American Survival Guide/Self-Reliance Journal?

JD Mandrell

JD Mandrell

Joined
Apr 20, 2001
Messages
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I have the October 2000 issue which was the first issue that the now defunct American Survival Guide started using the name Self-Reliance Journal, but does anyone remember how many issues after the name change before the magazine stopped printed issues?

I found 1 mention online of May 2001 being the last issue??
 
Heres what I have.

ASG

2001
Apr Self Reliance
2000
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Sept x 2
Oct Self Reliance
1999
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Aug
Sept
Nov
Dec
1998
July
Aug
Sept
1997
Apr
Aug
Nov
Dec
 
I have all the issues from the beginning, except three. They're all boxed up so I'll see if I can find the last issue.

L.W.
 
THE LAST CONFEDERATE - " I found 1 mention online of May 2001 being the last issue??"


Yep, I checked my magazines and the May issue, 2001, was the final issue of "SELF RELIANCE JOURNAL." That was the name used between Jan. 2001, and May 2001, when they went belly up.

L.W.
 
Great magazine till they changed names. I bought my first copy around '85. I have a stack about 3 ft. high. Was reading some last nite.

Been thinking of unloading them but whenever I d, I pick one up and several hours go by...they later sold my sub. to Backwoods Home .
 
I used to buy them at the newstand. IIRC, when readers noticed a substantial shift in the magazine's focus, it was found that the originator/owner had passed away and his wife had taken over. The magazine didn't last too long after it became an also-ran to The Mother Earth News. I have no idea what actually happened to my copies. I suspect that my ex put them out for the garbage man if she didn't sell them at a yard sale. I'd like to reread some of the earlier issues to refresh my memory on the articles. I went to Jim Benson's website, but his subscription policy precludes much viewing of content to decide if it is worth it.
 
Codger,
I had an online subscription to Modern Survival for a year or so. I did not renew because I felt the articles lacked real depth. There were many interesting subjects but the articles only seemed to skim the surface.
Maybe it is time someone else started a new magazine to cover this subject.
Bill
 
Leanwolf said:
ep, I checked my magazines and the May issue, 2001, was the final issue of "SELF RELIANCE JOURNAL." That was the name used between Jan. 2001, and May 2001, when they went belly up.

L.W.
Click to expand...

Thanks, then "Self Reliance Journal" ran from Oct. 2000 to May 2001. I have the Oct. 2000 issue, and it has the "starting with this issue we changed our name" thing in the front.

I've been sorting them out and I have almost 3 years of ASG in a box.
 
I have an incomplete collection of ASG stretching over most of its run.
Here in Canada it became hard to find any gun related magazines from the late 90's onward. I wasn't really that impressed with the last year or so of ASG.
And in the last few years every month had a tricked out AR-15/M-16 or 1911 in a similar "pose" on the cover so it got kinda confusing.
I'd see what i thought might be a new issue and i'd think "darn don't i have that one!?" and then not buy it.
I'm really tempted to try to pdf them sometime, or at least look for a torrent of ASG pdf's, lol!
Anyway heres a list of the issues i have-
American Survival Guide (AKA Survival Guide)
1982-February, July, September
1983-February, June, August
1984-January, March, May(2), October, November
1985-March, June, July, October, November
1986-January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
1987-March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, December
1988-January, March, May, June, August, September, October, November
1989-January, February, April, June, August, October, November
1990-January, February, May, March, April, June, August, September, October, November, December
1991-January, February, March, June, July, August, October, November, December
1992-February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
1993-January, April, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
1994-January(2), February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November(2), December
1995-January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
1996-March, April, May, June, July, August, October, November, December
1997-January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
1998-January, April, July, November, December
1999-March, June, October, November, December

(I bagged/organized/filed my magazines and typed up wordfile lists of most of them about three years ago, lol)
 
billym said:
Codger,
I had an online subscription to Modern Survival for a year or so. I did not renew because I felt the articles lacked real depth. There were many interesting subjects but the articles only seemed to skim the surface.
Maybe it is time someone else started a new magazine to cover this subject.
Bill
Click to expand...

The original magazines were a real hodge podge, IIRC. But there was enough of a variety of articles to be interesting. I'm afraid that if someone tried to revive the concept today, it would rely too heavily upon the "tinfoil hat" angle. Not that there wasn't some of that in the originals. Striking a balance in content on such a wide variety of subjects isn't something I would want to attempt. Richey's Magazine is one of the very few to survive more or less intact and avoid becoming the property of the mega-newstand media. Yeah, you kind fellows PDF the issues and post 'em. Unless it calls down the wrath of lawyers of the former owners.:o
 
THE LAST CONFEDERATE - " I have the Oct. 2000 issue, and it has the "starting with this issue we changed our name" thing in the front."

You're right! I just checked the last five issues of 2001. I have them collated so didn't bother to look at the 12 issues of 2000.

As I said, other than three issues, I have the entire run from the beginning to the end.

L.W.
 
Anybody remember "Survive" magazine? I think it was an offshoot of "Soldier of Fortune".
In a lot of ways it was more practical than ASG, more text and a lot less of the glossy pics.
There was also a magazine called "Practical Survival" that was decent as well.
 
THE LAST CONFEDERATE - "[L.W.] Do you know what the 3 are your missing?"


Yep. March of 1985, Jan. of 1986 (loaned that one to a friend and never got it back), and March of 1988. Those two March issues missing occured when I forgot to renew my subscription in time so missed a month.)

If you have those three issues and would like to sell them, please send me a p.m. here and we'll work something out.

Thanks.

L.W.
 
I do have a few mid to late 80's issues. I'll try to find them later today. By the way. They were really hard to get here in germany... I still have some copys of "survive" too - these are ones I picked up while beeing in the US I think...
ilten
 
Looked up my old copies of Survival Guide.
The first issue I bought was OCT 1981, Shooter's Survival Guide.
FEB 1982: dropped Shooter's from title.
Jan 1985: added American to title, self-defense*self-reliance*freedom.
OCT 1985: dropped self-defense*self-reliance*freedom.
MAR 1986: added the magazine for safer living.
JAN 1990: added the magazine of self reliance.
 
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