tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575061201749703300.post165659796968489817..comments2024-02-28T20:56:23.768-06:00Comments on Sipsey Street Irregulars: Tacticool Tuesday - “Use your gear, but rely on your skills.” Dutchman6http://www.blogger.com/profile/09935420042995679958noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575061201749703300.post-79559730375822543452016-05-10T16:29:14.358-05:002016-05-10T16:29:14.358-05:00Figure 8 knot (oddly captioned as a double-half hi...Figure 8 knot (oddly captioned as a double-half hitch in the article) is my personal favorite.<br /><br />You shouldn't chuck your crowbar/chisel just because you can pick locks, but you can consider something lighter and more versatile. Picking locks isn't necessarily quick, if you can prise a lock open faster than you can pick it, you should have that option. And sometimes there's no lock as such anyway. But picking locks is often a lot more discrete.<br /><br />A useful thing to do is look at your gear (or gear that appeals to you) and think of how you would accomplish the same task without that particular item, using expedient (or cheap) materials. Then try it a few times. That gives you a good feel for what any piece of gear is worth (in time and effort as well). Good gear saves you lots of sweat and tears (and the occasional drop of blood). Pointless gear is harder to use effectively than some spit and baling wire (para cord, duct tape, empty cans, rags, etc.). What it takes for <i>you</i> to use/improvise a piece of gear is what matters. Something that is almost pointless to you might be a great value for someone else, and vice versa, not only because of different skills but because of different physical abilities.<br /><br />And of course knowing what you'd have to do without each piece of gear also ensures that you're never left helpless simply because of lacking equipment.Chiu ChunLinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03519192610708043962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575061201749703300.post-69015411827702090982016-05-10T13:09:56.107-05:002016-05-10T13:09:56.107-05:00"Great minds think alike".... Former USM..."Great minds think alike".... Former USMC Partyzantski has been preaching this forever, and serendipity! his book review this week is "Soldier's Load" by Col Marshall. Take-away: "worn out men cannot think or fight". I wish more people would take this to heart, instead of spending $$$ on complete crap that just loads you down and most of them have no idea how they would use in the field. Link to PZ's review & comments: http://tinyurl.com/ha62kxcBorn Free, Die Freenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575061201749703300.post-59885995419052550812016-05-10T10:45:24.373-05:002016-05-10T10:45:24.373-05:00Sgt Matt, thanks for another great timely and usef...Sgt Matt, thanks for another great timely and useful article.<br /><br />Sign me, Neal JensenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575061201749703300.post-36116834700593445752016-05-10T10:25:27.833-05:002016-05-10T10:25:27.833-05:00There was a video online about the time of the Ukr...There was a video online about the time of the Ukraine problems which showed a guy wearing a tattered suit and caring what looked like a non scoped hunting rifle maneuvering past a checkpoint with a couple of people in tow. The camera was behind the 10 or so guys in the checkpoint who were armed with belt feds along with other rifles. The guy was trying to sneak from cover to cover when the guys in the check point opened fired on him. Every time you saw the guys head pop up one of the guys in the checkpoint got shot and went down. The whole thing took about 45 seconds and 4 guys in the checkpoint went down and the guy made it across the field of vision of the camera. Luck or skill, who knows but the guy in the suit won that battle an didnt need anything fancy to do it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575061201749703300.post-23640756330971932652016-05-10T10:24:22.626-05:002016-05-10T10:24:22.626-05:00Note from Mike: I second these observations with t...Note from Mike: I second these observations with the following addendum. Gear needs change with tactical and strategic realities. If your AO is dominated by the enemy then the only gear needed will be minimal -- rifle, slung bandoleer, maybe a 2-quart canteen or just a water bottle so you can dump arms in a hurry. Battle dress is whatever civvies are appropriate. If you transportation needs dictate vehicles and CQB then current open top mag pouches and vests that have been perfected 0ver the past 15 yrs are certainly desirable. But if your AO dictates foot movement in sand or swamp, covered mag pouches and open strap harnesses like the ALICE or M1956 are called for. Your logistics and training should include all scenarios AND should be cached in different places.Dutchman6https://www.blogger.com/profile/09935420042995679958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575061201749703300.post-32802794010423247792016-05-10T08:15:18.953-05:002016-05-10T08:15:18.953-05:00I like to watch the hippie bush craft guys. In gen...I like to watch the hippie bush craft guys. In general they go very light on equipment and heavy on knowledge. It is instructive to seek ideas and methods outside of ones training and background. Interesting post.Frednoreply@blogger.com