Don’t use one for the reason you quoted. Not being able to re-holster with one hand is not (imo) tactically sound. Once a situation has been stabilized, you need a way to secure your weapon without having to add moves.
Got one last week, still trying to get used to it. Like you, I believe its going to be a keeper.
*Thought for the day:
“Let us form one body, one heart, and defend to the last warrior our country, our homes, our liberty, and the graves of our fathers.”
Tecumseh, Shawnee Warrior and Chief
Training: sandbag carries , ax work in the morning. Afternoon was magazine manipulations.
Question of the day:
Anyone else out there an amateur knapper?
The extent of my knapping skills is cleaning up the edge of the flints I use for my long rifle. I have a 5 gallon bucket that’s about half full of english flint nodules that I’ll do something with one day.
Long story short my wife and I were staying with friends in Southeastern England 3 years ago, and I collected quite a few nodules on our walks as the ground is littered with it, and it’s as common as quartz is in VA. My hosts were amused, my wife was annoyed. I had to ditch quite a bit of it at Heathrow so our bags wouldn’t be overweight.
Another thing they had in abundance that I wish I could have harvested was blackthorn. I was everywhere in the hedgerows, and easy to identify as it was in bloom. If I’d had a good way to transport it, I’d have cut a half dozen staves to let season and turn into canes and walking sticks later.
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They do look well made. I have never been able to get past the psychological discomfort of appendix carry and having my gun pointed at my cock and jollies regardless of the actual low risk. Plus, being short, it’s never been comfortable.
I can understand that. With practice, I can reattach it and have it in my waistband in about 5 seconds so it’s not as bad as it sounds especially for everyday civilian carry. If I was still in LE I wouldn’t have used it while working. I use my Blackpoint Kydex holster in certain situations such as when I’m working church security.
Tried it a bit and beat my fingers to a pulp.
Actually wasn’t bad though. I did manage to make a couple of sharp sturdy pieces, probably could have cleaned a fish with.
Knapping?
I always thought they were saying “mapping.”
Thought for the day:
Force has no place where there is need of skill.
*Herodotus
Leaving today and will have limited access to open net. Be safe, be aware, watch your 6, keep training.
Also, be careful driving, it seems that everyone who is out now has forgotten how to drive, speed limits, red lights, and stop signs are just suggestions now. Until later.
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This took skill…
Safe travels, Idaho,
Thought for the day: Memorial Day: Respect and honor to those before us.
You will never do anything in this world without courage: Aristotle
“When you go home, tell them of us and say,
For your tomorrows these gave their today.” John Maxwell Edmonds
Some History:
Shortly after the Civil War, Memorial Day began as Decoration Day. The reason for that is because it was a day on which Americans, North and South, would decorate the graves of soldiers who died in the Civil War.
Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, who lead a group for Northen Civil War veterans, declared in 1868 that Decoration Day would be observed on May 30. The date was chosen only for the reason that it didn’t coincide with any battles fought. It was a day for the North and South to honor their fallen and decorate their graves. After World War I the holiday was broadened to include service members who died in all of the country’s wars, not just the Civil War.
Multiple cities claim to be the birthplace of this holiday, but President Lyndon Johnson formally gave the honor to Waterloo, N.Y., in 1966. Up until 1971, Memorial Day was observed on May 30, the date Logan had selected for the first Decoration Day. In 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. The same law also declared Memorial Day as a federal holiday. It did not go into effect until 1971.
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Memorial Day always makes me count my blessings for being alive. My father’s enlistment ended in '67, meaning he never became one of the 58,000 dead US soldiers in that conflict, eventually going on to meet my mother and have me and my siblings.
My grandfather was a Polish immigrant who survived the Battle of Luzon. Instead of becoming one of the 8,000 US soldiers to die for that patch of land, he returned home to my grandmother and started having kids right away after the war. Five of them, to be exact.
*Thought for the day:
The basis of a good defensive mindset is recognizing and accurately assessing the threat. We do this so we don’t get into the wrong fight, even if it seems like it’s for the right reasons
Training:
Did the Murph yesterday in honor of Memorial Day.
Question of the day:
Do you plan on camping, hiking or backpacking this summer? If so, are you prepared to protect yourself or your family from ticks, mosquitoes, flies and the occasion bee sting? IMO, use a good tick and mosquito repellent anytime you are outdoors, including mowing the lawn. Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted fever are no joke and can be potentially fatal. Mosquitoes carry a lot of different pathogens, depending on what country you are in, hell, it would not surprise me if they carry COVID. Black flies and “no-seeums” will make your life a living hell, especially north of the border during spring bear season or fishing in the eastern Providences of Canada.
Some other thoughts:
Always carry a med kit and EpiPen , I was in training one time when an individual was strung by a hornet on the side of his neck, he went into anaphylactic shock within a couple of minutes.
Always carry some type of water purifier, never drink from creeks, stream, rivers or lakes, no matter how clean it looks. Gardia is not something you want to deal with.
Unless you are an expert, and I mean, a true expert, never eat any mushrooms you find in the woods, I don’t care how pretty they are, or you saw some squirrel, chipmunk, or deer eat one , leave them alone. Good way to find yourself in the emergency room.
Have a good general knowledge of poison plants in your area, this will vary due to various regions.
Some more plant facts:
**Castor Bean**
One of the biggest plants to avoid due to the fact that it is often mistaken for food because of the beans is the castor bean plant. This plant has a broad woody base with star-shaped leaves, white flowers, and fruit or beans that grow in a cluster at the top of the plant. This plant can be mistaken for a food source. The entirety of the plant from the leaves and flowers to the beans are poisonous to a fatal extent.
**Chinaberry**
Not all plants to avoid are small shrubs or vines. The Chinaberry is a tree that can grow up to 45 feet in height and looks pretty enough to be non-dangerous. With toothed leaves and flowers that are usually light purple with a dark center, the tree presents marble-sized fruits that are light orange to a white yellow. The reason this tree is dangerous is because the leaves act as a natural insect repellent by way of toxins. Ingesting any part of this tree from the leaves to the fruit or flowers can be deadly for humans.
**Death Lamas**
Also called the Death Lily, this plant comes from a bulb and has grass-like stems. This plant is often mistaken for an onion related plant due to the appearance and the bulbs. However, this plant is poisonous including the bulbs, flowers, and the stems. This plant will look similar to an onion plant but will lack the onion smell as a giveaway.
**Pangi**
Another tree making the list of our plants to avoid, the pangi is especially deceiving because of the fruit it offers. It has large, brown fruits in the same shape of pears growing in a cluster among the heart-shaped leaves and green flowers. The fruit is incredibly toxic to humans and will cause death.
**Oleander**
This shrub displays straight, dark green leaves with flowers that can be a range of colors such as white, yellow, red, pink, or mixed colors. Its fruit is a pod-shaped structure that is usually brown with many small seeds housed inside the pod. This is one of the most toxic plants to humans. In fact, even just cooking with the wood of this shrub can be a fatal dose of its toxicity.
**Poison Hemlock**
Presenting a smooth stem that is usually hollow with a purple or red stripe, this herb has small white flowers that grow in small groups. It has a taproot that is solid. The plant is often confused for wild carrots because of the taproot, but even a small dose of this plant is enough to kill you. The best way to tell this plant apart from wild carrots is to look for the hairy leaves and stem found on wild carrots. The carrot plant will also smell like carrots whereas hemlock will not have that scent.
**Poison Ivy**
While this plant is less fatal and more of a nuisance for most people, it is still worth mentioning so you will be able to identify it. Poison ivy causes contact dermatitis which can lead to itchy, red bumps, and in more severe cases, can even lead to difficulty breathing for those with a severe reaction to the plant. To identify this plant, look for leaves in groups of three leaves growing on a green to greenish brown vine. The flowers are greenish white and have green berries that are either a waxy white, yellow, or gray, depending on where they are in their growth process.
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And there are a couple, particularly the
Destroying Angel which can kill a person/people.
The ease and consequences of a misidentification can’t be overstated. The ones pictured above often have a very mild lilac/floral scent common to many edibles.
I just saw this video clip from up here in Canada:
It was more like a male lion fight, a lot of bluster and nobody likely got hit that hard.
Local police located everyone involved and since it was a consensual fight no charges were laid. disruption of traffic? Maybe a few tickets?
I just thought to post.
Or, it’s Canada.
Thought for the day:
“What has mood to do with it? You fight when the necessity arises—no matter the mood! Mood’s a thing for cattle or making love or playing the baliset. It’s not for fighting.”
Last week, while preparing for a day on the range and shoot house, I had an individual actually walk up and tell me, that " not in the mood today for this shit". Well, I know from the records this individual hasn’t completed any training since the last week in February, but, he is not in the mood. All I said was " I hope you are in the mood when the enemy is trying to kill you"
Violence doesn’t care if you are in the “mood”, you enemy could give a fuck less about your mood. If you have to be in “moods” to do something necessary, then you have a serious discipline problem. enough said.
Training: My area is still on lock down for gyms. So, back to the park for sandbag carries and kettle bell grenades.
*Question of the day:
Are you familiar with the life works of Roy Chapman Andrews?
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Thought for the day:
VULNERABILITY IN TRANSITION: Not the transition from your rifle to your pistol. This transition is the time when moving from one relatively secure location to another. Home to car, car to work, gym to car, etc. Criminals feed on individuals in these moments when they lack situational awareness. Raise your level of situational awareness so you can respond to potential threats. Keep your head on a swivel, get off your phone, check your 5s /25s and move with a purpose
Training : heavy bag, speed bag and band work.
Question of the day:
Yesterday a co-workers wife was car jacked at gun point , when she found herself in a riot situation. Are you aware of the possibility of being car jacked every time you drive?
Some more information:
Keeping a Full Tank
This is the most important tip we’ve got since a full tank will keep you on the move, which is what we want. Carjackers seize the opportunity in areas where you’re alone, like rest stops and gas stations. With a full tank of gas and a solid plan to get to your destination, you’ll be much better off. If you do need to stop, however, hold out for large populated gas station like XXXX. This is especially ideal when you believe someone might be tailing you. Park near the entrance of an open business to see if they move on; if they don’t, call the police.
Stay Aware
In a time where many of us use our spare minutes peering into our phones, carjackers see this as a window of time to pull off their heist. Situational awareness, in and out of the car, will keep you informed on everything going on around your car. When entering or exiting your vehicle, walk with purpose. If you’re headed off to the gym or the store later in the evenings, park in a well-lit area near the entrance away from wooded places and dumpsters. This awareness also involves you mindfully storing your possessions. If you plan to keep anything of value in the car, hide it out of sight beneath a seat or tucked inside the middle console. Carjackers could easily bust out your windows if they believe you’ve got something worth money in your vehicle.
Mindful Interaction
Carjackers prey upon the kindhearted by pretending to need assistance. They’ll flash their hazards, seat themselves on the roadside, and pull off a great ploy. This has gotten countless good Samaritans abducted, injured, and killed. While it may feel strange to avoid helping a young man or woman who appears to be broken down, it’s far better to note the location and call the police. By doing this, you’re helping them much more if they truly need a lift. Carjackers will also attempt to bump your car in hopes you pull off to the side of the road to see the damage. If something doesn’t feel right, do not exit your vehicle and try to quickly note the make and model of the car that bumped you. This way, you can explain what happened to the police and offer information for them to look out for.
Know When to Back Down
If you’re being carjacked and the assailant has a weapon, back down. You may want to fight back and teach this person a lesson they’ll never forget, but that will put you in immediate danger. The pride may hurt to swallow, but you more than likely have a lot more at stake than your vehicle. Give up your keys and, in the mix of it all, try to catalog the person’s appearance. Any distinct features will help guide the police to the carjacker, and hopefully, your car.
Idaho,
Any thoughts on avoiding riots, and getting out if you should happen to find yourself in one? Might be particularly timely right now for those of us who live in big metro areas. Obviously we should all be watching the news and see what’s going on before we go out, but sometimes things change very fast. If careful planning doesn’t work, obviously you need a Plan B to get to safety.
Thanks
The best advise, I can give is don’t be there in the first place, however, that doesn’t help much.
I have been on both sides of the fence, when it comes to riots and they are about as controllable as a tornado that just touched down. If you have to venture into a possible hot spot , especially in a vehicle do some background work.
GPS will usually take you the fastest route , but, doesn’t care there is a riot taking place, so, have good street map and mark alternate routes, look for any secure structures along the way (city, federal buildings, stadiums ) stadiums are hard to burn and usually don’t contain anything of value. We had to evacuate a principle to a soccer stadium after being cut off by a demonstration in Paris. My experience has shown that most rioters will stay to the main arteries because there will be more police and media presence, so, know where the nearest city parks are, may provide a place to hide out until it has burnt itself out. Large city parking decks are excellent, because, they are not going to burn well and offer overhead protection from thrown objects or snipers.
Have at least two forms of communication. Cell service seems always to be overwhelmed during this time. Carry your regular phone and a cheap burner. Burners may often operate off a minor satellite, not used by the big carriers.
If possible, have backup, with a prearranged pick up point. Pick a neighborhood street in the area of the city that is off the main grid and (hopefully) if you have to abandon your vehicle, your back up will know where to pick you up. Discuss call in times with your back up and if you miss a time, this should be used as an indicator you are in trouble and the back up heads to your location.
If case you are trapped in one of the above locations, have enough water with you and a few protein bars to hold out for at 12 hours.
If you carry concealed, unless you are in extreme jeopardy, keep it concealed, this is no time for open carry. Any weapon seen by someone in civilian clothes will be taken as an immediate threat by LEO’s. Remember, they will be wearing gas masks and face shields and their vision will be extremely limited. I know.
Carry a basic first aid kit in your go bag. Getting hit with bricks and bottles is not fun and the infection rate is much higher from cuts, have an antiseptic with you. About 20 of us got minor scrapes and scratches once and it was a long line in emergency for tetanus shots.
Hope this helps, unless it is truly an emergency, please stay home. The virus hasn’t went away and a lot of people are going to become infected.
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