Constantly learning new skills is the mantra of the prepper. When SHTF, you'll have to provide a lot for yourself, and if situations escalate to the point where there is no longer an established system of trading goods and services (there will still be a system, just not the same system we're all used to) then hopefully you'll have a pool of useful skills to rely upon.

These skills are especially important to trade for other useful services and commodities. Among the skills which will be most highly sought after will be those in the medical or first aid trades, agriculture, animal husbandry, carpentry and… blacksmithing.

Blacksmithing is one of the many old skills from before the industrial revolution that is gaining a new following with today's generations.

Learning this skill today is going to place you in pretty high regards when SHTF.

Start practicing that skill today with a really fun, yet difficult project: the Damascus steel knife. Take a look at the project on the next page.

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