Economics and Investing:

15 large investment banks = nearly 90% of “notional amounts of all open derivative contracts”, trading assets of the ten largest banks summing up to > £5 trillion

o o o

Government Farming Subsidies Are A Pile Of Poo. – K.

o o o

The next bailout will be with student loans: White House takes first steps in allowing a bankruptcy option for student debt. $1.2 trillion in student debt outstanding.

o o o

The Real Problem Behind Low Oil Prices

Odds ‘n Sods:

Americans exposed to Ebola return from Africa for monitoring. – P.M.

o o o

Sanford airport police hold gun rather than arrest armed passenger stopped by TSA. – T.P.

o o o

Man gives change to homeless person, is handcuffed and held by police for an hour. – H.L.

o o o

Survivalblog reader M.B. suggested this article. It’s an older article, but well worth the read as it is still pertinent today: When The Music Stops – How America’s Cities May Explode In Violence

o o o

Police use stop and search powers on 300 toddlers . – J.C.

Notes for Sunday – March 15, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 57 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. 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,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less then one minute without the use of any tools, and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 30 DPMS AR-15 .223/5.56 30 Round Gray Mil Spec w/ Magpul Follower Magazines (a value of $448) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  5. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. *Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack (a $379 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 57 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Low Budget Knife Selection for a Novice, by S.G.

I. The World of Knives

On the top of all new “prepper” lists is a good survival knife. The knife is a low-tech, multipurpose tool that has served humankind since before the dawn of civilization. To these early men, the side of a chipped flint could butcher an animal carcass for food and clothing. To the modern man, however, there is a dizzying array of choices when it comes to knife selection. This article documents my ongoing journey of knife selection, with my own frugal, low budget perspective.

Now, when talking “low budget”, I do not mean cheap. When I first started looking at knives, I came across a pawn shop bin of cheaply made Chinese knives for $2 each. They were small folders with plastic handles. At that price, I grabbed a few to experiment. I found that not only were they cheaply made and subject to breakage but they were dangerous, since they could fail without warning when you are utilizing them. After one such failure and a close call with my hands, all of those knives ended up in the garbage can. Instead, low budget means having a good cost to value ratio, which is more frequently the case with production line knives than custom collector knives. When you are considering a survival tool that may not be subject to easy replacement, such a tool must be able to withstand heavy use.

II. Philosophy of Use

When starting your search for a knife, examine the various intended uses that you have for the knife. Stated differently, you should understand what you will use your knife for and that the knife you buy should be fit into that role. Youtube reviewer nutnfancy likes to use the term “philosophy of use”; I think that captures the concept well. In my previous entry, Low Budget Firearms Selection for a Novice, I examined different firearms uses under the concept of rule of law, partial rule of law, and without rule of law. Looking at knives, I found that these concepts do not have as much of an impact on knife usage as it does for firearms. Instead, the intended use would govern regardless of the surrounding survival situation. These uses could be roughly broken down into every day carry (EDC) knives, survival knives, and specialty knives.

EDC Knife

The first object of my study was the every day carry or EDC knife. When we speak of EDC knives, we are usually referring to a small, folding knife. The more I thought about possible uses for my EDC knife, the more dizzying the choices became. I tried to visualize when I might need a knife on my person and available for immediate use. These would be traditional EDC uses. A concealed pocket knife can be a useful self defense item, secondary to your concealed carry firearm. For close combat, a knife is in some ways superior to a gun in that it does not require reloading and is quiet and reusable. More mundane and common tasks also avail themselves to the every day carry knife. For example, they’re useful for opening cardboard boxes and other packaging. At Christmas, I always sit with a box of assorted batteries, my favorite EDC knife, and a multi-tool while the kids open presents. As the presents are opened, I get to free those over-packaged toys from their containers and load them with batteries to quickly get them working for the kids. An EDC knife is useful for cutting boxes, cardboard, paper, and other utilitarian cutting tasks where a blade is needed at the ready.

An important situation that I imagine would require immediate access to the EDC knife is having to aid someone in a vehicular accident. Like a self defense situation, this situation may never arise in your lifetime. However, if it does, you want immediate access to the right tool. I have personally witnessed several car accidents, but these thankfully did not require passenger extraction. A friend of mine recently conveyed that as a teenager, he was involved in a very serious car accident where he had to be cut free from the car’s seatbelt and pulled away from the burning vehicle. It is easy to visualize a person trapped in a wrecked car. A specialized tool to break tempered glass, cut a seatbelt, or, God forbid, remove a crushed limb to extract a trapped soul as a car burns or sinks, would need to be everyday carried in order to be there when you need it. An EDC knife might be a lifesaving emergency item for cutting a car accident victim out of their seat belt, or breaking tempered glass in a rescue situation. Note that there is a specialized blade for this– the $85 American made Buck Knives TOPS Responder CSAR-T folder. I found this knife to be rather heavy for EDC carry, but it’s fine for placing in your car for emergencies and was reviewed on SurvivalBlog. If the price or weight of the Buck is a deal breaker, a much cheaper and lighter Chinese substitute can be had: the $10 MTECH USA MT-424 Series Tactical Folding Knife. Everyone should have one of these knives in their car in the event of roadside emergency.

An EDC knife can also be carried when hiking or traveling in remote, rural areas. In a worst case scenario, an EDC knife might be used for emergency surgery or some other unforeseeable emergency situation. See Aron Ralston and the movie 127 Hours. My personal favorite “EDC” knife is the $40 Columbia River Knife and Tool K415KXP Ken Onion Ripple-Aluminum Razor Edge Knife. This is a lightweight assisted opening knife that is just the perfect size (and price) for me.

Before purchasing an EDC knife, you should also be aware of the legal aspects of knife ownership and carry in your state. In Florida, where I am from, a knife blade must be under 4″ and folding in order to be defined as a “common pocketknife” and exempt from certain laws. See Section 790.001(13) Florida Statutes; Bunkley v. Florida, 538 U.S. 835, 837 (2003) citing L.B. v. State, 700 So. 2d 370, 372 (Fla. 1997) (Under Florida law, a blade of 3 ¾ inches “plainly falls within the statutory exception to the definition of weapon”.) Thus, in Florida, you should aim for your folder to have a shorter-than-4” blade. You should familiarize yourself with state laws before selecting your concealed carry knife.

Survival Knife

A knife has many outdoor and camping uses. For these uses, one thinks of the classic “survival knife”, which is usually a non-folding, full tang blade. “Full tang” means that the blade and the handle are one piece of metal– tip to tip steel. This aids in durability and strength. An outdoor survival knife can be used for woodcraft and wood tool making. It can be used for emergency shelter making. It is useful for skinning and cleaning small or large game or for cleaning fish. As a baton, some of these knives can substitute for an axe when splitting firewood or simply for cutting wood in the outdoors. The survival knife is used for cutting cord/rope. While more in the realm of Crocodile Dundee, a survival knife could be used for shaving and hair cutting or hunting, or it can be crafted into a spear tip. The uses for a quality survival knife are endless. The $70 American made KA-BAR Becker BK2 is a beast of a blade that could handle just about anything in the wild. My personal favorite, in this class, is the classic American made Buck 119BKS Spec Hunting 6″ knife; at $45, this is a steal.

Specialty Blades

There are many applications for specialty knives. These knives are not required to be on my person at all times, but they have a particular function for which the EDC knife or survival knife would not be the best choice. For example, I have a hobby of leather working. For this, I found a particular blade: the $30 Cold Steel Tuff Lite Plain Edge Folder Knife. Although it is a Taiwan blade, it fulfills the function of cleanly cutting leather perfectly. It’s much better than a cheap razor blade carpet cutter that is often utilized for this job. At home, knives are essential for food preparation. Do not overlook the ceramic blades for food prep! One of my wife’s favorite gifts was the $80 Japanese made Kyocera Revolution ceramic three knife set I bought her for Christmas. Those blades are the sharpest things I have ever seen. Their ability to cut a tomato into paper thin slices is unbelievable. The big disadvantage of the ceramic bladed knife is that they are brittle and thus not appropriate for “survival” use. Additionally, they are very hard, if not impossible, to sharpen, but for sharpness and indoor food prep they cannot be beat, and we have had no problems with them even after years of indoor service. Of course, a knife also has common cutlery and utensil uses: cutting food such as fruits, vegetables, and meats. Multi-tools or machetes might also be categorized here, but those items are a bit outside of what this article contemplates.

III. The Search.

Once I identified the intended uses for the knife, I began to browse different web sites. This search confirmed that there are practically an infinite number of choices, when it comes to knives. I also am biased towards American made products, and so I began by looking at some of the more popular American knife companies. This wasn’t a deciding factor, but if two blades rank equally, why not go for the American version? Unfortunately, so much manufacturing has been transferred to China that it is hard to find an affordable blade that is not manufactured there. Even if the knife is actually assembled in the United States, the blade steel is often of foreign manufacture. I am sure I am leaving many great manufacturers out, but here is the list I came up with.

American made only:

Buck Knives – All knives made in Post Falls, Idaho

Benchmade – All knives made in Oregon City, Oregon

Bear OPS – All knives made in Jacksonville, Alabama

Case Knives – All knives made in Pennsylvania

Microtech Knives – All knives made in the USA

Many models American made:

Cold Steel – certain knives made in Ventura, California

Gerber Knives – certain knives made in Tigard, Oregon, Finnish company

Ka-Bar – certain knives made in upstate New York.

Kershaw Knives – certain knives made in Tualatin, Oregon, Japanese company

Ontario Knife Company – certain knives made in upstate New York

Once I identified some possibilities, I looked for local stores that carried these brands. This is important, because the reality of the knife may be way different from the advertisement. Knives can be different than they appear in a photograph. How the handle feels is just impossible to gauge from a picture. There is no substitute for actually trying out the knife you ultimately select. Further, just like supporting American knife manufacturers, you should support local dealers whenever possible. Here is the checklist I came up with for examining the knife at the store.

A. Affordability

I am a big believer in the “two is one, one is none” philosophy of redundancy. Lower cost means you are more likely to double up on your purchase. Further, a less expensive blade will allow you to devote your scare resources to other items that may not be as “cool” as a knife but are as essential as your weapons collection. Like gun owners, knife purchases can be clouded by the look and image over the substance of the purchase. I find that a quality knife will usually cost you at least $20. Thus, as a budget conscious consumer, I limited my choices to those blades between $20 and $100.

B. Blade

Obviously, the knife’s primary function is to cut. A knife should be sharp right out of the box. If they are dull new, then that is a finish issue and you should not consider that model. There are too many choices for you to overlook this first, most important attribute. I found Case and Buck knives to be generally the sharpest right out of the box. I am no expert on blade steels or types, but you should just realize that there are many different types of blades. There are serrated edges, non-serrated edges, a mixed edge. The tips can be pointed for stabbing, or angled for cutting. The back of the blade can have place to hold your thumb to better control the blade. While there is a lot of terminology and jargon surrounding this area, what is important is that you visualize the intended use for your knife, and apply this to the blade you are looking at. Is the form suited to your intended function?

C. Concealablity

Is the knife easily concealed? This applies mainly to your EDC knife. When thinking about an EDC knife, you should think about how it will be carried. EDC knives can be carried in a sheath, on a clip in the pocket, on a neck lanyard, or in some other concealed place, such as in a boot or under the belt. When shopping for your EDC knife, place that knife in the location where you would expect it to be carried. If it is uncomfortable in that position, then rethink that knife choice.

D. Durability

Is the knife durable? Durability is a must, especially in a survival situation. This is a hard question to answer when looking at a new knife. This is where quality really shows itself. There are the obvious aesthetic judgements, such as does it feel “cheap”, but whether a blade will hold up over time must be regarded as subject to error. This is a good place to focus your research. Look for long-term reviews from people who have used the knife over time in high stress environments.

E. Ease of Deployment

This, of course, depends on the immediacy of need. There are fancy, automatic knives that open and close at the touch of a button. Some of the best are manufactured in the United States by Benchmade. These “switchblades” are not legal in all states, and they also carry a hefty price tag. My thinking is that quick, one-handed deployment is the more desired feature. Being able to deploy the blade with one hand makes sense when you are in the middle of something. After you are finished with the job, it is more likely that I would have both hands free to close it. Many folding knives have a lug on the side of the blade that you work with your thumb that is combined with a wrist flip to open the knife. My favorites, though, have an assisted opening feature that does not require the wrist flip. Both the $40, Chinese bladed CRKT K415KXP Ken Onion Ripple – Aluminum Knife and the $30, Chinese bladed Kershaw 1605 Clash Folding Knife with SpeedSafe are examples of affordable, assisted opening knives.

F. Form vs Function

For example, Case knives are not only razor sharp but collectable and beautiful. Are you paying a premium for this? On the one hand, your investment will be more likely to retain its value over time, and it could even become an heirloom object for your family. On the other hand, paying extra for beauty or collectability is something you need to seriously ponder before parting with limited cash. Ultimately, this is an ephemeral factor that each individual must consider and place into their hierarchy of importance.

G. Gravity

Weight should not be a deciding factor on some categories of knife selection, but that can have an impact on EDC “everyday carry” knives and backpacking where weight is a factor. For example, I found that while I love the opening mechanism of the $30 Chinese bladed Kershaw 1605 Clash knife, I found that it was a little too wide and heavy for my pocket. Similarly, the $30 Taiwan bladed Ontario 8848 RAT Folding Knife is just a tad too big, and it’s not as spry as the assisted opening Ripple in deployment. My $40 Ken Onion Ripple was hardly felt in my pocket, thus I always defaulted to the Ripple.

H. Handle

The purpose of a handle is to be able to grip and control the blade. The handle must be comfortable in your hand rather than some other reviewer’s. This is why it is invaluable to visit a store that sells quality knives, so that you can evaluate them in relation to your physical attributes. Some questions when evaluating the handle are as follows:

  • Does the handle feel comfortable in your hand, size wise?
  • Does knife feel balanced in your hand?
  • Do you have fears when using knife, such as knife slippage?
  • Is it “grippy” when sweat, blood, or moisture is in hand?

I have always liked the American made KA-BAR Becker BK Series knives for their handles, not to mention their full tang durability, but some critics say that the smooth handles loose grip when your hands sweat. The $70, Chinese bladed CRKT 2125KV Ultima Knife is an interesting design that greatly improves grip in muddy and wet situations.

I am in no way a knife expert, rather I am simply a consumer attempting to understand the myriad of choices when confronting a knife purchasing decision. There are just so many options out there that there is really no way for one person to say that this is “the best knife” made. I am sure that the long-time readers of Survivalblog will have their own opinions and advice. In fact, this very website is a great information source for knife reviews; just search the archives. There are lots of good articles on the subject of knife selection. When you identify what you want, it is always good to look for critical reviews that pinpoint weaknesses and impartially assess what you are thinking about purchasing. Ultimately though, it is your choice, and you must be happy with your final purchase. I hope that my experience will help you in finding the perfect knife for your application.

Letter Re: Getting Home, by D.K. Vet

HJL,

I thought this was a great article with many fine ideas. I have a couple of comments to add to the theme. As someone who has to often work hundreds of miles from my home for extended periods of time, I am always thinking of how I would return home if the balloon goes up. I addition to the idea of bringing cash, I like to take a little silver coin. I have also been known to frequent pawn shops in my new area and pick up silver, since lately it is at bargain prices. One thing I do upon arriving to my new location is to immediately get to a store and pick up a few candles, matches/lighters, and emergency food/water, which I keep in my rental SUV. Remember to keep your fuel tank full! I have found the camping section at a Walmart, or better still, yard sales or a gun show in the area are good places to look for your emergency items. Check your hotel room and make sure to get extra blankets stored in your closet. You could bug out with these if there is an emergency. (Don’t worry; the hotel will charge your credit card so you won’t be stealing them.) I also purchase an atlas or map and study back roads out of metropolitan areas. I have made up my mind that if I detect any trouble, I take my gear and go for a drive, seeking out the back roads. If you are hearing of trouble on TV, it may be too late. I figure it is better to take a drive and find that nothing had happened, than to risk being stuck on a freeway “parking lot”. One different measure I take when flying is that I always wear cotton, wool, or other non-flammable clothing. Polypropylene underwear, shirts, or socks would be very detrimental in burning wreckage. Be sure to wear practical, leather shoes with wool socks.

When it is time to return home, I either give my emergency items to a friend I have made in my work, or I mail them home to myself. The last job I had in New Jersey, I gave candles with matches, a blanket, and some high energy bars to a work associate. You would have thought I gave him the world. He had never thought to keep these items in his vehicle, and I could see the wheels turning as he placed them around his spare tire in his vehicle. Thanks, – S.M.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Meet the 19th Century American Who Warned About Big Government, Religious Liberty Assaults. – P.M.

o o o

Hertz installs in-car video cameras to spy on its rental customers. – T.P.

o o o

Obama Administration considers independent journalists to be ‘enemies of the state,’ warn reporters. – RBS

o o o

Putin vs. the preppies and the Ph.D.s: Outsiders, not insiders, change the world. – T.J.

o o o

Canadian Town Bans Spitting, Swearing And Gathering In Groups Of Three Or More. – H.L.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” John 6:27 (KJV)

Notes for Saturday – March 14, 2015

Ready Made Resources is offering 12 Panasonic Eneloop batteries and a solar battery charger (a $59 value) with the purchase of their ITT upgraded PVS-14 Gen 3+ Autogated. Remember, a night vision without batteries is like a rifle without bullets, and one of the many uses of night vision is the ability to bug home or bug out at night when most people will not be able to do so.

o o o

Today, we present another entry for Round 57 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. 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,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less then one minute without the use of any tools, and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 30 DPMS AR-15 .223/5.56 30 Round Gray Mil Spec w/ Magpul Follower Magazines (a value of $448) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  5. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. *Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack (a $379 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 57 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Prepping on a Budget, by C.G. – Part 2

Weapons/Defense

Now for the most contentious issue– guns. Let me preface this by saying that everyone has their pet favorite, and to them that is the only gun that will ever work and it will do everything. Being chased by a grizzly bear, someone will tell you how you can totally take that bear out with your 10/22. Want to go dove hunting? Somebody will tell you how you really need a Barrett .50 cal. to take those tough little suckers down. The reality is that the only gun you will ever need is the one in your hand when everything goes south. Guns are going to be the single most expensive thing you will buy for your survival kit. They don’t have to break the bank, though. You can get a used S&W model 10 in .38 spl. at a gun show or pawn shop for under $200. Granted, the finish might not be in the best shape, but those guns are hard to tear up. You’ll no doubt hear all about how your .38 revolver isn’t up to the sky-high standards of a 9mm with a 15 or 17 round magazine, but if you ever find yourself fighting for your life, that little .38 will do whatever you need it to do. Or, if you have to have a semi-automatic with a magazine, hi point makes a cheap gun. I think they are about $200 brand new. I don’t know how good they are; I’ve heard good things about them, but I’ve never been overly impressed what the ones I’ve looked at. I’ve seen the old Ruger P series selling used for around $300, and those are top of the line guns. Shotguns can be bought very cheap. Again, that you have a gun is more important than what kind of gun you have. A used single shot H&R 12 gauge can be bought for under $100, and there’s virtually no way you can tear one of those up short of blowing it up. Used pump shotguns from Mossberg and Remington can be found for around $300, though they are likely to be a few years old and have some wear on them. CZ makes a 12 gauge pump that sells new for around $300, and CZ is a very reputable company. Rifles will be the most expensive gun you’ll buy, if you decide to buy one. Semi-automatics will run the most, with the AR or AK type rifles running $1000 or more. There are some, like the M-1A, that are more expensive. For the budget-minded prepper, though, there’s the SKS. It’s semi-automatic with 10 rounds if you stick with the factory mag, and it’s super reliable. They will run around $200-$300 at gun shows or pawn shops in the standard configuration (as they rolled off the assembly line). There are many, many after-market parts for them, from stocks to magazines. For under $500, you can have a polymer stocked SKS with a 30-round detachable mag. If you want to go with something less expensive and still a battle-tested rifle, the Russian Mosin Nagant can be bought for around $125. It’s a bolt action, 5 round internal magazine, 7.62x54R. If you don’t feel that you need a semi-automatic fighting rifle, you just want a rifle to put food on the table, there are bolt action hunting rifles for around $350-$400 with a 3-9×40 scope already mounted and sighted. I don’t recommend that you try to use one of them without taking it out and verifying that the scope is mounted and sighted correctly though.

Where to Shop

For most of your survival gear, like tents, sleeping bags, knives, and such things, the best places to shop will be in sporting goods stores or in the sporting goods section of Walmart or Target. Some things, like the hatchet, saw, tarp, and other items that I mentioned above, can be bought at Home Depot for less cost than on the camping aisle of Walmart. Walmart, if it’s a super center (I’m not sure if any of them aren’t super centers any more), is okay for food, but Sam’s Club or Costco is a good place for bulk purchases of food, water, and household items, like bleach and first aid supplies. Clothing will be an issue that I want to cover separately, but there are no shortage of places to find good clothes economically. Of course, the dollar stores– Dollar General, Dollar Tree, The Dollar Store, and so forth– are good places to find a lot of this stuff. Something I haven’t touched on here is tools, the reason being that most people have the tools that they need, so that shouldn’t be an issue. If you think of something that you’d want to put in a bug out bag/emergency kit and just leave it there, you should do that. I’ve always taught that your emergency gear should be stocked and packed according to your individual needs; there is no cookie cutter pattern for what someone should or should not have with them in an emergency, other than the absolute basics of food, water, shelter, first aid, and protection. Some people may have a specific issue with their vehicle or a piece of gear that they need to keep a certain tool or tool kit to deal with. If that is you, than by all means, have the tool or tools with you. If you want to buy spare tools to keep packed for an emergency, I would not recommend buying Craftsman or some name brand. Harbor Freight has decent tools; some of them are available for $1, so you can stick them in a bag or box and leave them there. If you are wanting to build a home or automotive tool kit, then by all means buy the best you can– probably Craftsman, unless you have the thousands of dollars to spend on Snap-On or Mac. However, for an emergencMilitary Surplus/Tacticaly spare, $20 for a 1/2” combination wrench at Sears vs. $5 for a similar wrench at Harbor Freight is a no-brainer. That said, do not scrimp on roadside emergency gear, such as tow chains (preferably not tow straps or ropes), a four-way wrench, and jumper cables. You don’t want something that’s going to fail when you need it. Obviously, online shopping can be very helpful, especially with your gear. Cheaper Than Dirt is a good site for survival/emergency gear, and there are a number of sites with tactical and camping bags and packs that are affordable and good quality. Any of the major retail stores have websites where you might be able to find things more economically than you can find them in the stores. Just watch out for deals that are too good to be true; a lot of the sites I’ve been on will try to charge you $12 for shipping a 1oz. plastic buckle. (That’s not a joke.)

Military Surplus/Tactical

I wanted to give this gear its own section. Military surplus gear is great for survivalists and preppers for a lot of reasons. First off, it is durable. Now that we have been at war for over 13 years, there is a ton of the stuff on the market. It is also made for being outdoors, in the elements, and carrying everything you need in one place, on your back. If you are in a rural area, it will blend in well to the environment. Even the older OD green stuff will work better than wearing your red skiing jacket or your blue and silver mountaineering pack and trying to hide in the brush. That said, military camo, even the newer digicam and the far superior Marpat camo, is probably not the best thing for where you live. Military camo is a universal camo. It is designed so that a soldier can blend in reasonably well in a multitude of environments and is not made for one specific place or environment. Hunting camo, like RealTree and Mossyoak, are made specifically to blend in with certain environments and can render you virtually invisible if used right. However, RealTree and Mossyoak can be expensive and Mil Surp is not usually. It you are going to go with a military pattern camo, I would recommend the old woodland camo that was used in the 80s and 90s; even the army is unhappy with their current digi cam pattern. If you feel the need to be cool and have the digital camo, like everybody else, hold out until you can find the Marpat camo used by the Marine Corps. Higher end gear from some of the tactical makers have many of the same advantages as the Mil Surp gear listed above. It is made to be durable; it is weather resistant, though often not to the same degree that military gear might be, and it is made for survival use. While Mil Surp gear can include clothes, the tactical gear will not. The few tactical makers that do make clothes, like 511, are very proud of them. Think $50-$75 for a pair of cargo pants; you can buy three to five pairs of surplus BDUs for that. But their bags, belts, pouches, and holsters are usually high quality and can be bought fairly inexpensively. 511 is going to be the exception to the “cheap rule” here; their stuff is absolutely top of the line, and it’s priced like it. Maxpedition is another maker, mostly of bags and packs, that are top line but very expensive. Makers like Condor Tactical and NcStar are more reasonably priced but still high quality. Also, as far as holsters, belts, and pouches go, stay away from mainstream law enforcement brands like Bianchi or Don Hume and the suppliers like Galls. Obviously that gear is some of the best on the market, but it will also break the bank. Shopping online is the best way to find the inexpensive yet good gear. Some stores may carry it, but it will be marked up for retail sale. Often times you can buy from a website where you can get your gear at near-wholesale prices. The downside of using any mil surp or tactical gear is, of course, that it can send a message to others that you may not want to send; that message being “I’m a prepper, and I have stuff”. In a SHTF scenario, you don’t want to draw unwanted attention to yourself. You will want to be a “gray man” and not stick out. About the best way to stick out in an emergency is to run around wearing BDUs and carrying a loaded ALICE pack. That says to the many people around you, who will not have been in any way prepared for an emergency, that you have things that they need, and they will not be shy about asking for them, or just flat out taking them. After a few days, when the reality sinks in and you may need to be armed and geared up, it won’t make much of a difference who knows what; there won’t be any hiding that you and your family have food and water for long anyway. That will be the time to break out the weapons, camo, and tactical/military gear, but for the first couple of days of panic and anarchy, you don’t want to make yourself any more of a target than you have to.

Conclusions

I know this is long, and for that I apologize. Hopefully this gives you a starting point for beginning to live a more prepared life. I have not included anything in this article that is difficult to find, and I have tried to stay away from things that may be more involved or complicated than need be. To survive any disaster, remember the basics– food, water, shelter, clothing, first aid, and defense. Any of this can be fairly affordable if you put some effort into it. There are many good, knowledgeable people out there who can help you if you just ask; many of them are probably in your community, and many more of us are online.

Letter Re: Getting Home, by D.K. Vet

HJL,

I enjoyed the article by D.K. Vet on the topic of getting home while traveling away from home. I often travel for work as well, and I plan for getting home in much the same way as the author. One specific issue that has always concerned me, and I hoped would have been addressed by the author, is the challenge of getting back into one’s hotel room to access my “get home bag” in the event that a power outage happens to occur while I’m out of my room. As most of your readers likely know, nearly all modern hotels now use electronic access cards for entering locked hotel rooms instead of traditional hotel room keys. How would you suggest one get back into his/her room if the power is down and these electronic access keys no longer function? Thank you for your consideration of this question, and many thanks for the excellent material you provide on a daily basis. – R.B.

HJL Responds: The hotel card entry system on the individual doors is powered by batteries. When the power goes out, the doors will still work for as long as the normal battery lasts. That should give you plenty of time to retrieve your belongings, unless your door is already running on weak batteries. In any case, almost all doors still allow key access so that the manager will always have access. What is not known is the effect of an EMP upon such a system. Since there are no wires connected to serve as an antenna, they may survive such an event just fine. The programming machine is generally powered by regular electricity, so no new programming will occur unless alternative power is restored.

Economics and Investing:

U.S. exports at risk as bird flu hits heart of poultry country. – P.M.

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In the decades leading up to World War I, despite some barely-sane leaders running barely-functional institutions, inflation was never an issue. Money saved was wealth preserved, and global capital flowed freely.

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Items from Mr. Econocobas:

The Debt Ceiling Debate Returns and So Does the Trillion Dollar Coin

Patience with Greece Running Low after Tough Week

Rig Count Drops For 14th Week In A Row, Fastest Rate In 29 Years

Dead-Cat-Bounce Dies (Again) – Stocks Plunge As EURUSD Breaks Below Crucial 1.05 Level

Odds ‘n Sods:

Bill restricting rights of citizens to videotape the police introduced in Texas House. – T.P.

This is dangerous legislation, and it must be stopped. The importance of the right of American citizens to record video of our public servants carrying out their duty is explained at our spin-off web site, CFAPA.org, where we also offer press credentials to any literate adult citizen, free of charge. – JWR

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Christian Life Church in Columbia, SC is having a one day Preparedness Conference on April 18, 2015. Please see website for details: www.leapcon.net. – M.H.

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SurvivalBlog reader J.B. sent in this link to Parkville’s Troop 26 Recipe book for outdoor cooking.

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Straight-A College Student Kicked out Because He Was Homeschooled. – D.S.

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EPA Concerned With Western Corn Rootworm’s Growing Resistance to Genetically Modified Corn. – H.L.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” – Exodus 40:34-35 (KJV)