March 2nd, 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico. Today is coincidentally also the birthday of Sam Houston.
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Today we present a review written by our Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio.
March 2nd, 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico. Today is coincidentally also the birthday of Sam Houston.
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Today we present a review written by our Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio.
Long-time SurvivalBlog readers will know that I’m a sucker for a well-made 1911 – in any configuration. However, my thinking has changed over the years. And, with the current climate all around the world, meaning political, and of course, the many wars taking place. I wouldn’t pick any 1911 as my one and only handgun for an End Of The World situation. As I’ve mentioned before, I’d go with a handgun with a larger magazine. Still, I love the 1911, and have carried one on and off duty in law enforcement, and as a civilian. Even to this day, I’ll strap on some kind of 1911 for a day or two – just because!
I remember when the first Kimber guns came on the scene, and they had everything most savvy 1911 owners wanted, and at a price point, that was only slightly more than a bone stock basic entry-level 1911 was selling for. So they were an instant success! I had one minor complaint at that time, and it was the cheap black rubber grips that came on a factory “custom” 1911 – and most owners immediately swapped out those cheap rubber grips, for some nice wooden grips.
The only complaint I still have with a Kimber is about one of the Metal Injection Molded (MIM )parts: the thumb safety! I had more than a few of these safeties snap off when taking it off “safe” to fire the gun – and you could see the “defect” in the safety – some small voids left behind in the molding process. I believe Kimber would do better, to make the extended combat safety lever, be molded a little farther back on the part – relieving the stress level on the thumb safety – just my take on it. I used to swap out the slide stop lever on most 1911s, with a forged one – just to be sure, it wouldn’t snap-off – I don’t do that any longer because I haven’t had a MIM or cast slide stop lever fail me.
MIM affords some great small parts at a big savings to the consumer, and they are often ready to install on a 1911 without much, if any fitting. If you know anything about firearms, you know that, when it comes to a 1911, many parts can’t just be dropped-in – they have to be hand-fitted. Over the years, when I was doing gunsmithing, I had more than a few customers bring me a 1911, that they had installed a part into it – and it wouldn’t function – they had no idea how to fit a part – they just assumed that all parts dropped in.
These days, I can usually be caught carrying some sort of compart 9mm handgun for my daily carry needs. I don’t feel the need for anything more, now that I’m just another private citizen, semi-retired, and live in the boonies. So my threat level isn’t what it used to be. Still, I usually have a compact or sub-compact 9mm that holds a lot of rounds. I have all the faith in the world with a .45 ACP round when it comes to stopping a threat. However, you are limited on the number of rounds in the single-column magazine of a 1911. The 9mm with good JHP or specialty rounds, will get the job done, in my humble opinion. Still, if I were going into a hostage rescue situation or similar high-threat event, I’d grab a 1911 – I have all the faith in the world in a 1911 and the .45 ACP round.
One of the newest 1911s from Kimber is their Stainless LW – the pistol under review in this article. The title is a little misleading, because the frame is manufactured out of lightweight aluminum, but the slide is made out of stainless steel. And, this gun is available in 9mm or .45 ACP – that is, if you can find one – they are made in limited production runs and they won’t be available for sale all the time.Continue reading“Kimber America Stainless LW 1911, by Pat Cascio”
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, some wind turbine news. (See the Idaho and Wyoming sections.)
Lincoln County commissioners receive update on massive wind farm project. The article begins:
“The Lincoln County commissioners received an update on the massive wind farm project that could possibly break ground in the summer of 2022 if everything goes right.
On Monday, the Bureau of Land Management updated the commissioners on Magic Valley Energy, LLC’s Lava Ridge Wind project.
The proposed project has been projected around $1 billion dollars, and it will be located primarily on public land administered by BLM, located 25 miles northeast of Twin Falls within the counties of Lincoln, Jerome and Minidoka.
The proposed project includes an estimated 400 wind energy generating turbines up 740 feet tall, six substations, and the project would encompass somewhere between 1,300 to 1,700 acres.”
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Here’s a new parcel that I saw listed with Survival Realty Brokerage Services: 10 Acres with National Forest Boundary, near Sandpoint, Idaho.
Nampa man pleads guilty to killing ex-wife, fatal Oregon crash
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Court document shows what led up to Capitol riot arrests of Sandpoint man, brother
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The Coolest Place in the US You’ve Never Heard of… Three Days in Stanley, Idaho
And from the same travel bloggers:
Pettit and Toxaway Lakes Loop: Two Nights Backcountry Camping in the Sawtooth Mountains
Continue reading“SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt”
“Urban friends ask me how I can stand living here, ‘so far from everything?’ When I hear this question over the phone, I’m usually looking out the window at a forest, a running creek, and a vegetable garden, thinking: Define ‘everything’.” – Barbara Kingsolver
Today is the birthday of the late singer, songwriter, and cowboy poet Allen Wayne Damron. Damron was quite the Texan, through and through. (Born 1939, died August 13, 2005, in Terlingua, Texas.)
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Today we present the monthly column that is kindly written by Steven Cochran of Gainesville Coins
Pat Cascio’s weekly product review article will appear tomorrow. (Tuesday, March 2, 2021.)
Welcome to SurvivalBlog’s Precious Metals Month in Review, where we take a look at “the month that was” in precious metals. Each month, we cover gold’s performance, and the factors that affected gold prices.
Gold didn’t have a very good month in February, closing at a second monthly loss in a row. This culminated in a $53 drop in spot gold on the last trading session of the month, hitting $1,716 an ounce before recovering back to $1,730. This puts gold on track for the worst month in four years.
The pain this month wasn’t limited to gold. Treasuries had a major sell-off, and high-flying tech stocks took a beating. This was caused by several things, but it can all be traced back to bets that the economy will recover faster than the Fed thinks it will.
SIGNS OF IMPROVING ECONOMY
Most of the economic news from the government this month came in above expectations. This buoyed market sentiment, and pressured gold. For example, retail sales increased by 5.3% in January, helped by the $600 stimulus checks sent out by President Trump. Wholesale prices rose 1.3% in January, the largest monthly jump since 2009.
On February 17th, gold formed a death cross, after losing $70 an ounce over four sessions.
It wasn’t just economic news boosting investor sentiment. The COVID vaccination program finally started getting into gear.
COVID
The US started the month with more people who have had at least one shot of the coronavirus vaccine than there were active cases. COVID infection rates are slowing as more people are vaccinated. Faster rates of vaccinations have people hoping that things will get back to normal by Christmas. Investors are changing their portfolios now to take advantage of it.
However, new more contagious strains of the coronavirus from Britain and South Africa are causing faster infections this month. Health officials are accelerating vaccinations while pharmaceutical companies test new versions aimed at stopping these strains.
BONDS
Higher bond yields were the major direct driver of gold prices in February. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note broke above 1.3% on the 17th, and was partly responsible for gold prices entering a death cross the same day.
These rocketing bond yields are a direct result of the market thinking inflation is just around the corner. 10-year yields started February at 1.117%. It hit 1.2% on the 7th, 1.3% on the 16th, and 1.4% on the 24th.
More than $50 billion worth of bonds were sold in one session on the 25th, pushing yields over 1.6%. The yield on the 10-year Treasury eased back to 1.5% on the 26th, but analysts warn that there is more to come.
STOCKS
Higher Treasuries yields have sparked a “reflation trade” in the stock market. Investors are selling tech stocks and “stay at home” stocks, in favor of companies that will benefit the most from an end to the COVID epidemic. This rotation has been painful for the market as a whole, as stocks alternate between touching new highs, and getting battered down.
Growing worries of inflation suddenly rising are hitting stocks that will be adversely affected, and boosting bank stocks, which do better during inflationary times.Continue reading“February 2021 in Precious Metals, by Steven Cochran”
The following recipe for Snow Ice Cream comes to us from SurvivalBlog reader Laura E.:
During or after every fresh snowfall, I mix up a batch of snow ice cream for my husband’s sweet tooth. Kids would love to make this fast and simple seasonal treat, too.
Eat right away or store outside or in the freezer.
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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!
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 further examine the ammunition shortage. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)
See Steven Cochran’s monthly precious metals recap report, also posted today.
Personal income leaps 10% in January thanks to stimulus, but inflation still in check
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At Zero Hedge: Rabo: We Are About To Lose All Price Discovery – And Never Go Back Again Without A Systemic Crash
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Over at Alt-Market: Online Furniture, Grocery, Clothing Sales Explode as Brick & Mortar Melts Down
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At Wolf Street: Just Don’t Expect “Pent-up Demand” from Consumers. Here’s Why
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Security flaw detected for the second time in credit cards
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Reader H.L. suggested this: Blowing Up The “Everything” Bubble
“Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?” – Patrick Henry, from: Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution
February 28th is the birthday of famed Swiss investor and economic pundit Marc Faber (born 1946).
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Today we present another entry for Round 93 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:
Round 93 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.
(Continued from Part 4. This concludes the article.)
Continue reading“The K.I.S.S. Principle and Transceivers – Part 5, by Tunnel Rabbit”
The latest meme created by JWR:
To share this, you can find it here: https://kapwi.ng/c/ZW18AUNF
Meme Text:
“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17 (KJV)
On February 27, 1902 Harry “Breaker” Harbord Morant was executed in Pretoria.
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Today we present another entry for Round 93 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:
Round 93 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.
(Continued from Part 3.)
Continue reading“The K.I.S.S. Principle and Transceivers – Part 4, by Tunnel Rabbit”