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Unconventional Weapon: The Welrod Silent Pistol

Posted on December 31, 2016 at 6:00 am.

If you spotted a Welrod for the first time, you might not realize what it is. In disassembled form, it resembles a piece of industrial equipment, the sort of thing you might find in an obscure corner of the hardware store next to caulk dispensers or hot glue guns. In fact, it was nicknamed the “bicycle pump” by those who used it. It also has no easily-identifiable markings or symbols on its plain metal body.

Howewer, when its 8-round magazine is inserted to form a pistol grip, the Welrod's purpose becomes more apparent. This historically-significant weapon has a very specific purpose: silent use behind enemy lines. Forgotten Weapons recently posted a video analysis of the Welrod Mk IIA, including hands-on disassembly of a surviving example, and and in-depth description of its functionality:

The Welrod was developed in the early 1940s by Special Operations Executive (SOE), a British military organization which coordinated espionage, sabotage, and reconnaissance missions in occupied Europe during World War II. British SOE (along with American OSS and European resistance forces) needed a weapon which could be distributed, concealed, and fired without drawing attention. The pistol's strange appearance accomplished the first two goals, but silent operation was essential to meet the third requirement.

A 12-inch by 1.25-inch cylinder forms the body of the gun, and houses a ventilated barrel and an integrated suppressor. The Welrod fires a sub-sonic .32 ACP cartridge, and is operated with a manual bolt action, further reducing the gun's sound signature.

All of these features bring the sound of a shot to approximately 73 decibels. That's about as loud as the normal background noise of traffic on a city street. While it's not technically silent, it's extremely quiet even by modern suppressed gun standards, and was revolutionary for its time. The rubber wipes inside the suppressor only lasted for about a dozen shots, after which they lost effectiveness, so the shooter needed to make every shot count.

Above: Cross-sectioned photo of a Welrod MkIIA courtesy of TimeLapse.dk (© Anders Thygesen, provided with permission)

Although the secretive nature of this gun makes tracking its use difficult, reports indicate it was used in the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the 1982 Falklands War, and the Troubles in Northern Ireland, among other modern conflicts. Some say it was even fielded by SAS members during Operation Desert Storm, and that an updated version may be in use to this day.

For more weird and unconventional weapons, follow Forgotten Weapons on YouTube or check out our previous articles on war dolphins and improvised weaponry.

Smartphone Grime Tells a Forensic Story

Posted on December 30, 2016 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

What objects do you touch the most each day? If you're anything like most Americans, a smartphone is probably near the top of your list. In fact, there's a high likelihood you're holding it in your hand as you read this. The smartphone is a great tool, and can make our lives much easier, but this constant connection with a single device can be very revealing about us.

Obviously, the data stored on and transmitted by our phones can pose a security risk, and fingerprints on the screen could be searched in a law enforcement database. But that's not all — under forensic scrutiny, the smudges, dust, and grime on a phone can be used create a detailed profile of its owner's lifestyle.

Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences recently conducted a study on this topic. Thirty-nine healthy adult volunteers handed over their cell phones to the researchers, who swabbed each phone in four locations.

These swab samples were then analyzed using a mass spectrometer device to detect specific molecules. The molecules were compared against a massive database of known substances, in order to identify substances found on the phones. Here's where it gets really interesting: the substances were used to learn about the phone owner's lifestyle. Here's a list of a few of the substances found on swabs:

Anti-inflammatory skin cream
Hair-loss treatment
Anti-depressant medication
Eye drops
Sunscreen
DEET insect repellent
Citrus
Caffeine
Herbs and spices

Amina Bouslimani, PhD, was one of the scientists involved in the research. She writes:

“By analyzing the molecules they’ve left behind on their phones, we could tell if a person is likely female, uses high-end cosmetics, dyes her hair, drinks coffee, prefers beer over wine, likes spicy food, is being treated for depression, wears sunscreen and bug spray — and therefore likely spends a lot of time outdoors — all kinds of things. This is the kind of information that could help an investigator narrow down the search for an object’s owner.”

Even a broken cell phone left behind by a criminal could be used to provide forensic data.

Senior author of the study, Pieter Dorrestein, PhD, hopes to broaden the molecular ID database to include more common items. These might include “the most common foods people eat, clothing materials, carpets, wall paints and anything else people come into contact with.” This line of forensic research is in its early stages, but could eventually be used to profile and track missing individuals or wanted criminals.

To learn more about this study, check out the full article from the UC San Diego Health Newsroom.

Video: Escaping a Fall Through Thin Ice

Posted on December 29, 2016 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

Every season presents its own dangers, but the thought of falling through ice in winter is especially frightening. In an already cold winter environment, you'd be faced with plummeting core temperature, shocked respiratory system, and soaked clothing weighing you down. On top of this, escaping the icy water may take several attempts, and you're working against the clock before your body shuts down. Tragically, falls through ice continue to take lives each year.

As is true in any survival scenario, preparation can leave you better equipped to deal with a fall through ice. If you know how to react, and understand what's happening, your odds of survival will increase dramatically.

In order to demonstrate the process of escaping a fall through thin ice, the YouTube channel Pike Pole Fishing created a 6-minute instructional video. The video's host, Adam, volunteers to fall through the ice three times under the close supervision of medical and rescue professionals. His pain is your gain, as he shows how to kick your legs and carefully lift yourself from the water. Never attempt this on your own.

If you need help remembering this technique, just think about Arnold Schwarzenegger's groan-worthy pun in his role as Mr. Freeze — kick some ice. For an infographic that illustrates some more tips for escaping a fall through thin ice, check out our previous article on the topic.

Infographic: 10 Shelf-Stable Dry Rub Recipes

Posted on December 28, 2016 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

While some may think that survival cuisine entails gnawing on hunks of gristly meat, or eating bowl after bowl of cold gruel, it doesn't have to be that way. There are plenty of tasty and nutritious foods that can be stored for years in the right conditions. These foods can be supplemented by any wild fish and game you're able to catch, as well as naturally-occurring vegetables. So, even if the excrement has hit the proverbial fan, you don't need to sacrifice your taste buds to stay alive.

Beyond the raw ingredients you're using, any chef can tell you that the next most important element of taste is seasoning. Actually, some might argue that seasoning is even more important than the underlying ingredients — after all, perfect seasoning can make something otherwise unappealing taste delicious. So, you'd be wise to include a variety of seasonings, herbs, and spices in your emergency pantry. Fortunately, these items generally have a very long shelf life, and some can be stored indefinitely without spoilage (though they may lose some potency).

However, all the spices in the world are worthless if you don't know how to use them properly. The following infographic from SheKnows.com shows ten DIY dry rub recipes that can add zest to barbecued beef, roasted pork, grilled poultry, sauteed seafood, steamed veggies, or even french fries. These recipes use dry ingredients that can be stored for much longer than bottled or canned sauces. For a full-size version of this infographic, click here.

YouTube Schadenfreude: Stung by a Bullet Ant

Posted on December 27, 2016 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

For survivalists, YouTube can be a great resource. It provides a truly immense amount of video demonstrations of useful survival techniques from guys like Primitive Technology and AlfieAesthetics. However, on the other hand, YouTube also provides even more content that leaves us shaking our heads and wondering, “why would anyone do that?!” The following video from self-proclaimed “adventurer” and “animal expert” Coyote Peterson definitely falls into this second category.

Here's Peterson after being stung by a tarantula hawk in a previous video. He keeps coming back for more.

In the video, Peterson travels to Costa Rica with a singular purpose: to force a bullet ant to sting him on video. For those not familiar, the bullet ant is renowned for its excruciatingly painful sting, one which tops the list of most painful insect stings and is supposedly akin to being shot by an actual bullet.

While this is very obviously a bad idea, we must admit we find the schadenfreude factor a bit entertaining. It seems others have as well — the video already has over 11 million views. File this under “never, ever try this at home”.

So, despite the entertaining nature of watching Mr. Peterson squirm in pain, here are a few practical takeaways from this video:

This video shows that, like most dangerous animals, the bullet ant isn't out to get you. In fact, it just wants to get away from you and stay alive. Peterson literally had to coerce the ant to sting him by holding it against his skin with forceps. If anything, that makes us less concerned about these critters.

If this is what it takes to get stung by a bullet ant, we don't have anything to worry about.

Also, if you ever managed to get stung by a bullet ant in a real survival scenario, it certainly wouldn't be pleasant, but it's unlikely that it would do any actual lasting harm.

We'll leave you with a palate-cleanser video from the BBC, for a bit of contrast. Here are some thoughts from a professional naturalist and wildlife presenter on the bullet ant:

Celestron ThermoTorch: Flashlight Meets Hand-Warmer

Posted on December 26, 2016 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

If you're an American or Canadian who travels to the UK, you might get some funny looks if you ask for a flashlight. Due to linguistic differences, most English-speakers outside North America refer to these handheld lights as torches. From a purely logical standpoint, neither term seems entirely ideal. Flashlights don't necessarily flash (unless there's a strobe mode), and electric torches don't involve flames.

However, there's a new product on the market that takes the term “torch” a little more literally. It's called the Celestron ThermoTorch, and while it doesn't have an open flame, it is designed to provide both light and heat. This flashlight is also an electric hand warmer, in an effort to make the cold winter months a little more bearable.

Left: the full-size ThermoTorch 10. Right: the smaller ThermoTorch 5.

The ThermoTorch is designed around a 10,000 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery, contained in a CNC-machined metal housing. The housing is IP65 water- and dust-resistant, as well as shock-tested against drops and impacts. On one end of the body is a 3-mode CREE LED, which produces 300 lumens, and is operated by a large rubberized button with integrated power indicator.

Removing the threaded cap on the other end of the ThermoTorch reveals another feature: dual USB output ports. This allows the ThermoTorch to be used as a portable power bank to charge other electronic devices, such as smartphones, cameras, or GPS units. The ThermoTorch can also be recharged via a mini-USB input port.

The “thermo” in ThermoTorch comes from a built-in hand warmer that can provide a full 10 hours of heat, and produce temperatures up to 114°F. You can keep the device in your pocket to warm your hands, and click on the light when you need increased visibility.

Celestron offers the device in two sizes:

ThermoTorch 10 – 10,000mAh battery, 8.25″ length, and dual USB output ports
ThermoTorch 5 – 5,000mAh battery, 6.5″ length, and a single USB output port

The ThermoTorch 10 is available at various retailers for $90, while the smaller ThermoTorch 5 is available for $70. For more information on this product, visit Celestron.com.

Self-Defense Cane Part II: 10 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid

Posted on December 25, 2016 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

In This Article

Mistake 1: Assuming One Size Fits All
Mistake 2: Cocking Your Weapon
Mistake 3: Overextending
Mistake 4: Freezing
Mistake 5: Advertising Your Third Leg
Mistake 6: Forgetting Driver Defense Drills
Mistake 7: Using the Foot
Mistake 8: Neglecting to Train
Mistake 9: Believing the Weapon-Free Zone Myth
Mistake 10: Countering Without Purpose
About the Author

In Part I of our Self-Defense Cane series of web-exclusive articles, we discussed why a cane can serve as an excellent self-defense tool — even if you don't need one to walk. This simple hooked stick can be hidden in plain sight due to its discreet appearance, and can be carried in non-permissive environments where more conventional weapons are banned.

Today, we'll address some common mistakes and misconceptions that might make carrying a self-defense cane less effective. For illustration purposes, we'll be referring to the KA-BAR TDI cane we introduced in Part I of our series.

Above: Chris Costa of Costa Ludus smashes SUV glass to clear the way for his pistol and carbine vehicular shooting class in Everglades City, Florida. The KA-BAR TDI aluminum cane crook easily took out the windows and allowed Costa to rake out large pieces of glass, clearing the way for his shooters and keeping his hands free from cuts. The cane had minor scratches. (Photo courtesy of Costa Ludus.)

Without further ado, here are the top 10 rookie mistakes to avoid while carrying a cane for self-defense:

Mistake 1: Assuming One Size Fits All

When fitting the KA-BAR TDI-Self Defense Cane, shorten the shaft gradually. One advantage of the hollow shaft is that the cane’s rubber tip or foot can easily be removed, the cane shaft shortened with pipe cutter or hack saw and the rubber foot replaced. The rubber foot is slightly over-sized for secure surface grip, and a metal washer insert within the tip prevents the tubular cane from cutting through the tip.

Take care to use the cane before you decide to cut it, removing a small ¼-inch amount at one time, while wearing street shoes and practicing with the cane in between cuts. Although the full-length cane can easily be carried by a 6-foot-2 or taller person, actual cane length comes down to personal preference.

Cut too much, and you will stoop while walking with the cane, resulting in poor posture and potential spinal problems. Start by standing straight upright with a slight bend in the elbow while lightly grasping the cane. Avoid cutting the cane based on someone’s hard and fast rules, like having the cane’s highest point at the point of your hip, or the wrist bone. When in doubt, or while training, always err on the side of leaving the cane cut slightly long, to allow for different footwear, declines, inclines, and actual cane usage for walking when injured during your urban bug out.

Mistake 2: Cocking Your Weapon

This phrase is taught to U.S. Marines during the Corp’s Martial Arts Program in Quantico, and refers to the need to avoid telegraphing your moves by drawing the cane rearward before thrusting the cane forward, usually in a two-handed thrust or bayonet style lunge to strike or to parry. There are no shortcuts in training, but even a limited martial arts specialty cane course can prevent the cane carrier from excess motion, and instruct in the art of generating powerful blocks, strikes, counters, and thrusts from a calm and relaxed position through foot movement and rotation of the hips and torso through to the arms. This holds true in tight quarters.

Mistake 3: Overextending

For anyone using the cane to steady their posture during a medical recovery or unsure footing, care must be taken not to overextend on a thrust by leaning too far forward. You can become off-centered by a swing and a miss, opening one to a counter-strike, a cane takeaway, or a trip.

Mistake 4: Freezing

Don’t stand still with the cane cross-chest and allow an assailant to close in and grab it with both hands. If that happens, you may be able to rotate the entire cane down while twisting against the attacker’s grips, using a foot stomp, snap kick, or knee to dominate. As soon as the grip is broken, look for an opportunity to counter or put some distance between you by circling.

Mistake 5: Advertising Your Third Leg

When waiting or standing still at a public bus stop, for example, the cane’s creator, Benner, teaches to keep the cane out of sight to passersby. This is accomplished by closely aligning the cane with his right or left side, or positioning it slightly behind him. If needed, the cane may be brought up, around, or overhead with surprising speed, spinning the cane in a one-handed grip in the crook or hook to fend off an attacker.

Mistake 6: Forgetting Driver Defense Drills

When driving in stop-and-go or bug-out city traffic, keep the cane within reach while driving but first practice defensive moves to prevent entanglement with seatbelts, steering wheels, and passenger side riders. Lean inward, rather than outward of the window and prepare to repel boarders with a straight stab to the throat or face.

Mistake 7: Using the Foot

In case of emergency, break glass. This saying is familiar, and the cane can smash out an entire SUV rear window. The best power stroke comes from landing our blow with the heavier curved end. After smashing the glass use the hook to break out the class. This prevents you from pushing through windshield glass with the straight cane end and risk losing the rubber foot when the cane is withdrawn through the safety glass spider web. The overall cane length will enable you to smash and escape through a commercial plate glass window in the event of an active shooter or fire scenario. In that event the hook can even serve as a climbing aid. Your collapsible umbrella won’t cut it.

Mistake 8: Neglecting to Train

Benner believes in simplified “non-horsesh!t” techniques that end or prevent fights. The danger with training all the time with extremely light bamboo or foam canes, he said, is that people believe they can perform lightning speed, rapier-like moves, crossing behind the back in two-hand shifts. Then when they switch to the full weight metal cane, the speed and balance are unfamiliar, requiring additional grip strength to execute. Benner once had dinner with the late Col. Rex Applegate, author of the manual on knife fighting. In his advanced age, Applegate is reported to have used a cane to put down two street toughs, one with a groin strike and one with a blow to the head.

Mistake 9: Believing the Weapon-Free Zone Myth

Law-abiding citizens have a blind spot. When traveling through non-permissive environments, don’t let your guard down. Just because you comply with the law by leaving behind your $200 blade doesn’t mean the guy asking directions is not concealing a throw-down box cutter. Watch the hands and don’t be lulled into a false sense of security by a sign with a red circle and line around and through a handgun.

Mistake 10: Countering Without Purpose

Don’t swing at the entire person. Visualize an attack, be it a front kick to your groin, a sucker punch from behind your head, a grab for your messenger bag. Imagine openings — sensitive areas. Focus your defensive counter (thrust, block, strike) on the opening created by the attacker. If he groin kicks with his right leg can you move to the outside side and deliver a strike to his supporting left knee, avoiding his punch? If he grabs your bag can you drive down the beveled tip of your cane crook handgrip into his arm or neck?

About the Author

David H. Martin’s family studied three years under Grand Master Sung Cho’s Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido of Sarasota, Florida, earning his black belt together with his son, while traveling for forms and sparring competition. Martin is a professional NRA training counselor, firearms instructor, and Southwest Florida wilderness survival skills kayak/canoe instructor, guide, and outdoor writer. He may be reached via email at davidhmartin@me.com.

New Ruger Hollow-Point Knife by CRKT

Posted on December 24, 2016 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

CRKT has announced it will be adding a new folding knife to the Ruger CRKT knife line. We previously wrote about the Go-N-Heavy folder and the Accurate fixed blade, and the line has grown considerably since then. There are now 14 different knife models in the series, and the companies have just announced the launch of three more, under the name Hollow-Point.

The Ruger Hollow-Point knife is based on a single folding blade penned by legendary designer Ken Onion, and manufactured by CRKT. However, this design was scaled into three sizes:

The Hollow-Point Compact has a 2.75-inch blade, and a 7.5-inch overall length.
The original Hollow-Point has a 3.17-inch blade, and a 5.83-inch overall length.
The Hollow-Point +P has a 3.61-inch blade, and a 8.5-inch overall length.

Aside from the dimensions, all Ruger Hollow-Point knives share the same old-school styling that resembles a vintage jackknife. On the other hand, the materials used are anything but old-school. The blade is constructed from 8Cr13MoV steel with a satin finish, and it rides on an IKBS ball-bearing pivot for smooth movement. This blade can be opened via a flipper mechanism or thumb studs, and has a sturdy frame lock.

The new Hollow-Point's handle is built from stainless steel with textured black inserts, and it includes a lanyard hole and reversible pocket clip. The standard Ruger Hollow-Point is available now at an MSRP of $70. The Compact model is $60; the larger Hollow-Point +P model is $80.

For more information on the new Ruger Hollow-Point by CRKT, visit CRKT.com or Ruger.com/CRKT.

How to Save a Knocked-Out Tooth in an Emergency

Posted on December 23, 2016 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

The mere mention of the dentist is enough to make most of us squeamish, so the thought of dealing with a dental emergency alone during a disaster scenario is truly terrifying. We've previously written about dealing with toothaches and cavities when no dentist is available. Today, we'll tackle another dental problem that is likely to be common during natural disasters and other survival scenarios: dental avulsion.

Dental avulsion is the complete displacement of a tooth from its socket due to trauma — in layman's terms, a knocked-out tooth. This may occur due to a variety of injuries which may occur during a disaster: taking a punch to the mouth, crashing a car, or simply stumbling and falling while running for cover.

If a tooth is knocked out, most people know to save the tooth and bring it to a dentist (assuming that's a possibility). However, holding the tooth in the palm of your hand or even wrapping it in a clean cloth is a bad idea. In fact, it may make saving the tooth impossible. This is because the periodontal ligament (PDL) fibers that attach the tooth root to the bone are extremely fragile, and are normally protected by the gums. These PDL cells will die if they're crushed, dried out, or cut off from blood flow for too long.

So, what should be done to save a knocked-out tooth in an emergency? Here's a guide based on tips from the American Association of Endodontists, Colgate, and the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine:

ACT IMMEDIATELY. If you want to save the tooth, treatment within 60 minutes of the accident is strongly recommended.
The tooth should be touched only by the hard crown portion, not by the fragile root.
Rinse the tooth carefully with sterile saline solution or milk to remove any dirt or debris. Saliva is another acceptable alternative. Regular tap water is not recommended since it will eventually damage the PDL fibers.
If possible, gently re-implant the clean tooth into its socket. Be sure to insert it in the correct orientation and at the correct angle. In most cases, it should slip in easily.
Gently bite down to hold the tooth in place. Use your fingers or a clean cloth to hold the tooth in its socket if necessary.
If immediate re-implantation is impossible, keep the tooth moist with one of the liquids listed above. Don't allow it to dry out under any circumstances.
See a dentist ASAP if one is available. The dentist will splint the tooth with a wire to hold it in place. If all goes according to plan, the tooth should re-attach to the bone in three to four weeks.
A root canal will eventually be necessary due to damage to the nerves and blood vessels. Antibiotics may also be prescribed.

F750 World Cruiser: A $6 Million Bug-Out Truck

Posted on December 22, 2016 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

If you wanted to build the ultimate bug-out truck, and weren't concerned about money, what would you create? For Peter Dunkel, the answer to that question began with a huge Ford F750 commercial truck, and the budget was a staggering six million dollars. The result of his project was dubbed the F750 World Cruiser, and it's quite the sight to behold.

The World Cruiser actually started out with a paltry $2 million budget, but that didn't last long. Dunkel told Mecum Auctions, “Let's just say the art piece got larger and we had to throw the budget out the window because we were going somewhere no one had ever tried to go.”

The already huge Ford truck chassis was widened 22 inches, and the custom body was mounted on an air suspension system to produce a smooth ride. In the quest for an engine powerful enough to move this beast, the standard Ford engine was replaced by a Caterpillar turbodiesel engine and Allison 6-speed transmission.

The powertrain is rated at 300 horsepower and 1,200 ft-lbs of torque, and can push the truck to 70mph cruising speed. Dual auxiliary fuel tanks carry a total of 60 gallons of fuel for long-range trips.

Creature comforts for passengers exceed even the most luxurious motorhomes, with a bedroom, full bathroom, kitchen, and living room area. Dunkel reportedly spent $20,000 on wiring alone, and installed an on-demand water heater, on-board air compressor, rear hoist, flat-screen TVs, and Kenwood Supreme entertainment system with flip-up exterior speakers (so you can play Flight of the Valkyries for the onlookers as you roll out of town). It can all be controlled by a wireless remote control from outside the truck, of course.

Now, you might be wondering why a truck this big needs a bed — what kind of cargo could it possibly haul? The answer is related to the widened frame we mentioned earlier. The F750 World Cruiser has been modified with an articulating dump-truck-style bed, and can carry a four-door Jeep Wrangler plus two quads. Total cargo capacity for the bed is more than 8,000 pounds. Check out the photo from RV Magazine of one of Dunkel's previous builds below:

The F750 World Cruiser is anything but subtle, but as far as full-size motorhomes go, this might be one of the most over-the-top builds we've ever seen. You'd need an armed entourage to defend this monster from thieves and carjackers in any sort of actual disaster scenario, but if you just spent $6 million on a single vehicle, hiring some bodyguards shouldn't be a problem. Heck, you might as well get an attack helicopter or Predator drone and carry it in the bed.

For those with a more realistic budget, check out our previous article on affordable winter bug-out vehicles.