Kershaw Link 1776BW, by Thomas Christianson

The Kershaw Link 1776BW is a rugged everyday-carry (EDC) knife. It weighs in at 4.3 ounces and has a 3.25 inch, drop-point, hollow-ground, blackwashed-finish blade made of 420HC steel that is 0.1 inches thick. The assisted-opening blade is reliably deployed via a flipper, and is held open by a liner lock. The glass-filled nylon (GFN) handle provides an excellent grip. The overall length is 7.6 inches. Best of all, the Kershaw Link is made in the USA. The particular model that I tested has been discontinued. A similar model with an olive aluminum handle and a stonewashed-finished, CPM-Magnacut blade is …


Log Home Repair, by Thomas Christianson

One of the major drawbacks of owning a log home is the amount of maintenance that such homes require. Logs decay if they are not properly maintained. To keep a log home from decaying, a log home owner must constantly inspect, stain, and repair the logs. My wife, “Kari”, and I have lived in a log home for the past 11 years. The home was built about 36 years ago. Kari and I have worked hard to maintain the home, but not all of the previous owners were as diligent as we are. At least one previous owner neglected to …


Big Idea Design Bolt Action Pen, by Thomas Christianson

It is said that the pen is mightier than the sword. The written word can change hearts, while force can only impose unwilling submission. Pens have so many practical uses that I habitually keep one with me, as everyday carry (EDC). The pen that I am currently carrying is the Big Idea Design Bolt Action Pen. It is a truly rugged and reliable writing instrument, with the amazing ability to accept at least 127 different brands and models of ink refill cartridges. The titanium exterior of the pen tolerates a remarkable amount of abuse with minimal signs of wear and …


Bear Knuckles Work Gloves, by Thomas Christianson

I recently tested several pairs of work gloves that I am really enthusiastic about. They are tough, supple, comfortable, and have excellent dexterity relative to their thickness. They provide the best grip of any gloves that I have ever used. They are Bear Knuckles Gloves. Bear Knuckles Gloves were originally designed by bareback rider Shawn Schild to give himself a better grip during rodeo competition. The gloves utilize a double wedge pattern along the sides of the fingers to conform to the natural curve of the fingers. This provides a better grip while producing less resistance and fatigue. I tested …


Ruger American Rifle Generation II in 6.5 Creedmoor, by Thomas Christianson

The Ruger American Rifle Generation II in 6.5 Creemoor is highly accurate and light, with an easily gripped and highly adjustable stock. The 20 inch spiral fluted barrel is visually striking, the bolt cycles smoothly, and the 3 position tang safety is easy to operate and intuitive. At 6.5 pounds, the rifle would be easier to carry than most on a long day in the field. With a manufacturer-suggested retail price of $729 at the time of this writing, and widely available for less, the rifle offers an excellent value for the money. If you are looking for a good …


Rossi Survival Rifle in .45 Colt/.410 Gauge, by Thomas Christianson

Packing considerably more punch than the typical .22LR survival rifle, the Rossi Survival Rifle in .45 Colt/.410 Gauge is light, compact, rugged, and easy to use. It would be an excellent tool for taking medium-sized game out to about 75 yards or so. Beyond that range, the trajectory of the bullet from a .45 Colt cartridge begins to exhibit its bow-shaped arc, making accurate shooting more difficult. With a manufacturer-suggested retail price of $356.99 at the time of this writing at www.rossiusa.com, the rifle would make an excellent addition to the survival kit of a plane, boat, truck or other …


Valley GTDB-48 Ditch Bank Blade, by Thomas Christianson

Prologue: The Dacian Wars: 101-102 and 105-106 AD During all of their far-flung campaigns, the Roman Legions had never faced a weapon as fearsome as the Dacian falx (“sickle”). The large falx was a two-handed weapon with a roughly 3-foot blade mounted on a roughly 3 foot handle. The long handle provided a tremendous amount of leverage, giving the weapon enough power to split a legionnaire’s helmet or shield with a single blow. After seeing a large number of Roman corpses with gruesome head wounds, the armorers accompanying the legions adopted a field expedient: they riveted two transverse reinforcing iron …


Warwood Tool Perfect Axe, by Thomas Christianson

Editor’s Introductory Note:  This article was written in February 2024. That was several months before I contacted Warwood Tool, to set up an affiliate advertising contract.  Full disclosure:  We earn a modest commission on the sales of any Wawood Tools that are derived from visits to the Warwood Tool site, from clicks on the affiliate ad at SurvivalBlog. — The Warwood Tool Perfect Axe is a contemporary version of a classic and highly effective American axe design. The Kelly Perfect Axe was first patented in 1885, and remained in production until about 2016. The most notable features of a Perfect …


Case Marilla Folding Knife, by Thomas Christianson

With a razor-sharp, 3.5-inch, drop-point blade made of satin-stonewash-finished S35VN steel; a carbon-fiber and aluminum handle with a frame-lock; a one-handed, ambidextrous flipper for deployment; and a reversible, deep-carry, steel pocket clip, the Case Marilla Folding Knife represents an outstanding example of a modern everyday carry (EDC) knife that is made by an iconic American company. With a price at the time of this writing of $207.99 a the caseknives.com website, the Marilla is neither the cheapest nor the most expensive EDC knife on the market. But as a well-crafted, American-made knife built of high-quality materials, the Marilla represents a …


OGRE Enviroclean FA Gun Cleaner, by Thomas Christianson

OGRE Manufacturing Enviroclean FA is an effective, versatile, low-odor gun cleaning solvent. It is made in the USA, and competitively priced at the time of this writing at $10 for a 4-ounce bottle from www.ogremfg.com (by way of comparison, a 4-ounce bottle of Break Free CLP was priced at $11.99 from safariland.com ). If you plan to use a lot of Enviroclean FA, you can get a whole gallon for $90. The low level of odor that Enviroclean FA produces while it is being used to clean firearms at the kitchen table is valuable for helping to preserve the domestic …


Predator Armor Plate Carrier and Plates, by Thomas Christianson

I recently had the chance to test the Predator Armor Minuteman Plate Carrier as well as a couple of Predator Armor steel plates. I found the 500D Cordura material from which the plate carrier is made to be robust, stain and odor resistant, comfortable to wear. It included 6 rows of MOLLE style webbing. It cost $160 at the time of this writing from www.predatorarmor.com. One of the plates I tested was a Level III+ Shooter’s Cut plate made from ballistic grade AR650 steel. With the multicurve body contour, it cost $145 for a single plate and $195 for a …


Gerber E-Z Out Skeleton Plain Edge Folding Knife, by Thomas Christianson

The skeletonized spine of the Gerber E-Z Out Skeleton Plain Edge folding knife provides a strong but lightweight blade for this excellent folding knife. Like the Spyderco hole, the cut-outs in the blade provide the thumb with a consistent friction point for reliable ambidextrous one-handed deployment without snagging on clothing or impeding the cutting action of the blade. The 3.25 inch, 420HC, saber-grind, drop-point blade comes out of the box shaving sharp. Two Kraton SoftGrip inserts provide the slender but sturdy polycarbonate handle with an excellent grip surface. Priced at $47 at the time of this writing at www.gerbergear.com , …


Travel Berkey Water Filter, by Thomas Christianson

Most SurvivalBlog readers are probably familiar with the rule of threes: You can survive 3 minutes without breathable air or in icy water before losing consciousness. You can survive 3 hours without adequate shelter/clothing in conditions of extreme heat and (especially) cold. You can survive 3 days without water. Drinking unpotable water may extend your survival somewhat, but you may ultimately succumb to illness due to waterborne pathogens or toxins. You can survive 3 weeks without food. This rule outlines your priorities in a survival situation. If you fall through the ice into a frozen lake, obtaining an adequate supply …


Champion Handle-Rod, by Thomas Christianson

From time to time, days of hunger come. Sometimes they come for an individual, sometimes for a family, and sometimes for pretty much everyone at once. Money is short, food is expensive, and it is difficult to keep properly fed. During hungry days, fishing may offer a welcome way to add valuable protein to the daily diet. Even during days of prosperity, many people find fishing to be a fun and relaxing pursuit. So in good days and in bad, whether providing protein or lowering your blood pressure, fishing may be good for your health. Some excellent items of fishing …


Fiskars Pro Folding Utility Knife, by Thomas Christianson

With a hefty, ergonomically-shaped, rubber-coated handle approximately 0.88 inches thick and a well-engineered, all-metal blade holder, the Fiskars Pro Folding Utility Knife provides a rugged tool for serious cutting. It is roughly 4.5 inches in length folded and 6.5 inches open. The supplied Carbon Max blade provides superior edge retention in comparison with standard utility knife blades. The chunky handle is comfortable to grip, but also takes up quite a bit of room when clipped into a pants pocket. With a manufacturer suggested retail price of $26.99 at www.fiskars.com at the time of this writing, and widely available elsewhere online …