CONCEALMENT 8 Concealment #8 Iain Harrison Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More Find out more about how we test products. With mass shootings dominating the media’s attention, we should perhaps take a deep breath and consider just what types of threats are likely to be encountered by the law-abiding citizen. Mass casualty events are mercifully rare, and while atrocities such as the Las Vegas shooting suck up the oxygen of public discourse and often result in knee-jerk political reactions, as individuals, we’re far more likely to be victims of more mundane crimes. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, in 2016 over 1.2 million violent crimes occurred in the U.S., 64 percent of which were aggravated assault. If we’re serious about protecting ourselves and loved ones, then it behooves us to train for the most likely scenarios, rather than the ones that grab the most headlines. Here at CONCEALMENT, we don’t think that the gun is always the answer — if all you have is a hammer, then every problem is a nail, and in the times when your tool belt is empty, you’d better be able to improvise. This is why we take seriously the concept of you, the reader, as being the weapon and everything you encounter or possess is a means to an end. As part of that mindset, we asked a panel of experts to identify melee weapons within arm’s reach and how they’d employ them. We also look at employing that most basic implement — the pocket knife — in a self-defense role. There are plenty of times when, even living in a Constitutional carry state, I don’t have access to a handgun. But so long as I’m wearing pants, there’s a blade on my person. Once you’ve decided to make a serious study of the use of that most ubiquitous weapon, then you’ll want to check out our training blade guide, as practicing with a sharp edge is like dry-firing with a loaded magazine. Sooner or later, it’s going to bite you. Elsewhere, we examine Walther’s newest iteration of their PPS, a design that, while frequently ripped off, still doesn’t get the attention it deserves. And while we love giving unbiased information regarding firearms deserving of your consideration, we also don’t shy away from offering opinions on what my former brother-in-arms would term, “comedy weapons.” While the current fad for non-NFA shorty shotguns is interesting, after trying our damnedest to make them work, we’ve written them off as effective home-defense equipment. Fun, yes. Effective, not so much. Whatever tools you select for your own use, by far the greatest investment you can make is in training. We’re not saying you must sign up for classes, buy time with an instructor, or commit to a decade in a Shaolin temple. But without the ability to effectively use the hardware you’ve acquired, it’s not a weapon, it’s a talisman against evil. And we all know how effective those are. To preview the issue click here: Concealment 8 Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. 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