The right knowledge and equipment can make all the difference to a prepared Gray Man.
While there are plenty of places to research training and gear for the prepared and tactically minded, there are far fewer catering to those who wish to go about with a low profile, while still being truly prepared.
Fortunately, there is the The Old Gray Man.
I have done the research for you. The idea is to give you suggestions for training and gear that will help you live your life comfortably, well-prepared, and low profile. If you are looking for good yet obvious tactical equipment and training, there are plenty of other places that can help you with your search. If you are looking for that which will help you become an old gray man, you are in the right place. The site is new and I am just one guy, so please forgive the paucity of choices here so far. It’s going to grow. Honest! Check in often for new items and updates.
Legal stuff: I do not make any of this stuff, except the book. I have professional relationships with a couple of the producers, so they pay me out of their end if you buy something from them. Doesn’t cost you anything extra. And I do not put things here simply BECAUSE I have a relationship with the producers. I sought out these relationships because I like what they are offering. The folks I do not have an any relationship with, I do not make any kind of compensation for recommending. I put those items here because, like the rest of the stuff you see here, I like it and it meets or exceeds the Old Gray Man’s standards.
I carry a flashlight in my pants pocket every day and have for a couple of decades. It is just too important a tool to go without. I use it just about daily for some reason or other, especially as my eyes age. I am very keen on this light. It is insanely bright for it’s size, especially for those of us who remember trying to use and carry four cell Maglites back in the day. Beyond the full fledged 250 lumens, it also has a 50 lumen setting for those times you are not looking to melt anyone’s retinas. It is also rechargeable via an internal USB port, which is pretty clever and convenient. It does not look like a “tactical” flashlight, but it cranks out the light when asked. Its small size and light weight make it ridiculous NOT to carry.
A big step to going gray? Following the law. And if your goal is to follow the law, actually KNOWING the law can be a rather large help. When it comes to what you can and can NOT do to defend yourself against violent predators, nobody knows the law better than my friend Andrew Branca. His work with the Law of Self Defense is simply THE best source for researching and understanding just what is legal when it comes to defending yourself. Period. I have read all his books and taken his class four times. That’s how much I believe in what he is doing. Now, we have partnered with him to secure some of his outstanding training for you. For free, which is really my favorite price. Just hit the link below and start to push back the frontiers of ignorance in this critical area.
This little guy is a compact seat belt cutter and car window breaker tool. It is small enough to fit handily on a key ring. I have one on every set of car keys I own. It is very low profile and does what it is designed to do to perfection. I recognize that my odds of needing to break out a car window or cut a seat belt these days are fairly slim, but if I DO need to, the size, price, and effectiveness of these units make it silly not to have on hand.
Beyond the fact that I enjoy a small, flat wallet for purely aesthetic reasons, a smaller wallet forces me to keep what I carry every day down to a minimum. Less obvious, less attractive to anyone who sees it will ill-intentions, and fewer things to lose if I misplace it. Plus, this thing is crazy durable.
RJ Martin Knives
Randy Martin is a high end custom knife maker and an old, dear friend. He really does not need advertising or endorsement from me, that’s for sure. He’s in that rarified realm of “If you know, you know”. But I have his site here because I have carried his knives just about constantly for the last 20 years, in both peacetime law enforcement and when working overseas in combat zones. I’m carrying one as I write this, actually. His blades are insanely sharp, incredibly well-made, and worth the effort to own.
A Book by T.C. Fuller
A vivid portrayal of life inside America’s most prestigious and controversial law enforcement agency, the FBI. Over a 20-year career, Fuller had a front-row seat to the activity and sweeping changes there in the opening decades of the 21st century. Writing with clarity and humor, Fuller describes the major events of his career as an FBI Special Agent. In doing so, he takes us through his days as a new agent trainee in Quantico, Virginia, various criminal investigations, 9/11, interrogations in Guantanamo Bay, and missions while attached to military units in Afghanistan. Fuller walks us through it all, with refreshing honesty and self-deprecating humor. From his fellow “brick agents” to the four FBI Directors he worked for and with while “on the job”, he provides valuable, unvarnished observations that reveal what it was really like to have been a member of the storied FBI.
The latest book by The Old Gray Man
In a time when public trust in law enforcement is eroding, the need for a paradigm shift in police training has become obvious. No Safe Alternative delves deep into the complex world of administering deadly force, presenting a groundbreaking approach to teaching law enforcement officers how to wield this power lawfully and effectively.
Written by an experienced law enforcement professional, this book advocates for the implementation of a dedicated block of training at the academy level and throughout the profession. Such a comprehensive program goes beyond merely the mechanical aspects of firing a weapon and delves into the core principles that underpin the responsible use of deadly force.
No Safe Alternative makes a call for change while suggesting a way forward. It urges law enforcement agencies to adopt a progressive training framework that places equal emphasis on legal knowledge, tactical proficiency, and ethical decision-making. It explores the concept of integrating various elements we know are relevant to the use of deadly force into career-long training. By equipping officers with a broader skill set in this critical area, this book aims to enhance officer safety while simultaneously strengthening community relations.
Olight i3t EOS
Yeah, I know, it looks a lot like the Streamlight 66608. Plus, you know, it’s another flashlight. What can I say, I like flashlights, I use them all the time, and I like options. A flashlight is simply an invaluable tool and now it is simply to carry an inexpensive, durable, super bright light everywhere. As to looks, I guess I have a type. Anyhow, this one is a little smaller and a little less bright than the Streamlight. To me, that’s a feature and not a bug. It fits anywhere with ease and at 180 lumens, it is still bright enough to make a bad guy’s life difficult or to find things hiding under the driver’s seat in your car.
Frost River Isle Royale Jr.
Need a backpack that is spacious and just about bomb proof, yet does not scream “Tactical Timmy”? Frost River has the bag for you. I am partial to the Isle Royale Jr (yes, Junior; it is plenty large and the regular bag is better suited to backpacking and bushcrafting than for meandering through town). I have had mine for a couple years and use it regularly. It looks like what it is: a backpack. But it is deceptively large and wildly durable. It is pricey, but you really get what you pay for with this one.
Kuhl Radikl pants
I love these pants. I have several pairs. I started buying them when I was still working, doing domestic and foreign counter-terrorism cases. These pants are lightweight (a must most of the year in the American southeast where I was stationed), durable, and fit in just fine both in the office and in the street. The colors are subdued and the pants do not scream “Cop!” like some of the more “tactical” appearing pants do. They are designed with rock climbers and hikers in mind, so they move and stretch well. Perfect for walking down the street or running like a scalded ape! If you are looking to buy, your local REI is a great place to start.