Pat’s Product Reviews: Cold Steel Hold Out II

There’s a couple things I like about Lynn Thompson, over at Cold Steel knives. One is, and I’ve said this many times, is that I believe Cold Steel put the “sharp” in sharp knives. I’ve yet to run across a single Cold Steel knife that wasn’t scary sharp right out of the box. Lynn set the trend for super-sharp knives, and everyone else had to either jump on the band wagon or get run over. Second, I like that Thompson isn’t afraid to take classic knives and give them his own twist on things – and it always seems to …


Letter Re: Do It Yourself Oil Extraction

Jim:  While researching briquette presses for fuel production, I stumbled on an article about using similar presses for extracting oils from seeds and nuts. In this case, the focus was on bio-diesel production, but I felt it was helpful for other uses as well. We preppers often hear of the importance of fats and oils in the diet, along with the difficulties in storing these items, so having the means to produce your own is a benefit.  For the Do-It-Yourselfers in the audience, you can check out a Journey To Forever article which details how to build the equipment needed to …


Two Letters Re: Some Experience With 7.62mm NATO Battle Rifles

Mr. Rawles, I was wondering if you or your staff had any experience or opinion on the PTR-91 GI rifle, also known as the PTR-91 “special edition”.  These seem very competitively priced; $899 at both Atlantic Firearms and CDNN Sports (listed on page 28 of their online catalog).  Apparently the changes made to this rifle allow it to accept the military surplus ammunition, which previously jammed the rifle.  However, the “tolerances” are looser, according to the web site, so it is possible that accuracy suffered. As this is a great price to enter the .308 / 7.62 NATO market, I …


Letter Re: Some Defective Lots of Black Berkey Water Filters

Sir: I have purchased a Big Berkey recently and ended up with several defective filters, just as was recently mentioned in SurvivalBlog. I discovered this when the unfiltered chlorinated water destroyed a gallon of my sweet tea. The glue that was on it looked a lot like a kind of hot glue! I didn’t want to hassle with the long waiting list, so I removed the excess glue and “re-glued” it with a tube of clear silicone [RTV] caulk that I bought at Home Depot for $4. It is a simple fix and it lasts. Just make sure you follow …


Economics and Investing:

R.B.S. spotted this: Big Changes Afoot at U.S. Mint? The articles begins: “The year 2013 might go down in the annals of numismatics as significant as 1933 when gold coinage was suspended or 1965, the year copper-nickel began to displace the former silver coinage.” Got your nickels yet? J.B.G. sent this: Market crash ‘could hit within weeks’, warn bankers Martin P. sent this: Economic Stabilization Fund. Items from The Economatrix: The Upside for Gold and Silver Will Knock Your Socks Off 3-2-1 Global Meltdown Do The Maths


Odds ‘n Sods:

K.A.F. was the first of several readers to send this: Feared Beetle Makes Its Way to U.S. in Rice from India    o o o L. Veritas sent this: Raw milk raids, now guitar raids. It seems nothing is safe!    o o o Reader Ian R. e-mailed me to describe last weekend in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, only diesel fuel was available at the local gas station. All grades of gasoline were sold out. Ian noted: “The gas station attendant stated they sold out of regular by Friday afternoon, and out of all gas …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Gold is the mirror of the world’s paper currency system. The price of gold doesn’t reflect the intrinsic value of the metal – which is almost unchanging over time. It reflects the relative value and volatility of paper currencies.” – Porter Stansberry . [JWR highly recommends the Stansberry investing newsletters.]


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 36 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) 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 B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $300 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo, and E.) …


Application of Bodybuilding and Supplementation to the Crunch, by A.T.

I am just beginning my journey into the prepping world and it is amazing when I look back over the last year just how far I have come.  Being only 22 years old, and living on my own since 18 away at school and living in a large metropolitan area, it wasn’t my first priority when I first left home.  I went through my first few years living the typical college life.  However, two years in, traveled to China for a while and it really opened my eyes as to how messed up the government of that country is.  What …


Battening Down the Hatches–Hurricane Irene and New York City

Dear Mr. Rawles, Here’s an article on the New York Times web site about the extraordinary preparations being made in and around New York City as Hurricane Irene makes her way up the East Coast. They’re evacuating a quarter of a million people, including a number of hospitals and nursing homes; making the main arteries out of some locations into one-way, six lane evacuations routes; and shutting down the entire public transit system, including several commuter lines to Long Island, New Jersey, and upstate. New Yorkers tend to forget how close we are to the sea. Nothing like this has …


Two Letters Re: Some Observations on Non-Electric Lighting

Jim, While reading the very informative article “Re: Some Observations on Non-Electric Lighting” and the response letter, I thought that it might be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers to know of another source of good brass lanterns and wicks.  I have bought several brass lanterns over the years from Vermont Lanterns, including a couple of discounted and “scratch and dent” models. They are of very high quality, all brass, imported from India, though marketed by a family business in Vermont.  The company sells spare globes and wicks for each of their models, as well.  A bit more expensive than the …


Economics and Investing:

We’ve been warned: the system is ready to blow Reuters reports: Home Depot, Walmart, grocers get boost from Irene. (Thanks to M.W. for the link.) Some wise folks are buying on the dip: Sudden Temporary Gold and Silver Price Drop; Retail Sales Soar. (A hat tip to R.B.S. for the link.) A whole bunch of news, courtesy of John R.: In An Unsustainable System, A Warning of Collapse (Bob Chapman) Panic & Anxiety Swirl a Storm (Jim Willie) Banks face $340 billion state-backed bond refi hole (Helene Durand)   Big Banks: Under-Capitalized, Overexposed, Opaque(Barry Ritholtz) “A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing” …


Odds ‘n Sods:

K.T. suggested this nine minute fictional video: “It has been six months since the grid went down. You and the other five members of your party have settled into what may be a long grinding existence.” If the narration sounds familiar, it is because it was originally from a 2009 SurvivalBlog post. I have belatedly given them permission to use the contents of that post. (Thanks to reader “Blacksheep” for sending the link back to Jeff’s post.)    o o o Litigation Nation: Burglar’s family awarded $300,000 in wrongful death suit. (A hat tip to Karl G. for sending the …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 36 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) 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 B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $300 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo, and E.) …