Let's hope that your survival never depends on your ability to catch game with little more than a blade, cordage and natural materials. But if it does, here are five of the best primitive traps, as shown on YouTube.
And by best, I mean functional but easy to make. This kind of survival is a calories game - you want to take in more than you expend. Many trap designs require intricate whittling and a lot of time to build. Why spend 2 hours of whittling when you can get the same results with 10 minutes of work? Trapping, especially primitive trapping, is often a numbers game - the more traps you have, the better your odds of catching something. 2 hours for 1 trap or 2 hours for a dozen traps?
Also - primitive trapping isn't something that most of us practice a whole lot. Simpler designs that you can remember and execute independently are preferable to complex designs that you can't, or only partially can.
Showing posts with label survival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label survival. Show all posts
12/6/13
Wire "commando" saws not entirely useless?
I've always heard the little wire "commando" saws were complete and utter crap - they'd break in moments of use and weren't worth the trouble. So I've never messed with them, despite an interest/mild obsession with small survival/contingency kits. This video - an old one from IAWoodsman that I just stumbled on - shows the proper use of one. He makes a perfectly useable bow saw without too much trouble.
Note that a saw like this wouldn't really be particularly needed for processing firewood - just chuck what you can find on the fire. It would be useful in shelter building, trap building and other bushcrafting. Your mileage will vary on whether that's important to you.
Interesting to know, though, that, at least with the right saw and correct employment, these aren't entirely useless.
BCB, I believe, makes the military issue ones. Like most things, they are available on Amazon.
8/27/13
Dave Canterbury on Kit Mentality
While focused on surviving in the bush, Dave's advice and principles can be applied to building a kit for any environment. Great stuff.
2/5/13
Sleds, pulks and carts
Thought this was a cool one from Dave Canterbury. Cold weather trips and long stints in the wilderness will often require more gear than you can reasonably carry on your back - especially if you've got some real distance to cover. A sled like Dave's (more properly called a pulk) allows you to carry substantially more weight and gear for less effort.
Being a survivalist type dad with two young boys, I see it and think about kid transport, too.
For the less snow covered parts of the world, a cart could be rigged in a similar fashion and pushed or pulled to move around. Not a tactical shopping cart or wheel barrow full of guns. One of those heavy duty garden/utility trailers capable of supporting mass quantities of weight would be the starting point. Or you could grab some mountain bike tires and fab up a simple frame without too much trouble. I've got that project filed away for a rainy day.
A reasonable sized family dog could be trained to do the pulling, too. Probably actually enjoy doing all the hard work, too! Sucker.
Anyways, if you had to be on foot and were looking at a long distance and a long while, a sled or car loaded up with a couple extra hundred pounds of supplies would be a huge advantage and up your survival odds.
1/22/13
Long Term Survival: Shelter
If your home or retreat is compromised in a long term collapse scenario, what are your options for shelter? A poncho shelter is only going to work for so long, and a cheap family tent is probably not going to make it through more than a storm or two. If it's a week or so in the summer, no big deal - but what if weeks turn into months and on into years?
The best option is to have friends or family with backup locations of their own, that are equally viable for long term survival. So, say your place gets destroyed in the initial event, but Uncle Bob's farm is a hundred miles away, and has plenty of extra room, water and food, too. Then you just need to get yourself to Uncle Bob's place and you're good to go.
Even if you don't have a circle of like-minded survivalist type friends/family in the region, it's good to know have an idea of where you could turn for a safe place to sleep and regroup, even if just for a short while. We have friends who lost their home in a tornado a few years back, and they ended up living with some family friends for a few weeks while they located a new place to live and regrouped from the devastation caused by the storm. It never hurts to have these conversations beforehand - and if you're the prepared party, extending an invite to trusted but potentially less prepare parties can be wise.
11/15/12
Tip of the Week: Sigma 3 Survival
These guys aren't as well known as some of the big names out there, but they have some really good content out on YouTube. They've got some great stuff on trapping, primitive skills, bush craft, camo, shelter building and modern scout/sniper stuff. Lots to watch and learn.
The video I've embedded above is Part 1 in an experiment that they put on to simulate a bug out to the woods and living off the land. Most of this first video is a "bag dump" of the lead instructor's bug out bag - which is pretty good - then some hunting, yo-yo trap fishing, trap setting, and so on. It's the beginning of winter/late fall, and the amount of food they're able to get in the subsequent videos is impressive. They're a bit long and there's a lot of talking, but there's quite a bit of good content.
The whole series is pretty interesting, and may make you rethink some of the "it's impossible to live off the land" that seems to be pretty common these days. The best plan for everyone? No. A viable backup plan for some? I think so.
Sigma 3 has a bunch of other good stuff up on their channel, so check it out if you are looking for some YouTubing. I've picked up some knowledge from them and I bet you will too.
11/14/12
Long Term Survival: Wilderness Survival
It's been a while since I wrote an entry in this series, but it hasn't been forgotten!
Could someone disappear into the wilderness, with only a bag on their back, and hope to survive long term? The idea is hearkens back to older times, when mountain men, explorers, long hunters and others lived in the untamed wilds, with little in the way of outside support.
As a survival strategy, on the surface, surviving out tough times in the wilderness has a lot going for it. In many parts of the country, there are vast, empty tracks of wilderness where someone could walk off and never be seen again. In tough times, even in a massive, worldwide collapse, the wilderness would still offer a refuge from the chaos and violence of more populated areas. And, with enough wilderness skill, one could conceivably survive off nature's bounty - wild edibles, trapping, hunting and fishing to keep your belly full.
Real life isn't so simple and easy--I remember reading that the average life expectancy of a mountain man was a measly year. That's not exactly a long time. And they typically had horses loaded down with gear to help.
Injury, illness, weather, predators, starvation, dehydration - there's a long list of challenges to confront. And there are a lot of people who are planning to head to the mountains in case of trouble, so the local forest might not be so empty post-collapse.
Of course, you will have to deal with injury, illness, bad weather, predators, starvation, dehydration and potential raiders just about anywhere after a worldwide, long term collapse--country, city, small towns, suburbs, you name it. Post-collapse wilderness survival is often dismissed off hand - but doing so, is, I think, rather foolish. If you don't have any better options, the remoteness, seclusion and natural resources of the wilderness could well provide an excellent means for survival.
History is full of examples of people who have retreated to the forest and wild places and survived. One is the Bielski partisans from WWII - a group of Polish Jews who retreated to the nearby forests and then organized an armed resistance against the Nazis.
A more recent example: the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. They retreat to the remote reaches of the mountains and hunker down in caves, often evading U.S. forces and, at the end of the day, surviving and living to fight another day.
It's certainly possible - heck, the Native Americans were surviving in the wilds of North America for a long time.
You would of course want to stack the deck in your favor as much as possible - people, animals, tools, food supplies, and the right location would all go a long way. A group of skilled survivors on pack horses loaded down with tools and supplies would have much better chances than a lone guy with a pack on his back. If you were limited to what you could carry in, some pre-positioned caches would be wise.
Edited to Add: Just to clarify, a lone guy with nothing but a backpack full of gear will have a rough time. A lone guy with a backpack will always have a tough time. There's only so much one person can do and only so much you can carry on your back. The more help you have, the better your odds. More people, more equipment, more supplies, etc. A group on horseback, on ATVs, 4x4s and so on, loaded down with gear and supplies, will have an easier go of surviving.
There's also nothing to say that once in the wilderness, you couldn't leave for resupply, scouting, scavenging, barter, etc.
Finally - yes, you would have to have some very strong wilderness survival skills. You wouldn't need to be Dave Canterbury, but you'd need to be very good - knowledge of wild edibles, hunting, trapping, bushcrafting and so on.
Your shelter would be a make-or-break thing; a backpacking tent is not going to stand up to long term use, sustained bad weather or winter temperatures. There are a variety of viable long-term wilderness shelters - teepees, yurts, walled expedition tents, cabins, huts, shacks, dugouts/bunkers, and more. Most are going to require more than a knife to build. You may need to pack in the shelter itself on a vehicle or animal, or you may need to carry heavier use tools, a stove or similar.
Trapping is generally the most productive means of getting meat - hunting and fishing being hit-or-miss - so having animal and fish traps available, plus the knowledge on how to produce primitive traps, would help keep you fed.
Camouflage would be your primary defense - a remote location, plus good camouflage and noise/light/smell discipline would do a lot to help avoid any kind of conflict, but ample and intelligent use of camouflage would further any advantages there. And, of course, you'd want ample firearms in case your camouflage failed or you needed to go on the offensive.
Anyways, some food for thought. Is wilderness survival anyone's primary plan in the event of a wide scale collapse? Anyone have any experience living in a primitive shelter long term. Any good points I missed? Let me know in the comments section.
Could someone disappear into the wilderness, with only a bag on their back, and hope to survive long term? The idea is hearkens back to older times, when mountain men, explorers, long hunters and others lived in the untamed wilds, with little in the way of outside support.
As a survival strategy, on the surface, surviving out tough times in the wilderness has a lot going for it. In many parts of the country, there are vast, empty tracks of wilderness where someone could walk off and never be seen again. In tough times, even in a massive, worldwide collapse, the wilderness would still offer a refuge from the chaos and violence of more populated areas. And, with enough wilderness skill, one could conceivably survive off nature's bounty - wild edibles, trapping, hunting and fishing to keep your belly full.
Real life isn't so simple and easy--I remember reading that the average life expectancy of a mountain man was a measly year. That's not exactly a long time. And they typically had horses loaded down with gear to help.
Injury, illness, weather, predators, starvation, dehydration - there's a long list of challenges to confront. And there are a lot of people who are planning to head to the mountains in case of trouble, so the local forest might not be so empty post-collapse.
Of course, you will have to deal with injury, illness, bad weather, predators, starvation, dehydration and potential raiders just about anywhere after a worldwide, long term collapse--country, city, small towns, suburbs, you name it. Post-collapse wilderness survival is often dismissed off hand - but doing so, is, I think, rather foolish. If you don't have any better options, the remoteness, seclusion and natural resources of the wilderness could well provide an excellent means for survival.
History is full of examples of people who have retreated to the forest and wild places and survived. One is the Bielski partisans from WWII - a group of Polish Jews who retreated to the nearby forests and then organized an armed resistance against the Nazis.
A more recent example: the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. They retreat to the remote reaches of the mountains and hunker down in caves, often evading U.S. forces and, at the end of the day, surviving and living to fight another day.
It's certainly possible - heck, the Native Americans were surviving in the wilds of North America for a long time.
You would of course want to stack the deck in your favor as much as possible - people, animals, tools, food supplies, and the right location would all go a long way. A group of skilled survivors on pack horses loaded down with tools and supplies would have much better chances than a lone guy with a pack on his back. If you were limited to what you could carry in, some pre-positioned caches would be wise.
Edited to Add: Just to clarify, a lone guy with nothing but a backpack full of gear will have a rough time. A lone guy with a backpack will always have a tough time. There's only so much one person can do and only so much you can carry on your back. The more help you have, the better your odds. More people, more equipment, more supplies, etc. A group on horseback, on ATVs, 4x4s and so on, loaded down with gear and supplies, will have an easier go of surviving.
There's also nothing to say that once in the wilderness, you couldn't leave for resupply, scouting, scavenging, barter, etc.
Finally - yes, you would have to have some very strong wilderness survival skills. You wouldn't need to be Dave Canterbury, but you'd need to be very good - knowledge of wild edibles, hunting, trapping, bushcrafting and so on.
Your shelter would be a make-or-break thing; a backpacking tent is not going to stand up to long term use, sustained bad weather or winter temperatures. There are a variety of viable long-term wilderness shelters - teepees, yurts, walled expedition tents, cabins, huts, shacks, dugouts/bunkers, and more. Most are going to require more than a knife to build. You may need to pack in the shelter itself on a vehicle or animal, or you may need to carry heavier use tools, a stove or similar.
Trapping is generally the most productive means of getting meat - hunting and fishing being hit-or-miss - so having animal and fish traps available, plus the knowledge on how to produce primitive traps, would help keep you fed.
Camouflage would be your primary defense - a remote location, plus good camouflage and noise/light/smell discipline would do a lot to help avoid any kind of conflict, but ample and intelligent use of camouflage would further any advantages there. And, of course, you'd want ample firearms in case your camouflage failed or you needed to go on the offensive.
Anyways, some food for thought. Is wilderness survival anyone's primary plan in the event of a wide scale collapse? Anyone have any experience living in a primitive shelter long term. Any good points I missed? Let me know in the comments section.
10/25/12
Random Thoughts: Alaskan Homesteader Shows
I've been enjoying a couple of the Alaska shows on Discovery over the past while - Alaska: The Last Frontier and Yukon Men. While the families featured on these shows obviously have the help of some outside resupply and resources, they are living largely self sufficient homesteader lifestyles. And they've been doing it for a long while, so they've got some expertise in the matter. Enjoyable shows, and certainly a few things to take notice of for us trapped in suburbia types.
All of the men have a rifle slung over their shoulder or within arms reach at all times. Bolt action hunting rifles are most common - .30-06s and .300 Win Mags have been mentioned, but a couple of the guys on Yukon Men have AR-15s, which they use in the dead of Alaskan winter without problem. Shotguns used for hunting birds and nothing else. Handguns are few and far between - an old .22 revolver for dispatching trapped animals is about all I can remember seeing.
Don't remember seeing anything in the way of high-end knives, and certainly nothing bigger than maybe 4 or 5 inches, despite lots of caribou and bear skinning going around.
The Kilcher family on Alaska: The Last Frontier live a more classic homesteading lifestyle, raising lifestock, growing some crops, and using hunting and fishing to supplement their food supplies. The families on Yukon Men are primarily hunters, fishers and trappers - not much in the way of live stock, fields or gardens have been shown. I'm guessing this is largely due to location - the Kilchers live near good pasture land for cattle, and the village in Yukon Men is right on the Yukon River. The Kilcher families seems to be less on the edge of survival and worried about their next meal, but there are certainly other circumstances that probably play into that. But, the farming lifestyle won out over the hunter/gatherer a long while ago, so I suppose that makes plenty of sense, too.
The families on both shows all rely heavily on wood stoves for heating, but also on fuel to power tractors, snow machines, chainsaws and boats. A few of the families on Yukon Men have trained dog teams, who are used with varying degrees of success. Without fuel, they'd all have a pretty rought time getting by.
All have a generally rough time surviving in the wilds, despite having years of experience, really low population density, and the natural resources of Alaska at hand--lots of trees, lots of big fish and lots of big and small game. Despite our obviously milder climate, many areas in the continental U.S. have much less abundant natural resources, and population densities many orders of magnitude gear.
Some helpful perspective at the challenges involved, perhaps. Certainly not something that's easy to do, or that one can just walk into unprepared and hope to fare very well!
All of the men have a rifle slung over their shoulder or within arms reach at all times. Bolt action hunting rifles are most common - .30-06s and .300 Win Mags have been mentioned, but a couple of the guys on Yukon Men have AR-15s, which they use in the dead of Alaskan winter without problem. Shotguns used for hunting birds and nothing else. Handguns are few and far between - an old .22 revolver for dispatching trapped animals is about all I can remember seeing.
Don't remember seeing anything in the way of high-end knives, and certainly nothing bigger than maybe 4 or 5 inches, despite lots of caribou and bear skinning going around.
The Kilcher family on Alaska: The Last Frontier live a more classic homesteading lifestyle, raising lifestock, growing some crops, and using hunting and fishing to supplement their food supplies. The families on Yukon Men are primarily hunters, fishers and trappers - not much in the way of live stock, fields or gardens have been shown. I'm guessing this is largely due to location - the Kilchers live near good pasture land for cattle, and the village in Yukon Men is right on the Yukon River. The Kilcher families seems to be less on the edge of survival and worried about their next meal, but there are certainly other circumstances that probably play into that. But, the farming lifestyle won out over the hunter/gatherer a long while ago, so I suppose that makes plenty of sense, too.
The families on both shows all rely heavily on wood stoves for heating, but also on fuel to power tractors, snow machines, chainsaws and boats. A few of the families on Yukon Men have trained dog teams, who are used with varying degrees of success. Without fuel, they'd all have a pretty rought time getting by.
All have a generally rough time surviving in the wilds, despite having years of experience, really low population density, and the natural resources of Alaska at hand--lots of trees, lots of big fish and lots of big and small game. Despite our obviously milder climate, many areas in the continental U.S. have much less abundant natural resources, and population densities many orders of magnitude gear.
Some helpful perspective at the challenges involved, perhaps. Certainly not something that's easy to do, or that one can just walk into unprepared and hope to fare very well!
10/22/12
The Cold Steel SRK
Here's a nice survival knife I bought unused but secondhand for $50. I bought it for a solid deal on a fixed blade for backup purposes or to stash, but the SRK has fast become one of my favorite knives.
Big reason: it feels great in hand. The grippy Kraton handle is comfortable and works in whatever grip you need. The just over 8 ounce SRK is light and fast while still be tough. The balance - often an oversight - is pretty much perfect. It shifts and rolls to various grips without trouble. Comparing it to my ESEE-4 and Becker 7, the SRK feels quick and nimble. Good stuff.
This one is in AUS-8A steel, which is a middle-tier but totally serviceable blade steel. Cold Steel makes the SRK in their well regarded San Mai 3, too, for a blade steel upgrade. SRKs in the Carbon V steel, another good one, are no longer made, but can be found second hand.
At 3/16 inches thick, the blade strikes a happy medium between too thick and too thin, and the 6-inch blade length is big without being clumsy. The shape is handy and utilitarian; nice, pointy-point and a good straight edge. I've done some abusive hammering/prying with the tip, and it performed flawlessly - passed that test for sure.
I hate coatings, and you can already see the coating wearing off near the end, but at least the SRK's coating doesn't interfere with throwing sparks from a ferro rod. In fact, the SRK throws the best sparks of any knife that I have. It's impressive, and just as good as a purpose-built striker.The sheath is actually pretty good, too. Good retention, pretty good materials, lots of mounting options if you won't want to use the removeable belt loop.
For $76 shipped on Amazon, the SRK is a solid, capable and agile survival knife that won't break the bank. I'm favoring it over my ESEE-4 these days, which cost significantly more and was in pretty desperate need of an aftermarket sheath. If you can find a deal on an SRK, jump all over it. I would pickup an uncoated SRK in San Mai 3 if money were no object.
I would only change one thing about the knife - adding an exposed hammering pommel on the end of the handle. The very similar, but pricier Fallkniven knives have this feature, and it's a nice-to-have if you need to do some hammering/smashing or need to baton the tip of the knife into something. Certainly not a dealbreaker though.
I've owned a dozen or so Cold Steel products over the years and handled many more, but none of them have really wowed me like the SRK has. Definitely a knife to take a look at! I know others have spoken well of the SRK, too - if I remember right, it was one of Dave Canterbury's favorites back in his early YouTube days.
9/6/12
Tip of the Week: Using & Caring for an Axe
A pair of great axe related videos from bushcraft guru Ray Mears. First up is on choosing and using a bushcraft/backpack/BOB sized axe, after the jump is how to care for your axe. Some Gransfors content for the axe afficianados...
8/15/12
Prepping on $40 a Week: Shelter
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| A soldier hunkers down during SERE training. Image from defenseimagery.mil. |
We surveyed the tribe on our Facebook page (like us, we're going to do a give away at 1000 likes!), and it turns out tarps and tents are tied for your top choices for bug out shelter.
A big part of your shelter choice will be informed by where you live--Montana is going to be different than Arizona. So, take the recommendation here with that in mind. Personal preference also comes into play, big time.
Shelter is also one of those "might use" items in a BOB, too. Your plan #1 is probably not going to be to hunker down in the woods somewhere. Shelter that you're going to pack with you is only typically going to come into play if there's no viable pre-existing structure that you can hunker down in--no friend's/family's homes, no hotels, no nothing. If I've got a working vehicle with locking doors, I'm probably going to hunker down in that before I strike camp somewhere, too.
And really, we're talking about bugging out--getting away from danger as quickly as possible--not a luxurious back country camping trip. You'll want to be moving as fast and as long as possible, and only stopping and holing up if you have to.
And really, we're talking about bugging out--getting away from danger as quickly as possible--not a luxurious back country camping trip. You'll want to be moving as fast and as long as possible, and only stopping and holing up if you have to.
8/14/12
Long Term Survival: Food
Haven't had much time to do a ton of writing on this subject, but wanted to put something out there to get the wheels turning.
Food storage is a hugely important thing, but there's only so much food that a survivor can put back. A solid food supply of several months should be good for weathering most problems, but we're looking at something long term and truly devastating on a global scale. In an event like this, you're looking at years before the large scale commercial farms are up and running, the supply chains are rebuilt and the grocery stores are re-opened--if ever. In a situation like this, it's not likely that your food storage will last through the troubles.
Food quickly becomes one of the prime concerns for surviving long term--probably the biggest, aside from a plentiful supply of water--and water is generally easier to come by. If you've got food sorted out, that's a huge step towards surviving a bad scenario indefinitely.
8/12/12
Hill People Gear Mountain Serape
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| The HPG Mountain Serape in poncho mode. And no, the Serape does not provide a black vortex of identity concealment - that's just Photoshop. |
What's the big deal? The Mountain Serape does a solid job of serving multiple roles--it's not just a blanket--it switches from poncho to great coat to blanket to sleeping bag. It's no gimmick, either--the design is well thought out and transitions easily into different modes.
The Serape is one of my favorite pieces of gear that I've bought in a long while. In the time I've had with it, the Serape has become one of my go-to pieces of kit, whether for travelling, hiking or camping. It's mountain man meets modern materials and smart design--a great piece of multipurpose kit, well suited for the back country or hunkering down in a more urban environment.
The Serape has been out of stock at HPG for several months while they've relocated production to the States, but I was lucky enough to snag one of the last generation in the spring. HPG is just getting the new, made in the U.S.A. model in stock, and so I thought it was about time to give the heads up.
Full review and pictures after the jump!
8/1/12
Prepping on $40 a Week: Fire Gear & Container
It's been way too long since our last entry in the $40 a week series, but we're back. Last time around, we talked survival knives. This week, we're focusing on two bug-out bag essentials--a fire kit and a container for cooking and boiling.
Fire Starting Gear
There's a variety of ways you can go with either, and most of 'em are pretty good. For fire kit, I personally like a butane lighter or two, backed up with a ferro rod/fire steel, and with plenty of good tinder.
Raid your junk drawer or mosey on down to the local grocery store and pick up a pack of your lighters of choice--I generally go with Bic lighters of a lighter color. Bics are pretty sturdy and bomb-proof relative to cheaper brands, and the lighter color allows you to check fuel levels. Having two--one to ride in your pack, one that rides in your pocket while you're in bug out mode--is a pretty good idea. Bust the annoying child lock off too.
Fire Starting Gear
There's a variety of ways you can go with either, and most of 'em are pretty good. For fire kit, I personally like a butane lighter or two, backed up with a ferro rod/fire steel, and with plenty of good tinder.
Raid your junk drawer or mosey on down to the local grocery store and pick up a pack of your lighters of choice--I generally go with Bic lighters of a lighter color. Bics are pretty sturdy and bomb-proof relative to cheaper brands, and the lighter color allows you to check fuel levels. Having two--one to ride in your pack, one that rides in your pocket while you're in bug out mode--is a pretty good idea. Bust the annoying child lock off too.
7/24/12
Long-Term Post-Collapse Survival
Let's face it--for an end of the world blog, we here at TEOTWAWKI Blog spend a lot of time talking about practical stuff--everyday carry and typically shorter term survival scenarios. Practical is good and it's useful--the world has not ended in the 5 years since T-Blog launched, but there have been plenty of localized disasters, a massive global recession, and lots of stuff in between.
But, let's face it, all-out Mad Max level end of the world stuff is compelling stuff, and while any single scenario might be extremely low probability, you add them all together and things get more frightening. If you're a T-Blog reader, surviving a long term, world wide collapse is something you're probably interested in, and we're going to try to focus on it more on it over the coming months. Don't worry, we'll keep the practical stuff going too--nothing is going away.
Now to frame our discussion, by long term, we mean surviving beyond 6 months after a global-level collapse. Governments collapsed, economies functioning only at the very local level, if at all. Grids are down, supply chains are broken and travel is limited. Rule of law is not in effect on a wide scale.
This level of collapse will be associated with a major die-off--potentially in the initial event (nuclear war, Yellowstone caldera), or more gradual (pandemic, starvation). Survivors will band together into groups--good, bad and in between, formal and informal. If there's a measure of stability post-collapse, you'll see some consolidation of groups--alliances, mergers and takeovers--and hopefully eventual rebuilding.
I don't personally subscribe to any kind of single philosophy as a "best" way to survive this scope of collapse. For example, a retreat in the middle o' nowhere is not the magic solution, though it can be a pretty good one given the right circumstances. Being a part of a larger resilient (mostly self sufficient) community is another, in many ways, better solution--especially if you can back that community up with some military hardware. We'll talk through a variety of options.
There's the obvious survivalist problems of hordes of cannibals/zombies/raiders, but there's also the problems of sustaining life a year, two years and on-wards after a worldwide collapse. Stuff will run out, wear out and break and there's no more mega-mart to drop by. Lots of associated problems.
We'll also talk through some of the rebuilding process--ideas on how to organize a community defense force, restart and participate in a local barter-based economy, community leadership and so on.
A lot of this will be theoretical, idea-based, though we'll try to look back at history when we can. We may even delve into some of the ideas presented in some of the better post-apocalypse fiction out there--some smart writers with smart ideas to pull from.
Anyways, should be some fun stuff. I'm going to try to get one post per week out along these discussion lines--so stay tuned!
7/4/12
SnakeDr's $40 Deals
Happy 4th, all!
SnakeDr & OscarDelta have come up with two $40 package deals inspired by our $40 a week series. Very cool!
Deal 1, pictured above, consists of:
- Hybrid Technora® Bracelet HBK715 Black with End User Adjustment System II (EUAS) x 1
- SERE Black Ops "V" Cutter (installed on bracelet) x 1
- Ranger FireSteel & Striker x 1
- 28mm SOLAS Refelective Self Adhesive Disc x 2
- Go-Tube with Black 550 Breakaway Pendant Rig (inner core of Jute) x 1
- FQFOB Black with double inner core of Jute x 1
Deal 2 consists of:
- Hybrid Technora® Bracelet HBK715 Black with End User Adjustment System II (EUAS) + Jute x 1
- Go-Tube SOLAS with Black 550 Breakaway Pendant Rig (with inner core of Jute) x 1
- Micro FireSteel and Ceramic Striker
These are some great deals - SnakeDr makes the best paracord and hybrid paracord survival bracelets on the planet. He's been a long time friend of the blog, too. Prices include worldwide shipping. Check the deals out here.
5/21/12
Wilderness Pocket Survival Kits - My Kit
As promised a while back, here's a look at one of my personal pocket survival kits. It's not perfect by any means, but I'm pretty happy with it at this point.
When it comes to building a pocket kit for surviving in the wilderness, I try to make sure that I hit the big survival priorities. Pictured above is one of my personal pocket survival kits. I'll walk you through the capabilities that I wanted my kit to have, and I why I've chosen specific gear to meet those needs.
One thing that I like to keep in mind when building any kind of kit is what I call "Ragnar's Rule of 3s," which says to have three ways of accomplishing anything that's vitally important to your survival. You'll see that reflected in my gear choices below.
Full run down after the jump!
4/5/12
5 More TEOTWAWKI Professions
In last week's post, 5 TEOTWAWKI Professions, I went over 5 potential occupations for a post-collapse world. We got a great response from you guys on additional end-of-the-world jobs, and I promised to give you 5 more this week.
As a reminder, we're looking at professions that are largely skill/knowledge based, and will be things that the average survivor will struggle to do on their own. If they need tools or equipment, it should largely be portable and sustainable in a no-grid scenario. If it requires raw materials, they should be readily available--common natural resources or easily scavenged materials. We're also looking at a post-collapse, TEOTWAWKI-type scenario, where we're looking mainly at smaller communities and pockets of "safe" regions.
1. Blacksmith
The ability to work with metal is huge--making new tools, repairing others. A forge and anvil isn't exactly portable, but they can be built/improvised from common materials. Metal can be readily scavenged from a huge variety of sources--reebar, bed frames, leaf springs, on and on.
2.General Engineering
I've wrapped this under "engineering" instead of repair, because I think it will be just as important to fabricate and build new machines as it will be to repair them. Think Mythbuster's-esque ability to use creativity and a broad range of skills to improvise and solve problems. I'd go with jack-of-all-trades and versatility over a focus in a single area.
3. Power Generation
Electricity is pretty great, and having zero source of power will pose many problems--lighting, refrigeration, . A knowledgeable and inventive person with skills in this area would be hugely valued. I don't expect conventional fuel to be readily available, so knowledge of alternative methods for generating electricity--wind, solar, hydro, wood gas, steam and so on--would be important. Heck, just having some portable solar panels and the ability to charge portable electronics and batteries would be a valuable source of trade; you would just need to protect it!
4. Ammunition Reloader
Without outside supply, the only way to replace ammunition will be through reloading. A survival reloader would need to have the typical tools of the trade (press, scale, a collection of dies, etc.), and a supply of components, but also the ability to cast lead bullets in common sizes, as well as improvise primers or mix up black powder if things got desperate.
5. Gunsmith
The average gun owner barely knows how to take apart their own firearms for cleaning, and expertise in repairing, modifying and even building firearms would be close to priceless. Basic gunsmithing tools and a collection of common spare parts can fit within a normal-size toolbox. Knowledge, experience and ingenuity will be key.
As a reminder, we're looking at professions that are largely skill/knowledge based, and will be things that the average survivor will struggle to do on their own. If they need tools or equipment, it should largely be portable and sustainable in a no-grid scenario. If it requires raw materials, they should be readily available--common natural resources or easily scavenged materials. We're also looking at a post-collapse, TEOTWAWKI-type scenario, where we're looking mainly at smaller communities and pockets of "safe" regions.
1. Blacksmith
The ability to work with metal is huge--making new tools, repairing others. A forge and anvil isn't exactly portable, but they can be built/improvised from common materials. Metal can be readily scavenged from a huge variety of sources--reebar, bed frames, leaf springs, on and on.
2.General Engineering
I've wrapped this under "engineering" instead of repair, because I think it will be just as important to fabricate and build new machines as it will be to repair them. Think Mythbuster's-esque ability to use creativity and a broad range of skills to improvise and solve problems. I'd go with jack-of-all-trades and versatility over a focus in a single area.
3. Power Generation
Electricity is pretty great, and having zero source of power will pose many problems--lighting, refrigeration, . A knowledgeable and inventive person with skills in this area would be hugely valued. I don't expect conventional fuel to be readily available, so knowledge of alternative methods for generating electricity--wind, solar, hydro, wood gas, steam and so on--would be important. Heck, just having some portable solar panels and the ability to charge portable electronics and batteries would be a valuable source of trade; you would just need to protect it!
4. Ammunition Reloader
Without outside supply, the only way to replace ammunition will be through reloading. A survival reloader would need to have the typical tools of the trade (press, scale, a collection of dies, etc.), and a supply of components, but also the ability to cast lead bullets in common sizes, as well as improvise primers or mix up black powder if things got desperate.
5. Gunsmith
The average gun owner barely knows how to take apart their own firearms for cleaning, and expertise in repairing, modifying and even building firearms would be close to priceless. Basic gunsmithing tools and a collection of common spare parts can fit within a normal-size toolbox. Knowledge, experience and ingenuity will be key.
4/3/12
Review: Hill People Gear Kit Bag
There's lots of reasons to want a gun nearby when you're out in the back country. From hungry predators to meth labs and grow operations, there are potential threats and you may be many miles and hours or days away from backup. Unfortunately, carrying a concealed pistol with a serious backpack is often a difficult proposition--the waist belt interferes with normal inside the waistband or outside the waistband carry methods. The Hill People Gear Kit Bag aims to overcome that challenge, placing a pistol and other essentials in an easy-to-access, on-body location--your chest. Think of it as a backcountry CCW-friendly chest rig.
3/29/12
5 TEOTWAWKI Professions
A question came up recently in the comments thread, a new prepper looking for advice around how to prepare for providing for a family post-collapse. Here are 5 potential professions that are generally portable and would make a survivor a valued addition to a survival group, as well as provide great barter potential.
1. Food Production
Food production will be a hugely important skill in a long term collapse, and it's something that few people are skilled in these days. Even people who make a living through farming today will have a tough transition to a world with limited fuel-powered tractors, pesticides and so on. Knowledge and skills in food production--things like gardening, raising livestock, hydroponics, aquaponics, traditional farming techniques and related skills--will be hugely important to keeping communities fed and alive after a large-scale collapse. Knowledge is very portable, as are seeds.
2. Sewing
Hand sewing and the ability to repair and make a wide variety of things would be quite valuable. While the average person can probably sew a hole in their pants, can the sew up a backpack, chest rig, pants, tent, sleeping bag, shirt or similar? Probably not. As pre-collapse goods wear out and disappear, sewn goods will become very valuable. A sewing kit and associated tools is quite light weight, and cloth can be scavenged or bartered for. Though less mobile, a treadle/foot powered sewing machine would make life a lot easier.
3. Community Defense
The average American has little experience with weapons and defense, and when there's mobs of potential enemies roving the lands, those who do will find their services in high demand. Whether it's serving as a guard or defender, or helping train and prepare a community defense force for troubled times, people with skills in this area will have an easier time finding a place in a post-collapse world. Defensive weaponry, a trustworthy appearance and credentials would help.
4. Medical/Dental
Demand for medical services will skyrocket in a more dangerous, accident-prone post-collapse world. The traveling doctor, making house calls on patients, would see a resurgence. Formal training/credentials would be important, as would the appropriate equipment, and probably also a sound knowledge of natural remedies. Very valuable and likely to help keep you alive in many circumstances.
5. Radio Operator
HAM Radio operators are not exactly common these days, but they could be a source of information and communications with the outside world. A portable, solar-powered HAM set up and knowledge of communications tech would make a survivor a handy person to have around in troubled times. Access to information and the ability to send messages over a long distance would put your services in high demand.
There's five professions--I'll post up 5 more next week. To those interested, I'm sure my seasoned survival readers will have plenty of other ideas in the comments section,
1. Food Production
Food production will be a hugely important skill in a long term collapse, and it's something that few people are skilled in these days. Even people who make a living through farming today will have a tough transition to a world with limited fuel-powered tractors, pesticides and so on. Knowledge and skills in food production--things like gardening, raising livestock, hydroponics, aquaponics, traditional farming techniques and related skills--will be hugely important to keeping communities fed and alive after a large-scale collapse. Knowledge is very portable, as are seeds.
2. Sewing
Hand sewing and the ability to repair and make a wide variety of things would be quite valuable. While the average person can probably sew a hole in their pants, can the sew up a backpack, chest rig, pants, tent, sleeping bag, shirt or similar? Probably not. As pre-collapse goods wear out and disappear, sewn goods will become very valuable. A sewing kit and associated tools is quite light weight, and cloth can be scavenged or bartered for. Though less mobile, a treadle/foot powered sewing machine would make life a lot easier.
3. Community Defense
The average American has little experience with weapons and defense, and when there's mobs of potential enemies roving the lands, those who do will find their services in high demand. Whether it's serving as a guard or defender, or helping train and prepare a community defense force for troubled times, people with skills in this area will have an easier time finding a place in a post-collapse world. Defensive weaponry, a trustworthy appearance and credentials would help.
4. Medical/Dental
Demand for medical services will skyrocket in a more dangerous, accident-prone post-collapse world. The traveling doctor, making house calls on patients, would see a resurgence. Formal training/credentials would be important, as would the appropriate equipment, and probably also a sound knowledge of natural remedies. Very valuable and likely to help keep you alive in many circumstances.
5. Radio Operator
HAM Radio operators are not exactly common these days, but they could be a source of information and communications with the outside world. A portable, solar-powered HAM set up and knowledge of communications tech would make a survivor a handy person to have around in troubled times. Access to information and the ability to send messages over a long distance would put your services in high demand.
There's five professions--I'll post up 5 more next week. To those interested, I'm sure my seasoned survival readers will have plenty of other ideas in the comments section,
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