Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2020-08-01 American Survival Guide
2020-08-01 American Survival Guide
FOOD
WATER
SHELTER
SECURITY
COMMS
This Backcountry HEALTH
WELLNESS IS
NO ACCIDENT
Simple Steps for Enjoying
a Healthy Life
BIG -TIME
M6 TAKEDOWN
TPS Arms’ New .357/.410 Ups the Ante
NO BUDGET?
NO PROBLEM!
Survival Basics That Don’t Bust the Bank
SPARTAN BLADES’ SILVER LINE
TAKES THE GOLD
The Alala and Machai Run the Gauntlet
DIGITAL ISSUES AVAILABLE ON WWW.ENGAGEDMEDIAMAGS.COM
72
NO BUDGET? NO PROBLEM!
Basic survival gear that won't break the bank
By Christopher Nyerges
HOW-TO
28
FOLLOW THE TRAIL TO SUCCESS
The history and importance of learning how to track
By Kyt Lyn Walken
54
WELLNESS IS NO ACCIDENT
Follow these simple steps to enjoy a healthy life.
By Dana Benner
80 62
BUDGET WATER BARREL BUILD
Build this simple rain catchment system for less than $75! 20 12
By Brian M. Morris
REVIEWS
12
OFF-ROAD RELIABLE
The ROXOR backcountry buggy can tame the trail.
By Steven Paul Barlow
36
BIG-BORE LEVERAGE
Henry’s new .45-70 X model adds tactical touches to a
traditional hunting rifle.
By Steven Paul Barlow
62
THE M6 TAKEDOWN RIFLE HITS THE BIG TIME
TPS Arms’ new .357/.410 ups the ante.
By Mike Travis
86
TAKING THE GOLD: SPARTAN BLADES’ NEW
SILVER LINE
We run the Alala and Machai through the gauntlet.
By Jim Cobb
AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE (ISSN 2331-8937) is published 12 times a year—January, March, April, Prepper Spring/Summer, June, July, August, September, October, Prepper Fall/Winter, November and
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GEAR
GUIDE
44
CIVILIZED CAMPSITE CUISINE
USEFUL UTENSILS FOR
CHOW TIME
28 36 By Michael D’A
54
DEPARTMENTS
6
FIRST WORDS
8
NEW PRODUCTS
8 80
96
PREPPER PLANT ADVISOR
98
LAST WORDS
Some articles in this issue might
include stock images that are the
property of Getty Images.
EDITORIAL
Mike McCourt Brand Manager
Lin Simon Managing Editor
DESIGN
“NEVER WASTE
Nadezda Sverdlova Art Director
Gabby Oh Design Director
CONTRIBUTORS
Steven Paul Barlow, Dana Benner, Jim Cobb
Michael D’Angona, Brian M. Morris, Christopher Nyerges,
BY A GOOD CRISIS.”
[email protected]
A
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OPERATIONS
Manish Kumar Mishra Operations Manager
Surajpal Singh Bisht Prepress Manager
Chandan Pandey Production, Newsstand & Circulation Analyst
s far as I can tell, this statement is weekends in the woods, but the current situation gives Alex Mendoza Administrative Assistant
most correctly attributed to Niccolò us more of the full picture of what we expected to EDITORIAL, PRODUCTION & SALES OFFICE
17900 Sky Park Circle, Suite 220, Irvine, CA 92614
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none of us really wanted to learn boonies, there’s no “tap-out” option during the pandemic. AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE (ISSN 2331-8937) is published 12 times a year—
about in high school. He’s often called the “father” of The effects it’s having on the food chain, the legal sys- January, March, April, Prepper Spring/Summer, June, July, August, September,
October, Prepper Fall/Winter, November and December—by Engaged Media,
modern political philosophy, so there’s probably a lot tem, mass communication and the reach of all levels of LLC, 17900 Sky Park Circle,,Suite 220, Irvine, CA 92614.
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ings. But I’ll spare you from any lessons on him here. actionable information is exceptionally challenging. © 2020 by Engaged Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of
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opportunists. We were accused of exploiting the crisis through my “reality translator” to be worth my time
because we were selling the gear that they now needed, and attention. Within a day of cutting the proverbial
not simply wanted. "cords," it was like a refreshing breeze with a bacon
While I never suffered any real harm, I stopped dis- aroma (!) had wafted over me.
cussing my occupation and business connections with I haven’t tuned out; I’m just more selective of what
people I thought could go off the deep end when the I expose myself to. In addition, I've learned to watch
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this in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, pandemic developments and gauge when similar waves ENGAGED MEDIA, LLC
Scott Hall CEO
where many are using these epithets again to deride would sweep over my area. It’s been useful to be able to Pinaki Bhattacharya Managing Director & COO
John Goodpasture Vice President, Sales
people, groups or governments. anticipate trouble so I can fine-tune my plans and check Erin Masercola Director of Content Operations
Carrie Rubalcaba HR Generalist
However, I have a different take on it this time. on and help others who could use the support.
We preppers spend perhaps 90 to 95 percent of So, even though you’re wearing thin on this whole This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the understanding that
information presented is from various sources from which there can be
our time on the planning and preparation side of the pandemic thing, don’t miss the opportunity to learn no warranty or responsibility by Engaged Media, LLC, as to the legality,
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equation of responding to emergencies and disasters from it. For the vast majority of us, this will be the par-
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ready for. So, in a real sense, it’s very important that we crisis. Take notes, improve your plans, and be sure to
don’t let the opportunity to execute those plans and pass your learnings down to the next generation.
“exercise” our prepping muscles during this pandemic
go to waste. All the best!
Sure, we can run practice drills and simulated disaster Mike McCourt
1 2
3 4
1 2 3 4
Rapid Raft DuoLock SoftBottle Brass Monkey Self-Defense Duct-Aid First Aid Kit
The Rapid Raft is the lightest and most Available in three sizes (0.75L, 1.0L, 2.0L), the Weapon We saw this new style of first aid kit at SHOT
packable raft on the market today. It weighs DuoLock SoftBottle is a great way to carry Show earlier this year. Rather than a pouch
Each Brass Monkey is one of a kind, made by
just 3 pounds and starts out about the size water with you or ensure you have an extra or box, it’s set up as a rollout kit—not unlike
hand in Colorado’s Kopis Designs workshop.
of a loaf of bread. It inflates and is ready to container in your pack ... just in case. Empty, some tool kits. Each item has a labeled
The finished product is ½ pound of fist-filling
go In under one minute—without the use of it rolls up nice and small, taking up very little pocket, so everything is easy to find. In
fury. The Brass Monkey is 5.625 inches long
any tools. It deflates just as quickly when space. The cap has dual locking mechanisms addition, should the need arise, the fabric
and 0.875 inch thick. It’s a defense weapon
you undo the patented buckle system. This to prevent spills and leaks. The handle has a can also be used as a sling. There’s also a
similar to a kubaton or dulo dulo, but with
raft is perfect for solo flat-water crossings, clip gate, so you can easily attach the bottle roll of medical-grade duct tape marked with
multiple options for use. The point works great
making it a great option for hunters, to a pack strap. The SoftBottle comes in a 288 bandage templates that can be cut out.
against nerve endings and soft targets, while
campers and those who just want to spend range of patterns and colors. Alternatively, you can create a custom shape.
the blunt end is a bludgeon. A Brass Monkey
an afternoon wetting a line.
also adds weight and power to fist strikes.
5 6
7 8
5 6 7 8
TOPS Knives Earth Skills Spectra Watermakers Aquifer Streamlight MacroStream CRKT Jenny Wren Compact
Knife 200 FR Water Purifier USB Flashlight ’Hawk
The Earth Skills Knife was designed by Yes, it's expensive, but this reverse-osmosis This light is small enough to be carried A small tomahawk could be one of the
Matt Graham. He’s very well-known in desalinator/purifier system can be a lifesaver easily, but it blasts out a whopping 500 handiest additions to your kit. Use it for
the survival community as an expert in when a sizeable group is rocked by a disaster. lumens. Or, dial it back to a more reasonable preparing firewood and other chopping
primitive skills, martial arts and much Effective on fresh, brackish and saltwater, 50 lumens when you need the maximum tasks to save your knife edge for chores
more. The knife is thinner than you might this unit is packed in three rugged Pelican battery runtime. It’s USB-rechargeable via a that require more precision, such as food
expect: just 0.125 inch. This makes it a roller cases and can be powered by included port that’s hidden by a metal sleeve. Pull the prep or skinning game. At 10 inches long
great slicer. It's a large knife, stretching solar panels, as well as other AC or DC sleeve forward, charge the light, and you’re and weighing just over a pound, the Jenny
14.25 inches from end to end, but it’s very sources. Used by disaster relief organizations, all set. Because it’s just 4.5 inches long, you’ll Wren Compact ’Hawk isn’t a boat anchor
fast in the hand, weighing fewer than 12 the Flight Ready Aquifer consists of never notice it in your pocket. to lug around. It comes with a MOLLE-
ounces. The 1095 steel is easy to sharpen the company’s Aquifer 360 Expedition compatible sheath so you have carrying
and holds an edge well. A brown leather Watermaker and the AF-360 Solar Power options. The glass-reinforced nylon handle
belt sheath is included. Pack. MSRP: $90 is textured for a positive grip.
Streamlight.com
MSRP: $225 MSRP: $22,750 MSRP: $135
TOPSKnives.com SpectraWatermakers.com CRKT.com
9 10 11 12
Uberleben 6-Inch Hexa Pocket 30 Survival Kit Campfire Trio TOPS Knives Tac-Raze 2
Fire Starter Preppers and survivalists have been making The Campfire Trio is a collection of—you Looking for a folder with a little more
little survival kits for ages. The folks at Tiny guessed it—three great cooking tools. The character than the typical EDC? The Tac-
A ferrocerium rod is something many
Survival have it down to a science. The Fire Safe forms the base. It’s a stainless Raze 2 could be what you’re looking for. The
survivalists would consider an essential
Pocket 30 is an ultra-light, micro survival kit steel foldout bed for wood or charcoal green Micarta handles and blade shape are
part of a daily loadout. It works in any
that includes items for water collection and fires. The Grill M1 Edition, a height- updates to TOPS’ first friction folder, and
weather conditions, sending out sparks to
purification, food procurement, gear repair, adjustable cooking surface, is placed over the Black River Wash finish further sets
light your tinder. Clearly, the greater the
fire-starting, rescue assistance, navigation that. It comprises just two parts: a frame the design off, preventing the possibility of
surface area you’re scraping on the rod, the
and more. The entire kit is designed to fit into that spreads open and the actual grill that confusing it with a straight razor. The 1095
larger the shower of sparks that will result.
a standard metal mint tin. This is the perfect unrolls and secures. The final piece of the steel blade is slightly more than 3 inches
Thus, the beauty of the Hexa ferro rod.
last-ditch kit for anyone who ventures out into trio is a good-quality ferrocerium rod (not long, and the knife opens to 7.5 inches. The
Rather than working with a cylinder shape,
the field. shown) for lighting your cook fire. brown leather belt sheath is included so you
you’re scraping a flat surface. The Hexa
can safely keep this EDC knife close at hand.
Fire Starter comes in 3- or 6-inch lengths.
13 14 15 16
TOPS Knives Baja 4.5 5.11 Tactical TKO Combat Wipes Kershaw Shuffle DIY
Reserve Edition Ratchet Kit While few of us would expect to be able Multi-Tool
to keep squeaky clean in the field, being
Almost too pretty to use, the Baja 4.5 RE This small kit is supremely handy. It contains The Shuffle DIY is a multi-function pocket
able to wash up a bit will certainly be
still has the work ethic of all TOPS Knives. six hex bits, including metric, Torx, SAE and knife that contains a sharp blade, flathead
appreciated. Combat Wipes are alcohol
The 5.4-inch, 1095 steel blade is agile and Phillips, as well as a pistol punch tool. The bit, Phillips bit and bottle opener—all in a
free. They have aloe and vitamin E and are
right-sized for many tasks around camp, magnetic ratchet is bi-directional and has very compact package. A magnet keeps the
antibacterial. The wipes are thick and soft,
and the presentation-grade leather sheath just enough length to be useful without bits in place when they’re not in use. The
measuring 7.1x8.3 inches. The soft-sided,
(not shown) perfectly complements the tan cramping your fingers trying to hold onto it. blade has a thumb stud for easy opening,
travel-friendly package holds 25 wipes
canvas Micarta scales. The 5/32-inch-thick It also features a pry tool and bottle opener. and a linerlock keeps the blade secure once
and dispenses one wipe at a time. When
blade and the full flat grind combine to The entire tool kit is carried in an elastic it’s been deployed. At 3.5 ounces, it has a
you’re done with these wipes, you can just
add strength to the 1/8-inch stock, which is holster with a belt clip and attaches easily little heft for its size, giving it a robust feel.
bury them, because they’re 100 percent
perfect for when the going gets tough. The to MOLLE webbing.
biodegradable.
jimping added to the spine, along with the
finger guard, help ensure you’ll maintain MSRP: $32.33
control, even in wet or hard-use situations. MSRP: $19.99
MSRP: $10.99 Kershaw.KAIUSA.com
511Tactical.com
CombatWipes.com
MSRP: $180
TOPSKnives.com
"I
t needs a rifle rack for an M1
Garand or a BAR," I thought.
"Or maybe a mount in
the back for a ‘Ma Deuce’
.50-caliber machine gun."
At first glance, the ROXOR looked like
a World War II Jeep with a fancy, new
paint job. After a couple of outings with
it, I walked away thoroughly impressed:
Here’s a vehicle that combines old-
school simplicity and rugged, quality
construction with modern engineering.
It’s an off-road vehicle suitable for both
hard work and good-time adventures.
And, if you’ve ever considered a vehicle
for bug-out transportation for use during
devastating times—one with a lineage
that includes withstanding the rigors of
a world war—the ROXOR would seem to
qualify.
the vehicle from four-wheel-drive “high” to four-wheel-drive “low.” to choose the right amount of momentum to get through the difficult areas. At times, I
ROXORs are also available with a five-speed manual transmission. found it helpful to manually downshift the automatic transmission to a lower gearing and
Our trail test of the ROXOR took place in Northeast spring keep the rpms higher. The more I drove it, the easier it got.
conditions. That means mud. We took turns behind the wheel and In addition, selecting the proper tires for the terrain is always key. That’s no problem,
navigated the labyrinth of trails cut through a wooded hillside. because the ROXOR uses standard automotive tires. On the days we were out on the trails,
The ROXOR is about 60 inches wide, and many sections of the trail tires with a more aggressive tread would have helped. That being said, we were never in
weren’t much wider than that. And, while the ROXOR diesel engine trouble of getting stuck and never had the need to try the Warn winch Rich had mounted
generates just 62 horsepower, it had no problem pulling us up the on the front bumper.
steepest inclines. Uphill, downhill, across shallow streams and through mudholes, the ROXOR was
Getting traction in the mud was sometimes not as easy. Most of absolutely fun to drive. I don’t think I stopped smiling the whole time!
it was a matter of just not being familiar enough with the vehicle While I wouldn’t want to race this ROXOR against the off-road motorcycles I grew up
ACCESSORIZE IT
With a vehicle such as the ROXOR, you’ll
start with the basic Classic model and
equip it according to how you want to use
it. You can keep the open-air experience
with latching door nets or fully enclose
the passenger compartment with a soft
shell for protection against the elements.
You can keep it as a two-seater with
plenty of cargo room, or you can add two
rear seats and an extended roll cage to
protect your passengers.
Do you need to haul more? You can get a
trailer for your ROXOR (ROXOR offers the
RBT2000 trailer that’s specially designed for
› Bottom: No frills
here. The interior of
the ROXOR is kept
very basic. When it
gets muddy, you just
hose it out.
S O U R C E S
ROXOR
(800) 292-0733
ROXOROffRoad.com
W
hen I was a child, I The road has been long and often rough.
never thought I’d be Thankfully, I had some really good teachers
doing what I do or liv- along the way, with perhaps the very best
ing the lifestyle that I teacher—and maybe also the cruelest—being
live. Little did I know the environment itself. Mother Nature can be
that from early on, I was being groomed for a very demanding taskmaster.
this life. Early on, I drew upon the lessons learned
› Both the blossoms and the pads of the prickly pear cactus are edible ... with a little work.
› Above: The
by my Native American ancestors, trying to absorb as much as I
author was
Guide to Wild Foods and Useful Plants successful here could. I made it a point to listen to the oral stories and read those that
because he knew had been written down, hoping to glean what bits of information I
Written by Christopher Nyerges, a frequent contributor to what type of fish to
American Survival Guide, this book leverages his decades look for, the most could use.
likely places to find Thankfully, my mother was a healer, and she was able to teach
of experience as an ethnobiologist and is a must-have if them and the best
you intend to safely harvest wild plants for either food or gear to use to catch me about many healing plants. I asked a lot of questions—almost
them. to the point of being a pest. I was quick to learn that if I’d just
medicinal purposes. This book discusses all the known uses,
as well as any potential dangers, of the plants included in shut my mouth and watch and listen, I’d be better off. The lessons
this book. would come to me as they were needed.
A Native elder once told me, “Nobody knows everything, but
MSRP: $24.95 everyone knows something.” As I’ve grown older, I’ve found this to
Amazon.com be true. I don’t know everything, and I’m still constantly learning.
MSRP: $22.95
Amazon.com
MSRP: $19.95
Amazon.com
Ingredients
• 2 pheasant breasts on the bone (feel free to substitute with
grouse, duck or chicken)
‹ Top: Another option when cooking bacon-wrapped pheasant is to add
some apples for a nice change of pace.
• 1 pound bacon (You probably won’t use all the bacon ... but you can
never have too much bacon!) Additionally, while I prefer buying
‹ Below: Pheasant breasts, after an hour or so in the oven and with the bacon
wraps removed, are ready to eat.
bacon from local farmers, store-bought bacon is fine. Just read the
label carefully. If it has too many words that you can’t pronounce,
‹ Bottom: This meal was easy to cook and really hit the spot! Knowing where
to source the wild protein made this a delicious dinner.
it’s probably best to stay away from it.
• 1 cup water or stock (I make my own by boiling down the bones of
the birds I harvest.)
• 4 medium potatoes
• 6 large carrots
Seasoning is always up to the cook, but I use very little, if any, sea-
soning when I make this dish. I never use salt, because most food nat-
urally has trace elements of salt. If you need to use salt, I recommend
using an organic sea salt—but even then, use it sparingly.
Preparation
The first thing I do is prepare all my ingredients and supplies.
There’s nothing worse than not having what you need when you
need it.
Pre-heat your oven so it’ll be ready when you are.
While the oven heats up, get your meat ready. Wash the pheasant
breasts, pat dry and put into a clean dish. Wrap each breast with
three or four slices of bacon. You might need to hold the bacon
in place with wooden toothpicks. The bacon is important for
two reasons: First, it adds flavor to the dish; and second, it adds
much-needed fat. Wild gamebirds, unlike domestic, farm-raised
poultry, have very little fat. The bacon helps keep everything moist.
In addition, it helps keep the meat from sticking to the dish.
You’re now ready to put the meat into the oven. Add the stock or
water, cover and allow to cook for 15 minutes. Check the pot period-
ically and add more water or stock as needed. You don’t need too
much water; it’s the medium for cooking your vegetables.
As the pheasant cooks, take this time to peel your potatoes and
carrots. I like to cut larger potatoes and the carrots in half, but that’s
up to you. By this time, 15 minutes should have elapsed, so go ahead
and add your vegetables to the dish. Add more water (if needed)
and cover. Check every 10 minutes or so, because you don’t want to
overcook the vegetables. Once they’re done, your pheasant should
also be done. Be sure the internal temperature of the breasts reaches
165 degrees (F).
FOLLOW THE
TRAIL
TO SUCCESS THEHISTORYAND
IMPORTANCEOF
LEARNINGHOWTO
TRACK
N
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY KYT LYN WALKEN
ring battles.
ed the “Roger's Rangers.” Most of its men were frontiersmen
ting a significant emphasis on the application of tracking in a
first time.
made their way into uncharted territories. For example, men
olter (who is said to be the first white man to pass through
llowstone National Park) were able to do so thanks to the
ugh the direct contact they had with Native Americans.
troduced the art of tracking into specific programs during the
sh Army in countries such as Malaysia, Rhodesia, Borneo and
odern visual tracking" came into its own in the late 1960s in
‹ Right: A good
example of "transfer"
inside an urban
environment. This
is an imprint (made
with wet tar) of a
sneaker. (Photo:
Getty)
Certainly, there are differences between following humans and “NO TRACKING IN URBAN AREAS
animals. While people typically move for a specific purpose, ani- Is it possible to find "alterations of the
mals behave instinctively. So, if you’re more into animal tracking, I TECHNOLOGY natural state“ in urban environments? Sure.
suggest becoming familiar with all the fauna of the area in which CAN REPLACE In order to do that, you must be able to
you’re tracking. In addition, you need to learn their habits and GOOD TRACKING analyze every space where tracks can be easily
feeding areas and recognize their tracks and droppings. This is the spotted. Good examples are construction sites,
only way for you to excel at tracking. SKILLS. NO which often have sand and dirt, playgrounds,
Practice and experience will do the rest. You’ll be surprised by the GPS, TRACKING public gardens and any open portion of soil.
successes you’ll achieve in a short time ... that is, if you dedicate APPLICATIONS However, even on hard surfaces, the so-called
the required time, effort, humility and passion to this essential “transfer” of water, mud, droppings or other
bushcraft art. OR GADGETS materials can be an ideal track trap.
While watching videos on the Internet can be helpful, remember CAN PROVIDE
that tracks are three dimensional, so you’ll gain more skill with "dirt THE RESULTS THIS ART IS IRREPLACEABLE
time." Even better would be to get training from an experienced There are many cases for which the appli-
tracker who’ll be able to correct your mistakes and help you improve THAT A TRAINED cation of the art of tracking has proven to be
more quickly. TRACKER CAN.” highly reliable and helped solve well-known
crimes (such as the Oklahoma City bombing).
‹ Near left: Search-and-rescue team members can tell
Ungulate (hooved
mammal) tracks— you about many situations in which their
two vertical “sign-reading” made the difference in locating
depressions in
the center of a missing person or park rangers detecting
the photo—are poachers‘ activities inside a park or nature
trapped by soft,
sandy soil. reserve. They would also add that learning
about tracking changes your mind, thereby
helping you become a more focused and
analytical person. And, considering the frenetic
times in which we live, you might find yourself
thankful for the higher level of situational
awareness you’ll develop.
No technology can replace good tracking
‹ Far left:
Measuring skills. No GPS, tracking applications or gad-
devices must be gets can provide the results that a trained
located beside
the trackline and tracker can. Trackers can succeed—even
in a safe area to when drones or helicopters fail to find signs
avoid any possible
contamination of of the target’s passage or K-9 teams lose
the tracks. the scent.
BIG-BORE
LEVERAGE
THENEWHENRYXMODELIN.45 70ADDSTACTICAL
TOUCHESTOATRADITIONALHUNTINGRIFLE.
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN PAUL BARLOW
MSRP: $970
OTHER FEATURES
This X Model features a 19.8-inch barrel
with a 5/8x28 threaded muzzle that allows
you to add a suppressor or muzzle brake. The lever loop, itself, on the X Model is enlarged
For fast sight acquisition, the X Model slightly and (in my opinion) is the perfect size. The
comes with fully adjustable, high-visibility lever loop on some rifles is so small that you can for-
fiber-optic sights that are green on the get about fitting a gloved hand inside. In addition, small
front and contrast with the red at the rear. loops sometimes bash the hand when firing hot loads. If
The receiver is drilled and tapped for a the loop is too large, your hand loses contact with it when
scope mount as well. cycling the action, which slows you down considerably. I used
Worn half-cock notches have been known a lever gun with a very large loop in a cowboy action shoot once
to fail on some old lever guns. And manual and regretted the choice.
safeties on some newer lever guns are
sometimes criticized for being awkward ACCESSORIZING
to use or an “unsightly deviation” from I don’t mount scopes on my lever-action rifles very often. But I also knew that
tradition. The Henry has neither, and nei- to get the best idea of this rifle’s accuracy potential, I’d have to use a scope. The
ther is necessary to make this gun safe. It scope base that Henry offers for its Big Boy rifles won’t fit its .45-70 guns. However,
uses a passive transfer bar attached to the a Weaver 63B scope base will. I attached one of those Weaver bases and mounted
hammer face and works in a similar fashion an old Bushnell 3x9 scope to do the accuracy testing.
to that of a modern revolver. If I were making a scope a regular part of the setup, I’d mount one using quick-detach
Carrying the gun with the hammer down, rings so I’d have the option of switching back and forth among a magnified optic, a › Below: The author mounted
the transfer bar is lowered so the firing reflex red-dot and the open sights. Skinner Sights offers a great option for this. It an old, reliable Bushnell 3x9
scope for the accuracy test-
pin can’t be contacted. With the hammer makes a scope base with a 7-inch section of rail that includes a peep sight. The ing portion of his review.
cocked and the gun ready to fire, pressing
the trigger causes the transfer bar to rise
into position as the hammer falls. Should
you decide not to fire, and you wish to
lower the hammer, point the rifle in a
safe direction, maintain full control of the
hammer, momentarily press the trigger to
release the hammer, remove your finger
from the trigger (which lowers the transfer
bar), and carefully lower the hammer.
Like similar lever guns, the Henry also
has a passive safety that’s disengaged
automatically when the lever is closed; this
ensures the gun can’t be fired unless the
action is fully closed.
Accuracy Results ‹ Below: It’s not always sunny for a gun writer! During his time with
the Henry X Model, the author had to deal with a spring snowstorm
SMALLEST AVERAGE and the closing of gun ranges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
AMMUNITION VELOCITY GROUP GROUP
(fps) (inches) (inches)
Garrett 420-grain
1,574 0.75 1.0
Hardcast Hammerhead
Hornady 325-grain FTX 1,858 1.0 1.08
Hornady 410-grain
1,101 0.5 1.0
Sub-X Subsonic
Winchester 300-grain
1,714 0.75 1.0
Ballistic Silvertip
Winchester 375-grain
1,317 0.75 1.0
Dual Bond
Notes: Velocity is measured in feet per second (fps) with a Caldwell chronograph 12 feet
from the muzzle. Accuracy is the average of the results of three three-shot groups fired at
50 yards from a rest.
sight has a small aperture for precision shooting that can be unscrewed and removed to
provide a wider ghost ring aperture for fast sight acquisition.
If you’d rather keep the peep sight as a backup, Skinner also offers a 1x6 scope with a
30mm tube and a 24mm objective lens. It features crosshairs with bullet drop compensa-
tor (BDC) lines and a 1 MOA illuminated red-dot powered by a single CR2032 battery. This
is a good choice for a lever gun. Carry it on the 1-power setting for fast target acquisition
‹ Right: Three-shot,
up close; dial it up to 6-power for longer shots. It’s a good value at a $249. 1-inch groups were the
For a light, I used my Crimson Trace CMR-208 Rail Master Universal Tactical Light that norm for the Henry
X Model at 50 yards.
provides two settings (either 420 or 110 lumens of output) with a single CR123A battery. It Normally, the author
attaches easily to an accessory rail, such as the one on the Henry X Model. would shoot this
type of gun at 100
yards and would
AT THE RANGE expect similar
results at that
What the .45-70 lacks in velocity it makes up for in bullet weight. I chose a selection range with
of ammo that included Hornady’s LEVERevolution with a 325-grain, flex-tip bullet and this accurate
rifle.
Hornady’s 410-grain Sub-X Subsonic, which might be the choice if you opted to mount a
suppressor on the Henry’s threaded barrel.
I also shot two Winchester loads: the 300-grain Ballistic Silvertip with a polymer tip and
the 375-grain Dual Bond hollow-point load. The heavy-
weight I chose was the Garrett Cartridges 420-grain
Hardcast Hammerhead. If I were headed into
country frequented by big bears or other large,
dangerous critters, I’d carry the Henry loaded
with Garrett Cartridges’ hard-cast bullets
because of their large frontal flat (meplat)
and deep penetration qualities. Or, if
you want a really heavy-hitter, the
company also offers a load with a
540-grain bullet.
S O U R C E S
Bushnell
(800) 423-3537
Bushnell.com
Crimson Trace
(800) 442-2406
CrimsonTrace.com
Garrett Cartridges
GarrettCartridges.com
Skinner Sights
(406) 745-4570
SkinnerSights.com
Weaver Optics
(800) 423-3537
WeaverOptics.com
Winchester
Winchester.com
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ADDSOME
CIVILITYTO
CAMPSITE
CUISINE
USEFUL UTENSILS FOR WHEN
IT’S TIME TO CHOW DOWN
BY MICHAEL D’ANGONA
W
hile under survival A sturdy, metal fork in hand gives you
conditions, things a sense of normalcy, even if the world
can get pretty around you is far from normal. The
rough. From sleep- right spoon performs multiple tasks
ing on the hard and improves your cooking efficiency,
ground to going days or weeks without and a good knife is critical to virtually
a shower, to trapping your own dinner every step in meal preparation and
each night, a man-made or natural consumption.
disaster can take “roughing it” to the Although they might not take center
next level—and beyond. stage when prepping or stocking your
However, in the midst of the madness, bug-out location, rest assured that
you can keep a bit of civility by using a when you don’t have utensils on hand,
variety of utensils when it’s time to eat. they’ll be sorely missed.
KA-BAR Chopsticks
Overview Specifications
Without a doubt, a fork is a valu- • Length: 9.5 inches
able asset for any meal outdoors, • Made with food-/water-safe Grilamid
but chopsticks are a very viable • Dishwasher safe
substitute. With a little practice on • Segmentation handle provides a
your part, this set of durable chop- firm grip
sticks can complement your tradi- • Weight: 1.3 ounces
tional utensils and perhaps even
MSRP
become your favorite. The ridged
$8.57
handles allow for easy gripping,
while the narrowing tips grip food URL
firmly and securely. The pair cleans KaBar.com
up in a breeze after your meal.
P
BY DANA BENNER
robably more than any time in our last, but not least, there are viruses for which there’s
history, if you want to stay in the no cure. We clearly have our hands full.
game, you have to stay healthy. You don’t have to go very far back in time to find
Today, we face threats our ances- ancestors who had no vehicles. They had to walk or
tors never even thought of. There’s run everywhere they went. This kept their bodies in
bio-terrorism, the threat of nuclear war and weap- shape. They didn’t sustain themselves on processed
ons of mass destruction—to name just a few. Then, foods (which poison our bodies), and they didn’t
there are environmental issues on a mass scale. And have as much leisure time as we do. Over time,
‹ Above: This dry riverbed in Arizona holds many potential dangers. Proper clothing—including adequate
UV protection—and sturdy footwear are essential.
‹ Left: Properly geared up, Kevin Estela made it to the summit of Mt. Washington by foot—not vehicle!
(Photo: Kevin Estela)
‹ Near left:
Even in the hot
Southern California
environment,
Christopher Nyerges
wears lightweight
long pants and a long-
sleeved shirt. These
clothes protect him
from the sun, insects
and toxic plants.
(Photo: Christopher
Nyerges)
PROACTIVE POSITION IS MUCH BETTER great exercise. The more active you are, the
stronger and more flexible your body will
THAN A REACTIVE ONE. TAKE CARE OF be. All of this will help to prevent injuries.
› Bottom, far left:
These EVO 8 boots YOURSELF NOW, AND IT’LL PAY OFF IN Other sayings also apply here, such as
from 5.11 Tactical
are perfect for THE LONG RUN.” “Clothing makes the man” and “Dress for
success.” In a survival situation, the proper
keeping your
feet and ankles clothing can do everything from protecting
protected from
casual impacts and can be prevented by just slowing down, remembering the basics and thinking things you from the elements to supporting your
abrasion. (Photo: through. We all get complacent and skip steps. If you do this, you’re asking for trouble. body from potential injury. Clothing can
5.11 Tactical)
Injuries can also happen because we’re wearing the wrong clothing for the environment. also protect you from other threats, such
› Bottom, middle: In a cold environment, improper clothing can lead to frostbite or exposure. Similarly, as biting insects and reptiles, as well as the
Proper footwear
will protect your extended exposure to sunlight and UV radiation can burn your skin, harm your eyes and sap from toxic plants you might come into
ankles. These cause sunstroke. Wearing improper footwear can lead to sprained ankles and other leg contact with.
Rocky boots give
the author support and foot issues. Still more injuries can be prevented by proper exercise and diet.
and keep his feet There are a couple sayings I live by. One is “You are what you eat"; the other is “Put junk ILLNESSES
dry and warm.
in, get junk out.” Eating properly will help you keep your body in check. A proper diet keeps Illnesses are much harder to prevent, but
› Bottom, far right: your mind sharp and your body strong. If your mind is sharp, your ability to think through there are steps that you can—and should—
High boots such
as these are very issues will keep you safe. Maybe you’ll think twice about wearing flip-flops on a mountain take to improve your chances. If you have
important—not only trail, or maybe you won’t skip a safety step when sharpening that knife. school-aged children, or you come into
for keeping your
feet dry, but also to Along with diet, proper exercise will help keep injuries from happening. You don’t have to contact with a lot of people on a regular
avoid biting insects spend hours in the gym to stay in good physical shape. Even if you work in a cubicle all day, basis, you’ll be more likely to be exposed to
(such as ticks).
you can get up and take a brisk walk during your breaks. Working outside, splitting wood or pathogens that cause a variety of illnesses.
PICARIDIN AND
uses this product on a regular basis.
‹ Below, middle and right: Most commercially available repellents, such as these,
contain medium to high concentrations of DEET.
PERMETHRIN
DEET, Picaridin and Permethrin are the three most common
man-made insecticides used in commercial insect repellents.
DEET
Of all the chemicals, DEET is the most widely used and the most
familiar to people. Originally developed in the 1940s for use by
the U.S. military, DEET has been found to repel mosquitoes, ticks,
chiggers, biting flies and other insects. However, as effective as
DEET is, it does have some drawbacks: For some people, DEET has
caused skin irritations, pain, watery eyes and nausea. Because of
possible side effects, it’s not recommended that children under
2 months old be exposed to DEET. There are also concerns that
DEET might cause cancer but, according to the EPA, there’s not
enough evidence to say whether this is true. Higher concentrations
of DEET are longer-lasting—not more effective. Also, DEET can
damage certain plastics and other synthetics found in clothing “NO MATTER HOW WELL YOU
and gear commonly used in the outdoors.
DRESS, THERE ARE BOUND
Picaridin TO BE OPENINGS THAT
Picaridin is a synthetic compound first made in the 1980s. It’s EXPOSE YOUR SKIN TO
intended to resemble the natural compound, piperine, which is
found in the group of plants used to make black pepper. It doesn’t ATTACK.”
kill insects, but it does make them less likely to bite. Found in
pump sprays, liquids, aerosols or in wipes, the product is safe to ‹ Right: Ticks and other biting insects will find any
use on both clothing and skin. It’s effective for biting flies, ticks, opening. Make sure you use an effective repellent and
protect your skin appropriately.
fleas, chiggers and mosquitoes.
Permethrin
Permethrin is a synthetic insecticide that was first registered
with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1979. While it's
used on farm animals and in mosquito control, it’s not recom-
mended for use on your skin. Permethrin affects the nervous
system in insects, and while it’s more toxic to insects, it can have
adverse effects on people if not used correctly. Permethrin prod-
ucts come in liquids and aerosol sprays. It's most commonly used
to treat clothing, tents and other outdoor gear.
Other Choices
For those who want to stay away from synthetic chemicals,
all-natural repellents are available. These products are safe to use
on children and pets. While they do work, they also have their own
drawbacks: Some don’t work on all biting insects, and they need
‹ Above, left and middle: Permethrin sprayed on your clothing will help protect you
to be reapplied more often. Most natural repellents only come in from disease-carrying insects. (Photo: Sawyer Products)
pump sprays.
‹ Above, right: Even with UV-protective clothing, there are still areas you should
apply sun screen to ... just to be safe.
However, there are some very simple ways you can cut down on
your chances of becoming ill.
Proper hygiene. Proper hygiene is the easiest and most effective
method of staying well; all health professionals agree on this.
They’re always saying, “Wash your hands," and for good reason.
Germs of all sorts can be transmitted from surfaces you touch every
day. Doorknobs are big culprits, but things such as the handle of
your axe or the stock of your rifle are potential toxic surfaces as
well. While your skin will protect you from most of them (unless
you have an open cut), it’s what happens after the initial contact
that you need to be concerned about. If you get these germs on
your hands and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth—or, worse
yet, food—there’s a good chance you’ll eventually catch something.
Even if you don’t become ill from a contaminant, you can still
easily spread it to others. Soap and water go a long way toward
combating these threats. Good hygiene is often your best line
of defense.
Build up your immunity. Building up your immunity—in part by
exposure to many of the things that can make you ill—makes you
safer and healthier over time. There’s no set formula for managing
this natural process, but it helps to understand that you aren’t
helping yourself in the long run by constantly sanitizing everything
you come into contact with. In addition, there are certain foods
and practices that can naturally enhance and strengthen your
immune system.
Vaccines. Vaccines are another way of bettering your chances
of staying healthy. Modern medicine has all but eliminated many
diseases that plagued humankind in the past. It’s not that these
diseases aren’t still with us; it’s that vaccines keep us from getting
them. The only way for vaccines to work is to make sure you keep
them up to date. Sadly, there are some people who, for whatever
reason, don’t get vaccinated. Not only does that endanger them, it
puts the rest of us at risk as well.
‹ Left: Physical activity, no matter the time of the year, will help you
stay healthy. (Photo: Mark Goddard)
MSRP: $21.99
PageStreetPublishing.com
THE
TAKEDOWN RIFLE
M6
HITSTHE BIGTIME
TPS ARMS NEW .357/.410 UPS THE ANTE.
BY MIKE TRAVIS
› Above: While
very similar to its
predecessor from
Springfield Armory
(right), The TPS Arms
M6 Scout brings
some very welcome
improvements.
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENTS
The original military-issue M6 was purpose built for utility and versa-
tility in a compact design. It was issued to many aircrews flying in arctic
environments during the Cold War. The original M6 had no mechanical
safety. Its “safe” condition was with its hammer down. The trigger com-
prised a large bar that was designed to be squeezed and could easily
be operated when wearing bulky gloves or mittens. There was also no
trigger guard to get in the way. The trigger pull of the original and the
Springfield M6 took a “considerable” amount of effort.
The TPS Arms M6 remains true to the original design by keeping the
unique trigger bar setup. However, TPS Arms understood that main-
taining accuracy with the heavy trigger pull of the original M6 was stamped sheet metal receiver and is easy to reach and operate. With a bit of practice,
challenging (I’ve owned a Springfield Armory M6 for many years and the user can learn to switch the safety off and on with virtually no noise—crucial in a
can attest that its trigger is less than ideal for accuracy!). hunting environment. Because the safety is unprotected, I’d still recommend carrying
While the TPS Arms trigger bar will never be considered “match the M6 in the hammer-down position most of the time. However, when actively hunting
grade,” it’s a vast improvement over my old Springfield. The pull is lighter with the TPS M6, this safety is a very welcome addition.
and feels more consistent and controllable. As with the Springfield M6, The double-barrel design of the TPS M6 requires the use of two separate firing pins.
the TPS model includes a large trigger guard. To select which barrel to fire, a large, knurled knob selector is built into the hammer.
A feature unique to the TPS M6 is the inclusion of a crossbar button The knob is attached to a metal block that, when moved, will determine which barrel
safety. This safety allows the M6 to be safely carried with the ham- is selected. The block has three positions: Pulling the knob all the way to the top will
mer cocked with rounds in the chambers. The safety is built into the select the rifle barrel. Pushing it all the way to the bottom selects the shotgun barrel.
A neutral, middle position is also available. This is a safety feature that ensures the fir-
› Below left: Each M6 Scout comes with a multi-tool for installing and
ing pin block won’t engage either barrel. While this is a highly effective safety feature,
removing the choke tubes. relying on it while hunting would be a mistake, because moving the hammer selector is
‹ Bottom left: The multi-tool also doubles as a front sight adjustment tool.
noisy and is sure to alert game.
› Near left: On
the old versions
of the M6, the
takedown pin was
not captured and,
therefore, easily
lost. This led to
many improvised
takedown pins
being made.
However, the pin
on the TPS Arms
M6 (top) is fully
captured. No more
lost pins!
Accuracy Results
Factory Ammunition
AVG. AVG. KINETIC
BRAND LOAD VELOCITY GROUP SIZE ENERGY
(fps) (inches) (ft-lb)
There’s also a small compartment for but the Aimpoint Micro showed itself to be an outstanding choice and complemented the
storing a few small items. M6 very well.
The last notable—and perhaps the big- You will also note that most of the ammunition used in this review comprised handloads
gest—improvement that TPS has made is that I made. Because of the ammunition shortage brought on by the pandemic, this was
in the hinge assembly of the gun. As noted the only way I could collect any appreciable amount of data on the gun’s performance.
before, the M6 system consists of two (Note: Please understand that the use of handloaded ammunition will officially void the
major components: The forward assembly warranty of the TPS Arms M6.)
contains the barrels, chambers and sights. All firearms have particular preferences with the ammunition that they like to shoot
The rear assembly comprises the stock accurately. Even firearms of the same type from the same manufacturer will show
and fire-control group. Both sections mate different preferences.
together via a hinge held in place by a large I tested the M6 with a wide variety of loads ranging from lightweight .38 Special to
pin. When fully assembled, both sections heavy .357 Magnum. I did all testing of the rifle barrel from a shooting rest at 50 yards.
are held in place by the main hinge pin and Velocities were measured 9 feet from the muzzle of the rifle. I tested the shotgun at 20
a large hinged locking block assembly. yards using both the full and modified choke tubes and using realistic targets. ‹ Below: With the
The hinge pin is removable on the military While my range-testing is far from conclusive, you can see that the TPS Arms M6 Scout exception of the WC
Knives Woodsman
and Springfield M6. This pin was notorious shows great potential for both accuracy and the ability to take larger game animals. EDC knife, all items
for getting lost; a lost hinge pin renders the With groups as small as ¾ inch at 50 yards, it definitely has the accuracy to take game at pictured fit inside
the buttstock—with
weapon unusable. TPS addressed this major reasonable distances. (See the Accuracy Results sidebars on pages 66 and 68.) room to spare for
design flaw using its expertise in making There’s much more to the game-taking potential of a round than the kinetic energy it ammo.
AR15 components. It designed the pin on
the TPS Arms M6 much the same as the
takedown pins on an AR15. The pin can be
moved, allowing it to be completely taken
down. However, instead of being removable,
it’s captured in the hinge assembly of the
stock. Voilà! No more lost hinge pins!
SHOTGUN RESULTS › Above: Accuracy testing was conducted using an Aimpoint Micro H-1. The .38 Special and
On the day I conducted the shotgun portion of this testing, I .357 Magnum loads were tested at 50 yards, while shot loads were tested at 20 yards.
attempted to use a cheap red-dot sight. This was a big mistake, and
I dismissed all accuracy testing from that day. Nevertheless, the M6 SIGHTING OPTIONS
proved capable of placing game-taking shot patterns on target at As delivered from TPS Arms, the M6 Scout has a protected front sight post that’s
20 yards using both the modified and full chokes. adjustable for elevation, a rear flip sight with a peep aperture for the rifle and a shallow
I fired a few rounds of Winchester 3-inch, ¼-ounce slugs from the V-notch for the .410. The sights are simple, rugged and entirely adequate for shooting at
TPS M6. With my Springfield Armory M6, .410 slugs are the only reasonable distances.
“heavy-caliber” option available. This isn’t the case with the TPS The M6 provided for this review also came pre-installed with a short Picatinny scope
Arms M6, and I can see no reason to resort to using them when base. This allows the user to install a wide variety of optics.
other options are available. I tried to fit the M6 with a few of the spare scopes that have accumulated in my gun
M390
o
nt
Ta
Everyday Carry
.5
n3
dia
an3
ar
a rdi
Gu
Gu
Elmax G-Necker
‹ Far left: The .410 sight
is a shallow V-notch
that’s easily flipped up
when needed.
parts box over the years. Unfortunately, I couldn’t fit any of foraging for edible game animals. In its original configuration, the M6 Scout is a capable tool
them to the gun because of clearance issues caused by the for procuring small game.
scope rings I had on hand. TPS Arms has taken the M6 design to the next level. The improved trigger pull and addition
On the day before the statewide coronavirus lockdown of a crossbolt safety have transformed the M6 from a utilitarian survival tool to a viable hunt-
took effect, I took delivery of the parts needed to install my ing weapon. The addition of adjustable iron sights and improved stock ergonomics help make
Aimpoint Micro H-1 red-dot sight. While it isn’t the ideal sight the M6 much more user-friendly.
for pure accuracy testing, it proved to be a “marriage made By replacing the standard .22-caliber rifle barrel with a quality .357 Magnum rifle barrel,
in heaven,” as far as practicality and usability are concerned. the TPS Arms M6 has been elevated to new levels of versatility. Using the .410 barrel with a
The Aimpoint is renowned for its rugged durability and a good shotshell load allows the user to take all manner of small game animals. The rifle barrel
battery life that’s measured in years, not hours. Its small can be loaded with ammunition that will allow it to be used for everything from small-game
profile adds very little weight to the M6 and points naturally. hunting to deer—and even bear.
I found that even when sighted in for the .357 Magnum, the I’ve hunted with my old Springfield Armory M6 many times over the years to gain proficiency
Aimpoint was an effective sighting tool for the .410—with no with it. While it proved to be effective, it was always less than ideal and rarely enjoyable to use.
adjustments needed. The improvements that TPS Arms has made to its M6 have not only made it a more efficient
hunting weapon, they’ve also made it fun to use.
NEXT-LEVEL DESIGN As soon as the pandemic restrictions are lifted, I’ll be taking the new M6 back to the range
The original M6 Scout was designed to assist the user in and into the hunting fields!
S O U R C E S
Aimpoint
+46406715020
Aimpoint.com
Exotac
(888) 568-9347
Exotac.com
Federal Ammunition
FederalPremium.com
Hodgdon
(913) 362-9455
HodgdonReloading.com
Hornady
(800) 338-3220
Hornady.com
Springfield Armory
(800) 680-6866
Springfield-Armory.com
TPS Arms
(320) 358-0230
TPSArms.com
Winchester Ammunition
Winchester.com
www.Store.DoomandBloom.net
“I DON’T MIND SPENDING
EXTRA MONEY ON AN ITEM
IF I KNOW IT’S THE BEST AND
IF MY LIFE CAN DEPEND ON
IT. ON THE OTHER HAND ...
I DON’T CARE MUCH FOR
USELESS GADGETS THAT
JUST TAKE UP SPACE AND
ADD WEIGHT TO THE PACK.”
S
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER NYERGES
› Top: All this gear is ome time ago, as a group of us sat around a campfire, we started talking about the gear that
used by the author, everyone carries, and everyone began to share what they’d paid for their gear. I was a bit sur-
and none of it was
extravagantly priced. prised at the high price of much of the gear—not because I didn’t think the kit was worth that
dollar amount, but because I began my camping and outdoor “career” on no budget.
My friends were somewhat shocked and asked me for details.
“I never had much money growing up ” I told them “and part of my interest in hiking and camping was
‹ Above, right:
We then began to discuss how much and valleys and hidden canyons. This 3V Gear pack
is an excellent
everyone spends on basic gear for a Unlike so many of the urban attractions, we knew we could do our mountain exploring low-cost pack.
camping trip. One friend, who said he felt without ever having to pass through a ticket booth to pay an admission fee. For all practical
he had a “low-budget” kit as well, began purposes, the mountains belonged to the people, and they were free for anyone to enter and ‹ Above, middle:
to add everything up. He said it totaled explore. And, for us at that age, that was critically important. We didn’t go hiking on a “low Sewing is always
a valuable skill.
about $2,000. It made sense, and none of budget.” We didn’t even know what the word, “budget,” meant! We went hiking and back-
his gear was extravagant. packing on no budget. We had no money, and none was needed to head to the hills.
‹ Above, far left:
However, I had to think back to my youth, Over the years, of course, I’ve gradually acquired camping gear that works for me and Making your
when I really had next to no money. that I feel is worth having. I don’t mind spending extra money on an item if I know it’s the own clothes can
be a satisfying
best and if my life can depend on it. On the other hand, to this day, I don’t care much for experience. Here,
BACK IN THE DAY useless gadgets that just take up space and add weight to the pack. I like to go as lightly as instructor James
Ruther tries on a
When I was in my early teens, my brothers I possibly can. cape that’s in the
and I got interested in hiking and back- So, I thought that American Survival Guide readers would enjoy hearing how we went hiking process of being
made.
packing in the nearby wild areas. We didn’t on no budget. Some of you will chuckle at our youthful enthusiasm and silliness. A few of you
have a car, and we didn’t need one for this. might even think we had some good ideas.
We could just walk outside our door and,
in a short while, we were in the mountains. CLOTHING
We certainly enjoyed exploring the hilltops We never purchased special clothes designed for hiking or backpacking. We just wore what
FOOTWEAR
Probably the one area that could have used improving was
footwear. I usually had poor footwear on the trails. The worst
time was when I had some old suede shoes while hiking in the
snow. My feet were wet and cold the whole time, so I was either
constantly moving or sitting by the fire. Eventually, I learned that
you could put a plastic bag over your socks and keep your feet sort
of dry in the winter. (Still, I’m not a fan of walking around with
plastic bags on my feet.)
Because most of our hiking was done in fair weather, wearing our
“city shoes” into the hills was usually not a problem.
My advice is to always buy footwear that’s sound and well-built; But back in the early days, I knew that I simply needed a durable knife that offered some
and don’t assume that a bargain is always a bargain. I also know protection. Every kitchen has a knife, doesn’t it? We just wrapped a small kitchen knife in
my foot size, and yard sales have proven successful for finding a piece of cardboard with tape (a makeshift sheath) for safety and put it in with our gear.
good shoes and boots that fit. (Here's a suggestion: There are inexpensive “bartender knives” you can buy for under $10
at supermarkets; they’re ideal for anyone on a low budget.)
KNIFE Eventually, we received Boy Scout knives as gifts one Christmas, and we carried them all
Yes, I’m as addicted as the next guy to the remarkable array of the time. Today, I wouldn’t leave home without a Swiss Amy knife and a Leatherman tool.
knives that are out there. And I‘ve purchased some that were so
expensive that I was afraid to use them, because ... well, because I MESS KIT
had paid so much for them! Why would we need to go out and buy something special just for hiking and backpacking
CANTEEN
Back in the mid-1960s, plastic wasn’t as ubiquitous as it is today, and
the plastic that was around back then was low quality. So, we didn’t have
plastic containers to use for water. On occasions, I actually carried a glass
mayonnaise jar as my canteen; I wrapped it with cardboard so it would be
protected. Obviously, that wasn’t ideal, and I doubt I’d ever do that again.
Eventually, I spent about $1 and purchased a metal World War II can-
teen. It was a very good investment. However, we tried to plan so many of
our hikes around the known water sources that I never bothered to carry a
canteen half the time.
Today, inexpensive water containers can be obtained just about anywhere,
so humanity seems to have solved this problem!
STOVE
For a stove, we simply cooked right on the flames of our small campfire.
I’ve never carried a stove—and I still don’t! However, I understand the
need for a stove. I’ve carried a small Esbit cooker, which I really like. These
are still available online for just a few dollars.
Backyard stoves are many and varied, but they’re not often portable.
However, the many foldable “tommy cookers” that have been produced in
the last few years are very worthwhile and highly recommended.
FLASHLIGHT
Sometimes, we’d find a flashlight in a drawer at home but, more often than
not, it simply didn’t work. Perhaps the batteries were no good. As a result, I
LANTERN
Lantern? Remember: We had no budget. If we owned a lantern,
we’d have to buy fuel, wicks and stuff called “miscellaneous.” How-
ever, on some occasions, we actually carried an old soup can. We
cut off both ends of the can and put an old clothes hanger through
the can for a handle. Then, we cut a hole in the side of the can, and
inserted a candle. That was our “lantern.”
Another variation of the “can lantern” is to cut open an aluminum
can so that, when it’s standing upright, it appears to have two
“doors.” You then hang the can by its pop-top, put a candle inside who wants to mess it up on the trail? Additionally, we discovered that ‹ Above: Cooking
simply over a fire ...
... and you have a lantern. If it’s made properly, the wind will catch there was never a shortage of sticks in the woods that could serve just with no stove.
the doors and turn the candle away from the wind. I learned about as well as a walking stick. So, this is an item you really don’t need to
this can lantern from fellow survival instructor Ron Hood. spend any money on.
I can see carrying a Coleman lantern if I were car-camping or for
the backyard. Otherwise, I just use candles. TENT
Camping tents are heavy and expensive. I‘ve never carried one.
WALKING STICK The closest I’ve ever come to packing a tent was when I used tube
Although we used to marvel at the beautifully carved walking sticks tents a few times in the early to mid-1970s. Often, you can obviate
at backpacking stores, we never even came close to buying one. For the need for a tent if you simply pick your campsite well.
one thing, after you've just spent $40 to $70 for a beautiful stick, I’ve owned “one-man” tents for use when hiking, but they’re
‹ Near left:
Instructor Dude
McLean adds greens
to the hot water in
a hollowed yucca
stalk to make soup.
Coleman
If you choose to get a compass, a good compared to today’s modern packs. The choices today are varied. Be
Coleman.com
Silva compass can be found for under $20 sure to select a pack based on your weight and space requirements,
online or at any backpacking shop. Take the as well as your personal budget.
Esbit
time to learn how to use it in conjunction I use many different packs. I like the relatively inexpensive
(888) 297-6062
with your map. packs made by the Eddie Bauer company, as well as packs made
IndustrialRev.com/Esbit
by 3V Gear.
FIRE STARTER
Leatherman
Make sure you have several ways to make UNADORNED ENJOYMENT
(800) 847-8665
a fire. Include plenty of butane lighters. I Some of the ways my brothers and I did things might help some
Leatherman.com
often get four-packs from 99-cent stores. of you keep the weight in your pack as low as possible and also
I like magnesium fire starters, ferrocerium help you keep as much money in your pocket as possible.
Silva
rods and the traditional flint-and-steel. I’ve always believed that simple enjoyment of the outdoors
Silva.se
These tools are not expensive, but you need should be as unadorned as possible. For me, part of the attrac-
to practice using them so that making a fire tion is to be in the outdoors, where you can think and be with
Victorinox Swiss Army
becomes second nature. yourself and your friends. Why clutter it up with all the overpriced
(800) 442-2706
gimmicks and gadgets that take up weight and occupy too much
SwissArmy.com
PACK of your time?
Originally, I recall finding a suitable canvas I’d like to hear from readers who have unique, low-cost camping
pack at the local Army surplus shop. But methods to share. You can contact me at info@schoolofself-reliance.
those heavy, old packs are "dinosaurs" com.
© GETTY IMAGES
Y
BY BRIAN M. MORRIS
ou don’t need to be a disaster that can quite easily cut you off
“prepper” or be making from your normal water supply. Having an
preparations for the end alternate means of procuring and storing
of the world to see the water is never a bad idea for those who like
practical need for a rain to be prepared for any contingency.
catch. Depending on where you live, water Building a rain catch is a great way to sup-
might be a rare or expensive commodity. plement your current water supply. It’s a
In areas of the United States that are simple and fun project that can be done in
prone to drought, the amount of water a relatively short amount of time and with
available for gardening and lawns and a cost of $75 or less, depending on what
other purposes might be limited. There’s materials are already available to you.
also the threat of a natural or man-made Here are the simple steps you’ll need to
‹ You can find a used, large, food-grade barrel locally or online quite easily. Look on Craigslist or
check with local food manufacturing plants in your area.
follow if you’re interested in adding to your water reserves. You’ll 2. Sanitize the container with a solution made by mixing 1 teaspoon of unscented liquid
probably see some things you can accomplish with a substitution household chlorine bleach in 1 quart of water. (You can use more of this solution to assure
or modification to make a catchment system that’ll work for your complete coverage in larger containers.)
situation. Feel free to make any adjustments needed to make your 3. Cover the container tightly and shake it well. Make sure the sanitizing bleach solution
system as effective and economical as possible. touches all inside surfaces of the container.
4. Wait at least 30 seconds and then pour out the sanitizing solution.
FIND YOUR BARREL 5. Let the empty, sanitized container air dry before use. Alternatively, rinse the empty
You can find large, food-grade barrels quite easily by checking Craigslist container with clean, safe water that’s already available.
or doing a Google search, and you should be able to purchase one for 6. Using the same method, clean the lid, bung, spigot and any other parts that’ll come
about $20. Helpful hint: Barrels with removable lids are easier to into contact with the water. After everything is clean and dry, reassemble the drum so the
clean and modify for this project than those with fixed lids. interior isn’t exposed to outside contaminants.
INSTALL SPIGOTS OR CHICKEN WATERING ‹ Above, left: If the color of your rainwater catch makes it an eyesore, you can always get
DEVICES creative with a can of spray paint to make it more pleasing to your eye.
Determine the best location for your spigot. Avoid locating it on ‹ Above, right: If you can’t find a top for your rain catch, don’t sweat it. A piece of wood will do.
sharp bends or curves in the barrel, because these will make it The key is to simply keep animals, bugs, light and debris out of your water.
harder to get a good seal between the spigot and the barrel. Other considerations include
placing the spigot at a higher level than watering devices for chickens, livestock or pets (to
ensure you don’t mistakenly drain their water supply), allowing clearance for buckets under
the spigot or other requirements.
Drill the spigot hole with a drill bit that’s just slightly smaller than the diameter of the
‹ When you cut threads on the part of the spigot that’ll go into the barrel. Screw the spigot into the barrel
the hole for the
downspout or until it’s snug in the hole and can go no farther. From the inside, thread the spigot nut onto
adapter, try to the spigot and tighten, being sure not to overtighten it. Once the spigot is attached firmly to
follow the lines,
and then use a the barrel, you can add a bead of the nontoxic silicone sealant around the edge of the spigot
knife or file to fixture on the outside of the barrel.
make the edge
smooth. Depending on your situation, you might need to add a way for excess water to be released
from the barrel. This can be a simple PVC pipe connection to another barrel, either at the
same height as, or lower than, the first barrel, or you can install another spigot if you want
to restrict the outflow for some reason. This pipe or spigot should be high on the side of the
barrel to allow the barrel to fill as much as possible before letting any water escape.
Simply repeat the process described above near the top of the barrel’s side. If you use a
spigot, you can attach a garden hose to it and run it toward your drain pipe, garden, pond
or other destination. Just be sure that it delivers the water away from the house, livestock
areas or other places where it can cause damage or other issues.
SAFETY
Contrary to popular belief, water that’s
collected in a rain barrel still needs to be ‹ Bottom, near right:
On the inside of the
processed before consuming it. barrel, thread the
To make it potable, you need to use an plastic nut onto the
spigot thread until it
effective method—such as a filter or purifier, seats tightly against
boiling, UV light, bleach or water purifica- the inner surface of
the barrel.
tion tablets, to name just a few—and only
a couple of these methods will address
chemicals or heavy metals. The reason is
that while rainwater, itself, is potable, once
that water is exposed to smoke, smog or ‹ Above: This installation shows a long, flexible
clouds, impurities on the roof and in the your system, the water will be contaminated. downspout adapter that leads into the lid on
the barrel; an overflow spigot at the top of
gutter system, and any bacteria, mold or It’s always better to err on the side of caution and disinfect the the barrel’s side with a hose that leads to the
mildew that might be present anywhere in water prior to consumption. drainage pipe; and two poultry watering cups
near the bottom of the barrel.
“ ... BARRELS
‹ Bottom row, far left:
WITH REMOVABLE After attaching the
watering cup assembly
LIDS ARE EASIER to the barrel, add some
sealant around the
TO CLEAN AND connection to ensure a
watertight fit.
MODIFY FOR THIS
PROJECT THAN
‹ Bottom row, near left:
THOSE WITH If you plan to install
multiple watering cup
FIXED LIDS.” assemblies, be sure to
space them far enough
apart to allow multiple
birds to drink at the
same time.
T
o say that I’ve been a fan of Spartan
Blades for a while would be like saying
Bob Uecker is a casual fan of baseball.
Whenever I’d come across Spartan’s
products at SHOT Show or a knife store,
I lusted after them with a passion. Their fit and finish,
ergonomics—just everything about them—were abso-
lutely spot on. Unfortunately, I could never coincide
the purchase opportunity with budget availability.
Every time I got close to having the funds set aside,
something would come up.
When Spartan Blades announced a new line of
budget-friendly knives, my interest wasn’t just
piqued; I was on pins and needles, waiting for more
information.
The Silver Line consists of three knives, each of them
intended for a specific market or use. The Alala is
Spartan’s fixed-blade EDC (everyday carry) model.
The field knife is called the Damysus. Then, there’s
the chopper, the Machai. All three are Spartan models
through and through. But, rather than being produced
in house, the company’s teamed with KA-BAR. Spar-
tan is providing the designs, and KA-BAR is doing the
“heavy lifting,” so to speak.
Spartan sent over the Alala and the Machai for
review. Let’s take a look.
Machai
› Bottom: The Machai is a very
Specifications
handsome knife—but it’s not so • Overall length: 10.5625 inches
pretty that you’'ll be afraid to get
• Blade length: 6.625 inches
it dirty. (Photo: Spartan Blades)
• Blade thickness: 0.187 inches
• Steel: 1095 Cro-Van
Unlike some lesser-quality knives from other manufacturers, Spartan’s gone the next step • Blade finish: Black powdercoat
• Handle: CE canvas Micarta
and radiused the indent, smoothing out any potentially rough or sharp edges. There’s
• Weight: 10.7 ounces
jimping on the thumb ramp, but it isn’t so aggressive as to be uncomfortable. • Sheath: Injection-molded with thumb release
The balance point is right where the forward-most screw is placed in the handle (about
MSRP: $199
even with the middle of the finger indent). URL: SpartanBladesUSA.com
The flat-ground blade extends 3.75 inches. It’s a drop point—one of the most common and
eminently useful blade profiles around. A black powdercoat protects the 1095 Cro-Van steel.
The edge arrived sharp, although not quite hair-popping.
The Alala’s sheath is injection molded and quite well-designed. It has numerous attach-
ment points, allowing the user to strap it just about anywhere. There’s also a retention
SLICING IT UP
You can always tell you’ve walked into the work space of a knife
reviewer because of all the miscellaneous, half-destroyed stuff
lying around! a strop, the edge would’ve been much keener, but my custom is to review each knife as
To check the Alala’s cutting ability, I grabbed a thick fabric belt. it arrives in the box. That said, the knife was very comfortable, even when I gave it some
This is something I picked up at a thrift store a year or so ago, and force to make the cuts. I didn’t experience any hot spots during this test or the subsequent
I’ve been slowly nipping away at it ever since. It took two passes experience I had using the knife as my primary carry blade for a couple of weeks.
with the Alala to make each cut. I think that with a few passes on
WHAT’S THE POINT?
I’m not a torture-test reviewer; I don’t believe in pounding a knife through a cement
block just to see how badly its edge will get banged up. Instead, I try to concentrate on
how the knife would normally be used. However, while we all know we’re not supposed to
pry things with the point of a knife, we also all do it, at least once in a while. So, I wanted
to test the Alala and see how it would hold up.
I grabbed an old piece of 2x4. Using a hammer, I tapped the knife into the wood about a
half-inch or so. Then, I slowly and steadily levered the knife out to the side, prying up a big
chunk of wood. The knife point was entirely undamaged. This speaks volumes about its
design, as well as the quality of its construction.
Fill out the order form below and mail it, along with your payment information, to:
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‹ Top left: The release lever on the
sheath of the Alala, shown here,
as well as that on the Machai, is
instinctive to use and works very well
at retaining the knife.
MACHAI
Back to the Greeks: In their mythology, the Machai were the spirits or demons of battle.
They would accompany gods such as Ares into war. I have little doubt that if they’d had
access to the Spartan Blades inventory, one of these knives would have ridden on the hip
of each of them!
Likely the first thing noticed about the Machai is its recurve blade profile. This blade
shape has been popular for many years, particularly on knives intended for field use. The
“S” shape of the blade effectively lengthens the cutting edge without increasing the
size of the knife. It also provides a distinct advantage when you’re using a base-to-point
movement to cut, such as when you’re blazing a trail. The shape of the blade pulls the
edge across the material.
In addition to clearing tall grass or shrubbery, it works very well when cutting rope and
other tasks that require pulling the knife toward you to complete the cut. On a larger knife
such as the Machai, this shape also puts the weight of the blade forward, lending strength
and power when chopping.
‹ Below: Notice the radiused finger The Machai is currently the largest knife in the Silver Line, with an overall length of
indent. It gives the knife very 10.5625 inches and a blade reaching 6.625 inches. It’s a solid 10.7 ounces, giving it plenty
comfortable ergonomics. (Photo:
Spartan Blades) of heft—but not enough to make it feel like dead weight on the hip.
Structurally, it’s very similar to the Alala. It has the same type of textured grip and radi-
used finger indent. The handle is a bit larger, of course, running about 5 inches. There’s a
small section of jimping on the handle just behind the blade.
The sheath has the same type of lever release as the Alala. It also has numerous
GET TO DA CHOPPA!
Given the weight-forward design of the
Machai, testing its chopping ability was
first on the agenda. I went out to the back-
yard and pulled out a thick branch from
the brush pile. This is hard, seasoned wood
that’s been sitting for several months. First,
using quick snapping cuts, I trimmed off
the twigs and such from the branch. It was
easy to feel the blade shape adding power
as the blade swung forward.
Then, I put the thick branch onto a stump
and began chopping in earnest. It didn’t
take long to get all the way through it,
although it did require plenty of effort,
because the wood was harder than I
expected. As I chopped, I varied my grip a bit
to get a good feel for the Machai’s handle
and balance in different positions.
The knife was comfortable to use and
performed well for this task. However, I
did notice a tiny bit of roughness on the
bottom corners at the back of the handle.
Examining it closer, I saw that the pattern
of the grip texture created two bits of
handle material right at these corners. This
could be quickly and easily resolved with a
AD INDEX
file or even sandpaper. AUGUST 2020
you’re using more of a standard blade. With DOOM AND BLOOM, LLC............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 71
a knife that has a straighter blade edge, as
HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................43
you push the edge down the branch, you
usually have something of a slicing effect, READY MADE RESOURCES .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................35
moving the edge across the material as you READY MADE RESOURCES .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................100
go from one end of the branch to the other.
TOPS KNIVES .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................51
Probably the most common technique is to
have the knife with the point angled down. WILSON COMBAT ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 99
However, with a recurve blade, I find it’s more a scraping type of ‹ Above: The
SPARTAN
recurve blade
cut than a slicing cut. If you’re not careful, the edge has a tendency
profile is useful,
to want to dig deeper into the wood. But, with a bit of practice, it although sharpening
it takes practice and
BLADES
isn’t difficult to do feather sticks just as fast with a recurve as it is
patience.
with any other blade shape.
If one were so inclined, the Machai can also be used very easily
as an impromptu draw knife—although I’d recommend wearing a
Spartan Blades was founded in 2008 by Curtis Iovito and
glove on the hand holding the knife tip.
Mark Carey, both former Green Berets with a combined
40-plus years of military experience. Just two years later,
THE FINAL ANALYSIS
they won the first of several awards: the 2010 BLADE
The Alala is a great size for EDC. It’s large enough for just about
Show “Knife Collaboration of the Year” award for their
any common task, yet it’s easy to carry anywhere. The Machai
work with William Harsey.
strikes a great balance between a knife that’s large enough
One of their founding principles is passionate patriotism.
for chopping tasks and one that’s small enough to easily carry
Every knife is made right here, in the U.S.A., with all mate-
without feeling weighed down. With just a slight modification to
rials and components made or sourced here as well. Every
the grip—courtesy of a piece of sandpaper—this is a great knife for
knife is designed to stand up to real-world use and abuse
hard use. I also love the sheath retention on both knives.
... hopefully, to be passed down to the next generation
Overall, these knives make a great pair for field work—without
when the time comes.
putting a giant dent in the wallet. I highly recommend both;
they’re great additions to the Spartan family.
Name: Purslane
(Portulaca oleracea)
If you clean the leaves off the thick stems and cut the stems into sections of
Purslane is a member of the purslane family. According to the most recent about 4 inches, you can make purslane pickles. There are many ways to make
botanical classification, this family contains only one genus, Portulaca. pickles; I simply fill a jar with the purslane stems, add raw apple cider vinegar
There are about 100 species of this genus worldwide, with purslane being and let it sit for a few weeks in a refrigerator.
one of the most common. (Formerly, purslane had been classified in the
Miner’s lettuce family—a family whose members are entirely safe to eat.) Processing
Purslane leaves and stems are tender and succulent, and minimal preparation
Description is needed. They usually need to be well-rinsed, because they sprawl on the
Purslane starts appearing a bit later than most of the spring greens, ground as they grow. The stems and leaves are then diced into salads. The entire
typically by June or July. It’s a very common annual in rose beds and gardens, above-ground plant can be rinsed, diced and added to soups and stir-fries.
although I do see it in the wild occasionally, typically in the sandy bottoms
around streams. When to Harvest/Availability
The stems are succulent, red colored and round in the cross-section. The Purslane is an annual that typically begins appearing in late spring. It can be
stems sprawl outward from the roots, rosette-like, with the stems lying on collected throughout the summer.
the ground. The leaves are paddle shaped. The little yellow flower has five
petals. Medicine/Nutrition
According to researchers, purslane is one of the richest plant sources of omega-3
Where Found fatty acids. That means that not only is it good, but it’s also good for you!
Although it’s a European native, purslane is now common and widespread According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 100 grams (about a half-cup) of
in the United States. It’s found in agricultural lands, swamps, fields, gardens, purslane contains 103 mg of phosphorus, 39 mg of iron and 2,500 mg of thiamine,
ditches and vacant lots. It prefers wet soils, but it can be found in most as well as smaller amounts of vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin and calcium.
environments.
Other Uses
Uses Cultivated and horticultural varieties are often planted in ornamental
When you chew on a fresh purslane stem or a leaf, you’ll find it mildly sour gardens. This is one of the few cases for which I can recommend planting an
and a bit crunchy. It’s really a great snack, and I like it a lot in salads. Just “ornamental”—because it’s also edible.
rinse it to get all the dirt off, dice it, add some dressing and serve. You can
also add tomatoes, avocado or other ingredients. Advice for Growing
Add purslane to sandwiches, tostadas and even on the edges of your chilis Purslane seeds can be purchased from seed supply companies and planted in
relleños and huevos rancheros. I’ve also eaten it fried, boiled and baked (in gardens or pots. The cut stems root easily, so you can cut the thicker stems that
egg dishes). It’s versatile, tasty and crisp. It really goes with anything, and it’s you find in the wild and then root them in good soil in your yard.
very nutritious.
spurge, however, lies very flat to the ground; and when you break a spurge stem, a milky,
white sap appears.
Recipe
PURSLANE SALSA
• 2 cups chopped tomatoes
• 2½ cups chopped foraged purslane
• 3⁄4 cup chopped onions
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 cup raw apple cider vinegar
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 large California bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ½ cup chopped cilantro and some herbs from the garden (such as thyme)
Place all ingredients, except the cilantro and other herbs, into a pot. Bring to a boil and then
simmer to the desired consistency (light or chunky). Add the cilantro and other herbs. Pour
into jars, close the lids, and place in the refrigerator. It should be good for at least a month.
(Recipe courtesy of Pascal Baudar)
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