geared up the briefcase

Today, I found myself putting a little gear in my briefcase. (Forgive me if this thread's been done; I'm new.)

Tucked in a $5 Coleman PVC rain poncho that folds nicely flat. Tossed aside the mesh bag the poncho came in and put it in a gallon Ziplock with the air squeezed out and folded over. (Perhaps more weight/space than needed, but the 99-cent 'emergency' ponchos remind of my Saran Wrap. Are they actually useful?).

Added Leatherman 'Kick' in a cordura sheath that I had around the house. Added a Gerber para-frame knife. Threw in a AMK-Ritter PSK with addition of some repackaged Potable Aqua (in the little vial Ritter recommends). Also threw in a little 7" pry bar I found at Target (don't know if it's good for much; am debating taking it back out). Tucked in a little cut & scrapes first aid kit that I picked up cheap (liked the little box, upgraded its contents with some stuff from the home kit). Just now added a Maglite Solitaire.

Am thinking about throwing in a pair of synthetic wet-weather golf gloves that are pretty tough. I think they're better than no gloves. These have handled a bunch of warm-weather pheasant hunts with no problem and protected the hands from nicks & whatnot pretty well.

Figure I'll still add a flat-pack of duct tape, an orange bandana, and maybe a little pair of forceps.

(Already on the keychain: Leatherman Micra, Photon II LED light, paracord fob, small Acme whistle).

Goodness, now I already want to uprgrade everything! That may have to wait a paycheck or two. Just got my Mini-Ritter folder, now i want another one, plus a full-size one, plus some more of the little PSKs.

Does it ever end? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Amazing thing is, this stuff all went quite handily into my little Wenger binder/briefcase thing, and although the stuff added a little weight, you'd really never know its there unless you looked carefully.

New postings of member's efforts are always welcome. We get to critique and maybe learn something new, or remember something we forgot. You may want to store your ziplock flat and unfolded. I've found that over time the toughest of plastics, aluminum foils etc. often develop splits on the folds. It's fun to upgrade. Just remember that a .99 cent raincoat is the equal of a Burberry trenchcoat next to the poor fellow standing in his cotten tshirt and jeans. Upgrade, but keep the .99 cent stuff to help others. Best to take your prybar and, well pry something. See if it works on doors you might have to force in emergencies.

Gotcha. Thanks.

Those little .99 ponchos have come in very handy for me several times in the past. I consider them a worthy addition with minimal cost and weight...

M

yeah, .99 cents ponchos are worth it. It is better to have a "cheap" one in your pocket than a $20 one at home.

They last a use or 2, then replace. Small, light, and easy to find. Not sure I'd want to be wearing one in a sever T-Storm or high wind if I had other rain protection, but they will keep you dry in a emergency.

Why, takes little room, and will get more and more handy as you get used to it.

I cut the hooked end off a mini bar with a cutoff tool, and carry the flat bar in my EDC gear. A couple others are also carring flat bars. You will be amazed at how handy they are.

A discussion near and dear to my heart. I'm fighting a never-ending battle with what to put in and take out of my day bag. Right now, the Incredible Hulk is breaking a sweat when he lugs my shoulder bag into the office for me. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

This really, seriously has to stop. I must become wealthy enough to hire someone to carry all my gear for me. Yeah, that's it. That's the ticket. That sounds like a reasoned and mature solution. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Hold up. The Hulk just threw his back out and is crying uncle. Pitiful, really. I must go lend a hand. You chaps carry on without me. Now where did I put that back liniment? <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

-- Craig

Well if there's an end to this madness I sure haven't found it yet. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Welcome to the forums. Sounds like you've got the right idea with your kit. Heck you're already ahead of 99% of the world (myself included) just by putting the knife, multitool, Ritter PSP and the poncho in there. BTW those little 99 cent ponchos are great. I usually just use them once but for that one time they are worth all 99 of the cents they cost me.

What end? The constant fiddling with bits of kit? It never ends. You never get over this sickness, and you can give it to others, but don't worry. It isn't leathal, and it might keep you alive. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

BTW, if you want a smaller prybar, look at the PocketWrenchII. It is short, which compromises it in some regaurds, but it fits in the pouch with your Kick. I have tucked in with my SuperTool, and I used it the first day to get leverage to a computer case that was someone apparently had been using for a chair riser/warmer for two years.

Oooh, I gotta have one or two of those PocketWrench gizmos!

Now on the 'must have' list: Another Ritter knife, some more Ritter PSKs, PocketWrenchII, some more paracord accessories from Union Square, some Katadyn tabs ...

I'm going to need another job! <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

The best advice I can give you (to steal a phrase from cpf) is to
Hide your wallet. For me buying cool little tools to carry around and
guarantee me future back problems has become a bizarre cross of
shopaholic-ism , gizmo addiction, and chess. Personally, my
discretionary funds come from selling stuff from my last hobby on
eBay. On a more relevant note, if your work situation permits, it I
would suggest a good fixed blade. I think it could fit in your brief
case without taking up much more room, and IMHO all things being
equal, fixed blades are better. I would also recommend a small
radio that receives the NOAA channels. I think the 99 cent
ponchos are great, mostly for their size rather than their price.
Obviously the durability is a factor, but if you going to have some
duct tape with you..it would not take much to repair any damage
done. With regards to "does it ever end', it doesn't seem so,
forward thinking is one of those things, once you take the red pill
there is no going back.

Think I'll have to pass on a fixed blade. I work in a newspaper newsroom. If a fixed-blade knife fell out of my briefcase, they'd probably have me fired, arrested and committed. At work, the term 'politcally correct urban weenies' crosses my mind a lot.

I would have to agree with you there, I also work for a politically correct company whose favorite phrase is 'diversity' -- I got in trouble a year ago for having one of those 'threatening' Swiss Army multi-tools on my belt. Actually, the complainers felt threatened by the nylon sheath, they never saw the 'alleged weapon'. But I had to answer to human resources and promise never to bring that 'weapon' back to the workplace. I still carry a different multitool, but out of sight in my pocket, and what they can't see, they can't complain about.

Since you are gearing up a briefcase I presume you are an office worker. That being so you might be interested in this.
http://www.equipped.org/ubbthreads/showf...amp;amp;fpart=1

You might want to add a copuple of heavy duty [Contractor Grade] large trash bags. Very versitile item.

i work in the IT department of a university i have my shadow 3 on my belt most of the time. the higher ups laugh at me when i tell them its my "box cutter". ahh the joys of a relaxed work enviroment

Those home shopping channels don't know about THIS goldmine, do they?

Sue

Got a link for your "little Wenger binder/briefcase thing?"

-- Craig

Craig,
Sorry, haven't seen it on the Web. Got it at an Office Max or Office Depot.
It's kind of a double folded pouch with two zippered sides. One side opens to a binder/organizer, the other opens to a file holder. There's also a velcro'd pouch that runs the length of the front. It's about 12" x 13" closed.
Mark

Here's their site:
http://www.digitallyunique.com/accessories-cases-notebook.html

... but it's got a ton of stuff and only minmal descriptions.

Sue

Sounds cool. I'll keep a lookout.

I'm a trial lawyer. I wear a suit about half the time, khakis the rest. I use several different breifcases, and have to go in and out of courthouses all the time. I grew up outside, and can't stand to go 'naked.'

For quite a while now I have carried a little kit to move things back and forth from briefcase to case, and to quickly 'sanitize' myself before going into a courthouse. I always carry a folding knife in my waistband. If its a khaki day, I carry a Leatherman newmodel Wave with a metal match and a folding straight razor in the elastic sides.
I always carry a Zippo (yeah, I know). Key chain with LM Micra and Photon III, and fob made of 10' of gutted para cord.

The current kit is a Spec-Ops Dry Cell. In the mesh pockets in front are an Inova X5, a Benchmade Mini-Ambush, an original (as in first MONTH of production) Leatherman, and SAK Scout.

Inside in two OmniSeal double wallets is:

Side 1:
Bobbin 80# SpiderWire
Bobbing #69 black nylon thread
pencil lead case with 6 assorted needles
P-38
Spark Lite and 4 Tinder Quicks
flat LED keychain light from CountyComm

Side 2:
4 Immodium
4 Pepcid
4 Sudafed
6 200mg ibuprophen
2 cloth adhesive bandages
2 antibiotic ointment packs
2 benzoylkonium wipes
4 1/4" steri strips
#10 scalpel blade
splinter picker tweezer

Side 3:
15' .034 stailess wire
mini-Bic (hate those things - no adjustable flame
Bunton button compass
6 finishing nails
20' mason's cord
soda straw segment packed with pet. jelly & cotton

Side 4:
4 large safgety pins
folding straight razor (CountyComm)
flat whistle
3" 18g hypo needle
6 lifeboat amtches & striker strip
wallet size fresnel lens

small zip lock with:
4 sq. ft. foil
4 stainless steel cable leaders
6 zippy-strips
6 screw eyes

Also:
30' REAL para cord
6' duct tape
Bunton clip on compass
adjustable flame lighter
In a quart zip lock:
bandana
2 50 gal barrel liners

The whole mess wieghs about a pound and transfers from briefcase to briefcase, and can be taken out and left in the car when I have to clear security.

Pretty impressive kit, alas, you are without it in the courthouse since you have to pass through security. Do you keep anything in a smaller kit that will go through security [minus the bladed items?]

Not these days. You would not believe how tight the Federal Marshals are. They make the air police look like kindergarden teachers. Yeah, it does amke me nervous. I've got some titanium and reinforced nylon 'tools' but I don't want to risk it. Losing them to confiscation is the least of. If you go to such lengths to 'infiltrate' a federal facility, you have made out a prima facie case of 'intent' for them.

It is very sad what we have come to in this country -- the terrorists won, we have no freedom anymore - - we are now the suspects

Terrorists didn't really win. They provided a convenient excuse to take away certain inconvenient rights complicating various government and law enforcement jobs. The people taking our rights have always lusted after them, just couldn't get 'em until now. Thing is... we gave them up, they didn't really take them.

I think it's inevitable. Cyclic, too, hopefully. We have a country full of people who have no idea what it's like to _lose_ personal freedom. They're finding out. Absent another terrorist attack, it'll be interesting to see how long this lasts.

In a way they did, we have given up much freedom for the illusion of being safe, and we are no safer 4 years later and billions of taxpayer dollars wasted. I agree, the government is always taking freedom in cheez-it size bites that hardly anyone notices, but the terrorists gave them a reason to take our freedom in KFC size buckets and those freedom losses, we can see daily.

randjack, that's one impressive kit.

re courthouses, have been there and agree. i also think groo raised a good point ... can't blame the marshals ... they're doing as instructed. doing otherwise would only land them in red tape hell and possibly cost them the their jobs.

i covered federal courts for a while when i was a reporter; maybe we're just lucky in the Midwest, but the marshals, FBI, postal, IRS and ATF guys i used to see all the time we're good, down-to-earth people who worked in the surreal world of the US Govt. Also, the 3 judges in our courthouse were indeed honorable.

there's still some good folks in government.

but, goodness, it was scary how much investigative and attorney power the feds could employ once they decided to go to trial. ... and the rules of the court and the sentencing guidelines (since tossed or hugely revised) seemed, to an educated layman, stacked in the prosecution's favor moreso than in state court. i know i never want the feds in my sock drawer.

still, these are the musings of a wandering mind, which has wandered off-topic. my bad.

Thank you for your kind words about my kit. Any suggestions are welcome. I've worked at it, sort of.

The fed gov scares the sh*t out of me. They have so damn much power that once they set their site on you, you might as well move to Spain. And this is from a supposed "insider."

RE. CH security, they did not get tight after 9.11, they got tight after Oklahoma City.

Randjack,

You have a nice briefcase kit there. I'm in the same situation. But I think your kit is a lot lighter and more compact than mine. I'll rethink mine.

Time for an anecdote,
About 20 years ago, a colleague was in trial in Federal Court. During the trial, he realized he had forgotten some documents. He telephoned his secretary during a break. She hurriedly gathered the document and rushed them to the courthouse. Unfortunately, she forgot to remove her revolver from her purse.

The secretary was hassled for an hour. Amazingly, both she and her revolver were then released (after her the intervention of her boss). No charges were pursued.

Times have seriously changed.

John

The PocketWrench II (by Latshaw Tools) is part of my own EDC. They are very handy for prying and poking. Also, they are security friendly because they possess no sharp edges or points of any kind. The prying/screwdriver end is simply a gentle bevel. They can hang from your keychain. I keep mine wrapped in a bandanna in my rear pocket.

-- Craig

I'm curious about the poncho. I always carry either a jacket and/or an umbrella with me, so I usually don't bother packing a poncho. Do you have a specific reason for including a poncho in your kit?

-- Craig

A couple items I rarely see in packs and I apologize if they've already been mentioned.

Guys, get a super absorbant Maxi-pad. Can you think of anything that will cover a gushing wound better?

Dental floss. First off, I hate having something jammed in my teeth. Moving past that, floss can be use for so many things I won't even list them.

It's extremely strong. I use it on my expandable broadheads when sighting in. Just 3x around and it keeps the head closed for several shots, hitting a broadhead target, at 260fps! And I don't even tie it. I just wrap it around and it holds very well. It's light and takes up little room. I like the small Glide container myself.

I friend of mine is a state court judge. She forgot when going to pick he daughter up at the airport that she had one of MY guns in her purse. That was an interesting scene. I never saw my nice little Barretta again. Oh well.

Another lawyer friend tried to walk through state courthouse security with her gun in her purse. No CCW permit. That took the concerted effort of the County Judge to get cleared up. She got her gun back.

Josey & Craig:

I've got floss and a cheap poncho in orther kits. As for the poncho, well, there just have to be limits and choices for a little kit. Re. floss, I would, but the packaging is too 'fat.' I guess I'll break several kinds open some day and see how they pack up w/o the bulk, but I just haven't gotten around to it.

Does anybody have any suggestiions for small floss packs sans packaging? I've seen reference to 'floss cards,' but can't find them.

Craig,
Not really, although I do go to work a lot in shirt sleeves. It was in the 90s here all week. Figured a pvc poncho might serve as a poncho, blanket, ground cloth, whatever.

I believe it. Last time I went to jury duty, I left all my blades and tools behind, except my eyeglass repair kit. I go early, because I carry a lot.

The metal detector picked up the eyelets in my shoes and the zipper in my dress trousers (yes, the guards looked <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />), but NOT the spectacle screwdriver I'd forgotten about in my dress suitcoat pocket.

The guards turned on every flashlight, opened every flashlight, and inspected the batteries. They worked my lipbalm and watched the stick move up and down. They opened both of my wallets. They opened my box of migaine/headache meds. They clicked all of my pens and opened all of them. They opened my lunch. The only thing they didn't open was my can of soda.

Did I feel violated? Yes. Did I feel safer? Yes. Do I like jury duty? Hell no. I'd avoid it if I could, but I have no reason.

-- Craig

Must be a federal thing. I was in the Tarrant County courthouse just a week ago and none of that happened. I saw tighter security by the TSA on my last trip to the airport.

I've been here for quite some time, a few years now, and yet I learn stuff all the time. Your suggestion was a revelation. Why keep the cheap crap around? To give to others less prepared than you are, of course. Duh. The whole "By Jove!" thing hit me when I read your wise counsel.

-- Craig

Diversity is another way of saying you must work with people you wouldn't sit next to on the bus. It also provides guaranteed employment for lawyers.

I'm planning to leave some of my surplus items in geocaches, in the hope that it will be found by someone who needs it. But first I have to find one of the damn things myself.

I have had the same problem. I told them to go and have an interesting relationship ( as in " go.....") with a ring donut. My personal property about my person is not their concern. Oh, and last I looked: Political Correctness has no standing in law and in my view is Orwellian Double Speak by another name.

Same here, my manager saw the leatherman case on my belt and told me he used to carry one until HR made him leave it so he suggested that mine become more hidden so I;ve moved it back to my pocket.
Its funny though everyone knows to come to me if they need a tool.