Moped

I think a lot of us are, deep down, intrigued with such a world and how we might do. Almost as if it were starting over. Sadly, I think the "adventure" aspect of it would be over fairly quickly. Replaced by fear, distrust, hunger, thirst and despair. You have to know that whatever happens, it's going to be rough, very rough in a TEOTWAWKI. I always said if I was at work and we had a warning of a nuclear attack from the Russians (got to remember I'm 48 and they were the enemy) rather than try to make it home, I'd just head to the nearest Stop n Rob, buy a six pack and watch the light show from the hood of my car. I figured I wouldn't make it home anyway, with Oak Ridge being so close.

So you're thinking about taking the easy way out!

The 10-22 is the way to go. All sorts of after market parts are available for them as well as hi-cap mags. You can even get a pistol version called the Ruger Charger.

Bugging out from Memphis all the way to Frozen Head... Seems like an awful long and dangerous way to go. That's a lot of people you are going to have to avoid. You are going to want to stay away from towns and cities. There are many rivers to cross that are going to require you to cross a bridge. Bridges are great locations for the Government or bad people to put up check points and road blocks, to hinder your movement or other worse things. The other bad thing about Frozen Head is there are lots of bad people all in one spot, right next door. Just a prison riot away from being free in a TEOTWAWKI situation. Also what is available as resources in the area? Water would be in good supply, along with wood for fire or building if you have the right tools. There would be game for food, but not enough to keep you alive for a long period of time, because you can't just live on meat. Are there any places you might be able to plant a garden? You'll need to be able to defend your garden and shelter from others if there is. Possibly even from that large concentration of prisoners nearby. Are you planning on carrying enough seed with you in order to plant enough food to get you through a winter and another planting. If there is a good bug out site or even several of them at Frozen Head, who's to say you are going to get there in time to claim one of them. Remember, your coming all the way from Memphis. That trip could take days. My point is, you need to find something closer to Memphis. Something that you could walk too in a couple of days without a lot of hassle. I just don't think going clear across the state is a good plan. Too many things could go wrong!

Mora knives are one of the best deals on the market! Dirt cheap, sharp as hell, and a great all around bush knife! I have a No. 1, a 780 Triflex and a thrown away 511 that got resurrected by a friend in Norway. He found it in a trash pile re-profiled it and then sent it too me along with a brand new 511 that my son has.

I happen to like the standard old wood checkered grips myself. I'd rather spend the money and have the front if the grip checkered myself.

I have to agree that the Chauchat was the worst ever, from all the reports I've read. The worst firearm I've ever personally owned was a FEG Browning Hi-Power Clone. It was not made out of good metal. Parts would bend or break. Most inaccurate rifle I've ever owned was a couple of Mini-14s. That's why I will never have another. Good for the first 10 or so rounds and then the groups got wider and wider and it wasn't due to operator error either.

I saw the end of this interview this morning. Mr. Cain is very well spoken, candid and forthright. I actually find him very refreshing for a politician. He is not one to say what people want to hear, rather what I feel he actually believe. I'm warming up to him compared to the rest of the talking heads that are presented to us. I do, however, question whether he can function positively in Washington, if actually elected. There are going to be some very unhappy people in Washington if that happens. I don't see him willingly playing the game that they like to play there. He isn't part of the good ole boy system so ingrained inside the beltway.

These are excellent rifles once you do a little work on them! I have one in .223 and love it!

Very good pistol at a very good price. If you can afford go for it. One thing though, extra mags are not cheap, but then again, none ever are.

My favorite knife is my EDC. It's a Svord Peasant that I picked up back in February. The Peasant is a friction folder with black plastic scales. Being a friction folder it can be opened one handed. The blade is Swedish L6. Now I'm not really sure what that means. Seems to be a lot like 1095. It's getting a nice patina on it with a lot of use and carry. When I got it, the first thing I did was finish convexing the edge. It was partially convexed already. It was decently sharp when I got it, but now it's wicked sharp and really holds and great edge! So far, I done some light battoning with it, some carving with it, lots of cutting. Anything from food prep to opening cardboard boxes. It's not let me down yet. It fits very nicely in my right front pocket. Oh, one last thing, it cost me $16 shipped via Ebay. I love a good deal!

It's my opinion that unless we get rid of the vast majority of politicians currently in place now in Washington, there is no way that there will be change in Washington, regardless of who the President is. Because those that are in power there now (in both Parties, neither of which has any intention of making true change) are not about to let anything take away their power, which all derives from money. There can be no change in taxation until that happens. Nor do I think there will be any true change in spending. The only difference between the two parties is in social issues, of which I care about exactly one, the 2nd Amendment. Both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party have proven that they can't budget worth a damn and they spend money like drunken, horny sailors. Presently I haven't been impressed by any candidate on the Republican side and Obama is worse. I haven't decided who I will vote for and it may be just like last time, when I voted for Bob Barr and the Libertarians. Cain probably is the best one of the bunch, right now. But I question how effective he would be as a setting President, not because of any personal flaw, but because I doubt the Republicans in Washington will truly work with him.

Really in that price range, you could go out and get a custom made and have a much better blade than a Boker or even a TOPS. Blind Horse Knives, Sugar Creek, Paul Moore and Rick Marchand come to mind quickly as does Turley Knives.

Kershaw makes a good knife. You also might checkout Spyderco (The Byrd Cara Cara has a solid reputation in that price range), CRKT (The M16 seems to be a popular knife), SOG (I like the Large SOGzilla) and of course Buck (hard to beat the old 110, but it's not a flipper). I recommend you also checkout SMKW.com. They probably have the best selection around.

Now this one I like much better!

You are correct about the Brady Act. The 15 day thing was a Tennessee law for purchase of a new or used handgun from a dealer. The thought behind it was so people wouldn't get mad, rush out and buy a handgun and then go shoot the one they were mad at, I guess. It didn't matter for long guns. You just filled out the 4473 and walked out with your purchase. They of course, dropped the waiting period when the State went to the instant check, thank God!

I'm not real impressed with the blade shape. I don't plan on knife fighting anyone and it doesn't look as if it would perform many utility functions that most demand from a knife.

I think the background check for long guns has been in place since 1998. Fortunately we don't have to wait 15 days anymore. I can remember that. I thought the waiting period was one of the stupidest and nauseating laws out there at the time.

Walmart is your friend in Cub Scouts. They don't do a lot of camping. Save the money for the better stuff for Boy Scouts.That's when it starts becoming more expensive. Scoutdirect.com is the bomb with their half price ALPS gear, which is quality stuff. But again, you don't need that right now. Go for comfort. Your going to be doing mostly Dump Camping and will always have your care nearby. For temperatures in the fall you can probably get away with a 30 degree sleeping bag. If you feel it's not going to be enough, pack along a couple of blankets. Get a dome tent big enough to handle a queen size mattress. If you feel that this is something the family might do later on for weekends, go for a tent that will handle a couple of queen sized air mattresses. The Mrs. will appreciate it! One thing I highly recommend is some headband lights. Walmart sells the Energizer brand for $5. They are handy as hell and all the flashlight you need. A lantern might be nice. With kids I recommend a battery operated one for the tent. But it really won't be necessary. Obviously, a air mattress is a great luxury, that I recommend for Dump Camping. The famous Walmart Blue Pad will for for Boy Scouts. In addition to the air mattress, you will need something to blow it up with. Coleman makes a 4 D-Cell Battery pump that is VERY handy! Trust me, when I say you don't blow a queen sized air mattress with your own lung power. TRUST ME ON THIS!!! Before you go buy a stove, check with other parents and see if you really need one. Two or three stoves is all you really need for a medium sized pack. That will save you about $50 or so right off the bat. A lantern is not really needed. I doubt board games will be necessary. Don't forget the TP, warm clothes or two chairs. And as always, a man is not complete without a pocketknife. IT will come in handy.

A .22 will last a life time. A game will last about 3 hours.

Here is my Peasant! I like inexpensive things. Notice I didn't say cheap! I don't have a lot of money to throw around, so when I find things that are inexpensive, I tend to buy them. In blades, I like the Mora knives ( I have three), Opinels, Svord Peasants (BTW Svords are made by a Knife Maker in New Zealand by the name of Baker and the Peasant is his only low end knife. All the rest of his knives tend to be north of a C-note. They all come convexed and they are rare here in the states.)and slip joints like Rough Rider and Bear and Sons Knives. I'm gravitating to simple firearms more and more too in my old age, like bolt and lever action rifles, single shot shotguns and revolvers. I have more fun with them, especially .22s!

I've been carrying a Svord Peasant everyday for the last 8 months! It rides in my right front pocket beautifully! I love this knife! I convexed the blade with wet dry sandpaper and a mouse pad, and it holds a great edge! There's nothing flashy about it. It just does all I ask it to do day in and day out. Mine has the black plastic scales. I've thought about getting another in Orange. While this is an excellent inexpensive knife (I got mine off EBAY for $16 with shipping), it's not a knife I would recommend for Scouts. Boys do too many stupid things with knives and I could easily see one of them folding this one up on their fingers. I think the Opinel No. 6 or higher is a better knife for Scouts.

The No. 6 is as low as you can go and still get the safety ring, which I recommend in this knife since there is no spring like on a slip joint. It has a 3 1/8" blade, which is plenty for a Cub Scout. The price is $10.95.

I got my Scout Master Certification back in March. It's a great program. As for buying your Cubs cheap knifes to carve soap with, I'd talk to the parents first, prior to rushing out and purchasing cheap knives. Once you get their buy in, then go buy inexpensive knives, not cheap ones. A good first knife for a Cub or a Boy Scout is an Opinel. I really like these. Opinel No 8 Carbon Steel folding knife, Opinel Carbon Knives They are 1095 carbon steel (you can also get them in stainless if you want) and are a locking blade. This is what my son uses as his pocket knife in Boy Scouts. And at $11 a piece, they are a fantastic deal! Careful about buying knives at the Scout Shop. Some of them are dangerous in my opinion. We had a Scout fold a lock back up on his thumb back in he spring. (He was doing something he wasn't supposed to, with it and the lock gave. He got to make a trip to the hospital. It came form the Scout Shop. I think it was a Fury or some such. It looked like one any way. Oh and the investment in bandaids is a smart idea! Good luck and Good Scouting!

I'd go with the Hi-Power. They are great pistols!