Category: Review

Heckler & Koch USP .45 ACP Compact, by Pat Cascio

Anyone who is the least bit familiar with the HK line of USP handguns, will surely know that these are large guns – even their “compact” models are large. Their USP line-up was designed to last a lifetime with very little chance of things breaking or going wrong. I had an early HK USP 9mm full-sized model, and to be sure, it is one big handgun – it was designed for duty use, by military and law enforcement. They are not especially suited for concealed carry – although I carried the full-sized USP 9mm concealed for quite some time – …


Hand Sanitizer, A Knife, and Eyeglasses Cleaner, by The Novice

I would like to pass along some odd discoveries for your amusement and edification. Repurposing Surplus Hand Sanitizer With the advent of Covid, many micro breweries and chemical companies in our area turned their production capacity to making hand sanitizer. They wanted to do their part to help slow the spread of Covid. No good deed goes unpunished. On December 29, 2020, the FDA notified these companies that they needed to pay a $14,060 Monograph Drug Facility Fee and $9,373 Contract Manufacturing Organization Facility Fee by February 11, 2021. After significant media outcry, the fees were withdrawn. They are a …


Kershaw Innuendo, by Pat Cascio

In my 29 years of testing and writing about knives (and firearms) I have always been on the lookout for the next “big” thing in these products. And, let’s be honest here. It is really hard to find something new and unique to write about, especially when it comes to cutlery. All knives have one major function, and that is to cut something – pure and simple. I used to design knives, and still do, to a certain extent – and it is difficult to find a new style or design to come up with. Once again, all cutlery has …


Desert Eagle .44 Magnum Pistol, by Pat Cascio

Much as I hate to admit, there was a time, a long, long time ago, when I lusted after every new type of firearm I saw in the gun magazines. And, truth be told, I did lay claim to a lot of those guns. As I grew older – and maybe a little wiser – I stopped this foolishness. I discovered that any number of firearms were pretty much the same – in many ways – as some of the guns I desired to own. I believe it was back around 1975, when I was reading an issue of Soldier …


SIG-Sauer MPX Pistol, by Pat Cascio

This 9mm pistol, and it is a pistol, has been discontinued by SIG-Sauer for some reason…and they now have a shorter, smaller version called the Copperhead. I received an early version of the MPX for testing, and I’m just now getting around to finishing the article I started a few years back. Right now, there is a lot of confusion, caused by politics and the BATFE, over certain firearms. Until recently, the ATF has held that pistols, with an arm brace or wrist brace, is legal to own and use. But the BATFE, as always, just keeps changing the rules on …


Zero Tolerance 0707, by Pat Cascio

I’m continually amazed at the innovations in folding knives. Just when I think there isn’t anything new that can be done to a folder, someone does it! I’ll confess, this latest innovation for Zero Tolerance Knives,is something I’d never thought of before. Before we get into the meat of the 0707, I wanted to mention how lightweight this American-made folder is. At first, I thought that there wasn’t anything in the box. The 0707 only weighs in at 2.3-ounces, and for a full-sized folder, with a 3.5-inch blade, that’s pretty lightweight. However this folder isn’t light when it comes to …


Some Poncho Options, by Pat Cascio

A poncho is something so simple and inexpensive, yet it can save your life. I don’t suppose anyone really knows when the poncho was invented, but it has been around for a lot of years. Prior to the poncho, at least here in the USA West, cowboys and ranchers wore a “slicker” when it was raining. It was nothing more than a long coat, usually heavy canvas duck material, that was impregnated with something like beeswax or similar waterproofing material, that repelled the rain. The only thing was, your lower body still got pretty wet when riding a horse. In …


Review of Joe Dolio’s Tactical Wisdom, by Jack Lawson

Editor’s Introductory Note: This review was authored by Jack Lawson, author of the two-volume The Civil Defense Manual. Rarely does a book or series of books catch my attention like the Tactical Wisdom series. It could have been authored by my alter ego. The author, Joe Dolio, has created what I consider a must-read companion to my  Civil Defense Manual. His book “Tactical Wisdom TW-01 Baseline Training Manual” has almost every procedure in it that my book has… presented in a concise and superb manner. He also has a great writing style. The man clearly must be a genius, if …


Ruger 9mm MAX-9 Pistol, by Pat Cascio

The folks at Ruger don’t introduce a lot of new firearms each year, but when they do release a new model, it is almost always a winner. And as usual with Ruger firearms, they are almost always in demand by the gun-buying public. I think a lot of people were caught off-guard with the release of the new Ruger Max-9, 9mm pistol. But we shouldn’t have been. The trend for the few years has been sub-compact or micro-sized 9mm pistols, especially designed for concealed carry with two-column magazines–providing a lot of ammo. Anyone who knows Ruger handguns  knows that when …


The Hi Point 4595 Carbine, by Rick C.

I am a firm believer that two is one and one is none. I had been looking for another .45 ACP to compliment my Rock River 1911 which, aside, I am very pleased with. At one time I had a Glock 36 that I sold when I needed some money, or thought I did, and I still have the holster. Can’t let that go to waste, right? However, I began to think of a pistol-caliber carbine. I, and many others, believe it is a good idea to have a handgun and a rifle in the same chambering. This point of …


Seodon FRS Handheld Radios, by Pat Cascio

Ever since I was a little kid, and built my first walkie-talkie (CB radio) – and the darn thing actually worked – I’ve been fascinated with radio communications with other folks. Of course, CB radios, are mostly a thing of the past now – everyone has a cell phone – but a good two-way radio certainly has its place for Preppers. I spent considerable time searching for what I hoped would be an economical set of fairly reliable compact two-way radios, that would serve my purposes, during a SHTF scenario. Of course, price is always a consideration for me. We …


Springfield Armory AR Pistol, by Pat Cascio

It is really hard to keep up with all the new firearms coming out of the Springfield Armory company. They don’t sit back on past accomplishments. Nope – they keep coming out with new or improved designs. That is commendable. I’ve tested several of the Springfield AR rifles and pistols over the years, and loved every one of them. Today, we’re looking at their newest AR pistol design, and it is simply called an AR Pistol. The lower receiver has a “Saint” logo, so i suppose this is considered part of their Saint series. The Springfield Armory item number is …


CRKT Ripsnort, by Pat Cascio

I like knives, all kinds of knives, big or small, or everything in the middle…even “ugly” knives are a sight to behold if you ask me. However, I’m not sure where the CRKT Ripsnort comes into the play. To be sure, it is a big knife – well, mostly big…and some would say its an ugly knife – I’m not sure where this fits into my idea of ugly – maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. I’ve been covering CRKT products since their second year in business, and one thing for certain is, they produce a wide variety of knives …


Glock 30S – SF, by Pat Cascio

I’m a Glockaholic. I love their guns! However, over the years, there have been a few Glocks that I just didn’t like, or take to for one reason or another. I love the Glock 21, and it feels great in my hand and balances nicely. On the other hand, we have the Glock 20, which is a 10mm pistol – and it’s the same size as the Glock 21. However, the 20 never balanced as well in my hand – I believe the “problem” was that the barrel was thicker causing the gun to balance a bit on the top …


Choosing (or Assembling) Your IFAK, by Pat Cascio

IFAK stands for Individual First Aid Kit. It has been a staple in the US Military for quite some time now. I’ve always had an interest in first-aid, to the point I became a Paramedic many years ago. I got tired of that job in short order, especially when you had to carry a person down a 3- or 4-storey walk-up. There is no better way to get a bad back than doing that several times per day. Still, I loved the medical aspects of the work. I then went to work for a doctor who I knew for many …