Smooth Moves: The Full Spectrum Warrior Combat Mobility System

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A lot of time is spent, in various forums and professional social settings, discussing when one should move with a firearm. But it seems not a ton of time is spent on discussing how to move with one. Sure, you hear things like “explosive movement off the X,” which roughly translates into “go fast in any direction.” This is one thing we feel the martial arts community does better than the firearms community — good martial arts instructors will explain everything in terms of leverage, force application, and body mechanics. Much of what we accept as conventional wisdom in the shooting world is anecdotal, or at least passed down anecdotally and accepted based on the pedigree of the source.

About Full Spectrum Warrior

Occasionally, you’ll come across trainers who are both skilled in firearms and possess a deep background in martial arts and/or strength training. Enter Full Spectrum Warrior, founded by former Navy SEAL Rich Graham. He offers a number of training courses in both firearms and combatives topics, but one of his flagship curricula is the Combat Mobility System. Coauthored with strength coach and martial arts trainer Greg Mihovich (read more about his unique story in RECOIL OFFGRID Issue 49), the Combat Mobility System approaches movement and body positioning from a kinesiological perspective, offering some unique methods of movement and positioning.

Last year, I had the chance to visit Full Spectrum Warrior and spend several days with both Rich and Greg reviewing the Combat Mobility methodology. It’d be impossible to capture the entirety of their three-day program in a single article, but I wanted to highlight a couple of the lessons I learned while working with FSW to learn the details of their Combat Mobility System.

Body Positioning

Above: Stability is key to shooting quickly and accurately in awkward positions. Actively engaging the feet and knees in “urban prone” with a pistol creates additional control for more effective shooting. 

Our review of the Combat Mobility System started with an in-depth discussion on various body positions. “Stance” is one of the seven fundamentals of marksmanship as taught by the military, and for good reason. If you think of your body as a platform or chassis that the gun is dropped into, having a mechanically sound body position is part of what enables you to make consistent hits and effectively manage recoil. Regardless of whether you’re standing, crouching, kneeling, or prone/supine, building a body position that’s stable and sustainable — in other words, you’re not fighting your own body to hold the position — is important for successful marksmanship.

We reviewed everything from baseline upright stance to sitting, kneeling, crouching, prone, urban prone, and supine, with an examination and discussion of how to engage your body in the shooting process. When shooting a pistol from the urban prone, Mihovich demonstrates bracing your forearms or elbows against the inside of your legs and hooking your feet together. This method, as opposed to simply laying on your side and extending your arms out, creates three additional points of contact (each arm against each leg, and feet locked) and allows you to engage your larger leg and pelvic muscles to help stabilize the pistol.

Above: Bracing off cover also contributes to stability while shooting and can provide a physical index for properly mounting barriers or obstacles.

Above: This image shows the shooter's minimal exposure to target in the position shown in the previous image. 

In the context of combative or defensive shooting, it’s also important to give yourself the most stable platform possible while minimizing how much of your own body you expose to potential incoming or return fire. If possible, use cover or concealment barriers to create additional points of contact, and keep your body compact to minimize exposure. If it’s not possible to use a stable object or barrier, maximize the number of body-to-ground and body-to-body contact points to create stability.

This point also factors heavily into how you change positions. The best example I saw in class was moving from standing to prone. When I was still on active duty, I was instructed that the best way to transition from standing to prone was to “get as low as you can and kick your back legs out behind you to drop into the prone.” Like much misguided military instruction, this lesson was punctuated with the tough-guy cop-out “if it hurts, you’re doing it right!”

Above: Seated positions are inherently stable and can be adjusted to minimize how much of a target you present.

Fortunately, Full Spectrum Warrior has developed a more methodical approach. Instead of dropping all your mass down in the dirt in one uncomfortable, unsmooth, painful burst of motion, simply collapse your body’s natural anchor points into the ground from the feet up. First a knee, then a hip, then torso and upper triceps, then simply roll onto your elbows. Not only is this a safer, less injurious way to switch positions but if the situation changes rapidly, you could, theoretically, “pause” on any of those major anchor points (knee, hip, abdomen, triceps) to return fire or even just reassess the situation.

In the following sequence, Graham demonstrates his method for transition to prone, meant to reduce impact on the joints from dropping straight down:

Scanning

Alternately labeled as vital to maintaining situational awareness and absurd range theatrics, post-shoot scanning has been a long-time staple of defensive shooting instruction. I’ll leave the discussion about its viability for another time, but the Combat Mobility System does include it, and includes it in a way I’d not seen before. Most of the scans I’ve seen in the past focused on either simply turning your head to look left and right or, at most, twisting at the waist (with or without moving the gun, depending on who you talk to you) in order to turn your upper body 180 degrees to see behind you.

The CMS version goes, literally, a step further and focuses on moving the entire body from the feet up in a series of 90-degree facing movements. This solves a disconnect between the oft-touted maxim of “360-degree battlespace” and then simply pivoting your head left-right to scan your environment. Moving the entire body a quarter-turn at a time means that you always land in a full fighting/shooting stance, more able to react to unknown sudden-presentation threats.

The following sequence demonstrates the FSW strike-through drill, which drills using the pistol as an impact weapon to create space before shooting:

Graham and Mihovich encapsulated this concept in a drill involving a pivot-based scan that put you face-to-face with a wooden beam held at striking distance. The full-body step-pivot scan turns you into the beam, albeit in a full flush-to-target fighting stance. From this position, you can muzzle strike the beam out of your line-of-sight to engage a target further down range. In the photo sequences here, you see Mihovich demonstrate the drill from a 90-degree scan/pivot, while Graham does it at the end of a complete 180-degree turn. In the latter, you can see he faces each direction in a fully grounded combative stance.

The footwork took me a few reps to pick up, without just spinning around in a circle — a testament to my lack of athletic grace, more than anything else. But Graham broke the footwork down step-by-step after drawing an X in the sand and demonstrating the individual contact points for each foot. It’s laid out here for a 180-degree turn but can be followed through for a complete 360 scan.

The method pictured below breaks a 180-degree turn down into two 90-degree turns, meant to preserve the fighting/shooting stance throughout the turn in the event of unanticipated threats:

Here's a footwork demonstration of the 180-degree turn technique:

Movement and Corners

With more and more conflict occurring in heavily urbanized areas, and structure clearance becoming more accepted as a part of citizen self-defense, movement and cornering have grown in popularity as topics of interest not just for armed professionals but for prepared citizens as well.

Movement drills in large pistol or carbine classes are typically restricted by a combination of range facility limitations (physical or administrative) and student safety in a group environment. What I see most often is isolation of either forward/rearward movement (walking straight up-range or down-range) and lateral movement, which typically focuses on a sideways shuffle step that brings the ankles together, then spreads them apart. Regardless, the principles of shooting while moving, and moving before or after shooting, are valuable ones to understand.

Above: In this demonstration, the upper body traverses toward a target while the hips and legs remain oriented in the direction of travel.

The Combat Mobility System doesn’t isolate movement drills based on direction. In fact, it uses drills that incorporate all directions of motion, including diagonal and even weaving around obstacles, while maintaining weapon orientation toward the target. This is preceded by a block of instruction on muzzle awareness and ready positions to ensure the student can move safely through mixed environments that include friendlies or bystanders. However, I’m going to focus on the mechanics of movement itself.

The previously discussed legacy techniques to teach movement all focus on keeping the entire body oriented toward the target. The CMS method stresses turning the lower body in the direction of motion, pivoting at the hips to change direction as naturally happens when moving unarmed, while independently turning the upper body toward the target. This creates steady, fluid movement and allows smooth flow around obstacles.

Above: Pieing or panning a corner by shifting weight on the legs or stretching the torso.

Once you introduce movement, in the context of moving through or around structures, you’re almost immediately presented the challenge of corners. Problem-solving corners is, arguably, the fundamental building block of CQB. One of the primary concerns about getting around a corner is balancing the need to get your muzzle and eyeball past the corner without over-exposing the rest of your body and presenting an easy target for potential threats. Because of this, body positioning and movement technique is incredibly important. The most common way I’ve seen this done is by planting the feet and then leaning out by extending the legs or torso just enough to get that muzzle/eyeball line past the corner.

Above: Hinging around a corner by compressing the stance and bending at the hips.

While this method is taught in the Combat Mobility System, Graham and Mihovich also propose an alternate method for getting your body past a corner, which they refer to as hinging. Instead of lengthening the legs or torso to move your body, hinging uses a bending motion with the hips and core. Graham explains that, executed properly, the movement should mimic that of a dead lift. Just as in a dead lift, hinging engages some of the strongest muscle groups in the hips and core to support the weight of the gun and supporting gear — armor, load-bearing equipment, etc.

Using a long plank or PVC pipe gives a visual representation of your bore line in relation to a corner or obstacle:

The instructors drove the importance of fine-tuning body position with a drill that uses a length of PVC pipe (thin wood beams, planks, or dowels are acceptable substitutes). The idea is to hold the pipe as you would hold a gun, thus offering an extended “line of sight” for your barrel and eye. Bracing the middle of the pipe on the corner itself allows you to fine-tune your movement — whether you lean or hinge — to get your muzzle past the corner without over-exposing the rest of your body. We found this drill particularly useful for creating a tangible, visual representation of your body position and sight line in relation to the corner itself.

Conclusion

At the end of my time with Full Spectrum Warrior, I came away with a better appreciation for how the human body moves and some new variations on shooting techniques I thought I’d figured out years ago. If you’re unable to make the trip to central Florida to train with FSW in person, they also offer the entire Combat Mobility curriculum as an “online university” you can subscribe to. Their extensive series of videos breaks the whole system down by individual topic, allowing you to study and rehearse the movements at your own pace in the comfort of your own home.
Either way, we suggest checking out Full Spectrum Warrior in person or online and opening your mind to new possibilities of armed movement with their Combat Mobility System.

Full Spectrum Warrior > www.fullspectrumwarriors.com

Pocket Preps: Brass Knuckles / Knucks

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Call them what you want — brass knuckles, knucks, knuckle dusters, brass paper weights, and so on. You know what they are when you see them. They make for a small, easily concealable close-quarters impact weapon, particularly the ones we’re going to look at. Commonly and incorrectly, they’re often portrayed as the weapons of thugs or bad guys or someone who doesn’t fight fair. At one time, knuckles were commonly found in general stores and department stores. Buying a set and carrying them was about as commonplace as a pocket knife.

Abraham Lincoln’s bodyguard was known to carry a set. Many more went off to war with our soldiers, sailors, and Marines well into the 20th century. Yet, that’s when we saw a change. During the moral panic concerning switchblade knives in the 1960s, knuckles were thrown into this category, too. You’ll see no news reports from that time about people going on rampages with a set of knuckles, pummeling anyone who got in their way, yet they were unjustly lumped into a category of deadly weapons.

As a result, most collectors and manufacturers went underground. All you need to do is leaf through a copy of David Grant’s History of Knuckle Dusters, published in 2007, and see most of the manufacturers and collectors listed as “anonymous.” Fortunately, many states have gradually reworked their weapon laws to decriminalize switchblades and other knives. Brass knuckles are often removed from the statutes, too, so they aren’t as illegal in the United States as they used to be.

They make fine paperweights, some have additional tools built into them, and they can act as a discreet force multiplier if you need to defend yourself. As with anything else, check your state and local laws before you start carrying a set.

Bawidamann Dough Boy DB-1 Brass Knuckles

OAL:
2.5 inches

Width:
1.5 inches

Material:
Brass

Weight:
4 ounces

MSRP
$85

URL
bawidamann.com

Notes:
The Bawidamann Dough Boy DB-1 resembles a single knuckle cut from the handle of an M1918 Mk1 Trench Knife. It’s small enough to stow in a pocket for unobtrusive everyday carry yet adds plenty of punching power if you feel you need it. This knuckle is investment cast in pure brass and sandblasted for an antique kind of old-world finish. The tip has a nice point to aid in punching, and there’s a lanyard hole, should you wish to attach a lanyard.

Pros:

  • Investment cast in solid brass
  • Plenty of room for even the biggest finger in this one
  • The sand-blasted finish imparts a good feel in the fist.

Cons:

  • A bit too spacious around the finger. This might be an issue for folks with smaller fingers.
  • For a single knuckle, it’s a bit on the heavier side. That’s not a bad thing for its intended usage but definitely something to keep in mind for EDC use.

BT Customs The Tool

OAL:
1.75 inches

Width:
2.25 inches

Material:
Aluminum

Weight:
0.75 ounce

MSRP
$90

URL
everythingbtcustoms.com

Notes:
The BT Customs Rook is a lightweight and attractive two-knuckle set that includes a lanyard and bead. Two bottle openers are incorporated into the base making it a sort of combat multi-tool. Crafted from aluminum, this set is on the lighter side without being too light. The anodized finish is reminiscent of Timascus or Damascus steel. Bennet Tool makes a lot of unique products for the vaping industry and firearms industry, so you’re not skimping on quality with a set like this.

Pros:

  • The lanyard and bead make it easy to retrieve from the pocket in a hurry.
  • Finger holes seem perfectly sized for even the largest of fingers.
  • The bottle openers work well. You’ll be a hit at the next party if there’s a case of cold ones involved.

Cons:

  • Although it’s got stunning looks, the anodized finish could wear off after a time.
  • The interior edge at the base seemed a little sharp at times.

Hooligan Handcrafts KC Copper Heart

OAL:
2 inches

Width:
1.75 inches

Material:
Copper

Weight:
2 ounces

MSRP
$250

URL
@jeyrhooligan (Instagram)

Notes:
When you’re looking for a solid set of knuckles, sometimes you have to hit up custom makers who may only have a social media presence in lieu of a website. That’s the case with Hooligan Handcrafts by Jeyr Lindsey. You can find him on Instagram or at one of the major national knife shows like the Usual Suspects Gathering or the Blade Show. When you do find a set, they’re well worth it. The KC Copper Heart comes on a QD Strega chain so it can be worn as jewelry but quickly broken away and in your fist for up close and personal self-defense.

Pros:

  • Being heart-shaped, the base of the heart makes for an optimal striking tool.
  • The Strega chain makes for a great “hide in plain sight” self-defense option.
  • The entire piece is machined out of copper for a classy look and has just enough weight and density to be effective.

Cons:

  • The Strega chain works well but was a little tight for my 19-inch neck, especially when orienting the knuckles properly on the draw.
  • Designed for women, some men will find the knuckle holes a bit too small

KE Arms Aluminum Goblin

OAL:
2.75 inches

Width:
2.5 inches

Material:
Aluminum

Weight:
0.75 ounce

MSRP
$40

URL
www.kearms.com

Notes:
If you’re a shooter, you may be familiar with KE Arms. They offer a variety of firearms and related accessories for the AR-platform, among others. The Aluminum Goblin may be made from the exact same material that the very rail on your AR is made from. A true EDC tool, lanyard holes and a bottle opener are incorporated inside the base. This set features a striking point right at the crest of the tip of the knuckles. A pricier titanium version is available, too.

Pros:

  • This set is light and dense, perfect for everyday pocket carry.
  • I’ve had this particular set for about four years, and the finish seems to hold up fairly well.
  • The bottle opener hidden in the base is probably one of the more ingenious ways I’ve seen this incorporated into a set of knucks.

Cons:

  • The finger holes might be a bit too tight for those with larger hands.
  • They seem to be made in small batches so they can be subject to availability.

RMJ Tactical Snuckles Aluminum

OAL:
5.1 inches

Width:
3.1 inches

Material:
Aluminum

Weight:
4.5 ounces

MSRP
$149

URL
rmjtactical.com

Notes:
Ryan M. Johnson of RMJ Tactical made his bones building tomahawks for the U.S. military and historical collectors but has branched out into other realms with products as diverse as tetsubos, saps, a myriad of knives, and knuckles. In the case of the knuckles, he brands them as Uncle Stumpy’s Snuckles, and they make for one hell of an EDC item. Johnson is a stickler for authenticity and making products that work. He spent a lot of time interviewing police officers and others who carried traditional knuckles and used them with great effect. This design is the result of countless hours of input and testing. This set is crafted in aluminum and is the only full-size version we profiled in this article because they’re as lightweight and handy as any of the smaller single and double sets we have profiled.

Pros:

  • The face of the Snuckles is richly textured and could be used for tenderizing meat if you need to do so.
  • Having spent decades examining various types of knuckles, these are among the best I’ve seen and handled.
  • Big enough for full scale usage, yet light enough to carry all day without realizing that they are in your pocket.

Cons:

  • As impressive as the machining and engraving is on these, the finish is a little plain. However, a Cerakote option is available as well.
  • This is another small-batch item that’s subject to availability.

Toor Knives Copper Thumper

OAL:
1.6 inches

Width:
1.2 inches

Material:
Copper

Weight:
1.65 ounces

MSRP
$35

URL
toorknives.com

Notes:
Toor Knives is an innovative knife manufacturer based in Southern California. Occasionally, they step outside the box to create an interesting piece of gear without a blade. In this case, it’s the Thumper. Small enough to hide in the watch pocket of your jeans, dangle from a keychain or wear as a necklace, the Thumper makes for a great little piece of self-defense kit. Available in copper, brass, or titanium; this one is solid copper and is so handy and portable that at less than 2 ounces, you won’t realize it’s in your pocket.

Pros:

  • Possibly the smallest knuckle I have seen, this one pretty much goes with you wherever you want, so long as it’s not a non-permissive environment like an airport terminal.
  • The hump for the bale makes for a very good strike point when punching.
  • One of the more affordable and readily available options out there.

Cons:

  • The finger hole is generously sized, but this might be a little too small overall for most users.
  • This one is pretty thin. A slightly thicker option might be nice.

A Dying Breed: Tim Seargeant’s Manual-Transmission FJ Cruiser

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Like it or not, the manual transmission is going the way of the dodo, at least when it comes to new vehicles. According to a study by CarMax, only 2 percent of the vehicles sold by the company in 2020 had manual transmissions, a number that has plummeted from 27 percent in 1995. For most drivers, it’s less hassle to simply press the gas pedal and let a computer do the shifting, but for those who enjoy modulating the clutch and smoothly changing gears, this extinction feels tragic. Tim Seargeant, a lifelong sports car enthusiast who has never owned a vehicle with anything but a manual transmission, is firmly in the latter category. When Tim decided to purchase a truck, he knew it had to have a six-speed, but he also wanted something relatively new and reliable enough for long road trips with the family.

Above: These forged 17-inch Titan7 wheels are significantly lighter than the FJ’s factory wheels, so it retains most of its acceleration and braking performance, even with larger 34-inch all-terrain tires. (Photos by Tim Seargeant and Evan Ohl)

After plugging in the requisite filters on AutoTrader, Tim soon learned that the Toyota FJ Cruiser fit the bill and found roughly 40 manual-equipped FJs that fit his criteria in the United States. Luckily, one of them was only a short drive from his home in Southern California. Five hours later, he drove away with a new truck, already thinking about modifications to make it more capable on- and off-road. The next week, the build began.

Tim's FJ Cruiser Project

The first phone call was made to Tim’s friend, the founder of Titan7 wheels. Although the company primarily makes lightweight forged wheels for motorsport applications, they offer one model for off-roaders. Tim wrapped the 17-inch Titan7 T-AK1 wheels in 34-inch Nitto Terra Grappler G2 tires. These were paired with Bilstein coilovers and upper control arms in front, as well as Bilstein shocks and leaf springs in the rear.

Above: This FJ Cruiser came with Bilstein shocks from the factory, so when it was time to upgrade, Tim decided to swap them for some aftermarket Bilstein suspension parts.

At this point, Tim wanted a more distinctive look, so he decided to enlist the help of a friend and cover the original silver paint with MultiCam Alpine vinyl. Next, a Front Runner roof rack was installed, along with a retractable awning, mount for the Smittybilt jack, stowable folding table, and even a rack-mounted bottle opener. To protect the FJ from damage on the trails, the front bumper was replaced with a Smittybilt M1 metal bumper, and a set of DeMello Offroad rock sliders were installed.

Above: A BOSS StrongBox drawer, Tactical Walls VMod door panel, and Refined Cycle window MOLLE panels offer plenty of storage for guns, recovery gear, and camping supplies.

According to Tim, he knew he wanted to upgrade the truck’s light output, but he intentionally put this off. He wrote, “Wiring, electronics, splicing, and soldering intimidates me … it was the most challenging part of the build.” After talking with more experienced friends and putting himself through “YouTube University,” he was able to successfully install an array of Baja Designs lights, including LP6 Pro driving lights on the front bumper, Squadron fog lights and ditch lights, and S2 auxiliary lights around the perimeter of the roof rack. Everything is wired to CH4x4 push switches that match the amber interior lighting. A Pioneer touchscreen stereo with Apple CarPlay, speakers, and a secondary backup camera were also added to modernize the truck.

Above: Although Tim was intimidated by the prospect of learning how to wire these Baja Designs lights, the results were well worth the effort.

Since he works in the gun industry, Tim wanted a secure way to carry guns and gear, so he ordered a 40x22x10-inch locking drawer system from BOSS StrongBox and bolted it to the floor. Additional storage options come by way of a pair of Refined Cycle rear window MOLLE panels and a Tactical Walls VMod rear panel. These hold an Urban Medical Gear trauma kit, recovery tools, and other accessories, many of which are attached to Vanquest Gear hook-and-loop panels for quick tear-away access.

Above: The Pioneer NEX stereo head unit offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, which make it more convenient to navigate on long road trips.

Tim says he has had many memorable experiences with this FJ Cruiser, including a recent trip with his wife and sons to Utah. During that trip, they hauled all their guns and gear to a Fieldcraft Survival course, tackled some challenging rock crawls in “Little Moab,” and even fired up the Baja Designs lights to drive through an abandoned train tunnel carved into the mountains. Knowing that the days of new manual transmission vehicles — not to mention fossil-fuel-powered vehicles in general — are likely numbered, Tim takes every opportunity to row through the gears and enjoy the old-school ruggedness of his truck. He'd like to thank his friends Gene Y., Randall T., Don N., Josh E., Kento K., Michael E., Mark H., and Chris F. for donating their time and expertise to help him complete the build.

Build Specifications

Drivetrain: 4.0L V-6 with 6-speed manual transmission

Suspension: Bilstein B8 8112 front coilover shocks, upper control arms, 8100 rear shocks, and B12 1.5-inch lift rear leaf springs

Wheels & Tires: 17×8.5 Titan7 T-AK1 wheels (-8 offset) and 305/70R17 Nitto Terra Grappler G2 tires

Body Modifications: Front Runner Outfitters Slimline roof rack, 2m awning, jack mount, and stainless steel folding table with under-rack mount; Smittybilt M1 front bumper and Trail Jack, DeMello Offroad rock sliders, MultiCam Alpine vinyl wrap

Electronics & Lighting: Pioneer NEX 7600 stereo head unit, 6×9 speakers, and backup camera; Baja Designs LP6 driving lights, Squadron SAE fog lights, Squadron Pro ditch lights, and S2 Pro side and rear auxiliary lights; CH4x4 push-button switches, Blue Sea 12-circuit fuse block

Interior Modifications: BOSS StrongBox 7126-7611 gun safe drawer, Tactical Walls VMod rear door panel, Refined Cycle RM3 and RM4 rear window MOLLE panels, Vanquest Gear MOHL-AIR tear-away panels with Urban Medical Gear TRK-1 IFAK and other MOLLE accessories

The New OFFGRID “What If?” Book is Now Available

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Whether you just started reading our magazine or you've been a die-hard supporter since Issue 1, you should know that our “What If?” column is an important staple of every issue of OFFGRID. We know that forethought is an important aspect of preparedness, so each entry presents a hypothetical survival scenario in order to get you thinking about how you'd overcome it. But it's not just a playful choose-your-own-adventure exercise — it's meant to help you become better prepared. Members from our pool of contributing writers use their real-life expertise to explain how they'd prepare for these challenges, and their input can steer you in the right direction. Until recently, these articles were only available separately, but we've released a new OFFGRID “What If?” book that compiles them into a single convenient format (your choice of paperback or digital).

What's Inside the OFFGRID “What If?” Book?

This book covers dozens of scenarios — from short-term natural disasters to long-term grid-down catastrophes — and draws on the experience of more than 40 contributors from a wide variety of fields. These writers aren't just keyboard warriors, they're professionals and subject matter experts who have made a living honing their skills and teaching students how to stay alive.

Check out the table of contents below for a complete list of the scenarios in our “What If?” book:

NATURAL DISASTERS
Advice on how to prepare for Mother Nature’s worst and the collateral damage that can be both unpredictable and indefinite.

  • What if You’re Forced to Endure a Blizzard With No Utilities? P. 6
  • What if You’re Attacked by a Wild Animal? P. 16
  • What if a House Fire Breaks Out During an Ice Storm? P. 24
  • What if You’re Caught in a Tornado? P. 32
  • What if You’re Trapped in a Major Flood? P. 39
  • What if You’re Caught in an Earthquake? P. 48

CRIME
Learn to thwart some of the most common methods criminals use to target victims and carry out their crimes.

  • What if Your Privacy is Compromised by Internet Doxing? P. 58
  • What if Your Neighborhood is Attacked by an Angry Mob? P. 68
  • What if You Become a Target of Road Rage? P. 77
  • What if You’re Confronted by Someone Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer? P. 85
  • What if You’re Assaulted in a Parking Structure? P. 94
  • What if You Stumble Upon a Home Burglary? P. 104
  • What if You’re Lured into a Roadside Abduction? P. 112
  • What if You’re Threatened by a Stalker? P. 122
  • What if You Awaken to a Kidnapping, Abduction, or Worse? P. 132
  • What if Your Vehicle is Attacked by an Angry Mob? P. 141

TERRORISM
We take a look at tactics historically used by terrorists and mass murderers to wreak havoc on society.

  • What if You’re in a Hostage Situation? P. 149
  • What if Your Flight is Hijacked? P. 158
  • What if Your Subway is Attacked With Chemical Weapons? P. 167
  • What if Your Cruise Ship is Hijacked? P. 176
  • What if You’re on a Train With a Suspected Suicide Bomber? P. 185
  • What if You’re Caught in a Mass Shooting? P. 195
  • What if a Dirty Bomb Goes off in Your City? P. 205
  • What if Hackers Take Down the Power Grid? P. 214

TRAVEL
From traveling domestically to internationally, check out how you can survive threatening situations away from home.

  • What if You’re Stranded on a Remote Backroad? P. 225
  • What if You’re Trapped in a Country Consumed by Political Turmoil? P. 235
  • What if You’re Locked up Abroad? P. 245
  • What if You’re Lost at Sea? P. 255
  • What if Your Child is Abducted While Traveling? P. 265
  • What if You’re Stranded in the Desert? P. 274
  • What if You’re Trapped in a Country Under Siege? P. 283

GRID DOWN
Take precautionary measures to sustain yourself when the resources we take for granted become unavailable.

  • What if Critical Supply Lines are Indefinitely Interrupted? P. 294
  • What if We’re Hit With Another Pandemic? P. 304
  • What if Basic Utilities are Indefinitely Interrupted? P. 315
  • What if the U.S. Plunges into Economic Collapse? P. 324
  • What If You’re Captured by Marauders Intent on Taking Your Supplies? P. 334

Where to Buy a Copy

The OFFGRID “What If?” book is now in stock and shipping. Head over to the Gun Digest Store to order a copy in either traditional paperback ($25) or digital download format ($23).

New: GiantMouse ACE Nibbler Folding Knife

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As much as we enjoy full-sized folding knives with 3.5-inch blades, they occasionally feel like overkill for many daily tasks. Sometimes, all we really need is a small utility blade for slicing open a letter or package. This is especially true in warmer months when we're wearing lighter clothing. GiantMouse Knives, founded by well-known Danish knifemakers/designers Jens Ansø and Jesper Voxnaes (a.k.a. Vox), has released a new compact folder called the ACE Nibbler that looks great for summer every-day carry.

The GiantMouse ACE Nibbler — named after the character Nibbles from Tom and Jerry — is available in a few different varieties and price points. Each shares the same core elements:

  • 2-inch blade length
  • 4.7-inch overall length
  • Ball bearing pivot
  • Liner lock
  • Left-to-right reversible wire pocket clip

The entry-level ACE Nibbler ($95 MSRP) features aluminum handle scales in your choice of red, blue, or green. The blade is made from Bohler N690 steel with a satin finish, and the backspacer is made from aluminum.

The next step up ($155 MSRP, pictured above) features a green canvas Micarta handle, brass backspacer, and satin-finished 20CV steel blade. Finally, there's a titanium model ($185 MSRP) that pairs the same satin 20CV blade and brass backspacer with machined titanium handle scales. Custom knives made by Ansø and Vox themselves can easily exceed the $1,000 mark, so these production ACE Nibbler knives are manufactured overseas by Reate Knives to keep prices lower — we appreciate that GiantMouse is transparent about this fact.

For more information on the new GiantMouse ACE Nibbler, go to GiantMouse.com.

Preps of the Pros: Contributing Writer Patrick Diedrich’s EDC Gear & Go Bag

Written by

Patrick Diedrich

Residence: Hancock, Upper Michigan

Occupation: Writer and amateur blade/blacksmith

Patrick's EDC Gear

What is your general approach/philosophy for everyday carry tools? What do you see as the most likely threats/issues you might deal with in your daily routine, and what items are necessary to address these issues?

If I were to sum up my approach to EDC, it would be “versatile redundancy.” Every item carried should have more than one function and should complement each other. Since I live in a remote area, finding myself stranded due to unforeseen circumstances is a very real possibility. So, being able to signal for help, create a fire for warmth, or improvise my way to safety governs what I leave the house with.

Above: The Walther PDP is simple, reliable, affordable, and offers 18+1 rounds on tap in the full-size frame seen here.

In my region, crime is low, so I usually do not feel the need to carry a firearm. The exception is when I purposefully head into the wilderness to recreate or hunt, where there are large predatory mammals that do pose a potential danger. A Walther PDP accompanies me in a G-Code Optimal Drop RTI rig via a Kydex holster from T-Rex Arms. The PDP is fitted with a Leupold DeltaPoint Pro and a Streamlight TLR-7 light.

Please outline the gear you carry on a daily basis. Include specific brands/models, and why you chose each.

Having a well-made knife is a crucial part of my EDC. If I am out and about in town, I like to bring the WESN Micro Blade. If I am spending time in the great outdoors, I like to have a multi-tool as well as a fixed blade like the Corvus Survival Carrion. My key ring has become part of my EDC kit, and includes a Griffin pocket tool, as well as a CPR face shield in case I find myself needing to give life-saving support to someone.

I almost never leave without a Wazoo Cache belt. The belt is packed with the Wazoo Adventure Kit, which provides 23 tools including several tools for fire-starting and water purification, a button compass, high-quality cordage and wire, a fishing kit, a whistle, and a signal mirror. If I’m on the road for a few days, I’ll put some extra cash in the belt. The Tasmanian Tiger wallet shields the chips in my debit card, driver’s license, and passport from being scanned and exploited remotely.

What is one underrated piece of EDC gear that more people should strongly consider carrying, if they don’t already?

There are two things that I think are always overlooked. One is a dedicated light source. Having a light has been useful on so many occasions. The Wazoo button light doesn’t have the bulk or awkwardness of larger lights and can be stored in the cache belt or put on a key ring. It comes in handy when rummaging through bags when it’s dark out, looking for items that were dropped in between seats, and can be used to attract attention as an emergency signal or as a light source for night tracking. The other thing that’s overlooked, and should be a part of everyone’s EDC, is physical fitness. All the gear in the world is never going to help if you do not have the physical strength or endurance to make it through a tough situation.

What was the most recent change you made to your EDC kit?

Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting survival expert Jerry Saunders of Corvus Survival. When we were talking about his EDC, it turns out that he also uses a Wazoo cache belt as well, and he mentioned lock picks. I had a lightbulb moment when I heard this, because if I lost my keys, needed to get into a building for shelter, or needed to open a medicine cabinet in an emergency, a set of lock picks would be extremely helpful. This led me to a company called Serepick. They have an array of picks to choose from, and even a see-through tumbler lock that you can practice with. At present, I am only mildly proficient, but my skills are improving. The set of picks I have fits easily in the cache belt along with everything else.

Patrick's Go Bag

Which make/model of bag did you choose, and why?

Mystery Ranch makes a line of bags designed for cold weather environments in various volumes, but I use the Saddle Peak. Where I live, it seems like nine months of the year is nothing but cold temperatures and snow, and the Saddle Peak was designed to keep zippers from icing shut and the material from degrading due to frozen temperatures. The front pouch was specifically designed to house an avalanche kit. It also has straps on the outside for snow mobility tools like skis, snowboards, and snowshoes. Initially, I used it as a cold weather emergency bag, but it has evolved into my search and rescue (SAR) 24-hour Ready Pack, and I always have it prepped and handy.

Where is this bag staged (or carried) and what specific purpose does it fulfill in your daily preparedness plan?

The bag is always ready to go and sitting close to my front door. Normally, if I am called to a SAR operation, the only additional item I add is a freshly filled 3L CamelBak. When I return, I make it a priority to clean and restock what was used so that everything is ready again. Besides being a really useful SAR pack, it also makes a great bug-out bag, because it has everything I would need to sustain a small group for a few days. Also, if I know I’ll be driving in inclement weather, I can toss it in the back of the truck in case of an emergency on the road.

Please outline some of the most important items you have in this bag, to include brands/models where possible. Discuss why you chose these items and how they complement and expand upon your EDC gear.

I usually adapt it based on the season and how long I expect to be wearing it. For example, if I think I’ll be responding to a SAR operation that could last days, I will pack a camp stove, mess kit, and extra food. I may even bring a second bag with extra clothing to change and restock during the event. But, typically, it’s just this one pack with as little as I can get away with. There are some who claim that a 24-hour pack should be at least 35 to 45 liters, but by keeping it around 25L, I force myself to pack only what’s necessary and useful. Even so, when this pack is filled to the max, it can still weigh a little over 30 pounds.

During the winter months, the front pouch contains a Black Diamond avalanche kit with a collapsible snow shovel and probe. In the main compartment, I have:

There is a smaller compartment on top where I keep a Fenix Raptor headlamp, a 5.11 Response flashlight, and extra high-visibility marking tape. In winter months, I also keep Oakley ski goggles and a neck gaiter in this pouch. On the hip straps, I keep an extra compass, a MOLLE pouch with 50 feet of 550 cord, an IFAK, and a Survivor Filter Nalgene bottle if the windchill threatens to freeze the tube on my CamelBak. Lastly, on the shoulder straps, I hook several chemlights for trail marking or signaling, and a Varusteleka Terava Jaakaripuukko 110 knife.

What is one extra item you’ve considered including in this bag? Briefly explain why you haven’t added it yet (space, weight, cost, likelihood it’ll be needed, etc.).

Since this bag is quite minimalistic for what it’s used for, all the gear prevents me from effectively storing a change of clothes, a more robust shelter, or room for extra layers if working in the cold starts generating too much sweat. I can strap extras to the outside, but there’s the risk that nature will claim whatever isn’t fastened securely enough. My hesitation to change to a pack with more volume comes from not wanting to fill that space with more stuff — which almost inevitably happens — and creating a pack that weighs more. I like to stay light on my feet so as not expend valuable calories as a pack-mule and being able to burn the energy when it matters.

Preps of the Pros: OFFGRID Editor Tom Marshall’s EDC Gear & Go Bag

Written by

Tom Marshall

Current Occupation: Editor, RECOIL OFFGRID Magazine

(To read more about Tom's background, including his time as a U.S. Army Captain and independent contractor in Afghanistan, refer to our interview with him from Issue 34.)

Tom's EDC Gear

What is your general approach/philosophy for everyday-carry tools? What do you see as the most likely threats/issues you might deal with in your daily routine, and what items are necessary to address these issues?

I believe that equipment selection is a form of mission analysis. In simpler terms, it’s impossible to carry every piece of gear for every single possibility. So, select tools for EDC that fit most seamlessly into your daily wardrobe and routine, and those which will be the most helpful in the most likely problems you might face.

Please outline the gear you carry on a daily basis. Include specific brands/models, and why you chose each.

A sturdy belt is the foundation of a solid EDC gear setup. I use a Mastermind Tactics Specialist Pro belt, which features medical-grade, high-cycle hook-and-loop, a chemically dipped stiffened tail end, and an almost non-existent steel loop in lieu of a larger buckle to help reduce printing when carrying appendix inside the waistband (AIWB). In my pants pockets, I have a Zero Tolerance 0566 folding knife, a Cloud Defensive MCH flashlight, Pocket Trauma Kit from Live The Creed, and a small keychain with Glow Rhino prybar, Carbon Tactics TiSlice razor blade, and two tools from Gearward: their Ranger Bic waterproof lighter sleeve and keychain duct tape roll. I keep this on a second key ring, completely separate from my car and house keys. This way, if I lose my daily life keys, or hand them off to someone, I still have the emergency tools. My Suunto Traverse Alpha watch also wears the Gearward A-K band, which conceals some escape tools. If the situation dictates, I’ll add my custom Glock 48 MOS pistol and a spare mag in my LAS Concealment Ronin-L holster, and/or the JB Knife Ditch Pik fixed-blade defensive knife.

What is one underrated piece of EDC gear that more people should strongly consider carrying, if they don’t already?

I always go by the rule of “The Big 4:” Defend, Move, Communicate, Medicate. Your EDC gear should include tools that enable you to defend yourself, navigate your daily world (urban or rural), call or signal for help, and treat likely medical issues (boo-boo level or trauma).

What was the most recent change you made to your EDC kit?

I recently swapped my smartphone into a Juggernaut IMPCT case. In addition to offering military-grade bump and drop protection, the IMPCT is compatible with Juggernaut’s line of mounts and brackets. Now I can pop my phone off my belt and directly onto my plate carrier, hiking pack, or dashboard vehicle bracket.

Tom's Go Bag Gear

Which make/model of bag did you choose, and why?

I use a 5.11 AMP12. This bag is large enough to hold not only my daily work supplies (laptop, chargers, cords, snacks, paperwork, etc.) but is also augmented by a Grey Man Tactical Rigid Insert Panel, sized specifically for this bag.

Where is this bag staged (or carried) and what specific purpose does it fulfill in your daily preparedness plan?

I carry this bag almost every single day — to the coffee shop or cigar lounge while working on articles, to business luncheons, and on road trips. If I need to fly, I can remove the Grey Man panel with weapons and pyro on it, without having to disassemble each individual pouch and tool, and still have all my administrative gear in a carry-on bag that fits under an airline seat.

Above: The Greyman Tactical Rigid Insert Panel can be removed from the bag to make it TSA friendly without having to fully reconfigure placement of pouches or holsters every time.

Please outline some of the most important items you have in this bag, to include brands/models where possible. Discuss why you chose these items and how they complement and expand upon your EDC gear.

I augment the main compartment of this bag with a Rigid Insert Panel from Grey Man Tactical. This is a single polymer panel that I can permanently mount gear on, that can be removed as a single piece without having to dismantle all the individual pouches. The RIP holds a customized Glock 17 in a QVO Tactical holster on a G-Code RTI mount, one spare magazine, a multi-tool, smoke signal, 5.11 compact Operator Axe, and North American Rescue IFAK with full trauma kit and hard tourniquet. This supplements my EDC by providing medical and self-defense redundancy with the addition of a hard tourniquet (which I don’t carry on-body) and a larger, more capable handgun. The ax can be used for everything from cutting brush or small trees for shelter or fire-starting to emergency egress from a building or vehicle (smashing a window or breaching residential-grade doors).

The rest of the bag holds general-use first aid supplies (Band-Aids, pain relievers, cold/flu meds, etc.) as well as a compass, NATO issue TCCC reference cards, pens/pencils, business cards, etc.

What is one extra item you’ve considered including in this bag? Briefly explain why you haven’t added it yet (space, weight, cost, likelihood it’ll be needed, etc.).

Above: The AMP's zip-pouches hold important paperwork, pens and pencils, and some basic travel meds like cough drops, analgesics, and gastrointestinal remedies. 

I’ve gone back and forth about adding some food to this bag — even something quick like meal bars or dried fruit or granola. Whether it’s for snacking during a day full of meetings, getting stuck on the side of the road, or on an airport layover, extra calories become a priority quickly as stress levels rise. I haven’t really stuck with it due to a combination of not having much physical space left in this bag, and that sometimes finding food that’s edible on the go but holds stable in the desert heat can be a difficult task, especially if the bag is left in my truck or sits at my feet outdoors for any length of time.

Victor Lopez Interview: Founder of Sierra Element Tactical Training

Written by

You might think that anyone who served as a combat sniper in Iraq and Afghanistan before becoming a cop in the second-most populated city in the United States might be a grizzled old man with a chip on his shoulder. With a father who earned three purple hearts in Vietnam prior to entering policework on the infamously tough streets of Gary, Indiana, it might be in Victor Lopez’s DNA to serve others and stay humble doing it. “He’d tell me, ‘Treat everyone with respect regardless of what status you think they have,’” Lopez says. That same focus on patiently solving problems hasn’t only helped Vic earn respect in his careers, but also motivated him to teach others to avoid getting bogged down by ego and pride. Instead, he reminds students to keep their sights set on elevating their knowledge.

As the owner of Sierra Element, Vic has taken it upon himself to create a curriculum that can only come from hard-earned experience in some of the worst conditions imaginable. As crime continues to rise amidst an atmosphere of anti-police rhetoric, both average civilians and officers are understandably seeking ways to up their performance behind the trigger to stay safe. Vic has lived his lyrics and is a hidden gem of tactical training that RECOIL OFFGRID felt needed to be brought to light. We spoke to him to see how he’s combining military and law enforcement work into practical skills available to anyone.

Photos by Patrick McCarthy and John Schwartze

Our Interview with Victor Lopez of Sierra Element Training

RECOIL OFFGRID: Where did you grow up?

Victor Lopez: I grew up in Gary and Merrillville, Indiana. Joining the Marine Corps in 1994 brought me out to California.

What made you want to join?

VL: My dad was a Marine in Vietnam and then became a police officer in Gary, Indiana.

Did you go into the Marines wanting to become a sniper? What was sniper qualification like?

VL: That kind of just happened. I just wanted to be a rifleman initially, but I liked the craft of being stealthy and the long-range precision aspect of it as well. When I tried out for the platoon in 1998, they called it the sniper indoctrination. It was heavy on physical fitness, a lot of observations, and KIMS games — KIMS stands for “keep in memory sniper.” Those are basic memorization drills. There were a lot of ruck marches with a 40-pound pack, some sleep deprivation that lasted a few days, and then I was eventually able to go to sniper school, which is 10-and-a-half weeks.

Above: Vic and Corvus Survival’s Jerry Saunders, who we interviewed in RECOIL OFFGRID Issue 47.

What are the core skills that any sniper must master?

VL: Marksmanship is number one overall. Physical fitness as well as communication skills, in either electronic or verbal articulation, because we have to explain the mission in detail to a commanding officer. If you’re not articulating it well enough, you’re not going on that mission. Definitely teamwork and good social skills, because you’re working with other individuals in confined spaces for up to a week, so you need to be able to get along and communicate well.

What deployments and missions do you feel were the most challenging?

VL: Initially was with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. Then, after I got out of active duty I went into 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines where I was able to go to Iraq twice and then Southeast Asia. When I went to Afghanistan, I was with 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force. I was in Iraq in 2003 as a sniper operator, and in 2009 as well. It was challenging during my time as a precision marksman advisor to the Afghan National Army. There were language and cultural barriers. They lacked a lot of the basic skills a regular soldier would have, so it’d take longer to correct issues.

This might sound strange, but externally the easiest portion was dealing with war and dealing with other services. It’s hard to convey a sniper’s mission to someone who has never been a sniper. That’s the most challenging part — to have others understand what it takes as far as selection of personnel, equipment you need to be successful, and the continuous education you need to stay proficient and advance.

Above: Serving in the Middle East while in the Marines.

I enjoyed training the Southeast Asian snipers in Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea, and learning the jungle environment. A lot of their weaponry wasn’t as good as ours, but they still had some of the basic skills, which made it a lot easier for us to build on those.

What do you think we got wrong as far as U.S. involvement in Afghanistan?

VL: I think we gave them a little too much, in my opinion. We didn’t allow them to think for themselves as much as we pushed our ideals on them. Instead of allowing them to try and build their nation on their own, we gave them a little too much information and equipment. We were trying to train them, but they were training to kill us. You teach them the skills you use and then they’d turn the gun on you. Advisors all over the country were getting killed. They didn’t want to be told what to do, but they certainly wanted the free money and gear.

How long were in you in the military?

VL: Twenty years.

Did you then go directly into policing?

VL: Approximately six months after I finished my active service, I got into a police department. That’s something I wanted to do since childhood. I really enjoyed my dad’s stories of pursuits and helping people — stories of being able to arrest someone that hurt or shot someone else. Also helping retrieve property for someone who’d been burglarized. I really enjoyed those stories he told me growing up.

What divisions have you worked in?

VL: Patrol, gang enforcement, and patrol as a field training officer, and then I worked counter-terrorism bureau. Now, I’m currently assigned to training division where I work patrol rifle and tactical shotgun unit.

How do you think being a sniper better prepared you for law enforcement?

VL: As far as counterterrorism, as a surveillance officer, while working as a sniper you have to do a lot of observation and study body language. Studying behavior helped me become a better surveillance officer because I can infer how someone’s talking to and interacting with someone else based on their body language and gestures.

Above: Training Pinal County Sheriff’s Office deputies in Arizona.

What have been your toughest experiences in law enforcement?

VL: The most difficult thing in recent years is the wave of defund-the-police efforts and reduced sentences for violent offenders.

What do gangs’ efforts tend to be focused on and how sophisticated are they?

VL: Primarily drugs as well as basic violence and intimidation. A lot of extortion with local businesses, too. They have people working at all different levels. There are people who commit crime, people who help facilitate it, businesses that are involved because they’ll benefit from it, and associates who want to be a part of something. It’s not just this image some people have of a few guys hanging out on a street corner.

How has policing changed since you first started?

VL: A lot of the paperwork and computer systems have changed quite a bit. Technology has changed with GPS in the vehicles, and body cam and dash cam recording. Some of it was handwritten before. Some of the less-lethal tools — we didn’t have the 40mm before, we only had beanbag shotguns. Initially, not everyone had a taser either. Learning different tools, techniques, and procedures of how to take someone into custody, whether it’s the way we talk to them, how we approach, or the number of officers there to assist. While changing certain aspects of policing, they haven’t put any officers’ lives in danger.

Over the last few years, has there been a lot of attrition in your department?

VL: There has, but there’s always been. I haven’t seen a mass exodus, but it’s a little more than what I’ve seen in the past. People are realizing they can have a comfortable life in another state. A lot of people traveled outside of California during COVID so they could get some freedom, see other states, and consider what they had to offer.

What training would you recommend the public pursue to better protect themselves, besides getting their concealed carry if possible?

VL: Take some type of martial arts training so you have a better awareness of your capabilities. If your local department has a civilian police academy, attend that so you can see the things that officers are going to be confronted with. Group tours and ride-alongs will give people a chance to see for themselves how officers interact with people and how criminals interact with officers. Don’t just believe what you see on TV. People should avoid areas they think will be dangerous. You can do a Google search of crimes in the area you plan to visit. Apps such as Crimewatch are also good resources to be informed about localized crime.

What sort of training do you recommend police get to supplement the normal training they get?

VL: Any marksmanship training from a reputable source outside your department will help. It’s good to go out and see what the training world has to offer. A lot of officers just learn what they learn from their department — you’re not going to actually grow from that. Don’t just rely on the training you receive in the academy. In my opinion, jiujitsu and Muay Thai are some of the better martial arts. Granted, I’ve taken them for quite some time, but I think they give you a balance of the stand up and controlling of a suspect to take them into custody and prevent their escape. I’ve practiced Brazilian jiujitsu for seven years and have done Muay Thai for 17 years. I’m a blue belt in BJJ and I’m an instructor in Muay Thai.

Tell us about what motivated you to start your company, Sierra Element?

VL: During my time in the Marine Corps, I was part of a competition the Corps has every year called Super Squad. It’s comprised of Marine infantry, and you have a series of events: machine gun shoots, hiking, military operations in urban terrain, land navigation, defensive perimeter work, and some marksmanship events. We got a lot of training just for the 13 guys we had. In the three weeks we trained, I received the most one-on-one training I’d ever had. A warrant officer asked me while we were training to design a pistol course with movement and everything. I did it and really enjoyed the freedom to design things and help people evolve and learn new skills.

That’s why I created Sierra Element in 2012. It’s something I’d been wanting to do forever. I just didn’t have the opportunity before and, at that time, I felt I didn’t have the skills that were necessary to be an instructor like the kind of instructors I looked up to. I didn’t think I had enough skill, so I kind of just worked at it and went to several instructor schools and built up my résumé with training.

Where did the name come from?

VL: Sierra is the S in the phonetic alphabet in the military. S is for sniper. Element is team, so Sierra Element essentially means sniper team.

What is your focus and what do you bring to the table that other training companies don’t?

VL: We definitely have the pedigree, background, and experience from my being a police officer and a sniper who actually deployed, saw the world, and learned how other countries train. I merged a lot of components from sniping and brought it into carbine and regular rifle work. When I created the rough-terrain carbine stuff, I took elements from Marine Corps mountain sniper courses and merged it with patrol designated marksman curriculum and made it a little different. All our instructors have 20-plus years of experience as a police officer as well as some background in the military or working special assignments as a police officer. With a lot of companies out there, it’s just the one guy that you’re getting. My company isn’t just about one individual and their experience. It’s a team effort on every course, and we teach with input from all different parts of law enforcement and military.

I’ve been heavily involved since 2017, either training law enforcement in the patrol designated marksman program or training myself to gather more info. I wrote a book on the patrol designated marksman concept. It should be out shortly. I helped create Palm Springs PD’s designated marksman program. The program is intended for law enforcement officers who have the knowledge of an AR-15 equipped with a variable powered optic to bridge the gap between the patrol rifle and the SWAT sniper.

We’re also doing UTV operations for law enforcement. We teach how to patrol a crowd with your vehicle, how to respond, how to set up your equipment inside a vehicle, how to exit the vehicle and employ it, how to use it for cover, and how to use it as a shooting platform. We offer both courses to the public as well, but under a different name for the civilian version of the designated marksman course.

Above: Vic and his parents, circa late ’70s.

What are the biggest misconceptions you see most students entering your courses with that you have to help them purge?

VL: We get people who are convinced that, if they purchase an expensive gun, it will make them an amazing shooter and they’ll never miss. I have to break it down to them that we’re all going to miss, no matter how good of a shooter you are. When missing occurs, the goal is to recognize what you’re doing wrong and how you can fix it quickly, so you can get back on target faster. Sometimes we’ll get guys who miss, and they start shouting, lose their bearings, and the issues just multiply. Then, they miss again and start shooting faster. In every class I remind the students to keep their composure when they miss a target and to not hesitate to ask for additional assistance.

What types of training do you offer?

VL: All the standard rifle, pistol, and shotgun courses. Our biggest courses that do the best are our rough terrain series — rough terrain scoped carbine, urban scoped carbine, rough terrain pistol, and urban close precision engagement, tactical tracking and patrol designated marksman course, sniper operator, CQB, and competition pistol courses.

Do you offer sniper training?

VL: We do. We have several sniper operator courses, meaning you must already be a school-trained sniper. We have urban sniper, rough terrain sniper, and a target acquisition course where we focus on techniques of camouflage and sniper movement.

If you could take a magic wand and change police training, what would you do?

VL: I would allow officers to attend outside training a lot more and have certain funds every year for them to train at outside locations.

Above: Vic’s book, “The Initiative: Delivering Order to Chaos” will be available soon on Amazon.

Are they not allowed to attend outside training?

VL: They are, but the compensation isn’t there. They have to pay for it out of their own pockets. Some officers have families and don’t have extra money so I can understand.

What would you recommend to those looking to enter policework as a career?

VL: I’d do several ride-alongs so you can see how the world is outside your normal activities and neighborhood, and how officers deal with criminal activity.

What do you think people tend to misunderstand the most about criminality?

VL: Criminal activity is everywhere, regardless of the neighborhood you live in. Crime is more prevalent than you would think.

Above: Sierra Element pistol class at Burro Canyon Shooting Park in California.

What types of crime have you seen rise the most over the last few years?

VL: I’ve seen a rise over the last few years in drug activity, retail thefts, assaults on police officers, and assaults with a deadly weapon.

Have you felt a tangible decline in public support for police?

VL: Not personally. People continue to come up to me in public and thank me for my service and express how they appreciate law enforcement.

What do you think is driving many media outlets’ narrative that the police aren’t being supported by the public and should be defunded?

VL: Things are driven off emotions and with emotions come ratings. With ratings come advertising and with advertising comes money. When they focus on the few negative things they hear about police officers, they don’t see how officers across the country go above and beyond to assist people they’ve never even met. The first time they’re meeting someone might be the time when they stepped into the line of fire to protect them.

About Victor Lopez

Age: 47

Childhood idol: Dad

Favorite gun: Staccato P Duo

Most realistic police movie: Colors

Least realistic police movie: End of Watch or any of the Lethal Weapon movies

Crown Vic or Dodge Charger? Crown Vic — much more room!

Recommended reading list:

  • How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
  • The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss
  • With Winning in Mind by Lanny Bassham

What do you want on your tombstone? Relentless Savage

URL: sierraelement.com

Vic's EDC Gear

  • Staccato C pistol
  • Marine Scout Sniper Challenge Coin
  • Ice Breakers Duo
  • Centurion holster (custom)
  • One Shot Industries inner belt
  • Hog’s tooth
  • Keys with Lead Devil keychain
  • Pro-Tech Strider knife

What If You’re in the Path of a Wildfire?

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Whether you live in a rural area year-round or just travel to one on occasion, wildfires can be a major source of concern. These fast-moving natural disasters can crop up with little warning and sweep across the landscape obliterating everything in their path. Wildfires often cause devastation that affects the surroundings far beyond the point of origin. If you only had a short time to prepare to evacuate or possibly stay to battle an inferno, do you have a battle plan in mind?

Are irreplaceable belongings stored in such a way that they can be quickly loaded into a car? Have you thought about how to defend your home proactively by preparing items such as a pool pump, fire extinguishers, or sprinkler system? Have you taken the time to create a defensible space and clear dry brush surrounding your house that could exacerbate an approaching fire? Do you know what (if anything) your insurance will cover if a fire destroys your home and belongings? Whether you’ve begun planning for such an event or not, we hope this topic will spark your interest in better preparation to deal with a fire.

The Wildfire Scenario

Situation Type: Wildfire

Your Crew: You and your family

Location: Northern California

Season: Summer

Weather: Warm; high 97 degrees F, low 63 degrees

The Setup

Illustrations by Robert Bruner

Every year we hear of the increasing incidence of wildfires. From the Caldor Fire to the El Dorado Fire to the Dixie Fire, these events can devastate thousands of acres within hours. Whether it begins with a lightning strike, car fire, arson, or just plain irresponsible behavior, they can often be impossible to predict. Even those who believe they’re far enough from rural areas to avoid problems — such as the recent fires in Boulder, Colorado, or the Glass Fire in Napa and Sonoma, California — can often be taken by surprise at a fire’s ability to spread in a short amount of time. You and your family live in a rural area of Plumas County, California, known for its thick forests and sparsely populated surroundings.

The state’s continuing drought has been an ongoing concern, not only because of falling trees, but also because the deadfall creates more fuel for potential fires. To make matters worse, the season in which fires are most dangerous only seems to grow longer each year. The local fire station is about 15 minutes from where you live, with others in the general area, as well as several state agencies within your county. One thing is for sure though, the amount of vegetation in the area and long, isolated escape routes means that the odds are stacked against you if a fire were to start in the worst possible part of the year — summer.

The Complication

You wake up early on what starts out as a seemingly typical Monday to go to your job at an auto shop in nearby Quincy, California, when you smell smoke in the air. A feeling of dread washes over you. You walk outside as the sun is coming up and see a plume of smoke to the north. It appears to be about 30 miles away. The winds feel moderate at the moment, but you know they may change and take the fire in your direction. As you ponder for a second on the situation and what to do, you begin to hear emergency vehicle sirens that only seem to get more frequent with each passing minute. You wake your wife and young son to let them know what’s going on. You decide to start packing things into your car in case you need to evacuate.

After about 20 minutes, you begin to hear deep booms in the distance. You assume those are propane tanks exploding, which will only exacerbate the fire. You look outside at the direction of the fire, and by this time it seems to have grown exponentially. The sky is turning dark orange, and it’s going to get worse before it gets better. A short time later, a police car begins cruising down your street announcing over the loudspeaker to the residents that a mandatory evacuation is now in effect. Do you send your wife and young child away and stay behind to pack more of your possessions, or to attempt to safeguard your home against the fire? Do you all leave together immediately and hope your home and belongings aren’t wiped out? What should you do? We’ve asked retired game warden Lt. John Nores and firefighter Scott Finazzo for their recommendations.

Game Warden John Nores’ Approach

With California suffering through two peak droughts over the last decade, the Golden State has experienced unprecedented loss of life and property through several large-scale wildfire campaigns. As a recently retired California game warden, I reflect on moments when I did one of the most dangerous, frightening, and rewarding jobs of my three-decade career — assisting firefighting and allied law enforcement agencies during wildland fire incidents. When wildfires get out of control and hit the public safety disaster level due to hot temperatures, bone-dry conditions, abundant fuel, and high winds, it’s a top priority for all first responder agencies in the area.

During several massive fire campaigns throughout my active-duty years, I found myself coordinating and assisting on residential evacuations for people, domestic pets, and livestock, coordinating and manning public safety roadblocks, and providing medical assistance from fire, smoke, and heat exposure impacts. I also assisted with perimeter security for firefighting crews in rural communities, as well as deep in the backcountry where only four-wheel-drive and tracked vehicles could operate.

A recent and personally impactful California wildfire I witnessed the aftermath of firsthand was the 2020 SCU Lightning Complex fire that burned 55,000 of the 87,000 acres within Henry Coe State Park. This pristine and remote backcountry was where I learned outdoor survival and backpacking skills firsthand as a teenager.

When I checked on several friend’s private land ranches throughout Coe Park, I saw that remote and pristine Silicon Valley backcountry ravaged by the largest wildfire in that region’s history. It was eye opening. The devastation was extensive, and I found carcasses and bones from deer and other mammals overrun by the fire in areas I grew up exploring. This was humbling, and a reminder of just how fast and devastating wildfires can be.

For purposes of this scenario, I wouldn’t send my wife and child away so I could stay behind and pack more possessions or attempt to safeguard our home against the fire. We would all leave together when the time came to go.

Preparation
As my friend and Florida firefighter Marcos Orozco points out, wildland fire and hurricane preparedness are remarkably similar, since general preparation tips apply to most disaster scenarios. His input on this article was invaluable.

Since we live in wildland fire terrain, it’s critical that we have “go bags” already packed and ready to go for each family member. These bags contain all necessary provisions needed to be self-sufficient for at least three days and up to seven days, depending on how prepared we may need to be. Our “go bags” also include enough food for any pets on the move with us for that three- to seven-day window, as well as enough water for all family members, including the furry ones.

If cell coverage is limited or down completely, we have a satellite phone that can activate most anywhere when the cell grid drops. Having used Iridium satellite phones extensively when racing in Baja, Mexico, and on hundreds of remote backcountry missions throughout California’s backcountry, I’ve experienced the effectiveness of the Iridium platform first-hand. They have the best overall global coverage and have stronger satellite link signals, especially when in wooded or densely covered terrain.

Our family also has $500 to $1,000 cash in small bills ready to go in the safe for any disaster-sparked evacuation. With the power grid down and surrounding towns and businesses also in chaos, credit card purchases of essential survival supplies while on the move may not be possible, making this cash a survival necessity.

Since we have a fireproof safe at home, we can protect any of the family documents, jewelry, family heirlooms, and firearms and ammunition that we’re unable to bring with us. I have also made sure our family members are taking only essential survival items (already packed for a rapid exit in our bug-out bags) upon evacuation from our property.

These essential items include firearms for self and family protection from looting, vandalism, or any other physical threat placed upon us. And in the unfortunate event the fire campaign becomes a long and drawn-out crisis where the grid is down and survival supplies are limited or impossible to acquire, we have firearms systems that are also suitable for wild game hunting.

Living in wildfire country engenders the need for immediate mobility in the event of an emergency, so all of our vehicles slated to be used for evacuation are stocked with trauma/first-aid kits, extra clothes, water, blankets, and nonperishable snacks. Once an evacuation order has been declared, under no circumstances would we stay and try and protect our property. Material items, including our home, can always be replaced.

Given this vulnerability, we carry a comprehensive homeowner’s insurance policy that includes added coverage for natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and in this case, wildfires. It includes replacement cost for all belongings inside the house such as furniture, clothes, electronics, jewelry, and so on. Our policy also covers costs to demolish and completely rebuild our home — another need if a wildfire sweeps through your property.

In addition to our preparation for evacuation, our family has had several discussions and rehearsal runs on what to do and where to go to ensure everyone’s safety. Everyone is familiar with all escape routes on and around our property and which route to take based on the direction the fire is moving from. We also know where to meet if any of us become separated. All of us have long-range walkie-talkie/two-way radio systems in our go bags to communicate and coordinate our action plan in case cell phone service is down.

Because we live in a wooded, rural community that’s rich in fire fuel sources, we have done as much as possible to minimize damage to our home and any other structures on the property before any fire event has begun. A large defensible space around the house has been cleared out and maintained with all trees, bushes, and any other wildfire fuel sources removed.

The house was built to be fire resistant and constructed with an all-metal roof and fire-resistant siding. It has high-pressure hose and sprinkler systems installed that are capable of thoroughly soaking our home and all cleared-out spaces around the house. Again, we’d only implement this plan if it was safe to do so, and we had a safe window of time before a mandatory evacuation order is announced. If we do have to evacuate, the sprinkler system will be left on when we leave for any added fire protection the additional soaking may provide.

If time permits and wind direction and other environmental factors allow, we may consider a backfire to significantly extend our defensible space. Realizing this is a risky and last resort option to protect the home and property, we will only implement this method with firefighting personnel advisement and/or monitoring.

On Site
Knowing exactly where and how close the fire is to our property is a key factor to defending our property. Wind and burn direction of the fire drives that decision as well. Our 4WD vehicle(s) are located in evacuation positions, and we all have our trauma kits handy since EMS will be unavailable.

In the event our evacuation route is blocked or engulfed in flames, we’ll move immediately to a contingency plan previously discussed and either hike out on foot (if safe to do so) or take another available off-road evacuation route that is 4WD accessible.

Crisis
If the house is lost to the fire, our first priorities are to ensure everyone in the family (including our pets) is safe and accounted for, and to contact my insurance company as soon as possible to get a home loss claim filed. This will get the lengthy rebuilding process underway so we can focus on the next priority: securing temporary housing.

If we’re unable to stay with relatives or friends in the area, I’ll reach out to Red Cross, FEMA and/or other local, state, and federal organizations that can help with temporary housing. Our go-bags with two-way radios and satellite phones may be the only way to contact loved ones, find emergency housing, and initiate the insurance process of rebuilding our home.

Firefighter Scott Finazzo’s Approach

A wildfire, like a tidal wave, is a force of nature that consumes everything in its path. The heat is punishing, the speed at which they move is mind boggling, and their predictability depends heavily on terrain and weather. In this scenario, a decision must be made to stay, evacuate, or send my family away and return to protect or evacuate more possessions from my home. The decision may seem like an obvious one to many, but it’s not that simple for everyone. Health issues and medical equipment are factors for some. Others have large animals or an inventory of goods that sustain their livelihood to consider. Timely and difficult decisions must be made. Here’s the way I see it …

Preparation
As a career firefighter, I always stress the importance of preparation. The day of the emergency shouldn’t be the first time you think about or plan for it. Bad things will happen. Preparing for a wildfire can be vastly different than preparing your house and family for a fire in the home. The keys to residential fire readiness lie in early detection, suppression, and evacuation. For the most part, once you’re outside of the home, you’re safe. Wildfires are a different animal altogether. The same residential rules apply, but the area of concern grows immensely, as does the in-home preparation. My main areas of focus in wildfire preparation would be early notification, home protection, and evacuation planning, allowing me to better organize my disaster readiness and evacuation strategy.

I consider wildfire home readiness from the outside in. Initially, I’d employ one of the least costly and best ways to protect my home from a wildfire by creating a defensible space. Establishing a buffer around my home that’s free from (or has limited) fire fuels such as grasses, trees, and shrubs is a simple way to slow an approaching wildfire and buy my home and my family vital time. The “industry standard” is to create a 30-foot space around a house, so that’s the minimum area that would be free of fire fuels around my home.

Long before my home is threatened by an actual wildfire, I’d document my home, yard, and possessions by taking lots of pictures and uploading them to a secure place. Then, I’d confirm with my insurance agent that my homeowner’s policy provides the financial protection I need. Insurance coverage should begin with the replacement value of my home but also include other structures. “Other structures” encompass detached garages and outbuildings; their coverages are often set at a percentage of the dwelling coverage. Finally, my family and I are going to need living arrangement coverage that includes food, clothing, hotel costs, and pet boarding. By confirming the insurance coverages are where I need them to be, I can purchase an appropriate policy inclusive of peace of mind.

When a home is engulfed by a wildfire, nothing but a foundation and ashes are left in its wake. Because it would take a small fleet of U-Hauls to load up all of the things in our home that are important to us during an evacuation, preparations and priorities must be established. I digitally back up my photographs and important documentation to cloud storage. In 2022, “vital” paperwork such as birth certificates, wills, passports, and social security cards are replaceable, but to avoid the hassle and protect my documents, I still keep them in a small, fireproof safe that I can easily grab in the event of an evacuation. Also, we have pre-identified family heirlooms, firearms, and items of importance that reside (or can fit) in a larger, fireproof safe that remains on-site.

Anyone who has been involved with or has seen news footage of disaster evacuations knows the bumper-to-bumper, snail-paced mayhem that they are. Even coming out of smaller towns, the traffic can be treacherous. The importance of planning multiple evacuation routes cannot be overstated. Prior to a wildfire, my wife and I would have a multilayered evacuation plan that includes the details of how we’d leave as a family, a meeting place if we were forced to leave separately, and finally a scenario where we have to separately get to safety and regroup once we are out of harm’s way. These plans would be discussed and driven together in advance to identify potential hazards and benefits of any given route. John F. Kennedy is quoted as saying, “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” The same thought applies to disaster preparation.

Finally, many who live in areas prone to wildfires often have a bug-out bag ready to go, the contents of which will vary from person to person. My “bug-out bag” comes in the form of three plastic totes, with locking lids, that can be thrown in the bed of my truck. The totes are divided by contents: emergency clothing and toiletries, camping and survival gear, and miscellaneous, which contains two emergency fire shelters, food, first aid supplies, respirators, extra phone charging cords, a solar charger, playing cards, and a few books to cure boredom if we end up in a hotel room or shelter. Also, in my garage ready to load up are two Cold Fire Tactical fire extinguishers, which are small, lightweight, and can be effective at putting out small fires. One final extra is my mountain bike, which will go in the truck as well to serve as a one-person alternative means of transportation.

On Site
There are several websites and apps that can help keep people informed and provide early warnings of the threat of wildfires. Airnow.gov is a good source of current air quality for whichever area you select. Monitoring air quality is a smart way to get early warnings of deteriorating conditions. The Watch Duty app provides up-to-date information regarding wildfires, which is one of several app options that offer varying degrees of current wildfire intel. Additionally, Weather Underground is a highly rated weather app that’s crowdsourced, meaning users can provide updates in real time. All three are beneficial when monitoring wildfire conditions.

There are common recommendations for protecting your house before evacuating, which can be good tips if, and only if, you have the time to spare. Suggestions such as turning on your lawn sprinkler system, turning on all of your home lights to make it easier for firefighters to see, and placing an exterior ladder against your house to help firefighters access the roof all look good on paper, and may actually help, but are just as likely to be pointless. If a wildfire is close enough to your house to radiate heat and send wind-driven embers onto your property, your lawn sprinkler might buy you a little time, but only a little. The lights and ladders are nice, but may not make a significant difference either way. There’s also the recommendation to leave doors unlocked so firefighters can get into your home quicker. I assure you, a locked residential door is a minor speed bump at best to an experienced firefighter. At the very least, I’d seal up my house as much as possible by making sure all windows and doors are closed and block any openings to provide as much of an ember barrier as possible.

My wife and I each have a Garmin inReach Mini, that has a variety of GPS, safety, and communication features, that we’d grab as the three of us set out to evacuate. Unless there’s an immediate critical medical need, the fact that there’s a local fire station nearby doesn’t mean much. The members are going to be gone trying to mitigate the incident or have evacuated to provide support from a more tactical location. The best they’d be able to offer you, if anyone were present, is a reminder that you need to leave.

As our evacuation is underway, I’m going to continually check our traffic maps on Google or Waze and compare them with wildfire updates issued on our apps or by local jurisdictions — obviously this is far safer with a copilot. This offers me the ability to ensure I’ll have the time to get out of the danger zone safely. Wildfire mitigation leadership have preplanned the main evacuation routes and will prioritize protecting them, so our best course of action would be to leave as early as possible and travel a main evacuation route, knowing our detour options along the way. Paying close attention to conditions en route will serve as my internal barometer for if and when we need to turn back and go the other way. If conditions are deteriorating, I’d quickly obtain as much information as I could via the web and apps about the location and direction of the wildfire. Turning around could be a worse decision than pushing forward. The environment, current information, and instinct will be our best guides.

Crisis
Losing everything in a fire is overwhelming. Simply knowing where to start can be the most difficult step. The shock that literally everything — except what you brought with you — is gone can be paralyzing. My first step would be to notify loved ones that we’re safe, which is the most important thing. The second phone call would be to my insurance agent. Most reputable insurance companies spring into action to get you immediate assistance. Once the requisite communications have been made, my priority would be my wife and son. Their needs, both tangible and psychological, are going to be great.

If there are additional needs that we have outside of our own preparations and insurance, the Red Cross works closely, 365 days per year, with victims of disasters. They’re quick to respond with food, shelter, and other needs. By going to disasterassistance.gov, which operates under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), I can find out if federal assistance is available to me through the federal government. I’d also keep handy the Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990) if I, or my family, need any mental health assistance.

Because I prepared my family by ensuring we had the equipment, goods, and evacuation planning that we’d need, we made it out with our lives. We set ourselves up for success by readying ourselves for a worst-case scenario. Once long-term shelter and immediate needs are met, such as medications, food, clothing, and toiletries, mental health becomes the biggest concern and should be given as much attention as physical health. The needs may be substantial for both.

Conclusion

The deadly and destructive power of a wildfire is astounding. One doesn’t have to live in the California hills to be within its reach. Anyone living in a rural area, particularly with dense forest nearby, is at risk. Wildfirerisk.org provides an interactive map in which to determine risk, wildfire likelihood, and vulnerable populations. This information is good to know to begin your overall readiness. It cannot be stressed enough to prepare, prepare, prepare. Practice doesn’t make perfect; however, it makes improvement. The more you practice, the more you’ll be ready to react when your home or your family are threatened by a wildfire.

When summing up contingency planning for a wildfire disaster as described, we’re reminded of two mindset statements: “Stillness is death” and “prepare for the worst situation to yield the best outcome.” Having a plan and being able to implement it quickly and efficiently in a wildfire or other disaster event is essential to success and your family’s ultimate survival. A plan is only as good as its execution, and to be truly effective, it must be discussed, reviewed, rehearsed, and adapted routinely. Work through the plan with your family as many times as needed until everyone’s execution is problem-free and efficient. Heaven forbid you and your loved ones ever have to face the danger and chaos of the actual event, but if that happens you should be prepared to survive a wildfire or any other disaster on your home front.

Meet Our Panel

Scott Finazzo

Scott Finazzo has been a professional firefighter for 23 years and is currently serving as a battalion chief with the Overland Park (KS) Fire Department. He has written five books including the national bestselling The Prepper’s Workbook, which he coauthored, and the narrative of a Caribbean kayak adventure: “Why Do All the Locals Think We’re Crazy?” Finazzo has also designed a series of writing journals for first responders to help ease the effects of PTSD. He’s a frequent contributor to RECOIL OFFGRID magazine and several fire service publications. Follow Scott at www.scottfinazzo.com.

Lt. John Nores

Lt. John Nores (ret.) is a worldwide conservationist who has investigated environmental and wildlife crimes for 28 years as a California game warden and was awarded the Governor’s Medal of Valor for lifesaving and leadership efforts in 2008. Nores codeveloped and led the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife’s Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) and Delta Team (the nation’s first wilderness special ops unit and sniper element) aimed at combatting the marijuana cartel’s decimation of our nation’s wildlife, wildlands, and waterways. His latest book, Hidden War: How Special Operations Game Wardens are Reclaiming America’s Wildlands from the Drug Cartels highlights the team’s first six years of operations (2013 to 2018). Nores hosts RecoilTV’s Thin Green Line film series, cohosts the Thin Green Line and Warden’s Watch podcasts, and has been featured on several other podcasts.

Review: Stroup Knives Mini and TU-2

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A good knife is considered by many to be the foundation of a good survival plan. More than just a tool, a handcrafted knife tells a story – not just of the blade’s intended use, but of the crafter and their life experience. It was this story that brought us to Stroup Knives. Chris Stroup is a medically-retired veteran of a specialized JSOC unit, who formalized his knife-making journey with his wife in 2017. Since then, Chris has made a point of target-recruiting military and law enforcement veterans looking for both a trade and a purpose. From wounded Green Berets to retired Police Officers, the machines in Stroup’s shop are manned by folks who’ve dedicated their lives to the service of others. Their catalog is straightforward and easy-to-navigate, their blade designs simple and rugged. We got the chance to examine two of their models – the Mini and the TU-2.

Stroup Knives Mini

The Mini is ideal for daily wear, whether you are spending a day on the trail or in the shop or around town. The 3-inch, 5/32-thickness blade is well-sized for household chores and small field tasks but otherwise unassuming and not burdensome on the belt.

Above: A size comparison between the Stroup TU-2 (top) and the Mini (bottom). Both feature Kydex sheaths with Tek Lok belt clips.

Speaking of which, the Mini’s sheath features a Tek Lok belt clip oriented for horizontal carry, which is ideal for small-of-back or forward-of-hip wear. With an overall length of 6.75 inches, there isn’t a whole ton of grip space. For those with smaller hands, it will likely fill that “Goldilocks” size for a carry fixed blade. But if you’ve got catcher’s gloves for hands, chances are this will be a three-finger knife for you.

Stroup Knives TU-2

On the other end of end of the spectrum is the Tactical Use series. We also got a chance to try out the TU-2, which features a larger 4.5-inch-long, 3/16-inch-thick blade. At 8.75 inches overall, the TU-2 is probably not a daily carry blade for most of us. It does, however, make a great general purpose field knife. We used the vertically oriented Tek Lok clip to mount our TU-2 on the waist strap of our Stone Glacier Avail pack, which currently gets used once or twice per week for summer hikes or road marches. In this role its slim, unobtrusive, and easily accessible.

Above: The TU-2 mounted on the waist belt of a Stone Glacier Avail backpack.

Features and Options

All Stroup blades are 1095 carbon steel, flat ground, acid etched and rock tumbled. The dark, uneven charcoal color and roughed-up texture on the flat surfaces give these knives an artisan, hand-hewn feel. The G10 grip scales, available in a variety of colors, are also cut with a scalloped stone-like texture. The overall aesthetic of these knives seems to convey the historical relationship mankind has with edged tools, looking like they could have been dug up from the gravesite of a Viking warrior. Which is appropriate given the decades (if not centuries) of collective deployment and street time of the Stroup Knives staff.

Perhaps the best part of all is the pricing. Handmade knives with handsome styling are often priced in a range that’s stretching towards four figures. But Stroup Knives are tools, made to be used and made to be accessible for purchase. The Mini comes in at $145 with the larger TU-2 coming in a little higher at $220, both of which are very competitive, given the handcrafted construction and financial support going directly into veterans’ pockets. They also recently announced a line of axes as well as a collaboration knife with Justin Melnick of the TV series “SEAL Team”. Sales of this knife will benefit the Special Operations Wounded Warriors charity.

If any of Stroup Knives’ offerings happen to fit your knife needs, they are certainly an easy company to support – offering reasonably-priced hard use blades hand built by military and law enforcement veterans. Check out their website if you think you need a Stroup knife in your kit.