Rock Island Armory GI Standard 1911, by Pat Cascio

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Most folks don’t realize that more 1911 style of handguns are manufactured in the Philippines than are now being made in the USA. There are actually three main companies making most of the 1911s that come out of the Philippines, but there are a few other smaller manufacturers. Owning 1911s made in Philippines isn’t new to me. I’ve owned more than a dozen, and they came marked with various names on them. Today, we are looking at the Rock Island Armory 1911 GI standard model 1911. It is imported by Armscorp in Nevada.

For many years, I carried stock (full-size, 5-inch-barreled) Model 1911s, in various forms, and never gave it a second thought. My biggest complaint then, as now, is the tiny sights – front and rear. Now that I’m getting much older, my aged eyes have a difficult time focusing on the small sights, especially the front sight. The sights on the Rock Island Armory GI Standard 1911 are larger than the original Colt M1911 pattern. These are called the M1911A1 pattern. To be sure, these sights are rugged, and meant for war – the same sights have been on M1911A1s for many decades because they would stand-up against any kind of abuse.

This Rock Island Armory, GI standard 1911 isn’t quite all “GI”. Of course, we are looking at the full-sized Government Model, as it is called. We have a 5-inch barrel and full-sized steel frame. This is a big gun and it weighs in at 40-ounces unloaded. The finish is good ol’ Parkerizing – not the most durable, but it is functional. The slide has fine serrations on the rear of it (only). We have a standard GI hammer as well. Moving down to the frame, we have a serrated, not checkered, mainspring housing. The grip safety is also GI – no memory bumps or anything like that. This gun came with a nice stainless steel USA-made 8-round magazine – a nice touch. The magazine well is not GI. Rather, it is slightly beveled for faster reloads. The magazine release is all GI. I didn’t care for the plain wooden grips that came on the gun – they were smooth – not checkered. The slide release/stop is standard GI – not extended. The trigger is the short, GI style, but it broke at 5-lbs 2-ounces. This is a great trigger for street carry if you ask me. We also have the GI recoil spring set-up, nothing more, nothing less, and it works for me.

Here’s where we have some changes from the GI model, and the first thing I noticed was that the ejection port is flared and lowered, this is a good thing – makes ejecting empty brass or even loaded rounds more positive. Then, we move on to the barrel itself. The barrel is not GI – it has been very nicely throated and polished, as is the feed ramp on the frame as well. So I was sure this 1911 would feed anything I fed it. In the past, I throated a lot of 1911s barrels – opened them up – and polished the feed ramps. I found that it was time-consuming, and meticulous work, to say the least.

Nice Hand-Fitting

The frame/barrel/slide are expertly fitted, you have to really feel how tightly those three parts are fitted together, and this contributes to better accuracy. There is just a hit of “play” between the slide and frame, and no “play” between the barrel fit at all. Look, I’ve owned several high-end 1911s over the years, that were not this well fitted.Continue reading“Rock Island Armory GI Standard 1911, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Spanish Eggs

The following recipe for Spanish Eggs 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 sale in the third week of January, 2021. The 14th Edition sold out quickly, so place a reminder in your calendar, if you want one.

Ingredients
  • 1 slice of onion
  • 1 tomato
  • 1 tablespoon butter or butter substitute
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Directions

Rub the onion over the inside of a frying-pan. Pare the tomato and cut it into small pieces. Melt the butter or butter substitute in the frying-pan, add the tomato and cook for five minutes, stirring it now and then. Beat the eggs well and add to the tomato, then add salt and pepper and cook slowly, stirring constantly, until the eggs thicken like scrambled eggs.

SERVING

Pour into a hot dish and serve at once.

—

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 the fate of the U.S. Dollar. (See the Commodities section and the Forex & Cryptos section.)

Precious Metals:

US Mint Warns It Can’t Meet “Surging Demand” For Silver & Gold

o  o  o

Investor Gold Demand Running At Red Hot Levels

Economy & Finance:

Despite Terrible US Economy in 2020, Workers of Mexican Descent Sent Most Dollars Ever Back to Mexico

o  o  o

At Zero Hedge: What’s fueling debt mania? Americans are Struggling to Manage Personal Finances

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Government’s Money Monopoly and the “Great Reset”

o  o  o

Behind the Scenes: Personnel as Policy in the Biden Administration.  JWR’s Comment:  By surrounding himself with Bolsheviks, it is clear that Joe Biden intends to wreck the economy.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — February 7, 2021

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February 7th, 1867, is also the birthday of Laura Ingalls Wilder (died February 10, 1957). We highly recommend the Laura Ingalls Wilder books as well as her biography.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 93 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 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.

Starting Seeds Indoors: Tips and Trials, by CAL

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Last year I began to get much more serious about starting my plants from seed. As my garden has grown in size each year, I saw the wisdom in starting my own seeds. Never mind the increased pressure to make sure we have a sustainable food source during these turbulent times. I reasoned that starting my own seeds would give me a jump on the growing season. I could control for erratic early season weather and I would save a great deal of money as the price of seedlings as the nursery has been doubling in price. I have been expanding my growing space in order to increase the amount that we eat from the garden versus need to buy from stores.

With the shutdowns and food scarcity issues, the popularity of growing your own garden has increased greatly. So just finding the seedlings you want to grow is more than a little difficult. I cannot find many heirloom seedlings grown in organic soils at our local nurseries. In fact, one of the more popular organic nurseries locally was shut down for much of the spring this last year. And lastly, starting your seeds indoors when possible may address some of the changes in our weather we are seeing as the Grand Solar Minimum continues to impact our growing season.

My hope is that if I can have healthy, strong seedlings that have begun in a controlled environment, they will have a better chance of dealing with weather variations that might occur in May and June in our local area. For instance, too much or too little rain, late frost dates, and colder than normal temperatures all may occur. Stronger plants may tolerate these variations better when it comes to planting time. Only time till prove me right or prove me wrong. Nevertheless, these are my excuses for investing in seed growing equipment and so far, my spouse is in agreement with my plan.

I have an abundance of windows in my home which face both east and west. So last year I purchased sterile potting mix and filled 72 cell seed containers. I then proceeded to move these containers from my east windows for early morning light to my west windows for late afternoon sun. I did so on a daily basis to maximize the light. I did not add any amendments to the soil or extra light. My plants got lots of daily care and nurturing but nothing else. Well, I did end up with lots of seedlings, but they were leggy, started too soon to plant into my garden and I lost many of the seedlings. In the end, I did not achieve any jump on the growing season. In fact, I delayed it as many of my plants experienced transplant shock and it took even longer before they began producing, if they did at all.Continue reading“Starting Seeds Indoors: Tips and Trials, by CAL”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” – 2 Peter 3 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — February 6, 2021

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Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6th, 1911.

—

I’m announcing a big sale at Elk Creek Company: The Tiebreaker Time of Trouble Sale. This sale is designed to draw attention to the fact that the Senate Democrats have now demonstrated that with the help of Vice President Kamala Harris, they now effectively control the Senate. Along with Democrat rule in the House of Representatives, they are now in a position to push forward most of their dastardly “gun control” agenda. Chances are, this will include “Universal Background Checks” for post-1898 guns. I have put more than half of the Elk Creek Company pre-1899 guns on sale, for just 10 days.  This sale will end at 9 PM PST, on Monday, February 15th, 2020.  Please contact your Senators and congressmen, and insist that they oppose all “gun control” legislation.  And in case this legislative effort fails: Stock up! Pre-1899 guns will become the last bastion of firearms transaction privacy.

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 93 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 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.

A SSB CB Thrift Store Score!, by Tunnel Rabbit

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My advice is to keep checking the thrift stores. I went to town to sell eggs, and turned some of the egg money into a single-sideband (SSB) Citizen’s Band (CB) radio ($5), and 100 feet of new 75-ohm coaxial cable ($2.50). I can now get on the air for only for only $8.50! If I land one more of these, then I will consider modifying my Kenwood 830S 10-meter rig to 11 meter. I would then have a 100-watt rig with SSB capability to talk to my mobile SSB CBs. Having SSB mode CB would give me yet another redundant communications system. I want a pile of at least three of these before I do the ‘mod’, as “3 is 2, 2 is 1, and 1 is none.” These old sets may not last in the field, but they are not my ‘primary’. But they could become an ‘alternate’, and  are already a ‘contingency’. Some of my friends also have SSB-capable CB radios.

For almost a decade, I’ve been collecting old CBs to hand out to select neighbors to provide for a low power net. Because this a rare find, a CB with SSB is a keeper. This one was produced for Sears by Toshiba, or Sharp around 1972. It is a 23-channel crystal set. It is a high-quality build. It’s exterior appearance is very good. It was stored in conditions, likely a cool, dry, and clean place that is conducive for good operation, later. Perhaps decades later. However, in my experience, only about half the old dusty CBs that I run into actually work. This one had no dust on it.

CBs are usually stored poorly. The ‘dust of ages’ can sometimes be blown out, and corrosion from oxidation removed with a spray. This one would be worth that kind of attention, and work. Fortunately, initial bench testing indicates that it turns on, receives, and transmits. That is a good start. Regardless of how it performs on the air, or doesn’t, as it might prove to be ‘off frequency’ on some or all channels. The price was right ($5). And the P.A. (Public Address) part of the CB may still work. Use one, or two CBs with P.A.s, and you’ve got a one-way, or two-way intercom-telephone system. Crude, but effective for shorter distances. The audio can be amplified with a 12 vdc computer speaker amplifier if need be. We need the audio to be intelligible at the other end. Some CB P.A.s are not as powerful as others, and an amplifier would be necessary. Or, if you happen to have a box of these, then grab another one out of the box.

Even if only the P.A. works, if someone shows up at the front gate and their intent is unclear, we can now ask them to leave, politely, without revealing the location of the Observation Post (OP). If all we had was a hammer, then everything would look like a nail. It would be good to have the means to be able to deescalate the force needed to deter an enemy threat, and avoid the use of a hammer. A bull horn would giveaway your location. There is more than one way communicate, or to skin a rabbit.  Sometimes it is better to speak softly before using the big stick.Continue reading“A SSB CB Thrift Store Score!, by Tunnel Rabbit”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

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To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

This past week I packed a few Elk Creek Company orders, did a lot of blog writing, did some organizing, and bid on a few gun auctions. (The latter is usually a fruitless exercise, since prices are now galloping.)

I really relish this sedate time of year. It is only we are at home in the quiet winter months that I can have the opportunity to organize and label supplies.

There hasn’t been much recent excitement with my mailorder biz. I did decide to branch out into modern percussion blackpowder revolvers. (These are sometimes called “shootable replicas”.) I’m concentrating on buying stainless steel ones that are .44 caliber that can be fitted with cartridge conversion cylinders. That way I can help fill the hands of people who are trapped in the coastal left Nanny states. If any of you readers have a stainless steel Ruger Old Army or a stainless steel Uberti 1858 that you don’t shoot very often (or have never shot), then I’d love to take it in trade. I can make you a solid offer if you have one in minty condition. Bonus point if you still have the factory box.

I’ve also been catching up on cataloging the guns that I acquired, for inventory.  Since my inventory has been turning over so rapidly since the election, this has kept me very busy.  Our #2 Daughter (Miss Violet) does the photography. She hands those photos to me on a SD memory card, and then I do the cropping and the brightness/saturation/color corrections.

I do have one gun show buying trip planned for next weekend. Getting ready for that means doing some extra writing each day — so that I’ll have four days’ worth of posts “in the can” before I depart on that road trip.

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

1

“And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,

And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.

Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:

That all flesh may know that I the Lord have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more.

Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.

And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord God.

Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:

It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree.

And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.

Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord God.

Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together. and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.

I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.

Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.

I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the Lord have said it.” – Ezekiel 21: 1-17 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday — February 5, 2021

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On February 5th, 1869, the largest alluvial gold nugget in history, called the “Welcome Stranger“, is found in Moliagul, Victoria, Australia.

—

Two variants of the 15th Anniversary edition of the waterproof 2005-2020 SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick are now available for pre-ordering.  (One of them is a limited edition in a keepsake tin box, with a keychain.) Thanks for your patience, folks!

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 93 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 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.

Incredulity: “The Reports of My Death…”

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Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) once famously wrote:  “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” Pondering that, I’m posting this brief piece as a notice to my readers. Please take the following to heart:

If you ever hear that I stopped posting because I lost interest in blogging…

Then don’t believe it! I intend to blog for many years, and then pass on SurvivalBlog to some fellow freedom-loving Christian that I genuinely trust who will keep up its standards.

 

If you ever hear that I stopped posting because I was demonetized or otherwise couldn’t make a living at it…

Then don’t believe it! I’ll keep blogging even if means doing so at great personal expense.

 

If you ever see SurvivalBlog change in a distinct way, indicating that I’ve had some change of political affiliations and want to make nice with the socialists, statists, and collectivists…

Then don’t believe it! My blog site would then have been co-opted.

 

If you ever hear that I’ve “gone into hiding” or “fled the country” but then you don’t hear anything from me (directly or indirectly) within three weeks…

Then don’t believe it! At that point, I’m probably being held against my will, or have been killed. Please note my intention: I will do my best to continue blogging on a fairly regular basis, even if I’m forced into exile.

If you ever hear that I committed suicide…

Then don’t believe it! I would never do that.Continue reading“Incredulity: “The Reports of My Death…””

Economics & Investing For Preppers

33

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 high lumber prices. (See the Commodities section.)

Precious Metals:

Brett Owens, at Forbes: Inflation Is Coming. Here’s How I’m Getting Ready

o  o  o

The Reddit Revolution” – Key Battle Tactics

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Goldman Sachs sees silver price rising to $33 an ounce, Reddit squeeze was doomed to fail

Economy & Finance:

Bloomberg: Ultra-Low Interest Rates Are Here to Stay: 2021 Central Bank Guide

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The US Federal Reserve is caught in a trap of its own making

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At Zero Hedge: U.S. Billionaire Wealth Rises 40%, Up $1.1 Trillion, Since March 2020

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CBO projects U.S. economy will return to pre-COVID-19 level this year

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At Wolf Street: The Year of the Plague in Charts: Weirdest Economy Ever

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”