2020-08-01 American Survival Guide

How-To: Track Man and Beast
FOOD
WATER
SHELTER
SECURITY
COMMS
This Backcountry HEALTH
Buggy Can Tame

the Trail
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
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FEATURES
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PAY ATTENTION … AND REAP THE BOUNTY
If you’re willing to learn, nature is willing to teach you.
By Dana Benner
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
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4 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [AUGUST 2020]

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GEAR
GUIDE
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CIVILIZED CAMPSITE CUISINE
USEFUL UTENSILS FOR
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DEPARTMENTS
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FIRST WORDS
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PREPPER PLANT ADVISOR
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LAST WORDS
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[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 5

VOL. 9 ISSUE 08
EDITORIAL
Mike McCourt Brand Manager
Lin Simon Managing Editor
DESIGN
“NEVER WASTE
Nadezda Sverdlova Art Director
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CONTRIBUTORS
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Michael D’Angona, Brian M. Morris, Christopher Nyerges,
THE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED

Mike Travis, Kyt Lyn Walken
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BY A GOOD CRISIS.”
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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
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While I never suffered any real harm, I stopped dis- aroma (!) had wafted over me.
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go to waste. All the best!
Sure, we can run practice drills and simulated disaster Mike McCourt

BY JIM COBB
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.
MSRP: Starting at $11.95 MSRP: $109.99

MSRP: $399.99 MSRP: $200
Platy.com Duct-Aid.com
UnchartedSupplyCo.com KopisDesigns.com

S
ummer is beginning to wind down, and we’re starting to look toward fall. This is a great time to make plans
for camping, hiking and other outdoor pursuits. While you’re making the fun “to-do” lists, don’t forget to
wrap up the chores around the house that you won’t want to tackle once the temperature drops and the
snow begins to fly. When you put your mind to it, you might be surprised how much you can accomplish in
just a weekend afternoon—and still have time to relax in front of a fire on the patio.
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
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.
MSRP: $19.97 MSRP: $179

MSRP: $18 MSRP: $130
TinySurvival.com WolfandGrizzly.com
Uberleben.co TOPSKnives.com

13 14
15 16
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

THE ROXOR IS THE
BACKCOUNTRY
BUG-OUT VEHICLE
THAT CAN HANDLE
THEJOB.
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN PAUL BARLOW
"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.
› Right: The ROXOR is a capable off-road

vehicle—whether you use it as a workhorse,
for recreation or for bug-out transportation.
(Photo: ROXOR)

“FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE
THE OUTDOORS AND
HAVE A ‘BE PREPARED’
MINDSET, FINDING WAYS
TO USE THE ROXOR IS
LIMITED ONLY TO THE
IMAGINATION.”

WHAT IS IT? Use it to haul building materials for that
If the ROXOR reminded me of a World War II Willys Jeep, it was hunting shack or bug-out retreat you’ve
no accident. Mahindra of India licensed the rights to the Willys always wanted. Tote garden supplies in the
Jeep design and has been building them for more than 70 years. spring and your harvested produce in the
“UPHILL, Mahindra Automotive North America now assembles the updated fall. Haul sacks of feed for livestock and
DOWNHILL, ROXOR in its Auburn Hills, Michigan, plant. seed for your wild game food plot. Save
ACROSS SHALLOW While it looks as if it could be equally at home on pavement, the your back and instead of dragging that
ROXOR is strictly for off-road use. It has no turn signals, air bags or downed deer, load it into the back of your
STREAMS AND other accoutrements necessary to qualify it for highway use. The ROXOR.
THROUGH ROXOR is positioned to compete with side-by-side utility task (or Reassess your emergency escape plans.
MUDHOLES, THE terrain) vehicles (UTVs), such as those from Polaris, Honda and If they include setting up a remote base
John Deere. camp, the ROXOR can get you there. Don’t
ROXOR WAS It might not be as nimble as a side-by-side sport model (such as forget, too, that the ROXOR is just plain fun
ABSOLUTELY FUN the Polaris RZR), but the ROXOR has some distinct advantages, for driving around the property or taking
TO DRIVE. I DON’T especially when it comes to handling tough jobs. it to the trails at an off-road vehicle park.
For one, while many UTVs are simply upscaled recreational Then, hose if off and go back at it again the
THINK I STOPPED models that use rubber belts in their transmissions, the ROXOR, next day.
SMILING THE like the Willys Jeep before it, is really a downscaled truck. The
WHOLE TIME!” ROXOR has a fully boxed, ladder-constructed steel frame and OUT FOR A DRIVE
steel body. It has an automotive transmission and a four-cylinder, Naturally, I couldn’t write about the
2.5-liter turbo diesel engine powering it. It has 16-inch wheels and ROXOR without getting one of them
off-road radial tires. And, it can tow 3,490 pounds. muddy to find out its capabilities for
myself. I got together with local ROXOR
› Below: You can outfit your ROXOR a HOW CAN I USE IT? dealer Rich Borra, owner of O’Shea Tire &
variety of ways. Add rear seats and an
extended roll cage, throw on a top ... or
For people who love the outdoors and have a “be prepared” mindset, Service Center in Cortland, New York. He
just keep it basic. (Photo: ROXOR) finding ways to use the ROXOR is limited only to the imagination. was more than willing to take off from

‹ Above: The ROXOR, when used around the ranch or worksite, has big
advantages over side-by-side UTVs because of its rugged, truck-like
construction and greater towing capacity. (Photo: ROXOR)
‹ Right: The ROXOR can be used as a way to get to a remote starting point
for your next adventure. (Photo: ROXOR)
work for a couple of days for some fun on

nearby trails.
The ROXOR we tested was a sand-colored
2019 model. The ROXOR is available in
seven different standard colors, but Rich
told me there are about 400 custom paint
and wrap patterns you can special-order.
This one was a two-seater, leaving plenty
of cargo room in the back. The cargo
bed was coated with a super-scratch-
resistant wrinkle finish the company calls
“ROXliner.” As an option, you can have the
whole outside of the vehicle coated with
this as well.
It was equipped with a windshield, a
soft “bikini” top on the roll cage, grab
handles and side door netting. Storage
compartments were located under each
seat. Drain plugs on the floor allowed for
easy hosing out of the vehicle after a day in
the mud. The dashboard featured a single
gauge that incorporated a speedometer,
odometer and fuel gauge. There was a
single, 12-volt utility power outlet. This
particular vehicle had an automatic
transmission, with a second lever to shift
‹ Right: As a hunting vehicle, the ROXOR

would excel, because it offers plenty of room
to haul gear and game. (Photo: ROXOR)

› Above: No path? No
problem. The ROXOR
can go just about
anywhere! (Photo:
ROXOR)
› Near right: ROXOR

dealer Rich Borra
(shown) and the
author took turns
behind the wheel
to test the off-road
vehicle on some
local trails.
› Far right: The

basic ROXOR offers
9 inches of ground
clearance—not a lot
by off-road vehicle
standards. However,
a lift kit is available
to add 3 more inches
of clearance. (Photo:
ROXOR)
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

‹ Far left: You’re
not invincible.
This sticker on the
ROXOR dashboard is
a reminder that it’s
best to play it safe,
even when you’re
playing hard.
‹ Near left: The rear

gate of the ROXOR
swings open to
provide easy access
to your gear in the
back.
riding or the Polaris RZR I drove around

Moab, Utah, I was impressed with the
ROXOR for its potential as an all-round
utility vehicle because of its rugged ‹ Right: A soft-
sided enclosure
construction and off-road performance. to keep out the
I have just two concerns about the vehicle. bad weather is an
available option.
First, the turning radius is terrible for a (Photo: ROXOR)
vehicle this size. That’s just one thing you’re
going to have to take into consideration
when judging the tight turns in the trail
‹ Below: Turn the
ahead. However, even with its wide turning ROXOR into a tank!
radius, because the ROXOR is just 148 inches One intriguing
option is to remove
long, you can jockey it through most tight its wheels and
areas with a little judicious maneuvering. replace them with
rubber tracks
The second thing I noted was the mere for travel over
9 inches of ground clearance on the basic extreme sand, mud
and snow. (Photo:
ROXOR. This is one thing that can be ROXOR)
remedied. You can, of course, add larger
tires, but you can also get ROXOR’s 3-Inch “AT FIRST GLANCE, THE ROXOR LOOKED LIKE A
Lift Kit with multi-plate, high-camber leaf
springs, extended front stabilizer bar links
WORLD WAR II JEEP WITH A FANCY, NEW PAINT JOB.”
and longer front and rear shocks. During
my time with the ROXOR, ground clearance
wasn’t an issue (we never hit rock bottom).
On the other hand, we weren’t crawling over
logs and boulders or diving into deep ruts
either. (Incidentally, the ROXOR is equipped
with skid plates underneath.)
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

it) or add the Stakebox kit, which features wooden stake box sides and snow and loose sand with ease.
a rear gate with a raised aluminum floor for storage above and below.
You can opt for such things as a heavy-duty front bumper with a Warn REGULAR USE
winch; trailer hitch; spare tire kit with mount and jack; top light bar; While the ROXOR would make a good off-road vehicle as
grab handles; “bikini” soft top; hard top; rear- and side-view mirror set; part of your emergency escape plans, I don’t see owners
rear locking differential; and manual locking hubs. For those who live in parking them in their garages for just in case the poop hits
areas that have a real winter, a snowplow mount is available too. the propeller. This is a vehicle you can put to work and use all › Below: Escape
After spending some time off road with the ROXOR, I’m impressed year long. plan: You can
put lots of miles
that it is, indeed, built like a proverbial tank. In keeping with that Most criticisms I’ve seen of the ROXOR revolve around a between trouble
theme, perhaps the coolest add-on is the Mattracks zRX Rubber few shortcomings people see with the basic model, such as and yourself with
an off-road vehicle
Track Conversion System. It replaces your ROXOR’s wheels with tank- those I cited with the ground clearance and turning radius. such as the ROXOR.
like treads that should be able to get you through the worst mud, For general work around the ranch or homestead and casual (Photo: ROXOR)
MODEL 2020 “AFTER A COUPLE OF

OUTINGS WITH IT, I WALKED
ROXOR AWAY THOROUGHLY
IMPRESSED.”
SPECIFICATIONS
• Wheelbase: 96 inches
• Length: 148 inches
• Width: 60–62 inches, depending on wheels chosen
• Height: 75 inches
• Weight: 3,035 pounds
• Ground clearance: 9 inches
• GVWR: 3,750 pounds
• Towing capacity: 3,490 pounds
• Fuel capacity: 12 gallons
• Engine type: Liquid-cooled, direct-injection, 4-cylinder,
4-stroke, 2.5-liter turbo diesel
• Power: 62 hp at 3,200 rpm
• Torque: 144 ft-lb at 1,400–2,220 rpm
• Transmission: 5-speed manual; 6-speed automatic;
2WD/4WD
• Transfer case: 2-speed manual
• Axles: Full-floating front; semi-floating rear; 5.38:1 ratio
• Wheels: 16 inches, steel
• Suspension: Rigid leaf spring with stabilizer bar, front;
leaf spring with double-acting hydraulic shock absorbers,
rear
• Steering: Hydraulic power
• Brakes: Dual hydraulic vacuum-assist; 11-inches disc
front; 11-inches drum rear
• Battery: 72 Ah/12 volt
• Alternator: 45–90 amps
• Lighting: Halogen headlights
• Standard colors: Molten Red; Bonfire Orange; Sand;
Shadow Gray; Signal White; Jet Black; Olive Green (400
optional colors/wraps)
• Top Speed: 55 mph
• Fuel economy: 32–34 mpg
• MSRP: $16,599 (basic model)

recreation use, the basic model will suit
you just fine.
For those diehard off-roaders who are
looking for an extreme-use, off-road
vehicle in the most challenging terrain,
the ROXOR provides an excellent starting
platform you can customize to your heart’s
content. However you decide to use it, and
any way you decide to enhance it, you’re
› Top: Making yourself
getting a rugged, dependable vehicle that scarce: The ROXOR
should be able to endure those tough tasks can carry lots of bug-
out gear if you need to
for years to come. distance yourself from
mayhem.
› Middle: While the

outside of the ROXOR
appears very “retro”
rudimentary, the
engine compartment
reveals a high-tech
diesel powerhouse.
› 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
O’Shea Tire &

Service Center
(Cortland, NY)
(607) 662-7194
OSheaTire.com
ROXOR
(800) 292-0733
ROXOROffRoad.com

“WHEN I WAS A
CHILD, I NEVER
THOUGHT I’D BE
DOING WHAT I DO
OR LIVING THE
LIFESTYLE THAT I
LIVE. LITTLE DID I
KNOW THAT FROM
EARLY ON, I WAS
BEING GROOMED
› Here, in Arizona, the plants tell a story.

These particular plants survive with very
limited water. This tells me I could sur-
vive here but that the environment isn’t
really high on the "survivability scale" for
humans.

PAY
ATTENTION ...
AND REAP
THEBOUNTY
IF YOU’RE WILLING TO LEARN, NATURE IS
WILLING TO TEACH YOU.
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY DANA BENNER
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.

RESOURCE
BOOKS
Many books have been written that cover a wide
range of edible and medicinal plants. Here are four books I
regard highly and refer to on a regular basis.
A Field Guide to Mushrooms and Their Relatives

For obvious reasons, I use this book a lot. Written by
Booth Courtenay and Harold H. Burdsall Jr. and published
by Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, this 144-page book
covers many aspects of mushrooms and includes color
photos. These photos are a big help when trying to identify
the mushrooms before you pick them. This book seems to
be out of print, but a recent search online turned up many
soft- and hardcover versions.
› 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.
Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America

In another highly respected book by Christopher Nyerges,
he concentrates strictly on edible plants that are commonly
found in most of North America. That being said, not all the
plants mentioned in this text will be found where you live,
but this book will give you a good place to start. Along with
color photos, the book also includes many useful recipes.
MSRP: $22.95
Amazon.com
Herbal Remedies From the Wild

First, all wild remedies must be treated with the same
care and respect you’d give any medicine you get from the
pharmacy. In this book, author Corinne Martin describes
the medicinal uses, proper harvesting of and the caution
needed when dealing with wild medicinal plants.
MSRP: $19.95
Amazon.com

‹ Near left: This
scrape shows you
that animals, most
likely a food source,
are in the area.
Your job is to learn
which animal made
the scrape so you
can successfully
pursue it.
› Above: Yucca is a BE OBSERVANT shoots of ferns) in the early spring. Groves

plant that gives you
a ton of resources, There’s something about just sitting in the forest, field or along a lake. If you just sit, of maple and birch trees will provide a
so it’s a good idea to relax, slow your breathing and make no sound, the world comes alive and reveals valuable source of sap that can be turned into syrup
keep an eye out for
it when you’re in an lessons. This was a “trick” my mother taught me long ago, before I ever carried a rifle or while the snows of February and March are
environment where shotgun into the field. If you’re able to do this, the animals will go about normal activities still on the ground.
it’s likely to grow.
as if you aren’t even there. You’ll notice the trails along which deer and turkey travel. Do With experience, you’ll be able to predict
they come out in the morning or in the afternoon? Where and when do they roost or bed the weather with reasonable accuracy. This
down? What are they eating? All of this is vital information to know when it comes time is good to know, because the last thing
to fill your freezer. The information gathered also gives you a baseline to draw upon when you want to happen is to be caught in a
you travel to different areas. storm miles away from shelter. Observe
As you make your way to your “quiet” spot, your eyes should always be moving, observ- the sky and look at the clouds. Are they
ing everything within your field of vision. What kinds of plants are growing in this area? storm clouds or fair-weather clouds? Feel
Are any of them edible or possibly medical plants? Swampy areas might yield blueber- the breezes and winds. Are they moving
ries, cranberries, cattails or other useful plants. Drier spots might have blackberries, toward or away from you? How fast are
raspberries or strawberries. Moist areas will often yield fiddleheads (the edible young they moving?
› Right and opposite

page, bottom:
Christopher
Nyerges, noted
self-reliance
instructor and
author, leads a class
in the Southern
California hills.
(Photo: Christopher
Nyerges)

These are all important things you’ll learn ‹ Above: Unlike the arid Arizona
from the environment ... if you’re patient landscape, this area in Florida gives you
water, food and materials for survival.
enough to observe it and smart enough to
interpret it.
PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE IN

THE KNOW “MAKING MISTAKES IS ONE OF THE BEST TEACHERS
I feed my family with the game and fish OF VALUABLE LESSONS. WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES,
I harvest and the fruit and greens I collect BUT THOSE WHO LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES WILL
from the wild. Because of that, I’ve learned
that it pays to listen to the advice of those BENEFIT THE MOST.”
whom I trust. These people have infor-
‹ Above, right:
mation on where the best berry patches Christopher Nyerges
are, where the "hot" trout pools are and with one of his
School of Self-
so forth. There are many people out there, Reliance students.
both young and old, who know much more Classes such as
these taught by
than I do about many things. I’d be a fool Nyerges are a
not to listen to them! By listening and great path to gain
valuable knowledge.
keeping an open mind, you just might find (Photo: Christopher
a more effective way to get the job done. Nyerges)
It would be impossible to list all the

people who’ve helped guide me down this
path that I walk, but I’ll list some.
Obviously, my parents are at the top.
My mother taught me about medicinal
plants, how to sew and how to cook. She ‹ Left: This deer
also taught me how to hunt, fish and track print tells the author
a great deal: It gives
wildlife. A renowned local fisherman, Jack him an idea of the
Hanley, taught me how to use a fly rod animal’s size and,
along with other
and how to properly stalk trout. Friends prints, tells him the
Stan Beck and Mark Goddard shared “hot” direction in which
it’s heading. This
fishing holes and hunting areas. happened to be a
The list could go on and on, but you get fairly large deer.

the point. You have similar resources of your own. ‹ Above: These tracks tell
the story of a bobcat that’s
Many people have shared their knowledge with me. So, hunting hares. Identifying and
the bottom line is to listen and observe those who’ve understanding these signs tell
the author a great deal about
“been there and done that.” the woods he's hunting.
‹ Right: This is potentially bad

LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES news—and a good time to seek
Making mistakes is one of the best teachers of valuable shelter!
lessons. We all make mistakes, but those who learn from ‹ Below: Watching and listening
their mistakes will benefit the most. to the lessons taught by the
environment enabled author
Unfortunately, you sometimes only get one chance; Dana Benner to track down this
and, if you make a mistake, it could cost you your life. deer in Kentucky.

“WITH EXPERIENCE, YOU’LL BE ABLE
TO PREDICT THE WEATHER WITH
REASONABLE ACCURACY. THIS IS GOOD
TO KNOW, BECAUSE THE LAST THING YOU
WANT TO HAPPEN IS TO BE CAUGHT IN A
STORM MILES AWAY FROM SHELTER.”
‹ Top, left: Paying

attention to a
While in Florida, I heard the story of a young boy who was
prey’s habits and visiting with his parents from out of town. For some reason, the
understanding its
habitat allowed the
little boy reached into a shrub. Nobody realized there was a small
author to catch this rattlesnake curled up in the branches of the shrub. When the boy
striped bass.
reached in, the snake struck. Luckily for the boy, there were people
there who knew what to do: They quickly put a tourniquet on the
boy’s arm and rushed him to the hospital, where he made a full
recovery. That was nearly a deadly mistake; and it goes to prove
‹ Top, right: This
storm off the coast
that it only takes one mistake to be your last. This was a lesson
of Florida can mean learned by all who were involved ... although it was the little boy
a lot of trouble if
you’re on or close
who learned it the hard way.
to the water. Learn Of the many mistakes I’ve made—and the one that sticks out the
to pay attention to,
and interpret the
most in my mind—happened when I was a kid. I was looking at
effects of, the wind’s mushrooms, trying to figure out which of them was edible (or not).
direction and the
clouds.
I found one that had a bite taken out of it, so I figured it would be
safe. It wasn’t. I made it home, but I was in bad shape. Thankfully,
my mother’s healing skills kicked in, and she knew what to do. Due
to her efforts—although I was sick—I survived.
The lesson learned here is not to eat anything unless you’re
totally sure it’s safe. Even then, to be certain, I always consult one
‹ Left: Jack Hanley
of the many good books available on the subject (see the sidebar
is one of the people on page 22).
who taught author
Dana Benner
Learning vital survival lessons doesn’t happen overnight. No
so much about single book will teach you everything, although the better ones
understanding
and living off the
are valuable tools. Nothing replaces getting out there, making
environment. mistakes and ... paying attention.

COOKING YOUR HARVEST:
BACON-WRAPPED
PHEASANT BREAST
While I really like cooking outdoors, especially when I can use
my Camp Chef pellet-fired smoker/grill, I used my kitchen oven to
prepare this recipe. I cooked the pheasant at 350 degrees (F) in a
deep ceramic casserole that’s similar to what you would use to cook
lasagna. Total cooking time is about one hour.
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).

‹ Below: Certain soft, plain terrains are better for
capturing human and animal tracks. (Photo: Getty)
FOLLOW THE
TRAIL
TO SUCCESS THEHISTORYAND
IMPORTANCEOF
LEARNINGHOWTO
TRACK
N
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY KYT LYN WALKEN
ot enough has been written on the

fascinating art of tracking, even
today. Mostly unknown to younger
generations, the ability to detect,
read and properly interpret human
“IN THE FIRST COMMUNITIES, TRACKING and animal sign and tracks has always played a huge
role in the history of mankind.
BECAME CRUCIAL TO A SPECIFIC GROUP Even if rightly considered a primitive art, tracking
OF PEOPLE: HUNTERS. WE CAN STILL is common to widely divergent areas of the world—
SEE THIS IN REMOTE AMAZONIAN from Australia to India, Europe, Africa and the
American continents. This skill has been successfully
VILLAGES, AS WELL AS IN SOME AREAS handed down through oral training, books and the
OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.” efforts of many schools, institutions and associations
that teach tracking fundamentals and, most importantly,
point out its benefits.
The first documented instance of professional
trackers occurred with Germanic tribes around AD
500. Their efforts were dedicated to finding stolen
livestock and missing or captured people.
‹ Left: A set of human (barefoot) tracks (Photo: Getty)

› Right: Trappers
gather at the
campfire after a
long day of tracking
in 1860s Canada.
(Photo: Getty)
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
nit was created in Rhodesia. A primary aspect of its opera-

filtration of guerrilla forces. Seven hundred men—working in
four to six, lightly equipped and carrying mostly ammunition
efending this former British colony from the attacks of local
d by neighboring communist countries.
ates rekindled an interest in combat tracking in 2007 with
t Hunter Program, which was created in response to an
ers and IEDs (improvised explosive devices) by enemy forces.
proper interpretation of traces on the ground came to be
IED locations.
cal to the successful application of this art. Ab Taylor, a former
o-author of Fundamentals of Mantracking: The Step-by-Step
or Search and Rescue Trackers, used to say, "Experience is the
tracking."

“EVEN IF RIGHTLY
CONSIDERED A
PRIMITIVE ART,
TRACKING IS
COMMON TO WIDELY
DIVERGENT AREAS OF
THE WORLD—FROM
AUSTRALIA TO INDIA,
EUROPE, AFRICA
AND THE AMERICAN
CONTINENTS.”
› Above: A U.S.
CURRENT APPLICATIONS always mention when conducting my basic tracking classes. Border Patrol agent
on horseback tracks
Tracking is based on necessity, because Usually, I ask my students how they will behave in an uncomfortable situation. What if— human and drug
that’s the overriding principal purpose behind • You left your map at home? smugglers. (Photo:
Getty)
this skill. Today, it’s highly important for • Your cell phone is out of power or range?
many and varied situations, including— • You took a wrong turn, and now, you’re lost? › Below: Rangers
practice bush patrols
• Search-and-rescue (often conducted • Darkness comes, and you have no idea how to reach your car? in Pendjari National
with a K-9) The most obvious feelings my students have are anxiety or panic. That makes sense; Park in Benin, West
Africa. The skill of
• Anti-poaching operations deployed in but what if they had a skill they could use to deal with these scenarios in any kind of tracking is mandatory
most medium-/high-risk areas of Africa weather or terrain? Given that option, they become curious—which is critical if you want to support efforts
against poaching
and Asia. (Note that many poachers are to learn about, and excel at, tracking. Without an inquisitive mind, you can’t become a operations in many
also trackers.) proficient tracker! African parks. (Photo:
Getty)
• Border Patrol (especially at the U.S./
Mexico border)
• Law enforcement
• Forensic agencies (these entities
combine tracking with other methods of
collecting evidence)
• Wildlife conservation
• Livestock and game surveillance and
management
Add to these entities all the people—mostly
civilians—who’ve learned how to track in
order to reconnect with nature or backtrack
if they get lost during a hike, as well as prep-
pers, who consider this a valuable skill for
food-gathering and self-defense.
It’s easy to see that the nuances of track-
ing are almost as countless as its benefits.
For instance, if you’re an outdoor enthu-
siast like me, you can depend on tracking
to find a possible route to get home if the
batteries in your GPS run out or you’ve lost
your compass. This is just one example I

FUNDAMENTALS OF TRACKING are the main factors that affect the growth
Bob Carrs, author of The Complete Guide and development of your skills. It’s also
to Tracking and The SAS Guide to Tracking, very important to be humble and learn
has said that trackers are not a special from your mistakes, as with learning any
breed of people. And, as has been said skill.
by one of my instructors, Cornelius Nash,
tracking is not “voodoo.” It’s a skill that, THE SENSES
like many others, is acquired through When we track, we must use all our
training and practice. senses. Although our eyes have the major
Successful tracking is based on three task, smell and hearing are important too.
elements: We track primarily by seeing, hearing and
• Observation smelling our surroundings.
• Reading (the signs) Think about when you hear a sudden
• Interpretation noise. You go into a state of alert. Your
The so-called "tools of the trade" are es- brain starts to make deductions, not only
sential and within virtually anyone's reach, about the origin of that sound (“cardinal
so anyone can develop the techniques points”), but also about its source.
required to be successful. Similarly, your nose might detect a
They include— distinctive wild animal smell. Then, you run
• A measuring device across deer droppings. With each added
• A flashlight clue, you’ll know if your reasoning is going
• Note paper, pen and pencil in the right direction.
• Tweezers (used to remove any debris on And what about the sense of touch?
the tracks) It’s also essential. If you gently touch soil
• Casting materials that’s been disrupted by the passage of a
As mentioned before, experience plays a human or animal, you might also notice
fundamental role in becoming an effective that the soil might be more wet than the
tracker. Different soils, environments and surrounding terrain. This would mean that
weather conditions, as well as different the soil has been "altered" from its natural ‹ Above: Stepping on wet and rotten twigs could cause one or more
breaks.
personal (mental and physical) conditions, state, and that portion of ground is, for
‹ Near left: A perfect

example of a "track
trap." Here, we see
different human and
animal (dog) tracks.
‹ Far left, top:

Employing an
additional light
source, such as this
small flashlight,
allows detection
of very small
disturbances on the
ground (dislodged
tiny pebbles, for
instance).
‹ Far left, bottom: A

fresh track left on
frozen grassland
runs vertically in
this photo. We can
see the compression
of the grass, which
reveals the entire
surface of the
footprint.

› Near right: This
species of moss
(Polytrichum)
happens to be
extremely resilient.
If you step on it, it‘ll
take just seconds
for it to return to its
natural position.
› Far right: The

"golden rule" of
tracking is to keep
the track(s) between
you and the light
source in order to
see as many details
as possible.
example, no longer covered by dry leaves and/or small twigs. The

terrain can also appear to be a darker color.
ALTERATIONS OF THE NATURAL STATE

The passage of animals, humans and vehicles can be classified as
“alterations of the natural state” of a certain environment. This is
an extremely essential aspect of tracking and, if we think about it,
it makes perfect sense.
The signs and the tracks that someone or something leaves can
be considered “disturbances,” a common tracking term. They can
appear in a variety of forms, and they all depend on the terrain
they’ve been left on. For instance—
“WHEN WE TRACK, WE MUST USE ALL OUR

SENSES. ALTHOUGH OUR EYES HAVE THE
MAJOR TASK, SMELL AND HEARING ARE
IMPORTANT TOO. WE TRACK PRIMARILY
BY SEEING, HEARING AND SMELLING OUR
SURROUNDINGS.”
• Compression of dry leaves
• Flattened grass in a field or lawn
• The transfer of material, such as mud spread by boots
• Pebbles dislodged from their place in the soil
• Broken or damaged vegetation
• Droppings or other materials of any kind left behind or lost
• Hair, feathers or fur
• Sweat and blood
Areas in which one is most likely to spot tracks are called "track traps," which are mostly
sandy, muddy and snowy areas.
In addition, it’s not only important where to look but also how to look. We can’t simply
review a specific terrain having absolutely no idea of what we should look for.
First, we should accurately scan the whole area. Then, we look for any signs (as men-
tioned above) or something that seems "out of balance" near what looks like an entrance
through thick vegetation. We move forward from there.
‹ Above: The human who left this track in dry leaves slipped, revealing
Being methodical and inquisitive—and not settling on the first deduction that comes to
the wet dirt surface beneath the leaves. mind—will lead you on the path to becoming a novice tracker.

‹ Left: A clear
example of textile
material (a thread)
caught on the top
of an aerial spoor. It
reveals the passage
of a human being.
‹ 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.

T
his year, the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that things, even in a comparatively
prosperous country such as ours, can deteriorate quickly. As a result, many people are
rethinking their preparedness strategies.
Naturally, when it comes to firearms, you want the right tool for the job. But, in times of crisis,
you can never be certain what that job might be. A survival scenario might entail you needing to
procure food or defending yourself against animals that want to procure you as food. Survival
might also mean defending your property and critical supplies when the lights go out on civilized
society and we’re thrust back into to the “Dark Ages” and everyone must fend for themselves.

“THE NEW ... HENRY X MODEL LEVER-
ACTION RIFLE ... PROVIDES A ROCK-SOLID,
FAST-CYCLING ACTION, ALONG WITH
FEATURES THAT GIVE IT ADDITIONAL
VERSATILITY AND TACTICAL UTILITY
OVER PREVIOUS MODELS.”
BIG-BORE
LEVERAGE
THENEWHENRYXMODELIN.45 70ADDSTACTICAL
TOUCHESTOATRADITIONALHUNTINGRIFLE.
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN PAUL BARLOW

want to be able to accessorize it to make it work in a tactical situa- next one up.
tion without being concerned if I have to cross into jurisdictions that With lever guns from other companies that feature only a side loading gate, you must
criminalize the possession of “scary assault weapons.” cycle each round through the gun’s action to unload it. However, because Henry has
One great choice combines the old and the new. The "old" is the retained the loading port and removable inner magazine tube at the front of the gun,
.45-70 Government cartridge, which the U.S. military adopted way you can unload the magazine without cycling the action. Naturally, you should then
back in 1873. With the right load, it can take any animal that walks also make sure the chamber is clear.
the Earth. The "new" is the Henry X Model lever-action rifle that pro-
vides a rock-solid, fast-cycling action, along with features that give it STOCK FEATURES
additional versatility and tactical utility over previous models. This new X Model comes with a rugged, maintenance-free, black synthetic stock.
While I prefer the look of a walnut stock, I’ve come close to tears at times after
scratching or gouging fine wood. With a synthetic stock, I don’t worry—or care—about
such things. This helps make the X Model a rough-and-ready rifle that can take the
hard knocks.
The stock adds versatility to this lever gun by including a Picatinny accessory rail
under the front of the stock and a Magpul M-LOK slot on each side. So, you can mount
lights, lasers, bipods or any other gadget that suits your purposes. I like the idea of
being able to quickly mount a light to a gun—whether you’re hunting predators or other
critters at night or lighting up a threat in a defensive situation. I’ve missed opportunities
at close-range hogs in fading light when I wished I’d had a weapon-mounted light.
The stock is set up for the easy addition of a sling
via attachment points fore and aft. There’s a solid
rubber recoil pad on the buttstock ... something
you’ll really appreciate when shooting loads at
the top end of the power spectrum.
‹ Above, far left: While the author chose

the Henry X Model in .45-70 (top) for its
power, it’s also available in pistol calibers,
including .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum
and .45 Colt. (Photo: Justin Holt/Henry
Repeating Arms)
‹ Middle left: The author tried a

selection of ammo with a range of
bullet weights from 300 to 420 grains,
including polymer tips, hollow-points
and flat-nose hardcasts.
‹ Bottom left: The new Henry X Model in

.45-70 is a powerful and versatile lever-action
rifle that can keep you fed and safe in the
backcountry.
enry X Model (H010X)
Specifications
• Action type: Lever action
• Caliber: .45-70 (also available in .357 Magnum,
.44 Magnum or .45 Colt with 17.4-inch barrel and
smoothbore .410)
• Capacity: 4 (in tubular magazine)
• Barrel length: 19.8 inches
• Rate of twist: 1:20
• Overall length: 38.6 inches
• Weight: 7.4 pounds
• Receiver finish: Blued steel
• Rear sight: Fully adjustable; fiber optic (red)
• Front sight: Fiber optic (green)
Scope mount: Receiver drilled and tapped; Weaver
63B scope base required
Stock material: Black synthetic with solid rubber
recoil pad
• Length of pull: 14 inches
• Safety: Transfer bar
and, for easy loading/unloading, the • Other: Swivel studs, large loop lever, 2 M-LOK slots,
removable magazine tube. Picatinny rail, 5/8x24 threaded barrel
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.
› Near right: The author was finally able to

get access to a nearby shooting range, but
he was limited to 50 yards for this test.
› Far right: The Crimson Trace CMR-208

Rail Master Universal Tactical Light is
a good addition to the Henry rifle. It
provides up to 420 lumens on “high” and
attaches easily to the accessory rail.

Every Henry rifle I’ve shot has been super-accurate. Unfortunately, during my time with
this rifle, the shooting range I normally use was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, I had to find alternate testing grounds and ended up being limited to shooting
at 50 yards. That short range was hardly a challenge for the Henry. I was able to achieve
three-shot, 1-inch groups all day long, with several cloverleaf groups about half that size.
I’m confident I could also get 1-inch groups at 100 yards with my regular bench setup. The
‹ Top left: The trigger was good (about 3.5 pounds), and function was flawless. Recoil wasn’t bad, even
red fiber-optic with the heavy Garrett load. Afterward, I removed the scope and shot off-hand using the
rear sight is
fully adjustable fiber-optic sights. Shouldering the gun is natural, and sight acquisition is fast and sure.
for elevation and
windage and contrasts
nicely with the green SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
front sight. Load this Henry .45-70 to the max, and you have a great firearm for defense against
dangerous game. Load it with lighter, fast-expanding rounds, and the Henry makes a great
midrange deer or black bear rifle, especially in states that now allow straight-wall rifle
cartridges to be used in what were once shotgun-only areas. While it might not be the best
choice for wide-open country, shots out to 200 yards are certainly no problem once you get
to know your rifle and the trajectory of your chosen loads.
And yes, because lever-action rifles are so handy, target to target, and fast with follow-up
shots, don’t underestimate this gun for defense around the home or camp. No, the .45-
70 cartridge wouldn’t be my first choice for defense, but it would certainly be effective.
Remember, it started as our military cartridge. However, if your rifle might take on a greater
role in defense for which large, dangerous game isn’t as much of a consideration, Henry
also offers the X Model in .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt and even in a smoothbore
.410 configuration.
Add a light, laser or suppressor. Attach a rail up top for mounting a variety of optics. With
the ability to top off the magazine quickly and easily, this fast-handling lever gun becomes
a versatile, very formidable weapon that can handle almost any situation.
With uncertain times potentially around any corner, a Henry X Model lever gun is an effective
choice and one that isn’t likely to be outlawed any time soon.
‹ Bottom left: The Henry X Model is a sleek, easy-to-carry lever-action rifle that’s still permissible in areas generally
“unfriendly” to gun owners. (Photo: Justin Holt/Henry Repeating Arms)
S O U R C E S
Bushnell
(800) 423-3537
Bushnell.com
Crimson Trace
(800) 442-2406
CrimsonTrace.com
Garrett Cartridges
GarrettCartridges.com
Henry Repeating Arms

(866) 200-2354
HenryUSA.com
› Skinner Sights offers a
quality 1x6 variable scope Hornady Manufacturing
with a 30mm tube that’s (800) 338-3220
well-suited to the midrange Hornady.com
capabilities of a lever-action
.45-70. This company also Magpul Industries Corp.
offers a rail with an integral (877) 462-4785
peep sight that fits this rifle. Magpul.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.

CRKT EAT’N TOOL
Overview Specifications
This utensil offers numerous • Blade steel: 3Cr13
functions, all within its intelli- • Overall length: 4.0 inches
gently constructed, single piece • Carabiner included
of durable steel. Enjoy the use of • Weight: 1.5 ounces
a fork, spoon, bottle opener, flat- • Available in black, orange, pink or
head screwdriver and three hex gray
wrenches wherever you travel.
MSRP
This compact tool fits easily onto
$7.99
your keyring; or you can hang it
on your mess kit or your bug-out URL
bag. Simple, effective and there CRKT.com
when you need it ... that’s the
EAT’N TOOL!
KA-BAR Original HOBO

With a pocketknife-like design, • Compact, slim design
this trio will aid in breakfast, lunch • Knife steel: 3Cr13 stainless steel
and dinner with a quick flick of • All utensils easily slide apart and
your wrist. Use the full-sized fork, back together
spoon and knife to make outdoor • Includes nylon carrying case
“eats” a pleasure, even while you’re • Weight: 5.6 ounces
under not-so-nice conditions. The
MSRP
all-stainless steel construction will
$25.38
hold up for years of outdoor use
at the campsite or when far from URL
home. The included nylon sheath KaBar.com
keeps the kit attached to your belt
and always handy.
Gerber Gear Armbar Cork Multi-tool

This multi-tool offers a corkscrew, • Solid, durable steel construction
package opener (useful for open- • Textured handle for a firm grip
ing cans or jars), bottle opener for • One-handed opening feature
cracking open a cold one and a • Closed length: 3.6 inches
pry bar for handling “troublesome” • Weight: 3.1 ounces
containers. The main blade can
MSRP
slice through meat during dinner,
$39
and everything folds down into one
compact unit when done. Choose URL
from gold, orange or onyx colors. GerberGear.com

Mountain Warehouse Stainless Steel
Cutlery
Great for hiking trips, weekend campouts • All-stainless steel construction
or when traveling out of town, these • Interlocking clip keeps all pieces
stainless steel utensils offer convenience together
when you’re far from your own kitchen. • Includes fork, spoon and serrated
All three items—a fork, spoon and serrated knife
knife—attach together easily by the • Length: 6.34 inches
included interlocking clip. Cleanup is easy • Total set weight: 3.0 ounces
with soap and hot water. An integrated
MSRP
bottle opener within the knife’s handle
$14.99
offers a fourth convenient utensil.
URL
MountainWarehouse.com/US
Mountain Warehouse Spork

and Karabiner
This one-piece utensil features three • Easy cleanup
much-needed items (a spoon, fork and • Constructed of one-piece
serrated knife), all of which are ideally polycarbonate
sized for use during a survival situation, • Lightweight and heat-resistant
while out camping or packed within your • Weight: 0.3 ounce
emergency food kit. The included carabiner
MSRP
makes it easy to secure this tool to your
$7.99
bag or mess kit, while its bright-orange
color makes it easy to locate in a pack or URL
at camp. This tool is a minimalistic design MountainWarehouse.com/US
that offers multiple functions.
Rothco Folding Chow Set

This “pocketknife” utensil kit offers • Stainless steel construction
flip-style opening for the included fork, • Dimensions: 3.50x1.25 inches
spoon, knife and bottle/can opener. Its (closed)
retro military design breaks away into • Unit separates into two pieces for
two pieces for easy handling during use
your meal. Use the included steel • Includes can and bottle openers,
loop to attach a key ring, paracord split key ring and polyester sheath
lanyard or carabiner to secure this
MSRP
valuable utensil to your backpack or
$7.99
gear bag.
URL
Rothco.com

Rothco Foreign Legion 5 in 1 Chow Set
One tool, five useful utensils. When • Utensils detach for easy use
it comes to prepping and survival, • Pocket-sized set fits nearly anywhere
space is at a premium, and this little • Durable metal construction
tool takes up very little. The set offers • Includes olive-drab pouch
a complete array of utensils for meal-
MSRP
times. From cutting meat to sipping
$15.99
soups, opening up canned goods to
uncorking a wine bottle when it’s URL
time to unwind and relax, your needed Rothco.com
tools will always be nearby.
Rothco GI Type P-51 Can Opener

One of the most overlooked necessities • Lightweight and low-profile
when stocking a closet of canned goods • Hole for key ring or lanyard
is a can opener. Without it, you’ll be • Only 2 inches long
fighting with the jagged metal as you try • Durable stainless steel construction
to tear through it with your best knife. • Ideal for camping, hunting,
This can cause damage to your valuable backpacking and emergency
knife ... and maybe to some body parts preparedness
too. Avoid the hassle and stock up on a
MSRP
pocketful of these essentials. Tape a few
$0.99
directly to the canned goods, keep some
in all your gear bags and packs, and URL
always attach one to your key chain. Rothco.com
Gerber Gear ComplEAT Utensil Kit

When it’s time to pull out the MREs, • Utensils nest for slim storage and
dehydrated snacks or freeze-dried easy carrying
foods, these full-sized utensils make • High-temperature nylon with silicone
those “survival” meals a great deal overmold
better. Utilizing a tool for every type • Combined components weigh 2.3
of food, you’ll enjoy the convenience ounces
of a spoon, fork, knife, spatula and • Length 7.75 inches
bottle opener, no matter where you
MSRP
find yourself after a crisis hits. In
$29
addition, this innovative set “locks”
together to convert to a functional URL
pair of tongs. GerberGear.com

Gerber Gear Tri-Tip Mini Cleaver
The Tri-Tip cleaver is a must-have on • Use for both scraping and
any outdoor adventure. It can handle cutting
even the toughest meats, roots and veg- • Blade steel: 7Cr17MoV
etables. Its dual-purpose blade enables • Length: 8.5 inches
you to hack through materials with ease, • Weight: 11.7 ounces
while its beveled leading edge shaves • Includes polymer sheath
wood for fire-starting and mealtime
MSRP
food items with utmost precision. The
$36
machined-aluminum handle provides a
sturdy and comfortable grip for extended URL
use. GerberGear.com
Coghlan’s Nylon Utensils 3-Pack

Feeding a family when out camping takes • Durable, one-piece construction
some dependable and versatile utensils. • Created from DuPont 101
This trio fits the bill. The included slotted nylon
spoon, spatula and solid spoon let you flip • Dishwasher safe
fish, stir soups and stews, and strain pasta • Heat-resistant to 410 degrees
and other boiling foods from the pot. Pre- (F)
punched handle holes make hanging them • Weight: Fewer than 6 ounces
a cinch while cooking or drying after use.
MSRP
This three-pack is built to last, season after
$5.99
rugged season.
URL
Coghlans.com
Full Windsor Muncher Titanium

Multi Utensil
Okay, here’s the rundown: a spork, • Made from aerospace titanium
butter knife, can opener, bottle opener, • 10 tools
spud peeler, fire-starter, cord cutter, • Includes pouch with ferrocerium
pry bar, box cutter and a flathead fire-starting flint
screwdriver—that’s a lot of tools, all • Thickness: 0.06 inch
in one piece! The Muncher is the ideal • Weight: 0.70 ounce
companion when traveling, camping,
MSRP
packing for emergency preparation or
$49.99
minimalist survival use. An included
Hypalon pouch with a carabiner attach- URL
ment secures your tool and also houses Full-Windsor.com
the fire-starter.

Outdoor Edge ChowLite
Flip it, lock it into place, and chow • 420J2 stainless steel
down. That’s the innovative design of • Utensils lock firmly into place when
the ChowLite. This one-piece utensil opened
offers a fork, serrated-edge spoon, • Full-sized utensils
bottle opener, can opener and even • Open length: 7.75 inches
a flathead screwdriver. No longer • Closed length: 4.5 inches
do you need to fiddle with multiple • Weight: 1.60 ounces
utensils that can get lost when you
MSRP
need them the most. Constructed
$19.95
of easy-to-clean stainless steel, the
ChowLite has everything you need for URL
mealtimes in one durable tool. OutdoorEdge.com
Outdoor Edge ChowPal

With a look similar to surgical tools, • 420J2 stainless steel
the ChowPal features three inter- • Knife offers a framelock for
locking utensils that separate when safety
dinner is served. Enjoy the full-sized • Length: 6.5 inches
cutlery that includes a fork, spoon • Weight: 2.4 ounces
and knife, with the added bonus of a
MSRP
bottle opener, can opener, graduated
$28.50
wrench and flathead screwdriver.
The unit slides back together with URL
ease and slips into the included nylon OutdoorEdge.com
pouch when not in use.
Full Windsor Splitter

Titanium Multi Tongs
These two utensils are much more than • Incorporates 5 functions
first meets the eye. The oversized spork • Polished, sand-blasted
and serrated spatula join together to form finish
a pair of tongs that are perfect for over- • Length: 10 inches
the-fire cooking. These utensils operate • Weight: 1.80 ounces
with a flexibility that provides just the
MSRP
right amount of force but without losing
$54.99
support. The tool is constructed entirely of
titanium, so you’ll enjoy its light weight and URL
extreme durability. An optional Hypalon Full-Windsor.com
pouch is available to keep these utensils
clean and ready to use.

Gerber Gear Shard Multi-tool
Looks are definitely deceiving with • One-piece construction with 7
the Shard. This multi-function utensil functions
offers valuable functions, so it’s ideal • Black titanium-nitride coating
for both everyday tasks and unpre- resists corrosion
dictable situations. It features a pry • Extremely lightweight
bar, two flathead drivers, wire stripper, • Lanyard hole for key ring or
cross driver, bottle opener and lanyard paracord attachment
hole—all useful for the campsite. This • Length: 2.75 inches
unit fits easily onto a key ring or lan-
MSRP
yard. This little tool's corrosion-resistant
$7
outer coating means it'll tackle nature’s
worst. All in all, it’s a small, handy utensil URL
with huge benefits! GerberGear.com
Mountain Warehouse 6-In-1 Mess Kit

This compact kit offers everything • Recreational or survival use
you need to eat a meal, clean up fast, • Hole-punched items for air drying
pack it away and continue on your or storage
way. Incorporating a knife, fork and • Compact and lightweight
spoon, as well as a small cup and • Hand-washable and easy to
enclosed “plate,” you’ll have a touch clean
of civilization, even if you’re deep in
MSRP
nature’s backyard. All items fit into
$23.49
the covered base for easy storage
and carry. URL
MountainWarehouse.com/UK
KA-BAR Chopsticks
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.

“WE NOW SPEND TOO MUCH
TIME TREATING INJURIES
AND ILLNESSES INSTEAD OF
PREVENTING THE ISSUES IN
THE FIRST PLACE.”

WELLNESS
IS NO
ACCIDENT
FOLLOWTHESESIMPLESTEPSTOENJOY
AHEALTHYLIFE.
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)

‹ Above: their bodies built up immunities that we, in our overindulgence of travel create a breeding ground for illness and troublesome diseases—
Continuous
exercise helps
antibiotics and heightened avoidance of germs, seem to have lost. and encourage their spread.
keep the body Above all, they tried to keep themselves away from things that The question is, How can we prevent some of these issues?
and mind healthy.
Here, Kevin Estela
could possibly kill them. While injuries and illnesses will happen—no matter how hard we
paddles to keep We now spend too much time treating injuries and illnesses try to prevent them—most are preventable. Sometimes, it’s the
in shape. (Photo:
Kevin Estela)
instead of preventing the issues in the first place. We don’t have lack of knowledge; in other cases, it’s pure carelessness. Perhaps we
the labor-intensive jobs that would keep our bodies physically have an “it will never happen to me” attitude or we take risks that
sharp. Instead, we toil in a cubicle sitting in front of a computer shouldn’t be taken. The news is full of stories about people coming
for eight hours or more every day. Over time, this equates to down with illnesses that were once considered long eradicated ...
self-destruction. simply because they failed to get vaccinated.
Another thing we have going against us is where and how we live.
Most of the world’s population is located either in cities or very PHYSICAL INJURIES
close to them in dense suburbs. Our proximity and interaction with A sprained ankle, broken bone, frostbite or cutting yourself with
hundreds, if not thousands, of people every day and widespread a knife are just some examples of common injuries. Some of these
‹ 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)
‹ Far left: Growing

your own food and
working in the garden
will help keep you
healthy. In addition,
a proper diet is
important to overall
health.

‹ Near left: This is
a harmless corn
snake in Arizona ...
but it could just as
easily have been a
rattlesnake. Keep
your head on a
swivel, and wear
the proper clothing
when in snake
country.
‹ Far left: A hike

through this lava
field in Hawaii is
full of places where
one can turn an
ankle —or worse.
Make sure you
wear the proper
footwear.
“IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION, TAKING A tending a garden—without power tools—is
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.

DEET, ‹ Below, left: Green Mountain Tick Repellent is an all-natural repellent. The author
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.
Note: As in all situations when applying something to your skin,

clothing or gear, carefully read and follow the instructions on the
container. Consult a physician if you encounter any problems.
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.

‹ Near left: The author
(right) is safely covered
up, wearing long pants
and a UV-protective
shirt during a trip to
Arizona.
‹ Far left: Don’t

get complacent or
careless! Even cutting
a roast can turn into
trouble if you don’t pay
attention.
‹ Below: A paleo diet

of fish and meat kept
our ancestors alive. It’ll
work for you as well.
(Photo: Kevin Estela)
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.
OTHER OUTSIDE THREATS

You exercise, eat well and practice good hygiene, so that means
you're out of the woods, right? Wrong! There are other things out
there that can—if they don’t kill you outright—make you very sick.
I’m talking about biting insects, reptiles and toxic plants.

‹ Above: Getting out in winter means dressing in a way that protects
you from the elements.
‹ Left: Physical activity, no matter the time of the year, will help you
stay healthy. (Photo: Mark Goddard)
Your best line of defense is to avoid areas where these threats

exist ... but we all know that’s nearly impossible. That means you
need to take precautions to limit your exposure. These precautions
include preventives you can apply to your skin or clothing, as well
as wearing the proper clothing for the environment.
Topical Protection. No matter how well you dress, there are
bound to be openings that expose your skin to attack. Any one of
these exposed areas will leave you vulnerable to biting and sting-
ing insects. The best way to combat them is by applying topical
protection barriers to both your skin and your clothes. There are
many available, and they all work (to a certain degree). Some
of these are made from all-natural ingredients but, for the most
part, many of the most effective commercially available products
contain DEET. DEET is a chemical that’s been found to repel both
ticks and mosquitoes. However, there are also drawbacks to using
DEET (see the sidebar on page 58).
Clothing. Mosquitoes and ticks transmit a host of diseases, and
wasps, hornets, scorpions and spiders all present venom hazards.
Everyone reacts differently when bitten or stung by one of these
critters. The key is to limit the amount of exposed skin you give
them. If you offer them an opening, they’ll take it. In tick-prone
areas, wear boots and tuck your pants into them. Wear long-sleeved
shirts and keep the cuffs buttoned (this also applies to combating
mosquitoes). Certain colors seem to attract more attention, so
“SOME OF THESE [INJURIES] CAN BE PREVENTED BY JUST SLOWING

DOWN, REMEMBERING THE BASICS AND THINKING THINGS THROUGH.
WE ALL GET COMPLACENT AND SKIP STEPS. IF YOU DO THIS, YOU’RE
ASKING FOR TROUBLE.”

BOOKS
Here are five books that I‘ve found help-
ful in my efforts to stay healthy and be
prepared for illnesses and injuries:
101 Skills You Need to Survive in the

Woods, by Kevin Estela. The first step
in prevention is keeping yourself out of
potentially dangerous situations. In this
book, author Estela gives you information
toward that goal.
MSRP: $21.99
PageStreetPublishing.com
How to Survive Anywhere, by Christopher

Nyerges. This book covers all aspects of
stick to light, natural colors in mosquito ‹ Above: Proper
clothing is survival, including what to avoid to stay
areas and darker colors in tick areas. important, safe.
If you’re in venomous snake country, wear especially in the
winter.
good, thick leather boots. The best boots
MSRP: $19.95
go up to around your calves. Alternatively,
www.StackpoleBooks.com
use snake chaps. Always watch where you
place your feet and hands. Because most
Medicinal and Other Uses of North American
snakes would rather get away from you,
Plants, by Charlotte Erichsen-Brown. The
most snake incidents happen when a snake
thing about toxic plants is that there’s
is surprised or feels threatened. When in
usually another plant growing nearby that
snake country, it’s a good idea to tap the
holds the antidote for the toxin! This book
ground with a stick to let snakes know
talks about using medicinal plants and
you’re in the area and give them a chance
‹ Right: The where to find them.
to move away. Survival Medicine
Toxic plants don’t bite or sting. Instead, Handbook
is found in MSRP: $19.95
they transmit their toxin by contact. Of the author’s DoverPublications.com
all the toxic plants, poison ivy is probably bookcase.
the most common, being found just about
The Survival Medicine Handbook, by
everywhere in the United States. This plant
Joseph Alton, M.D., and Amy Alton, A.R.N.P.
can be found as ground cover, a bush or
Part of prevention is being prepared to treat
vine. It grows in the woods, fields, around
the problems when they happen. This book
stone walls and even in the shrubs common
is one of the best available—and it has a
in residential areas, thus making it hard to
permanent home in my bookcase.
avoid. As with all toxic plants, the key is
not to get any of the plant’s sap or fluid
MSRP: $41.99
on your skin.
DoomandBloom.com
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION ...

The Wild Diet, by Abel James. This book
There’s no perfect solution to avoiding
helps the reader make the correct choices
injury or illness. We’ll all get hurt and sick at
regarding diet. It’s helped me develop
some point.
proper eating habits.
The key to good health is prevention. In
a survival situation, taking a proactive
MSRP: $18
position is much better than a reactive one.
PenguinRandomHouse.com
Take care of yourself now, and it’ll pay off in
the long run.

T
he United States Air Force began issuing the M6 Aircrew Survival Weapon to
aircrews in 1952. The M6 comprised dual, 14-inch, over/under .22 Hornet/.410
shotgun barrels mated to a receiver made from stamped sheet metal containing
the trigger group, storage space and a hinged takedown assembly. The weapon
was to be no longer than 15 inches when folded for storage, and crews were
instructed to wrap the barrels with paracord to serve as a makeshift forend.

“UNLIKE MOST MILITARY WEAPONS,
THE M6 AIRCREW SURVIVAL WEAPON
WAS NEVER INTENDED FOR COMBAT. ITS
SOLE PURPOSE WAS TO ASSIST DOWNED
AIRCREWS IN FORAGING FOR WILD GAME
IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION.”
The TPS Arms M6 Scout in .357 Magnum/.410
is the latest offering in the evolution of this
iconic military survival rifle.
THE
TAKEDOWN RIFLE
M6
HITSTHE BIGTIME
TPS ARMS NEW .357/.410 UPS THE ANTE.
BY MIKE TRAVIS

› Above left: Minus the optic, this is what comes in the box with a new
TPS Arms M6.
Unlike most military weapons, the M6 Air-
crew Survival Weapon was never intended › Above right: The Exotac nanoSTRIKER XL ferro rod fits perfectly in a
.410 ammo compartment in the stock of the rifle.
for combat. Its sole purpose was to assist
downed aircrews in foraging for wild game
in a survival situation. Production of the guns ever made. So, he set out to build his own improved version
military M6 ceased in the early 1970s. of the gun.
The original M6 had 14-inch barrels, so TPS Arms introduced its own M6 Scout rifle to the public in 2018.
the National Firearms Act restricted its Until now, the TPS Arms M6 has been available in .22LR, .22 Mag-
ownership by civilians. As a result, the mili- num, .17 HMR and .22 Hornet. All configurations were combined
tary-issue M6 was never sold to the public. with a .410 shotgun barrel with a 3-inch chamber and inter-
Even so, the utility of the design of the M6 changeable choke tubes. Compared to the military and Springfield
was not lost on the shooting public, and M6, all the TPS M6 variants featured a long list of improvements.
Springfield Armory stepped in to provide While hunting larger game is possible using the original caliber
civilians with a slightly modified version lineup of the M6, Paulson recognized that the existing calibers
of the original M6 until its production was were less than ideal for that purpose. Additionally, many states
discontinued in 2008. have regulations making it illegal to hunt animals such as deer
and bear with a .22-caliber weapon.
NEW BEGINNINGS
When Jeff Paulson opened Tactical Parts MAGNUM M6
Supply and Arms (TPS Arms), he started After much consideration, it was decided that the new M6 would
by producing high-quality parts for the incorporate a .357 Magnum rifle barrel. The .357 Magnum is a
AR15 platform. He recognized that the pistol caliber developed for combat revolvers, but it takes on a
long-discontinued M6 Scout platform whole, new personality when fired from a carbine-length barrel.
might well be one of the best survival The .357 Magnum packs a lot of punch using full-power loads;
› Above: While
very similar to its
predecessor from
Springfield Armory
(right), The TPS Arms
M6 Scout brings
some very welcome
improvements.
› Far right: The M6

uses a fixed peep sight
for the rifle barrel.
› Near right: The

unprotected crossbolt
safety allows the TPS
Arms M6 to have a
much better trigger
than the original while
still being very safe to
use and hunt with.

it’s also extremely versatile. There’s a huge variety of .357 Magnum
ammunition, ranging from 110-grain, high-velocity loads to heavy-hitting
180-grain loads. As with any .357 Magnum rifle, the M6 can also fire .38
Special ammunition, further increasing its versatility.
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.
› Top of page: The

TPS Arms M6 is
delivered with two
interchangeable
choke tubes for the
.410 shotgun barrel.
Full and modified
chokes are provided
with each gun,
along with a tool to
change them. An
improved choke
is available as an
option.
› 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!

TPS Arms, LLC
M6 Takedown Rifle
.357 over .410; 3 inches
MSRP: $625
‹ Left: Even with the Aimpoint

H-1 Micro sight zeroed at
50 yards for the rifle barrel,
shotshell placement was well-
centered when placing the dot
on the target at 20 yards.
The .410 barrel now incorporates removable choke tubes. My copy of

the M6 was delivered with both modified and full choke tubes and a
tool to remove and replace them. The front sight incorporated with the
barrel assembly now includes two protective wings and a sight post
that’s adjustable for elevation. The same tool that’s used for the choke
tubes can make front sight adjustments.
The M6 has always included a storage system in the buttstock. Because
the stock assembly is made from stamped sheet metal, its hollow interior
was used to store extra ammunition. My Springfield M6 uses a rubberized
sheet metal cover that’s hinged to the stock to cover the storage area and
also provide a more comfortable place to get a cheek weld.
TPS Arms made some much-appreciated improvements in this area.
The hinged cover on the TPS gun is made from glass-reinforced nylon. It
has a latch assembly that’s much easier to engage, and the cover is wider
and more radiused, making it much more comfortable when shooting.
TPS has made further improvements inside the storage compartment.
Instead of the storage compartment being “hard wired” into the stock, the › Above: The M6 features dual barrels and an enhanced extractor. The match-grade .357
TPS system uses modular plastic organizers to hold extra ammunition. Magnum barrel resides on the top, closest to the sighting plane.
Accuracy Results
Factory Ammunition
AVG. AVG. KINETIC
BRAND LOAD VELOCITY GROUP SIZE ENERGY
(fps) (inches) (ft-lb)
Winchester .38 Special 110-grain Silvertip 1,254 3 384
Federal American Eagle 158-grain Jacketed Soft Point 1,824 3 1,167
3-inch, .410 slug, ¼ ounce (109 grain equivalent)

Winchester 1,712 12+ 709
Modified choke used for testing

‹ Far left: This target
(hand-painted by the
author’s daughter!)
was shot with
Winchester 3-inch,
#7 shot game loads
at 20 yards using the
modified choke tube.
‹ Near left: While

issues with the
original optic caused
some erratic shot
placement, the .410
barrel was able to
provide solid, game-
getting patterns on
this life-sized turkey
target.
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!
TAKING THE M6 TO THE RANGE

My sample copy of the new M6 was deliv-
ered in the beginning days of the corona-
virus outbreak here, in the United States.
Obtaining a variety of factory ammunition
became very difficult.
My eyes aren't what they used to be, and
I wanted to give the TPS Arms M6 every
opportunity to show its accuracy potential.
Unfortunately, the sight I had arranged to
use on the M6 was significantly delayed.
Ultimately, all accuracy testing was done
using an Aimpoint Micro H-1 with a 4 MOA
dot. This wasn't my first choice for testing
the accuracy potential of the rifle barrel,

Handloaded Ammunition
(All ammo was loaded with new Winchester .357 Magnum cases and Federal Small Pistol Primers)
AVG. AVG. KINETIC

LOAD PRIMER VELOCITY GROUP SIZE ENERGY
(fps) (inches) (ft-lb)
125-grain Hornady XTP
21.4 grains Hodgdon H110 2,297 1.75 1,465
Jacketed Hollow Point
158-grain Hornady XTP
17.4 grains Hodgdon H110 Not recorded 1.75 ___
170-grain Sierra
16 grains Hodgdon Lil’Gun 1,834 0.75 1,270
185-grain Beartooth
13.4 grains Hodgdon H110 1,476 1.25 895
Flat Nose Gas Check hard-cast lead
produces, but I’ve included it here as a point of reference. The

typical .223 Remington rifle round, as fired by the AR15 rifle, will
produce approximately 1,296 foot-pounds of energy. The 7.62x39
cartridge fired by the AK47 produces an average of 1,527 foot-
pounds of energy.
The kinetic energy leaders from the M6, firing .357 Magnum
ammunition, produced 1,270 and 1,465 foot-pounds of energy!
Understanding that bullet selection must be matched to the game
being hunted, and that pistol bullets will shed velocity and energy
much more quickly than their rifle bullet counterparts, we’re still
left with the fact that the .357 Magnum fired from the TPS Arms
M6 is a force to be reckoned with.
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
› Far right: The large

disc built into the
hammer allows
the user to select
which barrel to fire,
as well as place the
hammer in a safe,
neutral position.
› Near right: The

trigger mechanism
remains true to the
original design but
has been greatly
improved, making
this a much more
“shootable” gun.

G
ua
rd
ia
n3
5 .
Proudly made in Kent,WA USA
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.
‹ Near left: One of the

many improvements
to the TPS Arms M6 is
the inclusion of extra
storage space in the
buttstock.
‹ Bottom: The M6 Scout

“BY REPLACING THE STANDARD .22-CALIBER RIFLE BARREL WITH is a rugged, lightweight
hunting weapon that’s
A QUALITY .357 MAGNUM RIFLE BARREL, THE TPS ARMS M6 HAS capable of taking a
wide variety of game
BEEN ELEVATED TO NEW LEVELS OF VERSATILITY.” animals.
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

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› The pot could cook directly on

the coals but, in this case, the grill
is necessary to cook the corn.

NO BUDGET?
NO PROBLEM! BASICSURVIVALWITHOUTBUSTINGTHEBANK
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

› Right: A view of Amish buggies in Ohio. The Amish
have long chosen a simpler agricultural lifestyle—without
electricity. Many lessons can be learned from them.
“WE DIDN’T GO HIKING

ON A ‘LOW BUDGET.’ WE
DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT
THE WORD, ‘BUDGET,’
MEANT! WE WENT HIKING
AND BACKPACKING ON
NO BUDGET. WE HAD NO
MONEY, AND NONE WAS
NEEDED TO HEAD TO THE
HILLS.”
‹ 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

we called our “outdoor clothes”—clothes that we didn’t worry
about getting dirty or torn but durable enough for a weekend or
a week in the hills. We simply dressed for the season and took an
extra sweatshirt along if it was cold.
To this day, it’s rare that I buy any special outdoor clothing,
because I try to purchase garments with a survival quotient that’s
more or less built in so that I feel somewhat prepared in the city
or woods.
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
› Top: Some of the

knives the author
uses on a regular
basis
› Near and far left:

No money? Student
Nicole DeWeese
is learning how to
make a pack from a
pair of pants.

“I’VE ALWAYS
BELIEVED
THAT SIMPLE
ENJOYMENT OF
THE OUTDOORS
SHOULD BE AS
UNADORNED AS
POSSIBLE.”
‹ Left: A variety of ordinary and

functional gear, such as paracord,
knives, a flashlight and other basics
‹ Below: A lot of simple first aid items

and other supplies can be obtained from
a local dollar store.
‹ Bottom: Keith Farrar demonstrates

how to create a shelter from a tarp. Good
shelter is critical in the outdoors, but it
needn’t be expensive or complicated.
when every kitchen in the world—well, at least our kitchen—had dishes,

silverware and pots? We’d pack an old pot and pan. Sometimes, we’d just
carry an old pie pan and an empty can. We reasoned that with the pie pan
and can, we could crush them and bury them before returning home and
wouldn’t need to carry them back. We’d also grab a few plastic forks and
spoons and maybe an old metal one. Nothing more was needed.
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

never got “addicted” to needing a flashlight at night. (Did you know
the average adult has the ability to see in the darkness after 30
minutes? And, it's almost as good as an owl’s night vision!)
Nevertheless, things have changed a lot, technology-wise, in the
area of flashlights in the last several decades. I no longer consider a
large C- or D-cell flashlight. I’d rather carry the smaller, AA flash-
lights with bright LED lights. Good ones can usually be had for as
little as $20 or so.
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
‹ Far left: No stove?

No pot? Here,
instructors Dude
McLean and Alan
Halcon prepare to
cook in a hollowed-
out yucca stalk.
‹ Near left:
Instructor Dude
McLean adds greens
to the hot water in
a hollowed yucca
stalk to make soup.
‹ Far left, bottom:

The hollowed-out
yucca stalk is filled
with water, and hot
rocks are carefully
placed into the water
to get it to boil within
seconds.

› Above, left: The small and not really that comfortable. I carry a tent if I'm car-camping, and I like the sleeping bags for as little as $5 (and never
author checks on
the progress of his Coleman brand (purchased on sale, that is). Because there are so many options out there, more than $50) by watching the ads in the
no-budget cooking I suggest you get a tent you can afford and that’s large enough to fit your needs. But, newspapers or by going to yard sales.
pot—a discarded
aluminum can. remember that camping tents are not designed to be out in the sun day after day. If you
do that, they’ll last about a year or so before they begin to deteriorate. TOILET PAPER
› Middle: A Swiss I do suggest buying a new tent at a camping store. However, if you see one at a yard sale, Sometimes, my brothers and I would grab
Army knife and Bic you should at least check it out. a roll of toilet paper from the bathroom and
lighter are standard
tools—and excellent toss it into our pack. But, we often forgot
values. SLEEPING BAG to do this. We discovered that the woods
On many of my first backpacking trips, I never carried a sleeping bag. I slept in a ham- are full of “toilet paper”: Leaves, moss and
› Right: A simple,
yet functional, mock with a tarp ... and I was cold! My first sleeping bag was lent to me from my older other natural materials will work fine ... with
lantern can be made brother, and it was a layered-paper sleeping roll designed for just a few uses ... and I was some practice.
from an old drink
can and a candle. cold. I‘ve carried just a blanket or two with me, and I’ve gone backpacking with just an
emergency space blanket ... and I was cold. MAP AND COMPASS
I’ve learned to sleep in holes, lean-tos and various natural shelters with no sleeping bag. Usually, we simply went up to our local
And I stay warm! mountains and followed the trails. We
A sleeping bag is one item for which it pays to get the best you can afford. Down is best, explored and, little by little, we learned about
but some of the modern fills are just as good and are easier to clean. Buy a sleeping bag the areas. Yes, do get a map of the areas you
that can be compressed into a small bag. Alternatively, I’ve purchased good-quality plan to explore; maps are not expensive.
› Far right: The

author’s simple
“mess kit” often
includes a small
cast-iron skillet and
a can.
› Near right: These

are some of the
knives and simple
cooking tools the
author uses.

SOURCES
I’m not a fan of low-quality junk, and
I make it a point to not purchase tools
that are a constant frustration. Still,
I’m very frugal and don’t like to spend
more than necessary. If possible, I don’t
spend much at all.
My mess kit has long consisted of cans
and pie pans. My knives are largely from
the kitchen, from thrift stores and yard
sales.
Yes, I purchased my tent, footwear,
and packs from backpacking stores.
I shop on Amazon when necessary—
because, let’s face it: Everything’s
› Above, left: Laying cheaper there as each merchant tries
out the pattern for
making a vest. to outdo the other.
However, some things you just have to
› Above, right: buy, and so, you should shop around and
Students learn look for the best price. I buy my lanterns
how to make a
simple vest. It’s not from SurvivalResources.com, flashlights
difficult, and they at Target, and my compasses and maps
end up with a very
practical garment. at backpacking stores. Remember:
These are all low-budget items. But, in
› Left: Good general, I make it myself, buy it used or
compasses can be try to get it as cheaply as possible.
found for under
$20. Buy one and Here’s some contact information for
learn how to use it sources I've mentioned in this article:
in conjunction with
your map.
3V Gear
(844) 234-7789
3VGear.com
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.

“COST FOR THIS
PROJECT WILL DEPEND
ON MANY THINGS ... BUT
YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE
TO SPEND A LOT OF
MONEY TO INSTALL ONE
OF THESE SIMPLE WATER
CATCHMENT SYSTEMS.”
© GETTY IMAGES

DIY RAIN
CATCHMENT
SYSTEM
BUILD THIS SIMPLE SETUP FOR LESS
THAN $75!
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.

› Near left: Use
something sturdy to
place your rain barrel
on top of, such as a
large stump or a few
stacked cinder blocks.
The base should be
solid, level and high
enough so you can put
a bucket or water can
under the spigot. Doing
this will allow you to
put your spigot as low
as possible on the rain
barrel. Remember: A
full, 55-gallon water
barrel can weigh
approximately 480
pounds.
› Far left: A water barrel

is in place under a
downspout.
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.
CLEAN YOUR BARREL CHOOSE YOUR LOCATION

Whether your purchase was “reconditioned” or not, you’ll want to Deciding where to place your rainwater catch is very important and should be given
clean the inside of the container to ensure you’re not adding any- serious consideration. Proximity to the raw water source—probably one of your roof’s
thing hazardous to the water that’ll be stored inside. Here are the downspouts—as well as homeowner association rules, general appearance and drainage
recommendations for cleaning a water storage container before issues, should all be taken into account.
use, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Another thing to consider is the end use plan for your stored water. If it’s for your
(CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/drinking/ garden, you might want to put it as close as possible to your garden. While it’s possible to
cleaning-preparing-storage-containers.html: reroute the downspout anywhere you want, as long as it remains higher than your barrel,
1. Wash the storage container and rinse completely with clean, the easiest and cheapest way to do this project is to choose a location where there’s
safe water. already a downspout.
› Far left: Marking the

location to cut the
downspout. Be sure
it’s cut long enough to
extend into the fixture
on the barrel lid or the
flexible downspout
adapter. Remember:
Measure twice, cut
once!
› Near left: For best

results when cutting
the metal downspout,
use a saw blade that’s
intended to cut metal.

‹ Far left: Carefully
cut the downspout
at the marked
location.
‹ Near left: Being

careful around the
sharp edges on the
cut downspout,
remove its bottom
portion and save it
for another project.
GET YOUR HARDWARE

You can find spigots in any hardware store worth its salt. When
installing the spigot, it’s important to ensure a watertight fit,
which a complete kit should ensure.
If you can’t mate the downspout directly to the top of the barrel,
you might also need a flexible downspout adapter to connect
the downspout to the barrel’s lid. These adapters are built like
an accordion, the ends are designed to fit most downspouts, and
they come in multiple lengths. Alternatively, you might be able to ‹ Left: Put the
fabricate an adapter out of a piece of downspout you already cut rain barrel in
place, positioning
off to get the barrel to fit under it; or, you might have some generic the waterspout
pipe that’s large enough in diameter to connect to the flexible junction directly
into the downspout.
downspout adapter and the downspout. All are workable options
if they result in watertight connections between the downspout “CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, WATER
and the barrel.
Finally, for added protection, use nontoxic silicone to seal around
THAT'S COLLECTED IN A RAIN BARREL
potential leak sources, as well as the valve on the outside of the STILL NEEDS TO BE PROCESSED BEFORE
barrel, to ensure there is no leakage. CONSUMING IT.”
Note: You’ll need to consider the drainage situation wherever you’re
connecting to your downspout. Typically, the downspout either
directs the water away from the house or it’s connected to an under-
ground drainage pipe that transports the water away. If you don’t
plan to connect additional barrels to your system, and the potential
for overflow exists, you should arrange for any overflow from the
barrel to be directed away from the house or into the drainage pipe.
CONNECT THE DOWNSPOUT ADAPTER

Place the bottom of the flexible downspout adapter on top of
the barrel lid at the location you want the water to enter it. Trace
the shape on the lid with a marker. Using a bit large enough for
a jigsaw blade to fit into, drill a hole inside the tracing. Place the
jigsaw blade inside the hole and cut out the material inside the
drawn line to ensure it’ll be as snug a fit as possible with the base
of the downspout adapter. Place the bottom end of the flexible
downspout adapter into the hole and ensure that it fits snugly and
stays in place.
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.

‹ Far left: Use a marker
to draw an outline of the
downspout or downspout
adapter where you want it
to enter the barrel’s lid.
‹ Middle: Drill a starter

hole in the outline big
enough to fit a jigsaw
blade into.
‹ Near left: Use a jigsaw

to cut out the hole for the
downspout or downspout
adapter to fit snugly into.
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.
‹ Make sure the

COSTS AND TOOLS
downspout or Cost for this project will depend on many things—particularly any raw materials and tools you
adapter will fit
into the hole you
might already have—but you shouldn’t have to spend a lot of money to install one of these
cut in the barrel simple water catchment systems. Here’s what I spent on mine, along with the tools I used:
cover.
Item Description Quantity Cost for Combined

Single Item Cost
Food-grade plastic barrel 1 $20 $20
Spigot 2 $7 $14
Spigot nut 2 $3 $6
Flexible downspout adapter 1 $7 $7
Nontoxic waterproof caulk 1 tube $11 $11
Plastic tubing for overflow 1 $12 $12
‹ A spade-type Waterproof tape (optional) 1 roll $10 —
drill bit is the best
way to cut the hole
Short garden hose (optional) 1 $10 —
for the spigot and
ensure there’ll be
Total $70
minimal clean-up of
the hole’s edge.

‹ Top, near right: To
Tools ensure a watertight
• Hacksaw or reciprocating saw and secure fit, the
hole should be
• Jigsaw and blades slightly smaller than
• Drill and assorted bits the diameter of the
spigot’s threads.
• Permanent marker
• Large wrench or tongue-and-groove
(channel-lock) pliers
• Protective eyewear and gloves
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.
‹ Top row, far left:

Adding some poultry
watering cups to your
water catchment
barrel? Here’s the first
tool you’ll need for this
simple install: a drill.
‹ Top row, middle:

Drill a hole near the
base of the rain barrel.
The height will be
determined by the size
of your birds.
‹ Top row, near left:

Carefully screw the
watering cup assembly
into the drilled hole.
“ ... 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.

SPARTAN BLADES’
NEWSILVER LINE
TAKESTHE GOLD
RUNNING THE ALALA
AND MACHAI THROUGH
THE GAUNTLET
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY JIM COBB
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.

“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.”

ALALA
In Ancient Greek, “Alala” means “war cry,” and that’s a pretty good designation. From the
moment you pick it up, this knife is ready to ride into battle without faltering or hesitation
... even if the fight is just against a pile of cardboard boxes that need to be broken down.
This is the Silver Line entry that’s geared toward everyday use. Therefore, it’s the small-
Alala est in the group, with a blade that’s fewer than 4 inches long and an overall length just
Specifications shy of 8 inches. My first impression was that right out of the box, the knife was very solid
• Overall length: 7.88 inches and robust without being ridiculously overbuilt. Weighing a bit fewer than 5 ounces, it
• Blade length: 3.75 inches doesn’t feel like a boat anchor either.
• Blade thickness: 0.1875 inches
• Steel: 1095 Cro-Van
The Alala’s handle is designed in such a way that it
• Blade finish: Black powdercoat inspires great confidence for a positive grip in all
• Handle: CE canvas Micarta conditions. First, the scales are made of canvas
• Weight: 4.6 ounces
Micarta, which is a popular handle material for
• Sheath: Injection-molded with thumb release
a reason—it’s tough as nails. The scales are
MSRP: $159
textured and also deeply checkered. On top
URL: SpartanBladesUSA.com
of that, they’ve contoured the handle
with a very comfortable finger indent.
‹ Above: The Alala is the perfect size

for a routine EDC knife. (Photo:
Spartan Blades)
‹ Middle left: It took a couple of swipes,

but the thick fabric belt wasn’t an
insurmountable task for the Alala.
‹ Bottom left: A prying test always makes the

author nervous, because he’s had knives break
once the prying begins.
› Top right: Owing to the
hardness of the seasoned wood,
it took a little work, but the
Machai performed flawlessly
while chopping.
› Middle right: The author’s feather

sticking might not be perfect—but
that’s due to flawed technique, not
faulty equipment!
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

“MY FIRST IMPRESSION WAS THAT
RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX, THE KNIFE
WAS VERY SOLID AND ROBUST
WITHOUT BEING RIDICULOUSLY
OVERBUILT.”
‹ The textured handle on the Alala

lends a comfortable and positive grip in
any conditions. (Photo: Spartan Blades)
strap that allows for belt carry. Something I really appre-
ciate about this sheath is the thumb-activated retention
lever. As you wrap your fingers around the knife handle, your
thumb instinctively finds this lever. Slide it up, and the knife is
freed. Otherwise, it’s very secure in the sheath.
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.
‹ Top left: At home in the wild, as well as in

urban areas, the Alala is an ideal companion.
‹ Middle left: The Alala pried up a

substantial piece of wood and was
completely undamaged. Nice!
‹ Bottom left: The Alala is 0.1875 inch thick. It’s

strong without being ridiculously overbuilt.
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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.
‹ Middle left: That tiny bit of handle

material at the very corner is
destined to meet some sandpaper in
the near future.
‹ Bottom left: The jimping on the

Machai is thick and rounded, giving
you plenty of traction without being
uncomfortable.
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
“THE ‘S’ SHAPE OF THE [MACHAI’S]

BLADE EFFECTIVELY LENGTHENS THE
CUTTING EDGE WITHOUT INCREASING
THE SIZE OF THE KNIFE.”
attachment points for either cordage or
straps, as well as a generous belt loop. The
carry position can be reconfigured very
easily: Simply unscrew four screws, and
the belt loop platform can be removed and
adjusted as needed.
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
GIVING IT A CLOSE SHAVE ADVERTISER PAGE

I also wanted to see how the Machai
would perform with some finer work. Using AERO T............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................53
the inside sweep of the recurve blade, I ATABASE ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................93

started whittling a bit of a feather stick
BATTLBOX LLC ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................7
with one end of the branch I’d cut in half.
Although the Machai is a larger knife than BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 69
I’d prefer for this sort of task, it performed BRADFORD USA.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 69

admirably.
BRAVO COMPANY...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2-3
This sort of carving or whittling with a
recurve shape is a little different than when CONDOR - MARS GEAR ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................41
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
As you push the knife, the edge slices thin

strips of wood. The Advertiser Index is provided as a service to American Survival Guide readers.
American Survival Guide is not responsible for omissions or typographical errors on names or page numbers.

“THE MACHAI STRIKES A GREAT BALANCE BETWEEN A
KNIFE THAT’S LARGE ENOUGH FOR CHOPPING TASKS
AND ONE THAT’S SMALL ENOUGH TO EASILY CARRY
WITHOUT FEELING WEIGHED DOWN.”
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.

ONLINE
GO VISIT US
WWW.ASGMAG.COM
PREPPER P
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER NYERGES
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.

Cautions ‹ Below: A view of purslane at a
farmers’ market booth. It’s easy to
Sometimes, common prostrate spurge plants are misidentified as purslane. Prostrate see that this plant is a succulent.
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)
About ASG’s Plant Advisor

Christopher Nyerges has been teaching ethnobotany since 1974. He is the author of Guide to
Wild Foods and Useful Plants, Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America and other books
on the uses of wild plants. He can be reached at SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com.
› Far right, middle: Purslane often sprawls flat on

the ground. This is why it’s important to wash it
thoroughly before preparing and eating it. Note
the little yellow flowers.
› Near right: Common prostrate spurge

is sometimes mistaken for purslane.
Spurge, however, exudes a white sap
when you break the stem, and the
plant is not as succulent.
› Far right, bottom: These succulent stalks of

purslane are growing next to a low wood deck.
IT’S NOT WHAT YOU SPEND,
IT’S THE RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT.
E
very once in a while, I get feedback about articles that feature I can confidently state that Christopher Nyerges’ article—aptly titled "No
high-end gear. The comments are typically respectfully presented Budget? No Problem!"—will bring you to the other end of the spending
as they ask, ultimately, if I've lost a screw or two. spectrum. Christopher has more decades in the wild than most of us have
Paraphrasing, these comments go something like, “Who can afford a on the planet, and he’s “been there and done that” without lugging around
small plane to bug out with?” (“Bug Out Above the Chaos”; https://www. scads of pricey gear. Additionally, if you’re into minimalist prepping and
asgmag.com/news/bug-out-above-the-chaos/); “It’s pretty bad-ass, but serious about getting the biggest bang for your buck, here are a couple of
I’m not spending $250K on a custom bug-out vehicle!” (“Lucky Gunner other articles he’s written for American Survival Guide: “Simple and Thrifty
Garage PSV: The Ultimate Bug-Out Buggy”; https://www.asgmag.com/ Preps” (https://www.asgmag.com/features/simple-and-thrifty-preps/)
survival-gear/survival-gear-reviews/survival-vehicle-reviews/lucky-gunner- and “You’d Rather Lather Naturally” (https://www.asgmag.com/survival-skills/
garage-psv-ultimate-bug-buggy/); or “I can get a lot of good gear with the survival-how-tos/youd-rather-lather-naturally/). Both are certain to help you
$300 they want for that knife in your Gear Guide!” keep your cash in your own pocket.
I want you to know we get that. Heck, I can’t afford any of those things, Brian M. Morris also got into the “penny-wise” prepping spirit with his
but I’m still curious about them and hope that, if nothing else, our readers piece on building a low-cost home water catchment system. Potable
will pick up a useful tidbit or two or at least be entertained or intrigued by water isn’t top-of-mind for most people right now (unless water bottlers
the article. I follow DuPont Registry, but I’ll never have the cash or driving have been effected by pandemic-related output reductions since this was
skills to run a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Even so, they’re interesting to look at written), but it’s one topic that should always be part of your plans. Brian’s
and often provide some insight on technology and performance features simple system can be constructed for less than $75 and can provide years
that could eventually make their way to my local Chevy dealer. of trusty water collection for your garden, livestock or morning coffee.
Feedback—of any kind—is good, and I want you to know that we do pay Our newest contributor, Kyt Lyn Walken (not related to Christopher), gives
attention. This month’s cover story is about an off-road vehicle that’s us some background and practical advice for a skill that has high value
much more popularly priced than its bigger and much-badder distant and requires low overhead. Tracking is critical for successful hunters, as
cousin, the Lucky Gunner PSV. well as for those concerned about maintaining the highest level of security
While $17K is still not chicken feed, it’s less of a stretch for those of us around camp and elsewhere. She shares many of the tips she’s learned and
who have woodland camps and working homesteads. Could you spend developed over many years as both a student and instructor.
less and get an older pickup or SUV? Sure. As always, we hope you enjoy and benefit from this issue of ASG. If you
Frankly, no matter the deal, someone can always do better. But the feel the need to send us some feedback on subjects we’ve covered—or any
ROXOR is a pretty interesting vehicle with a lot of history, an upside and, we haven’t—drop me an e-mail: [email protected].
we think, more than a little appeal. Believe me, I’m the guy puttering
Be safe!
along on my 2006 Suzuki cruiser when the guys straddling $25K Harleys
Mike McCourt
go zooming by. We get to the same places, but we do it in a different way,
so I do get it.
Frequent contributor Steve Barlow had the opportunity to run a ROXOR
on some backwoods trails in upstate New York. He came away impressed,
so it might be worth your time reading his review.
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How-To: Track Man and Beast

Buggy Can Tame

U.S. $8.99 AUGUST 2020 DISPLAY UNTIL 7/21/2020

4 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [AUGUST 2020]

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 5

THE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED

6 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [AUGUST 2020]

MSRP: Starting at $11.95 MSRP: $109.99

8 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [AUGUST 2020]

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 9

MSRP: $19.97 MSRP: $179

10 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [AUGUST 2020]

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 11

› Right: The ROXOR is a capable off-road

12 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [AUGUST 2020]

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 13

14 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [AUGUST 2020]

work for a couple of days for some fun on

‹ Right: As a hunting vehicle, the ROXOR

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 15

› Near right: ROXOR

› Far right: The

16 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [AUGUST 2020]

‹ Near left: The rear

riding or the Polaris RZR I drove around

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 17

MODEL 2020 “AFTER A COUPLE OF

• MSRP: $16,599 (basic model)

18 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [AUGUST 2020]

› Middle: While the

O’Shea Tire &

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 19

› Here, in Arizona, the plants tell a story.

20 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [AUGUST 2020]

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 21

A Field Guide to Mushrooms and Their Relatives

Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America

Herbal Remedies From the Wild

22 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [AUGUST 2020]

› Above: Yucca is a BE OBSERVANT shoots of ferns) in the early spring. Groves

› Right and opposite

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 23

PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE IN

It would be impossible to list all the

24 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [AUGUST 2020]

‹ Right: This is potentially bad

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 25

‹ Top, left: Paying

26 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [AUGUST 2020]

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 27

ot enough has been written on the

‹ Left: A set of human (barefoot) tracks (Photo: Getty)

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 29

nit was created in Rhodesia. A primary aspect of its opera-

30 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [AUGUST 2020]

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 31

‹ Near left: A perfect

‹ Far left, top:

‹ Far left, bottom: A

32 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [AUGUST 2020]

› Far right: The

example, no longer covered by dry leaves and/or small twigs. The

ALTERATIONS OF THE NATURAL STATE

“WHEN WE TRACK, WE MUST USE ALL OUR