Security in the timber

Speaking of guns afield, I'm reminded of an old Shooting Times article where the author opined that a 2" .38 snubby was an "ideal trail gun" because it was so small and light, you could carry it in your back pocket.

Maybe it's semantics or definitions, but to me, a "trail gun" is one that should be capable of being able to handle any likely situation found, well, on the trail. To me, that means everything from procuring dinner to dispatching rabid animals to killing two-legged snakes.

In that regard, a 2" snubby ain't gonna cut it. A .22 might do better, until it comes to the defense against humans......but, of course, it would be better than nothing.

I decided long ago that I'd be willing to carry the extra weight of a gun (or knife) if I get something in return for that extra weight, such as adequate performance for the expected tasks.

.
 
kdstrick said:
There are some very good points made by all on here.

I have always found it funny that guys like us (knife lovers) who generally pride ourselves on our outdoors skills and quality gear, will carry an assortment of gear into the field. Just look at some of the posts in this forum for examples. We have our PSK's, small fishing kits, firesteels, cordage, and I even remember a post about which trowel is the 'one' to own (still don't understand why anyone needs a little trowel in the woods). All of us carry at least two knives!

My point is... we spend all our time and money to be UBER-prepared for any contingency, but some folks just fail to see the need for a firearm.

The argument seems to be 'well... I've been doing this a long time and never had a problem'. To that argument I say this: When is the last time you used your emergency fishing kit... what about that nifty little trowel? or, a space blanket? I very rarely use ALL my gear when I go camping or hiking. Nevertheless, I endeavor to be prepared for any contingency. To me, going in the woods without a firearm is backwoods malpractice.

Bottom line, if you do not have one... you are not prepared.

For those of you whose government has made you prey... I can only say that I feel sorry for you and wish you the best of luck. I suggest perhaps developing mad ninja skills and arming yourself with throwing stars...;):D
Click to expand...

I do not carry a firearm, but it is not because I do not see the need for it. I see the need to carry a lot of things that I do not carry. To each his own.

It's actually a bit offensive and boring to me that you speak the way you do in regards to people that do not carry a firearm into the woods.

"If you don't have one your are not prepared" is a bold and inaccurate statement. Putting a firearm in your hand does not instantly make you "prepared", if anything it could just make you dangerous and a liability to yourself and the people you may be trying to protect. Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to discount any training you have as you may be very well trained. It's just blanket statements like you have made that make me laugh. One does not become "prepared" by putting a firearm on one's side.

But, hey - I guess I'm just government prey.... ;)
 
Last edited:
For those who see no need to carry a firearm:

Good luck and God speed.

We live in a rapidly declining world. People , as it has been stated, are not necessarily the best in the world. Times have changed alot.
We live in a world where :
1.people are advised not to stop for police until in a lighted area
2. people don't pick-up hitchkikers because they could be serial killers
3. almost every house has an alarm because you cannot trust your neighbors
4. people do not discipline their children and turn them into hellish banshees instead
5. the government tries to castrate all who would wish to protect themselves.
6. ingrate citizens demolish everything in an already devastated area and claim it is everyone else's fault.

This is what America is becoming. It makes me go up to every vet I know and apologize for what has become of the country they fight for. It is because of these reasons, plus many more, that I carry in the woods. You never know what's out there. It is not about paranoia, it is about preparedness. I wonder how many former Boy Scouts have forgotten "Be Prepared" now that they are out.
 
If I were going to dream, I'd either go for a lightweight 22LR with an 8 inch barrel (the different muzzle velocities of the various 22 rimfires with different length barrels is really interesting) or a one of the lightweight 5 shot .357 revolvers with Bomars, a decent grip, and a 6 inch barrel. I'd entertain thoughts of a .32 or something. the 9mm in a lightweight and longer barelled configuration would make my list if I could find one. I'm not concerned with having 10 round magazines so much. 5 to 7 shots is fine. Even a break action single shot would work fairly well, the only issue you have then is multiple attackers
 
My back country sidearm would be either my Ruger Alaskan 454, or my Glock G20 10MM.
As for a knife I would take one of my Armageddons, and a small ride along.
 
koyote said:
I'd either go for a lightweight 22LR with an 8 inch barrel or a one of the lightweight 5 shot .357 revolvers with Bomars, a decent grip, and a 6 inch barrel.
Click to expand...

While it doesn't have an 8" barrel, for the .22, I'd highly recommend the S&W Model 63 with a 5" barrel. It holds 8 rds of .22 long rifle, has adjustable sights and is accurate.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...d=10001&productId=63570&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y

Along those same line, S&W also makes a five-shot .357 with a 5" barrel, adjustable sights and is the gun shot the most at the S&W conferences, I'm told.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...d=10001&productId=14756&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y

Either one of these would fulfill your stated needs.

.
 
Gossman Knives said:
What would you carry to feel more secure against two legged predators while out in the timber? For me it's my trusty Springfield 1911 45 auto and an 8" big blade. A 45 and O1, can't think of any better security then that. :D
Scott
Click to expand...

For two and four legged foes, I carry a Glock 20, Manix, and RAT7. So far I've had to use the Manix on a number of ferocious branches, and the RAT7 to chop and clean several walking sticks. The Glock has served to fight off a number of extra calories.
 
If the two legged predators get past my traps, punji pits, timber deadfalls i guess i'll have to resort to the ol boomstick....
 
These, plus whatever knives I decide to take, are what usually go with me.

100_1836-1.jpg


I'd much rather have, and not need.

Andy
 
Here's one reason I carry on the trail.... I always travel armed. So when I get to the trail, I'm not about to leave my weapon in my vehicle for somebody to break into and steal.

So, it goes with me.

Andy
 
SpookyPistolero said:
You brethren in Cali got the shaft, tknife. Rough living near liberals who know what's best for you.
Click to expand...

Rough?! He's lucky! If only the rest of us had someone to make all those hard decisions for us, too -- what a lot of stress that would save!

In the entire 30+ years I lived in California (born there in 1967), I was never asked if I was carrying a concealed weapon. I carried when I hiked, and kept it out of sight.

Now that I live in Washington, where sensible minds prevail, it's wonderful to be able to carry all the time, and know that I have a permit in my wallet should I ever be asked. I still keep my weapon to myself, but now I don't have to worry about going to jail if it's found.
 
Sheesh! I never go into the woods anymore, and even I have a Glock 20 ... for when I go into the woods. :D

I'm not sure if people who "don't see the need" will ever understand why some choose to be armed and thus ready to protect themselves all the time, not just when they think they might "need" it. The mindset for making the connection via logic just isn't there. The closest analogy might be seatbelts.

I don't "need" to wear a seatbelt, nor have I been in an accident where it would have saved my life. I don't expect to get into an accident, and I certainly don't plan on causing one. However, I still wear my seatbelt. It's not comfortable and I'll probably never literally need it, but if I do need it, it will be way too late to strap it on by the time I realize it. So I always wear my seatbelt.
 
Beautiful combo Scott.

Lots of beautiful combos being displayed. I used to carry a Ruger P90 .45acp, but the weight got to me after a days hiking, so I picked up a Bersa Thunder .380acp and have coupled it with a variety of knives, but my favorite combo is the Bersa and the Becker BK-11 Necker.

P1040300.jpg
 
rhino said:
Sheesh! I never go into the woods anymore, and even I have a Glock 20 ... for when I go into the woods. :D

I'm not sure if people who "don't see the need" will ever understand why some choose to be armed and thus ready to protect themselves all the time, not just when they think they might "need" it. The mindset for making the connection via logic just isn't there. The closest analogy might be seatbelts.

I don't "need" to wear a seatbelt, nor have I been in an accident where it would have saved my life. I don't expect to get into an accident, and I certainly don't plan on causing one. However, I still wear my seatbelt. It's not comfortable and I'll probably never literally need it, but if I do need it, it will be way too late to strap it on by the time I realize it. So I always wear my seatbelt.
Click to expand...

I see where you're coming from, Rhino.... But Playing the LOGIC card kinda puts you into a corner, too. Using your logic, why wouldn't you want to wear a helmet when walking down the street?... or atleast when you ride your bicycle..... and how about knee and elbow pads? The have made it manditory for kids to wear helmets when riding bike around here.... yet none of them wear them..... the only guys who wear helmets around here are the ones on the technical trails or the urban extreme riders. Now I drive two hours to the next my sister's city and EVERYONE is wearing helmets and pads.... smarter people? I don't think so. I used to be heavily into mountain biking and my friends felt helmet laws were infringing on peoples rights... they figure the next step was forcing folks to wear them everytime they left the house!

When seatbelt laws were first suggested i remember people freaking a bit... newspaper comics were mocking them... I think there was even a skit on SNL about how overkill it was.... not anymore, as you point out....

They haven't made any mandatory gun carry laws yet... so the government doesn't think its in your best interest.... lol......

I'm rambling here... sorry.... My point is that your statement about "The mindset for making the connection via logic just isn't there" might have more to do with geographic location than logic. That could easily be taken as an offensive comment.

If I were in your neck of the woods.... and we were getting ready for a day hike and I saw you "packin heat" you'd bet I'd be feeling a little underdressed to say the least.... but i wouldn't argue your logic in your own backyard.... I hope you gotta spare for me, dude!

But its all relative to the person.... It would be far easier for you to talk me into wearing a weapon than it would be for me to talk you out of it..... fear is a powerful emotion.


Ps...... A kid just road by wearing a helmet..... figures....

Rick
 
Last edited:
Come on down to sunny Illinois, one of only two states left that has absolutely zero concealed carry.

I don't even own a gun because I can't take it anywhere lol.

I've never looked into whether or not I can carry it in state/national parks or forrest preserves.
 
dougo83 said:
For those who see no need to carry a firearm:

Good luck and God speed.

We live in a rapidly declining world. People , as it has been stated, are not necessarily the best in the world. Times have changed alot.
We live in a world where :
1.people are advised not to stop for police until in a lighted area
2. people don't pick-up hitchkikers because they could be serial killers
3. almost every house has an alarm because you cannot trust your neighbors
4. people do not discipline their children and turn them into hellish banshees instead
5. the government tries to castrate all who would wish to protect themselves.
6. ingrate citizens demolish everything in an already devastated area and claim it is everyone else's fault.
Click to expand...

Well gee, I must be dead, since I've roamed in the woods, and the city, and the alleys, with no gun.
I even had Christmas dinner with a crazy murderer, and I didn't have even a single gun with me(that guy was WEIRD!:D Kept talking about circles...).
I've chased off dogs, even one which came running at me silently from behind(heard the tinkle of the dog tag, thank God) with a knife. Damn thing followed me for 4 blocks, and kept leaping in, requiring me to poke at it to fend it back. Friggin psycho dog.
But I guess I MUST really be dead because I didn't have a gun with me.
And NEWSFLASH, the world was ALWAYS this bad; you're just getting freaked out by a barrage of media reports.
The good old days weren't good; ignorance was bliss.
 
I wasn't going to dive back in but:

1: I've been hearing the EXACT same thing about the declining horror show that is the US since the late 70s. Same sentences, same reports on crime getting worse, even when it was getting better.

I ain't saying that violent crime doesn't happen, but some of the arguments start to look specious when NO AMOUNT of change in the world changes what is being said. Northern California is MORE hazardous now to wander around in that it was many years ago, but conversely, many national park areas are SAFER.

Most of the danger in Northern CA can't be removed with a firearm. Oh, maybe if you backpacked a bren, but even then, booby traps are more likely than crowds of Mexican factory pot farmers (the Californians aren't as bad overall (there are exceptions), they tend towards smaller crops and aren't trying to own some hemisphere sized drug territory)

2: Gun or no gun, avoidance and awareness are your best defense. There are situations where having a firearm tends to make people too cocky and unaware of their surroundings.

3: What magnussen said. Saying it's sinfully unprepared and silly to not carry a firearm all the time is like saying it's stupid to own a car. Cars kill more people every year than most wars have killed Americans. YOU have to make judgements. You have to analyze and pay attention.

If I feel a real need to go armed, I will. Laws or no laws. But I think I am capable of making judgements and not just assuming that everything from answering the door for the pizza man to strolling along the creek requires a firearm at all times.
 
koyote said:
If I feel a real need to go armed, I will. Laws or no laws. But I think I am capable of making judgements and not just assuming that everything from answering the door for the pizza man to strolling along the creek requires a firearm at all times.
Click to expand...

Amen brother, amen.:thumbup:
 
Here is an interesting link. It is a compilation of news stories where armed citizens have been forced to defend themselves. http://www.nraila.org/ArmedCitizen/Default.aspx

You can enter in your State at the bottom and search for events that have occurred near you. Also, leave the State portion empty and type in the word "camping". It pulls up a full page of stories... one even about an attack by a rabid SKUNK! :eek: Also, one about a cougar attacking a 5 year old girl when you search under "state park".

It is a bit of an eye-opener, as very few of these stories make national headlines.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top