Like firearms laws, knife laws vary from state and like firearms laws, the variances can be surprising. It is critical that you know the laws of the state you live in but also any state you visit. Don’t assume that the laws are the same – because chances are they are not. New York State,…

In the aftermath of a man made or natural disaster, your home is literally your castle – you are literally as safe as your home is and as vulnerable as it is. The most vivid recent example was New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. If you had not evacuated, for a period of days,…

If you are faced with a bug-out or survival moment in a cold weather environment, one of the most pronounced dangers is exposure to the elements. While hypothermia is the one thing you must always be alert and prepared for, extreme cold can bring another, potentially as dangerous threat: Frostbite. Frostbite is the term for…

As survivalists, we have learned and acquired skills to keep ourselves going in the event of a disaster. We know it will take time for life to return back to what we once knew it to be, if it ever does at all. But, with all that preparation comes some hefty expenses. It’s important to have cash…

The concept of “survivalist” is often maligned by people who simply do not understand the need to be prepared. For most of us, being prepared for a survival moment is not because we fear an asteroid hitting the earth or Martial Law imposed on us by a despot or even a prolonged natural or man…

There are many ways to defend yourself and many different types of self-defense methods. What you need to know will depend on the situation you’re facing. In some scenarios, the “take-no-prisoners” approach may be necessary and you’ll eliminate the enemy if attacked. Others are more passive and put an emphasis on avoiding a violent confrontation or…

No matter how much you prepare for a survival moment, you will inevitably forget something. Chances are what you will forget will not be the obvious survival items like a fire starting kit, first aid kit, water purifying pills or food supplies, but the mundane, everyday stuff. That includes stuff like paper and plastic eating-ware, tin-foil…

The question of whether to “bug-out” or “bug-in” is a question many of us have pondered and debated. While there is no right answer, there are decidedly wrong approaches. Bug-in too long in a hurricane, for example, and you can end up in a irreversible, life threatening situation. Bug-out too late and you can end up stranded…

Regardless of where you live or your politics, or how much money you have, more and more people are looking for survival alternatives. Even the US federal government has advised all of us to at least prepare for a medium-term emergency. The threat of everything from terrorism to EMP’s to economic collapse to civil unrest…

Many of us tend to think we’re prepared for the upcoming Summer months. We’ve uncovered the AC, cleaned it, oiled it changed the air filters and given it a test run. Then during the hottest days of the year – when we need relief most – there is a power outage! And another. And another. Yes, it’s unfair, but…

An old military maxim says that the best battle plan becomes obsolete the moment the first shot of the battle goes off. This is because chaos breeds unpredictability. The book Jurassic Park was based on the Chaos Theory, that random events breed even more random events. The same applies to survival situations, doomsday scenarios and SHTF…

As far as natural fibers go, wool is one of the most versatile and durable. It breathes more easily than cotton, is lightweight, an excellent insulator, draws moisture away from the skin and sheds moisture more easily than most other textiles. Depending on the type of wool, it can repel odors and in humid weather,…

Just about everyone involved in survival preparation knows about the rule of three. In a survival situation, you cannot survive for more than three minutes with no air, hours with no shelter, days without water and weeks without food. This is a bit dependent on environment. You could and likely would survive more than three…

In an emergency, crisis or SHFT moment, it is critical that you keep your head, assess the situation and act with purpose, calmness and deliberation. How you respond (as opposed to reacting) can set the stage your entire experience. Those moments can happen at any time and range in seriousness. Some are minor (in the…