Tuesday, March 30, 2010

High Noon


“I want to call those deniers out into the street at high noon and shoot it out with those boneheads."
Say I here: "Bring it on, Jimmy Boy."
Shy III

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Whetting a Blade...

Every now and then (like every day, or very nearly) I visit MD Creekmore's Survival Blog. And why not? He has tons of useful information and lots of readers- some of who have most excellent questions. Such as today.


One reader was asking about the proper way to sharpen a knife.


I made a (probably futile) attempt at answering his question using words. But we all know one picture is worth a thousand words. So here are some pictures, with words, to make another attempt at answering the question.


One thing we all know- or should- is that a dull blade is about as useful as an empty gun. Makes a good Yawara but not much else. Not to mention, being cut by a dull blade hurts a helluva lot more than being cut by a sharp blade. (Of course I speak from experience!)


While I'm talking about MD's site, I should probably mention that he has a contest going on now for a couple DVD's that are definitely worth going after. One is by Gabe Suarez- modern American gunfighter with some unorthodox techniques, for sure, but every one proven in Force on Force training. For one, I highly chop rocks, recommend Gabe's books, videos and training.


The other is by James Talmadge Stevens, who I have no real knowledge of- but will admit if MD has it in his library, it's got to be good.


OK, enough advertising... back to the task at hand.


In order of priority, one needs ("one" being a person) a good stone. A bad stone will put some kind of edge on a blade, but for a really good, razor sharp edge, get the best you can. My recommendations in that area are two: a diamond stone is best; then a hard Arkansas stone, fine or superfine grind. Honestly- a "superfine" grind is probably best saved for straight razors or double edge razor blades- and yes, I do sharpen both, but it's beyond this.


In diamond, go for a red- the "fine" stone. If you're the kind who uses his blade to chop rocks, then a blue stone will be needed as well, or a grinder.


In the top photo, you'll see the diamond stone being wet under a faucet- you can use a lake or mud puddle or swimming pool, a river or rain barrel. It doesn't matter, but diamond stones work with water as lubricant, so get it wet. (Most instructions say to run it under sink faucet.)


Once the stone is wet, put it on a flat, stable surface such as a table top. I sometimes use my knee when in a rush, but for best results, use a table.


Holding the knife at right angles to the stone, at an angle of about 25 degrees- your best guide is going to be the original grind angle of the blade. You can look down the edge of the blade as it rests on the stone to get a better picture of what you want. Just know that differing angles of grind have different purposes. A thin, flat edge is really good for things as filleting fish, where a more round or flat edge will follow the skin better than a steeper "utility" edge. What we're going for is a utility edge here- which won't work for straight razors all too well: want more of a fillet edge there.


Dang, I digress again. With the knife at right angles to the stone, draw the blade down the stone with an even pressure. The picture shows the start of the stroke- draw toward the blade edge. This eliminates burrs right from the start, maintaining a smooth edge. Pull the full length of the stone, don't stop in mid-stroke. Two reasons for this. One is to get most use of the stone, the other is if you're using a genuine stone, you don't want to hollow it and this will slow that process.


Once at the "end" of the stroke, follow the curve of the blade by using your wrist to "flick" the tip of the blade off the stone.


Now, flip the blade in your hand to face the opposite direction and push the blade back up the stone to your beginning point. Again, try to maintain the same pressure and "flick" the blade off the stone in the same manner.


Again, what you're trying to do is maintain the same angle and pressure on the blade as on the first stroke.


Repeat the process an even number of times- I begin with ten strokes- and the reason for this is wear on the blade: you're trying to keep the edge even on both sides.


Once you've done ten strokes, look at the blade. Is there a visible edge on it? One that catches light? If so, do four more strokes- or enough to eliminate the light reflective edge. If there is no edge you can see, draw the knife edge across your thumbnail. Does it "drag" or does it slide smoothly across the nail? If it "drags", give the blade two to four more strokes on the stone and try again. If it slides smoothly - almost without feeling- across the thumbnail, you can put it away cuz it's sharp.
Or, if you're like me and can't resist it, hold the blade against your arm and try shaving off some hair. (I say arm, but you can go to your chin or throat or leg or... any place you have hair :) )
Shaving hair from an arm has long been the mark of a sharp blade, but understand that hair arm is a lot less coarse- not finer- than chin hair. You can shave some chinny-chin-chin hair if you want, but be careful and put on a more rounded edge to your blade.
And, yes- the blade I sharpened did shave hair from my arm. One thing that will really be a determining factor in how sharp your blade will get is the quality of the steel. My experience has been that higher carbon content steels will "take an edge" better than stainless- especially Chinese stainless. But- and there is a "but"- Rockwell 440C stainless does take a very good edge. I have shaved with my Westmark 702 (awarded as a test sample back in 1976 as part of a Centennial blade produced by Western Cutlery and a most wonderful blade).
IF you find a need to "strop" a blade, here's how I do it- no guarantee that it's right, just the way I've done it for years with my straight razor and edged weapons.
A "strop" has two sides: one "coarse" and one "fine"- just flipsides of the strop. They're actually the inside and outside of a tanned hide. The coarse side, used to work an edge to a razor, is actually the inside of the critter's skin. This will put a "rough" finish on your blade. To get a silky edge to your blade, use the fine/smooth side of the hide. My strop is the one Dad gave me, about 90 years old and still working fine. However, my opinion is- and I've tried it- is that nearly any 1 1/2" wide belt will work so long as both sides are smooth, without the fancy carving we find on so many wide belts these days.
And there, my Dear Friend, is a quick primer on how to sharpen a blade. Don't be discouraged if your first couple attempts won't get you to a razor edge- it's an art that really does take some patience. Later you can utilize a steel to hone your edge, but again, a steel is for an edge that's already sharp- they won't put a good edge on a bad blade. It's pretty much the same technique in use: draw the edge of the blade down the steel, getting opposing sides as you go.
Now... back to MD's blog and his review of How to Survive Without A Salary -- definitely a book many of us should read, especially if we can't impeach or withdraw all these politicomats we have in office...
We now return you to your regular programming. Thank you for viewing.
Bless God, God bless.
Shy III

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Busy Newsrom..

NOW we're hearing some smart news... kind of.
"...The Slaughter Solution is a poisoned chalice. By drinking from it, the Democrats would not only commit political suicide. They would guarantee that any bill signed by Mr. Obama is illegitimate, illegal and blatantly unconstitutional. It would be worse than a strategic blunder; it would be a crime - a moral crime against the American people and a direct abrogation of the Constitution and our very democracy.
It would open Mr. Obama, as well as key congressional leaders such as Mrs. Pelosi, to impeachment..."
Read it all here: http://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/19/impeach-the-president/

"...The second-ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Hatch also said Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens, 89, is “likely” to announce he is stepping down next month.
That would allow Obama to name his replacement, and Hatch suggested Solicitor General Elena Kagan and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano as possibilities..."
Is Utah's Hatch really suggesting them or are they who he thinks the Dark Lord will nominate? If either is selected, especially Napolitano, expect a war of Restoration. Come to your own conclusion here:http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aghrqNBEBtIc

"...Critics say Arpaio's deputies have racially profiled Hispanics..." Umm, dipshits- he's profiling illegals- wetbacks- not Hispanics. Get the story here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100319/ap_on_re_us/us_immigration_patrols

This means trouble on the homefront... "...The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took over First Lowndes Bank, in Fort Deposit, Ala.; Appalachian Community Bank in Ellijay, Ga.; Bank of Hiawassee, in Hiawassee, Ga.; and Century Security Bank in Duluth, Ga.
The agency also closed down State Bank of Aurora, in Aurora, Minn.; Advanta Bank Corp., based in Draper, Utah; and American National Bank of Parma, Ohio...." Check it out: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Regulators-shut-7-banks-in-5-apf-2660571978.html?x=0&.v=10

"...Calls to the House numbered close to 100,000 an hour, creating a bottleneck in a phone system only meant to handle 50,000 calls an hour. The chamber has been similarly overloaded for four consecutive days, beginning on Tuesday when radio host Rush Limbaugh told viewers to call the Capitol switchboard phone number..." And the Dark Lord keeps trying to convince us the majority of Americans want this bullshit proposal his personal ass-lick Pelosi is trying to ram through. http://www.rollcall.com/news/44382-1.html

"...The "Slaughter Solution" on health care isn't the only thing that has come under attack in U.S. Rep. Louise M. Slaughter's world this week. Sometime early this morning, someone threw a brick through the front window of her Pine Avenue office..."
Oh, boohoo. This is just the beginning if the cretins pass this healthcare fiasco. More here: http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/03/19/993040/brick-thrown-through-window-in.html

Have a great week end, Folks. Oh- get more bullets, I think we'll be needing them.
Bless God, God bless.
Shy III
PS: be sure to check out the advertisers- some good prices on MREs.










Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Happy St. Paddy's Day

OK, let's face it: I'm crazy. If not crazy, at least not 'normal'.

Awoke this morning and the first three thoughts in my head were: Happy St. Paddy's Day; Brigid (of Home On The Range fame); and Kim Delaney and her role in NYPD as alcoholic Detective Diane Russel.

Now I don't want Brigid to think I'm being crude or in any way mean to her, so if she takes offense at this, I apologize right now.

Thinking about all this got me to wondering why these three thoughts occurred simultaneously and all I can think of is that they are all Irish. (If not Irish, they're close enough in my mind.)

Kim Delaney was born in Philly, PA. in November, 1961 and did a stint as a model before beginning acting. Days of Our Lives kept her on the day time soaps (never seen it) and she had a role on CSI Miami (which I also haven't seen- and maybe am glad I didn't since most the women on CSI Miami are syrupy, whiny clones of each other and we won't discuss the sappy cliche's touted as dialogue by the rest of the players).

NYPD, as I recall, was a pretty 'cutting edge' series in the plots, 'human-ness' of the characters and the 'dark and gritty' photography. Much of what we see today originated with this series. Real characters with real lives and real problems, and not at all perfect as either people or officers.

Now, how did Brigid get mixed into this mess? Gosh, I wish I knew.

Other than inferring from her writing her choice of career, her love of guns and the poetic verse of her writing and the fact she's a Celtic Lass with a love of Freedom, there's no reason for her to be on my mind. Well, other than the fact she's female- and, like all women in the lives of men, very much a mystery that I sometimes fantasize unravelling.

Being of French-Canadian and Irish descent, I have no problem knowing why St. Paddy would come to mind today. He's got the day to himself and there will be enough green beer swilled today to float the Titanic. (Yes, I'll add my share.)

To all of you, a Happy St. Paddy's Day. Please, be safe, think before you drink and don't drive if you drink. It may be Detective Russel who stops you. But you won't like the result.
To Brigid, if I have offended you, I sincerely apologise (and believe me, I'm worrying about it).
Bless God, God bless.
Shy III
(Pictures from "OurLovedCelebrities.com"

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

More on "Stoopud Laws"


When reading about the Dark Lord's (assumed) intentions of putting a stop to fishing- both commercial and recreational- I mentally assumed no one would be interested in the topic other than commercial fishermen and net makers.

WOW! Was I mentally unprepared.





Even Mike over at Sipsey Street is involved- and why not? This is a Constitutional issue every American should be involved with whether they fish or not. Not that a survivalist would be too concerned with the "legalities" of fishing or hunting- when it comes to eating, screw "legal" and hunt and fish to your heart's content. No man-- and that includes the dipshit living in the White House-- has the right to tell another they cannot feed themselves or their loved ones.

Yet this is what is happening.

Curtail the food supply and you control the person.

It's happening with the NAIS registering of cattle. It's happening when laws are enacted that turn our food stocks such as corn into fuel for our vehicles. It's happening when lands are put off limits to hunting, or in this case, fishing. It's happening when we're told we cannot grow our own foods unless they're government inspected and approved- either animal or vegetable, the fed is making no distinction. (MMPaints has been fighting this tyranny for months now so go read her for lots more information and links on the topic. http://selfsustainedliving.blogspot.com/ ) It's happening when we're told it's "against the law" to forage food from nature/natural areas.

It's time for every man, woman and child in this country to pick up the banner of Freedom, carry placards and write letters, make phone calls and office visits when practical, and get on the bandwagon of fighting for our rights as Free people. Even if we don't fish or forage-- yet.
Personally, if this becomes a reality, I'd not want to be a DNR officer/Game Warden who walked up to anyone caught fishing and being told they can't. Hooks make some very nasty hanging utensils.

Bless God, God bless.
Shy III





Tuesday, March 9, 2010

More Stoopud Laws


There's obviously no end to the lengths the Dark Lord will go to in his efforts to control our lives, enslave and deny our very existence. To which the Captain remarks, "He can kiss my hairy..."

"...When the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) completed their successful campaign to convince the Ontario government to end one of the best scientifically managed big game hunts in North America (spring bear), the results of their agenda had severe economic impacts on small family businesses and the tourism economy of communities across northern and central Ontario," said Phil Morlock, director of environmental affairs for Shimano.

"Now we see NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the administration planning the future of recreational fishing access in America based on a similar agenda of these same groups and other Big Green anti-use organizations, through an Executive Order by the President. The current U.S. direction with fishing is a direct parallel to what happened in Canada with hunting: The negative economic impacts on hard working American families and small businesses are being ignored..."


It's doubtful such a law will be enacted in Minnesota, since we have the right to fish and hunt in our State Constitution. Nor would state residents stand still for such stupidity even from their god.

Fishing is the Number One draw for summer time activities in Minnesota. The Walleye is the state fish. Fishing license sales are in the high millions of dollars-- in the neighborhood of 700 thousand were sold in 2002 alone and the number rises each year. Multiply that by this year's fee of $17 for an individual fishing-only license, and get an idea of how much revenue will be lost by the state alone. (Minnesota offers a 'combination' license for fishing and small game hunting at a reduced cost as opposed to buying the two separately. The fee for the 'combo' license this year is $29.50.) Having a fishing license is one of the best ways to gather dietary protein and have more fun than you can wave a rod and reel at so far as Minnesota's DNR is concerned.

Then there are the spin-off industries that profit immensely from fishing. A $1.58 BILLION (the "B" is correct) industry is nothing to sneeze at-- it's the largest sport industry in the nation.

Gas sales rise dramatically Opening Day, usually the second week end of May. Hundreds of thousands of people work in related industries- not to mention the numerous fishing related television and radio programs that promote the sport. Hundreds of small businesses provide jobs and, thereby, income for thousands of state residents. From kids growing worms and operating minnow traps to full-blown businesses doing the same, there's money to be made in chasing after the 158 different species of finned friends in Minnesota.

Minnesota has one boat for every six residents. (In that case, I have enough for a family of 48!) That's 900 thousand registered boats in Minnesota. And with 3,800,000 acres of fishing waters, that's more water acreage than a lot of states have for total landmass.

Tackle manufacturers sell millions of dollars of product every year, whether rods, reels, or hooks, it's a huge business. Nearly every gas station, mall, drug store and grocer in Minnesota has some fishing related products on their shelves.

And that moron and his green weenies think they're going to stop fishing in Minnesota?

I dare them to try.

Bless God, God bless.

Shy III











Thursday, March 4, 2010

Laff your butt off..

OK, Folks... prepare to laff till you hurt.
Unless you're the character here... http://survivalism.blogspot.com/2010/03/shtf-fiction-too-bad-so-sad.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FwFVM+%28Prepare%21%29
Enjoy.
Bless God, God bless.
Shy III
Dang, hope I got it fixed this time. Thanks, Mayberry!