The Evolution of my EDC

When I first started carrying concealed my EDC left a lot to be desired, it literally consisted of a gun and a holster. Sure I carried a pocket knife but it wasn't the best for EDC. I had never really taken the time to plan out what should be carried in my EDC, I just tossed a gun and knife on and thought I was good to go. 

However as time has gone by I have put more thought into what I should have on me at any given time. What I am allowed to carry at work is completely different than what I carry outside of work, and this is something everyone should take into consideration. 

On a typical day at work or outside of work there are 2 main things that you can find on my person. The first is a knife, something that is both useful for self defense as well as utility work. Which this recently has become the Boker Coye Ridgeback or the QTRMSTR B.A. Baracas, both are sturdy blades which are easy to quickly deploy. I have spent a decent amount of time with both of these knives figuring out which ways I can deploy them best and where on my body they conceal best while remaining easily accessible. 

The second item you will find is the Olight M10 Maverick flashlight that I recently purchased. For awhile I was carrying a flashlight that was given to me by my dad, and while it was a decent flashlight the size of it made it hard to carry in a pocket. The Olight M10 is small, lightweight, and has a pocket clip that keeps it readily accessible. 

At first I didn't carry a flashlight because my phone has one, however as I have read and studied more on self defense I realized that my phone would really only be useful to make an emergency call. Having a pocket flashlight that has a very bright light comes in handy in many different situations, from finding something I dropped outside, to clearing my house. It is important to have a light that you can trust and I have found the Olight to fit the bill for me.

Outside of work I carry my gun, lately I have switched between the Glock 19 and Glock 42 (which is in a very long review run). The 19 is being carried appendix in an Alpha Concealment Appendix IWB holster which is minimalistic and very comfortable. The 42 currently does not have a Kydex holster, instead it is being run in a DeSantis SofTuk holster while it waits on the PHLster holster that I recently ordered for it. 

When I first began carrying I didn't carry an extra magazine for the 19 because I figured since it holds 15 rounds that would be enough. However that mindset also changed as I studied more on self defense and also took the CFS class, what I have learned taught me that I should carry one or two spare magazines with me for the worst case scenario. Once spare magazines are available for the Glock 42 I will be picking up a few more to carry with me.

Some of the other items that have found their way into my EDC are the Bastion LLC battery back up, iPhone charging cable, and a small kit of bandages plus a few other small medical items. 

One of the biggest reasons I have decided to add the battery back up to my EDC is because my phone tends to drain it's battery about as fast as it charges sometimes. I would have loved it if I had the backup during SHOT Show when I was using my phone to take pictures, post updates, and text/call the people I was trying to meet up with and around noon my fully charged battery was down to 30%. I could only imagine how much it would suck if I was somewhere without phone access and my phone died, leaving me unable to use it in an emergency.

While this is not a comprehensive list of items that should be in an EDC kit, it is a list of the items that I have found to work best for me, and as I explained I have added items as time goes on. The most important thing is to know which items you will personally need, and have trained with. Also never forget that an EDC kit does not replace important things like situational awareness and common sense. While the goal is to be prepared for something bad, it is best to remain aware and keep yourself out of bad situations.

One more very important thing that I have learned, and I know it is something that is stressed over and over. Train with what you carry, wether you are training with your knife, stun gun, pepper spray, or firearm. Your skill is perishable, muscle memory will fade, and familiarity with an item will too. 

I am sure that my EDC will evolve more as time goes on, and I receive more training; but at this point I am comfortable in knowing that the items that I currently carry are items that I could use in a bad situation to give me an advantage and a chance to live.

The Boker Coye Ridgeback

Recently I had the opportunity to pick up a Boker Ridgeback which is a Bill Coye design, this was a blade that has been on my short list for the past year but every time it would be in stock on one of the blade sites it sold out before I could get one. This time www.BladeHQ.com received a shipment in and I was fortunate enough to place an order before the dreaded sold out took the spot of "add to cart".

While this blade isn't a Coye custom it is still true to the Ridgback design and feels just as good in your hand as the real thing. The handle is very well made and while I have heard some people say they would prefer an extra 1/4" to 1/2" in handle length, I personally like the way it sits in my hand and also how well it conceals when in its sheath along my belt line. 

When you open the box from Boker you will find the blade, a Kydex sheath, and a belt "mount" for the sheath. The first thing I suggest to do is get a different Kydex sheath for it, or at the very least add soft loops to it instead of using the mount it comes with. 

The weight and the feel of the blade is awesome, it is very stout for its size while remaining just the right size for utility use and being used as a self defense weapon concealed on you. The G-10 scaled handle is smooth yet offers an awesome amount of gripyness that it won't easily slip out of your hand if it's sweaty. 

The blade is sharp, but it's factory sharp not custom sharp. Which is fine for everyday use but I personally like to have my blades as sharp as possible because they will continue cutting for a longer period before they wear down.

Overall my initial impression after carrying and using this blade for the past week is very positive, it is one that I will continue to keep as my EDC blade and I am looking forward to getting a lot more time with it and putting it to good use.

If you have the opportunity to pick one up when it is in stock I highly suggest you do so, you will not regret it. 

A New Year's Resolution Worth Keeping

A New Year's Resolution Worth Keeping

Coming into 2014, most people made a New Year’s Resolution to “better” themselves for the coming year.  Most of those resolutions are about fitness, clean eating, and healthier life styles. Having worked in the fitness industry for years, I know how many people ACTUALLY stick to those resolutions. Here’s a resolution that most people fail to think of, but should in the forefront of their “New Year/New Me” plans; self-defense.
One of the first things you learn as a woman is that to properly defend your fragile self, from a more able bodied male, you should stick your car keys in between your fingers and attempt to punch/slash at your assailant. This is a pretty flawed method, because it works on the premise that you either have the keys in position BEFORE an attack, or are able to accomplish this goal DURING the attack. Improvised methods of self-defense are great, but this is one that can lead to just as much pain and suffering placed on you, as your attacker.
The first thing you should do is get some type of training under your belt. There are plenty of people out there that are teaching proper techniques on how to defend yourself with guns, knives, pepper spray, and unarmed combatives. In this quick post, I’ll highlight a few items that can be found on my person on a daily basis. All of these items are available for purchase through the company’s websites, and each item I've been lucky enough to take some form of training with. The training aspect is something I can’t stress enough. While plenty of people defend themselves day in and day out without any formal training, I’d rather have some knowledge and practical idea of how to use each item rather than end up as a statistic.

(Phone included for 2 reasons: size comparison for all the other items and in the event of an assault or robbery, you want to be able to call 911 and offer the police and emergency medical services as much information as possible. Items listed clockwise from top right.)

Coye Knives Ridgeback

An amazing, fixed blade self-defense knife. Hand made in Oklahoma, this blade is meant to be carried along the belt line. It’s small enough to be discreet, but larger enough to get a full one handed grip, and is SUPER sharp.

 (www.coyeknives.com)

Spyderco Delica 

Smaller, folding knife. Spyderco makes one of my favorite folding knives for self-defense. They’re relatively inexpensive, rugged, and fit nicely in your pocket. They can be deployed easily, and training blades are readily available.

 (www.spyderco.com)

ASP Key Defender

Multipurpose, discreet, handheld defense. Works as a kubotan, impact device, or with the flip of the lock, can deliver 2 Million Scoville Heat Units of police grade pepper spray. Hangs conveniently on your key ring. (www.asp-usa.com)

CRKT Minimalist

Another, small fixed blade knife. Much smaller than the aforementioned Ridgeback, but also more discreet due to it’s size. Can be adapted to hang from a lanyard around your neck, or also ride on your belt line. Small, and sharp, great for hot weather carry. 

(www.crkt.com)

Smith & Wesson Tactical Pen

Light weight and discreet. This pen can be used as a striking implement or as a writing tool. Convenient pocket clip and comes in a variety of colors.

 (www.smith-wesson.com)

De-Cap-A-Turtle
Small, discreet, hand held device. Works as an impact device with a semi sharpened face for striking anf cutting. Also works to open beer bottles in a pinch.


All of the items listed above take time and practice, both to learn how to use, and to carry. When you’re carrying something on your body every day that you’re not used to, it takes a while before you “forget it’s there”. I fidgeted with these items for some time before finding the sweet spot. Now I can’t imagine going out of the house without at least one on my person. One of the items I didn't list is the firearm I carry. Firearms take a lot more getting used to, and require more confidence to carry. I will cover that in a later article though. If you stay true to one resolution this year, it should be to take self-defense seriously. We are responsible for our own safety, as well as the safety of our loved ones.