The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. Today, we look at the changing of the guard in the District of Criminals (DC). There, on Wednesday, we witnessed the expected thunderous applause of the Democrats.

Social Media Bans Threaten Free Speech For All

Linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: The Cold Civil War: Social Media Bans Threaten Free Speech For All.

ABC News Calls for ‘Cleansing’ of Trump Supporters

ABC News Calls for ‘Cleansing’ of Trump Supporters in Wake of Capitol Incursion.

ATF Encroaching on ‘Solvent Traps’ and DIY Suppressor Components

Reader J.T. sent us this: ATF Encroaching on ‘Solvent Traps’ and DIY Suppressor Components

What if Opting Out of Data Collection Was Easy?

Reader C.B. suggested this piece: What if opting out of data collection were easy?Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — January 20, 2021

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Today is the birthday of Congressman Richard Henry Lee (1732–1794)

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On January 20, 1981, 52 American hostages were released by the Iranian government, following 444 days of captivity, to be reunited with their families. Not coincidentally, Ronald Reagan was sworn in as President, the same day.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 92 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (a $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. 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).
  4. Naturally Cozy is donating a “Prepper Pack” Menstrual Kit.  This kit contains 18 pads and it comes vacuum-sealed for long term storage or slips easily into a bugout bag.  The value of this kit is $220.
  5. An assortment of products along with a one-hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. A transferable $150 purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Round 92 ends on January 31, 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.

Simple Heat Treating for a High Carbon Steel Knife Blade – Part 2, by Steve A.

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.)

The blacksmith would heat the steel to a bright cherry red, check it with a magnet, bank the forge fire over the steel, and let it cool in the dying fire overnight, ensuring a very slow cooling rate. A modern heat treat shop would heat the steel to temperature in an atmosphere-controlled furnace and then turn the furnace off until the steel has cooled sufficiently.

Another way to do this starts by clamping the file by its tang upright in a metal vise and annealing it with a torch. If you slowly and evenly heat the file to the critical temperature with an oxy-acetylene torch, you can slowly reduce the heat over a period of ten minutes or so by moving the torch away from the file to reduce the heat until the steel does not glow and then let the steel cool in still air. This will not soften the steel as uniformly as the slower methods but will soften it enough to allow it to be more easily worked. The surface oxidization or scale formed during heating should be removed by wire brushing before proceeding. Vise-grips may be used to hold the file during the annealing, heating, and quenching steps. In the old days blacksmiths would make or modify a set of tongs to hold a specific shape being worked.Continue reading“Simple Heat Treating for a High Carbon Steel Knife Blade – Part 2, by Steve A.”

JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

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Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. The focus is usually on emergency communications gear, bug out bag gear, tools, books, and movies–often with a tie-in to disaster preparedness, and links to “how-to” self-sufficiency videos. There is also an emphasis on links to sources for storage food and a variety of storage and caching containers. You will also note an emphasis on history books and historical movies. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This week the focus is on cold weather camping gear. (See the Gear section.)

Books:

This upcoming release looks interesting: This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends: The Cyberweapons Arms Race. (It will be released on February 9th, 2021, but Amazon is taking pre-orders.)

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Active Measures: The Secret History of Disinformation and Political Warfare

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Long Range Shooting Handbook: The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Precision Rifle Shooting

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This book is dated, but still surprisingly useful: The Black Book of Revenge: The Complete Manual of Hardcore Dirty Tricks and Schemes

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Clandestine operations: The Arms and Techniques of the Resistance, 1941-1944

Continue reading“JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — January 19, 2021

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Today is the birthday of the late Carla Emery (born 1939, died October 11, 2005). She is well known in self-sufficiency circles as the author of The Encyclopedia of Country Living. (This book was re-released in a 40th Anniversary edition.)

January 19th is also the birthday of General Robert E. Lee.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 92 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (a $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. 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).
  4. Naturally Cozy is donating a “Prepper Pack” Menstrual Kit.  This kit contains 18 pads and it comes vacuum-sealed for long term storage or slips easily into a bugout bag.  The value of this kit is $220.
  5. An assortment of products along with a one-hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. A transferable $150 purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Round 92 ends on January 31, 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.

Simple Heat Treating for a High Carbon Steel Knife Blade – Part 1, by Steve A.

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Modern civilization owes its existence in part to the early discovery that iron containing small amounts of carbon could be made much harder than other iron compounds. This substance, iron with between about 0.6 and 1.7 percent carbon and no other alloying elements, was the first predictably hardenable steel and can be referred to as “high carbon plain steel”. Such steels can be made as hard as a file and form the most basic group of tool steels, where tool steel is defined as steel that is able to cut softer steel. The range of these steels include the simple mixtures of iron and carbon we will discuss here as well as steels that exhibit very different behaviors from their older kin due to the addition of alloying elements such as chromium, cobalt, molybdenum, nickel, niobium, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, zirconium, and others that significantly change the properties of the steel.

Many manufactured products such as files, automotive leaf springs, and wood cutting saw blades are made from various alloys of high carbon steel. If you elect to use such scrap to make knives, chisels, gouges, or other cutting tools, first test harden a piece of the scrap steel to insure that it has enough carbon content to harden file hard when quenched. This testing will prevent an unwelcome surprise when you later unsuccessfully try to harden that particular steel.

Many hardenable steels can be shaped and taken to the desired degree of hardness by using relatively simple processes. Cutting tools, springs, and high strength machinings can all be made from appropriate new or used steels using these processes to anneal, shape, harden, and temper such items. Fully hardened steel can be tempered using different times and temperatures to have the properties needed for fasteners, tools, springs, knives, and myriad other items. We will concentrate on applying this information to the making of a simple but very serviceable knife.

Implicit in this work is a source of high temperature heat such as an oxy-acetylene torch or a coal/charcoal forge. Indeed, blacksmiths were well known for recycling high carbon steel scrap into tools for their own and other’s use. These craftsmen had a practical understanding of the processes used to work high carbon steel. The need for high temperatures immediately mandates cautions such as proper clothing, fire protection, and ventilation before starting. All temperatures will be given in degrees Fahrenheit.

A little theory will help us understand how simple high carbon steel can be changed by the actions of heating and cooling it. Imagine a cube. On each of the eight corners of the cube is an iron atom. In addition, there is an iron atom in the center of the cube for a total of nine. This “unit cell” is the smallest grouping of iron atoms that forms the basis for the crystalline structure of iron. It is referred to as “body-centered cubic” structure, a cube with an iron atom in the center of its body.

Each unit cell shares its corner atoms with the unit cells that surround it. Body-centered cubic is the form iron has at temperatures ranging from below freezing up to approximately 1400 degrees F. It also is the form associated with the magnetic properties of iron. When steel is heated to the” critical temperature” of around 1400°, the heat makes the iron atoms more active. The iron atoms reorganize as the metal expands. The central atoms leave their positions and new locations are established at the center of all faces of each unit cell in the red-hot metal. This reorganization means each unit cell and all the surrounding unit cells now effectively have fourteen iron atoms each, one at each corner of the cube and one in the center of each face. These atoms are, of course, shared with all the adjoining cubic cells. The number of atoms has not changed, but the organization of the crystalline structure has. This form of iron is called “face-centered cubic” and is not magnetic.Continue reading“Simple Heat Treating for a High Carbon Steel Knife Blade – Part 1, by Steve A.”

SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

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This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, we focus on migration between the 50 states. (See the Idaho section.)

Idaho

COVID causes Bogus Basin to lose $3 million in revenue, “our goal is to stay open and safe”

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The big influx:   A moving company migration map.  And here is some more detailed data, to match. Here is a snippet from the latter article:

“In any case, what is quite clear is that such “progressive” bastions of Democratic power such as New York, Illinois, California and Michigan saw the biggest population outflows in 2020, while the biggest winners were the sunbelt states Texas, Florida and Arizona. Expect this trend to only accelerate.”

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Snowmobiler hospitalized after crash near West Yellowstone

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt”

Glock Model 44 Pistol in .22 LR, by Pat Cascio

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Look, I don’t care how many firearms you own, if you don’t own at least one firearm chambered in .22 Long Rifle (LR), then you don’t have a survival battery! When I worked for the late Colonel Rex Applegate, he had more than 850 firearms in his collection. Quite a few of them were chambered in .22 LR. If the good Colonel needed firearms in .22 LR, then so do you.

For many years, I used to recommend that the first firearm people purchased, should have been a 12 gauge shotgun of some type. I was wrong! I honestly believe that, if you are into survival in any situation then the very first firearm that you purchase should be chambered in .22 LR– period! You can do more with a .22 LR chambered firearm than you can with most other calibers. Plus, not counting the current ammo drought we are in – once again – all things considered .22 LR ammo is relatively inexpensive. You could purchase a brick of 500-rounds for under $20. These days, you are lucky if you can find any .22 LR at all. And, I fear, it will be this way for a long, long time – maybe years! However, if you look around, you can still find some .22 LR – some place! My very first rifle was a Marlin .22 LR. This was a model that was styled to look like an M1 Carbine. I wish that I still owned it – have no idea what I did with it.

A friend of mine, now long deceased, was raising two kids on his own, and he was always short of funds. He was a teacher in the same two-room schoolhouse where my wife worked, many years ago. He had a tough time, as you can imagine, feeding two growing kids – and he resorted to poaching some deer in our area. Everyone knew he did it, and no one reported him. His weapon of choice for his poaching? A .22 LR rifle. A head shot would put the deer down instantly. Now, don’t get me wrong, poaching is wrong. However, I can look the other way, if that is the only way that a person can feed their family. So, save your hate e-mails.

Over the years, I’ve hunted all sorts of small game, and have literally taken thousands of ground squirrels on my in-law’s 2,000-acre ranch. They are such pests that the landowners would even offer to supply .22 LR ammo to anyone who wanted to come and hunt those little critters. So, I know the effectiveness of the .22 LR round on small and even medium-sized game – with proper shot placement and the right bullet. For a lot of small game, a good hollow point bullet puts them down fast. For self-defense, and I’m not advocating you carry a .22 LR handgun, for self-defense. But if it is all you have, then load it with hollow point ammo. We all have to live within our budgets, and if you can only afford something in .22 LR – then go for it – it sure beats a sharp stick or throwing rocks for self-defense.

The handgun under review today is the fairly new Glock 44. This model is chambered in .22 LR. How I came about owning this gun, is somewhat funny, but sad at the same time. My beautiful wife, who can shoot with the best of them – isn’t totally gun-savvy for the most part. Our local small box store told her that they had “a Glock 22” and she purchased it for me – as a gift. Turns out the store clerk was wrong, it was NOT a Glock Model 22, it was a Glock 44, that shoots .22 LR ammo – of course, being a small box store, that only sells new firearms, they wouldn’t take the gun back. Not the end of the world, that’s for sure. You can’t go wrong owning a Glock – of any type. At first, I was a little disappointed because I was looking forward to owning another Glock 22, chambered in .40 S&W – but like I said, it wasn’t the end of the world – but my wife still feels bad she made such a mistake – it wasn’t entirely her fault, the clerk was wrong!Continue reading“Glock Model 44 Pistol in .22 LR, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of The Week: Carrots And Peas With Green Mint

The following recipe for Carrots And Peas With Green Mint is from The New Butterick Cook Book, by Flora Rose, co-head of the School of Home Economics at Cornell University. It was published in 1924. A professional scan of that 724-page out-of-copyright book will be one of the many bonus items included in the next edition of the waterproof SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick. This special 15th Anniversary Edition USB stick should be available for pre-ordering on January 25, 2021. The 14th Edition sold out quickly, so place a reminder in your calendar, if you want the latest one.

Ingredients
  • 1 very small bunch fresh mint leaves
  • 1 cup cooked peas
  • 2 cups cooked cubed carrots
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Butter or butter substitute
  • Sugar
Directions

Boil together carrots, peas and mint leaves for five minutes. Drain, add salt and pepper (to taste), a generous amount of butter or butter substitute, and sprinkle with sugar. Set in the oven until the sugar melts. Serve with a garnish of fresh mint leaves.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven and slow cooker recipes, and any that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at some more indicators of mass inflation ahead. (See the  section.)

Precious Metals:

First up, from Jim Curry: Gold Update – U.S. Stocks Bracing for Correction.

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Gold and silver prices react to this week’s events in some unexpected ways

Economy & Finance:

A bond market alert: For The First Time Ever, Real US Investment Grade Yields Turn Negative. JWR Adds: For those who aren’t familiar with the bond market, read this primer: Why Bond Prices and Yields Move in Opposite Directions

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At Seeking Alpha: BlackRock sees ‘new nominal’ accelerating as inflation expectations hit 26-month highs

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“A Huge Reversal” – Louis Gave Warns “Inflation Will Come Back With A Vengeance”. Here is a snippet from the interview:

“When I look at markets, there are three key prices in the world economy: Ten year Treasury yields, oil, and the Dollar. One year ago, yields were going down, oil was going down, and the Dollar was going up. Today, Treasury yields are going up, oil is going up, and the Dollar is going down. This is a huge reversal. When I see a market where interest rates are rising and the currency is falling, alarm bells go off.“

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And at Wolf Street: Stunning Brick & Mortar Meltdown, Manhattan Style: The Collapse of Retail Rents Before & Now During the Pandemic

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Another from Wolf: Massive Inflation in Shipping Costs. And the Reasons

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Five Reasons Why Runaway Inflation Is Imminent According To Morgan Stanley

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And one more word of warning: Fed-Driven Bubble Destined To End Badly. JWR’s Comment:  So, with some major inflation approaching, what changes to your portfolio should you be considering? See the Economy & Finance section.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”