Unfortunately, we live in an era where some groups who claim to be warriors for tolerance and justice show their true colors by being intolerant toward anyone who isn’t completely accepting of their rhetoric and actions. You might just be enjoying a dinner out with friends and, without provocation, you’re confronted by a crowd of angry activists demanding you immediately show your allegiance to their cause. If you refuse, you may be verbally accosted or attacked. It seems that the notion of agreeing to disagree is lost on many, and their insistence on forced ideological compliance through violence reveals what lengths they’ll go to in order to push their agenda. The problem with an angry mob is that until it calms down, cooler heads cannot prevail. 

We often see this on the news and quickly go back to eating our dinner, while thinking to ourselves I’m glad that’s not happening where I am. But what if it was right at your front door? It’s nearly impossible to reason with an angry mob that’s intent on acting as your judge, jury, and — in the worst-case scenario — executioner. If a group of protestors hell-bent on making their point at the expense of the safety and property of others came to your neighborhood, are you prepared to deal with it?

Mark and Patricia McCloskey in St. Louis clearly felt the intruders who broke into their gated community were hostile and put their lives in jeopardy. Their decision to demonstrate they were armed to discourage any threats to their home and safety has now culminated in a cascade of legal troubles that are far from over. Given the reality that brandishing firearms could result in felony charges even when you feel threatened, we asked law enforcement officer Chad McBroom and attorney Jason Squires to weigh in with their expertise on what they would do if confronted with a similar situation.

The Scenario:

The Setup: Protests by activist groups and random provocateurs are being seen all over the country in response to an increasingly contentious political climate. While many have remained peaceful, some have escalated into full-on riots, looting, and assaults on average passersby who were in the wrong place at the wrong time or just trying to protect their businesses or homes. You live in a safe, upper middle-class neighborhood on a cul-de-sac in a Seattle suburb. Your two-story house has a decent-sized front yard, a two-car garage, and gated side-yard entrance.

Your home isn’t dangerously close to any of the recent civil unrest concentrated primarily in the metro area. However, the recent trend has been for many of these protests to fan further and further out toward neighborhoods on the outskirts of downtown, both open and gated, to accost residents. When you return home from work on a Friday evening to your 10-year-old daughter and pregnant wife, you again hear on the radio that protestors are moving through the streets, but this time they’re reported to be within a few blocks of your home.

The Complication: Within half an hour of your arrival at home, you begin hearing commotion outside. A crowd has formed and begins hurling bottles, rocks, and other debris at the homes. Since you’re in a cul-de-sac, it’s hard to determine if they’ll remain there or keep moving after they feel they’ve made their point. Most of the crowd is masked; some are wielding blunt-force weapons such as baseball bats, and you think at least a few might be carrying firearms as well. Since it’s getting dark, it’s too difficult to determine what other weapons they have.

Your neighbor across the street, a retired police officer, comes out of his house while leaving the door open and his wife in the doorway. He begins shouting at the crowd to disperse and leave the area. You can tell he isn’t armed. As he approaches the protestors at the edge of his yard, he takes a sudden punch to the jaw and falls to the ground limp. Some of the other protestors charge the house and push his wife inside. Many in the crowd cheer, but you feel your heart sink into your stomach.

Could this escalate to other home invasions, including yours, and require lethal force? You frantically call 9-1-1 and explain the situation, but due to civil unrest in other parts of the city going on simultaneously, the dispatcher cannot give you any assurances on how quickly law enforcement may arrive. For now, you’re on your own. What do you do?

Combatives Expert Chad McBroom’s Approach to an Angry Mob

Preparation

When people who are driven by a social or political agenda become violent, they’ll typically focus their rage against those they believe to be supporters of the injustices they’re rallied against. Keeping my home sterile of any political campaign signs that might make my home a target for those with dissenting views would be my first point of preparation. An angry mob will be looking for targets to unleash on. Likewise, the vehicles associated with my home need to be as sterile as possible. Many of us are proud of our family and our beliefs and like to display that pride to the world around us, but that can make us vulnerable. A stick figure family says how many people and pets live in the house. An NRA sticker says you likely have firearms in your home. An honor sticker says where your kids go to school. A parking permit in the window says where you work. These are things that not only give away personal information, but may even make us targets.

Disinformation can be an effective tool as well. If I knew a crowd was heading my direction, I’d consider displaying messages that’d be considered supportive of the cause in hopes the mob might decide to avoid harassing someone they think is a sympathizer. I’ve seen this tactic successfully used to an extent by local businesses trying keep their storefronts from being destroyed by rioters. [Editor’s Note: We saw this very thing happen in the Minneapolis Riots, Read HERE.]

To the extent possible, I’d keep all vehicles inside the garage to not only limit the potential for property damage, but also to shield them from the angry mob and make them accessible to me and my family should we need to evacuate. With the random protests that have been taking place, I’d keep all vehicles topped off with fuel and park them facing outward to make a quick exit more feasible.

Since protests and riots have been random and without a logical pattern, I’d find it necessary to keep extra nonperishable goods stocked in the pantry should scarcity set in due to restricted movement or property damage. This would also ensure that we have plenty of food should we need to shelter in place for an extended period.

I’d have a bug-out bag readily accessible should we need to hit the road. The items I’d include in the bag would be three MREs, several bottles of water, an SBR or rifle-caliber pistol, extra magazines with ammunition, trauma kit, a lighter, solar power pack and cell phone charger, two flashlights, chemlights, four space blankets, a few energy bars, lockpick kit, 550 cord, and duct tape.

Knowing that anarchist types like playing with fire, I’d have two fully charged fire extinguishers inside the home, one upstairs and one downstairs. I’d also remove any fabric window dressing that could easily catch fire should pyrotechnics be thrown through my windows.

From a legal standpoint, I’d make sure I was up to speed on the state and local laws governing the use of deadly force, especially as it relates to home intruders and the protection of property. I’d also make a call to my home insurance provider to make sure my coverage was up to date to cover any newly acquired assets since my last policy review.

On Site

With an angry mob already formed and displaying violent behavior outside my home, I wouldn’t attempt to flee via vehicle. Being situated in a cul-de-sac places us in a situation where the crowd has nowhere to advance but toward us. Attempting to leave in a vehicle would only place my family out in the open where we’d likely be trapped in the middle of the mob with nowhere to run.

My first course of action would be to turn off all the lights inside the house and get everyone away from the windows and positioned toward the interior of the house. Having the inside dark may convince the protestors that no one is home to harass. It also makes it difficult for outsiders to see inside, while the exterior lights and streetlights make it easier for me to see what’s going on outside.

Next, call 9-1-1 to notify the authorities and keep them on the phone to produce a detailed audio record of the events. Hearing the genuine fear in the voice of the caller and chaos of the situation might be just what a jury needs to rule in your favor should your actions be tried in court.

I’d then arm my wife with a shotgun and a sidearm and grab my own pistol, AR-15 rifle, and plate carrier I keep in the bedroom closet. With my wife protecting the kids, I’d take up a defensive position at one of the upstairs windows where I could observe the crowd as well as my neighbor’s house.

I’d also set up a camera to record as much as possible to protect myself legally and maybe help send some of these bastards that just assaulted my neighbor to prison. The security camera I have located at the front of my house will record action from the ground level.

As the situation progresses and the possibility of facing a home invasion increases, I’d have my wife and kids fortify the front door by placing our large kitchen table behind it. While it won’t stop a crowd this size from gaining entry, it’ll slow them down and give us time to respond.

In addition to the possibility of a home invasion, the other major threats are fire and gunfire from outside. With the doors and windows creating choke points that make an invading angry mob easier to deal with, these two threats might pose the greatest dangers. Keeping the family away from exterior walls and windows will enhance their safety. I’d also instruct them to stay low to the ground and place hard furniture like wooden desks between them and the walls to add a layer of ballistic protection.

While we continue to enhance our defenses, I’ll have my wife get on the phone and try to contact some friends or family who are relatively close-by to begin forming an evacuation plan should we decide to flee the crowd on foot. Monitoring local news broadcasts may give us an aerial view of the situation that can help us determine the best escape route. Barring any known obstructions, our most likely escape route will initially be over the back wall through to the next street.

Crisis

As I observe the crowd, I’m looking for nonverbal cues that’ll indicate an imminent attack. I’m looking for instigators to display gestures indicating direction. Pointing toward individuals can communicate specific instructions being given. Pointing or gesturing toward my house or a neighbor’s house can communicate the objective of actions being directed.

The Washington Criminal Code says homicide is justifiable when committed either: (1) “In the lawful defense of the slayer, or his or her husband, wife, parent, child, brother, or sister, or of any other person in his or her presence or company, when there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design on the part of the person slain to commit a felony or to do some great personal injury to the slayer or to any such person, and there is imminent danger of such design being accomplished;” or “(2) In the actual resistance of an attempt to commit a felony upon the slayer, in his or her presence, or upon or in a dwelling, or other place of abode, in which he or she is.” Furthermore, the law states, “there is no duty to retreat when a person is assaulted in a place where he or she has a right to be.”

Dealing with a large and potentially violent angry mob of protesters can be a touchy subject when it comes to the legal ramifications. While the sheer numbers can be intimidating, setting foot on your property only constitutes a misdemeanor trespassing violation. There must be reasonable grounds to believe there’s an imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death before deadly force can be legally justified.

Given the fact that I just witnessed members of the crowd physically assault my neighbor and force their way into their home with his wife, I have an articulable reason to believe that the members of the crowd approaching my own home have the same intentions. I haven’t seen the neighbor’s wife run out of the house since the crowd forced their way inside, which suggests she may have been brutally assaulted or is being held captive by the intruders.

My plan at this point is simple. With our ability to retreat being non-existent, our safest course of action is to hole up inside the house and address whatever threat presents itself. We’re now under the threat of serious bodily harm or death, so I tell my wife to let loose some 00 buckshot on anyone who forces their way through the front door.

While continuing to occupy my high ground position from the upstairs window, I’m looking to address any imminent threat against my family. If I see a gun or pyro device directed toward my home, I will use deadly force. Hopefully, the mob will decide to move their party elsewhere, but hope isn’t a strategy.

Attorney Jason Squires’ Approach to an Angry Mob

Preparation

Every household should have basic supplies for any disruption in service. What is service? This can be a disruption in power, water, or essential governmental services like police and/or fire department. In my home, I keep three weeks of food and water as a basic level of preparation. Stop and think how much water a family of four requires for three weeks of survival. The answer: a lot. Water is approximately eight pounds per gallon and a family of four can easily use five gallons every other day. That’s a 55-gallon drum of water, and very few people have such a cache in their home.

Second, I always have three weeks of food. I find that food is easier because Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) are a fantastic source of emergency calories. Remember, each person will use, at a minimum, one bag a day. That’s a case every three days (12 meals per case with a family of four). That amounts to seven cases of MREs, which are more sensitive than people commonly understand. The average military MRE has a shelf life of three years. That shelf life can be extended to five or more if the MREs are kept in a temperature-sensitive environment.

I’ll add that in a hostile political environment, items like fire suppression are also key to protecting you and yours. I place fire suppression as an essential part of preparation. If an angry mob appears, fire is a very significant danger. As such, I have a multitude of fire-suppression tools like extinguishers (one for every room), fire blankets, and masks for smoke. At this stage your supply cache is getting quite immense — 55 gallons of water, seven cases of MREs, fire extinguishers, and other resources have nearly filled one room of an average house. This is a must for any “shelter-in-place” crisis. In addition, each family member requires clothing to deal with temperature and precipitation. I’d add that sturdy footwear is critical. I wouldn’t want my daughter running in her flip-flops. 

As far as firearms, I have the usual assortment of AR-15s, tactical shotguns, and pistols. I have completed enough formal training to declare myself competent in their use and operation. Notice I didn’t say that I show up at a range once a year and shoot a paper target 25 meters away and call it “good.” I’ve spent the time and money to learn under some of the best instructors in the industry. A person doesn’t need to chase a Tier One operator around to obtain such proficiency, but a structured tactical class with a competent and highly regarded instructor is a must. Remember the three “T’s” of survival: training, training, and training.

When discussing preparation for home defense against an angry mob, I take things to another level. I have security cameras around the property and flood lighting. Yet, these items are a must even without a calamity.

Next step, I equip my home with security gates at every entrance. These are iron gates secured with a deadbolt lock that provides an added layer of protection. In times of domestic turbulence, a strong door is a must. I’d also add that political signage can be a target for people who disagree with you. Normally, this can result in a neighbor upset at your political point of view. However, in an angry mob situation, a party or candidate sign can make you a target. I have security screens on each window. I have a sturdy vehicle, always a four-wheel-drive, to provide a quick exit if the situation necessitates a speedy departure.

Lastly, for preparation, I have a $5 million personal liability umbrella (PLUP). A PLUP is a very inexpensive insurance policy that instantly adds $5 million to home and auto policies. At around $200 per year, a PLUP can significantly protect from civil lawsuits. Check the policy for any exclusions for Intentional Acts. Do not purchase a policy that doesn’t protect you from a use-of-force situation.

Crisis

Before anything else, remember the old idiom: “Discretion is the better part of valor.” It’s one of a million such quotable notables that Americans are fed on a daily basis, but regarding an angry mob, this one is key. Simply put, thinking logically and avoiding trouble is the most effective weapon in any crisis. Use your brain. If something looks bad, move. Leave. Get to a safe location before trouble starts. 

It’s Friday night in Seattle, and you come home to your lovely, pregnant wife and 10-year-old daughter. This isn’t exactly a crack “fire-team.” Soon after you arrive, trouble starts.

You hear loud noises and something like a megaphone. There are chants and screaming, and it’s getting louder. This problem is coming to you. You must act. What can I do to protect myself and my family? There’s nothing more important than protecting you and yours. Your neighbors are secondary considerations, let’s be honest. Do what you can to assist, but you and yours must come first.

Your retired law enforcement neighbor decides to confront the protestors. Why? In all of known history, does the mob disperse at one man’s presence? No, of course not. The angry mob attacks the single man, hitting him about the head. Can you assist? No, not legally. Some jurisdictions allow you to defend someone else (third-party defense) under certain circumstances. But, the prudent thing is to call 9-1-1 and secure your home rather than stumbling into the fray alone.

If there’s a lull, you can break cover and run to assist your retired neighbor. But, absolutely do not run to confront the angry mob with a firearm — this poses a risk of serious legal exposure. Aggravated assault is generally defined as “the intentional or reckless placing of another person in a reasonable apprehension of an imminent deadly attack upon their person.” Does pointing a weapon at a rioter constitute an aggravated assault? Yes. And, in some jurisdictions you may be charged with a prison mandatory offense. People hate to hear that legal protections are so fragile. But this is the reality in our current legislative environment.

There are currently no known protections for mob actions. Each individual in the angry mob is given their own legal protections. You might hear: “I was only filming this for social media when he pointed a gun at me!” We as defenders see the mob as its own entity. Each rioter is a tentacle of the same monster. However, the law does not share our view. Each person must be using or threatening deadly force at you to even potentially justify an armed response. So, keep all of this in mind before leaving your home with a weapon. As a defense attorney for 21 years, I fear a politically motivated prosecution more than any angry mob.

Your Home vs the Angry Mob

This is where the analysis takes a different turn. No matter what, you should protect yourself and your family from any harm. An angry mob throwing incendiary bombs at your house is a completely different analysis than your neighbor suffering a beating. When, and if, a mob is attempting to enter a home, residents within are almost commanded to protect themselves and their family. Remember, the closer the assault to where you lay your head on a pillow, generally, the more legal protections you’ll have in a self-defense situation. Please know that confronting an angry mob with an exposed firearm in front of your house will likely result in you being charged with a crime. However, repelling a deadly attack inside your home is a completely different situation that wouldn’t likely result in prosecution.

I’d have fire suppression gear staged everywhere and repel an attack with my fortifications like iron gates, deadbolt locks, or sandbags against walls. Currently, Amazon sells 1,000 sandbags for $299. To avoid criminal prosecution, one must call for help. Call 9-1-1 multiple times if necessary. There’ll be an electronic record even if help doesn’t arrive. Express fear knowing the 9-1-1 calls are recorded. It’s not the time to appear stoic. Ingress into your yard and incursion into your home are different things. Protecting your tool shed isn’t the same as protecting your pregnant wife or 10-year-old daughter. Rely upon your defenses when protecting property. Rely upon heavy, sturdy gates and locks. Your security cameras will record the calamity on the property, and your insurance can replace it afterward.

Most jurisdictions don’t allow the defense of property the same as the defense of the interior of the home. When it comes to the family, protect them, but be smart. Use the minimal force necessary to protect yourself. I handle cases where people use the “threat display” — Go away! I have a gun and I’m in my front yard! Why would someone do this? Avoid the angry mob as best you can, and hope the police show up. This sounds cowardly to many, but there aren’t currently many legal justifications/protections outside the home that insulate people from criminal prosecution. We need better legal protections for citizens who defend themselves against mobs, but those protections don’t exist yet.

Conclusion

Circle back to the idiom, “Discretion is the better part of valor.” If there’s trouble in your area, go stay with Uncle Fred until things calm down. Riots are becoming commonplace, regrettably. When possible, protect your family by putting distance between yourselves and any threat. In instances when this is impossible, shelter in place and protect your family with the minimal force necessary to repel any attack inside your residence. Fortify your defenses, stay indoors, don’t confront the angry mob, and you’ll improve your odds of avoiding costly criminal prosecution. Some might call you a coward for avoiding conflict, but it’s better than facing decades in prison at the hands of an activist judge and unsympathetic jury.

Getting trapped at home by an unruly and potentially violent group of politically motivated protestors is one of the most difficult scenarios one might face in today’s era of civil unrest. The volume of people and chaotic nature poses many logistical and use-of-force challenges.

Minimize your target signature and prepare for both immediate evacuation and long-term hold-out. Do everything in your power to avoid a violent confrontation, but if it becomes unavoidable, be ready to fight back efficiently with lethal force.

About the Authors:

Chad McBroom is a 24-year veteran law enforcement officer with most of his time spent in the tactical unit. He’s spent over 30 years studying various combative systems and focuses on the science of close combat. Chad is the owner of Comprehensive Fighting Systems, and offers training in empty-hand tactics, edged weapons, impact weapons, and firearms tactics. He’s also a regular contributor to RECOIL. Check out more at
comprehensivefightingsystems.com.

Jason Squires has been an attorney in Arizona for over 21 years. He has an emphasis on self-defense and firearms cases. During his off-time, he’s an avid three-gun competitor across the country. He’s also a collector of military firearms and vehicles. You can check out his practice at squireslawaz.com.

More Scenarios to Consider:

• What If a Riot Threatens to Destroy Your Business?
• What If We Are Hit By Another Pandemic?
• What If You Are Confronted By Someone Impersonating an Officer?
• What If You Are Assaulted in a Parking Structure?
• What If You’re in a Hostage Situation?
• What If You Stumble on a Potentional Home Burglary?

The post What If Your Neighborhood is Attacked by an Angry Mob? appeared first on RECOIL OFFGRID.

There you are, in the team room with the unit. As the new guy, you stand, while others sit. You wait for your team leader to give you instructions. Keeping to yourself, you read your Ranger Handbook for the 12th time since you stood on that parade field receiving the honorable Tan Beret only weeks ago. You hear the clang of metal, as the team leader opens the squad locker, and you see him pulling at a knot of 550 cord, or paracord, and murmur not so gently under his breath. You feel your spine straighten as he turns toward you. He throws the massive entanglement at you. “New Guy, fix this Rat’s Nest.” Today will be a good day, at least you won’t be in danger of looking like you’re doing nothing. For those not looking to re-live the unknotting process, take a look at Quikcord.

Call it paracord, call it 550 cord, anyone who’s had to deal with a rat’s nest, a gigantic knotted mess of the extremely useful material will know what we’re talking about. For those who use 550 cord for professional use or those who consider it a necessary component of any survivalist’s loadout, the one thing that it doesn’t do well is stay untangled. Amidst an emergency, where seconds count, is not the time to discover the 550 cord you were going to use has become a ball of cable that will take no less than 20 minutes to make useable. Inspired by stories like the one above, QUIKCORD has a solution to this problem, and the veteran-owned company is looking to solve a problem that grows as 550 cord continues to ball itself up when no one is looking.

What is QUIKCORD?

In the world that we live in, a knotted ball of 550 cord shouldn’t demand too much attention. There are bigger threats to face, and bigger issues to solve. Any distraction from the mission, however, costs valuable attention. The simplicity of QUIKCORD, then, defines its value. QUIKCORD serves as an all-in-one paracord container, with added utility. One side captures a chem-light/glow stick for emergency signaling, and the other has a small blade built-in for cutting the cord. From both the top and bottom, paracord can be pulled out, snag-free. About the size of a Red Bull can, and made of a molded plastic, the QUIKCORD can fit in pockets, pouches, or a pack, and there it does what it should: go unnoticed until it is needed.

Above: The build in razor takes the hassle out of using 550 cord for small, quick repairs. 

It is easy to consider the military uses for QUIKCORD, and that comes naturally as the product was designed by a veteran. On its face, it looks obvious: a simple device to solve a simple problem. But that’s where the easy part of it ends. What does a review look like? What are the features to evaluate? What should it be compared to?

Above: Though the QUIKCORD doesn’t really belong on a plate carrier, it fits well in a medium sized pouch. 

Compared to What?

The novelty of QUIKCORD gives it an advantage. There’s nothing quite like it in the market. For years, 550 cord has been carried in pockets, baggies, and pouches, so why something new? QUIKCORD is easy to use: it has a place to “capture” the loose end, and the protected blade means less time pulling out a fancy pocket knife, assuming one is carried. The chem light attached can be used as an emergency signal by letting out a few feet of the remaining paracord, and spinning the light like a helicopter blade above one’s head. It’s not a complicated tool, but it works.

Depending on how much 550 cord someone is trying to pack will heavily influence the use of a QUIKCORD carrier. The container will hold about 35 yards of 550 cord, but with practice packing it, a little more can fit in. This roughly takes up the same amount of space if an equal amount of paracord were put into a zippable bag with a chem light as well, so there’s very little added bulk. That doesn’t mean it’s soft and packs flat though.

Materials and Craftsmanship

Confident in its identity, QUIKCORD balances weight, strength, and cost-efficiency. Neither Bomb-proof nor disposable, the price tag communicates a set-it-and-forget-it level of use, that won’t make you wince if you have to replace it. That being the case, we wouldn’t recommend using it as an impromptu hacky-sack.

To test the durability, we did what is expected in this industry: we threw it down a cement path, and then repeated the process after chilling the plastic in a freezer for a few hours. The scuffs added up over time but it never cracked thanks to the plastic used. The lid would occasionally disconnect itself, spilling 550 cord all across the pavement, but resucure each time it was put back together.

Unorthodox Uses

Storage space and weight rightly stand as the lead concerns when setting up a motorcycle, bicycle, or dirt bike for long-distance overlanding. Be it across highway or dirt, the precious space inside saddlebags and panniers cannot be wasted, and as ounces equal pounds, so do cubic inches add up quickly. With a little ingenuity and some awareness of both airflow, and which areas are protected on a motorcycle, a QUIKCORD canister can easily be secured to the frame, handlebars, or exterior of a pannier, thus saving space and keeping the 550 cord available.

When doing this, however, we heavily recommend using a secondary method to contain the loose ends. With the wind constantly tugging at the exposed cord, and the likelihood of branches snagging on it when riding off-road, the last thing one would want is to risk serious injury and destroy their vehicle by 550 cord getting wrapped around the rear tire.

QUIKCORD Conclusion

Does it work? Yes. Does it solve all the worlds problems? No. Is it something everyone should have? Maybe. For those in the military, it has it’s uses, but will not replace the need for, say, 50 yards of 550 cord for Ranger School. At the same time, the new product has yet to grow into all of its uses, and the overlanding community will likely find it very useful. The best part of the QUIKCORD, however, is in its nature as an inventive piece of kit: after a short while of use, it will like go unnoticed, until it gets misplaced, and then the convenience of it will make its point loud and clear.

We’d like to see a few changes, however, some of them which could be solved by a little DIY. A form of Grip Tape on the outside of the cannister would help in cold or damn environments. Other than that, more ways secure it to a frame, bar, or webbing would be just the right thing for future use.

UPDATE and Ordering

If you’re interested in pickup up a Quikcord, head to their website and use code OFFGRIDFAM for free shipping.

URL: www.quikcord.com

More Gear Reviews from OFFGRID

• O2 Tactical TR2 Tactical Respirator: Protect Your Lungs.
• Phone Cases, Axes, and Knives! New Survival Gear for January 2021.
• What makes the Best AK for Prepared Citizens?

The post QUIKCORD 550 Cord EDC appeared first on RECOIL OFFGRID.

As someone who has spent countless hours in the Great Outdoors and served in the military conducting combat reconnaissance missions, I have come across my fair share of knives.  Eventually, you start to learn that no two knives are created equal and begin to develop a taste for what features in a blade really matter at an individual level.  Experience has taught me that tools the size of a knife can be easily stolen or disappear during a move.  And any tool, despite being looked after with the utmost care, can malfunction or break over time.  Along comes the Terävä Jääkäripuukko, an all-purpose hunting knife from Varusteleka that does not break the bank and does not disappoint!

If you are unfamiliar with the Finnish company Varusteleka, you are missing out on extraordinary gear from a company that takes exceptional pride in their products.  Puukko’s are and have been a part of Finnish culture throughout much of history, and that historical context is the inspiration for the Varusteleka Jääkäripuukko’s creation.  Jääkäri is Finnish for the German word Jaeger, which usually means “elite light infantry,” and Puukko simply means “knife.”  Finland has a long tradition of collaborating with German’s regarding military disciplines, and early in their independence, a group of soldiers went to train with the Germans as Jaegers.  To honor this tradition and the heritage of past warriors, Varusteleka named their puukko as Jääkäri, because it is tradition, that every Finnish soldier carry a puukko, which can be used as a tool or weapon.  Just thinking about the illustrious history and cultural significance of the blade are enough to give one goosebumps and having a knife with such versatility is a feature that cannot be overlooked.

Utility is important to me because I am very much a minimalist.  The gear I carry in the field, regardless of the situation, all have multiple functions.  This is primarily to avoid being overloaded and to make it easier to find what I need as soon as I need it.  The Varusteleka Jääkäripuukko has utility in droves and brushes off a serious beating with nary a scratch. When handling this knife in person for the first time, my initial thought was, “this blade means business!”  The weight feels comfortable, not too heavy as to be cumbersome, and not too light to feel fragile, but an appropriate balance.  Even the edge was impressively sharp right out of the box.  There is a shorter version of the knife from Varusteleka depending on what your personal needs are, but going forward, I will only be discussing the longer design.

Dimensions and Appearance

One first notices the straight back design, making it perfect as a tool used for chopping, slicing and carving.  The traditional puukko birch or bone handle has been replaced by Varusteleka with a durable rubber grip with an unobtrusive finger guard.  This not only allows for non-slip handling in wet or gloved conditions, but it also reduces the need for additional conditioning maintenance that more sensitive materials require.  A lanyard loop protrudes from the butt end of the handle, part of its full tang, and allowing for a multitude of applications.  In face, the width of the blade is such that the lanyard loop could be reliably used to break glass, ice or even bone.

High carbon tool steel gives the blade edge strength to endure a wide variety of cutting tasks without being too brittle.  This steel is surrounded and protected by a slightly softer steel, further enhancing the Varusteleka Jääkäripuukko’s rugged durability.  One remarkable feature of the knife is the beveled spine, exposing an edge of the higher carbon steel in the core, allowing for striking ferro rods and building emergency fires in survival situations.  Even the tough leather sheath is built with substantial sturdiness.  A double fold at the top of the sheath can be fastened with a stud, and a hard-plastic inner liner prevents the blade from damaging the inside.

Varusteleka Ergonomics

There have been moments during my time in the military, or recreationally, when wearing gear was not the most comfortable.  Such has not been the case with the Varusteleka Jääkäripuukko, and the blades wearability can be attributed to its hanging sheath.  Loop it through your belt and the dangling sheath is low enough to be accessible even if you are wearing a jacket or other forms of gear such as a plate carrier or rucksack.  Its flexibility allows the knife to be worn in a vehicle without getting in the way of a seat-belt or jabbing you while you’re sitting in a chair.

Having a rubber handle over the tang has another set of benefits.  This modern twist by Varusteleka over a traditional wood or bone handle improves grip, even in the most slippery of conditions.  In cold or wet conditions, you’ll feel like you have the grasp of a grizzly bear holding on to a salmon in an Alaskan river!

Utility

Probably the most stunning feature of the Varusteleka Jääkäripuukko was how well it performed as a tool.  After admiring is physical attributes, I immediately tested it in the field.  One of the functions a lot of survival knife users want to be able to execute reliably is batoning, which essentially means using a knife as an axe, striking an arm-length stick as a hammer to strike the spine of the blade, forcing it through wood.  Often times this can lead to breaking the blade of inferior quality knife, leading to potential injuries.  What better place to test it out than the frozen hardwood forests of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan?

My jaw almost hit the forest floor when I batoned a forearm thick branch from a fallen tree.  The Varusteleka Jääkäripuukko cut through the wood like a shark cuts through an 80’s surfboard, and with only a handful of strikes, I had a cut and split piece of frozen timber.  Next, I decided to see what its true capabilities were by carving this piece of wood into something useful.  The blade was so sharp, it was able to carve a spoon, the most essential of camping necessities, in less than thirty minutes.  After crafting an eating utensil and a bunch of wood shavings as a result, it was a prime opportunity to try test the beveled spines ability to strike a ferro rod for fire, and it sparked true each time.

Final Thoughts on the Varusteleka Jääkäripuukko

Typically, when the edge of an inferior blade is hammered through frozen wood and used as a carving tool, there is going to be blunting or warping of the metal.  Such was not the case with the Varusteleka Jääkäripuukko.  The blade showed no signs of damage and remained unwrapped by the blunt force of being hammered into a piece of frozen tree limb.  High carbon steel requires a bit more attention when it comes to maintenance, but not much.  Just a little oil to ward the metal from rusting and quick run over something to keep it sharp.  But you would be hard pressed to find such a versatile knife, with this amount of strength and finesse, at such a low cost.

URL: https://www.varusteleka.com/

More on Knives

• Iconic Survival Knives History and Review:
  • Ka-Bar
  • The Bowie Knife
  • Buck 110 Folder
• Gut Hook Knives Comparisons

The post Varusteleka Terävä Jääkäripuukko Review appeared first on RECOIL OFFGRID.

A plate carrier, a modular handgun, and an AR-15 go hand in hand for more than one reason. First of all, they belong in the hands of military, law enforcement, and civilians. Second, each carries a sense of urgency and personal responsibility. Finally, each takes a shape of its own depending on how the owner chooses to set it up. While a plate carrier set up will inherently bear some subjectivity to the wearer, some rules should be followed as well. Here’s how to set up a plate carrier.

Know the Plate Carrier Rules

The fit of the body armor comes first, before pouches are incorporated. The process of continual refinement reflects both on individual users, and those developing new gear. In the past, plate carriers have gone through something of a pattern resembling orthodoxy-reform-new orthodoxy, where a certain setup was considered absolute and gospel, only to be eventually challenged replaced with a new trend. Many of these were highly directed by various military and police standard operating procedures, or SOP’s.

But in the last years, a much broader approach has become mainstream, with more focus on the end user’s performance and a little more room for experimentation. As a result, a short list of rules cannot be broken, but outside that small circle, guidelines, suggestions, and trends shift depending on use. Above all other rules, propper plate carrier fit reigns supreme.

A Level III, Level VI, or Special Threat Plate is designed to stop a specific set of projectiles. By protecting the heart and lungs, it gives the wearer a distinct, but limited advantage in a violent encounter. The body is made up of timers and switches, and the heart and lungs have the shortest timers if damaged, short of the brain and spine. The front plate, then, needs to ride roughly from the center notch of the collar bone and cover down to about the base of rib cage. The rear plate mirrors this, though typically rests a little higher, with the top edge sitting about even with the tops of the shoulder blades.

Above: First Spear Plate Bags with a Crye AVS Harness. Custom assembly. HSGI Tacos, and KAGWERKS Kit, Disco 32 Tactical PTT, to Kenwood Connector on a Baofeng UV5R. 

A properly fit plate carrier keeps the plates secure when running, climbing, moving through buildings, and diving for cover, all while not inhibiting one’s range of motion too much. The shoulder straps should adjust to set height, and the cumberbund to prevent the plates from bouncing when running. Mags, pouches, and plates jostling and bouncing around rapidly wear out the bearer, and pose a risk of injury when climbing. While most of the weight will rest on the shoulders, a slightly tighter cummerbund reduces this pressure.

Propper Plate Carrier Loadout

As a principle, loaded pouches should ride as close to the body as possible. This may sound like a pithy maxim, but it goes unheeded far too often, at the wearer’s expense. The emphasis on minimalism has gone a long way since earlier days, but can be mistaken for trimming the wrong gear. Those buying their own kit have the opportunity afforded by years of development to choose between a variety of equipment manufacturers, mixing and matching where they see fit.

LVL III and IV at LA Police Gear

The four categories of gear worn divide into ammunition, medical supplies, admin, and the ever ambiguous mission-specific equipment. Though lighter gear of the same capability will almost always be preferred, so long as it performs the same or better, this imperative often pits the good against the great.

Ammunition

The 3-wide, single layer mag “shingle” reigns as as the clear de rigueur of our time, with a mag sometimes referred to as the “speed mag” mounted to the cumberbund on the non-dominant arm side. In the last ten years, the trend has pushed some magazines typically carried on the Plate Carrier to the Belt, with many opting to reload off the belt first as habit. As magazines are expended, fresh mags are shifted first to the speed pouch, so that in the event of an emergency reload, the shooter can go straight to their fastest mag.

Above: Belt: Ronin Tactics Senshi Belt, with G-Code Scorpion Caddies, Blue Force Gear Micro Trauma Kit, Unknown Drop Pouch. 

Magazines worn on the front of the carrier should only “double-up” in very rare, specific circumstances. It’s nearly impossible to translate how badly more gear directly turns into an inability to effectively lay prone behind low cover.
Shop PMAGs at Gun Mag Warehouse

Medical

Often personal medical gear gets stowed on the belt, or according to unit SOP’s. If able to choose for yourself where a personal first aid kit will integrate, pick a location accessible by both hands in the event one receives disabling injuries. Outside of the kit, tourniquets should be distributed across the body where they can again be accessed by both hands.

Individual application will vary, but generally speaking at least one tourniquet should be attached to the plate carrier, even when worn in conjunction with a duty belt. This serves as insurance in the event the belt is lost, or one does not have time to put it on. Recently various forms of “danglers” have sought ot accomplish this, while others opt to use a breakable rubber band or shock chord.

Blue Force Gear Micro Trauma Kit atOptics Planet

Admin

Before chest-mounted cellphones were a thing, the top section of a plate carrier was typically kept slick or an admin pouch with maps, pens, and spare batteries and other miscellaneous items were often placed just above the magazines for easy access. Lately, gear like KAGWERKS or Juggernaut cases have dominated this space, offering users a video-game-like access to information with programs like ATAK.

Above: Toor Knives Vandal, fits on Kit and as a Belt Knife. 

Even when using a chest-mounted computer, it is recommended to have a dedicated admin pouch if one is not designated on a uniform. The U.S. Army’s attempt at putting pen holders on their sleeves might have looked like a good choice, but more often than not, “in the field” those pens were broken before use. Dedicating a specific admin pouch on a plate carrier takes one step out of putting on one’s gear, saving time and making it easier to keep stocked up.

Radios have always presented a difficult decision to the bearer. If carried on the front, they could be accessed easier, at the cost of real estate. If carried on the back, a radio would be out of the way but often forcing the wearer to depend on a teammate to access it if a battery needed to be changed out or a frequency was lost. The black magic element of radios is their propensity to attract Murphy’s Law.

Either way, the most common location to integrate a push-to-talk or PTT, which connects a radio to a communications capable headset, has long been the front non-dominant side of a plate carrier, to allow access while keeping a finger on the trigger of a firearm. Attempts have been made to drop it onto to cumberbund, but this has mixed opinions. If carrying two radios, one does not want to have to think about which PTT they are activating while in the middle of a tense situation.

The back of the plate carrier draws the ire of many a zealous minimalist, as it follows the same rule of motorcycle saddlebags and backpacks: if there is free space, something will end up filling it, quickly adding both weight and bulk. A survivalist plate carrier setup, those preparing for a longer operation, or when carrying larger gear, it is possible to opt for a full backpack instead, worn over the plate carrier. If this is the case, once again, less is more. If not carried in the pack, a water bladder can be attached to the back, so long as it is protected by some sort of sleeve or pouch.

Mission Specific Gear

Those in the military or law enforcement should be able to look to their leadership for guidance with mission-specific gear. Allowing for ingenuity should be encouraged, but limited to training scenarios and vetted for some time before potentially seeing combat.

With a plate carrier load-out, the little things have a big impact, such as finding out where gear pinches, or moves. As each piece is added, the bearer should test it for movement and jostle by donning the plate carrier. Like a backpack, heavy equipment stored further from the body only exhausts precious energy, and potentially gives away one’s position by banging against walls, cars, and other objects.

Keeping a small amount of shock or bungee chord on hand can take the extra play out some things that move, and if a thing can fall out on it’s own, expect it to when needed most. Dampen the noise of metal buckles with electrical tape, Ranger Bands, and elastic sleeves. Trim loose ends, and make sure nothing dangles off the belt or back of a carrier. It will inevitably snag, risking injury, exposure, or destroying equipment in the middle of a high-speed airsoft match.

Final Thoughts

Building a plate carrier is a highly personal process, and requires a fair bit of humility to acknowledge just one is doing so. The difficulty with this kind of equipment is much like a permit to carry: we should truly hope that we never have to use it, and a responsible owner will be honest about their capabilities. A weighted vest helps greatly for improving fitness, and things like the Tactical Games have brought a new opportunity landscape to popular firearm competitions. Accessible by all, and physically demanding, Tactical Games Skirmishes make excellent gut checks to ego, and help trim the dead weight off a plate carrier.

Two extremes stand out in regards to plate carrier setup: the hyper orthodox who demands compliance to a rigid SOP without explaining it to his men, and the rogue experimenter who sticks out by challenging the norm, often with no specific problem to solve. Millions of hours of experience from the last near 20 years of war slowly trickle into gear companies, and the change is often slow, tempered by the reality that we’re dealing with serious life-saving equipment.

More on Plate Carriers, Bulletproof Vests, and Body Armor

• Front Toward Enemy: Survival Plate Carriers and Chest Rigs.
• Plate Carrier Setup: Upgrading the Tyr Tactical PICO-DS.
• Devcore Plate Carrier in a Backpack.

The post How To Set Up A Plate Carrier appeared first on RECOIL OFFGRID.