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Three Tools from WWII

By
Reuben Bolieu
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WWII TOOLS

World War II created more than history. It created tools that soldiers trusted with their lives. Knives, shovels, and fighting blades weren’t just gear. They were lifelines. Three standouts — the KA-BAR, the M-1943 Entrenching Tool, and the Gurkha kukri — earned legendary status used in the mud and fire of war. Seventy-five years later, they’re still here — naturally, updated with modern materials but carrying the same spirit and legacy.

 

WWII KABAR

The Champ, Ol’ Reliable

The KA-BAR 7-inch carbon steel-bladed knife may be the most iconic fixed-blade knife in the history of knives. And the world. That clip-point blade, metal handguard, and stacked leather handle couldn’t be mistaken — nor could the flat, round pommel used for thumping skulls or general hammering. It is a utility knife, after all. I say is because this ol’ reliable military tool is still in service. That’s right, career military with no discharge day, very reminiscent of the famed Bowie knife.
KA-BAR is a company with many knives under its belt. However, around a group of soldiers, survival guys, or knife folks in the know, KA-BAR will do. Everyone already knows it’s the 7-inch utility knife. However, nobody needs to say more than KA-BAR.
Not Only KA-BAR

The WWII “KA-BAR” wasn’t made by just one company. While Union Cutlery (later KA-BAR) gave the knife its name, the U.S. Military contracted several manufacturers — Camillus, Pal, Robeson, and Ontario among them — to produce the same Mark 2 Fighting Utility Knife. All were issued to Marines, Navy, and other branches during the war. I dare you to strike up a conversation with some old salty and say, “Aye, that Pal, Robeson cutlery sure was a good knife,” and enjoy the sound of crickets. Heck, there may be a fight.

 

modern KABAR

 

Camillus Cutlery also made a prominent version, naming it the 1219C2 adopted by USMC in 1942. The Ontario Knife Company had its version, Ontario Marine Combat #498 (or just #498 Combat Knife). During WWII, the knife we now call the “KA-BAR” wasn’t produced by just one company. While Union Cutlery (later renamed KA-BAR) gave the blade its famous name, the U.S. Military contracted several manufacturers to meet demand. Camillus Cutlery was the largest producer, designing the 1219C2 model that became the USMC’s standard fighting utility knife. Other companies, including Pal Cutlery, Robeson (ShurEdge), and Ontario Knife Company also supplied versions under military contracts. Regardless of maker, the knives shared the same specifications: a 7-inch clip-point blade, full-tang construction, and a stacked leather handle, issued as the USMC Fighting Utility Knife.

In the trenches, soldiers didn’t care whose factory stamp was on it. The knife was used by soldiers for utility, throwing competitions during downtime, combat, and helping with camp. The enduring silhouette of the Bowie shape proves that good design, battle-tested, never fades.

 

WWII style entrenching tool

M-1943 Entrenching Tool

This wartime gem was a soldier’s workhorse. Built to be more than just a shovel, it’s a folding tool that could lock into place at a 180-degree angle to use as a spade or at 90 degrees as a pick or hoe. It underwent several variations during the war, with the 1945 model incorporating a folding pick. It was just like my grandfather toted to camp.

Compact and sturdy, it carried a steel head and wooden handle, folding to lock straight for digging or angled for chopping. By the end of the war, a folding pick was added, giving troops a way to break through rock and stubborn ground. Day to day, it handled the dirty jobs like digging foxholes under fire, cutting drainage trenches, clearing brush, chopping roots, and even prying open crates.
In close quarters, it could be swung like Babe Ruth — but as a weapon. However, in rare, lighter moments, soldiers threw it for sport to test their aim. In the chaos of war, its versatility made it a constant working companion.

 

BEW entrenching tool

 

A New Digging Breed

Modern expedition shovels, such as the Brautigam Expedition Works (BEW) Titanium Pack Shovel, capture the spirit of adventure. It’s featherweight yet tough as woodpecker lips. Peter (the owner) designed it for those who need a reliable tool to tackle any challenge. The shovels weigh 10.8 ounces with a straight handle and 11.2 ounces with a T-handle. Both options measure 21 inches in length and feature a 6-inch-wide shovel head, designed to fit perfectly inside or attach to your backpack for easy transport. It’s all-welded construction and high-strength titanium alloy allow for the most durable construction imaginable.
With no hardware to work loose, the beveled edges assist with digging, chopping roots, limbs, and light splitting. Designed and made for a new breed of campers and adventure seekers, this shovel is not just about strength; it’s about versatility. If you’re breaking trail or digging out a snowbound vehicle, this shovel does it all.

I don’t own one. However, I got to use it and watch the rightful owner dig up rocks, cut through roots, and pat the dirt down to make his camp a little flatter. It really shone when we decided to transfer our fire from a large titanium camp stove to the ground. I shoveled hot coals with the BEW Titanium Pack Shovel until I thought it would melt. It didn’t.

Before this modern feat of a tool, several companies developed their version of the M-1943 Entrenching Tool. Some folded, some didn’t. Some failed, too. I’ve handled an old-school WWII adaptation used by the USSR Armed Forces after the Great Patriotic War. It had a straight, short handle that did OK, but eventually bent when chopping. However, possibly the most popular shovel/entrenching tools come from Cold Steel. It’s known as the Special Forces Shovel. The Spetsnaz shovel is inspired by a historical Soviet military entrenching tool used by the Spetsnaz. This robust and efficient shovel sports a solid hardwood handle, a wide flat steel blade, and three sharp sides. This cool guy tool is still in use, keeping the spirit alive.

 

 

WWII Gurka Kukri

The WWII kukri was a legendary combat and utility knife used by the Gurkhas. The kukri, a traditional Nepalese blade, earned international renown thanks to the mighty Gurkha soldiers who wielded it. It’s a wicked chopper with piercing power, excelling at utility, survival, and combat.
Gurkhas were elite soldiers from Nepal serving in the British and Indian armies. Although there were several models, the most recognized models from this era include the Mk II and Mk III kukris. Much like the KA-BAR knife, these weren’t made by one company. Instead, they were produced by a mixture of Indian arsenals and contractors like Windlass Steelcrafts, making sure Gurkha regiments had good steel throughout WWII.

Mk II/Mk III Kukri Breakdown

The Mk II was revived from WWI patterns at the onset of WWII, the same wide-bellied, pointed blade with that extreme weight-forward drop to it. It had wooden scales with two large steel rivets and washers holding them on. There was no bolster, yet it still retained the wide center ring that traditional kukris are known for. Both had a full-tang design with the tang tapering drastically toward the pommel. Manufacturers added a metal butt cap for extra utility on the Mk III.

Introduced between 1943 and 1945, the Mk III was put into service as a more polished design version of the Mk II. It was made with a simplified grip for mass production and engineered for durability. The blade was beefed up for a bit more strength and weight. Most likely, they looked more intimidating to the enemy. If you can be so fortunate to find one in circulation, grab it.
Homage of the Legends

 

 

Knives by Hand and Condor Tool & Knife make solid, reliable kukris that honor the soldiers and tools of yesteryear. These aren’t the only companies making a version of the kukri. However, they are truer to the design and function of the legendary tools.
I’ve used kukris for several years. At first, I didn’t get it what the appeal of this almost boomerang-looking cutting tool was all about. I avoided it for a long time. After seeing quite a few review videos of the Cold Steel Kukri Machete and the low price, I got curious. As a longtime fan of tomahawks, I always noticed the leverage of the heavier head impacting before my chopping hand — power, leverage, and safety, together. In kukri videos, I kept hearing the kukri compared to a hatchet or axe for the same reasons. With the blade preceding the hand, it leaves the hand in a natural position and not awkwardly bent like chopping with a straight blade.

I pulled the trigger, got a kukri machete, and understood how it worked. From then on, I shunned all straight-bladed and straight-handled chopping tools. I still feel it is the superior chopping utility long blade out there and feel that much closer to the Gurkha soldiers’ mindset.

 

Read More From Issue 72

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Mobile Base Camp

By
Scott Finazzo
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mobile base camp

ehicle owners can be placed into one of three categories: urban road commuters who wrack up most of their odometer miles going to and from work and running errands, overlanders whose miles are spent driving to conquer mountains and valleys, and then there are those who fit somewhere in between. Many of us live and work in areas connected by a labyrinth of paved roads and highways who relish the opportunity to get away from congestion, power lines, and people. It is in that middle ground where lies the challenge of outfitting a vehicle to be a daily driver, but also capable of heading out to places unknown at a moment’s notice.

Recreational vehicles and campers are pre-built and fun but lack versatility. Van and bus build-outs are always cool but can be costly and lack some of the utility aspects for which I was looking. So, instead, I decided to lean into outfitting my 2024 Toyota Tundra, so that it would allow me to travel lightly and efficiently day to day, while offering the ability to quickly escape to wherever my adventures would take me. One doesn’t have to dig too deeply to find countless options for building out a vehicle to whatever degree of adventure you seek. Overland vehicles can be built up and tricked out seemingly to no end, limited only by your imagination and budget. After conducting loads of research, I decided to design my build-out around having the versatility of modular components that could be relocated or removed relatively easily, depending on my itinerary.

mobile base camp

Design and Build

The overall design and build theme was mobile base camp. Be it a weekend getaway or a full adventure excursion, I wanted to know that I could roll in with my truck, gear, and accompanying toys and be able to quickly set up camp with everything I would need. Of course, there are multiple options for accomplishing this. The challenge was balancing function, versatility, and cost.

My areas of focus were shelter, food, hygiene, and security, with a few added comforts to make roughing it not as rough. Also, being someone who likes to be prepared, I appreciate the idea of having a vehicle that would function as an everyday driver yet remain ready to swiftly bug out if the want or need were to arise. The decision was made to center my build-out around Yakima products. They are not only a proven and trusted brand but offer the type of equipment I was seeking to meet my goals.

mobile base camp bed cover

Security is essential at base camp. The retractable and lockable aluminum American Roll cover ensures the bed contents stay dry and secure.

Bed Cover

People install bed covers for various reasons. For my mobile base camp, step one was finding a quality bed cover that would offer protection from the weather and provide security. I ran into my first snag when I learned that only certain bed covers are compatible with Yakima’s truck bed towers. After researching the options, I decided on Truck Covers USA’s American Roll Cover. They partner with Yakima and, for an additional cost, can include the Yakima T-slot rails, which are needed in conjunction with the Bed Track Kit 2 to be compatible with the Overhaul HD Towers that I chose.

The American Roll Cover is tough, made from double-walled aluminum, and can support 500 pounds. Even though no bed cover claims to be waterproof, I wanted my cargo area to remain as dry as possible. The American Roll Cover utilizes a wide-tube (⅝-inch ID), four-way drainage system that reduces clogging as it sheds water. Significant selling points to me were the lockability and small canister size (8 by 8 inches), which doesn’t take up much real estate in my short bed. The cover gives me the option to place it in a partially open/partially closed position, with a stop every 12 inches. The American Roll Cover was exactly what I needed as the foundation for the truck bed build-out.

MSRP: American Roll Cover: $2,999
Yakima rails: $300
Yakima Bed Track Kit 2: $140

mobile base camp

Not many things are worse than being outdoors and getting struck or stranded. RotopaX, known for their fuel and water containers, also carry recovery gear that offers options for when you need help getting back on the road.

Towers, Crossbars, and MOLLE Panel

The next step was to establish the structure for the mobile base camp. Yakima Overhaul HD Towers were chosen to allow me the day-to-day option of elevating and hauling items longer than my short bed would tolerate, like ladders and lumber, but also create the base camp framework. Shorter towers would place cargo in a more aerodynamic position, but I opted to poise my tent above the top line of my cab. Admittedly, keeping the tent above the roof line creates a slight hit to my gas mileage and requires some splattered bug cleanup after road trips, but the elevated tent allows me to maintain my site lines to the bed and rear of the truck, which are important to me.

The Overhaul HD Towers are tough, strong, and, as a bonus, super easy to install. The height of the towers is adjustable and range from 19 to 30 inches, and they boast a maximum strength rating of 500 pounds on-road and 300 pounds off-road. With a sleek look, integrated tie-down points, and even built-in bottle openers as a fun bonus, they checked the boxes for what I needed.

Between the passenger-side vertical towers, I installed a molle panel to enhance stability and provide all the utility options that a molle panel offers. In my case, I affixed a pair of two-gallon Rotopax mountable containers: one gasoline and one water. There aren’t many adventures where an extra few gallons of gasoline and water would not be needed or at least appreciated. The Lox Pack Mounts keep them securely attached to the panel while providing the security of keyed access.

The final piece of the structure were the crossbars. The Yakima HD Crossbars come in multiple lengths. The 68-inch bars worked best for my setup being not too short and not too wide. Like everything else in the system, they are lightweight and strong. Customization was a design priority with integrated T-slots on both top and bottom and tie-down points at either end that carry a 700-pound pull strength rating. Whether I am hauling a full base camp setup or a few kayaks for a day on the water, this bed rack setup hits the mark.

MSRP: Yakima Overhaul HD Towers: $1,200
Yakima Crossbars (68”): $319
Yakima Molle Panel (short): $269

mobile base camp shower

The Yakima Road Shower and a privacy tent offers you the option to shower (or include a toilet for restroom needs) wherever your travels take you.

Road Shower

If there is one piece of equipment whose versatility I did not appreciate until it was used, it was the Yakima Road Shower. The aluminum tank resists fading and cracking and comes with everything you need including hose and nozzle. The Road Showers are available in three sizes: small (four-gallon), medium (seven-gallon), and large (10-gallon). The seven-gallon shower fit just right with my short bed setup. As with the other components, the installation was simple, as is the use. Four bolts attach it to the crossbars. Then, simply charge it up to a max pressure of 65 psi with your air pump, and in mere seconds, the system is pressurized and ready.

I modified mine a bit by upgrading to a 10-foot food-grade water hose to extend my reach beyond the included 55-inch hose. The longer hose allows me to access all sides of my truck. The Road Shower is not only a shower, but also a dirt/mud/sand rinser, a dishwasher, a gear and window cleaner, and even a dog washer. When applied simply as a traditional shower, I utilize mine in conjunction with a cheap rubber mat and pop-up privacy tent to get about six minutes of continuous shower time from the seven-gallon tank.

MSRP: Road Shower (seven-gallon): $599

mobile base camp tent

Elevating your tent gives you a raised vantage point to take in the scenery and provides some distance between you and animals or ground bugs.

Tent

The crown jewel of the mobile base camp must be the tent. The topic of a rooftop tent is polarizing. They are loved or hated. A faction of the outdoor population discounts the fact that you must break them down and put them away if you want to relocate. While that is not incorrect, I’ve found the breakdown to be so quick and easy that even if I wasn’t using it for a basecamp, packing it up is only a minor inconvenience at best. After weighing the pros and cons, including factors such as comfort, cost, mobility, durability, etc., I chose to go with a rooftop tent.

I opted to remain in the Yakima family for my base camp shelter. Although there are less expensive options, it is difficult to match the quality of the Yakima Skyrise HD. Having ridden out several thunderstorms in the Skyrise, any questions or concerns I may have had rolled away with the clouds. Made of 600d ripstop polyester with a waterproof coating, it is durable and dry — both critical features of any shelter.

It is remarkably spacious with a 96×58-inch sleeping platform that is marketed as a three-person tent, but as all tent sizes go, it is better utilized as a two-person, one-dog maximum. It features windows on all sides, including dual skylights, so even when concealed inside, I can unzip the window covers and the views remain. Add in the 2.5-inch foam mattress with a removable and washable cover and the pros really start to add up.

Mostly, it is big enough to feel very spacious inside, yet small enough for rapid setup and teardown (about 5 minutes and 10 minutes, respectively). It touts four-season resilience, and even the sleek cover, by all accounts, seems to be able to withstand the elements without cracking, fading, or tearing. The elevated shelter gets me off the ground and comfortable without the expenses and challenges that come with pulling a camper.

MSRP: Yakima SkyRise HD: $2,899

mobile base camp kitchen

Cooking off-grid can be both simple and elaborate. The Yakima Open Range conceals an entire kitchen setup on your receiver hitch.

Kitchen

Again, staying on brand, the Yakima EXO OpenRange Deluxe caught my attention and has become my camp kitchen. This system lives on the receiver hitch Swing Base and Top Shelf at the back of my truck. Anyone who has carried cargo at the receiver hitch knows the frustration that comes when you need to access the rear of the vehicle. The Swing Hitch allows me to keep everything secure and easily swing it out of the way of the tailgate for easy access to the truck bed. The Top Shelf attached to the Swing Hitch provides another level of transportation options and storage. It is common to see gear lockers or bike racks on the Top Shelf. For me, it keeps the kitchen system at a workable height when I set it up.

The Yakima Open Range is an army green rotomolded case that houses anything I want to load in to meet my camp kitchen culinary needs. It is lockable and utilizes a rubber seal to keep the inside free from water, dust, and bugs. The “lid” folds down into a flat work surface. In addition to silverware, flatware, and a few insulated tumblers, I added from my hiking stash a MSR lightweight ceramic pot and skillet. They are durable, reliable, lightweight, and don’t occupy much space.


The “deluxe” edition comes with a few interesting extras that fill out the entire kitchen system setup. Housed inside the case is a two-burner, 14,000 btu, propane camp stove that can be conveniently set on the attached powder-coated steel table that attaches out to one side. A UV-protected bamboo utility table connects to the other side that incorporates a removable cutting board nested above a collapsible wash tub. To maximize the experience, Yakima includes a flatware tray, bottle opener, lantern hook, utility hooks, and backboard organizer. This setup takes camp cooking to the next level and has been a fun enhancement to my adventure base camp as well as helping to feed friends and family on weekend getaways.

MSRP: Yakima EXO OpenRange Deluxe: $1,199
Yakima EXO Swing Base: $699
Yakima EXO Top Shelf: $479

mobile base camp

The Zeus Air is a little giant that handles most electrical charging, jump starting, and air inflating needs.

Accessories

There are other items I chose to include to complete the base camp. I have graduated from haphazardly tossing my things into bags and bins. As someone who has grown to appreciate organization, I love the Gregory Gear Pods and Gear Boxes. I divvy up my supplies into the gear pods and situate them perfectly into the water and dustproof Gear Boxes that flaunt durable, transparent lids with latch hinges. Gear organization and access are the linchpins of a successful outdoor experience.

From a safety perspective, I went with Uncharted’s Zeus Air Jump Starter/Inflator. The air pump charges my road shower nicely, and the last thing I want to deal with when it’s time to go home is a flat tire or a dead battery. This little giant has a 150-psi inflator, a jump starter capable of jumping up to 8L gasoline engines and 6.0L diesel engines, a built-in flashlight, and includes USB-C and USB-A outputs for charging phones, laptops, etc.

As a supplement to the portable power of the Zeus Air, I also included a small additional power supply. The Bluetti AC508B gives me options for the small power needs that can arise when removed from the grid. I also brought 100-watt solar panels to keep them juiced up. This little 700-watt unit isn’t going to give you a massive amount of power but is enough to handle low-watt appliances or lighting, phone and tablet charging, or even a small fan for those sultry, summer nights.


Getting stuck is never ideal in any outdoor scenario. Often, when mobile base camps are set up, one must venture through less-than-perfect terrain to get there. Not many overlanders leave the house without a set of recovery boards. They are a simple, lightweight tool that can help get you out of most any manner of stuck-ness. I included a set from Rotopax as well as a recovery gear kit duffel bag. It contains both a kinetic rope and a flat tow strap, D-ring and soft shackles, and a snatch block, along with a few other odds and ends. For a little bit of money, these elements of high-quality gear provide a nice insurance policy against spending more time in the wilderness than I intended.

Communication is an often-overlooked aspect of any outdoor excursion. For the mobile base camp, I wanted the 50-watt power of a mobile General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radio but also wanted it to be inconspicuous in the cab of my truck. The Midland MXT575 MicroMobile was the perfect fit. The base can hide under my seat, out of sight, while all the controls and speaker reside right on the mic. It has both narrow and wide band capabilities, NOAA weather scans and alerts, and a small but mighty antenna that could be easily upgraded if I decide. Out of the box, depending on terrain, the MXT575 transmits loud and clear for dozens of miles and sometimes beyond.

As one final bonus to the mobile base camp, for no other reason than I love relaxing in a hammock, I added a Kammok Outpost Bundle. The lightweight, aluminum frame consists of an A-frame on one end and attaches to the Yakima crossbar on the other. Hanging in between, I use the Mantis Hammock Tent, which can simply be a peaceful place to relax or a secondary tent complete with a rainfly and an integrated insect net if I have an extra person in my camp (of course, within the weight limits of the overall system). It holds up to 500 pounds, is a quick and easy setup, and is my favorite spot to relax after a hike or a ride.

Final Thoughts

On our guy trips, my buddy Kent always says, “This isn’t a vacation, it’s an adventure.” Now, when I pull out of the driveway, the adventure begins. Although I am no stranger to roughing it, this build-out has given me the opportunity to head out on a whim with everything I need to bring the base camp with me. In total, the cost was just over $13,000, including some of the additional accessories — certainly not cheap, but overall, more cost effective than other options. This was a labor of love and is a continual work in progress that will surely evolve over time. I already have plans to run power to my truck bed and add a few other tweaks such as an electric cooler. Half the fun is making it whatever you need. This setup, whether for fun or necessity, gives me the capability to head out, survive, thrive, and experience what we all want — freedom.

Read More From Issue 72

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Editor’s Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

Stress Under Fire

By
Tom Sarge
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fire fighters in a high stress fire

I’ve spent over three decades as a prepper and nearly as long as a therapist, most recently working with first responders. Most of us believe we will not be mentally impacted by emergencies, stress, and survival situations, but stress has a way of surprising you. It’s not a matter of being “tough enough” to not let it affect you. I’ve worked with combat experienced infantry, seasoned first responders, paratroopers, and more in my therapy office. If it were simply a matter of “being strong,” I would not be needed.

I’ve seen firsthand how emergencies don’t just test our gear — they test our bodies and minds. Whether you’re a firefighter racing to a burning building, an EMT arriving at a fatal car accident, or a homesteader facing a natural disaster, stress — and your body’s response to it — is part of the equation.
Prepping isn’t just about stockpiling supplies. It’s about preparing ourselves mentally and emotionally for the storms we know will come. And it is about knowing how to help yourself recover when you have been impacted by stressful events or emergencies.

 

stress response

 

Adrenaline, Cortisol, and the Lizard Brain

When an emergency hits, your body flips a switch. Adrenaline surges, cortisol floods your system, and your “survival brain” takes over. In my field, we sometimes call the lower part of the brain the “Lizard Brain” because it is very instinctual. It is responsible for controlling involuntary body functions and has a shape that resembles the silhouette of a reptile head. Once the switch is activated here, your thalamus sends emergency signals to your amygdala, resulting in the fight, flight, freeze, fawn response.

When that switch is activated, your heart rate and breathing speed up, you lose some dexterity in your fine motor skills (things like dialing a phone number can become difficult), your gross motor skills become super-strong, your vision narrows, your reactionary processing speed is overclocked and your training, if you had any, usually takes over.

In some cases, this innate process can be helpful, but the trade-off is the loss of some capacity for reasoning and critical thinking. The “lizard brain” is also not great at processing emotions and memories after the event is over, which can lead to long-term issues if not managed properly.
I’ve known firefighters to step off the truck at a fatal accident scene with their bodies already in overdrive. While they are ready to act, their physiology is working against their ability to process the emotional toll of the event. While they may internally view this as their own weakness, the truth is that it is just a biological process they have no control of.

Decision Making in the Fog of Stress

Stress doesn’t just hit the body. It clouds the mind. Memory falters, judgment slips, and emotions run hot.
I’ve worked with law enforcement officers who had to make split-second decisions in life-or-death hostage situations. Even after the danger passed, even when it was a justifiable action to shoot a dangerous suspect who was endangering an innocent hostage, they struggled with replaying the moment, second-guessing themselves and carrying the emotional weight.

For preppers, this matters. In a crisis, you may need to decide whether to bug out or shelter in place, or whether to ration supplies or share with neighbors. If your mind is fogged by stress, those decisions get harder. That’s why practice matters. Drills, scenarios, and even simple “what if” conversations sharpen your mental clarity before the real thing hits. If you have embedded what your response would be to certain emergencies before they happen, and if you practice it again and again, it increases the chances that your training will kick in when the fight, flight, freeze, fawn response is activated.

 

stress after emergency

 

Training the Mind

We prep our gear, stock our pantries, and sharpen our knives. But how often do we prep our minds? To train our minds, we can practice stress inoculation, mentally, and physically. Some preppers will turn off the power to their home for a few days once per year to practice their responses to “grid down.” For self-defense, range time may not be enough. Practice how to operate when the heart is beating fast by playing airsoft and paintball. Do jumping jacks and sprints, then practice how to draw and clear firearm malfunctions when your heart is sped up. (I recommend you use an airsoft gun for this for safety.)
Learning how to breathe effectively during an emergency can help to re-engage the parasympathetic nervous system (the body’s recovery system) and re-engage the upper part of the brain, the part that is used for critical thinking and recovery.
Practice role-play and gaming out scenarios visually with family. Examples: “If there was a fire and you couldn’t get out of your bedroom through the door, what would you do?” Or “If we all got separated in a storm, where is a local spot where we could all meet back up?”
And don’t underestimate morale items. A warm cup of coffee, a favorite snack, a photo of loved ones, or even music can stabilize the mood in the middle of chaos. Prepping isn’t just beans and bullets; it’s also about morale and mental health.

When The Dust Settles

Emergencies don’t end when the sirens fade. The body and mind carry stress long after the event. Nightmares, irritability, fatigue, and even physical aches are common. Learning how to recover is also part of prepping and survival. When I trained in martial arts, my sensei would tell us that recovery after sparring meant that we should be mindful to drink more water, get proper sleep, and to eat healthily. In a genuine emergency, as a trauma therapist, I would encourage you to talk about what happened as soon as it is safe to do so. This helps mitigate how much the event can get emotionally “stuck” for survivors. I tell my first responder patients: “When you talk about an event with me, with your spouse, or with your peer, you are letting it out of your body. It’s less weight to carry to bed.”
For preppers and survivalists, recovery is often overlooked. I think we tend to think “it won’t affect me.” We plan for the event but forget the aftermath. Building recovery into your preparedness plan ensures you can bounce back stronger.

 

managing stress with therapy

 

Resilience: The Ultimate Survival Tool

Emergencies will come. Storms will rage. Accidents will happen. But resilience is the survival tool that never runs out. Physical preps like gear and food storage matter. Knowledge-based preps — like skills, training, and mindset — matter, but mental resilience, the ability to bend without breaking, may be the ultimate prep.
As a prepper and trauma therapist, my message is simple: Prepare your body, prepare your gear, but above all, prepare your mind. When the dust settles, resilience is what keeps us standing. I’ve seen first responders mentally and physically recover from some of the worst tragedies imaginable. Part of that survival meant taking the time to practice self-care, learning coping skills, not bottling emotions inside, asking for help when needed, and recognizing that while emergencies can affect us, it doesn’t have to permanently weigh us down. As preppers, we can learn from that. Stock your pantry, yes. But also stock your mind with coping skills, recovery strategies, and morale boosters.

Trauma Responses: The Four Fs

Whenever we believe that we or someone around us could be in danger, there is a chance that our survival mechanisms could trigger. This creates a biochemical response in the body that is somewhat determined by your genetics but can be overridden with training.

  • FIGHT: Your body chooses to give you the tools to confront the threat with aggression or assertiveness. You will get stronger, louder, more resilient to pain, but at the cost of critical thinking skills.
  • FLIGHT: Your body gives you the tools to try to escape the threat. You will become faster and probably somewhat quieter, more socially avoidant.
  • FREEZE: Your body has determined that not acting is the best tactic to avoid the threat. You may freeze and/or emotionally shut down.
  • FAWN: You will attempt to appease or de-escalate the threat. People-pleasing behaviors, minimizing one’s need to be right are common. Each of these are natural survival mechanisms, and each can be the best option for certain situations. Each has strengths and limitations and can have lingering effects, even after the threat is gone. People can learn to train out of their natural defenses. For example, boot camp, police academy, fire academy, and paramedic school are all to help a person stay out of flight and freeze when they need to be in a state of action (either fight or fawn).

 

manage stress with sleep

 

Top 5 Coping Skills for Regulating Stress

  1. Relaxation breathing: In through nose, out through mouth. Slowly, deeply. Pause intentionally between breaths.
  2. Sensory grounding: Take a few seconds to pay attention to your senses. What do you see, smell, hear, taste, and feel? This can break someone out of dissociative moments (flashbacks).
  3. Positive self-talk: Remind yourself that emergencies are temporary and that you can survive.
  4. Bilateral movement: Walking and stretching both sides of the body can help to release tension in the large muscle groups and activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
  5. Humor or distraction: This can help break someone out of fight, flight, freeze, fawn, and re-engage the upper brain.

Top 5 Recovery Skills After an Emergency

  1. Talk it out. Yeah, I know we like to bottle it up. That’s not good for you.
  2. Write it down. This can be in a journal, your phone’s notes section, even ChatGPT.
  3. Give yourself time to sleep. This includes time to wind down before sleep. When we sleep, our brain tries to process the day’s events and file them away as memories.
  4. Remember to eat. Some of us can lose appetite during and after an emergency but try to get some healthy calories in your stomach if you are not nauseous. Water too. Skip the energy drinks and alcohol; these do not count as hydration.
  5. Monitor your mood and sleep for the next few days. If you are feeling anxious, unusually irritable, having nightmares that go beyond a few days, it’s time to talk to someone again. You can start with a peer, a pastor, or your spouse; it doesn’t necessarily have to be a therapist unless symptoms persist beyond a couple weeks.

 

tom sarge

About the Author

Tom Sarge is a licensed trauma therapist who works with first responders and veterans. He is also a prepper, survivalist, and content creator. He has been featured on numerous podcasts and in print. You can find him on the YouTube Channels Prepping With Sarge and The Official Mental Health Matters Channel.

Read More From Issue 72

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Editor’s Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

Pantry Staples

By
Anthony Bryant
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0
Food Preservation

The concept of “pantry staples” differs from household to household based on factors like climate, availability, and heritage, but there’s a huge variety of things we can not only make from scratch but also store for long-term use in our pantry. By making items at home and learning how to properly store them, we can reduce our reliance on store-bought products — a valuable benefit in everyday situations as well as providing food security in at emergency.

Preserving our own food offers several key benefits. First, we know exactly what’s in our food, without added chemicals or preservatives. Second, we can save a huge amount of money — a bottle of Heinz Organic Ketchup is about $10 right now at Walmart for a 32-ounce bottle, which lasts my kids about two weeks (if we’re lucky). Finally, if we source the materials ourselves and make things from scratch, we are in control of our supply chain and don’t need to worry about outside factors that might interfere with access to essential food items.

Depending on what we’re working with, there are several methods we can use to preserve the same food items you would find at the grocery store. Common preservation methods include canning, dehydrating, freezing, or even fermenting. Once you’ve learned a few basic skills, you can start building a pantry that’s stocked with homemade essentials. Begin by making a list of items you use regularly. Start small, with one or two projects at a time, until you feel comfortable with each technique. Over time, you’ll build up a supply of homemade staples that will save you money, reduce your reliance on grocery stores, and provide a safety net in uncertain times.

 

food preservation pickles

 

What Are Pantry Staples and Why Do They Matter?

For me, pantry staples are the foods and ingredients we really can’t live without — or at least wouldn’t want to. Think about what people rush to grab before a big snowstorm: milk, bread, and eggs. Yes, these are staples, but what about other essentials like condiments, spices, and sauces? Many of these can be made inexpensively at home and stored for long periods. This is what’s so appealing about this approach to me. Part of the reason I try to always be prepared is that when the world around me becomes uncertain, I can provide my family with the comforts that allow a life as close to normal as possible.

When things go downhill, do you want to be eating meals from a 72-hour bucket you bought off Amazon or would you prefer the comforts of eating the nutritious foods you eat every day? I’d rather eat food I grew in my own backyard, where I know exactly what’s in it and how fresh it is. By building these skills before they’re needed, I’ll be able to continue after any challenges arise — and, as a bonus, it’s better for the environment.

Essential Skills for DIY Food Preservation

There are a few essential skills an aspiring prepper needs for DIY food preservation that you’ll want to familiarize yourself with if you’re going to start making and preserving food, starting with basic preservation techniques.

 

food preservation canning

 

Canning

Canning involves heating food to a certain temperature to kill any existing bacteria, then sealing jars to keep new bacteria from entering. There are two methods: water bath and pressure canning. Water bath canning is used almost exclusively for high-acid foods like jams, pickles, or tomatoes. After filling the jars, they are submerged in water and heated for a set time, which evacuates the oxygen from the jar, forming a vacuum and sealing the lids. For low-acid foods, a similar process is used, but with a pressure canner, which reaches higher temperatures than boiling to safely process foods like broths, meats, and vegetables.

PROS

  • No need for refrigeration
  • Canned foods generally have a long shelf life of several years.
  • Can work on a variety of foods, including full meals

CONS

  • Canning can be time-consuming if done properly.
  • Requires special equipment
  • There are health risks, such as botulism, if not done properly.

Fermentation

Fermentation uses beneficial bacteria and yeasts to preserve food and enhance natural flavors. This process creates lactic acid, which naturally preserves food. Common ferments include sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, and pickled foods.

PROS

  • Introduces beneficial bacteria (probiotics)
  • Simple and low-cost
  • Can add complex flavors to foods

CONS

  • Requires daily monitoring to release gases from jars
  • Requires careful attention to hygiene
  • Short shelf life; usually requires refrigeration after fermentation is complete
  • Can take some experimenting to get the desired flavor and texture

 

 

Dehydration

Dehydration is one of the easiest methods of preserving food and is great because it preserves flavor and nutrients. It works by removing all moisture, preventing bacteria, mold, and yeast from growing. This can be done with a dehydrator, oven, or even open air in certain environments.

PROS

  • Foods are lightweight and compact, ideal for long-term storage, emergencies, or camping
  • No refrigeration needed
  • Preserves flavors and nutrients well, especially when done at low temperatures

CONS

  • Can take hours or even days, depending on the food and method
  • Some foods require pretreatment, like blanching for certain vegetables
  • Limited shelf life if not stored in airtight containers (vacuum-sealed)

 

 

Vacuum Sealing

Vacuum sealing is another method that removes oxygen to slow down spoilage. This works well with most dried foods and usually requires a special machine and Mylar bags or mason jars.

PROS

  • Extends shelf life
  • Reduces freezer burn on frozen foods
  • Preserves texture, flavor, and nutrients of most foods

CONS

  • Requires a special machine and bags
  • Some sealed foods may still need refrigeration.

Freezing

Freezing is common in almost every household. Freezing slows down the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and molds. While it doesn’t kill all microbes, it keeps food safe by holding them in a dormant state. Blanching vegetables before freezing can help maintain texture, color, and nutrients.

PROS

  • Simple and quick with minimal prep
  • Preserves most nutrients
  • Good for almost any type of food

CONS

  • Space can be a limiting factor
  • Requires electricity in most climates

There are other methods for preserving food, but these are my favorites for reasons of safety and efficiency.

 

 

Getting Your Food Preservation Pantry Started

What do you keep in your pantry now? Condiments, sauces, and broths; dried goods like pasta and grains; spices and herbs; maybe even canned proteins. Here are a few examples of how to prepare and preserve core items.

Condiments

Ketchup Recipe:

– 2 teaspoons celery seeds
– 4 whole cloves
– 5 whole allspice
– 3 cups vinegar (half white and half cider, 5% acidity)
– 24 pounds tomatoes
– 3 cups chopped onions
– 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
– 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
– 2 cups granulated sugar
– 1/4 cup canning or pickling salt
– 1 teaspoon dried garlic

Start by tying the celery seeds, cloves, and allspice in a spice bag or cheesecloth. In a large pot, combine the spice bag with vinegar, diced tomatoes, and onions. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the tomatoes and onions are soft. Remove the spice bag and puree the mixture in a food mill or blender until smooth. Return the puree to the pot. Add black pepper, cayenne, sugar, salt, and garlic. Simmer and stir until thickened. Pour into sterilized jars, leaving a 1/2-inch headspace, and process per canning instructions.

Sauces

Tomato Sauce Recipe:

– 45 pounds tomatoes
– 6 cups chopped onions
– 12 garlic cloves, minced
– 1/4 cup olive oil
– 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
– 2 tablespoons brown sugar
– 1/4 cup coarse sea salt
– Bottled lemon juice (2 tablespoons per quart jar)
Quarter and deseed tomatoes, then puree in a blender or food processor. Sauté onions and garlic in olive oil in a large pot. Add tomatoes, pepper, sugar, and salt. Simmer until reduced by half, 3 to 5 hours for juicy tomatoes. Add lemon juice to jars (1 tablespoon per pint, 2 tablespoons per quart). Ladle sauce in, leaving 1/2-inch headspace, and process in a hot water bath (pints 35 minutes, quarts 40 minutes).

Broths and Stocks

Vegetable Broth Recipe:

– 2 medium onions, halved
– 4 medium carrots, chopped
– 1 to 2 medium celery stalks, chopped
– Leek or fennel tops, chopped
– 1 garlic bulb, halved
– Handful of fresh parsley
– 1 small bunch of fresh thyme
– 3 bay leaves
– 2 teaspoons sea salt
– 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
– 10 to 12 cups filtered water
Combine onions, carrots, celery, leek tops, garlic, parsley, thyme, bay leaves, salt, pepper, and water in a large pot. Bring to a boil over high heat (using 10 cups of water if 12 won’t fit). Reduce heat and simmer gently, covered, for 1 hour. Strain out and discard the vegetables, season the broth to taste, and use it in your favorite soups.

 

 

Dairy Substitutes and Alternatives

Nut Milk (Almond, Cashew, etc.) Recipe:

– 1 cup raw almonds
– 5 cups filtered water
– 1 pinch sea salt

Soak the almonds overnight in water, then drain and rinse. Add soaked almonds, fresh water, salt, and any optional flavorings to a high-speed blender. Blend for 1 to 2 minutes until smooth. Strain through a nut milk bag or clean dish towel over a bowl. Squeeze to extract all the liquid. Discard the almond pulp or save it for baking. Pour the almond milk into a jar or covered bottle and refrigerate for up to four to five days, shaking well before drinking as it may separate.

The lists can go on and on, and the possibilities are essentially endless. In just a few generations, we’ve gone from being almost completely self-sufficient to a world that is largely dependent on having our resources provided for us. It’s time we all started getting back to our roots. To do this right, a system must be in place. Seasonal processing seems to make the most sense. For example, make your tomato products at the end of tomato season. Ketchups, sauces, and salsas work great with frozen tomatoes, so spend a whole season accumulating them.

At the end of the season, assess your crop, decide by type, and batch out your desired products. Preserve them in whichever type of storage is appropriate for the product, and stack them on the shelf for later use. With a decent garden, you can easily make enough sauces and ketchups to last you until the following season or even more. On the other hand, grains for flour might be harvested and processed at a different point during the year. Wild berries will have their own seasons, and so it goes. By processing things as the seasons roll around, you’ll always have a rolling inventory of your favorite staples.

Local Foraging and Wild Provisions

I’ll finish this up with a few final tips: Pay attention to local wild provisions. A ton of edible flora grows around your home and, in some areas, can be legally harvested. You can forage for berries, nuts, mushrooms, and other wild plants that can be preserved and enjoyed year-round. Hunting, fishing, and gathering can fill your pantry and freezer at minimal cost.

If you can’t grow a garden or don’t have access to huntable land in your area, you can still buy organic produce from your local farm or grocery store and batch process things for long-term storage. Corn on the cob, for example, is very seasonal in my area. I vacuum-seal two shucked ears and a pat of salted butter into a pouch, then store it in the freezer. When I’m ready to use it, I can reheat it straight in the bag for perfect corn on the cob all year round.

Final Thoughts

Our resilience and ability to be self-reliant are entirely within our control. The more we prepare for a rainy day, the less we’ll even notice it when the storm arrives. Creating a self-reliant pantry isn’t about jumping into the deep end and making everything from scratch overnight. Start with what interests you the most or what you already use regularly. Take time to learn each skill, enjoy the process, and build confidence. Knowing that you have homemade essentials in your pantry is incredibly rewarding. Whether you’re interested in preparedness, cutting costs, or just having control over your ingredients, homemade pantry staples are an excellent step toward a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

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Editor’s Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

Troysgate: Training for Real Life Encounters

By
Patrick Diedrich
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0
Troysgate training

There are training programs that improve skill and others that improve judgment. Then, there is Troysgate, which reaches further than both by offering something most people will never experience until the moment it matters most. It offers a taste of what a real deadly encounter feels like. The kind that is chaotic, confusing, and life altering. The kind that strips away every comforting illusion about how we think we will behave under lethal pressure.

I attended a Troysgate course expecting an advanced firearms experience. What I encountered was something far more personal. In a controlled yet startlingly realistic environment, I saw and felt what it means for the mind to wrestle with primal fear while the body is forced to act. Troysgate calls this the merging of science and deadly encounters. They are not exaggerating. It is a rare training method that uses live ammunition, real firearms and human role players while keeping every participant physically safe through patented ballistic structures. This structure allows people to engage in what feels like real gunfights without the risk of harming one another. The result is an encounter that is deeply convincing and emotionally intense.

Troysgate describes its purpose as giving participants an experience that is both meaningful and realistic. The goal is not just to run through drills or rehearse tactics. It is to trigger the emotional and psychological storm that erupts during a true fight for survival. Instructors and role players create conflict scenarios that shift rapidly and force the participant to make decisions while overwhelmed by stress. This is what makes the training so different from traditional range time. In most training environments, the shooter stands in front of paper targets, fully aware that nothing is about to explode unpredictably in front of them. The mind stays calm. The heart rate remains manageable. The shooter might even feel confident and in control.
Troysgate tears that comfort away.

Troysgate training

Sounds of guns firing inches away create a visceral reminder that danger is close and real.

The Power of Experience

One of the foundational ideas behind Troysgate is that training and skill alone cannot prepare someone for a lethal encounter. Without experience, the mind does not have the information it needs to understand what is happening. When people face a deadly threat for the first time, their reactions are often shaped by panic or uncertainty. Even well-trained individuals can freeze or falter. Experience is what bridges the gap between knowledge and survival.
This is what Troysgate tries to replicate. Not to teach participants how to shoot but to teach them what it feels like to shoot under crushing stress and confusion. When the participant faces a sudden threat and has to act in a split second, their mind begins building a blueprint for future reactions. It is never comfortable. It is often frightening. But it is unforgettable.

Troysgate also emphasizes the idea of control. The participant must learn to gain control of a situation and maintain it even when events are unpredictable. This sounds simple until the moment control slips away. In a real violent encounter, circumstances can change without warning. A person might believe they have dominance over the situation only to lose it due to a distraction or a deceptive action by an opponent. Troysgate demonstrates how fragile control truly is.
Participants learn that there are different states of engagement: a position of control, when the individual is commanding the situation; a position of commitment, when they understand that deadly engagement is likely or unavoidable; and a position of self-preservation, when control has been lost and survival becomes the only focus. Moving between these states happens fast — sometimes so fast that the mind barely recognizes the transition. The scenarios at Troysgate illustrate these shifts with startling clarity, because there is no comfortable distance between the participant and the threat. Even though ballistic barriers keep everyone safe, the sights and sounds of guns firing inches away create a visceral reminder that danger is close and real.

Troysgate training

Before being placed into a scenario, participants are told what is happening to their brains during high-stress situations.

State of Mind and the Challenge Within

Another major component of the experience is mental preparation. Troysgate aims to shape what they call the participant’s State of Mind. This refers to the mental resilience needed to face situations where fear, adrenaline, and confusion collide. It is one thing to take careful aim in a calm environment. It is another thing entirely to perform under the weight of fear while someone screams threats, charges forward, or fires a weapon. The brain fights to manage the sensory overload. The amygdala takes control and the rational mind struggles to keep up.

Troysgate does not eliminate this response because it cannot be eliminated. Instead, the program helps participants learn how to function in spite of it. Under enough stress, fine motor skills diminish. Tactical plans vanish. Tunnel vision emerges. Experienced fighters know this. Newer shooters only understand it once they have lived through a moment that overwhelms their senses. The Troysgate environment creates those moments safely and purposefully so that participants can confront the reality of their own reactions.

Troysgate training

While distracted with a person outside of the vehicle, a second gunman waits in the back. This encounter was modeled after real-world scenarios.

Scenario One: Bump in the Night

My first scenario began with a situation that could happen to anyone. I walked into a room and discovered intruders inside a home. The actors were convincing and aggressive. The instant I entered they started shouting and threatening my life. One of them raised a shotgun toward me. In the burst of chaos that followed, my mind barely had time to decide what to do. I reacted. I fired at the man with the shotgun. As he went down, the second man drew a handgun and began shooting back. I continued firing until both threats were stopped.

What struck me afterward was how little I remembered about the act of shooting itself. My amygdala had taken over. I did not recall forming sight pictures. I did not recall steadying my breath. I simply pointed the gun and fired until the threat was gone. This is something many shooters believe they are too disciplined to experience. But discipline fades when death feels close. And Troysgate is designed to make it feel close.

Even though the bullets fired by the role players could not reach me due to the patented system, the sound and concussion of their shots were real. At one point the shotgun blast was close enough that I physically felt the pressure wave. Every rational part of my mind understood I could not be harmed, yet the emotional part could not tell the difference. That emotional response was the lesson.

Troysgate training

Talented role-players elevate the training to new heights. After years, they know the mistakes participants typically make in a scenario.

Scenario Two: The Blind Spot

My next scenario involved a parked SUV. I approached to find a man rummaging through it. The scene required me to de-escalate, if possible, but the actor played the role in a way that kept raising tension. As I focused on him, someone hidden in the backseat suddenly sat up and opened fire. I had been so locked onto the first person that I failed to notice a second threat waiting to ambush me.

The value of this lesson was immediate. Under stress, people lose awareness. Vision narrows. Focus collapses onto one problem. A second problem becomes invisible. This is how real ambushes work. It is also why situational awareness must become a habit rather than a concept. In the safe but intense world of Troysgate, I received that reminder with a jolt.

Troysgate training

Inside this Troysgate building, numerous scenarios can be tested.

Why This Training Matters

These scenarios taught me more than technique. They taught me about myself. They revealed how I react when startled, frightened, overwhelmed and forced to act with no time to think. They showed me the limits of my awareness and the gaps in my decision making. More importantly, they showed me that these reactions are normal.

Every person who owns a firearm for personal defense imagines what they would do in a crisis. Many imagine they would be calm and deliberate. Troysgate demonstrates that the body has its own plan. The amygdala will take control when it senses danger. Some people freeze. Some fight. Some flee. Some discover they cannot bring themselves to shoot. It is far better to learn this in a controlled environment than in a life-threatening moment in the real world.

I believe anyone who currently owns a firearm or plans to own one for defense should experience Troysgate. It is not about becoming a better marksman. It is about learning who you are under stress and discovering how your mind reacts when survival feels uncertain. This understanding could be the factor that keeps you alive. It might also be the factor that prevents someone from entering a situation they are not mentally prepared for. Some people will leave Troysgate more confident in their ability to defend themselves. Others may decide that lethal force is not something they are ready to employ. Both outcomes are valuable.

Troysgate training

All rounds being fired are real, and the close proximity to the discharge provides haptic feedback that you can’t find on traditional ranges.

Final Thoughts

The Troysgate experience is unlike anything I have encountered in training. It captures the raw confusion and urgency of a real deadly encounter in a way that is safe yet intensely emotional. It highlights the importance of experience in shaping survival instincts and proves that even the best technical training cannot replace firsthand exposure to stress. Troysgate reminds us that control is fragile, that awareness can collapse in an instant, and that the mind itself becomes the battleground long before the first shot is fired.

By pushing participants into realistic conflict, Troysgate gives them a chance to confront their limitations and learn how to overcome them. It is an environment that reveals the truth about human reaction under threat. It is also a place where people can practice regaining control when fear threatens to take it away. In a world where violent encounters can happen with little warning, that knowledge is worth more than any textbook or range session.

Troysgate teaches that survival is not only about skill. It is about mindset, awareness, and the ability to act under pressure. When the moment comes and the amygdala takes over, experience becomes the one thing that can bridge the gap between panic and purposeful action. That is the gift Troysgate offers to anyone willing to step inside its walls.

Read More From Issue 72

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Tales from the Field

By
Matthew Williams
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0

Outside of a truck stop on a windy autumn day in Nebraska, I mill around waiting on the rest of the group of hunters and industry representatives to arrive. The sound of the wind is broken up by idle chatter and a mass of semitrucks hauling cattle.

It was in that windy truck stop parking lot that I met a nine-fingered man who was short on height and tall on personality — Joe “Hot Chocolate” Arterburn, the proprietor of Arterburn Outdoors and our outfitter for the upcoming hunt. Joe is a short, stocky man who definitely looks like he’d be a handful. Once we got talking, I was not surprised by his sharp wit and charming dry brand of smart-ass sarcasm.

After everyone had arrived, we made our way to a fifth-generation family farm called Reynolds Inc. This 4,000-plus-acre farm grows corn, soy, and alfalfa hay in addition to raising cows and calves. Joe leads our caravan of hunters and brand experts deep into the farm property around bends and over hills larger than anything you’d expect to find in Nebraska. We settle on a flat, mercifully level piece of ground placed between that falls between picturesque terrain features — an ideal location for the Beyond Hunter’s Education Camp.

 

Nothing beats the nostalgia of a canvas wall tent. This is the commons area tent. Lots of laughs and meals were enjoyed here. 

Setting Up Camp

Being that Beyond Hunter called the event a camp, it was fitting we should all pitch in to set up our group camp and our own tents. White Duck supplied each of us with 8×9-foot Rover Scout canvas wall tents. I’ve never encountered a tent so easy to pitch — not a single curse word was uttered while setting it up (which is nearly unheard of coming from me).

Once all the tents went up, we were supplied with accoutrements suitable for tent living. Among the gear we received was the Hamelin sleeping bag by Sea To Summit, and it was the most welcoming sleeping bag I’ve ever used.

Meals were the work of a giant of a man named Brooks who was obviously a longtime friend of Joe’s. Brooks was there representing Camp Chef and Primos. Throughout the day, Brooks and Joe split kitchen duties with no shortage of jokes and sarcastic comments hurled between the two. We ate like royalty at each meal, feasting on elk, moose, salmon, halibut, venison, and other game meats.

Getting Familiar with the Tools of the Trade

Day two consisted of brand representatives talking with us about their companies and familiarizing us with gear we were using over the following days. After talking with everyone and learning about the equipment, it was time to hit the range.

Range time was very low pressure and straightforward. The participants learned the basics of rifle control and get schooled up on responsible firearm handling. Each participant got the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the 6.5 Creedmoor rifles supplied by Franchie shooting Nosler ammo, supported by Primos Trigger Sticks bipods and tripods.

 

The man, the myth, the legend Joe “Hot Chocolate” Arterburn, the nine-fingered bandit.

Range Time and Education

As an experienced hunter and firearms trainer, range and firearm safety became my unofficial responsibility on this trip. While the inexperienced hunters were there to learn, my role was more to evaluate the course and teach any skills I thought a new hunter would need.

I was pleased to find all key components of firearm safety and responsible handling to be in order. I added a few minor details here or there based on things I encountered in my nearly two decades of teaching — however, nothing glaring was amiss.

Much of my input was unrelated to the range time or firearms handling — having more to do with the visual sensory of animals with horizontally mounted eyeballs, also known as prey animals. While not officially part of the course, I may toss a few impromptu pistol lessons here and there during our down time.

 

hunter processing a deer hide

Margaux from Sea To Summit asked if she could put my doe hide to use at home. We spent a little time fleshing out the hide and talking shop. 

Into the Field

Our first outing to the field was straightforward. Everyone loaded into the trucks, and I headed off with Buck, my guide, and Hunter, my cameraman, to my pre-positioned blind. Thanks to Moultrie, game cameras had been set up weeks in advance to recon prospective hunting grounds and get a sense of deer movement. This allowed us to find the most advantageous places to hunt as well as rudimentary time frames the deer would move through specific areas.

Many experienced hunters will tell you hunting from a blind can be boring — and they are not wrong — however, it is very forgiving to new hunters who tend to move around a fair bit. Blinds not only shield your movement, but they also stifle small noises that may otherwise give away your position. The bulk of your time is typically spent seeing squirrels and birds until your target species arrives. By the time that happens, you’re ripe with anticipation or bored to tears.

 

deer hide legs and a knife

These legs got turned into dog treats.

Some Unexpected Excitement

One of the things novice hunters often forget is that human hunters are not the only things out there that can spook a deer. While in the blind, I watched a scraggly coyote nosing around in an alfalfa field 360 yards to our south. Although this is typically an exciting and welcome experience while nature watching, during a hunt there is the concern its presence would deter deer from entering into the area.

With only 30 minutes left before the end of legal shooting light, a group of coyotes started howling out. The scruffy lone coyote perked up, ran 50 yards in the direction of the call like a kid being called home for dinner. As soon as that one was out of sight, two larger, fluffier coyotes popped out of the corn field howling their heads off, but they didn’t seem to be in as much of a hurry to move from the area. With only 30 minutes left of legal light and two coyotes standing in the middle of the open field we’re hunting, I asked Buck what he thought. Buck responded, “We still have 30 minutes of light left. That’s an eternity for an opportunity to develop. Anything can happen. Let’s let the coyotes leave.” Wise words from someone with a ton of experience, as he later told me he saw two turkeys in the field north of us hanging around and figured they would have taken off had the coyotes been a problem.

 

two hunters with a downed deer

Buck Martin, the always victorious guide, proudly poses with our doe and me.

Taking the Shot

Buck was right. At 7:34 p.m., two deer stepped around the edge of the corn field as if they had materialized out of thin air. Two hundred yards for a shot on a deer may sound like a long way — and it surely can be without the right tools. Fortunately for me, Franchi has a great reputation as a trustworthy rifle, and the Mavin RS1.2 with 2.5-15 power magnification mounted had great magnification and very good light transmission. By the time these deer ghosted into our field, there was so little light we couldn’t see them without scopes or binoculars. It is important to note at this time that we were on a doe (female) hunt exclusively. Buck and I had to be positive beyond any doubt these were not small-antlered males, as they are expressly off limits for this hunt.

Had I needed even an extra minute for the deer to be in a position suitable to make an ethical shot, I was going to call it and come back the next day. The light was so low, it was getting iffy. As luck would have it, she turned almost completely broadside and gave me the opportunity I needed.

I asked Buck, “What time is it?”
Buck responded, “7:35.”
“Copy. Here we go. Three, oh sh*t she’s going to turn, two, one … BLAM!”

My ears were ringing. Muzzlebreaks do a lot to reduce recoil and keep the end of the barrel from lifting up, but they do not spare your ears. Buck and Hunter were able to plug their ears due to my countdown.

As the ringing in my ears subsided, we gave the doe a few minutes to make sure she was down and staying that way. She didn’t go far; strangely, she came straight toward us! Thanks to Buck who saw her tail flickering when she laid down, we were able to locate her without much trouble. This is when the real work starts. We loaded her into a pickup truck and took her back to camp for everyone to see.

As the legend goes, whoever gets paired with Buck as their guide will have a successful hunt. As far as I know, his streak is still going.

 

post deer processing after a hunt

This is the work new hunters learn about once the hunt is over.

Field Dressing

The field dressing process is something I’ve always rushed through, as I’m usually cold, the darkness is settling in, and I’m ready to get into the kitchen. I was not alone during this time. Prime Cuts Ryan Reynolds, not to be confused with the actor, was there, and he is something of an expert when it comes to field dressing. Ryan explained and walked me through the process like a master class on keeping meat clean. The efficiency of movement with a knife as it pertains to this has always been my weakest point when it comes to hunting — and for the first time I really enjoyed the field dressing process thanks to his expert guidance.

The biggest takeaway for me was to slow down and think logically about what is important during this step and how it affects the next step. For some reason, this is the only part of the hunting process I’d never applied this strategy to. For me, this is an odd revelation, considering the end goal of hunting is high-quality food.
Once the body cavity has been opened, you can decide whether you’re interested in keeping the liver, kidneys, or heart, depending on how adventurous you are. Once the body cavity was emptied out, I attached the carcass to a gambrel and hoisted it up on a tripod. The rest of the evening was spent discussing everyone’s hunt and some of the takeaways everyone had from their experience.

 

air drying meat after a hunt

Air-drying meat in the cool breeze helps form a thin crust on the meat to protect it.

Getting Into the Meat of It

After another exceptional breakfast, it was time to prepare our kill for processing. I started the process of removing the hide from the carcass. This may seem like a straightforward process, but over the years, I’ve developed a few rules to follow to keep hair off the meat.

  • Rule Number 1: Never cut across the grain of hair unless it is necessary. Removing the legs at the joint is the only place I break this rule.
  • Rule Number 2: Use a knife where it’s necessary. Any time you can use a bit of leverage to pull the hide down, do it.

I’ve run through this process more times than I can count, so it’s not a terribly time-consuming task. I may have spent 30 minutes from start to finish, as I was in no hurry.

After the carcass was devoid of a coat, I opted to leave it on the tripod for another day in the strong, cool Nebraska wind to age until the next day.

On day four, it was time to process the carcass. I have a family of five to feed so I don’t bother with cutting individual steaks at the processing table. Most of my processing is separating into individual large muscle groups to be divided at home. Once I had everything broken down, we vacuum sealed the meat and stored it in a cooler for transportation.

 

tagging a doe during a hunt

Once the animal is down, you notch your tag before it’s removed from the field.

Final Thoughts

Day five was my least favorite day on this trip. Not because it’s hard work to spike camp, but because it was time to depart from the great people I met. The people are the best parts of these trips, and it is always gratifying to meet people you want to keep in touch with.

Returning home from an experience like this is always bittersweet. I look forward to seeing my wife and kids and sharing the stories of the experience, but I am quickly reminded that life is simple when you’re surrounded by nature, sleeping in a tent, and providing your own food. Thinking about returning the normal fast pace of life, I was already longing for the slower pace of life I was afforded at Beyond Hunter’s Education Camp. Never would I have thought, “I want to go back to Nebraska.”

Read More From Issue 72

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Editor’s Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

Wraith Metalworks Presents CANCON East 2026

By
Offgrid Staff
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0

CLINTON, SC – Wraith Metalworks is proud to announce their place as Presenting Sponsor of CANCON 2026, at the Clinton House in Clinton, SC on May 6th through 8th.

A Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small business, Wraith Metalworks was founded in 2020 first as a self-made think tank for tackling suppressor-related innovation. In early 2025, after years of multi-faceted problem solving, they entered full-scale R&D. By August of 2025, Wraith suppressors placed 1st, 2nd, and 5th at TBAC Suppressor Summit in the “ML” (Muzzle Left) category, out of 141 different 5.56 suppressors tested. Their focus on dynamic problem solving and rapid iteration—built around additive manufacturing—allows the Wraith team to re-optimize designs or solve end-user-specific suppression problems with functional testing in a matter of days, instead of months or years.

Their system-forward approach has created an entirely new methodology to suppressor construction that offers unprecedented flexibility for consumers. The Wraith Modular Suppression SystemTM offers several distinct advantages over legacy suppressor lines:

  • Multiple formats – Different diameters and lengths so you can optimize for specific missions and hosts instead of settling for “one size fits most.”
  • Multiple baffle designs – A large library of interchangeable baffles, each tuned for specific outcomes (sound, back‑pressure, flash, recoil, etc.), and cross‑compatible across our models.
  • True user‑serviceability – The ability to re‑configure, maintain, and upgrade at the component level rather than throwing away or sidelining entire suppressors.

Wraith currently offers three core suppressor sizes: the Sentinel at 1.88″, the Ambush at 1.575″, and the Raider at 1.45″. The Sentinel and Ambush feature annular flow channels along the outside of the can body, which significantly improve airflow control and exit hygiene, reducing turbulence and helping manage gas where it matters most.

Says Bill Abrams, Chief Executive Officer: “For us at Wraith Metalworks, CANCON is more than an event—it’s the center of gravity for the suppressor community. It brings together serious shooters, top manufacturers, and a culture that actually values performance over hype. There’s no better place for us to stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the best in the industry and meet the shooters we build for. We’re excited to be part of that energy, to spend time talking shop on the line, and to let people experience the Sentinel system in a place that’s all about suppressed shooting.”

For more information about tickets for CANCON 2026, Presented by Wraith Metalworks, check our website at CANCONevent.com

 

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Tactical Shotgun: Upgrading Your Remington 1100

By
Patrick Diedrich
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0
Tactical Shotgun Remington 1100 vs original

Few projects feel more personal than working on a firearm that has been around as long as you have. My Remington 1100 came into the world in the early ’80s. It carries the wear of honest use and the quiet reliability that made the design a favorite for generations of hunters. I have always enjoyed tinkering, which means I rarely leave anything exactly as I bought it. That includes guns. When I finally committed to giving my 1100 a set of tactical upgrades, I wanted the process to feel purposeful. I wanted to enhance its utility for the woods where I hunt. I wanted a shotgun that could take on home-defense duty when needed. I did not want to erase its roots.

Working on a platform like the 1100 adds a particular kind of satisfaction. It has a history worth appreciating. It shoots smoothly because of a gas system that softens recoil. It has served clay shooters, hunters, and competitors across the country, and has been one of the best-selling autoloading shotguns in American history. Many of us grew up seeing them in fields, duck blinds, and behind closet doors. Working with one feels like a small conversation across time.

This project started as a curiosity. It ended as a reminder that old tools can adapt to the times with a little patience and the right parts.

Remington 1100 Shotgun

Classic Remington 1100 before upgrades

A Brief History of the 1100

Introduced in the early ’60s, the Remington 1100 followed a line of gas-operated designs that paved the way for smoother-shooting autoloaders. Earlier models used different systems, but the 1100 refined many of those ideas. Its gas system bleeds pressure from ports near the forend. That pressure drives a sleeve around the magazine tube. The movement cycles the action and sets the next shell in place. It fires standard 2¾-inch shells without adjustment on most versions. Magnum variants handle heavier loads as well.

These features gave everyday shooters a softer recoil impulse. That mattered for long days in the field or the range. Hunters and target shooters alike noticed the difference. By the early ’80s, the 1100 had become the dominant autoloading shotgun in the country in terms of sales. Production continued through numerous variations and special editions. Anniversary models appeared. Synthetic competition models joined the line. Millions of 1100s sit in closets and safes today — still ready to work.

My own example began life as a standard field gun. It came with a long bird barrel and simple wood furniture. It pointed easily and swung with a familiar feel that brought back memories of my early hunts. But modifying something like this carries responsibility. You want improvement while respecting it for what made the design great.

Tools for Remington 1100 tactical Shotgun Build


It doesn’t take very many tools to disassemble, add new components, and reassemble. All of these are likely to be found at your local hardware store.

Why Build a Tactical 1100

People upgrade guns for different reasons. Some want a defensive setup that fits their home. Others want a tool that adapts between multiple roles without switching platforms. I wanted a shotgun that tracked deer where I hunt, but I also wanted that same gun to handle home protection if needed. My plan required a set of tactical accessories that could shift between barrels and give me consistent ergonomics. I preferred to build the setup myself rather than buy a premade tactical 1100. For me, half the enjoyment sits in the process.

Upgrading an older shotgun changes its presence. Black synthetic furniture, a magazine extension, a rail for an optic—these things add function, yet they also alter how the gun appears. A tactical look signals purpose and may send the wrong message in the field. Deer and birds do not care, but people do. An all-black shotgun can draw attention at a rural gas station or in brush country. You might want that for a defensive role. You might not want it when you are carrying your grandfather’s old bird gun into the woods.

That tension pushed me toward a solution that gave me tactical features but softened the visual impact. I wanted the parts to blend into the woods, but I also wanted a firearm that still felt like a hunter’s tool rather than something built for breaching a door. That desire eventually steered me toward a simple camouflage paint job for the new components.

Remington 1100 Breakdown

Tearing down a the Remington 1100 semi-auto shotgun may seem a little more complex than a carbine, bolt-action rifle, or handgun, but it is fairly straightforward. Organizing the parts in a systematic way will make reassembly much easier.

Breaking it Down

Working on the 1100 begins with a basic field strip. You start by removing the forend and taking off the barrel. The gas system components slide off the magazine tube. Removing the trigger group is easy after pushing out its retaining pins. Then, you separate the stock if you plan to replace it. There is a special tool that exists for taking off the nut in the bottom of the stock. But if you don’t have that readily available, you can improvise with an impact driver and a 5/8 flat boring bit.

Once the shotgun sits in its field-stripped state, you can lay out the components you plan to add. A tactical build usually needs a shorter barrel, an extended magazine, a rail system, and a stock that brings better control under stress. My goal was a flexible system that felt the same whether I carried it for hunting or kept it staged for home protection.

Classic stock vs tactical stock

Wood components give the Remington 1100 its classic, old-timey aesthetic. While there is nothing wrong with this, modern synthetic parts will improve grip, control, and durability.

Reassembly follows the same order as removal. The new stock attaches at the rear of the receiver. The new forend slides in as the barrel seats over the magazine tube. The extension threads on after the barrel and forend lock in place. The carrier and rail mount on top of the receiver. None of these steps change the internal operation of the shotgun. They simply give the user more options for handling, sighting, and loading.

What matters most is a mindset of moderation. Since this shotgun was gifted to me by my father, I didn’t want to paint over the factory receiver, barrel, or original magazine tube. Those remained untouched, preserving the history of the gun, and protecting its value. The original wood stock and forend rest safely in storage.

Remington 1100 Tactical Shotgun Build with camo Paint


Tactical 1100 Build

For my hunting build, I wanted a durable stock with improved control. I chose the Mesa Tactical Urbino. It shortens the length of pull and brings the gun into the shoulder more naturally when wearing layers. The Choate magazine extension adds capacity without excess weight. The Khyber Optics MDO Mini Dot gives me a clear sight picture in dim woods. The Choate tactical forend gives better grip when hands grow cold.
These pieces work together to transform the feel of the 1100. You get quicker target acquisition. You get better handling in tight trees. You also get a shotgun that looks markedly different from the one that sat in your grandfather’s safe. That visual shift is why finishing touches matter.

My original 1100 carried warm wood tones that blended into the field without effort. The synthetic replacements showed up dark and bold. They cast a tactical silhouette that looked out of place in the woods or out in the fields. That difference inspired me to paint the new parts in a camo pattern modeled after the environment I’m surrounded by.

Paint and supplies for Remington 1100 Tactical shotgun build


If painting a component feels intimidating, practice on a piece of scrap paper or cardboard box. And if you paint a piece and it’s not to your liking, you can always start over. A few extra layers of paint won’t hurt it.

Blending In

Camo paint can make or break the look of a build. It can also soften the presence of a tactical shotgun when hunting. Rust-Oleum’s Camouflage line works well for this because the finish eliminates shine. I like colors that match local terrain: sand, dark earth, dark green. These create a natural palette. The paint helps the shotgun appear less aggressive and lets me blend in while sitting quietly in the brush.
When painting camo, I like to start with the colors I’d like to be the most prominent: tan for grassy brush, and dark green for leafy vegetation. Light colors on the bottom and dark colors on the top mimic the shades of creatures that roam the land. I then use dark earth and the stencil materials to make the patterns pop.

Painting a set of components requires patience and the right materials. It also requires a gentle touch. You want your pattern to feel organic. You want it to look like it belongs outdoors. I use local vegetation as stencils because they create soft edges that mimic natural shapes.
Once the pieces dry, a matte clear enamel helps protect the finish from scratches and moisture. Wear will still come over time. That is part of the charm. A shotgun should look used. It should record seasons and moments. Paint simply helps it do that for a little longer.

Remington 1100 Tactical Shotgun Build

The Remington 1100 Tactical Shotgun Upgraded for Home Defense

Final Thoughts

Building a tactical 1100 demonstrates the value of adaptation. Old guns have stories. They also have potential. With patience and a light touch, a classic field shotgun can step into new roles without losing its past. My 1100 now handles hunting season and home protection with equal confidence. It blends into the brush in a way that respects both the land and the people who move through it. All it needed was thoughtful upgrades, a little paint, and an appreciation for what it once was. Anyone can follow a similar path. That is the beauty of working with a platform that has served millions of shooters across generations.

Home Defesnse Tactical Shotgun build

Remington 1100 Tactical Shotgun Large Game/Home-Defense Build

By incorporating a shorter, threaded barrel, this setup is better suited to hunting big creatures with slugs. An extra bonus is that it has front and rear sight posts illuminated by fiber threads for a little aiming redundancy. Adding a light to the forend will light up a room if needed to find intruders in the dark.

  • Gun: Remington 1100, circa 1984
  • Barrel: 21-inch threaded barrel
  • Stock: Mesa Tactical Urbino Tactical Stock
  • Shell Carrier: Mesa Tactical SureShell Shotshell Carrier with Picatinny rail
  • Magazine: Briley +6 round mag extension
  • Forend: Choate Tactical Forend
  • Light: Streamlight ProTac 2.0 RM
  • Optic: Khyber Optics MDO Mini Dot
Bird Hunting Tactical Shotgun Build

Remington 1100 Tactical Shotgun Bird Hunting Build

Although this is a little heavier and takes up more room, the extra length keeps shot patterns tighter at further distances. This makes it more lethal when hunting game birds, and makes hitting clay pigeons a little more effective.

  • Gun: Remington: 1100, circa 1984
  • Barrel: 30-inch smooth bore
  • Stock: Mesa Tactical Urbino Tactical Stock
  • Shell Carrier: Mesa Tactical SureShell Shotshell Carrier with full-length Picatinny rail
  • Magazine: Choate 7 Shot Mag extension
  • Forend: Choate Tactical Forend
  • Optic: Khyber Optics MDO Mini Dot

Read More From Issue 72

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Editor’s Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

Top Brass Debuts at SHOT Show 2026

By
Patrick Diedrich
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0
Award recipient shakes hands with OFFGRID Senior Editor Patrick Diedrich.

SHOT Show has never lacked new products. What it has often lacked is filtration. Thousands of booths present incremental updates, cosmetic revisions, and marketing language that sounds impressive on a placard but reveals little about performance once equipment leaves the convention hall. For 2026, Recoil Group introduced a mechanism intended to address that problem directly.

The inaugural “Top Brass” award tasked the Senior Editors of RECOIL, RECOIL OFFGRID, Concealment, and Gun Digest with identifying products that demonstrated real-world utility, novelty, innovation, and sometimes a combination of those attributes. Each editor walked the show floor independently and selected equipment based on practical relevance, durability, and problem-solving capability. OFFGRID Senior Editor, Patrick Diedrich, was assigned three awards focused specifically on preparedness and field use.

Outdoor Tech Award

Dark Energy – Poseidon XL

Key highlights:

  • 27,000 mAh lithium-ion capacity
  • 100W XT60 solar charging capability
  • Four fast-charging ports
  • Largest airplane-safe carry-on battery capacity
  • Powers Starlink Mini for roughly 2–3 hours
  • URL: Dark Energy

Portable power has quietly become critical infrastructure for modern field work. Communications, mapping, photography, navigation, and reporting now depend on electronics. A power bank is no longer a convenience item; it is an operational dependency. Most battery banks, however, remain consumer electronics wearing an outdoor aesthetic.

Dark Energy’s Poseidon XL was selected because it is engineered as field equipment first and electronics second.

The 27,000 mAh lithium-ion battery is built around environmental survivability. The housing exceeds MIL-STD-810G durability standards and carries an IP68 rating, allowing full submersion to six feet for 45 minutes while remaining dustproof and crush resistant. In practical terms, this is a battery bank that tolerates river crossings, heavy rain, snow, and pack abuse without protective handling.

Functionally, the Poseidon XL outputs and accepts 100-watt USB-C power and supports solar charging through an XT60 port. It can operate a Starlink Mini terminal for approximately two to three hours, recharge a 13-inch laptop about 1.5 times, and charge multiple devices simultaneously using four fast-charging ports. The unit includes internal voltage regulation and surge protection and is rated as the largest airplane-safe battery capacity currently allowed for carry-on travel. The device also includes timed shutoff modes to prevent overnight parasitic drain, a detail more relevant to expedition use than casual camping. The result is a power solution that bridges backcountry travel and modern connectivity rather than forcing a choice between them.

Tactical Minimalist Award

Sunshine Safety First Aid BRIK Micro

Key Highlights:

  • Berry compliant
  • 3.5 x 3 x 1.75 inches
  • Kevlar aramid stitching
  • Mil-spec elastic and hook-and-loop retention
  • 10 ounces
  • URL: Sunshine Safety First Aid

Preparedness equipment often fails for a simple reason: people leave it behind. Bulk and inconvenience are the most reliable predictors of non-carry. Sunshine Safety First Aid approached the problem by compressing a trauma stabilization capability into a footprint small enough to carry continuously.

The BRIK Micro (Bleed Resource Individual Kit) measures approximately 3.5 by 3 by 1.75 inches and weighs under one pound while maintaining a full traumatic hemorrhage response capability. Despite the compact dimensions, the kit contains a tourniquet option (Snakestaff ETQ Wide or SOF-T), QuikClot Combat Gauze, nasal airway, emergency trauma dressing, gloves, and supportive medical supplies.

The pouch itself uses Berry-compliant construction with Squadron 1000D laminate nylon, aramid Kevlar stitching, mil-spec elastic, and hook-and-loop retention. The design objective is constant carry rather than staged carry. It fits small packs, belt kits, and vehicle compartments without displacing other equipment. The significance of the BRIK Micro is behavioral. A medical kit that is present is infinitely more useful than a comprehensive kit stored at home. The product prioritizes accessibility and consistency over capacity while still addressing the most likely preventable cause of death in field trauma: uncontrolled bleeding.

Forged Innovation Award

Iron Ethos / SEAMARTEC – Orion Hatchet

Key Highlights:

  • Overall length: 16.54 inches
  • Blade length: 7.88 inches
  • Blade thickness: 5 mm
  • Blade material: D2 tool steel
  • Handle material: Micarta
  • URL(s): SEAMARTEC | Iron Ethos

SHOT Show 2026 marked the debut of Iron Ethos and Seamartec, a collaborative manufacturing effort bridging tactical and hunting/outdoor design philosophies. Their first major release, the Orion Hatchet designed by Jason Breeden, received the Forged Innovation award.

At first glance the Orion resembles a hybrid of a tracker knife, hatchet, and war pick. The unusual geometry is deliberate rather than aesthetic. The forward edge supports chopping and limbing, the reinforced point supports penetration and controlled splitting, and the handle geometry supports both hammer grip and choked-up control.

Constructed from D2 tool steel with a 5 mm blade thickness and a micarta handle, the 16.54-inch tool occupies a space between camp knife and compact axe. The design allows wood processing, shelter construction, and controlled carving tasks without requiring a full-size axe. It is part of the Mountain Peak Series and represents a new manufacturer entering the market with a defined identity rather than a derivative product.

The collaboration divides roles: Iron Ethos represents the tactical application side, while Seamartec targets hunting and general outdoor use. The Orion establishes a shared design language focused on durability and multi-role capability.

Closing Thoughts

The Top Brass award is not a popularity contest and not a marketing partnership. It is a field-relevance award. Each selection represents equipment intended to solve an actual problem encountered outside the convention center. For OFFGRID, that means survivability, reliability, and carry practicality.

Check out our in-person coverage of these companies at RecoilTV: SHOT Show 2026: The Best Survival Gear Nobody Is Talking About!

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Cold Steel Recon 1

By
Nicholas Italiano
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0
Cold Steel Recon 1 with gear

Cold Steel was founded in 1980 by Lynn Thompson with the goal of creating knives that could hold up to the rigors of hard use and tactical applications. Those familiar with the company know that most Cold Steel folding knives feature large and aggressive designs that focus on functionality over fancy aesthetics. For over four decades, Cold Steel has combined their aggressive and functional designs with durable materials and reliable locking mechanisms to create some of the toughest folding knives on the market. These qualities propelled many of Cold Steel’s designs to become popular with military, law enforcement, first responders, and tactical knife enthusiasts — but one design stands out above the rest, the Recon 1.

 

Recon 1

 

The Recon 1

The Recon 1 debuted in 2000 as a full-sized folding knife, featuring a thumb disk for deployment, a strong ultra lock, Zytel handles, and AUS-8 steel. For the knife enthusiasts reading this, those materials may not seem very impressive, but at the time these materials were widely used in tactical and duty knives across the industry. Thanks to the popularity of the Recon, Cold Steel continued to improve upon the design, as superior materials and innovative production techniques became standard.

In 2008, Cold Steel introduced the Tri-Ad locking mechanism designed in collaboration with famed knife maker Andrew Demko. This new locking mechanism looks similar to the classic back lock found on many classic folding knives but featured superior lockup and safety that allowed folding knives to perform many of the tasks once reserved for fixed blades. Ten years later, the Recon 1 was redesigned to incorporate the Tri-Ad lock and thumb stud opening method.

Today, the Recon 1 remains one of the most recognizable tactical folding knives on the market with two major variants. The standard Recon 1 features a 4-inch S35VN super steel blade that is available in clip point, American tanto, or spear point. The blade of the standard Recon 1 is offered in plain edge or half serrated and either a satin or tough black DLC coating. The blade stock is 3.5mm, allowing for excellent slicing capability while remaining durable.

The new Recon M1 features the clip-point blade with a plain edge and either a satin or DLC finished blade — but instead of S35VN steel, it comes in premium MagnaCut steel for increased edge retention and corrosion resistance.

Both variants are equipped with textured black G10 handles known for superb durability, chemical and UV resistance, and positive grip when wet. All the blade shape variants are known for their piercing qualities — with the tanto and clip-point tips having a more aggressive appearance, and a slightly more subdued spear point that provides superior tip durability.
Combining the strong Tri-Ad lock with high-end materials and just under 10 inches overall length, the Recon 1 is a full-sized workhorse of a knife that is ready to take on any tactical or practical task you can throw at it.

Cold Steel Recon 1

Recon 1 Spec Sheet

  • Make & Model : Cold Steel Recon 1
  • Overall Length: 9 3/8 inches
  • Blade Length: 4 inches
  • Blade Thickness: 3.5mm
  • Blade Shape: Clip point, tanto, or spear point; half serration available on all versions
  • Blade Steel: S35VN super steel
  • Handle Material: Black G10
  • Handle Length: 5 3/8 inches
  • Blade Finish: Satin or DLC coated
  • MSRP :$177
  • Weight: 5.2 ounces

Recon M1 Spec Sheet

  • Make & Model : Cold Steel Recon M1
  • Overall Length: 9 3/8 inches
  • Blade Length: 4 inches
  • Blade Thickness: 3.5mm
  • Blade Shape: Clip point
  • Blade Steel: Magnacut
  • Handle Material: Black G10
  • Handle Length: 5 3/8 inches
  • Blade Finish: Satin or DLC coated
  • MSRP: $260
  • Weight: 5.2 ounces

 

Recon 1 XL

 

The Recon 1 XL

If you love the design of the Recon 1 but are looking for something even bigger, the Recon 1 XL is what you need. Released in 2025, the Recon 1 XL has a massive 5.25-inch clip-point blade made from tough XHP steel. While XHP may not be considered as premium as S35VN or MagnuCut, it offers the superior durability of many high carbon tool steels, while remaining corrosion resistant. The blade stock is 3.8 mm thick, slightly thicker than the standard Recon 1’s 3.5mm stock. This adds more durability in hard-use tasks without sacrificing the excellent slicing capabilities the Recon 1 is known for.

The handle of the XL is 7 inches long with the same style G10 scales found on the standard Recon 1 model, providing all the durability and grip prowess of the original. The XL also offers an excellent pocket clip — though the XL is likely too large for most pockets but can be clipped to your belt or MOLLE webbing on a pack, plate carrier, or chest rig. The strong Tri-Ad lock is present and does an excellent job holding the massive blade in place during rigorous use.

Coming in at just over 1-foot long when opened, the Recon 1 XL is likely too large for standard EDC, but it makes an excellent hard-use outdoor or field knife. The clip-point blade offers exceptional piercing capabilities combined with tough XHP steel, and a good slicing ability, making the XL an ideal choice for a large hunting knife, camp knife, or self-defense tool.

Cold Steel Recon 1 XL

Recon 1 XL Spec Sheet

  • Make & Model: Cold Steel Recon 1 XL
  • Overall Length: 12.24 inches
  • Blade Length: 5.25 inches
  • Blade Thickness: 3.8mm
  • Blade Shape: Clip point
  • Blade Steel: XHP
  • Handle Material: Black G10
  • Handle Length: 7 inches
  • Blade Finish: Satin or PVD coated
  • MSRP: $330
  • Weight: 8 ounces
Cold-Steel Cold Recon XL Knife 5-1 Clip Point Blade

Cold-Steel Cold Recon XL Knife 5-1 Clip Point Blade

$279.99
Blade HQ $279.99
Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

 

Recon 1 Mini

 

Recon 1 Mini

If you are looking for a more EDC-friendly choice, the Recon 1 Mini is an excellent option. Don’t let the name fool you, the Recon 1 Mini falls into the size range of most EDC knives, packing a 3-inch blade and a comfortable 4-inch handle, making it discreet and pocketable for everyday carry.
The Recon 1 Mini is available in clip point, tanto, or spear point and features the venerable Tri-Ad lock system. Like the larger models, the Mini comes equipped with a highly functional clip for pocket carry or attachment to gear.

The Mini’s blade is made from AUS-10A steel, a midrange Japanese steel offering good corrosion resistance, edge retention, and ease of sharpening. Unlike the large Recon 1 models, the Mini is only available in a satin finish.

The handle of the Recon 1 Mini is made from a type of glass fiber-reinforced nylon commonly known as Grivory or Griv-Ex. GRN is a thermoplastic that offers high heat and impact resistance while remaining lightweight and inexpensive to produce. GRN is widely considered a lesser handle material compared to G10, as it is less durable and has a bit more flex — however, it is still very durable and widely used in automotive and machine parts as a replacement for metal.

The Recon 1 Mini lacks some of the premium options found on the larger models, but it more than makes up for it with its EDC-friendly size that retains the same functional design and blade shape options found in the standard model. The Mini weighs 3.5 ounces, making it easy to carry in just about any type of pants. Best of all, the Recon Mini won’t break the bank with an MSRP of $80.

Cold Steel Recon 1 Mini

Recon 1 Mini Spec Sheet

  • Make & Model: Cold Steel Recon 1 Mini
  • Overall Length: 7 inches
  • Blade Length: 3 inches
  • Blade Thickness: 3mm
  • Blade Shape: Clip point, tanto, or spear point
  • Blade Steel: AUS-10A
  • Handle Material: Black GRN
  • Handle Length: 4 inches
  • Blade Finish: Satin
  • MSRP: $80
  • Weight: 3.5 ounces

 

Cold Steel Mini Recon Knife

Cold Steel Mini Recon Knife

$79.99
Sportsman's Warehouse $79.99
Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.
Cold Steel Recon 1 Micro

 

Recon 1 Micro

The Micro is the smallest knife in the Recon 1 family, sporting a 2-inch blade and an overall length of 4 3/8 inches. Unlike the other versions of the Recon 1, the Micro does not have a pocket clip, instead offering the ability to add a keyring. The ultra compact Micro weighs in at only 1.1 ounces, making it an excellent addition to your keys or a fifth-pocket knife in jeans.
Despite the compact nature of the Recon 1 Micro, it retains the strong Tri-Ad lock found in the other versions and is offered in all three blade shapes found in the standard and mini variants. The blade is made from 4034 steel, a budget-oriented steel comparable to 420 stainless steel. While it will not hold an edge like premium steels, it will sharpen up quickly and provides reasonable toughness and corrosion resistance.

The handle of the Micro is made from the same GRN material as the Mini, providing durability while remaining lightweight. Unlike the other versions, the Recon 1 Micro does not provide a full handle grip, allowing for a comfortable two-finger grip.

Due to the compact nature of the Micro, it is best suited as a backup or small utility knife. The Micro does keep many great features of the other variants, including versatile blade shapes and strong lock, making it an excellent option for those living or working in restrictive jurisdictions.

Cold Steel Recon 1 Micro

Recon1 Micro Spec Sheet

  • Make & Model :Cold Steel Recon 1 Mini
  • Overall Length: 4 3/8 inches
  • Blade Length: 2 inches
  • Blade Thickness: 2.5mm
  • Blade Shape: Clip point, tanto, or spear point
  • Blade Steel: 4034
  • Handle Material: Black GRN
  • Handle Length: 2 3/8 inches
  • Blade Finish: Satin
  • MSRP: $33
  • Weight: 1.1 ounces
Cold Steel Recon Tanto Point Knife AUS-8A Tanto Blade Long G-10 Styled

Cold Steel Recon Tanto Point Knife AUS-8A Tanto Blade Long G-10 Styled

$21.08
Hinterland Outfitters $21.08
Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Read More From Issue 72

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Editor’s Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

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