Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2020 GEAR i Survivor's Edge

At the peak of the Great Depression, with millions of Americans on the teetering brink of financial and social devastation (with many more clearly destitute), all seemed lost. Farms failed. Banks closed. Stocks plummeted. Money disappeared and countless people turned to the newspapers for information, for help, for guidance, for hope. Since help and hope don’t sell newspapers, instead, front pages were splashed with sensational headlines trumpeting the devastation and disasters with no end in sight. Many panicked, and although no distraught stockbroker jumped onto Wall Street to his death, many investors and executives—having lost everything—took their own lives. Newspapers were only so willing to report the gruesome news. In his 1933 inaugural address, Franklin D. Roosevelt said, in part, “…the only thing we have to fear is… fear itself…

Change happens, and it cannot be stopped no matter how hard we try. Change affects everyone. From their jobs to their personal lives to their attitudes and ways of thinking, time passes, and what was once the norm, more likely than not, is not the same as it was before. This is no less true in the world of survival. Under the all-encompassing umbrella of prepping, self-reliance, bushcraft skills and emergency preparedness, techniques, methods and teaching styles have evolved from years past to today. But how much? And has it been for the better, for the worse or somewhere in between? SurvivorÕs Edge reached out to some of the seasoned survival experts in the field to pick their brains about survival’s past compared to today’s reality. LES STROUD SURVIVAL STYLE:…

PUTTING AMANDA’S UNIQUE BLADE TO THE TEST! From the moment I picked up this incredible blade, I knew I was in for a treat. The weight caught my attention first. There was a solid heft to the unit, but without it feeling like a chore to lift or swing. The handle was solid and provided a secure contact point for my grip. I tested the blade out in the woods to simulate outdoor survival and bushcraft scenarios. First off, the blade and cutting edge were massive. Like a machete, the A-Klub hacked easily through small saplings and chipped away at a fallen log with incredible ease. The forward top-heavy weight of the knife made each swing almost effortless as the weight, combined with the sharpness of the edge, did most…

Society, as it always seems to do, will spiral into chaos as quickly as the food and water run out. We saw evidence of this in a subdued form when widespread “buying panic” overtook many parts of America when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic in early March. This is why you prepare; this is why you’ve been preparing. Could you last for several weeks in your house, cut off from any and all contact with the outside? Think about what’s in your pantry, what’s left in your fridge and the tools in your garage that might help you maintain a certain level of civility inside your home. For most people who prepare for a crisis, the assumption is that the best place to be will be far…

Unfortunately, many Sunday cavers leave graffiti on the caves’ walls. That’s why Bryant Mountain Cave is padlocked today. To restore the caves’ walls to their more natural looks, Frank Ray and Wes Sims, the owner of Bryant Mountain Cave and other caves, use mud from the caves to cover the graffiti and restore the natural look. And in case you were wondering, you can still see the beautiful sights within Bryant Mountain Cave if you book a tour through Sims Cave Park. (wildcavetour.com)…

This skill is called 4-2-4 breathing and works by tricking the brain into thinking that you’re falling into a deep sleep, the state at which mental relaxation is at its highest. Utilizing this breathing skill activates the parasympathetic nervous system within one minute and flushes the brain with relaxation hormones. Requiring nothing more than conscious breathing, this is an excellent skill for stress reduction in the field and is utilized by military members worldwide to slow heart rate and calm anxiety. STEP1 •Sit or lie down comfortably, maintaining your posture. STEP2 •Focus on your breathing, taking in full breaths all the way to your abdomen. If necessary, place your hands on your abdomen to ensure that you are taking full breaths. STEP3 •Inhale deeply through your nose for a count…

Many of the knife companies manufacturing automatic knives today have really stepped up the game when it comes to tolerances and form, with many more manufacturers joining the market regularly. However, most people don’t realize just how far back the automatic knife really goes. The truth may surprise you. ORIGIN STORY Some of the first known automatic blades date back to mid-18th-century Europe and were affixed to flintlock pistols and coach guns as spike bayonets. By the mid-1800s, knife companies such as Sheffield, Tillotson, A. Davey, Beever, Hobson and Ibbotson had begun producing automatic knives, with Sheffield versions featuring the crown mark dating back to 1840. By 1865, after the American Civil War, knife production had become industrialized, and the production version of the Korn Patent Knife (the earliest American-made…

1 MTM CASE-GARD In-Safe Handgun Storage Cases Perfect for protecting your valuables and your handguns, this easy to store safe is made from a transparent plastic to help you identify what’s stored faster. Each case comes with a soft closed cell foam pad on the bottom, to further help protect the items you are storing. Made in USA Sold in three pack units Two snap latches Available in 9-inch or 12-inch sizes Fits compact pistol, standard 1911, and larger handguns $17-$19 Mtmcase-gard.com 2. ROCK RIVER ARMS LAR-15M.450 Bushmaster The perfect entry into RRA’s LAR lineup, modern hunters can reap new advantages using straight wall cartridges. Featuring a 16-inch stainlesssteel cryo-treated barrel with smooth rifling and equipped with an RRA Operator Brake. The twostage trigger provides a crisp break and is…

It takes a unique sheath to “hang” with its sharper cousin the A-Klub, and this included knife holder delivers. Constructed of durable Kydex and secured in place with a beta loop, this sheath dangles as you traverse thick foliage, tall grass or twisted vines, allowing it and the A-Klub to move about as you walk. This design significantly decreases the chances of it getting caught and constantly slowing you down or damaging your sheath or belt. Its tough outer shell can stand up to the rigors of the outdoors without damage and the easy removal of the A-Klub is accomplished fast and snag-free. Never underestimate the necessity of a quality sheath and with this amazing one accompanying the A-Klub, you never will! THE A-KLUB’S MEATY ASSETS This ain’t no little…

Having cordage packed in your gear bag is a very smart choice, without a doubt. But knowing how to tie some of the most common knots for both urban and rural survival will give you an even better edge when facing a crisis. Three such knots include the square knot, the square lash and the bowline knot. These three knots can assist in numerous tasks around your campsite, while you’re hunkered down in an office building or when you’re out in the deep backwoods. SQUARE KNOT: Although not for use when tying two pieces of rope together or for great load-bearing situations, the square knot is very useful as a foundation for tying other more-important knots. Does it have its own uses? Of course. Employ it when tying bandages for…

It goes without saying that in today’s social-media climate, the proliferation of lies, myths and fake news is more prevalent than ever. MYTH: Simply donate blood to get a free screening for COVID-19. FACT: Blood banks do not test for the novel coronavirus as part of their donation process. Of the 600 donation sites around the country, none of them are currently testing the blood for this particular virus (though they do test for a battery of other pathogens). If you suspect that you are infected, the last thing you should do is donate and pass along the infection to people in need of blood. In fact, the Red Cross is asking anyone who has traveled in or through coronavirus outbreak areas to wait at least 28 days before donating…

The National Speleological Society (NSS), based in Huntsville, Alabama, is the largest organization in the world to focus on cave exploration, study and protection, and its local chapters are called “grottos.” Visit caves.org for more information. The Southeastern Cave Conservancy (SCCi) buys private caves and limits access as to who’s permitted to go into the caves. Most NSS members are allowed to explore these caves. Visit scci.org for more information. —John E. Phillips…

The ABCDE Model was developed by Dr. Albert Ellis to address the irrational emotional consequences of our thinking. A: ACTIVATING EVENT: This is the event that triggered the emotional response in you. What happened right before you felt the emotional response such as anxiety, sadness or anger? Example: I lost my compass. B: BELIEF: This is the principle or internal rule that leads me to having an emotional response. Most often, these beliefs are irrational because they’re not based in fact or are made using faulty reasoning. Example: I need my compass to survive. C: CONSEQUENCES: This is the emotional consequences that stem from my flawed belief. Example: anger, depression and hopelessness. D: DISPUTE: Disputing the irrational belief by examining, questioning and challenging the belief. Simply put, you can ask,…

The peace sign was created in 1958 by British graphic designer Gerald Holtom. Holtom was tasked with creating the banners and signs for an anti-nuclearproliferation march in London, and he wanted a visual that was easy to recreate and one that would be easily recognizable to the public. The design is, in part, modeled after semaphore flags used for communication. Holtom blended together the code for N and the one for D to create his iconic symbol. To Holtom, N and D stood for “nuclear disarmament.”…

Many books are currently available to help you identify wild mushrooms. Many books are currently available to help you identify wild mushrooms. MUSHROOMS DEMYSTIFIED BY DAVID ARORA. This is a thick book—nearly 1,000 pages—full of photos (both color and black and white). It contains lots of info for the beginner, keys to each genus and answers to the questions you didn’t even think of yet. (Ten Speed Press, 1986—2nd edition) ALL THAT THE RAIN PROMISES AND MORE: A HIP POCKET GUIDE TO WESTERN MUSHROOMS BY DAVID ARORA. This is a condensed guidebook designed for the western states with color photos throughout, some cooking details and a great visual key to mushroom identification. (Ten Speed Press, 1991) FIELD GUIDE TO MUSHROOMS OF WESTERN NORTH AMERICA BY DAVIS, SOMMER AND MENGE. A…

EVERY JANUARY, OVER 60,000 PEOPLE CONVERGE ON LAS VEGAS FOR THE BIGGEST GUN, KNIFE AND GEAR TRADE SHOW IN THE UNITED STATES: SHOT SHOW. After over 40 years, SHOT Show boasts approximately 2,100 exhibitors from all over the world displaying their new products for the coming year. In the 645,000 square feet of booths, there’s always something for everyone; from backpacking to tactical and EDC to law enforcement, all walks of life are covered. They say that if you were to line up all of the vendors end to end, you would have to walk 15 miles to get from one side to the other. That’s a lot of gear. This year, I did all of that walking for you and rooted out the best that the cutlery segment had…

TNW Firearms developed the Aero Survival Rifle (ASR) around the concept of a versatile multi-caliber weapon capable of being taken down for very compact storage, fully assembled in moments, and instantly ready to accurately and predictably get bullets to the target. Survival rifles are often held to the impossible standard of being all things to all people. Though a jack-of-all-trades is a master of none, the TNW ASR was designed from the start to be more things to more people, and it succeeds. Within the range limitations of pistol calibers, it’s a capable performer in self-defense and small- and large-game hunting roles, and it may well be the best survival carbine available to today. By switching barrels and sometimes magazines, bolt heads and trigger groups (actually a complete lower-receiver assembly),…

Amanda Kaye is a highly unique, down-to-earth, individual with two distinct personas. On one hand she is a no-nonsense, Alabama mother of three that likes to let loose, go a bit “crazy “and have fun. On the other hand, she takes survival and self-reliance very seriously. From an early age, she was taught the ways of the Native Americans, adopting their methods of living off the land, using minimal means and utilizing all resources so nothing goes to waste. Today, she is experienced in hunting, fishing and self-reliance techniques and methods. Her skills and her hard-core attitude lead her to become a contestant on the physically and mentally punishing television show, Naked and Afraid. Her first outing unfortunately did not go well as she was forced to tap-out early on.…

THE UBIQUITOUS NATURE OF THE MOBILE PHONE HAS PERMEATED EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES, SO MUCH SO THAT THE MAIN REASON TO OWN A SMARTPHONE IS NO LONGER TO MAKE A PHONE CALL. INSTEAD, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE APPS. PHOTOS, NEWS, WEATHER, GAMES, CHATTING, TEXTING, EMAIL, SHOPPING AND WATCHING MOVIES—EVERYTHING THAT DESKTOP COMPUTERS USED TO PROVIDE IS NOW HANDLED BY A DEVICE THAT FITS IN YOUR POCKET. SO, WHY NOT INCORPORATE A SMARTPHONE LOADED WITH A FEW CHOICE APPS INTO YOUR GET-HOME BAG? THAT WAY, IF AN EMERGENCY OF MONUMENTAL PROPORTIONS LOOMS LIKE A STORM ON THE HORIZON, YOU’LL BE READY FOR IT. HAVING A WEALTH OF INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND MIGHT JUST GIVE YOU THE ADVANTAGE YOU’LL NEED TO SURVIVE ANY CATASTROPHE, FROM INFORMATION…

There may be times when your trusty paracord supply won’t be with you or when you may have used it up for another task. Don’t worry, though; there are some viable alternatives. DENTAL FLOSS: Odds are that you have this common dental accessory in all your bathrooms at home and possibly also in your purse or your vehicle’s center console or glove compartment. Dental floss is extremely tough to break and is useful for makeshift shoelaces, securing small gear items to your pack or belt and, when you’re bugging out far from home, as useful floss for your teeth! NATURAL FIBERS: Though tedious and practically an art form in itself, braiding natural fibers found throughout nature, including milkweed and dogbane, as well as small vines hanging from trees, can supply…

As we know too well, the virus is called SARS-CoV-2, and it arose in the city of Wuhan in the Hubei province of China. The disease it causes is coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19. The body of knowledge surrounding this pestilence is changing by the day. As of this writing, nobody really knows the effect it will have on the United States. “DISRUPTION TO EVERYDAY LIFE MIGHT BE SEVERE.” Nancy Messonnier, the director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, issued that warning. She said, “As we’ve seen from recent countries with community spread, successful containment at our borders becomes harder and harder.” It is clear that the government is bracing for impact. According to the latest data, COVID-19 seems to kill 0.7 to 2.4 percent of…

Inside soap’s foamy lather is a cocktail of chemicals deadly to microorganisms, specifically bacteria and viruses. A single drop of ordinary soap has the ability, on a molecular level, to break apart and destroy many types of viruses, including COVID-19. The molecules of soap are formed from a dichotomy of structures: the head is hydrophilic, meaning it easily bonds with water, while the tail is hydrophobic, which repels water while attaching itself to oils and fats. When grouped together in a watery solution, they form micelles connected by their waterfearing tails with the water-loving heads pointed outwards. Microorganisms, viruses and bacteria specifically, have outer membranes studded with proteins. When soap is introduced, the viruses and bacteria molecules are surrounded by free-floating soap molecules. Since the tails of the soap molecules…

Bushcrafting is a combination of knowledge and skills that allow a person to live in an area of the natural world. Since the world has diverse habitats, people developed knowledge and skills to fit the specific landscape they lived in. History teaches us that the available resources of an area generally allow people to overcome the specific challenges they face in that habitat. Over time, people around the world created unique answers to the same fundamental survival challenges of shelter, food and tools. It’s the collection of these answers that helped form the different cultures that we see. INTO THE TAIGA Native people of the Russian taiga are one group of people that had to overcome some serious geographic challenges. The Russian taiga is actually the world’s largest forested area,…

These common thinking errors place you at high risk of poor decision-making and physical danger. DENIAL: Ignoring reality or the existence of a problem. “This injury is not that bad.” DELUSION: Holding onto an idea or belief despite solid evidence to the contrary. “It has been over a week. Someone will find us soon.” BLACK-AND-WHITE THINKING: Viewing things in extremes (good or bad, right or wrong, etc.) with no room in between. “We aren’t waiting for the weather to break. Either we finish this climb, or we go home.” EMOTIONAL REASONING: Because I feel it, it must be true. “I am never going to make it out of here, so I might as well give up.” MAGNIFICATION: The importance of insignificant events is exaggerated. “I got a hangnail. This is…

1 MORSE CODE Below, match the code from Column A with the word from Column B. 2 NATO ALPHABET Recite the following letters using the NATO Alphabet. S-U-R-V-I-V-O-R-S-E-D-G-E 3 SEMAPHORE SIGNALS Translate the following phrase. 4 HOIST FLAGS Translate the following phrase (single flag use only). ANSWERS MORSE CODE: 1: I. CAT, 2. D. DOG, 3. H. GUN, 4. E. HELP, 5. A. FIRE, 6. G. KNIFE, 7. F. TRAIL, 8. J. NORTH, 9. C. CAMP, 10. B. DANGER NATO ALPHABET: SIERRA, UNIFORM, ROMEO, VICTOR, INDIA, VICTOR, OSCAR, ROMEO, SIERRA, ECHO, DELTA, GOLF, ECHO SEMAPHORE FLAGS: I AM LOST. HOIST FLAGS: MAN OVERBOARD…

Since 2008, Spartan Blades has been a name known for high-quality cutlery throughout the industry. For some, owning a Spartan Blade is almost a badge of honor, as these knives are designed and made by retired special forces veterans. Although the company has revealed a few new knives over the past couple years, it has seemed like things have been a little quiet in the Spartan Blades camp. Or have they? Along with the recent announcement regarding its new partnership with Ka-Bar Knives and the formation of Pineland Cutlery, Spartan has recently introduced what it’s been up to behind the scenes, which involves some new classes in its line, including Elite Grade, Pro Grade and Field Grade. A SNAPPY EDC The 3.25-inch blade of the Zelos has black PVD coating,…

If you own a knife, you should be able to sharpen it. Designed by renowned knife-maker and designer Ken Onion, the Angle Set manual sharpening system is very intuitive, easy to use and affordable. Sharpening angles can be set in 2.5-degree increments from 15 to 25 degrees, and “tri-brasive” rods include coarse and medium diamond and fine ceramic. The system includes a tapered ceramic rod for sharpening serrated portions of blades, and the whole thing stores in a compact case; when open, the lids offer handguards, or they can be removed entirely. MSRP: $59.95 (worksharptools.com)…

Over the night of December 2, 1984, at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, a silent killer began to filter through the cracks of the workers’ shanties, and hundreds began to die in the worst industrial disaster in human history. Methyl isocyanate is a highly volatile chemical that reacts with water and is incredibly toxic. It is a colorless, lachrymatory (causing tearing), flammable liquid. At 5 parts per million or less, it is odorless to most people, and 45,000 gallons of the chemical was being stored near the densely packed neighborhoods. People began to run from the clouds of death; a torrent of human angst and fear created a stampede. One survivor recalls, “Those who fell were not picked up by anybody; they just kept falling and were…