Every Day Carry What's In Your Pocket?

[larrymeyer]

http://www.officer.com/web/online/Operations-and-Tactics/Every-Day-Carry/3$39961

Every Day Carry
What's In Your Pocket?


Posted: Friday, February 1, 2008
Updated: January 28th, 2008 03:20 PM EDT


Frank Borelli


Springfield Armory 1911 .45ACP: author's favorite carry gun

Glock 36 .45ACP, Emerson Commander Knife, handcuffs, OC canister, SureFire L2, spare magazine

Glock 19 9mm, Buck Strider Tarani knife, Benchmade Griptillian, Zippo lighter, SureFire L2, spare magazine



FRANK BORELLI
Equipment Reviewer



Awhile back, on several forums, there were conversations about what today's warrior carries every day. Those discussions reminded me of what my father (an attorney / judge) used to empty out of his pockets at the end of every day: keys, check book, wallet, lighter, cigarettes, change, etc. Then I thought about what I unload out of my pockets or off my person every day: gun, knives, flashlight, lighter, cash, coins, wallet, badge... it made me think about what we carry and why. I thought I'd share some of that with you.

I'm writing this on the assumption that every cop today carries a few certain things even while off-duty. Those things would include:


a gun
one or more knives
one or more flashlights
handcuffs or other restraining device
a cell phone

The handgun is an intensely personal selection unless the agency mandates carrying an issued weapon off-duty. Some do. I am fortunate enough that my agency was rather forward thinking. I could carry a Government Model 1911 style pistol, a Glock in one of several calibers, the S&W M&P in one of several calibers and others. Typically I carried one of two guns off duty. Now that I'm retired those same two guns seem to always find their way onto my belt.

My Springfield Armory 1911 .45ACP is first on the list. Cocked-and-Locked with a full magazine inserted I've got eight rounds of Speer Gold Dot ammo in the gun. I carry either one or two spare magazines depending on the pants I'm wearing. If it's jeans then I usually only have one spare magazine. If I'm in my 511s, then I've got two spare magazines.

If I'm not carrying my 1911 then I'm carrying my 2nd generation Glock Model 19 9mm. The same rule applies to the spare magazines. Since I put +2 floor plates on the magazines, I have 18 in the gun and another 17 or 34 on me. I get a lot of friends and fellow officers who ask me why I don't carry a .40S&W. I don't have a problem with the .40 but, to be blunt, it's only 22 years old. While it's certainly an effective round and I have plenty of faith in it, I have greater faith in cartridges that have been around longer. Sure, I know that might be narrow-minded of me... but it's my choice and I'm happy with it. The 9mm and .45ACP are both over 100 years old - and I consider that more proven than something 22 years old. Hell, I'd even take the 10mm. At least it's almost 40 years old.

If, for some odd reason, I can't wear a holster, I'll take along my fanny pack. It easily carries my gun, a spare mag, flashlight, knife and cuffs. I usually also throw in a small canister of OC. The bag shown displays the Emerson Commander knife and a SureFire flashlight. Those have since been changed out for a Buck Strider Tarani knife and a Night-Ops Gladius flashlight.

Truth be told, the "Every Day Carry" is constantly evolving. If I'm just stuffing pockets then my knives are the BlackHawk Blades Model 41 set up for tip up left handed carry, and an H&K Ally (made by Benchmade) in my right pocket. On my belt is usually a SureFire LED version of the 6P, but the Gladius is often in my pocket. Simply because of the nature of the beast, I also always have a Zippo lighter and my challenge coin of choice in my pocket.

I forgot about the small lockblade that is always in my left pocket under my keys. My briefcase has a spares carrier with six extra batteries for my flashlight.

I leave you with this question: not "What's in your wallet?" but "What's in your pocket?" What do you carry every day? Send me back your emails or post your replies on our forum. The differences in preferences are always good for a few interesting conversations.

Stay Safe!!



Lt. Frank Borelli (ret) is the Editor In Chief for Officer.com, and has been producing equipment evaluations for the police and military communities for about ten years. Pulling on his 7 years of military service and more than 20 years of police experience, he stays active in police work, training, and writing. Frank's book, "American Thinking: Sustaining The Warrior Values That Made America Strong - And Still Can!!" has received critical acclaim. If you have any comments or questions, you can contact him via email to frank@frankborelli.c

[sinful]

Here's my reply on another site:

I feel like a pack rat. Here's what i have on me now and on a daily basis.

iFAK:
-2x Aspirin (325mg packets)
-2x Cleansing Wipes
-1x Sinus Relief
-2x Aleeve
-3x Neosporin
-3x Hydro cortisone
-6x small band aid
-4x large band aid
-1x 2x2 Gauze
-1x Gerber knife
-1x Bic Lighter
StingEze (I hate bug bites)
Keys with carabiner (Jeep key, house key, garage key, gun case keys)
1 mini Xacto blade holder
1x blade capsule:
-10x angled xacto blades
-1x Curved xacto blade (think scalpel)
Sharpie with 2 paper clips rubber banded to it
Mini mag lite with LED conversion kit (worn on belt)
Cellphone (worn on belt in secure leather holder)
Leatherman Wave (worn on belt)
Antacid (More often I have the small paper wrapped "tube", but this is what I have at the moment)
Wallet (containing ID, CCs, ~$100 in cash, video store cards, CCW permit, etc...)
Sony Cyber-shot 7.2mpx digital camera with 2.5GB of storage

[brian]

a p380, on the clock, a cell phone that's it.
wallet, cell phone(off the clock) keys and everything else normally are in whatever i'm driving.
i travel lite, but have all sorts of stuff in the ride.

[Aran]

Glock 17, wallet, three separate sets of keys, folding box cutter, cell phone, black full-coverage balaclava, LED flashlight, OC spray, and occasionally a pocket full of receipts when I forget to empty it for a while.

[Montanya]

Glock 17, wallet, three separate sets of keys, folding box cutter, cell phone, black full-coverage balaclava, LED flashlight, OC spray, and occasionally a pocket full of receipts when I forget to empty it for a while.

Ok I gotta ask, why carry a balaclava?

[CHAUKA]

Ok I gotta ask, why carry a balaclava?

Ninja??????

[CHAUKA]

Cell phone , Keys , Wallet, SOG Flash II - Glock 26 IWB

Dhats It!!! - (Crackhead Bob voice)

[Shawn.L]

Ok I gotta ask, why carry a balaclava?

tasty flaky sugary greek desert

[sinful]

Glock 17, wallet, three separate sets of keys, folding box cutter, cell phone, black full-coverage balaclava, LED flashlight, OC spray, and occasionally a pocket full of receipts when I forget to empty it for a while.

Ok I gotta ask, why carry a balaclava?

All full blown mall ninjas carry em...

How else you think he's gotten out of walmart without incident lately?
Cuz you know if there was a problem, we'd have a "where's waldo" type thread filled with mystery info about it...


Sorry, to get back on topic, I updated my FAK today.


It's now geared a little more towards every day cuts and scrapes; a small kit to get to my Jeep where I keep a more complete FAK.

[4XLT]

i wouldnt know where to put all that stuff sinful !

money in pocket , wallet with id's and permits, keys, 2 inch knife , cell phone, usually my CZ 40-P i keep a small med kit in my truck, along with a couple of those indian blankets you get at the truckstops, cleaner, paper towels ...