CategoriesRecent PostsArchives
|
June 14, 2013
by 
Fire building is one of those skill sets that can make or break a survival situation. With so much riding on your ability to produce flame, it makes a lot of sense to plan for your own success by building a dedicated fire starting kit. It’s easy and fun to do, and you probably already have all the stuff laying around the house.
[ Read Full Post ]June 13, 2013
by 
It’s hard for me to understand why signaling is such an under-emphasized and little practiced survival skill. Signaling is the best way to help a search party get you out of a survival scrape. In the world of survival priorities, signaling is right up there with shelter, first aid, and water.
With that in mind, here are five important pieces of signal gear that you should have on your person or in your vehicle.
[ Read Full Post ]June 10, 2013
by 
With the onset of heavy summer rains and the 2013 hurricane season, it’s time to consider the steps we might take in the event that we get caught in a flood. Flooding is the most common type of natural disaster—it accounts for 40 percent of all natural disasters worldwide each year and floods kill an average of 46 people in the U.S. each year. Staying safe during a flood takes a combination of proper planning and quick thinking.
[ Read Full Post ]June 7, 2013
by 
Before the real heat of summer sets in, the month of June can provide a great number of tasty wild edible plants. You’ll have to get a feel for the timing of this season in your area—maybe summer is running early or late where you live. Once you figure that what to expect, and go out to forage, you’ll see that there is wild food everywhere.
[ Read Full Post ]June 6, 2013
by 
If you’re a home canner (or a moonshiner), you’re already familiar with the wonders of the mason jar. These old-timey, reusable storage jars are very versatile. But are we using this container to its fullest potential? Here are my top 10 urban survival and wilderness survival uses for the classic mason jar.
1. Re-pack Dry Foods: Pour your rice, beans, etc. into mason jars and screw the cap on tight to keep bugs, rodents, and dampness out of your dry-food stores. Add food-safe oxygen absorber packs or desiccant packs if you have them.
[ Read Full Post ]June 3, 2013
by  Axes and hatchets give you some decided advantages in any outdoor scenario. Compared to a knife, axes and hatchets allow you to gather and split firewood more efficiently, speed up game processing, and create bigger and better shelters.
Archeology even shows us that our ancestors with axes were able to build bigger and better homes than their pre-axe brethren. The tools to chop bone, split logs and shape wood are an important leap forward in self-sufficiency, and having the right tool for the job can make all the difference. Here’s a round-up of my favorite axes and hatchets on the market right now.
[ Read Full Post ]May 31, 2013
by 
Don’t look for Band-aids or Neosporin in this medical kit. This assortment of supplies is tailored specifically to deal with gunshot wounds. A modular kit like this is a great addition to your range bag, your vehicle and even your BOB .
There are plenty of reputable companies out there selling their own gunshot trauma kits. Most kits start around $80. This is a quick solution if you have the money to buy them, but lack the time to assemble your own kit. Or you can follow our lead, by building your own custom kit. I picked up a nice little gear bag for $8 at a gun show, the other gear can be purchased for about $60.
[ Read Full Post ]May 29, 2013
by 
When you’re stuck in the middle of no-man’s-land, and boiling is your only choice for disinfecting water, how do you get that job accomplished without a container?
You may already know the trick of rock boiling, which is the technique of using fire-heated stones, dropped into a cavity filled with water. This method is used when your water container cannot be moved (like a cavity in a rock) or should not be placed over the fire (like a wooden bowl or bark vessel). But can you rock boil without any rock cavities or another type of container?
[ Read Full Post ]May 28, 2013
by 
Our ticks here in Virginia are everywhere right now, and if your local ticks and biting bugs are thriving as well, then this remedy might just be a lifesaver this summer.
[ Read Full Post ]May 24, 2013
by 
The bow and drill method is, by far, the most likely friction method for making a fire in the field. This method has been around for thousands of years, and the components can be made from a wide range of materials.
A friction fire happens when one wooden surface is rubbed, ground or spun against another wooden surface. This action is typically done quickly, under significant pressure and in a “back and forth” manner. Both surfaces are consumed with this act of friction, creating wood dust - along with heat - which can form a small, red hot coal that is actually burning. With the bow and drill method, you have several mechanical advantages to assist you. A lubricated bearing block sits atop the drill, keeping the drill stable and creating the necessary downward pressure on the drill. The bow’s string wraps around the drill, giving you a mechanism to spin the drill quickly by moving the bow back and forth.
[ Read Full Post ]
|
|
