Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2021 i American Outdoor Guide

At American Survival Guide, we take pride in our legacy, which we believe identifies ASG as the country’s—perhaps the world’s—oldest self-reliance and preparedness-based magazine. We’ve been dedicated to bringing information and advice about preparing for, and surviving, all sorts of challenging situations to our readers since the 1970s. Our deepest roots go all the way back to the original seed publication, Shooter’s Journal, which first hit newsstands in 1978. On the global level, that was a stressful time, because tensions between the United States and the (then) Soviet Union were coming to a head, causing great concern among wary folks who were determined to survive the fallout, both figuratively and literally. Over the next decade, often affectionately called “the Reagan Years,” the term, “survivalist,” was popularized to describe folks who…

I caught up with Amanda Kaye to ask her about her collaboration with TOPS Knives and how the A-Klub came about. Amanda says she’s always messed around with designing knives in her spare time—not thinking it would go anywhere. After meeting the TOPS Knives guys at trade shows, she wanted to explore the possibilities with them. “I knew TOPS’ reputation in the knife world, and I was absolutely honored to design a knife for it. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to work with,” Kaye said. In the past, she’s been told she couldn't design a knife ... because she’s a woman and that the handle probably wouldn't fit men’s hands because she has smaller hands. Nevertheless, Kaye sent a design to TOPS several years ago…

The top priority for all firearms owners is safety. Here are my top six rules for gun safety: 1. Never have a loaded firearm in your home or vehicle. Don’t rely upon the firearm’s safety, because it can fail. A loaded firearm is a dangerous firearm. 2. Keep your firearms and your ammunition in separate locations—and locked. A firearm can do no harm without ammunition. 3. Take firearms classes taught by trained professionals. Know everything you can about your firearm. 4. Protect your ears and eyes. Always wear eye and ear protection when shooting your firearm. 5. Never point a firearm, loaded or not, at another person unless you intend to use it. Always treat every firearm as if it’s loaded. Once the firearm is…

Alkaline Batteries Pros: • They’re available just about anywhere. This is important, because you never know when a battery will fail. • They come in a variety of price ranges and strengths. • Good ones are generally longer lasting. Cons: • They lose power over time, even when they aren’t being used. • Old batteries can leak, often ruining the device. • Carrying spare batteries adds weight to your pack load. • Spent batteries need to be disposed of correctly. Rechargeable Batteries Pros: • They generally have a long life. Good ones can be charged hundreds of times. • The cost per charge is tiny compared with the cost for one alkaline battery. • There’s no need to constantly purchase replacement batteries. • You don’t need to stock or carry…

“‘FERMENTATION IS A VERY SAFE PROCESS … .’” Rrowing up in Belgium, young Pascal Baudar’s grandmother taught him about some of the local basic wild foods. “But I really got serious about this when I was living in California in 1999 and I began to work with some chefs. I not only wanted to create some unique products, I also wanted to find a way to extend the harvest of wild foods,” he explains. Once he was living in California, he undertook the study of wild food identification and pursued the preparations of wild foods in a unique way. “I look at food as an artist,” the way a top chef is concerned about the presentation of food on the plate, Baudar pointed out. He worked at creating unique food…

Pickling foods in vinegar or fermenting them in brine is one of the oldest food preservation methods. The earliest archaeological evidence comes from ancient Mesopotamia and the Tigris River Valley more than 4,000 years ago. Before the availability of refrigeration, pickling allowed vegetables and fruits to be eaten long after they were in season and meats (such as salt pork) to be carried on long journeys and into wars. Pickling soon spread around the world: Pickles are mentioned by Aristotle, in the Bible and in Shakespeare’s plays. Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth I were prominent proponents of pickles’ health properties. The wide adoption of electrical refrigeration in the 20th century meant that pickling was no longer necessary for preserving food. Nevertheless, by then, pickles were appreciated for their taste. And so,…

A good knife is an important tool, and everyone should have at least one. The key word is “tool.” I’m not talking about combat knives; instead, these knives should be work knives. My favorite knife is the Jessmuk, made by LT Wright Knives. The blade is heavy enough to make kindling for a fire, yet it’s nimble enough to make tent pegs, cut cordage for making a shelter or cleaning that trout you caught for dinner. Think about the tasks you might ask your knife to perform and get a good quality knife that can handle those jobs. You might be well served if you choose a backup knife that’s also adept at some other work so that they complement each other.…

Here are some steps to help you put a team together: • Know with whom you’re working. Trust is key, because you’re literally putting your life into other people’s hands. If you can’t trust someone—or they don’t trust you—they shouldn’t be on your team. • Establish the group’s dynamics. From the start, decide who the leader is going to be and create a chain of command. While group decisions are good, someone needs to be in charge in case there’s no time to debate. • Take advantage of people’s strengths. If someone’s really good with electronics but weak when it comes to hunting, don’t task them with hunting. Use that person in a role they’re good at. That said, there’s no reason they can’t learn to become a better hunter or share their…

Hard times come and go and, as an insightful person once said, “No storm stays forever.” True; and yet, it’s still a good long-term idea to live frugally and learn how to make many of the things we need. In so much of “survival literature,” everyone talks about guns, knives, survival kits, food storage, solar power and all manner of off-the-grid and self-reliant skills and gear. This is good and necessary ... but that’s not all there is to life. DOES ANYONE “GET RICH QUICK”? For whatever reason, survivalists rarely talk about the role of money in “survival.” Perhaps this is understandable. However, there’s a major industry out there of people who write books about every imaginable aspect of personal economics. You see them on television shows and selling tickets…

A plan: First of all, you must have a plan in place. Without one, everything else is for naught. Write it up, practice it and modify it as needed. Preparation bag: This must be small enough to quickly grab and go but large enough to carry what you need. Avoid a large pack, because the natural tendency is to keep adding stuff until the bag is difficult to carry or it’s hard to find the inside contents when you need them. Water: Water is heavy—but you need it. There’s no such thing as having too much, but be reasonable. If you know of possible natural water sources along your route, add a high-quality water filter or purifier to your kit. Safe and effective devices are often reasonably priced.…

Native American survival techniques are what make Amanda Kaye tick! She’s been an avid hunter her entire life, which also coincided with studying Native American primitive skills. As a child, her family was very active in the reenactment community, sharing with others their Native American heritage. The idea of living off the land is second nature to her; it's who she is. Most people know her from the Discovery Channel’s Naked and Afraid. However, she really sees herself as an adventurous mom who goes on five-day hikes with her kids up and down mountains ... and doesn't bring enough food. As a result, they have to forage for it. She loves teaching her kids everything she knows. “My goals revolve around my family. My kids are the reason for everything,…

A dirty firearm is an unsafe firearm. Dirt, grime, spent powder, and lead and copper fouling can lead to improper ammunition feeding, inaccurate shots and possible catastrophic accidents. Part of firearm ownership is keeping your firearm in top condition … which means keeping it clean. The following should be part of your cleaning supplies: • A complete cleaning kit designed for your firearm. These kits are commercially available and include cleaning rods, bore brushes and other items. • Cleaning patches that are sized to fit your firearm. Patches large enough for a 12-gauge shotgun won’t work in a .22 rifle. • Bore cleaner to remove copper and lead fouling. If left in the barrel and bore, fouling will cause damage to the rifling and cause rust pitting. • Gun oil. All firearms involve movement…

1. Add salt (which kills most of the bad bacteria)—2 teaspoons per pound of greens. 2. Extract the sugar by squeezing the greens (this feeds the good bacteria). 3. Close the lid and deprive contact access with oxygen (that is, "starve" the bad bacteria). 4. The food becomes acidic (like vinegar), which is bad for the bad bacteria. The jars can be kept outdoors in the winter or in the refrigerator. In warmer climates, if there’s no refrigerator available, the jars should be kept in a cool basement or used within two or three weeks.…

“Quick” or “refrigerator” pickles are easy to make. The following is barely a “recipe.” However, it’s both reliable and totally adjustable to individual taste. • 1 tablespoon vinegar (apple cider, white wine or rice) • 1 tablespoon cold water • 2 teaspoons sugar (white, raw or brown) • ¼ teaspoon salt • 1 cucumber, washed (peeled or not, depending on the variety) Mix the vinegar and water in a bowl and stir in the sugar and salt until they’re dissolved. Thinly slice in the cucumber. Stir gently. An even more-instant result is obtained by marinating the cucumber slices in some liquid from a jar of pickles. Finely chopped dill, mint or chives can be added. More (or less) vinegar, water, sugar or salt can be included to taste. This can…

Training is essential. This can be done through organized classes or by doing research on your own. Where possible, train with other members of your group. This’ll build a better team, as well as your own, and their, skill sets. Survival courses. There are tons of survival courses available, and they’re located throughout the country. When you find a credible school or trainer, learn the basics first. The advanced stuff should come later. Medical. You can never have too much medical training. The American Red Cross and many fire departments offer CPR and basic first aid courses. C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Team) is another option for this, as well as for other training. These courses are usually offered by county or state organizations and include first aid…

The idea of bug-out bags has a negative connotation—not among people who are veterans of preparing for emergencies, but with the public in general. When many people think of “bug-out bags,” they think of militias or paramilitary organizations, especially after what happened at the nation’s Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. Perhaps we should re-name them “preparation bags,” because that’s actually what they are. Literally hundreds of articles have been written on this subject, including many I've authored. Sadly, in some ways, these articles often revolve around firearms and knives and take on that stereotypical paramilitary nature. We normally talk about extreme situations that most people won’t have to experience ... at least hopefully not to the extent we often write about. Those articles address worst-case scenarios, which is a…

Here’s a short list of other handy items you might want to carry in your preparation bag(s): Lighting: Headlamps, a key chain and handheld flashlights, etc. Keep them small (remember: You’ll have limited space). Make sure to purchase good ones and extra and/or rechargeable batteries. Carabiners and cordage: Carabiners have many uses. One is for attaching items to the outside of your pack. Cordage, whether it’s parachute cord, strong string or something similar, can be used in a wide variety of situations. Portable radios: You’ll need to know what’s happening in the area once you get moving. Local radio news will give you information regarding ongoing threats, shelters, road and weather conditions, and other important notifications. Multi-tool and EDC knife: Good multi-tools are great for making…

Paul Capdepon started Grey Man Tactical when he was unable to find gear that served his needs. Part of the origin story involved not wanting people to know what he carried while living in a nonpermissive area in 2012. As a result, he decided to build his own solution and eventually came up with the first Rigid MOLLE Panel that fit into a 15-inch laptop sleeve. Soon after, interest in his invention grew, and he started working with local manufacturers in Louisiana and then selling the products via a website. Paul’s creations have been used by all levels of law enforcement and many military units as well. (985) 290-3161 GreyManTactical.com…

Vinegar is made from an alcoholic beverage that contains around 5 to 8 percent alcohol. Wine is about 12 percent alcohol. (Read the label, which will indicate the specific alcohol percentage of the bottle’s contents. ) If your wine has 12 percent alcohol, mix it 50/50 with water, and you'll end up with around 6 percent alcohol. Pascal Baudar likes to go closer to 8 percent and often uses the ratio of 40 percent water and 60 percent wine. A higher percentage of alcohol will give you a more acidic vinegar, so stay within the range of 5 to 8 percent alcohol. Then, buy some Bragg’s raw apple cider vinegar. Add 20 to 30 percent by volume of this vinegar to the wine. So, if you have 4 cups of…

There are many good books that deserve to be in your library for reference. Here are six that I feel are important to have on hand: 1. 101 Skills You Need to Survive by Kevin Estela Kevin Estela is one of the top experts in the survival world, and this book gives you plenty of useful information. (Amazon.com; MSRP: $21.99) 2. Call of the American Wild by Guy Grieve This book tells the story of a man intending to do it on his own. However, he quickly realizes that he needs help.(SkyHorsePublishing.com; MSRP: $24.95) 3. How to Survive Anywhere by Christopher Nyerges Christopher Nyerges is another expert to whom I often turn for information and advice. This book packs a ton of useful information that’s easy to…