| Author |
Message |
    
Buellin_ri
| | Posted on Monday, February 06, 2006 - 09:22 pm: | 
|
I used a Blackwater Leg holster for my M9. I only carry two mags, though.
I did see most of the SP's using something like what you posted.
By the way I seem to be the only one that couldn't get on the bad web  .
But I got three beers a day  .
(Message edited by buellin_Ri on February 06, 2006) |
Lowflyer
| | Posted on Monday, February 06, 2006 - 09:48 pm: |
|
Hey, I was an Air Force puke deployed to lots of hostile environments on and off bases with Army, Navy and Marines. I was an FE on CSAR/SO helos. Without knowing your job, it's hard to say whether that vest is worth a damn to you or not. I can tell you that I would have gotten more use out of the extra socks than that vest. |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Monday, February 06, 2006 - 09:49 pm: |
|
A good quality knife would probably be a nice addition to your gear. And handy wipes. |
Johnny7051
| | Posted on Monday, February 06, 2006 - 11:16 pm: |
|
Hey Buddy, I am in the Sandbox right now. Depending on where you go you will be surprised. I am pretty sure they sell that same vest or something just like it at the PX here. Most guys around here prefer drop holsters more. It is quicker to grab from and its out of the way of all the other gear you have to wear. Its kind of cold right now so don't forget to pack issued cold weather gear like fleeces and gortex. Don't break the bank like has been said before. They sell just about everything here if you decide you need it, and you will definitely go back with more stuff than you came with. Make sure you have an mp3 player or something to pass the time with. They even sell laptops here man.
Johnny |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 12:10 am: |
|
Thanks
the same SeaBee also talked about knives - said all his unit wore a fixed blade knife and it created a sh*t storm with the installation commander - until his deployment CO made it officially part of the uniform. Any specific knife you recommend? When I was in Korea I was given an EOD knife but it mysteriously disappeared during one PCS move. The same EOD troops that hooked me up also rigged my gear - had the knife upside down and vertical from the left upper Alice suspender. Sure was handy. That did generate a few "John Wayne" comments as well as challenges as to if the knife was authorized - everybody's toting an M16 and they get all hinky about a knife. I used to get a kick out of it though, because frequently as I passed almost out of earshot I would hear "Yeah, but do YOU want to try to take it away from him?" |
Vegasbueller
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 12:48 am: |
|
When I was on the SO we picked up some vests from an Air Force DRMO that had the holster on the chest like that. They were great and had lots of storage space. Flying a Huey, I kept a bag of o rings in one pocket and ammo in the other! Be careful over there and get home in one piece! |
Chiefiron
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 12:58 am: |
|
Well as has been said, without knowing what you will be doing its hard to say about the vest. i carry multiple knives, one fixed blade medium length, one med to large folder and a multi tool.
i have had that exact vest in your pic and for walking around its a pain, if your driving all the time its cool. opposite for the drop leg man. trying getting your pistol out while your crammed behind the steering wheel of an SUV, armored or other wise but if your walking around its no big deal.
personally i dont use the vest any more even when i run convoys and i gave up my drop leg for the same kydex gear i used off duty as a cop.
mainly bring extra socks and stuff and unless your clearing buildings and running night time raids, leave the cool (personally owned) hang ons for the M16/M4 at home this is a very harsh environment things will get damaged count on it. PM me when you get closer to deploying and if im still here ill hook you up with some good contacts for gear in country.
Tim |
Lowflyer
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 01:12 am: |
|
Spyderco knives are inexpensive and generally good folding utility knives. We had those issued to us. I like Ernest Emerson designs also. I carried his Benchmade CQC7 and a Leatherman most of the time. I never carried a fixed blade knife on my person except the one in my survival vest. I had a K-Bar in my evasion kit/flight bag. K-Bars are indestructible and cheap. |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 02:35 am: |
|
I have a personal preference for Cold Steel and S.O.G. knives. There are some great custom and semi-custom knives out there, but those two are great value for the dollar in fixed blades. |
Spreadem
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 02:57 am: |
|
I get that knife B.S. all the time too. What's the deal?? You got loaded M4's, M9's, etc....and some prick with a shiny collar wants to ask if my knife blade is longer than 4 inches!! I tell him no, but something else is...
If your looking for a decent knife, check out Columbia River Knife and Tool. They make a really cool knife called the M16A1*, or something close to that. It's a folder, but it's a good size and has to be THE sharpest knife out of the box you'll find. I liked it far better than sny other knife I've used. |
Seanp
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 04:34 am: |
|
If you're actually going to be going out and busting down doors, you'll want a knife. If you're going to be driving in a lot of convoys, it might be overkill, since the immediate action for an ambush is to drive out of the ambush zone and regroup a safe distance away. Not a lot of use for a knife against an IED. And if you're going to be spending a majority of your time in the FOB, (which most people other than the grunts and the truckers do nowadays) when you don't need a knife except for utility purposes.
I used a folding Gerber knife and a Leatherman tool when I was in Iraq. I have a folding Gerber knife and multitool here, (in Kuwait) and that's all I've needed. 15 months in Iraq, (12 in Baghdad, 3 in Al Kut) I left the FOB on convoys or in UH-60's at least four or five days a week. I never fired my 9mm or M16. I never used my knife for anything except to strip WF-16 or WD-1. If you are a FOB rat, and you've got a big knife, you will look like Rambo. You can get a folding Gerber knife through the supply system. I don't know the NSN, but that's how we got ours. One of my soldiers ordered all sorts of stuff, and we got it all pretty quickly. Knives, multitools, laser grips for our 9mm's, all sorts of stuff.
As far as a holster, I used a Blackhawk tactical leg holster. I used one when I was in college, (I was on the combat pistol team - we shot IPSC and other competitions) and I grew accustomed to reaching to my thigh for my weapon. If you have a holster that attaches to your LBV or IBA, (like in that picture) then every time you take the LBV or vest off, (which is pretty much all the time that you're not getting mortared) you're going to have to take the pistol off your vest and attach it somewhere on your body. If it's a leg holster, at least it's always on you. Even a shoulder holster can be a pain, because you have to remove it to don or take off your LBV/IBA.
What's your MOS, are you going to a large or small FOB, what will you be doing when you're there? I can give you all sorts of advice, but some of it may not be pertinent to your situation. And I haven't lived in Iraq since July of 2004. I visited a few times this past fall, but not for more than a week or so. It's nothing now like it was three years ago. It's a garrison environment in the larger FOBs, and even the smaller ones now are at the point that we were in the summer of '03.
-a prick with a shiny collar (who used to have mosquito wings, a long time ago...)  |
Chiefiron
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 04:39 am: |
|
i second that Spreadem, im sitting on one right now, back pocket of my nifty 5.11 pants. i was a little disappointed though after i bought it at the PX here in Iraq to find that a highly regarded US knife maker would allow knock offs to be made in their name in Taiwan. (small print on the package)
Still for the $75 it cost me its the best semi custom (design) around.
Tim |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 05:16 am: |
|
>>>As far as a holster, I used a Blackhawk tactical leg holster. I used one when I was in college
I'm glad you added that about the pistol team. I was reading along thinking...."he went to one tough frickin school!" |
Seanp
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 05:36 am: |
|
Well, yeah, some people thought it was tough... We all had M14 rifles in our rooms, until we were seniors - then we got a sabre.  |
Bigdaddy
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 10:07 am: |
|
KA-Bar is good knife but it'll draw many questions. As to whether it's the same KA-Bar as issued to WWII Devil Dawgs is a whole different debate.
For an every day do everything well knife:
http://www.sogknives.com/home.htm
I've still got mine and I only wish it had an odometer on it -- It has to be 20 years or thereabout old now. It's been from Panama in '89 as a United States Army SSG to DSII with 3ID as GoatSmellingContractor. |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 02:06 pm: |
|
Is the tac leg holster the drop down version? been to the blackhawk web page and can only find the new high tec ($100) version |
Bomber
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 02:14 pm: |
|
newer Ka-Bars are definately NOT the same as WW2 issue -- which is likely good in every way with the possilbe exception of karma, I'm thinkin
I carried a SOG during my time in silly territories, and it did everything I asked of it, without fail or failure
a good folder is a great boon, as you'll likely have it with you all the time -- any folder is only as strong as it's pivot design, of course, and they are all pretty miserable as prybars (which is one of the primary uses of any knife in a grunt's life, or at least it useta was)
SOG's stuff ain't cheap, but it's worth every penny -- we used to leave em behind with the new guys when we rotated |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 02:21 pm: |
|
is this what you are talking about?
(Message edited by midnightrider on February 07, 2006) |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 02:44 pm: |
|
or this one - seems the flap would keep a lot (or at least a little) of sh@t off the weapon |
Johnny7051
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 05:25 pm: |
|
The first one is like the one our unit issued out. It is probably the most popular one out here. Make sure you get a thick belt like the one in the pic. |
Southern Marine
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 07:07 pm: |
|
Because I had a lazy old desk job, I wound up getting a clip on holster, so I could take it off when I sat down. Some of the fellas got the ones that fit in the middle of the back. |
Buellin_ri
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 07, 2006 - 07:11 pm: |
|
The first one is the one I had (it was black). |
Seanp
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 08, 2006 - 02:18 am: |
|
Yeah, I have one like the first one there, also in black. It lasted through a lot. It's nice because it has a dual retention system - a snap and velcro. Also, don't forget to get a lanyard - I used a coiled one, looks sort of like the phone cord that goes from the phone to the handset. Oh, and I used a foam earplug in the end of the barrel to keep the dust out. I never fired it with the earplug in there, but I don't think it would affect it much. |
Court
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 08, 2006 - 04:20 am: |
|
>>>fit in the middle of the back.
Pancake. Perfect for use with a suit.
Former life. |
|
