Gear Pr0n: Starter Kit

We're off to a pretty good start here. Shotgun as a primary. Glock pistol as a secondary. Then a light machete for quick work, and a tomahawk for general work, or when you want to put that Zed down with a single blow.

Krav Maga Week: Fight Quest Part 6

The boys see if they have what it takes to fight like Israeli Commandos.

Musical Interlude: Zombie by the Cranberries

D is for Dracula

Anyone Can Become a Zombie...

One of the horrifying truths about becoming a zombie is that it is an equal opportunity menace. The curse knows no difference among its victims. Race, color, creed, occupation... None of that matters.

In fact, sadly, in some outbreaks, the weakest members of society are among the first to fall. And so I present this horrible image. Undoubtedly it tugs on your heartstrings, because you can recognize a tragic history lies behind this undead corpse. But you cannot afford to falter in your purpose.

All zombies must be destroyed.

Recorded Attacks

Max Brooks, the researcher who gave us the Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z, also wrote a history called, The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks. It presents information, often neglected in standard histories in order to minimize potential panic, about historical zombie outbreaks and how they were faced.

Krav Maga Week: Fight Quest part 5

Krav Maga Week: Fight Quest part 4

Seems I missed Thursday. Sorry, I was busy with work.

Logo!

Gear Pr0n: Overstuffed WarBelt and Chest Rig

Krav Maga Week: Fight Quest part 3

The boys continue their training in the lethal moves of Krav Maga.

Krav Maga Week: Fight Quest part 2

M1911 Week: Continues...

Gear Pr0n: The Tactical Gladius

Swords are awesome for zombies. Especially when you find them in small numbers. But you have to balance the convenience of ammo conservation with carry weight. So while your first inclination might be to get something long for extra reach, you really shouldn't overlook the short sword.

Here we see a selection of swords after the Roam Gladius fashion. Sturdy defenders that will easily cleave into some zed's skull, yet won't slow you down.

Krav Maga Week: Fight Quest part 1

Krav Maga is a modern system of Israeli unarmed combat. It emphasizes striking early, hard, and often with immediately crippling results.

I dunno. YMMV as they say. I've heard that civilian training like you might get at a strip mall can be complicated and convoluted. On the other hand, there are plenty of professionals who swear by this stuff.

As I've said before, going unarmed against zombies -- well, any of the bogies and boggarts we discuss, really -- ain't a good idea. But you gotta have something to fall back on, and it does teach you how to move correctly in a fight. The thing about krav is that it isn't some ancient, sacred art that was optimized for fighting armored warriors on horseback. It exists in the here and now and understands mobility -- and also the kind of encumbrance that modern warfighting gear can have on a fighter.

M1911 Week: Shooting Part 1

You may have noticed I fell a little behind this month... and again last week. So I'm getting this series out to you anyway.

In Search Of: Siberian Fireball Part 3

Gear Pr0n: CamelBak Shot Show 2010 part 2

The conclusion of CamelBak's Shot Show 2010 lineup

In Search Of: Siberian Fireball Part 2

More on the mysterious Siberian explosion.

Musical Interlude: Rapture, by Blondie

The Rapture is an event that is a fixture of Evangelical Christian Eschatology in which it is believed the faithful will be brought to Heaven while the rest of us poor sinners endure the Anti-Christ. It was also an early Eighties hit for Blondie. Blondie was the group, not the singer. Her name was Debbie Harry.

Blondie's version of the Rapture is more fun.

Gear Pr0n: CamelBak Shot Show 2010

Water is essential in a survival situation. So looking at the broader possibilities of the End of the World -- not just the inevitable Zombie Apocalypse -- we need to consider ways we can carry water while still on the move. Whether we're on short patrols, scavanging expeditions, or long hauls.

CamelBak is one of the leading suppliers of hydration systems. This is video of the range of options made available in 2010.

In Search Of: Siberian Fireball part 1

In 1908, an intense explosion occurred in the Siberian Wilderness. It measured in the range of a nuclear blast.

No one is sure what caused it.

Was it a meteor or comet strike? A brief, mathematically-possible intersection of matter and anti-matter? An alien space ship crash landing -- or self-destructing to avoid detection?

We don't know.

But I thought we might look at some potential doomsday scenarios today.

Zombie Defense 101

A California community college is offering Zombie Defense 101. This is a step in the right direction, and I hope to see more institutions of higher learning and continuing education step up to the plate.

I am disturbed that this course apparently does not cover firearms or even edged weapons. The comely lass demonstrating seems to be limited to softball bats and karate kicks. In fact, she screams, "Jiu Jutsu!" while kicking one fiend... And while there are some limited kicks in Jiu Jutsu/jujutsu styles, we have already discussed why a grappling art is not ideal for fighting the undead.

Gear Pr0n: Vintage M1911

These are pictures of a WWI-era M1911 that was carried into combat by the owner's great-grandfather.

The owner refurbished the pistol and gave it a new finish to protect it.

This isn't a personal defense weapon, it is an historical artifact to be treated with respect.

The Colt manufacturer's mark.

Here's the full pistol. One way to tell the M1911 from the later M1911A1 is the straight backstrap on the butt of the pistol. M1911A1's have a rounded profile to fit the hand better.

M1911 Week: How to Field Strip

Given that some people think tomorrow might bring forth some kind of Apocalypse, perhaps we should spend a few minutes going over the maintenance of our favorite .45 pistol.

Centers for Disease Control Press Release

For years the US Federal Government has been silent on the subject of Zombies. So, for that matter, have most -- if not all -- state and local governments. Getting up at a public forum and asking your representatives what preparations are being made for the rise of the walking dead was sure to draw snickers from the audience, disdain from the politician, and very likely a quick way to get escorted to the door by friendly law enforcement officials.

But this week, The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released this: blogs.cdc.gov/.../2011/05/preparedness-101-zombie-apocalypse
or
emergency.cdc.gov/socialmedia/zombies.asp

You might not be able to reach it, because the site has been crashing off-and-on since it got posted. You see, the quiet CDC blog entry was noticed by major news organizations, for example:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=136500576

What does this mean? Is it coincidental that a fringe religious group announced tomorrow, Saturday, May 21, 2011 is the date of The Rapture and beginning of the Christian End Times?

Perhaps the USG is ready to admit the existence of zombies. Maybe it knows information leaked about the last couple of outbreaks and people are taking this threat seriously now.

M1911 Week: OSS Point Shooting

Part of a classic training film from WWII showing the inimitable Col. Rex Applegate training US spies, saboteurs, and commandos in how to use the M1911. Applegate taught the still controversial Point Shooting technique, which uses the theory that at short ranges, the shooter will naturally point toward the threat.

Movie Clip: Solomon Kane

I've mentioned the bio-pic about legendary monster hunter, Solomon Kane. This Elizabethan Era adventurer is responsible for wiping out an African variety of vampire, and also a breed of strange pterodactyl-like humanoids. He was truly an inspiration to us all.

Anyway, here's one of the best fights in the movie. Kane had tried to give up violence after a frightening encounter with one of the Devil's minions. But he was eventually forced to see that evil won't always be persuaded by turning the other cheek. This scene dramatizes Kane's choice to pick-up the sword again.

How To Survive the Inevitable Zombie Apocalypse!

Even major corporations are preparing for Z-Day. This is part of a film for a major International IT firm's Human Resources department.

Gear Pr0n: Nickle Plated M1911 with companion book

M1911 Week: Point Shooting

Vintage World War II training film on Point Shooting technique with the M1911A1

Gear Pr0n: M1911 Week!

Sam Browning's .45 automatic pistol, adopted by the U.S. Army as the Model 1911, and later M1911A1 is a classic. Long considered the consummate gunfighter's pistol, the design turns 100 years old. It has seen service with the U.S. Military in every conflict in which the nation has been engaged in those 100 years.

Here we see a Taurus clone with sexy Punisher aftermarket grips.

Lost Tapes: Zombies Part 2

The security agents deal with their close encounter with hybrid zombies.

Frankly, this whole thing concerns me. I'd never before heard of Haitian Voudon-created zombies having a taste for human flesh or spreading infection. Usually they are very docile.

Troll Chase

A snippet of shocking footage showing a 4-wheel Drvie vehicle chasing a towering troll across the Scandinavian wilderness.

Fortunately, it appears trolls are a species unique to Northern Europe and not found in North
America.

Tell The World

License plates won't mean much after the dead rise on Z-Day. But until then, put this plate frame on your Toyata Tacoma to let the world know you're ready for the inevitable zombie apocalypse -- even if they aren't.

Lost Tapes: Zombie Part 1

Lost Tapes presents video obtained from a private security firm establishing the threat from hybrid zombies recently encountered in New Orleans.

Gear Pr0n: Mini Uzi

The Mini-Uzi.

While the original Uzi was intended to be small and comfortable, later engineers believed it could be made even more compact and fill a niche for police, covert agents, and close protection specialists.

Musical Interlude: Red Riding Hood Twofer!

Two versions of Sam the Sham & The Pharoah's classic tale of prowling for pretty, young girls.

Gear Pr0n: Strider LM Nail

Strider makes expensive knives that are worth every penny. It's quality workmanship. So I had to do a little research when I heard they were making a weapon that retailed for $50. Seriously?

It turned out the weapon in question is The Nail. And pretty much, that is what it is. Up to 9 inches of steel ground to a very sharp point and not subjected to heat treatment. It's then paired with a dead simple kydex sheath with paracord looping. You can slip the Nail in its sheath through a single column of standard MOLLE webbing and tie it into place. Nothing to break.

The owner of these Nails has fashioned a paracord grip for a little extra tack in the hand.

So what are these used for? Well, the instruction manual is simple: "Insert pointy end into assailant. Repeat as necessary." It's a last ditch, close combat tool specifically designed to make the bad guy want to get off of you as quickly as possible, or die trying.

I can easily see slipping one of these behind a pouch on my chest rig for those inevitable close encounters. I wouldn't want to have to rely on one of these to finish off a zombie, but it's better than empty hands, and I'm pretty sure I can force into the brain case if I have to. It should strike primordial terror into the hearts of Vampires -- while wooden stakes are the Hollywood mainstay, railroad spikes and coffin nails have also been used to equal effect historically. This thing looks close enough to match.

Available at Blue Line Gear http://www.bluelinegear.com/p-427-strider-lm-nail.aspx and Monkey Edge http://www.monkeyedge.com/Strider_Knives_Fixed_LM_Nail_p/sk0437.htm.

Gear Pr0n: The Uzi

Ah, the Uzi 9mm submachine gun. Compact, reliable, and so deadly.

Designed for the Israeli Defense Forces, this weapon was designed to be easy to carry at all times. It was also intended to be easy to reload, using the principle that one hand will always find the other. And it was rugged, the Uzi was more than a match for the harsh desert terrain in which the IDF operated.

Sure, other 9mm submachine guns have come along. Many of them have been sexier, but this was the kind of full-auto weapon that could outlast the Apocalypse. It pays to have one in your Z-Day bunker's weapons rack.

Beast Hunter Episode 1 Part 4

The thrilling conclusion of Episode 1 of Beast Hunter!

Apologies!

Sorry for my absence, faithful reader. I got called away on business and wasn't able to keep up with the posting.

I did ask Flint to put down his co-ed and take some time out of his college reading to keep the blog updated. But he failed me -- and YOU! -- miserably.

On the bright side, I did earn a few pennies, gained some experience points, and expended a few rounds downrange. All of which should provide me with more fodder for you as we continue to explore the exciting world of "How to Kill Things That Go Bump in the Night!"

Gear Pr0n: Cutlery Showcase

Obviously having a good knife in your kit for the inevitable day of Zombiggeddon is a smart thing. You'll need something stout to decapitate your shambling walkers, and you'll need something for your sundry survival needs. You don't need to take it to this extreme, but having options is a good thing.

Musical Interlude: Rasputina -- Transylvanian Concubine

The song Transylvanian Concubine by Rasputina.

Beast Hunter Episode 1 Part 3