Letter Re: Tool Chest Needs of the Survivalist

As a survivalist, you need a complete set of tools to keep your stuff running. As this could include cars, trucks, tractors, motorcycles, ATVs, bicycles, snowmobiles, little red wagons, etc. You
might think that is already a fair number of different types of tools required. But what about other things you might need tools for? Some examples:
Weapons – tools used by a gunsmith or armorer are rather specialized.
General – Hammers are a common, but what about sledge hammers? What about post-hole diggers? Axes? Hatchets? Roofing hammers? Crow-bars? Saws?
Levels? Mattocks? etc., etc., etc.
Plumbing – Requires some specialized tools, pipe wrenches, pipe cutters, and maybe a [propane] torch if working with copper.
Electronics – From soldering to testing, voltage meter, lots of specialized tools required.
Electrical – AC/DC, some similarities and some differences to electronic tools.
Blacksmithing – Very specialized set of tools here, especially if one includes [farrier] equipment to shoe horses.
Butchering – Not only the knives and saws but also grinders and sausage makers.
Also consider how many of each tool that you should plan for.As an example, imagine your group has two shovels and one axe. So if you send one group out to chop down a tree, another to pull a stump, and another to work on fighting positions, which ones will get the tools they need to get their job done? Or will each have to cool their heels until the tools become available for them?
Each group would have need of each of the two tool types mentioned. So you can see where you might run into issues. Especially if all three jobs were important to the same end result. Say you need the tree chopped down to provide overheard cover for the fighting position. And the stump that needs to be removed was from a tree that was cut down to provide wood used to strengthen the parapet of the fighting position, but it is now blocking some of the field of fire for that fighting position. And of course the fighting position is needed to defend the retreat. Should one try to prioritize such work, or is it better to have enough of tools to equip everyone? – R.C. (Submitted with permission of the author–a moderator on the Yahoo Group “Survival Retreat”)

Silver–I Really, Really Told You So!

I noticed that the spot market price of silver closed at over $14 per ounce yesterday. Back when silver was around $7 an ounce I told you that silver was likely to double, and now, just 17 months later, it has indeed. I also predicted that silver would out-perform gold. I was right about that, too. As I’ve stated before, I think that we are in the opening phase of a multi-year bull market for precious metals, and a bear market for the dollar. I hope that you folks took my advice and bought some silver. Back on August 6, of 2005, when I first started SurvivalBlog, I wrote this, citing my earlier track record on the metals market:

“I posted the following to the misc.survivalism Usenet newsgroup on February 8, 2001, under the title: Rawles Calls Major Bottom in Silver Price: [Begin quote] “I have come to the conclusion that the long term bear trend in the price of silver has finally come to an end. Silver touched $4.55 earlier today. (Feb. 8, 2001.) If it closes in N.Y. at over $4.75 anytime in the next few weeks, that would be a strong bullish indicator. Look at the six month and ten year silver charts at www.kitco.com for the “big picture.” Once there is a strong bullish indication, don’t hesitate to buy a good chunk of silver, pronto. FWIW, I just made another silver purchase to take advantage of the recent dip. (I’d rather buy early than late.) For those of you living in the United States, I recommend buying silver in the form of pre-1965 mint date circulated U.S. silver coinage (dimes, quarters, and half dollars.) That is the best for barter purposes, and unlike bullion rounds/bars is less likely to be subject to government confiscation. See the free FAQs at my web site for details: www.rawles.to. For the market fundamentals on silver, see: http://www.silver-investor.com (Some interesting observations on the lack of silver to meet demand.) And for general information and analysis on precious metals, see: http://www.gold-eagle.com/ (Note: I am not affiliated in any way with either of these sites.)

[Some commentary on interest rates snipped, for brevity]

I may not have called the bottom perfectly, (silver may sag down to $4.25 before it rallies), but beyond that, in my opinion the downside risk is minimal. And what about gold, you may ask? In my opinion, silver is much more likely to double than gold. This is much like buying penny stocks. (Which is more likely double–XYZ Corp. at 58 cents a share, or IBM at $108.00 a share?)” [End quote]

For the record (as of August 4, 2005): IBM now sells at $83.12 a share. (A 24% loss, after more than four years. Charming.) And I wasn’t far from the mark when I cited $4.25 as the potential bottom. Silver actually bottomed just a few months later, at $4.19 per ounce. (I was off by less than 2% of calling the absolute bottom in a 10+ year bear market.) Silver has risen in fits and starts ever since. I am still convinced that silver is in the early stages of a multi-decade bull market and is headed to $60 per ounce (and possibly higher.) Spot silver was at $7.21 an ounce at yesterday’s close, according to the folks at Kitco–a 58.1% gain, after four+ years.) But IMHO silver is still a bargain. In the long run the dollar is doomed. Are you worried that investing in silver won’t earn interest or dividends? Silver isn’t that sort of investment. Rather, think of it as fire insurance–for the dollar. Oh, and what about the fact that silver dropped from $7.21 to $7.11 on Friday (5 August)? The silver market is volatile. You should look beyond the daily fluctuations and instead concentrate on the long term trend. Gold is and silver are both in long term secular bull markets.”

Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader H.V. suggested this article: Zimbabwe Finance Minister promises to slash inflation by two-thirds. What a vast improvement! If he manages to accomplish this, then the inflation rate would only be around 400%, annually. Please pray that Comrade Mugabe and his henchmen leave Zimbabwe soon and that they are replaced with a legitimate, competent government.

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Fred The Valmet-meister mentioned that he was experimenting with his Civil Defense surplus Geiger counter and was shocked at the high readings from his lantern mantles. “With Coleman [mantles], I got 800 – 1000 millirad. I also have a set of Primus mantles, and with those I got 1500 millirad!” .Then he started doing so web research and he found this web site. It has some interesting lists of the household items that are radioactive.

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Reader R.C. mentioned that he saw a notice that the SurplusRifle.com web site will be taken down in March of 2007. They are suggesting that people buy their two CD collections of all site material for $5 each.

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“Papiere, bitte.” U.S. Driver’s Licenses are becoming a de facto National Identity Card.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"In the questions of power, then, let no more be heard of the confidence in man, but bind him down by the chains of the Constitution." – Thomas Jefferson

Note From JWR:

The high bid is at $245 in the latest SurvivalBlog benefit auction, This one is for a big batch of 16 survival/preparedness reference books, courtesy of the fine folks at Ready Made Resources. (They are one of our first and most loyal advertisers. Be sure to visit their site and give them some business. BTW, they have additional copies of each of the titles listed below, as well as more than a hundred other titles.)

Please submit your bid via e-mail. The auction ends on January 15th. The books in the auction lot include:

1. From Seed to Bloom- How to Grow Over 500 Annuals, Perennials & Herbs by Eileen Powell
2. Keeping the Harvest- Preserving Your Fruits, Vegetables & Herbs by Nancy Chioffi & Gretchen Mead
3. How to Build Your Own Log Home For Less Than $15,000 by Robert L. Williams
4. Camouflage by Desert Publications
5. Natural Pest Control- Alternatives to Chemicals for the Home and Garden by Andrew Lopez The Invisible Gardener
6. The AR-15/M16- A Practical Guide by Duncan Long
7. Apocalypse Tomorrow by Duncan Long
8. Guide To Emergency Survival Communications- How to Build and Power Your System by Dave Ingram
9. Raising Rabbits The Modern Way by Bob Bennett
10. Mountainman Crafts and Skills- An Illustrated Guide to Clothing, Shelter, Equipment and Wilderness Living by David Montgomery.
11. A Guide to Raising Pigs- Care, Facilities, Management, Breed Selection by Kelly Klober
12. Survival, Evasion and Escape by Desert Publications
13. Raising Your Own Turkeys by Leonard S. Mercia

and, three more books that I’m adding, just to “sweeten the pot”:

14. “Patriots: Surviving The Coming Collapse” (the scarce out of print Huntington House edition)
15. The Encyclopedia of Country Living by the late Carla Emery
16. One more surprise book title!

Together, these books have a retail value well in excess of $250. Get your bid in soon!

Letter Re: Signs of Potential Currency Hyperinflation, by Lee Rogers

Jim,
The article on currency hyperinflation [by Lee Roger, posted on November 30th] was interesting. However, trying to keep the puny penny alive to prevent hyperinflation is like trying to prevent floods by banning depth gauges.

Someone will need to explain to me why we need any coinage with a denomination less than the value of a minute of a minimum wage worker’s time. For decades in earlier times, our smallest coin was worth about as much as out current dime.

How many billions in wasted time would be saved if we had a simple coinage system that reflected real current prices, instead of living in denial about past and current inflation?

I propose that we could optimally operate with fewer coins: dimes, halves, and dollars, plus $5 coins. All transactions transacted in tenth dollars (drop the whole darn penny digit) Four useful coins for daily transactions, instead of the current six. Drop the wallet-bursting $1 bill, and the silly $2 bill, and keep the $5 as the lowest [denomination] bill. Add a $500 bill to allow more portable wealth, and the system makes as much sense as it used to.

Anyone who worries that this will cause more inflation is well-advised to buy precious metals. And of course, it would be better if the coinage and currency reflected real value. But that is no reason to live in denial about the reality of inflation. A pocket full of worthless change will not change economic reality.

Also, note that www.coinflation.com is an interesting source to determine the theoretical “value” of coins based on their metal content. But be cautioned that no one is paying these prices. They reflect the value if the metals were separated and pure. The cost of the mint to buy the metal to produce a coin does not mean that it has that value to any buyer. Sure, you can “double your money” by picking out pre-1982 copper pennies. But if it takes you only 6 seconds to find each one, you are earning only minimum wage. Never mind that the cost to transport it to copper buyers would eat much of your profits.- Mr. Bravo

Letter Re: Muzzleloaders for Long Term TEOTWAWKI

Dear Mr Rawles,
It is possible that I am simply not an attentive reader of the Survival Blog, so I may have missed this.
However, it seems to me that rather than getting into technically very difficult and potentially very dangerous pursuits involving home-made brass & home-made primers, why not become proficient with a flintlock rifle?
Flintlocks never went completely out of style, and there are many, many excellent makers today.
In the hands of a practiced marksman, a flintlock is certainly the equal of any modern rifle out to 100 or 200 yards, and at the Battle of New Orleans, Kentucky riflemen brought down redcoats at 400 yards or more.
Firing a flintlock requires no fancy chemical primers: just black powder. Black powder is dangerous to make yourself, but it is chemically simpler than percussion primer powder. Round balls are convenient to cast from lead. And flints can be hand-knapped. A good rifle will be nearly 100% in ignition. The only drawback it seems to me is that it is a single shot per barrel per load, but two barrel rifles are not unknown.
All the very best, – Dr. W.A.

JWR Replies: We have covered blackpowder (BP) muzzleloaders on SurvivalBlog, but not nearly to the extent that the subject deserves. Back in February of Aught Six, I posted the following in reply to another letter on blackpowder arms: “I agree that BP guns do have a place in survival planning. However, if someone’s main goal is getting guns that are outside of Federal jurisdiction (with no purchase paperwork required in most locales), from a practical standpoint they are better off buying pre-1899 cartridge guns from the 1890s, such as
the Mausers and the S&W top break revolvers that are sold by dealers such as The Pre-1899 Specialist. If, in contrast, the intent is to have guns that will remain useful in the event of a multi-generational societal collapse, them BP guns make a lot of sense. Lead for bullet/ball casting can be stored in quantity, and even salvaged wheel weights or battery plate lead could be
substituted.
Black powder and percussion caps could conceivably be “home brewed”–although there are some serious safety considerations.

BP arms have lower velocity and hence less stopping power than modern smokeless powder cartridge guns. However, they can still be fairly reliable stoppers. I would NOT want to be a burglar confronted by a homeowner that is holding a pair of Ruger Old Army .44 percussion cap revolvers! OBTW, since black powder leaves a hygroscopic residue that is inherently corrosive, I recommend buying stainless steel guns whenever possible. So make that a pair of stainless steel Ruger Old Army .44 percussion cap revolvers. If you ever envision BP guns being pressed into service for self-defense, then get models that optimize fast follow-up shots and fast reloading.
For example, consider the the Kodiak double rifle. (Up to .72 caliber rifles,. plus 12 and 10 gauge shotgun variants.) Some brands of BP revolvers have cylinders that are relatively quick to change. For those, it makes sense to buy two or three spare cylinders for each gun that can be kept loaded. Of course be sure to have each gun tested with all of the cylinders to make sure that they all function and “register” correctly.

Letter Re: A Further Slide For The US Dollar?

Jim,
I wonder how many other folks have read this: ” …Ritholtz told WorldNetDaily that yesterday’s downward move “was a major market correction that points to the risk of subsequent downside to the dollar,” and “… but the recent fall suggests “the probabilities have increased of a major dollar correction, or even of a collapse.” ” The whole story can be found at the WorldNetDaily web site. – Joe from Tennessee

Odds ‘n Sods:

 Reader S.P. mentioned this interesting new photovoltaic power technology. Could a price breakthrough on solar panels be coming soon?

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In a recent phone conversation, The Chartist Gnome told me that there are now rumors of a U.S. Dollar collapse circulating on Wall Street. Echoing this sentiment came this article:
about the dollar’s slide. The Dollar lost 1.7% against the Euro jut last week. (Thanks to Mike the Blacksmith for that article link.) My advice: Be like the Boy Scout. If you haven’t already, diversify out of dollars and into tangibles.

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Ben. L. recommended an interesting retrospective about the Swine Flu scare of ’74/’75, comparing the world today, and the relatively greater threat posed by Asian Avian Flu.

The Memsahib’s Quote of the Day:

#2 Son, in the back seat of the car: "What was that I just saw run across the road? I just caught a glimpse."

#1 Son: "I think it was a chipmunk."

JWR, at the wheel: "To be precise, that was a Lesser Western Black Deathwish Chipmunk."

#2 Son: "How can you tell the variety?"

JWR: "Ah! Good question. The Deathwish subspecies nearly always starts to cross the road but then displays its second thoughts by stopping and rushing back from whence it came. Their odds of making it across a road are slightly better than playing Russian roulette."

Note From JWR:

In response to those that asked for details, my newly-released nonfiction book, Rawles on Retreat and Relocation is 225 pages, in 8-1/2×11 format, and wire-o bound, so that it will lay flat when open. There are lots of maps and a comparative table. In answer to those of you that asked for details about the contents, here is how it is organized:
Introduction
Chapter 1: Population Density and The Golden Horde
Chapter 2: The Self-Sufficient Retreat
Chapter 3: Climate and Growing Season
Chapter 4: Water, Power, and Fuel Sources
Chapter 5: Property, Income, and Sales Taxes
Chapter 6: Weapons Laws
Chapter 7: Zoning Laws and Other Nuisances
Chapter 8: Terrorist Target Structures
Chapter 9: World War Three Target Structures
Chapter 10: Offshore Options
Chapter 11: Privacy is Paramount
Chapter 12: Narrowing Your Search
Chapter 13: Making The Purchase
Chapter 14: Building (or Remodeling) a Retreat
Chapter 15: Stocking Your Retreat
Chapter 16: Food Storage
Chapter 17: Friends, Relatives, and Neighbors
Appendix A: Retreat Owner Profiles
Appendix B: Sources, Suppliers, and Consultants
Appendix C: References
Appendix D: Acronyms and Terms
Index

 

Book Reviews: Last Light and Night Light, by Terri Blackstock

James:
I am writing to recommend two novels that may be interest to your readers. Written by Terri Blackstock, I would like to recommend a series of two novels: Last Light and Night Light. These are novels that are written in a series, and while they can be read one at a time, are better read in sequence. As survival junkies, we are always in search of decent fiction centered around survival motifs – a rare genre of writing. Terri does a pretty good job of producing some entertaining and page-turning yarns. I will admit for those of us that are truly hard core, you may find yourself reverting to thoughts of primordial survival logistics as you read these novels (e.g., ” well, why didn’t they do this, or why didn’t they do that….), but written for the lay person, they have a high entertainment quotient., Also, they are really written as religious novels, more so than as a study in the art of survival pre se. As many of us are faith-based, this style of writing should not detract, but instead actually add to the enjoyment of the experience. From an editorial perspective, Terri’s writing style is fairly basic ( no long. protracted descriptions of the scene, or massive amounts of internal dialogue of the characters), which at first was a little difficult to get used to, but ultimately provided for a brisk read. As with any survival-related work, there are lessons to be learned here. As a born again Christian, I appreciated the underlying message in each work. Terri’s imagination is well preserved as she describes the trials and tribulations of the average upper middle-class family that is caught up in the unexpected circumstances of TEOTWAWKI caused by a mysterious EMP that renders all transistor and chip based mechanical devices inoperable. And, I must admit, that the origin of this EMP is a source that most of your Blog readers have not considered – and is absolutely insidious in its destructive capability. I would rate her at a solid “B” in entertainment value, and a must read for those of us that enjoy the celebration of our Savior in apocalyptic-based fiction. Zondervan Press, ISBN – 10: 0-310-25768-9 (book 1).and ISBN – 13: 978-0-310-25768-4 (book 2). Regards, – REM

Letter Re: Communications for Disasters–Are Scanners Useful?

James:
The hot thing in scanners right now is digital trunking. Most public-safety services use this approach, without scrambling or encryption. Analog scanners are useless, but the new generation of scanners include direct support for digital trunking.
I recently bought a Uniden/Bearcat BCD 396T, which totally restored my ability to listen to common public-safety traffic where I live.
Some more sensitive government agencies use encryption on top of digital trunking, but there’s no strong survival-oriented motivation to listen to their transmissions. Unless you’re trying to survive an FBI manhunt, I suppose. In an emergency, being able to monitor fire and police agencies should be enough for most people, and these new scanners can do that in most areas. Regards, – PNG

Letter Re: Yukon Gen 1 Night Vision Rifle Scope – A Product Review

Jim,
I had delayed writing a review of the Yukon night vision rifle scope because I have to wonder who else is reading your site. I don’t want to do a disservice to all the good folks that visit your [blog] site. I surely don’t want the bad guys knowing the following. Unless they stumble on it themselves. If they are going to use one I would rather they use one of these gems. I may buy a few
other night vision scopes just to see if the problem is in the design or I got a bad one. Here’s what I
found:
The scope is a Yukon Gen 1 with a illuminated circle/dot reticle, 1.5x42mm NVRS. It has an IR illuminator that supposedly gives it a 350 yd. range. I found that when the scope is first turned on with the illuminator off the operation is normal. The resolution is poor…it was a challenge seeing a 4×6 foot target board 100 yards down range. I had an equally difficult time
finding my (black) horse in the pasture 50-60 yards out with fresh batteries. With the illuminator on targets were easier to spot and maintain.
Now the fun part: After the illuminator was switched off the IR source continued to produce an output albeit at a LOWER INTENSITY but VERY visible.
So, not sure what I was dealing with, I ran a test. While in a very dark closet the NVRS was switched on nv only and I donned a NVG to “see” what I
would find. Nothing. Okay. I then switched on the illuminator which functioned fine. I then switched off the illuminator and sure enough there was a healthy glow emanating from the IR diode. I waited quite a while and re-checked the IR just to be certain I was not seeing some persistence in the diode and/or circuit that drives the diode and it was still producing an
output. I shut off the NVRS and the IR glow was still present. If the batteries were removed from the NVRS and after the IR circuit discharged the NVRS and illuminator would function normally until the IR switch was again out in the “on” position.
I can assume that either the IR driver has a component leaking current to the diode, a very long time constant on a capacitor or the “problem” is in the design. Either way this is one accessory I would not want to have on me in a TEOTWAWKI situation. The green “power on” indicator LED is bad enough. It lights up the operator’s face as a beacon in the night!
So, as you can see – if the problem is in the design and not confined to the one that I had – I would rather the bad guys have the scope. I do tell those I trust, respect and would like to see remain at 98.6 degrees F. – Joe

Odds ‘n Sods:

Thad K. suggested this link on how to grow your own luffa sponges. His comment: “What a great survival plant, eat them when young, wash with them when they are mature!”

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The previously mentioned special promotion at Northern Tool & Equipment (one of our affiliate advertisers) ends tomorrow. (December 4th) Northern is offering sitewide Free Gift Cards with purchases over $100. You will need to enter keycode 94660 in order to receive their free gift card.

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I got a note from Freeze Dry Guy, with good news: They are extending their November 10% off sale on selected Mountain House freeze dried foods, to the end of December.See their web site under “Freeze Dried Foods By The Case.” The web page lists the standard prices, so you will have to CALL to get the special prices: (530) 265-8333. Please mention that you are SurvivalBlog reader. For example, Cooked Diced Beef, normally $273.18, is on sale for $245.86. There are similar discounts on Cooked Diced Chicken and Cooked Ground Beef (the latter is a new item not on price list, with 162 servings of 1/2 cup each per case ) They still pay shipping within the Continental U.S., even with these prices!