Ed: Disposable Kit

Via mi amigo Ed @ Ed's Manifesto:

"Friend of the page sent in this picture. He arrived in an unfamiliar place and went with the on site procurement method. Basically he built his cheap throwaway kit from just one trip to the Local Walmart. This method allows you to bypass a lot of problems as far as transportation of gear from one country to another for example." -  Ed

Commentary: Sometimes circumstances separate you from your tools. Air travel is a big 'un, especially if you're packing light and limiting yourself to carry ons. A little cash and improvisational ability can get you re-equipped in no time.
Or plan ahead and cache it.

I'm seeing maybe $40 worth of stuff here, but well rounded set for daily carry.

Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel...When a shovel is more than just a shovel

My Cold Steel Special Forces / Spetsnaz shovel, during a break in cleaning up around the homestead. Digs, chops, hacks, hammers, smashes...one of my favorite tools for working outdoors. Hacked down saplings, cleared a trailed, helped cleanup a truckload of leaves...

It's been kryloned with their brown camo, wrapped with camo form and has had the edge honed a bit with a file. I've had this thing for years now, riding in the back of my truck. It's seen a lot of hard use, still going strong.

Available on Amazon >

Reader question: Survival strategies without firearms

A question came in from a British ex-pat living in Taiwan:

Everyone, every blog and every site I read (especially in English) always talks about self defense and using arms but what if you had none?

Everyone talks about bug out locations and protection through the use of arms but what if on route they were confiscated by the authorities and you found yourself unprepared with none?

I myself have a little place away from populated areas here in Taiwan and am fully conscious of the fact that if the laws break down and you are on your own, it’s gonna be hard.

Now I am about as removed as I can be BUT on an island like Taiwan which is heavily populated it’s impossible to be that far away from anyone looking for food or a place to hide.

So with that in mind and NOT having the availability of any arms, maybe as a question to your clearly wise audience “How would you defend yourself? Hide? Stand? Fight?”

This is also tough as there would be some weapons but not for all the masses and as a British Guy living in an Asian country blending in is not an option.

When faced with a violent aggressor or pissed off mob, there are two time-tested strategies - fight or avoid the trouble altogether.

On fighting:

In terms of fighting, there's an old saying - "God made men, but Sam Colt made men equal." Firearms are the great equalizer - a dude can outweigh you by a hundred pounds of muscle...doesn't much matter when put a couple rounds into his chest.

Moar Blacksmithing: Nepalese Blacksmiths & Man at Arms

Since we've gotten onto the topic of blacksmithing, a couple videos I thought you might find interesting.

First up, video from a blacksmith shop in Nepal where they mass produce Khurki knives. A practical, proven design for a big ol' chopper, made with the most basic of hand tools.



And, Man at Arms, a look inside a 'modern' weaponsmith's shop. Lots of powertools - the power hammer is especially cool.

These are movie and video game designs, but the tools and techniques would work for more practical designs. There's a couple dozen of these videos and other every week or two - some of the weapons are more practical, some are not, the process is interesting to watch for all.

Church & Son War Clubs

Beautifully mean looking Native American-style war clubs, hand made by T-Blog friend and black smithin' hippie, Randy Church.

Channel your inner Mohican war chieftain. A steal at $300 each.

Available from the Redbud Forge >