Why so ridiculous on EDC?

[Corpral_Agarn]

Finally, other people may have different situations or threat levels. Im not sure I'd call someone receiving death threats or a woman who has an abusive exboyfriend or exhusband stalking her "paranoid" for carrying a backup gun, knife, or extra ammo.

This is a good point. If I had known enemies (or people who would do me harm), you could bet I would be better armed.

 

[herrwalther]

I carry a lot in my pockets. I know I do. But I also know that I don't carry as much as I did when I lived closer to the city. I rarely carry my multi tool on my belt out of the house anymore. I don't carry a second gun in my pocket or on my ankle anymore. And I went from carrying two spare reloads to one.

I still carry a pocket knife. As far as the "tactical knife" goes, they are more durable and usually higher quality metal than your standard run of the mill pocket knife. I can be pretty tough on knives.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

I've been going through the posts trying to figure out what EDC is. Apparently it's anything from pocket lint to a .44 mag. So what is it?

 

[morcey2]

I've been going through the posts trying to figure out what EDC is. Apparently it's anything from pocket lint to a .44 mag. So what is it?

Every Day Carry

 

[fastbolt]

...
Keep in mind that some of the people who EDC more than you/me may be first responders in their day job or have training to go with it (esp. the trauma kits). Some may live in a more remote area than you do and have to be a little more self-sufficient if injured. Some may live where LE response is 15 or 20 minutes away instead of 3 minutes. Some may have had some life experience in their past in which they really, really wished they had had a big flashlight/trauma kit/knife/spare mag/whatever.
...

Nice observation.

Sometimes it's possible to glance at someone's gear selection, and the manner in which it's carried (and prioritized), and get a little insight into how seriously the individual has actually trained and prepped for being able to effectively use it. Similar to how some folks may treat their handgun more as a talisman, than as an actual weapon with which they've trained and are mentally prepared to use.

In light of this thread topic, and some of the reasonable responses, I took a couple minutes and briefly scrolled through a few pages of that EDC link tipoc posted.

When I was a young man there was a paperback book which was primarily about knives (which have long been an interest of mine). It included some material about things someone could carry on their person to better prepare them to survive some of life's unexpected trials & tribulations. First aid, handyman repairs, surviving an 'unexpected delay' or getting lost while in the backwoods, self-defense, etc.

My dad wandered around a bit in his youth, doing a number of things when he was single and getting by on his own, including being a working cowboy. His adventures motivated him to demonstrate and promote a sense of self-sufficiency and preparedness in me which I thought was commonplace, until I got older and realized it wasn't. Simple things, like having blankets, some tools and a water bag or two in the car or stationwagon before driving into the desert for an afternoon.

I realized as a young family man that my wife was similarly prepared to get through her own little troubles if I wasn't around. She could mend a broken radiator hose, and when she carried a purse back then it wasn't uncommon for a bit of bailing wire, duct tape, pliers, screwdriver and a folding knife to be inside it, especially if she was going to be driving a couple hours away from home. She knew how to handle a sticky choke on her own and start a cold car. (Kids with modern vehicles may not have a proper appreciation of how reliable they can be compared to 50's & 60's vehicles.)

So ...

While I don't try to stuff little ditty bags into cargo pockets, I do have some that reside in one or the other of our vehicles (and in a bike saddle bag), or which can be broken up to fit in luggage (not left in a car in some locations). Sometimes a gadget or bit of that gear might get moved to a pocket for a specific purpose while away from home, too. Just depends.

This thread has been more interesting than I expected. Maybe because it says more about people, than just the gear they carry.

BTW, I agree that it's hard to trust a man who doesn't like knives, and doesn't want to carry some type of practical knife on him (where permitted, of course), and who actually knows how to use it, when appropriate.

Some of the people who carry the 'almost ubiquitous' tactical folders might be better off without them, though. Some folks that carry knives are kind of like accidents waiting to happen.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

Every Day Carry

Sounds like a purse.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

Funny, people talk about carrying a knife. I've been doing that since I was about 10. Plain old 2 1\2'' single blade pocket knife.

Hey, I say, carry whatever floats ur boat.

 

[Captcurt]

Welcome to the world of Make Believe.

That is what I love about the intranet. It is full of wannabe warriors. Most of them would bugout at the drop of a hat. And heaven forbid that they got a hangnail. Then it would be sue city. I know Navy Seals that would go into a hot zone with a knife and a Sig and not think twice about it.

 

[guyfromohio]

I travel for a living, so today I'm in Boston and my EDC is my wallet, a bottle of anti-bac, and this phone. I'm pretty much dead if a zombifying virus breaks out.

 

[230RN]

Every day "tactical:"
Gun.
Key for gun safety lock in case S&W's safety lock screws up.
Another gun.

Every day (non-tactical) use:
Small folder.
Key chain LED flashlight.
Cig lighter.
Chapstick.
Change.
Tissues.
Wallet.
Cane.
Keys.
Toothpick.
Reading glasses.

Two-gun Terry

 

[MIL-DOT]

I agree with the OP (and fully expected him to get a load of ball-busting, point-missing responses over his perfectly valid post), that a great many people DO carry so much un-necessary junk, it falls somehwere between paranoid and just plain stupid.
And no, I don't really "care" what anyone else does, just responding to the thread, and calling 'em like I see 'em.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I can't believe this, guys! People are going on and on and ON about who carries what, right down to friggin' TOOTHPICKS!

And not ONE person has yet to list the single, most important item to carry to protect the most valuable gun they own!

WHERE, pray tell, are the condoms?

 

[tipoc]

WHERE, pray tell, are the condoms?

See post 37.

tipoc

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

See post 37.

tipoc

Well, I'll be darned! Does it count when it's 18 years past the "use by" date?

 

[tipoc]

Does it count if I am too?

tipoc

 

[230RN]

"I can't believe this, guys! People are going on and on and ON about who carries what, right down to friggin' TOOTHPICKS!"

Heh-heh. 'Cause that's the way these "what do you carry?" threads usually go. Figured I'd get the toothpick and chapstick in now and retire from the thread.

 

[scaatylobo]

Typical load,wearing my usual 5:11's or Propper,or LA police pants.

I carried this AND a gun belt when I was an LEO.

This now seems fairly light.

Hunting or hiking it gets heavier when I add a light pack with fixed blades.

 

[Captcurt]

Does it count if I am too?

tipoc

Good one, Tipoc. I think they would have to charge me with assault with a dead weapon.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Does it count if I am too?

tipoc

Depends on the condition of your "gun", I suppose...

 

[ljnowell]

I carry my gun, an extra mag or speedloader(situation depending), keys, phone, and wallet. On some rare occasions I remember to grab my pocket knife, but not often.

 

[Mr.510]

I look at EDC pics and videos once in a while. Like anything else involving 'gear' it can be nice to see what other people have found that works for them and where/how they carry it. I consider 'Every Day Carry' items to be everything carried on your person except your clothes. My EDC items have not changed for many years, they are:

XD45 Compact w/10 round mag
13 round spare mag
Spyderco Civilian folding knife
Gerber money clip folding utility knife
Android cell phone
Wallet (w/condom)
Keys
Black Sharpie felt pen

I've found it's more comfortable to carry a spare mag IWB on my weak side than to not carry one. Balances things out a bit. The Civilian is on my strong side clipped into my front pocket, the Gerber is on my weak side clipped to the very top of my front pocket. I added a left hand opening pin to the Gerber as it's intended defensive use is to cut an attacker off if they go for my gun. The Civilian is pretty much useless for anything but fighting so the Gerber gets used a lot. It takes standard utility knife blades. I carry a Sharpie because having a way to quickly write something down like a license plate is really handy, and it'll write on almost anything.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I don't even carry. Not even a sharp object. Not allowed to where I work, and I keep myself out of those high-risk situations where it would be necessary anyway.

Those people that choose to go Rambo, more power to them. They keep me safe

Must be nice to know beforehand when and where a violent encounter is going to occur. Heck, most violence is random. The town I used to live in experienced its first murder since it's founding a month or so ago. If such extreme violence can happen in small town USA, it can happen anywhere.

Count me in as Rambo, if you must, because I'd rather have it and never need to use it... you know the rest.

And it's folly to assume the other guy who is prepared is going to lift a finger to save anyone else.

 

[230RN]

Mmmm. Avoiding high-risk situations....

Like parking lots?
Like at the gas pump?
Like ATMs?
Like Canton, OH?
Like liquor stores?
Like automated car washes?
Like banks?

Yeah, I know. I said I was going to retire from the thread after I mentioned carrying a toothpick and a chapstick.

So I lied. So sue me.

Two-Gun Terry

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

"High risk" is a relative term, anyway.

 

[ku4hx]

The term "mall Ninja" comes to mind.