I’m calling this the Summer 2014 issue, though there is no indicator on the cover or masthead as to what they are calling it. American Frontiersman magazine comes out twice a year and the last issue came out back around April.

As with previous issues, there is an awful lot of great information here. All told, there are 39 articles spanning 130 pages. The overall focus, as you might guess from the title and cover art, is on how mountain men survived and how to use those skills and techniques today.

Here are just a few of the articles that caught my attention.

Trapping 911 by Dave Canterbury
This is an excellent overview of several different trap and snare sets, both water and land based. There is some great information here for both the novice and the more experienced.

Modern Man Atlatl Making by Will Dabbs
When I was a kid, one of the first primitive weapons I made on my own was an atlatl. I wish I’d had this article with me back then as things would perhaps have been a bit easier. Here, Dabbs shows us how to make a very effective atlatl using PVC components.

Handcraft a Knife Sheath by Kevin Estela
Lately, I’ve been toying a lot with the idea of trying my hand at custom leatherwork. In this article, Estela makes crafting a custom pouch sheath very simple with easy to follow directions.

Build a Woodstove by Will Dabbs
A Vogelzang kit combined with an old oil drum makes for an excellent shop woodstove. Here, Dabbs takes us step by step through the process.

Mountain Meds by Michael D’Angona
Everything from aches and pains to bad breath to itchy rashes can be treated with plants and herbs found in your backyard. This article is a great primer on what plants to use for which ailments.

Making Lye Soap by Jill J. Easton
For those prepping for possible long-term scenarios, being able to make your own soap completely from scratch could prove useful. This article not only lays out the steps but has some great discussion on how it was done back in the day.

On top of all that great information, there are articles on:

–Making a real coonskin cap
–Point blankets
–Blacksmithing
–Making a moose call
–Black powder handguns
–And a ton of other stuff, too!

All in all, American Frontiersman is an excellent publication. I only have two complaints.

1) The cover price of $9.99 is a bit steep. In this case, though, I think it is worth the expense.

2) I wish it came out more than just twice a year.

You can find American Frontiersman at most newsstands, including grocery stores and such. As far as I know, there is no subscription available at this time.