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LJ126's "Survival EDC" 1: Tools of the Trade
What is EDC?
EDC stand for "Every Day Carry." EDC is the tools, supplies, and/or gear that you need to function day-to-day in your environment. Each persons EDC is different because each person's projected plans for the day are different. A student's EDC gear (backpack, books, pens/pencils, etc.) will be and should be different than a police officer's (sidearm, handcuffs, radio, etc.) but both of these people need their tools to perform their job every day. There are many items that everyone in our communities carry, such as their wallets, keys, shoes... you get the idea.
Your EDC is tailored to your day to day needs and in many ways determines how well prepared you are for any given situation, unexpected or planned. Dead human corpses rising for the grave would certainly fall in the "unexpected" category, but it doesn't necessarily mean you have to be completely "unprepared."
Mentally Tactical
Mental = Within your head...
Tactic = ...course of action.
Where are you going to be when your car gets a flat tire? The answer is "I don't know." The truth is that we don't plan when or how these things are going to happen - they just happen. There are steps we can do to prevent it from occuring (maintenance and inspections) but just in case something happens, we keep a spare tire or donut in our trunk. A spare tire is your vehicle's EDC. Your car carries it even though it might not and probably will not ever need it.
So, applying this logic in other aspects of your life; where are you going to be when you are robbed? Or if there is an earthquake? Or if you're attacked by a zombie? Guess what - the answer is "I don't know." Intelligently expanding your EDC can help you just in case you are caught in a situation that is totally unexpected and is one where you only have seconds to decide your course of action and respond.
Before you get your thread started, NO - I am not telling you to carry your baseball bat or katana with you everywhere you go because that would be foolish and it would probably attract to you a lot of unwanted attention. Nor am I suggesting to you that you break any laws (or any work or school policies) because this is also counter-intuitive and counter productive. However, there are some common sense additions that you can make to your EDC that will increase your situational flexibility considerably.
Tools of the Trade
What do you currently carry every day? Most of us carry our cell phone, wallet (which contains our financial resources and identification) keys, plus whatever tools we need to do our jobs day to day. These items must be carried in order for us to function.
The items listed below should be added to your EDC when its logical to carry them. Obviously, it would not be wise to keep a pocket knife or concealed handgun on you if you work in a court house or if you are a high school student because it could land you in jail or in other kinds of trouble. OBSERVE AND OBEY ALL LAWS AND BUILDING RULES/POLICIES with regards to your EDC.
What can we add to increase our situational flexibility? What purposes does it serve? Why do we add it? Are there any negative concerns about this item? What legal concerns are there with this item?
EDC ITEM #1: "Defensive" Folding Pocket Knife
(Knife Pictured: SOG Visionary II)
Primary purpose:
In the many thousands of years of its existence, the knife has made monumental leaps forward in terms of reliability, edge retention, function and form. It allows us to do what other animals can do naturally, and in many ways it provides us greater utility because with our steel knife we can create sparks and start a fire, or construct artificial shelter, or construct other hand tools required for a job, dress and prepare fish and game, defend ourselves from foes that are physically stronger or in attacking from an advantageous position (behind you) or act as a backup should we be required to defend ourselves from a wild animal. In many ways, a good pocket knife IS our set of claws.
When selecting a folding knife for purchase there are a questions that need to be answered first.
*The last question above might sound strange but it makes sense if you think about it. If you have to use the knife to defend yourself from an attacker (human or otherwise), you may also have to defend yourself in a courtroom from a prosecuting attorney. You want to distance yourself from glorification of combat because something like the name of a knife could potentially sway the opinion of a jury by indicating a willingness or desire to be involved in combat.
EDC ITEM #2: Multi-Tool or Swiss Army Knife
(Tool Pictured: Victorinox "SwissTool")
Purpose:
A great advantage of a multi-tool or especially the Swiss Army knife is that most are equipped with a high quality knife blade that is cut to a shallower angle (usually 15 degrees), making it razor sharp and very good for fine detail work. Other tools that see frequent use on my personal Swiss Army "Tinker" are the stitching awl/leather punch, the Phillips head driver, and the can/bottle opener. Sometimes I use the tweezers too.
When purchasing a multi-tool or Swiss Army knife, make sure that you're purchasing a name brand tool and not some cheap knock-off. The knock off tools are useless junk and in my opinion, they shouldn't be legal to sell. People may be attracted to them by their price or because they're sold in a reputable auto parts store, but this doesn't mean that you're saving yourself any money; you're going to have to replace it when it breaks. Buy once, and buy quality.
EDC ITEM #3: Flashlight
(Flashlight Pictured: MagLite Solitaire)
Primary purpose:
There are many different styles and designs available. If you can find a suitable candidate that uses LED lights, try it out - the amount of light that an LED flashlight puts out can be impressive. Many are available at auto parts stores or at Walmart. I suggest finding one that allows you to change the batteries out, as this will likely be a higher quality light, and will also provide you a longer service life than one that can't have its batteries swapped when low.
EDC ITEM #4: Lighter
(Item Shown: Bic Lighters)
Primary Purpose
The lighter needs no introduction in any way, shape or form. I actually initially forgot this item despite having been a smoker for 12 years, though I finally quit back in April. The Bic and Zippo brand lighters are undoubtedly the most popular lighters where I'm from, though occasionally you'll see cheapie generic dollar store lighters pop up here and there.
The primary advantage of a lighter is that it literally is portable fire. Fire is one of the essentials of survival as it provides some protection from the elements, is a potent signaling device, allows you to purify water and cook foods, and it is some protection from wild animals.
If you keep one on your person for EDC or wilderness survival training (and you're not a smoker) you should consider waterproofing it placing it into a small Ziplock bag before stashing it in your pocket. This will also keep it from being clogged with lint and debris from your pocket, and provide you a sealable plastic bag.
EDC ITEM #5: Wrist Watch
(Item Shown: Timex "Hiker")
Primary Purpose
Carrying a Concealed Handgun
Many people feel strongly about concealed carry and in many different ways. Some are totally against it and believe it should be illegal, while others are very much for it and believe that it is a fundamental right of United States citizens. Some argue that it could increase crime, while some point to short term statistics that the opposite occurs. Some people believe that carrying anything smaller than .45 ACP is unwise, while others are completely content carrying a .25 ACP "mouse" gun in deep concealment. Some argue about what ammunition is best! Ankle holsters, IWB, belly band, shoulder rigs, pocket holsters, fanny packs, customized brief cases; there are as many different methods of carry as there are handguns to carry in them.
We're not here to discuss any of those things. Frankly, those topics have been beaten to death so many times over (on this site and others) that it really doesn't require further acknowledgement. Because of this, I'm going to explain what I carry and why I carry it, and from there you can make your own decision regarding CCW.
As many of you know, I'm a BIG guy and physically I'm very strong. I'm also a practicing Judoka at a local dojo (White Dragon) and have acquired considerable practical experience, both in self defense coursework and in personal experience. Frankly, I have no fear of anyone - unless they're armed. If someone were to pull a knife on me, my training isn't suited to defense against that. Regardless of my experience in grappling, when presented with a "deadly force" type weapon - baseball bat, knife, improvised stabbing device, handgun, multiple attackers - it is unlikely that I could defend myself from grave bodily harm or death.
Because of this inadequacy, I obtained my MO CCW endorsement, practice frequently and carry most of the time I am outside of my household (when legal to do so.) Sure, if I were unable to reach my handgun due to a close
quarters engagement, I could deploy my pocket knife quickly and would do so if need be, but it is essentially a backup to my handgun.
When I am carrying casually and there's no need for deep concealment, I carry my surplus Bulgarian Makarov PM in a Don Hume leather IWB holster. It is loaded with 9 rounds (8 in the magazine, +1 in the chamber) of Hornady XTP ammunition. If my body were a clock and directly in front of me was 12 o'clock on the clock, I wear it at 4:00. To help conceal it further, I often wear baggy hoodies and I wear my pants about 1/2 inch higher than my waistline. I carry an extra magazine in my back left pocket and train carrying all of my EDC the way I carry it daily. I've done some modification to my handgun (despite its C&R status) to make it more reliable; I've polished the feed ramp on the barrel and I've replaced the factory recoil spring with a Wolff springs replacement that is more powerful. Accuracy and recoil were improved after the mods were completed.
There are times that come up when I have to carry much more discreetly, such as social or family functions or black tie events such as weddings or funerals. These clothes do not adequately conceal large handguns and most people do not need to be aware that you're toting a gun on you. When these occasions come up, I carry my backup, the wonderful Beretta 950B Jetfire in .25 ACP. I carry it in a no-name leather IWB holster worn in the same "4 o'clock" location as my Makarov to alleviate any training discrepencies. I also carry a spare magazine for this handgun when I am carrying it. I carry the highest velocity .25 ACP ammo I can find, which is typically also Hornady XTP ammunition. Fully loaded, this handgun and holster combination weighs less than 2/3 of a pound. Oh - I forgot a detail - the reason I like the holster that I carry my Beretta in is that it can also double as an IWB, ankle or pocket holster, which allows me to carry both of these handguns at the same time!
How does CCW relate to zombie survival? For me, it doesn't directly relate to zombies at all. I honestly do not believe that a zombie apocalypse is going to occur and that its a product of science fiction. However, I do believe that by being prepared for a major scale zombie epidemic, one has prepared themself for just about any other possible catastrophe short of a large meteor strike or nuclear warfare; and being prepared then doesn't hurt either.
EDC stand for "Every Day Carry." EDC is the tools, supplies, and/or gear that you need to function day-to-day in your environment. Each persons EDC is different because each person's projected plans for the day are different. A student's EDC gear (backpack, books, pens/pencils, etc.) will be and should be different than a police officer's (sidearm, handcuffs, radio, etc.) but both of these people need their tools to perform their job every day. There are many items that everyone in our communities carry, such as their wallets, keys, shoes... you get the idea.
Your EDC is tailored to your day to day needs and in many ways determines how well prepared you are for any given situation, unexpected or planned. Dead human corpses rising for the grave would certainly fall in the "unexpected" category, but it doesn't necessarily mean you have to be completely "unprepared."
Mentally Tactical
Mental = Within your head...
Tactic = ...course of action.
Where are you going to be when your car gets a flat tire? The answer is "I don't know." The truth is that we don't plan when or how these things are going to happen - they just happen. There are steps we can do to prevent it from occuring (maintenance and inspections) but just in case something happens, we keep a spare tire or donut in our trunk. A spare tire is your vehicle's EDC. Your car carries it even though it might not and probably will not ever need it.
So, applying this logic in other aspects of your life; where are you going to be when you are robbed? Or if there is an earthquake? Or if you're attacked by a zombie? Guess what - the answer is "I don't know." Intelligently expanding your EDC can help you just in case you are caught in a situation that is totally unexpected and is one where you only have seconds to decide your course of action and respond.
Before you get your thread started, NO - I am not telling you to carry your baseball bat or katana with you everywhere you go because that would be foolish and it would probably attract to you a lot of unwanted attention. Nor am I suggesting to you that you break any laws (or any work or school policies) because this is also counter-intuitive and counter productive. However, there are some common sense additions that you can make to your EDC that will increase your situational flexibility considerably.
Tools of the Trade
What do you currently carry every day? Most of us carry our cell phone, wallet (which contains our financial resources and identification) keys, plus whatever tools we need to do our jobs day to day. These items must be carried in order for us to function.
The items listed below should be added to your EDC when its logical to carry them. Obviously, it would not be wise to keep a pocket knife or concealed handgun on you if you work in a court house or if you are a high school student because it could land you in jail or in other kinds of trouble. OBSERVE AND OBEY ALL LAWS AND BUILDING RULES/POLICIES with regards to your EDC.
What can we add to increase our situational flexibility? What purposes does it serve? Why do we add it? Are there any negative concerns about this item? What legal concerns are there with this item?
EDC ITEM #1: "Defensive" Folding Pocket Knife (Knife Pictured: SOG Visionary II)
Primary purpose:
- to cut, slice or stab things that require cutting, slicing or stabbing.
- self defense
- food preparation
- light duty outdoors work
- survival tasks
- Most states allow you to carry a folding pocket knife with a blade length of three to four inches - especially those popular for hunting and fishing.
- Some states have no regulations regarding blade length, while there are some that do not permit pocket knife carry at all.
- Make sure you know your states laws before purchasing or carrying any tool on your person.
In the many thousands of years of its existence, the knife has made monumental leaps forward in terms of reliability, edge retention, function and form. It allows us to do what other animals can do naturally, and in many ways it provides us greater utility because with our steel knife we can create sparks and start a fire, or construct artificial shelter, or construct other hand tools required for a job, dress and prepare fish and game, defend ourselves from foes that are physically stronger or in attacking from an advantageous position (behind you) or act as a backup should we be required to defend ourselves from a wild animal. In many ways, a good pocket knife IS our set of claws.
When selecting a folding knife for purchase there are a questions that need to be answered first.
- What are your local or state ordinances/laws regarding the possession and carry of a knife?
- Blade length laws?
- How large is your budget?
- Is weight an issue? If you're carrying a lot in your pockets already...
- Are you going to learn how to use and maintain the knife?
- Does it have a strong locking mechanism? (No wiggle or play)
- Is it constructed from a high quality steel? (AUS8, 440C, VG-10, CPM S30V, 8Cr13MoV are all excellent)
- Does the name of the knife you're considering to buy have words like "combat, fighting, killer, slayer, destroyer" or anything else in it that could potentially indicate glorifying combat?*
*The last question above might sound strange but it makes sense if you think about it. If you have to use the knife to defend yourself from an attacker (human or otherwise), you may also have to defend yourself in a courtroom from a prosecuting attorney. You want to distance yourself from glorification of combat because something like the name of a knife could potentially sway the opinion of a jury by indicating a willingness or desire to be involved in combat.
EDC ITEM #2: Multi-Tool or Swiss Army Knife(Tool Pictured: Victorinox "SwissTool")
Purpose:
- Multiple tools in one; can perform most basic repair or modification tasks without having to crack open any tool boxes.
- As far as I'm aware, there is currently no state or federal level legislation regarding multi-tools.
- It is possible that you may not be able to bring this item into a school if you are a student.
- Many multi-tools and swiss army knifes are OFTEN poorly reproduced or copied using junk materials. These tools are useless and should be avoided!
A great advantage of a multi-tool or especially the Swiss Army knife is that most are equipped with a high quality knife blade that is cut to a shallower angle (usually 15 degrees), making it razor sharp and very good for fine detail work. Other tools that see frequent use on my personal Swiss Army "Tinker" are the stitching awl/leather punch, the Phillips head driver, and the can/bottle opener. Sometimes I use the tweezers too.
When purchasing a multi-tool or Swiss Army knife, make sure that you're purchasing a name brand tool and not some cheap knock-off. The knock off tools are useless junk and in my opinion, they shouldn't be legal to sell. People may be attracted to them by their price or because they're sold in a reputable auto parts store, but this doesn't mean that you're saving yourself any money; you're going to have to replace it when it breaks. Buy once, and buy quality.
EDC ITEM #3: Flashlight(Flashlight Pictured: MagLite Solitaire)
Primary purpose:
- Illumination in low light areas, during both day and night.
- Spot-illumination
- Short range target identification
- Signaling
- Large lamp may work as close quarters improvised weapon
There are many different styles and designs available. If you can find a suitable candidate that uses LED lights, try it out - the amount of light that an LED flashlight puts out can be impressive. Many are available at auto parts stores or at Walmart. I suggest finding one that allows you to change the batteries out, as this will likely be a higher quality light, and will also provide you a longer service life than one that can't have its batteries swapped when low.
EDC ITEM #4: Lighter(Item Shown: Bic Lighters)
Primary Purpose
- Portable fire
The lighter needs no introduction in any way, shape or form. I actually initially forgot this item despite having been a smoker for 12 years, though I finally quit back in April. The Bic and Zippo brand lighters are undoubtedly the most popular lighters where I'm from, though occasionally you'll see cheapie generic dollar store lighters pop up here and there.
The primary advantage of a lighter is that it literally is portable fire. Fire is one of the essentials of survival as it provides some protection from the elements, is a potent signaling device, allows you to purify water and cook foods, and it is some protection from wild animals.
If you keep one on your person for EDC or wilderness survival training (and you're not a smoker) you should consider waterproofing it placing it into a small Ziplock bag before stashing it in your pocket. This will also keep it from being clogged with lint and debris from your pocket, and provide you a sealable plastic bag.
EDC ITEM #5: Wrist Watch(Item Shown: Timex "Hiker")
Primary Purpose
- Accurate time!
Carrying a Concealed Handgun
Many people feel strongly about concealed carry and in many different ways. Some are totally against it and believe it should be illegal, while others are very much for it and believe that it is a fundamental right of United States citizens. Some argue that it could increase crime, while some point to short term statistics that the opposite occurs. Some people believe that carrying anything smaller than .45 ACP is unwise, while others are completely content carrying a .25 ACP "mouse" gun in deep concealment. Some argue about what ammunition is best! Ankle holsters, IWB, belly band, shoulder rigs, pocket holsters, fanny packs, customized brief cases; there are as many different methods of carry as there are handguns to carry in them.We're not here to discuss any of those things. Frankly, those topics have been beaten to death so many times over (on this site and others) that it really doesn't require further acknowledgement. Because of this, I'm going to explain what I carry and why I carry it, and from there you can make your own decision regarding CCW.
As many of you know, I'm a BIG guy and physically I'm very strong. I'm also a practicing Judoka at a local dojo (White Dragon) and have acquired considerable practical experience, both in self defense coursework and in personal experience. Frankly, I have no fear of anyone - unless they're armed. If someone were to pull a knife on me, my training isn't suited to defense against that. Regardless of my experience in grappling, when presented with a "deadly force" type weapon - baseball bat, knife, improvised stabbing device, handgun, multiple attackers - it is unlikely that I could defend myself from grave bodily harm or death.
Because of this inadequacy, I obtained my MO CCW endorsement, practice frequently and carry most of the time I am outside of my household (when legal to do so.) Sure, if I were unable to reach my handgun due to a close
quarters engagement, I could deploy my pocket knife quickly and would do so if need be, but it is essentially a backup to my handgun.When I am carrying casually and there's no need for deep concealment, I carry my surplus Bulgarian Makarov PM in a Don Hume leather IWB holster. It is loaded with 9 rounds (8 in the magazine, +1 in the chamber) of Hornady XTP ammunition. If my body were a clock and directly in front of me was 12 o'clock on the clock, I wear it at 4:00. To help conceal it further, I often wear baggy hoodies and I wear my pants about 1/2 inch higher than my waistline. I carry an extra magazine in my back left pocket and train carrying all of my EDC the way I carry it daily. I've done some modification to my handgun (despite its C&R status) to make it more reliable; I've polished the feed ramp on the barrel and I've replaced the factory recoil spring with a Wolff springs replacement that is more powerful. Accuracy and recoil were improved after the mods were completed.
There are times that come up when I have to carry much more discreetly, such as social or family functions or black tie events such as weddings or funerals. These clothes do not adequately conceal large handguns and most people do not need to be aware that you're toting a gun on you. When these occasions come up, I carry my backup, the wonderful Beretta 950B Jetfire in .25 ACP. I carry it in a no-name leather IWB holster worn in the same "4 o'clock" location as my Makarov to alleviate any training discrepencies. I also carry a spare magazine for this handgun when I am carrying it. I carry the highest velocity .25 ACP ammo I can find, which is typically also Hornady XTP ammunition. Fully loaded, this handgun and holster combination weighs less than 2/3 of a pound. Oh - I forgot a detail - the reason I like the holster that I carry my Beretta in is that it can also double as an IWB, ankle or pocket holster, which allows me to carry both of these handguns at the same time!How does CCW relate to zombie survival? For me, it doesn't directly relate to zombies at all. I honestly do not believe that a zombie apocalypse is going to occur and that its a product of science fiction. However, I do believe that by being prepared for a major scale zombie epidemic, one has prepared themself for just about any other possible catastrophe short of a large meteor strike or nuclear warfare; and being prepared then doesn't hurt either.
 LJ26's Weapons and Practical Skills Corner by (LJ126) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License. Based on a work at www.zombiesurvivalwiki.com. |
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Latest page update: made by LJ126
, Dec 25 2009, 8:11 PM EST
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| LJ126 | Survival EDC 1 Complete! | 9 | Nov 18 2009, 9:03 PM EST by LJ126 | ||
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Thread started: Nov 18 2009, 4:19 PM EST
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http://www.zombiesurvivalwiki.com/page/LJ126%27s+%22Survival+EDC%22+1%3A+Tools+of+the+Trade
Where are you going to be when the zompocalypse occurs? At home and within arms reach of your guns and ammo? Probably not. If you're anything like me, you're going to be at school or at work, out at dinner, stuck in traffic... the list of possibilities go on and on. Let's face it - Murphy's Law states that "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong" - and odds are, you're not going to be on the lucky end of things. That is what your EDC gear is for. This article is part one of a ??? part series that discusses the gear and skills that should be part of your day-to-day arsenal as a civilian. To quote the one of the fathers of science-fiction, Robert Heinlein: "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." Read the article, tell me what you think. Don't be afraid to be critical either - you're not going to offend me if you're addressing a realistic concern about the article. |
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