A little excessive?

[James_Terrio]

j, it's only excessive if you went to the trouble to figure out how much the whole jacket weighs.

 

[j williams]

hahaha!!

Good, theres hope for me yet. :thumbup:

 

[mdauben]

But some people here carry multiple knives, fishing hooks, water purification tablets, condoms for water etc... around at all times. Under what circumstances would you need to make a fire, purify water, or catch fish while dropping your kids off at the pool or buying groceries.

I agree that some people's "EDC" seems excessive, but like Foilist said, for many of us this is a hobby, too. While I may not "fill my pockets with steel" on a daily basis, I seldom leave the house without some sort of folder or multitool, and I do own way more knives than I can honestly justify (do I really need four different models of Kershaw Leek, for example? ). I think like a lot of people here, what it really comes down to is that I derive enjoyment for collecting and using my knives. Need and practicality have little to do with the issue.

I understand the concept of the BOB. But under what circumstances would you possibly have to require grabbing a bag full of ammunition and 7 different knives without having a few minutes to pack a bag.

Some people do it for what they consider basic preparedness for possible natural desasters, others honestly envision the possibility of local or even national collapses of government services and some of us perhaps just like to engage in the exersise of planning for some emergency scenario as a sort of intelectual passtime (and as justification for buying more knives and cool gear, too!).

 

[DutchV]

To me, EDC doesn't mean just my pockets. I've got to drag a laptop and paperwork along most days, so it's no big deal to add a few other useful items to the bag. Considering my usual environment, that's close enough.

 

[hushnel]

There where about 5 days, just after hurricane Andrew blew right down the middle of my street, that was totally off the grid. I didn’t have to grab anything and go (after the storm) but I was glad we prepared for it, 90+% was already gathered just on general principal the rest was battening down the hatches, filling up everything with fresh water and gassing up all the vehicles. For us the disaster was more like camping it didn’t get bad until the roofers from Hades started showing up and dealing with contractors and their subs.

We patrolled our own neighborhood, armed. When the Army showed up they commented on the good job and asked us to put our guns away, keep them close but to stop carrying them openly.

I’ll tell ya when the SHTF nothing is as comforting as being prepared, surrounded by good people and maintaining a good positive attitude, that’s the hard part.

 

[judian]

Hi

I have not posted before but I am a long time lurker. I live in Cape Town, South Africa. One common thread that comes up is the sense that what you carry depends on what your experience of "normal" is. It might not seem knife related but bear with me.

When I started working I did low income housing debt collection. It is what might be called a confrontational environment. I never really felt threatened but

I carried a bobbed hammer Taurus 85 in one pocket and a Berretta 71 .22 in the other. I parked miles away from my car and I would walk home with my hands in my pockets and a finger tingling on the trigger guards.

When I was eventually attacked in my office by 12 guys I only had a six shot revolver with me and I was disarmed and strangled. For a few weeks after that I kept a Mossberg 12g behind the door in my office.

When I look back on it now I want to laugh. It seems surreal. So too with knives.

I don't do that kind of work anymore but I would understand anyone who felt uncomfortable and sat typing away with a 12g pump next to the desk.

(I carry more than one on fishing trips for a very simple reason. I keep mine sharp and the other guys on the boat or river don't. So I end up carrying for everyone else as well. )

Now my idea of aggresive carry is to extend the awl on my SAK and close my fist around it. (I know it will just close and cut my hand!)

My idea of normal has changed and with it my EDC requirements have changed too.

 

[Robert H]

Some might say excessive. I don't believe in excessive. I'm happy to be well prepared and ready for the worst of things, which is why we prepare. If life was all roses and fresh spring water, no one would need to worry about anything.

We could eat like kings from the vine and copulate all day in the soft grasses. Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way.

So I carry a gun because I can't holster a cop. I don't have claws so I carry knives, I can't conjure fire from my fingers so I carry lighters, and backups to lighters.

Always backups.

After a time it becomes a lifestyle, like wearing your seat belt. You do it for years, then one day you need it and you forgot to put it on.

It does feel good to blend in with the vast majority and adopt a devil may care/911 will come in 30 seconds/can't happen to me attitude though.

There's great comfort in the flock, and people are generally herd animals.

 

[jlouis976]

HI all,
As a Guy who carrys stuff LOL. Maybe even a lot of stuff LOL. My shoulder bag with my axe and knife plus what is in the pack weighs in a 10.5 pounds. Plus I carry stuff on my belt and then some in my pockets. I live on a farm.
In Ne. Most of you who read BF know this.

I have been reading and following along with this post and have not posted yet until now. I do not think the first poster is a troll LOL . Most of my family look at what I carry and say (What ) But most of them do not go into the woods at all. So for some one who does not go to the woods every day they do not understand it and why I and WE here on this forum carry what we carry.

I did notice that in his camping area there were guns and packs and and other gear so when this man goes out he takes more gear. But in town does need to carry a back full of gear probably not. He said what he carries.

I go to the woods most every day ( if it rains LOL I stay in. I am not a big walk in the rain kind of guy. I did enough in the Marines to last me until I die LOL) and practice what I have learned and what I am still learning. This week just for instance I made up and did catch a little critter with the trap
( dead fall) I made with a trap trigger called the trappers widget trigger ( some might know that trigger as the Split stick trigger ring a bell LOL ) They really work. In my younger days.
I used to run trap line for extra money. I used steel traps and cable snares.
One year a freind of mine bought a brand new 4x4 truck and paid cash for it. I am not kidding and he was a trapping fool. Years ago furs really brought a pretty penny. My nephew runs a trap line now and I help him with that some. I know some of you guys carry a little roll of wire and yes it will work and some of you carry real cable snares. But I think for the smaller animals
bunnies, opossums, ground hogs and squirls even mink that the steel leader for fishing work pretty good and you can get 6 fo them to a little pack and grab 3 packs from wally world and put them in your pocket and never even know they are there. These are things I have learned over the years.

My point to this is that what I carry and use is what I think ( I ) might need and use in a sitution where I might have to stay out a night or two. or more?

Your lifes experinces will dictate what you carry. and only with time and will you learn that. We all go throught that. I have found that I like for the all round blade length of 5.5" but I also carry a smaller knife on the same sheath with a blade length of 3.75" I think that combo is the best for me. Since we are not the same you will have your thoughts and I have mine and only by asking ? hear on this forum will we share and learn together.

In my shoulder bag a I carry several small stuff sacks plus some small plastic bags. I do not use them every day but they are something I still like to carry for when I do use them. I will pic rose hips from the wild roses we have growing on the farm. I like to use the small stuff sacks to put the hips in and then tie it off to my pack of from a belt loop. I think it is a good way to carry some things like that back to where I might be camping or back to home.

Bushman 5 LOL from the pics that you have posted I tell you I think a 10" blade is to small LOL 14" to 18" would be my choice LOL. I was cutting some paths through a patch of black berries a couple of weeks back and I was using a 12" blade and wished I had a 18". compared to where I was at and doing what I was doing compared to where you live LOL Mine was a cake walk compared to your area. Man that area where live is thick bush LOL

Sharp Phil I noticed you changed you pic. I still like to see that sword on your shoulder.
Ok how about some pics. LOL
Here is a pic of my shoulder kit as it sits right now next to my bed and me.

Here is a pic of what I put on belt and in my pockets every day.

Here is what it looks like when I sling it.

Here are the contents it look like a lot and it is but it only weighs 10.5 pounds. it that really all that bad? even for a hike in the woods and even if it was only for a hour or two?

Here is a few pics fo the trap trigger I made and the critter that took the bate and got caught LOL. I set up the trap (cage dead fall LOL)
then I put some bait out for the little critter well. I did not put bait on the bait stick at first but did have to to get the critter traped. When I put the bait on the bait stick itself then the little ferret triped the thrigger.
a couple of different angles of the critter and the set up trap.

and finally the trap triggered LOL

Well that is the life of Missy my ferret LOL.

any ways all, carry what you want, carry it the way you want, and have fun doing it. I do LOL
Keep asking ?s and sharing what you have learned because I am still learning LOL and I thank you all.

Bryan

What do you do? I would love to do something where I needed to carry all that stuff with me. Man........I hate my cube.

 

[Brad "the butcher"]

I think so too, I have misinterpreted several posts here lately and have been admittedly pissy. I think it is cabin fever, hunting season is over, fishing hasn't started and I am ready for spring. Oh well have a backpack trip planned in april and some little native brookies to catch so I'll be alright. Chris

Cabin fever is dead on. Went low elevation hiking sunday and the snow and ice will keep me out for another 2 to 3 weeks. I'm ready to go to a "crappie lake" an hour's drive for crappie and carp, steelhead and trout suck right now and any day fishing is better than home.

 

[Bushman5]

cabin fever and lack of work and lack of money are making me a bit more ornery than i normally am.....lol

but i try to get out every day for dayhike, despite the pouring rain we got right now. At least the rain keeps the non knife folks of the trails, so i can carry and chop with no hassles.

 

[koyote]

What do you do? I would love to do something where I needed to carry all that stuff with me. Man........I hate my cube.

HAHAHAHAHA, I burned out on cubism- I was a network engineer and system administrator for several years after my post-discharge wanderjhar. Then along came our first baby and I said "f--- it, I'm not spending 60-70 hours a week in a cubicle."

This may not be the best economic time to pack out and go, but I just started picking up odd jobs with contractors and messing around with making things.....

 

[koyote]

There's great comfort in the flock, and people are generally herd animals.

People aren't really herd animals, they are social animals. Thinking about this brings a broader sense of what goes on as societies change.

 

[sicily02]

jlouis976 I live on a farm and I make knives and have a tree cutting busness. I do not farm or anything. I just cut trees and make knives.

I could not stand to be in a cube like that ( Yikes).

I made a little shelter today and I am heading out in a little while to stay the night. I told the boss this morning ( while I was coming my hair and looking in the mirror LOL) that I was not going to work ( make knives or cut trees ) today because it was going to be so nice out today. I went to play in the woods LOL .


Bryan

 

[Robert H]

People aren't really herd animals, they are social animals. Thinking about this brings a broader sense of what goes on as societies change.

Societies may change, but the herd will always be there doing stupid things, just because some other Bovine American is doing it, too. And that includes wearing dumb clothing, abandoning any pretense of common sense, ignoring the painfully obvious Darwinian selection mechanisms looming ahead, such as walking into moving trains while talking on your cell phone.

Social/herd, same group of idiots playing monkey see monkey do.

 

[go2ndAmend]

The more posts I read of Robert H., the more I realise there is hope for society. I couldn't agree with him more.

 

[koyote]

Societies may change, but the herd will always be there doing stupid things, just because some other Bovine American is doing it, too. And that includes wearing dumb clothing, abandoning any pretense of common sense, ignoring the painfully obvious Darwinian selection mechanisms looming ahead, such as walking into moving trains while talking on your cell phone.

Social/herd, same group of idiots playing monkey see monkey do.

I appreciate the cynicism, and share much of the sentiment, but I do think that if you want to do more than just say "screw it all" and head for the hills, the distinction can be important. Monkey see monkey do is a whole other universe from a herd animal. Sheeple move around out of insecurity and greed- much like monkey do, whereas herd animals are far less vicious towards each other and behave much more in line with a 'survival of the group' sort of system.

Disdain is all well and good, but unthinking disdain is dangerous- chimpanzees will kill you in a heartbeat, but are very socializable animals. Much like humans.

 

[Robert H]

I'm not saying "screw it all" in any way. I'm simply acknowledging that the vast majority of society is far more similar to the cows in a slaughter yard than the lions on the savanna.

Any casual study of history will show this. About 10% of folks really get shit done. The rest go along for the ride.

It's been shown time and again, throughout the history of mankind. I live and work amongst the sheeple, knowing that if it's my neck out in the street the MASSIVE majority will drive either around or over me instead of stopping and helping.

I've stopped at more than one accident to throw out flares and render first aid when cars literally zip by injured people and nearly hit the wreck because it's not their problem.

And our "leadership" REINFORCES the BAD BEHAVIOR and dependence.

Look at the military. Basically you've got about 500 people actually killing bad guys and getting shit done. The rest stand behind the shield wall. Business is no different. We assail CEO's as evil and greedy, never mind the fact that they command and control and run companies that benefit far more people directly than any scum bag actor does, but we sure hate too see them take home a big paycheck, don't we?

But Sean Penn? A clueless hypocrite? Hundreds of millions! No problem!

And yes, chimps will kill you. Directly. I can dig that.

Humans will throw YOU to the lions to get away and stab you in the back, much like the stronger in the herd that leave behind the slower members.

It's not disdain, it's reality. Better to accept that early before you think anyone will give you a hand when hard times come, and prepare accordingly.

 

[koyote]

I seem to be having a lot of arguments the past couple days. Maybe cabin fever is getting us.

I won't try and explain the difference between herd and social animals and why it's an important distinction, I'd have to get into some involved mammalian psychology.

But all I really wanted to say is- it's 5%. One in twenty. That's the number, in humans and many other social mammals. You are too optimistic

 

[Robert H]

HA!

First time I've been accused of that!

 

[koyote]

probably the single most useful bit of trivia I got out of majoring in psych in college back when. 5% is the magic number. It's actually really useful when dealing with people.

I may or may not carry too much stuff in my EDC bags, but I know I carry too much of random oddities in my head. But- you can never be too prepared.