Year: 2013

Economics and Investing:

I heard that some precious metals investors have felt panicky, in the recent sell-off. Don’t panic. The current sell-off was manipulated. The thing to keep in mind is that the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve have nearly tripled the money supply in the past four years. So the long term prospects for the metals remain strong. Look at big dips such as these at buying opportunities. The bull will resume his charge. DO NOT sell into the falling market. I recommend buying physical silver right now. Remington Sells Out To NY For $80 Million “Sniper” Rifles Government Contract. Granted, they …


Odds ‘n Sods:

PRNMED is conducting a three day medical class May 17-19 at the Ohio State University Campus in Caldwell, Ohio. This class will be unique since they will be doing some new scenario-based training. They will also include some new information on tactical medicine, and will be using some skill stations to allow for more individual instruction in key areas. Please contact Dave Turner at dturner@prnmed.com, or telephone: (610) 633-2276. Visit www.PRNMED.com for details.    o o o Reid’s Gun Control Bill Makes a Missing Firearm a Ticket to Five Years in Prison. This is of great concern to anyone who …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Cowardice asks the question: is it safe? Expediency asks the question: is it political? Vanity asks the question: is it popular? But conscience asks the question: is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor political, nor popular – but one must take it simply because it is right." – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.


Notes from JWR:

April 15th is dreaded as Income Tax Day in these United States, but it is also Patriot’s Day and this year it is also celebrated as National Buy A Gun Day. — Final Day! A reminder that Safecastle is currently running a semi-annual 25% off sale on Mountain House canned long term storage foods. Get your order in before midnight, Eastern time on April 15th. — We had hoped to announce the availability of the American Redoubt .999 fine silver coin today, but unfortunately because of a contractual problem between S.B.S.S. and their mint, this project is now on hold. …


Excerpt From: Home Invasion Prevention, by Frank Hilliard

[JWR’s Introductory Note: I’m presenting this book excerpt as a guest post. His book is available at Lulu.com.] The prospect looms of an economic collapse caused by the enormous sovereign debt of the United States and moves by China, Russia, Brazil and others to dump the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency. If they succeed, America will be dethroned from its position as the middle-man in world financial affairs and the dollar will begin to reflect America’s true financial position. In short, America will become the new Zimbabwe. This devaluation will create massive disruptions in domestic economic activity, banking, public …


Pat’s Product Review: Benchmade’s 63 Bali-Song Bowie

I still remember when I first laid my hands on a “butterfly” style knife – it was back in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1986 or 1987. I thought they were a bit strange-looking, to say the least. And the examples I handled were all very cheaply made on top of it all. I just didn’t get what all the fuss was about, watching people doing the “twirl” with the butterfly knives – they had to whipped these knives out of their pockets and fling them around, until they opened and locked in their hand. Seemed like a lot of work, …


Letter Re: Paddle Magazine Releases for HK Family Rifles

Captain Rawles, I would like to tell your readers about a piece missing on HK Model 91s and clones, except for some Vectors.  This is the paddle magazine release.  With this latest skyrocketing of prices and the cheap availability of HK .308 magazines, you have suggested these type rifles.  I have had my beloved PTR for years, but only recently had what I consider the most important upgrade added to it: My paddle magazine release.  The G3 rifle (which all these are civilian copies of) had the paddle magazine release, but since it also used the pushpin mount/hole for the …


Letter Re: Weasel Words in Pending Federal Gun Legislation

Captain Rawles: I read the text of the draft Toomey-Manchin-Schumer Amendment. It does not define the word “publication.” Because there are several common definitions of the word, including the transitive verb ,”publish” could include just telling two or more people at once that you have a gun for sale.  Also the “safe travel” provision does not include magazines, so if you are stopped in New York or Connecticut or Maryland with a 30 round mag while driving from Pennsylvania to New Hampshire (for example) then you are a felon.  Also NY SAFE act bans transport of Guns AND Ammo,  the …


Recipe of the Week:

Matt The Teacher’s Cranberry Pumpkin Pie Spice Hard Tack I’ve tried many of the  hardtack recipes that are floating around on the web (including some that have been featured here on SurvivalBlog) and I find that most of them are so bland that they make Saltines seem like a five course meal!  So, I decided to mix things up a little bit and what I came up with is something I’ve dubbed…  Cranberry Pumpkin Pie Spice Hardtack: 4C unbleached flour (you can go 50/50 with whole wheat or all whole wheat but I personally don’t like it) 2C rolled oats …


Economics and Investing:

Reader Joe K. sent: Obama’s 2014 Budget Proposal Addresses Coin Composition Changes Damon sent: Railcar Loadings Drop Most Year-To-Date Since Crisis   Items from The Economatrix: Deflationary Fears The Main Reason For Commodities Selloff? Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: EMU Plot Curdles As Creditors Seize Cyprus Gold Reserves Commodities Slump As “Death Bell Rings”; US Stocks Drop


Odds ‘n Sods:

H.L. suggested this at the Popular Science web site: You Built What?!: A Tractor For The Apocalypse    o o o US rice imports ‘contain harmful levels of lead’. Buy American-grown rice!    o o o I heard that Camping Survival is now selling Life Straw water filters for just $19.95, with free shipping.    o o o Police, ‘anti-gun’ prosecutor clash with soldiers in area around Fort Hood    o o o Pierre M. sent: Bird Flu Causing Suffocation Shows Severe Spectrum of New Virus    o o o Elastic use of the Commerce Clause: Amish Prosecuted Because Scissors …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 46 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 …


Spiritual Preparedness for Hard Times, by ZeBo

In preparing for hard times, it has long been my belief that the first priority of Christian men and women must be preparing spiritually for the difficult road ahead. The church and culture of the United States have grown very soft, and, unlike our forefathers, most Christians in America today have little experience coping with hard times. We live in a culture that believes in having an insurance policy or material solution for any crisis that life brings our way. This applies down to the smallest personal tragedies, with only a handful of exceptions, and leaves us woefully underprepared to …


Letter Re: COMEX Precious Metals Market Dips

James, Many reader may be stunned by the drop in COMEX silver prices. However, holders of physical silver need not despair. The price to obtain actual coins has hardly been affected at all. Both Kitco and eBay testify to this: On Kitco, single silver eagles are now $29.10, or $4.15 over the Friday silver Comex close of $25.95 and a monster box of 500 eagles at $14,300 is still $28.60 each. Kitco at present is not even listing “junk silver bags”, they’re just not available through them (sometimes this happens), but others are selling the $1,000 face value bags of …