Homemade Survival Knife Modifications

I made this knife out of an old lawn mower blade. After finishing it I began to wonder how I could incorporate the hole and slots that were in the center of the blade. After a bit of thought I decided I could add a sling shot system that can shoot arrows. I have seen sling shots being converted for this purpose and figured I could do something that would accomplish the task.

I thought it would be simple, but it actually took me 2 days before I finally came up with the idea that you see in the video and photos. 

Materials used:

1. Black sling shot band with ammo patch already attached. (The black rubber tubing has the greatest pull than the yellow or red tubes.)
2. Two 1/16 inch U-bolts (2 inch x 3/4 inch)
3. Four 1/16 inch nuts
4. Four 1/16 inch flat washers
5. Two 1/16 inch locking washer (if you use lock nuts you will not need lock washers)

On the U-bolts you will need to cut off the threaded part of one of the shafts where the smooth shaft meets the threads. So, on each U-bolt you will have one long shaft and one short smooth shaft. Sand off the burrs from where you made the cuts so that they will not cut into the rubber tubing when you slide the assembly onto them.

When applying the tubing, wet the smooth shafts with a small amount of rubbing alcohol and slid the tubing onto the shaft and stop at the top where the shaft just begins to bend. Let this dry for 30 minutes before attempting to apply any force to the tubing.

When sliding the tubing onto the shaft, make sure the ammo pouch is in line with the direction of aim and is not twisted out of shape.

Take about a 4 inch piece of para chord and remove the inner white string leaving you with the outer sheath. Feed the para chord through the holes in the ammo pouch where the rubber tubing goes thru.  Go thru one hole and then across and thru to the other hole. Tie a knot at the end of the para chord.  This will give you a loop. The opening in the para chord should be wide enough to put a finger through for pulling the tubing back and holding the arrow.

This system has about a 30 pound pull and maybe more depending on how far back you pull the tubing. I am pretty sure that it will kill small game at 25-35 feet. With a good broad-head on the end, you can take down feral hogs with this set up, but you have to be close. Make sure you have an alternate means of protecting yourself in the event the hog does not die quickly and decides to attack you.

This was a fun project for me. It allowed me to think while working on it. I will attempt to put down some game animals with this system and to video the event to certify this set up for survival purposes. I was given an idea by a subscriber to add a fishing reel set up attached to the butt of the handle so that you can fish with this system. I need to go to the drawing board and do some calculating. I will post a follow up if come up with a solution. So stay tuned and wish me luck. Come back soon!

Stay Prepared! Stay Alive!

Charlie

Pine Pollen Survival Food

Pine pollen is a survival super food. Take advantage of it while it is in season and it will help sustain you during survival situations. Even when not in survival mode, one can go into the wilderness and collect this super food and use it on a daily basis.

The male Catkins on the ends of the pine branches are what hold the pollen. The pollen can be collected in plastic bags by placing the bag over the Catkins and shaking and thumping the Catkins. A large amount can be collected in a short amount of time.

The pollen can be eaten as is or mixed into water or other beverages or sprinkled into foods.

Another potent function of Pine Pollen is that it is an androgen. The fact that Pine Pollen is an androgen means that it has the ability to raise testosterone levels effectively, making it a naturally derived source of testosterone. This is a huge discovery, as sources of testosterone in nature are few and far between. Pine Pollen raises the testosterone levels in the blood and balances the ratio of androgens to estrogen. 

What it is in the Pine Pollen that has this effect on the hormonal levels, are the sterols. The sterols are basically plant steroids, which benefit us, though also help the pines grow and develop.

Pine Pollen contains 18 Amino Acids

It is a complete protein source as it contains seven of of the essential amino acids. Pine pollen is about 30% protein.

Pine PollenAlanine 17mg

Arginine 30mg

Aspartic acid 33mg

Cysteine 3mg

Glutamic acid 47mg

Glycin 21mg

Histidine 6mg

Isoleucine 16mg

Leucine 25mg

Lysine 24mg

Phenylalanie 17mg

Proline 26mg

Serine 16mg

Threonine 15mg

Tryptophan 4mg

Tyrosine 11mg

Valine 19mg

Pine Pollen is Full of Vitamins

Vitamin A 1.3ug

B1 (Thiamin) 182ug

B2 (Riboflavin) 15ug

B3 (Niacin) 427ug

B6 (Pyridoxine) 39ug

B9 (Folic Acid) 28ug

Vitamin C 1686ug

Vitamin E 97ug

Vitamin D .7ug

Beta Carotene .8ug

Pine Pollen is Full of Minerals

Potassium 128.3mg

Sodium 10.5mg

Calcium 80.6mg

Magnesium 110.3mg

Phosphorus 218.3mg

Silicon 6.0mg

Iron 24.2mg

Zinc 3660ug

Selenium 3.1ug

Manganese 8.74mg

Copper .413mg

Molybdenum .3ug

Pine Pollen also has more:

Oleic acid

Alpha Linolenic Acid

Lignans

MSM

Fiber

Enzymes

Coenzymes

Flavonoids

Monosaccharides

Polysaccharides

Nucleic Acid

Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)

Inositol

Polyphenols

Quercitin

Rutin

Phytosterols

Proanthocyanidins

Resveratrol

Stay Prepared! Stay Alive!

Charlie

Yucca Flower Seed Pod Survival Food

Edible Uses: Fully ripe fruit – raw, cooked or dried for winter use. A staple food for several native North American Indian tribes, the fruits are large, fleshy, sweet and palatable. The ovoid fruit is about 17cm long and 7cm wide. 

Considered to be a luxury by the native North American Indians, the fruits were often baked in ovens. The cooked fruit can be formed into cakes and then dried for later use. Large quantities of the fruit has caused diarrhea in people who are not used to it. 

The dried fruit can be dissolved in water to make a drink. Flower buds – cooked. A soapy taste. The older flowers are best, they are rich in sugar. The flowers, harvested before the summer rains (which turn them bitter), have been used as a vegetable. 

Flowering stems – cooked. Harvested before the flowers open then roasted. Seed – cooked. It can be roasted and then ground into a powder and boiled. The tender crowns of the plants have been roasted and eaten in times of food shortage. The young leaves have been cooked as a flavoring in soups.

Reproduced, in part, (as well as previous postings under this title) in accordance with Section 107 of title 17 of the Copyright Law of the United States relating to fair-use and is for the purposes of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.

Stay Prepared! Stay Alive!

Charlie

Bear Corn Survival Food

Bear Corn (conopholis alpina var. mexicana)

Bear Corn (conopholis alpina) are root parasites lacking chlorophyll, which make its home on the roots of oak trees and sometimes junipers.  It is common enough and large enough to harvest.  

Many forest animals eat the bear corn, especially bears coming out of hibernation. If ever seen a pile of bear scat or wolf or coyote scat, you may see it filled with many seeds from the bear corn.

The Bear Corn is sometimes called squaw root, American cancer root and Indian corn, but the two are somewhat different as to what they are depending on what part of the U.S you are in.

Edible Uses: The spring roots of Conopholis have been roasted for food, but taste like a bland old turnip.

Medicinal Uses: The root is the strongest part, but the whole plant can be used.   It is strongly astringent, and there for makes an excellent poultice.  It is used internally as a mild laxative, sedative, and can be of great use for restoring muscular strength after a debilitating illness or a mild stroke.  An average dose is a slightly rounded teaspoon boiled in water and drinking up to two cups a day.

(source: Medicinal Plants Of the Mountain West  by Michael Moore, 1st Edition, page 42 , publisher:  Museum of New Mexico Press ; copy right 1979)

Stay Prepared! Stay Alive!

Charlie

Water Cress For Survival

Water Cress

Edible Uses: 

Leaves – can be eaten raw or cooked. Water cress is mainly used as a garnish or as an addition to salads. Water Cress has a radish flavor and slightly hot taste.  The leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals, especially iron. The seed can be sprouted and eaten in salads. A hot radishy  flavor. The seed is ground into a powder and used as a mustard. The pungency of mustard develops when cold water is added to the ground-up seed Mixing with hot water or vinegar, or adding salt, inhibits the enzyme and produces a mild but bitter mustard.

Medicinal Uses : Watercress is very rich in vitamins and minerals, and has long been valued as a food and medicinal plant. Considered a cleansing herb, its high content of vitamin C makes it a remedy that is particularly valuable for chronic illnesses. The leaves are antiscorbutic, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, purgative, hypoglycaemic, odontalgic, stimulant and stomachic. The plant has been used as a specific in the treatment of TB. The freshly pressed juice has been used internally and externally in the treatment of chest and kidney complaints, chronic irritations and inflammations of the skin etc. A poultice of the leaves is said to be an effective treatment for healing glandular tumours or lymphatic swellings. Some caution is advised, excessive use of the plant can lead to stomach upsets. The leaves can be harvested almost throughout the year and are used fresh. (source: wikipedia)

A word of caution: Plants that are growing in water that drains from fields where animals graze should not be used raw. This is due to the risk of it being infested with the liver fluke parasite. Cooking the leaves will destroy any parasites and make the plant safe to eat. 

Stay Prepared! Stay Alive!

Charlie