self defense

Let there be light: Why making a flashlight part of your EDC is worth it

From the earliest days of mankind, one of the few things that separated our particular breed of big-brained monkey from the rest of the competition in the wild was our ability to harness light, in the form of fire. Fire, of course, was paramount to our success as a species for a number of other […]

Winning the fight: The biggest, strongest guy in the bar usually isn’t the one you need to worry about

For the security conscious, walking into a crowded bar usually isn’t your idea of a good time. Crowds are exceptionally good at concealing threats, and those who have built careers (either legitimate or otherwise) by being a threat know that. These days, I’m a pretty big fella. At six feet tall and around 245 pounds, […]

Teaching an old dog new tricks: I may not be the Marine I once was but I’m cool with that

Since becoming a dad, there’s been a running joke among my friends and family about how fatherhood is making me soft. It’s a fair observation to make: I do spend a lot more time watching animated animals sing nursery rhymes now, and words like “cute” and “adorable” are now a part of my day-to-day vocabulary… […]

Shoot to Wound and other Misinformed Ideas

WHY DIDN’T THE PERSON JUST SHOOT THE BAD GUY IN THE LEG? Law enforcement and those carrying a firearm for self defense are poised with the same question every year; Why didn’t they just shoot to wound or shoot them in the leg? Sometimes those asking the question sincerely don’t know and want to understand. […]

Opinion: A night out with the Microtech SOCOM auto folder

I remember saving up to buy this beautiful $350 Microtech SOCOM Elite automatic/switchblade back around 2001-2002. One night I was waiting for a friend to meet me in his parking lot at his apt building, super sketchy neighborhood. I saw a crazy looking dude walking through the parking lot, so I pulled it out and had it […]

The Knyphe: Phone Case + EDC Knife

I was browsing roughly through a gun and gear Facebook page when I stumbled across the Knyphe. The Knyphe is a great name for a really sweet idea. It’s simple, you already have a phone, and it’s likely in a case. So why not carry a fixed blade in the case? The Knyphe is a […]

Crate Club’s Deadly Deck: Kill, Survive, Evade

Clint Emerson and his Book 100 Deadly Skills is a must-read for anyone who has an even passing interest in fieldcraft should read. It provides 100 Deadly Skills in an easy to digest format that provides vivids illustrations combined with easy to read and remember instructions. Crate Club has partnered with Clint before, but in my opinion, the Deadly […]

How to throw a punch like a Marine

The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program has been the basic hand-to-hand combat system employed by the United States Marine Corps since 2002, and as I’ve written about in the past, it tends to get dragged through the mud by young guys with limited experience and a lot of bravado. In order to complete recruit training, you need […]

Improvised Weapons: Soft Skills 101

If you are a Digital Nomad, or a frequent flyer, or someone who just eats breakfast with their kid at school you’ll likely find yourself disarmed at some point. Metal detectors, pat-downs and more prevent you from carrying a gun, a knife, or even a multi-tool. In this regard, we have to start looking at […]

The Gerber Mini Covert Auto: The little switchblade that could

I love automatic knives, aka switchblades, and over time they’ve edged their way into my collection and my EDC rotation. One I’ve had for almost a year now has been one of my favorite companions. This little guy is Gerber’s Mini Covert Auto. It’s one of the smallest switchblades I own, second only to Hogue’s […]