-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Spectre website aka John Shirley
- Thread starter Kismet
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,331
Exactly like Baywatch, except for our M4 Carbines and 240B machine guns. And without the water. Or Pam Anderson. And with kids that throw rocks sometimes.
Still, I'm counting my blessings. The worst thing I could imagine would be marching around in 110+ heat, carrying a rucksack. In the tower, I should be fine as long as I keep my eyes up. I'll be a floater, moving between our three towers, so each person on our (now 7-man) crew can take a day off.
I haven't been in each tower, but the main potential concerns I saw from the tower I did mount, was one tall (8 story?) building about 500 meters out, and the village 150 meters away. Wouldn't take much to pop up above the village wall, or sneak to the side of it (about 100 meters away). An RPG from that close wouldn't be any fun at all.
I got issued my ammo load today. As soon as I leave the computer room, I'm going to go have some velcro straps sewn to hold a mag on my weapon's forearm, since we have to take a weapon and self-defense mag with us everywhere except the latrine. It'll be easier to do that in my PT uniform if the mag's on the weapon, and the holders I've seen here are long enough that they'll interfere with my shoulder mount, or force me to extend my M4 stock, preventing a consistent sight picture in my body armor.
John
Still, I'm counting my blessings. The worst thing I could imagine would be marching around in 110+ heat, carrying a rucksack. In the tower, I should be fine as long as I keep my eyes up. I'll be a floater, moving between our three towers, so each person on our (now 7-man) crew can take a day off.
I haven't been in each tower, but the main potential concerns I saw from the tower I did mount, was one tall (8 story?) building about 500 meters out, and the village 150 meters away. Wouldn't take much to pop up above the village wall, or sneak to the side of it (about 100 meters away). An RPG from that close wouldn't be any fun at all.
I got issued my ammo load today. As soon as I leave the computer room, I'm going to go have some velcro straps sewn to hold a mag on my weapon's forearm, since we have to take a weapon and self-defense mag with us everywhere except the latrine. It'll be easier to do that in my PT uniform if the mag's on the weapon, and the holders I've seen here are long enough that they'll interfere with my shoulder mount, or force me to extend my M4 stock, preventing a consistent sight picture in my body armor.
John
- Joined
- Nov 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,331
I went by the 2nd & 3rd tower last night.
I have to re-evaluate my relative safety. They're close, guys, real damn close. Easy rock-throwing distance close from the last tower, with walls for cover.
I'm not complaining, but if someone attacks the 2nd or 3rd tower, for the first time ever, I'm going to hope to be more lucky than good.
(But it's still better than marching with a ruck in this heat!
)
Oh- hey, guys- if someone could sent me some good rubber bands, I'd really appreciate it. Our PX has none, nada, zilch.
John
I have to re-evaluate my relative safety. They're close, guys, real damn close. Easy rock-throwing distance close from the last tower, with walls for cover.
I'm not complaining, but if someone attacks the 2nd or 3rd tower, for the first time ever, I'm going to hope to be more lucky than good.
(But it's still better than marching with a ruck in this heat!
)Oh- hey, guys- if someone could sent me some good rubber bands, I'd really appreciate it. Our PX has none, nada, zilch.
John
- Joined
- Nov 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,331
Well, thick is good. Those super heavy-duty black bands would be best, but even the commonly available thicker brown bands would probably work.
(My velcro bands *almost* work to hold my mag onto the forearm. The additional tension should be exactly what I need.)
A pack of zip ties would come in handy, too, now that I think about it. I'm not talking about flex-cuffs, just standard zip ties, maybe 12" or so long.
(My velcro bands *almost* work to hold my mag onto the forearm. The additional tension should be exactly what I need.)
A pack of zip ties would come in handy, too, now that I think about it. I'm not talking about flex-cuffs, just standard zip ties, maybe 12" or so long.
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2002
- Messages
- 7,269
Somebody with access to a stationery store send him some rubber bands, will you? He got the cable ties, but I didn't have access to heavy rubber bands. Didn't take too long to get there.
(I think the chocolate bar I enclosed disappeared already, but he liked pictures of 'merica the beautiful and Young Bert, the not-so-beautiful.)
(I think the chocolate bar I enclosed disappeared already, but he liked pictures of 'merica the beautiful and Young Bert, the not-so-beautiful.)
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2004
- Messages
- 3,178
I'll check with the mail room sometime this week. No promises, but I'm prepared to twist arms if necessary. (No, really.)
- Joined
- Nov 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,331
Actually, cancel rubber bands.
I saw a tactical friend, some years ago, use heavy duty bands to secure a mag to his AR forearm in his house.
I have come to believe this is much less successful when you carry your weapon everywhere. The zip ties were used today to fasten a MOLLE mag carrier vertically to my buttstock, where I can both have secure weapons storage, and not impede my sight picture, cheek weld, or impair weapons operation.
The Swiss chocolate is in the freezer, waiting for a time when it's badly needed.
Two kids in upper right, returning after demanding food- CHOCOLATE, one reproved me, when I stepped out to take his picture.
Phoenix in the morning:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/Jinete_delViento/PnxMrn.jpg
I saw a tactical friend, some years ago, use heavy duty bands to secure a mag to his AR forearm in his house.
I have come to believe this is much less successful when you carry your weapon everywhere. The zip ties were used today to fasten a MOLLE mag carrier vertically to my buttstock, where I can both have secure weapons storage, and not impede my sight picture, cheek weld, or impair weapons operation.
The Swiss chocolate is in the freezer, waiting for a time when it's badly needed.
Two kids in upper right, returning after demanding food- CHOCOLATE, one reproved me, when I stepped out to take his picture.
Phoenix in the morning:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/Jinete_delViento/PnxMrn.jpg
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2003
- Messages
- 20,207
Pardon what may be a really dumb question, but wouldn't a heavy wire screen around the tower compartment set off an RPG (or destroy it)before it hit the compartment? I'm thinking of the screen skirts the Germans put on the sides of their tanks to stop such HEAT weapons in WWII.
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2003
- Messages
- 580
Wow, if it weren't for the mountains in the background, I'd swear that was Iraq.
Keep your eyes open and your six covered.
Keep your eyes open and your six covered.
- Joined
- Nov 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,331
Thomas, you're right, it would. That is now seen on at least some Stryker vehicles. I think that probably works better on armored vehicles, though- with the plexiglass windows we have, we'd probably still get hit with the blast.
This is just to stop the rocks.
A few days ago, I sat across the table at lunch from a very competent looking little Asian man. (I say little- he may have been taller than me, though not as thick.) His shirt had kukuris on it! My first Gurkha sighting.
J
This is just to stop the rocks.
A few days ago, I sat across the table at lunch from a very competent looking little Asian man. (I say little- he may have been taller than me, though not as thick.) His shirt had kukuris on it! My first Gurkha sighting.
J
