MandM

My ZT-0777-M390 (preordered in April 2011)... arrived this week. (Really. I had almost given up.) I'm almost glad that ZT couldn't mass-produce the damascus and steel combo blade like the initial design, and had to replace it with the all M390 steel blade. If it was the original, then I'd never carry or use this knife, which would be a shame. It's been my go-to since it's shown up. It's bigger than my usual carry (XM-18 3" or Strider PT-CC)... but it's lighter than both and rides nice in work slacks, even suit pants. (Attributed to the sculpted fully carbon fiber front and rear scales. If there is an inner steel/Ti/whatever liner, which I can't see, it's very minimal. It seems to be only/mostly the CF.) While the blade has a thick spine... I feel the blade on my XM is much stronger do to the shape of the grind... but the 0777 is scalpel sharp... and the pseudo-warnclife grind is just right for most everyday tasks. The replaceable lock face on the lock bar is a nifty feature... but in all my years of owning and using framelocks... not a one has worn out so badly that it needed to be replaced so this, while nice, is kinda gimmicky. Also, due to the construction of the scales... I would NOT consider this a hard use knife. (CF scales only to support the pivot? Any torsion at the pivot and it'll most likely give.) It's a much more "social" piece. It will never replace my XM as my "if I had only 1..." However... for those of us who fly/drive a desk everyday (that's me!) it works well. Isn't too flashy, not too scary, not heavy... looks great. I'll try to get pics later.

I like lights. Have a lot. Tried a lot of brands, keep going back to a few. Right now I rotate between a Sunwayman V-10R Ti, a Jetbeam RRT-01 in the pocket. (V-10 is a clicky, Jetbeam is a rotary, no button. Slow to operate, but much smaller overall.) My nightstand has an older Nitecore EX-10 with the modded piston with a trit installed. (Perfect for finding it in the middle of the night and still plenty bright enough for "bump in the night" drills .) Stashed around the house are a couple others... an older Novatac, a Jetbeam RRT-0 (clicky), and a couple 4-sevens Mini-123s. I used to be a Surefire guy... can't beat their durability... but sometimes I have trouble swallowing their prices. Regarding Lumen rating... you can't always just go by numbers... please remember that Surefire uses their TIR lens... it's not just a piece of glass or mineral crystal. The TIR lens improves the beam over a simple mineral crystal. Perceived lighting downrange from a surefire is very similar to many higher rated lights. Even thought my old E1B and my E2D have gone to better places (one's in my truck, one was gifted to a friend who's was pilfered) I have my eye on an X300U and maybe a single stage Fury. But I have an Olight M22 on the way right now...

Two words... Geissele. Trigger. (I have an SSA now. Love it. Next build will most likely get a SD-E.)

THIS! (I went this route. Couldn't be happier. Prepping to build another as soon as funds allow it.)

Handguns on the bike... I've done it before. They're locked in a case, inside my saddlebags and they're unloaded... with the ammo in a range bag in the other bag. Now... here's the thing I'm thinking re: backpack, hard saddlebags, soft saddlebags, etc. I only have soft bags on my bike. No lock on those bags either. Hasn't stopped me from transporting to and from the range. IMHO when I transport to the range, the guns are NEVER EVER left alone on my bike, so there's no need for lockable hardbags, as long as they're encased in the otterbox or range bag, or whatever. The saddlebag is just holding the approved method of containment. We've had the discussion before on the forum as to what NJ law REALLY means: locked, unlocked, in a bag, in a separate bag, gun in one bag strapped down to a cinder block like they do with gas station keys, while the ammo is in a safety deposit box in the bank vault strapped to your trunk. (And that's only for FMJs... if you're transporting hollow points... don't forget to add voice recognition and an iris scanner to the ammo vault that now must be transported in the Brinks armored car that you have to hire to drive behind you. ) I usually follow these rule: stay low key, transport it as close to NJ requirements as you reasonably can, to the best of your knowledge, and try not to break any other laws en route to the range. I think you should be just fine. Author's note: I am not a lawyer. Please consult a legal professional before attempting any of the techniques for yourself. Do not take if you suffer from COPD or are taking nitrates. If you have an erect.... oh wait... wrong disclaimer.

My husky/shepard mix is energetic to say the least. But greeting him is always the same... he wants to give you kisses on the face. And the biggest problem with that is 70-75 lbs of airborne Shepsky. One thing to note... he is sort of territorial. Bandit loves my neighbor... but if she's on her side of the fence he'll bark and bark until she leave or I bring him inside. The second she comes into our house or yard, he's her best friend.

I have an ACOG on my AR and I absolutely love it. (TA-31H) I chose it for many of the same reasons, size, weight, no batteries, durability. I don't like flip up magnifiers, too much junk flapping in the breeze. The choice for this rifle was ACOG or Aimpoint (Pro or CompM4), and I went ACOG. Sure... being magnified all the time slows you down a little as far as acquisition in the shorter ranges, but I didn't build this rifle for that intended use.

I own 2 Izulas and an RC-4 (now called an ESEE-4). Great stuff. Tough as nails, SHARP out of the box and not crazy expensive either. If you're looking for a quality fixed blade... ESEE is a good choice.

Yes. Has access to the safe, and knows how to use everything in it to great effect.

Glad it seems to be solved, OP! Keep us posted... especially if you determine the actual culprit. Side note: WECSOG (once I found out what it meant) is hilarious! I guess it applies to me, and I'm strangely okay with it.

Good vid (lovely indeed!)... but I lol'ed when she said "10 round magazine clip."

I fat fingered/had a brain fart... I meant the 0560. Not the spring assist. (To be fair... I'm not sure the 560 needs spring assist. It's pretty smooth.) I waited for that one too though. I preordered the 0560 in June 2011 and waited something on the order of 4 months for it. (And I'm STILL waiting on my ZT0777 that I preordered on the same day. Ha! Kershaw/ZT better get cracking on shipping the knife of the year 2011!!! Hahahahaha!) I LOVE the 0560... it's so similar to the 3.5" XM-18 that I had before I sold it to get the 3" XM. It's a great knife without the price point or hassle of finding an actual XM-18. FYI... knifecenter has the 0566 for $144 pre-order which is very good. (The 0560 is still going for $250-ish.)

Drink the H&K kool-aid. HK45/HK45c... USP... One of us... one of us...

Usually I rotate between: XM-18 (3"), Strider PT-CC, Bark River PSK or a GITD Spyderco Manix 2. (And I always have an Atwood MSoPT in my wallet.) Sometimes on the weekend I'll carry a ZT-0566 or a Boker Pry-Mini, especially if doing yard work or something... but they're generally too big for my weekday work-wear.

Another +1 for building an AR. .223 is a very manageable caliber, but my $0.02... don't forget to take into consideration the build weight. My GF loves shooting my Franken-AR but her biggest complaint is the weight. She says it's too heavy for her. (In it's current config, it's 8.8lbs unloaded.) She made me promise that the next one I build will be lighter so it could be "her" AR. ("Build another AR? No problem!")

Heh... lived in this area all my life, and I've lived in Hawthorne for almost 4 years now... and had NO idea that place existed! Guess I'll have to take a field trip down the street one of these days...

Thanks, Wink. I love that bug lug. We got him from his original owner the day before he was to be given to the pound. My girlfriends boss knew we just bought our house and that I was pestering her to get a dog. His daughter's boyfriend was Bandit's owner. He was laid off and had to move back home with his parents. His mom was suffering from a chronic illness and just couldn't handle the hyperactive pooch. The original owner managed to put off putting him up for adoption for 3+ months, hoping his luck would change and he could move back out of his folks house and keep the dog, but it wasn't meant to be. We met him, he took to us immediately, and we brought him home. Hey Zap... what you have to do is plead for an Irish wolfhound or a great dane something else enormous... and then you can sweet talk her into a "smaller" dog. (That's how we "compromised" and I got Bandit. I was originally angling for one of those myself.) Everyone here has a spectacular lookin' dog! And I'm not just saying that! You look out for them... and they'll look out for you!

Huskies are okay in the heat around here... you just have to take precautions when it gets hot. (The owner must do his/her job.) I have a 70 lbs. 4 year old Shepski (German Shepard/Husky mix) and he's pretty smart about the heat. He stays indoors when we're at work (no unsupervised outside for him) and we keep the thermostat set to 75. (My 6 foot fence is not tall enough to trust that he won't make it over. He probably could.) When we're outside he know's when enough play is enough, when to lay in the shade, and I make sure he has lots of water, and he loves ice cubes. And worst case... he knows when to go back into the A/C. Here's my big goof ball, Bandit.

H&K would love it if you bought a P30... they need the money!

Have a look at the new Kershaw Cryo series The 1555 has a 2.75" blade or the 1556 has a 3.25" blade. Rick Hinderer design for $30 - $40... great bang for the buck.

2 XMs (is one a slicer and one a spanto blade?)? AND all that other stuff? I am jealous. Nice pickups.

Just gotta rant for a second. Clearly the DMV has some screwed up logic. I just got the renewal notice for my motorcycle. The same day... my girlfriend got the registration renewal for her car. My 800cc Suzuki, which requires very little DMV manpower (no motorcycle inspection, so only the paperwork portion)... is $65 to renew this year. My girlfriend's Passat.... the renewal is only $24! What. The. F*%K. Rant off. Now back to your regularly scheduled program...

Any specific model bipod you looking to fit on there? And AFG1 or AFG2? (According to Magpul, they're 2 different lengths. I can't confirm... I only own an AFG2, no AFG1 to compare it to.)

I'm pretty sure all Trijicon products are made in the USA. (Part of the reason for the cost... they have to pay actual wages.) If I'm mistaken... then I paid WAAAAYYYY too much.

90% of Americans want lower unemployment too... and Obama can't seem to deliver that either... (Full disclosure... I read that on twitter this morning. Originally posted by @kiser. Damn near showered the dog with coffee when I read that.)