Letter Re: Do-It-Yourself Weapons Camouflage and Kydex Gear

Sir, After reading the reply to the: Do-It-Yourself Weapons Camouflage and Kydex Gear I have to ask the question… Does anyone see any specific pattern anywhere?  The answer should be NO!  Why do you ask, because there is not one!  The “pattern” that you paint your weapon and match your clothes to should be specific to your area.  Granted, Multi-Cam camo tends to blend into many different areas but there is still a common factor in the “pattern”… it is a pattern that is generated!  It has hard line edges and it is not random. There are not a lot …


Letter Re: How to Bug Out to Montana

Mr. Rawles:   As a prepper living in the Redoubt, allow me to respectfully enlighten Professor Prepper from Montana with my own nickel’s worth on the topic: I think you are a little high on the horse, pard.  I detected the hint of a threat towards those not already living in Montana, even though you lightly qualified with a disclaimer that “we Montanans” are American, and “we” do not want to take up arms against other Americans. I will concede, however, that you believe your intentions to be honorable, and you sure can’t be accused of not being proud of …


Economics and Investing:

Bond Investors Beware: Mutual Fund Outflows Accelerating as Interest Rates Climb Higher Doug Casey: “We’re Still In The Midst Of The Biggest Bubble In World History” Indian Gold Dealer: “Gold Is Now Trading At $1800oz.—Small Factories And Workshops Are Shutting Down” Items from The Economatrix: Consumer Confidence Misses Expectations By Most On Record Housing Starts, Permits Miss; Single-Family Housing Market Weakest Since November 2012 Defunding wouldn’t kill Obamacare taxes


Odds ‘n Sods:

Citing grave security concerns… Say Goodbye to Skype. “Not only is Skype plugged directly in to the surveillance grid, but the company is actively contributing to the most complete surveillance system in the history of mankind.” (Thanks to H.M. for the link.)    o o o G.G. suggested: Amaranth: Another Ancient Wonder Food, But Who Will Eat It? [JWR Adds: See the previously posted warnings in SurvivalBlog’s archives about containing your Amaranth crop plantings! (The tiny seeds are carried on the winds so the plant can easily become a weed that can grow out of control.]    o o o …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 48 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 …


How to Bug Out to Montana, by Professor Prepper

I’m just putting the finishing touches on my signs. Do you like them? They say “Trespassers will be shot without warning.” I think that gets the message across. Don’t you? So I’ve heard you are thinking of bugging out to Montana when the SHTF. Is that right? Well, I’ve got some advice for you: The first thing to remember is that Montana is already filled with people. Not as many as most other states, but still, there are many of us here whether you saw us or not the last time you took a family trip through Montana. Yeah, we …


Update on Mulligan Mint

On Monday, August 5, 2013, I posted a piece titled “Calling It Quits With Mulligan Mint.” It was pointed out to me that it included a factual error, so I’ve truncated that post. I’d like to give everyone an update on what has transpired since then. First, the Good News: 1. I have been impressed that the staff of Mulligan Mint has overcome all of the hurdles of transitioning from a fledgling company that simply struck outside vendor-supplied .999 fine dimensioned blank planchets into a company that now consistently turns raw .999 fine silver into finished coins, in quantity. They have …


Letter Re: Do-It-Yourself Weapons Camouflage and Kydex Gear

Dear JWR, After reading your list of needful gear I wanted to offer some insight. First, the weapon stencils you mentioned are available from the makers of Duracoat at Lauer Custom Weaponry. They offer the woodland pattern as well as many other camouflage patterns, including multi-cam. In addition to that they sell a  template kit that you use to design the pattern yourself.  While you’re there don’t forget to check out their Duracoat kits, colors and temporary camo paint for mission specific camouflage that is removed by another of their products. As for the Kydex equipment, there will never be …


Economics and Investing:

Stocks end higher despite Nasdaq system crash Reader Peter S. sent: Gold flows from Britain to Switzerland surge in H1. [JWR’s Comment: The Smart Money must see storm clouds approaching.] Total Public Debt Now Eclipses GDP Items from The Economatrix: What Is Going To Happen If Interest Rates Continue To Rise Rapidly? Gold Market Update Compare And Contrast: Public Versus Private Retiree Underfunding In One Chart


Odds ‘n Sods:

Merry suggested: 40 maps that explain the world    o o o F.R. spotted this over at Instructables: KP Pyramid Wood Stove    o o o Some satire is too accurate to be comfortable: Stop, Drop, and Cower. (Thanks to Wayne B. for the link.)    o o o Should You Be Able to Buy Food Directly From Farmers? The Government Doesn’t Think So.    o o o Yet another reason to vamoose the Land of Lincoln Obama: Illinois expands background checks to all gun purchases



Notes from JWR:

Do you have a favorite quote that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers, and that is properly attributed? If so, then please send it via e-mail, and it will likely be posted as a Quote of the Day. Thanks! — Today we present another entry for Round 48 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 …


Selecting a Retreat, by M.D.L.

The last time I sent an article to SurvivalBlog [The Secret Prepper, in May, 2013], I told of how I was secretly preparing for the possibility of the “S” hitting the “F”.  Well, I’m proud to say that I’ve finally come out of the shadows and into the light.  The lesson I’ve learned is to quit worrying about how much the Band Aid is going to hurt and just rip it off.  It wasn’t all that hard and my life is better for it, even if my family has taken several opportunities to fashion me an aluminum foil hat. That …


Letter Re: Rabbits for a Stable (and Staple) Protein Source

Hello Mr. Rawles, Regarding the recent blog article Rabbits for a Stable (and Staple) Protein Source, by S.F.D. in West Virginia: I too have chosen meat rabbits to be my SHTF meat source. Raising, butchering, and of course eating domestic rabbit has become a great learning experience for myself and my family. The one problem I foresee is providing food for my rabbits. But one possibility, of which I have a friend who has much success with, is growing a substantial plot of dandelion. My friend from northern Maine has a 90 foot-long plot of dandelion which he harvests and then dries …