Category: Note

On September 28, 1779, Samuel Huntington was elected President of the Continental Congress, succeeding John Jay. Huntington was a self-educated man who became an attorney and statesman.  The following is a fair use excerpt from the Descendants of Signers of the Declaration of Independence DSDI website: “Samuel Huntington was born in the town of Scotland, Windham County, Connecticut on July 5, 1731, the 4th of ten children, and second son of Nathaniel Huntington and Mehetable Thurston [Huntington]. Nathaniel was a farmer and clothier at Scotland, and built a home there in 1732 that still stands to this day. Samuel’s great-grandfather …

On September 27, 1908, Henry Ford‘s first production Ford Model T automobile left the Piquette Plant in Detroit, Michigan. Mass production soon followed. — And on September 27,1936, the Netherlands left the Gold Standard and devalued the Dutch Guilder. — Today, we present a short guest piece by long-time SurvivalBlog reader and fellow blogger Reltney McFee. It first appeared in his entertaining but sporadically-posted blog: Musings of A Stretcher Ape. — Just a few days left!  We are in need of entries for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded …

On September 26, 1508, Francis Drake completed his circumnavigation of the world, sailing into Plymouth, England, aboard the Golden Hind. — Our big inventory reduction sale at Elk Creek Company — with the prices of nearly all of our items reduced — is in progress. This is your chance to do some early Christmas or Hanukkah shopping. The sale will end on Wednesday, October 1st.  Get your order in soon!  Note:  If the sale prices are not showing up for the majority of items with your browser, then please clear your browser’s cache. (With most  browsers, click on “Clear browsing …

September 25, 1066: The Battle of Stamford Bridge: The English army under King Harold II defeated invading Norwegians led by King Harald Hardrada and Harold’s brother Tostig, who were both killed. (Above is an undated painting of the event as imagined by Norwegian artist Peter Nicolai Arbo, 1831–1892.) — On September 25th, 1789, the first Congress of the United States approved 12 amendments to the U.S. Constitution and sent them to the states for ratification. — This is also the birthday of Will Smith (born 1968), who in my opinion should be best known for his roles in I Am …

To raise some cash for a major purchase here at the Rawles Ranch, I have put almost our entire Elk Creek Company inventory on sale. This is your chance to do some early Christmas or Hanukkah gift shopping, at great prices! No FFL paperwork is required.  Our pre-1899 cartridge guns and blackpowder guns can be mailed right to your door, in most states. We also have a nice selection of knives and bayonets. I also just cataloged a lot of scarce FN FAL and HK91 magazines.  We have a merchant account, so we accept payments by credit card. — On …

On September 23, 1897, the first Frontier Days rodeo celebration was held in Cheyenne, Wyoming. — On this day in 1969, the American film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid had its world premiere, and it became a western classic. It was especially noted for the pairing of Paul Newman and Robert Redford as the titular outlaws. — On September 23, 1779, During the American Revolution, in the midst of a naval engagement between the warships Bonhomme Richard and Serapis off the east coast of England, American commander John Paul Jones answered a call to surrender from his English counterpart …

On September 22, 1784, Russian trappers established a colony on Kodiak Island, Alaska. — Today is the birthday of Kijirō Nambu (南部 麒次郎), September 22, 1869 – May 1, 1949.) He was a career officer in the Imperial Japanese Army and the founder of Nambu Arms Manufacturing Company, manufacturer of many of the firearms the Japanese military would use in World War II. A prolific small arms designer, he was sometimes called the “John Browning of Japan”. — September 22nd is the birthday of survivalist writer and consultant Joel Skousen. (Born, 1946.) Skousen authored the excellent books Strategic Relocation and …

September 21, 1776: The Great New York Fire. Five days after the British Army took New York City, one quarter of the city burned down. — September 21, 1931, Britain abandoned the gold standard. The Pound was devalued by 20%. — On this day in 1780, during the American Revolution, American General Benedict Arnold met with British Major John Andre to discuss handing over West Point to the British in return for the promise of a large sum of money and a high position in the British army. The plot was foiled and Arnold’s name became synonymous with the word …

On September 20, 1945, under OSS (and later CIA) Operation Paper Clip and Operation Overcast (1945 to 1959), German rocket scientists began to work in the United States. For the sake of expediency, more than 1,600 German scientists, engineers, and technicians were granted immunity from war crimes prosecution and transported along with their families from the former Nazi Germany to the United States for employment with various government agencies and later, with defense contractors. Under these secretive and later publicly acknowledged and very controversial programs, the German contingent was most conspicuously led by senior scientist Wernher von Braun. (Pictured above, …

On September 19, 1356, English forces under Edward the Black Prince defeated the French at the Battle of Poitiers and captured French King John II, during the Hundred Years’ War. Preceded by the Battle of Crécy in 1346, and followed by the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, it was the second of the three great English victories of the war. — September 19, 1778: The Continental Congress passed the first budget of the United States. — Also on this date in 1796, George Washington addressed the nation in his farewell address as President. — Today’s feature article is by JWR. …

In the midst of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), on September 18, 1635, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II declared war on France. Above: Carl Friedrich Lessing’s painting The Siege. — The 18th of September is Chilean Independence Day. On this day, in 1810, Chile declared independence from Spain. — And, on September 18, 1914, South African troops landed in German South West Africa. (Later renamed South West Africa and then again, to Namibia.) — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite …

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 …