FROM THE EDITORS OF GUN WORLDISSUE 1 / SUMMER/FALL 2012

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2URBAN PREPAREDNESS

11 INTRODUCTION

12 SECURITY BLANKETSTeddy bears, home schooling and a regular routine areall methods to help children cope with a crisis.BY KAREN WILHELMSEN AND DR. THOMAS J. NARDI

20 ARMED AND READYIf the world gets crazy, you need to be ready. And nothing does that better than a firearm. BY PAUL HANTKE

30 ROCK AND ROLLWhat to do before, after the earth shakes violently.BY ANDREW M. LUTHER

40 SURVIVAL PANTRYSelf-sufficiency in the wake of a disaster includes growing your own food. BY TORREY KIM

WILDERNESS PREPAREDNESS

48 INTRODUCTION

50 ADVENTURE AND ADRENALINEThe whole story behind Les Stroud. BY KAREN WILHELMSEN

60 MOTHER NATURES FEROCITYDeadly can the weather be, which is why we have surefire ways to deal with bone-chilling cold andintense heat. BY TORREY KIM

72 SMOOTH SAILINGSix essentials for navigating the wilderness without a GPS. BY ADAM MORRA

82 ESSENTIAL 10Post it, memorize it and never forget it the emergency preparedness checklist every family must have. BY GARRETT KIM

89 SAFETY NETThe seven most important wilderness skills you musthave dont leave home without them.BY ABE ELIAS

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

3THE COVERMAIN IMAGE CREDIT: GETTY IMAGESDROP-IN: LES STROUD PHOTO BYLAURA BOMBIERDESIGNER: ERIC KNAGG

GENERAL PREPAREDNESS

99 INTRODUCTION

100 I WILL SURVIVEIn a traumatic incident, your mind can bethe difference between living and dying.Find out how to make your mind strongerthan steel. BY DR. THOMAS J. NARDI

104 PLAN, PREPARE, SURVIVEDisasters dont make appointments. Theycan happen at any time, and thats exactlywhy you should have these 20 items inyour emergency car kit. BY ABE ELIAS

106 THE DEPTHS OF HUMANITYIf you think its impossible to survive atraumatic event, think again. Then readthese three amazing stories of individualswho did. BY KAREN WILHELMSEN

114 FAST FOODFor any disaster, this pre-stocked food kitis a must-have.BY TORREY KIM

118 REALITY TRAININGIn one of Cody Lundins survival classes,youre going to go through the grinder and youll be glad you did. BY KAREN WILHELMSEN

122 BEST PROFESSORSurvival training is an investment of yourtime and money, and effective instructionwill save you both. Here are 15 tips to findthe best one. BY CODY LUNDIN

126 20 GREAT SURVIVAL SCHOOLS

15 35 54

92

118

BUYERS GUIDES

15 GENERATORS25 FIREARMS35 LIGHT SOURCES44 INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS54 BACKPACKS65 KNIVES76 FOOD, WATER84 GEAR92 SHELTER115 TOOLS

COLUMNS

4 FIRST WORDS6 TIPS, HISTORY, STATS128 CLOSING WORDS

45 Miles from the EpicenterAlthough the room was rocking violently,I sat up in bed and immediately boltedfor the room my two sons shared.

As I approached the hallway, the forceslammed me into the door jam. The suddenimpact created a flash of bright white light, butit only stopped me for an instant.

The sound of breaking glass pierced themassive reverberation created by the earth as ittried to open up and swallow Los Angeles.Adrenaline surged through my body, and I thought my heart would burst through mychest.

As I entered the room, I yelled, Get under the bed.Justin threw his feet over the top rail and scrambled under the bed. Although the

room was bouncing, Byron was still asleep. I grabbed him and pulled him under.As we three lay there, we waited for the apartment building to collapse.

NORTHRIDGE QUAKEThats how my day started on Jan. 17, 1994. It was 4:31 in the morning. I lived with my two sons in Canoga Park, California. At most, we were five miles from

the epicenter of the Northridge Quake. When the earth finally stood still, I stood and looked out. A fire lit the morning

darkness. Due to the enormity of the situation, my mind was racing. Would we die?Should I close the refrigerator door so the food stays fresh? Glass shattered all over.How can I get to the kitchen? What should we do?

I asked the kids if they wanted to get outside before the walls came tumbling down.They were hesitant. At about that moment, an aftershock ripped through the SanFernando Valley again. And then another.

This had to be the Big One, I said, taking a large breath. That was huge. It had tobe at least an 8.

And the power was obvious all across the Valley. The quake thrust the nearby SantaSusanna Mountains upward some four feet. CSUN was hit hard. A multi-tiered parkingstructure leaned over like a wall of mud slowly moving to nearby Chatsworth. Freewayscollapsed in the nearby Newhall Pass. People died. The Richter Scale hit 8, but theofficial reading was 6.7. Scientists said it didnt last long enough to be an 8. Theiroffice couldnt have been in L.A.

GET READYWhere are you going to be when disaster hits your city? And read that again. Three times, if necessary. When. Not if. When. Have you done everything you can to prepare for what is coming? How will you

provide for your family? What will you eat? Dont think it cant happen to you. Whatever you do. ASG

ISSUE 1 / SUMMER/FALL 2012

EDITORIAL Editorial Director: Doug JeffreyEditor: Doug JeffreyManaging Editor: Teena ArtmanArt Director: Ronald Abella

CONTRIBUTORS Thomas J. Nardi, Ph.D., Paul Hantke, Andrew M. Luther,Torrey Kim, Karen Wilhelmsen, Adam Morra, Garrett Kim,Abe Elias, Cody Lundin

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BY DOUG JEFFREY

THINKSTOCK PHOTO

6Got Power?Historic California EarthquakeDevastation Serves As a ReminderKern County, California

July 21, 1952 Magnitude 7.3

This earthquake claimed 12 lives and caused propertydamage estimated at $60 million. On the Southern PacificRailroad southeast of Bealville, the earthquake crackedreinforced-concrete tunnels having walls 46 centimetersthick; it shortened the distance between portals of twotunnels about 2.5 meters and bent the railroad tracks intoS-shaped curves. United States Geological Survey

the quake bent the railroad tracksinto S-shaped curves.

Find Water In the Desert Get to a high point and look for a riparian zone (the area of

vegetation that borders a body of water). Gather succulents and juice them. Scoop out the flesh and

place a large amount in a rag. Twist them until the juices pour out. Use a sheet of plastic to collect dew. Insects and game birds are indicators that you are near water. www.californiasurvivaltraining.comThomas Coyne, chief instructor,

Survival Training School of California

Win a FreeBackpack

This school backpack has plentyof room and compartments for stu-dents on the move. But, it offers somuch more. The iSafe School Back-pack is equipped with an alarmsystem, so you can sound the alarmif you need immediate assistance. Its durable, great forstudents who walk home alone or for any outdoor trip.

To win it, send us an e-mail. Well select a winner atrandom. You must be 18 or older. The address isdjeffrey@beckett.com.

A High 5 How To Prepare for a Flood1 Build an emergency kit and make afamily communication plan.2 Avoid building in a floodplain unlessyou elevate and reinforce your home.3 Elevate the furnace, water heater andelectric panel in your home if you live inan area that has a high flood risk.4 Consider installing "check valves" toprevent flood water from backing up intothe drains of your home.5 If feasible, construct barriers to stopfloodwater from entering the building andseal walls in basements with waterproofingcompounds.FEMA

Thinkstock Photo

Photo courtesy of iSafe

7(Continued on page 10)

WATER EVERYWHERE:Flood Facts, Driving Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passengercars, causing loss of control and possible stalling. A foot of water will float many vehicles. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles,including sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and pick-ups. Do not attempt to drive through a flooded road. The depth ofwater is not always obvious. The road bed may be washed outunder the water, and you could be stranded or trapped. Do not drive around a barricade. Barricades are there for yourprotection. Turn around and go the other way. Do not try to take shortcuts. They may be blocked. Stick todesignated evacuation routes. Be especially cautious driving at night when it is harder torecognize flood dangers.FEMA

Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?Frequency of EarthquakeOccurrence: United States

MAGNITUDE AVERAGE ANNUALLY8 and higher 1 7 - 7.9 15 6 - 6.9 1345 - 5.9 1,319 4 - 4.9 13,0003 - 3.9 130,000 (estimated)2 - 2.9 1,300,000 (estimated)

155Winds from a hurricane can produce winds exceeding this speed. FEMAThinkstock Photo

Fast FactsThe Truth About Tornadoes The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 mph, butmay vary from stationary to 70 mph. Tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanesas they move onto land. Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water. Tornadoes are most frequently reported east of the RockyMountains during spring and summer months. Peak tornado season in the southern states is Marchthrough May; in the northern states, it is late springthrough early summer. FEMA

Thinkstock Photo

10

(Continued from page 7)

Seek and Ye Shall FindFoods in the Wild to Stave Off Hunger

BY GARRETT KIM

80 percent of the world's nations include insects in their diets.

APP-TO-DATEGet the greatest in survival apps! Adapted from John Lofty Wisemans best-selling handbook, SAS

Survival is a must-have for you Android, iPhone and iPad techies. Readtext from book, videos of Lofty demonstrating survival tips, browsephotos of plants to discover which are edible or poisonous and even usethe Morse code signaling feature for speedy rescue.

Not enough? It also includes quizzes to test your know-how, a check-list of what youll need for the wilderness, a sun compass and will giveyou knowledge to become a First Aid, extreme climate know-it-all.

SAS Survival: $5.99, or try the Lite version free. Go towww.sassurvivalguide.com for more information.

Dont rely on McDonalds.The appropriate level of preparation

before a disaster can help ensure thatyour survival pantry is well stocked. Butif youve put food gathering on the backburner and you need to locate your owndinner after a disaster, youll benefitfrom these expert pointers.

FIND FOOD IN THE CITYDont assume that youll starve if you

are in an urban area and not amongfarms.

Nuts, fruits, berries and edibleweeds are some of the most tasty andhighly nutritious foods you can find,says Robert Richardson of OffGridSur-vival.com.

IDENTIFY UNIVERSAL PLANTSCertain edible plants grow across the country. For example,

says Christopher Nyerges, author of Guide to Wild Foods andeducator at the School of Self Reliance, you could make a mealout of lambs-quarter, amaranth, chickweed or sow thistle,among others.

Another example is the ever-present dandelion, Richardsonsays.

Throughout history, weeds like the dandelion have beenused for both food and medicinal purposes, he says. They arerich in a number of important vitamins and micronutrients andcan be found throughout urban and wilderness areas of theUnited States. The entire plant is edible!

DONT FORGET YOUR PROTEINInsects are a great source of protein. Insect larvae, worms and insects are probably among the

best sources of protein in an urban or wilderness setting,Richardson says. They not only provide a great source of protein,but they also make an excellent source for a number of essentialvitamins, minerals and fats.

IF AN INSECT MAKES YOU SQUEAMISHAs weird as it may sound to Americans, 80 percent of the

worlds nations include insects in their diets, Richardson adds.Pound for pound they provide more protein than most animalmeats and are one of the most environmentally-friendly foodsthat you can eat.

VEGANS TAKE NOTEEven if your diet is plant-based, you still need to find protein

in the wild, Nyerges says. We are talking about roots, but mostly seeds, and combinations

of them, he advises. Check out the seed of lambs-quarter and/oramaranth, and even nettle. These are remarkable foods.

In general, you must combine the seeds of grasses and legumesto get proteins, Nyerges adds. The grass seed is relatively easy tocome by, but the legumes are not as common. ASG

Thinkstock Photo

11

Tips for Urban Preparedness

Feb. 9, 1971. 6 a.m.As the residents of the San Fernando Valley were getting

ready for work and school, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake rippedthrough the sprawling Los Angeles suburb. The quake killed 65people and reportedly caused more than a billion dollars indamage.

Jan. 17, 1994. 4:31 a.m.A 6.7 temblor rocked the San Fernando Valley to its core as

the residents were sleeping. This time 57 perished, and officialsestimated damage at $20 billion.

When will the big one hit Southern California? No one knows.And thats exactly why preparedness is critical.

In the following pages, you will get tips on how to survivewhen the infrastructure is obliterated and self-reliance meansthe difference between living and dying.

The American Survival Guide. Because fury happens. ASG

Fury Happens

TH

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12

From the Comfort of a Teddy Bear to Home Schooling

Security BlanketsBY KAREN WILHELMSEN

PHOTOS: THINKSTOCK

When Hurricane Katrina hit, 80 percent of New Orleanswent under watera city home to more than 400,000people at the time.

Swarms of displaced residents sought refuge in the Superdomeand later FEMA trailers where some residents lived for years.This natural disaster was one of the worst in history.

Displacement, even temporary, causes stress for an entirefamily, but it hits children the hardest. Following are signs ofstress and methods to cope, including getting back into theroutine of school.

SIGNS OF STRESSSigns of stress come in various forms. For younger kids, crying, an upset stomach, bed-wetting,

thumb sucking and mood fluctuations are common indicators.

For the middle-school aged children, the same anxiety canoccur, along with other symptoms like irritability, anger, overeatingor loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, headaches, nightmares, nailbiting and avoidance of the problem by distancing themselves.

For teens, theyll be susceptible to seek comfort in drugs andalcohol to cope with pain.

(Source: NYU Child Study Centers Caring for Kids AfterTrauma, Disaster and Death)

SOLUTIONS TO STRESSStress during a crisis is inevitable, but there are a number of

ways to alleviate it.Talk to your children. Ask questions and provide answers,

because the child does not know whats going on. Assure youngkids that its OK to cry and find out what their fears are.

13

PSYCHOLOGY OF A DISASTERThe Crisis of Change, the Comfort of Control

By Thomas J. Nardi, Ph.D.

People are driven to seek pleasure and avoid pain. So say the psychologists who follow the theories of Freud. In contrast to the Freudians are the Behaviorists. They believe that people act according to

rewards and punishments. If a behavior is rewarded, it tends to be repeated; if punished or notrewarded, it usually is not repeated.

While appreciating the merit of these two theories, my experience as a psychologist suggestsanother perspective on what motivates us. Yes, we do seek pleasure (or rewards) and avoid pain(or punishment), but there is perhaps another, even stronger, motive behind our actions.

MOTIVATIONPerhaps what really motivates us the most is the desire for the security provided by the

familiar. The father of American psychology, William James, wrote that Habit is the great flywheel

of society. James believed that habitthe familiar routine of our daily livesis what holdssociety together and keeps us going.

There is a certain comfort in the familiar. It provides a sense of security, control, comfortand safety. The sameness of our day minimizes the disruptions that can tax our ability tocope. The familiar routine helps us achieve and maintain a certain homeostasis or balance bothphysically and emotionally, within ourselves.

We do not want surprises that throw us off. Change challenges us. Changeeven positivechangeproduces stress. Our bodies and minds are called to adapt to a new situation. Thegreater the change, the more of a challenge to regain our homeostatic balance. Major changesproduce what I term a crisis of change.

Calamities, whether natural or manmade, change our lives. The expression everythingchanged after 9/11 illustrates the long lasting effect of one devastating crisis.

GET BACK TO NORMALOne of the best ways of regaining your homeostatic equilibrium after a crisis is to return to

your normal routine as soon as possible. Even if circumstances prevent a full return, the closerto the familiar you can get, the better.

The structure provided by the return to the familiar routine will facilitate recovery from thecrisis. Quite simply, the more control you can establish over your external situation by returningto your normal routine, the more in control you will feel. And, the more in-control you feel, thefaster and better you will recover, survive and overcome the crisis.

The Writer: Thomas J. Nardi practices psychology in New York.

The structure provided by the return to the familiar routine will facilitate

recovery from the crisis. Thomas J. Nardi, psychologist

14

Avoid news coverage on TV, as the media replays violent andhorrific incidences nonstop, which can be scarring.

Use positive thinking and remain in controlyoure the adult. Whats worse than going through a survival situation? Roughing

it alone. So stay positive if your family is safe and together.Its also important to get back into a routine as quickly as

possible.

A ROUTINEDuring times of crisis, its healthy to remain as close to a

normal routine as you can and that includes schooling. Regardless of where youre living, you should have materials

on-hand to home school your children. That way, theyll be mentallyprepared to return to school and wont fall too far behind.

A KEY TO COMFORTIts amazing how a smell or

favorite item can bring you back tomemories of a better time.

Utilize the fact that kids have afavorite toy or comfort blanket thatkeeps them at ease. When packingan emergency kit, be sure to includeat least one item per child for theirpsychological comfort. The itemscould be: A teddy bear Jacket Coloring book Favorite blanket since birth Family photos

During times of crisis, its healthy to remain as close to a normal routine as you can and that includes schooling.

SIGNS OF STRESSYOUNGER CHILDREN Crying An upset stomach Bed-wetting Thumb-sucking Mood fluctuations

MIDDLE-SCHOOL AGED The same anxiety as the

youngsters Nervousness Anger Overeating or loss of appetite Vomiting, nausea, headaches Nightmares Nail-biting

TEENS Drug and alcohol abuse(Source: NYU Child Study CentersCaring for Kids After Trauma, Disas-ter and Death)

TIPS FOR HOME SCHOOLINGIf you have access to a computer, the following sites can provide

a temporary curriculum for your child to continue learning online: For preschool to elementary kids, download the FEMA coloring

book, activity book, and lessons and activities at the FEMA Web site(www.ready.gov/kids); this site also has countless resources for youand your family on coping, planning for risks and building a kit foremergencies

Visit www.time4learning.com for home schooling materials online Or purchase books at www.homeschoolingbooks.com

You can use the textbooks or reading materials that thechildren already have and pick up where they left off at school,or pack workbooks and reading materials for their appropriategrade level.

If youre home schooling for extended periods of time, be sureyou know your states home schooling laws.

ITS ONLY TEMPORARYA natural disaster isnt forever, so rest assured that your life

will go back to normal. And make it as normal as you can as fast as you can from

personal items of comfort to schooling for your child. ASG

15

TheBackup Plan

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUBARU

Great Generators Are In Store Here

In the event of a natural disaster, havinga backup portable generator canmean the difference between night anddayand we mean either having light orstaying left in the dark.

These generators offer a wide selectionin watts, sizes and capabilities for anysurvivalists needs. So the next time youexperience an earthquake, tornado orhurricane that knocks out power lines onyour block, dont sweat it. Youll be covered.

16

(Continued on page 18)

GENERACPRODUCT COREPOWER SERIESWEBSITE WWW.GENERAC.COMMSRP $1,995 AND UP

The 7-kilowatt CorePower Series is ideal if you onlyneed to protect your essential circuits and want aportable, affordable option for standby power Starts automatically when the power goes off, ifyoure home or not Provides immediate backup power and runs on LP ornatural gas fuel

ALL POWER AMERICAPRODUCT 1,200W GENERATOR, 2 STROKEWEBSITE WWW.ALLPOWERAMERICA.COMMSRP $134.99 AND UP

Lightweight and compact, 44 pounds Runs lights, coffee makers, small tools at campsites Attached rubber feet reduce vibrations, circuit breakerprotects generator from overload Air-cooled 2 stroke engineand 1.2 gallon tank capacity;runs 8.5 hours at half loadon 1.2 gallons of fuel;delivers 1,200 wattssurge or 800 wattscontinuous

ALL POWER AMERICAPRODUCT APG3560 6,000W GENERATORWEBSITE WWW.ALLPOWERAMERICA.COMMSRP $736 AND UP

Propane powered, 6,000 surge watts; 5,000 running watts 13 HP OHV engine with electric start Two 120V outlets and one 120V twist locking outlet 20 pounds, providing 8 hours of runtime on half a load

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(Continued from page 16)

ALL POWER AMERICAPRODUCT APGG10000 10,000W GENERATORWEBSITE WWW.ALLPOWERAMERICA.COMMSRP $899 AND UP

Electric/recoil start with a battery (maintenance-free batteryincluded) 420ccOHV air-cooled engine; 10,000W surge and 8,000Wrated; horsepower 15 HP Has a fuel capac-ity of 8 gallons (takesunleaded gasoline)and a protective cir-cuit breaker

BUFFALO TOOLSPRODUCT SPORTSMAN GEN7000LPWEBSITE WWW.BUFFALOTOOLS.COMMSRP $785 AND UP

13 HP 4 stroke OHV engine, 7,000 surge watts/6,000 runningwatts Electric and recoil start Automatic low-oil shutdown and voltage regulator 3,600 RPM, EPA approved and last longer than traditionalgasoline genera-tors Engine runtimeis 8 hours at 50percent load per20 pounds of LPfuel

CHAMPION POWER EQUIPMENTPRODUCT 1200W GENERATORWEBSITE WWW.CHAMPIONPOWEREQUIPMENT.COMMSRP VARIES PER RETAILER

1,200 running watts/1,500 starting watts Comes with a 2-year limited warranty Uses intelligauge (for volts, frequency and operation hours) Has a runtime of 10 hours at the 50 percent load

CHAMPION POWER EQUIPMENTPRODUCT 6500W REMOTE START GENERATORWEBSITE WWW.CHAMPIONPOWEREQUIPMENT.COMMSRP VARIES PER RETAILER

6,500 running watts/8,250 starting watts Comes with a wireless remote starter and a 2-year limitedwarranty 2, 10-inch never-flat wheels Has a runtime of 8 hours at the 50 percent load

19

SUBARUPRODUCT SUBARU ROBIN RG3200IS INVERTER GENERATOR WEBSITE WWW.ROBINAMERICA.COMMSRP $2,446

Control panel thats user friendly 3,200 watts of power, with a multi-monitor display that shows voltage, hours or operation and if its overloaded (for prevention) Engine automatically shuts off if low oil level is detected Adjusts engine speeds to meet power requirements ASG

GENERACPRODUCT GP SERIES PORTABLE

GENERATORS (5,500W)WEBSITE WWW.GENERAC.COMMSRP $689

A favorite for home use, emergency power, or power forcamping, job sites and outdoor events Uses Generacs OHVengines with cast-iron cylin-der sleeves and low-oil shut-down Comes with a large steeltank, has easy-to-read fuelgauges for extended runtimesand covered outletsall pro-tected by a steel tube cradle

GENERACPRODUCT XG SERIES PORTABLE

GENERATORS (6500W)WEBSITE WWW.GENERAC.COMMSRP $1.025 AND UP

Ideal for home or work use because of its great quality,power and reliability. Powered by the OHVI engine, the XG Series features an illu-minated control panel andPowerBar to d isp lay thewatt capacity Steel tube cradle, full-wrap f rame tub ing andimpact resistant corners Covered outlets providesome extra protection

IMD LLCPRODUCT 22KW PTO GENERATOR WEBSITE WWW.IMDLLC.COMMSRP $2,690

22,000-watt continuous output, 90-amp output at 240V Power Meter Pro installed on the back ofthe unit Small unit thats powerful enoughto supply energy to your home inneed; high-quality PTO generatorwith heavy-duty single-phase andbrushless design for maintenance-free performance Aluminum- and steel-built for dura-bility

KOHLERPRODUCT 20KW HOME STANDBY GENERATOR WEBSITE WWW.KOHLERPOWER.COMMSRP $4,949

Protects your home during extended power outages; automatic,air-cooled engine Standby generator for residential use 60 Hz frequency, rated wattage: 20,000 watt Warranty: 5 years/2,000 hours

20

21

Armed and ReadySTORY AND PHOTOS BY PAUL HANTKE

The Complete Guide to Buying a Used Handgun

IF the world gets crazy, you gotta be ready. And thats exactly why your list of must-have items should include a handgun.At first, it may seem like a monumental task, especially if the closest youve been to a

gun is a 3D showing of the latest action movie at your local theater. But its cool, because,as youre about to find out, buying a used handgun is a lot like buying a car.

You simply need to define your needs, the job for which it is intended (self-defense),determine your budget and then investigate the market. Once you have narroweddown the field, it is time to kick some tires.

FIRST IMPRESSIONSFirst impressions are important.Youll see NIB (new in box) guns with all their original packaging down to those that

the owner keeps wrapped up in an oily ragor worse. For those guns that are not boxed,there are some simple first steps to take in your evaluation.

THINKSTOCK PHOTO

22

First, confirm that the firearm is unloaded before your initialinspection. Then, go down this checklist:

What is the general condition of the gun? Is it clean overall? Is the bore bright and shiny with crisp edges to the rifling

and no damage to the crown at the muzzle? Are there any scratches, dents, dings or other evidence of

mistreatment or accidents? How is the finish? Rust or corrosion is obviously a problem,

although if the gun is sound you can always refinish it if it isfinancially feasible. However, that typically destroys any collectorvalue that may have existed.

Be aware that many guns will show a lot of holster wear tocertain spots on the firearm but still be mechanically tight. Youcan either touch those spots up or let the old gun wear themproudly.

It really is that simple for starters. From there you can dosome basic ergonomics and mechanical checking. Ill coverspecifics for both revolvers and pistols in a moment, but first letslook at the basics.

THE BASICSHaving confirmed that the gun is completely unloaded, start

by seeing if it fits you. The coolest gun in the world is no good if it doesnt fit your

hand and point naturally for you. You should be able to focus ona target across the room, close your eyes and raise the gun.When you open your eyes, it should be pretty well aligned withthat spot. If not, you may be able to correct that with differentstocks (grips), or maybe you should just find a different gun.

Continue by checking its basic action. Check to make sure thatthe safeties work as designed, and that the cylinder, slide ormagazine latches work properly.

Ask if you may dry fire the handgun to check the trigger,and ask if you can test fire it.

Besides trying the gun, looking at fired brass can tell you alot. Off-center primer strikes are not good, backed-out primersare not good, and cases from a semi-auto with smudged primerimpacts or obvious rim damage from an extractor are not good.

Most often, there will not be a chance to actually shoot thegun, so be warned you will probably be buying a pig in a pokeand hoping for the best.

REVOLVERSThat circular thing with the holes in it is the cylinder, and it

needs to spin freely and squarely to produce reliability and con-sistent accuracy from chamber to chamber.

You may find that the cylinder is marked with a line aroundthe bolt-stops, which are the cut-outs at the rear of the cylin-der. This indicates that there is a weak spring or a timing

BEFORE YOU BUY Define your needs Determine your budget Investigate the market Once you have narrowed down the field, it is time to kick some tires.

THE INITIAL INSPECTION What is the guns general condition? Is it clean overall? Is the bore bright and shiny with crisp edges to the rifling and nodamage to the crown at the muzzle? Are there any scratches, dents, dings, or other evidence of mistreatment or accidents? How is the finish?

The two basic revolver designs are represented here by the Ruger singleaction (top), and the Smith & Wesson double-action (trigger-cocking).

An easy way to check a single action cylinder pin is roll it on a hard, flatsurface, as you would do with a pool cue stick.

Magazines should insert easily, lock in securely and drop freewhen released.

There are so many different trigger designs on pistols todaythat it is hard to talk about them without starting your own book.In any case, youll have traditional single-action, double-action(trigger cocking) first round with a transition to single-action,double-action only or what Glock calls a safe action with anactivator on the trigger and a pre-loaded striker.

23

problem because the locking bolt has been dragging on thecylinder.

The cylinder should not wobble sideways. It also should notmove forward and/or backward when in battery, or you have acondition called end shake.

Rotate the cylinder and watch to see if the gap between thebarrel extension through the frame and the front of the cylinderchanges as it rotates. It should be minimal and consistent.

The ejector rod on swing-out cylinders can be checked fortrueness by holding it upright and against a plain backgroundwhile rotating it. Single action guns with removable cylinder pinscan be inspected much like a pool cue stickjust roll it on a hard,flat surface.

Finally, check the inside of the top strap of the frame justabove the barrel extension to make sure there is not significantflame-cutting and that the forcing cone (end of the barrel thatreceives the bullet from the cylinder) does not appear to beeroded. A little bit is to be expected with an older gun, but awell-defined torch line, especially on a newer gun, tells you thatit was fired with a lot of hot rounds.

PISTOLSThe semi-auto is a bit more complicated than the revolver, but

there are a few basic tests that will give you some idea about thegun.

Slide-to-frame fit should be snug but smooth in operation andhave no slop when in battery.

The barrel should also lock up tightly at both ends, and youcan test this by pushing on its locking pointsthe chamber andthe muzzle.

A double-action cylinder pin/ejector rod can bechecked by holding it up with a good contrastingsurface behind it and then rotating it.

The barrel-to-cylinder gap is where the portionof the barrel that extends through the framealmost meets the cylinder. Hold the gun up,look through the gap and slowly cycle theaction. The space should remain consistent,and anything that looks off square should besuspect.

Check the top strap just above the barrel to cylindergap for flame cutting and inspect the forcingcone of the barrel for erosion, which indicates therevolver has been fed a lot of hot ammo.

The coolest gun in the world is no good if it doesnt fit your hand and point naturally for you.

From the top: a Beretta 92 with a double-action/single-action trigger, a1911 Colt with a straight single-action trigger and a Glock with a safe-action trigger.

24

This is really part of youdoing your homework beforegoing shopping. You need toknow what you are lookingfor, because each design hasdifferent features, and somerequire more training andtrigger time before I wouldrecommend them to noviceshooters.

Another area of concernshould be the feed ramp areaof the pistol, as feeding mal-functions could have scarredthis over time, especially withan alloy frame or polymer pistol.

If you can field-strip the pistol, it should be easy to see anyunusual wear patterns or obvious problems. Unlike the revolver, achange of sights is common on a pistol, so see if the sights areset in dovetails (and what are the dovetail specs?), as that willdetermine part of your overall cost.

If the front sight is pinned, it must be drilled out fromunderneath for a change, and if the rear sight is not in a standarddovetail, the slide will have to be machined and then refinished(unless it is stainless steel).

Today, many modern pistols allow for a change of stocks,and some of the newer models even have interchangeable backstrap inserts with specific profiles for the grip to change the feel,balance, and natural pointing angle of the handgun for shootersof all dimensions.

BE READYYou never know when the world may get tossed upside

down, so its better to have a firearm that can provide the self-defense you need just in case you need it. ASG

Paul Hantke, the former editor of ASG, has written aboutfirearms for close to three decades.

The barrel needs to lock up tightly at both ends, which is easy enough tocheck by pushing down on the chamber through the ejection port. Themuzzle should also be tight in the frame.

Accuracy Speed Distance shooting One-handed shooting Speed reloads Double taps Multiple targets Low-light shooting

ITEMS A FIREARM INSTRUCTOR WILL TEACH YOU8

KEY TIPS TOREMEMBER

DID YOUKNOW

7

?

THE LIMITATIONS OF

LASERS

To protect your homestead, try these things in addition to having yourself-defense weapon: Know the quickest way into/out of your home Consider a fence, wall or shrubs to prohibit unwanted home entry Use thorned bushes, cacti or palm fronds to create a natural barrier Invest in a gate with a sturdy deadbolt Get motion-activated lights Use protective animals like dogs; where possible, use livestock Install an alarm

Good training will teach you the parameters within which you can usedeadly force in self-defense.

The instructors of a shooting school should be available to explainto the court why you were taught what you were taught and whyactions such as what you did should be considered reasonable underthe circumstances.

Very bright light can make some laser beams hard to spot on a target.Lasers that are not in direct line with the bore of the weapon aredesigned so the nominal midline of the bore and the laser beam willcoincide at a certain distance. Beyondor short of that distancethelaser beam and the midline of the bore will not be completely synchro-nized on the target. Jerry Ahern

Another thing to check at the chamberend of the barrel is the feed ramp.These vary from this one fromBeretta, to the original 1911 stylewith a bit of a bevel to the surfaces,to ramped (or reinforced) units.

25

TheUltimate inProtectionFirearms for Self-Defense

Firearms.They are the ultimate form of protection.And one thing is most definitely clear: Theyre effective

in getting the job done should you have to protect yourhome.

So be prepared.

Thin

ksto

ck P

hoto

26

HANDGUNS

CHIAPPA FIREARMS PRODUCT RHINO WEBSITE WWW.CHIAPPAFIREARMS.COMMSRP $775

OPERATION: DA/SA Revolver; DAO optionalCALIBERS: .38/.357, .357/9 mm combo, .40 S&WCAPACITY: 6 roundsBARREL LENGTHS: 2, 4, 5 and 6 inchesSIGHTS: Fixed (2-inch model), other models micro adjustable GRIPS: Rubber, walnut, olive wood, laminate and neopreneFINISHES: Black anodized/black steel finish, hard chrome option (White Rhino)WEIGHT: 25, 30, 31.6, 33 ounces, respectively OVERALL LENGTH: 6.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 inches, respectively

LONE WOLF DISTRIBUTINGPRODUCT WEREWOLFWEBSITE WWW.LONEWOLFDIST.COMMSRP $1,348

OPERATION: Safe ActionCALIBERS: 9 mm, .40 S&W, .357 SIGCAPACITY: 17+1 (9 mm), 15+1 (.40 & .357) roundsBARREL LENGTH: 5.85 inchesSIGHTS: Burris FastFire II micro red dotGRIP: Interchangeable backstops (swelled and flat included) FINISH: Stainless steel slide, polymer frame WEIGHT: 25.3 ouncesOVERALL LENGTH: 9.125 inches

RUGERPRODUCT LCRWEBSITE WWW.RUGER.COMMSRP $525; $575 (XS SIGHTS); $792 (LASERGRIPS)

OPERATION: DAOCALIBERS: .38 Spl+P; .357 MagnumCAPACITY: 5 roundsBARREL LENGTH: 2 inchesSIGHTS: Fixed, XS Standard Dot tritium, CT LaserGripGRIP: Hogue Tamer, CT LaserGripFINISH: Matte black, Target Grey cylinderWEIGHT: 13 (with CT LaserGrip); 13.5 (with Hogue Tamer);17.1 ounces (with .357 Mag)OVERALL LENGTH: 6.5 inches

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SIG SAUER PRODUCT P250FWEBSITE WWW.SIGSAUER.COM MSRP $558

OPERATION: DAO CALIBERS: 9 mm, .357 SIG, .40 S&W, .45 ACPMAGAZINE CAPACITY/TYPE: (9 mm) 17 rounds, (.357SIG,.40 S&W) 14 Rounds, (.45 ACP) 10 rounds BARREL LENGTH: 4.7 inchesRATE OF TWIST: 1:16SIGHTS: Siglite Night sightsRAILS: 1913 Accessory Rail GRIP: Black polymer FINISH: Black Nitron stainless slideWEIGHT, EMPTY: 29.4 ounces OVERALL LENGTH: 8.0 inches

SIG SAUERPRODUCT P239 SAS GEN 2WEBSITE WWW.SIGSAUER.COMMSRP $1,015

OPERATION: DA/SACALIBERS: 9 mm, .40 S&W, .357 SIGCAPACITY: 8 rounds (9 mm) 7 rounds (.40 S&W, .357 SIG)BARREL LENGTH: 3.5 inchesSIGHTS: SIGLITE night sightsGRIP: Black polymer FINISH: Satin stainless slide, black hard-anodized frameWEIGHT: 29.5 ouncesOVERALL LENGTH: 6.5 inches

SMITH & WESSON PRODUCT SMITH & WESSON 642 CT WEBSITE WWW.SMITH-WESSON.COM MSRP $669

OPERATION: DAO revolverCALIBER: .38 S&W Special +PCAPACITY: 5 roundsBARREL LENGTH: 1.875 inchesSIGHTS: Fixed rear, integral front and CT LasergripsGRIP: Synthetic rubberFINISH: Matte silverWEIGHT: 15.3 ouncesOVERALL LENGTH: 6.32 inches

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SMITH & WESSONPRODUCT M&P357WEBSITE WWW.SMITH-WESSON.COMMSRP $727

OPERATION: Striker Fire ActionCALIBER: .357 AutoMAGAZINE CAPACITY/TYPE: 15BARREL LENGTH: 4.25 inchesSIGHTS: Front: White Dot Dovetail, Rear: steel low profile carryGRIP: 3 interchangeable Palmswell grip sizesFINISH: Black Melonite, 68 HRcWEIGHT, EMPTY: 25.5 ouncesOVERALL LENGTH: 7.63 inches

TAURUS PRODUCT 85 ULTRA LITE WEBSITE WWW.TAURUSUSA.COMMSRP $461

OPERATION: RevolverCALIBER: .38 Special + PMAGAZINE CAPACITY/TYPE: 5 ShotBARREL LENGTH: 2 inchesSIGHTS: FixedGRIP: RubberFINISH: Matte stainlessWEIGHT, EMPTY: 17 ouncesOVERALL LENGTH: 6.5 inches

SHOTGUNS EUROPEAN AMERICAN ARMORY CORP.PRODUCT SAR SPECIAL PURPOSE SHOTGUNWEBSITE WWW.EAACORP.COMMSRP $327

OPERATION: Semi-AutoCALIBER: 12-gaugeMAGAZINE CAPACITY/TYPE: 5 rounds, tubeBARREL LENGTH: 18.5 inches STOCK: Synthetic pistol gripWEIGHT, EMPTY: 5.75 poundsOVERALL LENGTH: 39 inches

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O.F. MOSSBERG & SONS, INC.PRODUCT BLACKWATER 500 CRUISERWEBSITE WWW.MOSSBERG.COMMSRP $447

OPERATION: PumpCALIBER: 12-gaugeMAGAZINE CAPACITY/TYPE: 6 rounds, tubeBARREL LENGTH: 18.5 inchesSTOCK: Synthetic, pistol gripWEIGHT, EMPTY: 5.75 poundsOVERALL LENGTH: 31 inches

KEL-TEC CNC INDUSTRIES, INC.PRODUCT KSGWEBSITE WWW.KELTECWEAPONS.COMMSRP $880

OPERATION: PumpCALIBER: 12-gaugeMAGAZINE CAPACITY/TYPE: 14 rounds, tubesBARREL LENGTH: 26 inchesSTOCK: Glass-reinforced nylon pistol gripWEIGHT: 6.9 poundsOVERALL LENGTH: 26.1 inches

WILSON COMBATPRODUCT PROFESSIONAL MODELWEBSITE WWW.WILSONCOMBAT.COMMSRP $1,355

OPERATION: PumpCALIBER: 12-gaugeMAGAZINE CAPACITY: 5 rounds, tubeBARREL LENGTH: 14 inchesSIGHTS: Aperture, bladeSTOCK: Synthetic with tactical forendWEIGHT, EMPTY: 8.4 poundsOVERALL LENGTH: 34.4 inches ASG

30

Rock and Roll ANDREW M. LUTHERPHOTOS: THINKSTOCK What To Do Before, After the

Earth Shakes Violently

Every year, more than 100 earthquakes of 6.0 or greateroccur.Because they strike with no warning, earthquakes must surely

be among natures most terrifying and dangerous phenomenons.As with all disasters, a little preparation can go a long way inmitigating the effects of these extremely dangerous disasters.

BEFORE THE QUAKEImportant steps must be taken long before an earthquake occurs. Inspect your home and identify hazards such as tall book-

cases or heavy pieces of furniture that could fall over. Anchorthem to the wall using flexible straps or hooks.

Make sure heavy objects are securely anchored to the wall

and not placed on high shelves or near a bed where they couldfall and injure someone.

Pack a kit with enough supplies to survive outside the housefor at least three days and ensure that it is both accessible andknown to everyone in your household.

Officials also recommend that you create a family plan forescaping and meeting after an emergency.

DURING THE QUAKEIn spite of what many people have been told, the doorways in

the vast majority of modern buildings are no stronger than therest of the structure. So, when an earthquake strikes, the safestthing to do is take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture and

31

Because they strike with no warning, earthquakes must surely be among

natures most terrifying and dangerous phenomenons.

Unless a trained professional or in the

case of a severed limb,use of a tourniquet by anamateur can very quickly

lead to the death of a limb and

its amputation.

32

THE EMERGENCY PLAN No matter what the disaster is,

developing a communications plan foryou and your family is key.

Agree on a location (and analternative location) to meet in caseyou are apart when a disaster strikes.

Select a family or friend far awaywith whom everyone can check in,should they get the chance to use aphone or e-mail.

ONE OF AN EARTHQUAKES GREATEST DANGERS

AND HOW TO OVERCOME ITOne of the greatest dangers after an

earthquake may come from where youleast expect itthe water.

Ruptured pipes, leaking sewage andinsufficient water treatment can producea water supply that can lead to sicknessor death from a variety of diseases.

Vigorously boiling water for 10 minutes,or using a professional water filter, cango a long way to preventing illness oreven death. You should also have a supplyof bottled water on hand.

The effects of dehydration can be justas deadly. Humans can go days, or evenweeks, without food, but death fromdehydration can occur in days or evenhours, depending on conditions.

cover your head with a soft object oryour hands.

As soon as the earthquake is over,immediately leave the buildinganddo not return inside. Even if a buildinglooks to be secure, invisible structuraldamage or gas leaks could cause damagelong after the earthquake has ended.

BEYOND THE WESTContrary to popular belief, earthquakes are not

restricted to the West. On Aug. 23, 2011, the strongest earthquake east of the

Rocky Mountains in more than 100 years struck nearWashington, D.C. Felt in more than a dozen states andcausing hundreds of millions in damage, the quake servesas a reminder that earthquakes can occur anywhere.

33

FIRST AID MYTHSTHE PROPER WAY TO HANDLE THE EMERGENCY

By Andrew M. Luther

Knowing what not to do in an emergency can be almost as important as knowing what todo. Here are a few common myths of First Aid dispelled:

ONE MYTH: To stop profuse bleeding, apply a tourniquet to the wound.SOLUTION: Unless a trained professional or in the case of a severed limb, use of a tourniquet

by an amateur can very quickly lead to the death of a limb and its amputation. Instead, apply heavy pressure to the wound with a towel, bandage or other piece of cloth.

Do not give over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin because that may increase blood loss.Immediately get to a medical professional.

TWO MYTH: Remove a knife or other foreign object from a victim. SOLUTION: Removing a foreign object from the body, such as a knife or arrow, is never a

good idea. Indeed, removing it will usually domore harm than good, as the object not onlymay be preventing further blood loss, but maycause even more severe damage on the wayout.

Instead, attempt to keep the object stableand immediately go to the emergency room.

THREE MYTH: If someone faints or feels like he may

faint, have him put his head between his knees. SOLUTION: This will likely only lead the person

to fall forward. The proper way to handle thesituation is to have him lie down with his legselevated to increase blood flow to the brain.

(Sources: American Heart Association, FEMA,U.S. Army Survival Guide)

EXPAND YOUR FIRST AID SKILLS

Simple courses lasting just anafternoon can be found at local hospitalsand American Red Cross centers.

If you have more time available,courses such as Certified EmergencyMedical Technician, Wilderness FirstResponder or Certified First Respondercan usually be found at a local communitycollege or university.

These courses offer in-depth trainingand often end in career-building certifi-cates and licenses, as well.

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Available with 1/16 or 1/8 contours. Each scale is 1/4 x 1 1/2 x 5 for a set of two. Single colors are only $22.95 for, black, orange, pink and olive drab. Dual colors are only $24.95 which include your choice of red/black, blue/black and black/olive drab. State the color, texture and contour desired when ordering.

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JANTZ1-800-351-8900

34

WHEN THE HEART ATTACKSEarthquakes can be terrifying and

could possibly trigger a heart attack. Sudden cardiac arrest (often called a

heart attack) remains the leadingcause of death in the United States. Fromrecommendations on how to performcardio pulmonary resuscitation, to newtechnologies, here are some of thebiggest changes:

On March 31, 2008, the AmericanHeart Association updated its suggestedmethod in the case of cardiac arrest.Completely removing rescue breathing,the AHA now recommends performingONLY chest compressions. Researchconducted by the AHA has suggestedthis may double the effectiveness of CPR.

With a doctors prescription, youtoo can have the single most effectivelifesaver in the case of cardiac arrest:the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).

According to the American HeartAssociation, for every minute after theonset of cardiac arrest, survival falls by 10percent. While the national survival ratefrom sudden cardiac arrest is less than 10percent, when an AED is used within thefirst five minutes, this rises to 74 percent.Modern AEDs are small, compact and veryeasy to use. One activated, through vocalcommands or prompts, the machines aidthe rescuer in the set up process. Oncethe electrodes are placed on the victim,the machine automatically analyzes datasuch as breathing, heart rate and bloodpressure to determine how and when itshould deliver the charge.

CPR alone will not restart a heart. CPRis intended only to continue the circulationof blood to the brain until a defibrillatorcan be used.

CPR alone will not restart a heart.CPR is intended only to continue

the circulation of blood to the brainuntil a defibrillator can be used.

THE ESSENTIALSWHAT YOUR FIRST AID KIT MUST INCLUDE

In a medical emergency, a properly packed First Aid kit can mean the difference betweenlife and death.

While the most important tool to have with you in a disaster is proper training, the InternationalRed Cross recommends that all First Aid kits have the following items. Of course, additionalpreparations should be made depending on you and your familys individual circumstances.

Even more dangerous, aftershocksasstrong or even strongercan continue tooccur days or even weeks after the initialearthquake. Remain outdoors and awayfrom tall buildings or other objects until aprofessional has ensured it is safe toreturn.

AFTER THE QUAKEThe aftermath of an earthquake can

be as deadly as the initial jolt.Aftershocks can continue to cause

damage, devastating structures alreadydamaged by the initial quake. In somecases, electricity and communications

networks will be disrupted, overwhelmedor even destroyed. Make sure you havea generator, matches, flashlights andfood.

Roads and highways are likely to bedamaged or even impassable fromdamage and debris, impeding the abilityof police, fire department or medicalservices to provide help.

If your home is destroyed, head to theclosest shelter. ASG

Andrew Luther is a freelance writerbased in North Carolina.

2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)

25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes) 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch) 5 antibiotic ointment packets

(approximately 1 gram) 5 antiseptic wipe packets 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each) 1 blanket (space blanket) 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve) 1 instant cold compress 2 pair of non-latex gloves (size: large)

2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)

Scissors 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide) 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide) 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches) 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches) Oral thermometer (non-mercury/

non-glass) 2 triangular bandages Tweezers First Aid instruction booklet

For safe drinkingwater, boil it for 10minutes.

35

Let There Be LightFrom Fire Starters to Flashlights to Lanterns,

These Hot Items Will Light a Spark

PHOTO COURTESY OFKELTY

Thequake has rocked your citysfoundation to the core. Buildingshave collapsed, infrastructure is in disarrayand there is no power.

And thats why you have got to be ready.To help you prepare, we have selected thebest in flashlights, lanterns and matches. Getthese hot new items today, so you wont beleft in the dark tomorrow.

36

FIRE STARTERSAND MORE

D.LIGHTPRODUCT D.LIGHT S10 SOLAR LANTERNWEBSITE WWW.DLIGHTDESIGN.COMMSRP $15.95

A great, green alternative to a typical flashlight or latern isthe d.light Solar Latern, which offers about eight hours of brightlighting Can be charged by the solar panel (even on rainy or cloudydays) or through electric charging Can withstand tough conditions, harsh weather, accidentaldrops and intense heat A product thats helping provide light to families without reliableelectricity

CANDLE LAMPPRODUCT SOFT LIGHT CANDLESWEBSITE WWW.CANDLELAMP.COMMSRP VARIES PER RETAILER/SIZE

Candle Lamps l ine of SoftLight oil-based candles can burnand burn and burnanywherefrom eight hours to a whopping115 hours depending on the size. They dont drip messy wax allover the place like traditional can-dles, and theyre disposable. Made from refined clear liquidparaffin, theyre non-hazardousand the fuel cells can even berecycled

EXOTACPRODUCT TINDERTINWEBSITE WWW.EXOTAC.COMMSRP $5.95

This tin has tinder that lights quickly, burns hot and is windand moisture tolerant. Takes the hassle out of searching for firewood outdoors Made from domestic organic materials with reusable tin

(Continued on page 38)

38

(Continued from page 36)

EXOTACPRODUCT POLYSTRIKER XLWEBSITE WWW.EXOTAC.COMMSRP $17.95

Burns at nearly 5,500 degreesFahrenheit! The ferrocerium rod works evenwhen wet, its ultra lightweight anddurable, and is a tungsten carbidestriking tool Comes with lanyard and instruc-tions so youll never be without firewhen you need it most

LIGHT MY FIREPRODUCT SWEDISH FIRESTEEL 2.0 SCOUT WEBSITE WWW.LIGHTMYFIRE.COMMSRP $12.99 AND UP

Light My Fire lives up to its name. Thisfire starter is the perfect tool to light acampfire, stove or barbecue. It works just as well when wet and atall altitudes, capable of producing 3,000strikes, each at 5,400F. The fire or sparks are a great way tosignal for help in an emergency. The striker handle even includes anemergency whistle. Available in over seven fun colors

AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES NETWORK CORP (ATN)PRODUCT ATN JAVELIN J600WEBSITE WWW.ATNCORP.COMMSRP $209

This tactical flashlight reckoned with. Equipped multi-edged bezel, this one c be used as a weapon for your ptection. Even bet ter , i ts output is 6lumens, its made of aircraft-grade 60aluminum, has an LED lamp, weighs a m ounces and is7.9 inches long. Controls on the tailcap provide either momentary or con-stant illumination. This flashlight might just be your ticket tosafety.

FLASHLIGHTS

UCOPRODUCT STORMPROOF MATCH KITWEBSITE WWW.INDUSTRIALREV.COMMSRP $6.99

Have you ever seen matchesl ike these? The UCO Storm-proof Match Kit comes with 25matches (can hold up to 40)and three strikers, so you canget a fire going even if yourpack got soaked in the rain. The case is ribbed so itseasier to grip and features an integrated striker for easier lighting. These bad-boys stay lit for as long as 15 secondseven iftheyve been fully submerged in water.

BROWNINGPRODUCT ON POINT FLASHLIGHT, AAWEBSITE WWW.BROWNING.COMMSRP $49.99

Contains an LED rated for 50,000 hours thatnever needs to be replaced I t comes with a clip to easily attach to apocket, belt or other strap The high setting is 105 lumens, or it has a 20-hour runtime on low. We recommend this one because it has a fast-strobe setting for personal rescue signaling. In addition, it fea-tures a rugged aluminum base with an unbreakable lens,has been drop-tested and is water-resistant.

BUSHNELL OUTDOORPRODUCTSPRODUCT HD TORCH

BONE COLLEC WEBSITE WWW.BUSHNMSRP $113

Made of a ircraft-gradewaterproof a luminum, thbad-boy produces 200 lumen lightand has runtime of 90 Handheld and part of the B Length 9.2 inches, weight of 9.8 ounces

39

LANTERNS

SUREFIREPRODUCT P2X FURY (DUAL-OUTPUT LED)WEBSITE WWW.SUREFIRE COMMSRP $155

If youre going to splurge a tactical flashlight, wed lito introduce to you SureFireFury. It has two settings: low lumens, with a 46 hour runtim high (500 lumens, with a 1.5 hour runtime). Its super small (5.4 inches long and weighs 5.7 ounces) butoh so mighty. Make Fury your very own pocket-sized searchlight. With anaerospace aluminum body and a secure grip, its hard anodizedto military specifications for extreme resistance to scratches,abrasion and corrosion.

EUREKA!PRODUCT WARRIOR 230 IR LEDWEBSITE WWW.EUREKATENT.COMMSRP $64.99

This lantern comes with a remotecontrol that can be operated 25 feetaway and features its own LED for navi-gating around a campsite at night. Will last two days of off non-stop useon high mode Manual or infrared remote operationprovides bright white area l ight ingwhich becomes brighter when diffuserglobe is removed SOS flash mode and IR standby modeequipped

JOBYPRODUCT GORILLATORCH SWITCHBACK WEBSITE WWW.JOBY.COMMSRP $59.95

The GorillaTorch Switch-back is an easy- to-useheadlamp/lantern that usesa bright, five-LED light dis-play (up to 130 lumens). Bendable legs can attachto a tree, pole or stand onits own It features a 92 percent ultra-efficient holographic lens, hasred or white LEDS for night vision or flood lighting, includes sixdifferent brightness settings, has a battery life of 72 hours

GERBERPRODUCT BEAR GRYLLS SURVIVAL TORCHWEBSITE WWW.GERBERGEAR.COMMSRP $32

The Bear Grylls Survival Torch is a lot like BearGryllsmighty, powerful and up for some adventure.The Survival Torch features a water-resistant rubberhandle, has a 36-hour runtime and an interior cap-sule to store anything from waterproof matches totinder. On high its 15 lumens, with an overall length of5.98 inches, a weight of 3.89 ounces and runs on AAbatteries. Its ready for survival. Are you?

KELTYPRODUCT FLASHBACKWEBSITE WWW.KELTY.COMMSRP $45.95

Two, for the price of one! This 2-in-1 F lashback by Ke l ty is anadjustable spotlight and lanternall in a compact, durable aluminumcasing with rubberized non-sl ipends. Features a five-step switch thatallows for high to strobe in seconds. This strobe light could just saveyour life out there.

PAROHPRODUCT 2-IN-1 LED WIND-UPLANTERNWEBSITE WWW.PROTEAM.CO.UKMSRP VARIES PER RETAILER

20 Tritronic Optrimax LEDs with an11 LED latern function 9-LED torch funct ion, black softtouch finish, magnetic base stand anddirectional light Wind this latern up for one minute,and youll get 30 minutes of power for 9LEDs or 25 minutes of power of 11 LEDs It can also be charged with AC/DCadapters ASG

40

SurvivalPantry

BY TORREY KIMPHOTOS: THINKSTOCK

Being self-reliant in the wake of a disasterwhether its natural ormanmadedoesnt just mean you have to find shelter. Youll need sustenance to keep your mental and physical strength, and

you probably cant rely on any grocery store to provide it for you. Considerthese six essentials when preparing your survival pantry.

1. READY YOUR SOIL IN ADVANCE If your contingency plan is to grab a cucumber from the refrigerator after a

disaster and plant the seeds in your yard, youll be hungry for quite a while,experts say. Instead, know what type of soil you have, and prepare it for agarden well in advance of a disaster.

A family should first begin with the richest quality soil possible bydeveloping it, advises Lisa Bedford, author of The Survival Mom andeditor of the blog at www.thesurvivalmom.com. This is an enormousfactor in successful gardening. Begin a compost bucket, or if spaceallows, a larger compost area outdoors.

2. DETERMINE WHAT TO PLANT Do you love avocados? Dont start planting the pits right away. Instead,

visit farmers markets to find out what grows best in your area, rather thantrusting the home improvement store nurseries or seed catalogs, Bedfordadvises.

Get to know your growing season and region, she says. Your countyextension office can provide a wealth of information for your area.

You should also track what produce you already buy and use most.Dont plant celery, for example, if you rarely use it and no one likes to eat

it, she says. If they grow well in your region, you should consider planting ingredients

commonly used in soup and stew recipes, such as onions, carrots, tomatoesand green beans, because those can go far for large groups.

3. START A SMALL GARDEN Once youve developed rich soil, you should plant a few seeds to see

whether theyre successful. But dont fall into the common trap of sowing

Grow and Preserve Your Own Food With These 6 Tips

41

thousands of seeds right off the bat, because you could end upwasting precious time and money if they dont sprout.

Start with a small 4x4 plot or raised bed, or even just a pot ortwo, Bedford says.

4. KEEP A GARDEN JOURNALYou should maintain a written record of what you plant and

where, Bedford advises.

Trust me, youll forget which varieties of tomatoes died offand which thrived, she says. As the growing season progresses,take note of successes and failures as well as your own actions,such as watering schedules. Youll likely figure out why someplants didnt thrive while others went on to be productive.

5. FOOD PRESERVATION METHODS Once youve grown a thriving garden, youll want to preserve

your surplus in case youll have to subsist on it for long periods.Contrary to popular belief, preserved foods arent limited solely tojerky and pickles.

Just about every food can be preserved at home, Bedfordsays. For example, spaghetti sauce and cooked risotto can bothbe dehydrated. Meat and chicken can be safely home-canned, ascan homemade soups and stews.

The easiest way to preserve food is to buy a food dehydrator(or build one using online instructions). You can dehydrate yourown gardens bounty or prepare for the future by buying vegetablesnow.

When you come across bags of frozen produce on sale, buymultiple bags, Bedford advises. The produce can be placed onthe dehydrator trays without being thawed. It has already beenwashed and cut into small pieces, so its ready to go!

Likewise, fresh produce gleaned in bulk from farmers marketscan be dehydrated, as can canned fruit.

If youd like to can your own fruit and vegetables, keep inmind that the process requires more supplies and takes a bit oftraining.

However, having wholesome food without any unwantedadditives makes it worthwhile, Bedford says. The key is to

DISCOVER THE 4 METHODS OF WATER PURIFICATIONFood isnt the only menu ingredient essential to your survivalyoull

also need clean water to drink. Water can be purified in four ways, Bedford says. She suggests that a family should always have at least three of these

ways available to them. Check out this breakdown that she offers as aquick primer on water purification.

1. CHEMICALSBleach is inexpensive and handy but also has a one-year shelf life,

after which it is only half as effective. Iodine and iodine-based purification products come with numerous

health warnings but can be handy, especially for camping and outdooractivities, she adds.

2. FILTERINGI recommend a filtering system, Bedford suggests. These filtering

systems can be large countertop versions or small enough to fit in abackpack.

3. BOILINGWater should be boiled to the point of pasteurization or 149 degrees

Fahrenheit. At that point, harmful bacteria are destroyed, but to be safe,keep the water at a rolling boil for a full minute.

Be sure to have a way to heat water in case of a power outage,Bedford adds.

4. ULTRAVIOLET LIGHTSteriPEN makes portable units that use UV light to purify water, she

suggests. This product can be purchased online as well as in manyoutdoor stores, such as R.E.I.

42

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CHECKLIST Prepare your soil Determine what to plant Start a small garden Keep a journal Learn how to preserve foods Include comfort foods

INVALUABLE RESOURCES BOOK: The Survival Mom WEB: www.thesurvivalmom.com BOOK: Ball Complete Book of Home

Preserving SUNDRY: Local farmers market BOOK: Your own journal

BONUS TIPIn addition to these purification meth-

ods, families should store at least one gal-lon of water per person per day in order tobe ready for short-term emergencies.

follow written instructions in a book such as the Ball CompleteBook of Home Preserving closely and completely.

6. COMFORT FOODS Once youve got your fruit and vegetable plan underway,

consider stocking some of your favorite menu items. Any time a family must rely on their stored food will be a time

of stress, so familiar comfort foods should be included, Bedfordsays. Make a list of several breakfast, lunch and dinner mealsyour family enjoys, and begin looking for ways to store thoseingredients.

If young kids are still at home, be sure to store some foods thatwill be essential to their health, such as instant milk, peanut butter,fruits, vegetables and various grains.

Food storage companies, such as Shelf Reliance, now offerenormous varieties of products that include organic foods, gluten-free products and non-GMO produce. Food storage doesnt have tobe limited to buckets of wheat, rice and beans! Bedford adds. ASG

Torrey Kim is a freelance writer and author of the book Portraitof the Outer Banks. She lives with her family in North Carolina,where she enjoys camping, swimming, hiking, gardening and mostother outdoor activities.

Just about every food can be preserved at home, Bedford says. For example, spaghetti sauce and cooked risotto can both be dehydrated.

Meat and chicken can be safely home-canned, as can homemade soups and stews.

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CALLING all tech-savvy nerds. Now youll be able to survive Mother Natures

wrath because these lifesaving innovations are everyclever campers saving grace (or if youre just anaverage Joe who doesnt know jack about wilder-ness survival).

Thanks to these bright ideas that will inspire a,Why didnt I think of that? youll be able to getclean water, signal for rescue, stay warm, eat andhave light to do it all. Using the latest in greentechnologysolar, fire and waterpoweris what thisgeeky campers guide is all about.

Theres no shame in being a geek, because itsthe smart ones that make it out, alive.

Groundbreaking9 Innovative Products that Will Take Youto New Survival Heights

BY KAREN WILHELMSENLEAD PHOTO COURTESY OF EARTHEASY

VESTERGAARD FRANDSENPRODUCT LIFESTRAWDISTRIBUTED BY EARTHEASYWEBSITE WWW.EARTHEASY.COM MSRP $19.95

You can have knives and guns and gear, but if youdont have clean water, you wont last. The LifeStraw, a personal water filter thats gain-ing international attention for the possibilities that liein its future, is able to filter down to 0.2 microns.That means i t depletes contaminated water of99.99% of bacteria and protozoa, and filters out dirtparticles to make dirty water drinkable. Did we men-tion that it does this as you suck water up the straw?No waiting, no fuss. The LifeStraw surpasses EPA guidelines for safedrinking water, filters 264 gallons, weighs only twoounces and has a shelf life of five years. As a bonus,for every 10 sold Eartheasy donates to cr is is-affected people in developing countries, and plants atree with every order.

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ETONPRODUCT AXISWEBSITE WWW.ETONCORP.COMMSRP $69.99

What if you forgot tocharge the cell phone andcouldnt call for help? Orif you were in the wilder-ness so long that yourcell phone battery died?The Etn Corporation hasthe answer to your dis-tress calls. The Axis, which is thepartnership of Etn andthe American Red Cross, is a hybrid machine with multiplecapabilitiesits a digital alarm clock and radio, gets NOAAweatherband alerts, is a four LED flashlight with a flashing redbeacon light to signal for help and a cell phone charger. Topower the machine or to get energy to charge your phone, juststart crankin away on the hand turbine. One minute of crank-ing provides you with a 30 second phone call.

JAKPAKPRODUCT JAKPAKWEBSITE WWW.JAKPAK.COMMSRP $249.99

Its a jacket. No, its a tent. Perhaps, a sleeping bag? Wait,a mosquito net?Yep, if you guessed anyone of those, youre right kind of.Its all fourin onebut you can pass it off as just a jacketand whip out the fancy stuff only when needed. Start off with a rain jacket that easily converts into a tentand sleeping bag device built in. Its ideal for the camper whowants to carry little to nothing or a savvy outdoor explorerready for emergency shelter. Even use the detachable tent as abackpack cover. Its equipped to last you through three seasons (all yearexcept for winter, but you can wear it over heavy winterclothes) and isbreathable,waterproof andfully zippable.Storm flapskeep water outand while insu-lating heatwithin.

GLOBAL SUN OVENDISTRIBUTED BY EARTHEASY PRODUCT SUN OVEN WEBSITE WWW.EARTHEASY.COMMSRP $259.95

Its like an EasyBake Oven, but itsfor b ig k ids .Instead of a l ightbulb, however, i tuses natural sun-light and can boilor steam too. Weighing in at21 pounds, theoven is portable forcamping and ideal to cook in during a power failure. This thingcooks in the same amount of time a conventional oven does, butis environmentally friendly, has collapsible reflectors and canbake two loaf pans at once.

SNOW LIZARD PRODUCTSPRODUCT AQUA TEK S WEBSITE WWW.SNOWLIZARDPRODUCTS.COMMSRP $100

This doohickeyseems like some-thing James Bondwould own. Check it out: acar chase sceneand Bond losescontro l , h is carf l ips over thebr idge in to theocean. He squirmsout, water rushingon a l l s ides,pulling him down.He escapes, pullsout his phone and makes a call20 feet underwater. The scene isnt real, but the gadget is. AQUA TEK S is a phone case that can be safely submerged up to20 feet underwater. An integrated 2000mAh battery extends yourphones charge by up to 1.5 times more; meanwhile, solar panelson the back of the case charge it. Its compatible with the iPhone 4/4S, weighs 11 ounces, has atemperature range of -40F to 140F and protects your phonefrom drops of up to 20 feet. The solar charger can provide a boost to your phone so you cancall for search and rescue in a dangerous situation.

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MYFC PRODUCT POWERTREKKWEBSITE WWW.POWERTREKK.COMMSRP $229.99 AND UP

Youre miles and miles away from home, and your cell phonesbattery is dead. Luckily, now theres a way to charge itor anydevice that uses a USB charger. With PowerTrekk just add water,for instant power no matter where you are. With water, PowerTrekk uses fuel cell technology to converthydrogen into electricity, with no harmful byproducts. Unlike solarchargers, this guy is quicker and weather doesnt impact its per-formance. If you have no water, the portable battery pack canoperate on its ownas stored powerfor emergencyusage. The Pow-erTrekk Fuel Cellcreates 2.5 wattsof power at 5volts, and can runfor more than twohours.

SWISS+TECHPRODUCT BODYGARD SURVIVORWEBSITE WWW.SWISSTECHTOOLS.COMMSRP $39.99

This is about as much resource-fulness as you can jam-pack into atiny eight ounce, 3-by-2 by 5.5-inch space. This 12-in-1 tool is amazing.Were talkin 45 hours of flashlightusage, 24 hours of an emergencyflasher use, two hours of FM radioor two and a half hours of a secu-rity alarm going offall runningoff the internal lithium ion battery. Let s go over a l l the too lsthing is: panic alarm, LED flash-light, digital FM radio, motion acti-vated security alarm, red emergency flasher, cell phone/MP3charger, AC charging adapter, signaling mirror, self-charg-ing/hand-cranking capability, thermometer, adjustable lanyardand a compass.

In need of a saving grace? The panic button delivers a pierc-ing alarm and red flashing light.

If youre going into the wild all the time without this useful,affordable device, think again.

NOKEROPRODUCT N200 SOLAR LIGHT WEBSIT WWW.NOKERO.COMMSRP $20

An idea as bright asthe sun. Environmentallyfriendly and oh so conve-nient. No more kerosene,candles , matches orflashlights needed. Thist ranspor tab le hanginglight bulb produces 13.5lumens on h igh and ispowered by sunlight. Thislight will run for about ayear and hal f , and thebattery can be replacedto keep the bulb runninglonger. You can even put theN200 Solar Light outsidebecause it can withstand rain. Inside, it will automaticallyswitch off in bright light to save its charge. Operation is capable in temperatures ranging from -4F to131F. Support Nokeros efforts to eliminate harmful and pollut-ing fuels by donating the bulbs to their partner organizations.

ACR ELECTRONICS PRODUCT RESQLINK 406 GPSWEBSITE WWW.ACRELECTRONICS.COMMSRP $250

The ultra light and com-pact ResQLink 406 GPS is alifesaving personal locatorbeacon that uses GPS track-ing from a powerful 406MHzsatellite signal so a rescueteam can find you. The 66-channel GPS fixes your loca-tion within 100 meters andalerts a distress call whileemitting a bright LED strobelight so youre even easier totrack down. Just put it in your pocketor backpack. Once its acti-vated, it will continue trans-mitting for around 30 hours.Its even waterproof up to 16 feet for about an hour, or 33 feetfor 10 minutes. ASG

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AdversityHappensTips for Wilderness Survival

STUNNING she can be.The afternoon sunshine on Yosemites Half Dome

highlights some of her best features. Lovely she so often is. In June, the morning light

dances beautifully across her dew-covered meadows.And perfection describes her figure. Summer streams

gurgle and meander through paradise, ultimately feedinginto a pristine lake.

She is the worlds loveliest lady. She is MotherNature.

As gorgeous as she is, remember that MotherNature has another side. From her inclement weatherto hazardous terrain to her swift water to the fury ofher storms she can be so deadly.

You must respect herat all timesand be preparedshould you get lost or when the temperature soars ordrops. In the following pages, you will find tips for thesesituations and more.

The American Survival Guide. Because adversityhappens. ASG

TH

INK

STO

CK

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Adventure and Adrenaline

BY KAREN WILHELMSENPHOTOS COURTESY OF LAURA BOMBIER

HES the Real Deal. And make that the original Real Deal. Hes Les Stroud, and youre about to go one-

on-one with Survivorman, a man whose two bestfriends are adventure and adrenaline. -Editor

How did you transition from studying musicin college to becoming a survival expert?

Not too many survival guys are into music,but what it comes down to is that all my lifeIve had a couple of passions. I grew up firstwith the passion of watching Tarzan andJacques Cousteau and really wanting to be anoutdoor adventurer and photographer.

But, when I was a teenager I discoveredrock n roll, and I became obsessed with music,which I then did for the next 10 years. Iwrestled between these two loves andaround the age of 24 I decided to pull out ofmusic and focus entirely on adventure.

So its not that I became a musician andfound survival. Its more that ever since I canremember both loves have cycled through myattention.

How did Jacques Cousteau inspire you?It was like Tarzan was my compass and

Jacques Cousteau was my compass bearing. Iwanted to be out in the wilderness anddoing adventure and survival and all thatstuff. Jacques Cousteau was a filmmaker andaround wildlife all the time, which gave realpurpose and real reason to be out there

doing something other than just hanging outin the bush. He was doing things no one elsehad done before; and thats the inspirationthere.

Tell us how your show Survivormanspawned from the hit reality TV show Survivor.

When I was studying in survival, I saw areally cheesy film about a guy survivingovernight. I thought, Its a pretty cheesy film,but a great idea. I wanted to do some homeDVDSback then it was home videoson it, butthought, how much better would it be if I wentout and survived and filmed it? Thatd make amuch better story and much better film.

So I sort of shelled thatidea for a long time, like 14years. In 2000, the Survivorseries came out, and I startedoing interviews about if thshow was really survival;well its not survival at all,but a light bulb went off. Icalled the networks andwanted to actually survivefor real and film it myself,which is the way that itneeds to be done or its noreally survival if therespeople there with me. Thenetworks loved it, and therest is history.

Discovery Channels Survivorman Les Stroud Shares His Journey and His 3 Zones of Survival

In a survival situation, once you go throughthe three zones of survival, you have a lotof answers, says Les Stroud.

51

With the creation ofSurvirorman, Les Stroud(left) created the survivorgenre.

be proactive,because survival

is not passive, itsactive. Les Stroud

52

MORE LES GO TO: www.lesstroud.ca

WATCH: Discovery Channels Shark Week, Beyond Survival and Survivorman READ: His books Will to Live, Survive! The Ultimate Edition and Survive! HEAR: Strouds music, sampled on his Web site

You produced, wrote, filmed and hostedSurvivorman. To be a true survivorshow, is that what needs to be done?

The reality is that Im no more noble thanthe next guy. You cant go out and say, Lookat me, Im surviving, when you have a crewof people with you and youre keeping to ashooting schedule and union rules and guyswho eat their lunches sitting down beside you.

You cant film survival when youre play-acting, when you finish all of your takes andthen you go to a hotel. Theres no claim toactually surviving with shows that are shotthat way. To film surviving you need to begoing to bed hungry at night, you need to behaving no food or no water, no shirt. I felt thatfor me to truly say, Look at me, Im surviving,I needed to be really surviving. I think it justcreates a much more realistic picture then theother version, which is faked or set up.

You cant fake survival when youre reallyout there. You cant fake being tired, cold,hungry and starvingand these things hap-pen. So I felt that, yeah, for me to be alone,that was the magic ingredient to portraying.Because thats what I am doing; Im still por-traying something, because I do know Imgoing to come home eventually. But how closecan I get and still make a film?

Whats the most dangerous situationyouve ever been in?

Probably getting heatstroke in the KalahariDesert [in southern Africa]. That was reallyclose. And then recently in Norway I got stuckon the side of a mountain in the freezingrain, which was quite dangerousonebecause of heatstroke and the otherhypothermia.

How do you remain calm during those situations?

I utilize my skill set, my experience level.The big thing for me is to stop and assess thesituation. Once I assess the situation, I go overall that information and can get the answers Ineed. That basically helps me to remain calm.

If somebody else were thrust into a similarsituation, what advice could you givethem?

The first thing is absolutely to stay calm.The second thing, which helps you stay calm,is to assess.

Jacques Cousteau provided some inspiration to Les Stroud.

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I like to think of it as three zones: The first zone of assessmentis, what do you personally have on your body? Are you injured?Are you hungry? Do you have food?

The second zone of assessment is your immediate geararound youdo you have tents, sleeping bags, whats the situa-tion, is there anybody around you thats hurt or anybody withyou that can help you?

And then the third zone of assessment is the larger picture.How far away are you from rescue? Is anybody coming? Can youmake it out? Are you stuck?

Once you go through those three zones of assessments onyourself and whats around you, you have a lot of answers. Andwith those answers you can be proactive. And thats the nextthing, to be proactive, because survival is not passiveits active.But you cant be proactive if you dont have answers, so you getsome.

Do you find it discouraging when other survival shows arepurely for entertainment, rather than teaching valuableskills?

First of all, Ill say something to you bluntly. I created the sur-vival genre. It didnt exist before Survivorman. You can go backand check it out, there was nothing there.

When I brought Survivorman onto television, it was two orthree years as it built and then it suddenly exploded and becamea hit. Immediately on the hit of Survivorman, it mushroomedinto all these other shows. One thing thats important to me isthat I created the genre itself, which sounds a little pretentious,but it plays out, so I dont mind saying it. There are two answersto your question:

The positive levelI am happy that excitement for the skills hasbuilt up because of the various shows. Its got people wanting togo outside, its got people wanting to take courses, its got peopletouching the earth again. Thats an important to me. So I would notdeny that. I think its a beautiful thing that from this little tiny ideafor Survivorman it has expanded into an entire genre of showsspecifically dealing with survival and wilderness skills.

On the negative side, when I create Survivorman, its fromthe angle of wanting to show survival and make films about it.The new shows come from the angle of we want to make a TVshow. You know, get ratings and in some cases maybe makesome TV stars. I never got into this to be a survival guru, onthe larger media perspective or in terms of the publics eye.Im just doing what I do. So there is a negative angle thatbecause thats the angle other shows come from, skills are taughtthat are incorrect. Theyre on an objective levelwrong skills toteach, bad skills and even dangerous skills to teach.

In addition, some things are made up that just dont evenexist. I remember on a show it was taught that you can squeezeelephant dung and get water, but you cant do that. What is doneis that elephant dung is soaked in water and squeezed when thecameras rolling. To me, thats the negative side. Thats whatsnot right. Mostly I take the high road and laugh, but I get irkedseeing skills that are just blatantly wrong to teach.

I also get irked when I see, even though disclaimers havebeen placed, shows leading you to believe that people weregoing through stuff that they werent. These things are all set upand staged. So theres that smaller piece of me that goes, Huh.Here I am putting my life on the line and at great risk, to portraytrue and real survival as best as I can, and along comes someother show that is pretending to do that, and even upping theante in terms of whats shown on camera, but they are faking thewhole thing.

Part of that is irksome, but after many years of seeing it, whatam I gonna do? Im gonna do what I doteach solid survival skills,have fun doing it, be myself, be myself on camera. Ive moved onfrom that a long time ago.

Even though I will have new survival shows, my own per-sonal ambition is to be progressive and always do new things.Not cranking out 150 Survivorman episodes because I know Imgonna get the money. ASG

3 ZONES OF SURVIVALZONE 1What do you personally have on your body? Are you injured? Are youhungry? Do you have food? ZONE 2Do you have tents, sleeping bags, whats the situation, is there anybodyaround you thats hurt or anybody with you that can help you? ZONE 3How far away are you from rescue? Is anybody coming? Can you makeit out? Are you stuck? THE RESULTOnce you go through those three zones of assessments on yourself andwhats around you, you have a lot of answers. And with those answersyou can be proactive.

The first thing is absolutely to staycalm. The second thing, which helpsyou stay calm, is to assess. Les Stroud, on how people shouldhandle a survival situation

STILL GOING STRONGSince 1876.That is how long Camillus Cutlery has been supplying the world with

reliable, innovative and quality-made knives. They have, to be sure,survived the true test of time.

As one of the oldest knife manufacturers, Camillus Cutlery has alwaysanswered the call for quality, and you can bet they will continue to doso with their hunting, fishing, sporting and tactical knives.

Check them out at www.camillusknives.com.

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Survival BackpacksThe Best Backpacks for Any Survival or Emergency Situation

ORDINARY backpacks these are not. These are the ones built to last in the wilder-

ness as long as you can. These are designed toattract the attention of rescue teams. They arewaterproof, durable, functional and practical.

These are the ones that can mean the differ-ence between survival and death.

Ordinary backpacks these are not.

PHOTO COURTESYOF KELTY

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VOLTAIC PRODUCT OFFGRID SOLAR BACKPACK WEBSITE WWW.VOLTAICSYSTEMS.COMMSRP $229

Off the grid is right! This backpack has two solar panels that gener-ate power from sunlight. Four to five hours in the sun will fully chargea typical phone, and one hour will provide three hours of talk timeperfect for an emergency call whenever you might need it. Waterproof, lightweight and built to withstand abuse The solar pocket is removable and can be attached to other bags asit charges. 1,500 cubic inches of storage space, a padded laptop sleeve, inte-grated phone pouch and other pockets

DEUTERPRODUCT ACT ZERO 50 + 15WEBSITE WWW.DEUTER.COMMSRP $179

Built for those who travellight and fast, with breath-able padding for ventilationand contour shoulderstraps 3 pounds, 4 ouncesof durable material,l ike Duratex andrip-stop threads

EUREKA!PRODUCT MT. ISOLATION 65LWEBSITE WWW.EUREKATENT.COMMSRP $159.99

Versatile pocketing, ease of useand an adjustable suspension willbring years of use. Internal sleeve with paddedbottom features a single hookfor a hydration pack Zippered s leep ing bagcompartment; removabletop l id with two pocketsmake i t convert ible to abelt-mounted pack Orange high-visibilityrain cover with reflectivegraphics

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EMERGENCY ESSENTIALSPRODUCT 3-DAY LITE EMERGENCY KITWEBSITE WWW.BEPREPARED.COMMSRP $32.95

For a natural disaste