Editor’s Introductory Note:  This article was posted in SurvivalBlog in September, 2007. Given the recent spike in fuel prices, I thought that it would be apropos to re-post it. – JWR — When Rudolph Diesel invented his internal combustion engine, he used refined peanut oil as fuel. The reasoning behind it was that farmers could essentially grow their own fuel for their tractors. Diesel cars have been widely manufactured and used all over Europe, but never really caught on in the United States. Diesel pickup trucks and Big Rigs are common in the US, and are renowned for their torque…

On April 2, 1792 The Coinage Act passed, establishing the United States Mint and authorizing the $10 Eagle, $5 Half-Eagle, $2.50 Quarter-Eagle gold coins, as well as the silver dollar, half dollar, quarter, dime, and half-dime. Although gold was removed from circulation by President Franklin Roosevelt, our silver coinage remained undebased until 1964. — April 2, 1968, Stanley Kubrick‘s 2001: A Space Odyssey had its world premiere in Washington, D.C.; it became a classic, setting the benchmark for modern sci-fi films. The film also gave one of the first cinematic warnings about artificial intelligence. — The staff of SurvivalBlog wish…

This is going to be a sort of ridiculous apples-to-oranges analogy, but hear me out: You probably wouldn’t put out a thick-necked, ears-pinned, posturing buck decoy in the beginning of September. Sure, you might lure in a moody fighter to scrap, but mostly you wouldn’t because the timing wouldn’t be right.We inherently understand that about deer, but we don’t really think about it as much with turkeys. And why should we? You could stack up enough gobblers with a single hen decoy and the right calling to support an argument for not overthinking your spread.You’d also not kill as many…

California wildlife officers arrested four men on March 13 following a 3-year poaching investigation that uncovered close to 30 deer allegedly taken across multiple counties, some out of season, some with spotlights, and some with fraudulent tags, according to a statement from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.Investigators say the group used spotlights, hunted out of season, and repeatedly abused California’s deer tag system. Officers found physical and digital evidence that deer tags were being recycled and reused, just not in any environmentally responsible way. In one case, a single tag was reportedly used to cover four separate deer…

This is my wild game take on the classic “marry me” chicken. And while you might get a proposal out of this dish, it will definitely convince a reluctant significant other to tag along on a turkey hunt!Wild turkey brings a deeper, more savory flavor to this Tuscan-inspired sauce. I particularly like browning the meat and aromatics in a little turkey fat or chicken schmaltz (though butter or oil will do just fine). A squeeze of lemon and the sun-dried tomatoes cut through the richness of the cream and make everything pop.Serve it with crusty bread to soak up the…

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At first glance, it looks like an April Fools’ joke, but rest assured, these are very real. Falco Holsters has officially launched its new CarryArt series, introducing two of its most unconventional designs to date: the CX14 Pineapple and CX15 Strawberry leather OWB holsters. Falco describes its new CarryArt holster category as “a place where traditional leatherwork evolves into a form of personal expression.” Each holster is constructed using full-grain Italian leather, custom-fit to the firearm, and designed to deliver the same reliability, retention, and smooth draw offered by the company’s more traditional products. CarryArt holsters transform leather into a…

As suppressors go from specialty items to standard firearm accessories, traditional firearms manufacturers have ventured into the realm of building and selling their own suppressors. Known for its lineup of innovative handguns, Canik is joining those ranks with the introduction of its VOID family of suppressors. Canik’s new suppressor line has been developed through a partnership with established suppressor manufacturer Otter Creek Labs. VOID suppressors have interchangeable end caps and a HUB-compatible mounting interface. VOID suppressors are HUB-compatible with 1.375×24 TPI threads and have interchangeable threaded front caps that allow the end-user to choose between low back pressure or maximum…

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KelTec is known for its out-of-the-box designs, so when it came to designing a dedicated personal-protection firearm, naturally, the company took a different approach than nearly every other firearm maker out there. The PR57, chambered for the 5.7×28 mm FN cartridge, does not use a traditional detachable box magazine, instead relying on a unique top-feed, clip-loading design that maximizes the number of rounds inside the gun. Watch our “American Rifleman Television” Rifleman Review segment above to see the details of KelTec’s design and understand the thinking behind it. “So we are really used to unusual designs coming out of the…