Pat’s Product Review: Bear & Son Damascus Hunter

Awhile back, I tested some automatic folding knives from Bear Ops, which is a division of Bear & Son Cutlery and was favorably impressed with the little tactical folders. Now, while I sincerely enjoy all the new types of stainless steel blade materials used on knives these days, I’ve always been fascinated with Damascus steel. Bear & Son is one of the few commercial knife manufacturers offering knives with Damascus blades. What we have in Damascus steel is a combination of different steels with different properties, that is hammer forged and folded back onto itself, to give you blades with …


Letter Re: Micro-Gasification Stoves – Taking it to the Next Level

Jim: Thanks again for the recent posting on my piece: Local Food and Energy from Top Lit Up Draft Micro-Gasification Stove. That was much appreciated! Are you tracking woodgas powered vehicles? You may have heard of it from WWII stories and FEMA manual. The old systems worked in emergencies, but were not really practical for long term use. Wayne Keith has a new book just out on practical applications, Have Wood Will Travel. In it are detailed instructions for building, operating, and maintaining a modern woodgas powered vehicle. Wayne has tinkered his way into the first system that is practical …


Letter Re: The Human Appendix

Sir: I have a medical question that I thought that maybe you could forward to Dr. Cynthia Koelker, your Medical Editor, on perhaps she could write an article.   My appendix was enflamed recently and they performed emergency surgery to remove it before it burst. My doctor said that his granddad, also a doctor, performed preventative surgery to remove his daughter’s (my doctor’s mom’s) appendix. He said that there is really no purpose for the appendix except to get infected and inflamed and burst. I agree that he is probably correct in this day and age, but when I asked …


Letter Re: Sodium Chloride IV Bag Expiry Dates

JWR, In my military life I can relate the reason for the expiration date on the bag is due to the bag not the fluid.  Plastic is not impermeable.  The rationale is after the date of expiration enough time has passed to question the integrity of the fluid.  The purity of the fluid can be compromised.  If you started a line and pushed the fluid you have a increased risk of infection.  The fluid is perfectly good for oral use.  It doesn’t taste very good but in a pinch it works. – Ken L.


Letter Re: Storing Coconut Oil

Jim, When I was in Costco this week, I noticed that they had Organic Coconut Oil. This coconut oil is a good storage fat because it is very shelf-stable. The manufacturer says it has a shelf life of two years, but a friend of mine told me that she had some that she stored in her basement for 6 years, and when she used it it was just fine.  Coconut oil is definitely healthier for you than Crisco (which is hydrogenated vegetable oil) or hydrogenated lard (the lard you commonly find in the grocery store); we’ve all heard about the …


Recipe of the Week:

KAF’s Five Fruit Bread 1 16 oz. can fruit cocktail 3 c all purpose flour 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/3 c melted butter 1/4 c toasted slivered almonds 1/2 c sugar 1 1/2 tsp salt 2 eggs, beaten 1 Tblsp grated lemon peel Drain the syrup from fruit into a measuring cup and add enough water to it to make 1 cup. Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. Stir syrup into flour mixture along with the eggs, butter, and lemon peel. Stir in fruit and almonds. Pour into greased 9 x 5″ loaf pan. Bake at 350 …


Economics and Investing:

John Michael Greer: The Hard Road Ahead. (A piece recommended by Jeremy M. in New Zealand.) The new Dodd-Frank rules on collateral requirements for derivatives were scheduled begin in January, 2013. This legislation was passed in 2010, in reaction the 2008 Mortgaged Backed Securities (MBS) fiasco that had triggered the global credit market collapse of 2008. Perhaps this in part explains why the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve selected MBSes as their junque de jour for Quantitative Easing Round 3 (QE3) “out of thin air” purchases. MBSes will remain solid as long as Uncle Sugar keeps buying them, month …


Odds ‘n Sods:

One of the newest advertisers over at our growing SurvivalRealty spin-off web site is Mark Twite Realty. Along with some larger parcels, they have listings for some bargain-priced mining claims and small rural properties in western Montana. Oh, BTW, the map of listings at SurvivalRealty is fully zoomable, and there is a new page featuring all properties and contacts in the American Redoubt.    o o o Reader T.T.C. sent: Mark Levin’s take on the current ammunition shortage.    o o o A tyranny alert: Christian, Please Wake Up! by Chuck Baldwin    o o o There is a lesson …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 45 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 …


Pre-TEOTWAWKI OPSEC, by P.J.

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Isaiah 39:5-7 God’s word to Hezekiah, king of Judah, through the prophet Isaiah immediately followed a dramatic sequence of events …


Auction Update: PVS-14 Gen 3+ Night Vision Scope to Benefit C.R.O.S.S. Ministries

CURRENT BID is $3,700 (Bid by Reader M.V.) Simply e-mail us your bids. I will post regular updates on the bidding. The final deadline will be Midnight EST on Monday, March 11, 2013. Thanks for your generous bids in support of C.R.O.S.S. Ministries. We are continuing a benefit auction of a brand new AN/PVS-14 Gen 3+ Night Vision Scope. All proceeds (100% of your bid) will be donated to C.R.O.S.S. Ministries. (A very worthy Christian ministry that is sharing the Gospel of Christ in South Sudan. Their outreach method is unique: They are teaching rural villagers tactical marksmanship, water purification, …



Odds ‘n Sods:

Chris P. spotted an item of interest to ATV owners: Polaris introducing flat-proof “airless” tires.    o o o Do You Count As an Extremist ‘Patriot’? A Closer Look at the SPLC Report. Readers are warned that the SPLC specializes in besmirching almost anyone who is right of center. They often attempt to make anyone who does not follow their collectivist agenda looking like a neo-Nazi or KKK member. This is a form of gray propaganda. Their key weapon is guilt by association. They even attempt to cast guilt by non-association. That is what they recently did with me.    …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed [are] the …