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Tactical Month: Dylan Fletcher Interview

Dylan Fletcher is a custom knife maker and a contestant on History Channel’s “Top Shot,” a competition show that features 16 of the nation’s top marksmen. We had a little chat with him about what he carries in his pockets and how he got into knife-making. Visit his website here.

What are you carrying in your pockets right now?
I have a pretty good range of crap that I keep in my pockets. I have two separate sets of keys (one for car, one for home), my cell phone, a lighter of some kind…I’ve got one of those spec op wallets. That sucker’s pretty thick, so I need a good-sized pocket to accommodate that. Typically I’ll carry one of my knives in my jeans pockets, whether it’s a Bush Operator or a Pocket Kilo.

I’ll also have business cards and random junk that I accumulate throughout the day in my pockets. I’m always being handed something, always filling my pockets up. Some nights I empty my pockets and just about everything but the kitchen sink comes out.

You must have some pretty deep pockets.
I gotta have pretty good-sized pockets on my pants, especially to carry my knives. I’m a big dude, I can’t wear those skinny jeans that the kids wear these days. Plus I’m a little old to pull that off.

It’s hard to be credible as a tough guy when you can’t bend over in your pants

What was the coolest thing about being on Top Shot?
As far as the weapons go, the cannon was by far the coolest thing we dealt with. It might’ve not looked that fun, but when it goes off…it’s a lot of fun. I don’t know any of my buddies who have actually got to shoot a cannon – maybe a replica or something, but the real thing’s pretty awesome. The experience on a whole was pretty awesome. Unfortunately, most of the coolest stuff was in the elimination challenges, and I didn’t get to do those.

Do people recognize you or approach you since you’ve appeared on the show?
I tend to change my appearance a lot, whether it’s gaining or losing weight or changing my hair color. When I went back for the show reunion some of the producers were having a hard time knowing who I was. I don’t get approached much. I think for the most part Top Shot fans aren’t the type to run up to you and all that.

What’s your favorite creation?
Unfortunately my favorite knife is the Bush Operator, one’s that not available anymore. It was the perfect knife as far as I am concerned. It was awesome.

Have you ever thought about working with a manufacturer?
I have actually talked to a couple about starting a production line, especially for folders, because I don’t make those. There are a lot of craftsmen who don’t specialize in anything and try to do everything, and that doesn’t work out as well, as far as I’m concerned. I’ve concentrated on getting fixed blades perfect, and I haven’t concentrated on making folders. There are guys out there who are dedicated to that and do them better than I could – I’d have to dedicate a lot of time to perfecting it.

We were going to ask if you had plans to make pocket knife.
I have a couple of designs. I am drawing new designs every day, sometimes I’ll come back and change them, put them off at the time, but I’m always working on something.

How did you get into knife making?
It was kind of a strange thing. I always drew knives and stuff, but it was really sheathes that got me into it, because I had a couple knives that didn’t have sheathes. I started with that, and they became really popular. A guy that I knew ended up wanting some of these – it was actually Andy Roy. We became good friends, and next thing I knew, I was apprenticing under him, learning how to make knives.

How long have you been making knives?
Been doing it just about 3 years now, including apprentice time, which was about 8 months.

Your blades have a unique look, with rough areas – what is that about?
Most of the stuff that you see on the blade that is dark or black is a forging field that I leave on so that you can see where the grind lines are. It’s kind of showing off how good I make that grind, in a way. Some of the other things that I do are specialty edging, those are secret processes, but those make my blades unique as well.

Is that kind of your calling card, something unique to the knives that you create?
There aren’t that many people out there doing it. I wouldn’t say I came up to it, but I thought it would be nice to showcase the grind. Me and Andy Roy started doing it at the same time and thought it came out really nice.

People throw the word “tactical” around a lot - what does tactical mean to you?
Really, for me, especially in the knife world, there are two kinds of gear: bushcraft and tactical. Bushcraft is for hunting and being outdoors, those kinds of things, the other would be for using in a law enforcement or military setting - a combat scenario or something like that.

I can tell from your designs that some go more way, some go the other…I started out concentrated on the bushcraft side. As I’ve been making knives it moves further and further toward the tactical side, because the majority of my customers are law enforcement, military, special forces. I’m paying more attention to what they want when I build new designs.

What Dylan has to say about SeV: The multiple pockets in a SCOTTEVEST allow you to put all the “regular stuff” in its own place. It’s not such a burden to carry a firearm if your pants pockets and belts are clear of all that other stuff.

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EarHero: The World's Safest Earphones

A little something we like, and that we thought would go along well with this month's tactical theme:

EarHero earphones are "the world's safest earphones." EarHero technology (patent-pending) was developed by a team of audiologists; the speakers are so tiny that they don't block your ear canal. This allows you to listen to your audio device (music, phone, audio-book...whatever your speed is) AND be able to hear the sounds of the environment around you: cars, shouts, potential dangers. This makes earHero great for biking, running, skiing, and other activities wherein you need to maintain a level of awareness.

Originally developed for the military, FBI, and US Secret Service, this product is now available to the general public. Visit www.earHero.com to learn more; use promo code SCOTTEVEST when you purchase to receive $20 off your order.

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What's In Your Pockets?

"EDC Gear" for Being Prepared

Whether you call them EDC (Every Day Carry) items, or just "my stuff," we are what we carry just as much as we are what we eat. With the many law enforcement, CCW and secret squirrel types that wear SeV clothing for all its pockets, we've assembled quite a collection of tested and trusted EDC gear, right here at SCOTTEVEST. These are a few of our favorites to help keep you prepared:

The Peanut Lighter. Fire... good. Although lighters are common, this is no common lighter. The compact and lightweight design (even lighter if you choose the titanium model) could literally be a lifesaver. As in a saver of your life. Most people don't carry fire-making implements with them unless they smoke, but the Peanut Lighter is so unobtrusive that you won't notice it... until you need it. A perfect keychain companion.

The Embassy Pen is available in black, stainless and Ti. Perfectly suited for writing... since, you know, it's a pen... it has enough heft and rigidity to be used as a control or impact device in non-permissive environments. Since it takes Fisher Space Pen refills, it's effective area of operation includes... well, space. (If you take yours there, send us a pic.)

Let there be light. Extreme light. Available in AA or AAA sizes, the Extreme Flashlight made by Maratac is a perfect pocket-size light. Since two is one and one is none, these make a great backup to those higher-powered surely firing flashlights that everyone is carrying (and since these use very common batteries, you won't be fumbling in the dark for the last CR123 battery in existence after the breakdown of civilization). Oh, and at 95 lumens, the AA model is nothing to sneeze at. Blink, yes... sneeze, no.

For the full collection of SeV EDC items (including some handy tools, organizers and straight-up gadgets) visit our Accessories page. Tell them Pockety sent ya.

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Expert of the Week

If you're the kind of guy that likes to carry a concealed handgun, extra ammo, a flashlight, pepper spray, an iPhone and maybe even an iPad - all at the same time - the Scottevest Outback Jacket cannot be beat. With its zippered sides it's also great to wear with a hip holster. Scottevest has mastered the art of concealing your valuables and personal protection tools with the Outback Jacket. It's so comfortable and convenient I often wear it while traveling. Like when I flew to Norway to hunt last fall. I could not carry my handgun there but the jacket made going through security, without sacrificing the accessibility to my cool gadgets, a breeze. It also saved me from the Norwegian chill. Heck, I even wore it moose hunting.

Richard Mann

Contributing Editor - NRA Publications

Check out the Empty Cases BLOG

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Concealed Carry Clothing (CCW) - Discreet Tactical from SeV

It's not concealed if they know you're carrying it.™

SeV provides versatile, reliable gear management concealed carry clothing (concealed carry jackets, concealed carry vests, carry conceal pants, and more) to law enforcement (LE), military personnel, fire and medical first responders, EP teams, and concealed carry weapon (CCW) gun owners. SeV's concealed carry clothes offer stylish alternatives to gun and holster fanny packs, and concealed carry holsters. SeV Tactical, a different type of concealed holster (CCW holster).

Don't just look tactical... wear concealed carry clothing that gives you real tactical advantage. Our most popular CCW jacket is the subtle but effective Outback Jacket with 20 pockets. For a different look check out the SeV Travel Vest (shown right). Available CCW features include:

• Discreet Concealed Carry Styling - Don't look like a cop in a fishing vest! SeV gear blends in and looks great, no matter what you're packing.


• Many different conceal and carry styles to choose from. Match your CCW gear to the environment so you can accomplish your mission without looking like you're on one.


• Multiple pockets and compartments - for firearms, mags, flashlights, supplies, comms, concealed holsters and more. Layer up for additional carrying capacity.


• Patented Personal Area Network (PAN) - hidden wire management, built right in. Perfect for earpieces, mics, headphones and more.


• Ergonomic Weight Management System - spreads weight evenly and helps conceal pocket contents. Our NoBulge™ pockets are engineered to minimize printing.


• Magnetic pocket closures reliably keep contents in your pockets while opening faster and quieter than hook-and-loop pocket closures.

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Just a Few of Our Great Reviews from Carry Conceal Experts:

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• SWAT Magazine: "This vest is ideal for concealing a handgun."
  
• Custom Combat Handguns: "Beneath a SCOTTEVEST, the SBS-2 conceals well. It is also comfortable to wear and use, thanks to the straight drop and ample sweat shield."
  
• Complete book of Handguns: "(The PAN) is particularly adaptable to police radio technology..."
  
• Soldier of Fortune: "Designed to keep the operator operating hands-free."
  
• Shooting Industry: " Won't look like a gun geek..."
  
• Cruising Rider: " you can carry a laptop or a (gun) and no one will know about it."
  
• Gun World: "A vest for all occasions..."
  


• John Binks, Training Manager, CapWIN Training Center:
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• Name Withheld, Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force:
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• Massad Ayoob, Author, Police Captain, IDPA 4-gun master instructor:
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CCW individuals who found this page most useful were searching for concealed carry, CCW, concealed holsters, CCW holsters, conceal and carry, concealed carry holsters and concealed carry clothing.

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SeV's Carry Conceal Commitment

SeV is committed to providing the highest quality, most innovative, most versatile tactical concealed carry clothing on the market today. SeV's tactical conceal and carry clothing has been designed specifically to meet the demands of law enforcement and military personnel responsible for protecting freedom throughout America and the world. It's also perfect for private gun owners and firearm enthusiasts looking for concealed carry holsters.

SeV is proud to have sold concealed carry clothing layers to agents and officers from a wide variety of agencies including CIA, the FBI, Homeland Defense Department, and various military Special Op's teams. We also sell carry conceal jackets, vests, pants and fleece layers to local and regional police officers, fire/rescue personnel, emergency service workers, disaster response teams, and individual CCW firearm owners around the world. We invite you to compare our concealed carry gear against any of our CCW competitors' products.

Continuously Tested -