“Are you afraid of the drones?” I ask.
“I am not afraid because I am putting my life for my country,” he answers.
I’m not totally buying it. Although the fighters I’m with are young, they’re well-seasoned. They fought in the 2011 Revolution, but now they really don’t have a plan on how to deal with this new threat. All while being partly encircled by the forces of General Khalifa Haftar.
The folding knives I design for DPx Gear carry a similar look. Beefy, utilitarian and thick. A number of customers that are used to more traditional knives are surprised when at the heft and feel of their first DPx product. Imposingly well built and yet balanced when used. It is not by accident.
There was a special time in Iraq after the invasion and before the insurgency really set in. A strange place of Hescos, blast walls, and drinking Belgian Coronas on the roof while watching fire fights and car bombs. It was Baghdad at its worst - and best.
As told by Robert Young Pelton, founder of DPx Gear.
Long timers in Afghanistan will know that there actually is a Kabul Country Club. Technically it is called the Kabul Golf Club on Qargha Road . The nine hole course was opened in 1967, the heyday of Kabul, and its role as an international destination. Kabul was pitched to tourists as the "Switzerland of Asia", where travelers could arrive via the Pan Am-operated Ariana Airlines and stay at the newly built Kabul Intercontinental Hotel.
The first shipment of HEST/F Urban G10 ODs have sold out. To stay in touch about the next shipment's arrival, click here.
Designed by Robert Young Pelton for DPx Gear, the DPx HEST/F Urban is the last pocket knife you'll need for every day carry. Small, light and feature-packed, it’s just as at home in your jeans as it is in the tackle box. An heirloom quality piece of US craftsmanship that can be passed down generations with the support of a no-questions-asked lifetime warranty DPx Gear customers deserve. The Urban reduces size and weight while increasing strength. That’s not something you hear much these days.
Sleeping in the jungle is probably one of the most unpleasant parts of tropical travel. Like clockwork, the rain pours at night along with some insects that go off at 6:30pm sharp, later on rodents, insects and all manner of large and unnamed species will crawl, flutter, slither and hop into your life.
Pelton says of jungle sleeping arrangements: "Although I spent years sleeping directly on the ground usually with a tarp, I would not recommend it for the squeamish. In some jungles, you can actually drown if you don’t pick your spot wisely. Worse is the relentless pursuit of biting or stinging insects to explore every inch of your body. Not to mention how miserable it can be to unglue yourself from the mud at dawn."
The ideal method of sleeping is to copy the locals. Use a hammock but one that has a bit of western technology thrown in. I now swear by the SAS style jungle hammock with built in bug screen and an overhanging tarp. All you need is some rope and carabiners depending on the location. A cheap fleece blanket and your headlamp and you are good to go.
In RECOIL Magazine's latest issue (#41), DPx Gear's founder, Robert Young Pelton discusses the many details and individuals involved in the effort to eradicate ISIS.
Dive inside and read first hand experiences from RYP's trip to Libya and learn more about America's military and their role in the fight from 2006 to now.