Just for fun (it's Friday) here's what I'm carrying today. I'm not particularly offering it for critique, but I'll certainly entertain anyone's suggestions for improvement.

I've noticed a strong ETS influece on my EDC over the past year or so. I like it.

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BODY
- Timex Expedition watch
- Suunto Clipper compas

PANTS

Left front pocket
- Spyderco Native knife - utility and lending knife
- Leatherman PST (original) - multitool
- Handkerchief - kept pristine for medical and lending uses

Right front pocket
- Benchmade McHenry & Williams - fighting knife
- Bandana - general purpose cloth, used, used, used
- Arc LE - handy, last-guy-in-the-office flashlight

EAGLE CREEK SHOULDER BAG

Split rings attached to shoulder strap tabs
- Climb High 4 inch carabiner - emergency rapelling
- Key ring carabiner
-- Car and house keys
-- Leatherman Squirt S4 - personal hygiene
-- Photon II red LED - night vision light

Top zippered "coin" pouch
- Pillbox
-- 4 Ibuprophen - general analgesic
-- 4 Aleve - my favorite for low back pain
-- 4 Titrilac antacid - small antacid pill
-- 2 Sinutab - decongestant
-- Plastic toothpic - movie popcorn!
- Keyring for survival gear
-- JetScream whistle - small and flat
-- BSA metal match and scraper - fire
-- Case 2-inch lockback knife - can one carry enough knives?
-- Photon II amber LED - backup light
- Cricket butane lighter - safety lock
- Fisher Bullet space pen
- Large paper clip - stiff wire and device resetter

Outside front slip pocket
- 10 3 x 5 index cards - notes to others
- Plastic comb - no real use
- Spyderco ceramic file sharpener - knife sharpener
- Leatherman SideClip multitool - backup pliers, etc.

Full length side-zipper pocket
- Walther PPK/S - 380, 7 + 1
- Uncle Mike Sidekick pocket holster - extra bump protection for PPK

Main top-zipper compartment
- Palm M100 - pda with first aid and survival info
- Sony Z100 cell phone - emergency use only
- Wallet - credit cards and cash, plus...
-- 2 bandaids, 1 x 4 inch
-- 1 plastic toothpick
- Leather checkbook cover
-- Checkbook
-- Deposit slip book
-- 3 x 5 index cards
- Reading glasses in aluminum tube
- 20 ft nylon mason's line, braided
- 25 ft 550 paracord
- Altoids tin PSK

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Places I'm feeling skimpy...

I feel pretty good about medical stuff, but could probably stand to add some antiseptic pads and antibiotic ointment packed outside my PSK for easy, non-survival access.

I could easily add a trash bag and boost my shelter category. Maybe a tea candle or emergency candle for heat.

Signals are okay. Except I don't have a mirror anywhere.

Fire seems good. I have matches, more flint, and tinder in the PSK.

Water and food are covered in the PSK.

The only tool I think I'm missing is a saw. Or two saws. I'd like to add a saw blade for cutting trap notches. That should probably be a hacksaw blade in the PSK. And a wire saw for shelter making. Again, in the PSK.

Again, I'm mostly just typing this up for fun. I noticed that I find it interesting when other people list the details of what they carry. Thought you might like a look into my pockets and purse.

Bear

Thanks for posting your gear list. It made for interesting reading. I've only one thing to comment on. . . .

Walther PPK/S? Where's the tuxedo and shaken vodka martini? Seriously, though, I used to have one but went to other pistols for a number of reasons. 1. It is difficult for those with low upper body strength to chamber a round. My ex-wife hated having to do so and preferred that I loaded the gun for her whenever she carried it. She preferred the much larger H&K USP (and does to this day). It's been awhile, but I suspect it may be hard to reload with one hand too. 2. The ballistics of the .380 are not up to the 9mm, .357, .40, .45, etc. 3. Given its small size, there's a lot of recoil, which can make for more difficult one-handed shooting.

I've known a number of guys who carry the PPK/S as a backup, and probably also as an "Oh S---" gun. If you can, you might want to consider something in a stronger cartridge, like the Glock 26 or 27. Just my thoughts.

I really liked Dchinell's pack listing, and agree that you can never have too many knives. Each one has its own personality to me. IMO, The Walther PPK is well made, accurate, and enjoyable to shoot, though a little heavy for my tastes in stainless steel. They will feed Federal Hydrashoks, and Corbon reliably. The straight blowback design requires a steady hand, but I don't think I'd want to ever one hand any semi-auto in a defensive situation - if that's a concern, carry a revolver. I'd like to respectfully suggest that we all respect a man's decision on his carry piece - if that's what he wants to carry, he has his reasons. Regards, Keys

The may not be the right forum, but here we go.

Practice! Any gun you are familiar with is the best one to have. A .22 will get someones attention if the round is put in the right place. And you can learn to handle the recoil of almost anything. Again, with practice.

My primary carry gun is a Kimber Ultra CDP. Recoil is heavy when shooting one handed, expecially off hand. But it can be done.

Nicely said, BlueFlame. It's been 18 years since I last dipped a toe in the Chattahoochee. Regards to all ya'll in my home state of Georgia. Keys

Keys:

Good point. I meant no disrespect, and should have known better. Discussing guns and calibers is as volatile as religion or politics. Your point about revolvers is well taken. They are reliable and don't go down the way autoloaders do. From a purely objective standpoint, they are probably the better selection. Of course, I'd still prefer to have a Govt. model or Commander with me. See earlier point on guns, religion, and politics! <img src="images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Again, great list!

KeysBear,

Come on back for a visit! I was in Cleveland, Helen, and Blairsville this weekend. It's great in the mountains! With all of the recent rain, the 'hooch is running strong.

Greetings from a fellow Atlantan (Marietta, actually) BlueFlame.

Well, I also carry a PPK/s... and because of its accuracy, I've never felt underprepared.

I have one of the first ones after S&W got the rights to produce them in this country. I think its a little more finicky than the German-made or Interarms variety. I wish I knew someone that had an older one they wanted to "unload". I've been keeping an eye out at the gun shows.

Even though I've finally got mine tweaked, I'd never buy another Smith-made Walther again!

Hey, gear freak. I was the one who sent you some suggestions on ranges in the Atlanta area a few weeks back. Did you ever get a chance to try any out?

Not yet, but I'm definitely planning on getting acquainted with some steel this summer.

About my handgun...

380 is the smallest defense caliber that I PERSONALLY feel comfy with. Consequently, I'm always on the lookout for the smallest, lightest 380 I can find.

I've got the PPK/s, a Colt Mustang PocketLite, and a Sig P230. I like the Colt for its size and weight, but have come to be uncomfortable with the single action.

Now I've got my eye on the Kel-Tec P-3AT.

I'd like to migrate my collection to a small 380 for city carry, a pistol/rifle set in 22LR, and a similar set in 38/357.

But this isn't the appropriate forum for endless firearm speculation. I just wanted to add some comments about my EDC.

Bear

I'm actually from Marietta. If you were in Blairsville you were right down the road from my mom's hometown of Marble, N.C. just up from Murphy. My uncle used to own a general store in Marble, complete with the old timers sitting out front rocking and whittling. It's been closed for probably thirty years, but I can remember the smell of a freshly opened orange Nehi out of the cooler like it was yesterday. I love the Nantahala river area. I'll be up there this summer at another uncle's log cabin. Regards, Keys

No problem with your choice of firearm. Just sharing with you my thoghts on firearms, having had a .380 and having evolved in my thoughts on sidearms. There are tradeoffs and constraints with all pistols. The important things is to be cognizant of them and make a conscious choice based on your priorities and preferences.

OK, so I've looked at your list again and you do have a number of edged tools/weapons. My assumptions on survival preparedness and personal protetion: 1) I'd want redundancy, but not to the point of overly redundant; 2) If I'm carrying for personal protection, I'd rather have two guns than have "X" knives. Your list has three Leatherman products, three knives, and a pistol. I love edged weapons and tools as much as the next guy, but is this too much? Seems to me one or two Leatherman tools, a utility knife, an edged weapon back-up, and a pistol are plenty. Of the two functions of these items (tools and weapons), which is more important? If a weapon is, I'd rather have a backup gun over a backup knife. (If I were going to be really serious about carrying, I'd have two pistols and one knife.)

Some more thoughts. Again, enjoyed reviewing your kit. It looks good. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Regards,

attty_guy

I'd carry a Commander, or maybe one of the new compact Para Ordnance models. I'm actually considering going back to a snub .357 for carry purposes, for the reliability, and the one handed factor. In an adrenaline situation who knows? Might limp wrist, or completely limp body even, jelly legs and all. Man, you are right about guns, religion, and politics - seems like you could tell some guys their wife looks like a moose without trouble, but better not disrespect their guns. Regards, Keys

Depending upon where I'm off to I've usually got my Leatherman Wave, a large Sheffield (cheap Home Depot special) multitool, and a mini Sheffield multitool. This gives me pliers for both hands which I often use in tandem, and assorted sizes of screwdrivers. I also usually carry a Gerber primary folding knife and a Sheffield backup. For most projects I'll use the Sheffield products because they were inexpensive, especially when it's rough work that might damage the knives, though so far I've found most of their products to be indestructible even after two years of abuse. I do carry a backup revolver in the car which I will carry on me in certain situations along with my primary pistol. I'm going to take a long look at that Kel-Tec P3-AT myself when it finally gets to my local gun store. If it's the same size as their P-32 I'll carry it as backup, or maybe out jogging any day. Here in S. Florda we've got to wear lighter clothes all year around, so a small light pistol is very handy. Regards, Keys

Have you looked at Kahr?

Keys:

A Commander is my carry gun. I just got it back from Novak's, and I'm in love with it all over again. I had the basic "concealed carry" package done to it, with the addition of night sights and it is beautiful, man. The basic design is 93 years old and still strong. . . . <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

atty_guy

I don't know much about Kahr. I think they make a compact .40 S&W that I wouldn't mind looking at. Their compacts seem to have limited mag capacity - like 7+1 or so, if I recall correctly. Do you have personal experience with one or know some pricing? I think they're priced above Kel-Tec - more in the Ruger price range but more compact. Regards, Keys

I do not own a Kahr, but have shot one in 9mm. Very easy to handle given the size. Their claim to fame came as a back-up weapon in law enforcement. As an ankle carry or pocket gun, LEOs seem to love Kahrs. I will probably buy one of their 9mms later this summer. Not the real small one (it's too small for my hand), but the next step up.
You can see the line at Kahr. Hum...that PM9 sure looks like a winner

I've owned a Kahr K40 (all steel, blued, and .40 S&W, of course) for almost 2 years, and frequently carry it. It has a full-size grip, the curves of which are patterned after the classic Browning HiPower. The magazines hold 6, plus 1 in the chamber.

It's very accurate, carries & conceals well; I like it.

A friend just bought a P40 (polymer frame version of same gun); it's lighter, but other than that, the same. He also had a KelTec .40-cal. He said he didn't like it nearly as well as he did the new Kahr. Also said the KelTec was not as accurate, and recoil was much worse. (Not knocking KelTec--I also carry their P32!)

The only problems I've experienced with the Kahr were in trying to change the sights--I broke the factory front while attempting to drift it out. I saw the error of my ways & had a local gunsmith complete the job for $20.
The other "issue" has been finding a spare mag carrier that fits a single-stack .40 mag. While I know I can order a "custom" one from Kramer, or another holster maker, I'm a cheapskate...er, ah...very frugal...and prefer to shop around.

In other words, no problems experienced with the gun.

HTH YMMV LSMFT,

David

LSMFT? Unless the meaning has changed, you must be as old as I am.