Page 168 – RECOIL OFFGRID

DIY Flowerpot Smoker & Grill

Posted on April 26, 2017 at 6:00 am.

We love re-purposing trash into treasure. With the right mindset and a little ingenuity, it's possible to turn discarded junk into useful items. These quick DIY projects can boost morale in a survival situation, and also yield useful tools for the long-term. Take for example the soda can alcohol stove, bicycle generator, PVC pipe bow, or plastic bottle cordage.

Clay flowerpots are plentiful in most urban areas — you may have some in your own backyard already, but if you don't, you'll find stacks of them at any hardware store or garden center. This means that they should be easy to find, even in a SHTF scenario.

The heat-resistant properties of these pots would make them a good candidate for cooking vessels, but most of them are designed with drainage holes at the base. So, we can make use of this ventilation and turn them into a DIY flowerpot smoker and grill. Being able to smoke food is especially useful, since it adds flavor, kills bacteria, and acts as a natural preservative for long-term survival situations.

The video below from Cook with Meat shows the technique — just prepare your ears for a loop of upbeat guitar and synthesizer, or get ready to mute the audio.

Here's a checklist of the materials you'll need for your flowerpot smoker/grill:

Two large clean terracotta clay flower pots, identical diameter
Perforated metal pan to hold coals
Round grill grate to fit inside pot (this could be made from wire if pre-welded grills are unavailable)
Drill or awl to add air holes to the pots
Fireproof gasket material, such as nomex or high-temperature silicon RTV (found at hardware stores)
Charcoal fuel and wood chips for smoking
Optional: foil pan heat deflector, meat thermometer, handle

Video: “5 Days Without a Truck”

Posted on April 25, 2017 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

Today's society offers many conveniences. If you need food, you drive a few miles to the store and buy some. If your car needs gas, you stop by the local gas station and fill up. When your trash can is full, you take it out to the curb, and it gets emptied the next morning. If you want to buy something on the internet, you click the “free shipping” option, and it arrives on your doorstep a few days later. Unfortunately, we rarely think about the infrastructure that makes all of these conveniences possible — each of these systems relies on trucks.

Trucks are responsible for delivering fresh food to your grocery store, refilling the gas station's reserves, taking your trash to the dump, and delivering those packages to your home. If for any reason the trucks ground to a halt, so too would these services. Now imagine what your city would be like with no food in the grocery stores, no fuel at the pumps, and rancid trash piling up on the sidewalk. Our civil society would quickly spiral into chaos.

A disabled transportation infrastructure would also mean no access to fire trucks or emergency services.

A disabled transportation infrastructure could also mean no access to fire trucks or emergency services.

A documentary called Be Prepared to Stop examines the potential consequences if every truck in America stopped rolling. Check out the clip below, which lists a rough timeline of the day-by-day effects a catastrophic shutdown of America's highways might have:

“Basically, to the general public, we are invisible unless something goes wrong.” – Stephanie Klang, a truck driver

Like many documentaries, it appears that there may be a political motivation behind elements of this film. However, the core message holds true: our current system of roadways, trucks, and truck drivers is essential to many of the conveniences we enjoy. If something interrupts that system, things could go downhill quickly, so it's important to support that infrastructure and prepare ourselves for the worst.

To learn more about Be Prepared to Stop, or watch the full-length documentary, go to BePreparedtoStop.org.

5 Threat Identification Tips from a Surveillance Professional

Posted on April 23, 2017 at 9:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

In This Article

The Principles of Observation
1. Watch for Countersurveillance
2. Identify Clothing and Wearables
3. Spot Visual Cues of Anxiety
4. Look for Atypical Activity
5. Notice the “Frequent Flyer”
Conclusions
About the Author

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.” — Sun Tzu

This ancient quote from The Art of War reminds us that if you know the enemy, and are aware of your own abilities, you’ll never be in fear of the dangerous situations you may encounter. However, part of the problem with knowing your enemy is identifying who the enemy might be. Day after day, one could go through life with the proper training, mindset, and tools to protect oneself, but distinguishing a wolf in sheep’s clothing from an innocent bystander can be a challenging task for the untrained eye. That’s why threat identification is an essential skill.

The Principles of Observation

Human nature has always been, and continues to be, exceptionally difficult to decode. Trying to predict a random stranger’s actions is nearly impossible upon first sight. To add to the difficulty, the philosophical debate of whether humans are inherently good or evil is still raging to this day. Regardless of what side of that argument you’re on, one thing is undeniable; bad guys exist in plain sight everywhere.

There’s no class, piece of gear, or handbook that can teach someone to become an expert at predicting a person’s next move. The best way to improve at threat identification is to expose oneself to different locations and settings, and observe what people do. Identify those who might look unsavory. Why did you pick that person? What were they doing that made them stand out? If you don’t know the answer right away, continued observation of that particular mark will reveal more about what they’re doing, or why a particular action stands out to you.

As one observes longer, that mark may become nothing more than a passerby who was lost or confused. On the flip side, the threat level may also escalate and trigger you to start making decisions to leave the area or take another course of action. All of these factors are important in assessing your vulnerability to danger. As said before, real-world practice is essential to threat identification training, but these five tips can hammer home the fundamentals of what to look for to initiate the threat identification process.

1. Watch for Countersurveillance

Countersurveillance — that is, actively attempting to avoid observation — is important to perpetrators because it acts as an investment for the attack they plan on carrying out. Someone who partakes in countersurveillance will often have some sort of skill allowing them to identify and possibly avoid surveillance measures that would otherwise impede their plan. Lucky for you, this is not always the case.

In order to identify someone running countersurveillance, you have to capitalize on their mistakes. Observe their actions, and catch the individual slipping up and revealing their true intentions. Someone who is constantly looking up towards the corners of buildings or above doorways may be looking for cameras, perimeter lights, or motion detection devices. One who checks doors by leaning casually on handles to see if they’re unlocked, or overtly asks odd questions about security and business processes could be quietly running a countersurveillance operation. The overly-inquisitive person may simply be curious, but repetitive actions should certainly raise both suspicion and your personal threat level.

2. Identify Clothing and Wearables

As simple as it may seem, clothing can tell you a lot about a person, and how much of a threat they could be. Simple identifiers, such as raggedy, worn out, dirty clothing may easily suggest that the scruffy guy approaching you in a back alleyway is homeless. Statistically, a homeless individual may be more likely to commit crimes of desperation, so this should be an easy threat identification flag for anyone, as long as you can prioritize your safety over your sense of compassion.

It's the more technical aspects of observation that allow you to quickly ID someone who may be up to no good, rather than trigger other senses like compassion, or plain curiosity. Someone acting suspicious while wearing the stereotypical hat and sunglasses may seem a bit odd, but this tactic actually has a pretty good chance of thwarting any surveillance cameras and facial recognition from identifying them by appearance alone. This sentiment also goes for the lone repairman or maintenance worker. They may seem normal at first glance — they have an excuse to be in a secure area, and they can get around with ease due to their job function. But if it appears they’re toting unused tools, wearing clean shoes, and donning a freshly-pressed uniform, something may be off.

As many would guess, large, heavy clothing in late spring or summer could signify someone who is trying to conceal something, such as a weapon or goods that they have lifted off of unknowing victims. But what about the tougher observations? Very light clothing, such as only a t-shirt in the winter, should raise just as much suspicion as baggy clothing in the summer. Factor in why a person would approach you while not wearing a jacket in the winter. They may seem in distress, and that will get them within feet of you. Maybe they just told you they were robbed and need your phone to contact police? Just like pulling over to help a motorist on the side of the road, it’s tough to separate the desire to be a good Samaritan from the risk of being taken advantage of. So, make sure to use caution when identifying someone based on clothing, but also use common sense.

3. Spot Visual Cues of Anxiety

Most people would argue that nervousness is the tell-tale sign of suspicious activity. Contrary to the popular belief, anxiety itself isn’t the warning sign — it produces the warning signs. A nervous individual will often display some visual “tells” that something may be up, but anxiety is the root cause of the sweating, shaking, and skin tone change associated with an individual that is about commit an act of aggression. Rubbing fingers together rapidly, clenching a fist, tightening of the jaw, and pacing will also give that individual away almost instantly, just in time for you to formulate a plan of action.

Aside from acts of aggression, thieves and petty criminals will appear extremely anxious if they aren’t experienced in the act of stealing. Look for that person to furtively glance around with spurts of paranoia, sit and put their head in between their legs, and tap their feet vigorously before they decide to either flee or go for the steal. A seasoned thief won’t think twice when shoplifting or snatching a purse, but they may very well display one of our other 4 threat identification behaviors, so pay close attention to your surroundings.

4. Look for Atypical Activity

Another key starting point that can escalate depending on location is the observation of atypical activity. These behaviors will appear unusual, regardless of your location. Avoiding eye contact at all costs in a crowd of people can be classified as atypical activity, due to the effort involved in milling around without as much as a look, nod, or smile to passersby. An abnormally chatty or outgoing individual can also be a red flag, depending on the setting.

Another atypical activity that we have had the unfortunate chance to observe was the method that the Tsarnaev brothers used to bomb the Boston Marathon in April of 2013. Even though there were plenty of people at the marathon wearing backpacks, the brothers set their concealed bombs down and nonchalantly walked away. No one noticed this as strange, even though it would be highly unlikely for someone to abandon their bag in a large crowd at the marathon. They assumed correctly that everyone was watching the marathon, thus distracting them from the atypical activity of dumping large backpacks on the sidewalk.

Lastly, observe the individual who seems to try hard to stay unseen. Ducking behind visual obstacles can seem easy, but someone who has perfected staying out of the way should escalate your threat level immediately. Standing near a blind corner of a building or hallway, behind a pillar in a low-traffic area, or even actively avoiding areas with windows inside of an office building can be initial signs of someone being up to no good.

5. Notice the “Frequent Flyer”

One of the easiest possible threats to observe is someone who seems to be making rounds in a particular area. Not to be confused with countersurveillance, someone who classifies as a frequent flyer doesn’t typically care who is watching, but rather who they are going to harm, and when they plan to strike. This individual will leave an area after a period of observation and return on a schedule to check up on their target.

This method of threat identification is more ambiguous than the others in that the schedule of the individual can vary from minutes to hours. The frequent flyer is usually a thief, pickpocket, or petty criminal who is out for a quick score, not thinking of the repercussions that could be avoided by using countersurveillance. Quickly taking stock of the area of mischief, the individual will identify the target or item they desire, make sure they are able to succeed, and go all-in. This person may also follow a target after observation, depending on the level of success they believe they may have. This is why it’s important to be able to spot the threat quickly.

The best way to avoid being the target of a frequent flyer is to identify their repetitive behavior and get out of the way before things get dangerous.

Conclusions

Practicing these tips can be as easy as going to the local shopping mall and engaging in people-watching. There are potential threats everywhere, even if we’d prefer to remain blissfully ignorant. An unsavory individual who commits small thefts is still a threat, although you may not be the intended target.

Applying these principles can be a bit harder. Hopefully, you won’t find yourself in a situation where you’ll need to escalate the threat level enough to take any sort of action, but the reason to practice threat identification is to be able to bail out before the strike. By keeping these five tips in mind, you can keep yourself and your family safe, and also protect those around you from falling victim to the dangers you observe.

About the Author

Jim Henry is a physical security and surveillance expert who has spent all of his adult life working to keep people out of places they shouldn’t be, and locating individuals who need to be found. Prior to his current employment in the private sector, where he works as a government contractor, Henry was a Surveillance Investigator for The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, PA. He also worked in Erie, PA in a similar role. Before that, Henry was busy building a diverse portfolio of education, studying countersurveillance, critical infrastructure protection, and threat detection. Even though most of his current work remains secret, Henry is very vocal about his love for firearms, writing, EDC gear, hiking with his dog, and spending time with his family.

New: Baja Designs S2 Ultra-Compact LED Lights

Posted on April 22, 2017 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

LED light bars have made a huge impact on the off-road market — it's rare these days to see a bug-out truck that doesn't have at least one or two LED lights. However, there are some downsides to the traditional 3- to 5-foot-long light bars. While they produce immense amounts of light, full-size light bars also draw high amperage, and can overload the electrical systems of smaller vehicles such as ATVs and side-by-sides. They also throw light in a wide line or arc, and are more difficult to aim precisely for targeted needs. Finally, their large dimensions can block radiator grilles or impede visibility, depending on placement.

The Baja Designs S2 line is available in several beam pattern configurations, from spot to wide flood beam.

In these instances, running a smaller light pod is beneficial. This is why Baja Designs has released the S2 series of ultra-compact LED lights. They measure just 3 inches by 2 inches and weigh 8 ounces, so they're ideal for mounting in grilles, on bumpers or roof racks, or for use as back-up lights. These lights are also designed for low amperage draw, so they won't add too much strain to a smaller vehicle's electrical system.

The S2 Pro is available in flush-mount configuration for installation on bumpers and grilles.

The Baja Designs series is split into two categories: S2 Sport and S2 Pro. The S2 Sport is the entry-level model, and produces 1,130 lumens, with a draw of 12 watts at 0.9 amperes. Pricing for the S2 Sport starts at $110.

The S2 Pro is what Baja Designs calls “quite literally the brightest LED light ounce for ounce on the market”. It produces 2,450 lumens with a draw of 20 watts at 1.6 amperes. Pricing for the S2 Pro starts at $175.

Color lenses are available for red, blue, green, and amber light output.

A variety of beam patterns are available — Driving/Combo, Spot, Wide Cornering and a Work/Scene light. The S2 lights also offer either black or white powdercoated housings. All are available with optional amber colored lenses, and the Spot model is also available with optional red, green or blue color lenses.

For more information on the new Baja Designs S2 series, visit BajaDesigns.com.

Animal Traps & Snares: Primitive vs Modern Techniques

Posted on April 20, 2017 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

We often hear about the virtues of primitive trapping, and on the surface, it seems like an easy way to catch animals for food with limited effort. It's often said that all you need is a looped strand of picture wire, paracord, or even strong monofilament line to create a snare. Then you can place it on a game trail, and wait for animals to get caught. However, in a real survival situation, it won't be so easy.

So-called primitive traps include snares, deadfall traps, and cage-style traps constructed from simple materials. These range from the well-known Paiute deadfall to more sophisticated traps like the bow trap seen above. With substantial training and practice, it's possible to construct these traps from materials found in the wild — plant-based cordage, sticks, and rocks. We also know that Native American cultures used improvised traps like these to supplement their other food sources when hunting became difficult.

Snare animal trap hunting paracord knot 6

Is a strand of 550 cord really all you need to create a reliable snare?

If you look at the traps above and think, that looks easy, you may need to think again. These traps require substantial practice and precision to set up, and those who have watched the survival TV show Alone will probably recall how frustratingly inconsistent they proved to be for the contestants.

Snare animal trap hunting paracord knot 3

Wild animals are cautious, and can easily be deterred if they notice a trap or snare in their path.

If the balance isn't perfect, or the wind changes direction, your trap may fall apart. If the trigger sensitivity isn't spot-on, they may go off prematurely or fail to go off when an animal takes the bait. Or, even if everything else goes according to plan, the animal may still escape the trap after it is triggered.

You really think those teeth can't chew right through your paracord?

A determined animal's teeth can make quick work of paracord, and can even gnaw through thin steel wire.

In many cases, you may expend valuable time and energy building traps, only to find that they produce minimal calories in return. This leads to the question: is it wise to plan on constructing primitive traps in a survival scenario, or should you add modern trapping tools to your bug-out bag?

The following YouTube video from The Wooded Beardsman compares these primitive trapping methods to more modern steel traps. Note: the following video contains footage of live and dead wild animals in traps. Discretion is advised for sensitive viewers.

We're certainly not ready to say that primitive traps are worthless, since they have been used by native cultures for centuries to provide a viable backup food source. Then again, considering all the variables and the wide array of commercial tools available, there's a compelling case for modern steel traps or snares that can dramatically increase your odds of catching food. There's nothing more depressing in a survival situation than spending hours or days to set traps, only to see them fail to catch anything.

What do you think — would you take the time to set primitive traps in a survival situation? Do you carry modern trapping tools in your bug-out kit?

DOT Tire Codes: How Old Are Your Tires?

Posted on April 19, 2017 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

Have you ever watched a police car chase on TV? The fugitive frantically tries to get away, and the police turn to a tried-and-true method of disabling the vehicle: puncturing its tires. Before officers resort to blocking the vehicle in with squad cars or running it off the road with a PIT maneuver, they almost always deploy stop sticks or spikes to take out the tires — in some cases, they'll even shoot holes in them. This is effective because it's nearly impossible to control a vehicle when it's running on shredded tires or bare rims.

As we prepare for emergencies, it's important to keep this lesson in mind. Without a dependable set of tires, your vehicle becomes useless, and might leave you and your family stranded on the side of the road at the worst possible time. Tires also dramatically affect your car or truck's handling, braking, acceleration, and off-road traction. So, it's important to ensure they're in good working order before an emergency bug-out situation occurs.

Age has a substantial effect on tires, especially when they're exposed to direct sunlight and the elements. The rubber becomes hard and brittle, and may lose traction or puncture unexpectedly. Actor Paul Walker of the Fast and the Furious movies was killed after the Porsche Carrera GT he was in spun out of control. It was later found that the vehicle was on nine-year-old tires, and the California Highway Patrol noted that “the tires' age might have compromised their drivability and handling characteristics”.

An easy way to check the age of your tires is to look for the Department of Transportation (DOT) Tire Identification Number on the sidewall. Tires manufactured since 2000 use the Week-Year format, for example:

To the right of the DOT stamp on the tire, we see a four-digit number, 4014. This means that the tire was manufactured in the 40th week of '14, or the first week of October 2014. Here's another example:

This tire reads 3014, so it was manufactured in the 30th week of 2014. Simple enough, but with all the numbers and letters scattered around the sidewall, you could easily overlook this code if you weren't searching for it. Most manufacturers recommend replacing tires every 6 to 10 years, regardless of wear, though the lifespan can be diminished in hot and dry conditions. This also applies to your spare tire, so don't forget to check it as well.

Of course, there are many other warning signs to watch for, including tread depth, cracks in the sidewall, bubbles, air leaks, flat spots, or abnormal wear patterns. But the DOT tire code can give you an idea of how long a tire has been on your vehicle — or how new the “new” tires you just bought really are. For more information on tire wear and age, check out this helpful article from Edmunds.com.

Video: Choosing a High-Security Lock

Posted on April 17, 2017 at 12:20 pm.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

A lock is the last line of defense to protect unattended valuables, so it should be taken seriously. It's easy to believe the saying that “locks keep honest people honest” by creating a high barrier of entry and discouraging opportunistic criminals. While there's truth to that statement, the physical security of the lock you buy does matter.

When your key looks like this, it's a safe bet nobody is going to be picking your lock with a paperclip.

Not all locks are created equal — there's a reason Fort Knox isn't securing its gold with $10 locks from Walmart. We've previously addressed this subject when we showed that a MasterLock padlock can be opened by simply tapping it with a hard object. This goes to show that buying quality locks is important, since it can mean the difference between a skilled criminal bypassing it in seconds or risking capture as he struggles with its complex mechanism.

Lock security lockpicking BosnianBill padlock key 1

Even inexpensive locks can be secure, if you know what features to look for.

YouTube lock expert BosnianBill summarizes how to choose a high-security lock in the video below. Here are some of the key factors he recommends considering:

Number of pins — a 7-pin lock is much harder to pick than a 4-pin lock.
Pin style — Serrated or dimple pins can throw off criminals who are unfamiliar with these less common mechanisms.
Body — Solid steel is preferable to the stacked-washer style or brass bodies used on cheaper locks.
Shackle — Thick shackle, preferably with rounded ball bearing detent and shielding around the base.
Replaceable cores — If one of your keys is lost or stolen, you can easily swap the lock core for a different key without replacing the entire lock.
Uncommon features — Rotating discs and reactive keys can make even the most advanced criminals give up on picking your lock.
Price — Consider the value of the item you're securing. A more valuable item may necessitate a more expensive lock.

Note: the video starts with a satirical portion to demonstrate the weakness of MasterLock padlocks. Watch the whole video before you jump to conclusions.

Review: Hinderer XM-18 Bowie, MP-1, and Investigator Pen

Posted on April 16, 2017 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

In This Article

Hinderer XM-18 3.5-inch Bowie
Hinderer MP-1
Hinderer Investigator Pens & Double Shot Glass

Behind the scenes here at RECOIL OFFGRID, we're always hustling to find new and interesting gear for our various product reviews and buyer's guides. This usually involves copious email chains, back-and-forth phone calls, spreadsheets, scribbled notes, and checklists on the office whiteboard. While the product request process can be tedious at times, it's all worth it when a box shows up with some cool new items to test and write about.

In a handful of rare cases, we cut open these boxes to find that a company generously sent us even more gear than we requested. This was the case with Hinderer Knives. We got in touch with the company to request one knife for an upcoming article in our print magazine (more on that later) — a week afterward, a package arrived with three knives, four tactical pens, and a machined stainless double shot glass. Christmas came reeeeal early this year.

We were excited to see this array of EDC goodies, and decided to thoroughly evaluate each item here on OFFGRIDweb. While we appreciate Hinderer giving us free reign to test these pricey products, don't think that we'll be pulling punches with our feedback. As always, you can expect our honest thoughts on what we liked and disliked about this gear.

Hinderer XM-18 3.5-inch Bowie

After setting aside the knife we'll be evaluating in our upcoming print article — check Issue 20, on sale 6/2/17 — we moved on to the next blade in the box.

This is Hinderer's illustrious XM-18, a folding knife practically idolized by many in the every-day carry (EDC) gear community. The XM series is available in three blade sizes: 3-inch, 3.5-inch , and 4-inch (a.k.a. the XM-24). This knife occupies the popular middle bracket, with an 8.25-inch overall length, 4.75-inch handle, and 5.6-ounce weight.

The MSRP for a standard XM-18 is $425. That price point may immediately deter many people from ever considering these knives, but as we'll discuss, Hinderer creates a premium product at a premium price. To make an analogy, a Toyota Camry will get you from point A to B, yet this doesn't phase a customer who's considering an Aston Martin. While both vehicles serve the same core purpose, they're worlds apart in terms of performance, polish, and visual appeal. Hinderer isn't trying to compete with affordable entry-level knife brands — it's going after a much smaller and more demanding customer base.

Part of the allure of Hinderer knives is the fact that few knives produced by the company will look identical. There's an immense variety of colors, finishes, and blade styles to choose from, and that's before you consider all the customization parts offered by Hinderer and other aftermarket vendors. You can keep your XM exactly as it came from the factory, or swap hardware, clips, and scales to your heart's content.

The XM-18 seen here features a bright blue G10 scale and tumbled (a.k.a. stonewashed) metal finish — pretty standard for an XM model. The blade shape is a bit out of the ordinary, however. Rather than the more common Spearpoint or Spanto (modified spearpoint / tanto hybrid) grinds, this XM-18 uses a Bowie-style blade.

The Hinderer Bowie blade features a flat belly and upswept tip, with sculpted curves cut into the spine. The leading curve tapers the business end of the blade down to a strong piercing point, while a second curve contours the spine to the user's thumb. This is helpful for added leverage and control during downward cuts. Our 3.5-inch model feels just right in the hand; if you're on the fence between 3- and 3.5-inch blades, we'd recommend going with the 3.5. It's more controllable.

The frame is machined from lightweight titanium, and the blade is formed from S35VN, an excellent steel that's consistently one of our favorites during long-term testing. It stays razor-sharp and has proven to be even tougher than its more common sibling, S30V.

The blade strength and construction get full marks from us, but we're not so sure about the Bowie's appearance. Its distinctive look may appeal to some users, but from a purely subjective standpoint, we feel that it doesn't look as elegant as a Spearpoint. The Bowie shape makes us think of a big fixed blade in the hands of Crocodile Dundee; it seems a little weird on a modern titanium folder. Perhaps it'll grow on us.

From a mechanical standpoint, the XM-18 is a beautifully-crafted knife. Feel the buttery-smooth pivot and solid yet easily-to-release lock bar, and you'll begin to see why this knife is priced the way it is. There's no wiggle whatsoever in the blade, and the thumb studs nestle into a notch on the handle for added reinforcement. Flipping the knife does require a small amount of wrist action.

One minor quirk we noticed: every Hinderer we've seen ships with the pocket clip in tip-down orientation. In our experience, the vast majority of knife users (including this writer) prefer tip-up for faster deployment — it's easier than drawing and reversing your grip before flipping the knife open. Reversing the clip is obviously easy, so this is mostly nitpicking, but we wonder just how many Hinderer owners actually prefer it in the factory tip-down position.

The XM-18 is a terrific knife, and deserving of the reputation it has earned. Whether the price point is justifiable remains up to the buyer — but we will note that there's a thriving resale market for these knives, so if you ever tire of it, you shouldn't have a problem getting a good chunk of change in return.

Hinderer MP-1

The Hinderer MP-1 is a newer addition to the company's lineup, debuting at the 2016 Tactical Knives Invitational event. MP stands for Modular Platform, in reference to the knife's Hinderer Modular Backspacer System (HMBS). The HMBS is a solid titanium piece sandwiched between the handles, and it can be swapped out for lanyard-loop or non-lanyard versions in various finishes, all without disassembling the knife. It's one more point of customization for those who hot-rod their knives, but the forthcoming glass breaker HMBS attachment is definitely something we'd be interested in picking up.

The MP-1 is $25 more than an XM-18, with an MSRP of $450, but the design is substantially different. Instead of using the thumb studs as a reinforcement point against the handle, the MP-1 has a floating stop pin that rides in a groove cut into the handle around the pivot. When the MP-1 is flipped open, the stop pin hits the end of its track, adding rigidity to the blade.

While this stop pin functions effectively, we question the need to press another piece of steel into the blade, rather than using the larger and sturdier thumb stud as a dual-purpose opener and reinforcement point. Again, there's nothing wrong with the stop pin design, but it seems to add complexity with no obvious benefit. The thumb stud placement is very slightly (about 1/16-inch) further forward on the blade, but this makes no functional difference in ease of opening.

Our MP-1 features Hinderer's Full Working Finish, which is similar to the standard tumbled finish, but with a duller satin appearance and slightly darker shade. We really like this well-worn industrial look — and it seems to hide scratches better, too. The handle scale on our sample is layered green, black, and brown G10, with a crosshatched cutaway for added grip. This texture is mirrored by another crosshatched section on the titanium frame.

Workmanship on the MP-1 is superb, and the action feels even smoother than the XM-18. No wrist movement is needed to flip it open consistently. Combined with the subdued appearance and high functionality of its S35VN sheepsfoot blade, this is an appealing package. Weight is the same as the midsize XM-18, but the MP-1's dimensions are slightly more compact (3.25 inch blade, 4.5 inch handle, 8 inches overall).

Aside from the questionable necessity of the redesigned blade stop, our only gripe with the MP-1 is the limited number of customization parts at the present time. Bronze or blue anodized hardware and five different backspacers can be purchased directly from Hinderer, but replacement scales aren't out yet. It's a relatively new knife, so we understand that parts are less plentiful than the longstanding XM line, but it's worth considering. If having a totally unique modded knife is a major priority, an XM will have many more options to choose from, at least for now.

Pitting the MP-1 against the XM-18 Bowie, we'd take the MP-1 without a second thought. Functionally, we'd give it a slight edge in smoothness, since flipping it open is a bit easier than the XM, but both are very good. If the XM had a Spearpoint or Skinner blade, it would be a tougher decision, but we'd still lean towards the MP's sheepsfoot for its practical slicing ability. We also appreciate the textured handle cutaways and HMBS customization. Considering the $25 price difference compared to the XM, the MP-1 is the knife we'd choose for EDC.

The Hinderer XM-18 is a very good knife, but once customization part availability equalizes, we'd say it'll be an easy decision to take an MP-1 over an XM-18.

Hinderer Investigator Pens & Double Shot Glass

The package we received from Hinderer also included four Investigator pens — two in polished aluminum, two in aluminum hardcoat. The blue and red hardcoat models feature a matte finish, while the green and purple polished models are… well, polished. Hinderer also offers these in stainless steel, brass, copper, or titanium, with a variety of different colors and finishes. Pricing is set as follows:

$55 for hardcoat aluminum
$60 for polished aluminum, stainless, or brass
$80 for copper
$200 for titanium

These pens are smaller than we expected from pictures, just 4.5 inches long, 0.375 inches in diameter, and 1.4 ounces. The compact size can be a plus, since they're very light and perfect for carrying in a shirt pocket. The screw-on cap is reversible to reveal either the Fisher Space Pen tip or pointed Bullet tip. The Bullet tip is removable, and can be replaced with a flat end or conical Warhead tip (sold separately).

We found the Investigator easy to write with, and its ridged body provides a secure grip. It's a bit on the small side for defensive use as a kubaton, but just big enough to work in a pinch. For around $60, they're pretty affordable, and there are more than enough colors to match the rest of your favorite EDC gear.

Finally, there's the stainless shot glass. At first we thought it was a diminutive pen cup designed for the Investigator — it actually fits that role well. But after some research, we found it listed online as a Hinderer Double Shot Glass, a limited-production item from the 2016 holiday season. Filled to the brim, it holds 3.5 ounces of your favorite spirit, and measures 2.6 inches tall by 2 inches in diameter.

The shot glass is quite heavy at 7.2 ounces, and weighted at the base, so you won't have to worry about tipping it over once you've had a few. The exterior is textured with the same pattern you'll find on XM knife handle scales. Hinderer logos are laser-etched along the base, as well as on the bottom of the cup. This stainless version will set you back $100; copper and brass versions are available for $125.

While the Hinderer Shot Glass is a cool piece of machining, and it feels great in the hand, you'd have to be a pretty hardcore fan of the brand to shell out $100+ for one. It's about as serious as a pair of Hinderer toenail clippers, so we couldn't see ourselves spending that much money one of these. For now, it's mostly useful for showing off on Instagram and storing our Investigator pens.

Rick Hinderer has been making knives since the mid-1980s, and based on what we've seen of his latest designs, he's still got it. While it's not true that everything bearing the Hinderer insignia is pure gold as some internet fanboys might claim, the company produces some very solid American-made blades with numerous customization options — you just need to be willing to pay for that level of quality and prestige.

For more info on the latest Hinderer knives and other products, go to RickHindererKnives.com.

Short Film: Making Viking-Era Lime Bast Rope

Posted on April 15, 2017 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

In this era of mechanization and mass-production, we tend to take a lot of things for granted. We're not just referring to modern technology like personal computers and automobiles — even items which would be considered primitive today were once incredibly laborious to produce. Our ancestors would no doubt be dumbfounded by how plentiful our resources are these days.

Take rope, for example. If you need some cordage right now, you can open a new tab on your web browser, tap a few keys and click a few buttons, and have 100 feet of mil-spec paracord delivered to your house by this time tomorrow. Its synthetic fibers are woven flawlessly by a machine, and it's no thicker than a pencil, yet has been tested to withstand 500 pounds of weight. No big deal.

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Production of lime bast rope starts by peeling strips of bark from a lime (linden) tree.

A thousand years ago, there was no Amazon.com with overnight shipping. In most cases, there wasn't even any pre-made rope to buy. Want some cordage? You'd be harvesting the materials and making it yourself. And you'd better have a good teacher to literally show you the ropes, because there'd be no internet to Google it on. Even if there was, it'd be useless because you'd almost certainly be illiterate.

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Bast fiber layers are separated from outer bark by soaking in seawater for several months.

Archaeological records show that ancient ropes were often constructed from bast. This material is a tough fiber found in the inner bark layer of certain plants. Jute, hemp, and flax are examples of bast fiber which are still used for rope-making today. Since at least AD 800, vikings in Norway were known to use bast from the lime tree to make rope. We know what you're thinking — this tree is unrelated to the green citrus fruit, and is also known as linden or basswood.

Lime bast rope is still made today in Norway using the same traditional methods: stripping bark from lime (linden) trees, soaking the strips in seawater to separate the layers, twisting the bast fibers into strands, and braiding the strands into a three-ply rope. The following 5-minute short film by Silje Ensby documents the process in an artistic manner:

Obviously, the vikings didn't have chainsaws or pressurized hoses, but other than these time-saving measures, the 1,000-year-old technique remains the same. If it still took us 4 months of waiting and countless hours of finger-numbing weaving to craft a rope, we'd be a whole lot more careful about cutting it.

Infographic: States with the Worst Traffic Congestion

Posted on April 14, 2017 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

If you live in a major metropolitan area and own a car, you're already familiar with the frustration of sitting in traffic jams. It's incredibly aggravating to inch along on the highway, stuck in a sea of brake lights with no end in sight. It's especially bad around rush hour, which unfortunately is the time most of us need to travel between home and work — a real catch-22. In many cases, traffic eventually clears up, only to reveal that the slowdown was caused by rubberneckers looking at someone changing a flat tire on the shoulder.

For all these reasons, it's worth doing your best to avoid traffic during your everyday commute. However, during an emergency bug-out situation, the degree of traffic will increase exponentially as cars flood the roads trying to get out of Dodge. As we always say, the time to prepare for this is now — when there's an emergency and you're trying to evacuate in your vehicle, it may be too late to find an alternate route.

While traffic can be a problem in most cities, some states have it much worse than others. This can be measured by the congestion index, a ratio of the number of registered vehicles to the number of miles of public roadway within a state. The math is simple: more vehicles on less asphalt equals higher traffic. Some states (like Texas) have lots of vehicles, but also a huge network of roads, so their congestion index is just slightly above average.

The following infographic from TitleMax shows the data for all 50 states, plus Washington D.C., so you can check the statistics on how your home state fares. This info can come in handy when you're planning a bug-out strategy, but be sure to compare it with what you've observed in your local area during rush hour. Click here to download a full-size version of the graphic.