Discover What The Best Survival Knives Have In Common

A Survival Knife is one of the most important survival tools that you can take with you during an emergency situation. A survival knife is created specifically for surviving in a backwoods environment, and it is the primary tool for making it through an unexpected emergency scenario. It is the survival tool that you're going to get the most use from and for that reason it needs to be one of the most durable and reliable pieces of survival gear that you own.

Survival knives are available in two different versions: the fixed blade and the folding blade. Foldable knives are occasionally favored since they're smaller and therefore much easier to carry. However, since their tang is really small, they are generally weaker and much easier to break. The folding knives most popular types are lock-back folding and pocket knives.

Fixed bladed knives are typically a lot more rugged and dependable then folding knives. The best survival knife should have something that is known as a full tang, in which the blade runs the length of the handle of the knife. Fixed blade knives including the Bowie Knife, or perhaps a heavy duty hunting knife, are excellent examples of top quality fixed blade survival knives due to their exceptional steel blades and durable handles. Fixed blade knives, nevertheless, are usually thicker, heavier, and very dangerous if not stored and handled properly.

The survival knife is sometimes called a tactical knife; however the two are not the same thing. Both styles of knives can be used for a survival situation, but they are designed to handle different tasks. The benefit of the tactical blade is its usefulness in a number of applications, from hunting to protection, from chopping wood to make other tools like spears or bows and arrows. Another essential feature which a tactical knife offers, which makes it completely different from the common survival knife, is definitely the design of the blade. The tactical knife is often designed with a serrated edge that provides it with the capability to cut through materials of any strength. The tactical knife is multi-functional by design, assisting the camper in a wide range of survival and camping activities.

The type of steel used to make the knife is another important factor. The steel quality of the blade determines the durability of the knife, its strength, how simple it is to hone, and determines how long it's going to keep an edge. Your best option of steel for any survival knife will be choosing one which isn't too hard, which would make the blade very brittle and tough to sharpen. This would limit its usefulness while in an emergency situation. Steel for survival knives come in two types: Stainless steel and Carbon steel.

Carbon Steel knives can rust if used frequently without covering the steel with oil. Survival Knives with Carbon Steel generally have a tendency to maintain a sharper edge longer than stainless steel. Carbon steel blades can be sharpened to a razor-sharp edge and is better to use for splitting or chopping wood, and other heavy duty camping tasks.

Stainless steel is harder steel making it more brittle then carbon steel and the blade doesn't retain a sharp edge as long as carbon steel, however it doesn't rust as easily.

There are a few new blade designs which try to provide the very best of both worlds by either making a high carbon stainless steel, or sandwiching high carbon steel between two layers of stainless-steel. These knives offer the strength of high carbon steel and the ability to resist rust like stainless steel.

In conclusion, any person who needs to use a knife in a survival situation, where their life depends on it, would need one that is created to be difficult to break with heavy duty use, and yet stay sharp, and handle like an extension of your arm.

Click here to learn more about choosing a survival knife.

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Natural Remedies for the Common Cold - A Preppers Guide

What do you do when you get sick in a world without drug stores?

I caught a cold last week. Something that happens to all of us and should not be a big deal. I find that as I get older these run of the mill illnesses seem to get worse and longer in duration. I have gotten to the point where I need a prescription cough syrup to sleep at night once the cough starts.

If you look at the counter in my bathroom there will be cough drops, cough medicine, Ibuprofen, decongestants and whatever I can think of that might ease my suffering. I'm not trying to come off as a wimp here but having a cold sucks. I can't sleep or even think for the duration - which seems to get longer all the time. Back in the day I could count on being 100% after a week or so. Now the symptoms can last two weeks or longer.

I thought about going cold turkey on the meds to see what it would be like but decided that keeping my house awake all night with my chronic cough would not be worth it. I also suffer seasonal allergies and know just how ugly that scene gets if I don't take my meds.

Modern diseases tend to center around inflammation. Inflammation is a reaction that occurs when the auto immune system is not functioning properly. Inflammation can be traced as the cause for everything from heart disease to arthritis.

So what did we do without pharmacies and medicines to ease our suffering? A quick internet search yielded some clues to start with: garlic, cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil. Another question arose from my research that although won't cure the common cold may explain some things. Maybe paleo man did not get colds the way we do. I am pretty sure that allergies are prevalent in our modern society because of pre and post natal care. The introduction of formula to replace breast feeding has done damage to our autoimmune function. The decrease in good gut flora has had the same affect. The introduction of antibiotics as a cure for everything in the 60's and 70's harmed a generation of people. I think that I was raised on formula and given antibiotics regularly. Diet also plays a role in disease and inflammation.

Many of our current diseases such as diabetes and arthritis were not prevalent in paleolithic times. Examination of remains show good health. Infections were the most dangerous things in these times. Our diets and lifestyles have opened pandora's box for neolithic diseases.

So the next time I get a cold I am going to give the natural methods a try. Gargling with apple cider vinegar, teas and inflammation control are going to be my priorities.

For more information on surviving in uncertain times check out What is a prepper

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Selective Prepping: A Common Mistake In Family Disaster Readiness

This is a phenomenon common in people new to emergency preparedness but afflicts the more experienced prepper as well. There are many areas of focus with disaster readiness, each of them clamoring for our attention.

Food
Water
Shelter
Medical/first aid
Defense
Education
Alternative energy
Hygiene
Special needs for children, elderly, and pets

The list goes on and on. Naturally, there is no way we can give equal attention to each category or skill set, at least not all at the same time. Therefore there must be some degree of prioritization that comes into play. However, the problem lies in concentrating all or most of our attention on just one aspect and forgetting about the rest.

For example, it sounds like a stereotype but there are indeed "survivalists" out there who have spent several thousands of dollars on firearms and ammunition, yet are relying on perhaps one small box of canned food to see them through a crisis. Make no mistake, guns are indeed cool and "sexy" but I'm sure you see the problem with this plan. Bullets just don't taste that good, no matter how much salt you put on them. It is just as bad to focus on acquiring several pallets of dehydrated food but neglect to stock up on basic medicines and first aid items.

The best survival plans are well-rounded. Obviously unless you are independently wealthy, you need to diversify a bit and this can make it take longer to build up a decent stockpile of supplies. Buy a little at a time and you'll be surprised at how quickly it will all add up in your pantry.

Do something every day to add to your preparedness. One day fill up a few empty and clean 2L soda bottles with water and a couple drops of bleach. The next day, when you go grocery shopping, pick up a few extra cans of vegetables on sale. The day after that, if you have firearms, pick up a box of ammunition.

The idea is to remove the blinders and see the whole picture, rather than just a narrow field of vision. As a family progresses through disaster planning, it is perfectly acceptable to tend toward specialization in some areas. For instance, extensive garden plans will naturally entail acquiring and stockpiling vast amounts of heirloom seeds, garden implements, possibly even bags of soil. However, at the same time, this family should also set aside canned food, bottled water, and medical supplies.

At one time or another, every prepper and survivalist falls into this trap. The trick is to recognize when it happens and work toward getting out of the rut.

Jim Cobb is a recognized disaster readiness expert. He has studied survivalism and emergency preparedness for almost thirty years. In addition to this study, Jim has acquired extensive practical knowledge by living what he teaches. He is the owner of http://www.survivalweekly.com. In addition to writing on these topics, Jim is also available for speaking engagements. He was recently a featured speaker at the 2011 Survival & Preparedness Conference in Dallas, Texas. His common sense and down to earth approach to "prepping" have garnered him a substantial following. Jim is a columnist for Survivalist Magazine, writing "The Frugal Prepper." He is also a regular guest on the Prepper Broadcast Radio Network.

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Common Terminology Used by Survivalists In Disaster Planning

Below are some basic terms that a person may come across when researching survival awareness and preparedness. Some of these words and others may appear from time to time in articles and other information sources commonly used by survival experts or self proclaimed 'preppers'.

Big One - see TEOTWAWKI. The "big one".

BOB - Bugout Bag. Used to store a supply of readily available supplies that you can grab at a moments notice if you need to leave your home in a hurry, as in right now!

Channelized Areas - In the case of an event where an entire city was to be evacuated, channelized areas are the most likely routes people would take; major roadways, railways, riverways, etc...

EMP - Electromagnetic Pulse. Capable of knocking out electronic equipment permanently.

Event - A catastrophe, big or small, that may require you to use some of the knowledge and supplies you have acquired through being a prepper. Green events last 1-10 days, yellow events last 10-90 days, and red events last 90 days to years in duration.

FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency. A Federal Government organization that responds to disasters. It usually takes FEMA a minimum of 72 hours to respond to a disaster emergency with the very basic of supplies (water and rations).

FIFO - First In First Out. A method of organizing perishable goods.

Golden Horde - The anticipated large horde of refugees and looters that will pour out of metropolitan regions when things like food, water, and civil order start to become non-existent.

G.O.O.D. - Get out of Dodge. Abbreviated slang term that describes the need to get out of town in a hurry.

GPS - Global positioning system.

Grid Down - An extended period of time when the power system is not available. (1989 Quebec power outage - small solar storm struck earth, lasted only 12 hours but knocked out power in the entire province of Quebec).

MRE - Meals Ready to Eat. U.S. military rations.

Prepper - A person who plans for the worse, but hopes for the best.

Retreat - A privately owned property where you can go in case your home becomes unsafe to reside within. A retreat in most cases is someplace away from large cities where you can find safety and survive on the basics such as hunting, foraging and farming.

TEOTWAWKI - The end of the world as we know it. Basically this is an event that spells the end of world society, including a large drop in the world's population and a massive loss of technical skills/knowledge. The entire world will never be the same as it was.

For more information on survival planning and preparedness, check out Biff Brannon's web page at http://www.survivalawareness.net.

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Common mistakes when buying real estate survival guide

As we all know that there are many people who are buying properties in preparation before the SHTF these days. It is a great move to say that one is ready, but the truth is how sure are you that the agreements you've done really are going to work for you. Many people only buy properties because they are wrapped as survival but are really survival when it comes down to action? The importance of making preparations cannot be explained enough, but the importance of making preparations right is much more important. There are common mistakes that are repeated when some people buy property to survive. Below is a list of some of those common mistakes

1. the first error is in a big hurry to find the right House. This can cut options that would have been perfect just because you're in a hurry to buy a property. This is an important decision that is going to save lives when the SHTF so that the decision should be made very carefully.

2. buying a property which is to be branded as survival but does not verify whether it actually meet the needs of it being actually survival! Now that real estate agents know they're preparing the survivalists, they maybe are customizing any Earth that remotely meets the need as survival property. Need to be aware of such a thing and check out the property and its usefulness for you.

3. does not check if the property meets all the requirements that you will need when you move in here. There are some aspects that we would like to see who is already here. For example, enough space for about 2 or 3 a few cows, sheep and rabbits. You must also try and see if you can find a property that has a body of water somewhere near so that at the end of your water supply always can still have access to water.

4. you must also have enough land to cultivate some fruit trees. Then you will need to check the soil and see if he can sustain life or not. You must ensure that this is far from civilization, otherwise the cause of all is lost.

Make sure you don't make these mistakes and will do well in your decision to purchase a property.

Having an urban survival guide around when disaster strikes will make you and your family feel more prepared.

Visit www.urbansurvivalguide.com/survival-guide for a complete guide and all the needs of your survival.

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