Carrying 24/7
RECENTLY, Org Hamman, a longstanding Magnum reader, asked me how many people I know who always carry their defence handgun with them. Personally I know of less than a handful. So why do most defence handgun owners not carry their pieces? Their handguns are probably too big and heavy and/or their carry method makes carrying for extended periods uncomfortable. Over the years I have struggled with the same problem, first thinking that my handgun was too big and heavy, but in the end resolved this, not by changing pistol, but by selecting the right holsters and belts.
I now carry comfortably, at my desk, when driving, well, everywhere. This did not happen overnight, but through experimenting and spending a lot of money on holsters especially. In addition to my pistol and a loaded magazine, I also carry a spare mag, two knives and a small torch – every day. I consider the aforementioned items necessary tools to have on me for emergency use; much like driving around with a jack and wheel spanner in case I have a flat tyre. Of course, the challenge is picking the right knife/torch/handgun, and then figuring out how to carry comfortably. For all-day carry, smaller and lighter is definitely better.
My pistol is an old school all-steel CZ75 Compact. I could opt for a smaller, lighter, more modern DA/SA polymer offering (actually I did, I finally bought a Beretta PX4 Compact but still have to go through the licensing process), but for now I’m happy with my CZ.
Changing to a Phalanx Defence Systems Stealth Operator holster solved my ‘comfortable carry’ problem. I opted for a Stealth Compact IWB holster for daily carry and find this holster about as comfortable as is possible given my shabby
figure. Adding a belt with a D-shackle, with infinite adjustment around my middle, ensures a snug but comfortable fit at the 4-o’clock position on my right hip. Sniper makes a quality ‘tactical’ belt with a D-shackle that sells for R250, but several similar options are locally available.
Depending on the situation, I sometimes alternate the Stealth holster with a Safariland GLS IWB (575 Pro Fit Compact) holster. The Safariland is bulkier, but has active retention, and only releases the pistol (a lever actuated by my middle finger) when I grip the handgun. This is a superior quality product that can also be fine-tuned to increase or decrease passive retention of your firearm. I like both, but the Stealth is slightly more comfortable. The Safariland’s active retention is superb and gives extra peace of mind knowing the pistol cannot fall from the holster unless I press the release lever. This is definitely a benefit when you have an active lifestyle.
I also carry a folding knife, clipped to my left hand side pants pocket. It’s a lightweight Spyderco Mantra with a deep pocket clip, which I use for everyday tasks – these days mostly opening packages and cutting tape but it works on biltong too. As a back-up I carry a CRKT Minimalist Bowie knife horizontal on my belt in the 11-o’clock position. This allows me to reach it easily with both hands.
The Minimalist is only intended for emergency (last ditch) defence purposes should my handgun be out of action or should I be held in a chokehold from behind. A chokehold necessitates immediate action as you probably only have a few seconds to act, or risk losing consciousness.
The Minimalist is designed as a neck knife; mine has a 2.13 inch blade and weighs only 43 grams. The small handle has three deep finger grooves that allows for a grip far superior to that of much larger knives. The glass-reinforced nylon sheath has a screw-on clip that can be adjusted for various modes of carry and comes with a lanyard should you prefer to carry it around your neck. The sheath has excellent retention and I do not worry that the knife will fall out. A firm tug frees the blade for use. This little knife is one of the best investments in a blade I’ve made; it’s very small, weighs so little I do not notice I have it with me, and recently I realised that the Bowie-style blade (other blade shapes are available) works very well for skinning. I just bought another for hunting trips.
A word on knife attacks and knives for defence purposes. When younger I took part in a few joint operation raids on fairly notorious crime-ridden hostels in Johannesburg. The weapon of choice for most of the inhabitants were rather large blades, some home-made. I quickly learned that fending off a knife attack is not simple. If the attack is up close, you will not be able to pull out a handgun in time to stop the attack, and even if you are fast enough to draw and fire a shot (or two) at the torso, two scenarios are most likely: firstly the attacker might flinch and shy away from the firearm and try to flee, but, if filled with adrenaline (and often drugs) the attacker will probably not even notice that he was hit, but push home the attack, and you will get cut or stabbed. Defence ammunition has no magical properties and only a head or spine shot will end the affair immediately, something you definitely cannot count on when under extreme pressure.
Your best option is to put distance between yourself and a knife-wielding attacker, but when the attacker is within arm’s reach or closer, you will have to close what distance is left and try to get hold of the arm wielding the knife. For this, proper training is needed and I know very few people who have mastered this skill.
If you plan to use your knife for defending yourself you’ll probably end up cutting yourself. When in a state of shock and filled with adrenalin, most people cannot dial a number on their
cellphone, just holding onto the phone is difficult. The same goes for a knife, and stabbing or slicing at someone when you have very little control over your adrenalin-filled body might have you end up with a sliced wrist or worse. Just drawing and opening the latest ‘tactical folder’ becomes an almost impossible task.
I suggest training a few basics with a dummy knife (preferably a fixed blade) for getting out of a chokehold, stabbing at the groin, thigh, stomach or any reachable body part of an assailant when grabbed from behind, but that’s about it. The simple truth is that for the ordinary citizen getting involved in a knife fight means someone is going to get cut, probably you.
I also carry one spare magazine, although with today’s highcapacity pistols this is probably not needed. My CZ Compact, which only takes 13 rounds per magazine, is loaded with a full-size magazine with a home-made rubber spacer at the bottom of the longer 15-round mag (basically turning it into a Glock 19X of sort). This extended magazine allows a better grip with my big hands. My spare is the original 13-round Compact mag, carried loose in my left trouser pocket as I find a magazine pouch uncomfortable. This is not ideal, but I always make sure I carry nothing else in this pocket and check the magazine at least once a week to ensure no lint or other debris clogs it up.
T he last item I always have on me is a small flashlight, currently a Jetbeam PA 12 with a pocket clip. This is carried in my right pocket as I’m often out for the whole day, only returning home after dark. Moreover, I often use it in the daytime, sometimes when doing field repairs or servicing a vehicle (yes, I service my own vehicles). The flashlight is only 98mm long, 19mm wide, and weighs 35 grams without the single AA battery, yet it produces 780 lumens, which is good enough for me for identifying threats and shooting out to about 20m. It only has an On/off switch, which means less training is needed.
Although I don’t carry a ‘tactical’ pen, I consider this a good idea for emergency use, but again, only if you train to use it. Learning a few basics from someone knowledgeable will allow you to use this simple tool effectively against an attacker.
Also, picking the right clothing, for example pants with extra pockets, or a loose hanging shirt, helps to ensure you can comfortably carry concealed the tools needed to survive a life-threatening altercation.
The outcome of an attack is not based on what you think you can do, it depends solely on whether you are armed (at all times, your attackers pick the time and spot, not you) and how well you are trained in the use of your equipment, which, of course, should be utterly reliable. Quick, decisive action is the only recipe for success, but can only be attained through repeated training.
Lastly, my complete ‘kit’ weighs 1.551kg. This is a lot for daily carry but, with the right belt, holster and spreading the load by picking the right clothes (pockets in the right places), I’m able to ‘carry’ comfortably all day. The above-mentioned methods work for me, but this may not be the case for you. However, experiment, be persistent, and start off by carrying at least your defence handgun at all times. If I can do it, so can you.