Odds ‘n Sods:

News from the Lost Cause that was once the glorious California Republic: Governor Brown signs law banning open carry of unloaded long guns. Concealed carry of handguns was banned in California in 1923. (One of many states to enact the “Uniform Act to Regulate the Sale and Possession of Firearms”–which was originally aimed at part in disarming “uppity” black World War I veterans.) Then, in 1967 open carry of loaded guns on public streets or in motor vehicles was banned (one of then Governor Ronald Reagan’s darkest days), out of fear of a few dozen “uppity” Black Panthers. More recently, the state legislature banned carrying unloaded handguns. What is next? A ban on carrying pictures of guns? (They are already suspending school students for making drawings of guns.) My advice to Californians: Take The Gap before the chains of tyranny get any heavier or your shackles get any tighter! Living as a gun owner in California is much like the life of a battered wife. Only after a long string of abuses and indignities will most have the courage to walk out. While many states like Alaska, Arizona and Wyoming are loosening concealed carry restrictions, the Mickey Mouse State has executed a couple of column lefts, and is marching the other direction. It is time to Vote With Your Feet, folks!

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Reader Lynn G. sent: Raw Milk Co-Op Farmer Acquitted Through Jury Nullification

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My brother wrote to mention that he spotted my latest novel Founders on sale at his local COSTCO store, for just $14.19 per copy. With the current high cost of UPS shipping, this might be the best way to pick up a few copies for gifts.

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3D printer company seizes its leased unit from the home of a man planning to print out a pistol. JWR Observes: Even the BATFE’s own web page (see question A6 on page 176) notes that as long as a serial number is marked, it is perfectly legal for any adult non-felon citizen (and someone not “engaged in the business”) to make a firearm receiver or frame for their own use, completely outside of Federal jurisdiction–just as long as it is not a full auto, a short-barreled rifle or shotgun, or a cartridge-firing rifle over .50 caliber, an AOW (concealed or gadget gun) or an arcane Section 922(r) violation for “…assembling a nonsporting semi-automatic rifle or nonsporting shotgun from imported parts.” No license or paperwork of any sort is required.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“If we are that weak, just think of who wants to come here first and take us over, and the last thing I ever want to see is to see this country, our country taken over because we’re so financially weak we can’t do anything and we’re moving in that direction. … We could even lose our country if we don’t get this fixed and straightened out and nobody that’s running [for public office] really talks about it, about what we have to do and why we have to do it. They would prefer not to have it discussed.” – H. Ross Perot, September, 2012

Note from JWR:

Today we present the first entry for Round 43 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, 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 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear, E.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value), F.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo. and G.) A $200 gift certificate, donated by Shelf Reliance.

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training. Together, these have a retail value of $589. B.) A FloJak FP-50 stainless steel hand well pump (a $600 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. C.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, D.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and E.) Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value) and F.) A Tactical Trauma Bag #3 from JRH Enterprises (a $200 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) 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, C.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, D.) A Commence Fire! emergency stove with three tinder refill kits. (A $160 value.), and E.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 43 ends on November 30th, 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.

The End Game, by M.W.A.

Preparedness, planning, survival… Words we heed and respect as part of our every day lives for the past few years and for some, the past couple of decades. We know not what the event will be, or if the SHTF will be a multi-pronged crisis. We just know that WTSHTF is inevitable and addressing basic needs is an absolute must.

Preparation starts by accumulating the rudimentary elements of survival: food, water, shelter, medical supplies, security, survival skills and a basic reactionary plan. We research and consume information through articles, books and web sites dedicated to different skills and techniques of survival.  With each foray into the sphere of preparedness, we become cognizant of new ideas and perspectives discovering ourselves thinking, ‘Gosh, I never thought of that’. We encounter the interconnected challenge of becoming aware that some problems will present/require more complicated solutions addressing services and issues which we now take for granted in our modern world.

With regard to food, the search for proper nutrition and caloric intake is meshed with the storage and multipurpose usage, along with the economic considerations of acquiring it at a reasonable cost. How many adults and how many children will comprise our cadre?  Any special dietary needs? Can a daily diet be developed that wouldn’t be monotonous and further exacerbate the general panic of the overall situation? Do we have the abilities, resources and skills to replace our food stocks if the event is a long term proposition?

Once the food quandary is in the process of being addressed, or so we surmise, what do we do about water for preparing the meals, what do we wash the food down with, and how do we replace our most needed survival item on a sanitary and quality basis, both on a stay put or bug out basis?

What are the collective health standing and physical conditioning of the group? Any long term physical limitations to be addressed? Can the food stores sustain the energy and nutritional requirements for the challenges of an upside down, tumultuous new world?

How do we protect and guard our storage preps and our loved ones? Do we have the correct firepower, the will and the skills essential to effectively defend our location? How many rounds are sufficient? Will security skills be for defensive purposes only or will it be necessary to go on offense and become scavengers if need be?

Will we stay in our home location or have to bug out? If we bug out, how will we do it? On foot? By bike? What direction and by what route for safety and speed?  What will the event dictate? An EMP or solar flare with prohibitive transportation problems, a biological or terror attack creating immediate danger and minimal ability to travel with a limited amount of supplies, a financial collapse inciting riots and looting creating unsafe conditions. All present dynamic situations subject to various scenarios.

Questions, questions, questions, many unanswered.

The world is getting more inflamed on a daily basis and with the lack of sustainability of our current economic situation becoming more apparent with each dollar printed or borrowed, I decided recently to raise my preparedness to a level nine on a ten scale. After aggressively prepping for over six years, I felt comfortable in the knowledge that I had most of the needs for my family and group.  Adequate food to last for over a year, adequate guns and ammo to arm each person with more than two weapons each, multiple water and filter systems to meet our needs, a fully stocked medical supply with provisions, drugs, skills and instruments to safeguard our group up to the major surgery level, skills and equipment to replenish food stocks for a longer period of time and finally an big picture, written plan for addressing emergencies.

As I started the final planning process work and towards preparation for what I see as an imminent event, a memory flashed back of a science project in my fifth grade, almost 50 years ago. My chosen project was to build a wooden pulley and weight gizmo which could measure the reduction of force necessary to lift a weighted object. The wooden gizmo was about eighteen inches high and resembled a gallows from the Old West. It was fun to build and effectively demonstrated the desired effect that less force was required with the use of one or more pulleys. Long story short, when my teacher asked the question, “What does this prove?”, I buckled. I had been so enamored and enthused about building the wooden gizmo that I did not fully realize the resultant essence of the outcome. I was so busy prepping that I did not have the end game figured out.

This embarrassing project mirrored my conundrum with my current prepping situation. I have been so wrapped up in arranging and organizing my preps that I did not have a real solid plan to institute when a SHTF event occurs.  It is my opinion that the next three or four months hold a great deal of uncertainty and danger for our way of life. There appears to be multiple tinder points around the world- Israel v. Iran, the Euro banking situation, natural disasters, Greece, Spain, the Arab Spring hangover, potential terrorist attacks and last but not least, the election and the hubris and perceived unfettered power of a narcissistic elected official.

It suddenly and forcefully became readily apparent that I was not really prepared. I knew what I wanted to accomplish but really did not have a route to get there, much less the needed multiple routes, as it dawned on me after some focused thought.  With so many  SHTF events that could trigger multiple scenarios requiring different responses, I decided that I needed a variety of checklists to respond. I liken this to a pilot using his preflight checklist to organize procedures that will avert and prevent mistakes which may occur by an incomplete thought – a snap decision if you will. There will be a good many ‘seat of the pants’ actions required in any big event, but anything to minimize and prevent regrettable missteps is time well spent.  My main focus now is to prepare the multiple responses addressing different scenarios brought about by the most likely SHTF events present, at least in my purview.

To begin my project, I thought a grid table would be the optimum starting point. It’s principal purpose is to be an outline from which actions can be identified and present obstacles which may or may not be resolvable.  

The five most likely SHTF events which would produce TEOTWAWKI, again my opinion based from my point of view, would be positioned across the top of the table in no particular order – EMP – Martial Law – Israel vs. Iran- Biological/Dirty Bomb Terrorist Attack – Financial Meltdown. Other SHTF events could be higher on another person’s list due to geographic considerations, business, military or personal experiences and beliefs.

My left column of actions, which of course is not a  complete list and would  vary dependent upon personal preferences,  would consist of: Probability Ranking – Regional – National – Stay Put – Bug Out – Travel ease – Travel Prohibitive – Immediate Threat – Delayed Threat – Gather family/group easily – Gather family/group difficult – Long term – Short term – Prepared – Unprepared. These are starting points to simplistically induce thought and prioritize conditions. (Not meant to get hung up on the wooden gizmo again)

Example Matrix:

 

ACTION

EMP

MARTIAL LAW

ISRAEL vs IRAN

BIOLOGICAL/DIRTY BOMB TERRORIST ATTACK

FINANCIAL MELTDOWN

Probability
Rate 1-5

 

 

 

 

 

Regional Threat

 

 

 

 

 

National Threat

 

 

 

 

 

Stay Put

 

 

 

 

 

Bug Out

 

 

 

 

 

Travel Ease

 

 

 

 

 

Travel Prohibitive

 

 

 

 

 

Immediate Threat

 

 

 

 

 

Delayed Threat

 

 

 

 

 

Gather Family/Group Easily

 

 

 

 

 

Gather Family/Group Difficult

 

 

 

 

 

Long Term

 

 

 

 

 

Short Term

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared

 

 

 

 

 

Unprepared

 

 

 

 

 

 

From this table, I had a basis to determine what course of action and concerns need attention. It is basic (and not a wooden gizmo) but it is an organizational tool which has helped me. A checklist can be formulated dependent upon the scenario and my perceived capabilities, or inabilities as the case may be. Deficiencies can be remedied and a side benefit was an offshoot. New, previously undiscovered issues became apparent.

The checklist can prioritize needed actions when a SHTF event occurs as to make the initial reaction more efficient, as any planning or drill tends to do. Printing out a completed checklist and filing it in a binder brings more order to the preparation. It also opens lines of communication with other family or group members hopefully provoking thought and sharpening their sense of purpose. Perhaps when utilized, the order and organization might allay some of the anxiety and angst which undoubtedly will surface in a major event.

My first checklist produced a prioritized twenty seven point plan of action beginning with defense issues, food, water, and progressing to assignment of chores and responsibilities which prevents duplication of effort and also helps make everyone an integral part of the team. One of my major concerns upon reflection of the check list was the ability of my younger family members to adapt and accept the new obstacles which have been thrust upon us.

Using the table as a guide, one can play a ‘what if?’ game and develop a coherent response to different scenarios. Many people have probably surpassed the rudimentary structure which I have utilized and I applaud them for their organization. It was only when I determined the need to take the next step in elevating my readiness that I discovered my preparation was inadequate. I needed a simple starting point and a means to get closer to my goal without getting hung up on another wooden gizmo.

Letter Re: Advice on Home Purchase: Minimize or Maximize Mortgage?

Dear James,
I really enjoy your blog and try to read it every day. My husband and I live in New Jersey. We just sold our house in May and are renting for a year while we try to figure out where to move next. Unfortunately, our home lost a lot of equity so we only have $55,000 to use towards our next house. Do you believe it is better to pay cash for a house or is it wise to get a mortgage since interest rates are so low? Our original plan was to buy our next home with cash, but I doubt that we have enough money.

Thanks, – L.Z. in New Jersey

JWR Replies: While some investment advisors see inflation on the horizon and hence advise mortgaging to the hilt (using a minimal down payment), I recommend a more cautious approach. At present, since deflation is still with us, I recommend keeping mortgages as small as possible, and paying them off as quickly as possible. In a deflationary environment where cash is king, a layoff that lasts six months could be devastating and result in a foreclosure. Once inflation re-emerges, it will be another matter. At that point you’ll be able to pay off your remaining mortgage balance with “cheaper dollars.” But for now, play it safe.

News From The American Redoubt:

For newcomers to SurvivalBlog, here is my primer on the geography and philosophy of The American Redoubt

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Combine demolition derby renews BSU-UI rivalry

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Wyoming rig count down three: The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. remained unchanged this week at 1,864. And in related news: Red states equal green jobs.

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Notice a great big hole in this map of school districts where teachers have been caught cheating on standardized tests? Yes, it is the American Redoubt. Well, to my chagrin there is one small blemish on the map in Boise, Idaho, but that is the “Corrupt Big City”, by Redoubt standards. (At last count, Boise had 205,671 residents–Idaho’s largest city.)

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Senator calls killing of Wash. wolf pack ‘serious failure’

Economics and Investing:

W.C.P. suggested this video: Why the U.S. Federal Budget CANNOT be Balanced.

RBS sent another video link: America’s Book of Secrets – Fort Knox

H.L. sent: Cronyism Is Destroying Spain’s Future

Items from The Economatrix:

Deleveraging from One Bubble to Another

Bernanke is Now a Kamikaze Pilot

Panic Cash Withdrawals in Spain Drain Banks; Greece-style Economic Implosion Now Imminent

What Key Shipping Index Signals About the Economy

Odds ‘n Sods:

H.L. suggested this: Meet the largest [private] landowner in America

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Dentist Dr. Tom Loomis will be teaching another two-day Field Dentistry Class, in Sweetwater, Tennessee on Nov. 30, and Dec. 1, 2012. Enrollment is limited to just 12 students. The class costs $400 per person. To register, send $200 by check or money order to Tom Loomis DDS, P.O. Box 510, Sweetwater, TN 37874. Phone number: 423-371-1073, or e-mail: tom.loomis@yahoo.com The class will be held at the Magnuson Hotel in Sweetwater at exit 60 off of Interstate 75. Rooms are $35 plus tax if you ask for the Field Dentistry Class rate. The hotel phone is 423-337-3541. Registrations must be received by November 8, 2012.

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Our friend Tam has some cogent observations on the double standard for public employees: The king’s men…

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Nordling has posted an early (and not-so-glowing) review of Red Dawn over at Ain’t It Cool. (A hat tip to P.P.P. for the link.)

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SurvivalBlog’s Medical Editor, Dr. Cynthia Koelker will be teaching another Survival Medicine workshop, November 9th to 11th, 2012, in or near Akron, Ohio. This one has all new course material. The class size is limited, so register soon. (See this PDF with details.)

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." – Niccolo Machiavelli

Prizes Awarded — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

We’ve completed the judging for Round 42 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.

First Prize goes to Dan in Alabama for Make Your Own Retort Style Charcoal, which was posted on September 19, 2012. He will receive: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, 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 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear, E.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value), F.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo. and G.) A $200 gift certificate, donated by Shelf Reliance.

Second prize goes to Dr. S.V. for When the Antidepressants Run Out, which was posted on September 2, 2012. She will receive: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training. Together, these have a retail value of $589. B.) A FloJak FP-50 stainless steel hand well pump (a $600 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. C.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, D.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and E.) Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value) and F.) A Tactical Trauma Bag #3 from JRH Enterprises (a $200 value).

Third Prize goes to Sam D. for: From Timber to Lumber: A Beginner’s Experience, which was posted on September 20, 2012. He will receive: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) 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, C.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, D.) A Commence Fire! emergency stove with three tinder refill kits. (A $160 value.), and E.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

14 Honorable Mention Prizes ($30 Amazon.com gift certificates) are being awarded for these fine articles:

Let’s Talk About Calories Per Dollar, by Mississippi Girl

Preserving The Harvest, by N.T.M. in Nevada

The Kamajors of Sierra Leone: A Model for Survival, by CYA

Making Your Own Chest Rigs, by Jeff J. in Arizona

Alternative Treatments for Auto-Immune Disorders in the Absence of Traditional Health Care, by J.F., RN

Constructing a Triple-Strand Concertina Wire Obstacle, by CPT Blackfox

Fabric Choices in Survival Clothing, by Emma C.

A Guide to Load Carrying Equipment, by Tony X.

Lentils: The Super Food of the Prepper, by Brad H.

Camouflage Painting Firearms, by Kyrottimus

Do-It-Yourself Rocket Stoves, by E.B.

Aquaponic Gardening, by D.P.

Survival of the Un-Fittest — What to Do for the Ill, Disabled and Elderly, by Echo A.

Severe Weather Vigilance, by Shawn J.

Note to the prize winners: I will need UPS and USPS addresses for the top three prize winners, and current e-mail addresses for all of the Honorable Mention prizes. Please let me know via e-mail.

Round 43 begins today, 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.

Pat’s Product Review: Spartan Blades Horkos

I’ve been around knives all my life, and I’ve literally had thousands of knives pass through my hands. For about 18 years I wrote for Knives Illustrated magazine, and for several years, I was the West Coast Field Editor at Knives Illustrated. During the course of my duties, I had the opportunity to tour a number of knife factories and companies, to see how knives are manufactured and designed. To be sure, I’ve designed quite a few knives myself over the years, and had them produced by custom knife makers, as well as factory produced versions. So, I believe my background and experience gives me a good grip on what constitutes a really good knife. Yes, you can get a knife for $9.99 from one of the tv knife shows, and it’ll serve the purpose of opening boxes and letters, or maybe skinning game, but if you want a knife you can bet your life on, don’t short-change yourself and buy “cheap” – there is a reason some knives are so cheap.
 
I spent quite a bit of time recently, testing the Spartan Blades “Horkos”. It is one of many blades carried by the good folks at US Tactical Supply  – they carry a good variety of Spartan Blades, too. However, this one caught my attention as a fixed blade knife suitable for combat or light utility work. So, with the “Horkos” in-hand, I spent a good deal of time behind this blade. The Horkos (pronounced “Or-kos”) is made in the USA, by Spartan Blades and is located in Aberdeen, NC just west of Ft. Bragg, NC – Home of the US Army Airborne and Special Forces. A little bit of history is in order on Spartan Blades. It was co-founded by Curtis Iovito and Mark Carey – between them, they possess over 40 years of combined military service and experience. Since their retirement, they have been involved in development, marketing and program management of tactical gear and ballistic armor products. For years, Curtis has designed and made custom knifes for his friends in the Special Forces and other companies. Mark and Curtis have combined their shared love of knifemaking to form Spartan Blades, LLC, with a singular mission “Manufacture finely crafted tactical and field knife.” Their intent is not to provide a cool knife or the next great pry bar, but rather to produce a knife that is highly functional, make from only premium materials and techniques that look great too.
 
Spartan Blades are manufactured in North Carolina with only US origin materials, and their sheaths are made by US/US veteran owned businesses, using only the best US origin compliant materials, too. I don’t know about SurvivalBlog readers, but I have to really admire a company that goes out of their way to produce entirely US-made products, and using US veteran owned business for their outsourced materials, too. In this day and age, where it seems like everything is being made overseas, it is refreshing to see a company going out of their to make sure their products are made here, in our country.
 
Where does the knife name “Horkos” come from? Horkos, is a sacred oath and the demon protector of honor/oaths in Greek language and myths. This knife was actually commissioned by the Combat Weapons Team of the US Military Academy  (at West Point, New York) with custom etching to honor the graduating class. As all academy graduates are defenders of our freedom and take a sacred oath to the US Constitution, Spartan Blades think the name fits. The blade is designed to be a great all around combat/utility blade. Here’s the specs: the knife was actually designed by Curtis Iovito and Mark Carey, with an overall length of 10-7/8″ with a blade length of 5-11/16″. Blade thickness is 3/16″ and the blade steel is premium CPM S35VN, with a Rockwell hardness of 59-60 HRC. The blade style is a Drop Point, single edge design with relieved distal spine and tapered drop for tip strength. The coating is called ApartaCoat – PVD – Tungsten DLC (black) or ZrN (Flat Dark Earth). Handle material is CE Canvas Micarta Black, Green or Natural Tan – my sample was the Natural Tan, which looks great. Weight is on .556-lbs. My sheath was MOLLE compatible with ballistan Nylon with a Kydex insert – you can also order a Kydex only sheath.
 
Overall appearance of the Horkos was very impressive – the knife is made to perfection. I closely examined it with my gunsmith magnifying goggles – I couldn’t find any defects in material or workmanship. The handle scales are black Canvas Micarta with a large checkered pattern. The handle scales are rather thin, and this was my one and only minor complaint. While the handle scales are great for combat use, I found them just a little bit too thin to my liking for utility work – such as chopping. I would have preferred slightly thicker handle scales for a firmer grip. There is nothing wrong with the handle scales, just a personal preference . There is also a nice thumb ramp on the top of the blade for placing the thumb for a fencing-style grip, which is used in many knife-fighting techniques, one of my preferred grips on a knife, from more than 35 years in the martial arts teaching armed and unarmed fighting techniques. There is also a nice lanyard hole (with 550 para cord lanyard) on the butt of the the knife. There is a cut-out on the bottom back of the blade for placing your index finger when doing close-up cutting chores, like dressing out big game, where you might want more control of the blade. To be sure, the overall blade design is very appealing and very functional, and it should prove to be a great fighting knife in CQB situations.
 
I tested the Horkos on stacked cardboard – for stabbing tests, and I could easily stab the blade to the hilt into the stacked cardboard, not as easy as it might sound, and it takes a good blade to do this. Now, the Horkos didn’t “feel” as sharp as I would have liked, but I was wrong. The blade sharpness almost looks like the old Bill Moran “rolled” edge – it doesn’t feel sharp to the touch, but it is extremely sharp. During several weeks of cutting chores and testing, I never once had to touch-up the CPM S35VN blade. I did a lot of chopping on blackberry vines, and if you’ve ever tried your hand at chopping those things, you know how tough they are – many knife blades will simply slip off these vines. In this part of Oregon we have more blackberry vines than we need – and blackberries are not native to Oregon, but they sure took a foothold. If you don’t stay on top of these vicious vines, they will overtake you property. Yes, there is a spray that kills them – but in a year or two, they come back stronger than ever. You have to continually chop them down or dig them out by the root – and you can’t do it by hand, you need a front end loader – something I don’t have. So, I resort to chopping the vines, and it gives me a great opportunity test a lot of knife blades out for sharpness.
 
For a combat/utility knife, the Horkos was really pretty darn good. It did lack when it came to chopping small tree limbs or trees, but I wasn’t surprised, as the blade is a bit too short and too light for this utility purpose – for chopping on trees, or tree limbs, you need a longer and heavier blade for the most part. For splitting wood, I took the Horkos and pounded it through some smaller diameter logs, with another smaller log – while it did the job, it took a while – again, this knife wasn’t designed for this type of work. Where the Horkos would shine would be at the base camp where you might have to open ammo crates, or cut banding material off of boxes, or any other cutting chores you might run across. For a combat knife, this would really shine, it is very light weight, and very fast in the hand, so you can do some serious damage to an attacker in short order. In a knife fight, a quick, light blade can really make a difference – you can slash and cut an opponent several times in a second or two, before they know what hit them. And, as I’ve mentioned this numerous times, in a knife fight, it usually isn’t “over” with a single stab to the attacker’s body. Most knife fights usually involve both stabbing and especially slashing attacks. In the latter you cut the attacker’s hands, arms and legs – cut the tendons and blood vessels – bleed them out if you have to, or by cutting the tendons and muscles, you assure that they can’t attack you. Knife fighting is more of a science than an art in my humble opinion…but it is still a task that needs to be learned and practiced to become efficient at.
 
I’ve written about US Tactical Supply before, with some of the outstanding products they carry. They try, whenever possible, to carry US-made products in their store and their on-line web site. And, you won’t find any better customer service than they have. They go way above the call of duty to assure that their customers are 100% happy with the products they purchase. If you have a problem with any of their products, let them know, and they’ll do everything they can to make it right! I like doing business with smaller, US-owned and run companies whenever possible, instead of the big box stores. I feel I’m getting better service and better products by dealing with a smaller company, a company that cares about doing business with me, and want me to be pleased with my purchase.
 
The retail price for the Horkos starts at $328 – and goes up to $360. A bit spendy? You bet! But you are getting what you paid for in a Spartan Blade. Yes, you can find knock-off or clones imported from China, that might look good, but they are 100% junk, and I wouldn’t want to bet my life on one of those cheap blades. When it comes to my survival, I want the best I can afford, even if it means saving my pennies for a while to get it. Don’t short-change yourself when it comes to cutlery – get the best you can get.
 
Be sure to check out some of the other Spartan Blades. I really liked their CQB Tool and the Enyo, Inside the Waistband/Neck knife – both would be excellent blades for back-up to a firearm. I found several Spartan Blades at US Tactical Supply, that would fill a lot of my needs in combat or a survival situation. I’m betting you’ll find more than one knife you’ll want to own. And, when it comes to your survival, on the battlefield, or out in the boonies, in a life or death situation, can you put a price tag on a tool that will save your hide? – SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Pat Cascio

Mahaffey’s Book Review: Bugging Out to Nowhere

Bugging Out to Nowhere a novel by Paylie Roberts  (ISBN 9781470010447 Published in June, 2012.) 

“During the height of economic collapse in the US, Rachel and Tom flee for the countryside a day too late. With the comforts of city life unlikely to be seen again, they are determined to survive on their own out in the middle of nowhere.”  (From the jacket cover)

This fictional work is told from the first person perspective, set in the very near future. Rachel and Tom are ordinary folks just trying to make ends meet. They struggle with everyday needs while preparing for what they believe is coming down the road. They have a very good start on their efforts, when suddenly the beast of collapse is no longer down the road. He’s here. The story is a series of preparations, incidents and accidents, good and bad decisions, mistakes and corrections. This is an entertaining read with heaps of “how to” loaded on a multiplicity of topics related to survival preparedness.  Nearly every page has a teaching moment. The amount of information compressed into these 285 pages is astounding.

In addition to the bounteous information offered, I believe one of the most useful aspects of this novel is the dissection of the decision making process. Countless deliberations are rotated, twisted, and uncurled asking many of the same questions that Joe and Judy Average would ask. This book is an asset to anyone struggling with the questions of “what, how and why” of prepping. This aspect alone is worth the price of the book. The story line has enough developments to keep the reader engaged while learning a lot about the not-so-smooth journey into sustainability. All of this is told through the pragmatic perspective of the woman of the house. Although this book would be enjoyed by both genders, women will find a friend in “Rache”. Among her many qualities, Rachel is intelligent, brave, and practical. She has attained experience in gardening, animal husbandry and is pretty handy with a hammer. It’s refreshing to have protagonist without even one super-hero skill.

The novel is clean with only a couple of flimsy curse words. Sexual content is nil with the exception of a reference relayed by a third party. Even then, no specific content was described. Violence is to be expected in the post-collapse world. The action is there to a slight degree, but this is not the book if you want a hack- ‘em-up, blood and gore, zombie-feed-read. The end product is an appropriate read for high school age or mature middle school age children with parental discussions. Although opinions of the protagonists are woven throughout the book, the author doesn’t invest a lot of ink toward political rants.

As to the inadequacies of this novel, Paylie Roberts is a talented author- in need of a good editor. This book has a lot of needs. I found the numerous deliberations tedious at times with topics visited and then revisited in confab dialogues. The central characters are enormously likeable although lacking dimension. For me, a missing character is God. Given trials and, the long sessions of contorted soul searching, He seems glaringly absent. People tend to turn to God in times of trouble. We turn to Him to plead, to curse, to doubt.  Some will offer thanks and praise for His mercy. When the discussions of morals and values or new characters were introduced I would anticipate some religious deliberation. But, no go. Whether that topic was ignored to be politically correct, an omission of deliberate intention or a simple oversight is not clear. This would have been an opportunity to add depth to the characters and make the pain of loss and the reality of fear tangible.

There are inconsistencies in the storyline. Trite solutions magically fall into place at several junctures. The plot meanders, then suddenly, the ending falls into place. It arrives faster than Grandpa’s gelding through the barn door at suppertime. I found editing issues: grammar, spelling, sentence structure, present/ past tense, repeated sentences, repetitive information, and one humongous issue that I must rectify for safety’s sake. 

! Spoiler Alert! After declaring a person in anaphylactic shock, the author writes, “…this epi pen expires this month, I’m not sure if it’s safe to use. Most expired medications are okay to use expired, but not epi: it could seriously harm him. I can’t tell by looking at it.” It was not obvious by my reading but perhaps Paylie was trying to make the point, “do your own research and use common sense”.

Epi-pens are safe to use after the expiration date. The problem occurs with the loss of efficacy, not a creation of toxicity. There may some loss of potency but the benefits far, far outweigh the risk. In a truly anaphylactic situation if that is all that one has available, slap that in the thigh!  I have a medical background and corroborated my knowledge with a pharmacist and two emergency physicians. (Two sources of confirmation for you: NIH web page and Doctor Solve web page.)

It may seem paradoxical to endorse this book in light of my assessment of missed opportunities and mistakes, but there are several reasons to recommend this novel. This book is motivating and informative. Various potential scenarios within the realm of possibility are explored making this book a great gift opportunity for a couple to open discussions. I guarantee you will re-check your larder with a new eye after reading this book.  Paylie allows the reader to envision prospects to increase survival potential while managing a very tight budget. This book is a cut above many of the self-published works found in today’s survival genre. Paylie Roberts is a writer driven to share her knowledge. How ironic, the protagonists were not quite ready to bug out, but they needed to do so anyway; like Tom and Rachel, this book is not quite prepared by editing standards, but it is praiseworthy read nonetheless.

Letter Re: Food Stockpiling is a Lifestyle

Dear JWR:
Stockpiling food has been performed for centuries.  Our earliest ancestors were hunter gatherers.  If they didn’t save up food for the winter, their existence would most certainly be doomed.  It has been recorded that in hard times throughout history people have re-learned preservation techniques that would ensure their survival for the months and years ahead.  I believe we are in a similar trend at the moment.

Most everyone has a reasonable supply of food in the pantry for convenience purposes.  On the other hand some people, like our neighbors who we have affectionately named the “Pod People”, exist using the “just-in-time” method.  These folks patronize a fast food restaurant for most every meal.  If the Golden Arches drive-thru is not visited, then assuredly the pizza delivery guy will stop by.  The only time we have seen “real” food go in their house is when they buy a 50 lb bag of dog food for their large dog.  I worry that even a minor issue, like losing power for several days, would completely deplete the Pod People’s presumably meager supply of food and would force them to venture into a dangerous situation to obtain proper supplies.

My husband and I have always had a reasonable amount of food on hand. We could probably have gone a month on what was in the pantry.  We like to eat!  Even so, I hadn’t really thought about storing much more food than that until last year when I met a co-worker who is a self-proclaimed “prepper”.  He introduced me to dehydrating and re-sparked my interest in canning. 

With this new interest in food preservation, I began to think back to my childhood.  My father was a meat cutter.  We always had a large chest freezer and full pantry in the basement, and he closely watched grocery store sales.  He memorized prices on a variety of items we commonly used and “cherry picked” the many sales, stocking ahead whenever he could.  My mother taught me to can.  One year when they had a wonderful producing garden, she canned 60 quarts of what she called Dynamites (a mixture of tomatoes, peppers and onions).  These memories made me realize that my parents were the first “preppers” I knew.  Not only did they have adequate food for months, but they had alternative ways to cook, extra candles, a shortwave receiver and many other items that our preppers of today commonly stock.  It was a way of life, something I accepted and I thought everyone did this.

Within a year of my re-sparked interest in this lifestyle I’ve expanded our one-month supply of food to an estimated seven-months.  A Craig’s List score on free canning jars by a friend was helpful, along with my dehydrating frozen and fresh vegetables when they were found on sale.  We also purchased commercially canned food, and stocked up on water as well.

Both my husband and I have been solidly employed for the past 25 years.  But as luck would have it, this year my husband became unemployed for two-months and then shortly after I was unemployed for four-months.  While we didn’t have to delve into our food stockpile, this completely unplanned and unwanted occurrence was a wake-up call.  It showed me that the way of life that my parents instilled in me needs to be continued.  My goal is eventually to have one-year worth of food.

I often wonder how our Pod People neighbors might have fared in a similar occurrence.  With dwindling funds, the constant fast food runs and pizza deliveries become very expensive.   What would they do?  Lean on the government, or family for assistance?  What if those avenues dry up?  I hope they like dog kibble. – Wendy Q.

Recipe of the Week:

Brenda’s Santa Fe Stew

1 pound ground beef, venison, or elk, crumbled/browned/drained
1 onion, chopped/sauteed
 
Put above in a large pot and add:
 
1-2 Tablespoons taco seasoning mix
1-2 Tablespoons ranch dressing mix
1 can black beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can corn (hominy is good too)
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 can Rotel tomatoes
 
Add water to suit your preference for consistency.  Simmer.  Serves 6.

Chef’s Notes:

Can be topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips.
 
For freezing in individual containers, don’t add any extra water until you get ready to reheat.  If frozen in flat containers, it can be kept at your desk and will be nearly thawed in time for lunch.  This recipe is very flexible regarding substitutions (ex: hominy, garbanzo beans).  And it’s a good way to cycle out your canned food stockpile.

JWR Adds: It is noteworthy that for most soup and stew recipes that include canned beans, corn or tomatoes, you should NOT drain the juices from the can before use. Just pour the entire contents of the can in to the soup. Not only will this add to the flavor of the soup, but it will also add slightly to its nutritive value. Don’t pour those nutrients down your sink drain!

Useful Recipe and Cooking Links:

Enola Gay (editor of the inspiring Paratus Familia blog) shares her recipe for Blueberry (or Huckleberry) Buckle.

Here are some free venison recipes.

Currently Available as Free Kindle e-Books:

Delicious Pork Dinners

Conversion Charts and Oven Temperatures. Baking aid to convert cups, ounces and liquid measurements. (Traditional British Recipes)

Cavelady Cooking: 50 Fun Recipes for Paleo, Low-Carb and Gluten-Free Diets

Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? Please send it via e-mail. Thanks!

Economics and Investing:

An update: A week ago I mentioned that the producers of the popular Silver Bullet, Silver Shield videos commissioned the minting one-ounce .999 fine silver medallions of their own design. They are being sold for as little as $2.99 over the spot price of silver. If you order yours using the link from SurvivalBlog, we will earn a small sales commission to help defray our considerable monthly bandwidth expenses. I’ve heard that they’ve now pre-sold more than half of their planned minting of 50,000 coins. Watch the spot price of silver carefully, and buy on the dip days!

AmEx (American Expat) sent: Roubini: Europe Situation May Turn Disorderly

G.G. sent this: California Is First to Offer Private-Pension Management. [JWR’s Comment: Gee, wouldn’t you like to come aboard our sinking ship?]

Items from The Economatrix:

Housing Is Back (Again).  Or Is It?

More Americans Now Commit Suicide Than Are Killed In Car Crashes As Miserable Economy Takes Its Toll

The QE Shell Game

The Greatest Trick The Devil Ever Pulled

JPMorgan Loss Could Be Next “Shock” Event

14 Signs that the World Economy is Getting Weaker

“Zombie Economy” May Scare Markets In October