

 

[Loosedhorse]

Throw-money

... in an accessible pocket and a de-escalation mindset.

For those not familiar with the throw-money concept: some drunk pushes you and says, "What'd you say about my mother?" As you back up and you reach for your weapon of choice (don't present it--is this a lethal situation yet?--but just get ready), the other hand tosses the throw-money (a $10 or $20 taped to a quarter for weight) on the bar or at the drunk's feet (NOT at his face area--that's aggressive), and you say (friendly, but loud--witnesses are good!), "My mistake--the drinks are on me. Won't happen again."

Maybe he takes the money and you exit--could be the best $10 you ever spent. Even if he doesn't, but instead begins a lethal attack, everyone present would have to say, "Gosh, that guy did everything to stay out of that fight--even wanted to buy the feller a drink!"

(PS: Agree with cell, knife, OC, tactical flashlight, too, besides the usual).

 

[Chuck Spears]

I can't stand having a million things attached to me. Either my .40 or .45 depending on the weather and my hands will have to suffice. Carrying a laundry list of tactical elements just seems out of place to me. I'm not knocking the folks who do it. That's their right. But it would just make me feel awkward to be carrying around a dozen different means of incapacitating an attacker. I don't want to have to put on a police utility belt just to go to pick up some eggs and bread from the grocery store.

 

[Prepster]

I have a yawara stick that I sometimes carry, but I don't know how to use a blade very well, nor do I have much of a need for one in my day-to-day activities. But hey, to each their own.

 

[Carl Levitian]

I envy those of you who live in a place of ccw. For most of my life, I lived in Maryland, and a ccw is a no-no, as is large knives.

My edc load is fairly light, and I depend alot on stratigies to keep out of trouble, so I don't have to fight my way out.

But, I do carry a few items of normal stuff that can be used as a weapon if stragigies fail.

Since I have old injuries from active duty military, I always carry a stout blackthorn or hornbeam walking stick. Its always right there in my hand when out on the streets of my native Washinton D.C.

I don't like knives for defense use, so the only knife I will have on me is a small sak.

But, a small screwdriver works very well in the role of a stabbing tool. Its lightweight, sturdy, innocent in appearence, and cheap enough I can ditch it with no second thought. It can even be handy for prying open containers and being used as a screwdriver. It's surprising what can be fixed if you can just get into it and poke around.

I do carry a small pocket size can of pepper spray when out at night or some places downtown. In my car, within reach is a couple of things. A long thin Snap On screwdriver about 8 inches long. It's got some old varnish smeared on it, and its a bit beat up looking. A piece of shovel handle cut down for close range use inside a car.

In a back pocket is a AA mini-mag converted to LED with the Nite-eze drop in unit from Walmart. Its a good light, but I like the all metal construction making it handy for use as a fist load or kuboton. If anyone askes why I have it, hey, it gets dark evey night if you haven't noticed.

I guess I'll just continue with speaking softly and carrying a big stick.

And using the grey thing between my ears. So far, all this has lept me out of trouble for 67 years.