Fred Rowlands

Fred Rowlands Fred “Garfield” Rowlands is a 21+ year Navy veteran who spent his career in strange and diverse places like Diego Garcia, Wintering Over in Antarctica, the Southern Border, and Burbank CA. Has spent over 30 years working in Military Physical Security, Law Enforcement, and Private Security, and has “more luck than a cat has lives” supposedly. He now resides in NW Florida with his wife and a Great Dane named Layla.

Craft Panther Holster: A No‑Drama Solution for Everyday Carry

Since moving to NW Florida, I’ve been a fan of off-body carry when it comes to my EDC. It offers many advantages, most of which are connected in some way to the wonderful humidity and weather we have here. In the last year, I’ve also added a new aspect of life, motorcycle riding, which brings […]

Caracal CMP9 & CMP9K: Modern 9mm Platforms With Global Momentum

Some time back I wrote an article about the Caracal Enhanced F, a 9mm pistol that was turning heads with its strength and reliability. Now I want to look at what Caracal is doing today, the CMP9 & CMP9K: Hard-use platforms built for real work. Some guns show up looking tactical. The CMP9 and CMP9K […]

CRKT PROVOKE: A Mechanical Karambit With Attitude

Some knives show up to work. Some show up to get attention. The CRKT PROVOKE does both. It’s a karambit built around Joe Caswell’s Kinematic system—a design that looks like it was engineered by someone who got tired of folders pretending to be innovative. This thing doesn’t flip, swing, or glide. It lunges. The PROVOKE […]

Viking 28L Century Large Leather Motorcycle Trunk Bag: Real Capacity, Real Travel

“I want to travel with the motorcycle,” she said. I heard: You need to buy a trailer to pull behind the motorcycle. Anyone who’s ever tried to pack for two on a touring bike knows the real enemy isn’t the road—it’s the single trunk bag your passenger swears she can fit her entire life into. […]

SOG Survivor’s Edge Fixed Knife — Field-Tested Review

When you’re deep in the backcountry or elbow‑deep in a survival task, you don’t need a fantasy blade — you need a tool that does the basics exceptionally well. The SOG Survivor’s Edge Fixed is exactly that: a compact, purpose-built survival knife that favors control, slicing efficiency, and practical utility over flash. First Impressions The […]

Pic of The Day, Viking Tool and Handlebar Bag

Every rider hits that moment. You are a few miles into a day ride or a multi-day run, and realize the stuff you actually need is never where you need it. While riding recently, I met a couple having a minor issue with their bike, but no tools. Lucky for them, I have a Handlebar […]

Mission-Ready Twice Over: Inside the ExoM Up-Armoured Exoskeleton

At SOF Week 2025, amidst the hum of innovation and the clatter of next-gen gear demos, one system stood out for its quiet, titanium-backed revolution: the ExoM Up-Armoured Exoskeleton from Mehler Systems. Co-developed with Mawashi Science & Technology and France’s elite GIGN unit, the ExoM isn’t just a concept—it’s a mission-proven solution that’s reshaping how […]

Friday Coffee Break: Dalgona Coffee, Field-Ready

I’ve moved to a new team at work and I’ve learned a couple things about them. First there are a lot of Navy people on this team, and secondly, they love their coffee. The conversation drifted yesterday afternoon to something I never heard of, Dalgona Coffee. Supposedly if you were anywhere near social media in […]

Bullfrog by Allen Control Systems: AI Meets Firepower

At SOF Week 2024 Guy and I saw a Hilux pickup with a Mini-gun mounted on a turret in the back. Our first thought, ooooo sexy we want, and then we noticed it was licensed in Texas, of course. That was our first introduction to the BullFrog from Allen Control Systems (ACS), and since then, […]

UF PRO Striker TT Combat Pants: Built for the Tropics, Ready for the Fight

When you operate in hot, humid environments, your gear either works with you or against you. The UF PRO Striker TT Combat Pants fall firmly into the first category. Designed from the ground up for tropical climates, these pants combine lightweight construction, smart ventilation, and rugged reinforcements in a package that feels purpose-built for the […]