In September 2023 a military veteran from the United States, Thomas Highway, wrote an article for this website titled Grey Man Malarkey and Overt Tactical Gear. Obviously, the author’s real name is not Thomas Highway: I published his piece under a pseudonym at his request. In my opinion his anonymity does not detract from the content of the article, which I think is superb and speaks for itself.
A recent non-controversy, where Mr. Highway’s article triggered a Daily Maverick journalist into apoplectic rage regarding my “right wing blog”, led me to read the article again. This got me thinking a bit more about the so-called “Grey Man” concept in the broader context. While I agree with everything Thomas said, and I think he is entirely correct about the subject, I also think that there is a misunderstanding about how the definition of a “Grey Man” is understood.
Before I continue, I invite you to please read the original article first – it is short and provides crucial background information about what I am going to discuss.
In Thomas’ abridged words, “(t)he Grey Man is…a simple concept. All it means is that you adapt yourself regarding appearance and behavior…to blend in with your surroundings. This is always and without exception a temporary activity”.
Different understandings of a “Grey Man”
Many people hold a very different view of what a Grey Man is. Instead of a temporary and planned act to blend in (or at the least attract as little attention as possible) while in a hostile or non-permissive environment, they see it as a permanent adaptation of wardrobe to hide the fact that they are armed. Normally we would simply refer to this as concealed everyday carry (EDC). Why exactly people choose not to call it that, is frankly beyond my understanding.
One of the foundational ideas behind this interpretation of grey-manning, is that you do not want to telegraph or give away any indications that you are carrying a firearm on your person. This means avoiding firearm industry-branded items of clothing, like Glock or CZ caps, or any other wearable paraphernalia that may “out” you. As these things go, a few people tend to take it to the extreme where they obsess over which brands of footwear are acceptable to wear, if a folding knife with a pocket clip is a bad idea (or if a molle-equipped backpack is dangerously indiscreet), and whether cargo trousers make you glow in the dark or not.
This has gone full circle where tactical apparel manufacturers are releasing whole clothing ranges specifically for people who want to “blend in”. This would include the stereotypical flannel button-up shirt and 5.11-style “civilian” tactical trousers – usually paired with Salomon trainers and a trucker cap. Oh, and don’t forget the wraparound sunglasses.
Depending on how far you want to bend this phenomenon beyond its own event horizon, this might leave us caught in a paradox where trying very hard to blend in – and look like you are not carrying a gun – is the exact thing that screams to knowledgeable and alert observers that you are armed.
Maybe what you choose to wear doesn’t matter?
So, where to from here?
Perhaps the answer lies in obsessing less about what you wear, and what your apparel choice telegraphs, and caring more about what your personal capabilities are. Are you street smart? Do you practice good situational awareness? What is your physical fitness level? Do you possess competent unarmed skills (especially striking)? How often do you practice drawing and firing your carry pistol from underneath a concealment garment? Do you practice shooting from behind cover and in awkward body positions? Can you stop a bleed? And so on and so forth.
Maybe the answer is to wear what you like wearing, and to heck with what other people say and think. Just make sure to switch your brain on and keep your eyes open when going out into the world. You can earn confidence by developing your own abilities instead of obsessing about what your choice of clothing may or may not communicate to the wrong people.
Written by Gideon Joubert.
Gideon is the owner and editor of Paratus, as well as a trustee of the South African Gun Owners Association (SAGA).
