Author: James Wesley Rawles

On September 17, 158, Dutch sailors claimed the island of Mauritius for the Netherlands. They named it after Maurice, Prince of Orange and Count of Nassau — September 17, 1776: The Fortress Presidio of San Francisco was founded in New Spain to gain a foothold in Alta California and secure the San Francisco Bay. — Today, September 17th, we celebrate Constitution Day in these United States.  This is in remembrance that on September 17, 1787, the US Constitution was signed by delegates at the Philadelphia Convention. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 120 of the …

On September 16,  1782, the Great Seal of the United States of America was used for the first time. — September 16, 1919, the U.S. Congress granted a national charter to the American Legion. — And on September 16, 1940, US President FDR signed the Selective Training & Service Act. This was the nation’s first peacetime draft. — Mark your calendar for February 16, 2026, to order your 20th Anniversary Edition of the waterproof SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick. The 2005-2025 edition will have at least 12 more bonus books.  These will include the 4-volume Audel’s Carpenters and Builders Guide, as …

On September 15, 1916: The first use of tanks in warfare. Britain’s Mark I “Little Willie” tanks were used at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, as part of the Battle of the Somme. — On September 15, 1950, United Nations troops landed at Inchon, South Korea, crippling a North Korean invasion during the Korean War. — The last day!  The week-long sale on all of our Swedish Mauser rifles at Elk Creek Company ends tonight at midnight, Eastern Time. The prices of all of our  6.5 x55mm “Swedes” have been reduced by 10 to 25 percent. These are all pre-1899 (no …

On September 1814, Francis Scott Key penned the poem “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” later known as “The Star-Spangled Banner,” while witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry from a ship in Baltimore Harbor. — September 14, 1901: Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as the youngest man to serve as President. — This is also the birthday of James Wilson, a lawyer and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1742 – 1798). — Just two days left! We are running a week-long sale on all of our Swedish Mauser rifles at Elk Creek Company.  Just until Monday, September 15th, 2025, the prices …

On September 13th, 122: construction began on Hadrian‘s Wall in Northern England. — September 13th, 1951 was the birthday of President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan. — We are running a week-long sale on all of our Swedish Mauser rifles at Elk Creek Company.  Just until Monday, September 15th, 2025, the prices of all of our  6.5 x55mm “Swedes” have been reduced by 10 to 25 percent. These are all pre-1899 (no paperwork) rifles that can be mailed right to your door. They include original military configuration rifles and carbines, as well as a few sporters. Note that if …