----------
                            Everyday Carry
                          November 28, 2022
                                ------

                                                                                
   The phrase "EDC" and obsessive consumerist - and hobbyist -
attempts to turn it into some lifestyle topic can be a bit much at
times.  But people do tend to have something they lug around every
day.  For normal folks, that would be a cellphone and wallet of ID
card and credit or debit cards.  Not much to talk about there.  As one
of the oddballs, here is a write-up of mine with some exposition
behind each item.

   To start with, there is a solid yet inexpensive folding knife.  The
model is usually irrelevant as there is a can full with one selected
at semi-random.  Today, the knife is a nice and thin Mercator K55K
with carbon steel blade.  Most other days see a slipjoint of some
description, though.  The old phrase that a pocketknife is primarily
useful as a "sharpened fingernail" pretty well covers it.

   As an outdoors type and occasional dabbler in pipe tobacco and
cigars, a lighter or matchbook is always handy.  A plain Zippo is on
duty, today.  While one of the Bic lighters is often pocketed, a
naptha lighter is far from an old-fashioned affectation.  The fluid is
a good solvent.  Dabbing a Q-tip against the packing to soak some up
comes in regular handy for cleaning dilly odds and ends or removing
sticker adhesive residue.  Having a tiny little cavity between the
insert packing and bottom of the case to store tiny items like screws
or itty-bitty valuables to avoid loss in a project can be a lifesaver.
Being able to spark a flame and leave the thing lit for a while or
even stand on its bottom is something a Bic can't safely do.
Nevermind that a Zippo just plain sound cool.  This one has a spare
flint in the filler hole of the insert pad.

   Flashlights still come in handy all the time and one is always
pocketed.  Why risk an expensive smartphone and run its battery down
for checking car troubles, looking to the marshmallow fluff hidden in
back of the cupboard, walking across the parking lot, or any number of
other simple tasks?  Less than twenty bucks scored a Streamlight
taking two AAA batteries that always works and takes a beating.  It is
slender enough to be no more burden than a pen.

   Now on to the trusty pocket bandana.  100% cotton and always folded
in a backpocket.  There are several in the nightstand and a clean one
is regularly swapped out.  Sweat rag, emergency dressing, keep a
smaller cut from bleeding on stuff before direct pressure stops it,
face wipe, impromptu pot holder, the possibilities are near endless.
They're too cheap and useful to not own a stack.

   Some cordage is another compact and lightweight thing to keep at
hand.  This takes the form of a double-arm span of paracord with the
ends melted to avoid fraying.  It is either wrapped or monkey braided
in a back pocket.  One end is kept in a small bowline knot to easily
and quickly form a loop.  Be it needed as an emergency bootlace,
impropmtup dog leash, lashing groceries in a bicycle basket, making a
quick repair to hold something together, or idly practicing knots to
pass the time, it's earned its keep.

   Then there is the pocket notebook.  While my usual favorite is not
currently available, this is usually a 3.25"x4.5" mini composition
book with rounded corners.  The paper preferably comes from India or
Vietnam as it tends to be quality enough for even a fountain pen with
no bleedthrough while still being cheap.  This is used for doodling,
taking notes, brief bit of journaling, recording interesting quotes,
playing pencil and paper games, drawing maps in a new place, taking
directions, or whatever.  The odd pages are numbered and a simple
index section kept in the back few pages for reference.  One
modification is made in the form of a paper sleeve inside the back
cover.  This holds a calling card and My Bad Twenty* and can
temporarily hold loose slips or receipts.  There is a tiny bookmark in
the form of a cut-out section of plastic water park wristband marking
the forwardmost blank page as a final touch.

   As a notebook is just fancy tinder or poor toilet paper without a
writing implement, some time has been spent coming up with an
agreeable one.  Ballpoint pens smudge, perform poorly in the cold, can
ghost of bleed through, snot on a page, leak, or jam up in addition to
being uncomfortable for writing.  Fountain pens are a bit fragile and
have some similar drawbacks.  And markers just don't jive.  That
leaves a good pencil.  Wooden are a favorite but fragile and
inconnvenient to pocket even if capped with an old pen cap.
Mechanicals are a solution to that problem but even 0.7mm lead can be
fragile.  Enter the 2.0mm mechanical "clutch" pencil.  Lead as thick
as a wooden pencil in a body about the same size with the ability to
retract the lead in a robust body like a normal mechanical.  The one
currently pocketed is a Rotring 300 as the endcap sharpener gives a
nice, long point and the mechanism is smooth.  The collet jaws are
more fragile than a Staedtler or Soviet surplus pencil as the sole
complaint.  These ones have needed to be gently bent back out a bit
twice, now.

   Having just glanced at it, a wristwatch is worth mention.  This one
is a cheap, analog Timex.  The specific model has been forgotten but
it is light and thin with the decendy to stay out of the way.  It
tells time more reliably than any mechanicals costing three times as
much and that's about all there is to say.

   Then there is the belt knife.  This is either a small, concealed
fixed blade carried support-side in the appendix position or a proper
working knife if in the boonies for longer than a constitutional.  For
those curious about brands, the little one is a bowie-pattern CRKT
Minimalist.  It is cheap, works, and no burden.  The bigger knife is
usually some form of puukko or Ka-Bar.

   Having just copped to concealing a compact fixed-blade, the belt
gun should now come as no surprise.  This is usually a S&W model 10
revolver with 2" snub-nose barrel and round butt.  The hammer has been
bobbed and stocks replaced with a Pahmayr grip adapter and set of
Barami Hip-Grips.  Some obnoxious yellow-green nail polish has been
applied to the front sight over a white base coat after regulating for
the chosen carry load and most practice ammo.  For carry, the standard
pressure Underwood 158 grain semi-wadcutter hollowpoint gets the nod.
It is cheaper than Buffalo Bore and more readily available than the
classic F.B.I. load selection from other manufacturers.  The Hip-Grips
work well and keep the medium-frame gun better concealed than even
most 380 ACP automatics.

   While doubting the utility of a reload outside uniformed service,
one is usually kept with the gun.  This is either a DeSantis 2x2x2
pouch of the same load, a Safarilan Comp-whatever loader of 158 grain
lead round nose for smooth loading, or both.

   Far more useful is the keychain pepperspray unit.  This is an ASP
Key Defender which doubles as a kubotan.  The safety works very well
while being easy to disengage and it is far more convenient to carry
than a normal can.  This holds a small selection of house and vehicle
keys and is slipped into the waistband just in front of the little
fixed-blade.  Practice cannister inserts are widely available and
often come packaged with replacement live inserts.  This is a definite
selling point.

   Now to wrap things up with the pocket revolver.  This is a Ruger
LCR chambered in 22 Long Rifle.  The original grip has been replaced
with a Hogue bantam bootgrip to print less and come more smoothly out
of the pocket.  The holster is a Mika and carry load usually CCI
Stinger as it hits to sights, has a bit more bark than most loads, and
the long cases help avoid casehead under star malfunction at the
range.  This is not a back-up gun or New York reload but rather just
lives in the pocket even on the days the belt gun can't come along.
That it can be handed to a friend or relative in a pinch is the
secondary selling point.  The snub is reliable, accurate, and cheap to
practice with quite a lot.  Fun to shoot, too.

   What about a phone and wallet?  Don't carry either.  Hate phones
and am tired of breaking them and paying for replacements.  Plus they
get less and less pocketabe by the year.  As for a wallet, just grab
an I.D. if driving and only carry cash when out shopping.  And just
say no to credit cards.  Those have always been a cancer on society.



 * This is actually just an emergency bill.  But is always available
   and untouched in the same spot.  I'm not above pulling it out if
   someone is epset and offering it as a quick make-good to smooth the
   situation.  Or generating some good will by offering to someone in
   a tight spot until payday.


 =====
 kimek
 [gopher://sdf.org/1/users/kimek]