Malodorous Thoughts

Inital Review of the CRKT S.P.E.W. Small Pocket EDC Wharncliffe

2012-02-17T13:34:00.008-06:00

The SPEW got here a little over an hour ago and I've been busy checking this neat little knife out. I'm not huge on the blade steel and I can't decide if the name is crap or a memorable trademark, but I think Alan Folts and CRKT are going to make a tidy sum over this new blade.

The blade steel is 5CR15MoV which is also used in the Folts Minimalists. It takes a decent edge and be resharpened very easily, but it will not hold long. It is not especially strong and being a wharncliff means that the tip is the weakest part of the whole knife. I've had two other wharns, the Kershaw Leek and the Cold Steel Kiridashi, that both have bent tips. There is already a 2 Star review from AZ on Knife Center where someone broke the tip off theirs from a "slight amount of abuse". I personally don't know how to take this. Saying abuse indicates misuse on the part of the user. Stainless steel is very unforgiving of physical abuse but very forgiving of neglect.

The factory edge will not win contests. It cuts paper ok, but is a bit on the ragged side. So it is sharp enough to do good work. It is still miles ahead of the edge on the Timberline previously reviewed. Fortunately, being a straight edge, this wharncliffe should be no problem for even the greenest knife sharpener to take proper care of.

The grip on this blade is very comfortable. It feels good in hammer, saber, and reverse grip. The textured G10 looks great and has a good roughness that will aid in retention. The jimping is rough but shallow and unfortunately flawed. The grips do not share the ridges of the passing jimping. Thus only the tip of the thumb ramp has a good roughness for control. A nice choil helps keep this knife in place. The paracord end helps get a better saber grip, but it is somewhat useless in reverse grip.

The sheath is somewhat above average. The choil is exposed and can be gripped when drawing the blade. Also, it is easy to thumb the sheath off of the knife. This means that it could be carried in the pocket without and mounting parts. However, I've found it works well for my normal karbiner carry technique. It comes with paracord for neck carry. Being so light, it should work nicely for that.

It comes with a belt clip, that just manages to work with the thick velcro parts of my rigger's belt. The clip can be fixed for vertical or horizontal carry. The package is slim. It rides well and conceals well offhand and strong hand in both modes of carry.

However, the design of the sheath means that the clip will be mounted at the bottom so it is something of a high ride in horizontal. In vertical, it is easy to configure to draw from hammer, saber, and even reverse grips. It especially disappears in small of the back vertical carry. The knife is too small and flexy to cause spine damage should you fall.

For defensive use, it's reasonably sharp and fast. I'm sure it'll hurt someone very badly if they go for your gun. Not sure if it will survive a bone hit.

Going to be EDCing this to work for a few weeks in place of my Cold Steel Mini-tac Tanto. As much as I wish for better steel, I think this knife will sell well at the price point. It is a very neat design. I hate to see potential so limited by cheap steel.

Fenix P2D Review Repost

2012-02-17T06:15:00.004-06:00

This is a repost of my review on the Fenix P2D I made over on thehighroad.org.

I just got stable power and internet back here in lower western Kentucky. As most of you know we got hit by a nasty icy storm. Ice has destroyed countless trees, poles, and power lines. Its been cold and nasty. When the lights went out, I was at work, a Walmart. When a Walmart's power goes out, there's a lot of work to do. First, customers must be quickly ushered to the cashier lanes, as register backup power is limited. Next, the store must be closed and all customers out, or gathered in a safe place. The freezers must be kept closed and the cold walls and bunkers must be covered in cardboard and plastic to keep the temperature from rising. If things do not improve within a few hours, cold things must be quickly removed from the floor, and put in coolers. Sadly, generators are 'ordered' from Home Office, and as Kentucky was being crushed by ice, Home Office told us we were on our own.

Many months ago, I decided that I needed a good EDC flashlight. Something small that would keep out of the way but be bright and long lasting enough in case of disaster. After some research I ordered a Fenix P2D Premium Q5 Cree XR-E. A small LED flashlight powered by a 123 lithium battery. These batteries are expensive in retail stores, but inexpensive from online sources. I ordered a 20pack case of Rayovac batteries for it and my wife and my Surefire g2 LED lights.

The p2d q5 has multiple light modes. 12 lumen - 30hrs, 55 lumen - 5.5 hours, 107 lumen - 2.5 hours, SOS mode(blinks the SOS signal), and also has a one hour turbo mode of 180 lumens and a strobe at the same brightness.

The 12 lumen mode was plenty of light for basic movement through the store(Supercenter) with or without the security lights. For checking aisles, I used the 107 lumen mode the most. The throw could illuminate from at least 100 yards once the security lights were out. The basic 55 lumen mode was the most useful. Turned skyward or set down, it would act as a electric candle and provide enough illumination to move around reasonably well for at least at a 30 ft radius on the salesfloor. About 15ft radius for actual work. In the narrow back areas, the 12 lumen mode was ample for good illumination. The higher power modes were mostly unused except for checking for customers or illuminating important work. A single fresh 123 battery lasted all night, while I pocketed the already used battery for backup. It kept going afterwards at home too. Where it was used from just finding our stock of candles, flashlights, and batteries to reading, to going to the bathroom.

After all the heavy use, I think I got about 16 hours of use out of that one fresh battery. There are some issues with this light. The light is that it is a bit slippery and the lanyard doesn't come with any adjustably. I had already addressed the lanyard issue by adding a spring fastener from a tippman marker's barrel cover. This kept the light secured to my wrist while I generally carried the light in cigar fashion.

This is one incredible light, and one that came in very handy and has continued to serve me well in the absence of electricity. I've just found out that there is a new version, the P2D0 that looks to be even more grippy and should serve very well in cigar carry. I think my wife needs a good EDC light, and she might end up with one.

Surprise Knife Buy, CRKT Dragon

2012-02-15T18:10:00.005-06:00

Went shopping with the wife today and got to visit this area's biggest and best knife seller. I got to check out several awesome knives that I've been wanting to handle.

The Benchmade Bedlam Axis felt awesome in the hand and was an awesome blade. However $130 was a bit out of budget. I also got to handle an AUS8 version of Cold Steel's Subhilt OSS fighter. I must have the San Mai version of this blade! The grip is great! Then in the CRKT area, I found one that I've considered for a long time and the price was dead on at $27 even. The CRKT Dragon.

The Dragon is a Kasper Crawford designed Warncliffe blade fighter made of a passable midrange steel. It has G10 scales, a lackluster Kydex sheath complete with subpar belt clip, and a choil deep enough to be considered a subhilt! Yes, folks. SUB. HILT. It feels great in a normal and reverse grip. The jimping is sharp and good. The grip curves to provide even more retention and the pommel is a decent chunk of exposed steel that could break a window or a skull. All for $27!

Some folks say that the Dragon looks like a kitchen knife. Well, I've used plenty of my carry knives in the kitchen. If it can cut raw vegetables and meat well, it'll cut a human from throat to groin with equal aplomb.

It looks like a rather nice companion for my Sig 245. It'll be useful to compare the S.P.E.W. when it comes in this weekend. Hopefully. Warncliffes are everywhere!

Dratted Weakness, New Knife Inbound

2012-02-14T15:18:00.005-06:00

Man, two weeks without updating? Am I lazy or what? But really hasn't been much going on or really interesting since Shot Show. Meh.

However, I do have a new knife incoming from Knife Center. It is the horribly named CRKT SPEW or Small Pocket EDC Warncliffe. A very cool design made of a very mediocre steel. Perhaps it will exceed my expectations. I wasn't going to order it until I noticed that shipping it would only cost me $2.99... At a paltry $31.94 combined, I was unable to resist. I should stop checking the new arrival sections of Knife Center and BladeHQ.

I am hoping that this will tide me over until the release of the Becker BK17 in April.

Kabar's 2012 Catalog Released & Pricing Info

2012-01-28T06:23:00.006-06:00

Kabar released the PDF to their 2012 Catalog a few days ago. In it are the new Beckers I'm so excited about and also some more exact stats on them.

The BK15, the largest of these new tweeners, is an Asian tanto style with a 5-1/2" blade and 10 3/8" over all.

The BK16 is a drop point and Ethan Becker's own pick of the litter. It is smaller than the tanto with a 4-3/8" blade and 9-1/4" overall.

The handsome BK17 is a clip point with the same blade and overall length as the BK16.

All three are made in the USA from 1095 cro-van high carbon steel blades, come with both black & brown zytel polymer grips, and a cordura sheath. The MSRP is $107.49.

Traditionally, the dealer cost for Kabar knives is one half of the MSRP. Doing up a few averages based on KnifeCenter's asking price for various Kabar made Beckers, I'm estimating the mark up to be around 22% so we should see these going for about $65.95 at Knife Center. I expect for most sites $60-80 will be the normal range.

That's not a horrible cost for what should be one of the best medium fixed blade knives coming out this year. Especially considering that ESEE-4's are going for around $125. Those should be the medium sized carbon steel blades that these knives will be compared to the most.

I doubt the Becker sheaths are going to be much count. However, for the price savings a decent custom sheath shouldn't be too onerous a purchase. Especially if the performance and quality is up to expectations. Kabar might want to invest in making some good sheaths for customers to buy later or go ahead and offer a more expensive package.

I like all these designs and sizes are right for so many uses. If I like the BK17, I will most likely get the other two as well. They're just that cool.

2012 Boker Fixed Blades

2012-01-24T09:23:00.005-06:00

Boker is starting off the year right with several new additions to the Boker Plus fixed blade line. Several of these are in the small EDC/Neck knife niche. Boker has really been impressing me with their small EDC knives lately. They're usually in good old 440C and the Boker Plus line is usually a hell of a bargain. They've added three that I found rather appealing.

The 440C, Nippon Necker, is an interesting 3inch bladed true tanto, rather than double pointed American Tanto. The scales are G10 and it looks like a really solid choice for an EDC fixed blade. Good lines!

The MTT, is what I refer to as a 'Scalpel-style' knife. The blade is very short in comparison to the grip. It really looks like a great multi-purpose knife with a highly controllable tip. I could see someone using this one a lot as a fixed box cutter or as a hobby knife. Also, featuring G10 grips and 440C steel.

A little more bizzare is this Karambit inspired, Newton Martin K-Bit. This is a classic claw style. Claws are great for opening boxes, cutting lines, and hurting goblins. The ring on this differs from the popular LaGriff-style claw knives, in that the ring is for the middle or the ring finger depending on normal or reverse grip. 440C here again too.

Boker is making a lot of nice small knives these days. I wish they'd use better steels sometimes, but many of today's neck knives are made of sub-par steels and have poor fit and finish so I don't feel I have a lot of room to complain. I look forward to the reviews on these. The K-Bit might be just the thing to replace my poor lost Emerson LaGriff.

CRKT SPEW: Cool New Design, but Who Named it?

2012-01-23T12:05:00.010-06:00

One CRKT's 2012 catalog items is coming out is the S.P.E.W. or Small Pocket Everyday Warncliffe. It is a very handsome warncliffe sporting G10 grips with a blade around 3inches designed by Alan Folts, who designed the Minimalist. Looks like a great choice for an EDC knife except that 'SPEW' is what I think when I looked up the steel it's made of. 5CR15MoV is to be better than my personal whipping boy 420hc. 420hc has a place, but I think that is in liners and other parts of knives that don't involve sharp edges. AUS8 and 440C are really a minimum for a serious knife in my opinion.

Also, SPEW? Really? You want to name a knife with an acronym that involves vomiting? Was P.O.O.P already taken?

I'm really liking the design on this. It looks slick as hell. Handsome little blade. Looks right for EDC or for a little emergency goblin shanking. It is going to retail for around $30. If I found one of these local, I might impulse buy. Heck for $20bucks shipped, I'd preorder one now. Close to $40? I'm going to have to really think about it. There's flashlights and Beckers to buy.

Edit: Alan Folts named this one. I was wanting to think that CRKT for some brainfarty reason. Sorry, Alan. I'd love a custom version of this, but man, the name stinks!

Ethan Becker Video of the Becker Line

2012-01-20T00:52:00.005-06:00

Here's a great video I found posted on the Shot Show thread in the Becker Knife & Tool subforum on BladeForum. Here Ethan Becker himself shows off the classic Becker knives and the newest ones from Kabar. There's a few in lines in here I love too. I really wish I could get to meet and talk to Mr. Becker!

The reintroduced BK4 actually looks like an awesome small kukri style. Modern, but classically functional. And this is a 30 year old design!

However, the real drooling happens with the new small drop point, tanto, and clip point. They look like the mid sized multi-role blades I and a lot of other folks have been waiting for. The grips look wonderful and very comfortable. Blades are going to have good deep bellies and good grinds.

I've heard that they're going to be shipping in March if all goes well. I may need to preorder the bowie. Not too keen on the sheath for carry, so I'll have to get the lead out and learn how to make my own.

New Beckers from Kabar at Shot Show 2012

2012-01-18T14:08:00.005-06:00

Some pictures from Moose, a poster at BladeForums, show several new Becker knives coming out this year in a Shot Show Thread.

Becker Knife and Tool has been well known for their large size modern tactical carbon steel knives and also has had good success from their small sized 'Becker Neckers'. Three of these new blades are smaller versions of some of their larger models. A bowie, a drop point, and an Asian tanto. They're most likely around 4inches in blade length. Their handles are zytel and are using a new finish.

I'm really excited about these knives. They're the right size for serious working EDC or defensive use. They're most likely high carbon steel, so they're going to be very strong too. I can't wait to see the price, too.

Drugs & Anti-gunners

2012-01-16T16:22:00.003-06:00

If you look around at the NRA Anti-gun organization, celebrity, and business page. You find the paragons of virtue that denounce guns as ultimate evil tools. However, if you just alone take the celebrity list and look into their records you find the worst sort of hypocrisy. Buyers and users of illegal drugs.

I am of a libertarian stint, I believe that drugs should be made legal. However, I totally and utterly oppose the purchase and use of them until the day they become legal. Criminal empires are fueled by those drugs. Tens of thousands of criminals and innocent civilians die each year thanks to the drug trade. They die in direct conflict between criminals, in robberies, in transport of drugs, and in the crossfire of these crimes. Behind each of those deaths is someone who bought those illegal drugs. That bloody money is what makes those murders profitable and also what pays for the arms used to commit them.

Anyone who claims to be anti-gun and has used illegal drugs has done more to support murder and death than your average pro-gunner. Most pro-gunners are rather drug free. After all, we have background checks to pass when we support rights.

Don't Think I'll Be Using GunsAmerica Again Any Time Soon...

2012-01-13T13:30:00.009-06:00

One of GunsAmerica's boys, Paul Helinski, just stuck his foot in his mouth, badly. In the comments on an official Shot Show post about GunBloggers and Viral Media:

Now the question is when you are going to start qualifying internet media? We have to crawl over nobodies who can install wordpress and have nobody reading anything they write, It isn't so hard to qualify internet media using Alexa.com and Compete.com. Why do you waste the manufacturers' time and make the real internet media have to deal with wish I were internet journalists who are just using your stamp of approve to solicit review guns and accessories? You've created this giant gorilla in the room and we all have to deal with it, and you may think the industry takes your numbers seriously, but everyone sees things for what they are. If you are serious about bringing value to your exhibitors, you need to vet the press list.

It isn't about regular readership. Not everyone is a SaysUncle or JayG or GunBlast or the FirearmBlog. They don't have to be. Lemme explain the words: Google.com.

Bloggers post about things they see. These posts end up on the Google search engine. People want to know more about things, so they search. Then they find these posts. These posts help them decide to purchase things or even just promote talking about them. Even little guys will get hits if they get something out that folks are searching for information on.

A lot of people shun professional gun rags, because do you ever see bad reviews? The blogger seems more personal and more like the reader. Readers want to read about the bad and the good. Your average blogger will do this. And if the industry throws the little guy some bones? He might just be a little nicer in his reporting.

However, Mr. "MyNameSoundsLiketheBradyCampaignsBigWig", just fucked himself and his company. Those same bloggers are now unhappy. They will not be so nice to GunsAmerica. They will tell others that, too. GunsAmerica might find their profits down as less people decide to shop there. You damn fool. We nobodies were on your side.

Update: Things are still gone over on this. It is on the verge of going into a flame war. Jeff Quinn of GunBlast has actually spoken up and is on the side of Paul. Paul also makes mention of how 'bloggers' have marginalized print magazines. Sorry, Mr. Quinn. I respect what you do, but I have to give my honest opinion.

GunBlast is an internet print mag in that you rarely find anything bad about he has up for review. Print mags have an economic reason to do this. They can't piss off their advertisers! Neither can Jeff piss of the sources of his review guns and equipment. He may be getting guns that are tinkered with by the manufacturers to make them perfect. I cannot say. But considering the lack of negative, I'll take his words with a grain of salt.

The one thing I truly love the most about Quinn and GunBlast is the shot show coverage every year. I get to see what is new and cool for the new year. It is almost like an information Christmas! Sure, he worked hard and for long years. However, when he got his foot in the door, the years weren't so long then. How would he have taken the same words back then?

h/t from SaysUncle So sorry I didn't get this in there sooner!

Model 1909 Argentine Artillery Hanger

2012-01-12T21:33:00.005-06:00

One of the oldest pieces in my collection. This a 13inch bladed Artillery Hanger, a type of short sword, made in Weyersberg Germany out of Solingen steel back when it REALLY meant something. Bought for $30 from a pawn shop in my teenage years. I tried to have someone sharpen it, but he let a young relative scratch it up. I was foolish then, and didn't understand to leave it be. They go for $150 and up in better condition.

It has some rust that I need to take care of. Any suggestions?

WishList for Shot Show 2012!

2012-01-12T19:03:00.004-06:00

Once again it is one of my favorite times of the year, Shot Show! The magical time when we get to see what the firearms, accessory, and knife industries think we need, want, or will buy. So what do I want to see this year?

A domestic semi-auto pistol carbine that is better than a kel-tec, but not as overpriced as a Beretta Storm Carbine. Should take available pistol magazines! At least one version in 9mm. Would be extra sweet if it was very short and around 5lbs or less.

Smith & Wesson Bodyguard semi-auto up-scaled and chambered for 9x19mm. Maybe my biggest want for this year. Because I'll most likely get one for my wife who needs a CCW piece.

Crimson Trace Lightguard for revolvers like the GP-100 or the S&W j-frames.

A good looking carbon steel bowie style knife over 9inches in size but under $100.

Smith & Wesson 6rd J-frame + revolver. Taurus has one that will fit in my 638 holster, but I like S&W better. GIMME.

Mossberg semi-auto shotgun done up like a 590a1 so it can take a bayonet and has all that lovely extra metal! That would rock so hard.

A surefire-like LED shotgun forearm light system. Surefire's are stupidly expensive. Fenix or Streamlight could do this with no problems and still be just as good as a surefire.

Modern pump action .357 or 44mag rifle.

Apex Tactical trigger kits for Sig-Sauer's like the 2022.

Subhilt defensive, fighting, and EDC knives!

I could come up with more, and I might still, but this is enough for now.

Cold Steel's 2012 New Product List

2012-01-10T10:25:00.003-06:00

Cold Steel has finally produced its list of upcoming products for 2012. I am TOTALLY disappointed. Instead of the drop or spear point Mini-Tac that I have been lusting for, we have the tanto and the skinner types coming in serrated... Woopdy fucking doo.

There are 5 swords(no kindjal meh), an axe, 2 spears, a naval dirk, 2 sword machetes, an expensive Kukri in sk5 carbon steel, a few stainless fixed blades, and a several new lockbacks including a mini and micro size for the Recon I series. At least all three sizes will have a spearpoint version now.

I am feeling depressingly underwhelmed. I was really looking forward to Cold Steel's new product list this year. Well, at least Benchmade looks like they're going to have a great year for new goods.

Light a Candle Against Violence

2012-01-08T07:53:00.006-06:00

My candle lantern is lit against violence and my first lines of defense against violence in home and abroad, respectively, remain vigilant in both light and darkness.

From left to right: Ruger GP-100 .357 magnum 3", Boker Trench Dagger 5.5", Cold Steel Mini-Tac Tanto 3.5", Smith & Wesson 639 Bodyguard .38 Special 1 & 7/8"

For more of this head over to Weerd Beard's master post.

Finally! Fenix Tk50 & BokerPlus Rambler!

2012-01-06T14:45:00.010-06:00

Thirty minutes after returning from a successful trip to the much improved shooting range, the brown truck of joy graced me with a package from BladeHQ. Inside was the Fenix Tk50 and the Boker Plus Rambler.

The TK50 is a powerful 2 D-Cell LED light and the Rambler is small EDC fixed blade made from 440C.

I'll have to wait until tonight to get some beamshots of the Fenix. They should be most illuminating. Har har.

A Neat Upcoming Benchmade/Harley Davidson Fixed Blade

2012-01-06T06:06:00.009-06:00

2012 is already shaping up to be a good year for knives. Several nice looking blades have shown up on BladeForums in a thread for new Benchmade knives. One is part of Benchmade's line of blades made for Harley Davidson. One fixed blade has really caught my eye, the Madcap.

This blade is a modest 4.66 inch long, an excellent defensive blade size. It is on the higher end size for what I like to be made out of 440C stainless, but still within acceptable limits. The shape looks to be a modified drop point recurve. Very similar to a SOG Spec Elite I or II. The grips are g10, which is my favorite grip material. It also has a deep choil which is much like the sub hilts I rant and gibber on about like a Cthulhu cultist with a blasphemous idol. The pommel terminates at an near point that would enable breaking both auto glass and faces with equal aplomb.

This is a sexy blade that is going to be retailing for about $88.95 according to BladeHQ. I am always looking for knives of this size. A little bigger than the normal 3-4 inch range of small defensive knives, but under $100. Since it is 440c, I wish it were about 15 bucks cheaper at least. If the sheath is decent, it might be worth checking out. Oh hell, who am I kidding? I'm going to check it out anyway.

On another note, the package mentioned a week ago is finally out for delivery this morning. About time! Also, I'll be headed to the range this morning to test out my Sig 245 and also to get some much needed trigger time in with my primary carry, the S&W 638 j-frame.

Update: Its not Madcap as BladeHQ's site says, instead it is Mad Cat.

Update2: Benchmade lists it as Madcap. *sigh*

Teenage Self-Defense in Florida

2012-01-05T07:58:00.005-06:00

Daniels in the Gunblogger Conspiracy IRC channel, posted this link about the criminal charges brought against a teenager who used a pocket knife lethally in self-defense against another teen in Florida.

The short version is that one fourteen year old boy, who had a pocket knife, attempted to avoid a fight with another older boy by getting off the bus several stops before where the fight was supposed to take place. Unfortunately, the aggressor exited the bus with some friends at his back and assaulted the victim cravenly from behind and continued the attack. This caused the victim to draw a pocket knife and begin to fight back. Out of twelve knife strikes, two managed to be lethal for the still attacking older teen. The local authorities charged the fourteen year old with second degree murder and went to court. However, under Florida's "Stand your ground law", a judge threw out the charges.

The judge made it clear that the boy had attempted to avoid the fight, while armed, and was under assault from the first hit to the fatal blow with his blade in a place he had every single right to be in. He had reason to believe that his life was in danger and he acted in a legal fashion.

Of course plenty of people are calling the victim a murderer. People have some sort of weird idea that it was the boy's duty to accept his 'beat down'. That he was a girl to avoid the attack. Those people are so very wrong.

The boy acted exactly how a CCWer should act. He was armed for his own protection, and took steps to avoid conflict knowing that. That failed. He was chased down and assaulted, sucker punched from the onset.

The attacker also had friends with him. When things go south for the attacker, friends often step in. Then it would have degraded into a gang beating. To me that's a big motivator to fight back with everything. I've been in situations similar. Being at the total mercy of teenagers is nothing anyone wants.

Lastly, in the end the victim fought back with an utterly inadequate weapon. Then he only made two lethal hits out of twelve. His blade will have been in the range of 2.5 to 3.5 inches. Almost impossible to deliver an instant fight stopping hit. When knives come out there are often far more hits than that.

People just don't understand the world of a youth. It is not so much sunshine and smiles. Horrible things happen and never get reported. There is a weird code of honor and a lot of fear to back it up. Children are extorted, tortured, sexually assaulted, and robbed. Crimes that merit violent and lethal self-defense among adults are laughed off as kids being kids. Teenagers are not totally children, but not totally adults. They often have the physical power of adults, but not the brains in their skulls to keep them from misusing it.

One kid is dead, he might have made something of his life, I'd rather he have gotten some good wounds and learned. Yet, he reaped what he sowed. When cornered people fight. That kid that fought back will have to live with his actions. He is one of us. One of the CCWers out there. He's no murderer, but he's a killer. Any one of us could be him one day.

New Gear Inbound.

2011-12-29T19:39:00.004-06:00

Just made an order to BladeHQ today with some Christmas money I was lucky to get. I have a new fixed blade knife and a new flashlight inbound. Looking forward to seeing what sort of service BladeHQ will give me. I'll give you a hint. The brand names begin with F & B.

Improvised Weapons: Millwall Brick

2011-12-26T17:39:00.004-06:00

The anti-defense crowd of thugs and rapist wannabes often whine about innocuous knives being weapons. They attempt to ban them for being too big, too small, opening too fast, being too military looking, or just being sharp. However, the world is full of every day objects that can be rendered into something just as potentially dangerous if not far more than your ordinary EDC folding blade. Such an item is the Millwall Brick.

The Brick hails from the disarmed serf-nation of UK. It was used as a soccer hooligan's stealth weapon. It is a mean little improvised weapon, that can be brought anywhere and made on the spot within a few minutes. Such as that, it's not really a bad idea to know how to make one if push comes to shove. The materials to make one are found in your Sunday Edition newspaper. Or rather, the Millwall Brick IS your Sunday paper!

The Millwall Brick is a carefully folded large newspaper. It is folded/rolled long wise, and then folded in half to form a handle and the rounded fold becomes the head of this bludgeon. They are often wettened down to add weight or even feature nails.

To be honest, it would be a more effective weapon than your after Kershaw or Gerber folder. It has more size and reach. It is almost like a sap.

Paper is surprisingly strong in bundles. Folks have made .22lr back stops in their homes using phone books. That paper doesn't have the density of folded either. Each time you fold paper it comes harder to fold until you cannot fold it further with a human's strength.

This simple item could easily put someone into the hospital. Used effectively it could kill someone. But it is just a newspaper. I cannot think of a single place that bans newspapers. Schools, airplanes, courthouses, bars, post offices... It is just one of the countless items that can be used in place of knives or even guns everywhere if your criminal decides to obey the rules...

2012 Kershaws at Blade HQ

2011-12-22T19:03:00.006-06:00

Was browsing the 'Coming Soon' section of BladeHQ, when I noticed several different new Kershaws. Notable models include:

Funxion, an flipper style assisted opening knife/multitool in DIY, EMT, and Outdoor configurations.
Outdoor 10, a 10inch bladed carbon steel bolo/kukri hybrid.
Vapor III, a third model in the Vapor series.
Taskmaster, a 7inch folding saw.
Cyro, a very handsome 2.75inch bladed assisted-opening flipper.

There are several others, but please roll over to BladeHQ to see pictures and more information. Looks like Kershaw is going to have a good year. A few of these, especially the Outdoor and Cyro, look very attractive to me.

Tired of Being Civil About Self Defense Rights

2011-12-20T17:14:00.004-06:00

That is IT. I'm throwing down the gauntlet. After reading about Amanda Collins, a university student who was disarmed by campus laws and ended up raped at gun point after a night class, I cannot take being civil anymore. The same filth went on to kill and rape others. Thanks to the long standing left's war on self-defense, her firearm was left at home against the threat of expulsion when she needed it. Maybe she would have been killed, maybe she would have killed him. We cannot say, but she was helpless thanks to the work of anti-rights cultists.

I'm tired of being called a murderer-in-waiting. Sick and tired of them trying to prove that I'm sub-human for wanting to see that I and my fellow humans have the tools and rights to protect our lives, families, and properties against the greed and wickedness of others. Guess what? Two can play at that game, motherfuckers!

Anyone actively working and campaigning against our rights to carry weapons and fight back in self-defense is of the worst sort of vermin. They are pro-rape, pro-murder, pro-crime scum. I could care less if they are that was from a sick sexual satisfaction to see others hurt, they're following their programming, or whatever the reason. They are enemies of freedom and liberty. They are less than the worms that fill the diseased feces of a feral dog. I will call you what you are. Accomplices of murder, sexual violence, torture, thievery, and every other crime that innocents have suffered from being they were not permitted to have the necessary tools to defend.

Who are part of this group? Every member of the boards of colleges that vote against self-defense. Every politician everywhere that votes against self-defense. Everyone working for, donating to, or advocating the Brady Campaign, VPC, Million Mom March, and the others. Every cop that gives CCW people a hard time just because. The list goes on. You're not human to me anymore. I wouldn't piss on you to save your lives for 20 bucks.

If I hear someone that wants to tell me to my face, that I'm a coward for carrying, that guns are evil, that carrying guns is awful... I'm going to sneer at them and ask them, "Yeah, watching people get raped and murdered gets you hard/wet right? What do you like about it the most? The fear in their eyes? The blood on the ground? Fucking sick wannabe. Get away from me. I don't associate with vermin."

Update & Final Thoughts on the SOG Spec Elite II

2011-12-16T15:09:00.005-06:00

One of my most often read posts is one about my experiences in carrying a truly large folder, specifically the SOG Spec Elite II. It is a 'combat' folder with a monstrous 5inch recurve blade in the excellent VG-10 steel. I have carried it on and off for several years and I have decided to retire this knife from carry permanently.

One of the main reasons for carrying a big folder is for possible self defense use and honestly the only other reason is for woods craft like batoning or chopping. Otherwise a small blade is generally going to be less expensive, less legally problematic, easier to carry, and less likely to scare other folks. But the Spec Elite is simply not strong enough to deal with those things.

From day one, I've have problems with the screws holding the pivot point together. They want to work loose during the operation. The weight of the blade only aggravates the situation. Tightening them enough to stop it, would only keep the blade from smoothly opening via thumbstud, lock manipulation, or just a hard flick of the wrist. Loctite I think will only cause more of the same. The blade has a good amount of wobble when untightened enough to open normally. As already said tightening it doesn't work either. As it stands I do believe under heavy duty use, in an emergency, I do not have faith in the screws not to work out and for the blade to come free. The frame is not strong enough to maintain integrity alone.

In fact, I discovered that two of the small screws had indeed worked out and been lost a few weeks ago when I went to carry it IWB. On the upside, I emailed SOG, and they had two replacement screws in my mailbox within two weeks.

The blade sharpness and sturdiness is excellent, the pocketclip is good enough for IWB, the lock system is secure, and the grip is at least passable. I can only rate this one for medium use on the condition that you are very careful on keeping an eye on the screws. Therefore, the 5inch blade is practically decorative. This one is going into the old knife box. It is retired.

"The Right to Knife" From Straight Forward in a Crooked World

2011-12-14T11:03:00.004-06:00

Matthew over at Straight Forward in a Crooked World has an exceptional post about the use of knives for defense and defensive offense. It is less on the knives themselves and more on the reality of having to take a sharp blade to someone and the results of that. This post paints the reality of such action in appropriately grim and brutal fashion. It has really got me thinking of testing the abilities of my knives.

My First Big Bore, the Sig P245

2011-12-11T17:49:00.005-06:00

Well, things finally worked out, and I am now the proud owner of a used but still minty, Sig-Sauer P245. This .45 ACP is has a compact 3.9inch barrel but a nearly subcompact grip. It disappears OWB or IWB. It uses 6 round magazines normally, but this one came with three 8rd magazines with grip extensions. I'll be carrying with the 6rd mags but keep the 8rd mags for reload.

This particular Sig is special, as I know and have been friends with the original owner, Alan, from SnarkyBytes for several years now. It has even spend time on the range with the world's most dangerous librarian. It is a most welcome addition to the household arsenal, and I look forward to hitting the range with it.

I picked up a simple Don Hume 721, thumb break holster for CC and OC. It also works well with my Zurich Sig 225. While not fitting as tightly, the thumb break keeps it nicely secure. However, I am considering some nice leather for this one.

Walmart is Testing the Waters with EBRs

2011-12-09T10:48:00.005-06:00

I managed to find out from a manager that the Sigs and Bushmasters are not part of our replenishable inventory. They were apparently bought in bulk and are currently going out to stores to test the waters to see if such rifles will generate enough sales to become regular inventory. As such, the stores cannot order additional rifles. Instead, stores can put in a request for the rifles but with no assurance that they can actually get one. If you see one and the price is right, grab it. There's no telling when and if we will see the rifles become a normal item in the inventory. However, my store has sold every Sig m400 and 522 we've had in, though the Bushmaster has been untouched. I think that we will see EBRs as part of the regular inventory. Just can't say when.

Review: Timberline Tactical ECS-4

2011-12-08T18:04:00.003-06:00

Originally, I said that I would carry the new Timberline Tactical ECS for a few weeks. It did not work out so. I do not know if I have ever been both so impressed and disappointed in a knife, but that isn't exactly correct. It is a bit of a convoluted situation.

Getting to the negatives first, the knife came unusable as a cutting device. I do know that I've never had a knife come out of the box with a worse edge. After using my Griptilian for nearly two months, did I feel the need to get the edge back into shape. This was done in about ten minutes with a set of Lanskey Croc Sticks. After nearly 20 minutes of work with the same, the improved edge still wouldn't cut the top off a tied plastic Walmart bag. I was warned by the single review on KnifeCenter, but I didn't not take it too seriously. To be perfectly honest, my sharpening skills are poor. That is my fault, but putting edges on metal is not my job. If I wanted to redo an edge into functional status I would be making my own knives and I'd have a RK mk1 subhilt on my hip and be busy selling you guys knives verses reviewing them. I have two fixed blades with not so great edges, however both are styles that are known for this very problem. One is a small double edged spear point, Fallkniven Garm, and the other is a single edged dagger point, Boker Trench. Neither broad enough to have the deep bellies that make for great cutters. The ECS-4 possess a modified spear point making this rather inexcusable when other examples like that on the Kershaw Skyline are excellent. As a result, I did not carry this but a few times just to see how it carried.

The ECS line's featured gimmick is a locking system. By pressing a springy metal bar where your index finger rests, you release the knife from its polymer sheath. I am happy to say that this works very well and I think this is a winning idea. I am very interested to see how this might apply to larger knives. There are two caveats that I cannot bring to call full negatives. The first is that you will not be able to operate this easily in other grip that a pinch between index finger and thumb. I don't see you being able to generate the pressure in a reverse grip or round hold. That may be a deal breaker for many, but I think of this to be like the retention system of a Blackhawk Serpa. Like the Serpa, the ECS is designed to be drawn with a certain grip. Doing so otherwise is impossible. That also makes this acceptable as an open carry knife. The other is that the sheath lock is a two part deal, requiring both the sheath and knife itself to be designed to work in unison. Having to deal with the locking nub, would mean that 3rd party sheaths are going to be difficult and repairs in the field useless.

The ECS does have nice deep jimping on both the spine and the unlocking bar, but the rearward ones were pretty useless, it is too short for a reverse grip. The holes in the grip did help a bit with providing more friction, but I think G10 would have been a better choice than the slicker stock polymer. The cross style guard for this seemed a poor choice for this smaller version due to the style in which the blade must be drawn. To be more in line with that, perhaps a thumb ramp instead of the top guard and then extending the bottom guard would fare better. I found that the grip was simply too short for me. I wish I could handle the larger versions to see if the grip design is only problematic in this shorter neck knife version.

Most sheath systems are the weakest part of a knife. Otherwise we wouldn't have piles of leatherworkers and kydex folders out there making a tidy profit. However, for the ECS the sheath system is a welcome surprise and in my opinion overshadows the locking system.

The polymer sheath itself is well thought out. It is two piece held to together with several screws. A most excellent feature was included by the knife's designer Brian Fellhoelter, was the indent that keeps the knife from rattling in its ABS plastic home. The ECS is mounted either belt or molle via a harness. This harness slips in the four rectangular slots in the sheath and then hook together with alligator hook and loop catches. This ambidextrous design allows for a quick switch to left or right side. The belt loop is simple and effective and very back is a solid MOLLE connection. The MOLLE design has a snap strap that thankfully keeps those hateful MALICE clips out of the equation. The strap also will easily fold back into the harness unobtrusively for belt carry. The larger version of the ECS also include a belt/boot clip. I really wish I had one of those to try out. I really want to know if it measures up to the belt/MOLLE harness.

According to Brain Fellhoelter the ECS stands for Emergency Condiment Spreader. He also comments that it was designed to be a knife for river guides. Sadly, Timberline's production take on his custom is pretty much only good for spreading peanut butter without some initial work. Rereading his site, I wish I could try one of his custom ECS models or the larger production models to compare. Even flawed the Timberline ECS-4 shows that his concept works well. If the larger one have a proper working edge, I think they'll measure up far better.

The knife aside, I find this sheath system to be so excellent that I am tempted to make a kydex sheath with harness slots cut to use it with other knives like my Boker Trench. In fact, I think that once some folks get a hold of these sheaths that folks would buy the harness alone. With wider harnesses, this could take off like the popular Tek Lock.

UPDATE: I emailed the designer, Brain Fellhoelter, and found out that the webbing harness is based on his idea, but resigned and improved by Timberline. I also found one of the custom ECS blades for sale on Arizona Custom Knives. Notice the difference in the cross guard. This one looks more like a thumb ramp. Excellent high-vis G10 scales, too! A bit pricey for my tastes. If it were a subhilt, I'd be tempted to put this bad boy on layaway.

More Intel on Walmart Evil Black Rifles

2011-12-01T17:27:00.000-06:00

Talked to the manager over sporting goods. According to him, there is no order catalog for the Sigs and Bushmasters that have been showing up. As they sell, replacements are automatically ordered by the perpetual inventory system and sent to the store. I've asked him about finding out more. However, it being the holiday season, this might take a while.

Ruger Gunsite Scout Available At Walmarts

2011-11-25T20:07:00.003-06:00

I finally managed to get into the 2012 Walmart firearm order book and found a lack of ordering information for evil black rifles like Sigs or Bushmasters, but I did find the listing for the cool Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle. It is running for about $760 or so. Not exactly a 'deal'. It would be about that or less at most gunshops.

Sadly, this and the Ruger Mini series were the most evil and black rifles in the book. Yet, the Sig 522s, 556s, and m400s as well as Bushmasters are being sold. Still working on more info.

SIG 522 sighted at Walmart!

2011-11-09T09:21:00.007-06:00

A SIG-Sauer 522, the .22lr 556 lookalike, was waiting for someone to buy it in the guncase at work. It had the iron sights included and was priced at $487. I've been wanting one for a long while. If I wasn't getting the Sig 245, I would have most likely bought it today. Nevertheless, this is the second true evil black rifle to be seen on Walmart shelves recently. Hopefuly, we will see lots more and be able to order them.

I'm working on using my employee status to get some concrete details on what all will be listed for special order. So far, I have found out that Walmarts are supplyed by South Sports, which is a major distributor that sells just about everything out there. There are instructions for ordering a catalog, but I'm still hunting for the new one we should either have already or be getting soonish.

UPDATE ON ORDERING

Can Abortion be Considered Justifiable Homicide?

2011-11-09T02:08:00.005-06:00

After failing to make a post happen about the Mississippi vote to give fertilized human eggs full human status, I ended up starting a rather heated discussion about the subject in the Gunblogger Conspiracy IRC channel. All sides made some rather good point and some bad, and after having abortion called murder so many times, something stuck with me about it. At work tonight, my thoughts turned back to the conversation and a stray thought hit me hard. Could under certain circumstances an abortion be considered a justifiable homicide?

Killing in self defense is not an uncommon topic in the gunny world. We who carry weapons must deal with the idea that we may be forced to use it. When it comes down to it we allowed by law to commit homicide in protection of ourselves, others, and sometimes our property. Under many state's laws, we do not have to wait for the assault to come, but merely the threat of imminent harm is enough to justify a self defense shooting. Such shootings are different from murder because of the intent. The intent isn't merely to kill someone, but to prevent or stop that person from causing harm. This remains true even if the perpetrator did not mean to harm anyone. Not all criminals are out to harm you, and sometimes people are accidental criminals such in the case of intoxicated persons breaking into homes that are not theirs. The fact that they represent a possible real and present danger is enough to justify their deaths in the eyes of the law. It is tragedy.

In the case of an abortion, the same may hold true. Especially in the event of the rape of a minor. While, opponents point out that while it is terrible that a child was raped, the baby growing inside them is blameless and thus not to be held accountable for the crime committed by the father. To terminate would be murder. But murder is in the intent isn't it? Pregnancy is not always safe. Especially for physically immature mothers. There are real dangers to life and permanent health associated with such pregnancies. Terminating the fetus could be construed as protecting the life and well being from harm rather than murdering it. Is this necessarily so different from an intruder in your house? Will they hurt someone or take something or just go? We do not know until the end. But waiting until the end we could hit the worst possible result or the best. We do not know.

This concept could be expanded to even mature rape victims. Just as in Texas, a thief can be shot down in the back for stealing property, a child is such a massive financial burden for so long... It wouldn't take much to apply it I think. This is really some major food for thought.

KnifeCenter's Prompt Response

2011-10-28T15:55:00.007-05:00

Yesterday, I received a knife that was simply not the color as depicted on it's product page at KnifeCenter. While, I still opened the package, I sent an email complaining about the misleading image and that they should change it.

I checked the product page and found a new image in place of the old. One where there is no doubt that the blade has a dark coating. Waiting in my email was their apology for the inconvenience, an explanation that it was an image from the manufacturer, and a thank you for bringing it to their attention.

The KnifeCenter has always done good by me, and this just cements it. It took them less than 24 hours to fix a mistake. I'm sure if I had not opened the package, and returned the knife, there would have been zero issues. You may pay a few extra bucks at KnifeCenter, but the service here tends to be fast and any problems will be solved quickly. They also will give you a small extra if you review a knife for them. Using my last review code, I got a free Camilus Lubricant and Wipe cloth. The time before that, a decent paring knife. These goodies aren't much, but it feels nice getting a little extra in today's economy.

Trial of the Canton PD's Victim

2011-10-28T10:10:00.008-05:00

Many have seen the unbelievable video of Officer Daniel Harless of the Canton PD Ohio's verbal assault and threats against the CCW permit holder, William Bartlett, on Youtube. He was arrested and charged with failure to inform an officer of his concealed weapon.

It is pretty clear in the video that, Officer 'Roidrage', verbally and physically intimidated this man and simply would not allow him to give that information immediately. Thanks to the video the genie is out and Harless will have to face the music eventually. However, the local law enforcement is not happy to be caught and are working hard to make Bartlett pay for the crime of standing up to their bullying.

The trial against Bartlett is proceeding and Ohioans For Concealed Carry are looking for donations for legal defense. I've tossed a few bucks into the pot and you can too here. Please donate to this worthy cause. Show those bullies that there are far too many of us for them to just 'go home and sleep like a baby' when they beat up on the little guy.

Surprise Bacon Find!

2011-10-27T16:22:00.004-05:00

Was trotting through a Wal-mart and look what I found. Can any one resist?

Yes, Bacon Jerky! It's good, too! Tastes right, and is nicely chewy. I can't decide if this was a very good find or very very very very bad find. Nevertheless, seems like the perfect snack for everyone's favorite extra dangerous librarian.

Just In: Timberline Tactical ECS-4

2011-10-27T15:29:00.009-05:00

The brown truck of joy dropped this guy off little more than an hour ago, yet some drama ensued instantly. The problem was that the blade color of it on KnifeCenter was a good bit lighter than as it came.

From the looks of the picture, I expected a bead blasted stainless. Instead, I received an obviously coated blade. I very nearly called them to ask for a return information. I did double check the page and sure enough it say that it was a titanium coated blade in the details. I've decided to keep it, but I am going to contact them to put a darker picture in its' place.

This relatively recent addition to Timberline's knives has a particular gimmick that intrigued me. The knife locks and unlocks itself in it's sheath via the metal bar on the grip. The sheath hook is designed to lock into place by the knife just being normally inserted. To draw, the grip on the knife is simply made tight. While some might decry this motion as impossible in the case of a damaged hand, normal kydex sheaths would be equally hard to draw from in the same situation.

So far, I really like the sheath system. It is MOLLE ready and the mountings can be reversed to a left handed/offhanded use. It is not kydex but rather a hard plastic, but it seems nicely made thus far. I will be putting a keyring on it and using it in carbiner carry this week as well.

The blade itself is a 3inch modified spear point in one of the 440s, probably 440C. After the sheer excellence of my Kershaw's SkyLine's blade, I've gotten quite a lot of love for this style of blade. Sadly, this one was only really sharp on one side, I will be working on it with my sharpener this week.

The grip may be the real weak point here. It's not as grippy as I'd like, and a bit short for the guard style. However, there is jimping under this simple cross guard, allowing solid point control.

The knife set me back about $40 dollars plus shipping. There is a larger version of this spear point coming soon. It will feature a 3.8 inch blade, longer grip, and possibly some orange grips and a grip tool included in its accessories. The grip tool and extra grips are present in the Tanto and Drop Point styles of the 3.8, already out. The drop point is handsome, and might make a solid choice for defensive work.

I'll be replacing my Cold Steel Mini-tac Tanto for now with this. I'll be looking to give an update on it's performance in about 2 weeks.

Incoming Stabby

2011-10-26T18:55:00.003-05:00

New fixed blade inbound from KnifeCenter. As much as I like my Cold Steel Tanto, I'm ready to try something different. Sadly, it is not the M1-compact. I'm going to try to hold out for the M1 Mini to get the TOPS treatment. Or maybe just get one directly from Relentless.

A Tasty Experiment

2011-10-26T16:40:00.003-05:00

During my endless toil for the Bovine Overseer and out Dark Corporate Lords, I discovered a brick of queso blanco velveeta cheese-like product. Evil plans formed in my mind.

I actually feel that Velveeta and other processed 'American' cheeses have a place in the kitchen. They melt to gooey so very well. I've often tossed some 2% Velveeta to transform my chili into wonderful chili cheese topping for chips or hot dogs. I still have a pocket of it frozen in the freezer for a lousy cold day.

After work I purchased said brick of cheese, 1lb of ground chicken, 1 packet McCormick chicken taco seasoning, a can of refried beans, and some tortilla chips. Scoops to be precise.

Browned the chicken in a skillet lightly oiled with peanut oil. Then followed the directions for the mix packet. Added the water, but only put in about 2/3rds of the seasoning. Let it simmer a bit. Added and mixed in the can of refried beans. Last came a 4th of the block of white processed cheese-like substance cut into cubes. Stirred until fully melted and mixed up.

It was delicious. The spouse unit agreed vehemently. I, and my arteries, felt very full and satisfied after downing a bowl along with a plate of chips. The beans and the chicken make this feel a lot of lighter than a beef chili-cheese dip would. With about a third of the cheese, it would would make a solid filling for corn or flour tortillas. As it stands this will get used during the holidays as a snacking dip. Tasty is considered a solid success.

The Defensive Fixed Blade

2011-10-21T06:09:00.014-05:00

I often speak of defensive fixed blade knives to be carried offhand. Dan at BladeReviews mentioned that he appreciated my input on such things so I'm going to over-clarify. These are my opinions and observations, but of course, I've never actually gone at anyone with a blade. If you think it's crap, please comment away!

First off one must remember that a defensive knife isn't the same thing as a true dedicated fighting knife, nor is it going to be a combat knife. Fighting knives have their own special requirements. The foremost is the ability to deliver an immediate kill. Therefore, the fighting blade must be either deliver catastrophic damage through edge cuts or internal organ hits through point penetration. Combat knives for me, are knives that are primarily field tools that also can do a fair job as a fighting blade when necessary.

For an edge kill, that means a large knife with the weight and design physics to chop or slice through bone and muscle. Not just taking out arteries. Death by blood loss takes time. Time that can be used against you. In addition to the edge cut there is also the blunt force issues of bone and meat being pushed into other organs or places. Shock, the shear level of physical damage, and massive blood loss all together would finish off the victim. Kukris, barongs, large bowies, and such are renown for this sort of thing.

You'll find that penetration kills are more common. It is easier and falls in line of the fighting blade's role in the modern military world. Silent kills on enemy soldiers by special forces operators. These are ambush kills, but kills nonetheless. Here, length is the big issue. Like with the minimum penetration standards the FBI put out for handgun projectiles, there is a literal distance to be traveled to the life sustaining organs of the human body from the point of entry. If the blade is strong enough, it can penetrate the rib cage directly. The cage can be bypassed by going up under it or down through the collar. If one looks at the bayonets of the world you can figure out the minimum size for such weapons. The modern bayonet seems to be in the range of 6.5 to 8 inches in length. That is a reasonable bar then. Also, the blades tend not to be broad and are either double edged or the back is swedged to give better penetration.

But what does all this tell us about the defensive knife? Merely, what we cannot expect from it. Defensive blades are not meant to deliver a killing stroke. They can cause fatal wounds, but very rarely an immediate one. Look at a cat's claws for a great example. Cat's do not kill often with their claws, especially not something close to it's size. In predatory action, the claws hold while the bite kills. In a fight, the cat often curls up and uses its powerful rear legs to shred the soft places of its opponent. As we cat owners know, this crap hurts, even when they're just playing. The cat scratches you to make you let go. That is of course the end game. Getting free.

Your defensive blade is meant to inflict as much hurt as it can at point blank contact distance to make the goon let you go. As a bonus, it might seriously weaken that same person. Every drop of blood the other guy loses is helping the fight go in your favor. Also, like with a cat, he should never have seen that blade until he feels the tip scraping across his bones. Shock is useful! Fear and surprise can help you. If you can change his mind from fight to flight, it is your win.

Defensive blades, naturally have some serious requirements. For the blade, while length isn't as important, it must be kept deadly sharp. Just like you should keep a kitchen knife. After all, you're cutting meat. If the knife is too long it will not be easy to bring into use against a grappling attacker. The steel doesn't have to be uber premium. AUS8 and 440c do well for blades of 4 inch and under. This also has the benefit of not costing as much to replace if the knife must be left embedded in someone. Also, you want to be able to draw the knife and use it.

The grip needs to be excellent for both draw and retention. Ever try to pull a smooth gripped knife out of a kydex sheath? Or keep hold of a slimy grip? I find G10 grips to be wonderfully rough and grippy in the worst situations, but most poly, wood, or metal grips with good texturing will do nicely. Also, sub hilts and ring hilts help a lot in both draw and retention. They lock your finger in, though if the blade is caught, you might get something broken. Also, a good guard is a must too. I think too many knives do not have adequate guards. They're really not for protecting against other knives, but protecting you from a hand-slip and some cut fingers.

Perhaps the most neglected issue from the knife manufactures is carry options for their defensive blades. Most knife manufactures do not provide even decent sheaths with their knives. Many folks are forced to buy 3rd party sheath systems or make their own. IWB, OWB, pocket, neck, and even should carry are possible, but with knives they can be also carried in different positions like vertical and small of the back carry doesn't cause as much danger as it would with a handgun.

The images from top to bottom: TOPS Baghdad Bullet, unknown Kukri, Boker Plus Schanz Integral Dagger, Emerson La Griffe, Dirk Pinkerton Pocket Bowie, Boker Plus Mosier Tactical, CRKT Crawford Kasper Dragon, and KSF Pocket Sheaths.

Muela's German Style Handle Utility Knife

2011-10-20T07:11:00.008-05:00

Even before buying my beloved Boker trench dagger, I've loved these military style guards and handles. While surfing KnifeCenter, I found this Muela with a classic Germanic military/bayonet grip.

The steel is an unnamed stainless, but it's not a long blade. At 4.7 inches it is at my comfort limit with standard stainless. The 1121 & the stainless version, 1123, both have thin bowie-like clip point style blade. The versions cost $25 and $31 respectively.

Muela is not a brand I know much about. There is very little information available about this Spanish manufacturer. Primarily, they make stainless blades and they do make some pretty higher end products. From what little I can gather, these Spanish blades are supposed to be pretty functional. One of Muela's particular claims to fame is that they produce the Magnum 26 which is the giant bowie used by Pierce Brosnan in Seraphim Falls. 14inch 440c blade is not something I would actually care to use. Under hard use, it would most likely break.

I'd like to give this one a try. The grip appeals to me a lot, and at the cost, I find it hard to lose even if it's not worth serving as an EDC or defensive blade. At the worst, it would find it's way into my kitchen drawer. Which is the fate for stainless fixed blades I don't think quite 'hack' it.

TOPS/Relentless M1-Compact Knife

2011-10-19T17:41:00.005-05:00

Relentless Knives is custom knife producer that makes some really nice looking blades. Their biggest claim to fame is having made the Punisher knife used in Punisher: War Zone. Their line up has some extremely sweet looking spear points. One of these Relentless blades is the M1 Sub-Compact, a lovely little spear point small fixed blade of about 2.5inch length. The carbon steel version of this custom is a whopping $139.95. A bit high for my tastes despite the great looks. For a custom, I'd rather have the larger brother the M1 Mini for only $20 more.

Fortunately, TOPS, a knife manufacturer specializing in carbon steel knives, has teamed up to make the M1 Sub-Compact a production blade. While its not quite as nice, and lacks the nice swedge, TOPS does add some jimping! I feel that addition much improves things. I know of no online retailers with this yet, but TOPS has it for an introductory price of $72.95 themselves.
This one is pretty tempting for me. Seeing as my ideal CCW knife does not yet exist and the bigger M1 Mini isn't available in such a good configuration/price, this would be a nice carry blade indeed.

Fixed Griptilian Discontinued

2011-10-18T08:01:00.003-05:00

When it comes to stainless steel fixed blades knives, Benchmade's excellent fixed Griptilian 151 is one of my favorites. It is the right size, shape, weight, and steel for a knife that can do anything short of stupid. That's why when I suggested one for Alan over at Snarkybytes, he reported to me that the Benchmade had been discontinued and further research shows that it has been for at least a year. I find it very depressing that either Benchmade felt that it wasn't selling and that people have and will be missing out on a great blade that worked so well for food prep, smaller woods work, EDC, and defense. The size, weight, sharpness, construction, blade steel, weight, grip, and price were all excellent. The sheath was really the only really weak point of this design. While, well made and mostly functional, it was secured to the belt only by a malice clip. I HATE malice clips. Also, it could be hard to get a finger under the grip for a good hold while drawing. A decent kydex CCW sheath rig would have worked rather nicely and really shouldn't have costed that much more.

MWUAHA! We Win Again!

2011-10-17T07:36:00.003-05:00

Whilst slaving away for my dark corporate masters( and the lesser bovine overseer) last night, I saw something that brought quite the smile and euphoria. A Remington AR-15! This is beyond good news and not just because I get 10% on it! It means a major victory for the pro-gun side. That mighty Walmart, which tries hard to avoid controversy and stay politically correct, finds that the profit of selling Evil Black Rifles trumps any possible negative press or political reactions.

I think they're even selling them with full capacity magazines too. Double score!

I seriously hope that they're going to offer a lot more interesting rifles and shotguns from now on. Getting that 590a1 or Sig 522 will be a lot easier with 10% off the top!

Too bad that damn bovine overseer had to ruin my natural high. Grr.

Gone Fishin'

2011-10-11T18:03:00.003-05:00

I'll be on hiatus for a few more days. Hopefully, I'll have a nice review for you then.

Friday Wishlist: Clean out the Ruger p345

2011-09-30T17:11:00.006-05:00

I've looked around a lot of .45 acp handguns. One that I have considered often is the inexpensive Ruger p345. It's a solid polymer framed single stack 45 featuring a very conventional DA/SA trigger. The p345 is pretty slim, has a great feel on the grip, and is neither too heavy nor too light. However, the safety systems are the main problem here. It features a magazine safety, a weird external safety lever, piles of warnings, loaded chamber indicator, and a locking system. The magazine safety actually is so poorly designed that dry firing can shatter the firing pin. I've heard a lot of good things about this gun. And even more after the mag safety is removed. I'd like to see a version that might not sell in CA or Mass, but will make us shooters in the more gun-friendly states start buying these boys up fast. Ruger try taking out the mag safety, redesign the safety or remove it entirely, and take some of the other PC garbage off your otherwise solid design!

A Quote for the Day

2011-09-29T09:19:00.003-05:00

From FarmDad,

"every law passed be it local , state , or federal comes with an implicit death penalty for non compliance."

Yes. If you look far enough down the road for that every law in the books is backed with the threat of lethal force. Doesn't matter how touchy feeling you want the government to be, this is the end game. US.gov will fucking kill your ass and go home and sleep like a baby. This power should be tempered by a concept that the people are only renting it out to the boys in Washington. It does not belong to them, and if they fuck around with it, it can be applied to them by the real landlords.

Cult Murder in Japan

2011-09-28T17:31:00.003-05:00

There are things that happen in this world that make me hate and rage so much I actually get a little afraid of myself. This is one of those things.

In Japan, a 13 year old girl drowned during a cult exorcism performed by her father and a Buddhist monk known as 'waterfall austerity'. The exorcism consisted of tying her down to a chair and then having "her face forcibly doused with a stream of water continuously falling from an outlet 2.5m above her for 5 minutes at a rate of 40 litres a minute." That girl endured this torture over 100 times over at least 3 months before finally succumbing.

I shake when I think about how many times she must have screamed and begged for them to stop and to let her go. I want the worst for them. I don't care whats right or moral. I want them to suffer. Both the father and the monk should not die quickly. I want to see it. I want to laugh. I want to KNOW that they paid for their crimes in this world before going on to suffer for them in the next. There is no crime that is worse than one that is committed by a 'do-gooder' for they will NEVER feel that they did something wrong. In their mind they were saving her. That fallacy means there is no limit to the horrors they will inflict. So, there should be no limit to the horror they should be subjected to in a case such as this. I do not feel like a good person right now. Don't rightly care either. I would gladly take my turn turning the screws on these human vermin. Does that make me no better than them? Maybe. No one says justice has to be nice.

I got this one from Sankaku Complex, lots of NSFW content there so watch out.

Still Not This Bad Here

2011-09-28T17:05:00.004-05:00

In UK, the criminal is actually a more protected victim class than the people they victimize. A 39 year old father fights and ends up stabbing two burglars, one of which succumbed to his injuries. His wife and child ended up being there shortly during the fight. I'm looking for some other story references, but I think I recall another article saying that the two intruders assaulted him prior to the stabbing. The father has since been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Here in Kentucky, such an intrusion is nearly considered suicide. The criminals right to exist becomes null and void over the defenders safety. The reactions of his neighbors are pretty spot on to what they SHOULD be. Such violations are paramount to rape. However, the UK government and the criminal underclass and the liberal moralists don't like for those damn citizens to be all uppity and provide their own security. It endangers all three's groups as much as fools that enter the bears den.

JP reminded me of this one.

The War On Knives: Florida

2011-09-24T14:03:00.005-05:00

Idiots in Florida's have put forth HB179, which prohibits pretty much everything with a sharp edge in all Florida public, private, colleges, and even career centers. It also gives violators felon status for violating this abuse of power. This includes common pocket knives and box cutters. To me, the concept of this law is so criminal, that anyone daring to sign their name to it should themselves be branded as criminals to the civil rights of Americans everywhere and punished. While, from a liability standpoint I can understand pocket knives being kept out of k-12 schools, denying adults on campuses and career centers is inexcusable. Would this apply to the dorms? No kitchen knives so students HAVE to use the campus food services? Gah.

The one who has put this pile of feces forth is the despicable Ari Porth of the Florida House of Representatives. He can be seen below, thinking about how he best trample on the civil rights of the lady to the right.

Found this over on Robb Allen's Thanks for getting my blood pressure up!

Friday Wishlist: Cold Steel Mini-tac Spear Point

2011-09-23T16:49:00.006-05:00

I love my mini-tac tanto. The subhilt design makes drawing and retaining so easy. The jimping is great and the g10 grips are comfortable yet maintain a firm grip in the worst oily slime. However, I am not a huge fan of the American Tanto shape. I'd rather have a curve instead of the unnecessary 2nd point. However, I'd like even more to see this with my favorite blade style, the Spear Point. Spear points are just a very symetrical style of drop point. They feature some of the best tip control, excellent penetration, yet solid cutting power. C'mon Cold Steel. Give me an excuse to buy a 3rd mini-tac!

BTW: Anyone know anyone that can re-profile an AUS8 blade into a more traditional curved Tanto that doesn't like like a 3 year old did it(which is how it would look if I did)?

Assraped by UPS policy

2011-09-23T16:40:00.002-05:00

3.2lbs worth of handgun and accessories to be shipped to its out-of-state destination cost me over $63. According to Federal law, it doesn't matter how you ship a handgun out of state so long as it's headed to an FFL to be transfered. The rules for shipping are all on the carriers. USPS will ship handguns, but they require the shipper to have an FFL and the correct forms. UPS and FedEx will both ship handguns but they both require overnight shipping. This is borne of them not trusting their employees. Justified or not, UPS and FedEx policy have us over the damn barrel. When you can expect a shipping charge of over 50 dollars for each time it becomes very hard to legally ship handguns around the states by yourself. Seriously, harming the ability for regular citizens to dispose of their private property. Once upon a time, 2nd Day Air was good enough. And that was half the price of Next Day Air. I really miss those days. Where's my donut pillow?

What's in Yer Walle- Er Pocket?!

2011-09-20T12:52:00.002-05:00

I'm really more of a knife guy these days than a gun guy, so when I noticed my pal Weerd Beard posting about a knife meme, could I ever resist the peer pressure?

I carry these two just about everywhere. The noticably colored tactical folder is my new Benchmade Griptilian. It is to EDC knives what the Glock 19 is to duty handguns and the Smith & Wesson 642 airweight is to CCW revolvers. It is a standard. I work at night, so harder to loose colors in my blades, isn't exactly a bad idea.

The second blade is my neat Cold Steel Mini-tac Tanto. It is in no means perfect, but it is a great offhand defensive carry knife. Excellent hand retention, remarkably sturdy, and sharp enough to make someone very very sorry for getting too close.

After Six Days and No Posts, Sig-madness is upon me!

2011-09-20T11:53:00.010-05:00

Been a busy several days! I've been busy wheeling and deal. Several very unused pieces of my firearm and accessory collection have been sold off in this past week. Buying and selling guns is actually a lot of fun. However, I find that it is dangerous to do this in that once you have money in hand, it starts to slowly evaporate. Soon the nickles and dimes add up and there's nothing left! I'm trying to not let that happen! I plan on spending as much on a new gun, as a I made on selling old ones.

Originally, I planned to snag a nice Mossberg 590a1 and some more pocket guns, but the siren call of the .45 acp is beckoning... And handguns are just more fun than shotguns damn it. I stumbled upon a steal for a Sig 220, but alas, I stumbled minutes too late. Sigs are easily one of my favorite pistols. I have an excellent little Swiss Sig 225, an excellent single stack 9mm, and I've long wanted a Sig 228. However, I'm currently fixated upon the 220 series. After a few days spent hitting the refresh in a vain attempt to beat someone to a deal at SigForum, I finally have a line a Sig 245 owned by a friend of mine. A discontinued but interesting variation of the well proven 220 series specialized for carry.

UPDATE: this is the particular 245 that I am working hard to acquire. I was surprised to learn it was a coveted duo tone! Sweet!

Owen/Shirley Camp Defender

2011-09-14T12:58:00.006-05:00

I'm increasingly into large knives. They're pretty useful in the woods and as I've found around the yard when you're clearing light brush. My latest find has me a little excited. It's the joint project between jrshirley and steve1911 which has culminated in their Camp Defender knife. I dig this one a lot!

The Camp Defender is tough use bush blade that would take on flesh and bone as quickly as wood. The blade is 9inch bolo/kukri style. Micarta is the default grip material, but other materials are available This full tang knife is made of the excellent 5160 high carbon tool steel.

For now the basic model is going to be offered at $150. If you want it at this price, hurry up, you can reserve one for a $75 deposit. I'm thinking hard on this one. I don't have any custom blades yet. This is the right style and right price for one.

Gay Marriage

2011-09-14T08:29:00.005-05:00

A lot of folks have their panties in a wad about homosexuals getting legally married. In my prospective, it is really none of my business. Nor should it be the government's business to say what consenting adults can or cannot be married to. Marrying animals or children is obviously a foul as neither party is going to be able to consent properly. That is science fact, kids. Thus the prohibition makes perfect sense. However, two adults of legal voting age just happen to be both the same sex and want to form a permenant relationship? The prohibition is not there. There is nothing there sexually that is an issue. Most sodomy laws have been overturned. With modern medicine and hygiene coupled with monogamy nor is it a great health risk. Is it that they cannot reproduce naturally? Well, there are plenty of sterile folks in heterosexual marriages. No one disputes their right to marry. So what reason can be left? Religion!

I'm not a big fan of organized religion, myself, but I have no issues with those folks that choose to follow their faith. In fact, I respect good religious people just as much as I do any other good person. Good people are good people. However, our nation does have this entire 'separation of church and state' business. Therefore, prohibition based on purely religious reasons are flatly against the rules.

I see why marriage is protected by legal means. It is absolutely necessary. But it is not true marriage in a religious sense. It is a set of legal protections for the marriage partnership. There is a separation of the body and the spirit in that way. You want spiritual marriage you go to a church, mosque, or synagogue. However, you want real world legal protections, you go to the state.

The government should not favor one religion over another so long as either are active within the law. So its pretty damn wrong, logically, to deny homosexuals legal protections thanks to religious morality. Is freedom an other world for "none of your business." Lots of folk are going to disagree with me on this one. That's fine! You're entitled to disagree. But if you think that's bad, just wait until I talk about abortion. Muwahahaha.

Nauuuuughty Benchmade?

2011-09-12T12:04:00.007-05:00

After all the crap they gave Boker over their automatic knives, Benchmade seems to be just a tad hypocritical. This new Ti-Fender has a spear point blade, flipper, linerlock, and its overall appearance at a glance reminds me of a certain very popular Kit Carson design...

Is this a cool move? Or a bit, naaaaaaauuuuuuuughty?

'Scalpel'-Style Knives

2011-09-12T11:07:00.005-05:00

Most folding blades have shorter blades with longer grips due to their construction and most fixed blades have a longer blade to grip style. The short blade with full grip style is one I've taken to calling the 'scalpel-style'.

Two that have recently taken my notice are the Blackhawk Kalista II and the Boker Bender. Both feature are made from 440c stainless steel and feature relatively short blades to full size handles.

The 3.3" bladed Kalista looks to have a pretty secure grip with this trigger finger recess deep but not quite subhilted. It is has a generous grip, too. Its sheath can be mounted to Sepra holster paddles and belt loops. The Bender has a more basic neck sheath but features nice micarta scales that are tied in place with paracord. Perhaps this is for mounting to spears? Its blade is a short, 2.75" and it's really only barely in this 'scalpel' category. The Bender averages around $120 and the Kalista, $80. A bit high for 440c knives. The Kalista looks to be the better deal, though the Bender is a very nice looking modern blade with some very classy lines.

They're interesting blades with a lot of control for the point and edge. In work situations too much blade can just get in the way, but I rarely find a knife with too much grip.

Good Vicious Circle this Week

2011-09-10T07:31:00.003-05:00

This week's Vicious Circle, a webcast radio show main full of ornery drunk people hating on things like government and idiocy in general, was really great episode. I've been on VC several times myself. Mostly it's made up of folks from the gunblogger conspiracy. Hearing my pals again, I had to return to the irc channel because I missed 'em!

Freaky the Scary Snowman

2011-09-10T07:18:00.005-05:00

Yesterday, I discovered this. It is INSPIRED GENIUS. You'll spend hours watching this series of youtube published pranks. I wish I had thought of it. Scaring the bejabbers out of city folks is fun! I sometimes wish I could do something just like this for fun and profit. I do a damn good zombie shuffle myself...

Late-Friday Wishlist: Modern .7.62x25mm Handgun

2011-09-10T06:51:00.005-05:00

We got some tiny weirdo micro rifle/pistol hybrids these days like the 5.7 FN and that uber tiny 4.6mm H&K, but the good ol 7.62x25mm Tokarov is still a speedy powerful round that can still defeat some modern soft armor through velocity alone. Plus with modern ammunition this .30 cal gets a boost in effectiveness and still has a lot of weight in comparison to the sub-rifle rounds. So lets see a modern double stack polymer frame handgun in 7.62 Tok. Even if its not necessarily practical, I think that the this old school fire-breather would be just AWESOME to shoot!

Emerson Commemorative Navy SEAL Combat Knife

2011-09-09T21:20:00.004-05:00

In honor for the SEALs that recently died after being shot down in Afghanistan, Emerson knives have built a custom blade out of steel from the World Trade Center. It is being auctioned it off to benefit the families of those SEALs. I've bought one Emerson knife before. A LaGriff. Maybe I need more.

Harbin Pharmaceutical Group of China

2011-09-09T10:37:00.007-05:00

Harbin Pharmaceutical Group is the second largest pharmaceutical company in China and also state operated and owned. As you can see, the company spared no expense to make their main offices look like a French king's wet dream. As our own government is progressing steadily into directly controlling US businesses we can expect this sort of thing to be common place one day. They just have to get rid of those pesky 'rights'.

I found this gem on Sankaku Complex. NSFW links and articles there.

Review: Gerber Curve

2011-09-08T07:30:00.006-05:00

In one of my recent reviews on the Gerber Octane multi-tool, I mentioned that while the tools were pretty good, the folding knife was functional yet very disappointing. SOG, Benchmade, CRKT, Kershaw, and dozens of others make hundreds of excellent high quality stand alone folding knives. They set a bar that the few multi-tools of the world are having one hell of a time leaping over. New models of multi-tools like the Octane, Leatherman Skeletool, Victorinox Trekker, and Wenger Ranger are trying to become more like tactical folders with improved ergonomics, locking blades, better steels, and/or pocket clips. Yet, the knives are still lacking.

Having been so spoiled by our excellent tactical folders, its hard to take a hit on perfection and return to the lowest common denominator. Nor does it make sense to. That sharp edge is what we generally reach for first. Many times over the other common tools. On the other hand, even the best tactical folders are not very good for prying or tightening screws unless you like bleeding. So what does one do? Carry both? That's a lot of extra weight especially when you're carrying a gun, spare magazine, flashlight, and an offhand fixed blade. One compromise I've found is the Gerber Curve.

I recently picked up a Gerber Curve for my wife for about $15 from KnifeCenter.com. She is constantly forgetting it, so I'm taking it over for now and putting it on my keyring. It is small and simple, but surprisingly useful. The fingernail opening tools includes a tiny knife blade, flat head driver, a hybrid flattened Philips head driver, a small flat head, file, and a carbiner/bottle opener. The knife, flat heads, file, and the bottle opener are perfectly functional. I'm not sold on the Philips. It will do the job, but not in a great way. There are dozens of tiny pocket or key chain tools with similar load outs, but unlike the vast majority all the folding tools on the Curve lock. Also, the curve is oddly ergonomic. Not so much in the sense of being especially easy to use or hold. Rather its ergonomics make it comfortable to keep on a key ring in your pocket. Other tools like the SwissTool and even some Leatherman-style tools are very likely to tear up pockets or even scratch your leg.

The Curve is not massively full featured. It is extremely minimalist approach. The Yet, it can take care of most of the small tasks that I require from its tools at a modicum of weight. My favorite folding knives can stay where they belong. JP also gave a little review on this tool.

More Thoughts on Pistol Caliber Carbines Options

2011-09-05T07:28:00.006-05:00

This week GunBlogger Conspiracy regular, veteran Vicious Circler, & part-time rock & roll clown, Weerd, discussed pistol carbines and their virtues and deficiencies. I seriously do agree with most of his post. I have long held that pistol caliber carbines make excellent defensive tools. Accuracy, stability, low recoil, inexpensive practice, and sharing your handguns caliber. He also mentions

(tho technically you gain a bit of muzzle energy from that same pistol ammo, tho the end result is mostly academic) and the stopping power of a rifle or a shotgun)

This is actually only partially true. For most of the your semiautomatic pistol cartridges, it is correct. Perhaps a 100 or 150 fps can be added with the addition of a 16 inch barrel. This is due to the fact most all semi-auto carts are loaded with fast burning powders. They very quickly burn up the powder and if the barrel cannot go much past 16 inches before velocity begins to degrade. However, if you look at revolver cartridges, something magical happens. Most revolver cartridges are loaded with slow burning powder. Where fast burning powders have already reached their full kinetic force, slow powders are still building up.

Buffalo Bore provides an excellent example of this with their heavy(not +P) 125grain .357 magnum load. From a 4inch revolver this spicy load dishes out muzzle velocity of 1603fps. That's about 150 over the more classic hot anti-personnel 125grain loading. However, in 18.5inch barreled Marlin lever action, this load has an incredible 2298fps. It is firmly in the realm of the 30-30 and the classic 7.62x39 soviet rifle loads in speed and kinetic energy delivery.

It is a similar tale with other calibers such as the .45 colt and .44 magnum. Another example is Buffalo Bore's .44 magnum 180grain Anti-Personnel which exits a 18.5 inch barrel at 1987fps which is 570fps over the same round from a 4inch revolver.

I've known this for some time, but Weerd's comment made me think about this fact a bit more closely. I think decided to hit up Google and see if anyone has any slow burning loads for automatic pistol cartridges. While, I found no commercial loadings, I did find the results of an experiment one fine gentleman had loaded for himself to try out with a hi-point 9mm carbine. The results, if correct, are very impressive. He used Wolf 9mm and bulk Winchester white box as control groups, both using 115grain projectiles. They averaged at about 1250fps and 1300fps respectively. Then he used 3 loadings of his slow powder each with 115 grain projectiles. One load was near the maximum pressure for 9x19 using Blue Dot powder. It gave out an amazing average of 1700fps! WWB has an average speed of about 1150fps from a handgun. That is fairly normal for a non-+P 9x19 load. 1700fps out of the same cartridge in a 16inch barrel is not just academic. It's a game changer. Concealable class II bullet resistant vests could not be trusted to stop that sort of velocity. It adds a lot to the platform.

Despite these impressive findings, I am still a bit concerned with a few questions. Would it cause problems to the firearm being that its slow powder? Will it overheat faster? Can the barrel take the velocity? Will it cycle properly?

I shall try to remain optimistic about this. After all, the slow powder experiment was carried out successfully with a Hi-Point 995, which means I think ANY 9mm carbine in good condition could to it too. 9mm AR-15s are becoming more and more popular as time goes on and ammo prices mount. Some of these are going to be dedicated platforms too. They may be earmarked for younger or weaker family members in case of disaster. Uzi carbines, kel-tec sub-2000s, Beretta Storms, and a smattering of others are also available and would also be solid choices for a 2nd line defensive carbine or a primary depending on the user. A few magazines of higher velocity carbine loads would certainly go a very long way for the normally low power of the caliber. If viable, 9x19mm carbine specific loads might be something we see ammunition makers, big and small, work on next.

Japan: Gun Cultures in Worlds of Oppression

2011-09-03T04:01:00.005-05:00

No big secret that I'm a big fan of Japanese animation and comics. I came to it in my teenage years after never seeming to find the kinds of visual science fiction that I desired. In the 18 years since, I've learned a lot about the culture and people of Japan in conjunction with this hobby.

One thing I learned was of the Gun and Sword Act. Since the 1600's, the common people have been effectively banned from owning weapons in Japan. This was quickly placed into effect by the Tokugawa Shogunate to cement their dominate position for the next 250 years. Even today, the Japanese have one of the lowest numbers of firearms in the world. It is almost 99.9% true that only the cops and criminals have guns in Japan. Despite this, I have discovered that there is indeed a firearms culture still struggling inside of Japan. Only has to look in their art to see the carefully drawn images of Glocks, m4s, Smith & Wesson both revolvers & semiautomatics. If it didn't matter, they wouldn't be so lovingly and exactingly depicted on the pages of comics and digital animation cells. They study them. They spend hours researching from some of the very same pictures we take of our own rifles, shotguns, and handguns just to show off. For these artists, this is gold.

Airsoft is popular there. Folks of all ages go play commando with what they legally can. Some save up to go on shooting parties in other countries. In their own country it is illegal for them to even touch a gun without a license. Yet, they're still there. Multitudes of common people, just like us, that want to go shoot a gun just for the joy of doing it. They talk like we do in gun shops and internet forums, but sadly most of them have no actually experience. They play the same video games that are getting our younger gunnie generation the urge to get out and shoot! But no one will ever be there to let them try out a Sig or an AK for their first time out to the range.

It's heartbreaking when you realize there are decent folks that honestly have no chance of changing things in their own country. Japan is more a police state than even many third world nations. We have comrades there and in many other countries all over the world. Put a few extra rounds down range for them. As long as we can keep owning and shooting, maybe we can give them a little hope.

Friday Wishlist: USA-made Kalishnakov Bayonets

2011-09-02T09:58:00.003-05:00

There are a lot of AK clones in circulation in the USA 7 years since the Evil Looking Guns ban sunset, many of those now have their bayonet lugs. Bayonets are popular collector's items, but rarely fixed in the field. Older bayonets were not useful in both camp tasks and defensive use. Dedicated knives like Kabars and Bowies are still heavily used by military personnel. Recently for the AR/m16/m4 platforms, new bayonets have been starting to crop up. Makers like Zero-Tolerance and Ontario are starting to make bayonets that are actually more useful off the end of a rifle. I have to wonder then, why not new ones for the AK pattern rifles too? Low end Romanian builds aside, folks are putting down serious bucks for good Bulgarian, Yugoslavian, and Hungarian builds. Not to mention the many Saiga rifles and shotguns being converted. Some of these high end builds cost just as much as a lower to mid range AR-15. If I had the money or know how to put into this, I would. AK bayonets make some better sense to me as the ring goes where the finger guard would be on a normal blade. This would allow for a thumb to go up on some spinal jimping and add to control in normal tasks. I think it would be simple and not terribly expensive to get some of the bayonet mounting parts from eastern europe and create the blades themselves there. I am thinking about cracking open my Romanian bayonet to see how feasible this sort of transplant could be.

The Troll Hunter

2011-09-01T13:20:00.005-05:00

Just finished watching this Norwegian film done in documentary style about a group of college kids recording the work of a professional troll hunter tasked with dealing with Norway's native troll population when they come into conflict with human interests. I saw the preview during some time spent looking for upcoming horror and sci-fi movies on youtube. At first I laughed at the concept, but as I watched the preview I got interested. Months later a copy showed up on the shelf of my local MaoMart for twelve bucks. Money well spent in my opinion. I love monster movies. I care little for horror movies with mere humans as the monsters. I already know we're the worst things out there, so not terribly interested there. I really enjoyed this one. It's a keeper in my book. At the very least worth a $1 rental at the Red Box or with your netflix account.

Review: Boker AK-74 Automatic Knife

2011-09-01T09:09:00.009-05:00

One of the worst feelings is being disappointed after making a supposedly careful decision. We've also spent lots of money on impulse buys on things only to be disappointed. This feels bad, but isn't as bad. We tell ourselves that we were weak and somehow, it makes us feel better. Naturally, its a given we feel good when we make that careful thought out purchase and its exactly what we wanted or better. How about when we make a snap purchase and it turns out to be awesome? Nothing feels better. You just gambled and you won. I gambled on a Boker Kalashnikov AK-74 Automatic knife and I won big.

This is my first automatic knife. I've wanted one for a while. However, there simply isn't much in the mid-range of quality. It often seems that the autos out there are either junky imports or high end stuff like Benchmades and the super high end, Microtechs that make the Benchmade's look like mid-range! I had just finished looking at a Benchmade Mel Pardue auto at a gunshop, when a knife that I'd seen before online, one or twice, caught my eye in an AK magazine-shaped box. I picked it up and handled it. Felt good, looked good, locked good, opened good, and the price was good! Overall, I liked it better than the $150 knife I'd just handled. So I took the plunge, plunked down $45, and never looked back.

The Ak-74 is an automatic drop point tactical folder with a side-mounted push button lock-release. Much like with Benchmade's automatics, its just push and click. When closing, just push the lock and fold the blade. Pretty simple. It does not have a safety thanks to a lawsuit that Benchmade leveled at Boker. I'm not really sure who was in the right, but Boker started making the AK line without the safety and recessed the lock button down a little more. I think I had one accidental opening in the year and a half it was part of my EDC kit and nothing bad happened during it. As for carrying and using an auto, I found I really really liked it. I even carried it at work. However, I opened it so that the spine would hit my pant leg and I would then flip it out the rest of the way so as not to frighten the sheeple.

The blade is a handsome looking drop point, modeled slightly on the AK-74 bayonet. I certainly don't think its a close resemblance. There is a pseudo swedge that almost gives it a clip point appearance. The drop point's shape is excellent and both edge and point are controllable for food prep, opening packages, and other general cutting tasks. Its made of AUS8, so its edge is not particularly long lasting, but neither is it terrible. The maximum edge sharpness is perfectly adequate for EDC work. Never had any issues with corrosion. The handle is aluminum. The color is painted on, but it held up pretty well with regular use.

The ergonomics are among the finest I've ever felt on a knife. Its like it was made to fit my hands. The grip features excellent comfortable finger grooves so it doesn't feel like you're going to slip easily either way. Boosting this, are 3 raised portions matching the grooves along the sides. Everywhere else there is a pebbled texture that is smooth but still reasonably grippy. The jimping is wonderful on this knife. The jimping is deep and secure for the thumb in both normal grip and reverse grip. The pocket clips is a deep pocket design that is nicely secure, but its wavy shape impressively adds to the draw of this knife! A great feature. The lock may be the weak point. It is a single point of locking. As most side button locks are. Even so, I would rate this as a solid medium EDC choice.

There are many different styles of this knife. There is a liner lock version, which I have never handled. No matter the lock up there are several colors to choose from. They sell this knife without the springs too. So you can generally find these for order and buy it and the springs separate to get around the foolish federal laws on automatics. Remember, if you want an auto. Make DAMN sure, that you can legal own one. Kentucky CCW laws allow me to carry literally any weapon legal in the USA with my permit. But a few miles down to the south, I'd be in serious shit if a Tennessee cop found it on my person.

It has become one of my favorites, and its hard to say what could make it better, other than offering a some versions in a better steel and maybe even doing some polymer frame versions. It's made in Taiwan as part of Boker's Boker Plus line. I seriously have no issues with Taiwan. I've had and seen too many excellent knives made there. Sure, there are cheap shitty ones coming from there too, but if it says Taiwan I will be inclined to give it a chance.

If you're seriously considering getting an automatic knife. This is a wonderful place to start at. Automatics are very cool and surprisingly useful. There is no legitimate reason for them to be reviled and be subject to such outright stupid laws. I recommend that you give the Boker Ak74 a try before you sit down the serious cash for one of the higher end knives. If worst comes to worst, you'll have a spare auto that is won't hurt so bad if you loose it.

Shanghai Shadow: Cold Steel's Smatchet Wannabe

2011-08-30T12:55:00.006-05:00

For several years now, I've been jonesing for a Smatchet. Smatchets are massive fighting knives featuring a ten-inch leaf-shaped often double edged blades that were designed back in World War One as a backup weapon when most folks were packing long bolt actions with long sword bayonets. The shanghai shadow is not a smatchet, but the 7 inch blade is very similar. Cold Steel lists it under their throwing blades, but I have serious doubt about its abilities in that. It pretty simple, carbon steel construction with smooth polymer grips. The large ring I find rather useless and in the way of making this actually a cool fighting knife. The guard functional, but not very good or even cool looking. It is however, extremely sharp out of the box. Play with this at your own risk. This thing may be a $25 Chinese cheapy, but it is extremely sharp and the steel seems quite solid. I have no doubts that it could certainly serve as a fighting knife. It has the length of blade to hit the vital organs and just enough heft to chop someone to pieces. The sheath is predictably barely functional and outright junky. If you wanted to carry this thing, you'd need to find or make a better sheath for it.
I really have no serious use for this, its there to look kinda cool and be something sharp if I really needed it. If you're looking for something just kinda neat but not expensive to scratch that knife itch, give it a try.

HATRED ALL CONSUMING

2011-08-29T08:31:00.004-05:00

My favorite Internet Hate Machine, Mr. JayG, has shared with us this morning something that is quite literally causing me to loose control. As I type this, I can barely keep my fingers pressing down like a hyena's fangs upon the bones of a enemy.

In the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts, in the city of Bostongrad, Councilors Michael Ross and Tito Jackson are trying to combat knife crime by requiring knife sellers have license to be allowed to sell knives.
The video shows them and their concerns about how children could buy 4 or 5inch bladed knives for as little as ten dollars. Of how the government should have a say in where knives are bought and sold.

I've been mad before. I've been fighting mad before too. But now I'm BITING MAD. I suddenly recall the Tolneps from Battlefield Earth and how it was often threatened to strip members of this poisonous alien species naked and throw them into the streets to be bitten to death by small children. Well, I wouldn't want the guys to be naked. Think of the children! But I'm certainly cool with the rest of it! I would gleefully point and laugh before joining my youthful comrades. The smell of fear and tang of idiocy would prevalent upon my bloody maw. Their much masticated bodies would then be left in the councilman's executive mini-fridge as a grim reminder of the cost of moronic tyranny.

Seriously and obscenely though, talk about your useless fucktard feel good hippy pointless piss-gobbling piles of reeking bloody worm-ridden horseshit. This ain't like guns boys! THERE IS A KNIFE IN EVERY HOME. Usually several! They do not require highly advanced technology to fabricate, like firearms. All you fucking need is a fucking ROCK and a piece of metal, and a little elbow grease. Fuck! Metal is optional! Go ask your corrections officers you fucking little mini-Stalins. What about internet sales, you dirty-diaper-huffing morons?! GRAGHHHHHHHHGGGG- *insert an additional 5 minutes of hair pulling, obscenties, and 3 gallons lathery rage froth* This happens each time I listen to these guys talk.

If I have not said it before, I'll say it again. Knives are basic tools of human survival. Necessities for both modern an ancient living. They are more important that your existences, my egomaniacal Councilors. Your petty attempt to control to profit the machine with more government workers and more tax payer money, is an affront to civilization. Without even biting you, you've left me a bad taste in my mouth.

And no I am not advocating biting these two to death. That would be horribly unhygienic. I like kids! Even alien ones. I would not want them to get something horrible from these guys. You know how big city government types like to roll. Around. In a bed full of hookers and blow. I imagine the crabs in Mass. are most imposing. I shall just have to hope these turkeys try to drink the rain.

I don't expect much out of Boston

2011-08-29T07:22:00.004-05:00

Gay Cynic administers a beautiful curb stomp to a craptacular Boston Globe editorial that tries to make us believe that both micro-stamping and New York firearm manufacturers are very cheap.

I've been Black Listed!

2011-08-28T10:08:00.002-05:00

By the Gun Blog Black List. Oh noes! Check out all the other great folks that have been black listed too. DAMN THE MAN!

Retro-Tactical

2011-08-28T07:23:00.000-05:00

I have long been a proponent of the idea that just because a firearm isn't full of the latest most modern technology or features, doesn't mean that its useful less defensive or offensively. There are too many revolvers, lever-actions, bolt-actions, pump-actions, and old style semi-autos to discount their utility in conflict. Therefore, I was very pleased to discover that Retro-Tactical was dedicated to making modern tactical gear for these older weapons. They have stock pouches for stripper clips for Mosins Nagants, Enfields and SKSes. There is also MOLLE and belt magazine pouches for N-frame speedloaders, m1-carbines, Garands, m-14s, even 20rd AK magazines. They round out things with some more modern but hard to find gear for the new keltec PMR30 and pouches for p90 magazines. Loadbearing gear is also offered. They do some custom work too. I'm very tempted to see about a bandoleer bag combination L-frame holster with built in speedloader pouch, flashlight pouch, and some loops for shotgun shells as a home defense go-to. Could be AWESOME. Check these guys out. You might have an old Enfield, SKS or Garand that could stand some excellently priced tactical gear for just in case.

Konya wa Hurricane

2011-08-28T07:12:00.000-05:00

With everyone concerned with Stormageddin, I thought I'd show you folks the intro and music video to the 80's Japanese animated cyberpunk classic, BubbleGum Crisis. Enjoy Priss and the Replicants performing Konya wa Hurricane or 'There's a Hurricane Tonight." Also, enjoy the kick ass action of these excellent OVA series. It gets special bonus points for having a guy that carries around a 3rd .60 caliber EarthShaker revolver and using powered armor to fight deadly techno-organic cyberdroids known as Boomers.

Knife Blogger Conspiracy?

2011-08-27T21:49:00.001-05:00

Seeing as I blog more stabby than shooty, perhaps it is time for some sort of Knife Blogger Conspiracy IRC channel. Anyone thing there's enough interest? How about a name? Please comment!

Update: I've gone ahead and registered a channel. #knifeblogger_conspiracy at irc.slashnet.org:6667. Might have to change the name in the future. But lets give this a try for now.

Mibbit is an easy web-based IRC client.
I personally prefer MIRC.

You Sleep in the Bed You Make

2011-08-27T10:18:00.000-05:00

The misuse of police authority is a hot topic in the gunblogosphere these days. It seems every single day we hear about a new outrageous act by law enforcement. Angry cops making death threats against legal CCW holders. Against other suspects too. Gunpoint disarms of legally open carrying citizens. Illegal confiscation of private property in a public forum. The war against civilians who record those misdeeds. Do I even need to link the ATF/FBI/DOJ/DEA idiocy allowing guns to be walked to Mexican drug cartels? It gets your dander up, doesn't it?

I think that the police need to get their shit together. So I will give them a warning. Police go home like everyone else. They go to sleep in the same communities that they have authority over. Its not hard to figure out where they are. We see patrol cars parked in drive ways. We see them handing out tickets at the side of the round. Our children see them doing drug awareness programs at the schools. We know these guys and gals. They're part of our communities. They do not live in barracks or castles. Just ranch styles, apartments, and split levels like the rest of us. It is a police officers best interest to have a community that trusts them and supports them. Because in the blink of an eye they can become targets. To criminals looking for revenge, terrorists, or even mobs of a community felt wronged. Push comes to shove and disasters happen. When the world is filled with chaos, you want people that will come to your aid. Not ones that will aid only in destroying you. You want people that will take care of your family while you have to go out fight the good fight. You do not want them to be alone against a hostile world.

You have to sleep in the bed you make, police officers. If you spend your career looking down on your fellow citizens as serfs and peasants to be lorded over, kicked aside, and used for your own goals or petty whims. You're only hurting yourself. Alone, without your blue brothers and sisters, you're very vulnerable. As are the ones you love. Endeavor to be polite and professional, and remember that even if they're suspects, they're still your community. I think you'll find more people willing to jump to your aid. More people willing to make sure your family and home is safe, too. Its easy for me to say these things, I'm not a cop. But I am part of your community and that community has entrusted authority to you to do your job. Before you look for excuses to jail us or take our property or even hurt us or when you see your fellow officers do ill, remember that you sleep next door to us.

Some Saturday Morning Sexy: Blackhawk Tatang

2011-08-27T02:33:00.001-05:00

Now, I'm really darn affectionate towards subhilted knives. I feel they are safer and stay in the hand better than straight grips. Two subhilts I've been jonesing for are the Cold Steel Black Bear Classic and the single edged Cold Steel OSS. Both blades are in the 8inch size. However its over $300 for the black bear and over $100 for the san mai version of the OSS fighter. The quest for great subhilts continues though and I just found another large one. The Blackhawk Tatang.

Subhilt? Check. Big fixed blade. Check. Looks cool as fuck. Check. Reasonably priced? can be found under $70. Check! I would love to handle one of these.

Edit: Almost forgot, the back edge is sharp. This is a double edged knife. Also carbon steel blade. Not stainless, as too many 'tactical' blades tend to be.

Friday Wishlist: Bayonet Ready Mossberg 590a1 18.5 with 6rd tube

2011-08-26T23:17:00.000-05:00

The excellent Mossberg 590a1 is a military issue pump action shotgun in use by the US military and various law enforcement agencies across the US. Despite the many versions with differing sights, finishes, stocks, and accessories offered, there are only two primary size/capacity versions available. The 20inch barrel version which features a 8rd magazine and the 18.5 inch barrel type with a 5 round magazine. The 20inch versions often feature a bayonet lug, while the 18.5 inch version's magazine is considerably shorter than the barrel making a bayonet attachment impossible. Shorter shotguns are easier to wield in close spaces. My 870 wears a 18.5 and a short stock and is only an inch over a yard long for that very reason! However, mine has a 6rd magazine tube that is virtually flush with the muzzle. Unfortunately, the design of the shorter 590a1 means that it is always limited to 5rds. No extension is possible. Also that eliminates something I'd also like on static defensive shotgun. 8inches of sharp steel. Good for a phalanx against goblins and rioting chavs during reload.

Mossberg. You make a very beloved shotgun. One that the infamous JayG loves for its stabbity goodness. However, I, and I'm certain lots of other people, would love to see a bayonet ready, 6rd magazine version of your 18.5 590a1. Guys, it would SELL. Remington would not be happy. I would not have an 870 right now. I'd have an 590a1.

Oh yeah, I'd have one of these sweet ass Ontario USMC bayonets on it. 8inches of carbon steel stabbolicious.

Leaving the Gunblogger Conspiracy

2011-08-26T20:01:00.000-05:00

For the last year or two, I've been a regular in a most excellent IRC channel known as the Gunblogger Conspiracy. A fine group of folks, bloggers and not. They got me into blogging, and listened to my gripes and gave me plenty of advice about guns, life, and great eats. I recently made some comments that came close to violating one of the few rules. Others that had done this have been banned permanently. Most of the powers that be, sided with me, and decided that a ban would unreasonable. However, some of the GBC community that were conflicted and others that outright believed me to be in the wrong. There are friends in that later group that I have a lot of respect for. That condemnation is simply too much for me . Thus, I accept responsibility for my words at their face value and I bid farewell to the Conspiracy.
I'm sorry for all the drama, GGC community. I should have minded my words much better. It was a blast though guys. Take care.

Edit: The person that did the original banning has nothing to do with my decision. Please leave that one be. I never cared what that one thought of me or my actions. Fair is fair.

note: If you no longer wish to be associated this blog, toss me an email to malodorousroadkill at gmail and I'll remove links.

Friday Wishlist: S&W 6shot j-frame

2011-08-19T07:08:00.000-05:00

Not too long ago, Taurus put out a new version of one of their better regarded products, the Taurus 85 j-frame size revolver. This new version, the 856 was available in a new weird but light magnesium frame and a classic steel frame, but the biggest difference was that it was a 6shooter instead of a 5. I had the opportunity to handle one and even briefly drop it into my own 638's Mika Pocket Holster. It fit perfectly despite being slightly larger. This was very tempting. It wasn't a concealed or bobbed hammer design, but it still was an extra round for not much more weight and a virtually unnoticeable increase in size. Smith & Wesson... Why have you not done this? Offer this for about 100 to 150 more in alloy, scandium, and steel. If you did this with a concealed hammer, tritium sight, and perhaps a 20oz scandium frame, it would literally be the perfect CCW revolver. A 4inch version with longer grip, full steel frame, and a slicked up trigger would be a wonderful first gun for a lot of people with smaller hands. If you make it. They will buy!

Friday WishList: Ruger Redhawk .45 colt/.45 acp

2011-08-12T09:53:00.000-05:00

In the last few years Ruger made a new 4inch version of their classic Redhawk large bore revolver in .44 magnum and .45 Colt. After seeing the new S&W Governor which is .410, 45colt, and cut for .45 acp moon clips, I am suddenly wondering why it wouldn't be good for Ruger to offer a version of the Redhawk .45 Colt thats cut for moonclips too. The Redhawk can take the powerful magnum level .45 colt +Ps and will both serve as a hunting revolver and a bear defense gun. For home defense, good loads for .45 colt are rare and expensive, but not so with .45 ACP! With piles of choices for plinking and defensive loads, .45acp is also generally available everywhere ammo is solid. The moon clips would make for faster reloads while administering 'social services'. You'd have me sold. I'm really considering a Governor for its excellent price point and extremely versatility of a gun in functional calibers. But a Redhawk can go full house magnum power, the S&W cannot. If you're reading this Ruger, please consider this!

Carbiner Carry for Fixed-Blades

2011-08-12T07:16:00.000-05:00

Concealed carrying fixed blade knives isn't always easy. First off, the companies often skimp on sheath designs. They may be just cheap neck knife sheaths that have no clips or belt knife sheaths with just loops or the materials are weak or any of dozens of issues. Secondly, belt carry can be very difficult especially if you don't have a cover piece. Even IWB with a shirt covering has its own set of disadvantages. It might be hard to get to and also brings the very real danger of cutting yourself. One method of carry I've come to like is pocket carry. It's very concealable and reasonably easy to access but the big downside is that few sheaths are made for this form of carry. I had to good fortune to catch an interesting system for pocket carry while looking at reviews of the Cold Steel Kiridashi in a video by WellAllJuggleKnives.

In the video, the simple neck knife sheath had a single keyring put through one of the holes and then attached to a simple carbiner. The carbiner clips onto the edge of your pocket or in the belt loop. All or most of the knife disappears into your pocket. When drawn the sheath with rise up until reaching the end of its tether. This has an added safety advantage by protecting your thigh from the edge during the draw. Then your knife is out and ready for EDC or crisis use. I carry my Cold Steel mini-tac tanto offhand with the low pocket method while at work and use the belt loop when I have a cover or when out and about.

This is a very simple and useful system that adds a lot of utility to a simple cheap sheath for fixed blades especially neck knives. It can also be used in your car, at your desk, beds, on backpacks, or even hanging on your shower with a high corrosion resistant stainless steel blade. I think the addition of a pocket clip to the grip of the fixed blade could make this system even easier to use. The 2-zero from Nemesis Knives has a clip like this and I would love to try it in combination.

Cold Steel Mini-Tac Tanto & Kiridashi

2011-08-11T06:54:00.000-05:00

I continue the quest to find small fixed knives for offhand carry. A solid choice for offhand carry is the Mini-Tac line from Cold Steel. Of these four knives, I own two. The Tanto and the Kiridashi. Both are lightweight and constructed from AUS8 steel and feature excellent textured G10 handles. The handles are honestly the best feature of this series. They are what is known as a subhilt. Subhilts do not fully lock the index finger like the ring on a LaGriff style, but still provide considerable extra security. It is difficult to get a hand disengaged from a subhilt. This is a bonus in safety that cannot be understated. Even the slipperiest conditions, you will not have to be concerned with your hand riding up to the blade or the knife slipping out of your hand to hit your foot.

The Kiridashi's blade style is very similar to a box cutter. It is after all a version of an ancient utility blade style from Japan. Its deadly easy to sharp its straight edge, but being AUS8 be very mindful of your tip. Its easy to bend. However, its sharp enough to easily slice open any sort of meat you might have to deal with.

The Tanto is about 1/2 an inch longer, and seems a lot more sturdy. I carry this a lot offhand in my pocket. I also like the straight spine and the fine jimping. The AUS8 sharpens well enough, too. Unfortunately, I have quickly realized that I am not a fan of the Americanize tanto style. The true tanto style is a pretty conventional curve instead of the less useful angular double point. Curves are much better slicers and slashers. Tantos are good stabbers, even with the American style and in stainless steel. I do have faith in its ability to penetrate.

Both come with metal chains and cheap plastic neck sheaths that cover the subhilt. A poor design. The subhilt adds too much in drawing to be so covered. Also, they do not come with belt clips. To carry them, I use something I've taken to calling 'carbiner carry' which is a cheap way to get some better use out of simple neck knife sheaths.

For less than $40 each, these are a solid buy. A good choice for offhand carry or just plain EDC that won't break the bank. Check out the others in the mini-tac line. A fat beavertail blade and a skinner. I wish Cold Steel would do a spear point version or at least give the tanto a traditional curve.

Friday WishList: Listen Up CRKT!

2011-08-05T06:14:00.000-05:00

I do not own many CRKT knives, but one I have very much enjoyed is Kit Carson's M16. Its a very classy and very popular series of liner lock folders that are known for their extra blade lock. While, mine had issues with the pocketclip that prevented its carry after I lost screws a second time, I am still in awe of the wonderful feeling grip, the flipper role as guard, and the solid spear point blade design. CRKT, I beg you to make a fixed blade version of this knife! I want the same ergos, but I want a full tang on this bad boy! Blade size is fine for me, but if you used a better steel(s30v etc), a version in 4-5inch would be pretty damn awesome for a mid-sized fixed EDC! As it stands the 3.5 is a great size and shape for a boot/belt/CCW knife. Toss in a decent sheath with some options for open and concealed carry and this thing will sell.

Review: Gerber Octane

2011-07-29T07:20:00.000-05:00

The most useful tool a human can usually carry with them is generally a sharp edge. However, other tools like screw drivers and pliers are really nearly as useful making multitools an extremely popular choice for EDC. Often EDC'ers are faced with a dilemma. Which to carry? Most multitools are pretty much large belt sheath affairs. Also, they often need to be opened up to take advantage of their knife blade after being removed from their belt pouch. In comparison the ubiquitous 'tactical folder', is positioned on the right or left hand pocket-top and opens with one hand. The most obvious solution is to carry both. But if one is already carrying CCW kit, cellphone, and possibly a flashlight... Yeah, we all know this gets heavy really quick.

Another solution is to make the multitool more user friendly. The first I know to have done this directly from the factory was the Leatherman Skeletool. Featuring a pocketclip and a locking blade that was accessible from the outside for one-handed opening. I had one for a few days, but returned it as defective after the removable screwdriver bits consistently dropped out and the blade didn't work smoothly even after oiling. I ended up getting a Leatherman Fuse and carried it inside my back pocket for a long while.

The Gerber Octane is another in the continuing evolution of these EDC multitools. Mine was bought for about $38 from KnifeCenter. The Octane features a slide out set of pliers/wirecutters which also serves as a lock to keep the tool from opening, flat and Philips head drivers, a small flat head driver for tiny screws, a bottle opener, a clamshell cutter, pocketclip, and a half serrated sheepsfoot locking blade on the outside. All the tools lock into place. Also, the frame is aluminum to keep the weight down.

Most of the negative things I've heard about Gerber's multitools is in the durability area. I would not recommend this for heavy duty use. Save those jobs for full steel multitools. However, the Gerber's role is not of a primary working tool, its a tool for those everyday small jobs. As such, the light weight and compact size is a blessing. This is coupled with an excellent pocket clip. Gerber got this clip right. The tool sits nicely and securely, perfectly in fact, in your pocket. It is a joy to carry unlike the uncomfortable times either sitting on your multitool or having it hit you in the love handles with its pouch.

The tools themselves are largely very functional except for the bottle opener. While it worked, I don't think it worked very well. It could be left off and not be missed. The screwdrivers have a decent length and fit nicely to most screws. They lock up tight, though the plastic on the lock is a possible point of failure. The plastic clamshell cutter works well. It is a very useful tool that should become popular with these more urban oriented designs. Lastly, the pliers/wirecutters are comfortably angled. The frame design fills the hand nicely for use with these. They lock in the 'use' position, but do not lock in the close position. Personally, I think I'd like them to lock closed. Also the color of the frame should be noted. It has a lot of red, and that is not a bad thing. Bright colors can certainly help when you drop this at night. Also, I think that bright colors serve to protect against the fears of hoplophobes. Reds, yellows, and oranges are often safety/danger colors. They warn that this is a sharp tool and can hurt you if you're not careful. As long as they think of them as tools rather than weapons, their fears can be kept in reserve to better bother the guy open carrying his Glock down the street.

Already, at $37 the octane to me has proven its worth. However, I must now speak of its weakest, greatest selling point. The knife. The knife is functional. It works, it does its job, but it does it in a lackluster fashion. To me, this is a 5 dollar knife strapped to a $40 multitool. The placement of the thumbhole is hard to access with my hands. It opens very smoothly other than that. Then the locking mechanism is a bit hard to operate one handed as well. The blade steel is 420js stainless. A tough steel, but too soft to keep an edge long. This is the failing point on most of these EDCMs. Cheap ass steel. After being spoiled with literally hundreds of reasonably priced 'tactical folders' in quality cutlery steel, its painful to be downgraded to this.
Overall, I feel that I got my money's worth out of my Octane. Its an extremely carry-able multitool that has a solid line up of tools you'll find yourself needed most often. I particularly recommend this to office guys and IT professionals. Its perfect for those environments where you might be opening up several clamshells a days and opening PC cases and replacing parts. If the knife doesn't matter so much for you, this an excellent buy. But if you use your knife as much as I do, you'll feel unsatisfied.

3 Rules for Selecting an EDC Knife

2011-07-20T02:08:00.000-05:00

These are what I consider to be the three most important guidelines to think about when looking for a new EDC knife.

1. Carry only what you can afford to replace. Knives get lost, stolen, or confiscated. Expect one of these things to happen at some point. Do not carry a knife that is either difficult to replace due to price or impossible to replace due to sentiment.

2. Make certain your selection is legal in your state, town, and locations you expect to be going to. Laws on knives are almost as complex, backwards, and convoluted as gun laws. Research now. An assisted opening knife is considered a common pocketknife in some states and a deadly concealed weapon in others. All it takes it one accidental felony to ruin your life.

3. Carry only what you have the skill and/or the equipment to keep sharp and otherwise maintained. Some modern steels are very hard and difficult to sharpen. Also some blades are sharped oddly. Serrations are difficult to sharpen. All of these factors may require you to have more than a simple whetstone. If you are not used to sharpening knives, you may want to stick to more basic and easily sharpened steels such as AUS-8 and 440C until you have developed those skills. Also, look for simple blade shapes and avoid recurves and other more fantastic styles.

Get Tough!

2011-07-05T14:46:00.000-05:00

Get Tough! How to win in hand-to-hand fighting by Major W. E. Fairbairn is fighting manual of close quarters hand-to-hand and melee techniques developed during the World Wars. Get Tough is not a book about martial arts, but rather techniques that can be easily learned and put into practical use. Inside are instructions and illustrations of holds, counters, strikes, knives, and sticks. Also, there is a chart of the locations of major arteries and time to incapacitation upon their severing.

Most martial arts are more about self control, physical exercise, and ritualized combat over practical fighting. This book contains nothing but simple methods to hurt people and keep them from hurting you. Useful knowledge from the gentlemen who were in the shit right with our grandfathers and great grandfathers. While this is 1940's era information, its still viable in our modern world. Knife fighting techniques might not always be useful, but knowing how to break out of holds is something that even young children should learn!

My wife and I, are going to work on learning several of the holds and counters this summer. Eventually, a paper copy will be ordered, but for now I found a PDF. I'm not sure if its abridged or not. Regardless, there is a lot of data there for anyone that wants to learn something good along with a willing vict- er partner.

A Preventable Needless Beef

2011-06-17T10:50:00.000-05:00

I do not buy Spyderco knives. I look at their knives and I have a feeling of disdain. However, it is not a logical reason why I refuse to buy their knives or even handle them. Spyderco's are good looking, well-made, functional designs that are carried by pretty much everyone. However, one person made me hate them.

The year was 1999, and I had recently joined the ranks of the thousands carrying a tactical folder, that is a locking folding knife featuring one handed opening and a pocket clip. It was a huge heavy early S&W SWAT folder. It was one of the heaviest folding knives I ever owned, and I thought it was cool as heck and useful too. However, one of my aquantances at the dorm I lived saw my knife and decided to educate me on my mistake of owning it. This guy was a Spyderco fan. Supposedly a volunteer paramedic. He explained in a rather shit-eating fashion how his purely serrated knife would so easily cut through seat belts, how it opened better and how mine was too heavy, not sharp enough, and so on and so forth. Naturally, I very much resented his attitude. It was as if the meaning behind his words was that all the vaunted emergency services all over the country were laughing at me as they fingered their Spydercos.

Since then, I can't shake the bad feeling Spyderco's give me. I can at least admit that there's nothing wrong with them, but they're just not for me. All it takes is one 'lecture' about someone else's choices to ruin them for what you think is better. If you recommending knives, don't insult their blades. Rather, tell them the good things about your blade, and why they also need it in addition to their own. Never be rude or condescending. This mistake happens all too often. I find the semi-automatic verses revolver discussion is where this happens a lot too. I once had carrying a revolver compared to riding a skate board to work. Your argument is no longer valid if you have to make a comment like that. You've failed. Just walk away. We must remember. As long as a knife cuts and functions the way the user wants it to, its a successful knife.

Blade Reviews

2011-06-17T09:15:00.000-05:00

I recently discovered Dan's Blade Reviews website. This is an excellent site with lots of great reviews on knives and interviews with custom knife makers. I especially recommend the Griptilian review. I've long wanted a full sized plain blade Griptilian in orange. Griptilians just might be the best production folding knives for under $100 available. Certainly good for even heavy EDC use. Check out Dan's site and find something you love. I did!

Boker 1915 German Trench Knife

2011-05-19T16:51:00.000-05:00

My newest addition to my ever growing family of fixed blades is this lovely Boker trench dagger. It is new production but not a replica. Rosewood handles, c-75 carbon steel, grip pins, and the exact specs are exactly the same as when this knife was made by Boker during World War I for the Imperial German military.

The blade is a little over 5inches, and a nearly 11 inches in overall length. The weight is a mere 5.9 oz. It comes with a leather sheath that features no press buttons or velcro, instead the metal tab we've seen on so many old surplus magazine pouches from that era.

This Tree Boker set me back $125. The last knife to cost me as much was my disappointing m1911 folding knife. Unlike the m1911, this literally took my breath away when I finally pulled it free of the plastic blade cover. I've never gotten a fixed blade that has made me this excited! The balance is excellent, and center is right under the guard. The knife can make some very fast cuts. The rosewood grips are very spartan but with simple grooves allows a solid grip. The front contour fits nicely with the fingers, too. The guard itself is large enough to be useful, unlike on many modern fixed blades. It is also comfortable in standard and reverse grips.

It is also designed around being able to be used as a punch dagger! On each side of the finger guard, there is a curved indention for your fingers. The grip contour is also designed to fit in this mode. Punches can be made quickly in this hold.

The blade itself is made from C-75 carbon steel. Its in the same class as 1095 carbon steel. It must be oiled regularly and maintained to protect it from corrosion. It is much stronger than average stainless steels, and needs that strength as the blade style is a very classic single edged dagger.

I must mention that this knife is a true weapon. Unlike many other designs, it will not be as useful in camp chores or utility tasks. However, this fighting blade does have use in lighter cutting chores that the EDC knife user will find himself taking on. Also, its slim and light design would make it a good choice for a mid-sized carry fixed blade for concealed carry. The size makes it able to deliver lethal hits that small knives simply can't.

This is a very cool blade. Simple clean lines and useful features make it functionally elegant. One might almost think its a custom blade. As icing on the cake, this purchase can be considered historical. I am very interested in getting another one of these, to be customized with micarta or g10 grips and a good custom sheath.

There are three other versions of this knife. The first is identical except for wearing stag handles for about $25 more. This would make a nice BBQ knife in my opinion. The second is a modernized version with micarta grips, a more modern sheath, and a partially serrated edge. Disappointingly, the steel is replaced with the considerably weaker 440C stainless. The third is the stag handle, but in Damascus steel. It is more a presentation knife, as it sells for around $500.

Former Tools of the State

2011-01-16T04:07:00.000-06:00

Here, I have two former government weapons reformed into a private security role. The stock Ruger GP-100 3inch .357 mag was used by the Canadian police but later re-imported to the US. Currently, Ruger only sells the 3inch GP with a full underlug.

This 12 gauge 870mag did light prison duty starting back in the 80's. Back then, they built them with all metal parts making it equivalent if not better than the modern 870police. It's wearing a short 12inch Hogue stock and a solid tri-rail system forearm. The weapon light is the excellent Streamlight TLR-1 LED. The magazine extension is the proven Wilson Tactical +2. The entire package is only just over 36inches long.

The .357 magnum and the 12 gauge shotgun shell are venerable partners in service to governments and civilians alike. They'll both be still doing their jobs long after we're all gone.

Ontario SP43: Everyone needs at least one pigsticker

2011-01-15T17:26:00.001-06:00

Steadily, I have been filling out my knife collection with such staples as the automatic folder, the boot dagger, and the large folding knife. Finally, after lusting after a Mossberg 590a1 and an Ontario USMC bayonet, I decided it was time to spare me several hundred dollars by satiate my appetite with my first big knife.

The Ontario Spec Plus II Sp43 is a nice 8inch knife made from 5160 high carbon steel. The steel is tough, holds a good edge, but is not corrosion resistant. This steel must be kept oiled and maintained unlike your average edc stainless blade. I picked it up for under $60 at Midway USA.

So far I've used it for some light yardwork. It easily chopped down some young trees with a few good whacks. Unfortunately, I can't put a really good edge on it. I think my sharpening sticks are just a tad too short. Of course it may just be user error. Still, a really neat large knife. Good for your BOB, camping, or light yard work.

Update: I've used it for weeds, small trees, and even to hack off the end of a leg of lamb that wouldn't fit in my crock pot. This is a good blade and the sheath is functional and works well. A good purchase!

Ultimate-Equipment m1911 Knife

2011-01-15T13:15:00.000-06:00

The m1911 knife by Ultimate-Equipment of Canada is a handsome locking folding knife designed around the use the same grip panels as the classic 1911 handgun. It is my third knife to cost me (including shipping) over one hundred dollars. The first two are the excellent Fallkniven Garm boot dagger and the massive five inch folding SOG Spec Elite II. Both blades regularly make it into my EDC lineup. The Garm makes a great off-hand defensive knife for weapon retention. The Spec Elite II is so large that it easily carries inside the waistband, but deploys quickly and with authority. I consider them both well worth the money spent. However, is the m1911 knife worth the same? With the incredible popularity of the 1911 handgun, there are lots of the classic .45‘s fans that would love to know the answer.

The m1911 knife purchased is the full size version featuring a 3.5 inch satin finished blade, a pair of rosewood 1911 grips, and weighs in a hefty 6.4 ounces. Also, included is a removable reversible pocket-clip, a black nylon belt/web-gear sheath, and a hex key for the grips. I ordered mine with cocobolo grips, but they were out of stock. Terry, the head honcho of Ultimate-Equipment and designer of the m1911 knife, sent some rosewood grips with the knife with a promise of sending the cocobolos later.

Cosmetically, this is knife already looks the part. Fit and finish is great. The rosewood grips look sharp. It comes in either satin stainless or in a black oxide finish. It also comes in a smaller version that uses officer-sized grips as well as a fixed version using the standard 1911 grips. Black blades on stainless frames or vice versa can be arranged at ordering. Grips are offered in cocobolo, rosewood, and several different G10 textures and colors. There are nearly endless choices for customization as almost any after-market grips can be used. Terry proudly displays several pistol & knife pictures submitted by customers.

The knife’s construction is pretty heavy duty. The frame is a nice thick stainless steel. Its heavy and tough. The blade is made out of one of two steels. 440C stainless and S30v, costing $99 and $139 respectively. Mine is the 440C version. It is also the first point of contention with anyone who knows a little about cutlery steel. 440C is not a crap steel. In fact is one of the great knife steels available. It offers a solidly good performance in edge retention, sharpness, corrosion resistance, toughness, and ease to be resharpened at an excellent price. Quality blades in 440C start out for as low as $20. There are lots of fine knives in 440C of the same size and quality as the m1911 for around half the price.

A knife’s handle even more important than the steel its made from. A secure grip will make or break a design. The m1911‘s grips attracts a lot of attention and in fact they are the single best feature of the handle. The 1911‘s grip just become a 100 year old design. The rosewood grips of my knife swell nicely into the hand. The rough checkered texture adds considerably to the grippiness of this knife. However, that is really the only excellent part of the handle. The basic shape is reasonably comfortable so much that is not really uncomfortable. It a solid ok. Nothing more. The frame spine and the belly are very straight and very smooth. There is no texture or curvature to allow for a better grip. The finger guard is passable and very necessary. Without it, it would be a deadly dangerous design. With smooth 1911 grips, I would still rate this design as dangerous. The blade spine has very shallow jimping, but it is forward of the thumb-opener. Too far to be useful. My thumb falls squarely on the stud. I can’t decide if the locking lever’s jimping is meant to be useful or decorative. Without the frame matching these grooves, they are useless in any account. I never got to test the glass breaker. Frankly, with the lack of grip, I’m a little nervous about trying it.

The tactical part of tactical folder isn’t so much they’re ‘military’ but that they can be stowed and deployed easily. The pocket clip is really such a key advantage to the pocket knife that I don’t buy a folding knife that doesn’t have one. The m1911 has a detachable pocket-clip. There have been several designs of the m1911‘s pocket-clip, and the latest is supposed to be the best. It’s still not so great. All parts of this knife were designed around the grip panels. Therefore, the pocket-clip may always be lacking. It is hard to be drawn from a jean pocket. Even when pulling up on the tip of the clip, its still very difficult. It’s a problem I never had with my Boker automatic. The Ak-74's clip is pretty similar. It may sort itself out over time however.

The locking mechanism is the single biggest reason I bought this knife. Were it just pretty grips alone, it would have remained in Canada. However, I saw that this knife’s locking system is manipulated from the sides. The Hammerhead Lock works much like a classic lock-back. Instead, of the lock release being on the spine of the knife, its an ambidextrous system that is located next to the blade’s pivot. It doesn’t rely on tiny springs like Benchmade’s Axis-lock or SOG’s Arc-lock. It is a strong and sturdy locking system. However, it is tight. I am barely able to manipulate the lock after a week of carry and considerable opening and closing just to loosen it up. To close the blade painlessly, two hands are required. Looking for fixes, I located a FAQ on Ultimate-Equipment’s website on how to lighten the spring. For there to be a sizable FAQ, complete with pictures, tells me that I am by no means the only one to have problems. If problems must be fixed by punches and hammers... Perhaps, those problems are just too much. Nor will they lessen with time.

Opening the blade is rather difficult still after one week of use. It is lightening up however. I could see normal use after about 2 to 3 weeks.

The m1911 knife is very cool. Its very attractive. It looks awesome next to 1911s that match its finish and grips. It is also very well built. Customer service from this company is also great. Sadly though, good looks are what I feel this sturdy locking knife best for. This is no EDC knife. I do not feel that the smaller version will be much better. Perhaps further refinements will make it a more usable tool. Texturing the spine and belly of the frame alone could improve it by miles. The jimping problem is also one that should be addressed. On the thumb-opener, there should be some sort of grooves to maintain a proper grip. The jimping on their fixed blade version looks great! If many people are lightening the spring, perhaps allow folks to choose the different spring strengths. Until these issues are addressed, I can’t recommend this knife for much other than being a cool gimmick to match up with your favorite display 1911. There are too many excellent knives for this price and under to buy.

I want to be fair and mention that I did only carry this for one week. Nor did I hit it with any oils or any fixes. My unfavorable view of this particular design is certainly not because I wanted the knife to fail. It is designed around a gimmick, but its one that I and many other people want to work. I look forward to new designs by Ultimate-Equipment. Judging by the fit and finish of the m1911, a future hammerhead design might be quite impressive.

UPDATE: I was promised the cocobolo grips that I originally wanted. It is 7 months later, and no sign of them. The promise of getting those grips are what sealed this deal in the first place. I wouldn't have even minded sending the rosewoods back as long as I got the ones I wanted. Therefore, I must retract my appreciation of their customer service. This knife has been a $130(including shipping) failure.

Executed

2010-06-20T10:21:00.000-05:00

Found this on Photography is Not a Crime. These cops go too far. I think they were mad about the run around. Can we expect this for us in the future, too?

edit: Switched out the Liveleak link for a Youtube link.

Get Your Blade On!

2010-05-31T13:08:00.000-05:00

You should be carrying a knife. Unless it is government mandated rule, you cannot possibly avoid being there without government punishment, AND there are real repercussions to possession, there is NO reason for you not be carrying a knife. Knives are one of our first tools, and still remain one of the most important. It is a basic tool of human survival. Most humans will use a knife or knife derived cutting tool on a day to day basis. Where there is humanity, there are knives. Even in the most mud hut basic of primitiveness, humans have knives and lots of things to cut. If your place of work or play is so backwards that they will not allow basic tools to humanity, then you should not be there. Ever. Let Darwin pass judgment upon those fools.

Over Ten Years of knife EDC

2010-05-30T12:04:00.000-05:00

These are eight of the eleven folding knives that have been my every day carry knives for the last 11 years. Going to do some more pictures and review these pieces a bit.

From left to right. Smith & Wesson SWAT, Kershaw Vapor II, CRKT m16-13z, Kershaw Leek assisted opener, Benchmade 530 Mel Pardue, Kershaw Skyline, SOG Spec-Elite II, and a Boker AK-74 auto

Dances with Smurfs

2010-05-18T14:43:00.000-05:00

After they played Avatar at work, I caught bits and pieces. Despite, the Anti-Avatar fervor of the libertarian and conservative sides of things I decided to see it, because damn it. I LOVE MECHS. After admitting to renting it in the GBC I got treated to some fairly nasty statements.

"I called my mother a fucking assclown to her face when I saw the disc in her house."

"You're not even good enough for the shun bench. Just go die in a fire."

Now, some might get their feelings hurt, but I know as a fact that they're just concerned about my well-being.

Anyway. It wasn't a horrible movie. It had some killer cinematography, great CGI, cool sci-fi tech, and interesting alien flora and fauna. Is it new? Nope. Not remotely. Its an archetypal guy goes native for love story. Nothing new here. I cannot even say its a particularly great take on this. I really don't see the development towards understanding. At least it wasn't convincing for me. Honestly, about to the 3/4s mark the movie seems rather well done. The end seems rushed. We're ready to make Jake Sully into the great hero. Lots of people die. Easily predicted. Some neat futuristic weapons though.

The biggest problem folks seem to have with this movie is that they feel that Cameron is attacking the US Military and Government. That and how a modern military force is taken down by flying dinosaurs. Folks really want to paint this to be a leftist fantasy world of sugar plums and pixie dust. I can only say its halfway.

Imperialism being bad is the primary lesson of the movie. The US has been blamed with plenty of it, but in reality we haven't done anywhere NEAR as much as many of the lefty nations of Eurotopia. I agree that he's painting the US as the face of Imperialism. I think that he could have mixed things up better. Russians, English, Germans, French, and the Chinese could have been better represented. Also, the bad guys are a corporation. I have no troubles with this. Corporations make good bad guys. I know this for a fact., I work for Wal-mart. If Wal-mart was running things on that world, they would have wiped out the indigenous peoples.

As for the dinosaurs? Throw enough LEMMINGS at an elephant, the elephant will loose. There is some logic to the idea that the 'planet' did something about the pesky humans. Pandora is made out to be a big network where everything is connected. How very Lucas. Being a large organism, the critter bum rush makes sense as an immune system response against a dangerous foreign object. Silly? But so is a lot of other sci-fi. This sort of stuff, I can't lay upon the movie and its creators.

I spent a dollar on this rental. I feel it was well enough spent. Besides, the movie industry HATES Redbox. If you seriously think I'm an assclown or that I should go die in a fire for watching Avatar... I didn't watch it for YOUR pleasure. You can go set your dick on fire. Fuck you, you nanny libtard wannabe. If you like any genre, you'll have to wade through ideas and concepts that you don't like. There are distasteful ones inside Avatar, but there are more elsewhere.

I forgive Cameron for his crazy libtard nature though. He gave me Aliens. My all time favorite movie. While I'm at it, I forgive Lucas, Spielberg, and John Carpenter too. All these guys gave us some good times.

The new Sig in the family

2010-05-15T13:41:00.000-05:00

Today I am finally welcoming a new Sig-Sauer handgun into the household. The Sig 225 is not a brand new pistol but rather an older sidearm carried by the Zurich police in Switzerland.

The 225 is effectively a downsized 9mm version of the Sig's famous .45 acp(and 9mm!) Sig p220. It is slightly slimmer than the equally famous Sig p226 as it is a single stack 9mm- holding 8rds in the magazine and one in the chamber. This differs from most Sigs in that it has a European style heel magazine release.

I've got a simple Dun Hume holster to go with it already, and I plan on carrying this little piece of history often.

Even Yume wants to say hi!

Unfair

2010-05-03T03:11:00.000-05:00

Everyone even remotely liberal has been bitching and complaining about the illegal immigration law recently passed in Arizona. Arizona's government has been called Nazis, racists, and worse. Political cartoons are awash with poor innocent Latinos having to huddle in fear from the evil white police that eye them with nothing but suspicion and contempt. How unfair this law is! How morally wrong it is! Even the President of the United State has put down this law on his highchair of authority.

If folks really thought about it, they might see other things as also unfair. Talented, educated people from all over the world come to America and join a lengthy process to become citizens. Immigrating legally, they spend plenty of money, time, and sweat to join us as fellow citizens. Yet, some folks just have to walk across a border
and stand in a home depot parking lot to earn their place in what is still the leader of the free world? What about what they pay in taxes? I bet you a doctor with family from immigrating from Europe is going to have to pay a lot of taxes in his new life over here. Is an illegal immigrant going to pay even a fraction of what he pays? Is this fair? I've known guys that got enough overtime to get jumped to the next tax bracket and suddenly they lose all the OT money plus extra in required taxes. Is that fair? People's property is worthless down near the border, trash is strewn everwhere, drugs and violence goes largely unchecked. These are US citizens dealing with this shit, is that fair? Is it fair you sit in your nice air conditions home, with your big screen TV, safe in your suburb, drinking your latte, when US families on the border must bunker down, doors and windows fortified, guns ready, every fucking night?

Fuck you, you goddamn commie bastard libtards. If the feds had secured the border, we might not have to deal with cops checking papers when they make a LEGAL stop. Fuck the rest of the world and their needs, our people come first damn it.

Appleseed & Bad Eyesight

2010-04-18T23:15:00.000-05:00

I participated in an Appleseed shoot this Saturday. It was a beautiful day, and the people were nice. I learned an awful lot about marksmanship, but I did miserably in my shooting. I took my Yugoslavian m70 underfolder. Many suggested that I should not, because of the poor accuracy of the AK. I felt that it could do the job and I still do. I feel that the sub 100 scores were due to user error. The single biggest issue I had was actually seeing my targets at 25 yards. Once I put the front sight up, I could no longer even differentiate between any of the smaller 300 and 400 yard targets. A blur for me, is much worse than for you guys with good eyesight. So, I need new glasses and a rifle that takes some optics.
While, I did not return for my 2nd day, I feel I learned massive amounts. I now know a lot more about trigger control, using a sling to steady my rifle, position, breathing, and a good bit more of history of the first day of open rebellion from Great Britain. I think will be able to practice more effectively with my rifles.
Some of the sling stuff I think was a nearly useless. One involved taking off part of the sling and wrapping around the arm. For me that seemed just pointless. The Hasty sling allows for fast sling assisted grip for actual fighting positions. That seemed to be the most practical.
After the day's shooting, I am a bit disappointed with the Yugo Underfolder. I never originally intended to get an underfolder yugo. I wanted a fixed stock, but with a new possible AWB, I felt I needed a black rifle immediately. Its handy, and the recoil isn't bad, but I just feel that the stock is bothersome. Harder to deploy than a side folder, and its just metal against your shoulder. There is no cheek-weld either. I've decided to sell the old Yugo. I've recently gotten my old Saiga 7.62x39 back, and am working on converting it to a proper configuration. The funds from the sale of the saiga will most likely provide for a good solid fun .22lr autoloader for practice and later Appleseeds. A sig 522 would be classy and cool for such purposes.

New Walmart Policy on PA system

2010-03-22T11:03:00.001-05:00

Recently, a teenager used a Walmart PA system to broadcast a message telling all blacks to leave the store. As a result of this lackluster inconsequential villainy, my dark corporate masters have declared a major policy change for our in-store phone/PA system. First off, instead of hitting that little 'PAGE' button, we must dial a # & 3 digit code to link to the PA system. Secondly, all phones on the sales floor without a continuous employee presence must be unplugged and hidden. That's going to really suck if I have to call a Code White(injury) or Code Adam(missing child) out in the outlying areas at night. Thank you, political correctness! Way to make everyone's day a little less convenient.