Yet another grey man failure

[Biggkidd]

This is a strange one for me to write as appearances have never been my thing. In other words I don't give a poo! lol But at the auction I went to Saturday I realized my appearance was causing people to talk and that needs to change. I've been doing the grey man thing for years or so I thought. While my clothes and mode of dress are fairly non descript, kakis and white tee shirts with an over shirt (flannel type) if the weather calls for it. It's sort of a uniform of work wear for me. My longish (6 in) beard and long hair were drawing attention not to mention the 1911 .45 I am not dressed without. So I guess it's time to get cleaned up. Problem there is I like my long hair (dark brown) and long beard (grey / white). I am around 50 and 6ft 2in tall and 200ish lbs dressed with wide shoulders. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Curmudgeon]

LOL, I can't help, I'm in the I don't give a poo camp too. Maybe it's the long hair and they think you need a man bun.

Was the 1911 open carry? If so, I'd bet that's it.

 

[Biggkidd]

Yeah I've got the permit but open carry is a lot more accessible and never caused "looks" in the 20 plus years I've been doing it... I do carry a lot of crap on my belt with said .45.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Well, open carry defeats the whole grey man dress IMO. I rarely open carry, if I do I'm on my way to a range day or training, other than that it's hidden.

 

[Biggkidd]

Open carry is almost the norm around where I live and where I was Saturday. We are way out in the sticks.

 

[Weedygarden]

This is a strange one for me to write as appearances have never been my thing. In other words I don't give a poo! lol But at the auction I went to Saturday I realized my appearance was causing people to talk and that needs to change. I've been doing the grey man thing for years or so I thought. While my clothes and mode of dress are fairly non descript, kakis and white tee shirts with an over shirt (flannel type) if the weather calls for it. It's sort of a uniform of work wear for me. My longish (6 in) beard and long hair were drawing attention not to mention the 1911 .45 I am not dressed without. So I guess it's time to get cleaned up. Problem there is I like my long hair (dark brown) and long beard (grey / white). I am around 50 and 6ft 2in tall and 200ish lbs dressed with wide shoulders. Anyone have any suggestions?

It is a conundrum if you don't give a carp, but want to go grey man. If you think the hair, beard and firearm were drawing attention, and you don't want attention, then maybe look around and see what everyone else looks like. And if you like your style, then don't change it, and let people talk.

 

[Tirediron]

Prolly the Camo, but who cares. people like to be scared of something, except what they should be concerned about.

 

[Bacpacker]

This is a strange one for me to write as appearances have never been my thing. In other words I don't give a poo! lol But at the auction I went to Saturday I realized my appearance was causing people to talk and that needs to change. I've been doing the grey man thing for years or so I thought. While my clothes and mode of dress are fairly non descript, kakis and white tee shirts with an over shirt (flannel type) if the weather calls for it. It's sort of a uniform of work wear for me. My longish (6 in) beard and long hair were drawing attention not to mention the 1911 .45 I am not dressed without. So I guess it's time to get cleaned up. Problem there is I like my long hair (dark brown) and long beard (grey / white). I am around 50 and 6ft 2in tall and 200ish lbs dressed with wide shoulders. Anyone have any suggestions?

Mode of dress sounds pretty normal, maybe try some jeans. As for the beard and hair, sounds pretty much like mine. Most folks don't say a word, some give some looks. I just return the favor. LOL If open carry is normal around there, that shouldn't be an issue. But for me showing a fire arm draws more attention than I want around here most times.
Bottom line for me though, I don't much care what others think of me. I know I'm hardworking and trust worthy as does anyone who knows me. The others don't mean a great deal to me.

 

[Supervisor42]

I always wear a ball-cap hat, and it always has the name of a strange city on it.
They are so busy wondering where tha-heck "Santorini" (this week's) is, they never even see the rest of me.
Distracting attention away is far easier than you think.
Nobody has ever said: "Is that a G27 I see printing in your pocket?".

 

[Bacpacker]

Caps just don't work on my punkin. I haven't found one in a long time that fit.

 

[Haertig]

While open carry may be the norm in your area, I'll bet people still take a second look at you because of the obvious gun. Even if it's only to check out what model gun you are carrying. I would, and I carry myself (albeit concealed). No harm done by any of this, unless you're trying to be a gray man. Then you have defeated your purpose.

 

[Supervisor42]

Caps just don't work on my punkin. I haven't found one in a long time that fit.

That's odd. I have about 100 and they are all adjustable.
But I do understand. Some people's heads are shaped different and won't keep any hat on.
Friends I had, no matter how tight they put a hat on, the minute they would bend over, it fell off.

 

[SoJer]

..Anyone have any suggestions?

..I mean, they'd likely not even Notice the 1911 with the Saber-humming and all..

jd

 

[Supervisor42]

..I mean, they'd likely not even Notice the 1911 with the Saber-humming and all..

jd

Yes. And I completely forgot about the t-shirt!
Every one I wear has a big interesting graphic on the front.
They never see the same one twice in a month.
Example: Today's shirt screams: "Cairns - Great Barrier Reef - Australia"
Mind control is so easy.
When I walk out of a store, nobody could tell you if I had facial hair, what color my hair was, let alone that I was 'packing'.

 

[Mountain trapper]

A haircut and shave would help a lot.

 

[Peanut]

Greyman is more about techniques for movement, going unobserved. An auction? At auctions folks look around a lot, size up the competition for one thing, look for who they might know, see who's looking at what... Sitting at an auction may not be the best location for passing unnoticed. It wouldn't be on my list.

I carry concealed but get looks also, maybe it's my dusty old ballcap.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Caps just don't work on my punkin. I haven't found one in a long time that fit.

Same here.

That's odd. I have about 100 and they are all adjustable.

It's not so much that, but rather the depth of the cap itself, at least in my case. All of mine fit around my head, but they don't come down far enough on the head to stay on comfortably. I have some that when I put them on I can feel them creeping up on my head and they will fall off in the slightest breeze. I have a few that I have tried that will fall off if I bend over to pick something up.

 

[Bacpacker]

Same here.




It's not so much that, but rather the depth of the cap itself, at least in my case. All of mine fit around my head, but they don't come down far enough on the head to stay on comfortably. I have some that when I put them on I can feel them creeping up on my head and they will fall off in the slightest breeze. I have a few that I have tried that will fall off if I bend over to pick something up.

Same issue here. Even wearing a toboggan it creeps up my head and have to keep pulling it down.

 

[montanabill]

I tend to try to think like the bad guys in a certain situation. If i was a bad guy I would shoot the open carry guy in the back first.
I'm 6'4" so I do stand out, one ploy if it was really necessary is to wear a uniform shirt with my first name on it and a couple of pens in the pocket, then for deep undercover carry a clipboard and start taking notes.
Also works in the healthcare field with a white coat and a stethoscope.
For emergency scenes etc i have a cheap set of coat and paints with blaze yellow and reflective stripes. With that maybe a set of nitrile gloves with blood on them for the full effect.
Here's a undercover meter maid at sturgis.

 

[havasu]

I will never understand "open carry". To me, you are just advertising to the bad guy who they should take out first.

 

[phideaux]

I will never understand "open carry". To me, you are just advertising to the bad guy who they should take out first.

Jim

 

[Morgan101]

With all due respect, Biggkidd, unless you are living in a commune a 6' 2" 50 year old hippie is going to stand out. Double that if you open carry. If you really want to blend in, concealed carry would be the first thing I would do. Then I would consider a shave and a haircut. I would just ask the question out of curiosity. What is the norm for your area? Do more people have long hair and facial hair, or do they have short to normal hair, and clean shaven?

 

[Supervisor42]

I will never understand "open carry". To me, you are just advertising to the bad guy who they should take out first.

My best guess is, it is to get the BG to change his mind before he does something stupid.
The other thing is, like down here OC has always been legal without a CCW permit, they probably don't want to go thru the hassle.

 

[Peanut]

Urban Escape and Evasion

Want to brush up on your greyman skills? Take this class, it's a hoot! The bulk of this class it just that, greyman techniques A-Z.

I heard there is a long version of this class, 5 days instead of 3. I'm tempted...

I wrote at bit more here

The Gray Man Concept: Tips To Improve This Important Survival Skill

 

[Biggkidd]

Open carry is common here as are beards and long hair. I live in a county that's 432 sq mi with less than 13,000 people. Most of the county is timber land with a few farms along the larger roads.

I did find out this morning the talk was wishing I was still in business or would go back in business. I ran the local small engine shop for years. I can't hardly go out the driveway without someone asking me to fix something. Also had a couple people show up back here wanting me to fix things. No one ever came here uninvited twice! I closed the business 4-5 years ago...

 

[Morgan101]

Open carry is common here as are beards and long hair. I live in a county that's 432 sq mi with less than 13,000 people. Most of the county is timber land with a few farms along the larger roads.

I did find out this morning the talk was wishing I was still in business or would go back in business. I ran the local small engine shop for years. I can't hardly go out the driveway without someone asking me to fix something. Also had a couple people show up back here wanting me to fix things. No one ever came here uninvited twice! I closed the business 4-5 years ago...

That may be a blessing or a curse. It is a blessing that people don't seem to be threatening. Nobody is afraid or wish you any harm. A curse in that you will get noticed. IMHO given your circumstances I wouldn't change a thing.

 

[joel]

Tall like Reacher, unknown & sporting a weapon, you are out of luck.

 

[Haertig]

I wonder ... my concealed carry permit has reciprocity in many states. I wonder if those reciprocity states, if they also require permits for open carry, would allow me to open carry due to them recognizing my concealed carry permit?

This is mostly a knowledge-enhancement question. I do not intent to open carry. But there is a practical side to it - say your concealed carry is compromised because a gust of wind blew your cover garment such that your (previously) concealed weapon could be seen momentarily. So at times it would be nice to know if you are covered for both concealed carry AND open carry. It's conceivable that a state could consider a momentary unintentional break of concealment to be open carry.

 

[Magus]

This is a strange one for me to write as appearances have never been my thing. In other words I don't give a poo! lol But at the auction I went to Saturday I realized my appearance was causing people to talk and that needs to change. I've been doing the grey man thing for years or so I thought. While my clothes and mode of dress are fairly non descript, kakis and white tee shirts with an over shirt (flannel type) if the weather calls for it. It's sort of a uniform of work wear for me. My longish (6 in) beard and long hair were drawing attention not to mention the 1911 .45 I am not dressed without. So I guess it's time to get cleaned up. Problem there is I like my long hair (dark brown) and long beard (grey / white). I am around 50 and 6ft 2in tall and 200ish lbs dressed with wide shoulders. Anyone have any suggestions?

I dress like where I'm going. gun show gets BDU pants, boots and leathers, maybe a cowboy hat.
General public gets T-shirt and cargo pants.
Shopping gets a button up and jeans.
Banks/government buildings get sub preppie gear like slacks and a Ralph Lauren or Polo pull over.
Always trim up a bit and try to look like a professional something. and always wear your shades in the daytime.

When I'm bumming around I look like an ANTIFA fanboy in a hoodie, slacker pants and work boots.
the idea is, to dress like who you're congregating with. a T shirt and jeans does NOT go over in church no matter how clean it is!
Been there, done that! Likewise looking like a thug/punk gets you all sorts of unwanted attention from the cops in the wrong places!

 

[Supervisor42]

I wonder ... my concealed carry permit has reciprocity in many states. I wonder if those reciprocity states, if they also require permits for open carry, would allow me to open carry due to them recognizing my concealed carry permit?

Down here if you were OC, the only thing the cops would do is give you a and a .
They know who the 'good-guys' are.
For the reciprocity states, if you have a permit, it doesn't matter where on you that you are carrying it, you are good. (just don't go in the post office with it).