Gear Bags Part II, The FAK (First Aid Kit)

First of all, do you have a FAK in your car?  Do you have one at home?  Do you have one with you when you’re out and about?  FAK’s are one of those critical pieces of gear that should be around us whenever we need it.  From the simple Band-Aid to ease a young child’s mind (More so than to protect the minor scratch usually) to the pressure dressing for a major laceration, or eyewash to clean the eyes of chemicals, a FAK really is a piece of GO TO gear.   As with any gear or bag system, there are dozens, hundreds or even thousands of options available.  No one “Bag” or “Case” works for everyone in all situations.   And the contents of your FAK’s will be just as personally different as your situations and locations.

I’m not going to discuss much on the contents outside of a few items that I like to keep in our kits.  Everyone should decide for themselves what items they need.   There are plenty of resources available online to give you good ideas for what contents you may want in your own kits.  One of my personal favorites is a forum I’m lucky enough to be a moderator on.  www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/forum.  There are some wonderful threads with list of kit for different situations.  Give them a look, you won’t be disappointed with the amazing level of information on the forum.    But back to FAK’s,  you could have a giant kit with everything under the sun, but it’s going to be heavy and “Left at home” or “Left in the car” when you need it the most.  Personally, I work from a system of kits and I’ll display them below.  I am really just hoping to give some ideas that might make it easier or more functional to keep “Right Sized” kits available when you need them.

My personal preference as you’ll see by the pictures are soft side tackle boxes.  They have a few advantages to the standard soft pouch kits.   They do tend to be slightly larger than a pouch to contain the same equipment so if weight/size is a major issue (Normally just on the personal FAK’s) then pouches tend to work better.    (See my personal kit below).

I call my FAK kit’s an FAK System.  Because they are not necessarily individual items and sometimes they are interchangeable and overlap.    It’s broken down into 4 major components.

1. Personal Kits (Carried by each individual when out and about).
2. Vehicle kits (Carried in each vehicle)
3. Basecamp or “Home” kit.  (Readily accessible mobile kit at home).
4. Stock yard.  (In my case a filing cabinet with the extra items)

I’ll start at the Stock Yard and work back.   The stock yard is where I keep the bulk of replacement items, stuff to refill the other kits with.  This can also be considered a Non-Mobile home kit.   This can suffice as a home kit, but as you see the format of my system, I think you’ll appreciate the need for both base and mobile home kits.

Base Camp Kit ready to go

The second kit is the Base-camp or Mobile Home kit.  This is a medium to large sized soft side tackle box.  The reason I have this as a mobile kit is for stuff that happens close to home or even inside the home.  Rather than keep running back and forth to the cabinet to get first aid stuff during an emergency, I can grab the kit and bring it to the area of my home, or outside in the yard or nearby.  We live in a small community and know all of our neighbors and our vantage point on the upper edge of a hill gives us a great view of our surrounding neighborhood and all the kids that run around (And wreck their bikes on the street) or the neighbor down the way who is always working on his cars out front etc.  So having the kit be mobile just makes sense.   Now I use the soft side tackle boxes for this type of kit for a couple of reasons.  (You can get this guy on Amazon).

Base Camp Kit Contents

1. Portability:  They are lighter than hard cases and easier to carry with a shoulder strap or handle.  You aren’t going to need first aid yourself from running down the street carrying one like you would with a hard case (I know this from experience, put a nice cut in my hand carrying an old hard case tackle box first aid kit running to my neighbor’s yard when he cut his leg). Just easier to carry.
2. Both soft storage and hard storage:  The plastic inserts meant to hold lures are perfect for separating and organizing smaller first aid supplies and also protecting them.  One of the problems we run into with soft pouch style FAK’s is the crushing that happens to some of the kit inside, (Break open a tube of first aid cream and watch it soak into all your gauze and band aids for example).  The tubes and single use antiseptic wipes and other items are protected inside the plastic cases.   Other items like tape, bindings, rubber gloves etc can be stored in the soft pouches on the bag.
3. Lots of size options.  You can find a bag that is JUST the right size for the kit you want in whatever location you need the kit.

The 3^rd kit is the Car kit or transfer kit.  This is a kit that primarily stays in the vehicle, but also comes out and goes to the campsite or the soccer game or anyplace else you want the supplies available, but don’t want to drag the bigger kit around.  We also keep 1 weeks’ worth of any maintenance medications and some extras like several pain killer/fever reducers in this kit.  When we go on vacation or have a surprise overnight at a relative’s house or in case we get stranded somewhere.  We always have what we need without having to go back home and

Car Kit

pack medications.   I’m also a big fan of keeping a separate trauma kit in the vehicle (I do not have one currently) for helping out in case of accidents that are normally above and beyond the items in most FAk’s.   I also keep a towel and some heavy duty maxi pads (Great for pressure dressings) and some scarfs (For bindings) in a separate emergency kit in the vehicle along with a radio, some tools and other useful items.  Just good stuff to have in case it’s needed.  Here is a similar model to this Walmart special that I use.

Personal field Kit

Car Kit with Contents

The last kit I will discuss is the personal kit.  This one is going to be one of the most varied items between individuals.  In fact I have 2 different personal kits that I use depending on where I am and what I’m doing.  The first is my “Field” kit.  This is the kit that I have attached to my shoulder strap knife harness and it goes over my shoulder whenever I’m in the field.  This guy looks promising as well.

Day to day FAK

This kit is small and I hardly even notice it, (About double the size of the old Pressure dressing kits we used to use in the army).    I don’t normally throw this over my shoulder when I’m going to work or traveling or any other time I’m not headed out into the field.    My other personal kit is a little different.  I am an IT Manager for an electric cooperative.  I carry a small tablet computer everywhere I go for remote access.  (Yes, you can call it a murse, don’t bother me at all LOL).   This bag has some pockets that I include many first aid items in.  That way I always have some basic first aid kit with me pretty much anywhere I go.   We also have first aid kits at work, but again they are not portable (Wall mount units) so running back and forth to them to grab gear could be a pain.

I hope this post was interesting and maybe you could pick up some ideas that might help you keep the gear you need accessible.

Stay safe my friends.

Doc

Opinion on Gun Control (Re-blogged).

I read an amazing article this morning.   Anyone who knows me knows I am a staunch supporter of our basic human rights, such as the right to life (Meaning self defense).  I also support the Constitution as it is the basic document that helps to guide us in protecting those rights, (I also swore an oath to protect it and will never waiver in that oath).

I read this article this morning and I have not yet heard all this information put into a single place so well and eloquently done before.  If you are a supporter of the 2nd amendment and self defense, this article will help you when your arguing with those who do not.  If you are not a supporter this article will change your mind.  (If it doesn’t there is no help for you).

http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/2012/12/20/an-opinion-on-gun-control/

Gear bags and kits part 1

Hey folks, one of the things that seems to bounce me around the gear shops and drives me absolutely insane are bags.   I have discovered something in my 42 years.  There is NO perfect bag.  They may be a great bag for one use, or another, but there is no bag that wins.   I have dozens of little bags I pick up from goodwill for a buck or garage sales, I have backpacks, messenger bags, laptop bags, pouches, satchels, duffels and a dozen hard cases.    I have more bags than I need.  (Don’t laugh).

Now don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of bags out there for a lot of uses and some work better than others for some uses and some will surprise you.   I know I drool over the latest Maxpedition packs and cases, and if I had the money, darn tootin I’d be rollin in tactical style with some amazing gear bags. (I’m still coveting the Maxpedition Falcon II)  However, as great as those bags are, most of us don’t need anything that expensive or rugged.   If you’re going to be operating in the field for 8 months, or working some rugged terrain then yes, by all means get something that will take the stress of heavy use and survive.

But we here at Average Guy Gear Review are all about the average guy or gal.  Go figure .   Most of us just need a pack or bag that will survive a 3 day bug out to the in-laws place during a flood scare or a couple of duffels to live out of for 2 weeks during an ice storm power outage etc.  We just need a pack to throw some get home gear into the back of the grocery getter that won’t be touched but once a quarter.   We don’t need the same gear an operator does in the military.  If you can afford it, sure go for it, doesn’t hurt to have the best, but I prefer to be a little more “Grey man” in my day to day operations.  So I tend to stay away from the OD (Olive Drab) and lean more toward what I call CSD (College Student Drab).  I don’t like flash so I am not looking for the sparkly, shiny, colorful bags, but just every day, black/gray type bags.   They can be had for little investment and generally they get the job done.

Don’t get hung up on the latest trend or the “Tactical” stuff.   I was a communication specialist in the Army, worked on a radio/satellite uplink site in Germany during the first gulf war.  I really enjoy the cool tough military style gear, and it took me about 20 years to deprogram and determine that I didn’t need that level of gear.   Everyone’s needs are different of course, so take this all with a grain of salt.  Don’t leave out the wonderful gear options available at your local goodwill or Salvation Army.  It may not be Maxpedition, or Blackhawk or 5.11, but it may just be the gear you didn’t know you were looking for.  Plus you can spend that money you saved on a new Red Dot, or that CCW pistol you’ve been thinking about.

Now there is one caveat to all this.  Some of the better gear is designed better for daily or long term carry, distributes weight better and is more ergonomic.  IF you are going to be spending that much time hauling gear on your body, then by all means, do some research and find the gear that will adequately serve your needs.

Till next time, stay safe out there my friends.

Time is short, make of it what you can

Wow, time flies when your a father of 3 boys and busy with them in scouts and sports, I tell ya.  I know it’s been a while since my last post, but I’m going to make up for it soon.   I’ve been testing some batteries and will also have some new toys soon to do some reviews on. In the meantime, I hope everyone’s summer has been as great as mine.  There is nothing in the world better than spending time with my family, particularly in the great outdoors.

 

 

New uses for old things…

I am a big believer in reusing old stuff for other purposes.  Not only does it save the expense of purchasing or buying something new to handle a particular task, but it reduces the resources needed by a tiny percentage.  I owe my grandfather (the man I’m named after) for this one.   Grandpa Don was a great guy, knew some really amazing stuff, was one of the greatest mechanics you’d hope to know.  He was a very smart man, had a mind for logic and seeing things nobody else could see.   Unfortunately he was taken by alcoholism, before we boys were old enough to really know what we would be missing without him.   When he wasn’t drinking he could teach you so much, and he never got emotional, he could be kind or hard as the time needed, but he never yelled to get his point across, he just seemed to know how to pass the wisdom on when the learner was ready to accept it.  I miss him greatly and wish that I would have been smart enough to learn more from him as a young man before he passed.    Below is my modern update of a little trick he taught us boys.  I hope you like it and get some usefulness out of it.

Everyone has shelves, and I bet most of those shelves even when full, have some gaps.  My grandfather would screw the lid to an old mason jar to the bottom of the shelf, and then put screws, or washers or whatever bit’s and pieces into a jar and screw it onto the lid.  Then he had a long line, out of the way, of well organized bits and pieces.  I always loved this idea, and I did use glass jars on a shelf in my backroom for a while until I broke one.  I realized as great as the idea was, glass just wasn’t the ideal material to use for this application.   Well, at work I get blank CD’s and DVD’s by the 25 and 50 pack.  They come on these spindals.  Well, I decided about 8 years ago to re-purpose them for this kind of storage.  I have a workbench that has ovhanging cabinets.  There are some gaps where nothing sits.    So since I had a couple of these spindals, I put them to use.  I now have a dozen spindals waiting for the time I have a large enough work room/garage at home to put up shelving.  Until then, these two work great.

Group of various sized Spindles

First off, you need to cut the pillar out of the middle of the spindle.

There are two types of spindals,  The screw on type, and the lipped type.  The lipped type have 3 or 4 lips that turn into the base,  the screw on type are just like the old mason jars.   I prefer the lips as they tend to be more sturdy, however, I have yet to break one so I might be a little biased.

Tabbed Spindle

Then using large head screws or screws through washer, you screw the base to the bottom of the cabinet or shelf.

Remove the Center Post

Then you fill the basin with whatever bits and pieces you wish.  (I have rack screws and parts in one, and PC screws and parts in the other)

Sorters hung under the cabinet.

This is a VERY simple project, and you can get these spindals all over the place, (I found 4 or 5 at the local goodwill).  Garage sales, or just ask someone who works in IT, or a friend who burns lots of CD’s.    You can also use just about any other type of container with a screw on lid.

Springfield XD9 Subcompact Full Review

OK, I’ve had this baby at the range and am pretty darn happy with it.  I’m going to give it a thorough rundown.   First of all let’s talk about price.  You can get this guy from $300 to $500 (Don’t pay more than $500 for it; you can get it just about anywhere for less than $500).   It comes in two kits, The standard kit (Reviewed below) and the “Essentials” kit which drops the Holster, the reloading tool and the magazine belt pouch.  (See further down on the review for those components).  I’d recommend getting the essentials kit at a much lower price and getting your own personal preference in magazine and holsters.

Full Kit, 13 and 16 round mags, reloading tool, dual belt pouch, holster, gun lock and bore brush.

Let’s start with the magazines, this kit came with one 13 round mag (Flush) and one 16 round with grip extension.  I have large hands and the 13 round mag turns this into a 2 finger gun for me.  My wife has small hands and all 3 of her grip fingers are on the grip with the 13 round mag.  So I did pick up a Pierce Magazine extension.  This adds the length to the forward part of the grip to equal a full size mag, but still tapers back down to reduce the butt signature of the weapon to a point about ½ way between flush and full mag extensions.   This is a great compromise for me, still keeps the weapon small enough to carry easily while providing a full size grip for control.   Pierce grips are about $10 on Amazon.  See the two pics below for the visual difference with and without the pierce grip extension.  The magazines are stainless and slide like butter into the mag well of the XD.  Also the mag well is beveled very nicely and makes magazine swaps very quick and easy.  I did notice that the mag with the pierce grip extension was a bit harder to seat at first, but after a couple dozen mag exchanges it’s straightened out and works as well as the others.

Without Grip Extension

The extras that come with the full kit are ok, but not top line.  The mag holder is ok, good retention control, and would be ok for IDPA competition but it’s a bit bulky for Concealed carry.  I prefer IWB (Inside the waistband) carry myself so this may just be my bias.    The holster has a tension adjustment, but being plastic, it feels a bit “Soft”.  I just didn’t like the feel of holster.   Both the holster and the mag pouch have rails to hold the reloading tool.  This was an interesting  idea for a range tool, but it didn’t really add anything to convenience for paper punching at the range.  Maybe a competition range where you would have to load mags would make good use of it.  But just didn’t get used that way.  The Reloading tool is great and a must have with the VERY strong magazine springs.  However after loading about 400 rounds, I noticed that the bottom edge of the rail protruded a tad bit past the curve and the top of your thumb would hit it on each “Lift” of the tool.   This was quickly remedied with a file in about 10 seconds.  All in all, I’d recommend getting the cheaper “Essentials” kit, and put the extra money toward your own choice of holster and mag pouches.  Money better spent on custom gear.

With Grip Extension

On to the gun.  Where do I start?  This is an excellent piece of hardware.  One of the things I’ve been struggling with is a manual safety.  I’ve always liked the idea of a manual safety, just adds that extra little bit of “Oops” protection.  But once you study enough shootings, you realize that even the best trained may miss a safety on draw so us “Average guys” may have the same issues.   I like Glocks, they are good guns, but the trigger safety as an only safety device made me wonder.  Anything that pulls the trigger will set the gun off, a stick shoved into the holster walking in the woods, a slight catch of the holster as you re-holster the weapon and BANG, it can go off.   So I was going back and forth in the debate for a manual safety.  The XD solved this dilemma for me by adding the grip safety as well as the trigger safety.  There is no manual safety on this model, but it has both a trigger safety and a grip safety.  The gun should not fire if both are not pressed.  (Note, the XD cannot be charged if the grip safety is not depressed).   This little added bit of safety has no impact

Deeply Beveled Mag Well

on drawing and firing the weapon.  But when holstering or handling the weapon, this added bit of safety could help prevent an AD (Accidental Discharge).  Everyone says keep your booger hook off the trigger and you won’t have a problem, which “Technically” is true.  But we are all human beings and even the most highly trained can have momentary lapse.  And a fraction of a second or distraction as we re-holster can happen.  So this extra bit of safety is just what I was looking for.  So I don’t have to worry about a safety, but feel much more secure in the weapons safe storage and handling.  Best of both worlds!

The next feature I’d like to talk about is the loaded chamber indicator.  Some people like them some don’t give a damn.  I’ve never been a fan of “press checking” a weapon.  It can increase the possibility of leaving the receiver unseated.  As well as take the users focus away from danger and looking down at the gun.  For this reason, I’m not a big fan of “Visual” indicators because again, they distract from the situation to check.  The XD has a little lever that racks up and is easily felt with both bare skin and through gloves (I was shooting with neoprene gloves when I checked).  Just slide a finger down the chamber and you’ll know immediately if there is a round chambered.

Loaded Chamber Indicator Down (empty chamber)

Same thing goes for the striker.  The XD striker actually sticks out the back of the slide when the weapon is charged.  This is also easily felt with a gloved or ungloved hand.  With the right holster, you can slide your thumb and index finger down the gun and immediately know if it’s loaded and armed.   No need for press checks.

The sights are good.  They are pretty standard sights.  Easily visible in daylight, the point of impact out of the box was dead on center just above the sight radius.  Can’t ask for better out of the box accuracy.  I am going to get night sights though,  The sights all but disappear in the dark.  One upgrade recommended by my friend the shooter (Thanks Goatdog) that I will be implementing.   This gun easily shot as well as I could shoot it (And will only get better as I get used to it).  Anyone says a 3 inch barrel isn’t enough for 25 yard accuracy will be pleasantly surprised by this gun.

I set up 2 targets.  One at 10 yards, and the other at 25 yards.  (Rough estimates based on pace).  I didn’t include the 3 steps from the bench to the edge of the shooting pavilion so these were about 9 feet longer than I was intending.

Loaded Chamber Indicator Down (loaded chamber)

This gun points as naturally and ergonomically perfect as the M&P or 1911’s.  The grip is rounded better than the earlier Glocks (I haven’t had much time on the Gen 3 or later guns).  The scallop for the thumb groove is done so well that regardless of your hand size, your thumb just rolls into it for a perfectly natural grip.  Trigger pull is a solid but slightly less than a full double action.  No grit or drag, clean but it could be a tad crisper.  If it was a competition gun, I’d get some work done to it, but for a carry gun, it’s absolutely fine out of the box.

Unprimed

The XD isn’t going to win any beauty contests (Check out the Kimber Solo for pretty little carry guns), but it is about as perfect ergonomically as it can get.  Function over form will always be my motto.

The first 5 shots at 10 yards, new gun, not used to the sights yet, still working figuring out the best grip.  This gun is every bit as accurate as I can be.

The next target was at 25 yards.  You’ll see the spreads are little higher, but still easily on target.  (The upper right and lower left quads are my 12 year old sons, one of the center shots hits was his but I don’t know which one).  The Upper left, lower right and center are mine.  Shooting 5 and 10 round groups.  I am more than happy with this gun.  (By the way, it was 18 degrees out with a wind-chill of 22, putting us below zero.  This always makes shooting and reloading more difficult so I’m expecting to see better groups as it gets warmer).

Primed and Ready to fire

Since I don’t generally carry a spare mag unless I’m heading somewhere I don’t want to be, I like having a double stack with some extra rounds.  The short stack is 13 + 1 in the chamber.  And if I do carry a spare mag, it adds 16 more shots.  The double stack does make the grip wider than some of the other slim carry guns, but the extra  1/5 inch or so doesn’t detract from the ease of carry of this gun, but the extra rounds could be worth their weight in gold.

Broken Down

Breakdown is simple and easy.  Lock the slide back, turn the take-down lever up, release the slide back to battery, pull the trigger and pull the slide off.  SIMPLE.

Reliability of the XD’s is right up there with the Glock and M&P.  This turned out to be the perfect carry gun for me.  Your mileage might vary but all in all, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in this weapon.

First 5 Rounds, 10 yards

Remaining Rounds 25 yards

New Guns !!! Springfield XD9 Sub Compact

WARNING!!!  This is not an in depth review, this is an “I just got a new toy” review.  I’ll cover it in more technical detail after I’ve spent some range time with it.

Although I am a shooter and enjoy shooting and can hold my own, I do not consider myself an expert. I’m an average guy who knows his way around firearms. I went through a large and quite lengthy list of firearms to replace my ageing (And quite large) full sized duty pistol (Ruger P85 Mark II) that’s been my constant companion for the last 2 ½ years. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE that Ruger, it’s a part of me. But it is a lot of gun to carry and conceal. My wife recently got on board with self-defense and after the training courses and plenty of range time; we went out and found her a gun. (Unfortunately we don’t have any rental ranges near us so we can’t shoot many guns unless we do the old “Buy and Try” method). She held dozens of guns and turned her nose up at every one of them. None felt “Right” in her hand, until she picked up a Springfield XD Sub Compact. She immediately liked the weight, the feel and the ergonomics. She even went “Wow, I like this”. We bought this gun for her.

I have a friend who is what I consider the foremost expert I know on weapons. It’s what he does for a living. I respect his opinion on firearms more than anyone else I know personally. He helped me answer some questions and talked me through some parts of the selection process. I owe that man a lot of beer by now.

Now the XD was on my long list, but it wasn’t on my short list (Glock, M&P, and a couple of carry 45’s). But after purchasing this weapon for my wife and having it at the range, I was quite smitten myself. I decided after that first range trip that I was also going to get an XD, but I was considering the 4 inch or even the 5.25 inch Competition version. (Still about the same size but lighter than my Ruger). Since I’d carried a full size duty pistol for so long, the larger gun would not be a problem.

The night before I ordered my XD, I had decided on the 4 inch duty version, but kept thinking about my wife’s sub compact and how well it shot, how accurate it was and how nice the small size for carry would be. I was actually driving to the gun shop, ready to order the 4” when I changed my mind. This was going to be a carry gun first and foremost; I may shoot some competition eventually, but decided that I still wanted the smaller carry size. But that is what really made the XD my choice for carry gun. The subcompact comes with a 13 round standard magazine (Making this a 2 finger gun for me but a 3 finger gun for my wife) as well as a 16 round magazine with a grip extension. This gives the gun a full size grip for range or fun shooting. BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. For a 3” barrel, it’s plenty accurate. At 20 feet my wife’s first 3 shots out of it were touching, 3 inch down and 3 inch left of center. (She always seems to out shoot me the first time she shoots something; I wouldn’t mess with that woman if I knew what was best for me).

I was really impressed with the grip extension. There was no play in it (I’ve seen similar extensions and heard the stories about pinching). This is a great gun to shoot, even with the standard magazine. As a two finger gun, it’s eminently more controllable than the other 2 finger guns I’ve used. With the 16 round mag, it feels and shoots like a full sized gun. Simple to keep rounds on target. My wife even says it doesn’t “Kick” as much as my Ruger.

The dual spring does make charging the weapon a little stiffer. It would be difficult to do a one handed charge on my pants pocket like I do with the Ruger, but this is a brand new gun with only 60 rounds through it, so it’s still going through the break in period. Sites are good, but I want to drop some night sights on it. It comes with a decent kit, Reloading tool, Dual magazine pouch, OWB holster, 13 round and 16 round magazines. Both the holster and the dual mag pouch have a rail on them that holds the reloading tool. This is GREAT for range shooting.

One of the features I really liked was the grip safety. This moves the firing pin block off the trigger and onto the grip safety, which cleans the trigger up over some of the other trigger safety pistols out there. The trigger is a medium double action style pull, not as long as some full DA only triggers, but breaks clean and is not distracting in any way. Trigger reset is good and follow up shots are easy and accurate.
My only complaint (And this may have been made worse by the sub freezing weather we were shooting in) but the mag springs are STRONG. The reloading tool is a MUST. I’ve shot a lot of guns over the years and I’ve hand loaded countless magazines and have never seen a spring this strong. This is probably a good thing that ensures proper feeding. (The XD’s are flawless performers). But it does take some getting used to.
All in all, I love her gun. Mine should arrive Monday and I can’t wait to get it out on the range. It was also a good excuse to get the MTAC holster I’ve been looking at.

I am going to order 1 of the tiny pierce pinky extension but plates for the two 13 round mags. That will make it a three finger gun for me without adding the full length to the butt.

At $460 to $500 for this gun, you CANNOT go wrong. You can spend more on Glocks or M&P’s or any of a number of Kimber or other manufactures high end guns, but it’s not necessary. (I do shoot Glocks now, I never liked them but they have grown on me. Still don’t like the grip angle but it only takes a few rounds to get used to it). You don’t have to have a $1000 Kimber when you can have an XD for half that price. (Or heck, buy two). This is a gun you can trust your life too and you will not be disappointed in.

By the way, this is just a cursory review after one range trip.  I’ll redo this review a bit more in depth after I get some more range time with my own.  Including breakdown (it’s easy) and all the other features.

My wife made the comment we now have “his and hers” XD’s.
Did I mention how much I love shooting with my wife?

Hope you get to the range and have some fun.

Doc

Fire, Quick Cheap and Simple

Fire, depending on the environment and the need for immediate lifesaving warmth, is one of the most important survival tools a person needs.  Now, most of us have some fire skills.  I have made fire with primitive bow drills I’ve made myself; I’ve used ferrite rods, fuzz sticks, and all that.  I have confidence in my ability to create fire in most every way imaginable.  I always have a ferrite rod on my keychain and generally carry lighter most places I go.  So I’m covered.  I’ve worked with my boys and they can easily start fire with ferrite rods.   However, not everyone I know has that ability, or has practiced as long as I have to earn the skill to do it.   And as much as I try to teach people, I know that some will not be able to garner the skill to do it without (and even some with) a lighter, dry kindling and a few squirts of gasoline.

Kit Packed with TSP coin for size reference.

I have a couple of these old Crossman pellet screw lid metal tins left over from pellets the boys have long since shot off in their pellet guns.   I got to thinking these would make good little survival tins because I’ve never had much luck with the Altoids tins (Which seem to get crushed or break the hinges on me, or pop open in packs) and they are far from waterproof.  I threw some tissue paper in one of these tins and stuck it in the sing upside down (So the threads were up to allow as much leaking as possible) under 6 inches of water for 2 hours.  Not a bit of dampness made it inside the tin.  (These are not sealed, they just screw down tight)  Adding a bead of silicone under the lid would make them absolutely waterproof.   I even pinched the can a couple times under water to suck water past the threads and that barely drew any moisture to the outermost edge of the tissue paper in the can.   I was incredibly happy that this worked so well.  Now these things are also available without purchasing the pellets (But if you have pellet guns, might as well get them for double duty).   There is a place online at http://www.bepreparedtosurvive.com/Misc.Conatiners.htm that offers similar tins for $1.20.  However, the pellets can be had at Walmart for $4.88, (that’s what I paid for the two I have right now) so if you have pellet guns and are going to be stocking up on pellets anyway.  Might just as well get the tins and pellets together.

Now, I wanted fire kits that were durable and easy for someone who doesn’t know much about fire building to be able to use and effectively make fire.  I also wanted them to work in really wet situations and be cheap enough I could throw them in every pack and vehicle we own as well as to give away a half dozen to each person I know to store in their own vehicles, packs or even just the kitchen junk drawer.

The list of items is below.  Now this is not the best items, these are the cheapest items I could find that work.   I’m sure there are better versions of each of the items in this kit.  Also, I wanted all off shelf stuff that was easily available.  No char cloth etc. that would take extra time to make and probably be wasted on someone who’s never used it before.

First I added some of the cheap Coleman fire sticks.  I like these because they are cheap, premade and they work.  One stick broken into 3 chunks fits easily in the can.  Then I packed as much dryer lint into the can as I could.  Dryer lint is free (I have gallons of the stuff as I keep it all from the dryer).   It lights easily with any form of spark, ferrite rods work great on it.  Then I threw in some waterproof matches (Just in case any humidity did manage to breach the can).   And a small strip of waterproof sandpaper so that there would be something to strike the matches on.

Kit Unpacked

Presto, quick simple effective and extremely durable fire kit.  Overall the price is broken down per tin as I purchased locally are:

• Tins – $1.20 if purchased individually
• Dry Lint – Free
• Fire Sticks ($2.00 a dozen) or $.16 cents each
• Matches ($5 per 420 matches, I used 12 per tin) Less than $.15 cents per tin
• Sandpaper, $2.60 for a pack with 4 sheets that will do 60 tins, roughly $.04 cents per tin.

Total $1.55 per tin.

Pretty cheap and easy enough for anyone to use.

I’d be happy to see other suggestions of ways to improve on this tin so please comment away.

Back to the Knives. SAK Today!

Well, I’ve always been a fan of the versatility of the SAK (Swiss Army Knife).  But the older models I grew up with didn’t have locking blades and I did manage to cut myself on numerous occasions with them because of that.  I got away from non locking knives for many, many years.  I switched to a Leatherman charge ALX about 4 years ago and never looked back.  On the Leatherman all the tools lock and its a great multi-tool.   Superior to the old SAK’s I had used.  However, about a year ago, I managed to get my hands on a modern SAK from Victorinox.

This particular model is called the Trecker.  I bears many similarities to the old standard SAK’s from my youth.  With a couple of improvements.   First of all, and most importantly, the primary blade locks open with a liner lock.   This feature alone makes SAK’s viable for me again.  Non locking knives are just too hazardous.  We are all human and make mistakes and it only takes a little oblique pressure to a folding blade to twist the knife and close the blade on your hand.  So I love that this classic knife, now locks open.  Along with that, another excellent upgrade is the over sized thumb-hole on the primary blade.  This allows for one handed opening!  Yes, you heard me, an SAK you can open 1 handed.   Which makes this a go-to knife when your working on projects.   I normally have my CRKT M21 on my pocket for one handed quick use, but now that I have gotten used to the SAK, I keep the M21 sharp and ready as a defensive  tool rather than an everyday work knife.   That duty has rolled over to the SAK.   I have a tendency to not use new things because I want to keep them looking new, but a very wise friend of mine (Rich Rockwell over at the Wilderwolf blog) told me to get out there and use them, THAT’S what they are for.  So I’ve taken his advice and now enjoy using my good knives as well as looking at them.  Thanks Rich!

Well Worn and used Trecker SAK

As you can see in the pictures, this guy is getting a little worn, it has taken everything I’ve thrown at it and keeps on ticking.  The scales are good, They have that hard old fashioned knife feel to them.  However, they do get a little slick, not a good knife to use if your hands are greasy.   If your going to work in an environment where you need some good grip, there are better more dedicated knives that have superior grips.    This guy is just fine for every day use though.   The rounded edges feel good in your hand.

It has the usual assortment of extra tools, bottle opener, can opener (Which is smaller than the bottle opener, I’d revers this and make the can opener a bit larger, most bottles are twist off  caps anymore so the utility of a bottle opener is minimal at best.  (Heck just pop the cap on the nearest wooden object, no opener required).   It also has a flat screwdriver on the tip of the bottle opener and a philips bit in the back.  The Philips bit is just a tad oversized,but fits most every screw I’ve put it against, but not the smaller electronics that I find myself working on periodically.  But that is fine, my Leatherman has interchangeable bits and covers the gap quite well.  There is the leather punch/awl.  This is a great tool for multiple uses.  I have only ever put new holes in my belts with an SAK awl.   Just worked out that way because it’s always handy in my pocket.  The bottle opener/screwdriver bit also locks open for use as a straight screwdriver which is another plus, however this would be more useful on the can opener as it has a tendency to stick int he can and half close if you try going fast at the can when your hungry.  Patience is a virtue when using the can opener.

Another of the better changes on this model SAK is the saw blade.  They have incorporated a double row of triangular teeth on the saw-blade that make short work of sawing tasks.  You don’t want to cut a sapling down with this thing, but to put notches in wooden tool handles, it is perfect.  The saw is a great improvement.  The saw blade also extends about 1 or 2 millimeters past the edge of the knife, which makes opening it with a finger tip easy.  No more broken fingernails trying to pull it up from the closed position.

It does include the tweezers which are surprisingly good for getting splinters out of your knuckle (Yes, for real), I have used the tweezers 3 times to remove splinters and thay have a great fine edge that will bite onto those pesky little embedded pieces of wood.  It also has the classic SAK toothpic which works well to get that erent piece of tendon out of your teath after downing that 22 ounce porterhouse.

This is made with the same stainless steel used in all Victorinox SAK’s.  It’s a good hard steel that holds an edge well and is VERY resistant to corrosion.  My blade still looks new after a year of heavy use.  I have only sharpened it twice as it holds a razor edge for a long time.

All in all, I would have to give this knife a 9 out of 10.  A larger can opener being the only thing it would need to be a 10 in my book.

This guy is available through Amazon for only $31 right now.  A steal for one of the best SAK’s on the market.   This is one of those knives that I will keep for a lifetime and can’t wait to buy for my kids.

Chime in and let me know of your SAK experiences.

Support Starbucks

I don’t normally advocate a particular business, but anyone who supports our right to defend ourselves should step up and make Feb 14th the most profitable day in starbucks history.

Follow this link and read the details.

Support the 2nd Amendment, Support the Constitution

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/01/samuel-b-cadle/the-starbucks-buycott-momentum-builds/