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tend to have the impression What I found especially interesting NORTHEAST REGION Scott Buchmayr
978-462-6335
those outside the Northwest do was the statement from their office that
SOUTHEAST & UPPER MIDWEST Amos Crowley
not pay as much attention to earth- everyone should have at least a 30-day 216-378-9811
quakes in faraway places as we supply of food and water ready. Most WESTERN REGION Scott J. Cherek
do here in Washington State. You can readers of Survivor’s Edge magazine 307-635-8899
count on earthquakes in New Zealand, are probably familiar with the 72-hour MIDWEST/CENTRAL SOUTH Dan Flavin
Indonesia, Pakistan or Japan being front “bug-out-bag” plan many agencies like 248-515-8654
page news around here, and for very the American Red Cross recommend, DIRECT RESPONSE SALES Jim Coen
212-478-1949
good reason. We know our turn is com- but how much of the general public
ing, and when it does we are going to be has actually even made that level of ATHLON MEDIA GROUP
in for a world of hurt. preparation? Thirty days would require Corporate Officers
The phrase “the big one” refers to the vastly more expense and commitment PRESIDENT, CEO Chuck Allen
9+ quake the Northwest suffers on an than a simple 72-hour setup. I’m sure CFO/TREASURER Mary Lee Vanderkooi
average cycle of 243 years apart. The many will simply feel they can’t afford it, CORPORATE ADDRESSES New York:
last one was on Jan 26, 1700, before and practically everyone is going to find 60 E. 42nd St., NY, NY
10165; 212-478-1910
much in European settlement here. Not committing that much of their homes to Nashville:
only did it wipe out many coastal Native survival supplies difficult. Consider how 2451 Atrium Way, Suite 320
many water containers would be needed Nashville, TN 37214
American villages, the tsunami it created 800-284-5668
killed thousands of Japanese on the to meet your family’s basic requirements
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Washington Department of Emergency emergency of this magnitude.
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TO THE READERS: Be advised that there may be products repre-
of the potential damage a 9+ quake preparing? If the big one hit a minute sented in this magazine as to which the sale, possession or interstate
would create. As you would expect, from now (no reason it can’t) and transportation thereof may be restricted, prohibited or subject to special
licensing requirements. Prospective purchasers should consult the local
they predict anyone living along the everything we own isn’t buried under a law enforcement authorities in their area. All of the information in this
coastal beaches will have little chance pile of rubble, we probably have at least magazine is based upon the personal experience of individuals who may
be using specific tools, products, equipment and components under
of survival. They also suggested most two weeks’ worth of food and water. particular conditions and circumstances, some or all of which may not
bridges will fail. With that much dam- We also have made provisions for be reported in the particular article and which this magazine has not
otherwise verified. Nothing herein is intended to constitute a manual for
age to our highway system, it is going shelter, wood gathering, and cooking the use of any product or the carrying out of any procedure or process.
to be pretty hard to transport food and outdoors. After that, we will just take This magazine and its officers and employees accept no responsibility
for any liability, injuries or damages arising out of any person’s attempt
medical supplies to any part of the life one day at a time, but it is a sure to rely upon any information contained herein.
state. It probably goes without saying bet if you don’t survive the first week
that both the power grid and most city or so, there will be no need of worrying MODERN FIREARMS™ PRESENTS SURVIVOR’S EDGE®
(ISSN 2375-3617) is published quarterly by Athlon Sports
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RUGER 10/22
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TAKEDOWN
®
Patented,
Detachable
10-Round
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Magazine
Features
SUMMER
14 WHAT TO HOARD
36
& HOW TO BARTER
Prepper’s guide to thriving long
after all hell breaks loose
By Frank Warren
36 PORTABLE PURIFIERS
Five next-generation devices for
drinking clean on the go—
26
because you never know where
that water has been!
By Laura Lancaster 98
44 AIRBOW SUPREMACY
Review of the fast and big-game
deadly Benjamin Pioneer Airbow
By Gordon D. Smith
50 BACKWOODS RIMFIRE
Hit the trail with Ruger’s ready-
to-roll takedown .22
By Steven Dick
56 ROCKIN’ REFLEXES
New holster options for red-dot-
topped field and defense pistols
92
By John M. Buol Jr.
72 HOT RODS 98 HAZARDS OF SUMMER
62 SECURITY SAINT Ancient piston-driven igniters Let our resident urgent-care
Defend your legacy with guaranteed to crank up doctor give you his tips
Springfield’s new anointed one the heat in the backwoods for staying safe and cool
By Terrill Hoffman By Charley Hogwood By Will Dabbs, MD
120 ANTENNAS UP
56 Stay informed with alternative
power and hand-crank radios
BY Andre’ M. Dall’au
124 SURVIVALIST
STOCKPILE
Cutting-edge off-grid blades
44 and gear fresh from the
2017 SHOT Show
By Jerry Cannon
32
Digital Compass
WATERWORKS
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May 20, 21 2017
Guard against giardia SGK Emergency Prepper Expo
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Four great manuals to
add to your survival library 32 May 21, 2017
78 PRESERVE & PROTECT Sustainable Preparedness Expo
Guide to fermenting Josephine County Fairgrounds, 1
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OR 97527
88 ON THE EDGE
Work Sharp’s new Ken Onion June 2, 3, 4 2017
Sharpener gets put through Blade Show
the SE field test 2 Galleria Pkwy SE Cobb Galleria
104 WILD WOMAN Center, Atlanta, GA 30339
River fording safety tips June 10, 11 2017
118 BUNKER FOOD Bullseye Preparedness and
Review of Hungry Hikers’ Outdoor Expo
lightweight survival eats LeConte Center, 2986 Teaster Ln
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
June 10, 2017
Indiana Prepare to Survive Expo
215 Division Rd. Porter County Expo
88 Center, Valparaiso, IN 46383
June 24, 25, 2017
Greater Ozark Area Survival
104 Expo and Gun Show
Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, 3001 North
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July 8, 9, 2017
Greater North Carolina
Survival Expo
North Carolina State Fairgrounds,
Graham Building, 1025 Blue Ridge Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27607
July 22, 23, 2017
Greater Alabama Survival Expo
Von Braun Center South Hall 2, 700
Monroe St. SW Huntsville, AL 35801
WITH MAMA sights set on one of the large elk bulls of southwest
Montana. After an hour of hiking, they reached the top
of a hill. From there, the four friends could hear elk
Hunter saved by bugling nearby. They decided to take a chance and
split up, to increase their odds of making a kill. “In all
friends in close my years hunting as a kid,” Rico said, “I’ve never had
any kind of a threat from any kind of animal.”
grizzly encounter As Rico descended the slope toward a thick stand
of trees, the elk suddenly stopped bugling. “I was
looking up the hill for a clear path so I could get onto
those elk again,” he said. A strange sound broke
the silence. “It was kind of a huffing,” Rico said. He
turned and saw a massive grizzly sow—500 pounds
or more—charging him at full tilt. “I’ve never seen an
animal move so fast in my life,” said Rico. He started
screaming at the bear, but when she was only 20 feet
away, he saw two cubs not far from where he stood. “I
instantly knew what was going on.”
The grizzly immediately attacked and took Rico
down. “They have so much force when they bite that it
was almost like somebody was chewing on a chicken
bone,” said Rico. “As she’s doing that, I’m screaming
bloody murder.” Hearing the screams, Rico’s friends
knew that he was in serious trouble. They also knew
that if their friend stopped screaming it would mean
the worst had happened.
Dewayne, Cassie, and Jordan found Rico a mere a
100 yards from the site of the attack and immediately
assessed the damage. “At some point, he had put his
ear up against my back to make sure I didn’t have a
collapsed lung,” Rico said. With his friends help, Rico
then walked out the 1.5 miles down the mountain,
where first responders met them. “I appreciate life
now more than I ever appreciated life,” Rico said.
“Every day is a blessing.”
“…he decided to
retreat to a safer
position, but before
he could another bolt
hit the ground a mere
10 feet from him.”
Shutterstock Photo
plummeted off a 35-foot embankment. “Before I knew as she could, both to preserve her body heat and to
it, I was going over that cliff,” said Drane. “I thought I avoid moving the car out of position. She waited.
was going to die.” When first responders arrived a few hours later
When the car finally stopped, it was on its side in a Drane was near death. “She was hypothermic,
fast-moving stream, and water was quickly pouring distraught,” a rescuer recalled. “I think she knew that
inside. Drane had survived the initial crash, but was there probably wasn’t much more time left.” For Drane,
fighting through the pain of a broken nose and a her survival was nothing short of miraculous. “It was
concussion. “I was stuck in my seatbelt and the water the first bit of warmth that I felt in four hours,” she said.
was rising,” she said, “I thought about my daughter and “I was just huddled in my car trying to survive. I did my
how I didn’t want her to not have a mother.” part. I stayed alive.”
WHAT TO
HOARD &
When planning
your cache of
bartering goods,
remember to
consider the
everyday needs
of ordinary
people. Some
T imes have been tough. The old world
you knew before is long gone, replaced by
a harsh cruelty you never dreamed could
happen. People are scattered. Cities are
crumbling. Infrastructure is entirely non-existent. It
has been 18 months since the government collapsed
and several attempts to stabilize it or create a new
things you one failed, and with them went the last vestiges of an
might not think
organized economy.
are important
in your life— In the early stages of any long-term crisis, cash will
diapers, baby still play a major role in how people buy and sell things
formula, chia because people will believe that those pieces of paper
tea, Twinkies— still have value. The first to go will be credit and ATM
might just be
cards, as the lack of electricity prevents their use, and
the specialized
cravings that following any large-scale governmental collapse is pa-
will ensure your per money. But for a while, a couple of months at most,
supply earns a as long as a person has a wad of bills in his pocket, he
premium at the can still buy things from the ignorant and from those
trading block.
who don’t understand how economies work.
Now, as you stand in the crumbling ruins of a
deserted grocery store, you realize paper currency is
just a quaint relic of a bygone era. If you don’t produce
what you need yourself, you either go without it or find
someone who has it and is willing to trade for it.
What to Barter
There is a standard list of needs a person must fulfill to
survive any calamity. Food, shelter, fire, water, medi-
cine, and protection are the broad-stroke bullet points
of that list, as those categories must be satisfied and
Shutterstock Photo
stack easily on
ables you deplete yourself. a shelf. Keeping
Remember, the value of a single item relies upon the them unboxed
law of supply and demand: the scarcer an item is, and means easy
the more people want it, the more valuable it becomes. access to
fill quickly, if the
So, when knives are in short supply, knives become
need arises.
much more valuable. The trick is figuring out what
things are essential in a survival situation, and the most
obvious are the things that expire quickly like food.
But that poses a problem. Storing an extra loaf of
bread with the intention of trading it down the road
won’t help because it will last no more than a few
weeks. But bags of flour and grains will last a few years.
The longer something lasts—like sugar, honey, bouillon
cubes, and salt—the better it can serve you in the future
when you want to trade for vegetables or fresh eggs.
People have vices, needs, habits and urges. Take
advantage of that. Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol ad-
diction can be a double-edged sword, however. On the
one hand, their desperation might be great enough for
spirits, cigarettes, and coffee that they might be willing
to pay a high price for them.
On the other hand, these same addictions might be
so powerful, that they’d be willing to commit crimes to
satisfy them. Below are categories of things you should
hoard to use as bartering tools. They not only fulfill vari-
ous needs in people’s lives but can also last a long time
if stored properly.
Ammunition/Knives
Protection can be the No. 1 priority on some peo-
ple’s list, especially if society turns deadly—which
it will in the urban areas where people outnumber
supplies. Remember, stores only keep a couple
of day’s worth of anything on the shelves. Ammo
will always be of value, and it is storable for a long
time if kept in a cool place and vacuumed sealed to
avoid moisture.
The best calibers to stock are 12-gauge
shotgun shells, 9mm pistol rounds, and .22 Long
Rifle because they feed the most popular types of
firearms (as do .308 and 5.56). Keep no less than
200 rounds of each.
Knives and sharp tools such as axes and hatchets
are incredibly versatile gear that should be hoarded
and treated like gold. Everyone needs a good knife,
and if you’ve got tools to cut up firewood, carve
kindling, open boxes, packages, and even cans of
food, you’ll get a high price for them. Three or four
knives, axes, and hatchets each take up little room.
Toiletries
Striving for a sense of normalcy, people will long
for soap, shampoo and toothpaste to give their
strife a respite. Fresh breath and a clean body are
People usually
don’t think of
medication
unless they
need it.
Planning ahead
with a good
assortment of
over-the-counter
medicines—
allergy pills
and cough
medicine, for
example—will pay
big dividends,
especially during
flu and allergy
seasons.
Above medicinal necessities to enjoy a long life. Valuable anything from it. But what would a bottle of aspirin
Backyard
gardeners will
products include shampoo, toothpaste/toothbrush, be worth? Or what will be the value of a bottle of
be several steps bars of soap, razor blades, women’s sanitary needs, antibiotics, like amoxicillin or doxycycline?
ahead of the condoms, and toilet paper. Bronchitis, pink eye, ear infections, strep throat,
masses when Common, everyday items that most people take urinary tract infections and skin infections happen
food stores for granted will be the first to go. How many tubes frequently. Medicine to combat these infections
are no longer of toothpaste do you have in your house right now? will be a much-sought-after and therefore precious
in existence.
One? Two? When that runs out (as will the baking commodity, so it is best to keep a well-rounded
Seeds will be a
commodity that soda eventually), you can go without brushing your stash of it in your supplies.
will be in great teeth, but you need teeth to survive and having a Antibiotics are sensitive to heat and moisture,
demand. tooth infection isn’t the way to do it. You should and even though they will last for a few of years,
have at least 20 tubes of toothpaste, 10 bottles of store them carefully, and the best place is in the
Above, right
shampoo, a large stash of razors, etc. These items freezer. Do your research before you start to hoard
Remember to
safely store will go fast, and there will be no way of replacing medicines, as some may degrade after a short
fuel and fuel them. When’s the last time you saw someone make while, either losing their potency or becoming
canisters, a bar of soap? dangerous. Some antibiotics such as tetracycline
especially if and erythromycin, for example, can become toxic
you have a lot Medicine/First Aid after they expire.
earmarked Survival is messy. It’s dangerous, and peril is
for long-term
storage. around every corner. People will get hurt, and Fuel/Batteries
they will get sick. The smallest of cuts can lead to Your bug-out vehicle uses gas, as does your
severe, life-threatening infections if not properly generator. When the world shuts down, pushing
treated. Having a well-stocked first aid kit will everyone back 200 years, gasoline will be in a finite
be invaluable to you, and you’ll not likely trade supply, even though people will still need to drive
BARTERING LESSONS:
LEARN NOW, OR PAY LATER!
[ As a society, we have become
so dependent on others for
either know each other or are in a
similar predicament with similar
near your stockpile. If someone
sees you have 10 cases of vodka,
everyday needs that the thought of mentalities. It only becomes risky the economies of scale will work
not being able to rush out for fresh when dealing with outsiders. against you and make each bottle
fruit or new clothes is difficult to Consider the ramifications of of vodka less valuable. Now, if the
fathom. With no formal way to buy trading ammunition with a non- person you are trading with thinks
goods and services, a future without vetted outsider who may use that that there is only one bottle of
money will involve trading surplus same ammo to steal the remainder vodka in 10 square miles of him,
items for what you lack. of your supplies. it increases in value and may be
traded for more. How desperately
RISK FACTORS: HOLD BACK: you need an item—and, conversely,
Bartering is as old as humanity When arranging a deal, never show how desperately someone needs
itself—a means of trading goods your whole hand. Always keep your something from you—affects
and services for millennia. cache of goods hidden away and how much that item is worth.
Bartering works best in small only bring forward what you intend Remember, the perceived value of
communities where all parties to trade. Better yet, don’t trade any item is completely relevant to a
person’s level of preparedness.
PLAY IT COOL:
The best deal is one that both
parties feel as though they have
won. But although you may have
that advantage, don’t anger the
other guy. You may want to do
business with him again. And don’t
ever admit your desperation for a
Keeping your
particular thing. Conversely, always
stockpile of
potential trading consider every trade and always
goods organized be gracious if someone declines to
and out of plain deal or doesn’t have anything you
view is a smart need. However, in the end, like in
play, especially every survival situation, you must
during tough
look after you, your family, your
economic times.
crew, and your best interests.
Tourist Trap
Escapes
Don’t get burned—learn to sharpen
your situational awareness skills
BY REUBEN BOLIEU
Flashing lights and the eruption of classical music filled the crisp air 1:25
a.m. on the Neva River, just behind the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The cheering crowd confirmed it was time to raise the drawbridges—three total—a
festive scene celebrated by locals and tourists alike. The spirit of Mother Russia was
brought to a frenzy as the revelers cheered and filled the sky with flash photography.
Unfortunately, this remarkable event also attracted opportunists.
I entered the crowd, and after taking my photos, I crossed the street with other spectators.
Before stepping foot on the sidewalk, a man jumped in front of me and bent over as if to
pick up something he dropped. With his arms extended, he shuffled as a basketball player
would, side to side, blocking my movement. Suddenly, two “casual strollers” were closing
in on me. Next thing I knew, I was jammed up between the three of them. It took me about
four seconds to figure out what was happening. By then, a hand was already in my over-the-
shoulder, messenger-style bag. I grabbed the wrist and yelled at the three crooks. Without
even a single glance, they stood upright and walked away, not making a scene, for they had
an entire crowd to work before they called it a night.
pickpocketing are crimes of oppor- taxi or some third-world tuk-tuk, may casual pickpockets are self-devised,
tunity. If you look like an easy victim frequently drive through these places in other words, we ask for it.
with your hands full, talking on the and stop to get gas. At that point, it’s Thieves operate full time in touristy
phone, or reading a map, then you too late; you’re already there. areas of the world. It’s what they do,
Front Carry
Anything stolen from me was because
it was behind me and out of my line of
sight. While taking a train from Athens,
Greece to Piraeus, I was traveling with
three other guys, all Americans who
were accustomed to carrying their
wallets in their back pockets. I’ve heard
rumors that pickpockets target trains in
and they are good at it! They look for Greece, especially near bigger cities.
weak and absent-minded, careless We all stood up, facing each other and
people. But rarely are careful people the train wasn’t too packed. But when
targeted. Where we carry our impor- we arrived in Athens, one guy was miss-
tant stuff or the “goods” determines ing his wallet. I kept mine in my front
whether we’ll be victims. My ordeal in pocket, attached to a chain on my belt
Russia was partly my fault and incred- loop, with my hand over it in my pocket.
ible timing on their part, as they are the After my recent ordeal in Russia, I
experts, not me! The fact that I carried switched to carrying my important stuff
an over-the-shoulder messenger bag in front of me, where it is easy for me to
meant I just had to be distracted from keep tabs on it, yet not easily accessi-
the opposite direction for them to com- ble to casual crooks. The only thing that
plete the heist. However, this wasn’t my goes in a backpack behind me is water,
first rodeo. extra clothes, and maybe an extra cam-
Lima, Peru during New Year’s Eve era battery. In my front pouch or neck
is a magical place. I was doing travel wallet (depending on the trip) I carry my
The most important documents, tickets, photography, as I do from time to time, passport, local currency that I estimate
boarding passes, and money should be in a which puts me in a precarious situa- to use that day, debit card, phone, and
stash pouch or belt. None of these articles tion. I use a big digital single-lens reflex memory SD card or flash drive with
should ever be in a backpack when abroad. camera that seems to scream, “Pick photos of important documents.
me as your next victim!” I do my best Only fools and victims would put
anything of great importance in a
back pocket or keep them stored in a
“ Muggings and
pickpocketing are crimes of
opportunity. If you look like an
backpack behind them. Cover up large
cameras and other photo gear as much
as possible as they otherwise paint a
target for the predators. Cargo pants
made of some synthetic material dry
fast, but they also have more pockets
easy victim with your hands to carry belongings. Cargo pants keep
important stuff close to us, and it will
full, talking on the phone, or be simpler to feel if something is miss-
ing or about to be.
reading a map, then you are If you seek adventure, be vigilant
to safeguard your belongings. Use a
flagging yourself to take a hit.” money belt or neck pouch kept close
to your body, but out of reach from the
average thug!
Timepiece
as much utility as possible, including
the markings on the inside of the band.
WHAT’S
IN YOUR
SHTF
BAG?
BY PHIL ELMORE
1 2
Make A Note Of It
“Any device powered by With dry, sturdy pages you can leave messages
or, yes, take notes, even in inclement weather.
batteries is a point of There’s a scene in the old classic novel series by
Jerry and Sharon Ahern called The Survivalist,
Why would you forget this? The need to Why would you forget this? Because with so
take notes and pass messages frequently gets many great kits for fire starting and tinder, we tend
overlooked when packing emergency gear. Few of to make lighting a blaze too complicated. Since
us see a bug-out crisis as the time to take down our Bic flames aren’t adjustable, so many preppers
memoirs, so we don’t think to include this critical opt for different brands, but absolutely nothing
piece of gear. beats the Bic for durability.
4 EDC ESSENTIALS
Maxpedition’s Daily Essentials Pouch (DEP) is a two-compartment pouch 3
designed for everyday carry. It is sized to wear on a belt or to attach to the
side of a pack. The DEP comes equipped with two matching TacTie PJC5
Polymer Joining Clips for modular attachment to any AGR or legacy pack.
(maxpedition.com)
Bags Of Bags
Even if you’ve got all the essentials in
your bug-out bag, they aren’t much use
if you can’t find them. Always include
bags of smaller bags to organize gear
modularly. Put your water purification
kit in one bag, your fire starting materi-
als in another, and so on.
Why would you forget this? Most
people don’t think about unpacking
and rearranging a bug-out bag when
they first assemble it. They arrange
the contents with methodical care, but
then the bag tends to sit unused. It isn’t
until you’ve rooted for a particular item
in your bug-out bag, then scattered its
contents, that you appreciate the ease
of repacking a modularly organized bag.
There’s no way for us to cover
every item you might have missed,
but these are frequently forgotten
items. Your bug-out bag is a starting
point only—but it’s an essential one.
It’s the base on which you’ll build
for all your preparations, so don’t
overlook critical, useful items like the
ones cited here.
Guard
Ag ainst
Giardia
Warning : Deadly
parasites lurk where
em
you least expect th
BY PHIL ELMORE
Are you at risk from Giardia? Along with diarrhea, symptoms of Giardia
Have you even heard of it? You probably infection include cramps, flatulence, and greasy
know that untreated drinking water can stool. As with any diarrheal disease, giardiasis
carry certain dangers of sicknesses, can cause dehydration, which can cause a
but you may not have considered what some of variety of more serious problems (and ultimately
those diseases are. One of them is a diarrheal leave you less than functional).
illness called giardiasis. Contract giardiasis during an emergency and
According to the Centers for Disease Control you’ll have more trouble than stomach problems
and Prevention, Giardia is a microscopic parasite and diarrhea; you’ll eventually shut down
that, if ingested, causes giardiasis. Giardia is because you can’t take in enough water to offset
incredibly common throughout the United States the dehydration. And if the water you’re drinking
and across the globe. It harms people, pets, and is the very thing giving you giardiasis, you’ll only
wild animals alike. The CDC reports that Giardia be making the problem worse by drinking more.
“is found on surfaces or in soil, food, or water It can take up to three weeks for symptoms to
that has been contaminated with feces from manifest, which means your entire family could
infected humans or animals.” become ill before you even realize the danger.
“
will carry the disease. Swallow pool
water contaminated with feces and you Contract giardiasis
might get Giardia because the chlorine
in the pool won’t kill these cysts. during an emergency and
Giardia found on surfaces contami-
nated with human or animal feces—from you won’t just be hindered by
a changing table to a bathroom stall
handle to a restaurant kitchen where your stomach problems
employees don’t wash their hands—will
also lead to infection. Uncooked food and diarrhea; you’ll eventually
containing Giardia will spread it, as will
contact with a person who has giardia- shut down because you
sis. Significantly, Giardia doesn’t attack
through blood. You have to swallow it can’t take in enough water to
to become infected.
It’s also possible to test positive offset the dehydration.”
for Giardia infection while showing
no symptoms. In those cases, it’s not
usually necessary to do anything. But,
worse. People moving from Point A looking to do is physically remove the Alternatively, you can filter the water,
to Point B in social chaos or a natural Giardia parasites by washing them but not all filters remove Giardia.
disaster will naturally consider some down the drain. According to the CDC website,
shortcuts. But drinking directly from Also, be extremely careful not to “Filters that are designed to remove the
a stream without treating the water swallow anything by accident, like parasite should have one of the follow-
could leave families crippled with diar- “recreational” water from a swimming ing labels: reverse osmosis, absolute
rhea and endanger the lives of small pool or hot tub. Even if you take the pore size of 1 micron or smaller, [or]
children. water into your mouth and then spit it tested and certified by NSF standard
out, a parasite may have stayed behind, 53 for cyst removal [or reduction].”
Defensive Hygiene and you’ll eventually swallow it despite Knowing that drinking untreated
Given all this, the best way to deal with your best efforts. Never drink untreated water might make you sick is a good
giardiasis is to avoid Giardia altogether. “found” water. If you get your drinking thought to have nagging you, especially
The first line of defense against the water from a well, it should be tested while trekking through the woods—or
parasite is good hygiene. Wash your to make sure it is not contaminated. At an urban environment—when you’re
hands frequently, particularly after all times and in all contexts, you should tempted to drink from a puddle or a
bowel movements, after changing dia- avoid contact with human and animal creek. Armed with the knowledge of
pers, and always before preparing and feces. what Giardia is and how to prevent
eating food. Use an antibacterial soap if Because Giardia beats chlorine, the exposure to it, you are that much better
it makes you feel better, but understand only reliable ways to purge contaminat- prepared for survival.
that the antibacterial quality won’t ac- ed water are boiling and filtration. The
complish anything. These parasites are CDC recommends bringing water to a
unimpressed by hand sanitizers and rolling boil for one minute (three min- FOR MORE INFORMATION
anti-bacterial soaps, given that chlorine utes if you are higher than 6,500 feet cdc.gov/parasites/giardia/
won’t kill them either. What you’re above sea level) to kill the parasites.
Portable
Purifiers
Five next-generation devices
for drinking clean on the go
By Laura Lancaster
This is arguably the most important part sources—springs, rivers, and lakes. But with
of any outdoor survival kit—the water fil- backcountry water sources come risks: Crypto-
tration system. Fail to drink enough clean sporidium. Giardia. E. coli.
water, and you’ll weaken, suffer cramps, dizzi- To protect yourself and your family, you’ll need
ness, and even death. In the backcountry, staying to treat backcountry water sources before drink-
hydrated is the first step to staying alive. How ing. For years, treating backcountry water meant
much water you need depends on you. The aver- dealing with the strange taste and the smell of
age person needs a gallon of water a day—much iodine, or juggling the unwieldy tubes and balls
more for bigger people, or in a dry, hot climate. of a pump filter. But today’s water treatment
Many people plan to carry all of their water systems offer more flexibility, reliability, and
with them when they head out into the back- performance.
country, but this strategy quickly falls apart the Which one is right for you will depend on your
farther you get from civilization, and for one sim- particular situation: where you live, whether
ple reason: water is heavy. A gallon of it weighs your family is with you, how fast you need to
more than 8 pounds. That’s 24 pounds to survive travel. Choosing the right one is a big step to a
a three-day journey and nearly 60 pounds over successful outdoors experience.
the course of a week. It’s just impractical for all Here are five of today’s top performers, care-
but the very strongest to carry that much water. fully crafted to meet a range of needs in different
Most of us will need to get water from natural environments.
Sawyer Squeeze
Since it entered the market in 2012, the Sawyer
Squeeze Filter System has gone from the niche
world of ultralight backpacking to become the go-to
filter for thousands of outdoorsmen and women.
And for a good reason: the Sawyer is simplicity
itself, eliminating the cumbersome tubes and ball
valves of the pump systems of yore for a simplified
design: a single bag and screw-on filter.
To operate, just fill your bag from the “dirty” water
source, attach the screw-on filter, and squeeze the
water through the filter into a “clean” container.
This pared-down system makes it easier to keep
the “dirty” parts of your water filtration system
away from your “clean” parts, a common source
of contamination with the pump filtration models.
For most solo backcountry travelers, 3 ounces and
a couple of minutes of squeezing are enough to
secure fresh, safe drinking water, but the ultra-
prepared may want to carry a replacement pouch
and the back-flush syringe to ensure their filter
stays in good working order for the duration of its
lifetime. (sawyer.com; 800-356-7811)
Aquamira’s
Grayl Ultralights
Sometimes your biggest backcountry consideration
is speed. Spending precious minutes at a water
source fussing with tubes or bags isn’t an option.
Fortunately, making miles is what the Grayl Ultralight
Water Purifier does best. The filter fits inside the
bottle, making it easy to carry on the outside of your
pack without worrying about potential damage. When
you need to refill, simply dip the bottle inside any
available water source (river, marsh, cow pond) and
press the filter, slowly but firmly, down until all of the
water has passed through.
Unlike most filter systems, the Grayl blocks
everything: bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and even heavy
metals. In just 15 seconds you get half a liter of water,
clean and pure. Now that’s hard to beat.
(thegrayl.com; 877-293-7861)
It’s a snap to
learn how to
use the Grayl
ultralight
system: just
scoop, push,
and drink.
COMBAT HANDGUNS
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Visit us at tactical-life.com, personaldefenseworld.com,
-iVÕÀÌÞ
`iÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚ-}>ÌÕÀiÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚ realworldsurvivor.com and gunsoftheoldwest.com
MODERN HUNTER
A powerful
new hunting
tool combining
the best of two
worlds—High
Pressure Air
Pre-Charged
Pneumatic air
rifles with full
length arrows
equipped with
broadheads.
(Check local
regulations in
your hunting
area.)
F
ARROW PERFORMANCE:
BENJAMIN PIONEER AIRBOW
Length: 26.25 inches
Weight: 375 grains (including 100 grain field point)
Velocity: 450 fps (rated), 437 fps (tested)
Energy: 160 fpe
Proprietary
carbon fiber
arrows must
be used with
the Airbow and
they come with
100-grain field
points.
F
V ”Robin shoulders the Airbow, lines up the shot, disengages needed with the Airbow is a measly 11 pounds.
Hooding” one the safety and squeezes the trigger. Because it takes Accuracy was impressive with arrows placed in
arrow into a lot of air pressure to launch the arrow, the report a 2-inch circle with monotonous regularity at 30
the back of is loud, although not uncomfortably so when firing yards, including the aforementioned “Robin Hood”
another—a
outdoors. But since ear damage from loud noise is of one arrow into the back of another. The sup-
source of pride
on one hand, cumulative, hearing protection is a good idea. plied scope was specially designed to work with
an expensive Decocking the Airbow is simple and well covered the Airbow and sports a custom MTAG reticle,
trophy on the in the owner’s manual; thoroughly study it before which provides aiming points out to 75 yards with
other. However, using the Airbow. Please note that all firearm safety the scope centered for 30 yards. Of course, using
it does show rules apply while firing this device. heavier broadhead tips or allowing the reservoir to
the accuracy
Chronograph results showed the Airbow firing go below 2,000 psi will affect the aiming points.
potential of the
Airbow. slightly under the rated velocity at 6,000 feet above
sea level at an average of 437 fps—still much faster She’s A Shooter!
than almost all of the crossbows available on the The trigger pull of slightly over 2 pounds, 10 ounc-
market. Plus there are no ropes or pulleys to deal es also helped accuracy. Even though the trigger
with that require a good amount of upper body is nonadjustable (because of the bullpup design),
strength. A 200-pound draw weight is common to Benjamin provided a nice trigger for the Airbow. It
cock a modern crossbow, but the cocking force is a two-stage affair with a scant take-up in the first
RUGER’s NEW
Hands-Free Carry
As with all handguns, a .22
trail pistol is the firearm you
carry when you need your
hands open for more important
tasks, and that was true in my forest-
ry days. But this concept worked equally
well while fishing, hiking, cutting firewood, running
property lines, and many other outdoor activities. In
a collapse-of-society scenario, having a suitable fire-
arm 24/7 means being ready when that furry meal
ticket appears. Experienced woodsmen have long V A simple push animals in the woods than large. A .22 handgun is
considered .22 pistols ideal for survival because the of the button at equally useful for putting a finishing round (better
ammo is light and the muzzle report low. the base of the safe than sorry) into a downed big game animal.
handle frame
Given the reasonable cost of .22 ammo, frequent I agree there are better calibers for self-defense.
breaks the Mark
target practice is far more practical than with most IV down for But who’s OK with a full magazine of .22 long rifle
large-bore weapons. When the going gets tough, cleaning. pumped center of mass into the chest? The light
it’s wise to remember there are a lot more small recoil and easy handling of a target-grade .22 hand-
gun make this relatively simple.
Flashback
But as all owners of the original Ruger Standard
models know, there was one rub to those old hard
working pistols. To put it mildly, reassembling them
after cleaning was very frustrating! There were
times when it took me a couple of days to get the
handgun back together, and when it finally did
reassemble, I was never sure, “why did it work this
time?” Fortunately, with a bit of oil on the moving
parts, a Ruger Standard will go a very long time
between serious cleanings. I usually ended up
shooting the pistol until it started to stutter before I
would even consider breaking it down.
V The Northwest version of trail-gun accuracy requires the pistol keep its I also made the mistake of economizing with the
groups on the head of a grouse at a reasonable range. At 50 feet, the Mark IV basic fixed-sight model, and not all brands of .22
meets that requirement. LR shot to the point of aim, as I desired. Eventually, I
PERFORMANCE: RUGER MK IV
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph
and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 50 feet.
Factory Load Velocity Accuracy
Winchester High Velocity Solid 40 1,074 1.00
Federal Champion Standard Velocity 40 1,033 0.80
Browning High Velocity Hollow Point 40 1,108 1.25
Eley Force HV 42 1,022 1.75
Norma Match Standard Velocity 40 857 0.70
Norma Tac 22 Target 40 824 0.75
CCI Tac22 Solid 40 1,033 0.70
CCI Mini Mag Solid 40 997 0.90
Federal High Velocity Solid 40 996 1.60
ROCKIN’
REFLEXES
Slick new
holster options
for red-dot-
topped field
and defense
pistols
By John M. Buol Jr.
5.11 ThumbDrive
5.11’s ThumbDrive was designed to be the
quickest and safest Level II holster. A proprie-
tary single-thumb retention and release sys-
tem secures a duty-sized handgun for a quick,
natural, and safe release with a cut for optically
sighted handguns. A removable Chop-Block
switch guard provides added weapon retention
and the holster is adjustable for a variety of
placement and draw angles. Optional drop/off-
set and thigh rig kits allow additional customiza-
tion. ThumbDrives are available for Glock, SIG,
Smith & Wesson, and Beretta handguns.
5.11 IWB
5.11 Internal Waist Band (IWB) concealed-carry holsters are suit-
able for a variety of handguns, including those sighted with optics.
Built in partnership with Blade-Tech and Viking Tactics, the 5.11
IWB is an appendix-carry holster designed to ensure high-speed
access and a secure fit that won’t ride up during extended peri-
ods of concealment. This holster, crafted from heat and oil resis-
tant high-impact polymer, can be worn front or back and offers an
integrated light clip for secure storage of a tactical light.
(511tactical.com, 866-451-1726)
Armordillo
Concealment X-FER V2
The X-FER V2 holster accepts
suppressed or long-barreled pistols
with optics or suppressor-height irons
equipped with a SureFire X300U-A
or X300 WeaponLights. The holster
rides inside or outside the waistband,
or on drop leg mounts. The X-FER is
light specific, not handgun specific,
meaning it locks onto the attached
weapon light (X300U-A or X300)
instead of the firearm. This design
is very modular; any handgun with a
light will work. The holster includes
an IWB loop. However, the multiple
mounting holes allow attachment
to most platforms and a range of
adjustment for cant and ride height.
It accommodates extra weight from Blackhawk A.R.C. IWB
optics or suppressors. Also, the unit is The Appendix Reversible Carry (A.R.C.) IWB
completely ambidextrous. holster for concealed carry has a generous open-
(armordilloconcealment.com) ing for rear-mounted red dots. The holster body
is constructed of a soft injection-molded polymer
material and is fully reversible for ambidextrous
use. The cant and ride height can be adjusted,
and the included belt clips work with 1.5- and
1.75-inch belts. A passive retention detent
with adjustment screw allows users to vary the
amount of friction for a quick draw with good
security. (blackhawk.com, 800-379-1732)
C-1 RMR
NSR Tactical’s C-1 RMR is a fold-over
holster for appendix carry with an optic-
equipped handgun. These hand-built Ky-
dex holsters are ambidextrous. While the
optic cut is for the dimension of Trijicon’s
RMR, these will fit a variety of optics. The
holster includes an IWB soft loop and one
tuckable strut. Current models are for all
sizes of Glock handguns.
(nsrtactical.com)
CTH
The Contour To Hip (CTH) holster is intended for
full-sized Glocks with optics. It comes standard
with loops for 1.5-inch belt loops, but belts of differ-
ent sizes are also available. There is no mechanical
retention device as the holster uses a very “crisp”
fit, keeping a full-sized handgun with optic securely
in place. (nsrtactical.com)
Archangel V3
Gabe Suarez was among the first instructors to recommend red dots
on handguns for defensive shooting. The original Archangel began
around 2009 as an improvement on existing appendix-carry, inside-
the-waistband holsters suitable for optics. A pistol with a shorter
barrel, a high-capacity magazine in a polymer frame, and an optical
sight, needs more support for the heavy parts. Shooters also noticed
that extra length in the holster body precluded the pistol spilling out of
the belt. Integral hooks in other models broke off during more dynamic
training. Those hooks may have been ideal for tucking in the shirt when
sitting at a desk or giving a speech while standing, but the Kydex did
not bear up to repeated heavy combat work or training.
This third version of the design is sleeker and easier to carry with a
muzzle/dust cover area. A hood protects the optic and keeps it from
digging into skin. (onesourcetactical.com, 928-776-4492)
MANY OF US TAKE PRIDE in our preparations for just about every type of
disaster that could befall us. Some may even act a little smug and boast about
the tools and supplies they set aside for hard times. They will even try to relate a
feeling of warmth knowing that food, water, and shelter are nearby.
Now and then, however, they experience cold chills down their backs realizing
that what they’ve gathered could also be stolen. Let’s face it, in desperate times
those without will search out those who prepared. At first, some may ask for
help, but as conditions worsen even the meekest will demand you share supplies.
If you think you can handle the situation, just look around and run the
numbers. For each person who planned ahead, there are dozens who have not.
And you’re unprepared if you can’t defend what is yours.
V Springfield’s
new Saint was
recently reviewed
wearing a Trijicon
MRO in sister
publication,
Ballistic. The
combo performed
lights out!
F
Sights: Springfield Armory low-profile flip-up (rear); sight tower/gas block (front)
Action: Semi-auto
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 30-round Magpul magazine
MSRP: $899
MARCHING WITH THE SAINT You can see
If you replaced the pistol grip, buttstock, and the Accu-Tite
handguard with military components you might think mating system
adjustment screw
the Saint was nothing more than a basic M4-style located under
carbine. Each part of this rifle, however, has been the takedown
fabricated and fitted with care, which was apparent pin once the
during the range sessions. upper receiver
A selection of Federal 69-grain Gold Medal Match, is pivoted.
77-grain Creedmoor Match, and Wolf 55-grain FMJ The trigger
assembly’s
was used to check function and accuracy. All three micro-polished
loads proved that the Saint works 100 percent, as it and Nickel Boron
should. Even the steel-cased Wolf ammunition fed, coating goes
fired and ejected without a single glitch. Velocities a long way in
ran, as you would expect, with the heaviest bullets improving the
being the slowest. The Creedmoor yielded an aver- “felt” trigger pull.
age of 2,691 feet per second. The Federal match
came in at 2,725 feet per second, and the Wolf load
was fastest at 2,859 feet per second.
Accuracy also ran well. The best five-shot 100-
yard sampling from the Federal Match ammo
grouped at .75 of an inch. However, 1.25 to 1.50-
inch groups was more the norm for this ammunition.
The heavier Creedmoor produced groups in
the 1.5-inch range and even the steel-cased Wolf
maintained groups just fewer than 2 inches. No one
would consider the Saint a long-range tack-driver, but
considering how it functioned, I’d call it a “precision” WThe Saint
rifle. The heavy buffer/mid-length gas system did, in comes in a
fact, smooth out the function, as compared to one of lockable hard case
for convenient
my personal rifles with the carbine-length gas system. transportation to
The smoothness of the trigger more than made up the range or to
for the heavier pull weight, and for a defensive rifle, store safely at in
I would not feel the need to lighten or replace the your home.
EVE RYMAN AR-15 There is no
such thing as
too much gun
when you are
defending your
home and family.
F
SURVIVAL-WORTHY?
Springfield Armory wanted to enter the AR-15 mar-
ket, and they did so with a sound carbine of excel-
lent quality. The only thing you could deem exotic is
the care the company took with its construction.
This carbine’s suggested retail price is only
$899. If the market holds this carbine in line with
other rifles the street price should dip even lower.
We often forget that not everyone has been
shooting since they were three, and the best way
to start is with a basic rifle. Even if you have been
shooting all of your life, there is something to be
said about keeping things simple. You and only you
are responsible for your safety. Life throws road-
The best group blocks in our paths. It may be a burglar breaking
of the author’s a window, or a complete collapse of society, but
range testing Springfield Armory has given you a way to “Defend
came in right at Your Legacy” with the new Saint.
.75 of an inch for
five shots at 100
yards.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
springfield-armory.com; 800-680-6866.
Guns, Blades
& Self-Defense
Four great manuals to add to your
everyday survival library I BY STEVEN DICK
Chapters include the AR-15 in all is both the official close-combat system
its variations, the AK-47, sniper rifles, of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and
scout rifles, shotguns (semi versus a popular self-defense method widely
pump), lever actions, and other long taught all over the world.
gun subjects. The handgun chapters Although its techniques are more
start with a “clear-eyed look at stop- dynamic and much less ritualized than
ping power.” It then goes into striker those of traditional martial arts, like any
fired, double stack weapons, Glocks, self-defense system, the key to making
S&W M&Ps, the 1911s, J-frames, and them work on the street is putting them
many other pistols and revolvers. The into the context of real-world violence.
author favors calibers that start with “4” And that is exactly the theme of the
as the saying goes, but still has many book “Krav Maga Tactical Survival.”
good things to say about the Glock 17 Written by veteran Krav Maga in-
and similar 9mm handguns. structor and 5th-degree black belt Ger-
Other chapters discuss body armor, shon Ben Keren, and produced by the
guns for bugging out, suppressors, preeminent martial arts book publisher,
night vision, and hiding your weaponry. Tuttle, this comprehensive book shows
If you are a serious student of how the core skills of Krav Maga apply
firearms, you will probably find a few to lots of situational threats. Although
small things to nitpick with the au- it includes instruction in the basic strik-
Prepper Guns: Firearms, thor. Usually, these are more personal ing tools and body mechanics of the
Ammo, Tools, and Techniques opinions than real flaws in his logic. As system, most of the book is devoted
You Will Need to Survive the we all know, the 9mm versus .45 ACP to teaching defenses against knife and
Coming Collapse argument has simmered since before
By Bryce M. Towsley World War I without either side making
Hardcover, 272 pages, $29.99 the one convincing argument to settle
Skyhorse Publishing, the debate.
skyhorsepublising.com Towsley has shot them all, which
certainly counts with me. This is a good
F
or many years the bible of book, and I highly recommend it.
prepper firearms was the late
Mel Tappan’s “Survival Guns”
first published in 1977. The problem Krav Maga Tactical Survival:
with writing a reference work like that Personal Safety in Action
is that parts of the book are obsolete By Gershon Ben Keren
almost as soon as it hits the store Reviewed by SE ’s Michael Janich
shelves. For instance, Tappan’s work Paperback, 224 pages, $17.95
was published around eight years Tuttle Publishing,
before Glock revolutionized handguns tuttlepublishing.com
in the U.S., not to mention the vast
O
expansion of AR-15 variations. One of riginally developed by
Towsley’s goals was to provide readers Hungarian-Israeli martial artist
with a reference covering what is avail- Imi Lichtenfeld, Krav Maga
able now, rather than 40 years ago. (literally “contact combat” in Hebrew)
A
ny book with an introduc- to agree with the author. Helm makes
tion about finding his first great working knives that a person
good knife while snorkeling the isn’t afraid to get out and beat on. That
Icicle River (Stevens Pass, Washington includes some relatively large jungle
State) is bound to catch my attention. choppers that would take the place of a
I’ve camped along that river, and I can hatchet or machete when needed.
assure you it is well named! It also sug- Hollingsworth’s book isn’t big, but
gested the author was familiar with the it does compile a fair amount of useful
same backcountry environment I was. information from someone who leaves
So would I concur with his suggestions his backyard to evaluate survival knives.
for survival cutlery? You would be surprised how rare that
Yes, and here’s an example. I was seems to be among writers.
pleased to see the author appreciates
the value of a Swiss Army folder as a
second knife in all survival situations. Simple Knifemaking, A
As they say, “one is none, and two is Beginner’s Guide to Building
one.” From my days in the Vietnam Knives with Basic Tools New knife-makers should find good
jungle on, I’ve never ventured into the By Nicholas Tomihana information on an early project in the
wilds without at least two knives, and Softcover, 168 pages, $16.95 section about drawing the temper from
one has been a Swiss Army. backyardbowyer.com a mill file before grinding it into shape
Chapters include “Why a Survival as a knife.
Simple Knifemaking ends with what
I
Knife?”, “Small Survival Knives,” “Medi- ’ve been reading “how-to-make-
um Survival Knives,” “Mini Choppers,” a-knife” manuals for many years and the author calls a bonus section on
and “Big Survival Knives (defined as have found they tend to fall into two making a friction folder.
around 12 inches long).” Others cover general categories. One is the very In general, most of the knives cre-
“Knives on a Budget,” “Have a Kit,” simple variety that seldom involves ated in this manual are fairly plain but
“Sheath Stuff,” “Sharpening,” “Blade much more than gluing a handle on a totally functional cutting tools. Once
Steels,” and more. ready-made blade. The other type ex- the novice knife-maker learns a few
You might consider it an extra bonus pects the reader to have ready access of these skills, advancing to more
but near the end of the book is a chap- to a shop full of thousands of dollars’ elaborate blades will be relatively easy.
ter on blade-smith James Helm and his worth of equipment for each step in the I highly recommend this manual.
HOT
RODS
Ancient
piston-driven
igniters
guaranteed
to crank up
the heat
BY CHARLEY HOGWOOD
Piston Simplicity
The design is elegantly simple. These days it usu-
ally consists of a hollowed-out piece of wood, metal
or synthetic material, and a close-tolerance plunger
with a seal to trap air as the plunger is pressed. The
plunger has a slot or depression at the end to hold
a piece of tinder. The idea behind the fire piston is
not to directly light the fire, but instead, to create
an ember that will ignite your tinder bundle. It’s very
similar to the way that a bow drill makes an ember.
But first, we need to understand how fire hap-
pens. We have all heard of the fire triangle: oxygen,
heat, and fuel. If you provide all three sides of the
triangle, you can have a fire. Remove any one of
them, and the fire fizzles. In an unusual twist, the
air inside the fire piston tube makes up two sides
of the triangle: oxygen and heat. A piece of tinder
such as char cloth or chaga fungus is placed in
the cup on the end of the plunger, thus completing
the fire triangle. The plunger is then placed at the
both primitive and “mad science” all at the same Top Left ing for classic, elegant designs—composite plastics
time. Another major benefit is that you could use When you pack and machined aluminum are favored for industrial
it one-handed. Just wedge the base between the plunger with strength and durability.
something solid or dig a little hole, load the tinder tinder (here, it’s Early fire pistons were difficult to lube because
char cloth) make
and let it rip. You won’t be doing that with a bow they wouldn’t stay seated during travel. If the piston
sure not to over
drill or fire steel. pack. You just moved, this allowed debris, dirt, and water to fill the
need enough to chamber. The addition of an operable vent solved
Rings Of Fire sit in the plunger. this problem. When the tool is not in use, a screw
As with many things, advances in design, over vent allows the piston to be parked in the cylinder
time, will slightly change how a piece of equipment Top Right without the pressure pushing it back out. Once
works. The piston will always have the same basic Advances in parked, the vent is screwed shut, thus creating a
action principles, but there are several different technology mean vacuum and keeping it in place. This also helps to
that you can
schools of thought on the materials for the various keep the pieces together so that nothing gets lost.
get fire pistons
types of piston seals. in a variety A particularly intriguing design change involves
Originally it was thought that the seals were of designs, clear cylinders. These are usually made of trans-
made of string coated in pig or perhaps dog fat. including this parent plastic, such as acrylic. When the plunger
These days, O-rings are the preferred seals be- one in machined is pressed, the flash is visible, thus confirming
cause they’re durable and efficient. aluminum. ignition. While not a necessity, it is an option and
The basic body of the fire piston has also im- works as a very cool surprise to teach kids the sci-
proved. While various woods remain popular—allow- ence and magic of building a fire.
Once you
have your ember,
make sure to
quickly move it
to your tinder
bundle.
“A fire piston is an
interesting way to learn
V After the
plunger is
primitive skills, and the
pushed, you
should have a lit, kids will get a lot out of
glowing ember.
If you don’t, then it. It is both primitive and
do some basic
troubleshooting
and give it
‘mad science’ all at the
another go. same time.”
A CASE FOR FLINT AND STEEL
[Flint and steel are proven fire-making
implements that go back at least as far
atmosphere. The resulting sparks land on
char cloth or tinder held on top of the flint
as the Iron Age. It’s a safe method, and there stone. Or the sparks fall onto the tinder of a
is nothing to break—no technology to fail. prepared fire bed.
Another advantage is that most people do not The key is to use high carbon steel
recognize flint and steel; robbers might pass and a good flint stone. Any stone that
on that stone and old piece of metal while will throw sparks, like quartz, will work.
trying to steal your fancy fire starter. Still, be sure to avoid stones sold as
We can get into trouble if we bank on the flint, but are a different mineral. Real
latest gadgets, but something “traditional” flint usually is dark gray, black, green,
doesn’t have to be your first choice. white, or possibly brown. It has a glassy
Everything in survival has a tradeoff, such as or waxy appearance, but it won’t be
a convenience versus dependability. The best powdery like limestone. It has a glassy
solution is always somewhere in between. or waxy appearance, but it won’t be
If you pick flint and steel as one of your fire- powdery like limestone. However,
making options, you should understand how flint can still sometimes be found in
it works, and practice using it. Flint and steel limestone areas.
throw the spark that starts a fire. The steel is
Simple fire and steel setups, like this one
scraped across the flint stone at a 90-degree
that comes in Henry’s US Survival Kit, are
angle. This friction softens the iron and causes easy to stow and use. Note, the SureFire
the particles to oxidize rapidly in the oxygen-rich Suppressors t-shirt was a happy accident.
Simple
guide to
fermenting
nutrient-
enhanced
veggies for
At-Home the long haul
Superfood
BY KAREN HOOD
W
What good is having a large R!:AEH9><:HI>DCL>I=C6IJG6A fermentation converts molecules
garden full of vegetables if you can’t probiotics. into ethanol, which produces carbon
preserve them to eat later? Or what R,JEEDGIHI=:>BBJC:HNHI:BL>I= dioxide. Examples are wine and beer.
if you find a great deal on vegetables vitamin B12 and folate. Lactic fermentation converts molecules
in bulk? There are several ways to R"CKDAK:HDG<6C>HBHI=6I6G: into lactic acid, which does not
preserve your garden goodies. One themselves, good for your health. make carbon dioxide. This technique
of my favorites (and most nutritious) is produces pickled vegetables, kimchi,
simple fermentation. Fermenting Basics and sauerkraut. And this is the process
Fermenting vegetables is a simple There are two types of fermentation, we’re most interested in for survival
and inexpensive process used for and neither requires oxygen. Alcoholic food storage.
thousands of years. In fact, we regularly
consume many fermented items—beer,
wine, pickles, bread, kimchi, and
yogurt. The benefits of fermentation are
numerous. This process:
R)G:H:GK:H6C9:C=6C8:HK>I6B>CH
B and C.
“ In fact, we regularly
consume many fermented
R)GDK>9:HCJIG>:CIHBDG:G6E>9AN
to your body.
items—beer, wine, pickles,
R"H6AAC6IJG6ACD8=:B>86A
preservatives needed.
bread, kimchi, and yogurt.”
| 78 | SURVIVOR’S EDGE | SUMMER 2017 | | REALWORLDSURVIVOR.COM |
1 2 3
Shutterstock Photo
4 5 6
1. Cut cabbage in half lengthwise. Discard the thick, fibrous core. 2. Add enough fresh
The lactic method usually involves cold water to cover the cabbage. Place plastic wrap on top of water/cabbage mixture to
brining, typically with sea salt, ensure cabbage is covered with brine. Let mixture set at room temp for 12 to 24 hours.
which helps prevent the growth of You will notice the cabbage wilts; this is what you want. 3. Korean pepper powder
pathogenic (bad) bacteria. Some (gochugaru) and fermented chili paste are key ingredients. 4. The recipe calls for fish
recipes call for brining only, but others sauce. 5. Return rinsed cabbage to the bin. Now you’re ready to add all other ingredients
call for brining plus an “inoculation,” and mix with hands. 6. Pack your cabbage mixture into the container of your choice. This
such as a natural starter culture—like is a special fermentation container I like to use for kimchi.
whey—or a commercial starter powder
found in many natural food stores.
Then you let your vegetables ferment
in an anaerobic way (meaning, without with limited fertile areas. When early Japanese radish) peeled and cut
oxygen), usually at room temperature. Koreans started an agriculture-based into 2-inch matchsticks
Once the proper fermentation has lifestyle, they ate salted vegetables O 8 medium scallions, ends trimmed,
taken place, the vegetables are put to aid in the digestion of the many cut into 1-inch pieces (use all parts)
into an airtight container and placed grains they were eating. Kimchi O 8-10 garlic cloves minced (about
in the refrigerator to slow down the evolved as Koreans turned salting and 2-3 tablespoons; add too much and
process. My method involves lactic preserving (fermenting) into survival kimchi will be bitter!)
fermentation for vegetables that will arts. Today there are millions of kimchi O 1.33 cup Korean red pepper powder
last in the refrigerator for about a recipes; each Korean usually has a (gochugaru)
month. family favorite passed down through O 1.33 fermented chili paste
I am a huge fan of Korean cuisine, generations. I modified the following O 1/2 cup fish sauce (Asian anchovy
especially the fermented cabbage dish, process after searching online for sauce)
kimchi. If you have ever dined at an “best kimchi recipe.” O 1/2 cup peeled and minced fresh
authentic Korean restaurant, you know ginger
kimchi is served as an appetizer or Karen’s Spicy Kimchi O 2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic
side dish. I like to call it the Korean O 2 2-pound heads Napa cabbage O 4 teaspoons Korean salted shrimp
equivalent to sauerkraut. O 1 cup kosher or sea salt (no iodine) paste
Korea is a land of freezing winters, O Cold water to cover O 1.5 teaspoons granulated sugar
and much of the terrain is mountainous O 1 medium Daikon radish (white O 1/2 cup minced ginger
1 2 3
1. My fermenting container is available at amazon.com 2. My container comes with a press Eat by itself as a nutrient-rich snack
divider so I can press down on the vegetables to keep them anaerobic (without oxygen) while or experiment with some fun Korean
still allowing the gasses to escape through the tiny hole in the middle. This blocks oxygen recipes, such as the traditional kimchi
for maximum fermentation. Be sure to check on it every day. Bubbling is common. 3. Place pancake called kimchijeon.
the finished product in a glass jar with a plastic lid. Keep it in the refrigerator for up to 1.5 I recommend getting a good book
months. The refrigeration significantly slows the fermentation process. Eat and enjoy! on fermentation. I like Fermented
Vegetables by Kirsten K. Shockey
and Christopher Shockey. There are
Once the fermentation has slowed, in lots of recipes in this book, and it
Directions about a week, repackage in a clean does a good job explaining all about
Cut the cabbage in half lengthwise, glass container with a plastic lid and making krauts, kimchis, brined pickles,
then crosswise into 2-inch pieces. refrigerate up to one month. chutneys, relishes, and pastes.
Discard the root ends. Place in a large
bowl. Sprinkle with the salt and toss
with your hands to thoroughly coat the
cabbage. Add enough cold water to
just cover, but make sure the cabbage
HIGH-SEAS
is submerged. I cover my cabbage
with plastic wrap to keep it submerged SURVIVAL CHOW
in salty water. Let it sit at room
temperature for 12 to 24 hours.
Drain the cabbage thoroughly with
[ Here’s a little fermenting
flashback. We have all heard
entirely away from his crews.
Scurvy is a disease caused by
cold running water. Gently squeeze of British explorer Captain James the severe lack of vitamin C, but
out the excess liquid and transfer to a Cook and his three long-distance the captain was obsessed with
medium bowl and set aside. sea voyages, during which he buying fresh foods at each port of
Place the remaining ingredients in a nearly managed to keep scurvy call. These stores augmented the
large bowl and stir to combine. Then fermented vegetables he ordered
add the cabbage and toss with your for each voyage. And from those
hands until it is evenly combined, and supplies, he prescribed a daily
the cabbage is thoroughly coated. dose of the fermented cabbage
I wear plastic gloves to keep the dish, sauerkraut.
peppers off my skin. The fermentation process boosts
Pack the mixture tightly into a clean the vitamin C content in cabbage.
glass jar or a plastic fermentation-and- But at first, Captain Cook had a
National Maritime Museum, UK
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S U R V I VA L S P OT L I G H T
JUNGLE
STEEL
ESEE is not your
typical knife company
—by any stretch
of the imagination
By Tim Stetzer
Jeff Randall Photos
3 4
1. Randall’s Adventure & Training offers a five-day technical course focusing on remote “vertical”
rescues. 2. The CR2.5 is a handy bird and trout blade designed by Cody Rowen based upon years of
field experience. 3. ESEE Knives is more than just a knife company; it’s a group of highly skilled people
who not only make knives, but also teach you what to do with them. 4. The jungle survival course
teaches fire making in a tropical rainforest, as well as procuring and cooking local fish and game.
V ESEE’s
Laser Strike
is a capable
bushcraft blade
with a bow drill
divot and a ferro
rod under the
handle scales.
WESEE’s
Laser Strike
is a capable
bushcraft blade
with a bow drill
1. Wendy Randall provides search and rescue
divot and a ferro
training, logistical support, and scheduling for
rod under the
the other courses.
handle scales.
2. Whether stateside or in the jungles of Peru,
Randall’s courses teach survival, especially how
to boost your chances for rescue.
Chris Halleen
Patrick Rollins Mike Perrin Jeff Randall
RAT CURRICULUM:
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
[ While good tools are
important, it’s even more
by a variety of instructors. All of
them are cross-trained, so they can
one-day sessions on basic survival,
land navigation, and search and
important to know how to use team up for bigger classes. Many rescue. They are $50 each.
them, and Jeff Randall and Mike are held at RAT’s Alabama facility, Randall Adventure & Training
Perrin haven’t forgotten their roots although some are held off site. has a broad clientele ranging from
as a training company. The course listings (found at parents and kids, to civilians of all
Patrick Rollins instructs much of randallsadventure.com) provide the walks of life. There are many law
the survival and tracking courses locations along with what to ex- enforcement and military students.
these days at Randall’s Adventure pect and what gear to bring. Prices They’ve even trained a number of
& Training, while James Gibson range from $100 for a one-day ses- film crews and professional adven-
teaches bushcraft. Wendy Randall sion up through $500 for three-day turers and their courses have been
handles search and rescue courses courses. featured on the Travel Channel
and Jeff oversees the ropes The jungle survival course, how- and Discovery Channel, as well as
courses. ever, is $1,400 for nearly a week in numerous print publications.
The land navigation classes are Iquitos, Peru. Some courses, such as Intro
a group effort by Jeff, Patrick and If you’re looking for something and Advanced Sniper and Tactical
Hugh Coffee of Ditch Medicine, a little more basic check out the Ropes, are for police and soldiers
who also teaches first aid. Red Mountain courses held at Red only, but offered free with proper
Randall Adventure & Training Mountain Park in Birmingham, law enforcement or military
also offers firearms courses taught Alabama. These intro courses are credentials.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Randall’s Adventure & Training P.O. Box 99 Gallant, AL 35972
Patrick Rollins: 256- 613-3834. Training email: info@randallsadventure.com
ESEE Knives email: info@eseeknives.com, randallsadventure.com
Randall’s
Adventure &
Training offers
a number of
courses in
rope work
from a basic
course through
advanced Rope
Rescue training.
The Work
Sharp Ken
Onion model
makes
sharpening
practically any
edged tool a
breeze.
Beltin’ Out
Work Sharp’s Ken Onion Sharpener gets
You’re bugged out. You have so much to do to find food, guide that you can set anywhere from
make a shelter and locate water that you don’t know where to 15 to 30 degrees, which will cover
start. You reach for your trusty knife, which will help you do just about anything from a chef knife
just about everything, and you find that it’s dull. Now what? If you’ve to a timber-falling ax. The abrasive
belts come in five different grades,
spent any time around custom knife-makers, you quickly know that
from extra-coarse for rough grinding to
many can’t hand-sharpen a blade on a traditional benchstone—so
extra-fine for honing the inside bevel of
perhaps you’re wondering how their knives always come razor sharp. gutting hooks. You can adjust the belt
The secret is this: they’ve perfected justify getting a full-size Burr King, speed to about 15 different settings
their edge-honing skills on the same the company Work Sharp perfected by turning a dial on the underside of
belt grinders they used to shape the a small, handheld belt grinder several the handle grip. A locking button on
blades. We are constantly being years ago that met with wide approval. the side of the grip also enables you
warned not to try sharpening any- Recently, the company began offering to set the belt to run continuously. The
thing on a high-speed bench grinder an advanced version of this tool called machine’s fold-down blade rests help
because it could overheat the steel, so the Ken Onion Edition Knife and Tool stabilize longer blades being pulled
this may seem like a very risky practice. Sharpener. You should consider one for across the belt, and a built-in platform
Belt grinders, however, produce much emergency situations, whether you’re at below the main sharpening guides
less friction heat than the circular grind- home or afar. works for sharpening scissors. For re-
stones, and if you’re careful, you can ally big sharpening jobs like machetes,
use one to hone great edges on your Angle Guide lawn mower blades, and axes, you can
knives in short order. A great new feature on the Ken Onion remove the entire sharpening cassette
While you might not be able to version is an adjustable, grinding-angle and use it as a handheld grinder.
“
few years of use is because owners
don’t consistently thin out the area
behind the primary bevel. The Work
For machetes,
Sharp device makes this task easy; you
simply set the adjustable angle guide
lawn mower blades,
slightly flatter than your normal cutting
angle, replace the abrasive belt with and axes, you can
one of the coarser grits and remove
the excess metal. You can also change remove the entire
belts easily without using any tools.
Once you’ve thinned out the blade a
little, just turn the angle guide back to
sharpening cassette
its normal setting and replace the belt
with a finer one. It’s never been easier
and use it as a
to hone a blade to a razor-sharp sur-
face with outstanding edge geometry.
handheld grinder.”
I’m not going to tell you the Work
Sharp is a completely skill-free system.
Probably the most important thing to
remember if you use this grinder is that the belt runs only at the full speed set- the coarse belts, I could have reground
you need to make every pass across ting with the activation lever pressed the secondary bevels to a new profile,
the belt, on both sides of the blade, fully down; anything in between will but that wasn’t really necessary.
at a consistent speed. If you don’t do result in slower blade speeds and If you plan on using knives to survive,
that, you’re going to end up with an uneven grinding. you better include a plan for sharpen-
unevenly ground blade with hollows ing them.
and high spots. If you make the passes Test Results This tool will sharpen just about
too slowly, you can increase the blade I tried the Ken Onion on a variety of anything with a cutting edge. This new
wear more than you should. I suggest outdoor and kitchen blades and had Ken Onion sharpener is U.S.-made in
using the lowest belt speed, at least good results across the board, but I Ashland, Oregon.
until you are totally familiar with the did have to study the edges to deter-
grinding rate of each abrasive. Practice mine the correct grinding angles. On a FOR MORE INFORMATION
makes perfect, and you’ll soon get a couple of knives, the 20-degree bevel
WORK SHARP TOOLS
feel for what you need to do to hone I started with was too flat, so I had to worksharptools.com; 800-597-6170.
the best edges. One quirk to note is back off to 25 degrees. By using one of
Terror will
A bag or suitcase
left alone is
strike again.
definitely reason
to be suspicious.
Err on the side
How ready
of caution and
alert the proper
authorities.
are you to
cope with and
counter it?
BY MICHAEL D’ANGONA
Shutterstock Photo
There is a fine line between being paranoid and chance of saving themselves or helping others stay
being prepared. By anticipating the worst-case safe. But remember: one or two of the following
scenario, you lift the chances of saving yourself signs, separate or together, don’t guarantee that a
and your family. terrorist act will be committed. In fact, many of the
indicators are harmless and logically explained. It’s
Reading Red Flags when authorities start to add up the sum of all the
There are many warning signs of possible domestic parts, along with possible target locations and
terrorism. People who heed them stand a better resulting carnage scenarios, that signs emerge of a
planned terrorist strike.
Observing suspicious people is your first
indication of something that may not “feel” right.
THE AUTHOR’S CREDS And while suspicious activity, on its own, doesn’t
indicate terrorism, you may be able to stop another
crime, so always be alert. Don’t ignore people
[Michael D’Angona
is a freelance writer, who seem out-of-place. Check out their clothes.
survivalist and self-defense Are they wearing heavy jackets or coats in warm
instructor based in South weather? Or, as you notice their odd clothing,
Florida. With nearly 25 years do they have rigid midsections and make strange
of teaching experience, he has movements when walking? Both of these could in-
developed the Aiki-Survival dicate a harness, explosive belt, or bulky electron-
system that features self- ics hidden under the heavy garb. Also, notice the
defense techniques specifically person’s behavior and body language. Nervous-
designed for use while ness, agitation, pacing back and forth, and being
under survival or emergency alone at events typically attended by couples may
conditions. Michael teaches signal danger.
group and private classes, as Suspicious activity can be disguised by emu-
well as full seminars throughout lating how tourists explore city landmarks and
the country. For more, visit other populated destinations. Photographing and
aikisurvival.vpweb.com. recording video of possible targets help terrorists
plan for deadly attacks.
PREMIUM FEATURES.
Seems obvious today, but “out-of- step toward detecting and prevent-
place” flight school students, who don’t ing it. Everyone must work together to
indicate why they want to fly or fail to limit potential targets. Report strange
express any enthusiasm for the train- or peculiar activities and question the
ing, should alarm the flight instructors, abnormal behavior of “strangers.”
who should alert the authorities. Even Finally, never doubt that you can
a landlord should question why many indeed make a difference in preventing GET YOURS AT
BEAREDGEKNIVES.COM
people constantly arrive and leave from a horrible act on American soil.
| REALWORLDSURVIVOR.COM |
H O T- W E AT H E R H A N D B O O K
Hazards
of Summer BY WILL DABBS, MD
Dehydration
Water is the universal solvent, the elixir of life. A typical healthy adult
can make it 30 days or more without food, but you won’t make it more
than maybe three without water. When the mercury rises, you can
burn through vast quantities of the stuff. Keeping the human machine
hydrated is critical to hot weather health.
How much water you should drink is a nebulous question. A good
guideline under normal circumstances is 2.7 liters per day for women
and 3.7 liters per day for men. With heavy exercise in hot weather, that
number can go up to a liter per hour. When in the field I try to keep
water handy and just sip throughout the day. A decent CamelBak
water carrier makes this easier.
Finding Water
You can indeed filter questionable water through clean socks and
then treat it at the rate of a quarter teaspoon of unscented bleach per
gallon of water to make it potable. I’ve done that before. The resulting
treated water tastes bad and will make you feel a bit ill. A much better
option is a quality water filter. They are inexpensive, effective, and
handy. Fresh bottled water is best.
Shutterstock Photo
Heat Injuries Sunscreen is a Sunburn
Exposure to excessive heat and humidity, must for times Not only does sunburn significantly increase your
particularly in the context of extreme exertion or you need to be risk of developing skin cancers later in life, but
out and about
inadequate hydration, can lead to heat injuries. severe sunburn can also be debilitating. In nasty
in the bright
Heat cramps are the mildest sort, and they sunshine, and cases, you can develop fevers, chills, nausea,
become manifest as painful muscle spasms during the higher headache, and weakness. The severity of sunburn
or after intense exercise and sweating in high- the SPF, the is a function of your complexion and the duration
heat environments. Heat exhaustion is the next better. Also, and intensity of exposure.
stage and occurs when the body is unable to cool keep in mind Keeping skin covered and using sunscreens
that you can
itself adequately. Heat exhaustion typically stems are the two primary defenses when you must be
incur sunburn
from a loss of water and electrolytes secondary from sunlight out in the sun. Wear a hat. Light colors reflect
to excessive sweating. Heat stroke occurs when reflected off of more sun than dark ones. Your sunscreen should
the body’s temperature-regulating system is water or snow. have a high SPF (sun protection factor) rating,
overwhelmed by excessive heat. Heat stroke is a Scant clouds are and the higher, the better. In a pinch, mixing wood
life-threatening emergency. a poor protection ash with water or petroleum jelly makes a decent
as well. W
Heat cramps result in painful muscle pain and improvised sunscreen.
moist, flushed skin. Heat exhaustion will also typi- Solar radiation reflected off of shiny surfaces
cally produce fever along with possible nausea, like water or snow can burn you in unexpected
vomiting, headache, fatigue, and weakness. Victims areas. One of the worst sunburns I ever had was
will sometimes become anxious and lightheaded. In at the bottom of my chin and nose. It came from
these cases, move the victim to a cool, shady place, sunlight reflected off of snow while on a glacier in
loosen clothing, and have them drink cool water the middle of the summertime. Avoidance is always
or sports drinks if able. Stretch cramped muscles better than treatment.
gently and slowly.
Heat stroke will produce warm, dry skin, a high Furry Critters
fever with a rapid heart rate, and all the previous The world is awash in wild animals. A friend who is
symptoms along with lethargy and agitation. In a game and fish officer once told me that distemper
extreme cases, heat stroke will produce seizures, ran through our local raccoons. In one six-month
coma, and death. In this case, place ice packs in period, he trapped and euthanized 260 of the
the groin and armpits, and drench the skin with cool animals in our small southern town without making
water. Heat stroke victims require immediate medi- a dent in the overall population. All wild animal
cal treatment. encounters are potentially dangerous. In a diseased
investing a little forethought in the If you have a family member who requires refrig-
erated medications like insulin, invest in a portable
hazards unique to warm weather electric cooler. These devices are not terribly
expensive, and you can power them with a modest
can help keep fun times fun. generator or your car’s electrical system. Amazon.
com will have more options than you could need.
A reliable light can keep you on top of the
food chain when the sun goes down. There are
countless options powered by dozens of power
sources. If you opt for traditional battery-powered
lighting, be sure to keep your batteries fresh.
Swapping out the batteries in your flashlights on
your birthday is an easy way to keep track. I keep at
A proper bugout
bag like these least two or three different lighting options handy
from Echo-Sigma just in case. Mechanical or solar-powered lights are
can be literal inexpensive and reliable.
lifesavers when
you must flee Food Stockpile
with your family While the determined survivor can indeed live for
in the face of
civil unrest or
a month or more without food, you will be gaunt,
weather gone grouchy, and ineffective long before then. Fifty
wild. W pounds of dried legumes look cool on the survival
Must-Have Gear or in the shower. If you are physically portunity. However, be prepared for
A proper knife has been the primary and emotionally able to wield a deadly unexpected travails. Self-reliance keeps
tool that has kept humans alive in weapon responsibly, a firearm is an you from becoming a burden on the
hostile environments since the dawn equalizer in dire circumstances. But, infrastructure in a crisis and can po-
of time. A small camp stove lets you if you cannot train enough to attain tentially keep you alive when life really
sterilize water, heat up dinner, and familiarity, comfort, and proficiency, you goes sideways.
chase away the late evening chill. It’s should probably opt for something less Remember that the most advanced
smart to keep at least three different lethal like a stun gun. survival tool ever devised rests solidly
methods of conjuring fire handy. Enjoy God’s creation at every op- upon your shoulders.
Sleeping bags in cool or mountainous
areas can make the difference between
a good night’s sleep and an evening of
shivering misery. If your family doesn’t
fit in your vehicle overnight, you need a
suitable tent.
Utensils and camping plates, pots,
and pans come in dozens of flavors,
but the disposable sorts mean not
having to draw water to wash them.
Sunglasses can be worth their weight
in gold. A little fishing gear need not
take up much space. A solar power
source adequate to keep your personal
electronics operational can summon
help, notify loved ones, and keep the
kids from freaking out.
Decent footwear is a must. Flip-
flops are comfortable but not the sort
of thing you want to be wearing in an
emergency. I always wear boots when
traveling by air. It doesn’t take much
longer to get through security and
crashed airplanes are inevitably fraught
with jagged metal. A single set of qual-
ity clothing is manageable for extended
periods in the field, but you’ll be hap-
pier with clean socks.
Ruminations
Weapons are a personal decision. I am
armed whenever I am not either asleep
V Resist the
urge to rush
during a difficult
river fording.
Slow, careful
steps will help
you to maintain
your balance
against a strong
current.
Five inches. That’s the average height difference between a man and
a woman. In the front country, this is at most an inconvenience: an item
difficult to reach on a high shelf, or a crowd of taller people hard to
see over at a concert. But in the backcountry, the physical differences start
to stack up between men and women. Longer limbs make it easier to scale
routine obstacles like blowdowns or rock scrambles. Increased muscle mass
allows for a faster pace over difficult terrain. And backcountry gear—so often
designed to fit a man’s physique—also compound these challenges.
Above But don’t be fooled: women possess physi- tions change throughout the season and
Even shallow river ological and psychological advantages that even from year to year. Head upstream and
crossings require special make them more than a match for Mother downstream a few hundred feet, or farther, if
care, as a slippery rock
Nature. The trick is knowing how to maximize necessary, to explore other options. Ideally,
can easily lead to a
sprained ankle. your abilities. Take a difficult river crossing for a little scouting will reveal a log wide enough
instance. Here, a man’s height means that he to cross safely, or a series of rocks for
may be able to leap across a raging glacial stepping-stones.
Above Right creek or keep his pack dry during a wide river But if neither is a safe option you must
Don’t let your guard crossing. His larger mass is also an impor- be prepared to cross the water directly.
down after a successful
crossing. Riverbanks tant advantage, providing increased stabil- Paradoxically, the safest and easiest places
are loaded with lurking ity against the river’s current. To enhance to cross a river are often where the banks
critters, holes and confidence and ability during a river crossing, are farthest apart because frequently they’re
tripping hazards. women should think less about how to “keep shallower and slower moving. Even better is
up” with men, and more about what strengths a place where the river is “braided,” or bro-
they possess that will help them succeed. ken into multiple channels, with small islands
More often than not, this means that your in between.
strategy for the crossing will be different than
your male counterpart. Prep Your Gear
Next, get your gear ready. You want to hope
Pathfinding for the best but prepare for the worst. If you
Start by selecting a place to cross the river. and your gear end up taking a plunge, it’s es-
Where your trail or route indicates to cross sential that critical items stay dry. At the top
may not be the safest option, as condi- of your list should be clothing and sleeping
bag. Here, a dry bag can be worth its weight
in gold. To keep the rest of your gear dry,
take advantage of a few common household
“ Unfortunately,
losing your pack
items: a trash compactor bag and a handful
of Ziplock freezer bags. The trash compac-
tor bag works as an ultralight liner for your
pack, protecting everything inside, while the
Ziplock bags protect smaller items like your
might be just as first aid kit, headlamp, and matches.
Consider weight distribution as you repack
risky as falling into your gear. A top-heavy pack can throw you
off balance even under normal conditions,
CUTTIN’ UP
A BUCK
In a survival-related pinch, all it takes
is one knife and this DIY special
By Bryce M. Towsley
So you have been living on MREs, canned beans Bryce M. the back legs and insert a 1-inch-diameter green
and freeze dried pouches of mush since things Towsley with stick. Tie a rope in the center. Use some paracord
went south. You have come to a harsh understand- a Texas or wire to tie the legs to the stick to keep them
whitetail, taken
ing that this survival thing doesn’t really include fine spread out as far as you can. Toss the rope over a
in 2006 with
dining. Just when you believe you would sell your a Winchester branch, pull the deer up off the ground, and tie the
soul for a steak, you spot a whitetail deer and man- Model 94 in .30- rope off to something.
age to kill it cleanly. Now what? 30. What you do Raise the deer until the back legs are at a com-
If you have never processed your own game, with your deer fortable working level. You can adjust the height
it’s likely you don’t have the tools that your local next determines as needed as you proceed. Starting just below the
how your venison
butcher has at his disposal. Not to worry, you can cuts you made for the stick, follow the ridgeline of
will taste.
do this with nothing more than a knife. Sure, all the hair formed where the white and brown meet
those other tools help, and it’s and make a cut in the hide all the
even useful to have several dif- way to the anus on both legs. Re-
ferent knives. But I think it’s safe member when cutting deer hide
to assume a survival situation that you should always cut from
can be called a “pinch,” and in underneath. Cutting from the top
a pinch, you can process a deer cuts the hair and loose hair will
with a single knife. make a mess on the meat.
Now ring each leg at the point
Skinning Skills where you started the cut, again
As soon as you shoot the deer, always cutting from underneath
gut it and let the deer’s body the skin. Begin peeling the skin
heat fade. Some people argue off the deer by pulling on the hide
for hanging the carcass to let it as you cut it away from the meat.
age, but with deer that’s often a Use the knife to cut the connect-
mistake. Hanging the deer in un- ing tissue as you pull on the skin.
controlled conditions will usually When you reach the tail, you will
do more harm than good, and it’s need to cut through the cartilage.
better to process the deer soon Pull on the tail and chop at the
after shooting it. junction with the body, using the
I find it much easier to skin a knife to part the cartridge. When
deer that is hanging by its hind you’ve freed the hide from the
legs. Cut the skin between the legs and started down the torso,
tendon and the bone on each of you can switch to the front legs.
Removing a
whitetail’s
backstraps is easy
and produces
some of the
choicest cuts
1 2
in the next few days, you Mountains of North Georgia. • Baste the meat often and
must process the meat Using ingredients on hand generously with melted
and the backstraps from a butter, olive oil, and
for storage. Canning young whitetail buck, we ate chopped garlic during
is an outstanding way like kings. I have used this grilling.
to preserve the meat and recipe many times since and
it never disappoints. • Flip only once. For 1-inch-
can be done in a thick meat, cook five
survival situation.” • Cut whitetail backstraps minutes on the first side,
into serving-size lengths, then flip and cook four
your knife into leaving meat behind. When you’ve about four pieces per minutes second side.
finished, you will have a long, flat, piece of meat. backstrap, three if the deer Adjust time by one minute
Now repeat on the other side. is small. per side per .25-inch
There are two much smaller and shorter muscles difference in thickness.
along the underside of the backbone, inside the • Mix Worcestershire sauce —Bryce M. Towsley
stomach cavity, that you can remove the same way. and balsamic vinegar
These “tenderloins”—also very choice—are soft and about 50-50 for a
are easy to detach. They are well defined, and you marinade. Soak meat at
simply cut them away from the backbone. least two hours at room
Next, starting on the underside of the neck, temperature. Puncture
carefully peel the meat off the spine. Work along with a fork to allow the
the length of the neck and roll the meat as you cut marinade to soak into the
around the bone. Remove the windpipe. Cut out the meat.
rib meat by simply following the shape of the bones.
• Blend the following
The Leg Action
Free one back leg from the stick that’s holding it
and pull it away from the carcass. Cut along the 1. Shown here the carcass. Hey, you worked hard for the kill.
bone in the pelvis to free the muscle. As you pull are the pieces You can process the meat in any order, but I usu-
and cut, you will eventually reach the large hip of a whitetail ally start with the backstraps. The key is to remove
hindquarter.
socket. Pull the leg as you work the knife into the all the silver skin, sinew, and fat. Never leave any
socket to cut the ligaments and tendons to free the 2. When using fat on venison. While fat wonderfully flavors beef,
a knife to
ball on the end of the leg bone from the hip socket. venison fat will wreck the flavor of deer meat. It’s im-
remove each
Then cut through the remaining meat to free the hindquarter, the portant that you have nothing but clean, lean meat
hindquarter. With a rutting buck, be very careful meat must be when you are finished. You can use the scraps for
about the tarsal gland on his hock. It secretes a cut free from dog food. They don’t mind the taste of the fat, and
pungent oily substance, so don’t touch it, as you the pelvis bone. it’s good for them.
can transfer the vile stuff to the meat. Pull on the leg to Once you have all the fat and silver skin removed
expose the joint.
You should now have two hindquarters, two front from the backstrap, trim the ends so that you have
The ball on the
shoulders, two backstraps, and two tenderloins, leg bone can be a long, flat, slightly tapered piece of meat. There
plus the neck and rib meat. You may wish to spend cut free from the are several ways to approach processing from
a few minutes removing any good meat still left on socket in the hip. here. You can cut the backstraps into chops about
3. Remove all half an inch thick, or cut them 1.5 of an inch thick
fat, sinew, and like filet mignon. One of my preferred approaches
silverskin from is to cut each backstrap in half leaving me four
venison. large pieces of meat. I cook these whole and slice
like roast beef. When in doubt, leave them in big
pieces. You can always cut them later.
Of course, a lot depends on how you can store
the meat. If you have a generator and a freezer,
that’s great. But, if you must can or dry the meat,
plan accordingly. Just remember, it’s a mortal sin to
can or make jerky out of the backstrap. So use that
cut for your first meals. Trust me. You won’t regret
1 it. Well-prepared venison backstrap chases away
2 3
4 5
FISH
ZAPPERS
Nine wild plants that
will take the fight out
of fish if you’re in a
life-or-death scenario
BY CHRISTOPHER NYERGES
If you ever need to “live off the land,” fish will invariably be a part
of the equation. And ancient methods of gathering fish can help
set the table. A line with a hook was only one of many methods.
People, such as the Native Americans, used nets, dams, and spears to
catch fish. They also used plants with particular toxins to stun the fish. The
techniques were similar for most of these fish-catching plants. The entire
plant was beaten or crushed and tossed into a pool or enclosure with slow
currents. The stunned fish were then quickly scooped up by hand or nets.
However, these methods depend on several variables, such as water
temperatures ranging from icy cold to warm. Other issues include large
volumes of rapidly flowing water; various sizes of the actual pools; the
amount of sunlight hitting the water; the pH (acidity) of the water; and
the unique “chemical soup” of water with other animal species, etc. In
other words, the many variables of the water can affect the plant toxins
considerably.
And to put a full disclaimer to the following roundup of toxic fish
stunners: Be aware that poisoning (even natural poison) is illegal in most
states. Check your local laws.
V Christopher
Nyerges slices a California buckeye
bit of the agave (Aesculus californica)
leaf. The plant is appears throughout
also a source of California and has been
fiber and paper. planted farther north.
The Pomo and other V These shiny brown pods
Native American groups are pulverized and put in
stunned fish with the water to stun fish.
buckeye. Horse chest-
nut (Aesculus hippocastanum), the buckeye of the eastern
states, apparently was not used to stun fish.
Agave The buckeye seeds are known to be toxic to humans if
Agave (Agave americana) is also commonly known as centu- eaten, containing a saponin glycoside, aesculin. Though not
ry plant or maguey. It is a Mexican native and is widespread known to kill, the results of human poisoning can include
throughout California and parts of the Southwest. The plant vomiting, weakness, lost coordination, diarrhea, and paraly-
has lance-shaped leaves about 3 to 4 feet long, with sharp sis. Native Americans in California learned to leach out the
tips on the margins. Sometimes there are yellow or white water-soluble toxins and then eat the buckeye seeds. The big
stripes in the leaves. Agave is a quintessential Southwestern brown seeds would be soaked for three days in the stream
plant. In Cuba and Venezuela, people stun fish by tossing so the aesculin would leach out. Some historians say this is
crushed agave leaves it into pools. how the people discovered that the plant stunned fish.
Shutterstock Photo
Turkey Mullein
Turkey mullein (Eremocarpus se-
tigerus) is a low-growing member
of the Euphorbia (or spurge) fam-
ily. It is widely dispersed through-
out the West and Southwest,
usually in poor soils, and even
along roadsides. It appears as
1 2 a low, whitish mound. Typically,
it grows about 2 feet wide and
about 1 foot high at the high-
Amole or Soap Root 1. Note the layers est point of the mound. There is no relationship to
of fiber that
Amole, also called soap root (Chlorogalum pom- cover the amole the herb mullein (Verbascum thapsus), though the
eridianum) is a member of the lily family found root, also called leaves of turkey mullein appear somewhat like little
throughout the West, generally from California soap root. furry mullein leaves. The primary toxin is probably
north to Oregon. To stun fish, crush up the entire 2. Fish float to phorbol, a diterpene alcohol, but other toxins in the
plant—the bulb and leaves—and toss it into the fish the surface when plant are possible. The very fact that it is a Euphor-
pool. The bulb, however, contains the most sapo- the entire leafy bia family member demands caution since most
Durango root is
nins. I have heard that jolting fish with amole de- crushed and put
members of this group are toxic to some degree.
pends on “quantity.” So toss in a lot of the crushed into water.
plant, even in a small pool. The abundant saponins 3. The turkey
Poinsettia
in the bulb stupefy fish. mullein plant is Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a well-known
very toxic. member of the Euphorbia family. The relative
Durango Root 4. Pencil tree toxicity to humans with this Christmas ornamental
Durango root (Datisca glomerata) is found along is a common is widely known. Usually, if ingested, the results
streams and in wet areas from the mid-elevations ornamental. would be vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pains.
3 4
Wild Cucumber
Wild cucumber (Marah horrida and related spe-
cies) is a member of the gourd family that is some-
what widespread throughout the West. Each year,
the sprawling vines of this plant sprout anew from
the massive underground root. (The plant is also
commonly known as manroot). The vines grow over
other vegetatioan, and when the spiny green fruits
develop, they typically hang from the various trees
and bushes like Christmas ornaments.
The entire plant is extremely bitter, and poisoning
is rare because of this. Though the whole plant is
poisonous, the seeds are the most toxic. Ingesting
25 to 30 seeds can kill a person. The whole fruits of
Sheppard’s Pie
As with the chicken pot pie, the instructions require 2 cups of boiling
water added to the potato package. I cut that back to 1.5 cups so that
the completed meal would be more like a “pie” than a stew. From there it
was a matter of once again adding the main contents to a pot, squeezing
in the gravy-tube contents and 2 cups of water. Add the potatoes after
12 minutes of simmering (there are fewer peas in this mix than the
chicken pot pie.) Tastes vary, but I found this one to be quite good.
++++ Calories per bag: 632 +++ Calories per bag: 1,080 ++++ Calories per bag: 418
ANTENNAS UP
Stay informed with alternative Lightweight, multi-powered
A
After seeing the fabric of society torn several times in included) and a built-in rechargeable Ni-MH battery, which
disasters that cut electric power in communities, forcing fami- can be recharged from the AC adapter, or by a photovoltaic
lies to make do somehow, I have learned a couple of things. solar panel. The KA500 also has a dynamo hand crank,
First, the most popular items that folks stock up on, food which recharges the built-in battery, plus the radio, flashlight
and water, were seldom unavailable and were the first to be and reading lamp, even with no battery installed.
resupplied. Second, even when you prepare for the worst, Also, you can use the crank to power your cell phone or
the most needed but hard-to-find commodity is accurate other electronic gadgets from a USB port at the back of the
information on what is happening. unit, if they have USB connections.
A portable, variable-band radio that operates with multiple You can tune the KA500 to receive a broad range of
power sources will deliver vital local information, such as broadcasting, including AM or FM stations, shortwave, and
changes in weather, recovery and rescue efforts, and even seven pre-programmed weather stations operated by the Na-
contact with people outside the hot zone. tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The NOAA
We looked at various models of survival and emergency channels, numbered 1-7, are reachable by turning a switch;
radios to find out not only what is available, but also what no more guess work with the tuning dial.
features work best for survival mode. Compared to similar solar-powered radios, the KA500 has
One of the first reviewed was the new Kaito Voyager a 180-degree adjustable solar panel, which can maximize
KA500 that is typical of most emergency and survival radios. sunlight exposure to power up the radio or charge the inter-
The KA500 meets emergency preparedness purposes or nal Ni-MH batteries. On the back of the solar panel, there
outdoor challenges with multiple power sources including is a five-LED reading lamp. Accessories include earphones
AC/DC (purchased separately), three AA batteries (also not and a user manual.
SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency reception: AM/FM stations,
shortwave, NOAA Weather Radio (NWR)
Power sources: Dynamo/crank, solar, AA
battery, AC/DC adaptor, USB connection port
Light source: Light-emitting diode (LED)
Battery life: 12 hours
Weight: 2 pounds
SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency reception: AM/FM stations, shortwave,
NOAA Weather Radio (NWR)
Power sources: Dynamo/crank for 2600mAh lithium
ion battery, solar, AA battery, AC/DC adaptor
Light source : LED
Battery life: 32 hours
Weight: 1.46 pounds
The Midland ER310 with
Defining features: Flashlight with SOS strobe bright
charging handle is one of
the smallest survival radios Cree LED light, radio receiver, ultrasonic dog whistle (to
on today’s market. alert canine search and rescue teams), charger for cell
phones and other USB-compatible devices.
ETON CORPORATION
Model: Scorpion II Solar Powered
Radio & LED Flashlight
URL: etoncorp.com
MSRP: $59.99
SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency reception: AM/FM, NOAA
Weather Radio (NWR)
Power sources: Dynamo/crank, solar
Light source: LED
Weight: 10.5 ounces
RUNNINGSNAIL
Model: MD-090 Multifunctional Solar Crank
NOAA Weather Radio
URL: See ebay.com or amazon.com
MSRP: $26.90
SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency Reception: AM/FM (520-1720 kHz);
FM (87-108 MHz), shortwave, NOAA Weather
Radio (162.40-162.55 MHz.)
Power Sources: Hand crank, 2000 mAh lithium
ion battery, solar, AAA battery (not included,) AC/
DC adaptor.
Light: LED
Battery Life: 1-minute hand cranking supports 25
minutes of light and 10-15 minutes of radio power.
Weight: 10.9 ounces
ETON CORPORATION
Model: FRX5-BT Shortwave Radio
URL: etoncorp.com
MSRP: $129.99
SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency reception: Digital tuner with AM/FM,
NOAA (with weather alert)
Power sources: Self-powered hand crank, solar, USB
port rechargeable NiMH 2000mAh battery
Light source: LED
Battery life: 12 hours rechargeable battery; 5-6
hours, solar charge.
Weight: 1.4 pounds
MOTOROLA OUTDOORS
Model: MWR800 Portable Weather Alert Radio
URL: motorola.com
MSRP: $29.99
SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency reception: AM/FM, environmental Canada,
and NOAA Weather Radio (NWR)
Power source: Dynamo/Crank recharging a long-life
battery power bank, solar, three AAA batteries (not
included), AC/DC adaptor.
Light source: LED
Rechargeable batteries, however, are brought back to one in your vehicle; no matter where you are, you will have
life with an AC power source. By the way, a little-known lightweight communications and most of all, control, of
fact is that some non-rechargeable batteries actually can any situation.Yes, it is better to plan ahead and always
be revived, so if you need some AA, D or C cells, but all you have the ability to see, hear and survive. — Andre’ M. Dall’au
SURVIVALIST
STOCKPILE
Cutting-edge backwoods
3
1
5
3.
W
ith the conclusion of the 2017 Shooting, Hunt- CrossBreed Holsters springs, recoil springs, buffer
ing, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show last January Ark Resister Bag tube and a whole new bolt
in Las Vegas, there was a wide variety of new Civilians can now have carrier group. When folded,
firearms and accessories to anticipate this year. the same shield used by the stock assembly reduces
Presented here is a sampling of SHOT products sure to the U.S. military to keep the overall length of a rifle
personal electronic devices with a 16-inch barrel to 26.5
excite the survival and prepper communities.
safe from attacks, like an inches. A built-in adapter
electromagnetic pulse provides positive retention
1. 5ive Star Gear 2. 5ive Star Gear (EMP). The Ark Resister Bag for a folded stock, and with
Woobie Survival Blanket Para-Lite 550 from CrossBreed Holsters just a quick swing of the butt
Made of polyester 210T rip- Paracord/Tinder is made from the same stock. (deadfootarms.com)
stop fabric, the Woobie can The Para-Lite 550 Paracord/ materials used by the troops
work as a blanket, shelter, Tinder carries an extra dose and significantly exceeds all 5. Gerber
pillow, ground cover, or a of survival preparedness. government requirements Broadcut Machete
warm, lightweight sleeping Expose the red thread at to shield against an EMP or Gerber calls this blade
bag. It features ties to work the core of this product and unpredictable weather. a “modern version of the
as a poncho liner, but the ignite it for fire-starting tinder (crossbreedholsters.com) traditional jungle machete.”
two-way nylon zipper creates while camping, hiking, or any The Broadcut is as effective
a sleeping bag option. Or survival situation. Also, use 4. Dead Foot Arms as the name suggests.
leave the bottom open, form- it to make survival bracelets, Modified Cycle System The heavy fine-edge blade
ing a “tube.” Zippers accom- zipper pulls, handle wraps, The Modified Cycle System is corrosion resistant and
modate two blankets joined and gear lanyards. Core (MCS) allows a standard AR- makes short work of dense
together for a double-size threads also work for sewing 15 to transform into a folding- brush. An innovative “hook
sleeping bag. Dimensions: repairs, sutures, fishing line, stock rifle or pistol. MCS + cut” notch is an ideal tool
86 inches long, 64 inches and more. Each roll of the reduces bolt-bounce issues for tearing into troublesome
wide. It weighs 1.9 pounds. cord is 50 feet long. with a specially designed vines and branches. With a
(5ivestargear.com) (5ivestargear.com) system of modified buffer comfortable rubber grip and
10
11
a large finger choil, this is also a knife, multi-tool, and tweezers, pocket clip/bottle blade, but you choose the
the tool for the long days of more. Its compact footprint opener, folding pen, fire material: D2 steel, CPM-
tough tasks. leaves room for more starter, comb, wrench, and 3V, or S35VN. Finish
(gerbergear.com) supplies. With a clamping seat belt cutter. options come in PVD,
system, the user can attach (kleckerknives.com) Vulcan or NP3 that will
6. Gerber Compact the ax head to the optional withstand years of hard use.
Clearpath Machete handle or to nearly any small 9. Lethal Lace Contoured G10 handles
The Compact Clearpath branch in the woods. Other Concealed Carry Holster provide a comfortable grip
Machete is a tough, embedded tools include for Women in all weather. The Bonfire
packable blade for rugged hammerhead, knife, gut This versatile concealed- comes with a heavy-
backcountry travel. The hook/strap cutter, wrenches, carry holster for women duty nylon sheath and a
corrosion-resistant, dual- and more. is wearable at the chest, padded storage pouch.
function stainless steel blade (kleckerknives.com) under the arm, or around the (medfordknife.com)
comes with the confidence waist, hip, back, thigh, calf,
of Gerber’s “Gator Grip” 8. Klecker Knives or ankle. This holster holds 11. Medford Knife and
handle. The two-sided blade Stowaway Tools and handguns from a small .380 Tool Bearded Hatchet
has both a fine edge for Carriers ACP up to a full-size .45. Here’s a Nordic “bearded”
hacking brush and vines This customizable pocket- The unique wrapping feature design with a black PVD
and a crosscut saw edge sized toolbox accepts tiny allows concealment, even in finish and G10 handle. This
for heavier work, like cutting stainless steel instruments the tightest of clothing. It’s compact tool provides all
limbs or small trees. that stow easily in an iPhone available in four colors. of the cutting power but
(gerbergear.com) case but are rugged enough (lethallace.com) none of the bulk of a heavy-
for your everyday carry duty ax—a good choice for
7. Klecker Knives Ax needs. Tool options include 10. Medford Knife and the toughest backcountry
System (KLAX) folding lock-back knife, Tool Bonfire Knife chores. The blade and
With the Klecker Ax (KLAX) flashlight, Phillips/standard The fixed-blade Bonfire has handle are solid CPM-S7
you’re carrying a tool that’s screwdriver, pliers, scissors, a 0.30-inch-thick, full-tang steel. It comes with a Kydex
13
12
14
15
sheath for comfy and safe or 10 minutes at 5,000 attachment. They’re available are adapted from military
carry. (medfordknife.com) feet. A removable, hinged in a small, medium and large. technology, but are now
door allows easy access to (outdooredge.com) available to the civilian
12. Medford Knife and the inside for stoking the market in 12-gauge to 40-mm
Tool Bearded Hawk fire or adding more fuel. It 15. Princeton Tec rounds. This ammo can swat
This hawk, ground from breaks down to .25 of an Helix Backcountry a drone, but, in the case of a
super-tough and shock- inch, weighs 1 pound, and Rechargeable Lantern missed shot, the built-in “safe
resistant S7 steel, is another features a self-tightening The lightweight Helix return technology” allows
blade featuring the Nordic design assembly. Its sturdy, Backcountry Rechargeable the interconnected five-part
“bearded” design; with the titanium construction can lantern stands on four round to parachute back to
blade hanging down from support a pot with 10 foldable legs and features a earth slowly and safely.
the top, you get a higher pounds of food. collapsible globe, allowing (bulletbrothers.com)
grip on the handle for wood (mummertknives.com) the light to hang or stand
shaving and fine cutting. anywhere. The globe can 17. Supertool
The handle has G10 scales 14. Outdoor Edge be removed to create Magnetic Locking
and functions as a multi-tool Para-Claw a spotlight. An intuitive Pistol Case
with hex. The sheath has a This is the knife you wear on swipe control activates the The Supertool Magnetic
bungee loop for retention. your wrist—locked securely 150-lumen white or red LED Locking Pistol Case ensures
(medfordknife.com) but instantly deployed from a bulbs, which are dimmable. that you can travel with your
paracord survival bracelet. It The lantern recharges secured handgun and yet
features a 1.5-inch hawksbill through a micro-USB port. remain compliant throughout
13. Mummert Knives blade, integral glass/nylon (princetontec.com) the U.S., even without a
Phoenix Wood-Burning guard and a specifically concealed-carry permit. The
Titanium Camp Stove developed lock mechanism. 16. Skynet-Drone system secures your gun
The PHOENIX runs on Each bracelet is hand-tied Defense Munitions in the locked case, not on
biomaterials like sticks and from 550 paracord. The Any marksman can disable your body. According to the
twigs. One quart of water bracelet has an adjustable a drone midair if armed company, the “integrated
can be boiling in as little loop to fine-tune the fit with Skynet’s specially locking zipper makes this
as five minutes at sea level, and a steel T-post for easy engineered munitions. They case travel-and-storage
17
18
Multi-Angle
BladeMedic
®
Portable Sharpening
GoBand Holster
Telor’s Comfort-Air GoBand wears i>ÀÊÀiÊ>ÌÊ>ÃÞ°VÊUÊnäänÓxÓÈÇxÊvÀÊ,
ÊV>Ì>}
like the company’s Bodyband
Holster, but with features to strap on
more EDC items. It’s like a go-bag
worn around the torso, yet rolls up
neatly for grab and go, company
officials said. There is a holster,
a 2-inch strap for multi-tools, two
MOLLE pouches, and MOLLE
webbing to attach more gear. Telor’s
medical-grade materials keep you
cool and comfortable. “Sil-Air” foam
and “Slip-not” material are behind
the holster for lasting comfort to
stay in place, never slipping or
sliding down. Machine washable.
(telortactical.com)
21
19
22
20
19. UCO Gear essential outdoor lighting fire starter. The bracelet form a rasp-like surface
Bushcraft Survive accessories, has developed contains more than 10 feet of for sawdust fire starting.
& Thrive Kit a greener way to light a ParaTinder. (ustbrands.com) The finger guard area has
UCO Gear, Morakniv, fire. UCO’s “Sweetfire” is a cutout for more efficient
and survival writer Dave an innovative new strikable 22. UST Brands striking of an included ferro
Canterbury have teamed up fire starter made from a TekFire Fuel-Free rod. Hollow pins in the
to produce a new survival sugarcane by-product called Lighter handle are for lashing it to
kit. The Bushcraft Survive bagasse. This material The lightweight, compact a stick to fashion a spear.
& Thrive Kit contains produces fewer greenhouse TekFire Fuel-Free Lighter The handle has a cutout
Morakniv’s new Kansbol gas emissions than what are is quick and easy. It is for use with a fire bow.
stainless steel fixed-blade absorbed by growing plants. windproof, flameless and (whiteriverknives.com)
knife. Also included is This product gives campers electronic, so it doesn’t need
the Pathfinder stainless and survivalists a cleaner butane fuel or adjustments
steel 32-ounce bottle, the option for lighting fires. for altitude. The lighter
Pathfinder stainless steel (ucogear.com) comes with a USB cord to
750-milliliter pot with lid, easily recharge the built-in
UCO’s Sweetfire strikable 21. UST Brands lithium-ion battery. There is 23
fire starter, UCO Stormproof ParaTinder Bracelet also a 10-second time-out
Match Kit, UCO Original w/Flint Fire Starter feature for safety.
Candle Lantern with a nine- The ParaTinder Bracelet w/ (ustbrands.com)
hour candle, a stainless Flint Starter is an amazing
steel bottle hanger, and a innovation in emergency 23. White River
copy of Canterbury’s book preparedness. It combines Knife & Tool Firecraft
“Bushcraft 101.” life-saving fire tinder and 550 Meet any survival situation
(ucogear.com) paracord for the ultimate with this knife. Its deep
gear duo. The addition index finger choil cut allows
20. UCO Gear of a single tinder thread for high pressure whittling
Sweetfire Strikable allows this paracord to or precision cutting. The
Fire Starter pull double duty. To ignite, grooves at the top of the
UCO Gear, the Washington expose the red core thread blade are for more cutting
State manufacturer of and light it with the flint traction. The grooves also
MAD E PR O U DLY
—American Rifleman
SHOP ONLI N E
Questions?
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