Let’s be honest. We carry guns because we recognize that there is a risk of criminal predation that we want to defend ourselves against. But being the target of violence isn’t the only risk that can have a major impact on our lives. Not only that, but not all risks carry the same consequence. So, how do you prioritize them and their respective mitigation strategies? This focus on risk management will provide a guideline for doing just that.
I think that one thing the firearm community does poorly is hyper-focus on some of the lowest probability events.
Why? Because the shooting performance is measurable and provides immediate feedback, and that sense of accomplishment is the dopamine hit.
The flip side of that coin is that doing an effective Risk Assessment requires you to be objective, critical, and vulnerable with yourself, and you have to envision yourself LOSING. That’s uncomfortable.
It’s critical that you don’t gloss over all the more probable, but somewhat lower consequence risks to ONLY focus on the worst-case scenarios that happen to be fun to practice.
Have you ever mixed exercising and shooting? Or maybe you’ve heard it advocated as a good way to train. It’s supposed to induce stress and make life harder on the range. Training on a square range can be a relatively calm affair that can even be a bit boring if you’re an old hand at marksmanship. Adding a little bit of exercise helps simulate a gunfight, right? Well, the answer is a bit more complicated than yes or no.
The main idea is that by inducing physical stress into your shooting, you can simulate the adrenal effects of a gunfight. It’s tough to simulate such a thing safely, so we use physical stress to try to induce mental stress into our shooting. Doing a bunch of burpees, sprints, or other cardiovascular activity certainly makes it harder to shoot, but does it simulate the effects of a gunfight?
Exercise and Gunfights
The short answer is no, not entirely. Physical stress brought about by exercise isn’t going to help simulate the stress created by an adrenaline dump in a fight for your life. We are looking at two different stress factors to contend with. Physical and mental stress. The two can be tied together, but they aren’t double-knotted.
The mental effects of stress can include a total shutdown where you have no idea what to do, so you freeze and do nothing. You can’t simulate that through physical exercise. You can probably still make a shoot/no-shoot decision even if you exhaust yourself. Exercise can’t simulate the rushed increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
Sgt. Michael Poindexter, a Paratrooper assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), closes in on the finish line of a two-mile run during an Army Physical Fitness Test April 18. The run was conducted early in the morning to avoid the heat of the Iraqi afternoon.
It can’t simulate pupil dilation when your adrenaline skyrockets. Exercise cannot simulate the sympathetic nervous system response that gives your body a great burst of energy to react to danger. Your mental response to violence isn’t negative; it can be extremely beneficial, and you can’t simulate that through a bunch of burpees at the range.
Exercise also can’t simulate the cognitive load associated with a gunfight. Stress-induced cognitive load occurs when your body and brain fight for resources to accomplish tasks under pressure. You’ll be forced to focus on tasking demands while coping with environmental demands.
What Exercise Helps
Who says the gunfight won’t be physical? Sure, it might be a draw to first-round fired, but it could also start with a physical attack. You could be fighting for your literal life and exhausting your body as you throw punches and wrestle.
Maybe you tried to escape? Or maybe you sprinted toward danger? There are lots of situations I can believe that happen in or around a gunfight that could benefit from implementing physical fitness into your firearms training.
Soldiers from 1-125 Field Artillery, participate in the sprint-drag-carry event of the Army Combat Fitness Test during a diagnostic on Aug. 20, 2021, Camp Ripley, Minnesota. The ACFT is a combat oriented fitness test designed to test a soldier’s combat readiness. (Minnesota National Guard photo by Sgt. Mahsima Alkamooneh)
Being used to and prepared to shoot with your heart beating rapidly, sweaty hands, and gasping for air can be beneficial. It can show you what it’s like. While it can be beneficial to train with some exercise thrown in, the best thing you can do is be physically fit. The effects of physical stress can be lessened if you exercise regularly.
How To Induce Stress
Inducing the same amount of stress you’d get in a gunfight can be difficult. It might be impossible. You can implement different forms of stress that provide a cognitive load while shooting. Competition is a great way to trigger that mental stress load.
It won’t meet the fight for your life stress, but it can get you closer. If you can perform at a high level in competition, you’ll be better prepared to deal with a real gunfight.
Another great way to induce stress is to attend force-on-force training. Having the potential of losing a simulated gunfight and getting hit by simmunitions can induce stress. This is especially true if you train in shoot and no-shoot situations where decision-making is required.
Training Hard
The best thing you can do is train regularly and train hard. When the crap hits the fan, you’ll revert back to your lowest level of training. If you’ve trained extensively and taught your body and mind how to draw, shoot, and fight, you’ll be prepared for a fight. It should be a near-unconscious level of skill.
The other best thing you can do is be physically fit because heart disease kills more people than muggers. Physical fitness can help you fight. So exercise, train, and find ways to induce stress.
The J-Frame came into my collection back when I worked at the gun shop and routinely carried a backup gun (which, of course, had to be a revolver since they never jam).
When my lifestyle changed to the point that two guns wasn’t practical, it languished in the safe for years. Then recently, after some exchanges with folks like Caleb Giddings, Lee @ The Obscene Sailor, Darryl Bolke, and others, I’ve started appreciating the j-frame’s practicality as a “Regular Guy’s Gun.”
While we’d all like to be able to carry an optimal fighting handgun 100% of the time, we’re all familiar with the Italian proverb “Le meglio è l’inimico del bene” (Perfect is the enemy of good).
Since Rule 1 of Gunfighting is “Have a Gun,” it would stand to reason that having different tools for different applications would make good sense.
Not only does the J-Frame carry more discreetly than my G19—in the social circumstances that would call for that discretion—the texture on my Gen 5 Glock can actually be detrimental to the lifespan of my clothing.
The more time I’m spending with this little revolver, the more I’m finding use for it.
I won’t stop carrying my Glock, but I also don’t feel compelled to compromise to accommodate it either.
You might not know this, but the ATF has no purview over muzzleloading black powder firearms. They are not regulated under the typical gun laws. You can have one shipped to your door; there are no waiting periods, and they don’t fall under the NFA. Yep, no NFA rules apply to muzzleloading black powder firearms. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the best NFA hacks you get through black powder firearms.
One of my favorite creations comes from SilencerCo, and it’s called the Maxim 50. The Maxim 50 is a fairly traditional single-shot muzzleloading rifle with a lot of modern touches. The most modern touch is the big, hefty suppressor tossed at the gun’s end. It’s an NFA-free suppressor on a perfectly suitable hunting muzzleloader.
The suppressor is a part of the barrel and can’t be removed or put on other weapons without significant effort. If you can make a Maxim 50 suppressor work on a standard rifle, you can build your own suppressor anyway. The Maxim 50 is well suited for the modern hunter and a great way to get into muzzleloading. Plus, it angers the right people, the people who claim the Second Amendment only relates to black powder single-shot rifles.
Short Barreled Rifles
While most muzzleloaders have fairly long barrels to ensure good velocity from a black powder-propelled round, they aren’t locked into a barrel length. Any muzzleloading black powder gun could have a barrel shorter than 16 inches. An SBRed muzzleloader doesn’t sound great, but you can also toss a stock onto various black powder pistols—namely cap and ball revolver replicas from Cimarron, Uberti, and the like.
Not only can you attach a stock, but stocks are widely available for these platforms. This includes historically accurate options with wood and metal, as well as modern options that allow you to use your favorite AR stock with your favorite revolver. It’s odd, but normally, such a contraption would run afoul of the NFA. Cap and ball revolvers maintain an NFA-free status.
Short Barreled Shotguns
If you’re into firearms, you have more than likely seen the ads for the Diablo series of shotguns. These guns are touted as legal, sawn-off shotguns that are pistol-sized but feature 12 gauge bores. They look straight up like something El Mariachi would carry. These guns are perfectly legal because they are muzzleloading shotguns.
They can be short, pistol-sized, and now qualify as short-barreled shotguns or any other weapon. If you’ve ever wanted to play El Mariachi without having to pay for a stamp, then the Diablo shotguns are for you. They aren’t the only option, and the old blunderbuss guns are still available with short barrels.
Cannons!
If destructive devices are on your radar, then you might be pleased to know nothing is stopping you from owning a cannon! Yep, as the founding fathers’ intended cannons are available and can be owned without a lick of paperwork. Admittedly, finding a gun range to accommodate a cannon might be tough, but if you can afford a cannon, you can probably afford the range to fire it.
(Cannons Direct)
These aren’t cheap, lightweight, or convenient, but I almost guarantee your HAO has no rules against it…yet. Cannon kits cost anywhere from 7,000 to 10,000 dollars without shipping attached. You can also buy mini cannon kits from muzzleloading companies like Traditions. These are .50 cal muzzleloaders and a fair bit cheaper, but also much smaller.
Muzzleloaders, Blackpowder, and The Law
While Federal law might give you carte blanche on muzzleloading black powder weapons, state laws may vary. I’d assume California and New York hate them as much as they hate ARs and common sense. Check your state laws before you get your hopes up. If you live in a free state, then please enjoy your way around the NFA and have some black powder and muzzleloading fun.
Benchmade makes lots of fancy knives. Fighting knives, automatic knives, and more. Sometimes, knives like the Redoubt slip through the cracks. The Redoubt isn’t necessarily fancy or doesn’t appear to be fancy. It’s a simple folding pocket knife at first glance, but after spending some quality time with the Redoubt, I uncovered a sleeper hit that shouldn’t be ignored. The Redoubt is a very competent knife and a potentially awesome EDC option.
The Benchmade Redoubt – Simple and Robust
The Benchmade Redoubt is a manual folding knife that utilizes an Axis lock. The Axis lock locks the blade open at the rear and is a strong lock type favored by Benchmade for many of its knives. The handle is made from what Benchmade calls Grivory. Grivory is a proprietary thermoplastic composite used in a variety of applications, and thanks to Benchmade, it now includes knives.
The blade is made from CPM-D2. CPM-D2 is a refinement of the classic D2 steel. It’s a tough steel that resists chipping and breaking. This can make it a little tougher to sharpen, but it has excellent edge retention. The CPM-D2 steel isn’t stainless steel, but it does give you decent corrosion resistance. In a place like the Gulf Coast of Florida this is quite handy.
It doesn’t resist corrosion as well as stainless steel, but Benchmade follows the steel up with Cobalt Cerakote to help keep rust at bay. The Benchmade Redoubt is simple but robust and made to be durable and useful as a whole.
The Redoubt In Your Hand
Grivory is odd branding, but I can’t complain about how it feels in my hand. The material weighs very little, and the knife weighs 3.7 ounces. The Grivory material has a multicolor design. The majority of it is green, but there is a heavily textured darker green portion. The texturing wraps around the sides and over the top of the grip. Up front, there are two sections with additional texture.
This creates an aggressive grip texture for a true nonslip grip. It’s currently summer, and it’s 98 degrees outside. I’m covered in sweat after about a minute of doing anything outside. This includes my hands, which will be dripping sweat if I do anything related to tools—including knives. The Redoubt sticks to your hand and won’t slip or slide when dealing with sweat.
The Redoubt allows you to slice and dice in the heat of the day without worrying about your hand slipping. However, its aggressive texture, with its rough and rugged appearance, makes my hand itch. They cover everything with texture, and it’s tough to find smooth surfaces.
The texture at the rear of the grip allows for excellent control over the blade. Up front, there is a small finger guard that keeps your finger from slipping upward when working. The grip itself fills my hand, and I can comfortably use a hammer grip, a thumb forward grip, or even a reverse grip.
Benchmade took some effort to create a comfortable, functioning grip. The thick, rounded handle makes it easy to handle and easy to commit to hard work.
The Blade In Action
The Redoubt comes with a 3.53-inch blade and several options for blade tip design. Mine has the tanto tip, but a drop point is also available. The tanto allows for deep penetration and a strong tip for stabbing deep and resisting tip breakage. The downside is that you have to deal with two edges to sharpen, which makes sharpening a bit of a hassle.
The corner between the tip and main blade allows for deep cuts against harder materials. If I have to deal with clamshell packaging and expensive electronics, I can use the corner to nick the clamshell packaging open. The little corner can cut deep.
The blade lacks a traditional curved belly. It’s more like a straight razor edge. This makes deep cuts against soft materials a little challenging. However, it does allow for forceful cuts and press cuts that move smoothly and cleanly. I’ve diced tomatoes and onions for taco night, and the Redoubt does a great job of cutting things into very small pieces and portions.
The Redoubt glides through most material really easily. Drag it over paper, and you’ll have two cut pieces of paper. You won’t waste effort working through apples, oranges, or canvas-like materials. It’s a tough cutter that does a good job chewing through most materials.
The Redoubt’s blade works extremely well for carving and cutting straight. The Redoubt could do it if I wanted to whittle a stick or sharpen a spear. The blade comes incredibly sharp, and Benchmade offers to keep it sharpened for life. They can certainly sharpen it better than I could.
Having Redoubt
The Redoubt is a moderately sized pocket knife. It might be large for some, but if you carry a gun daily, it doesn’t matter much. It’s 4.75 inches closed, so it’s smaller than a spare magazine. The Redoubt offers a tough and durable knife. It’s a bit like a meaty upgrade to the Bug Out. It’s a working knife that’s perfectly suited for military, police, or EDC use.
Continued from Part 2. Primary Arms PLxC LPVO shown on a different carbine mounted on a Primary Arms GLx 30mm 1.5″ mount.
My Critiques Of the Primary Arms PLxC LPVO
Overall, I have a good impression of the Primary Arms PLxC, and I really like its build quality and attention to detail. The scope’s field of view at low power is quite generous, and the fact that Primary Arms Optics was able to compress the functionality of a larger full-size 34mm LPVO into a shorter and thinner 30mm body is quite impressive in of itself.
I like the quality of its optical glass and the way it transmits light. Chromatic aberration was minimal and not out of line with what I’ve seen with other—even more expensive—scopes. I also suspect that its “tight” eyebox and having to adjust the focus differently for shots with full magnification, as opposed to none, are part of the compromise of fitting all that glass into such a small package.
Twisting a focus ring and working on indexing the rifle and stock relative to the face more efficiently are not the end of the world. On top of that, the spinning magnification adjustment has a solid, quality feel to it.
In summary, the PLxC LPVO gets a solid thumbs up with regard to its physical qualities.
The Chevron
I really appreciate the effort and thought behind the ACSS Griffin Mil M8 reticle, which does its best to take advantage of the best attributes an LPVO brings to the table. However, I’m personally not crazy about the floating chevron used as the central aiming point. After trying out the chevron with an open mind, I found it wasn’t for me.
The central aiming chevron is approximately 1 mil tall and 2 mils wide while its body is roughly ½ mil thick. This doesn’t matter much when shooting at large targets at shorter distances with the magnification on its lowest settings. But I find that the chevron is a compromise for finer precision aiming, especially with its ½ mil thickness.
At ½ mil thick, 1 mil tall and 2 mils tall, I think the ACSS Griffin’s chevron is too chunky and obstructs the target more than I’d like it to. For example, using my carbine with a 100-yard zero and M193 ammunition, I took it to the Cornerstone LPVO class. I know that my come-up for 200 yards is around 0.31. Yet, while shooting off a barricade with a bag during that course, I routinely missed more shots at the 200-yard 8-inch steel gongs than I care to admit.
I kept “losing” the steel target within the ½ mil maw of the chevron without having a clear reference point. I’m of the opinion that the central aiming point on an optic like the PLxC should be no larger than 0.20 mil. Anything bigger runs the risk of obscuring specific points on a target in spite of the fact that LPVOs aren’t sniper scopes.
The Horseshoe Ring And Illumination
I think the horseshoe ring in the ACSS Griffin Mil M8 reticle is an element that shooters will either love or hate. Factors would depend on the shooter’s needs and style of shooting, along with whatever they’re trying to accomplish with the PLxC.
In a twist of irony, I thought I would end up disliking how thick the horseshoe ring is on 8x. However, after seeing for myself how handy it could be when shooting Steel Challenge targets quickly on 1x, and also taking some shots at steel targets placed further back, I wouldn’t hesitate to bring this optic to a 2-gun or 3-gun style match.
It is true that due to the first focal plane design of this PLxC variant, the horseshoe becomes quite prominent at full magnification. Measuring horizontally from outer edge to edge, the horseshoe ring is 10 mils wide. I estimated the thickness of its “line” to be approximately 0.75 mils wide.
There’s no doubt that some shooters will find the thicker line, along with its 10 mil wide span, to feel “busy” and with the potential to block or crowd out the field of view downrange. Ditto for the wind-shaped auto-ranging stadia.
The Horseshoe Ring is a Good Fit
After some internal deliberation, I finally decided on the horseshoe ring and its place in the ACSS Griffin Mil M8 reticle. It’s a good fit, especially in the context of this optic.
I’ll elaborate: the illumination on the highest setting is visible in daylight but it’s not daylight bright. And the lack of nuclear cherry-red brightness is probably the most common complaint I’ve seen about the Primary Arms PLxC.
Truthfully, the internal components necessary to illuminate a first focal plane reticle to those extremely bright levels are so much more expensive. My educated guess is that if Primary Arms had gone that route, chances are that the PLxC would actually be in a different and more expensive price bracket.
Michael Branson from Gideon Optics (whose resume includes Primary Arms, too) goes into some detail about this in the podcast he recorded with our friends at Big Tex Ordnance. Therefore, I think the placement of the horseshoe ring in such a manner that makes it clearly useful and visible at 1x helps bolster the daylight visible illumination while still remaining useful.
While the horseshoe’s 0.75 mil thick ring can potentially block the field of view downrange when fully magnified, in my experiences shooting past 275 yards, it wasn’t a concern for me.
With regards to the illumination issue, this could either make or break the optic, depending on the end-user and their specific needs. In my case, as a “regular guy” using the range during the weekends, the occasional carbine class, or at a match, the lack of daylight bright illumination isn’t a deal breaker.
I’m sure a patrol or SWAT officer employing an LPVO on his duty carbine might have different requirements and considerations as far as the brightness level and busy-ness of the optic’s reticle are concerned.
The Takeaway
Primary Arms Optics has staked its reputation on offering products that work quite well for the money—the “value proposition” as it goes. However, over the past few years, Primary Arms has also been ramping up its product development among its higher-end offerings, and this new crop of compact LPVOs is part of these efforts.
Even though one may not agree 100% with the execution of the PLxC LPVO, it’s evident that Primary Arms put a lot of thought into the design and development of the optic. Physically, it’s well-made and has a great size and weight, clear glass, and a fairly “strong” magnification level.
I think reticle design and implementation ought to be its own philosophical field or even art form. Again, I appreciate the ingenuity, thought, and effort put into the ACSS Griffin Mil M8 reticle. But perhaps the reticle is trying to be a “jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none.” I think paring down the chevron or using a different type of central aiming point would have gone a long way.
I’m not defending the lack of brightness on the first focal plane PLxC, but this most likely entailed keeping costs competitive, as I explained above. And keeping that in mind, I don’t think it takes away any of the other wonderful qualities exhibited by the PLxC.
It’s also worth mentioning that at the beginning of summer 2024, Primary Arms also launched a second focal plane version of the PLxC LPVO—one that uses the ACSS Nova Fiber Wire reticle and has that cherry-red daylight bright illumination.
You were introduced to ballistic dummies through GarandThumb and Admin Results, and I was introduced to ballistic dummies through Spike TV’s masterpiece, Deadliest Warrior. We are not the same.
Ballistic dummies, with their striking resemblance to human bodies, serve as captivating entertainment. Crafted from ballistic gel, they feature organs, bones, and more. Their 1 to 1 representation of a person’s size and shape, coupled with the viewer’s ability to detach from the potential gore, adds to their fun factor.
Deadliest Warrior was the best
These dummies have made a big splash in the YouTube world, but if you were a teenage male in the early 2000s, you were likely exposed to these fellas through Deadliest Warrior. In my teenage mind, I assumed and was led to believe that ballistic dummies were the closest one-on-one you could get to a real person. When that Navy SEAL tanked a ballistic dummy with a blade, I thought that’s how it would really work.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s still entertaining to see the head honcho of Cold Steel, Lynn Thompson, decapitate a ballistic dummy with a tomahawk, but that’s all it is: entertaining.
The Truth About Ballistic Dummies
I’m not calling anyone out or trying to degrade anyone’s favorite form of entertainment. I haven’t seen any YouTuber try to claim a ballistic dummy is an accurate representation of a real person. If they have, I haven’t seen it. What I have seen is people who watch that content assume it’s an accurate representation of what a weapon can do.
Ballistic Dummies are not accurate representations of a person. These dummies are made from ballistic gel, and the bones are made from high-density resin. There isn’t flowing blood, muscles, or cartilage. They can’t represent a human body because they aren’t real human bodies. They are an approximation of a person, but they aren’t a one-for-one replica.
Ballistic gel is not a one-for-one replica of a person’s flesh. Grab a block, sink your fingers in, and rip it apart. It’s not as strong or dense as a human body. It is simply a repeatable testing mechanism that allows you to have a consistent medium.
The FBI began using ballistic gel to measure bullet penetration and expansion and established standards based on it. The standard for modern ammunition is at least 12 inches of penetration through ballistic gel.
That doesn’t mean the round will penetrate through twelve inches of human flesh. It means that if the projectile penetrates through 12 inches of ballistic gel, it can penetrate deep enough to reach the body’s vital parts from many angles.
Look At Ballistic Dummies
Take a look at the various ballistic dummies on the market. There isn’t 12 inches of ballistic gel between the dummy and its heart, lungs, and spine. If you were to shoot the dummy with XYZ round and it hit the heart, you might assume that the cartridge is good enough for defensive use. Maybe you see a .308 completely remove the head of a target and think, “Holy crap, that’s power!”
(Kentucky Ballistics)
It’s easy to reach that conclusion, but it’s wrong. The gel isn’t thick enough between the outside and the vitals to reach valid conclusions regarding penetration. It can still be a repeatable testing medium, but we’d have to adjust the conclusions we reach when shooting ballistic dummies.
Lights, Camera, Action
Seeing a ballistic dummy reduced to nothing more than bloody parts and pieces is good entertainment. It’s a reactive target taken to an extreme level. That’s great, it’s fun, it’s entertaining, but it’s not a good replication of the human body and what happens when a human is shot, stabbed, or hit with a flamethrower.
Whether you’re just starting out on your prepping journey or you’ve been at it a while, a preparedness journal is a great way to keep track of all manner of information and keep it right at your fingertips.
For something like this, I like to go old school and use spiral notebooks. The multi-subject kind is great because they’re already divided into sections. Even when it isn’t back-to-school season, they don’t cost a lot. You could also go with a binder and loose-leaf paper—if that works better for you.
Here are a few sections I’ve used in my own preparedness journal.
Packing Lists
No matter how often you go out on a trip, the odds are pretty good that you’ll forget something. That’s why we invented checklists. In your preparedness journal, you can devote a section to packing lists to help you remember everything you need. Have one list for day trips, another for overnights, that sort of thing. Add to the lists things you discover you need and eliminate the items you never use.
Goals/Plans
As you move along the preparedness path, you’ll no doubt have ideas you want to pursue later. Have a section in your journal where you can write notes on what you want to look up, learn about, or design at some point.
Maybe you see a new-to-you concept for raised bed gardening, and you want to research it. Or you want to remind yourself to restock the vehicle emergency kit before your road trip. Having a one-stop shop for notes like this means you’ll be able to find them again later.
Weather Tracking
One of the best ways to learn how to forecast the weather is by paying attention to what’s happened in the past. This doesn’t need to be any sort of meteorology doctoral thesis. You don’t need to run out and buy any special equipment, either. However, if you want to shell out for a high-end weather station, there are certainly worse ways to spend your money.
The idea here is simply to jot down notes with your observations about the weather. Over time, even if you’ve had zero training or education in the subject, you’ll start to connect some dots.
Purchases
You don’t need to use this preparedness journal to keep track of everything you buy. But many of us have hobbies that intersect with prepping, such as collecting knives or firearms. There’s a joke that’s been floating around forever about praying that upon your passing, your spouse doesn’t sell your collection for what you told them it cost. This can be a serious problem, though.
An avid knife collector I knew passed away, and his daughter was tasked with handling his extensive collection. She was fortunate that he had put a little note into each knife box with the date of purchase, price paid, where or from whom he bought it, and other information. After she’d selected the ones she wanted to keep, those notes went a long way toward setting accurate prices for the rest.
You could do the same in this section of your journal, even if you’re not a collector. Anything that’s a big-ticket item could be noted, such as a freeze-dryer or generator.
Journaling
This is a journal, right? This is where you can celebrate your successes and learn from your failures. What has been working, what hasn’t, and why. I think one of the coolest things about maintaining a preparedness journal is paging through to see the progress you make over time.
ACSS Griffin Mil M8 reticle at 1x. Image source: Primary Arms
The Primary Arms Optics ACSS Griffin Mil reticle is probably best described as a jack-of-all-trades multi-purpose reticle. And Because the PLxC is a first focal plane scope, the reticle will shrink or grow depending on the level of zoom adjustment. This means that shooters will naturally perceive and see the reticle differently at 1x magnification than they would at the full 8x magnification.
On its lowest setting, the ACSS Griffin reticle looks nearly like a traditional duplex crosshair, with very thick outer stadia lines that taper and then disappear leaving only a floating horseshoe-ring with a centrally placed aiming chevron.
At 8x Zoom
On the flip side, when adjusted to higher levels of magnification, the thick duplex crosshair lines disappear, and both the horseshoe ring and aiming chevron are greatly expanded. In fact, this chevron is the nucleus of the ACSS Griffin reticle. It measures 2-mils wide and floats over a milliradian-based grid while being enveloped by that outer “CQB” horseshoe ring.
Labeled view of ACSS Griffin Mil M8 Reticle at full 8x zoom. Image credit: Primary Arms
At 1-mil beneath the aiming tip of the chevron, the ACSS Griffin has a vertical stadia line that bisects a grid of points spaced out 1-mil apart. This vertical stadia line itself has its own markings spaced at ½ mil and 1-mil intervals that extend all the way down to 15 mils.
Distance Ranging with the ACSS Griffin Reticle
The ACSS Griffin reticle features some quick-and-dirty distance-ranging tricks. For example, at 300 meters, the 19-inch width of an IPSC/USPSA paper target will fit flush with the central aiming chevron. At 400 meters, the same common 19-inch wide target fits flush against the slightly wider horizontal line found 2 mils below, on the vertical stadia line.
Furthermore, the design team at Primary Arms Optics also incorporated a pair of symmetrical “ranging wings” to the left or right of the principal horseshoe. These lines are also vertical and can be used to range 170 cm tall targets from 300 to 600 meters. In essence, with its thick horseshoe ring, a regulated central vertical stadia line, the grid of 1×1-mil spaced dots, and these “ranging wings,” it’s evident that the ACSS Griffin Mil M8 reticle was created to fully take advantage of the versatility of a riflescope with this level of variable magnification.
Primary Arms even ships a separate booklet focusing on only this reticle with useful information and excellent diagrams. I briefly touched on this in Part 1, but PA even ships an exposed elevation turret knob for those who would like to shoot and dial as if they were using a traditional riflescope. I don’t think it’s necessary on any LPVO but I appreciate the thought and detail once again.
Shooting Experiences With the Primary Arms PLxC 1-8 LPVO
At the time of this writing, I’ve fired a few hundred rounds of 5.56 NATO ammunition along with scores of .22 LR cartridges with the aid of this LPVO. I can’t comment on what it’s like to jump out of a helicopter with the PLxC mounted on a SOPMOD Block II carbine, but its quality construction suggests that it would hold up just fine….with “regular-guy” use at the range, classes or matches anyway. This is all I can personally speak for anyway.
The product page on the Primary Arms website for the PLxC mentions the scope’s generous field of view when cranked down to 1x. I think it checks out. With an eye box that measures approximately 3.5 inches, looking through the PLxC at its lowest magnification setting feels similar to looking through the Vortex Razor LPVO series. At this magnification, one perceives the edge of the scope to be extremely thin and the eye mostly sees a generous field of view. I included a picture of the Vortex on the right to show what I’m talking about.
I’ve noticed that regardless of scope mount height, when using both eyes open, the shooter’s eyes have to sit squarely with the PLxC’s eyebox for a crisp and clear picture. Otherwise, one might find some slight scope shadow. I’ve found that the best way to prevent this is by staying focused on the target and simply bringing up the carbine to one’s face.
Running the Primary Arms PLxC
In addition to dry-fire around the house or the backyard, I’ve been taking this LPVO mounted to a Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 (pictured in Part 1) to a Steel Challenge match and participated with it under the “rimfire rifle open” division.
Steel Challenge is all about shooting bigger, close-distance targets as quickly as possible. It was a good exercise to put this optic through. These are summer matches held in the evening, with the sun shifting over the horizon at twilight. With the uneven lighting I find that “duplex-esque” outer stadia lines do help to ensure that my reticle is properly aligned with the steel plates from the match.
In bright daylight, the ACSS Griffin’s horseshoe abets the shooter by granting them a good-sized “quick” targeting ring. This is why many shooters opt for these—especially on low-zoom magnified optics like LPVOs or prismatic sights—when shooting targets like IPSC/USPSA paper targets or A/C-zone steel plates.
I can definitely understand why the appeal is there, and in the case of Steel Challenge—well, a red dot is always going to be faster. However, I was able to hold my own using this LPVO, too.
Shooting at distant targets downrange with the Primary Arms PLxC LPVO during the Cornerstone LPVO class.
Zoomed In At 8x
In the world of shooting, everything is about trade-offs and compromises, and shooting LPVOs adjusted to their higher magnifications is no exception. In short, LPVOs don’t mirror the exact functionality that standard riflescopes have. Instead, LPVOs are stuck with fixed parallax settings and tighter-than-normal eyeboxes at full magnification, among other things.
LPVOs aren’t precision riflescopes, but they certainly work better than red dots and magnifiers, especially on general-purpose carbines. This is why many others, including myself, consider LPVOs worth the hassle.
Proving Grounds
I’m extremely glad that in the previously mentioned Cornerstone Performance LPVO course, we students had ample chances to shoot at different size targets from barricades at distances of 275 yards plus. These are very healthy distances for general-purpose 5.56mm carbines shooting A/C-zone-sized targets. This afforded me the opportunity to spend some time shooting with the PLxC’s reticle at full magnification, mostly off bag and barricade.
One of the first things I had to do was readjust the diopter’s prescription and twist the focus ring to a different setting than how I had adjusted it for the best 1x view. While I haven’t reviewed every currently available LPVO ever made, this is the first scope that I’ve used extensively that needed its focus ring set differently at low and high magnifications for the clearest picture.
My educated guess is that it may have something to do with the manner in which the lenses are stacked inside the optic with respect to both the size and length of the optic. After adjusting the focus ring for the right prescription, I didn’t have too much trouble shooting at 8x magnification with a proper index off the carbine stock.
The Magpul STR (shown on the rifle below) is a heavy but comfortable stock. Its sloped surface allowed me to get comfortable while fully zoomed in. From a physical standpoint, I have no real complaints about this LPVO. However, I do have some critiques of the reticle, which I’ll cover in Part 3.
Virtually all of my hands-on experience shooting 5.56mm ammunition in conjunction with the Primary Arms PLxC LPVO has been through this ARIC equipped Lone Star Armory TX-4 carbine.
Foxtrot Mike just released two new fully ambidextrous versions of its Mike-9 9mm pistol and carbine. These are based upon the company’s proven Mike-9 platform but with updated controls for Southpaws.
The Ambi Mike’s
Foxtrot Mike (FM) has been making 9mm-based Mike-9 AR pistols and rifles for over six years now. The company has become popular with competition and sports shooters alike. I got to shoot one a few times over the summer after a buddy of mine picked up a carbine. It’s nicely made and well laid out—unlike his parts gun that we put together for him, which needed a lot of tweaking.
FM just announced the latest version of the Mike-9 series, which includes a 7-inch braced pistol and a 16-inch carbine. The new guns are fully ambidextrous and feature an ambi safety, bolt catch, and magazine catch. My buddy runs his carbine fine, but being a lefty, I’m betting he wishes he would have waited for one of these.
FM Products Mike-9 AMBI 7” Pistol with MFT Brace
First up is the Mike-9 Ambi 7″ 9mm Pistol. It’s a Glock magazine-compatible Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) built around a dedicated pistol mag lower receiver. It uses a monolithic style upper that FM makes possible with a proprietary interlock between the upper and handguard. It features a 7-inch barrel fitted with a Micro Blast Diffuser. The pistol has a direct blowback action with a buffer tube and comes with an MFT brace.
The Mike-9 has a patented bolt hold-open mechanism. It’s not made of sheet metal like most PCCs. FM says it’s reliable and durable—two things that aren’t necessarily true of other PCCs. I know I had to do a lot of tweaking on my first one to get it to work correctly. The Mike-9 Ambi is currently on sale for $594.15, which is 15% off of the regular price.
Mike-9 Pistol Specs:
Platform: Mike-9b Caliber: 9mm Operating System: Straight Blowback Barrel Length: 7″ Barrel Twist: 1:10 Barrel Material: 41v50 Premium Match Grade 41v50 Barrel, Vacuum Stress Relieved, Melonite Coated With A Honed Chamber Muzzle Device: Micro Blast Diffuser Muzzle Thread: 1/2 X 36 Upper Receiver: Billet Aircraft Aluminum Type III Hard Black Anodizing Lower Receiver: Billet Aircraft Aluminum Type III Hard Black Anodizing Handguard: 5.75″ M-Lok Free Float Type III Hard Black Anodizing Charging Handle: Rear Charging Handle Mil-Spec Pistol Grip: Thril Buffer: 6.5 Oz Heavy Buffer Buffer Tube: Mil-Spec Brace: MFT Brace Trigger: Flat Face Mil-Spec Safety Selector: FM – Products Ambidextrous Length (Inches): 22″ Weight (Lbs): 5.1 MSRP: $594.15
FM Products Mike-9 Ambi 16” Rifle with Thril Furniture
The Mike-9 Ambi 16″ PCC 9mm rifle is again built around a dedicated Glock magazine lower. It uses a 16-inch barrel equipped with a four-port compensator. The upper and handguard are the same monolithic style as the pistol. It carries over the ambidextrous features and last-round bolt hold open, just like the pistol.
The FM rifle is basically the same build as the pistol, just with a longer barrel and handguard. It’s fitted with a Thril pistol grip and Thril collapsible buttstock instead of a brace. It currently sells for $713.15, which is again a 15% discount off the regular price.
Mike-9 PCC Rifle Specs:
Platform: Mike-9b Caliber: 9mm Operating System: Straight Blowback Barrel Length: 16″ Barrel Twist: 1:10 Barrel Material: 41v50 Premium Match Grade 41v50 Barrel, Vacuum Stress Relieved, Melonite Coated With A Honed Chamber Muzzle Device: 4-Port Compensator Muzzle Thread: 1/2 X 36 Upper Receiver: Billet Aircraft Aluminum Type III Hard Black Anodizing Lower Receiver: Billet Aircraft Aluminum Type III Hard Black Anodizing Handguard: 15″ M-Lok Free Float Type III Hard Black Anodizing Charging Handle: Rear Charging Handle Mil-Spec Pistol Grip: Thril Buffer: 6.5 Oz Heavy Buffer Buffer Tube: Mil-Spec Stock: Thril Trigger: Flat Face Mil-Spec Safety Selector: FM – Products Ambidextrous Length (Inches): 31″ Weight (Lbs): 5.7 MSRP: $713.15
The Combatives Association, a relatively new group in the firearms and self-defense training space, is a voluntary collection of passionate defensive-minded instructors. These instructors have a focus on the full spectrum of self-defense strategies beyond standard firearms training. This includes empty-handed techniques, social skills or other soft skills like the ability to read cues. This isn’t to say they don’t care about firearms because defensive gun handling and gun safety, as those facets of self-defense dovetail into that spectrum of self-defense as well.
Training with Combatives Association
Firearms have always been the great equalizer when it comes to potential self-defense scenarios. However, there’s more to knowing how to draw and fire a handgun in order to successfully navigate through a self-defense encounter and prevail–not only physically but legally and ethically, too.
More so, because the nuances of self-defense are often drastically different when the would-be assailants are quite literally “in one’s face” as opposed to some distance away.
All manner of fantastic defensive shooting courses are already available for law-abiding gun owners and self-defense defense practitioners to enroll in. However, the industry is arguably underserved in coursework and curriculum with a focus on extreme-close quarters defensive tactics (or other pertinent skills and knowledge that aren’t directly shooting-related but do tangentially apply).
The Combatives Association strives to bring a platform to its affiliated instructors to close these gaps in the industry. Likewise, they also help shine on lesser-known teachers who possess a legitimate body of work and experience throughout their careers.
What is the Combatives Association
The ranks of Combatives Association instructors are joined by industry luminaries such as Kelly McCann, Matt Larsen, and Craig Douglas, among others. John Valentine is a career US Military conventional-forces instructor in small-team tactics and units, as well as an accomplished martial artist and competitive shooter.
I first met Mr. Valentine in person some years ago during an ECQC course held outside of Austin, Texas. He is the self-described “Winston” to the Combatives Association’s “Continental [hotel]” to follow the metaphor from the John Wick Films. Winston was the point person who served as the connector and facilitator between the film’s characters.
The curriculum that Combatives Association instructors teach does include plenty of hand-to-hand and actual combatives material. However, the association’s purview also doesn’t limit itself to these “bare-handed” tactics either.
Working with items such as defensive blades or saps and jacks play a role, as do intellectual concepts like “verbal agility” and appropriate social communication or body language. If you’re familiar with Shivworks and Craig Douglas, his excellent ECQC course is a good sampling of what the Combatives Association is about. But to a deeper level of detail, nuance, and understanding.
The Combatives Summit
The Combatives Summit is the Combatives Association’s yearly convention-exhibition-seminar event. Like any other convention, this event is carried out with the intention of exposing students to a wide variety of relevant instructors under one roof during a weekend. There’s a mix of presenting instructors, like the ones mentioned above, along with special guests.
Honored guests and instructors will not only have the chance to offer training blocks, but the Combative Summits also include keynote speeches, presentations, and panel discussions. For example, well-known shooting instructor Matt Pranka of X-Ray Alpha LLC will be a guest of honor at this year’s Combatives Summit, where he will teach an instructional block on dry-firing.
One of the Combative Summit’s other goals is to provide a platform for lesser-known trainers with legitimate resumes and bodies of work and give them a chance to showcase their material.
The 2024 edition of the Combatives Summit is around the corner. It will be held at the American Top Team Jiu Jitsu Gym and Training facility in D’Iberville, Mississippi, on the weekend of September 20th. It lasts through the 22nd from 8 AM to 6 PM for all three days.
Combatives Summit 2023 Gallery
The Takeaway
John Valentine with another Combatives Summit participant in 2023.
Self-defense skills don’t exist in a vacuum. It can be easy to remain focused on equipment like firearms and ammunition while overlooking other aspects like social skills, verbal agility, unarmed combatives, etc. Truthfully, guns are merely one part of this comprehensive topic.
It helps to think of “self-defense” as a big tool bag that provides several types of tools in order to solve the problem. And even though firearms truly are the great equalizer, as I described them above, their use also comes with heavy legal consequences and ramifications.
Furthermore, not all potential self-defense situations require their use, either. This ties into the goals of the Combatives Association, which is to create a community and instructor network for the underserved aspects of defensive topics.
Even so, firearms aren’t discounted at this event, as indicated by Matt Pranka’s scheduled appearance at this year’s upcoming Combatives Summit.
In a conversation I had with Valentine, he expanded on this.
“At the aggregate level, the topics and curriculum enshrined by the Combatives Association discuss all the topics and circumstances before the ‘start signal’ that occurs in orthodox firearms training. There is a relationship between combatives and force-on-force training with firearms training not unlike the similar relationship that dry-firing has to live-fire shooting.”
Likewise, he adds, “It is also worth considering the after-actions that must be developed to mitigate damage and legal consequences [of a defensive use-of-force event].”
Final Thoughts
Though I haven’t had a chance to attend one of the Combative Association’s Summits yet, it does make a lot of sense for them to exist. After all, the shooting community already benefits from other “convention” type events like Rangemaster’s Tac-Con or the Shooter’s Symposium. So, a different event that focuses on non-firearms stuff with more depth sounds wonderful.
Combatives, after all, are everything that happens between harsh words and hollow-points.
EDC, or everyday carry for those not familiar with the lingo, refers to what you keep close at hand as you go about your day. For some, it has a very strict connotation in that it is limited to the gear you have literally on your body at all times. They take the “carry” part of EDC quite literally. And that’s okay, to each their own.
However, I look at it more broadly. I like EDC layers, at least three of them. Here’s how I break it down.
On Body EDC
This EDC layer consists of what you keep on your belt, in your pockets, or wear in some other fashion. For a lot of us, this includes things like a knife, pocket flashlight, defense weapon, wallet, and cell phone.
Some might add a few more items, such as a tourniquet, pocket pry bar, and/or a multi-tool, depending on their individual needs. And that right there is the crux of EDC layers—base your carry on what you truly need, or might need, throughout the day.
Some people like to add lucky coins, dice, or other fidgety items.
Off Body EDC
Many of us routinely use some sort of bag, satchel, or pack to carry work-related gear. This might include a laptop or tablet, files, and such. To me, it just makes sense to also keep additional EDC items in such a bag.
Some things that I typically keep in my EDC bag include:
Fully charged power bank
Small tool kit
Spare flashlight
Pill organizer with OTC meds (ibuprofen, pink bismuth tablets, antacids)
First aid kit
Lighter
Notepad and writing utensils
Tooth flossers
The author likes to use small pouches to keep gear organized in his EDC packs, such as this one for first aid from Tuff Possum Gear.
I may also toss in some small snacks, like crackers or hard candy. Just a little something for a quick pick-me-up during a long afternoon. The nice thing about this EDC layer is that it is infinitely customizable. Adjust it on a daily basis depending on what you have planned.
Vehicle EDC
While not everyone has a vehicle, those who do would do well to add this EDC layer to the overall gear loadout. As with the previous two layers, the gear should reflect your likely needs. That said, there are a few things that are common sense.
When I worked outside the home, I kept a small backpack in the trunk that contained a spare set of clothes. If I spilled something on my shirt, got dirty changing a tire, or whatever, I had something I could change into if needed.
I grew up in the upper Midwest. When you got your first car, which back then was likely just a beater with a heater, two things immediately went into the trunk. Your dad would give you a set of old jumper cables, and your mom would give you an old blanket or comforter. A few decades later, I still keep those items handy.
Here are a few other nice-to-haves in the vehicle EDC layer. Granted, this gets more into what we’d call a vehicle emergency kit, but there’s considerable overlap between EDC gear and emergency gear.
A set of spare clothes
Extra knit hat and winter gloves
Basic tool kit
Jump starter
Jug of potable water
Folding shovel
At the end of the day, don’t look at EDC as a checklist, where you absolutely must have certain items. Instead, look for items that will serve to make your life easier throughout the day. After all, that’s really what EDC is all about. Use the EDC layers concept to distribute your gear, so that it’s easier to carry everything you need.
I’m a bit of a .32 ACP nut. If I see the words 7.65 Browning printed on anything, I’m going to check it out. My recent obsession has been spending more on ammo than ever before! I often lament the lack of new .32 ACP pistols in the United States, and I hope the cartridge makes a comeback. We have gotten two .32 ACP pistols this year from Beretta and Walther, but I won’t hold my breath. If you’re researching .32 ACP pistols, you’ll eventually find yourself on an Indian firearms forum eyeballing India’s .32 ACP pistols.
India is all about the .32 ACP for civilian use. Numerous gun laws restrict certain calibers. There are two classifications: PB, or Prohibited Bores, and NPB, Non-Prohibited Bores. From my rough understanding of Google Translated forums, calibers like .32 ACP, .380 ACP, and .22LR are non-prohibited bores.
It seems like .380 ACP is tough to get, as are 9mm and 7.62 TOK. However, .32 ACP and .32 S&W Long are widely available and have become the de facto calibers for Indian self-defense firearms. This has created a market for .32 ACP pistols, and I figured we could examine India’s .32 ACP pistols.
India’s .32 ACP Pistols – New, Old, and In Between
One thing you’ll notice right away is that most of these guns are clones of other guns. There isn’t a ton of new designs. There doesn’t need to be. The .32 ACP works well in blowback-operated and short recoil guns and has a proven track record. Even so, there are some very creative options on this list that I’m quite jealous of.
Webley Fox
The Webley Fox is pretty close to an original design, but it isn’t much different than any other blowback-operated pistol. What makes it different is the size; it’s not super small or compact. It has a 3.8-inch barrel and a height of 4.91 inches. This makes it just a hair smaller than a Glock 19. It houses a 13-round magazine in a metal frame.
The gun sticks to a hammer-fired design with what appears to be an ambidextrous manual safety. The Fox seems to be fairly close in function and design to a CZ 83 series. However, the maker brags it’s designed and built entirely in India. It’s certainly a unique-looking gun and an interesting .32 ACP. I also can’t find direct information on the price, but it seems to be one of the most expensive of India’s .32 ACP pistols. The closest estimate I can find is about $ 3,000.
Webley Ranger
Another Webley, Webley of India, of course. This time, they didn’t make an original design but rather used a 1911 layout. It’s not a true 1911, but a blowback-operated .32 ACP design. It doesn’t cling to the overall 1911 layout if you shrink it considerably. The gun has a 3.75-inch barrel and is quite small and thin. Like the classic M1911, we get an eight-round single-stack magazine.
It’s got the same manual safety and grip safety as a 1911, and a single-action only design. One odd choice was to equip the gun with a vent rib for some reason. It looks like a Hungarian Hi-Power or maybe a Llama 1911. It’s an odd choice, but it appears to be a neat little gun.
Astr Atal 32X
Most of India’s 32 ACP pistols aren’t original, but the Astr Atal 32X breaks that mold. This might be the most modern gun on this list. This is what happens when someone designs a SIG P365 in .32 ACP. The Astr Atal 32X features a machined allow frame, a short recoil system, and a striker-fired design. When Astr says the gun was first made and designed in India, it seems to be true.
They did take some inspiration from the P365. They even use the same marketing hook with 365 days mentioned. The Atal 32X also features a chassis system and the ability to swap grip modules, although it doesn’t seem like any other grip modules are available. The gun can hold 13 rounds in the magazine and appears very small and concealable. In American dollars, the price point is roughly $2,300.
Ashani Pistol
When people say it’s what’s on the inside that counts, they’re talking about the Ashani pistol because it’s the ugliest of India’s .32 ACP pistols. This gun copies the FN M1910/22 series of firearms but uglifies it with a massive, unsightly grip. They also added a hammer to the design, which is interesting enough.
It’s a bare-bones pistol that seems fairly cheap for India—about a grand in American dollars. There are several variants organized as Mk 1, Mk 2, and Mk 3. There are differences in the slide design and grip, but they are all simple blowback guns with single-stack magazines that hold between 8 and 10 rounds of .32 ACP.
Stallion S-32
The Stallion S-32 directly copies the Beretta 81 Cheetah series. This compact-sized .32 ACP features a double-stack magazine capable of holding 12 rounds of .32 ACP. It maintains the Beretta DA/SA design with a frame-mounted safety and exposed barrel. It’s all Beretta to its core. Like most of India’s .32 ACP pistols, it’s not an original design by any means, and that’s okay.
These are direct blowback guns, and their large size and wide grips make recoil a nothing burger. I can easily see why someone would copy this design. It works, is incredibly ergonomic, is very easy to shoot, and you get 12 rounds of ammo with the flush-fitting magazine. According to Stallion’s website, they also have a 15-round magazine that’s slightly extended. Stallion produces various finish and grip options for the gun, but I can’t seem to locate a price.
The Little .32 ACP
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want a few of these guns. My number 1 choice would be the Stallion S-32, but the Webley Ranger and Astr Atal 32X would be welcome in my gun safe. India’s .32 ACP pistols are diverse and make for some fascinating designs. Sadly, we won’t see them in the States.
I’ve been a knife user and collector for over forty years and I’m still baffled as to how the Kershaw Knives Livewire was my first OTF (out the front) automatic knife. I mean, you’d think I’d have a fistful of OTF knives by now. Thinking back, I did pick up a cheap OTF a few years ago, but it was just a glorified gas station knife. The Livewire is the real deal.
The Kershaw brand isn’t new to me. I have a bunch of their knives, including several from their Launch series of autos. There’s not a dud in the bunch. When the Livewire debuted at the 2023 SHOT Show, I knew I had to get one. It was not only Kershaw’s first OTF, but it’s one that’s made entirely in the USA.
About five months ago, my wife and I were traveling through northeastern Wisconsin and stopped at DLT Trading. They had recently added a blue Livewire to their offerings, so I asked to see it. Well, it was love at first sight.
The cool thing about OTF models, including the Livewire, is that the blade can be opened and closed with one hand. No fumbling around trying to feel for a liner lock with your thumb and then pushing the blade closed with your thigh. Just SNICK open and SNICK closed. Simple, easy, and weirdly satisfying.
Kershaw Knives Livewire Features
Right off the bat, one thing I like about the Livewire is how safe it is. The sliding switch to release the blade takes a little effort, and it’s a long slide. There is virtually no risk of accidentally firing the blade. Not only that, if the working end of the handle is pressed against something, such as a box or a leg, and the switch is activated, the blade isn’t going to fully fire. It’ll move just the tiniest bit, and that’s it. You’ll have to pull the blade out manually at that point, then move the switch again to retract it.
The spear point blade is MagnaCut, and on this particular model, it has a Blackwash finish. This really meshes well with the blue aluminum handle. The handle has some eye-catching contouring, too. I have observed that the blue finish is already starting to wear away along the edges of the handle, though. It’s not a huge concern, but it’s definitely noticeable.
Closed, the Livewire measures 4.8 inches. The blade adds another 3.3 inches, giving you a total of 8.1 inches when opened. There’s a pocket clip that can be reversed for right- or left-hand carry.
The pocket clip can be swapped to either side of the handle to allow for right- or left-handed carry.
How Does It Perform?
I think a high-quality OTF like the Livewire might be a grown-up version of a fidget spinner. If it’s sitting within arm’s reach on my desk, I inevitably find myself firing it open and closed a few times. Given how many times on an average day I’ve done this, in addition to when I’ve actually used the knife, I’d ballpark it at about 1,000 cycles to date, and it’s still going strong.
That said, there is a little maintenance with the Kershaw Knives Livewire. From time to time, pocket lint might work its way inside and foul up the mechanism a bit. Fortunately, Kershaw put together a handy video on how to fix this. The whole process only takes a few minutes.
I’ve used the Livewire to open mail and packages, break down boxes, cut up veggies and fruit, and even snip loose threads from clothing. The point of the blade is needle-sharp, and the MagnaCut blade holds an edge quite well.
Being a knife reviewer has a lot of perks, but there is one major downfall. You don’t get the chance to carry your favorites as often as you’d like because you’re frequently evaluating other models. That’s the only thing that has prevented me from carrying the Livewire every single day since I bought it.
As it is, this is the sort of knife that you look for reasons to use because it’s just plain fun. And with a sub-$300 price point, it’s an amazing value.
