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. This week the focus is a how-to video on how to make hatchet sheaths.

Books:

I’ve noticed this book on the bookshelves when visiting several friends and relatives, so it is probably not a coincidence: 100 Deadly Skills: The SEAL Operative’s Guide to Eluding Pursuers, Evading Capture, and Surviving Any Dangerous Situation

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Winter in the Wilderness: A Field Guide to Primitive Survival Skills

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Primitive Bread: Remembering the Old Ways

 

Movies:

Dunkirk. Speaking of which, this little segment was fascinating: The sound illusion that makes Dunkirk so intense

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Man, Myth,Legend: Milius.  A fine documentary on one of America’s greatest screenwriters. I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Milius a few years ago, at the Safari Club International (SCI) convention in Las Vegas. This was just a few years after his stroke, so his speech was halting. Available for free streaming to those with Amazon Prime.

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Preparedness Notes for Tuesday – January 09, 2018

On this day in 1776, writer Thomas Paine published his pamphlet “Common Sense,” setting forth his arguments in favor of American independence. Although little used today, pamphlets were an important medium for the spread of ideas in the 16th through 19th centuries.

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We are coming up on the end of Round 74 of the SurvivalBlog writing contest and we still have quite a few openings for submissions. If you have ever looked at the prize list and thought “I sure would like that!” now is is your opportunity. Send it in to us via email .

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A Realistic Assessment of Epidemic Disease After TEOTWAWKI- Part 1, by Dr. DMC

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Malaria

In 1850, malaria occurred throughout the entire region of what is now the lower 48 states, with the exception of some of the higher altitudes of the Rocky and Appalachian mountains. It sickened and killed thousands of the pioneers moving westward, even though the type of malaria most common in the country tended not to be the most fatal form of the disease. Today, malaria is so uncommon that American physicians often fail to recognize the rare cases seen in travelers or immigrants.

Cases are rare, and deaths are even rarer. Perhaps surprisingly, the mosquitoes that can spread the disease are still here in very large numbers. So, why did this disease disappear from the U.S.? The answer to this question is very important to anyone interested in preparing for a time when modern medicine and public health would not be available. It demonstrates that unexpected diseases will provide more danger to survivors than will all the roving gangs and escaped prisoners combined.

Why Malaria Not in U.S. Anymore

One might guess that the reason malaria is not here anymore is because we cured all of the cases with drugs and killed a whole lot of mosquitoes with insecticides, eventually eliminating the parasite that causes the disease. These actions obviously played some role in the elimination of the disease, but they really were relatively minor factors. After WWII, two very powerful tools for fighting malaria became available to fight malaria: DDT and the anti-malaria drug chloroquine. They were both inexpensive and very effective, so health workers throughout the country started using them extensively to fight the disease.

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SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

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Here is SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt. This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. We also mention companies of interest to preppers that are located in the region. The emphasis this week is on Montana Tactical.

Region-Wide

The Redoubt series at The Sandpoint Reader tabloid newspaper concluded on this upbeat note: The American Redoubt Series: Why the Redoubt? Some insights into the motivation for strategic relocation. This was a “reader written” piece that is quite pro-American Redoubt movement.

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Fractured West: In Oregon and elsewhere, rural residents increasingly balk at Democrats’ progressive governance.

Idaho

Anyone who has not yet visited north Idaho may wonder why it is considered so appealing.  This video will show you why: North Idaho Wilderness Beauty

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Here is a Vice News video segment about Central Idaho’s new Dark Sky Reserve: The Darkest Place In America. (Scroll forward to 18:15, for that report.)

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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 “HJL”. Big new this week on the Bundy trial and an example of the stupidity of homeowners associations.

Bundy Trial

Judge Navarro, in a fit of sanity (or is that concern over her position due to her past actions) declared the the case dismissed with prejudice. For those who haven’t had dealings with the courts before, that basically means that the case is dismissed and can’t be brought up again on those specific charges. The Bundy’s now get to go home and pretend that it never happened despite the two years they spent locked up in jail.

I’m not suggesting that the Bundy’s are innocent of all charges, but the feds (law enforcement, prosecution and judge) stepped so far out of bounds, this case needed to be dismissed in this manner. What is missing is the declaration of prosecution against all those who propagated this evil, abortive mess. I’m still wondering how LaVoy Finicum (or at least his family) gets justice out of this too. Thanks to D.S. for the link.

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Remington TAC-14 Shotgun, by Pat Cascio

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By request, from our own Jim Rawles, we are taking a close look at the Remington TAC-14 shotgun.

Unique in Barrel Length

Something a little unique about the Remington TAC-14 shotgun is the barrel length of only 14 inches. Normally, this would be considered an NFA firearm and you’d have to jump through all the red tape and hoops in order to own one. However, Remington cleverly got around this in a number of ways. First of all, there is the overall length of 26.3-inches. Secondly, the very unique Raptor Pistol Grip gives the TAC-14 the much needed few more inches so this isn’t considered a “sawed-off shotgun” that we’ve all heard about.

Shotgun For Home Defense

I used to advocate a short barrel (18 inch) shotgun as the ultimate in home defense, and that is still true, in a few cases, but it’s not the best choice. When I was teaching SWAT techniques to small police departments, they all had “riot shotguns”. And when trying to maneuver through narrow hallways in a house or a business, the shotgun proved cumbersome and hard to work with. It was not quite what you want when a threat is around every corner or in every room. Next time, try taking your home-defense shotgun through your house and walking through narrow hallways or small rooms. See just how fast you can bring the shotgun up and ready to fire, and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

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Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on investing in silver half dollars.

Precious Metals:

Gold & Silver Are More Relevant Than Bitcoin – DeCarley Trading

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Precious Metals Price Predictions for 2018

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And here is a contrarian prediction, from the UK: Commodities Outlook: Gold Price to Fall in 2018. “A maturing Chinese economy will hurt demand for commodities such as aluminum and iron ore. Gold’s prospects are mixed.”

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The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“In the second article, it is declared, that a well regulated militia is necessary to a free state; a proposition from which few will dissent. Although in actual war, in the services of regular troops are confessedly more valuable; yet while peace prevails, and in the commencement of a war before a regular force can be raised, the militia form the palladium of the country. They are ready to repel invasion, to suppress insurrection, and preserve the good order and peace of government. That they should be well regulated, is judiciously added. A disorderly militia is disgraceful to itself, and dangerous not to the enemy, but to its own country. The duty of the state government is, to adopt such regulation as will tend to make good soldiers with the least interruptions of the ordinary and useful occupations of civil life. In this all the Union has a strong and visible interest.” – William Rawle, “A View of the Constitution of the United States of America”  (1829)

Preparedness Notes for Sunday – January 07, 2018

This is the birthday of several notables: Senator Rand Paul (born 1963); Cresson Kearny (born 1914, died December 18, 2003); and Bent Faurschou-Hviid, known as The Flame (born 1921, died October 18, 1944). The Flame was a red-haired Danish resistance fighter in the Holger Danske Group during World War II. His exploits were dramatized in the movie Flame and Citron.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today features another entry for Round 74 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any 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 (an $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. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value), and
  8. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Second Prize:

  1. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. A gift certificate for any two or three-day class from Max Velocity Tactical (a $600 value),
  4. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances, and
  6. 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).

Round 74 ends on January 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.

2018– The Decisive Year, by R.M.

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It is my wholehearted opinion that the year 2018 will become the decisive year for the future of life on this planet. Culminating in an all-out nuclear war at worst, or ground war at best. Things as they stand are untenable for much longer. I am not advocating one position or plan over the other with this brief writing and I am not stating that violence or harming others should be considered. I am merely offering a wide variety of situations and possibilities to bring about different thoughts and ideas.

Long Gone is Political Leaders’ Desire to Promote Public Good

Long gone is integrity, honor, and a desire to promote the public good from political leadership, only to be replaced by self-serving hucksters hell bent on regime change, wars, and U.S. hegemony over the entire world. In most cases, the whole purpose of our “prepping” is in anticipation of events caused by this mindless leadership that will ultimately lead to societal breakdown and an “every man for himself” attitude. Unfortunately, while we prepare, others do not. The question for preppers becomes, can we realistically hold down the fort and protect what is ours in an onslaught of humanity bent on taking what we have at all costs?

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Letter: Stocking Up on Toiletries

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Hugh,

Just an FYI for those who like to stockpile toiletries: My husband is a big fan of the Old Spice Swagger products, and this time of year I go buy the “gift packs” for 50% off. That is a large body wash, body spray (that hubby uses for deo), and a deo stick. I drop about $50 and get enough body wash, shampoo, and spray for a year for him. Then this is the kicker, he doesn’t like the deo sticks, so come garage sale season, I sell those off at $2 a pop to thrilled folks. That makes my investment $3 per box, or $3 for a body spray and body wash. Those retail everyday for about $3-4 each. – K.A.