Surveyors with Side Arms

I have, but only when I'm far from "civilization".?ÿ People get nervous (rightfully so in my opinion) when they see a stranger wearing a sidearm and carrying a machete in a residential area.

Andy

I have a discreet chest holster for my 45. It hides under my vest very well but is still accessible. In black bear country it's a low carry 357+, 7.5 inch barrel.

Side holstered Glock 21 or Sig P220.?ÿ Was surveying in a bad part of Memphis when two gang bangers pulled up, got out of their car, and started to light into me, my boss, and the rest of our crew.?ÿ They stopped in their track when they laid eyes on two .45 hand guns on two big men with scowls on their face...

Yup (10mm Glock 20), but 99% of my field work is in BFE, and it's highly unlikely that I would see anything on two legs that would worry about such things (everybody out in the boondocks is carrying something).

Colt Anaconda .44 mag with a 6" barrel in a Gunfighters Kydex Kenai chest holster, but not in residential areas.?ÿ

Sig P320 45 compact for more inconspicuous carry situations.?ÿ

Posted by: @loyal

Yup (10mm Glock 20), but 99% of my field work is in BFE, and it's highly unlikely that I would see anything on two legs that would worry about such things (everybody out in the boondocks is carrying something).

I carry the same pistol in a Hill People Gear runners kit bag. Quick and easy access, but when you do happen to run into someone, most of the time they have no clue that you are packing.

So here is the follow up question.?ÿ If I field carry, is it feasible to purchase a side arm and count it as a business expense??ÿ ?ÿ?ÿ

@firestix I don't see why not, but the best person to ask that question to would be your accountant.

Posted by: @firestix

If I field carry, is it feasible to purchase a side arm and count it as a business expense??ÿ ?ÿ?ÿ

When I started out in business 28 years ago I sweated every deduction, making sure I could justify it under questioning by the IRS.?ÿ I slowly came to the realization that the only time you're going to be questioned about deductions is if you get fully audited, and small-business audits are pretty rare.?ÿ

Nowadays if I think something should be deductible, I deduct it; it I get called on it later and it gets disallowed, I'll just pay the tax and penalty and move on.

I spent the first 55 years living in a rural part of NJ.?ÿ I have an awesome compound bow and several quality long guns.?ÿ The hoops one has to jump to in NJ to even purchase a 12 guage or any sort of rifle are insane, even an old style BB gun is considered a rifle and you need to be fingerprinted for a State and Federal background investigation, have 5 personal references fill out a form and mail it directly to the PD, then, with all your ducks in a row, you wait months for your ID card.

The process for buying a hand gun in NJ is even more crazy and when you finally navigate all the required nonsense, it's pointless to even buy one for anything other than protection inside your home.?ÿ NJ does not havea Castle law so, even is somebody breaks in and you shoot them, chances are very good that you are going to prison.?ÿ You can not get either an open carry or concealed carry permit unless you are retired law enforcement or an armored car guard and armored car guards can only cary in the course of work.?ÿ If you get caught with a hand gun outside of your property you are looking at 7 years in prison.

For the last few years, I have been living with my girl friend in PA and renting my NJ house to a friend.?ÿ Now that Ihave legally established residency in PA, only 30 miles from myhome in NJ, I can get a permit to carry concealed relatively easy which will allow me to carry in most other states that allow it.?ÿ I have been seriously considering getting the permit but go to NJ to often to either go to my house or office and don't want to face going to prison if I forget to leave my weapon at home.?ÿ

Pretty much always when working for the Forest Service/BLM out in the boonies.?ÿ Big iron in bear country (though a sidearm is mostly useless against brown bears in Alaska),?ÿ 9mm in coyote country (their pelts/tails were worth some bounty money), .22 in grouse country for eatin'.?ÿ Never in urban areas; you're asking to get mugged for your sidearm or in deep legal trouble if you actually use it.

Funny story is I worked for the Boise National Forest in Lowman, Idaho for a few seasons and everybody packed for the above reasons.?ÿ One night an altercation broke out in the only tavern (actually the only public building) in town, and the combatants got so mad they threw their sidearms on the bar and went at it with fisticuffs.?ÿ

I just checked, I have an arm on each side, none on the front or back.

?ÿ

@dave-karoly and three boobies too:

?ÿ

I am not an accountant or l*wyer?ÿ but I read that the main test for business deductability is the percent of time something is actually used in the conduct of business. If you carry when not on the clock, it would be harder to justify the deduction or at best reduce it.

@chris-bouffard?ÿ

at least you live in the home of the free

Posted by: @bill93

I am not an accountant or l*wyer?ÿ but I read that the main test for business deductability is the percent of time something is actually used in the conduct of business. If you carry when not on the clock, it would be harder to justify the deduction or at best reduce it.

The solution is buy two. One for work and another for not work.

But, the real question is whether or not you can deduct ammo. The cost of ammo to remain proficient far exceeds all the but most expensive of firearms, and dwarfs the cost of a Glock.

@hi-staker How is that Hill People Gear work for you? I walk by their outlet almost daily but haven't been in to check it out yet. The backpackers say that gear is too heavy.

@loyal BFE.?ÿ I've been?ÿ there a few times.?ÿ lol

@kscott I really like the Hill People Gear kit bag. I can carry my pistol, an extra magazine, granola bars, and still have room for more odds and ends. 95% of the people you run into have no idea that you're carrying, which is exactly how I like it. The few times I've had to pull the pistol (bears and moose encounters) access was quick and easy.?ÿ