Sunday, October 19, 2008

Let's get tacticool


A few weeks ago, I picked up two Kimber LifeAct Guardian Angels, one for my wife, and one for myself. Mine have "Kimber Guardian Angel" on the clip, but for some reason, Kimber, as you can see at the link, has decided it should relabel the device as the "Kimber PepperBlaster."
I guess I won't be getting a couple more to keep in the cars, now, unless the older ones are still in stock at the shop where I got them before.
Now this was a nice discreet way to carry pepper spray; it looks like pretty much anything except a weapon. It could be a radio, garage door opener, PDA, phone, medical device, whatever. Now that they've stack a tacticool name on it, that advantage is gone.
Part of my reason for getting these was that they could be clipped to a pocket or bag, and carried discreetly in places like classrooms where I can't legally carry my gun. The shape and rather noncommittal name would prevent awkward questions from the anti-self-defense crowd, and allow it to even be carried in-hand in a potential confrontation without losing the element of surprise. Not only did they kill that capability, they also did it with a goofy-sounding name that belongs on mall-ninja gear, not a serious self-defense tool.

I've sent an email to Kimber requesting that they explain their logic. We'll see what their response is.

(Yes, I know I could just sand all the writing off the clip, but after paying $40 for a two-shot pepper spray device, it shouldn't be left to the user to modify it back to a more useful state.)

EDIT TO ADD: Thanks to EmergencyEm for reminding me: support SCCC and make this post less relevant.

3 comments:

Lisa said...

Regardless of whether it is a "LifeAct" or a "PepperBlaster," if you don't want the name to show, simply clip it on the other way! I am holding one in my hand right now, and only one side of the clip is printed with the brand....hope this helps!

KD5NRH said...

I never peeled the sticker off the other side of the clip to see if there was anything on there, but I have a strong preference for the bulk being inside the pocket with only the clip sticking out. I tend to lose things that are clipped on the other way due to snagging on chairs, seatbelts, etc.

EE said...

HEY! Thanks for putting the SCCC link up!!!

The pepperspray thing is cool. I think I might pick one up!