(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.)
Equivalent Value
When most people think of the word ‘barter,’ they think ‘trade,’ or ‘like-for-like.’ The following is a list of possible items that you might want to consider having for bartering purposes, or charitable giving, should the need ever arise. These are merely suggestions.
Barter Item Categories & Suggestions
| Air Gun/Archery: BBs/pellets, CO2 cartridges Spare bow strings, arrows/bolts |
Food: Freeze dried, #10 cans, MRE Flour, yeast, sugar, wheat Coffee/tea, drink mixes Hand crank grinder (meat/grain), spare parts |
| Alcohol: Homemade wine/liquor Airline mini-bottles |
Fuel: 93-octane, diesel, kerosene, white camp fuel, 1 lb. Propane Fuel stabilizer, anti-bacterial, injector cleaner Spare gas cans, assorted gallons, siphon |
| Ammunition: See the ‘Equivalent Value’ section |
Games/Entertainment: Boardgames, card games, dice Books (assorted reading levels) |
| Baby Supplies: Cloth diapers, pins, powder, rash ointments Clothing |
Honey and Salt
(Both have an almost unlimited shelf life, if properly stored.) |
| Batteries: AA, AAA, C, D, 6V, 9V (rechargeable and non-rechargeable) Small solar charger, charging station |
Hunting: See ‘Air Gun/Archery’, ‘Ammunition’, ‘Sling Shot’, and ‘Fishing Gear’ section |
| Cabling: Assorted thickness, cable clamps |
Hygiene (feminine): Diva Cups, pads, tampons Yeast infection cream, UTI pain relief (see ‘Medical Supplies’ section) |
| Candle Making Supplies: Beeswax, tallow, molds, wick material |
Hygiene (general): Soap, cleaning products, razors, shampoo, conditioner, solar shower, lime (for outhouse) Hair/nail clippers, scissors, combs/brushes Toothbrushes/toothpaste, lotion, ChapStick |
| Canning Supplies: Jars, rims, lids, funnels, tongs |
Fire: Matches (all-weather), magnesium flint, Zippo fuel, lighters Lint, fire starting cubes, kindling, firewood |
| Communication: Handie-talkies, hand-crank radio, CB Portable solar panels Paper, pens/pencils, pencil sharpener |
Fishing Gear: Line, weights, bobbers, lures, nets Rod and reel |
| CondomsDuct Tape: Muted colors, assorted roll lengths |
Kitchen Supplies: Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, baggies, plastic ware Assorted tools (whisk, knives, measuring cups/spoons) |
| Duct Tape: Muted colors, assorted roll lengths |
Laundry Detergent |
Barter Item Categories & Suggestions (Continued)
| Lubricants and Oils: Firearms – assorted oils, cleaners Vehicles – brake, motor oil, grease Machinery – motor oil, hydraulic fluid, grease |
Seeds and Cuttings: Non-GMO, heirloom, zone specific/native, herbs, medicinal, crop Fruit tree cuttings (grafting/planting) |
| Leather: Spare hide/belt material Tools, buckles, thread, awl, scrape |
Sling Shot: Handles, spare tubing Ammo (ball bearings, marbles, etc.) |
| Over the Counter (OTC) Meds: Pain/itch reliever, Neosporin, anti-fungal Antacids, Pepto, allergy, anti-diarrheal |
Spices: Salt, pepper, assorted popular cooking spices |
| Pans: Pie, bread, baking, cast iron, skillet |
Tobacco: Cigarettes, cigars, chewing/snuff, pipe, rolling papers |
| Precious Metals: Gold, silver bars/nuggets Pre-1965 silver coins, nickels, pre-1981 pennies Scale, gold testing kit See ‘Tangible Commodity’ section |
Tools: Hand and gardening tools, gloves Multi-tool, screwdrivers, wrenches, sockets Screws, nails, nuts/bolts, anchors Vehicle/transportation maintenance tools |
| Reloading Supplies: Hand press, tumbler (with rock or media) Primers, wad, powder, shot, bullets, brass/shells |
Transportation (general): Bicycle – tubes, tires, chain, repair kit, panniers, child seats, pull-behinds, hand pump Lawn Carts (for hauling excess/heavy goods) Vehicle – assorted belts & hoses for a variety of popular makes/models, and tire repair Popular manufacturer specific parts (starter, alternator, radiator, oil/air filters) Spark plugs, jumper cables, battery tender |
| Rolls/Tarps: Assorted dimensions, roll lengths, and thicknesses |
Water: Filtration, treatment, carrying/containers |
| Rope/String/Paracord: Assorted lengths, muted colors |
Wire Rolls: Plain, barbed, chicken, rabbit, chain link, assorted length |
Please bear in mind that this is not an exhaustive list. What you should do is review this list and think about what would be of value to you or within your community in the event of a major disruption. What you should not do is advertise that you have any of it on hand. Pay close attention to the consumables in your own stockpile as these are going to be needed by you and everyone else. Satisfy your own needs first before offering up any of these items for barter.
That being said, ammo, firearms, and platform-specific parts could potentially be bartered but bear in mind that the ammo and firearms themselves would be extremely valuable as compared to the spare parts for a particular platform. A functioning firearm would be on par with the value of gold, in my opinion.
Most Popular Ammo Calibers
Be sure to research the most popular self-defense calibers in your state, as well as the most popular hunting calibers. These change, over time, so try to find the most current information. This information can be extremely useful if you’re considering the inclusion of firearm platforms, parts, and ammo in your bartering plans. If you want to narrow down caliber and platform preferences to your specific geographic region, then I recommend that you speak with retailers and the owners of gun ranges in your area. Ask specific questions regarding what people are buying and shooting for both the caliber and the platform.
Tradeable SkillS and ServiceS
Suppose you don’t have any coin, gold, or silver and you’ve left someplace in such a hurry that you literally only have the clothes on your back and maybe a can of beans. What now? Well, now you need to make sure you have a skill or can provide a service in exchange for food, shelter, or both. The following list isn’t all-inclusive by any means, but it will give you a fair idea about what skills might be needed to survive post-SHTF. Take this list with a grain of salt as it was compiled assuming that there was no electricity or government assistance headed our way. The key question is: With a demonstrable skillset, will someone be invited in, or are they “out”?
Skills and The Gate To Safety
| Skill | In or Out | Explanation |
| Analyst | Maybe | Are comms up? Then yes because analysts are predisposed to look for patterns much like WWII codebreakers. Signals analysis is where they’d wind up. If comms are down, they’d better have a strong back or another skillset to trade on because if they are lucky they are relegated to the fire and water brigades. Is the compound/community/fortification near a body of water that actually contains fish/seafood? Then yes. If not, they better have a strong back or another skillset. |
| Angler | Maybe | Is the compound/community/fortification near a body of water that actually contains fish/seafood? Then yes. If not, they better have a strong back or another skillset. |
| Blacksmith | In | Being able to work a forge would be highly valuable especially if they know how to make their own charcoal. |
| Brewer | Maybe | This one depends on the type of community you find yourself. If the place is chock full of teetotalers, they you are out of luck. If the brewer can partner with the chef and open an inn of sorts, then they might get in as a pair. |
| Carpenter | In | Trade skill that is welcomed everywhere. People need shelter, and so do animals. Being able to construct things is extremely beneficial. A carpenter would conceivably work in concert with the engineer, gardener, hunter, woodworker, and inventor. |
| Chef/Cook | In | No one is going to know how to stretch a short supply of ingredients farther than professionally trained chefs and cooks. |
| Doctor/Nurse | Depending on their specialty, they are probably in. I say it this way because a psychiatrist may knock on the door, too. Also, a veterinarian would be highly valuable in a more agrarian setting. | |
| Electrician | In | Trade skill, should be welcomed everywhere. |
| Engineer | In | Trade skill, should be welcomed everywhere. |
| Farmer | In | A person who understands crops, soil, and livestock is definitely getting in. |
| Farrier | In | Will work in concert with the blacksmith and/or veterinarian as this skillset is essentially a mix between the two. Equine hoof maintenance is paramount. |
| Fireman | Maybe | It could go either way. Fireman by their very nature are strong and driven. Leadership may be in short supply so this may garner an invite for the weary traveler. |
| Gardener | In | While not a trade skill per se, a skilled gardener would work with the farmer, chef, and hunter as people need to eat and specific crops can be grown to attract animals. |
| Herbalist | In | While not a trade skill per se, people will need poultices, salves, and tinctures to heal. |
| Inventor | In | As long as the person can demonstrate their creative genius at practical inventions, they would challenge the farmer for would-be king status. |
| IT Expert | Out | They had better have a strong back or another skillset. |
| Landscaper | Maybe | Do they only know how to sling mulch, plant trees, and pull weeds? Then probably not. If they exhibit any logic or brains at the gate they will appeal and align more to the gardener and possibly the farmer. |
| Lawyer/Judge | Maybe | Is law and order on the rise? Is Martial Law being enforced? Someone skilled in law could be useful when the time is right and in certain situations, especially if there are land, water, or property disputes currently within the enclave. |
| LEO/Military (Combat Arms) | In | Everyone needs security and law and order. |
| Mason | In | Trade skill, should be welcomed everywhere. Not only do they understand brick and mortar they also have a grasp of airflow. They’ll work closely with the farmer and carpenter. |
| Mechanic/Millwright | In | Trade skill, should be welcomed everywhere. Anyone who is mechanically inclined and can quickly fix things is always gonna get in |
| Medic/EMT/ Corpsman | In | Medics are trained to think quickly in high-stress situations. If you have teams going on expeditions, you’ll want the medic. |
| Plumber | In | Trade skill, should be welcomed everywhere. They know far more than just water and sewage transportation. They live squarely in the ‘mechanical’ category, so they are in. These are the ones that’ll figure out how to get water to the orchard from the stream a half mile away. |
| Politician | Maybe | They probably caused the whole SHTF situation to begin with. “Kick rocks” is my initial reaction; however, most are adept at consensus-building. |
| Project Manager | Maybe | Leadership may be in short supply so this may garner an invite for the weary traveler. You’d better have a strong back or another skillset just in case. |
| Sales Rep | Maybe | A useless profession in a post-SHTF world, but if they can be utilized when negotiating with travelers or other enclaves, then maybe. You’d better have a strong back or another skillset just in case. |
| Seamstress/ Tailor | In | Having the knowledge and ability to make and repair clothing will become a quite valuable skillset. |
| Truck Driver | Maybe | I say maybe because some only know how to shift gears and turn the wheel. The quality drivers, the ones you want at any rate, are the ones that can fix their own rig. Therefore, they are coming in with the mechanic. |
| Veterinarian | In | Given the scenario of no electricity, we automatically revert back to a pre-Industrial Revolution state. In that world, animals and livestock must be well cared for their labor, reproduction, production (milk), and eventually as a food source. |
| Welder | In | The welder gets through the gate because of their ability to create and problem-solve in 3D. If there are tanks with gas, rods, and welding tools available, then all the better. |
| Woodworker | In | A woodworker can be a carpenter but not all carpenters can be a woodworker. Being a woodworker requires far greater patience than most carpenters possess. Everyone needs furniture, beds, dressers, window frames, etc. |
Odds and Ends
When it comes to having additional skill sets, each added skill makes you that much more valuable to your group or your community. This is especially true if you’re on the road looking for safety and security. If you can perform certain ‘actions’ and ‘services’ beyond a tradeable skillset is equally as valuable in a ‘Barter Town’ or ‘Barter Faire’ scenario. For example, if you can perform any of the following, you could attend a Barter Faire and basically set up shop as if you had a little storefront:
- Create finished goods out of raw materials.
A.) Those goods can be traded and/or sold for higher amounts. Example: raw pelt vs finished hat, liners for gloves/boots, belts, and coats.
B.) Blankets and rugs from pelts could be valuable as would the creation of quilts and blankets from tattered clothing or spare material. - Reliably recharge spent batteries of various sizes either through solar power, hydropower, steam power, or any other method.
- Provide reloaded ammunition in popular calibers
- Re-string bows.
- Build and/or repair firearms as a gunsmith.
- Create custom leatherwork and knives which would also include handles.
- Repair battery-operated electronics.
- Repair damaged but still functional wood-built items like furniture, chairs, clocks, etc.
- Repair or perform routine maintenance on vehicles and bicycles.
- Have recipes for poultices, salves, and tinctures and finished products and ingredients for sale.
A.) Distill vodka for the tinctures - If your area has hunting opportunities in abundance, try selling or providing salt-cured/smoked meat and fish.
- Create roughhewn boards and beams with a sawmill
- Successful animal husbandry for the sale of assorted animals/livestock (cows, goats, sheep)
A.) The ability to ‘loan’ productive males (bulls, rams, etc.) for breeding purposes.
B.) Horse training would be valuable in a world without cars
These are just a few things related to the “Skills and the Gate to Safety” table that advances the noted skillsets a step further by thinking outside of the box. These advanced skillsets might prove useful when large gatherings are organized for community members to barter wholesale. When it comes to bartering, as a general practice, regardless of whether or not it is a straight 1:1 ‘sale’ or in a more festival, garage sale, swap meet kind of setting, being creative and thinking beyond preconceived notions will serve you better in the long run.
Pay attention and observe friends and neighbors. Bartering is, in simple terms, an attempt to anticipate future needs of those near you. In so doing, you’ll be able to replenish your own consumable supplies and potentially plug any gaps in your preparedness planning.
I will close with a fair-use excerpt from a 2013 article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Ten Tips for Selling Grandma’s Silverware:
“Weigh it first. If you weigh the silver on your kitchen or bathroom scale, or use post office scales, be aware that this weight must be converted into troy ounces, which is how silver is weighed. Online calculators can easily convert your figure to troy ounces. Six pounds of silverware, for example, equals roughly 65 troy ounces.
Be aware that most knives in a table setting are only silver around the handles, which may be filled for additional weight. (The tops of knives are stainless steel.) Eight-setting sets can vary widely in weight and therefore value.
Check prices online. As mentioned before, sterling is 92.5 percent silver, so it’s good to have an idea of how much silver you have and compare it against the current price at a website like www.kitco.com. Another website, www.coinapps.com, will let you put your sterling silverware’s weight (in troy ounces) in a calculator and give you its current value.
Look up historic value as well, if you have time to wait. For example, earlier this year, silver was selling at around $30 an ounce. Now it’s closer to $19.
Replacement pieces. Stierstorfer warned that replacement pieces for a set may run $50 or $60 each online, but that is because the seller is offering a service to a buyer who needs something. The market value when you sell sterling silverware is only for melting it down…”