Articles with gear

Review of TEKTO’s F1 Alpha EOTECH Edition Tactical Knife

The University of Michigan created Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM) in 1972 as a stand-alone non-profit organization with roots in military and environmental research, contributing to the development of remote sensing, radar, and holography applications. ERIM’s subsidiary, EOTECH, was established in 1995 to apply holographic technology to small firearms sights.

While it produces holographic and hybrid sights, magnifiers, rifle scopes, pistol sights, sensors, and cameras, EOTECH’s mission also includes other high-performance weapon accessories. It has now partnered with TEKTO, a recognized force in the tactical knife field, designing “purpose-built knives for life’s most demanding missions.”

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Checklist: Categories and Their Items for Every Day Carry (EDC) ]

This collaboration merges EOTECH’s heritage of precision optics with TEKTO’s expertise in tactical blade engineering, resulting in a tough yet refined tactical blade well designed for EDC.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Significant Six EDC for Self-Defense in Terrorist Times ]

SemperVerus received a complimentary copy of the F1 Alpha EOTECH Edition for review purposes. This lightweight, limited-edition tactical folding knife, with an open length of 7.78 inches, combines the reputations of TEKTO’s craftsmanship with EOTECH’s precision.

Significant Six EDC for Self-Defense in Terrorist Times

We live in dangerous times. Not only do we need to protect ourselves from civilian criminals who want to rob us and run, we need to be ready to defend ourselves from trained enemy combatants living among us who are bent on nothing less than killing as many people as possible.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Chart: The Spectrum of Potential Threat Personas in Self-Defense and Church Security ]

They weaponize anything to accomplish their objective, from fashioning everyday items into shrapnel-infested bombs, to renting cars, vans, and trucks with the goal of viciously mowing down pedestrians, whether in broad daylight or during night-time celebrations.

[ Read articles in the SemperVerus category of SITUATIONAL AWARENESS ]

With that in mind, we should reconsider what our basic Every Day Carry (EDC) items should consist of to properly be prepared for possible violent threats as we go about our daily activity. SemperVerus suggests these Significant Six categories as fundamental to bear in mind:

Church Security Armament Recommendations By Tom Givens, John Correia, and 6 Other Professionals

SemperVerus asked 8 firearms training professionals for their recommendations as to what they consider to be optimal for church security team volunteers to carry while on duty, having as their objective to protect others rather than concerning their own everyday self-defense.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security Training: Decision Decks Help You Think Through a Crisis Before It Happens ]

Every one of the questioned professionals stresses the absolute #1 prioritization of obtaining ongoing defensive mindset and quality skill training as the primary requirement before considering what guns and gear should be used. It’s not the weapon that makes the defender succeed; it’s the defender’s superior training and mental acuity. Once that is understood, they offer their equipment recommendations.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ]

The categories to which the professionals responded are:

  • Brand of firearm
  • Style (full size/duty size, compact, subcompact, micro compact, pocket, etc.)
  • Optics/Sights (red dot, reflex, night sights, 3-dot sights, black out rear site, fiber optic, tritium, etc.)
  • Carry method (IWB, OWB, appendix, shoulder, pocket, ankle, off-body, etc.)
  • Action Type (revolver, semi-auto)
  • Action (single, double, DA/SA, hammer, striker, etc.)
  • External Safety: (yes, no)
  • Magazine (single stack, double stack)
  • Magazine Capacity
  • Number of Extra Magazines
  • Caliber
  • Ammo Brand
  • Weapon Mounted Light (yes, no)

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of AMMO ]

Click each of the following names to view their recommendations:

Checklist: Church Security/Safety Equipment

If you’d like to be interviewed to share best practices of your own church security/safety team, contact SemperVerus by emailing staytrue@semperverus.com.


Here is a list of equipment suggestions to include in your church security/safety office and as carried tools (depending on how many tools you want to carry, you may want to wear a sling bag, hip bag, or cargo pants):