Traveling Workers--Personal Protection?

[Radjxf]

Unfortunately, I will soon be forced to do locums work in my field.
For those of you who travel extensively for work, what items can/do you keep for self-defense and general home security?
I will generally have 13-week assignments in some large, crime-ridden cities. Generally, I'll be put up in an apartment in decent areas.
I do NOT have a firearms carry permit.
Question is: I'd like to at least pocket carry my Benchmade Griptilian when out in the evenings.
Can I put the knife in my checked baggage and just fly it out with the rest of my belongings?
How about a handgun for "nightstand" purposes?
How could I potentially (legally) bring it to my temporary residence?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Rob Pincus]

I travel constantly and have to face these compromises as well. I have decided that it is generally not worth the effort to bring firearms to non-permissive environments. Keep in mind that a fair amount of my travel is overseas to areas where I don't really even have the practical option of a firearm.

Since you are staying in an apartment and not hotels, it may make more sense for you to bring a firearm, in which case you can travel with it on a plane in a locked case with your checked luggage. You could also take it to an FFL and arrange to have it shipped to you when you arrive.

As for the knife, I almost always have one in checked luggage, even when traveling overseas. Make sure you know the local laws.

A small flashlight is something that you can carry on with you and makes a great tool in an emergency. Many models could also be used as a weapon (to temporarily blind/distract, or strike with) in a close quarters attack. I will often have the light in my left hand while walking around cities at night.

I have occasionally traveled with a hooked wooden cane as well. These can be taken on planes, into museums and carried around the most non-permissive cities/areas. Using one intuitively can work, but getting some fundamental training makes it a much more versatile tool instead of a fancy baseball bat.

Solid metal pens can also make great improvised weapons for extreme situations. The one currently made for that purpose by Benchmade is an excellent example, but any high end solid pen could work well.

-RJP

 

[threefeathers]

I also do a lot of travel overseas and Rob's advice is right on the money. I always a Surefire E2E in my pocket. Being older a cane is seen as a natural for me and I have one made of briarwood. As for knife I've gone to a Seki Cut Titanium folder. But I know people where I go and they often make certain I'm armed within their laws. Make friends as fast as you can, do not appear as a tough guy, and keep alert.
A recent American Handgunner had a great article on new pens made for self-defense and one of these would be a great idea. In liew of one of these the Cross pen is a great kubotai.

 

[wyosasquatch]

If you are travelling overseas (and domestically in many metropolitan areas), an umbrella doesn't draw extra attention. I haven't ponied up the dough for one of these but if you are interested in an umbrella over a walking stick check out

http://www.real-self-defense.com/umbrella.html

I think this might be a useful item as a self defense tool as well as keeping rain off when necessary.

 

[mbt2001]

I am not advocating this, but it is interesting.

http://www.camouflagepassports.net/camouflage_passports.html

After India, kind of makes you wonder about a change of clothes into solid colored Euro mil Surplus type clothing and an emergency bag with all your documents in it, knife, flash light, simple packaged food, water, maybe a local prepaid cellphone along with your other phone, laptop if absolutely necissary and one of those passports; escape if possible and then get in the clear. Somewhere on the way to the Airport, ditch the camoflauge passport and order another at home...

Just more of an idea than anything... I could see some interesting happenings if you got caught with it by the authorities, but again After India, I don't see them being to hard on US passport holders that are trying to mitigate their presence.

 

[TAB]

It depends on where your going.

 

[X-Rap]

If you are traveling in the states and not NYC of DC I think you can have something like the Sub 2000 in your room and car and carry unloaded in a brief case as well. Check the laws on high caps and if a loaded mag is considered a loaded weapon but for me this is a decent alternative to going unarmed.