American Survival Guide - April 2021 USA

How-to: Build a Backup Blade
Vol. 10 Issue 4
THESE OPTIONS LET YOU HOVER FOOD

WATER
ABOVE THE VERMIN BELOW SHELTER
SECURITY
COMMS
HEALTH
2-WHEELED POWER,
SPEED & RANGE
This E-Cells AWD E-Bike Will Get You Anywhere
BOLT-ACTION,
BABY!
Ruger’s 77/44 Rifle in .44 MAG Is
a Potent Midrange Game-Getter
STAY SAFE ON PUBLIC

TRANSPORTATION
Reduce the Risks of
Urban Transit Systems
MAKE THE MOST OF

YOUR GARDEN
Expert Home Planting Advice, Part 2
DIGITAL ISSUES AVAILABLE ON WWW.ENGAGEDMEDIAMAGS.COM
U.S. $8.99 APRIL 2021 DISPLAY UNTIL 3/23/2021

04
ROKKA KNIVES’ CLEAN WATER
NEW PUUKKO ANYWHERE! 0 71486 01319
ENGAGED MEDIA, LLC
8
FEATURES
22
COMFORTABLE, ROOMY AND MOBILE
The White Duck Outdoors Wall Tent is a great
extended-stay shelter.
By Steven Paul Barlow
80
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR GARDEN
Expert home gardening advice—part 2
By Christopher Nyerges
HOW-TO
32
SLEEP SOUNDLY IN THE SKY
Shelter options that let you hover above terra firma
By Michael D’Angona
72
WHEN PLAN ‘B’ IS FOR ‘BLADE’
Lost your knife? These backups can take up the slack.
64
88
STAY SAFER WHEN USING PUBLIC 32 12
TRANSPORTATION
Reduce the risks of going from point A to point B.
REVIEWS
12
2-WHEELED POWER, SPEED AND RANGE
The E-Cells AWD E-Bike will get you anywhere.
42
THE TRADITIONAL FINNISH PUUKKO
GETS 21ST-CENTURY UPDATES
Rokka Knives blends form, function and finesse for
today’s bushcrafters.
By Mike Travis
64
BOLT-ACTION, BABY!
Ruger’s 77/44 Rifle in .44 MAG is a potent midrange
game-getter.
AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE (ISSN 2331-8937) is published 12 times a year—January, March, April, Prepper Spring/Summer, June, July, August, September, October, Prepper Fall/Winter, November and
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4 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [APRIL 2021]

88 22
GEAR
GUIDE
54
GET CLEAN WATER ANYWHERE
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES
TAKE THE GUESSWORK OUT OF
72 80 SAFE HYDRATION.
42
DEPARTMENTS
6
FIRST WORDS
8
NEW PRODUCTS
8 96
96
PREPPER PLANT ADVISOR
98
LAST WORDS
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property of Getty Images.
[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 5

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 4
EDITORIAL
Mike McCourt Brand Manager
Amy Maclean Managing Editor
DESIGN
Gabby Oh Art Director, Design Director
CONTRIBUTORS
Steven Paul Barlow, Michael D’Angona, Christopher Nyerges, Mike Travis
ADVERTISING
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PERCEPTION
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Manish Kumar Mishra Operations Manager
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reppers are always processing a lot of And because our perception is fluid, we have to find a
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BY MIKE TRAVIS
1 2
3 4
1 2 3 4
Garmont T8 NFS 670 High Speed Gear Outdoor Vitals Shadowlight Bushcraft Basics
Boots ReFlex IFAK Ultralight Backpack Leon Pantenburg is the author of the
Survival Common Sense website,
The High Speed Gear ReFlex IFAK Because Outdoor Vitals manufactures innovative,
which has been in continuous oper-
(“individual first aid kit”) was designed high-quality outdoor products at a reasonable
The Garmont T8 NFS is an ultralight ation since 2009. While Pantenburg
with direct input from active-duty military price, it’s been featured in this column many times.
version of the original T8 tactical boot. doesn’t consider himself to be an
personnel. The ReFlex is a two-piece system The new Shadowlight Ultralight Backpack is its
The same rugged upper is now combined expert, he has extensive experience
that’s designed to carry all the medical latest design, created for the realm of ultralight
with a featherlight sole designed for with a variety of backcountry adven-
supplies contained in the U.S. Army-issued backpacking. This pack comes in both 45L and
speed and agility. Superior support and tures and has interviewed countless
IFAK. It keeps them organized and provides 60L sizes, and each pack weighs under 2 pounds!
protection provide extreme comfort, even subject matter experts in his role
ambidextrous access. The system is built Using a new Spectra/Robic ripstop nylon mated
when you’re standing for long periods as a newspaper journalist. His new
from heavy-duty nylon laminate and allows to a 24-inch frame, the Shadowlight retains all
of time. The suede leather, along with book, Bushcraft Basics, was written to
for rapid access to medical gear without the durability associated with Outdoor Vitals.
the 600D nylon and webbing upper, is provide a beginner outdoorsman with
having to remove the kit from your belt. This Each pack features an expandable rolltop design
breathable and quick drying for use in all the knowledge they need to survive
construction, combined with the neoprene/ with a center-zip access system. The pack also
saturated environments. Despite being an an emergency. Topics covered include
Kevlar grab handle, ensures long-term has two large water bottle pockets, along with
8-inch tall boot, the T8 NFS weighs only clothing systems, fire-starting, navigation,
durability. The ReFlex IFAK is covered by the an additional pocket for extra organization. The
35 ounces—per pair! gear selection and much more.
High Speed Gear lifetime warranty and is belt includes two stretch-fabric pockets and is
made in the U.S.A. removable from the frame.
MSRP: $14.99
MSRP: $154.95 MSRP: $100 MSRP: Starting at $200 Amazon.com
GarmontTactical.com HighSpeedGear.com OutdoorVitals.com

ith winter in the rearview mirror and spring almost upon us, it’s time to begin
W thinking about restocking our preps and provisions. If 2020 taught us anything,
it’s that the improbable might not be so improbable.
This month, we have a variety of new items designed to meet a diverse range
of needs. From instructional books to firearms accessories and from clothing to
camping gear, we’ve collected a group of quality items to see you into 2021 ... and beyond.
5 6
7 8
5 6 7 8
Posi-Lum FireTail Rumpl Puffy Blanket Fenix E03R Keychain Cedar Mill Rifle Cleaning
Weapon lights mounted on long guns have Rumpl blankets were designed when the Light Kit
become extremely popular and are one of company founder wanted a blanket with
The Fenix brand has long been With brass slotted tips and ends, coupled
the accessories considered to be essential. all the innovation of a modern sleeping associated with high-quality, with a 34-inch steel flex snake rod, this kit
While many weapon-mounted lights use tape bag but couldn’t find one. The original
innovative flashlights. The new is designed to fit everything from airguns,
switches, the inclusion of extra accessories and Puffy Outdoor Blanket is designed to be E03R Keychain light builds on that revolvers and pistols to rifles and long guns
wires can create additional points of failure portable, packable and weather resistant.
reputation. Built from rugged 6061- while still being compact and easy to carry.
and complication. The FireTail is built around The Ripstop nylon shell is DWR coated to
T6 aluminum and offering an IP66 This kit enables you to clean bores from .17
the “K.I.S.S.” (“Keep it simple stupid”) principle. shed water. The insulation is made of 3D water-resistance rating, the E03R is to .308 and barrel lengths up to 34 inches.
Built from 6061 T6 aluminum, the FireTail silicone-treated hollow fiber that’s made
designed to last. The light measures Included are four bronze and two wool
attaches to the tail cap of many popular lights from recycled water bottles. Each blanket 1.8x0.47x0.94 inches and weighs brushes, two brass slotted slips, a brass
and uses a simple lever to convert the forward includes a cape clip that allows the blanket
under an ounce. The light has a built- adapter, a 5-ounce bottle and 25 3x3-inch
push of the tail cap to a simple squeeze. Full to be worn and used hands free. The in 200mAh battery that’s USB-C patches. The Super X-Tool, a multi-function
functionality of the light’s features are retained, corners feature integrated loops; as a result,
rechargeable. The light has five disassembly and scraping tool, is also
and there are no switches to fail when you need the blanket can be secured in a variety of output modes: 260lm/45 minutes; included. Everything’s neatly packed into
them the most. Should the FireTail rail ever configurations. The blanket is machine
80lm/1 hour, 15 minutes; 30lm/3 a zippered case to keep components
fail, the lever can be flipped out of the way for washable and can be stored compressed hours; 5lm/18 hours; and red mode organized and at your fingertips.
access to the tail cap. It also includes a lockout with no loss of insulation value.
(4lm/5.5 hours).
feature to prevent accidental activation.
MSRP: $19.99
MSRP: $149.25 MSRP: $24.95
MSRP: $64.99 CedarMillFirearms.com
Rumpl.com Fenix-store.com
Fire-Tail.com

9 10
11 12
9 10 11 12
Inforce Wild2 Weapon Light Foraging for Survival: Elite Tactical Systems Streamlight Stinger
The new Inforce Wild2 weapon light is Edible Wild Plants of P320 Magazines 2020 Flashlight
the culmination of years of research, North America Elite Tactical Systems is well-known The Streamlight Stinger has been one of
development and listening to customers’ for producing high-quality polymer the most trusted flashlights used by law
feedback. The Wild2 is built from 6061 T6 Written by Mykel Hawke and Douglas
magazines for a variety of popular enforcement for decades. Now, after extensive
aluminum that's been hard-anodized for Boudreau, Foraging for Survival: Edible
handgun and rifle platforms. The research and user feedback, Streamlight
durability. The light is waterproof and rated Wild Plants of North America provides
company recently introduced a new has created the all-new Stinger 2020. The
for submersion up to 66 feet. It's powered by an in-depth look into living off the wild
line of magazines for the SIG SAUER new Stinger now has a 2,000 lm maximum
two CR123A batteries that can be accessed foods that grow all around us. This book
P320 family of pistols. The clear output with a 315 meter throw. It also offers a
through the patented push-button rear door. provides a 208-page compendium
polymer magazines provide extreme “medium” setting at 850 lm and a “low” setting
Light output is fixed at 1.000 lm and uses of wild edible plants from all over
impact resistance and won’t crack at 100 lm. Runtimes range between two (“high”
a specialized parabolic reflector to provide North America. Detailed descriptions
or break when dropped. They’re mode) and 24 hours (“low” mode) because of
an intense hotspot with well-balanced spill are accompanied by photos and
highly resistant to chemicals and the new lithium-ion USB rechargeable battery
to maintain situational awareness. Runtime illustrations. The book provides a list
are designed to withstand extreme pack. The new body features a flat design that
is 1.5 hours. The Wild2 uses ambidextrous of edible plants, edible bugs and grubs,
temperatures. Each magazine is indexes your hand perfectly to reach either
activation paddles for momentary or the warning signs of poisonous plants,
backed by a lifetime warranty. ETS the shoulder or tail cap activation switch.
constant on. The light also features a lockout foraging techniques and much more.
offers 15-, 17-, 21-, 30- and 40-round As always, the Stinger 2020 is backed by
and strobe mode for those who wish to use magazines. Streamlight’s lifetime warranty.
them. MSRP: $17.99
Amazon.com MSRP: Starting at $16.99 MSRP: $139.95
MSRP: $179.99
ETSGroup.us Streamlight.com
Inforce-Mil.com

13 14
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Work Tuff Gear Scalarworks Peak/01 Iron Beyond Guide The Prepper’s Medical
Siddah Khukuri Sights Lite Gloves Handbook by William W.
Work Tuff Gear has partnered with Timothy Scalarworks designed and built the Beyond Guide Lite Gloves are built Forgey, M.D.
McLaughlin from Dragonfly Khukuri and Peak/01 AR15 Iron Sights at the request for work, comfort and breathability.
The basic concept of prepping is to be ready
Knives to add a modern khukuri to the Work of Larry Vickers. The sights are designed They're a lighter, more breathable for common risks and dangerous emergencies
Tuff lineup. McLaughlin has been designing around a 15-inch sight radius to provide alternative to the standard Guide
that might occur at any time and under
and importing traditional khukuris since 2011 optimal performance on today’s shorter Gloves and provide all the protection the worst circumstances. Because these
and created the Siddah to meet the demands carbine platforms. The front and rear you need—where you need it. Features
situations could include the breakdown of
of the 21st-century knife user. The Siddah sights are both fully adjustable, providing include a reinforced thumb and normal emergency support services, you
is a full tang design with a 16.9-inch overall 0.5 MOA adjustments, and require no forefinger, adjustable cuffs, articulated
need to be prepared to deal with health
length. The blade is 11.3 inches (with a 10.7- tools. The front sight blade and rear leather palms, pre-curved fingers, and medical emergencies. This 305-page
inch cutting length) and is 0.23 inch thick at aperture have been milled flat to provide carabiner loops and a breathable,
book provides information on a variety of
the spine. The tang has been skeletonized a more consistent sight picture with no woven stretch back-of-hand. The important topics, such as pain and fever,
to improve balance and uses 3D-machined, highlight bias. The sights are precision- brushed tricot lining increases
dental emergencies, bioterrorism, radiation
ergonomic G10 grips. The tough SK85 steel, milled from 7075 T6 aluminum that’s durability and creates a soft feel exposure and much more. It also helps you
combined with a flat grind and an expert been Type 3 anodized and nitride finished. against the skin. Guide Lite Gloves are
identify sources of materials you’ll need,
heat-treat, means that this modern khukuri Despite their rugged construction, the temperature rated for comfort down discusses storage issues and directs you to
can take on almost everything you can throw Peak/01 sights weigh in at only 2.38 to 25 degrees (F).
sources for more-complex procedures that
at it! ounces. nonprofessionals won’t be able to handle.
MSRP: $95
MSRP: $220 MSRP: Starting at $139 MSRP: $19.95
BeyondClothing.com
WorkTuffGear.com Scalarworks.com Amazon.com

TWO-WHEELED
POWER, SPEED
AND RANGE
THE E-CELLS SUPER
MONARCH CROWN
AWD 1500 E-BIKE WILL
GET YOU ANYWHERE,
ANYTIME.
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN PAUL BARLOW
› The E-Cells Super Monarch AWD 1500

Crown has motors in the hubs of both wheels,
providing all-wheel-drive power and traction.

‹ Left: The author
was continually
smiling—and
sometimes outright
laughing—as he rode
this bike. It was that
much fun!
› Near right: The

rear rack provides
a good place for
toting heavy gear,
and an elastic strap
is included to keep
things secure. Under
the rack is one of the
bike’s two batteries.
There’s a taillight
at the end of the
battery that runs
on separate AA
batteries.
’ll tell you right up front: The only 400 pounds of rider and gear, not counting the weight of the bike. It’s quiet too, so you ‹ Above: The bike is
I
fitted with hydraulic
downside about this bike is that I could use this for scouting and reconnaissance. You can pedal it on your own, get pedal disc brakes, front
was smiling the entire time I was assistance from the motors or simply turn the throttle and hold on tight. and rear. They pro-
vide good stopping
riding it. If it had been summer, I power, which is
would've had bugs stuck on my TWO MOTORS, TWO BATTERIES needed with such a
heavy bike.
teeth. What separates the E-Cells Super Monarch from the competition is that it’s a dual-
From my first ride on the E-Cells Super motor, dual-battery, dual-suspension, fat-tired e-bike. That’s right—it’s an all-wheel-
Monarch Crown AWD 1500 Off-Road drive bike! There are motors in the hubs of the front and rear wheels. When you need
E-Bike, I confirmed that my money had the power, the work is spread between the two motors so you’re not overstressing one
been well-spent. This solidly made bicycle power plant. And, with both wheels driving the bike, you’re not as apt to lose traction in
offers more power, more range and more sloppy terrain.
features than anything I’ve seen on the Also, there are two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries on board: one on the down tube
market. And, it comes with more extras of the frame and one under the rear rack. So, you can get there and back. In addition,
thrown into the deal as well. with front and rear suspension, together with the fat tires, it smooths out what would
Take it hunting, take it on a fun trail ride, be bone-jarring terrain with lesser bikes.
or use it as a daily commuter. When things
get serious, load it up with your bug-out FULLY EQUIPPED
gear and escape to a remote outpost out The E-Cells Super Monarch AWD 1500 Crown Off-Road E-Bike has an aluminum alloy
of harm’s way. It’s rated to carry up to frame. My bike is the Hunters Edition (HE II), which has a camo paint job. That makes it

less obvious if you chain it to a tree when
you’re out scouting, hunting or when you
want to be discreet about where you’re
camped. If that’s not for you, the bike is
also available in Shiny Black, Candy Apple
Red and Metal Flake Blue. The 19-inch
(large) frame size is standard, but you can
special-order a medium (17-inch) or extra-
large (20-inch) frame.
The bike features a 10-speed Shimano
Deore Hyperglide gear cassette on the rear
hub, along with a Shimano Deore shifter. › Right: One of the
bike’s two batteries is
The wheels are double-walled aluminum attached to the down
to prevent spokes from puncturing a tube tube. Each battery is
secured with a key
if there’s a serious impact. Those spokes lock. There’s a USB
are 12-gauge steel with stainless steel port on this battery
you can use to
beds. The tires are Vee Bulldozer (26x4.25 charge your phone.
inches). If the tires seem wider than that,
it’s because the aggressive off-road tread travel. They’re adjustable and have a lockout feature. The rear suspension is a RockShox
actually stretches to more than 5 inches Monarch RL shock. It, too, is adjustable with a lockout feature.
across. There are front and back racks for carrying your gear. What’s nice about the front rack
The bike has hydraulic disc brakes, front is that it’s not attached to the handlebar. So, if you get a little bit of weight in that front
and back. With a bike that weighs a hefty rack, it’s not going to hamper your steering. The seat is wide and comfortable, and its
95 pounds, you need good brakes, and height is adjusted effortlessly by flipping the quick-release clamp. That makes it easy
these work well. The front forks feature the when you’re switching from road riding, for which you want nearly full leg extension, to
RST Air Suspension Shock with 96mm of the trail, for which you probably want the seat to be lower. The grips are leather and are
‹ Left: On delivery,
everything on the
Super Monarch AWD
1500 Crown bike
was secured and in
good condition. The
assembly required
to get the bike up
and running was
minimal; and E-cells
provides the neces-
sary tools, which are
included.

know that the front battery has a USB
charge port, so you can spare some of that
raw electrical power to charge your phone.
The rear battery has an on/off switch on
the bottom if you want to run on just one
and keep one in reserve. However, these
batteries run cooler, and I’m told you’ll
typically get longer ranges if you run both
‹ Left: There’s only at the same time. The 45-amp controller is
one sprocket at the sealed, as are the other electronics.
crank. All the gears
are at the rear. The Both batteries have push-button battery
motors are in the level indicators, but you can also get your
wheel hubs too, which
enables powering the battery level readout on the dashboard
bike without pedaling computer. The batteries lock onto the bike,
or chain movement.
and two sets of keys are provided. The
shaped to support the heels of your hands. There are bosses with hex bolts on the top bar batteries can be removed to be charged
of the frame for installation of a water bottle cage or other accessories. separately using the included AC charger.
The bike comes with a headlight that attaches just above the forks. The taillight is However, the bike also has a charging port
attached to the rear battery, but it runs on two AA batteries of its own so that if you leave on the frame that allows you to charge
it on by mistake, it won’t drain the batteries that power the bike. both batteries onboard simultaneously.
‹ Below: Included
The charging time when the batteries are
among a long list
POWER IT of extras are two fully drained is listed as seven hours.
Speaking of power, let’s get technical for a moment, because it’s one of the things that separate panniers
that clip to the sides
make this bike so special. of the rear rack. They CONTROL IT
feature shoulder
The bike features twin 750-watt, 52-volt Bafang geared hub motors that give you up So, how do you unleash that all-wheel-
straps—handy for the
to 170nm of torque. Between the 17.5AH front battery and the 14AH rear battery, you get commuter who wants drive power? Well, you’ll find the on/off
to park the bike and
1,638 watt hours of power and up to 2,200 watts of peak power. You’ll also be happy to button, menu button and pedal-assist
just go with the bags.
SPECIFICATIONS
E-Cells Super Monarch Crown AWD 1500 HE II
• Type: E-bike; pedal assist or throttle drive

• Motors: Twin 750-watt, 52-volt Bafang geared hub motors
• Batteries: 52-volt 17.5AH front battery with USB phone
charge port and charge indicator; 52-volt, 14AH rear rack
battery using SAMSUNG 35E 18650 3,500mh matched
batteries with an on/off toggle switch and built-in rear
taillight
• Frame: #6061 aircraft aluminum alloy
• Rear cassette: 10-speed Shimano Deore CS-H650-10
Hyperglide
• Suspension: Front fork RST Air Suspension shock with
96mm of travel; includes lockout feature and adjustability
for weight of rider; RockShox Monarch RL rear shock
• Wheels: Double-walled aluminum rims
• Tires: Vee Bulldozer, 26x4.25 inches
• Brakes: Tektro Dorado HD-E730 hydraulic disc brakes with
4 pistons, front and rear
• Cargo capacity: 400 pounds
• Weight: 95 pounds
MSRP: $5,195

‹ Far left: For
hunting, camping,
bugging out or
daily commuting,
the E-Cells Super
Monarch can haul
up to 400 pounds
of rider and gear.
Included cargo
netting helps
secure the load.
‹ Near left: A
rechargeable
electric pump is
included with the
bike. It makes it
easy to inflate the
bike’s fat tires.
level buttons near the left grip. There’s is set to just five pedal-assist levels and a top speed of 20 mph so you can comply with
also a rocker switch that lets you run with limits imposed by some jurisdictions for this type of vehicle. Nevertheless, the computer can
the front motor only, rear motor only or easily be reset to take those limits off—a good feature if you need the extra power because
both (all-wheel-drive). Again, I’m told you’re using the bike primarily for off-road use. ‹ Below: This bike is
a true four-season
that running both usually means each has Start to pedal, and the motors kick in according to the power level you’ve set. Lots of bike, so bundle up
to work less, thus consuming less battery companies tout their mid-drive e-bikes that have the motor in the crank. But, they’re in snow country.
It proved to have
power. dependent on the pedal and chain movement, whereas a wheel-hub motor e-bike isn’t. excellent traction
The bike features nine pedal-assist levels So, with the E-Cells bike, if you don’t want to pedal, you can still make use of the motors and stability when
the author rode it
and gives you a top speed of more than 30 and control your speed from the throttle near the right grip—the same way you would through about 4
mph. From the factory, the bike’s computer with a motorcycle. inches of snow.
“IF YOU’RE NOT EXPECTING IT, THIS BIKE CAN REALLY TAKE OFF ON YOU,
ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHER ASSIST LEVELS.”

‹ Near left: The
dashboard of the
E-Cells bike provides
all the information
you need: pedal-assist
level, speed, max
speed, average speed,
wattage being used,
time, odometer, trip
odometer, range,
battery status ... and
more.
I like this feature. It could be important if

you become injured miles off-road and you
› Above: The bike
comes with an LED “WHAT SEPARATES THE E-CELLS SUPER
aren’t able to pedal out. There’s a walk-
headlight that’s
powered by the MONARCH FROM THE COMPETITION IS THAT
assist mode too: Press and hold the “down” bike’s main batteries
and is positioned IT’S A DUAL-MOTOR, DUAL-BATTERY, DUAL-
power button, and the bike will move right
along beside you as you walk. It moves
to illuminate any
obstacles on the trail SUSPENSION, FAT-TIRED E-BIKE. THAT’S
pretty fast, so you might have to use it in a
ahead.
RIGHT—IT’S AN ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE BIKE!”
succession of short bursts.
To keep track of what’s happening
with your E-Cells bike, there’s a display › Right: The handle-
bar is adjustable. The
dashboard right on the handlebar. It shows author found it most
which power-assist level you’re using, comfortable when it
was angled slightly
along with your battery level. You can see upward.
your current speed or cycle the display
to show your top or average speed. The
› Left: The author secured this Voodoo Tactical shotgun scabbard to the bike’s rear cargo rack using
the scabbard’s MOLLE attachment straps (the scabbard holds a lever-action rifle very nicely).
mileage indicator lets you toggle between odometer, trip distance, riding time and range.
There’s also a clock, so you’ll know when to stop having fun and get home in time for
dinner! An important display feature is your wattage output indicator. Using this similarly
to how you would a vehicle’s tachometer, you can keep track of how hard your motors
are working— which directly affects battery usage. In addition, the dashboard computer
allows for mobile navigation through a Bluetooth connection to an app you can download
to your iPhone (if you have one. I don’t).
LOTS OF EXTRAS
When you buy an E-Cells bike, you’re provided with lots of accessories for no extra
charge. Included are a bike helmet; a separate taillight that fits the rear of the helmet;
two rearview mirrors that fit into the ends of the handlebars; a stretchable cargo strap;
cargo net; complete tool kit; two clip-on panniers; a rechargeable electric air pump; and
two aluminum heat sinks for the controller.

ASSEMBLE IT
When my bike was delivered and I opened
the box, I found I had a little bit of work to
do; but, it wasn’t difficult. I had to attach
the handlebar to the stem and the pedals
to the crank. The batteries, rear rack and
rear wheel were already in place. So was
› Right: On the left
the seat, but I had to adjust it to the proper
side of the handlebar height for me. Attaching the front wheel
there are controls
to power the bike
took a little finesse (it would’ve been
on and off; to adjust easier with two people, but I got it done
the amount of assist;
and to choose which
without too much effort).
motor (or motors) is The front fender, headlight and front
being used.
rack needed to be attached too. These
The tool kit contains everything you need to maintain everything on the bike. After all, were all simple tasks, and all the tools you
you don’t want to be miles from help when something vibrates loose. There’s an included need to get the job done are included in
inner tube repair kit, as well as a mini manual air pump. It all fits in a sturdy zippered case the zippered tool pouch. I used the electric
with straps on the outside so you can secure it to either of the racks. This is a great kit! pump to inflate the fat tires. That was the
The soft-sided panniers are made of heavy-duty nylon with zippered closures. They clip easiest part. In fact, I probably spent more
› Below, left: The fat onto the rear rack in three places each. That makes them easy to attach or remove. And, time cutting up the cardboard box for the
tires on the bike are when you remove them, each has an adjustable shoulder strap. When traveling off-road, I recycle bin than I did assembling the bike!
listed at 4.25 inches,
but the tread extends like to keep my gear higher on the racks and out of the mud. Nevertheless, these panniers
a bit wider than would be great when traveling by road. For instance, commuters might make use of these RIDE IT
that. They provide
good traction and a to store a laptop computer and other items needed during the daily work routine. In On my first ride—a short jaunt around the
comfortable ride. addition, they’d come in handy for quick trips to the grocery store or for other errands. neighborhood—I was literally laughing out
The included portable electric air pump is programmable. You can set it for several loud (the neighbors must’ve confirmed
› Below, right: The
bike’s two batteries regularly used inflatables. On the “bike” setting, I set the pump for 10 psi, which is the their previous suspicions that I really am
can be removed and
recommended inflation pressure for this bike’s fat tires. The pump inflates the tires completely crazy!).
charged separately.
Alternatively, they effortlessly and stops automatically when the set pressure is reached. It runs on a USB- I grew up riding off-road motorcycles, and
can be charged
rechargeable lithium battery and also has a flashlight and charge port to charge your I continue to log lots of miles on bicycles
together while still
onboard. phone or other devices. every year. Because this is a heavy, but
powerful, bike, I’d compare the ride as
somewhere in between a bicycle and a
motorcycle.
If you’re a novice bike rider, I’d advise you
to start on a low pedal-assist setting. If
you’re not expecting it, this bike can really
take off on you, especially on the higher
assist levels.
I spent time during my testing of this bike
finding the highest hills in my area. None of
them was the slightest challenge for this
bike. With the chain on the proper gear and
the assist level set properly, you can get up
any hill with almost no effort on your part.
And don’t forget to use your gears
when you pedal. The temptation is to let
the motors do all the work. But, when
you’re anticipating a stop, such as at an
intersection, it’s a good idea to downshift
to an easier gear. That’ll make starting
again easier on you ... and on your motors.
Move through the gears as you build your
speed.
I tried the bike both on and off the roads.
On a road, there’s no fear of going off into

CARRY chain. And every so often, you should check to make sure your spokes remain tight. I also
discovered that the batteries don’t like to be charged when it gets cold. Bring them in and
let them warm up to room temperature, and they’ll be fine.
CONSIDERATIONS HOW FAR CAN I GO?

The range you’ll get on a full charge can vary widely, depending on the terrain, wind
Transporting your e-bike on the back of your car might take conditions, how fast you’re going and the level of pedal-assist you’re using. Around town
a heavier-duty carrier than you use for your conventional bike. on level roads, I was using Level 3 with little effort and cranking it up only to Level 4 or 5
Carriers designed for fat-tired e-bikes can cost between $500 to for the moderate hills. I rarely got into the upper assist levels.
more than $1,000. Riding conservatively like that, I found that the battery level barely dipped. On one ride, I
What many e-bike owners are doing to save a few bucks is traveled slightly more than 41 miles and used 50 percent of my battery capacity. Even so,
buying a hitch-mount carrier that’s designed for motorcycles. much of that time, I was playing around—seeking out hills, using the throttle instead of
These carriers are designed for the weight, usually have a ramp pedaling and testing the bike’s capabilities. Using the power more judiciously, I believe I
to roll your bike onto it and cost under $200. could get more than 100 miles on a charge.
Harbor Freight (HarborFreight.com) and Black Widow Keeping an eye on your wattage output will help you conserve the bike’s batteries.
(BlackWidowPro.com) are two sources to check out. The wattage will jump when you accelerate, but it should level off as you settle in at a
particular speed and with the proper gearing.
the gravel along the shoulder. Between the LOTS OF VALUE

bike’s fat tires and the pedal-assist, you The MSRP price of the E-Cells Super Monarch AWD 1500 Crown is $5,195, but the
just power right through it. company had it on sale for $4,195 as of this writing. That’s comparable to the cost of
However, off the road is where this some other e-bikes that don’t provide nearly the same levels of power, range, cargo
bike really outshines other models. That capacity and off-road capability. In addition, E-Cells offers a financing offer of 0 percent
all-wheel-drive system gives you lots of for 12 months, and the bikes ship free.
traction and power to go through dirt,
mud, stone and snow (yes, I rode it through “FROM MY FIRST RIDE ON THE E-CELLS
snow). It was late fall when I started SUPER MONARCH CROWN AWD 1500
testing this bike. One day, we had about 3
or 4 inches of snow. I bundled up and took
OFF-ROAD E-BIKE, I CONFIRMED THAT MY
out the Super Monarch. I crossed my street MONEY HAD BEEN WELL-SPENT.”
and headed uphill through my neighbor’s
‹ Left: The seat post
yard (I hope she didn’t mind all the tracks is secured with
in her yard ... ). The bike performed very a quick-release
› Below: This bike lever for fast
well. This is truly a four-season bike. is very off-road- adjustments. This is
capable and is wise, because you
There are a few cautionary notes: Because equipped with front want the seat high
this bike has so much torque, changing and back shocks enough for full leg
that are adjustable extension for road-
gears when you’re on the highest pedal- and feature lockout riding but perhaps
assist levels could cause problems with the levers. lower for traveling
tricky, off-road
terrain.
‹ Left: The rear

wheel of this E-Cells
bike has 10 gears
that provide a good
range of ratios for
both trail-riding and
on-road cruising.
S O U R C E
E-Cells Bikes
(702) 960-2015
ECells.com

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www.facebook.com/americansurvivalguidemagazine
instagram: ASGMAGAZINE
COMFORTABLE,
ROOMY AND
MOBILE
A WHITE DUCK OUTDOORS
WALL TENT MAKES A
GREAT EXTENDED-STAY
BASE CAMP.

› When new poles arrived, the author
replaced the bent ones to get the most use
out of his camp. In a pinch, he could have
cut wooden poles to size.
“CHOOSE A TENT TOO SMALL, AND YOU CAN FEEL TOO

CROWDED IF YOU’RE FORCED INSIDE FOR LONG PERIODS
DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER ... CHOOSE A TENT
THAT’S TOO LARGE, AND YOU’LL HAVE MORE DIFFICULTY
TRANSPORTING IT, SETTING IT UP AND HEATING IT.”
“FOR THOSE WHO, LIKE ME, DON’T HAPPEN TO OWN ANY GETAWAY
PROPERTY, SUCH A TENT MAKES SENSE. ONE KEY ADVANTAGE IS
THAT I’M NOT LOCKED INTO A PARTICULAR LOCATION.”
‹ Left: The author, his
brother and nephew
set up this camp
using the White Duck
Alpha Wall Tent,
along with an old
family camping tent
and an overhead tarp
on a steel cable.
› Near right: Open-

concept kitchen:
The wall tent was
designated as
living and sleeping
quarters only. The
covered space
between the two
tents was for dining.
‹ Above:
now have a mobile base camp ... and ESTABLISH AN OUTPOST
I
Establishing a base
it fits in the back of my Toyota Rav4: I bought my tent with the idea of setting it up on state forest land for the duration of the camp requires lots
of odds and ends—
I recently invested in a White Duck fall deer-hunting season to be used by my brother, his son and me. But, along the way, it pots, pans, utensils,
Outdoors Alpha Wall Tent. occurred to me that this tent would make a good basis for a mobile outpost—a remote lanterns and much
more.
Although this tent is easy to set up, refuge for anyone evacuating because of a temporary disaster or, as a last resort, escaping
it’s not the type of thing you’d normally man-made mayhem.
bring for a summer weekend campout. For those who, like me, don’t happen to own any getaway property, such a tent makes
This is a four-season tent that’s roomy and sense. One key advantage is that I’m not locked into a particular location. Depending on
comfortable for more-extended stays. (I how far-reaching a critical event happens to be, I have a whole country in which to choose
understand that some “glamping” resorts a safe retreat. As a bonus, it incurs no property taxes or property upkeep.
offer them as an alternative to renting
cabins for those who don’t want to rough SIZING IT UP
it.) However, there are other possibilities The White Duck Alpha wall tent I chose is the company’s 12x14-foot model.
for this tent as part of an emergency Choosing the size you need can be a tough decision. I wanted it big enough to fit a
preparedness strategy. propane or wood stove and three or four cots for sleeping, along with some spare living

› Near right: A good-
sized duffel, such as
this Voodoo Tactical
Mojo Load-Out Bag,
is perfect for storing
clothing and gear in
camp.
‹ Above: Buckets
“THE BENEFIT OF CHOOSING A WALL TENT IS THAT YOU HAVE and bins with lids
are important for
5-FOOT-HIGH VERTICAL SIDE WALLS, SO THERE’S VERY LITTLE keeping mice and
other small critters
WASTED SPACE AS YOU’D HAVE WITH A TEPEE-STYLE TENT.” from invading your
food stores, even
if they’re stored in
space. Choose a tent too small, and you can feel too crowded if you’re forced inside for long rods to hang clothes. There’s no center your vehicle.
periods during inclement weather. I also wanted to be able to squeeze in more people if pole stuck in the middle to complicate
necessary. But, choose a tent that’s too large, and you’ll have more difficulty transporting your floor plan.
it, setting it up and heating it. Obviously, the larger the tent, the higher the cost. I also purchased the optional porch to be
The 12x14-foot wall tent gave us plenty of room for the three cots we set inside, but we used as our “mud room.” This is an open-
could have doubled that and then simply folded some of the cots out of the way when front addition to the front of the tent that
they weren’t being used. The benefit of choosing a wall tent is that you have 5-foot-high provides side walls with covered windows
vertical side walls, so there’s very little wasted space as you’d have with a tepee-style and a roof. It provides an additional 7½
tent. We positioned our cots along the sides and out of the way. feet of space for gear, chairs, a table and
The center height is 8 feet, 8 inches. That provides plenty of headspace for moving such and protects the entryway to the tent
around and getting dressed, but it’s also space that can be used to hang lighting and from the elements. And, for extra storm
‹ Far left: The porch

frame was easy to
assemble, as was
the wall tent itself.
‹ Near left: Cooking

with a Dutch oven
in a base camp can
really expand your
menu—which is
great for keeping
morale high during
extended stays.

WHITE DUCK protection, I also purchased the waterproof
fly that covers the tent.
OUTDOORS WHITE DUCK CONSTRUCTION

The tent uses a framework of aluminum
12x14-FOOT ‹ Below, left: The

poles and angled couplers. The uprights
have swivel feet on the bottoms to
ALPHA WALL TENT

Specifications
optional porch that
attaches to the front
of the wall tent has
windows that can
automatically adjust to uneven ground.
The tent fabric is white, 100 percent cotton,
10.10-ounce Army duck canvas. It’s heavy-
be uncovered in duty material that’s breathable. That limits
good weather for
• Construction: 100 percent cotton, 10.10-ounce Army duck canvas (tent and porch); added ventilation. any condensation problems. And, after
(Photo: White Duck getting wet once, the threads in the fabric
200gsm polyethylene (fly); vinyl (sod cloth and mud skirting) Outdoors)
• Frame: Anodized aluminum poles, 1.181 inches (diameter) swell and close together to form a natural
• Weight: Approximately 200 pounds (tent and poles) water-repellent barrier. All the seams
‹ Below, right: With
the tent doors tied are double stitched, and the corners are
back, you can see reinforced. There’s vinyl mud-flap skirting
MSRP: $1,449.99/12x14-foot tent; $499.99/canvas porch; $300/waterproof fly the zippered screens
that will come
in handy during
“buggy” times of
year. (Photo: White
Duck Outdoors)
“THIS IS A FOUR-SEASON
TENT THAT’S ROOMY
AND COMFORTABLE
FOR MORE-EXTENDED
STAYS.”
‹ Above: The Alpha Wall Tent is shown with

the optional waterproof fly attached. The
author considers the fly a necessity for this
tent. (Photo: White Duck Outdoors)

‹ Far left: There
were no S-shaped
poles with this
tent; they’d all been
straight before
the snowstorm
disaster!
‹ Near left: Despite

the bent poles at
the front of the
wall tent, it still
remained roomy
and habitable.
around the bottom of all the walls where storm flaps in the roof of the tent, the fly and the porch. They must be cut to the correct
they contact the ground. size and can accommodate up to a 5-inch stove pipe.
The double zippered doors at the front Zippered canvas bags with reinforced waterproof bottoms are included—one each for
can also be secured with the included the tent, the poles and the porch. That makes it easier to transport. The total weight of
quick-release buckles. Zippered mesh the tent and poles is approximately 200 pounds. Separating the poles and tent into their
behind the doors keeps out the bugs. There own bags divides that weight into two nearly equal bags with carry straps. There’s also a
are two triangular windows on each of the canvas bag for the stakes. A rubber mallet is included for pounding them in.
long sides. They, too, have closures and
bug screens. A free-floating ground sheet EASY SETUP
or sod cloth of 12-ounce PVC provides a One of the main motivators for buying this tent is that I wanted something that was
waterproof barrier from the ground on the easier to set up and take down than the old military tent, which required an army to
inside. It’s not attached to the tent so that maneuver and erect! One person, alone, could probably set up the White Duck Alpha tent.
‹ Below: The White
you can remove it for easy cleaning. Two people will have no problem; three are even better (unless one tends to be a little Duck Outdoors
The waterproof fly you place over the bossy. I won’t admit to that!). Alpha Wall Tent
can be an integral
tent is made of heavy-duty 200gsm The instructions that came with the tent are easy to follow. Even so, the White Duck part of establishing
polyethylene. There are stove jacks with website offers a video that takes you through the setup process step by step, and it’s a base camp.
“WITH A WALL TENT ... YOU CAN ESTABLISH A HOME-AWAY-FROM-HOME THAT

CAN BE MOVED EASILY FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER AS NEEDED ...
WITHOUT REQUIRING A TRACTOR TRAILER TO DO IT.”

‹ Near left: When
cooking for more
than one person, the
old Coleman stove is
always a good choice.
› Above: There’s
worth watching before setting up your tent
nothing wrong
for the first time. with keeping things
The tent frame is erected first, but simple. After all,
burgers cooked on
without the uprights for one side. This the grill comprise
keeps the frame low enough for you to standard camp fare.
drape the tent over the frame without

needing a ladder. Once the tent is over the › Right: The author’s
frame, the remaining uprights are put into nephew removed
the old family tent,
place, and the poles, tent and guy lines are which had been
staked down. The fly goes over the top. crushed when the
steel cable snapped
The fly’s guy lines can be attached to the under the weight of
same stakes as the tent lines. There are the snow. The porch
and front of the new
line adjusters to keep things taut all the wall tent suffered
way around. considerable
damage too.
› Left: A little privacy, please! The author’s portable toilet was placed in this outhouse tent.
MAKING IT A HOME
Across from the wall tent, we put up an old tent that had been used for family camping
trips when I was a kid. We ran a steel cable over everything to suspend tarps for extra
protection. In the space between the tents, we put up a couple of portable tables and
some folding camp chairs. This was to be our open-air dining area. We had a two-burner
Coleman gas stove and a nearby fire pit for cooking with Dutch ovens and a grill top. The
old tent was our overflow area for gear and guests or if foul weather forced us inside to
eat. We kept all food out of the new wall tent to keep out the critters, big and small alike.
The food usually went into our vehicles. Even so, we stored it in buckets or bins with tops,
because mice sometimes hitch a ride and find a way in.
In the wall tent, we placed a small area rug that’s perfect for walking around in stockinged
feet after logging miles in hunting boots all day. This first season, we used a propane
heater to heat the tent before we went to bed and again the first thing in the morning after
climbing out of our sleeping bags. The temperature got down to 24 degrees (F) one night,
but the temperature inside the tent was comfortable with just that one propane heater.
A propane heater is lighter to pack, and you don’t have to spend time chopping firewood.
For a getaway shelter, at least in a wooded area, a stove can make use of a readily
available fuel supply.
DISASTER HITS
So, everyone lived happily ever after, right? Not in this fairy tale! We'd been away from
the camp for a few days, and during that time, an unexpected early-season snowstorm hit

› Right: And then,
disaster struck: A
severe, early-season
snowstorm took
down many camps
in the vicinity,
including the
author’s, which was
unattended at the
time.
› Below: Keeping
“A FREE-FLOATING GROUND SHEET OR SOD CLOTH OF 12-OUNCE

perishables cold
can be a challenge
PVC PROVIDES A WATERPROOF BARRIER FROM THE GROUND ON

in warm weather
but not so much
THE INSIDE. IT’S NOT ATTACHED TO THE TENT SO THAT YOU CAN
in the fall during
deer-hunting
REMOVE IT FOR EASY CLEANING.”

season in the
Northeast.
the area. It leveled several tent camps in the

vicinity ... including a good part of ours.
The overhead tarps had sagged, and the
snow built up until the steel cable snapped.
Down came the snow in an avalanche that
crushed our old family tent, the new tent’s
porch and the front of the wall tent. About
10 of the poles from the porch and wall tent
were severely bent. On the bright side, none
of the fabric was torn and, until a new batch
of poles arrived, we continued to use the wall
tent. Most of the space was still usable.
I have to emphasize that this mishap was
in no way the fault of the tent, its design or
its construction. The fault is in the fact that
we were “absentee landlords.” Had we been

› Left: By removing
the uprights on one
side of the frame,
the tent fabric can
be draped over the
top for setup or
takedown without
the need of a ladder.
on-site during the storm, we could have if possible—with the support of the community behind you. But sometimes, you must
monitored the snow buildup and dealt evacuate. In addition, a temporary situation can sometimes turn into an ordeal that lasts
with it before it got to a critical point. And, for weeks. With a wall tent, such as this one from White Duck Outdoors, you can establish
in fact, White Duck does offer telescoping a home-away-from-home that can be moved easily from one location to another as
poles to reinforce the frame for extra needed ... without requiring a tractor trailer to do it.
protection against such storms (I think As an added benefit, this wall tent doesn’t have to sit in a corner of your attic, awaiting
that'll be next year’s investment). trouble. You can use it for a hunting camp or for cozy extended vacations.
The quality of the White Duck Alpha wall tent is excellent and, with proper care
EASY REPAIRS (don’t store it wet, for instance), it should last for many years–freak snowstorms
Had more of the tent poles been notwithstanding!
damaged, we could have cut wooden poles ‹ Left: The tent
frame, with uprights
to size to fit the couplers as a temporary removed on one
fix (that’s one more reason to have a good side, is easy to
assemble. One
assortment of tools in camp). However, person could set up
because only the porch and very front the tent (but two are
better).
of the wall tent were affected, we didn’t
bother. When replacement poles arrived,
it was a simple matter of “out with the old
and in with the new.”
› Below, left: Back
up to full height
IMPRESSIVE QUALITY with the new poles,
In the wake of most disasters, it’s usually the porch provides
lots of usable
better to stay in your well-supplied home— covered space.
‹ Near left: The

poles used as
uprights feature
feet that adjust to
uneven ground.
S O U R C E
White Duck Outdoors

(208) 866-1850
WhiteDuckOutdoors.com

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SLEEP
SOUNDLY
IN THE SKY
SHELTER OPTIONS FOR HOVERING ABOVE TERRA FIRMA
BY MICHAEL D’ANGONA

“THE TREES YOU
SELECT FOR
ATTACHMENT SHOULD
BE HEALTHY AND
LARGE ENOUGH TO
SUPPORT YOUR
SHELTER, YOUR BODY
WEIGHT AND ANY
GEAR THAT’LL BE
SHARING YOUR ‘CRIB’
FOR THE NIGHT.”
PHOTO: HENNESSEYHAMMOCK.COM

PHOTO: TENTSILE.COM
hen setting up shelter, shopping online or bringing your choice to the register at an outdoor gear store, you
W one of the basic rules

in the survival world
is, Get yourself off
the ground. This is
important because, in addition to avoiding
cold and wet conditions, the ground can
come alive throughout the night (and the › Below: Don’t always
need to have all your bases covered in order to choose the model that’s right for you.
The primary decision when choosing a suspended shelter is which type you’d prefer—a
hammock or an elevated tent. Both have their pros and cons, and those, too, will vary
by consumer, because everyone’s needs and wants are different. Once you’ve made your
choice, it’s time to go a little deeper into your personal outdoor situation.
First, you need to consider how many people will be sharing your shelter. Suspended
tree tents, as well as a few hammocks, offer room for more than one person. The
day too) with all types of Mother Nature’s think “woodland” combined size and weight of your “team” and gear will factor into your selection.
environment with
critters—from biting and stinging bugs to tree tents. Here, an Second is the environment. What temperatures could you possibly face during your
slithering snakes and larger animals such island setting works outing? If you predict cold, you’ll need to equip yourself with a roomier interior so
equally well. (Photo:
as raccoons, rats and others. Tentsile.com) blankets and extra layers can be added. Conversely, if your plan includes staying in
Being elevated above the surface can
provide a worry-free night’s sleep when it
comes to wildlife, as well as being quite
comfortable suspended several feet in
the air and not having to endure the hard,
rock-strewn ground.
From suspended tents to simple
hammocks to multipurpose platforms
and more, today’s above-ground shelter
options are both diverse and numerous.
Now, it’s time to elevate your
understanding of “high-rise” shelters—
where to set them up and choosing the
best style for you (as well as considering
the negatives, which might compel you to
stay planted firmly on the ground).
Nothing will be left on the ground as we
venture upward to your shelter suspended
amid the trees.
BEFORE YOU BUY

Before you click “add to cart” when

› Above: This simple
jungle hammock
tropical or sub-tropical conditions, having is compact, yet it
good ventilation and multiple zip-down protects you from a
night of irritating, bit-
screening options will come in handy on ing insects. (Photo:
hot and humid days. Rothco.com)
Next, ease of carrying is a concern for › Right: Parachute
those traveling light or who are already hammocks can
have an extremely
bogged down with heavy gear. Remember: simple design but
The larger the tent or hammock, the serve the purpose of
relaxing in the great
heavier it’ll be to carry. This fact might outdoors. (Photo:
seem quite obvious, but with the Coghlans.com)
excitement of buying your shelter, it could factor. When you’re on a budget, you have a certain range to hold to; and that, in itself,
easily be overlooked. When shopping limits you in some respects. If you have a maximum spending amount, you need to do an
online, product descriptions should include even deeper search. Read plenty of reviews, ask around in the outdoor community through
the dimensions and weight of the shelter. Internet chat rooms and forums and, if you’re able to go to a brick-and-mortar store, feel
Take note and find a comparable item the material to get a true sense of its durability and construction. A thrifty shopper needs
around the house to get a true “feel” of to find the optimal balance between affordability and quality.
what you’ll be adding to your load. › Below: Some
hammocks don’t
For most people, price is also a deciding need to be supported LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
by trees, which Whether you choose a suspended tent or a hammock, the location and materials you
makes them ideal for
bare, level lands. use to set up your elevated shelter shouldn’t be a quick decision on your part. It’s wise
› Above: Nothing is simpler than a mesh

hammock for two. This basic hammock is a
staple at many campsites across the country.
(Photo: Coghlans.com)

› Left: A totally enclosed, roomy hammock offers comfort and peace of
mind when you camp out in the deep woods. (Photo: DDHammocks.com)
“SUSPENDED TENTS AND

HAMMOCKS BOTH OFFER
A GROUND-FREE SLEEPING
EXPERIENCE THAT AIDS
IN ELIMINATING POSSIBLE
PROBLEMS WHEN
SLEEPING OUTDOORS.”
to start thinking about setting up your

camp—especially your shelter—long before
sundown occurs so that if you do encounter
‹ Right: The Nest, by DD Hammocks,
any issues, you won’t be scrambling when offers plenty of interior space and a
darkness hits. Rushed, incomplete or see-through section to prevent the
sensation of claustrophobia. (Photo:
incorrect location setup of your suspended DDHammocks.com)
shelter could cause you physical harm and/
or a night of anxiety as you ponder if you’re and/or vines that touch your shelter can cause damage or create a bridge for creepy-
hanging in harm’s way. crawlies to invade your shelter and attack you, ensuring you’ll get no sleep.
The trees you select for attachment It should go without saying that any trees exhibiting previous contact with bears should
should be healthy and large enough to be avoided, no matter how structurally sound they appear, how perfect their location is or
support your shelter, your body weight their setup configuration with other trees nearby. If you notice trees with scratch marks,
and any gear that’ll be sharing your “crib” broken branches, worn-down patches and bits of fur scattered around, it’s a sure sign a
for the night. Inspect your tree options bear has made that tree theirs, and you shouldn’t camp anywhere near it.
thoroughly. What might look alive and well Your setup location should be relatively far from a large water source; anywhere from 150 ‹ Below, left: On a
could possibly have a dead or decaying to 300 yards to stay on the safe side. You can then avoid the interference from animals as clear night, you can
stargaze from your
portion within its trunk. If you choose this they travel to drink through the night. hammock without
piece to tie your shelter to, you could be Finally, look at the ground below your proposed hammock or hanging tent site. If biting insects
feasting on your
in for a nasty surprise during the night. In it has any large rocks, stumps or fallen logs, move the obstacles out and away from tender skin. (Photo:
addition, dead branches from adjacent your shelter, or avoid that area and look elsewhere. Falling out of your tent at night or DDHammocks.com)
trees that are intertwined far above your stepping down awkwardly and landing on the hard stones or uneven earth can cause ‹ Below, right: This
intended camp might come loose during injuries you don’t need. unique hammock
offers plenty of
your stay and fall on you. room and an open-
Live, mature trees with sparse low-lying EASE OF SETUP to-nature appeal.
(Photo: Tentsile.
foliage are ideal for setup. Bushy branches This category is not as clear-cut as it might seem. For most people, a hammock would com)

‹ Left and below, left and right:
The Hennessy Hammock 4
Season Survivorman Zip XL
has a 350-pound capacity
and includes a rain fly and
survival kit, along with
everything you need for a
good night's rest. (Photo:
HennesseyHammock.com)
“FOR A NEWBIE, THE STRAPS,

POLES AND CRANKING MECHANISM
[ON A HANGING TENT] CAN SEEM
OVERWHELMING
AT FIRST BUT BECOME SECOND
NATURE OVER TIME.”
WANT ONE? LOOK NO FURTHER

Luckily for the outdoor gear consumer, there are numerous outlets, both online and in-store, to purchase a suspended shelter. Here are some great
manufacturers that are ready to take your outdoor sleeping arrangements to the next level:
Tentsile Tree Tents Hennessy Treez Tree Tents Coghlan’s Products DD Hammocks
One of the best suspended Hammocks These tree tents, hand- Simple setup and Want a roomy and comfort-
tree tent manufacturers Quoted as “The coolest built in the U.S.A., offer affordable pricing make able hammock that blends
on the planet today, tent(s) in the world,” Hen- something for every- Coghlan’s a great choice into your outdoor surround-
Tentsile offers a great nessey Hammocks offers one. From entry-level, for a lightweight ham- ings? If so, DD Hammocks is
range of models to choose suspended shelters with ultra-lightweight versions mock intended for casual the company for you. With
from. They range from all the “bells and whistles” to expedition-grade styles outdoor outings. When deep-green, brown and
single-person platforms to that totally turn your idea (such as the Alpha and no-frills shut-eye is on your camo patterns, you’ll dis-
full, multi-person, "sleep- of a basic hammock upside Omega models), this schedule, these hammocks appear into the darkness as
ing-in-style" versions. down. Hennessy offers company does it all. In are for you. Choose from you sleep the night away.
This company offers an everything from extremely addition, you can custom- several different styles and (DDHammocks.com)
abundance of accessories lightweight models for min- ize your tent’s size and colors. (Coghlans.com)
and add-ons to make your imalists to full, heavy-duty colors. (TreezTreeTents.
outdoor stay the best it styles for deep-woods use. com)
can be. (Tentsile.com) (HennesseyHammock.com)

‹ Left and right: Rein-
forced material and
durable straps that
can hold an immense
amount of weight
keep you safe and
secure up in the air.
(Photo: Tentsile.com)
seem to be the easiest and fastest type “THE PRIMARY DECISION WHEN
of shelter to assemble and occupy. But,
as a result of the new and innovative tent CHOOSING A SUSPENDED SHELTER IS
technologies available today, a hammock WHICH TYPE YOU’D PREFER—A HAMMOCK
could have some stiff competition. OR AN ELEVATED TENT.”
In order to properly distinguish the best
› Right: Three straps
all-around choice for setup, we first have
keep this tree tent
to identify the players. Hammocks, as above the cold,
well as suspended tents, come in various hard ground. Setup
is fast and easy ...
shapes, sizes and configurations, as well once you get the
as a plethora of options to suit a variety “hang” of it! (Photo:
Tentsile.com)
of needs.
HAMMOCKS
A basic hammock is, of course, the easiest
suspended shelter to set up. This type
of hammock is usually no more than the
› Left: Setup is easy with this tree tent. Just secure straps around three stable trees, and you’re good
to go. (Photo: Tentsile.com)
central “bed” area, consisting of a solid piece of nylon or netting and an attachment rope
at each end. These don’t include overhead covers, a comfortable suspension system or
extras to hold your gear. All it takes is a few minutes to tie the ropes around nearby trees,
and you’re done. However, this is definitely not the ideal shelter when you’re deep in the
woods or camping for a number of nights. Comfort and a restful night’s sleep won’t be
achieved using this option. In fact, it’s more suited for short naps in your backyard than it
is for survival purposes.
The next style of hammock is a bit more complex, but only because it has added
components. These could include a rain cover, flexible poles to construct a roomier
canopy or added interior layers for a more comfortable sleep. The attachment to the
trees, however, remains the same: essentially two points of contact to trees, one on
each end.
More-complex hammocks include additional ropes to add stability or to stretch an
oversized rain cover overhead. They might also offer insect netting that needs to be
attached. These units take time to properly set up, but it’s well worth it for you. For what
you get in exchange, this is one of the best styles of hammocks available today. It’s a true
trade-off between time and quality of rest.

› Tents aren’t always
for camping. Take
one on your next
relaxing vacation.
(Photo: Taylor Burke)
HANGING TENTS comfortable sleeping and are designed

Hanging tents have less variation and fewer models to choose from. There are two main more for aesthetics than regular outdoor
styles of suspended tents: those with a single point of connection and those with multiple use. However, the ease of setup for a basic
points (three straps being the most common). model makes it hassle free and, if one
A single-point-connection tent has the attachment apparatus at the top of the tent chooses this, they can use it in a pinch to
that has a frame-supported base (imagine a bird feeder hanging from a tree branch). catch some shut-eye and rest up for the
These unique tents come in a variety of styles that range from very simple to larger, more next day.
permanent and intricate structures. It should be noted that these suspended tents don’t The most popular suspended tents are
lend themselves very well to camping or survival applications. They’re often too small for the ones with three points of connection
(I have one of these). They vary in size and
configuration, and setup times can vary
› Top right: greatly, depending on a few variables, such
Camouflage
hammocks blend
as finding the ideal three-tree pattern; the
into natural room available to lay out the materials
surroundings—
useful in a survival
and tools; and, most importantly, the
situation. (Photo: familiarity one has with the method of
DDHammocks.com)
erection. As with anything else, the more
experience you have doing something,
› Bottom right:
Numerous
configurations can
be made, depending
on the outside
temperature and
insect activity.
(Photo: Tentsile.com)
› Above: Inexpensive hammocks work well

for short excursions in mild climates. They’re
compact, easy to carry and perfect for one or
two individuals. (Photo: Coghlans.com)

‹ This diagram of the
BATTLE OF Tentsile Stingray tree

tent shows how large
it is and the sleeping
the faster and more efficient you become
at doing it. For a newbie, the straps,
poles and cranking mechanism can seem
THE BEST
configuration for
three occupants. overwhelming at first but become second
nature over time.
The overall takeaway is that if you
Here’s a comparison of two giants of plan intelligently during your outing and
the suspended shelter world: give yourself enough time to erect your
suspended shelter, setup time becomes an
Tentsile Stingray irrelevant point. You won’t have to sacrifice
Weight limit: 880 pounds the extra amenities for a fast setup.
Height limit: 4 feet
Hammock fabric: 21 OT PU coated ‘HANG IN’ THERE
polyester rainfly Suspended tents and hammocks both
Packed weight: 20.9 pounds offer a ground-free sleeping experience
Unique feature: Anti-roll strap system that aids in eliminating possible problems
prevents occupant from rolling to the when sleeping outdoors. Curious animals,
middle of the tent insects and inhospitable ground all
Includes: Poles, ratchet, straps, carrying become non-factors during your outdoor
bag, instructions
“FROM SUSPENDED TENTS adventure. In addition, the gentle sway of
a hammock or the cushiony feeling of a
MSRP: $899 TO SIMPLE HAMMOCKS TO suspended tent adds to your ability to get
Tentsile.com MULTIPURPOSE PLATFORMS AND a great night’s sleep ... and when you’ve
MORE, TODAY’S ABOVE-GROUND trekked for hours or have been chopping
Hennessey Hammock’s through intense brush and foliage, getting
4 Season Survivorman Zip SHELTER OPTIONS ARE BOTH long hours of quality sleep is a ... dream
Weight limit: 350 pounds DIVERSE AND NUMEROUS.” come true.
Height limit: 7 feet
Hammock fabric: 1 layer of 70D nylon
taffeta; 1 layer of 40D nylon taffeta
Packed weight: 5 pounds, 9 ounces
Unique feature: Bright-orange interior
is reversible for signaling purposes
Includes: Hammock, mosquito netting,
detachable Hex rain fly, support poles,
compression sack, webbing straps,
open-foam pad, survival kit
MSRP: $319.95
HennesseyHammock.com
‹ Above and left: The

Stingray tree tent (Photo:
Tentsile.com)

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FENIXLIGHTING.COM
or me, the word, “puukko,” conjures images of World War II-era Finnish guer-
F rilla fighters clad in white camouflage, living off the land and battling Soviet
invaders. While the Finnish national hero, Simo Hayha, is better known for his
incredible record as a sniper, I often imagine him in a mythical Red Dawn envi-
ronment, using his traditional puukko to create sniper hides, shelters and traps
as he wages a one-man war against the Red Army. While this image is equal parts conjecture
and fantasy, the rugged individualism of a man with a rifle and blade defending what he
loves never ceases to bring a smile to my face.
The feel of a well-made puukko in my hand conjures that same smile.
Of course, the puukko dates back much further than the Finnish/Soviet winter war of
1939–1940. The general design goes back at least 1,000 years. “Puukko” means “knife”
in Finnish and is broadly associated with the indigenous people of the Nordic countries.
Many examples of the design have been unearthed among Viking ruins, and the design
variations are as numerous as the people who used them.
“WHILE THE KORPISOTURI DID WELL WITH

GENERAL CONSTRUCTION TASKS, THAT’S
NOT WHY I BOUGHT IT. THIS KNIFE WAS TO
ACCOMPANY ME IN THE WOODS FOR HUNTING,
CAMPING, BUSHCRAFTING, AND PRACTICING
AND TEACHING SURVIVAL SKILLS.”
› The Rokka Korpisoturi represents

the latest development in the modern
puukko genre, bringing features only
previously seen on custom knives.

TRADITIONAL
FINNISH
PUUKKO
ST
MEETS
21 -CENTURY
INNOVATION
ROKKA KNIVES’ KORPISOTURI BLENDS FORM,
FUNCTION AND FINESSE FOR BUSHCRAFTERS.
BY MIKE TRAVIS

› Above: The Rokka Korpisoturi PUUKKO DESIGN
combines the best attributes of a
number of other modern puukkos into The traditional puukko design is very simple. It comprises a blade that’s about the width
a single, highly capable knife. of a palm and incorporates a narrow stick tang that either ends inside the handle or runs
its full length. Many of the through-tang puukkos use a metal pommel to which the end of
the tang is peened to create a mechanical lock for the handle. The handle, itself, tends to
ROKKA
have an oval profile and has been historically made from birch wood, birch bark, antler or
bone (although the variations in handle material and construction are endless).
Puukko blades are most often associated with a Scandi grind, which uses a broad bevel
KORPISOTURI that ends at the apex of the edge. This creates a very fine edge that’s well-suited to
carving and woodwork. It’s simple to maintain, because you need only lay the bevel on your
sharpening surface and work the edge. It’s one of my favorite grinds to take into the woods.
Specifications
In reality, a large portion of traditional puukkos used a full flat grind. This grind uses a
• Overall length: 9.02 inches constant bevel from the spine of the knife to a point almost to the edge. The edge is then
• Blade length: 4.13 inches sharpened at an increased angle. The full flat grind has the advantage of being more
• Blade thickness: 0.2 inch adept at food preparation and has a more robust edge.
• Blade steel: 80CrV2 carbon steel Despite being an ancient design, the puukko is still extraordinarily popular today.
• Blade style: Clip point Craftsmen all over the world are making puukkos in the traditional ways, creating
• Blade grind: Rhombic Scandi everything from working tools to pieces of functional art.
• Blade hardness: HRC 63
• Handle material: TPE Dryflex
• Sheath: Kareline natural composite
“BECAUSE VOUTILAINEN AND HIS
• Weight: 4.48 ounces PARTNERS ARE BIG FANS OF THE
• Country of origin: Finland TRADITIONAL FINNISH PUUKKO DESIGN,
MSRP: $164.99
IT WAS NEVER THEIR GOAL TO RADICALLY
REDESIGN THE KNIFE.”

‹ Left, top: A Rokka
Korpisoturi is being
Many well-known companies are mass-
hand-ground by producing modern puukkos using a variety
the CEO of Laurin
Metalli Oy. Note
of carbon and stainless steels. Some of
the temper line these use full-tang construction, although
running the length
of the blade.
most use a rattail tang that ends inside a
synthetic handle. These knives are cheap
to produce and very popular.
ENTER ROKKA OF FINLAND

In 2014, Finnish knifesmith Juho
Voutilainen decided he wanted to make a
better modern puukko than those found on
the market. Voutilainen partnered with two
friends to create a design that would pay
homage to the classic Finnish puukko, be
appealing to both professional soldiers and
woodsmen, and take advantage of modern
materials and construction methods.
By 2018, Voutilainen and his friends had
settled on the basic blade profile, and the
Rokka Knives, Ltd. company was formed.
Discussions among friends about building a
modern puukko shifted from just "campfire
talk" to a business plan. Voutilainen
‹ Left, middle: The created a series of prototypes, getting
knife’s spine is sharp
and durable, making feedback from his peers, soldiers and
it a great fire steel outdoorsmen at each step along the way.
striker.
After two years of constant development
and refinement, the fifth and final model
was accepted for development—the Rokka
Korpisoturi.
ANATOMY OF THE KORPISOTURI

Because Voutilainen and his partners are
big fans of the traditional Finnish puukko
design, it was never their goal to radically
redesign the knife. They wanted a puukko
that would stay true to its predecessors but
› Near right: The

Rokka Korpisoturi
is at home in the
woods and is
extremely capable
for limbing tasks and
gathering materials.
› Far right: A good

bushcraft knife
should be able
to make large
feathersticks for
starting fires. This
task is no challenge
for the Rokka
Korpisoturi.

› Far right, top: have better, more functional ergonomics
A rack of Rokka
Korpisoturi blades and a more robust design ... using modern
waiting to be ground. materials.
While it’s not a
full-tang knife, the The Korpisoturi uses a through-tang
Korpisoturi has a design. This means that the tang runs the
very substantial full-
length tang. full length of the handle, ending outside
the pommel. Many traditional puukkos use
a laminated steel, welding a softer steel
around a hard core. This creates a strong,
resilient blade with good edge-holding
characteristics.
However, laminated steels aren’t cheap.
Rokka chose to use a solid piece of 80CrV2
for its blades. This high-carbon tool steel
has a reputation for being tough (it’s one
of my favorite knife steels). Rokka uses a
› Far right, middle:
The sharp spine of proprietary, induction-based heat-treat
the Korpisoturi is method that leaves the edge hardness at
being used to scrape
fatwood shavings. about 62 Rockwell and the spine hardness
at about 50 Rockwell. This differential
heat treat creates an edge that takes—and
holds—a fine edge while leaving the rest
of the blade springy to absorb abuse and
hard use.
The Korpisoturi uses a rhombic blade
profile that’s typically only seen on custom
or semi-custom knives. The 4.13-inch
› Below, left: The
blade tapers from a thinner spine to its
handle design ensures thickest point at the beginning of the edge
the Rokka Korpisoturi
is comfortable in a
bevel and then back down to the apex
variety of grips. of the edge. If looked at from the tip of
the knife, the thickest part of the blade

is about two-thirds of the way from the
edge. The rhombic geometry, along with
the 0.2-inch-thick blade stock, allows a
two-thirds-height high flat grind with a
19.5-degree edge angle. This grind allows
the Korpisoturi to combine many of the
best features of a full flat grind with a
Scandi grind in a blade that’s extremely
strong.
The handle has been carefully developed
for comfortable ergonomics in a variety
of grips. It’s made from TPE Dryflex that’s
molded around the tang. This material is
firm, but it feels “soft” to the touch and
keeps its grippy properties, even when
wet or greasy. Another benefit of the
overmolded handle is that it insulates the
user from coming into direct contact with
cold steel during the winter months.
‹ Left: Sometimes, the driest wood is found inside

branches and logs. The Rokka Korpisoturi’s rhom-
bic geometry means that it has plenty of strength
to split wood.

FIELDCRAFT
SURVIVAL
TRAINING
GROUP
Possessing the best outdoor/bushcraft knife won’t
magically make you adept at using it to its fullest
capabilities. As with everything else in life, acquiring
and maintaining skill sets require training. And, while
it’s possible to learn a great deal from books and the
Internet, there’s no substitute for personal, hands-on
learning with a skilled instructor.
Fieldcraft Survival (in Heber City, Utah) is a family-oriented,
U.S.-based, veteran-owned company dedicated to training
citizens to be better prepared for the unique challenges that
face us all each and every day. Fieldcraft Survival offers
courses in firearms training, hand-to-hand combatives,
mobility, medicine and wilderness survival, to name just
a few. Its training curriculum is incredibly diverse and
heavily based in reality and experience.
Fieldcraft Survival offers classes all around the country.
Its cadre of instructors includes former Special Forces
operators, law enforcement professionals, high-level
competitive shooters, medical doctors and wilderness
survival experts.
Heading up its Survival Training division is Kevin Estela,
who’s well-known to American Survival Guide readers,
having contributed many articles to it over the years. His
credentials include being the lead instructor for the Wil-
derness Learning Center, founding and running the Estela
Wilderness Education school, authoring the best-selling
› Kevin Estela is the new head of the Survival Division of the Fieldcraft Survival training group. survival manual, 101 Skills You Need to Survive in the
Woods, and other related accomplishments.
“IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A BUSHCRAFT/ As I write this, Fieldcraft Survival is offering a Mod-
ern Predator class that’s focused on both traditional
HUNTING/WOODS KNIFE THAT’S HAD EVERY and alternative methods of game procurement, along
DETAIL WELL-THOUGHT-OUT AND WELL- with its Basic Survival Skills class, in which students
EXECUTED, LOOK NO FURTHER. THE ROKKA are immersed in the psychology of survival, as well as
hands-on skill development.
KORPISOTURI IS SIMPLY OUTSTANDING!” Estela describes his classes as “trying to drink from
a fire hose.” Bring a pen, a notebook, your knife and a
thirst for knowledge ... and get prepared to level-up your
The tang of the knife protrudes from the pommel and uses an angular, sharpened design. survival skills!
As delivered, the pommel makes an excellent glass breaker.
I discussed this design choice with Voutilainen, who explained that Rokka debated it Fieldcraft Survival
for some time during the initial design phase. In the end, the company decided to leave it (435) 709-8159
sharp and angular, because it was much easier for the end user to round the sharp edges FieldcraftSurvival.com
than it would’ve been for them (that is, the end user) to sharpen them.
After much consideration, Rokka chose renowned Finnish knife manufacturing company
Laurin Metalli Oy to make the production blades. This company has been making knives

since 1918 and has extensive experience › Top right: The
two-thirds-height
making both traditional and modern Scandi grind means
puukko designs. that the Rokka Kor-
pisoturi is a natural
When designing the sheath, Rokka wanted at carving.
to use modern materials that would be
easy to maintain, very durable and provide
good retention while still being able to be
operated with one hand.
The sheath is molded from Finnish
Plasthill Kareline natural-fiber composite.
This material was chosen because it’s
stable from -22 to +212 degrees (F) and
is extremely durable. The mouth of the
sheath locks around the handle, providing
excellent retention. It’s ambidextrous and
uses a channel on each side of the sheath
› Bottom right: After
into which a stainless steel threaded bar the featherstick
is inserted. A provided MALICE clip is then has burned out, the
duct tape continues
screwed into place, allowing the sheath to burn.
to be carried on a belt or threaded into
“THE BLADE JUST BECAME AN

EXTENSION OF MY HAND AND
DID EVERYTHING I ASKED OF
IT, DRAWING NO ATTENTION
TO ITSELF. TO ME, THIS
REPRESENTS THE HIGHEST
PRAISE I CAN GIVE A KNIFE.”
‹ Far left: While the
tip of a knife should
never be used as a
pry bar, the tip of the
Rokka Korpisoturi is
thick enough for stab-
bing and breaking up
some kindling.
‹ Near left: Among

the many mounting
options available, the
Rokka Korpisoturi is
seen here mounted
to a belt using a
carabiner.

› Above: The Rokka
webbing. I’ll be honest: I was skeptical Korpisoturi is “DESPITE BEING AN ANCIENT DESIGN,
delivered with a
of this sheath when I first saw it, but
extensive use has proven my skepticism to
single MALICE clip THE PUUKKO IS STILL EXTRAORDINARILY
that allows for a
be unfounded. This sheath is outstanding! variety of mounting POPULAR TODAY. CRAFTSMEN ALL OVER
options.
It has good retention, and it’s easy to THE WORLD ARE MAKING PUUKKOS IN
sheathe and unsheathe the knife with
one hand.
THE TRADITIONAL WAYS, CREATING
EVERYTHING FROM WORKING TOOLS TO
REAL-WORLD USE PIECES OF FUNCTIONAL ART.”
When I first contacted Juho Voutilainen
about the possibility of reviewing his knife,
he agreed to send me a sample blade.
Unfortunately, high demand, limited
production runs and COVID-19 created
significant delays, so when I saw one for
sale this past summer, I bought it.
One of the first tasks for which I used the
Korpisoturi was a construction project at
my home. The edges of a piece of heavy, › Right: The Rokka
Korpisoturi strikes
pressure-treated plywood needed to be the tiny firesteel
shaved down. This material is tough—and embedded in the
magnesium bar.
hard on knife edges. This will ignite
The Korpisoturi had no issues with this the magnesium
shavings, which
task. Its handle was comfortable, even will then ignite the
when I applied a lot of pressure, and was featherstick.

‹ Far left: The
spine of the Rokka
Korpisoturi will
be used to scrape
magnesium shavings
onto a bed of duct
tape.
‹ Near left: The

Korpisoturi’s higher
grind and tapered
design make it more
adept at food prep
than many other
popular bushcraft
knives.
stable in my hand. This task put a lot of › Right: The grind

and the fine tip
lateral pressure on the blade, but it never make the Rokka
once tried to rotate in my grip. When I Korpisoturi a joy to
use when doing fine,
was done, its fine edge needed only to be detailed work.
stropped to bring it back to 100 percent.
INTO THE WOODS

While the Korpisoturi did well with
general construction tasks, that’s not why
I bought it. This knife was to accompany
me in the woods for hunting, camping,
bushcrafting, and practicing and teaching
survival skills.
On one of my first camping trips with › Below: Despite
being a greasy mess,
the Korpisoturi, I used it to process some the handle of the
venison fillets to cook over the campfire. Rokka Korpisoturi
remained secure and
The two-thirds-height Scandi grind makes grippy enough to
the Korpisoturi act almost like a full flat slice this venison.
“THE KORPISOTURI USES A RHOMBIC BLADE

PROFILE THAT’S TYPICALLY ONLY SEEN ON
CUSTOM OR SEMI-CUSTOM KNIVES.”
grind when cutting food, but with less of the binding often associated with preparing food
with a Scandi-grind knife.
The actual test came when the entire knife and my hands were coated in grease while
cutting the meat. While everything was still greasy, I picked up a stick and did a little
carving while the meat cooled. The Dryflex handle maintained an impressive amount of its
grip while covered in grease and was easy to clean when I was done.
The Korpisoturi was made for carving and woodworking. On my second trip into
the woods, I was accompanied by two good friends, both of whom are accomplished
woodsmen and are highly proficient with knives. While all of my impressions of the
Korpisoturi were favorable, I wanted to get a second and third opinion.
During our outing, the Korpisoturi was used to carve a try stick. The brainchild of
bushcraft legend Mors Kochanski, the try stick was used to gauge the competency of his
students' carving skills by creating a variety of notches, holes and dovetails. Not only is
this a great test of a person’s abilities, it’s also a good way to test the capabilities of a
knife. The fine edge of the Korpisoturi, combined with its ergonomic handle, meant the
blade was a pleasure to use, no matter who was using it.
To test the edge-holding ability of the blade, it was used to create kindling by batoning
the knife through pieces of wood. It was here that the rhombic geometry shined! By
tapering down from the middle of the blade to both the edge and the spine, there’s

Glen | Ballistics
The Guardian 5
CPM-3V Stainless Steel
Get your new knife TODAY
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“MANY EXAMPLES OF THE [PUUKKO] DESIGN HAVE BEEN
UNEARTHED AMONG VIKING RUINS, AND THE DESIGN VARIATIONS
ARE AS NUMEROUS AS THE PEOPLE WHO USED THEM.”
› Right: This group
of students took the
initiative to level-up
their skills during a
Fieldcraft Survival
Basic Survival Skills
class held in South
Carolina.
‹ Far left: The Rokka

Korpisoturi sheath
is ambidextrous,
durable and
provides excellent
retention.
‹ Near left: A view

inside the sheath
highlights its unique
design. Note the
dual channels that
make the sheath
ambidextrous.
minimal contact with the wood. This This blade is perfect for making feathersticks! On softwoods such as pine and poplar,
creates less stress and friction on the it’s nearly effortless. We also used seasoned oak, which was only moderately more
blade, making it easy to split wood. The difficult.
knife was purposely pounded through After the fire was built, the Korpisoturi was cleaned and used to make lunch. The edge
knots in the wood, and it sailed through felt every bit as sharp as when we started our various field tests.
with no damage or problems. A few weeks after this outing, I took this knife with me to The Sawmill Training Complex
With kindling made, it was time to use in South Carolina to help me teach some modern survival classes for training company
the knife to create tinder. The Korpisoturi Fieldcraft Survival. I used the knife extensively throughout the weekend to build shelters,
was used to carve feathersticks, as well carve spears, make traps, build fires and much more. It performed flawlessly and, because S O U R C E
as scrape fatwood and magnesium. The I was involved with teaching those skills, I forgot the knife was there. The blade just
spine of the knife is a sharp 90 degrees. became an extension of my hand and did everything I asked of it, drawing no attention to
It scraped both fatwood and magnesium itself. To me, this represents the highest praise I can give a knife. Rokka Knives, Ltd.
Facebook.com/RokkaKnives
with no issues. The spine also does a If you’re looking for a bushcraft/hunting/woods knife that’s had every detail well-thought-
fantastic job at scraping a ferro rod. out and well-executed, look no further. The Rokka Korpisoturi is simply outstanding!

ONLINE
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GET CLEAN
WATER
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ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES TAKE THE
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hat more can be said about the necessity of clean drinking
W water that hasn’t been said already? Not much, except for
this most important fact that must be repeated constantly:
Go three days without water, and you’re as good as dead.
However, not just any water will do. While you can drink
directly from a natural water source and get hydrated, the aftereffects can be
disastrous for you and make a situation go from bad to much, much worse.
Unseen by the human eye in otherwise clear water lurks a large number of
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It’s up to you to avoid this barrage of “bugs” upon your fragile GI system via a
wide variety of water filtration options available today. From simple straws to
hand-pump systems and even electric filters, you can rest easy as you sip water
that’s been made safe to drink.
54 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [APRIL

[MARCH 2021]
2021]
PHOTO: SURVIVORFILTER.COM

Sawyer Tap Filter
Overview Specifications
There are times your home tap water • Attaches directly to your tap or
might be unsafe to drink due to natural backyard hose faucet
disasters or equipment failures that • Filters up to 500 gallons per
contaminate the public water supply. day
Now, this isn’t an issue with the Sawyer • Certified at 0.1-micron filtration
Tap Filter. This compact filter screws • Small, lightweight design
onto existing faucets or hose spigots • Removes bacteria, protozoa
and provides instant filtering of harmful and microplastics
contaminants. Also, it’s ideal when
MSRP
traveling and using questionable water
$39.95
connections. Keep one in your emergency
URL
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Sawyer.com
in case!
Sawyer 1-Gallon Gravity

Water Filtration System
Designed to filter large quantities • Removes 99.99999% of bacteria,
of water quickly and efficiently, salmonella, cholera and E. coli
this lightweight and portable filter • Large-mouthed bladder allows for
is ideal for campouts, deep back- fast filling
woods hunting trips or family needs • Filters quickly (within 7 minutes)
within your home when tap water • Convenient handle for carrying and
is suspect. Just fill the 1-gallon
hanging
"dirty-water" bag and let gravity and
• Rated to filter up to 100,000 gallons
the impressive mini filter process it
into the 1-gallon "clean-water" bag. MSRP
Never risk your or your family’s health $74.99
by guessing if water is safe. Make it
safe with this simple, yet effective,
URL
filtration system. Sawyer.com
Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System

You’ll be worry free when you have this • Compact, palm-sized unit
filter in hand—at least when it comes • Attaches to hydration pack,
to ensuring you’ll have safe drinking standard water bottle or to the
water. The Sawyer Mini Filter weighs included straw
just 2 ounces yet produces huge • Rated to filter up to 100,000
results as you filter out dangerous gallons of water
pathogens and other contaminants • Certified for 0.1-micron filtration
from tainted water sources. It’s highly • Ideal addition to bug-out or
versatile with multiple attachment emergency bags
sources. Best of all, it can be cleaned
MSRP
and reused almost indefinitely, with no
$24.95
expensive cartridges to replace. Go big
with the Mini Filter! URL
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RapidPure Universal Bottle Adapter
Many people keep their favorite water • Removes 99.99% of viruses,
bottle by their side when working out- bacteria and parasites
side or at the gym. Now, they can use • Easy twist onto standard
that same bottle and enjoy safe, odor- widemouthed water bottles
free water from nearly any questionable • Removes pathogens 100 times
source—anytime they want. Just fill smaller than can traditional
the bottle, screw on the adapter, and microfilters
• No pressing or back flushing
drink. It’s that simple. Because of the
required
RapidPure’s ultra-fast flow rate, there’s
• Activated charcoal removes
no wait time for safe water. Refill and
odors and improves taste
reuse—no problem! It filters up to 200
gallons for bacteria, cysts and protozoa MSRP
and up to 25 gallons for harmful viruses. $44.99
Replacement purification cartridges are
URL
fast and easy to change out.
RapidPure.net
RapidPure Pioneer Straw

The RapidPure Pioneer Straw is small • Removes 99.99% of viruses,
enough to fit inside your pocket, yet it’s bacteria and parasites
powerful enough to protect you from • Ultra-fast flow rate purifies as
sickness caused by unsafe water. This it filters
small wonder can be dipped into a river, • Activated charcoal removes
stream or even a rain puddle to allow you odors and improves taste
to quench your thirst instantly and safely. • UltraCeram technology increases
Its latest technology removes pathogens pathogen removal
100 times smaller than those caught • Weighs only 2.6 ounces
by 0.2-micron, hollow-fiber filters. Now,
MSRP
that’s worry-free drinking!
$29.95
URL
RapidPure.net
RapidPure Intrepid Bottle

The Intrepid Bottle makes nearly • Removes 99.99% of viruses, bacteria,
any type of water safe by simply parasites and sediment
filling it and letting the incredible • Ergonomic design with flip-top lid
filter “do its thing.” A convenient flip • Requires no pressing, squeezing
top allows for hydration on the go, or priming
while the widemouthed opening • Works even after it’s been frozen
enables refilling in just seconds. The • Holds 25 ounces of water
latest technology allows RapidPure’s
MSRP
UltraCeram to filter pathogens much
$59.99
smaller than traditional filters, which
gives peace of mind when your only URL
sources are ponds, rivers and lakes. RapidPure.net

ReadyWise Seychelle Water
Filtration Bottle
The ReadyWise Seychelle Water Filtra- • FDA-approved, BPA-free, low-density
tion Bottle’s patented filter removes up polyethylene bottle
to 99.99 percent of pollutants in ques- • Removes chemicals, dissolved solids
tionable water. No longer will you need and aesthetic contaminants
to be wary of water from a nearby • Removes 99.9999% of bacteria
stream, lake or pond. You’ll drink with and viruses
confidence after filling this amazing • Flip top for fast hydration
bottle and letting the filter do its job. • Large, 28-ounce capacity
The bottle holds up to 28 ounces of
MSRP
water, and the filter lasts for up to 100
$29.99
gallons. The kit includes a BPA-free
bottle, filter and insulator sleeve for URL
easy attachment to a belt or pack. ReadyWise.com
Alexapure Pro Filter

Ideal for large groups or families, the Alexapure • Filter capacity: up to 5,000
Pro Filter gravity-fed filtration unit reduces up gallons
to 99.9999 percent of contaminants such as • Stainless steel construction
heavy metals, fluoride, chlorine, viruses, bacte- • Easy to assemble and offers
ria and pesticides. Simply fill the low-mainte- low maintenance
nance unit with water and let gravity do the • Gravity-powered filtration
rest. A simple and convenient tap controls • Fast installation of replacement
water flow into your glass, cooking pot or filters
canteen. The filter is tested to NSF/ANSI
MSRP
standards and replaces easily inside the
$269.95
unit.
URL
Alexapure.com
Katadyn Survivor 06 Desalinator

Water, water everywhere ... and not a • Compact and lightweight
drop to drink! This situation is especially • Utilizes reverse osmosis
frustrating when you’re stranded on or technology
near the ocean. Drinking seawater can • Simple hand-pump operation
cause serious medical problems (and • Ideal for marine environments
death). Prevent this situation with the • Weighs only 2.5 ounces
Katadyn Survivor 06 Desalinator. Turn
MSRP
salty seawater into fresh, drinkable water
$1,295
within minutes via the desalinator’s simple
hand-pump mechanism. This pump is a URL
true lifesaver! Katadyn.com

Sawyer S3 Filter
A great choice when traveling • Reduces chemicals down to 0.5 part
abroad and your water sources are per billion
questionable (at best), the Sawyer • Reduces pesticides to 0.01 part per
billion
S3 Filter can be your solution for
• Filters out 99.99% of viruses
avoiding a plethora of waterborne
• Reduces heavy metals (such as lead,
pathogens. The bottle holds up to copper and arsenic) to 0.5 part per
20 ounces, and the filter lets you billion
use tap water or even raw water • Ideal when traveling abroad or after a
from stagnant locations and then national disaster
drink confidently to quench your
MSRP
thirst. The kit includes the bottle
$89.99
and cap, a 0.1 Micron Absolute
Micro filter, a cleaning plunger and URL
a cleaning coupling. Sawyer.com
Survivor Filter Active Filtration Bottle

(900ml)
Replace up to 426 single-use bottles and • Removes 99.99% of bacteria,
be worry free when enjoying a drink of parasites, heavy metals and
toxic chemicals
water—that’s the wonder of the Survivor
• Flow rate: 1.8 liters per minute
Filter Active Filtration bottle. This on-the- • Created from BPA-free,
go bottle offers filtration that removes low-density polyethylene
the “bad” from water, including chlo- • Weighs only 4.90 ounces (empty)
rine, detergents, microplastics, E. coli, • The ACTIVE filter can be reused
up to 100 gallons or 426 refills
giardia, chromium, PCBs, pesticides,
lead and more. As water passes through MSRP
the ionic adsorption filter, you instantly $50
receive clean water. When time is tight
URL
and hydration is a must, this bottle is
SurvivorFilter.com
definitely the answer.
Survivor Filter Electric PRO Filter

Producing fresh water from outside • Removes 99.999% of protozoa,
sources is easy with the Electric PRO staph and bacteria
filter. Drop one end into your water • 99.5% of mercury removal; 93%
of lead removal
source and the other end into your
• Produces 500 ml of fresh water
awaiting catch vessel, and you’re
per minute
ready to go. The unit’s powerful elec- • The carbon filter can be cleaned
tric pump moves the tainted water and reused up to 2,000 liters
through the ultra filter pre-filter, the • Powered by plug, mobile charger
carbon filter and finally, the internal or two (2) AA batteries
ultra-filter to ensure total removal of
MSRP
hazardous contaminants. A super-fast
$125
filtering rate makes filling multiple
containers easy and efficient. URL
SurvivorFilter.com

Survivor Filter PRO Pump
The Survivor Filter PRO Pump is one of • Easy setup with convenient
the best portable water filtering systems hand pump operation
on the market today. All it takes is a • Filtration level: an incredible
little bit of elbow grease to create fresh, 0.01 micron
drinkable water from nearly any outdoor • Ultra-filters offer 100,000-liter
water source. Drop the filtering end into capacity; carbon filters offer
a pond, stream or puddle, and pump
2,000-liter capacity
your way to tasty water within minutes.
• Flow rate: 500 ml per minute
The pump’s three-stage filtering system
• Weighs only 12.8 ounces
ensures algae, E. coli, protozoa, heavy
metals, chemicals, viruses and more MSRP
stay behind while you collect the “good $65
stuff” in a waiting vessel. It’s ideal for
deep woods camping or emergency and URL
survival applications. SurvivorFilter.com
Survivor Filter Squeeze Kit With

Two Canteens
Whether you drink from the source or • Use filter alone or with collapsible
collect water in a canteen, the Survivor canteen bag
Filter Squeeze Kit kit will provide you • Flow rate: 200 ml per minute
with fresh water to drink during every • Removes protozoa, bacteria,
outdoor outing or bug-out situation. Its viruses, mercury and lead
small, yet powerful, filtering straw offers • Perfect for bug-out kits or
three stages of protection—a cotton emergency bags
• Compact unit weighs only 3.5
filtering pad, an ultra-filter and a carbon
ounces
filtering mouthpiece—to protect you from
tainted water and supply you with safe, MSRP
great-tasting hydration. While you're $40
on your journey, fill one or both of the
included collapsible canteens to have URL
clean water ready for the trail ahead. SurvivorFilter.com
Grayl Geopress Purifier Bottle

Dirty sinks, old wells, murky lakes • Removes waterborne pathogens
and sketchy spigots are no match for and filters particles, chemicals,
the Grayl Geopress Purifier Bottle. pesticides and heavy metals
It requires no setup time and offers • Ergonomic comfort pads for nonslip,
a rapid performance: Just fill the anti-fatigue pressing
bottle, press down and drink—it can’t • Improves taste, smell and clarity
get simpler. Aside from removing • Rapid, (5 liters per minute) filtering
waterborne pathogens, this purifier • Capacity: 24 ounces
improves the taste, smell and clarity
MSRP
of water, making drinking a pleasure,
$89.95
no matter the water source. TopoGrip
technology offers nonslip for heavy- URL
use surfaces. Grayl.com

H2O Survival Water Filter Travel Straw
Many survival “straws” are large, • Filters out bacteria, algae,
oversized tubes that are sometimes spores, protozoa, viruses and
bulky; and, at times, they even need cysts
two hands to properly operate. The • Lightweight and easy to carry
H2O Survival Water Filter Travel Straw • Use when traveling near
mimics a true drinking straw ... but questionable water sources
with the added benefit of purifying • Filters up to 18 gallons
every sip. It’s ideal to carry while trav- • Includes carrying case and two
eling abroad (where local water can end caps
be sketchy at best) or when taking MSRP
short hikes for which you want to $20.98
keep your pack weight low. Either way,
this straw stores in a shirt pocket and URL
produces huge results when needed. Amazon.com
Alexapure Survival Spring Straw

Water taken from ponds, rivers, streams • Use like a straw or attach
and even muddy puddles goes from unsafe to a standard water bottle
to tasty, clean and clear in seconds with • Innovative, three-stage
this amazing filtering straw. The Alexapure filtration process
Survival Spring Straw ensures you won’t have • BPA free
to be concerned about waterborne protozoa, • Filters up to 300 gallons
bacteria and grainy sediment as you quench from any fresh water
your thirst. This simple-to-operate tube can source
be placed directly into the water. Alternatively, • Weighs only 3.2 ounces
attach it to a standard bottle for on-the-go
MSRP
hydration. Its specialized carbon filter also
$24.95
makes processed water odor free and great
tasting. This is a must-have for every outdoor URL
enthusiast. Alexapure.com
H2O Survival Lifeguard Water

Filter Straw Kit
Never worry about water quality again • 99.9999% effective against bacteria,
when traveling abroad or hiking through viruses and heavy metals
the countryside. The H2O Lifeguard Water • Self-standing bag stays upright
on flat surfaces
Filter Straw Kit includes a large-capacity
• Equipped with convenient
filtering straw, neoprene sleeve, lanyard, lanyard
belt clip and a carrying bag with a • BPA-free, 16-ounce water bag
large-capacity pocket for personal items. included
When you’re not traveling, this virtual • Up to 530-gallon water filtration
lifesaver stores inside most emergency capacity
or bug-out bags and is ready to come to MSRP
your aid if a crisis hits your area. You can’t $18.99
afford not to stock this valuable survival
URL
item! Amazon.com

MSR MiniWorks EX Microfilter
The MiniWorks EX Microfilter is • 99.9999% effective against bacteria;
popular worldwide because it 99% effective against protozoa
delivers long-lasting, field-main- • Uses Marathon EX carbon/ceramic
tainable water filtration in even element for clean and taste-free water
the most challenging situations. • Can pump up to 1 liter per minute
It’s durable and efficient enough • Weighs only 1 pound
to be used regularly and process • Cartridge can filter up to 2,000 liters
water throughout your trip or • Filter can be cleaned in the field to
emergency. It’s easily packable maintain effectiveness
and lightweight, so you can keep
MSRP
it handy for those times you
$89.95
need to create your own potable
water. URL
MSRGear.com
MSR Guardian Military-Grade

Water Purifier
Not sure what the future will bring? Then, • Meets NSF protocol P248 for
you might as well pull out all the stops viruses, bacteria, protozoa and
for maintaining a safe water supply. The more
• Pumps up to 2.5 liters per minute
Guardian Military-Grade Water Purifier
• Weighs just 17 ounces
is renowned among professionals as a
• Self-cleaning cartridge can
dependable, top-shelf purifier. Originally process up to 10,000 liters
designed for the military, it’s fast and • Includes a cartridge replacement
easy to use. It also provides the added indicator
viral protection you need, whether you’re
MSRP
traveling in austere environments or
$349.95
wilderness recreation areas. Its advanced
hollow-fiber filter offers the most reliable URL
way to purify even the filthiest water. MSRGear.com
MSR TrailShot Pocket-Sized

Water Filter
If you’re looking for a lightweight • 99.9999% effective against
water filter, the TrailShot Pocket-Sized bacteria; 99.9% effective against
Water Filter is the product for you. protozoa
Easy to stash in a pocket or other • Filters up to 1 liter per minute
small space, this tiny water filter lets • Weighs just 5 ounces
you drink directly from questionable • Cartridge can process up to 2,000
sources for instant hydration. You can liters
also fill your containers with potable • Cartridge replacement indicator
water for the next part of your trip.
MSRP
Easy, one-handed operation lets you
$49.95
get back on the trail quickly.
URL
MSRGear.com

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BOLT-ACTION,
BABY
RUGER’S HANDY 77/44 RIFLE IN .44 MAGNUM
IS A POTENT MIDRANGE GAME-STOPPER.

“FOR CLOSE-ACTION
ENVIRONMENTS,
A SHORT, FAST-
HANDLING AND
LIGHTWEIGHT
MIDRANGE CARBINE
WITH HEAVY BULLET
PUNCH MIGHT
JUST BE THE BEST
OPTION.”
used to be convinced that when-
I ever I had the ability to take a long

gun along, it should be a powerful
centerfire rifle that could really reach
out accurately at great distances.
Such a gun would be effective in a plethora
of circumstances and environments. It’s
still not a bad idea.
But then, I started thinking about the
terrain in the Northeast, where I’ve spent
most of my life. I typically camp and hunt
in thick woods with rolling hills that limit
my line of sight. Rocks and blowdowns
make travel difficult. The weather is
typically lousy.
I’ve shot many deer over the years.
Looking back, the shots probably ranged
from 15 to no more than 100 yards with the
average, I figure, about 30 or 40 yards.
For close-action environments, a short,
fast-handling and lightweight midrange
carbine with heavy bullet punch might
just be the best option. The sum of all
those attributes perfectly describes the
Ruger 77/44 bolt-action rifle chambered
for .44 Magnum. Extend the reasoning
from hunting into survival and bug-out
situations, and this little Ruger makes even
more sense.
AMMO ADVANTAGE
Obviously, there’s a benefit if you have
a companion handgun in .44 Magnum
too. Room in your pack and the amount
of weight you can carry are serious
considerations when situations are fluid
and you might have to move ... and move
fast. Ammo compatibility between/among
your firearms is a key advantage.

‹ Left: The Ruger
77/44 is a short, light
and handy little
bolt-action rifle
chambered for .44
Magnum.
› Near right: Like all

new Ruger Model
77 rifles, the 77/44
features a three-
position safety—
which is nice to
have.
And, yes, I always have at least one the use of rifles that fire straight-wall cartridges for deer hunting when other rifles are ‹ Above: The rifle’s
rotary magazine
handgun of some sort with me. In not permitted. mounts flush with
wilderness environments, it’s usually the stock. The
push-button release
something that can do double duty for WHY THE RUGER 77/44? behind it works
defense and procuring meat. The .44 Having ammo compatibility with a powerful handgun isn’t the only plus with the Ruger positively, with
little likelihood of
Magnum, whether in a rifle or handgun, 77/44. It’s short and lightweight, making it easy to carry—as well as easy to get in and it being depressed
is a versatile cartridge that can be around tight places without bashing it on trees or car door frames. The Ruger 77/44 accidentally.
loaded light or heavy, depending on the weighs a scant 5.2 pounds. With its 18.5-inch barrel, this rifle is just 38.5 inches long
specific mission. In my own inventory, overall.
I have .44 Magnum ammo with bullet Compare that to the longtime standard in short, handy rifles: the Winchester Model
weights ranging from 160 to 300 grains. 94 lever action, which is 38 inches long ... but it weighs 6.5 pounds. And, the Winchester
Additionally, .44 Special ammo can also be has blued steel and a wood stock. While you can get the Ruger 77/44 with blued steel
fired through this Ruger. and a wood stock, the specific model I tested was made of stainless steel with a black
In addition, the ammo advantage synthetic stock. So, it’s going to stand up to foul weather much better.
increases if you also reload your own A bolt action is one of the most simple and rugged actions you can get in a rifle.
ammunition. You can then tailor your There’s just not as much that can go wrong. The bolt assembly can be removed quickly,
ammo to your needs; and the .44 Magnum,
being a straight-wall cartridge, is easier to
reload than bottleneck rifle cartridges that
“FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR A SURVIVAL GUN THAT
require you to lube the cases during the TAKES THE SAME AMMO AS THEIR .44 MAGNUM
reloading process. In fact, some areas allow HANDGUN, THE RUGER 77/44 IS A GOOD CHOICE.”

giving you an open look from breech to
muzzle for purposes of cleaning or checking
for an obstruction. The bolt assembly,
itself, can be disassembled easily too, but
that’s usually not necessary.
The Ruger 77/44 is sized so that anyone in
your family or survival group can handle it.
And, like any bolt-action rifle, it’s easy to
operate. Inexperienced shooters can learn
to shoot it safely and effectively in short
› Right: Nothing
order. Recoil with a .44 Magnum, which can more to buy! One
be a handful in a revolver, is not significant nice feature of Ruger
Model 77 rifles is
in a rifle. the integral scope
mounts in the top
of the receiver. In
SOLID FEATURES addition, the rifle
Let’s take a closer look. The Ruger 77/44 comes with Ruger
proprietary 1-inch
features a cold hammer-forged barrel with rings.
precise rifling for accuracy and longevity.
The newest model, introduced within the directly into the solid steel receiver. That’s a strong system. I recently tested another
past year, features a threaded barrel for manufacturer’s rifle, on which the receiver screw holes were stripped. I wasn’t able to
adding a muzzle brake or suppressor. A fasten the scope base to the receiver. It wobbled considerably, and accuracy suffered. That
thread protector is provided if you want to can’t happen with Ruger’s integral scope mounts. The rifle comes with rings for scopes
run the gun with no muzzle accessory. with 1-inch tubes to fit those mounts, so that’s one less thing you have to source in this
Like all rifles in the Model 77 line, this one day of many shooting supplies being out of stock.
features integral scope mounts machined The rifle’s stainless steel bolt features a 90-degree throw. Together with the short

› Below: Reloading a straight-wall cartridge
such as the .44 Magnum is easier than with
Accuracy Results bottleneck cartridges, and you don’t need a
lot of expensive equipment to get started.
SMALLEST AVERAGE
AMMO GROUP VELOCITY GROUP
(FPS) GROUP
(INCHES) (INCHES)
Black Hills HoneyBadger, 160-grain 2,006 1.5 1.75
American Eagle 240-grain JSP 1,824 1.25 1.5
Federal Fusion 240-grain JHP 1,774 1.0 1.25
Hornady Handgun Hunter

1,624 1.25 1.25
200-grain Monoflex
Hornady LEVERevolution 225-grain FTX 1,800 1.0 1.25
Notes: Velocity is measured in feet per second (fps) via a MagnetoSpeed chronograph. Accuracy is in inches, with
averages being the result of three three-shot groups fired at 100 yards from a rest.
action—long enough only to cycle the short pistol cartridge—bolt travel is at a minimum › Above, left: The author mounted an old Bushnell 3x9 variable scope
on the Ruger 77/44 rifle for this review. He intends to swap it out for a
compared to bolt-action rifles chambered for long-rifle cartridges. That makes this rifle lower-power scope.
faster to cycle for quicker follow-up shots.
› Above, right: The adjustable rear sight folds out of the way when you
I really like the three-position safety lever on Ruger Model 77 rifles. At “full safe,” both mount a scope. The author, who hunts frequently in remote areas, likes
the trigger and bolt are locked. In the second position, you can operate the bolt to having backup iron sights.
chamber or eject a cartridge, but the trigger is still blocked. Push the safety to the third,
fully forward position, and the gun is ready to fire. › Below: The newest Ruger 77/44 model features a threaded barrel for
those who wish to add a muzzle brake or suppressor. (Photo: Ruger)
The rifle is fed through a detachable rotary magazine that holds four cartridges. It’s
very reliable, and the rounds are easy to load into the magazine. The magazine fits
flush with the bottom of the receiver, so it doesn’t interfere with carrying the rifle one-
“EXTEND THE REASONING FROM

HUNTING INTO SURVIVAL AND
BUG-OUT SITUATIONS, AND THIS LITTLE
RUGER MAKES EVEN MORE SENSE.”

› Top right: The front sight of the Ruger 77/44
has a traditional brass bead.
Ruger 77/44
Specifications
• Type: Bolt-action rifle
• Caliber: .44 Magnum
• Capacity: 4+1 using detachable rotary magazine
• Barrel: 18.5 inches
• Overall length: 38.5 inches
• Finish: Brushed stainless steel
• Sights: Folding Buckhorn rear, blade front;
scope base integral with receiver; Ruger scope
rings included
• Stock: Black synthetic with rubber recoil pad and
sling swivel studs
• Weight: 5.2 pounds
• Other: Also available with
blued finish and wood stock
› Middle right: The bolt of the Ruger operates MSRP: $999

with a 90-degree throw and, because the action
is short, it cycles quicker than many other
bolt-action rifles.
handed at its balancing point. The push-type magazine release sits directly behind the
magazine. It’s easy to reach and easy to operate—but not too easy: You’re not likely to hit
it inadvertently and drop your magazine as you might with some guns that have extended
magazine releases.
ON THE TARGET
Okay, so you can have a rifle with all the bells and whistles, but it really comes down to
one thing, doesn’t it? How does it shoot?
Pretty good, I think.
I shot the Ruger 77/44 from the bench for accuracy at 100 yards. I shot five different
loads, tallying the results from three three-shot groups. I could have gone on and on, but
what was the point? The rifle shoots well and, after all, this is a rifle you’re going to put
to your shoulder and fire in a hurry at something maybe 75 yards away. It’s not the gun to
mount a bipod on and then wait for a deer to start climbing the far side of a canyon 500
yards away. (And remember: There’s an ongoing ammo shortage too.)
Groups ranged from 1.0 inch to 2.0 inches (my fault), with most around 1.25 inches.
That’s pretty good for a rifle firing a fat, blunt pistol cartridge. It really didn’t show
a preference for any brand or bullet weight, although the Hornady Handgun Hunter
200-grain Monoflex and Federal Fusion 240-grain JHP were probably the most consistent.
Velocities, as can be expected, were significantly higher from the rifle’s longer barrel,
“THE .44 MAGNUM, WHETHER IN A RIFLE OR

HANDGUN, IS A VERSATILE CARTRIDGE THAT CAN
BE LOADED LIGHT OR HEAVY, DEPENDING ON THE › Above: The four-round rotary mag-
SPECIFIC MISSION.” azine proved to be easy to load and
was flawless in operation. A couple of
spares would store easily in the pocket
of a hunting jacket.

‹ Left: The little Ruger
proved a worthy
shooter during
accuracy testing from
the bench.
› Near right: Do you

feel lucky? The Black
Hills HoneyBadger
ammo leaves holes
in paper targets that
resemble four-leaf
clovers.
as compared to a handgun. Velocities ‹ Above: The author

measured the trigger
of the ammo tested, compared to the pull at about 4¼
same loads fired from my Ruger Super pounds—not the
lightest, but very
Blackhawk with a 7½-inch barrel (refer crisp.
to the feet-per-second numbers in the
parentheses that follow), ranged from a
high of 2,006 (1,613) feet per second for
the Black Hills 160-grain HoneyBadger to
1,620 (1,473) for the Hornady Handgun
Hunter 20-grain load. The Hornady
LEVERevolution 225-grain FTX load, which
presented excellent 1,800 (1,484) fps
velocity without sacrificing much in the
‹ Left: The obvious
way of bullet weight, was impressive. big benefit of the
For the test, I affixed an old Bushnell Ruger 77/44 is the
ability to pair it
3x9 variable scope that’s been mounted with a .44 Magnum
more times than a cowhand’s pony. handgun.

“THE RUGER 77/44 IS SIZED
SO THAT ANYONE IN YOUR
FAMILY OR SURVIVAL GROUP
CAN HANDLE IT. AND, LIKE ANY
BOLT-ACTION RIFLE, IT’S EASY
TO OPERATE.”
It served well in this instance, but I’ll
eventually mount a lower-power scope for
the close-in shooting I’m likely to be doing
with this gun. I have a 1x6 variable scope
from Skinner Sights that’s waiting in the
wings. It features crosshairs with bullet
drop compensator (BDC) lines and a 1 MOA
illuminated red-dot. I’ll have to pick up
some Ruger 30mm rings first, however.
The trigger pull was relatively good. › Right: The .44
I measured it at 4.25 pounds—not as Magnum cartridge is
popular enough that
light as on some of my other rifles, but most manufacturers
it broke cleanly and obviously wasn’t offer it. It’s available
in a wide range of
too detrimental to the accuracy. Firing bullet weights (here,
standing/off-hand really gives you a feel from 160 to 300
grains).
for how handy this rifle will be in the
woods. It’s light and nimble, and recoil is which I roam, this short, fast-handling rifle suits me perfectly.
no problem. For those looking for a survival gun that takes the same ammo as their .44 Magnum
handgun, the Ruger 77/44 is a good choice. After all, you can only carry so much. Having
A FIT FOR ME to source (or reload) and carry only one kind of ammo is a big plus; so is toting a rifle such
A short carbine that shoots a pistol as this Ruger, which weighs 1 or 2 pounds less than many hunting rifles. In addition, a
cartridge might not be the best option for stainless steel rifle with a synthetic stock and a simple, rugged and reliable bolt action is,
those who live in wide-open country, where pardon the expression, “practically bulletproof.”
long shots are not only possible, but likely. In a critical situation, when things are already going drastically wrong, having a
In the thick woods of the Northeast in dependable rifle is one thing about which you should have no doubts.
› Left: A good
sighting option for
the Ruger 77/44
would be this 1x6
scope from Skinner
Sights. The author
plans on picking up
some 30mm rings
for the Ruger.
S O U R C E S
Black Hills Ammunition

(605) 348-5150
Black-Hills.com
Federal Premium
(800) 831-8100
FederalPremium.com
Hornady
(800) 338-3220
Hornady.com
Ruger Firearms
(336) 949-5200
Ruger.com

WHEN PLAN ‘B’
IS FOR ‘BLADE’
LOST YOUR KNIFE? THESE
BACKUPS CAN TAKE UP THE SLACK.
PHOTO: MICHAEL D’ANGONA

knife is, without question,
A the most important tool

every survivalist or outdoors-
man should carry at all times.
This valuable item offers
a variety of functions that cross over
into nearly every category of survival: It’s
valuable for shaving tinder and as a striker
to create fire. It can cut cordage and shape
tarps for building a shelter. It can help
secure game by crafting weapons or as a
spear tip. It can then be used to process the
animal for later use and also as a utensil
when it’s time to cook and eat your catch.
It can help fend off those who are out to
“KEEP IN MIND THAT A do you harm, as well as assist with first aid
KNIFE IS JUST A SHARP tasks, from removing splinters to making
OBJECT USED FOR CUTTING splints, cutting gauze and other medical
supplies and performing emergency field
OR PIERCING, AND YOUR amputations.
OPTIONS FOR REPLACING IT So, with all the advantages a knife
ARE NUMEROUS.” offers, one would think that if it were lost
or stolen, it could mean “game over” for
the individual or, at the very least, make
it much more difficult to survive whatever
scenario they might be facing. This could
be true, but only if they don’t know how
to access suitable replacements for their
lost blade.
It’s fundamental to the survival mindset
that a person must adapt to their situation,
and the loss of a knife is no different. There
are everyday objects that can be used or
adapted to take the place of a knife. It
might take some creativity, a few extra
“parts” and a touch of luck, but you can
make it through without your trusty knife.
Here’s how.

“USED TO CUT THROUGH TOUGH PLANT MATERIAL, GARDEN
SCISSORS OR SHEARS ALSO MAKE EXCEPTIONAL AND EASILY
SHARPENED KNIVES IN A PINCH.”
‹ Left: Don’t pass
up older scissors
to use as knives.
They’re typically
stronger and better
constructed than
their modern
counterparts.
› Below: Poultry
shears can be sep-
arated and used as
two knives without
effort. Wrap the
handles in duct tape,
and you’re good to
go! (Photo: Michael
D’Angona)

SCISSORS
Essentially, scissors are two knives connected at the middle. Knowing this, you can use be beneficial for a large number of survival
one or both blades to create a useful knife on the go. needs. Try to find the longer, flat-bladed
First, there are several types of scissors to choose from, and if you have the luxury (or shears that are normally used to cut
luck) to come across multiple styles, there are some that work much better than others. hedges or large plant masses. These are
Poultry shears. Poultry shears are excellent because they typically separate with just a also two-handed tools, so when you make
twist of both handles. This immediately creates two “knives” that work well on their own. a knife from one of the blades, it’ll be on
When a handle is created to take the place of the finger hole, a longer-term cutting and the larger side and with a good deal of
stabbing tool can be made. Poultry shears are typically tough and durable because they weight behind it. While this option will be
have to cut through cartilage, bone, tough skin and muscle fibers. You can use duct tape or tough to use for precision cuts, there are
cordage to seal the finger hole and then continue wrapping the handle until a comfortable many other cutting tasks this option can
grip is formed. help with.
Garden scissors or shears. Used to cut through tough plant material, garden scissors or Utility or all-purpose scissors. These
shears also make exceptional and easily sharpened knives in a pinch. Like poultry shears, scissors can work somewhat well for
they are highly durable and can withstand harsh outdoor conditions. However, unlike smaller jobs and tasks because they’re
poultry shears, they don’t separate easily at their connection point, which might cause lightweight and cheaply made. They can
issues when you have no other tools nearby to break them down. usually be snapped in two with some force
Remember: Pruning shears (or loppers) aren’t suitable to create a workable knife. They and can then double as utensils and tinder-
only have a small, curved blade that’s used to snip flower buds and such ... which wouldn’t shavers and satisfy other minor cutting
needs.
“IT MIGHT TAKE SOME CREATIVITY, A FEW ROCKS

EXTRA ‘PARTS’ AND A TOUCH OF LUCK, When one thinks about rocks, they might
imagine large, heavy “doorstops” that in
BUT YOU CAN MAKE IT THROUGH WITHOUT no way, shape or form could take the place
YOUR TRUSTY KNIFE.” of a survivalist’s knife. With that kind of
‹ Left: Once separated,

manual hedge clippers
can be repurposed
into two—impressively
large—makeshift
knives, machetes or
short swords.

mindset, it’s entirely true. “GLASS WINDOWS, MIRRORS OR SHEETS
Nevertheless, for thousands of years, OF GLASS, SUCH AS FROM TABLES OR
man has, indeed, created sharp, knife-like
objects used to cut, stab and slice various
FURNITURE, CAN BE BROKEN AND USED
materials; so, this hack is not new to the ON THEIR OWN OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH
scene by any means. The key is finding the A MAKESHIFT HANDLE TO OFFER A SOLID
best rock for the job. For that, you need
to scour the shores of low-lying riverbeds,
AND VERY SHARP CUTTING TOOL.”
creeks and brooks.
Most rocks found in this kind of wet After you become familiar with both rock types and techniques for breaking them,
environment are suited for knife creation. practice will make improve your results (frequent American Survival Guide contributor
Without having a Ph.D. in geology, you can Christopher Nyerges wrote a helpful article that provides more specifics about the art of
still secure the best choice—simply through turning rocks into knives. You can find it at asgmag.com/how-to/transforming-rocks-into-
trial and error. tools). Once the workable shards are created, you can either use them as is—similar to
Quartz, jasper and flint all work well as using a razor blade without any supporting structure around it—or you can create a handle
knife substitutes, so start breaking! The and fabricate a knife or small axe if necessary.
best way to create an extra-sharp edge is
to find a suitably sized rock and stand it up GLASS SHARDS
on its longest end on a solid, much larger It might be difficult to find glass in the wild, but it’s out there. You might stumble upon
stone. Doing what you can to protect your an old, abandoned hunting cabin or find the remnants of a shack or shed on a remote
› Below: Stones
eyes and hands from flying debris and found along river- property that’s long been forgotten. If so, you’re in luck.
sharp edges, strike firmly downward with a beds make some of If you reside in the city or suburbs, glass is literally all around you. Yes, I know: Cars
the best knife blades.
hammer or other striking object (another Lots of practice is are everywhere too, but the glass from vehicles is tempered and wouldn’t work for your
solid and substantial stone will do). As you required to make cutting needs, so save yourself the time and effort and pass those by.
them, but they’re
break down the stone, you should be able good options. (Photo: Glass windows, mirrors or sheets of glass, such as from tables or furniture, can be broken
to create some useful shards. Getty Images) and used on their own or in conjunction with a makeshift handle to offer a solid and very

sharp cutting tool. One drawback to this option is that it can break as easily as you broke
the glass to create it, so use caution when using and carrying it. You might be able to dull
the edges where you plan to hold this tool, but also wrap twine or tape to form a handle.
Check often to make sure the wrap isn’t being cut or weakened by the sharp glass.
As easily as glass cuts your finger when you break a glass in the kitchen, it can work
wonders in the field. From skinning game and cutting cordage to slicing through fabrics
and plastics, this option for a temporary knife offers nearly razor-sharp performance
without you needing to sharpen it.
“A KNIFE IS, WITHOUT QUESTION,

THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL EVERY
SURVIVALIST OR OUTDOORSMAN SHOULD
CARRY AT ALL TIMES.”
NO BONES
ABOUT IT—IT’S OLD!
Think your pocketknife handed down to you from your grandfather is old? Think again!
A knife found in Morocco and created from the rib bone of an unidentified mammal, is con-
sidered to be the oldest of its type—dated at a staggering 90,000 years old. It’s thought to be
associated with the Aterian culture of North Africa’s Middle Stone Age.
Recovered in 2012 from a cave about 850 feet inland from the current Atlantic shore of
Morocco, this well-preserved tool of the age showed evidence of being shaped and sharpened
in a complex, multistage process.
› Above: Broken glass It just goes to show that a knife, no matter when it existed in history, was one of the most
or broken mirrors useful and needed tools ever created by man.
produce long, sharp
pieces that are
ideal to craft into an
efficient cutting tool.
(Photo: Getty Images)
› Right: An animal rib

bone such as this was
used to create what's
now thought to be the
oldest bone knife in
the world—it’s dated
at 90,000 years old!
(Photo: Getty Images)

EVERYDAY
BLADES
Being without a knife when you need one is inconvenient, at best, and a bad situa-
tion, at worst. Additionally, most people don’t carry knives regularly, so when a crisis
hits, they lack this valuable tool.
Here are some simple and common options that are easy to carry or find:
Pocketknife. A simple pocketknife can do wonders when you need it to. Keep it
in your pants pocket or attached to your keyring, and you’re good to go when an
emergency hits. Pocketknives with multiple blades can perform numerous small tasks
as well.
Multi-tool. What’s better than just one tool? How about 12 or more in one, com-
pact unit? That’s the beauty of a multi-tool. Enjoy the use of several blades, in addi-
tion to bottle openers, scissors, tweezers, saws, pliers, wrenches and more—all in one
convenient package. A common component in many EDC kits, good multi-tools can
fill many gaps you’ll encounter in a wide variety of everyday and adverse situations.
Wallet survival card. There are many versions of these credit card-sized tools.
Lots of these offer a sharp edge on one side, as well as a selection of other useful
tools, such as a saw, screwdrivers, wrench openings and others that are stamped or “THERE ARE EVERYDAY
punched throughout the tool. Best of all, it can be carried within your wallet (which
OBJECTS THAT CAN BE USED OR
most people always keep with them).
Razor cutter. Flat, compact—and yes, razor sharp—these cutters can be carried ADAPTED TO TAKE THE PLACE
just about anywhere because of their small size. These blades cut through just about OF A KNIFE.”
anything, and the metal case can be folded out and sharpened when the blade is too METAL
dull to cut and replacements can’t be found. In emergencies, you can find knives such › Above: Leatherman Pieces of metal found throughout your
made the original
as this everywhere, from offices and stores to warehouses and homes; in other words, multi-tools and surroundings can be sharpened and used
everywhere people need to open packages. recently launched its as knives.
new FREE line. These
tools are easier to use All sizes and shapes of metal items and
and carry so you can scraps can be found virtually anywhere
always have a knife
blade handy. (Photo: in civilization—not to mention the same
Leatherman) remote outposts mentioned above. These
could include metal workshop files, pieces
of fencing and signs, parts of vehicles,
appliances or building supplies, and hand
tools that can be repurposed into cutting
tools.
The beauty of metal is that it can be shaped
and then sharpened using coarse rocks or
other abrasives found just about everywhere.
You might not get the best edge, but you'll
be able to cut or hack through a variety of
materials, such as cordage, plastic, rubber
and wood. Choose appropriate metals
that are tough and rigid and won’t fail with
repeated use. Adding a handle, in most cases,
is a simple process of just taping or tying a
wooden handle you fashion (or even a stick)
› Left: Razor cutters to the “non-business” end of the tool.
are easy-to-carry
blades that come in
As for using your metal knife as a utensil
handy if your prima- for dinner ... give this a pass: Rust, tiny bits
ry knife is missing.
(Photo: Michael
of metal and other impurities can end up in
D’Angona) your food and cause additional problems in

› Right: This large
addition to your current survival emergency shard of glass,
or crisis. when properly
wrapped to make a
safe handle, would
UNORTHODOX CUTTING TOOLS be a useful tool
when you don’t
If the aforementioned cutting tools have a bona fide
weren’t unorthodox, then what is? knife available.
The truth is that there are numerous ways

of cutting various materials most people
might not know about, and many of those
options are always nearby.
Wire and dental floss are both strong
and flexible materials that can cleanly
make short work of soft and semi-soft
food products. Fruits, vegetables and even
chicken and fish (under enough pressure)
can be severed by such items. Cheese
wires are used to break down large wheels
of cheese easily, and you can also do the
same with other foods and materials.
Your wallet also holds cutting
implements. The edges of credit cards, IDs
and driver’s licenses can be filed down; › Right: Metal files
found in tool chests
they make great, little knives. Today, some or workshops can,
credit cards are extra heavy, with some themselves, be filed
down to a sharp
metal added, so these work especially well edge and used as a
in this case. knife replacement.
They can also be
used to sharpen
BE CREATIVE makeshift knives.
This list of knife substitutes is by no
means complete. However, the underlying
idea of surviving any situation is to adapt
to what’s happening around you. Whether
you’re dealing with a large-scale disaster
or smaller-scale issues—such as the
loss of your knife—you’ll need to make
alternatives work for your ongoing survival.
Keep in mind that a knife is just a sharp
object used for cutting or piercing, and your
options for replacing it are numerous.
Some individuals might panic if or when
they’re without a knife. Don’t be one of › Right: Dental floss,
those people! Instead, step it up, look although not super
strong, can slice
around for viable materials, and craft away. cleanly through ripe
Soon, you’ll have your own, personalized fruits and other soft
foods. (Photo: Getty
blade at your side, ready to tackle Images)
whatever situation stands in your way.
“WIRE AND DENTAL FLOSS ARE

BOTH STRONG AND FLEXIBLE
MATERIALS THAT CAN CLEANLY
MAKE SHORT WORK OF
SOFT AND SEMI-SOFT FOOD
PRODUCTS.”

MAKE THE
MOST OF
YOUR GARDEN
EXPERT ADVICE FOR THE HOME
GARDENER—PART 2
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER NYERGES

› Miguel Gutiérrez of Altadena,
California, shows the fruit from his
Fuerte avocado tree. The Fuerte
avocado originated in 1911, when Carl
Schmidt brought about 30 budwoods
from Atlixco, Mexico, to his nursery in
Altadena, California. During a frost in
the winter of 1913–1914, all but one of the
avocado trees died. That survivor was
the parent of all Fuerte avocados.

‹ Far left: Fig trees
are easy to grow with
minimal care, and
both their leaves and
fruits are edible.
‹ Near left: The

evergreen Catalina
Island cherry. There
are cherry trees that
grow best in each part
of the United States.
› Near right: Oak

trees are long-term
commitments. There
are good oak trees
for all parts of the
United States.
n this article’s first installment, ‹ Above: Mesquite
I
pods are a quality
which appeared in the January 2021 food and are easy
issue of American Survival Guide, I to grow in desert
regions.
identified many of the “best” food
plants for one’s yard or garden. Ob-
viously, there are many variables in these
choices, but I asked various gardeners to
share with readers what they determined
to be the “best plants” based on the
following criteria:
• Which plants are the most nutritious?
• Which plants are the most productive
with the least work?
• Which plants are easiest to grow (in your
area), almost taking care of themselves?
• Which plants offer more than food,
providing multiple uses (such as fiber,
medicine, soap and even fragrance)?
In this issue of ASG, I asked another group
of gardeners and self-reliance experts
to share what they regarded as the best
plants in the following areas:

Food
• Best tree
• Best shrub
• Best vine
• Three best vegetables
Non-Food
• One or two top choices of useful plants
THE ADVISORS
Each of the advisors I consulted for this
article was asked to select just one plant
from each category that they consider
the “best.” Obviously, this is somewhat
subjective, but it’s also objectively based
on each person’s experiences in their are extremely long-lived and are drought and heat tolerant, but they won’t thrive in cold, ‹ Above: A view
of the branches of
particular ecosystem. So, although it would wet areas. In warm, arid locations, olive trees have been known to live and produce olives the mesquite tree.
be foolish to ever say that any one plant for more than 1,000 years! Note the numerous
large thorns on the
is the “best” under all circumstances, you McNeil: Figs are very nutritious and have lots of calories for their size. The fruit comes branches.
can get some good ideas about what you out in small batches over a month or so, providing a continuous harvest rather than a
might plant in your own yard or farm by single crop. Fig leaves are edible and are also good for wrapping up other food such as
considering these advisors’ answers. meat or rice.
Dana Benner of New Hampshire (also a Nyerges: Olives—any of the high oil-content varieties. (Apples are a very close second.)
contributor to American Survival Guide), Struycken: Avocado. Avocados taste good and are incredibly nutritious. They contain
is a gardener with a bias toward native the so-called “good fats”—both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Consumption
plants. of avocados has been linked to lower levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol. High-fiber diets
“Wildman” Steve Brill from New Rochelle, have been lauded for lowering blood sugar, cutting cholesterol and potentially preventing
New York, is a famous wild food forager. some kinds of cancer (colon cancer, for instance). Avocado contains about 1 gram of fiber
Environmentalist Joe A. Hall of Alhambra, per tablespoon, with around 10 grams in an entire fruit. Avocados are also good sources
California, is a life-long gardener and of folate, magnesium, potassium, vitamins B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic
ecologist. acid), B6 (pyridoxine), C, E and K. ‹ Below, left: A group
of avocados for
Jay Hartman of Brier, Washington, is a Sweany: Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria). Yaupon is native from the U.S. East Coast to
sale at a local farm
home gardener and plant experimenter. about Texas but has a wide growth range well beyond Texas. Yaupon is the only native market
Malcolm McNeil is a naturalist at Huntley plant to North America that has caffeine. To make a coffee substitute, the leaves are
‹ Below, right: Acorns
Meadows Park, Fairfax County, Virginia. lightly toasted in a 300 degree (F) oven. Boil 2 cups of water and add 1 tablespoon of are the nuts that oak
trees produce in the
Christopher Nyerges—yours truly! yaupon. Steep for about five minutes. Toasted yaupon was the beverage-of-choice in the
autumn. They can
Actor Carel Struycken of Altadena, United States for hundreds of years. It has a unique, pleasant taste that's sort of a blend be used for food but
require some work
California, is an expert in permaculture. of Argentina's national beverage, yerba mate, and a coffee/tea.
before they’re edible.
Helen Sweany is a naturalist and gardener
from Santa Clarita, California.
TOP TREES
Benner: Any of the fruit-producing
cherries. There are many varieties out
there. They produce fruit for people and
wildlife. A close runner-up would be fruit-
producing crabapples. Their fruit is tart, but
it makes great jam and it attracts wildlife.
Brill: Mulberries
Hall: Oak tree (food from acorns).
Although it takes a few years to produce
acorns, it will sustainably produce nuts for
centuries.
Hartman: Olive tree (Olea europaea).
This tree produces olives and olive oil. Olive
oil is known to be a healthful, nutritious
cooking and baking ingredient. Olive trees

SUGGESTED SHRUBS ‹ Above, left: The can be stored easily for several months
prickly pear cactus is
Benner: Wild blackberries and raspberries. If they grow in your yard, encourage them. low maintenance and by freezing. Blueberries require slightly
I don't like the cultivated varieties. They’re like growing roses: They need a lot of care. In produces food nearly acid soil, some irrigation (depending on
year-round.
addition, blueberries are always a good bet. Every part of this plant can be used for both location), and each bush can produce for
food and medicinal purposes. Any variety is good. many years if it’s well-kept.
‹ Above, right: The
Brill: Autumn olives young prickly pear McNeil: Blueberry or raspberry. Both
Hall: Mesquite. This is a sustainable shrub for the desert Southwest, producing edible pad is the most berries grow similarly and are quite
tender and tasty.
and highly palatable pods every year. tasty. Both can be mixed up with fruit or
Hartman: The blueberry (Vaccinium cyanococcus). The common blueberry bush/ vegetables in salads or squeezed for their
shrub produces generous quantities of delicious fruit that’s good fresh or baked and juice. They usually produce fruit for long
periods of time.
Nyerges: Prickly pear cactus (I’m pretty
sure we can call this a “shrub”). This plant
produces year-round food in the form of
the young pads, inside the older pads and
the fruit.
Struycken: Blackberry
Sweany: Redbud (Cercis occidentalis).
The flowers and buds have more vitamin
C than do citrus fruits. As a cooked side
dish, they start out tasting like green
beans and then give a pleasant, sour
aftertaste. They're in the same family as
peas and beans, and you get a lot of food
for a small area. Redbud’s beautiful color
makes a knockout sorbet. A close runner-
up is pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana),
another awesome shrub to plant. It
provides edible petals and fruits.
‹ Far left: One of the author’s students, Monica

Montoya, tastes a bit of raw cactus.
‹ Near left: Blackberries are not only easy to

grow, they can also become invasive. They
produce a natural fence and sweet fruits
every summer. (Some people call them
“vines”; some people view them as “shrubs.”)

‹ Far left: THREE TOP VEGETABLES
Nasturtium sprawls
over a stone wall. Benner:
1. Pumpkins: Both the flesh and the seeds
can be eaten. They can be stored for long
periods of time.
‹ Near left: The 2. Beans: There are many different
leaves and vines of
the wild grape varieties. They can be eaten right off the
plant, frozen for later use, and the seeds
can be dried. They’re a great source of
protein.
3. Greens: Lettuce, chard, spinach, kale.
They’re all good—and easy to grow.
Brill:
1. Violet
2. Lamb’s quarters
3. Purslane
‹ Below: Purslane
Hall:
VALUABLE VINES is often found in 1. Kale
the wild, but it’s
Benner: This has to be the grape; specifically, fox grape. The fox grape is the wild variety also intentionally
2. Sweet potatoes
of the Concord grape (famous for jelly and grape juice). The true fox grape is small, grown in gardens. 3. Pumpkins
Because it's one
whereas the Concord grape is larger. Both are great for the homeowner. of the richest
Hartman:
Brill: Greenbriar (although it’s technically a climbing shrub). plant sources of 1. Pumpkins and other field squash
omega-3 fatty acids,
Hall: Snap peas—a good source of protein—can be eaten raw or dried. Beans, in general, this plant is very
(Cucurbita pepo). The winter squashes are
are close seconds. healthy to eat. a nutritious staple of many cultures and
Hartman: Blackberries and related brambles (Rubus species). The humble blackberry
produces delicious berries that freeze well and are tasty raw or in baking. Blackberries are
the “survivors” of the garden world once they’re established. And, with the proper amount
of moisture, blackberries grow vigorously. When cared for, they’re heavy producers. In
addition to their food qualities and durability, blackberries can be fermented into wine.
McNeil: Wild grape vine. A good wild grape vine has many long-term benefits: The
grapes are tasty eaten or squeezed for juice, and the young leaves are also delicious when
mixed into a salad. The vine, itself, is quite tough and can be used as a natural rope for
tying things together or hanging objects in the air. The plants are quite hardy and survive
well through the winter.
Nyerges: Roger’s red grape. This is a cross between the Concord grape and the native
California wild grape. The fruits are smaller, and the plant is less prone to grape diseases.
Struycken: Kiwi
Sweany: Nasturtiums. Most people won’t see this as “food”—which is good for an
inconspicuous garden.
‹ Above: Asian greens are good sources for the B vitamin folate, the
carotenes lutein and zeaxanthin, and magnesium.
‹ Near left: There are many varieties of grape species. Chances are
good that at least one will grow well in your area.
‹ Far left: Nasturtium is a beautiful sprawling vine, as well as an

inconspicuous food source.

‹ Far left: Commonly
grown in gardens
around the country,
violets are edible and
also provide many
medicinal uses.
perform well with modest care. In addition to providing a tasty, nutritious vegetable and › Above: A pumpkin 3. Green beans. Green beans are very
offers edible flesh
edible, long-storing seeds, many winter squash varieties are known for staying fresh for and seeds, and it can
nutritious and easy to grow. They produce
several months without refrigeration when they’re stored under cool, protected conditions. be stored for long a continuous crop once they mature. Green
periods.
2. Dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). Beans are “light feeders,” with lower nutrient beans can be prepared in a variety of ways
requirements for good production than many other vegetable crops. Beans have been a and are delicious raw right off the plant,
mainstay of many cultures over millennia—for good reason: They’re nutritious, high in fiber prepared in a stir fry with other veggies or
and an excellent source of vegetable protein. roasted in an oven.
3. Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum). Tomatoes are frost intolerant, but varieties have Nyerges:
been bred to be widely adaptable to areas from arid deserts to cool regions and in a vast 1. Purple tree collard
assortment of colors, shapes and sizes. Tomatoes are easy to grow, making them one 2. Potatoes
of the most popular of garden vegetables because, even with modest care, they tend to 3. Tomatoes. Also consider the closely
produce well. related tomatillos (“husk tomatoes”),
McNeil: which are perennials.
1. Butternut squash (mildew-resistant variety). Squash is a very nutritious vegetable. It Struycken:
can be roasted or mixed in with soups to great effect. Squash are quite hardy, because 1. My favorite vegetables are mostly
their thick skin protects them from animals and elements alike. One downside: Unless you Asian brassicas. However, nobody sells
get the correct variety, the vines and leaves are vulnerable to mildew. Tyfon seeds (also called “Holland greens”)
2. Cherry tomatoes. A good cherry tomato plant can provide food for an entire season. anymore. That was my favorite, because it
These tomatoes can also be dried and saved, as well as pickled. In my experience, you only would grow almost year-round, except for
need to plant one cherry tomato plant, because it creates “volunteer” plants very easily— the hottest part of the year, and it can be
sometimes to the point of being almost weed-like. "cut and come again."
2. My all-time favorite stir-fry vegetable is
Chinese broccoli (“Gai lan”), but I’ve never had
much luck growing it in sufficient quantities.
3. The only edible tomatoes these days
are home-grown varieties. If I remember
correctly, the "heirloom" varieties produce
more steadily through the season (they
don't ripen all at once). I am a lazy
gardener and always try to pick the least
labor-intensive edibles!
Sweany:
1. Purslane (Portulaca oleraceae) added to
‹ Far left: The wild
lambs quarter plant a sandwich provides crunch, tastes much
is one of the most better than lettuce and is rich in omega-3
nutritious green
plants. Both its fatty acids.
leaves and seeds can 2. Lambs quarter (Chenopodium album) is
be eaten.
a nutrient-rich spinach substitute.
‹ Near left: 3. Stinging nettle is another spinach
Raindrops bead up
on the leaves of this substitute that helps arthritis and other
lambs quarter plant. health issues.

NON-FOOD PLANTS › Top right: Bronze
flax is commonly
Benner: planted as a border
1. Willow: Willows have multiple uses that range from fire-starting (dried seed pods) to ornamental. A
top-quality fiber can
medicinal (inner bark). be produced from its
2. Rhododendron: Rhododendron makes a great barrier on the north side of your house leaves.
(that’s important here, in the Northeast). It provides nesting areas for many songbirds,
and its flowers attract pollinators.
Brill: Dogbane is good for making twine and rope.
Hall: Yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei) is used for its fiber, particularly for sandals and rope.
Hartman:
1. The pine tree (various species). In addition to their lumber, construction- and furniture-
making value, pine trees are fast-growing and adaptable. Less-well-known uses for pine
products include pine needle tea (high in vitamin C), pine needles for baskets and other
handicrafts, and pine pitch as a natural adhesive and fire accelerant.
2. Aloe vera is used to treat a variety of skin irritations (such as windburn, sunburn,
chafing and poison oak rash). Aloe is also applied to minor skin injuries and to existing
injuries, because it reduces scarring.
McNeil:
1. Pine trees. Pine resin can serve as a mildly effective natural glue to stick light objects
together. The resin can also serve as pitch to make a torch. Pine tree needles are usually › Bottom right: Aloe
thick and soft enough to serve as excellent ground cover for overnighting outside. The vera is an easy-to-
grow succulent
boughs of the tree also make excellent coverage for shelter-building. whose juice is used
2. Cattails. There are multiple edible parts of the cattail, and they also have great utility. to treat rashes, burns
and cuts.
The reed leaves can be woven into mats for floor or roof coverings. The shafts of the
cattail can be used for creating arrow shafts. The mature cattail seed fluff can be used as
an insulating stuffer for shoes or jackets. It's also an excellent fire-starter, catching quickly
and burning hot. › Below, left: Native
yucca is sometimes
Nyerges: Yucca and bronze flax. Both are excellent fiber plants. planted in gardens
within its range. It
“EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT IDEA OF

produces fiber, soap
and food. (Photo:
WHAT ‘BEST’ MEANS, BASED ON THEIR

Rick Adams)
PERSONAL NEEDS AND DESIRES AND

› Below, right: A view
of the native yucca
WHAT’S RIGHT FOR THEIR ENVIRONMENT.”

plant (Photo: Helen
Wong)
‘BEST’ FOR YOUR AREA

Everyone has a different idea of what
“best” means, based on their personal
needs and desires and what’s right for their
environment. Still, it’s interesting to note
the plants that appear more than once on
the lists. That probably means that plant
should rate the highest consideration.
Keep in mind that most of the trees,
shrubs, vines and vegetables listed here
have many horticultural varieties. Local
garden clubs and garden guides can
educate you regarding the varieties that
are best for your part of the country.

HOW TO USE
PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION
MORE SAFELY
MINIMIZE THE DANGERS OF GETTING
FROM POINT A TO POINT B.

“WHEN DISCUSSING
SELF-DEFENSE
ITEMS YOU COULD
CARRY, IT SHOULD
BE NOTED THAT NO
MATTER WHICH
ITEM YOU CHOOSE,
PROPER TRAINING
WITH THAT
WEAPON PRIOR TO
CARRYING IS AN
ABSOLUTE MUST.”
PHOTO: GETTY

‹ Left: Overcrowded buses or trains can result in
a panicked stampede when a crisis hits. Avoid
packed trains, planes and buses. In addition,
also be wary of pickpockets in these situations.
(Photo: Getty)
“IT SHOULD GO
WITHOUT SAYING
THAT TRAVELING
DURING DAYLIGHT
HOURS AND
‘GOING WITH THE
FLOW’ OF FELLOW
COMMUTERS
IS THE SAFEST
TIME TO TRAVEL
THROUGHOUT
YOUR DAY.”
› Near right: When

traveling by air,
choose an aisle seat
near the back of the
plane. Statistically
speaking, this is the
safest place to sit.
(Photo: Getty)
here’s no doubt that in the services such as taxis and other options (Uber and Lyft, for instance), these varied ‹ Above: When
T
waiting for your
United States, passenger modes of travel present their own dangers to you. In addition, it’s not only the idea that Uber or Lyft, be
cars and light trucks are you might be injured in an accident, secondary dangers also exist. sure to note the
driver and the car
the most dangerous modes You need to address staying safe while waiting for your ride, taking precautions against that are supposed
of transportation a person “odd” or phony drivers, or just being cautious of unforeseen hazards during the hustle to arrive. Impostors
have picked up and
could use to move from one place to and bustle of busy transportation hubs. The fact is that even though car deaths and assaulted unsus-
another. According to the U.S. Bureau of injuries are the greatest threat, your ‘’radar’’ should always be on, and your common pecting commuters.
(Photo: Getty)
Transportation Statistics, over 61 percent sense and natural instincts must be tuned into your surroundings to ensure you’ll make
of 2019’s transportation fatalities resulted it home to your loved ones.
from riding in cars, pickups, vans and other
similarly sized vehicles. A PLETHORA OF CHOICES
Luckily for most people, the option to use As mentioned above, transportation options are more numerous in the city, and
other modes of transportation is readily because most people live in either a city or the surrounding suburbs, the odds are
available in cities, suburbs and some rural good they’d employ one or more transportation choices other than their own car or
areas of the country. However, just because truck. These could include local buses, subways and elevated trains, as well as longer-
someone lowers their statistical chance of distance options that travel out of state, and intercity and regional trains. Some cities
being injured or killed by avoiding using a employ cable cars and trolleys to move commuters, while smaller towns offer large
car doesn’t mean they should be worry- van and shuttle services. Finally, all types of car-ride services are now available, such
free about their alternative choice of as cabs, limousines and independent contractor drivers for those needing one-time
transportation. transportation.
From subways to buses to “chauffeured” There are about a dozen viable options to choose from, and they can be divided into

a few main categories—buses, trains, large buses or in their associated congested stations can incite mass panic, causing
cars and small aircraft, to some extent. stampedes, people being forced against the doors and crushed, knocked down and
Helicopters and planes, although not trampled by others. Crowded stations also attract pickpockets and thieves, who watch a
everyday travel for the vast majority target’s every movement and strike at the precise time to steal their wallet, handbag or
of commuters, are included, because even luggage, even if it’s left unattended for only a few seconds.
where you sit on the craft can aid in your Not everyone can pick and choose their preferred travel time, but by finding the best
survival if a crash occurs. You also need to times and formulating a schedule as near to those times as possible, you can reduce risk
incorporate safety protocols at the airport and have a better chance of avoiding safety and security problems.
or field and when securing a ride to the
method of transportation. CARRYING ... JUST IN CASE
Traveling in large, loud crowds, sketchy environments, riding alone with an unknown
OPTIMAL SAFE CONDITIONS driver and traveling at all hours of the night can lead to dangerous situations for the
It should go without saying that traveling commuter. But the fact is that appropriate precautions need to be taken during any travel
during daylight hours and “going with the to protect yourself from both predators and potential dangers presented by hazardous
flow” of fellow commuters is the safest conditions found all around you.
time to travel throughout your day. Night There are numerous opportunities for “bad actors” to approach you and threaten your
travel invites predators to prey upon solo physical well-being if you don’t give up your money, jewelry or other valuables; essentially,
riders and those lost or confused about you get mugged. Your money is replaceable and not worth your life, of course. However,
their surroundings. The darkness can be that’s only one such crime that could occur—and the others only get worse from there.
› Below: A flash-
detrimental if an accident occurs and a light can detect an
The possibilities of physical attacks for a wide variety of reasons, such as sadistic fun,
person is trying to get their bearings or call assailant hiding in rape, kidnapping and murder, can justify the decision to carry one or more self-defense
the shadows and
for help. also illuminate your
and safety items. The frequency, environmental safety record and many other factors, not
Conversely, overcrowded daytime travel path when walking to mention local laws and your capabilities with the tools, will help you determine what’s
through dark corri-
is not optimal for the individual either. dors or stairways.
appropriate for the given situation. In addition, cabs and ride shares put you under the
Accidents occurring on subways, trains, (Photo: Getty) control of the driver; if you’re unfamiliar with the area, that could go very wrong for you.
“ ... WHEN SOMEONE IS COMMITTING

A CRIME OF ANY NATURE, THEY DON’T
LIKE TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT. IF YOU
PUT THEM IN IT, YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD
CHANCE OF SURVIVING THE ORDEAL.”

THE
‘CHAMELEON’
EFFECT
While waiting at a station or on the sidewalk at a bus stop,
there are ways for you to blend into your environment and
avoid attracting the interest of predators.
TONE DOWN THE BLING

There’s nothing wrong with showing your nice things, but
there’s a time and place for it—and it’s not while waiting for a
ride. Fancy watches, rings and necklaces shout out to others,
“Come and get some of this!” Take your valuables off, and
you’ll enjoy a hassle-free wait.
DRESS TO DEPRESS
Like jewelry, fancy clothing attracts attention. Whether it
could lead to sexual advances or suggests to others that you
have money, it’s something you shouldn’t have to deal with ‹ Above: Waiting alone at a bus stop at night is just asking for trouble. If possible, change your
during your commute. Instead, wear a long coat or jacket that schedule to avoid this dangerous combination. (Photo: Getty)
keeps your fancy togs under wraps. Drab colors and plain styles
also help decrease attraction from strangers. PRECAUTIONARY
There are many items you could carry that don’t physically harm a person but are
AVOID THE JITTERS intended to disorient or scare them or, at the very least, attract attention toward them.
Nervousness or distraction telegraphs to others that you’re Remember: When someone is committing a crime of any nature, they don’t like to be in
out of your element or multitasking when you shouldn’t be; the spotlight. If you put them in it, you have a very good chance of surviving the ordeal.
thus, it makes you a target to those around you. Whether A portable, hand-held alarm with a high decibel sound can essentially “wake up" the
you’re eager to get home after a long, stressful day or have a night, along with just about anyone around you when it’s activated. These devices are
lot on your mind, being distracted can lead to you being robbed usually palm sized and operate on simple batteries with either a pull string or “panic”
or jumped when you least expect it. button for activation. If a threatening situation occurs, you need only switch it on,
hopefully scaring the assailant and sending him running. The unit can also be stored
HEAD HIGH within a purse or bag with the cord wrapped around your wrist. If the crime is theft—or,
Confidence can go a long way toward dissuading a predator more specifically, purse-snatching—once the bag is seized by the robber, they’ll essentially
from making you their target. Even if it’s only bravado, always activate the alarm and have it sounding within their stolen prize. This might be enough to
walk with your head high, your eyes scanning in front of you get them to drop it and run, and you can then retrieve your valuables and other goods.
and your walk exuding firmness and certainty with each step. A tactical flashlight is another option. However, this tool doesn’t alert others to your
Bullies target the weak. Stay strong and get passed by. danger; it distracts your assailant or, at the very least, allows you to shine some light
on their identity. This, alone, might be enough to deter them from proceeding with their
intended crime. Some tactical lights are designed to be effective impact weapons, but this
type of use could be legally problematic in some jurisdictions.
SELF-DEFENSE
When discussing self-defense items you could carry, it should be noted that no matter
which item you choose, proper training with that weapon prior to carrying is an absolute
must. Too many times, people believe they’re good to go as soon as they purchase the
item. However, they find out—sometimes with horrible consequences—that learning how
to use the device is more important than having it.
Knives and batons are easily concealed, and both make excellent defensive
weapons. Most batons offer greater reach than most knives and can keep an attacker
at bay, whereas a knife, if it makes a decisive cut, can force the assailant to stop their
‹ Left: It’s unwise to travel alone in dimly lit subway or train station corridors. If it’s unavoidable,
carry a flashlight, alarm or self-defense weapon in case of trouble. (Photo: Getty)

TREAD
ONLINE
GO VISIT US
WWW.TREADMAGAZINE.COM
NUMBERS usually listed so you know the exact vehicle you’ll be driving in. In addition, the driver’s
characteristics should also be on the phone app so you know who your driver will be. If
DON’T LIE: all the data matches, it’s a good sign, but if the car is different or the driver seems “off”
when compared to the picture or name, your inner voice should alert you that something
might be wrong. Regardless of how reality matches the app’s information, many people
VEHICLE SAFETY send a photo of the license plate and rear of the vehicle to a trusted friend, who can help
authorities track you down if necessary.
If you confront the driver about the inconsistencies and their explanation makes sense,
Commercial aircraft. With planes topping out the list as still use caution when deciding if you will or won’t take that ride. It’s better to wait
one of the safest modes of travel for commuters, 2019 numbers another half hour for someone you trust than to become the subject of a news report the
illustrate this fact, with only 452 fatalities within the United next day. Don’t feel badly for the driver, and don’t second-guess yourself. Your life could
States. be on the line, so err on the side of caution.
Trains. With approximately double the number for planes, Waiting for a train or bus can leave you susceptible to stalkers of all types. Whether their
passenger trains came in at 899 fatalities during the same one- intent is to rob or harass you or kidnap or sexually attack you, remember: There’s safety in
year period. numbers. Stay within the station, where it’s well-lit, and stay near other people who don’t
Buses and trucks. Among buses and trucks that weigh more appear to be threats. It might not be comfortable, and it might counter your eagerness to
than 10,000 pounds (gross vehicle weight), the 2019 number is get aboard and home, but you might not get home at all if you’re assaulted or robbed.
892.
Cars. Perhaps giving up your car might be in order: Nearly ‘SAFE SPOTS’ IN VARIOUS VEHICLES
22,215 passengers died in cars, vans, pickups and similar vehicles Your choice of location while riding in various public transportation vehicles can make a
in 2019. difference to whether you survive an accident. There are no guarantees but, if you follow
Walking. Although one would think walking would be the the odds, there are safer seats within your chosen vehicle; and, if you know them, your
safest mode of travel, 6,205 deaths occurred in 2019 while people odds of surviving a crash increase greatly.
were walking. Trains. It’s best to find a seat in one of the middle cars. Because most crashes occur
either in the front or back of the train, the middle cars will suffer the least impact.
attack quickly and flee. Both have their Furthermore, an aisle seat inside that car distances you a bit from glass and other debris.
advantages. Nevertheless, remember that For even more safety, find a back-facing seat with a headrest so a front-end crash will
both can be taken away from you and used drive your body into the seat back, as opposed to projecting you out of the seat, as in
against you. Hence, the necessity of pre- the case of a forward-facing seat. Subway travel mimics normal train travel, so the same
carry training—not to mention checking precautions should be followed.
their legality in the areas in which you Buses. Buses follow this same idea of internal seating choice. A mid-vehicle seat
intend to travel. location, coupled with an aisle seat, offers the best protection on large interstate buses,
A firearm is the top tier defensive weapon. as well as local and intercity buses.
However, it also carries the most impact
in the forms of physical harm, mental ‹ When using public transportation,
and emotional aftermath for the user, as try to blend into your surroundings. In
addition, refrain from signaling affluence
well as possible legal issues if there’s a or that you are in an unfamiliar area.
question of whether your use of a firearm
was legal or justified. The decision to
carry a handgun is a complex one, so it’s
advisable to do your homework first, make
an informed decision, and then practice so
you know your weapon’s—and your own—
capabilities.
WAITING DANGERS
As much time as it takes to travel to a
destination, there’s an associated amount
of time spent waiting for the intended
vehicle to finally depart. In addition,
accidents, breakdowns, weather and other
schedule delays can lengthen the amount
of time you have to stand by.
For app-assisted services, it’s wise to
use that time to review the information
available about your incoming ride.
The car’s make, model and color are PHOTO: GETTY

‹ Various self-defense
weapons can be carried
discreetly and used in case
trouble comes your way.
PHOTO: MACE BRAND
“ ... EVEN THOUGH CAR

DEATHS AND INJURIES ARE
THE GREATEST THREAT,
YOUR ‘RADAR’ SHOULD
ALWAYS BE ON, AND YOUR
COMMON SENSE AND
NATURAL INSTINCTS MUST
BE TUNED INTO YOUR
SURROUNDINGS ... .” PHOTO: SELFDEFENSEPRODUCTS.COM
Cars. When you take an Uber or Lyft service, or vans (such as

airport shuttle services), the safest location has mixed options in
recent years. In the past, the back middle seat was the safest in
the vehicle. However, due to technological advances in safety for
AD INDEX
the front seats—especially with the addition of numerous airbags APRIL 2021
now installed in newer cars—some experts lean toward the front
seat as the safest place. ATABASE .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................29
No matter which you choose, always wear your seat belt, and don’t
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be afraid to tell your driver to slow down or take precautions if driving
in inclement weather or when there’s construction on the road. BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION .....................................................................................................................................................................................51
Planes. Planes, at least larger commercial versions, have

BRADFORD USA...........................................................................................................................................................................................................51
their safest seats located in the back end of the plane, with the
aisle seats (middle of the fuselage) being the safest (lowest DAVISON ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................21
percentage of death or injuries) locations.
DOOM AND BLOOM, LLC.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 99
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Traveling, whether across town or across your state, is inevitable
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Although there are no guarantees in life, a bit of pre-planning
can decrease your chances of injuries from unforeseen accidents, The Advertiser Index is provided as a service to American Survival Guide readers.
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dangerous predators and other vehicular risks.

PREPPER PLANT ADVISOR
AUSTRALIA’S
KURRAJONG IS A SOURCE
OF FOOD AND WATER
WIDELY USED AS AN ORNAMENTAL
IN THE UNITED STATES, THIS TREE’S
SEEDS ALSO MAKE GOOD FOOD.
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER NYERGES
Name: Kurrajong In Australia, kurrajong seeds also have a long history as a coffee substitute. The
(Brachychiton populneus) seeds are first lightly roasted, then ground and brewed, as you’d do with regular
coffee beans.
DESCRIPTION I took roasted kurrajong seeds and ground them in a coffee grinder. This
The kurrajong is a medium-sized tree with oval-shaped leaves that are evergreen. produced an obviously oily golden flour. I put two heaping teaspoons of the
The trunk is occasionally swollen or enlarged at the base. golden flour into my drip coffee filter and produced a somewhat opaque,
The fruit is a hard, little pod about 2 to 3 inches long that looks like a miniature golden-colored beverage. The fragrance was a bit like burnt corn, and the flavor
wooden canoe. Inside the pod are about a dozen golden seeds, each covered with was reminiscent of a grain beverage. It produced a pleasant drink that wasn’t
a fine fuzz. strongly flavored one way or the other. I wouldn’t compare it to coffee, except
that both are warm beverages.
WHERE FOUND According to Australian bush resident Daniel Sainty, with whom I spoke about
The kurrajong is native to Australia. The tree has been transplanted into the the kurrajong, the young kurrajong trees have a yam-like, tuberous root that’s
American Southwest and West, South Africa and throughout the Mediterranean often considerably broader than the stem above, and this was a popular item of
regions as an ornamental and street tree. Although they’re not as widespread as food among the aborigines.
the eucalyptus tree, kurrajongs will grow wherever eucalyptus can grow.
PROCESSING
USES When you process these seeds, you don’t want to get the fine fuzz all over your
Kurrajong seeds have long been used by the Australian aboriginals for food. skin; I suggest wearing gloves. The fine fuzz isn’t like cactus spines, but there’s a
When I first tried these, I simply wiped the fuzz from the seeds and popped a lot of it. If you don’t use protection, you’ll feel the fuzz all over your body. Then,
few in my mouth. They’re hard at first, but they soften up in the mouth. They pick out the seeds with a knife, letting them drop into a bowl. However, I found
become chewy, with a flavor reminiscent of corn. The flavor is good. that the easiest way to clean the seeds was to put them into a metal colander
I also tried roasting the cleaned seeds (without oil) in a cast iron skillet over and shake the colander over a flame, which effectively burns off most of the
the fire. I just shook the skillet from time to time for about 15 minutes. I heard fuzz.
some seeds pop, but mostly, they just faded from a bright yellow to a dull yellow
bordering on brown. These tasted much better than the raw seeds and, again, the WHEN TO HARVEST/AVAILABILITY
flavor was very much like corn and maybe reminiscent of sunflower seeds. The kurrajong fruits mature and fall during autumn, from late September into
I also tried using the seeds to make pancakes. I took some ground-up kurrajong early November.
seed flour and mixed it, half and half, with some wheat flour. I blended it well
and then cooked it in a hot skillet. The batter had that dark-golden color of the MEDICINE/NUTRITION
seed, and it had texture. Everyone I served it to enjoyed it, even without honey or According to a study by the University of Sydney, these seeds contain about 25
a topping. Even the children liked them! There was a flavor like burnt corn, along percent fat and about 18 percent protein. The study also stated that 100 grams
with a very slight astringency. As you chewed, the pancakes seemed almost oily, of the seeds contain about 348 calories (as a comparison, peanuts contain
like eating peanut butter. about 567 calories per 100 grams).

‹ Below, left: The cleaned seeds
CAUTIONS and the pod of the kurrajong
I did learn—the hard way—that you need to be careful when you clean each seed of its outer coating, ‹ Below, right: The ground kurrajong seeds are
which, as I’ve already mentioned, is covered in a very fine fuzz. When I first learned that these seeds now combined with flour to make pancakes.
were edible, I picked a few of the dark-yellow, fuzz-covered seeds out of the pod and just rubbed them
between my hands in order to remove the fuzzy chaff. The fuzz is very fine, and it’s not a serious irritant,
but I did feel it; and afterward, I needed to wash my hands, as well as my clothes. The seed coating also
imparted a yellowish pigment to my skin (which easily washed off).
OTHER USES
Aborigines were known to burn down the kurrajong tree in the belief that this would drive water into
the roots. They would then put one end of the roots into the coals of a fire and the other end into a
container to catch any water that slowly dripped out. This is said to be a good way to get water if you’re
in the Australian bush (although I’ve never tried this).
At least two species of Brachychiton (B. rupestre,
or bottle tree, and B. populneus, or kurrajong)
are known to be good water trees, and other
members of the genus probably also have
roots worth tapping. There were reports that
the Aborigines had subsisted in some areas
almost wholly on water from kurrajong
roots.
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: Cook kurrajong pancakes just

as you would other types of pancakes.
› Near right: The uncleaned kurrajong

seeds have a lot of fuzz! This should be
removed before using the seeds.
› Bottom right: A coffee substitute beverage can

be made from the roasted kurrajong seeds. It
doesn’t taste like coffee, but it’s not bad!
APRIL IS NATIONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY MONTH
The last year has been a financial challenge for many folks, and lots of people Another option is a popular book with preppers that was written by Christopher
are still taking a financial hit from the effects of the pandemic. Some have Nyerges, who's also a regular contributor to ASG. It explains how you can increase
found new ways to create income, while others have found ways to leverage your self-reliance skills, reduce your dependence on outside systems and mini-
skills they learned in order to be more self-sufficient. And, as we’re all aware, mize your expenses at the same time. You can learn more about this book at his
prepping doesn’t come free. website (http://www.schoolofself-reliance.com/product/self-sufficient-home-
With every day a national or global celebration of something, it seems only going-green-and-saving-money).
fitting that someone decided Americans should dedicate the month of April While I don’t have personal experience using the tips and advice from the
to exploring and improving our financial literacy. National Financial Literacy famous Dave Ramsey, I do know some folks who can’t say enough about
Month began in 2000 as Youth Financial Literacy Day and has since grown to the huge impact his system has had on their finances. A quick search of the
the point at which it’s even promoted by the U. S. Department of Education to Ramsey website will turn up some free and practical budgeting tips you might
help younger citizens learn how to manage money. find useful. You might even want to explore his site further while you’re there
I, for one, could benefit from several financial literacy months’ worth of (https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/the-truth-about-budgeting).
education and improvement, and I suspect many others feel the same way. American Survival Guide has always offered a great way for you to keep more
It seems that no matter what plans or budgets we lay out and commit to, of your hard-earned cash as well: Ordering a one- or two-year subscription
something comes along to put a little kink in the payroll pipeline. to ASG will save you up to $6.78 off the newsstand price every month (not
This month-long effort won’t be celebrated with a parade and fireworks to mention the fuel and time you’ll save by having each issue mailed to your
(other than those shooting out of some taxpayers’ ears around April 15), but it door). Just go to ASGMAG.com and click on the “Subscribe Now” button at the
can be something we look forward to each year as a way to do a full-on review top-right corner of the page.
of how we’re doing financially. It’s at this time of year—or sometime during As you go through your finances, remember Benjamin Franklin’s words:
the previous two or three months—that we have much of our financial data “Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.”
laid out in one place, and we’re most fluent with what our finances look like.
Because it’s already top-of-mind, it’s a good time to go beyond the forms and Take care,
numbers to determine what it all really means in terms of our financial health. Mike McCourt
It’s not enough to know how much we owe or should expect to get back from
the various governments we settle our income taxes with; we need to know
what’s truly coming in and how much and to what entities it’s being paid, as
well as how to get more of what we earn to work for us.
Not sure where to start? There’s a lot of advice out there in places ranging
from your local library (a free resource) to many books and, of course, there
are tons of options online. Nothing is right for everyone, but here are some
options we think you could find helpful:
Finding a reference that takes the prepper’s needs and goals (beyond
everyday budgeting) into consideration isn’t as hard as you might expect.
The Prepper’s Financial Guide is written by regular American Survival Guide
contributor Jim Cobb, and it’s available on Amazon (https://www.amazon.
com/Preppers-Financial-Guide-Post-Collapse-Marketplace/dp/1612434037/
ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=jim+cobb+books&qid=1610039312&sr=8-8).
© ISTOCK BY GETTY IMAGES

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How-to: Build a Backup Blade

THESE OPTIONS LET YOU HOVER FOOD

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MAKE THE MOST OF

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CONSIDERATIONS HOW FAR CAN I GO?

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“CHOOSE A TENT TOO SMALL, AND YOU CAN FEEL TOO

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OUTDOORS WHITE DUCK CONSTRUCTION

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drape the tent over the frame without

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‹ Near left: The

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