The Needs of Society Produce Slavery

Adolf Hitler is credited with saying: "Society's needs come before the individual's needs." Over the course of the Twentieth Century, the needs of our society insatiably increased well beyond those observed by Federal and state constitutions. To fulfill these needs, myriad agencies, leviathan bureaucracy, intrusive regulations, and wasteful entitlement programs have been introduced which have dramatically extended the power and authority of government at all levels while steadily diminishing the scope of individual liberty originally earned by the blood of revolutionary citizens.

The Elusive 70mm Cigarette Case

Back in June, I lamented the lacking availability of new cigarette cases for my hand rolled, 70mm sticks and began using an Altoids tin ("Using an Altoids Tin as a Cigarettes Case"). This has been a successful undertaking as, after six months of heavy use, the tin has remained in tact. Of course, while quite serviceable, it is imperfect as, like most contemporary cigarette cases, there is plenty of empty space remaining after it is filled with 70mm smokes. As a matter of fact, its length surpasses that of standard king sized tubes (see the accompanying photograph at left).

Yesterday, while perusing a number of thrift and antique stores, I stumbled across a vintage cigarette case that provides a perfect fit for twenty-two 70mm cigarettes. The brass case, which has no manufacturer's mark, was made in England and it is in generally good shape with the exception that the original leather covering has been removed. Having priced vintage cigarette cases, I was somewhat apprehensive to inquire about the cost yet I was encouraged by its exterior condition. Needless to say, I was astounded to find that it was only $1.50 (one dollar and fifty cents)! It is certainly true that one man's junk is another man's treasure.

With a capacity of twenty-two cigarettes, this is a large cigarette case. However, it is very flat and it carries well in a hip or jacket pocket. I have used it all day today and I am quite satisfied with my bargain basement find which fulfills my quest for a true, 70mm cigarette case. Though it is vintage, its price renders it suitable for daily use while its condition ensures that such service will not harm any potential collector value.

The Remington Model 33 and Other Single Shot .22s

The Remington Model 33 is a single shot, bolt action rifle chambered for the .22 Long Rifle Cartridge. It was introduced in 1932 and discontinued in 1935; according to Remington, approximately 263,550 were produced with serial numbers ranging from 00001 to 263,550. The specimen pictured, serial number 195,XXX belonged to my great grandfather who passed it along to my father who in turn passed it to me. Well worn from from countless thousands of rounds of ammunition and nearly eight decades of service, the old rifle still performs admirably, despite its dings, blemishes, and missing rear sight blade.

Such rifles, once popular due to their rugged simplicity, inherent safety, reasonable accuracy, and modest cost, have been first rifles for many youthful shooters and continue to serve as excellent training tools. Though unexciting in the age of Tactical .22s, single shots like the old Remington 33 eliminate distractions and provide a deliberate focus upon safety and marksmanship with each round that is chambered and fired. For seasoned shooters, they offer unparalleled reliability and flexibility: their simple actions incorporate few moving parts, rendering them unlikely to fail, and they reliability digest most non-magnum .22 rimfire ammunition from mild mannered CB Caps to hyper velocity Stingers. This reliability and flexibility can make them viable survival tools.

Bolt action, single shot .22s are currently available in adult and youth models from Savage Arms and Keystone Sporting Arms, LLC (manufacturers of the Crickett and Chipmunk Rifles) while Marlin offers a single shot youth version of the XT Series. Other single shot .22s that are available include Savage's reintroduction of the venerable Stevens Favorite, a falling block design, and the inexpensive break actions produced by H&R and Rossi in both adult and youth models. While all are good rifles, the Rossi Model S411225BS, a youth sized rifle that comes with matching .22 Long Rifle and .410 shotgun barrels represents exceptional value (retailing for around $150) and versatility.

Swiss Army Knives

From childhood, I have been intrigued with multifunctional, Swiss Army style knives. The first one that I ever owned was a Japanese knockoff that was acquired at a flea market at about the time that I was a Cub Scout. While not of exceptional quality, it was functional and included a hobo tool that certainly boosted its "cool factor", even though I do not recall ever eating with it. Since then, I have tried to keep a knife of this style handy because its compact, no nonsense functionality makes it a dependable tool of preparedness that is used almost every day.

The original Swiss Army Knife, the Model 1890, was produced by Wester & Co. in Solingen, Germany. This knife, which was somewhat bulky, contained a blade, reamer, can opener, and a screwdriver. Towards the end of 1891, Karl Elsner began producing the Model 1890 knife and in 1896, he designed a new one, the “Schweizer Offiziers und Sportsmesser” (the Swiss Officers and Sports Knife) which had a new spring mechanism that facilitated the addition of a smaller blade and corkscrew. Elsner's company ultimately became Victorinox, which still produces the iconic Swiss Army Knife.

When I was in high school, I can recall arguing with a buddy as to which of us had a "real" Swiss Army Knife. I had a Victorinox and he had a Wenger and each of us vociferously contended that our respective knives were bona fide. As it turns out, we were both right. In 1893, Paul Boéchat & Cie, which was acquired by Theodore Wenger and renamed the Wenger Company, began selling a similar knife and in 1908, the government contract for Swiss Army Knives was split between the two companies.

Over the years, many companies have produced knives of the Swiss Army style and pattern which have ranged from poor to excellent in quality. The general purpose pocket knife that served the US military for generations, the MIL-K 818, is an example of an excellent Swiss Army style knife as are many vintage Boy Scout knives which are built along this pattern. My father's Boy Scout Knife, which was made by Kutmaster and is pictured above, beneath a Victorinox Super Tinker, shows the wear of approximately fifty years of regular, utilitarian service. Of course, only Swiss Army knives produced by Victorinox (The Master Craftsman and the Astronaut models) have the distinction of being officially issued by NASA and used in space.

A Swiss Army Knife or a quality imitation is imminently useful and it fills the niche between between a simple pocket knife and bulky multi-tool that requires a sheath. How many times have you wished that you had tweezers or a toothpick at hand? Have you become spoiled by the twist caps of domestic beers only to be defeated by the traditional cap of a quality micro brew or import? Have you ever needed to adjust the windage on your adjustable rear sight but had no small screw driver available? Have you ever broken a can opener in the midst of preparing dinner?

Such petty inconveniences are easily overcome with a Swiss Army Knife and while amusing, they provide a point of reflection upon the utility and flexibility that such a compact and easily carried tool can provide in an emergency or survival situation. Moreover, the more basic models are no more expensive than other quality pocket knives and are periodically offered at a bargain. The Victorinox Super Tinker, pictured above, was recently acquired from a Wal-Mart clearance rack for $17 which makes it a practical and cost effective addition to any preparedness inventory.

Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God!

Uttered by Benjamin Franklin, proposed as the motto for the Great Seal of the United States, and used by Thomas Jefferson on his personal seal, "Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God" reflects the spirit of the American Revolution and the commitment to individual liberty that was shared by the Founding Fathers. However, this sentiment is most justly credited to Bishop John of Salisbury who stated in Policraticus in 1159 that "...it is just for public tyrants to be killed and the people to be liberated for obedience to God."

Bishop John's opus was a response to the attempts of Henry II to dominate the Church which ultimately led to the murder of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170. In Policraticus, Bishop John rejected tyranny, holding that it was high treason and a public crime which rendered tyrants public enemies. He further acknowledged that tyranny was not just a political venue because "...many private men are tyrants." Accordingly, he found that Christians were not always bound to authority and laws because "...God must be preferred before any man on earth."

The Twelfth Century wisdom of John of Salisbury was heeded by our revolutionary forefathers who secured our independence from Great Britain and it should not be lost by Twenty-first Century Americans. We live in an era in which we are no longer free and independent. Our pursuit of happiness is intruded upon and trampled daily by tyrannical politicians, bureaucrats, and private men who profess to know what is better for us than we know ourselves and force it upon us via laws, ordinances, regulations, policies, and mandates that are offensive to self determination and individual liberty.

We have become so accustomed to intrusions in all facets of our personal lives that we willfully accept conditional and regulated liberty, breaches of privacy, and the expectation that we sign away rights and release liabilities on a daily basis just to function within society, conduct business, and maintain employment. Such pervasive control over citizens is tantamount to slavery and contrary to the nature of liberty provided to us by both Almighty God and our Revolution. For freedom to truly exist, it must be constantly seized, fostered, and protected at all levels, public and private. For freedom loving Americans, "rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." It is our daily duty that should be reflected in all aspects of our public and private lives from polling place, to workplace, to marketplace.

Cherokee Turkish Bold

Back in May, I reviewed Cherkee Mellow Blend Pipe Tobacco in Cherokee Tobacco: An Exceptional Value and found it quite satisfactory. Recently, I tried Cherokee Turkish Bold and it struck me as perhaps the best value priced, pipe cut tobacco blend that I have used to make hand rolled cigarettes. This blend is not harsh, yet it is strong enough to suit American smokers. I found that its flavor resembles that of a Camel and it is a good smoke, with or without a filter plug. The folks in South Boston, Virginia seem to have knocked the ball out of the park with Cherokee Turkish Bold and I highly recommend it.

Single Action Revolvers: Practical Tools that Symbolize the Old West

The handgun in America has been likened to the sword in Europe as a symbol of earlier and simpler times, marked by the individual courage, chivalry, and independent spirit of heroes and rogues alike and there is no better representation of this than the indelible association between the single action revolver and the American west. The mere presence of a Colt Single Action Army revolver, or one of the many copies or clones that have been directly influenced by it, brings to mind legends of the Wild West such as Wild Bill Hickock, Buffalo Bill Cody, Wyatt Earp, Frank and Jesse James, and Billy the Kid: individuals who remain household names, having been immortalized first in Dime Novels and later in Western movies.

Of course, the Colt Single Action Army revolver was not universally carried in the American west and those who have been associated with it in literature and film actually carried other handguns. Wild Bill Hickock carried Colt Navy Models (.36 caliber percussion revolvers), Frank James preferred Remingtons, Jesse James was known to favor a Smith & Wesson No. 3, and Billy the Kid used a double action Colt Thunderer in .41 caliber. However, the Colt Single Action army was vastly popular, amongst civilians and the military alike and the resourceful Bat Masterson purchased many of them which were profitably sold as "Bat Masterson's gun" in the waning years of the Nineteenth Century.

Originally introduced in 1873, it served the U.S. Cavalry until 1892 and it entered the Twentieth Century with official credentials, having been reissued by the U.S. Army during the Philippine Insurrection due to the various failures of the .38 Colt cartridge against the Moros. Even during World War II, it was carried by the likes of general George S. Patton and General Jonathan "Skinny" Wainwright. During the 1950s, the popularity of the Western movies and television series ensured that the classic profile of the Single Action Army would remain synonymous with the American west and during the hiatus in production that occurred between 1940 and 1956, Sturm, Ruger and Company fueled the pent up public demand for single action revolvers by first producing the Single Six and then following with the Blackhawk, modern, nearly bullet proof renditions of the classic Colt utilizing strong investment castings and coil springs rather than the problematic flat springs.

Remaining in nearly constant use since 1873, the popular Single Action Army, which returned to production in 1957, is still produced in the Colt Custom Shop while revolvers which borrow from the design or are largely copies of one variation or another are prolific, produced, finished, or marketed by many companies including: Beretta, Cimarron, Taurus, and U.S. Firearms. The innovative Ruger Single Six, Blackhawk, and variations including the Super Blackhawk, Bisley, and Vaquero remain popular while the simple, sturdy design of the old peacemaker continues to provide the platform for "hand cannons" such as the impeccable Freedom Arms Model 83 in .454 Casull and incredibly powerful Linebaugh customs in mammoth chamberings such as .475 and .500 Linebaugh.

The rugged simplicity of the dependable Single Action Army design allowed it to hold on and remain viable as a defensive weapon, even as it was eclipsed by modern, double action revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. Legendary lawmen such as Frank Hamer and Tom Threepersons, as well as the enigmatic Pancho Villa, successfully relied upon their Single Action Army revolvers well into the age of the Colt 1911 semi-automatic and the Smith & Wesson Military & Police double action revolver. Even today, in capable hands, the Single Action Army and revolvers that reflect its legacy can provide adequate defense against dangerous predators, both two and four legged. Single action revolvers are more than archaic symbols of the past, they remain practical tools that can get the job done.

Surviving Economic Collapse: Ideas Regarding Food and Shelter

Back in April, as governmental shutdown was looming, I wrote an article entitled "Who Will Bail Us Out?" and I noted that "With lost jobs, diminished incomes, decreased purchasing power, and rising prices (especially on food and fuel), many of America's middle class have slipped into the ranks of the working poor...." With financial crises reported around the globe, I grow less optimistic regarding any significant economic recovery in the near future and I cannot help but consider the possibilities of economic collapse and strategies for surviving it.

When cost of living increases and wages remain static (or are even reduced), there is less disposable income which affects quality of life, impeding necessary purchases, and curtailing the ability to prepare for a long term crisis. Hyper-inflation will exacerbate this and American households that already struggle from paycheck to paycheck could rapidly be thrust into the squalor of "Hoovervilles" reminiscent of the Great Depression in the event of economic collapse and the disruption of traditional safety nets provided by an already overloaded system. Sadly, their more affluent neighbors would often be unlikely to hold on for more than a couple of months longer.

As difficult as times already are for many families, now is a prudent time to prepare for a serious economic crisis if you have not already began doing so. In the event of such a crisis, necessities like food and shelter could be difficult to acquire and maintain. I have always believed in keeping plenty of food on hand and having a pantry well stocked with non-perishables. This practice, which I inherited from grandparents who lived through the Great Depression, has enabled me to easily withstand inconveniences like power outages and inclement weather; it has also allowed me to address unforeseen expenses by not having to make weekly visits to the grocery store. In order to better prepare in the face of uncertainty, I have steadily increased the amount of non-perishable food that I keep on hand and I have become quite mindful of sales, promotions, and coupons that extend my purchasing power. I have also simplified my lifestyle to better stretch my hard earned dollars.

Lately, I have focused upon purchasing non-perishables that are modestly priced, have a relatively long shelf life, and lack the bulk of canned goods. Such items include Ramen noodles, instant potatoes, powdered gravy mix, muffin mix (the type that only requires water and can also serve as pancake mix), powdered milk, rice, dried beans, oatmeal, grits, and boullion cubes. Perhaps not sufficient as an exclusive diet, such foods are filling and only require water to be prepared. They can be served by themselves, used in more complex recipes, and accompany meals to stretch the supply of other foods.

In the event no crisis should arise, these foods will be consumed in due time and do not represent a waste of resources. Since these non-perishables are more easily carried and stored in confined spaces than more bulky canned goods, options for mobility, whether by foot or vehicle can be retained. Mobility allows you to more easily quit an area that has become inhospitable and shelter is as much a requisite as is nutrition if this option is employed and compromise could be necessary. While I enjoy camping, taking to the woods and pitching a tent does not represent a suitable, long term scenario for survival for me. However, a tent will cover basic, short term needs for shelter and they are especially useful where low cost, primitive camping is permitted. I once knew a fellow who lived comfortably in a tent in a modest campground through a southern winter after being confronted with a sudden bout of domestic bliss.

In contrast to a tent, a motor home or a camper trailer can provide more comfortable and convenient mobile shelter over a longer period of time while offering amenities including air conditioning, provided that electricity is available. Last year, I bought a 1972 Pace Arrow motor home that is in remarkably good shape and I have been getting some work done to it in order to use it. Originally purchased with short and long term camping in mind, I have begun to regard it as a survival vehicle that could provide living quarters and access to a more attractive geographic area in the event of a disruptive crisis.

I do not view the Pace Arrow as a bug out vehicle to be used in the midst of chaos. It is just too big, slow, ungainly, and fuel hungry for such an adventure. However, I do see it is a strategic option since it will integrate into camping environments in which many already live full-time at low cost. This is part of my justification for increasing my supply of non-perishables that store well in confined spaces for significant periods. The motor home is not a panacea by any means but it is the ultimate in a portable shelter equipped with a fully stocked kitchen that could provide useful options if we are presented with a severe crisis.

None of us possess a crystal ball that reveals the future and some regard preparedness as the height of paranoia. Economic collapse has been forecast many times over and, as of yet, we have fortunately avoided it. Even if such a disaster is not forthcoming, contingencies for surviving situations filled with doom and gloom allow for smaller crises and inconveniences to be taken in stride. Your non-perishables and mobile shelter can be just as useful for a sudden fishing trip taken in response to an impromptu visit from the "in-laws" as it is in avoiding the ramifications of a full fledged emergency.