In many survival situations, fire is a critical need. My typical go-to fire-making tools at home or on the trail are a BIC lighter or a ferrocerium rod. But it’s always a good idea to hedge your bets when it comes to being prepared. That’s where Pull Start Fire comes in.
I came across this product a couple of years ago. It looked intriguing, so I bought a three-pack to play around with at home. I’ve been impressed with it enough to buy a few more boxes and keep them stashed in a few kits.
What is Pull Start Fire?
It’s a box that’s about the size of a small remote control. The box is wrapped in plastic to keep it from getting wet or damaged. At one end of the box, you’ll find a green cord. There’s a red one at the opposite end.
Photo courtesy Pull Start Fire.
Here’s how it all works. Start by putting together a fire lay with some logs and kindling. You want at least one log that’s three or four inches thick, if possible. Remove the plastic from the Pull Start Fire box as well as the yellow safety tab. Loop the green cord around the log at the base of the fire. Brace that log with your foot, then quickly pull the red cord. You’ll hear a “pop” noise and smoke will start pouring out from the box. In a few seconds, the box will start to flame up.
Photo courtesy Pull Start Fire.
Once ignited, the box will burn briskly for a long time, upwards of 20-30 minutes, in my experience.
Photo courtesy Pull Start Fire.
Pros and Cons
I love that Pull Start Fire works without any additional ignition equipment. It’s entirely self-contained. There’s also no need for tinder, as this serves that purpose in the fire-making process. While it’s sealed in plastic, it’s essentially waterproof. The manufacturer states it’s perfectly fine to keep in a vehicle, even during the hot summer months. They’ve rated it as safe up to about 400F. Once ignited, it’s pretty much windproof and rainproof, though dousing it with water will put out the flame.
The manufacturer gives it a minimum shelf life of five years. They follow that up by saying, “That being said, there is no component that would suggest Pull Start Fire would have anything but an indefinite shelf life!” They also state that you can safely cook over their product.
But, it’s a little heavy and bulky to pack, especially as it’s a single-use item. The box measures about five inches long, two inches wide, and an inch thick. It weighs about 3.6 ounces. It’s also a little pricey at about $5.00 per fire, though that price goes down with the larger quantity packs that are available for purchase.
Recommendations
I keep at least one Pull Start Fire box in each of my vehicle emergency kits, my evacuation kit, and all of my hiking packs. I don’t look at this product as my primary fire-starting tool or method. But if I were in a bad situation and I desperately needed to get a fire going fast, I’d reach for Pull Start Fire without hesitation.
You can view videos of Pull Start Fire in action at PullStartFire.com. It’s available for purchase there as well as at Amazon.
RYP Design has partnered with two Special Forces legends to create the Billy Waugh DEMO Knife.
Two legends in the outdoors industry, Robert Young Pelton and William W. Harsey, honor a hero, Army Special Forces and CIA Paramilitary Legend Billy Waugh. The Billy Waugh DEMO Knife was born by honoring a Life Behind the Line!
“Which knives did you use, and what do you wish you had?” Robert asked. Billy replied that one of his favorites was an Army-issued stainless steel folding knife called the Demo.
RYP/Harsey
RYP Design is a new venture where Pelton collaborates with designers and legends to create unique products, including books, graphic novels, and knives. He partnered with William W. Harsey, a renowned designer known for his legendary combat knives, including those he created with Colonel Rex Applegate and Chief James Watson.
Notable designs include the Neil Roberts Warrior Knife, dedicated to a fallen soldier, and the Yarborough Knife, presented to U.S. Army Special Forces graduates. With Billy Waugh’s extensive experience, they aim to produce exceptional knives like the DEMO, which embodies the spirit of RYP Design.
Billy Waugh DEMO Knife
The Billy Waugh DEMO is a robust medium-large EDC knife, measuring just over 9 inches when open. It features a 3.78-inch blade made from Böhler M390 steel, hardened to 60 on the Rockwell scale, and coated with stonewashed matte black PVD.
The handle is crafted from durable diamond-patterned 3D titanium and provides a substantial grip. With the IKBS (Ikoma Korth Bearing System), blade deployment is ultra-smooth and effortless.
Additionally, the knife includes a tungsten carbide glass breaker at the pommel and a replaceable flathead screw. The deep pocket combat clip, engraved with Billy Waugh’s signature, allows for easy, tip-up carry.
Talon Spike
The spike and awl were versatile tools for completing tasks.
This tool resembles a narwhale more than a typical Swiss Army Knife awl. Made from 440 stainless steel, it features a rounded and smooth design, making it more of a gouger than a driller. It splices rope and untangles knots more effectively as it expands gradually and doesn’t have a sharp edge, instead wedging the cordage without cutting.
The tool stays solid during use, has a wide thumb nick for easy handling, and operates smoothly on bronze washers, delivering powerful punctures.
Deploy It Right
The IKBS enables smooth blade deployment through various methods. While there’s no thumb stud, a recessed area transitions seamlessly into a fuller, allowing for a slow roll pinch opening. Although flicking the blade with the forefinger or middle finger can be quick, it requires practice, and I prefer the flipper. A simple wrist motion combined with pressing down on the flipper makes for rapid deployment, resembling an automatic switchblade.
In reverse mode (tip up), a middle finger flick with a wrist snap opens the blade quickly. The cutout allows for pinch-gripping and wrist flicks, and for a slower approach, you can use one hand to hold the knife while the other utilizes the cutout like a nail nick. Both methods work well for deploying the blade.
Make It Back DEMO Knife
The Billy Waugh DEMO knife exceeded my expectations during rigorous testing. Right out of the box, it easily shaved hair from my arm. For heavier tasks, I tested it on a thick rubber hose, where it sliced through effortlessly.
The blade effectively scraped the fatwood at a precise 90-degree angle, resulting in a pile that measured the size of a 50-cent piece.
Deploying the blade was smooth, thanks to well-designed bronze washers and a deep nail nick, allowing easy access even in low light. I tested its puncturing ability on an empty metal MotoMix canister, which it penetrated with ease, and then on a rubber tire, again demonstrating excellent comfort and performance. The sharp spike, which I prefer to call a talon, is a valuable feature of this knife.
A 500-pound length of tow strapping was successfully cut using the Billy Waugh demo knife.
During the blade tests, slashing, stabbing, and slicing were evaluated. The blade punctured light metal canisters, demonstrating solid performance. Using an icepick grip and leather gloves, the DEMO easily stabbed through the MotoMix canister, pivoting back and forth. The sharp blade sliced through the second canister just as effortlessly.
Next, the Böhler steel blade was tested on heavy nylon tow strapping, requiring a sawing motion to cut through. Despite the tough job, the handle remained comfortable, and the lock functioned well. Fatwood shavings were created at a 90-degree angle, producing small, thin curls ideal for igniting. I stabbed a rubber tire, then successfully created feather sticks, confirming the edge’s sharpness before the final challenge.
Feather sticks were easily made after testing the Billy Waugh demo knife without any touch-ups; edge geometry is key.
Finale
Slicing a tomato is a true test for any knife. After days of use, it cut through a tomato effortlessly, with a secure lock and no blade play. It proved a real fighter, just like its namesake, Billy Waugh!
The awl/spike was undeniably the ultimate puncture champion across all materials, excelling particularly with rubber tires.
I’m a big advocate for the .32 ACP. I don’t think it’s the best possible cartridge for concealed carry, but I think it’s the best option for a pocket-carry semi-auto handgun. It has half the recoil of a .380 ACP and offers one more round in most guns. When compared to a .22LR, you get centerfire reliability and deeper, more consistent penetration. In my opinion, it’s the best option for a pocket pistol.
However, it’s not as plug-and-play as other calibers. By the title of this article, you might be wondering why you need an entire article on how to carry .32 ACP. It’s largely a matter of proper ammo selection, and there are some factors you have to consider. In fact, when it comes to carrying .32 ACP, you have to ignore a lot of common knowledge to get an effective, man-stopping round.
Let’s dissect some of those intricacies and discuss how to carry a .32 ACP the right way.
Avoid Hollowpoints
Yep, you don’t want to use hollowpoints when it comes time to carry a .32 ACP. While conventional knowledge says that a carry gun needs jacketed hollowpoints, that’s not the case here. With a .32, we are going to avoid JHPs for two reasons.
The first is simply due to their effectiveness. Jacketed hollow points expand, which allows the cartridge to deal with more direct impact damage. However, it also slows down the projectile and prevents overpenetration.
With the .32, the expansion is not all that beneficial. The expansion can prevent the projectile from penetrating deep enough to reach something vital when fired from a short little barrel. We want good penetration but don’t get it from a .32 ACP.
Second, the .32 ACP can suffer from something called rimlock. This is a semi-rimmed cartridge. The rim makes it sensitive to overall length changes. A lot of JHP cut the tip off the billet, which creates a shorter overall length cartridge.
The shorter length allows the cartridge to move forward and backward in the magazine, which, when combined with the semi-rimmed cartridge, can cause one round to lock another in the magazine, which causes a failure to feed.
The Right FMJs
If we aren’t going with hollow points, then we are going with FMJs. Which FMJs? There are plenty out there. What we want is a heavy, fast round. The Europeans love the .32 ACP and love hotter-than-average rounds. The Spanish company I will forever mispronounce, Fiocchi, produces some of the best carry .32 ACP ammo.
The Spanish arms industry started with the Ruby pistol and World War I, a Spanish .32 pistol that was spread far and wide with the French. These guys know their .32s. The Fiocchi 73-grain FMJ is perfect for concealed carry. From a pocket pistol-sized barrel, the cartridge can still penetrate deep enough to meet the established FBI standards.
Any European-loaded 71 to 73-grain FMJ is the way to go. The Euros load the .32 a little hotter than us. Fiocchi is the most common load on the American market.
The Right Gun
There aren’t a ton of .32 ACP pistols on the market these days. Modern options come down to the KelTec P32, the Beretta 3032, the Beretta 30X, and the Seecamp LWS-32. If you’re choosing between one of these guns, avoid the Beretta 3032.
I love the little Tomcat, but the 73-grain European loads will crack its frame. Maybe not immediately, but Beretta specifically warns about using any ammo that exceeds 129 foot-pounds of energy.
Not So Simple
Shooting and carrying the old .32 ACP round isn’t as simple or as plug-and-play as 9mm, .380 ACP, or other cartridges. It takes a little research and a little planning. While it might not seem intuitive, the .32 ACP is an awesome cartridge for self-defense, especially if you want to carry a featherweight pocket pistol.
It seems like everyone is involved in the suppressor game these days, including Bushmaster Firearms. That’s a good thing as far as I’m concerned, because that means the suppressor market is alive and thriving. They just released their MUTA II BM556, the next generation of the original MUTA suppressor line.
The Bushmaster MUTA II BM556 Suppressor
Bushmaster is touting the MUTA II as being lighter, quieter, and more compact than the original Bushmaster MUTA suppressor. It’s just 5.65 inches long and weighs only 12.25 ounces. It’s the lightest and shortest 5.56 dedicated suppressor that Bushmaster has made so far. The MUTA II BM556 reduces the sound signature on 5.56 NATO rounds by a 14.0% reduction at the left ear, a 15.4% reduction at the muzzle, and a 15.9% reduction at the right ear.
While compact, it’s built tough and designed to efficiently dissipate heat and deliver exceptional accuracy and repeatability. It’s made to maintain accuracy due to the suppressors’ concentricity being machined to tight tolerances. This also leads to a minimal point of impact shift. Bushmaster’s custom baffle design is made to help with felt recoil, flash, and enhanced sound reduction as well.
The MUTA II BM556 is 3D-printed with Inconel 625. Inconel 625 is a nickel-based superalloy that was designed in the 1990’s. It offers high strength properties and resistance to elevated temperatures, which make it perfect for suppressor use. The MUTA II has a rugged Cerakote finish to further enhance the durability of the suppressor. It has a threaded front cap and removable baffles, so it’s easily user-serviceable.
The MUTA II comes with a 1/2 X 28 thread pitch and is designed for 5.56mm and .223 Remington caliber platforms, and is full auto rated. MSRP is $709.95.
MUTA II BM556 Specifications:
Caliber
5.56 / .223
Thread Pitch
1/2 X 28
Material
Inconel® 625
Outer Diameter at Flare
1.815 inches
Outer Diameter at Suppressor Body
1.675 inches
Weight
12.25 ounces
Full-Auto Rated
Yes
MSRP
$709.95
For more information on the MUTA II BM556, check out the Bushmaster Firearms website at Bushmaster.com.
I love reviewing guns. I started writing about guns because I like shooting them. The core work of reviewing a gun is shooting it. Rarely do I dislike the process of shooting a gun. Even a bad gun can be fun to shoot, and there is some thrill to uncovering the reason why a gun is bad. With that said, should the firearms and media apparatus disembark from the reliance on gun and gear reviews? Are all these reviews and review culture a net positive? Should there be a better focus on training?
Why Are Reviews So Popular?
It’s easy to see why reviews are popular. People like guns, people like new guns. Thus, people read reviews about guns. It shows across the internet. Ben Stoeger offers videos of his entire class for free, and some have less than 100K views. However, reviews of new handguns and rifles from popular creators explode.
Articles are the same way. Metrics on training articles are read less than gun and gear reviews. Some people read reviews for research purposes. Other people read reviews about guns after they’ve bought them to help reaffirm the purchase they’ve made. Some folks, like me, are just hardcore and enjoy reading and watching information about new guns.
Reviews are also easy on the viewer. They aren’t challenging you or pressuring you to do anything. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the content.
What’s The Downside of Gun and Gear Reviews?
Gun and gear reviews push what’s admittedly a consumerist mindset. Sometimes, people like buying and owning guns more than they like shooting them. Sometimes, this is for the free likes and upvotes on social media, so they buy guns purely for flex purposes. Other people just like to collect guns as a whole.
That’s fine. I don’t think owning lots of guns you don’t shoot all that often is bad. I have a small collection of S&Ws in .32 S&W Long that I rarely ever shoot. However, I don’t think gun media pushing consumerism is all that great. The firearms media has an influence on the entirety of gun culture, and if we are focusing entirely on reviews, we are propagating consumerism.
If we have the power to influence the gun community and gun culture, then should we be using that power to encourage more training?
Should The Gun Media Focus On Training?
Training isn’t easy, and it can be humbling. If you’ve only ever shot at your local range and have been the best shot in your friend group, then you might not realize your skill level as a whole. Go to a competition, and you’ll be humbled almost immediately. A lot of folks don’t realize how little they know about shooting until they’re tested.
Good training could propel the firearms culture forward. A focus on shooting and using your guns from the firearms media could help propel the idea forward with the general firearms world. I don’t think I, as an individual, have this steam.
I’m a small-time gun writer, so I’m not sniffing my own wanna-be influencer farts. I’m talking about the big guys, the big YouTube channels, Instagram gun guys, and the mainstream magazines like Recoil.
Having a community that’s just loaded to the teeth with guns and ammo isn’t as valuable as having a community that’s well-trained in marksmanship, weapon handling, and safety. Those hard skills are invaluable. If you have one less AR-15 in exchange for one carbine class, I think it’s a worthwhile trade.
It’ll also be better for gun rights. Better-trained shooters can make better arguments. Not only that, but the more people train, the more likely they will come together, and a community can be formed.
Gun And Gear Reviews Are Still Valuable
Gun and gear reviews are still great. I think they are needed, and I think they are better now than they’ve ever been. I don’t think we need to stop gun and gear reviews, and I don’t think people who write or film reviews are wrong.
My solution is just maybe to push more training articles and videos. Specifically, push more training to the end user alongside those reviews. Make training a part of your review even. This doesn’t remove the challenge of training and getting people ushered into it. That’s the difficult part of training.
(Costa)
Where do you start? Maybe we need more class reviews? Take classes from recognized instructors and publish those reviews. Make sure the class difficulty is part of the review, and much like guns, aim to point out who the class is for. These are just some simple ideas that have been occupying my brain housing group.
I think gaining and skill growth should be as focused as reviews, and as the gun media, we should make it happen.
Few people like to think about it, but face facts—nobody gets out of life alive. With that in mind, it’s important to plan ahead for your eventual demise, and the Nokbox is an excellent tool in that regard.
My dad passed in 2019. He’d been in declining health for several years, having basically given up after my mom passed in 2008. I tried talking to him about his last wishes, estate information, and all that fun stuff several times over the years. All he would tell me was that everything I needed was in a file in his desk. When the time came and I pulled out that file, all that was inside was a two-page Will, nothing else.
It took my wife and me several months to sort through all of his accounts. It seemed like every day brought a new headache to the mix. The vast majority of the hassles could have been eliminated if we’d had the Nokbox set up ahead of time.
What is the Nokbox?
In a very real sense, it’s your life in a box. The Original Nokbox comes with everything you need to organize all of the information your Next of Kin (the Nok in Nokbox) will want after you’ve passed.
There are 15 color-coded file folders. These are set up as categories, such as Primary Residence, Vehicles, and Bank Accounts. Inside each of the category folders are various relevant subfolders. For example, in the Primary Residence folder, you’ll find folders for Mortgage or Lease, Utilities & HOA, Maintenance & Repairs, People, and Home Inventory & Other Information.
Photo courtesy Nokbox.
Each of those subfolders has a corresponding instructional sheet. On one side of the sheet, you’ll fill in relevant information. There is also a checklist of forms and other paperwork you’ll want to track down and place into the folder. On the other side of the sheet is where you’ll put specific instructions to your next of kin.
The level of detail in the Nokbox is remarkable. Looking at the instructions for the Mortgage or Lease sheet, it drills down everything from the mortgage lienholder or landlord and where those payments are made to detailing all accounts related to the property, such as home equity loans and homeowner’s insurance policies. Everything is straightforward and easy to follow.
Photo courtesy Nokbox.
A detailed set of instructions explains exactly how it all works. The folks at Nokbox have truly left nothing to chance. There’s no guesswork involved at all. There is even a Friends folder, so your next of kin knows who to notify about your passing.
Extra Security
The Original Nokbox comes with a couple of zippered pouches along with the file folders. One of the pouches is for Protected Documents. This is for things like your property deed and vehicle titles. As you go through the Nokbox instructions, they’ll tell you what to put into that pouch. You store the pouch in a safe or other secure location.
The second pouch is for keys and it comes with colored tags to keep it all organized. These will be spare keys for your home, outbuildings, vehicles, and such. Store this pouch with the Protected Documents one.
Not Legal Advice
It’s important to understand that the Nokbox is merely an organizational tool. Nothing here is legal advice. They aren’t telling you or your next of kin how to settle your estate. They’re just giving you an easy way to have everything they’ll need right at their fingertips.
This is a lot of work, especially if you’re not particularly well-organized. But I can tell from experience that this is something your family will truly appreciate.
Brandan Buck of the CATO Institute recently wrote a piece on why it’s a bad idea to use ‘Special Forces‘ against the cartels. I assume when Mr. Buck says Special Forces, he means America’s special operations troops as a whole and not just the Army’s Green berets. He and I mostly agree. I think using Spec Ops to eliminate the cartel would be expensive, unproductive, and draw us into another forever war. A war where we might have all the watches, but the cartel has the time.
Where Mr. Buck and I disagree is his statement about the cartels being a ‘near-peer’ force to American Special Operations. Cartel violence is getting closer and closer to the border and becoming even more vicious. It’s true the cartels are well-armed and violent, but they would get smashed by American special operations forces. The cartel would quickly learn why the United States doesn’t have universal healthcare.
The Cartels and Their Weaponry
Mr. Buck points out that the cartel has armored vehicles, crew-served weapons, and the ability to use IEDs and UAVs carrying explosives. He also seems to state that cartels have surface-to-air missiles. In the link he provides, the USA Today story doesn’t seem definitive, but it’s a rumor, and let’s assume they do.
That doesn’t make them near peers. Their armored vehicles are armored trucks, not tanks and APCs. Their crew-served weapons are an impressive array of belt-fed machine guns and even RPGs and grenade launchers. Some of the cartels even have military training. That’s true, but that doesn’t make them a near-peer, especially to our best and brightest.
(REDDIT)
A picture of a soldier tells a lot. You can get an idea of his experience, training, and overall discipline. We have hundreds of pictures of cartel troops, which aren’t impressive. Some have body armor that looks as clean as Howard Hughes’ house. Clean gear means they haven’t trained in it.
Second, their plate carriers, belts, and general loadout look like a Wish.com pulled all over them. There are pouches everywhere and seemingly in nonsensical positions. They seem to believe more is better than less. The nonsensical loadouts also show they aren’t training with their gear.
(REDDIT)
Admittedly, their weapons vary. Many have modern rifles, but a quarter of them don’t have sights. The other quarter mounts optics to their handguards, and the last half might have a competent setup if it features a fixed carry handle and FSB. They certainly aren’t training that hard or shooting that much.
The Cartels – More Than Gear
Why do we have so many pictures of cartel members in gear? Because they have no concept of SIGINT or OPSEC. There are cartel Instagram pages a competent intelligence analyst could scrape for days. Say what you want about the Taliban, but they seemed pretty damn humble compared to the cartel. They post their little videos and pictures as a means to intimidate others but are giving away a lot of intel to a potential enemy.
Cartel soldiers do the job for money. Say what you want about the Taliban, but at least they had a belief system. Sure, they got paid, but a lot of them were true believers. How many cartel soldiers will pick up a gun when the money stops flowing?
Spec Ops and the Cartel
Let’s send the CIA, DEVGRU, CAG, SF, SEALS, and some Air Force PJs and MARSOC Marines at the cartel. The cartel and their fancy equipment aren’t much of a match. Your armored truck is great until a drone you can’t see or hear puts a Hellfire into it. Your crew serves. It doesn’t matter when a guy puts a laser you can’t see in your position, and a missile erases it from the face of the earth.
Your Instagram post leads a group of dudes with beards and Multicam to your bedroom, and a black bag is put over your face. Your money to pay troops starts to dry up as fentanyl and meth labs are destroyed.
(REDDIT)
Guys with the world’s best nightvision are coming in and cutting your balls off. In the first week of fighting, the cartel will quickly learn that they don’t stand a chance at night and will likely only fight during the day. This leaves ample opportunity for American forces to take advantage of the night for all sorts of situations.
The cartel forces regularly get their asses kicked by the Mexican Marines. Mexican Marines are tough dudes but don’t have the funding, training, or 23 years of experience with the Global War on Terror that American Special Operations has.
Not So Near Peer
The Taliban was toppled in days by US Forces, and the Iraqi Army was done in a month. I imagine the cartel would face the same fate. They would have massive losses very early and very quickly. Then, it’d develop into a quagmire we couldn’t solve. Ten years and three trillion dollars later, we’d leave, and the cartel would rise once again.
I don’t think military action would solve the problem, but I don’t think the cartel counts as a near-peer organization.
In the pocket carry Chickpea made possible by Badger Claw Leather has a 3-inch fixed blade made of Nitro-V steel, which is corrosion-resistant and easy to sharpen. (Badger Claw Leather photo)
Everyday carry (EDC) knives are vital because of their versatility and practical applications, as they are crafted for a wide range of tasks. The methods of carrying Pocket Carry EDC Knives have progressed to enhance user experience, featuring options such as pocket clips, sheaths, and lanyards.
This ease of use benefits individuals by saving time, providing reassurance, promoting regular carry, and enhancing functionality. The growing popularity of EDC knives has driven innovation in their design and materials, resulting in a diverse market that meets various preferences and requirements.
Pocket Carry EDC Knives
Carry systems are essential as they impact the user’s experience and the practicality of knives in daily life. Everyday carry (EDC) knives symbolize a culture of preparedness and self-reliance, highlighting a trend toward functionality and efficiency in personal gear.
Big Idea Lookout
The TI Lookout Fixed Blade by Big Idea Design showcases precision engineering and high-quality materials, making it a must-have for everyday carry enthusiasts. Its M390 blade steel offers excellent edge retention and wear resistance, ensuring it maintains a sharp edge with minimal sharpening.
The TI Lookout Fixed Blade by Big Idea Design is the modern EDC Knife of the bunch featuring Grade 5 titanium scales, M390 blade steel, and an inside pocket carry system.
Featuring Grade 5 Titanium scales, the knife is both lightweight and durable. The lanyard hole adds functionality for easy attachment. Measuring 6.2 inches overall with a 2.2-inch blade and 3mm thickness, it provides a perfect balance of control and cutting power.
The knife comes with two Kydex sheaths for versatile left- or right-pocket carry, each with a titanium pocket clip for easy attachment. Consider it a gentleman’s fixed blade!
Utility Pocket Carry EDC
I tested the TI Lookout on various everyday tasks, including cutting through light-gauge metals, where it performed exceptionally well. However, it struggled a bit with thick cardboard. Despite this, it remained impressively sharp after slicing through cordage. Wire, 550 paracord, nylon webbing, and heavy leather were no challenge for the TI Lookout.
The Big Idea Design TI Lookout Fixed Blade Kydex sheaths offer versatile left and right pocket carry options and include a titanium pocket clip for easy attachment.
Overall, the TI Lookout Fixed Blade is a functional tool and showcases exceptional craftsmanship and material quality.
Knives By Nuge Chickpea
This knife is small enough to fit clipped to your pocket at 6.5 inches overall but powerful enough to cut through wood, cardboard, cordage, fish, and game. The Chickpea has a 3-inch fixed blade made of Nitro-V steel, which is corrosion-resistant and easy to sharpen. The blade has a curved edge ideal for slicing and skinning and a 90-degree spine that can strike a firesteel or scrape bark. The Chickpea can be purchased with a Badger Claw Leather in the pocket carry sheath fitted with an Ulti-Clip.
In Training
I participated in Randall’s Adventure & Training class in Alabama, helping with a parent-child session. I taught kids how to carve, make feather sticks, and start fires using the Chickpea knife. The 3.5-inch burlap micarta handle was comfortable for them to use.
Modern Day Pocket Carry EDC Knives are here. The Chickpea has a 3-inch fixed blade made of Nitro-V steel, which is corrosion-resistant and easy to sharpen. (Badger Claw Leather photo)
Soon after, we headed to North Carolina to teach a weekend wilderness survival class with training and active Search and Rescue personnel.
While the Chickpea excelled in quick cuts, It also handled utility tasks like cutting paracord and preparing food. The blade remained sharp, and overall, the Chickpea proved to be a reliable and versatile companion for outdoor adventures.
Modern pocket carry EDC knives are available. The Chickpea features a 3-inch fixed blade made from Nitro-V steel, known for its corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening. (Badger Claw Leather photo)
Get a pocket-friendly Pocket Carry EDC Knife and join the club!
Title Picture: Admittedly, mounting the Leupold Mark 5HD 2-10×30 riflescope on a heavy-barreled 6.5mm Creedmoor bolt-action rifle is weird, but sometimes you take what you can get for a nice photo, especially given the cool high desert background.
Originally implemented as an improvement over the traditional mil-dot reticles that preceded it, the TMR replaces the old dots with evenly spaced hashmarks at 0.5 mil intervals. The TMR is best described as a “dialing reticle” since it lacks grids, dots, or extra reference points. To its credit, the centermost aiming point has negative space, which I find aids in precision aiming.
With the DOPE for one’s rifle and cartridge, it’s certainly possible to hold-over using the 0.5 mil spaced hashmarks. I did this often in the Green Ops course, especially at more distant steel targets. In fairness, I recognize that it’s no different than holding-over with the majority of standard LPVO reticles at top-end magnification.
M5C3 / M1C3 Turrets + Setting Zero
Ultimately, the TMR in the Mark 5HD 2-10×30 is meant to be dialed, and its M5C3/M1C3 elevation turret is designed to excel at that. The turret is easy to zero and set, and its “zero-stop” feature works well and provides physical cues. The turret’s markings and numbers are also very easy to track visually while shooting in position, especially prone.
The M5C3/M1C3s turrets also allow shooters to dial up to 0.5 mils down from their zero for added flexibility. The windage and side-focus/parallax turrets are similarly designed and also easy to precisely adjust.
For clarity, the “5” and the “1” are codes that denote MRAD (5) or MOA (1). The “3” refers to the fact that Mark 5HD’s elevation turret is capable of 3 full rotations of elevation adjustment.
Setting the zero is quite simple. Make the shots and adjust the windage or elevation turrets as needed. Then, undo two tiny Allen screws to remove the exposed turret’s cap and re-set it with regard to the new zero.
The turret cap features a flat button that locks the turret into the fixed zero position. To dial, one must depress this button, and once the turret is turned all the way “up,” the button mechanically recedes.
Among other things, it can signal the shooter that their turret is maxed out. For example, when I had the Mark 5HD 2-10×30 mounted on my 16-inch BCM upper and zeroed for 55-grain 5.56mm ammo at 100 yards, the scope maxed out roughly three clicks shy of that full 3 turn / 30 mil limit. Not bad.
Reticle Drawbacks
Similar to the Lucid Optics E7 shown riding next to the Mark 5HD in Part 1, here is a Gideon Optics Omega pulling the same type of duty. I think a supporting reflex sight mounted elsewhere on the weapon is mandatory when using a scope like this Leupold. The offset dot definitely covers the scope’s single biggest weakness.
I wouldn’t be the first to point out that the biggest downside that currently affects the 2-10×30 Mark 5HDs is their lack of modern reticle options. Though classic and precise, the TMR reticle isn’t without its drawbacks. This reticle makes more sense for a stationary and prone-fired heavy bolt gun that you dial as opposed to that more modern and dynamic carbine meant for 0-800 meter shots, say, like any SPR or modern accurized gasser.
With basic dot-grids to facilitate holdovers and their considerably thicker outer stadia lines that are easier to see at low magnification, a reticle similar to either Nightforce’s FC-DMx (ATACR LPVO) or the Vortex EBR-9 (Razor Gen3 LPVO) would be a better fit on a scope like the 2-10×30 Mark 5HD. Because of this, on any “tactical” semi-auto carbine, I’d argue that an offset/piggyback reflex sight is “mandatory.” For closer distances, the first focal plane arrangement can present some challenges too.
First Focal Plane for CQB?
As I mention in more detail in my TMR write-up, the combo of the reticle being presented in a first focal plane format along with its thin, cross-hair style form leaves much to be desired when it comes to providing an easy-to-see and fast-shooting close-quarters reticle. Hence my bringing up the other LPVOs above. Even the Vortex I mentioned above gets its fair share of criticism when it’s set to 1x for the same reason. When I shot CQB drills at the Green Ops carbine class with the Mark5 HD 2-10×30, it wasn’t so much that I was limited to 2x minimum magnification that made CQB shots more challenging. Rather, it was the combination of the TMR being thin and dark, especially in a first focal plane format. Had we not been shooting in bright daylight, it could have been more difficult to see the reticle, hence my argument for an offset dot being mandatory for very close targets. Shooting with it on low power isn’t the end of the world, but it’s definitely not ideal.
However, I keep hearing chatter that Leupold is working on launching additional models with different reticles in the future. I’m looking forward to seeing what they bring us. The scope itself, its glass, the construction–it’s all superb.
The Takeaway
As a first focal plane scope in itself, the Mark 5HD 2-10×30 is a fantastic optic. Overall, it measures a total of 11.2 inches while only weighing 24 ounces. As a member of the Mark 5HD family, this 2-10×30 riflescope is built around a proven formula of strength, durability, optical clarity, and precision while maintaining a fairly light weight.
Be it turret clicks or the way twisting the zoom ring feels, this scope’s controls do not feel cheap and flimsy, something no one wants to feel on any scope. The Mark 5HD 2-10×30’s feature set and the way the scope is built—in the United States of America, by the way—provides the shooter with an extremely comfortable eyebox on both the lowest and top-end magnification.
According to the official details on Leupold’s website, the delta in difference between both extremes is only 0.10-inch. However, when shooting, it honestly feels imperceptible. Moreover, its eye-relief is in the same ballpark as high-end LPVOs.
Compared To an LPVO
Where the Leupold Mark 5HD 2-10×30 utterly (and predictably) dominates is shooting at top-end magnification. Since it’s not an LPVO, it’s not plagued by the shortcomings associated with LPVOs straining to shoot fully zoomed-in. The eye box hardly changes and I found I didn’t have to shift my face like I do with LPVOs to shoot fully zoomed-in.
I also had the benefit of both an exposed dialing turret and the side-focus knob to adjust parallax if I needed them. Once again, during the Green Ops class, it felt like I was basically cheating during the portion of the course where students were shooting at the furthest targets at full magnification. This scope takes after its DMR/SPR ancestors, after all.
Accurate tactical semi-auto rifles aside, I can see this scope working well on a modern light-and-handy bolt-action hunting rifle meant for intermediate distances. In this way, it’s like your grandfather’s old 3-9×40, but better.
Though this picture is from 2023, it represents the majority of my experience shooting with the Leupold Mark 5HD to date. Even with some of its drawbacks, it brings great functionality to gas guns in need of a more precise sighting system than a mere LPVO.
Tyrant CNC just released the CNC Snub Nose Grip Module for the popular Sig Sauer P365 handgun. The new grip module is compatible with all P365 variants and will work with existing holsters. Tyrant’s grip balances concealability and high capacity. So, if you’re rocking a P365 you’ll want to read on.
The CNC Snub Nose Grip Module
Tyrant CNC’s Snub Nose Grip Module is made from a blend of glass and carbon composites that combine light weight with durability. It features an X-Macro-sized grip that accepts 17-round magazines but is compatible with all P365 Slide & Barrel lengths. That allows you to have a full-service pistol capacity coupled with a compact 3.1-inch barrel and slide.
Tyrant says that they did intensive biomechanical research to come up with the optimized ergonomics on the grip module. The grip has a high undercut and medium-length beavertail to allow for a high, secure grip closer to the center line of the bore. It comes with medium and large-sized back straps to fit a wide variety of hand sizes. The texture consists of finely detailed 3D Tyrant logos, which is a neat touch. It’s been optimized for better grip, and has reduced texture heights on areas that are prone to being hot spots.
The Snub Nose Grip is compatible with all SIG Sauer manual safeties. It’s even California Complaint for folks who live behind the sunny curtain of West Coast socialism. It comes with a pre-installed extended magazine release. The grip profile is designed so that it’s still compatible with existing P365, P365x, P365xl, and some X-Macro holsters.
Tyrant’s Snub Nose Grip Module is available in black and olive drab directly through their website. An FDE version is available from GunMag Warehouse, and a grey version is available at Optics Planet.
Tyrant CNC Snub Nose Grip features:
High grip undercut
Trigger guard cut
Medium length beavertail
Variable depth texture to prevent hot spots
Redesigned ergonomics for comfort during extended operation
Medium and Large back straps included
Hard use approved proprietary composite material
Works with manual safety (pre drafted)
For more information on Tyrant CNC and the Snub Nose Grip Module for the SIG P365 check out their website at TyrantCNC.com.
The Leupold Mark5 HD riflescope family remains one of Leupold’s most pervasive product lines. All of them employ 35 mm maintubes and use first focal plane reticles. To date (1-6-2025), the 2-10×30 Mark5 HD is still the smallest scope in the Mark5 HD spread. When I first saw it at SHOW Show ’23 two years ago when the Oregon optics company launched it, this compact tactical riflescope immediately caught my attention because of my specific interest in lightweight and handy optics, such as LPVOs or 2-10x traditional riflescopes.
Moreover, this variant of the Leupold Mark 5HD called to me because Leupold developed this optic to be the “spiritual successor” of sorts to the classic Leupold Mark 4 LR/T scopes issued with Mk.12 SPRs, those famously accurized 5.56 mm AR variants of GWOT fame. My Mark 5HD 2-10×30 scope even uses the classic Leupold TMR reticle found on some Mark 4 LR/T models.
Mark 5HD 2-10×30 FFP Overview
The Mark 5HD 2-10×30 is built around a 5x optical zoom factor and a 35mm diameter anodized aluminum main tube with Leupold’s M5C3/M1C3 locking turrets. The rear half of this 2-10×30 has the exact same layout and feel as any other member of the Mark 5HD family. And like every other member of the Mark 5HD family, all 2-10×30 sub-variants are first focal plane riflescopes available in MRADs or MOA. They also possess the same wide ocular lens Mark 5 scopes are known for.
Unlike its larger siblings, the 2-10×30 has a very small objective bell that doesn’t take up much space. Because its footprint is so small, there is no risk of the bell clashing with the top of the rifle’s barrel or handguard. Likewise, because the entire scope is only 11 inches long, it doesn’t hog up much space over a rifle or carbine. Lengthwise, it’s comparable to most of the established LPVO models on the market.
Like every other Mark 5HD optic, the 2-10×30 is also assembled with Leupold’s Professional Grade Optical System consisting of the company’s highest tier of optical “high-definition” glass. Frankly, between this 2-10×30 and my other Mark 5HD 3.6-18×44, looking through their glass is an amazing experience.
There might be a tinge of chromatic aberration over bright daylight, but nothing outside of the norm at their price point. After racking up plenty of hours behind Mark 5HD scopes by now, their roomy eye boxes are very “comfortable,” especially during extended shooting sessions.
Mounting And Shooting the Mark 5HD 2-10×30
Even though 35 mm is a less common tube diameter than the “wide” standard of 34 mm, enough third-party companies that sell mounts and rings offer 35 mm options. Leupold offers some of their hunting scope models with 35 mm tubes as well, and they naturally offer hunting-grade and tactical scope rings for this diameter. In my case, I mounted the Mk.5-HD 2-10×30 to a 35mm 0-MOA Leupold Mark AR IMS 1.5-inch tall one-piece scope mount.
To date, I’ve been shooting the Mark 5HD 2-10×30 with this mount combination on different carbines for different tasks, reviews, and courses. So far, the most significant experience I’ve had with this scope was when I mounted it on a 16-inch 5.56 mm upper and took it to Green Ops’ comprehensive 2-Day LPVO class.
The course covers shooting with LPVO from 10 to 500 yards. So, this training event provided an abundance of opportunities to shoot targets at different distances with the 2-10×30 Mark 5HD. Shooting scenarios varied from running rapid-fire CQB drills, shooting and moving with a 2-point sling, and shooting at further distance steel targets from the prone.
In short, I was able to use the scope at high and low magnification to truly get a feel for it (and how it compares to an LPVO). Even though I had an offset auxiliary red-dot on-board, I made it a point to shoot with the scope at close distances, too.
Testing the Mark 5HD
Mark 5HD 2-10×30 On the Hodge / BTO 12.5 Upper. I also have an offset Lucid Optics E7 enclosed emitter “blue-dot” that’s currently under review.
When I reviewed the .22 LR S&W M&P 15-22, the shooting portion mostly consisted of grouping various types of .22LR ammunition at 50 yards off a bench. However, I also burned a few magazines of closer-in rapid fire, not unlike what I practiced with during my Green Ops course.
Shooting a rimfire rifle off a bench is hardly a challenge for a riflescope, but the Mk.5-HD’s glass and optical attributes provided a very comfortable experience. The scope worked so well that I almost took it for granted while I was focusing on my shots.
That afternoon was overcast and gloomy, yet the HD glass did a wonderful job of projecting a clear and bright image. By the end of the session, my vision didn’t feel strained in spite of the fact that I was shooting groups for nearly three hours.
At the time I pen this, the Leupold Mk.5-HD 2-10×30 and its Mark AR mount sit over a 5.56 mm Big Tex Ordnance/Hodge Upper Receiver with 12.5-inch Rosco Sage Dynamics stainless steel barrel.
Despite its shorter length, this AR-15 configuration shows a lot of promise, and this 2-10 riflescope is the perfect candidate for glass duty on this compact upper.
All About The Reticle: The TMR
A core feature of any magnified optic is its reticle. The Mark 5HD 2-10×30 is available with three different reticles: an MOA PR-1 reticle and two MRAD versions with Leupold’s classic TMR (Tactical Milling Reticle); one of these is illuminated.
My scope, SKU #179702, has the un-illuminated MRAD TMR reticle. The Tactical Milling Reticle, which is now old enough to be considered classic, has been a staple in many tactical Leupold riflescopes including the issued Leupold Mark 4 optics for the Mark 12 SPR.
In a move we all saw coming, Joe Biden has pardoned his son, Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden, known crack addict, prostitute enjoyer, tax evader, and famous for filming every crime he’s ever committed, has had his conviction for lying on the 4473 pardoned. Hunter Biden, in the throws of enjoying crack cocaine, purchased a Colt Cobra .38 special revolver in 2018 from a Federal Firearms License holder.
As such, he lied on the form. All of us have filled out a 4473, right? The 4473 asks a very specific question. It’s question 11. E “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?” Hunter Biden lied on the form and said he was not and received his firearm.
In an odd turn of events, Hunter Biden didn’t film this crime, which is unusual for him. However, on June 11th, 2024, he was convicted of three felony counts. Those counts are:
Making a false statement in The Purchase of a Firearm
Making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federally licensed firearms dealer.
Possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.
Biden hadn’t made it to sentencing yet. He could have faced up to 25 years in prison, but that wasn’t a likely sentence. Part of Biden’s defense was that he only possessed the gun for eleven days. Okay, well, how’d he get rid of it? His girlfriend, also his brother’s widow, tossed it into a trash can. The Biden family sure enjoys some gun safety.
It’s Not the Crime – It’s the Hypocrisy
Joe Biden assured the American people he would not pardon his son in June 2024, but a short six months later, he retracted that claim and issued the pardon. To be clear, I don’t think Hunter Biden should be prosecuted for purchasing a handgun. It’s his right to keep and bear arms. He’s not been convicted of anything that removes that right, and a question shouldn’t disqualify him from exercising his Second Amendment rights.
It’s not the crime or the pardon that bothers me so much. It’s the hypocrisy. Joe Biden has continually pushed for tougher and tougher gun laws. He’s used the DOJ to enforce non-laws, he’s used Executive Actions, and the ATF has run wild during his administration. Yet, here he is, pardoning a gun crime just because it’s his son.
He claims Hunter Biden was targeted unfairly. He committed the crime. This wasn’t an odd interpretation of the law, but it was clearly written and clearly violated. If Biden truly wanted to pardon people who were unjustly targeted by the government, he could start with Matt Hoover. Matt Hoover, a YouTuber, was convicted of selling machine guns.
Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, boards Air Force One at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York, U.S., February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
Via CNN
In reality, he just said words. He took a sponsor from Auto Key Cards. Auto Key Cards sold little metal cards that could be cut into a lighting link or a machine gun part. To be clear, these were just metal cards, not actual lightning links.
What’s the Deal?
How can Joe Biden press so hard for stricter gun control while ignoring the problems in his own home? How can the democratic Party as a whole push for additional gun control and civil rights degradation while the head of their party pardons a gun criminal? This is absurd and shows why these aren’t serious people.
Modern Balisong Knives, the Boker Plus Papillon, and Trainer have lightweight stainless steel handles. The live blade uses D2 steel, while the trainer uses 420 stainless steel (bottom).
Today, renowned manufacturers such as Benchmade, Boker, Schrade, and Squid Industries are enhancing the craftsmanship of balisongs. Modern Balisong Knives utilize advanced materials like high-quality steel alloys, carbon fiber, and titanium. These brands have heightened the performance and aesthetics of balisongs to new heights!
Legendary Balisong Knives
The Balisong, or butterfly knife, is a folding pocket knife with two handles that rotate around the tang, concealing the blade when closed. It originated around 1900 in the Philippines and gained popularity globally after World War II due to American soldiers. The name “Balisong” translates to “broken horn,” as early versions were made from carved animal horns and recycled steel blades.
In 1988, the Bali-Song Company rebranded as the Pacific Cutlery Corporation and later moved to Oregon, becoming Benchmade, known for its Balisong-style knives. Notable designs include the original by Jody Samson and the Gemini by Darrel Ralph. The market expanded with various manufacturers, but the Balisong’s roots lie in Batangas, Philippines.
Boker Papillon Modern Balisong Knives
The Boker Plus Papillon is a contemporary take on the traditional balisong knife, seamlessly fusing classic design with modern materials and engineering. Its skeletonized stainless steel handles, featuring a bead-blast finish, ensure a comfortable and secure grip, even during prolonged use.
At the core of this knife is a D2 steel blade, known for its remarkable edge retention and durability. The stonewashed finish not only adds to the blade’s visual appeal but also enhances its resistance to corrosion. The pronounced ricasso gives the Papillon a distinctive tactical aesthetic.
Modern Balisong knives feature pivot systems that connect the handles to the blade’s tang, achieving a perfect balance of fluidity, strength, and design.
Equipped with a ball-bearing mechanism, the knife allows for smooth and effortless blade deployment, a signature feature of high-quality balisongs. Its overall construction is sturdy, built to handle the demands of everyday carry and occasional tactical scenarios. The Papillon beautifully balances portability with functionality, boasting an overall length of 10.20 inches, a blade length of 4.57 inches, a blade thickness of 0.14 inches, and a weight of 4.34 ounces.
Modern Balisong Trainer
The Boker Plus Papillon Trainer is a carefully crafted training tool that mimics a real Balisong knife, making it perfect for safe skill development. It features skeletonized stainless steel handles with a matte stonewashed finish for better grip.
The Boker Plus Papillon and Trainer have skeletonized stainless steel handles, with D2 steel on the live blade and 420 stainless steel on the trainer.
The blunt blade is made of 420 steel, with deep recesses for easy identification from sharpened blades while maintaining the original’s weight and balance. A pronounced ricasso adds a tactical touch.
Measuring 9.92 inches overall with a 4.49-inch blade and weighing 4.37 ounces, this trainer comes with a high-quality nylon case for secure storage.
Flippin’ Good
This part was the most enjoyable. I have to admit that I was a bit rusty since I hadn’t practiced in a while. However, it was still a lot of fun!
The Boker Papillon features skeletonized handle scales, merging aesthetics with functionality for a unique design.
I had the Boker Plus Papillon Balisong Knife and trainer for a long time. I liked the weight and the way it flipped right from the start. The latch provided peace of mind during transport, and the nylon carrying case was a great addition. The skeletonized handle felt secure, which gave me a positive grip and allowed me to confidently control the action. Overall, it was smooth, solid, and incredibly sharp!
The Boker Papillon features striking skeletonized handle scales that combine eye-catching aesthetics with practical functionality.
A decade ago I worked in San Francisco’s 1355 Market St. Building. To this day, its most famous tenant continues to be Twitter/X. Now, I didn’t work at Twitter. I worked at another tech office two floors below.
As I remember it, nearly the entire building consisted of modern tech-related offices. This meant that the vibes and ambiance of the people staffing these offices were similar amongst the companies occupying the building. For the most part, this also meant that the demographics of their workforces were quite similar, too.
The men in the office wore the modern professional office casual “uniform” consisting of form-fitting shirts (usually with buttons and never T-shirts) and slacks or denim.
Image of a man wearing chukka boots and dressed in such a way that he wouldn’t look out of place in a tech office like I describe. Source: Pinterest
Many of the actual coders wore their trademark coders’ garb of hoodies and T-shirts. However, for anything dressier, white collar button shirts and ties were considered too formal and stuffy—more so on the West Coast. That’s the world of tech.
The same casual outlook applied to footwear. So, when it came to dressy men’s shoes, anything that made you think of a law firm like Oxfords and Penny Loafers were out. Even double-monk strap shoes could have been too risky unless you were a sales guy who dressed the right way and had the chops to pull them off.
I’d wager the sales guys could probably get away wearing brogues, too.
So what did men in these environments looking for dressy footwear, that wasn’t too formal, gravitate to?
The chukka boot.
Modern Versatility, Humble Origins
The chukka boot has some interesting lines, and even those (like me) who aren’t versed in formal attire can immediately look at them and realize they’re anything but stuffy. Typically fashioned out of tan, brown, or earth-colored suede uppers, chukka boots mesh well with hues and tones found in denim, slacks, and the shirts worn by young and modern office workers.
To this day, chukka boots continue to be a mainstay in the wardrobe of legions of the younger urban professional crowd. And they wouldn’t look out of place in any major city anywhere in the world either.
I’m a lifelong blue-collar man who’d only ever worried about steel-toed work boots, sneakers, or technical outdoor footwear to wear to the range. So, I would have never “discovered” the chukka boot were it not for working in the tech offices of San Francisco. And because of this, I mentally associated the chukka boot with the urban tech crowd.
Imagine my surprise when I accidentally discovered that chukka boots were called desert boots and had a more ruggedly humble heritage that had nothing to do with modern, well-heeled, professional, and dressy attire.
Before these ankle-height boots became trendy, their forerunners hailing from Africa had a more down-to-earth origin (quite literally). Proto-chukkas were what South African farmers and fighting men from the region used to wear.
A Brief History Of Chukkas And Desert Boots
The Second World War era was perhaps one of Great Britain’s last official affairs as a true global empire, and British forces were spread across the globe. They fought the Axis powers in places beyond continental Europe, including the North Atlantic, North Africa, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, South East Asia, and several Pacific islands.
One Nathan Clark, a British Army officer and member of the British Clark family of footwear fame, took note of a particular style of light boot that British soldiers came to adore and take with them on campaign. These “desert boots” as they were called, were crafted cobblers in Cairo’s famous and ancient Khan El-Khalili bazaar.
Cairo Desert Boots
It turned out that many a Commonwealth soldier, tired of trudging around in his British Army issued boots, came to replace those with these Cairo desert boots instead. These lightweight boots were built around a crepe (rubber) sole and a lightweight suede upper. The rubber soles and lighter construction were easier on the feet, especially in hot desert climes.
If there’s anything more important than the soldier’s rifle, it’s his own feet. The original design for those Cairo desert boots hailed from South Africa, from similar footwear called veldskoen. These, in turn, were derived from a form of moccasins indigenous tribesmen (Khoi-San) would wear in order to protect their soles from the harsh southern African terrain.
The Dutch settlers took the tribal veldskoen moccasin concept and further developed it into a work boot for field use. It’s not hard to see how vellies (as they’re still called in South Africa) ended up not only on the feet of fighting men participating in bush wars throughout Africa but also in Cairo’s bazaars over time.
The forces of the empire cross-pollinated these boots amongst Commonwealth forces only to return back to England. After the war, taking what he’d seen on the feet of British servicemen, Nathan Clark and his family business developed a design that would eventually be unveiled to the world as the original Clarks Desert Boot in 1949.
Chukka?
The term chukka, which is synonymous with these types of desert boots, ostensibly comes from a reference to the sport of polo. Starting from the 1950s through the present time, the Clarks Chukka/Desert Boot has become an archetype of fashionable footwear—as I mentioned, encountering them during my time working in San Francisco tech offices.
For context and reference, the Clarks original desert / chukka boots that Nathan Clark started producing in England after the war ended.
Tying It All Into 5.11’s own stylized Chukka Boots
Thank you for reading through the first part of this article. Not only is this the first fashion-related piece I’ve ever written, but I also wrote this review backward by first delving into the history of the chukka boot and mentioning my relationship to it.
I’ve been walking around in a pair of the 5.11 Chukkas since September, and they’re great. That’s what Part 2 will be all about: the 5.11 chukka boots themselves.
But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that part of this shoe’s appeal is its rugged background as a fighting man’s shoe during the Second World War from the deserts of Africa and beyond. A wide variety of men’s fashion has origins in military uniforms, and this applies to chukka boots in a roundabout way, too.
Compare and contrast the original “Clarks style” chukka boot above to the actual 5.11 model, which has much to offer the wearer.
A cache, in the preparedness world, is a curated collection of gear and supplies that’s been positioned away from home for use in an emergency. The cache is a resupply point, more or less, if you’re forced from your home for any reason.
Probably the most common type of prepper cache is a PVC tube that’s filled and then buried. That concept has been around for decades. I remember reading about it in an old Ragnar Benson book in the 1980s, and it wasn’t exactly new then.
Those PVC caches are certainly viable, but there are other options worth exploring, such as self-storage units.
Now, before we go any further, let me say this. I am not and would not recommend securing one of these storage units strictly for preparedness use. The expense is too high for that. However, more and more families are using these storage facilities to contain the overflow from their homes and garages. If you’re one of them, why not let the unit serve double duty?
Self-Storage Units
These have been around since the late 1950s, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that they started getting popular. Today, they’re big business and you can find them everywhere. Interestingly, self-storage facilities are largely an American phenomenon. I suppose that makes sense, as there are few cultures outside the United States that place such as high value on stuff more than Americans.
For those who’ve not used one before, these facilities offer a range of sizes for storage, with the most common seeming to be 10 feet by 10 feet. The rates will vary based on location and amenities. Locally, the 10×10 units run about $100 a month. Basically, you’re renting what amounts to a large closet or small room with a door you can lock. While they aren’t all climate-controlled, they’re dry and will protect your cache, as well as old household goods, from the elements.
Location, Location, Location
If you’re considering renting a storage unit and then using part of the space as a preparedness cache, location definitely matters. Many of these storage facilities are located in urban areas and often not in the greatest parts of those cities. In other words, their location isn’t someplace you’ll want to visit if things are already getting dicey and chaotic.
However, there are tons of these storage units located well outside city limits. Not only are those safer options, they’re less likely to be hit by looters. From where I’m sitting in my home office, I can think of at least four self-storage facilities that are each within a 20-minute drive and are located in rural areas.
Cache Access
Something to consider is whether you’ll be able to access your storage unit cache in a grid-down situation. Many of them are fenced in and utilize a gate that is opened by a key card or keypad. It’s worth asking the management about any provisions they have in place for getting to your unit if the power is out. If you’re going to be unable to reach your cache in an emergency, what’s the point of having it?
Again, I’m not suggesting you spend a couple thousand dollars a year just to set up and maintain a preparedness cache. But if you’ll be spending the money on a storage unit anyway, choose the location using a preparedness mindset and toss in some supplies and gear, just in case.
