William Henry Knives at a Jewelry Store HD Video

Posted: January 12, 2014 in Everyday Carry (EDC), Gear, William Henry Knives
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Produced by Cameron McKirdy

This is our 200th blog post!  I’d like to thank everyone who has supported Survival Bros.  I’ve had many guest authors, steady cameramen, and people behind the scenes feeding me ideas.  Special thanks to local businesses that have allowed me to review their products.  2014 is going to be epic.  Visit often, and please follow us by entering your email, plus subscribe on Youtube.  Now here’s a video that I shot yesterday showing classy, ornate William Henry knives in high definition.  

Survival Bros shops for a new luxury EDC knife at Diamond Showcase, a jeweler in Longview, WA

William Henry KnivesTheir William Henry collection with knives, money clips, and fine pens

William Henry Dinosaur FossilArtisan WH blades made in Oregon

Having My Car Broken Into and Stuff Stolen with Tips

Posted: January 5, 2014 in Automobiles, Emergencies, Everyday Carry (EDC), Gear, SB Tips
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By Katnip

2013 Chevy Camaro

How the Grinch stole MY Christmas. Two days after Christmas my beautiful, 2013 Chevrolet Camaro was a victim of crime. I thought I lived in one of the safer apartment complexes here in town. My bedroom is directly over the top of my carport on the second floor. I have a direct view of my car from the window. While I was sleeping, these thieves somehow managed to unlock my car without the alarm going off. (Apparently they make remotes to do so these days…thanks hackers of the world.) Why they chose MY car I will never know. One would naturally assume that a brand new car like mine would have a perfect lock and touchy alarm on it like Fort Knox. Well, my precious vehicle wasn’t well protected.

I’ve had my previous car broke in to before, and seen my things rummaged through. I’ve felt what it’s like to have your documents strung all over your car, and find your gear M.I.A. It’s awful. I should have taken the extra precaution like I have every other night and removed my valuables from the vehicle before locking her up for the night. I didn’t. I did have EVERYTHING out of sight. If you were to walk past my car, you couldn’t tell it’s a daily driver. I know better than to leave valuables out for prying eyes. I thought my stuff would be safe for one more night. Here’s a list of things I am kicking myself for, prepare to cringe:

– Canon Rebel EOS DSLR Camera with Lens, accessories, LowePro Camera Bag, and Cameron’s beloved camera tripod.

– iPhone 4S with car charger

– TomTom GPS with car charger

– Tool Box (Wrenches, Screw Drivers, Ratchets, etc)

– Jumper Cables

-My prized Bug Out Bag (As mentioned and pictured in this previous post)  Now I will create a new Everyday Carry bag with emergency supplies, and bring it inside no matter what.

In addition, who knows if they could steal my identity, as I had some sensitive documents in the glove compartment that they rummaged through too.

I’ve since taken proper measures to protect myself since, and hopefully regain my property again. I would like to share these tips with you so this same thing doesn’t happen to you.

– Keep ALL valuables in your home. Don’t take the chance like I did and assume that things are safe in the trunk and out the vision of creepers.

– Download the “Find Your iPhone” application and TURN ON YOUR LOCATION! (I had previously turned the location off the day prior because I felt it was nuking my battery. Dumbest thing I’ve ever done, because I had this app on my smart phone, and because I turned the location off, it wouldn’t lead me or the local police to where my possessions were.)

– If you find yourself in this predicament of having your things stolen from you, contact your local police department, file a police report.  Note: They wouldn’t come out, and recommended I fill one out online.

– Write a list of the items that were stolen from you, with serial numbers if available, and take this list in to the second hand shops, cellular stores, and local pawn shops.

– Contact your phone provider and register your phone as “Lost or Stolen.” If someone is dumb enough to try to activate the phone, the provider should confiscate the cell immediately and turn it over to either the police department or contact you to let you know your device had turned up.

– Scour all outlets of items for sale, such as eBay, Craigslist, Facebook sale pages, etc. Eventually, your stuff may turn up on one of those.

– Keep receipts of ALL expensive purchases that you have in your possession, my home owners insurance wouldn’t cover the items stolen from my car at my apartment, as I didn’t have proper sales receipts for these items….(They were gifts.) Things can’t be replaced if insurance can’t prove you never had them to begin with. 

I can recommend from personal experience that having your stuff stolen is not a pleasant thing to have happen. It detracts from valuable time I could have spent using my nice things to make my life easier. If you’re a car thief, I would like to leave you with this final note: You should be ashamed of yourself.  Work hard for your money so you can purchase quality belongings for yourself. Why steal from others that have actually earned their way in life? Karma is a bitch. Happy Travels!

Easy Quiche Family Recipe and Baking Instructions

Posted: December 29, 2013 in Cooking, Frugality, Grub, Health & Nutrition
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Produced By Cameron McKirdy

easy quiche meal

This is one of my favorite meals.  It’s light, yet packed with veggies and protein.  If you follow the simple recipes below, then you’ll have a hearty meal the entire family will enjoy.  My Mom hesitantly gave me her secret cooking instructions to share on Survival Bros.  Somebody cook this, and save me a fat slice.  Eat up!

pastry crust pie

easy quiche family recipe guide

Marine Corps Everyday Carry Items and Pocket Dump HD

Posted: December 24, 2013 in Coast Products, Everyday Carry (EDC), Gear, Guns
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Produced By Cameron McKirdy 

Starring Tactical Gypsy.  A former Marine shares the EDC gear on his person, and in his tactical backpack.  Thanks for watching Survival Bros.  Please subscribe to us on Youtube for more, and on this blog.  

Survival Bros Hunting Game PictureHunting on the Oregon Coast

 

Ribz Front Pack Review at Mount St. Helens

Posted: December 19, 2013 in Adventures, Backpacking, Cold Weather, Everyday Carry (EDC), Product Reviews
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By Cameron McKirdy I sling a day pack on my back nearly every day.  I’ve mentioned the types of things I have in it before, like gear, food, and a warm change of clothes.  So when I discovered the Ribz Front Pack, I was stoked.  This innovative, steroid injected version of a fanny pack solves many of the challenges I face when backpacking.  Here I am with it on the Hummocks Trailhead near Mount St. Helens in Washington State. Ribz Front Pack One issue I have with a regular backpack is I’m constantly taking it off to grab water, my cell phone, or something else that isn’t handy.  With Ribz Wear, it’s all right in front of me, so I can continue trail blazing.  I also mention in the video how backpacks catch on trees when I have to duck under them.  It usually happens a few times each hike, and I practically have to crawl under the obstacle.  With my gear in front, navigating through heavy brush is considerably easier.  The best part of this system is the pack is easy to adjust.  My Dad’s chest and waist are smaller than mine, so after he used it, a quick tug on the straps in back and in front made it comfortable again for me.  Plus, Ribz have long, padded shoulder straps, so it feels like a natural extension of your body.   Mount St. Helens Adventures Map Check out the map of different Mount St. Helens Adventures.  Back to the Ribz Front Pack review, I must mention the Large version I tested can hold absurd amounts, with an 11 liter capacity.  Even with it packed full, I was able to swing my arms freely.  My dad wore it, and noted that you could still use hiking poles with it on.  Ribz makes smaller Front Packs with 8 liters of room too.  Internally, there are separate pouches to keep smaller items organized.  These elastic lined compartments will hold all your tools close to your ribs, and prevent them from rattling around.  We both ran with it, and the pack remained snug, not bouncing around, or swaying side to side.Mount St. Helens View In conclusion, the Ribz Front Pack is an excellent tool itself.  The quality is unbelievable, and far superior to what I expected.  It’s lightweight, at only 11 ounces, so it beats a backpack there too.  However, I think it would be best suited for use with a rear pack, so the weight of your supplies can be evenly distributed forward and back, thus giving you better posture than wearing one or the other.  But if you’re into ultralight backpacking, Ribz might be a dream come true.  You can’t machine wash Ribz, but it cleans up nicely with a wet rag.  I love the Cordura brand water resistant, ripstop material it’s fabricated with.  I will be sporting my Ribz for a long time.  I like it so much I want the smaller 8 liter pack too for shorter trips, and cross country running.  I just don’t know which color to get next.  Check out http://www.ribzwear.com to grab yours.

Cam makes instant coffee with an emergency water packet at Loowit Lookout near Mt. St. Helens in Washington State.  Subscribe to Survival Bros on Youtube for more!  Thanks for watching!  Feel free to comment.

Mt. St. Helens SelfieCam snaps a selfie with his dad on the trail

Surviving The Holidays – Starting a Cleanse

Posted: December 17, 2013 in Uncategorized
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By Brooke McKirdy (Cameron’s Mom)

After all the parties, family dinners, and endless sweets, it’s time to commence the annual quest for fitness.  Last year, starting New Year’s Day, I began a 9 day cleanse.  My Naturalpathic Doctor wanted me first to just eat fruit and veggies for 3 days, and then drink raw juice for 3 days, finishing the last 3 days with more organic fruits and vegetables.

Please consult your Dr. before doing this, or any detox program.  For me, every extended cleanse has resulted in a loss of at least 7-10 pounds.  After 9 days are up, you can begin introducing other foods into your diet.  This is a good way to find out if you are allergic to anything, without having to pay for a blood test.  However, I must confess, I could not just add 1 thing back into my diet after 9 days, because I took a blood test.

My Doctor and I thought I might be allergic to dairy and wheat.  When the results were in, they concluded I was sensitive to dairy, especially whey and yogurt.  Plus, I’m very allergic to wheat, eggs, almonds, cranberries, pecans, pineapple, bananas, and almonds.  There’s a difference between being “sensitive and allergic.”  Some are extremely sensitive, and have symptoms such as bloating, change in digestion, headaches, memory problems, being tired, etc.  Others are allergic and have major symptoms such as hives, breathing problems, and migraines.  The blood test shows you to what degree you are sensitive, or allergic to each food.  For example, I am moderately allergic to cranberries, so I should only eat or drink cranberries like once a month, as advised by my Dr.  I am more allergic to eggs, so I should avoid them, but if they are diluted in a recipe then I can get away with it.  Additionally, I will never get a flu shot since it is made from eggs.

You can be fanatical, or balanced with your diet.  I recommend getting tested for food allergies, because many symptoms people have are being masked by prescription drugs.  Maybe these pains can be avoided if you knew which foods to cut out.  So make a resolution to have better health this year by eating the right foods for your body.  Between this, and a detoxification cleanse, maybe you can lose about 20 pounds like I plan to beginning 2014.  Happy Holidays from Survival Bros!

mom christmas treeBrooke is an event coordinator, wedding planner, and great mom

Upcycle Whiskey Oak Barrel Tables Project

Posted: December 7, 2013 in Adventures, Frugality, Fun!
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By Andrew McKirdy

Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value.

This DIY project started when I sat down for a drink at Rock Bottom Brewery in Denver, Colorado. I noticed several old whiskey barrels being used for decoration. I asked my waitress if I could have one, and a few days later the brewmaster and I were loading two freshly used barrels into a borrowed car for transport. They’d been emptied, but I could still hear swishing when I moved them. One had been used for a raspberry saison and the other for an ale. I don’t have a shop, but thankfully a friend let me use his patio to begin work. I decided I wanted to keep one barrel whole and use it as a kitchen table. The other I would cut in half and turn into two side tables. I used a handsaw for accuracy, and finished with a powered skill saw. For the whole barrel, I drilled a small opening in the bottom to drain the remaining contents. I scraped the insides with a chisel, removing any loose wood chips. Then I poured vinegar in the barrels to kill bacteria and prevent future growth. This also helped get rid of the funky raspberry smell.
I sanded, then dusted off both barrels, to prep them for stain. I came back the next day, but the stench of high VOCs (nasty chemicals called volatile organic compounds) reeked. I realized I would need to seal them up. This would stop the smell, and provide an excellent sheen. I found a low VOC polyurethane which worked wonders. Lastly, were the rusty metal hoops, which I wanted black. After those were painted I priced around for the most affordable glass company. I was told I needed a tempered piece of glass which cost twice as much, but is infinitely safer and stronger. Finally the project was complete. I had taken something that was going to be destroyed, and given it new life in my home. I researched the name on the barrel and found out it came from the oldest and smallest distillery in Kentucky, originating in 1797. The Woodford Distillery is in fact a National Historic Landmark. I have a real piece of Americana.
Vintage Oak Barrels

Oak Whiskey Barrels to be upcycled

Cooking Chicken and Potatoes with Fresh Rosemary

Posted: December 4, 2013 in Cooking, Frugality, Health & Nutrition
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By Cameron McKirdy

A friend was generous enough to give me a bag full of fresh Rosemary.  Her plant produced incredible amounts, more than she needed.  My stash has been drying in the dark pantry, on the water heater, ready to be utilized.  The day came, and man did it improve the meal.  

Fresh Rosemary

After plucking it from the stem, Survival Bros tossed several teaspoons in to boil with the potatoes.  It gave them a sweet taste, that was way better than ordinary spuds.  

Boiling Potatoes with Rosemary

Then we cooked chicken with a few pinches of fresh Rosemary on top.  Now I don’t want to cook without it.  It also pairs well with lemon.  Tell me that doesn’t look succulent!Rosemary ChickenI’ve also been trying out shampoo and conditioner harnessing the power of both Rosemary and Mint.  I think this Suave product works really well.  I hope you can get a hold of some of this special herb.  For more on the uses and cultural significance of Rosemary, read all about it on Wikipedia here.  Thanks for visiting the blog.  Make sure to read some of our other posts.  %^).

rosemary suave shampooRosemary in Latin translates to “dew of the sea.”  It is said to improve memory, and has additional medicinal uses.

Kershaw Rainbow Chive Knife Extreme Cut Test HD Video

Posted: December 2, 2013 in Everyday Carry (EDC), Gear, HD Videos, Kershaw Knives, Product Reviews
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Produced by Cameron McKirdy

One of the most popular every day carry knives is the Kershaw Chive designed by Ken Onion.  This sly blade features the patented SpeedSafe assisted opening, giving it a remarkable feel.  In the HD video I put the knife to the test, slicing a can, plastic bottle, different types of cordage, and much more.  On Youtube I couldn’t find anyone doing a legit cut test with the Chive, so I made an extreme one.

I was genuinely surprised to see that the Kershaw didn’t dull after cutting the soda can.  I muscled through the bottom, and I was sure it would damage the blade, or at least scratch the titanium-oxide rainbow coating.  But even after that, I was able to shave off a good chunk of arm hair in a few strokes.  The knife did everything I wanted it to, making it a perfect EDC tool.  It’s ultra lightweight too, at only 1.7 ounces.  

The Chive comes in a wide variety of colors, some with different handle materials, but the Rainbow version is the most expensive.  There’s nothing girly about it.  The wild coating reminds me of an oil slick, which are always interesting to look at.  I like the stepped thumb studs, because they are rigid, making the small 1 15/16″ blade easy to open.  However, I prefer to use the flipper on the back, because I feel it’s a little safer, and there’s no chance of slicing my thumb on deployment.  It does have a solid tip-lock system for safety, so the knife won’t open when you pull it out of your pocket.  In addition, I love the long, sturdy pocket clip.  It’s not rainbow, just polished steel with the Kershaw logo etched down it.  Plus, the jimping on the top of the blade gives you more control, which is good because the Chive is small, and somewhat slick due to the coating.

At the end of the day, the Kershaw Chive is a legend.  Trust me, you want one.  It makes a great keychain knife, and if you carry it on you, you’ll use it daily.  For additional tech specs, and to view other models, visit http://kershaw.kaiusaltd.com/  Thanks for visiting and supporting Survival Bros – your emergency preparedness blog.  Comments, likes, and shares are appreciated.  What knife would you like me to test next, and what should I destroy with it?  Peace.

rainbowchive_1600vib_1The Kershaw Rainbow Chive – Model 1600VIB

My survival keychain video starring The Chive

Popping Blisters with the small knife after hiking on the PCT

Getting FREE Samples at the Mall HD Video

Posted: December 2, 2013 in Adventures, Frugality, Fun!, HD Videos, Health & Nutrition
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Produced by Cameron McKirdy

Watch me get as many complementary samples as possible.  SPOILER ALERT: I score a free trial of sausage, cheese, lotion, cologne, ice cream, vitamins, purified water, and even ukulele entertainment.  I also considered using the mall’s power to charge my cell phone.  At a larger shopping center I’m sure you could eat the equivalent of a meal by sampling grub at all the food court’s restaurants.  This was simply a fun exercise of frugality.  Cheers!

free ice cream sampleCam poised to strike the ice cream vendor for freebies

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