All Outdoor

I’ve mentioned often that we are in a Golden Age of Gear. If you don’t believe me, then just grab an Eagletac D25 AAA. For $30 you get an amazing amount of technology.

A picture of an apparent break-open 12 gauge shotgun made to look like a 1911 pistol led to this post. Handgun shotguns – of the large variety, not those scrawny Taurus Judge things. Enjoy!

The pattern is familiar by now. There is a well-worn path from modder to maker. Some guy in a garage or with a workbench decides to take apart his knife. In doing so he learns a bit about how they are made and eventually he makes some modifications. After all, if you have a workbench and are the type that takes stuff apart, then modifications are in your wheelhouse. Then he starts modding other people’s knives. They like it and he sees there is some money to be made in the knife business. Modding leads to some money that leads to some machines and eventually the modder makes the leap from modder to maker.

If there is one thing that I receive consistent feedback on it is the price of the products I usually discuss. I am sensitive to this, because $30 is a lot to spend on a light, especially when there are lights that technically work that cost $1 at Home Depot. It’s even worse when you talk about pens. Basically anyone in America can find a pen to keep and use for free. There are a million “hotel ballpoints” out there. So when the readily available option is FREE, the argument for spending more is difficult to make.

Yeah, I know it is a cheesy reference to the movie series, but with a new Star Wars movie coming out real soon, I thought it appropriate. More importantly I really think Luke Skywalker would love this new optical riflescope and could put it to good use on his exploits.

A few years ago in 2007, Ruger introduced the 10/22 Charger pistol based on the legendary 10/22 .22LR action, and it was a huge success for a very brief moment. But then it was mysteriously discontinued from the Ruger product line.  Most assumed that it was a very poor selling gun for Ruger, but public outcry pushed Ruger to reintroduce it in 2015 with some new features many people were asking for.

Gumbo mud sucked at my boots as I drove the stakes of snow goose rag decoys into stubble of a harvested corn field. With no city lights for miles round, a thick blackness covered everything beneath the brilliant stars of the January morning. As the first orange flickers of dawn lit the vast coastal fields of the eastern shore, the cries of thousands of geese gradually rose in the distance.

Walk down the aisles of a hunting supply store in search of turkey calls and you will either be amazed or depressed. Today there are dozens of brand names and numerous trade names applied to the various marketing ploys to get hunters to buy them.

If really are feeling confident in your sanity, go read some of the forum threads on the Mora Knives. For some they are the symbol of the true outdoorsman—basic and capable. For others, they are junk whose reputation is buoyed by phonies, hipsters, and other folks that don’t know better. I am not really in either camp and I appreciate the low cost of a Mora, but sometimes you want something a little nicer. And when you dig you realize that the Mora is but the latest iteration of a design going back hundreds of years. The puuko is probably the foundation of the Mora, and that knife is one that has an impressive heritage. The puuko, the knife of the Sami people, is one of the most storied tools in history.

The 22-250 cartridge has a long and rich history with century-old roots, and the fact that it remains popular today bears witness to its fine design – and a bit of good fortune.

There is a new breed of knife maker out there that just ten years ago would never have existed.   In the folding knife world there are two camps, usually spanned by a wide chasm. On one side are the traditional knife folks. If it doesn’t have stag on it, well, then its just a toy. Nail knicks, high carbon steel, and classic patterns are all they want. And for good reason. Traditional knives with their thin blades and pocketable shapes are excellent everyday carry tools.

On May 2, 2011 news broke that Osama Bin Laden, mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, had been killed by US forces. Members of the US Navy SEALs along with support from the US Naval Special Warfare Development Group undertook a daring and simple raid deep within Pakistani territory. The mission, dubbed Operation Neptune Spear, was the perfect mirror image for the 9/11 attacks.

As I get ready to head out the door to complete a simple task of buying food or going to a movie, I begin loading down my pockets with what is required for everyday life plus all the recommended defensive accessories.  That means into a pair of shorts or pants goes my wallet, cell phone, keys, a Space Pen, a Leatherman or Swiss Army knife, tactical light, my concealed carry gun, a tactical knife, a spare mag, and usually a mini container of mace. Then of course I still have to strap on my watch and slip my sunglasses on my head. I need a utility belt because the only thing missing is an expandable baton, smoke screen, throwing stars, and grappling hook.

Some of the best international travel advice I ever received came from the late Bob Cloaninger who for over 40 years ran one of the world’s largest hunting travel agencies — Trek Safaris in Jacksonville, Florida.

Kansas, USA – In a step towards freedom and away from government oppression, the Kansas state senate passed Senate Bill 45 last Thursday, in effect allowing anyone age 21 or older to carry a concealed handgun without having to beg and bribe the government for permission to do so.

Last night at dinner, a friend of mine asked me for recommendations for a first AR-15. When he told me that he’s looking to keep it under $1,500.00, my first reaction was “yes, you can get a fantastic AR for that amount”, but my second reaction was, “but I have no idea which one.”

The first article discussed the importance and steps of preparing for a hunting trip. This article is going to focus on what to bring. Depending on where you’re going, you could be several miles away from other hunters and/or a town. You rely on your gear, therefore each piece of gear should have a significant purpose and importance to your trip. Like I stated in the first article, these packs are not light, nor are these hikes easy. Training and regular exercise leading up to your trip is a must!

What kid who’s into knives hasn’t wanted to learn to throw them? I know I went through my share of throwing knives and throwing stars, before giving up and deciding that things will probably go better for me if the knife stays in my hand.

But if you’re looking to keep the dream alive, you’ll want to check out ITS Tactical’s in-depth tutorial and video on building your own knife throwing target.

The instructions here are extensive — these guys actually built this thing and filmed themselves doing it. I think they should offer them for sale, because I want one, but I just don’t want to have to build it.

Intrepid doesn’t advertise with us, so I have no incentive other than the fact that I’m a big fan of their Journeyman Messenger to tell you what I’m about to tell you: go here now and back their new Kickstarter.

So you’ve finally saved up enough money and made up your mind to take that hunting trip of a lifetime. If you have never taken an extended hunting trip, you ask yourself, “What do I need, and how do I prepare?”