Year: 2026

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — SurvivalBlog reader Tim J. sent us this: The Culture of Raising Barns. o  o  o “Everyone’s Grandma Is Selling the Silver Chandelier, Forks, Knives” as Scrap Volumes Overwhelm Refiners. o  o  o J.T. in Florida sent this television news link: Civilians in Florida are training like soldiers: ‘Best prevention to war’.  JWR’s …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — February 17, 2026

On February 17, 1940, the Altmark Incident: The crew of the British destroyer Cossack (pictured) boarded the German tanker Altmark in Jøssingfjord, Norway, releasing 299 British prisoners after hand-to-hand fighting with bayonets and the last recorded Royal Naval action with cutlasses. — I just heard that actor Robert Duvall passed away at age 95.  May he rest in peace. – JWR — Using a 13-inch (33-cm) telescope at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, Clyde W. Tombaugh, a 24-year-old American with no formal training in astronomy, discovered the dwarf planet Pluto this day in 1930. — We are nearly done …


Cold Steel Recon 1 XL Folding Knife, by Thomas Christianson

“That’s not a knife. This is a knife!” (Paul Hogan as Mick Dundee, in Crocodile Dundee, 1986). When I took the Cold Steel Recon 1 XL out of its box for the first time and deployed the blade, the attempted mugging scene from Crocodile Dundee immediately came to mind. The Recon 1 XL is bigger than the average everyday carry (EDC) knife: a lot bigger. It has a 5.5-inch blade that is 0.15 inches thick and 1.63 inches wide. It is 12.25 inches long when the blade is deployed. And it weighs 8 ounces. The knife is 6.75 inches long, …


SurvivalBlog’s American Redoubt Media of the Week

This weekly column features media from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest.  This week: Some more backcountry flying videos. “My Window Is Gone” an Adventure in the Oregon/Idaho Backcountry. (Trent Palmer.) These Kodiak 100 Backcountry Landings Are Insane – You Won’t Believe the Strips! Landing at Ryan Field (2MT1) in West Glacier, Montana. And a word of warning: Idaho Pilots: Roland Steadham was “safest pilot”, knew the area and powerlines well. Montana Knife Company nearing finish line on completion of new …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — February 16, 2026

On February 16, 1960, the newly-commissioned 447-foot US nuclear submarine USS Triton (SSRN/SSN-586) set off on a 60-day underwater round-world trip — the first submarine to do so.  The sub’s skipper, Captain Edward L. “Ned” Beach Jr., was also famous as the author of Run Silent, Run Deep. — February 16,1968: The first US 911 phone system went into service in Haleyville, Alabama. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three-Day Course Certificate. This can be used for …


Ready Made Resources is Up For Sale!

Most SurvivalBlog readers are familiar with Ready Made Resources – a reputable survival and self-reliance company serving the prepper community since 1996. They have been a SurvivalBlog advertiser for more than 20 years. With the recent cancer death of company Founder & CEO, Robert E. “Bob” Griswold, the company had lost its driving force. His widow is now looking for a buyer who can carry on the mission and the longstanding name of Ready Made Resources. Ready Made Resources has an amazing deep inventory, a large mailing list, and drop-shipment agreements that are still active with dozens of suppliers / …


Raising, Hunting, and Harvesting Animals – Part 6, by Lodge Pole

(Continued from Part 5. This concludes the article.) The .223 Remington I love the .223 Remington (.223 Rem). The rounds are relatively inexpensive and can be found anywhere. There is a plethora of bullet grain weights, designs and bullet tips. There is also an unlimited amount of firearm platforms to find that best fits you and your needs. I use a bolt action Ruger American Ranch rifle. Ruger makes an excellent, inexpensive and durable rifle chambered in 5.56 NATO. It has a detachable magazine and the comes in a 1:8 twist. My rifle has consistently and accurately shot a variety …


Recipe of the Week: 

The following recipe for Spring Greens Enchiladas is from SurvivalBlog reader Kurt W. Ingredients 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 2-3 garlic cloves, chopped 4-6 cups of chopped greens, any variety (spinach, chard, mustard greens, turnip greens, etc.) 1 Tablespoon butter 1 Tablespoon flour 1/2 cup milk 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, pepperjack, or Monterey jack.) 6 flour tortillas 15 oz jar (or about 2 cups) of salsa Directions Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a casserole dish and set it aside. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion with a …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

  Today’s graphic: The United States of WalMart. In this map, each polygon contains exactly one Walmart store and represents the area closer to that store than any other. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) JWR’s Comments:  My family lives in the American Redoubt, where the population density is quite low, and the WalMart density is correspondingly low.  Hence, the large polygons seen in the Intermountain West.  It is a two-hour drive to the nearest WalMart from the Rawles Ranch. The thumbnail below is click-expandable.       — Please send your graphics or graphics links to JWR. (Either via e-mail or …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — February 15, 2026

90 years ago, today: The coldest day in North Dakota history. Minus 60 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale was recorded on February 15th, 1936, by a coal miner and volunteer National Weather Service weather observer in Parshall, North Dakota. This remains the lowest temperature ever recorded in the state. Pictured is the Broste Museum in Parshall, North Dakota. February 15th 1809: Birthday of Cyrus Hall McCormick, inventor of a mechanical reaper. Gun developer Richard “Dick” Casull was born on February 15, 1931. Casull passed away on May 6, 2018 after a long battle with cancer. Dick Casull is most famous …


Raising, Hunting, and Harvesting Animals – Part 5, by Lodge Pole

(Continued from Part 4.) Practical Hunting Gear The basic gear I carry, regardless of season, is listed below. Clothing that fits and is proper for the environment you’re in. This includes a hat. Always have a change of socks. Firearm and spare ammunition. Every single rifle and shotgun I own has an elastic buttstock ammo carrier as well as a sling with ammunition loops sewn in. (Butler Creek makes a great sling with ammo loops.) I like these because accessing spare rounds is more convenient and it doesn’t require me to carry so much ammo in my pack. Knife. I …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: I’m Curious… In The Latest Epstein Documents Release Why are There Hundreds of References to Pizza, Beef Jerky, and Grape Soda? News Links: Hundreds of Bizarre References to ‘Pizza’ in New Epstein Documents Raise Eyebrows. Beef jerky is mentioned 383 times in the files. The New Epstein Files Are Reopening the Pizzagate Box. Tucker Carlson: Pizzagate Fully Explained in 12 Minutes. Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks! …