Let’s try AIWB again. Let’s call this “Round Two”. A few years ago I tried Appendix Carry using what was at the time a very popular CCW type firearm in a very popular IAWB type rig. And I quickly found that it wasn’t for me. Because, let’s face it… I’m not the young high speed, low drag operator that I was in my youth.
But I wanted to try it again, and I wanted to try it with my personal favorite type of firearm ever, a 1911 Lightweight Commander.
This isn’t a gun review so I won’t even mention how fantastic my Ruger SR1911 LWC is… But it is. Ahem…
So I had a conversation with my Leathermancer, Lucas Adams. Lucas has been my #1 Go To for Holsters for the last 7 years? 8 years? I don’t know… But when I get a new pistol that I intend to carry, I talk to Lucas. He’s good. He’s that good. Even when I actually worked for another Holster Maker (Kydex, so it like, doesn’t even count) I still had Lucas make my personal carry rigs. Continue reading Adams Holsters’ “Closing Time” Appendix Carry IWB rig
Top 5 Production 1911 Pistols.
At my core, I’m a 1911 Guy. Though I have a great fondness for SIG, CZ, and Beretta DA/SA type pistols, and a love of Revolvers… my heart belongs to the 1911. I get asked about them from time to time, though not as often as I used to. Because everyone’s talking about polymer framed, striker fired pistols these days. People are generally forgetting about the amazingly wonderful 1911. When asked, I’m most often asked about what my top choices are in a 1911. And usually, I’m asked about this after the person buys their 1911 pistol and then gets their Feels bruised because their pistol isn’t on my list.
Now, as far as lists go, I’m not going to a top 5 Brands. Because that’s not just boring, but obvious. So I’m going to pick the Top 5 Pistols. The individual model version… This is a much more challenging list. Made far more difficult by limiting it to only 5 pistols when this list could easily – very easily – go to a Top 20. So if you’re baby isn’t in the top 5, it’s probably really close… so your knee-jerk reaction of “What about this?” is going to be answered with, “There Can Be Only Five.”
Also, this list is just for Production pistols… Wilson Combat, Nighthawk Custom, Carolina Arms Group, Ed Brown, Les Baer and the like, I classify as “Custom” 1911’s.
Anyways, without any more preamble, here’s my Top 5 Production 1911 Pistols: Continue reading Top 5 Production 1911 Pistols.
Why do you hate Glocks?
Message this morning: “Why do you hate Glocks?”
If I’ve given anyone that impression… My apologies. I do not hate them. In fact, I respect them a great deal. For a long time, my EDC pistol was a Glock 23. Solid, good gun. They are reliable and accurate and have a great balance of size, weight, and firepower. A Glock is just fine.
For me though, personally, it’s just not a favorite. I like guns with some character to them. Just like I prefer motorcycles with character to say, a Honda Nighthawk. Nothing wrong with a Nighthawk at all… Fine bike… even a great bike. But like a Glock, I find them to be a very pedestrian, soulless lump that I don’t appreciate spending quality time with, and would rather be spending it with something more interesting. And something that improves on the characteristics that I find important. Like a really really good single action trigger.
If you really groove on your Glock (Or Honda Nighthawk) that is totally good. Join the hundreds of thousands of other people who feel the same way too. Sure, there’s something to be said for them.
There’s also a reason McDonald’s has so many busy locations around the world.
RUGER 1911 Lightweight Commander .45 UPDATED
A few weeks ago I added a Ruger 1911 Lightweight Commander to my personal collection. I wanted to go back to a lightweight Commander style 1911 as an EDC for some time, for a variety of reasons… Namely style, accuracy, hard first shot hits… and I’ve always been a 1911 guy and it’s been a few years since I really carried one. I really appreciate the narrow profile of a 1911. So I started my shopping process. I wanted to try something a little different. And I’ve been impressed with the quality and value that Ruger has been churning out lately. So I overlooked my normal Go To brands… and I’m glad I did! Continue reading RUGER 1911 Lightweight Commander .45 UPDATED
Rolling with a Wheelgun
My EDC package.
Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum, 3″, with Hogue Monogrips
The Ruger is amazingly accurate, even with the full house 158 grain semi-jacketed hollow points. And thanks to the bigger rubber grips, it’s not uncomfortable to shoot. Of course, with lighter loads, it’s just a pussycat. 
This is an Adam’s Holsters Texas rig. I’ve had it for a couple years now and it still looks like new, save for some wear along the very top edge. Holds the gun nice and tight to the body, and I can wear it all day long.
Here we have the Benchmade Crooked River folder. I love this knife. It’s a full sized folder, making it larger than in commonly carried. But it’s wicked sharp, amazingly smooth, and just looks so very good.
Guns & Butter
A long time ago I listened to a lecture from a guy that was some sort of Financial Wizard. He said that we spend our money on Two Things… Guns and Butter. The terms are figurative… Allow me to explain.
Guns are Assets. Guns are things that either Hold Value or Gain Value over time. A Gun, if you buy it right, will be worth what you paid for it, and can even go up in value if you buy them right. That’s another subject all together, investing in guns… But I digress. A Classic Car can be considered a Gun Type Purchase… Property… Anything that becomes an Asset to you that either gains value in and of its self, or allows you to make profits because of it. Such as Tooling for your business.
Butter are things that either lose value over time or are consumed. For example, you can buy a pound of butter now, and in a couple months, you no longer have a pound of butter… it’s either been used up or has gone rancid. Butter is also those normal expenses we all have or frivolous spending… like that new boat you want. Because the value of that boat will go down over time.
Now, this sounds very wise to want to spend more on Guns than you do Butter. However this Financial Guru missed the 3rd and most important Thing that we Should be spending money on: MEMORIES. Continue reading Guns & Butter
“I don’t like big bikes”
Some time ago I was sitting with my father on the back patio at The Farm. I had ridden there on the Ducati Multistrada Enduro, a big 1200cc Warhorse of an Adventure Bike.
He made a statement that has been on my mind ever since. “I don’t like big bikes.” He said, half disapprovingly and half off the cuff.
My knee-jerk reaction was to say, “I don’t either.” And then I jumped on the Enduro and took off back home… thinking the whole time, “Do I really dislike big bikes?” Continue reading “I don’t like big bikes”
A LESSON IN FAILURE: HONDA VFR1200F
Back the day, there was a place called “Heritage USA”. It was, at the time, the #3 Tourist Destination in America, behind Disney Land at #2, and Disney World at #1. Heritage USA was a huge theme park.
It had a water park, roller coasters, and old timey street kinda like at Disney Land… It even had a magic castle. Continue reading A LESSON IN FAILURE: HONDA VFR1200F
Harley Sportster or Triumph Bobber?
Talk about “Two Peas in a Pod”. No two motorcycles are as similar, yet as different as these two. On one hand, we have the classic Harley Davidson 1200cc V-Twin Sporter Forty-Eight. Simple. Burly. Cool. It’s been around for ages.
On the other hand is the new Triumph Bobber which came out in March of 2017. It’s a 1200cc Parallel Twin that looks simple, burly and cool… yet hides a lot of technology inside. Where the Harley has electric turn signals and fuel injection, the Triumph has a Ride by Wire throttle, Traction Control, switchable ride modes, and ABS. It’s an actual modern motorcycle and not any ancient agricultural hold-over from the days of horse-drawn plowing.
Continue reading Harley Sportster or Triumph Bobber?
My favorite Sport Bike: The Thruxton R.
Bar none, the Triumph Thruxton R is my favorite Sport Bike on the planet. First off, let’s talk about the Looks. This bike is drop dead gorgeous. It looks like what a motorcycle should look like. This is the modern quintessential Cafe Racer, from the company that pretty much invented the Cafe Racer. This is a two-wheeled Audrey Hepburn… always good looking, never goes out of style, and will still be good looking 200 years from now. But under that classic good looking exterior, this bike is truly a modern machine.
The 1200cc Parallel Twin is a pleasure at every position of the Rev Meter… it has plenty of usable power, and I’ve never felt the bike lacking in Pull.
Continue reading My favorite Sport Bike: The Thruxton R.