This article was originally published by Joshua Mawhorter at The Mises Institute.  Due to wartime inflation of bills of credit (“Continentals”) during the American War for Independence and the predictable economic effects, an old American colloquialism developed, “not worth a Continental” (although this phrase may have come about much later than the Revolutionary era). This article argues that Continentals only temporarily retained some value largely because of an initial promise of future redemption in gold and silver—a monetary “bait-and-switch.” (Additionally, interventions such as legal tender laws and the acceptance of paper money for tax payments may have offered some temporary support, but…

There are several new state-level gun control laws that are set to take effect come January 1, and some are worse than others. A new law set to take effect in Colorado isn’t all that onerous, but it is utterly ridiculous.  Starting next week, juveniles will be prohibited from attending gun shows unless they’re accompanied by their parent or a guardian; a restriction that seems to be both unnecessary and unconstitutional. I’ve being going to gun shows for decades, and I honestly can’t remember unaccompanied kids wandering around any of them. The closest that I can recall…

For a guy who has been collecting knives for nearly 40 years, I’m actually kind of picky about the ones I like to use. I own a lot of really cool knives, but not many are all that practical. If I’m not actively reviewing a knife and I have the freedom to choose any blade to hit the trail with me, truth is I have only a handful I’d consider.  So I was particularly surprised when a recent release came across my review queue and quickly proved itself worthy of regular use. Launched this fall, the Kershaw Pack Mule fixed…

With today being the day after Christmas, a lot of people might well have gotten their first firearm out from under the tree. If so, that’s great. Welcome to the club. You’ll like it here, I think. However, you may have questions about what to do now. If so, we’ve got some suggestions on where to start and what to do going forward.While I will list these in order of importance as I see it, others will disagree about the order, I’m sure. Honestly, what really matters is that you hit all of these that…

The NFA tax for most commonly transferred items is scheduled to be reduced to $0 on January 1, 2026, under recently passed federal legislation that has some understandably worried, and others pretty happy. This does not mean ALL NFA items are going down to $0 for filing; Machine guns and destructive devices will continue to require the $200 tax even after 2026. However, despite its legal and political intricacies, I still think that this new legislation will lead to a much higher rate of suppressor ownership and likely a brief spike in suppressor sales across the country. That’s why I…

The war unfolding across Europe does not involve tanks or troops, but lawmakers warned last week it is already testing alliances, democracies and Western resolve.That is according to Washington lawmakers and witnesses who spoke during a House Foreign Affairs Europe Subcommittee hearing on Dec. 16, who warned that Russia and China are testing alliances, democracies and Western resolve.They said that the two major U.S. adversaries are already targeting Europe through cyberattacks, sabotage, disinformation and economic pressure. Witnesses told Congress the tactics are meant to stay below the threshold of open war while weakening NATO unity, undermining democratic institutions and eroding…

I’m not a tactical gun bro. I think tactical gear is over-the-top, and doesn’t fit my style despite having spent over 7 years in the Army. I’m more of the old school, classic look type of guy. Think tweed jacket, bamboo fly rod, and walking the Scottish countryside with an over-under vibe. Yeah, it’s snobby, but I like what I like. You can make fun of me for it, just like I make fun of tactical stuff. So, as you can imagine, I don’t love it when outdoor brands merge “tacticool” features on everyday hunting and fishing gear. To me,…

A Venezuela-linked tanker is still being chased by U.S. authorities in Caribbean waters, refusing to let Coast Guard crews board as specialized teams move into position for a possible forced seizure. The vessel, known as Bella 1, keeps moving while cutters and surveillance aircraft take turns shadowing it.The chase may prove to be the sharpest test of U.S. sanctions against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, combining White House pressure with Coast Guard boarding authority under maritime law, according to federal officials familiar with the situation. Since September pressure has been amplified on Maduro as officials claim his nation is using narco-trafficking…

Images by the author When it comes time to buy an AR-pattern rifle, many options abound. You can spend as little as $400, or if you want something more, the sky’s the limit for custom models. I have reviewed many ARs over the years, and I can tell you that price usually – not always, but usually – makes a difference. I’ve seen some pretty nice examples of the breed at both ends of the price spectrum, but generally speaking, you get what you pay for. Today, we have a mid-priced rifle to consider. This is the HM Defense Defender…

In a growing sign of the labor movement’s rise in the outdoor industry, a strike of the Telluride Ski Patrol has shut down Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado. The union’s workers voted to reject the resort owners’ most recent contract offer on Dec. 8. On Dec. 23, the union announced that with 99% of its members voting yes, it would begin a strike on Dec. 27. A day later, the resort announced that, due to the strike, it will close indefinitely beginning on Dec. 27. The Dispute Ski patrol employees perform essential safety functions at resorts, including responding to emergencies,…

As it stands, a lot of people in Australia haven’t been able to own a gun for a very long time. Sure, many could, but far more couldn’t. It didn’t stop a father and son duo with ties to ISIS from not just getting firearms, but then using them to mow down innocent Jewish worshippers trying to celebrate one of the holiest times of the year, and not just for Jews. But, anti-gunners are gonna anti-gun, and what we saw in Australia is what people expect to play out everywhere else. There’s going to be new…

The United States is known for its sanctions that don’t accomplish anything. Now China is trying the same tactic. Beijing has sanctioned twenty U.S. defense firms over arms sales to Taiwan. Sanctions do little if anything to coerce countries into obeying and complying with threats. At the end of the day, most just say “no” and continue with business as usual, and unless force is used by the military, a decree by a ruler to another ruler isn’t impactful because they both think they have the right to decline. After constantly warning that Washington is “playing with fire” in continually…