Know Prepare Survive

Anybody who lives away from the equator knows that it can get quite chilly in winter. Sometimes, central heating dies at the worst time, such as when it’s below zero and the roads are iced over. I’ve had to chop emergency firewood in the snow because a tiny electrical part …

There is no uncontaminated surface water source in the world. That may not be a technically true statement, but unless you’re drinking from a mountaintop spring right at the source, it’s a good thing to keep in mind to minimize risk. And even if you’re drinking from that supposedly safe …

  The golden standard for an everyday carry knife is one made by Benchmade. Even the name, Benchmade, speaks to the quality of the knives they produce. Handmade products are well made, but each product made varies. Factory-made products are consistent but lack the finish and polish of handmade products. …

Campfires have kept people alive for thousands of years. They provide warmth and comfort, cook your food, and can keep predators at bay. We’ve already covered how to start a fire, but that’s just the first step. If you want more than just a small flame, you have to build …

If you’re like me, you have a smartphone. I have half a dozen navigation apps on my phone, so I rarely get lost! But phones have several major weaknesses: battery life and signal reception. Both of those work against you when you’re tromping through the woods. So, just when you …

  Archery is one of the oldest skills known to man. The ability to take a sharp stick and poke it into a target way over there allowed early humans to be far more successful in hunting than before. Today, we have a variety of hunting tools. You can hunt …

In a perfect world, no human would enact violence upon another person. But we do not live in a perfect world and violence is common. I’ve witnessed violent attacks with my own eyes. No matter how many precautions you take to avoid getting into a bad situation, trouble may still …

Your mouth is awash in bacteria. Normally this is not a bad thing. But sometimes, the wrong bacteria can get in the wrong spot. Then you take a bit of food and instead of that delicious food you caught yourself, you feel pain. Ouch! You have an infected tooth! What …

If you’re like me, you like exploring the wilderness. I can spend days in the field, enjoying nature. But nature is not a sterile lab. There are sharp things everywhere, and they harbor bacteria. Some of that bacteria is harmful, pathogenic. I’ve accidentally cut myself in the woods and I’m …

  Ka-Bar was the knife used by the United States Marine Corps in WWII. That excellent fighting knife was just the first to be made by Ka-Bar Knives. The TDI Law Enforcement knife is one of their more modern offerings. Designed in collaboration with John Benner from the Tactical Defense …

It’s day three into your camping trip. The sun is setting and it will be dark soon. You pull out your knife, again, and start to whittle another feather stick so you can easily start the fire. However, the knife isn’t cooperating. You have to use more force to cut …

We live in a dangerous world in which you may be called to defend yourself against a violent attacker. A gun remains the gold standard self-defense weapon but you may not always have a gun available. Not everyone should own a gun, carrying a gun may not be legal where …

  SOG stands for “Studies and Observations Group.” This does not sound fearsome until you learn that they were an elite group of operatives during the Vietnam War, who designed their own fighting knife. It was designed by Benjamin Baker, Deputy Chief of the US Counterinsurgency Support Office, and was …

Do you know how to tie your shoes? No? Well, gee. You see, the square knot is the basis for the standard way most people tie their shoelaces. Oh, you were joking? Whew, you had me worried for a moment there! That basis thing is still important. The square knot …

We’re getting pretty knotty in this part of the internet. Today we’re looking at another knot. Like the versatile bowline knot, it’s an ancient one but still has modern uses. The knot of the day is not the have not, nor is it the can not. Do or do not, …