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Ruger Pistol Caliber Carbine

January 13, 2018

We love the Ruger 10/22, especially in its Takedown configuration. It’s a simple, light, and reliable rifle that’s well-suited to a variety of survival situations. The .22LR ammo is cheap to plink with, easy for new shooters to manage, excellent for hunting varmints, and with good shot placement it can take down a variety of small game. However, .22LR is not the ideal round for hunting bigger animals or for defense against human attackers — for these tasks, 9mm is a much better option.

We built this 10/22 Takedown into a survival rifle in Issue — We built this 10/22 Takedown into a survival rifle in RECOIL OFFGRID Issue 8.

Knowing this, Ruger has released a new carbine that’s clearly inspired by the 10/22 Takedown, but also provides the advantages of 9mm. It’s called the Ruger Pistol Caliber Carbine, or PC Carbine for short. In addition to its resemblance of the 10/22, approximately 80% of the PC Carbine’s trigger parts are compatible with that rifle, so you can easily upgrade the trigger with existing 10/22 parts. It also shares the same twist-to-disconnect mechanism as the 10/22 Takedown.

Ruger Pistol Caliber Carbine survival rifle 9mm takedown 2 — The new Ruger Pistol Caliber Carbine is available now.

Another survivalist-oriented feature of the new Pistol Caliber Carbine is clearly visible at the gun’s midsection. The carbine uses standard Ruger SR-series and Security-9 pistol magazines, and also includes a magwell adapter that makes the gun compatible with Glock magazines. If you already own one of these handguns, you’ll only need to carry one set of mags and ammo — that means less money spent, less weight in your pack, and less headaches if you misplace a mag for one of your weapons.

The PC Carbine includes front and rear iron sights on the barrel, as well as a picatinny rail on the receiver. The barrel is fluted for reduced weight, and available in threaded and non-threaded variants. The charging handle and mag release are reversible for left- or right-handed shooters. The gun weighs 6.8 pounds unloaded and is available at an MSRP of $649.

For more info on the new Ruger Pistol Caliber Carbine, check out the video below or go to Ruger.com. You can also read more details on RECOILweb.com. We’ve already got our hands on a sample of the carbine, and will be compiling a more detailed review with our impressions at the range in the future — stay tuned.

Making a Willow Whistle

Patrick McCarthy

January 12, 2018

You’ve probably heard the classic proverb, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. It’s especially memorable if you’ve seen The Shining. When you’re out hiking, camping, or even surviving in the wilderness, you may be tempted to spend all your time working towards productive goals. However, it’s beneficial to take some time for leisure activities — they’ll improve your mental state, reduce stress, and hopefully prevent you from slowly going insane and trying to murder your family like the character in the aforementioned Stanley Kubrick movie.

Playing cards, board games, and books are good for leisure, but these items will need to be brought with you if you expect to use them. If you’re out in nature without any of these items, you’ll need to improvise sources of recreation, like native cultures and frontier settlers have done throughout history. Whittling tools, toys, and musical instruments from natural wood is one time-tested way of staying entertained in a survival situation.

The following video from Lazy Watchsmith shows how to carve a traditional willow whistle from a green wood branch. These whistles or flutes have been used as wind instruments for folk music in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and other Nordic countries. They can be used for this recreational purpose, or they can provide a way of signaling for rescue. Patterns of whistle blasts can even act as a means of long-distance communication.

The video host carves a whistle by starting with a green willow branch, which he says is easiest to find in late spring or early summer. The end is cut at an angle to form a mouthpiece, and a notch is cut in the side where air will escape. Then an incision is made around the circumference of the branch, and the bark is pounded to break free from the wood within. Once the bark tube is removed, the whistle notch is deepened, and a flat channel is cut to connect it to the mouthpiece end. Once the bark tube is slid back onto the wood, the whistle is complete.

Another step-by-step guide to making a willow whistle is available on Instructables.

Boker Kwaiken Automatic Knife

Patrick McCarthy

January 11, 2018

SHOT Show is coming up, and that means the season of new product announcements is upon us. Many gear manufacturers use SHOT as an opportunity to unveil their cool new products, and the 2018 show will be no different. If you can’t make it to the industry-only show, don’t worry — you can learn about everything we see by reading OFFGRIDweb, liking our Facebook page, and/or following us on Instagram.

Boker has announced a new knife that’ll be featured in the company’s booth at SHOT. The Kwaiken, designed by custom knifemaker Lucas Burnley, has long been a popular model for Boker. Various fixed and folding versions of this knife are already available, but this year a new variant will be released: the Boker Kwaiken Automatic.

Boker Kwaiken Automatic - 06EX290 — Boker Kwaiken Automatic – 06EX290

The new Kwaiken Auto is made in the USA, and features the same sleek minimalist design of previous versions. As you can guess by the name, it’s an automatic that uses a push-button release to swiftly flip open the blade. The spring-loaded mechanism comes from Boker’s partner ProTech and is said to deliver “an impressive kick” when opening the knife. We’ll see for ourselves when we get our hands on one at SHOT.

Boker Kwaiken Automatic - 06EX291 — Boker Kwaiken Automatic – 06EX291

The blade of the Boker Kwaiken Automatic is 154CM steel, and the handle is CNC-milled aluminum. It includes a pocket clip for EDC use. When the knife releases later in January 2018, it will be available as a limited release model with a total of 500 units produced. Half will have a two-tone machined-finish blade and stonewashed handle; these will be designated model 06EX290 and retail for $219. The other half will have a stonewashed blade and satin black handle; these will be designated model 06EX291 and retail for $229.

Boker’s new auto Kwaiken models aren’t currently listed on the company’s web site, but you’ll be able to see them later this month at BokerUSA.com or by checking out our SHOT Show 2018 coverage here on OFFGRIDweb from January 23 – 26.

Video: Forgotten Weapons Tests a 90-Round AK Mag

Patrick McCarthy

January 10, 2018

Many preps sound great in theory until you attempt to use them in a real-world emergency. If you fail to consider all the factors at play and the potential flaws in a plan, you’re bound to run into trouble eventually. As Murphy’s Law tells us, if something can go wrong, it often does. The best way to avoid these headaches is to practice and test your preps early and often.

Case in point: the super-extended 90-round AK mag seen in the Forgotten Weapons video below. The concept of a 90-round magazine sounds fine — more rounds to defend your home from the vicious Mad-Max-style marauders who might lay siege to it in some hypothetical apocalyptic scenario. But unsurprisingly, here in reality, it doesn’t work so well.

Ian and his assistant Clay analyze the AK mag, which is actually three normal 30-round magazines cut and welded together. Then they take it out to the range with a full-auto RPK, and it only gets worse from there. It ends up holding substantially less than its intended capacity, and has some rather hilarious quirks that show up on the slow-mo camera. See for yourself:

The lesson to be learned here is that you’d be much better off with three standard 30-round AK mags, as Ian concludes. But this is the sort of thing you learn by researching gear before you buy it, or at the very least, testing it before an emergency makes it a necessity. Even if you’re left with buyer’s remorse, it’s better than being left with a silly-looking non-functional weapon when you need it.

Portable Utensils Buyers Guide – Have Spork, Will Travel

Offgrid Staff

January 9, 2018

In This Article

Stick With What Works
More From Issue 23

Sure, you can eat with your hands. But who wants to do that all the time? Whether camping, surviving, or just taking a snack break on the trail, having handy, easily carried portable utensils can enhance your dining experience.

A quick story: During a multi-day rifle marksmanship course, the Tier 1 instructor took one morning to explain how to maintain the AR-platform rifle. During his demonstration, he field stripped the bolt carrier group on a sample rifle that had seen several thousand rounds since its last cleaning. For all to see, he held up the tail of the bolt, which had collected caked-on carbon and other fouling. He pulled a knife from his pocket, flicked it open, and showed the class how you could use it to scrape the bolt tail. He stashed the knife back in his pants pocket. Later, we broke for lunch. The seasoned, snake-eating instructor ambled over to a table and produced a loaf of bread, mayonnaise, and lunch meat from a grocery bag. He dipped into the mayonnaise and started spreading it on a slice of bread — with the very same pocketknife.

If this sounds like something you might do, then perhaps you can happily use some rusty nails as skewers and your dirty knife to cut your meat. But even those whose five-second rule is more like five minutes must admit that it’s often easier to eat with utensils than your hands, especially when food is scalding hot. While they aren’t strictly necessary, we suspect many of our readers would appreciate the luxury of purpose-built utensils. Plus, during tense and difficult situations, being able to feel a little more civilized with some comforts of home can provide much needed psychological benefit and boost morale.

So we collected a wide selection of portable utensils with varying design philosophies for your reading enjoyment. We tested them with different types of foods and took them on the road.

Evaluation Criteria

In particular, we assessed the following:

Scooping: How well does it function as a spoon?
Spearing: How well does it function as a fork?
Cutting: How well does it function as a knife?
Packaging: How compact and portable is it?
Durability and maintenance: How durable is it and how easy it is to clean?

The usability of a utensil as a spoon, fork, or knife involves not just the pointy (or spoony) end, but also how you grasp it. Products designed first and foremost for compact size typically hinder their effectiveness by compromising in two areas: a small handle and a “spork” design, combining a spoon and fork in one. Sporks are invariably better spoons than they are forks. In fact, they’re usually pretty poor forks. Additionally, ultra-compact tools often lack a knife, which probably isn’t the end of the world since we suspect nearly all of our readers have a pocketknife (if not an entire collection of them). Select one of these types of tools if you value portability over all else.

Some products use a folding design, like a pocket or Swiss Army knife. This results in a convenient, compact package, but has some disadvantages as well. Some designs also make the forks or spoons awfully small. While the handles are typically generously sized, the necks of the spoons and forks extending from the pivot are usually rather short, making them less useful for dipping deeply into your food or soup. And all suffer from being harder to clean — you need to be diligent to avoid rust. These types of tools make a tidy, compact package, but they aren’t our favorites to use and maintain.

As you’ll see, our favorite utensils for the actual dining experience feature separate spoons, forks, and knives, and stack together for storage. Simple and efficient.

In a web-exclusive supplement linked at the end of this article, we also looked at a couple of portable chopsticks. These are the ultimate minimalist utensils, as they offer the exact same functionality as regular chopsticks. Chopsticks are simply… sticks. Like a portable pool cue, two-piece chopsticks simply thread together for use, becoming identical to a one-piece chopstick. Not to mention that they’re very compact and lightweight. As long as you’re mostly eating solid foods, chopsticks can be a viable alternative to a utensil set.

So read on and see what’ll make your next meal a more civilized experience.

[buyersguide title=”Portable Utensils” ids=”12284, 12289, 12292, 12295, 12299, 12302, 12305, 12308, 12311, 12314, 12317, 12321, 12324, 12327″]

Stick With What Works

If chopsticks are your preferred utensils, we’ve got that covered too. Check out OFFGRIDweb.com/gear/chopsticks to see our reviews of two chopstick sets and find out if they have a place in your meal loadout.

Light ‘n Go Bonfire Log

Patrick McCarthy

January 9, 2018

Light n Go bonfire log swedish torch fire wood winter 1 — Light 'n Go photos courtesy of Apocalypse Equipped

In the past, we’ve discussed the merits of the Swedish torch, a carefully-cut section of log that serves as a long-burning and self-sustaining source of fire. It was allegedly developed by Swedish soldiers who were trying to find a way to stay warm during cold winters without constantly feeding an inefficient open campfire. Then again, we’ve also heard the technique attributed to the Finnish and even the Canadians.

Regardless of who invented the technique, the so-called Swedish torch uses a section cut from a large log and stood on end, with 4 to 6 deep vertical grooves cut into it. When tinder is shoved into these grooves and ignited, it lights the log itself, and oxygen flows in through the grooves to keep the fire burning. This results in a compact and efficient fire that can burn for hours without additional wood, and also doubles as a flat cooktop.

A Swedish torch is often made by cutting a log with a chainsaw, or by splitting a log with an ax and binding the pieces loosely together again. However, both these options require substantial amounts of prep and manual labor. If you want to check the effectiveness of a Swedish torch without firing up a chainsaw or swinging an ax, a company called Light ‘n Go offers a Bonfire Log that’s essentially a ready-made off-the-shelf version — it even comes with a rope carry handle.

We’ve seen the Light ‘n Go bonfire logs at hardware stores such as Home Depot for about $13. It might be worth picking one up if you’ve never tried making a Swedish torch and want to see how you like using one. Here’s an excerpt from a Bonfire Log review by Apocalypse Equipped:

“Lacking accelerants, the all-natural kiln-dried birch fire-log lights with one match. It burns 2.5 hours, produces a large halo, a clean flame, and a charming aroma… you could make your own easily enough if you have dried seasoned logs and you’re a deft hand with a chainsaw. However, if the plunges or cross cuts seem a little too much, a similar effect could be achieved by simply splitting the log with an axe four ways, and binding it with a length of wire.” Read the rest of the review here.

Here’s a video that shows this off-the-shelf fire log in action:

Infographic: Scientists’ Predictions for the Distant Future

Patrick McCarthy

January 8, 2018

Accurately predicting the future is no easy feat, but through careful study of the past and collection of data, we can make some educated guesses as to what might happen. Scientists are continually striving towards this goal, and have made some fascinating (and terrifying) predictions about the centuries and millennia to come. These range from 1,000 years from now — a minuscule distance on the larger timeline — to a staggering one hundred quintillion years (i.e. 100,000,000,000,000,000,000).

The following infographic from InformationisBeautiful.net compiles predictions from NASA, Britannica, Scientific American, and other publications to create a timeline of the distant future. Some of these events are based on extrapolating progressions at their current rates, while others are based on mathematical probability, such as the estimated odds of a supervolcano or climate-altering asteroid significantly affecting Earth. We certainly won’t all agree on these predictions, but they’re still interesting to consider.

Check out the infographic below, or click here to download a full-size version. If you’re interested in reviewing the data and sources for these predictions, you can do so here.

Buyer’s Guide: Grayman Shoes

Patrick McCarthy

January 7, 2018

In This Article

5.11 Pursuit Oxford
Danner Mountain 503
KEEN “The Rocker”
LOWA San Luis GTX Surround Lo
OluKai Hualalai
Salomon X Alp Spry

In Issue 24 of our print magazine, we featured six pairs of boots fit for day hiking, emergency bug-out scenarios, or anything in between. That hiking boot buyer’s guide covered the sort of footwear that excels in a soggy forest or on a steep mountain path. However, they’re not the right tool for every job.

Hiking boots aren’t ideal for everyday use in urban environments, since they’re much heavier, more expensive, and less flexible than sneakers. And they’re far from subtle — you’re likely to get some odd looks if you wear mud-caked hiking boots to the mall, the grocery store, or the office. On the other hand, ordinary sneakers and running shoes don’t offer the sort of protection and grip you’d want during a SHTF situation.

The ideal everyday shoe provides a balance between the durability and performance of hiking footwear, and the comfort and flexibility of sneakers. In addition, it should fit the grayman mentality — in other words, it shouldn’t appear out of place in an urban setting. For this web-exclusive buyer’s guide, we collected six pairs of capable grayman shoes, and evaluated the merits of each from a survivalist’s viewpoint.

5.11 Pursuit Oxford

Traditional dress shoes are one of the ultimate expressions of form over function. They’re usually uncomfortable, inflexible, and offer about as much traction as a greased-up bar of soap. If your work or weekend activities require the dignified appearance of patent leather dress shoes, but you also want the performance of a cross-trainer, the 5.11 Pursuit Oxford is a great choice.

The polished finish of the Pursuit Oxford’s leather upper would fit right in at any black-tie affair, whether you’re on the job pulling security or getting dragged to some distant relative’s formal wedding. Either way, if you need to make a sudden run for it (or bust out some sick moves on the dance floor), the grippy tread lugs offer plenty of traction. The lightweight design also provides good agility.

The thick patent leather upper leads to some drawbacks, namely limited flexibility at the ball of the foot and poor breathability due to lack of ventilation. However, these are essentially unavoidable in order to maintain the smooth exterior appearance. Aside from these compromises, the Pursuit Oxford feels like a tough and capable sneaker. If you often find yourself attending formal events, this shoe is certainly a superior-performing alternative to ordinary dress shoes.

If black-tie events aren’t your thing, 5.11 Tactical also offers several casual variants of the Pursuit.

Pros

Professional, dignified appearance
Comfy enough for all-day use
Available in various styles, including more casual lace-up, slip-on, and chukka boot variants

Cons

Oxfords are only appropriate with formal outfits — not suitable for daily casual wear
Aggressive outsole texture is more visible than we’d like for a true grayman shoe

Color: Black

Materials: High-shine patent leather upper, low-profile CMEVA midsole, full-rubber outsole

Sizes: 4 to 15, wide sizes also available

MSRP: $100

URL: www.511tactical.com

Danner Mountain 503

Danner calls this shoe a “mountain sneaker” — this term may sound like an oxymoron, since we wouldn’t want to be caught on a rugged mountain trail in most ordinary sneakers, but it’s an appropriate descriptor of the Mountain 503’s hybrid design. The leather and suede upper bears a resemblance to the company’s Mountain Light hiking boot, while its slim outsole is better-suited to urban or casual trail use.

These shoes feature a few advantages over traditional sneakers for daily wear. The Ortholite open-cell polyurethane footbed is soft, springy, and designed to circulate air beneath your feet. If you live in a region that gets a lot of rainfall, the Danner Dry waterproof liner will keep your feet from getting soaked. We also appreciated the slim, contoured rubber outsoles, which provide enough dexterity for jogging or driving a manual-transmission car.

From a distance, the mid-top design of the Mountain 503 resembles that of many popular sneakers, but its distinctive D-ring lace eyelets are a clear departure from that style. While this may be a visible giveaway of the true capabilities of the shoe, we’d say it’s still subdued enough with the black leather upper. The other colorways bear a much stronger resemblance to hiking boots, with combinations of brown, green, and tan.

Pros

Waterproof mid-top design provides good protection against inclement weather
Contoured outsole offers great traction without conspicuous hiking-boot-style tread lugs
Includes both durable round laces and casual flat laces

Cons

Raised metal lace eyelets scream “hiking boot” and diminish the urban grayman appearance
This subdued color fits urban environments, but the other brown leather colorways are far more likely to look out of place in the city

Colors: Jet Black, Barley, Brown/Khaki

Materials: Full-grain leather and suede upper, polyurethane midsole, full-rubber outsole

Sizes: 7 to 14

MSRP: $180

URL: www.danner.com

KEEN “The Rocker”

A good pair of casual boots offers far greater protection than appearance-oriented “lifestyle” boots, but isn’t as heavy or inflexible as a pair of dedicated work boots. The KEEN Rocker falls into this middle-ground position, making it a solid choice for everyday wear around town.

The Rocker is constructed from sturdy full-grain leather, with a rubber toe cap and sealed seams for waterproof protection. The subtle two-tone brown looks classy, and pairs nicely with blue jeans. Large tread blocks on the rubber outsole offer plenty of grip on wet pavement or loose dirt, but retain enough flexibility that you don’t feel weighed down. However, the Rocker leans more towards work wear than sneakers, so it emphasizes toughness over agility — you might go to the job site in these, but you wouldn’t go jogging in them.

We found these boots extremely comfortable from the moment we put them on. The removable polyurethane footbed provides great arch support and cushioning, leading us to reach for these boots day after day as we headed outdoors. For this reason, we selected the Rocker boot as our RECOIL OFFGRID Top Pick for this grayman shoe buyer’s guide.

Pros

Tough leather construction with waterproof seams and reinforcements in key wear areas
Footbed provides outstanding comfort and very good arch support
A durable middle ground between heavy-duty work boots and form-over-function lifestyle boots

Cons

Hefty rubber soles aren’t ideal for running or high-speed agility
Smooth, round laces tend to come undone unless tightly knotted

Colors: Big Ben/Eiffel, Black/Black

Materials: Full-grain leather upper, lightweight EVA midsole, non-marking rubber outsole

Sizes: 7 to 15

MSRP: $160

URL: www.keenfootwear.com

LOWA San Luis GTX Surround Lo

We once bought a pair of Puma sneakers meant for daily wear, but they didn’t last long. They had no arch support. The midsoles were practically nonexistent; we felt the impact on our heels with every step. And the outsoles were shredded after just six months despite using them only on pavement, carpet, and tile.

This is why we were eager to test the San Luis. It looks just as cool as casual shoes made by Puma, Reebok, or Adidas, but can withstand much more than just walking to the local pub. It offers superior stability and durability because it incorporates several technologies from LOWA’s high-quality hiking boots. For example, the Monowrap frame provides far more support (forward, backward, and laterally) than any casual shoe we’ve ever worn, yet it’s ridiculously lightweight thanks to the DynaPU outsole. Plus, the Gore-Tex Surround lining makes it waterproof.

Whether you’re law enforcement working an undercover operation, a prepper needing footwear that will work well on asphalt and dirt, or interested in aesthetically pleasing shoes that’ll last longer than half a year, the San Luis might just be the kicks you’re looking for. Keep in mind it’s designed to be a warm-weather casual shoe and ideal for traveling. Still, it’ll shine for three seasons out of the year.

Pros

Its subtle good looks fit in most urban settings without screaming “tacticool” or “I’m ready to bugout through the backwoods!”
Excellent design, construction, and durability
Lightweight with strong foot support

Cons

The midsoles are actually vented, which is great for staying cool in the summer. The tradeoff is less shock absorption compared to other LOWA footwear we’ve worn; this was evident when we performed sprint tests on dirt, grassy hills, and sidewalks.

Colors: Navy/Orange

Materials: Split grain leather and fabric upper, DynaPU midsole, DynaPU outsole

Sizes: 7.5 to 14, women’s sizes also available

MSRP: $200

URL: www.lowaboots.com

OluKai Hualalai

If the name didn’t give it away, OluKai is a Hawaii-inspired company that makes footwear for those who enjoy oceans, rivers, or lakes. Many of their shoes, boots, and sandals are waterproof or made with features that make it fun to get onto or off of the shore (such as insoles that can be removed to be dried or washed). Coincidentally, these watersports-friendly features also benefit the prepared individual who needs to haul ass at a moment’s notice and doesn’t have the time to change out of his everyday city attire.

Take for example the Hualalai. Its leather upper not only looks like a classy update of the traditional mid-cut work boot design but is also waterproof, providing protection from rain, sleet, and snow. (Note: it’s not a winter boot, so it doesn’t have much by way of insulation.) Its removable and anatomical insole is made of triple-layered, lightweight EVA with a soft microfiber cover. And the outsole is made of non-marking rubber prominent lug treads, which provide grip without adding excessive weight or affecting our gait.

Overall, the Hualalai is a versatile boot with performance around water in mind. You could dress it up with slacks and a collared shirt for work or dress it down with jeans and a T-shirt for play. And, most vital to this buyer’s guide, you could grab your go-bag and use these boots to get you to safety without fear of slipping or getting your feet soaked.

Pros

Sturdy outsoles offer strong traction and could do some serious sh!tkicker damage in a self-defense situation.
Leather upper is not only handsome and waterproof but will also stretch for a “just right” fit.
Great balance of comfort, performance, and visual versatility

Cons

We experienced some minor heel slippage when pivoting and sprinting

Colors: Black, Carob/Carob

Materials: Full-grain leather and fabric upper, EVA midsole, non-marking rubber outsole

Sizes: 8 to 14

MSRP: $190

URL: www.olukai.com

Salomon X Alp Spry

The first word that came to mind while wearing these was breathable. While beating them up in the hot Arizona sun, even with a black exterior they never made our feet feel like they were cooking. Weight is nice and light, like a track shoe, and cushioning is clearly evident. If you’re forced to run for extended distances, this would be a viable option to consider.

Water repellency was just OK, but the tradeoff is how well your feet are ventilated. We tried wearing these on wet pavement, only to find that it wouldn’t take much to slip and fall, so keep the sole’s limited grip texture in mind if it rains frequently in your area.

We aren’t sure why only some of the eyelets are reinforced while others are not. As the Spry name indicates, these shoes allow you to haul arse at a moment’s notice, but they’re still discreet enough to potentially double as office wear. This versatility is their greatest strength.

Pros

Good value for the money
Great ventilation for warm environments
Innocuous enough for use at the office or in other urban environments

Cons

If you don’t want loud colors, black is your only option
Shouldn’t be your first choice if you’re going through muddy, wet, or rocky conditions. Sole is slippery on wet pavement.

Colors: Magnet/Black/Monument, Mallard Blue/Reflecting Pond/Scarlet Ibis, Castor Gray/Beluga/Lime Punch

Materials: Textile and seamless Sensifit synthetic upper, EVA midsole with molded shank, Premium Wet Traction Contagrip outsole

Sizes: 7 to 13

MSRP: $130

URL: www.salomon.com

Video: Making a Compound Bow from a Leaf Spring

Patrick McCarthy

January 6, 2018

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure — these are words to live by for survivalists. In an emergency situation, you probably won’t have access to big-box retailers and hardware stores, so you’ll need to use the tools you already have and improvise the rest. That means re-purposing items most people might see as nothing more than trash.

If you know where to look in any junkyard, truck repair shop, or even a new car dealership, you’ll have no trouble finding dozens of leaf springs. These curved steel bands are bolted onto the rear axles of most trucks, vans, and trailers, as well as some pre-1980s cars. We’ve seen them turned into knives and swords on shows like Forged in Fire, but one YouTuber known as Jake’s Custom Knives recently documented an especially appropriate use for this scrap steel: making a compound bow.

This is clever, since instead of reshaping the metal, it’s using the spring’s existing properties to create an improvised weapon.

With an angle grinder, Jake cut off the cylindrical bushings from each end of the spring and narrowed the bow’s limbs for added flexibility. He then cut a series of notches to serve as an arrow rest and grip, and removed the steel’s rusty finish and smoothed its edges with a belt sander. The bow was finished with a contoured rubber grip.

In order to make this a compound bow (as opposed to a recurve bow), Jake added simple pulleys to each end — these provided a much-needed mechanical advantage and reduced draw weight to 60 pounds. The end result is powerful enough to shoot through thick plywood, and seems like it could be a great tool for hunting small game if SHTF. Check out the full video below:

RECOILtv: Gambler 500 Rally in a $500 Van

Patrick McCarthy

January 5, 2018

The term rally can cover a wide range of motorsports, from high-roller exotic car events like the Gumball 3000 to heavily-regulated off-road competitions such as the World Rally Championship (WRC). The Gambler 500 can be considered a rally, but it’s far-removed from both these extremes — it’s not a race, and it certainly doesn’t require a million-dollar supercar to participate. Touted as “Cannonball Run crossed with Burning Man and the Thunderdome”, the Gambler 500 lives by the mantra that “fun > rules”.

The Gambler 500 is a 500-mile mostly off-road adventure rally that travels through the public lands of Oregon. It’s free to enter, and participants are asked to start with a vehicle that cost $500 or less (although additional money can be spent on modifications). Other rules are minimal, and mostly consist of “don’t be a dick”. Each vehicle is loaded with food, water, camping gear, navigation and communications equipment, and spare parts for the inevitable breakdowns.

The 2017 Gambler 500 was the biggest yet — and possibly the largest rally in the world — with 742 cars and trucks participating. Iain Harrison of RECOIL Magazine attended, teaming up with co-driver Dan Brokos and a camera crew for RECOILtv.

Harrison’s vehicle was a particularly beat-up 1985 Toyota van, outfitted with OD green paint, a light bar, hacked-up wheel arches, and mud tires. The tires rubbed, the battery disconnected itself, and it rattled loudly the whole trip, but it completed the journey in one piece (well, mostly).

Check out the 11-minute 2017 Gambler 500 recap video below from RECOILtv:

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OFFGRID

Ruger Pistol Caliber Carbine

Making a Willow Whistle

Boker Kwaiken Automatic Knife

Video: Forgotten Weapons Tests a 90-Round AK Mag

Portable Utensils Buyers Guide – Have Spork, Will Travel

Stick With What Works

More From Issue 23

Light ‘n Go Bonfire Log

Infographic: Scientists’ Predictions for the Distant Future

Buyer’s Guide: Grayman Shoes

5.11 Pursuit Oxford

Danner Mountain 503

KEEN “The Rocker”

LOWA San Luis GTX Surround Lo

OluKai Hualalai

Salomon X Alp Spry

Video: Making a Compound Bow from a Leaf Spring

RECOILtv: Gambler 500 Rally in a $500 Van

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