The Audi Q5 and BMW X3 better watch their mirrors — when it comes to compact luxury SUVs, the competition is closer than it appears.

The 2026 Genesis GV70 is a compact luxury SUV that blends style, performance, and value, making it a formidable contender against the BMW X3 and other rivals like the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.

The test model I drove sported the twin-turbo 3.5L V6, which pumps out 375 hp and 391 lb-ft for a 0-60 sprint of just 4.6 seconds.

After spending time with the GV70, I’m convinced it’s one of the best options in its class. To avoid tariffs, Genesis parent company Hyundai will build the GV70 in the USA.

Watch me put the GV70 through its paces below:

Athletic elegance

The GV70’s exterior embraces the Genesis philosophy of “athletic elegance," featuring redesigned bumpers, a dual-weave mesh grille, and striking full LED quad lamps.

Sport trims add black accents, a rear spoiler, and optional 21-inch alloy wheels for a bold, dynamic look, while new exterior colors like Ceres Blue enhance its curb appeal.

Inside, the cabin is a masterpiece, with Nappa leather in four color options, including the stunning Ultramarine Blue with orange stitching.

A single 27-inch OLED display integrates the digital cluster and infotainment, offering seamless access to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a premium Bang & Olufsen 16-speaker audio system. Features like a digital key, wireless charging, and enhanced voice recognition elevate the tech experience.

G-force

Under the hood, the GV70 offers two engines. The standard 2.5L turbo four-cylinder delivers 300 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds with 22/28 MPG city/highway.

The test model I drove sported the twin-turbo 3.5L V6, which pumps out 375 hp and 391 lb-ft for a 0-60 sprint of just 4.6 seconds. Paired with an 8-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive, the V6 adds a Sport Plus mode and adaptive suspension with Road Preview suspension for a responsive, comfortable ride.

There are new drive modes, including terrain mode for snow, mud, or sand, and it can be personalized as well.

Safety and value

Safety is a strong suit, with a standard suite including forward collision-avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, and blind-spot cameras. Upgraded features like hands-on detection and improved remote smart parking assist with diagonal parking capability add confidence.

The GV70 seats five comfortably, with heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and optional massaging seats on top trims. Cargo space is generous at 28.9 cubic feet, expanding to 56.9 with the 60/40 rear seats folded.

Priced from $47,985 to $70,095, the GV70 undercuts competitors while offering class-leading luxury. The 10-year/100,000-mile power train warranty and three years of free maintenance sweeten the deal. Drawbacks? The wiper blade design could improve, and more small-item storage would be nice.

Verdict: The 2026 Genesis GV70 combines high-end features, exhilarating performance, and unbeatable value. Compared to the BMW X3, it offers a more luxurious interior and better pricing, making it a top pick for luxury SUV buyers.

Spinning out at Discount Tire's Treadwell test track

Discount Tire, America’s largest specialist retailer, whisked journalists to a junket in San Antonio, Texas. Details were hazy: A website and a test track. It wasn’t clear what the one had to do with the other.

Starting with a formal evening on the deck of a boutique hotel and affixing the smile of a politician coming into contact with the general public, I interrogated members of Discount Tire’s C-suite about minor glitches on their website.

Hoping to show engagement, I demonstrated only peevishness, while drinking their wine. The same fixed smiles appeared on their faces.

Redolent of the hippos in Disney’s 'Fantasia,' the sheen on the asphalt allowed the BMW to spin and glide in just about any direction except forward.

For the journalists, rule one is this is all very tedious. No such affect from the influencers, emotions displayed on their faces in a way Marcel Marceau would have found a little obvious.

Top gear

But the tire execs loved that the influencers loved it. The PRs beamed like parents at a preteen birthday party when the kids are getting along. No part of the joy escaped capture on iPhone 16 Pros. No one had anything else: not the (embarrassing) 15 nor the (shaming) non-Pro. Sorry, Android, but all these bubbles were blue.

Pre-dawn, we assembled by a series of Sprinters. Gimbals, suction-cupped GoPro cameras, tripods, lighting rigs, and editing software were being compared and Bluetooth microphones affixed. All this would blend with B-roll the PR company was filming with drones. "Apocalypse Now" had lower production values.

I looked intently into my iPad, attempting to suggest my own serious media needs, a frown to convey that my device also needed expert handling. My emasculating iPhone 13 mini stayed hidden.

Still having little idea what to expect, we got to Discount Tire’s Treadwell Research Park in Pearsall, about 50 miles outside San Antonio.

On the skids

Discount Tire bought the 900-acre four-zone facility in 2022, partnering with track testers Smithers. A 1.9-mile oval simulates real-world surfaces from highway on-ramps to potholes and noisy road surfaces, as well as skid pans for measuring wet and dry stopping distances.

Next there is a flooded asphalt field — vehicle dynamics area — with water depth kept between 1.75mm and 2.25mm (less than one-tenth of an inch), capturing hydroplaning. It is complemented by a dry VDA, being used by British sports car maker Lotus on this particular day.

Finally, there is around a mile of off-road track with deep mud, gravel, and fine sand. In addition, sophisticated lathes simulate wear. This testing data powers Discount Tire’s Treadwell recommendations, online and in-store.

Behind the wheel

For demonstrations, we were split into groups in paired BMW 330i vehicles. Brett, our pro, took us onto the wet VDA around a course marked out with cones, first slowly, then like Lewis Hamilton.

Then he handed it to me. I did my best to emulate his driving style. Judging by my companions’ reactions, I was not unsuccessful.

Cathy made short-form videos on Instagram focusing on safety, aimed at young mothers, offering wise words on shredding bank statements. Cathy was shooting video using the better cameras on the back of her (inevitable) iPhone 16 Pro.

Somehow she was able to keep herself in the center of a frame she couldn’t see while the car was pirouetting in the wet, its occupants experiencing fighter pilot G-forces. I didn’t know it was a skill until I saw it.

The other rider was James, aka Pikachu, the Pokémon character, his on-camera persona as excitable as the namesake yellow mouse. He happily farmed out video shooting to anyone with a convenient hand.

Redolent of the hippos in Disney’s "Fantasia," the sheen on the asphalt allowed the BMW to spin and glide in just about any direction except forward. Cones were knocked down like skittles, or crushed. We said supportive things while unsticking our cheeks from the windows.

In the controlled environment, the speed was strangely unconcerning, though with tight-lipped nonchalance Cathy did ask what happened at the edge of the track.

It was a lot of fun. Then we did it again in a BMW fitted with different tires, finding that the first handled with the solemnity of a maiden aunt when compared with the teenage delinquency of the second. It was even more fun.

At the oval we drove another pair of BMWs, identical except for tires, with stopping distances measured in emergency braking from 70mph. On a dry surface in a late-model sedan, the tires could make the difference between a fender-bender and a write-off. In the wet the differences pile up, perhaps literally. Controlled skids with fellow journalists shrieking from the rear seats made me a convert.

From left: Brett, James aka Pikachu, Cathy, and your humble correspondent. Photo courtesy of Discount Tire

Unbiased rankings

Treadwell’s site asks for the vehicle’s details and ZIP code, for likely weather. Specifics can be tailored, but there are default options: “suburb & city” and “highway.”

The third is “tracks and traction,” for “spirited drivers.” Bravo to the wordsmith who came up with that for Donnie in the Dodge Charger flashing his high beams and sitting behind you so close that a colonoscopy would seem less intimate.

Treadwell lists results, compared with the factory specification and sorted by test ratings. The company says suppliers cannot pay for this placement, but this was buried in the FAQ. Another group of C-suite executives too slow to escape questioning explained it to me.

As most sites sell search results and page placement, I would be jumping up and down If I ran it — but perhaps the point of bringing journalists to San Antonio is so we do those gymnastics.

Roads scholar

What’s the alternative? Standardized data is available. Each tire has a tongue-twisting Uniform Tire Quality Grade. But information can be hard to find.

What happens when it’s a zero? Does the big-box retailer show stopping distances: wet, dry, new, worn? If it does (the one with cheap hotdogs does not) who provided it? Or do you just get what the dealership recommends?

I’m not saying the manufacturer would lie to you. Electrify America’s EV charging network was built as part of a settlement by Volkswagen for … lying to regulators. Recall the Ford Pinto, which is more than Ford did when its explosive gas tank became evident. You may even think of Ralph Nader, before he became Ralph Nader. Of course, we need draw no conclusions from clearly isolated incidents that seem to keep happening.

Back from Texas and donning mystery-shopper dark glasses, I drove to America’s Tire (the brand where I am, Discount Tire, also owns Tire Rack). A proprietary laser scan recommended replacing all four tires. Darn it, but better than finding out the hard way.

Online, Treadwell recommended the Michelin Defender 2. In-store, that was also what Andrew pulled up on his system.

Far from steering me to spend more, it was the cheapest branded tire. The car’s manufacturer fits the Michelin Primacy MXM4 AC. Treadwell’s suggestion was cheaper, and the new ones should last six years, versus under three for the originals. The stopping distance is worse — by one foot. But I was given the information to make the choice, knowing it was backed up by independent testing.

Treadwell is Discount Tire’s recommendation engine and its rigorous testing site: they are two sides of the same coin. It really does it, and it does it really well. Rarely has a demonstration proved so eye-opening. It could save you money. It could also save your life.

Grass-fed steaks, unprocessed salt, and more chemical-free picks from the Solarium

Note: The product recommendations that Align publishes are meant solely to inform and edify our subscribers; unless explicitly labeled as such, they are neither paid promotions or endorsements.

Strolling the grocery store today can be like entering a mental war zone — especially when I have to step outside the fresh produce periphery and into the processed food interior. There, reading ominously extensive ingredient labels often finds me leaving without the item I wanted.

I'm not a nutritionist or "health expert." I'm a filmmaker and a mother simply trying to make sensible, healthy purchases in a culture that seems determined to dose us with chemicals at every turn. And yet sometimes I wonder if I'm on the verge of becoming Julianne Moore's character in "Safe."

You have to be very, very strong and diligent to stay the course, for yourself and your family. But it pays off.

To make it easier, I created the Solarium, which curates trusted, third-party-tested foods, clothing, beauty products, and more — all free of seed oils, sulfates, phthalates, parabens, plastics, fluoride, retardants, endocrine disruptors, synthetic fragrances, artificial coloring, alcohols, carcinogens, and other harmful additives.

Here are some of the products we've been enjoying lately.

Organic dried mango from Magone's

One of my greatest food pleasures is dried mango. The ones from Mangone's are still juicy and bursting with taste. Highly recommended. Take 12% off with promo code TheSolarium.

Pungao Vital Nectar

Pungao is an all-natural, honey-based energy enhancer and supplement. Not just for athletes, the ingredients in Pungao help nourish and energize your body with clean sugars, hydrating salt, and stimulating cinnamon and guarana. Take 10% off with promo code TheSolarium.

Sport Drink

An electrolyte-rich powder made with organic fruits, real sugar, and zero food dyes or chemicals. As simple and effective as its name, Sport Drink aims to provide a trusted hydration alternative to the neon-colored, chemical-laden mainstream brands. Take 10% off with promo code TheSolarium.

Kindred Harvest teas

Organic, whole-leaf tea without micro-plastics, glue, or heavy metals; blended, tested, and packed in the USA. Comes in black, green, hibiscus, and more.

Raw Royal Jelly

Bees are magical creatures: In addition to honey, they give us royal jelly, which encourages muscle and bone growth, boosts stamina, libido, and fertility, and helps prevent cancer. Take 10% off with promo code TheSolarium.

Masa Chips

Masa Chips use 3 simple ingredients: organic corn, 100% grass-fed beef tallow, and sea salt. So simple yet so hard to find chips made without seed oils, pesticides, or preservatives.

Jake Steaks

Grass-fed and -finished beef direct from the farmers to your front door. The cows are raised and finished on a variety of native grass. They are entirely pasture fed — zero corn or grain. Let Jake know the Solarium sent you.

Honey from Busy Bee Candle Co.

Busy Bee's "use the whole animal" mentality means it doesn't stop at clean, purifying beeswax candles; it also sells raw, untreated wildflower honey. Just as beeswax makes the perfect candles, honey is the perfect sugar — packed with incredible health benefits. Take 15% off with promo code TheSolarium.

Greco Gum

If you are going to chew gum, chew a natural, plastic-free gum that simultaneously builds your jaw muscles, assists digestion, and potentially prevents oral cancer. 100% crystallized resin, made by nature in Chios, Greece. First-time customers take 10% off with promo code TheSolarium.

Vera Salt

Hand-harvested, natural spring salt from Spain. Not processed or bleached, leaving its mineral content — potassium, magnesium, and calcium — intact.

Oliva Dorado

Olives farmed, harvested, cold-pressed, and bottled on-site at a single estate in northern Spain to create a 100% authentic extra virgin olive oil. No synthetic pesticides or chemical fertilizer ever used.

Kraut Krackers

A nutrient-packed cracker made from wild-fermented sauerkraut, dehydrated at low temperature. All from four simple ingredients: organic purple cabbage, organic red beet, organic golden flax seeds, and pink Himalayan salt. Made in the USA.

Catholic craft brewers take a stand for gun ownership

One of the Midwest’s more popular microbreweries is showing its support for the Second Amendment with the release of its first India Pale Ale — 2nd Amendment New England IPA.

Illinois native Jeff Alcorn and his sons Trevor and Cameron started Tridentine Brewing Co. as a hobby, naming it in honor of their strong Catholic faith.

Not wanting their beer to get lost in a sea of IPAs, Tridentine went with a style focusing on 'more traditional and maltier expressions.'

When their home brews proved popular, the family partnered with Madison, Wisconsin-based Karben4 Brewery to launch their first commercially available beer in October 2024. Since then, the company has surged in popularity, building a fan base of 20,700 X followers and 6,400 Instagram followers and landing a major Forbesprofile in November.

Brewing anticipation

Trevor describes 2nd Amendment as a refreshing, mellow, and juicy New England-style IPA that is more approachable than contemporary IPA products. Its patriotic and pro-gun-rights branding reflects the company’s stances on these issues.

“We actually canned the batch on Tuesday, April 1, and it started to hit some stores, but it wasn’t widespread across all the locations we’re at in Wisconsin,” says Trevor. “I didn’t get the social media stuff up until late Saturday, but it’s getting out there more and it's pretty well received. People loved the artwork even before we brought the beer to share, and now that people have had the beer, the reception is pretty good.”

2nd Amendment is the brewery's fourth release. Like its predecessors, it tells a story through its packaging — an eye-catching can designed by Catholic illustrator Chris Lewis.

God-given rights

Tridentine's Quartermaster Jerry Blonde Ale pays tribute to late family patriarch Jerry Alcorn, who served in the U.S. Navy, while Cristeros Mexican Lager honors Catholics martryed by Mexico's socialist government in the 1920s. Dies Irae Imperial Stout alludes to the final judgment at the end of time. The company expects to launch a fifth beer this summer.

While 2nd Amendment may seem more explicitly topical than the other beers, Trevor says the message is ultimately timeless.

“The timing didn’t have to do with politics per se, with what's going on. This is just our strong belief in the God-given rights we have as Americans and supporting those. That’s the driving force behind it, and it ties into the patriotic theme. We want to drive home the message that being patriotic is not just a holiday thing. For us, honoring and saluting our veterans and our country is something we want to do year-round.”

Trevor also wanted the can's artwork to stress that the Second Amendment applies to all Americans, not just those in the military.

"We wanted to show ... a regular farmer," he says. "Someone who wasn’t in a Continental Army uniform [so we could] highlight the reason for the Second Amendment: for our right to firearms to defend ourselves and our community if needed.”

Tridentine Brewery Co.

A patriotic IPA

As for making it an IPA, Trevor says it just made sense. Given that IPAs control a 46% share of the craft beer industry, demand has been high for the company to branch out of lagers, stouts, and blonde ales.

Not wanting their beer to get lost in a sea of IPAs, Tridentine went with a style focusing on "more traditional and maltier expressions" seen in IPAs from New England — a perfect fit for the patriotic theme.

Tridentine Brewing Co.’s motto is “Brewing beer for the greater glory of God," and this is reflected at all levels of the company's work. Its social media presence is outspokenly Catholic, the family prays before brewing sessions, and the brewery was even blessed by a priest.

Tridentine beers are currently only available in Wisconsin. The company's contract with Karben4 and state liquor laws have slowed the rollout to other states. Still, the company hopes to expand distribution, starting with the Alcorns' home state of Illinois and eventually to other states. Given the passionate evangelization the beer inspires online, Tridentine seems well equipped to hit the target.

Knife maker Rick Hinderer: How a gift for a friend led to an obsession with craft

Before Rick Hinderer was a knife maker, he was a horseman.

He worked with horses while attending a small high school in a small town in Ohio. After graduating, he attended Ohio State University’s Agricultural Technical Institute to study horse training and farriery. “I figured getting a degree would give me a better shot at working with top-tier farms,” he told me.

'I wanted to give a buddy of mine a knife when he retired from the military. Didn’t have money to buy one, so I thought, "I’ll just make it."'

While at ATI, he met his wife, whose family ran a quarter-horse breeding operation. Growing up, he had bounced around Middle America, moving from place to place. But by then, his roots in Ohio had grown deep. He’d moved enough. It was time to stay put.

Then came fire. For over a decade, Rick was a firefighter and an EMT. This added another level of complexity to his knifemaking. Knives needed to meet the demand and pace of emergency rescues.

“When you need a tool in a crisis, it better work,” he said. “I saw firsthand how important reliability is. You don’t want to be second-guessing your gear when the heat is on. That mindset went into every knife I made.”

Horses gradually faded into the background, and he left the firefighter job, but knives remained a constant. Over the years, his craftsmanship became unmistakable — like a painter’s brushwork, impossible to counterfeit.

He has no choice: “If I'm not creating, if I'm not making something, I'm not breathing."

Once a horseman ...

These three components — horses, steel, and fire — form the the DNA of Hinderer Knives. Rick’s logo — a horse’s head with a mane of flames — carries the two great influences of his life. “I wanted my logo to reflect my background,” he said. “Horses were my first love, and the fire represents my years as a firefighter. It just made sense to combine them.”

In recent years, he’s returned to horses, rekindling that early passion. It’s fitting, given that he approaches both disciplines with the same patience and craftsmanship. “People see pictures of me on horseback and go, ‘Oh, now I get the logo,’” he said, laughing in front of the blazing horse graphic that brands the company.

Lately, he’s been thinking about time. About things coming full-circle. He climbed back into the saddle: His tri-point harmony is now thriving.

“I found out three years ago that once a horseman, always a horseman.”

Shortly after he returned to horses, he took a trip to Gettysburg for a guided tour of the battlefield known as the Wheatfield. As they clopped along, the air began to change, a veil sank over the sky, birds chattering nervously.

He hadn’t expected the partial eclipse, let alone on horseback. His wife was inspired by the occasion and named a knife: the Eklipse.

It was poetic, as if God had realigned him.

Renaissance man

I spoke with Rick Hinderer via video from his shop in Northeast Ohio, where Hinderer Knives crafts unique designs that sell out quickly. He’s an easy guy to talk to — quick to smile, full of stories and insights, and deeply respectful of the work of his hands. We spoke for an hour but could have gone much longer.

There’s something refreshing about craftsmen like him — outdoorsmen with an artist’s mind, Middle American in spirit, yet wired for precision and beauty. Hinderer blends rugged practicality with creative finesse.

And it made me wonder — why didn’t I start profiling American artisans sooner? All those years spent interviewing political and cultural heavyweights, big-brained contrarians, the occasional prima donna. The thinkers, the talkers, the debaters, tangled up in their endless opera of ideas.

Meanwhile, men like Hinderer just get to work, turning steel into something that lasts.

'I just did what made sense'

Like many great craftsmen, Rick didn’t come into his trade through formal training but through necessity and curiosity. “I wanted to give a buddy of mine a knife when he retired from the military,” he said. “Didn’t have money to buy one, so I thought, ‘I’ll just make it.’”

At the time, he was already forging horseshoes, so blacksmithing was second nature. He pounded out his first knife from an old plow point, shaping steel with little more than intuition and grit.

“I didn’t even know custom knife making was a thing,” he admitted. “No internet back then, no forums. I just did what made sense.”

That first knife found its way into a collection, but Rick still owns the second one he ever made. “I look at it now and think, ‘Wow, that was rough,’ but given what I had to work with, I’m proud of it.”

Knives became an obsession. He honed his craft, learning everything he could, refining his techniques, and eventually developing the distinctive Hinderer style — rugged and beautiful and a little bit quirky.

"James Hetfield from Metallica once said he doesn’t know where his lyrics come from. That’s how I feel about my designs."

Pride of ownership

People often ask Rick Hinderer why they should buy one of his knives instead of something off the shelf at Walmart. It’s a fair question. “The price is different than some of the knives coming in from overseas,” he said. “So what are you getting? Each one cuts. So what are you really paying for?”

That question isn’t answered in a single sentence. Sometimes, it takes him an hour or more to explain. “There’s so much to it, and that’s before I even get into the historical side of it.”

He loves working with new customers — people who aren’t collectors or knife enthusiasts, who might not know the difference between a production knife and a high-end custom blade.

“It reminds me of when I was sitting at a gun show in Medina, Ohio, back in 1991,” he said. “The internet was around, but it wasn’t like today. People didn’t have easy access to custom knife makers. So they’d walk by my table, see the knives, check the price, and go, ‘Oh my gosh.’ And that gave me the opportunity to explain.”

As they held the knife in their hands, something changed. “You’d see that enlightenment come over their face. Then they’d buy the knife, come back two months later, and tell me how they’d dressed out ten deer, or a bear, or processed game for all their buddies — and never even had to touch the edge. That’s when they understood. That’s what they paid for.”

But beyond performance, there’s something else. Something unseen but just as real. “Pride of ownership,” he said. “It’s that feeling when you hold the knife and think, ‘Yeah, I got this. This was made by someone.’”

Each knife comes with an assembly card, signed by the craftsman who put it together. “You know who built it,” he said. “Maybe it was Amanda, or Kim, or Lane. Maybe Mike milled the blade, or Zach did the water jetting. Every step, every detail, was done by someone who cares.”

That’s the difference. “This isn’t a gas-station knife that came from China,” he said. “This is a Hinderer.”

Designing for the real world

Rick’s creations are first and foremost tools. “A knife is a knife,” he told me. “If it’s just art, then it’s sculpture. A knife needs to function, to be used. I design for that first.”

That philosophy is evident in everything from his steel choices to the ergonomics of his designs.

“A knife should work for you, not against you,” he explained. “It should feel natural in your hand, be balanced, and not create hot spots during extended use. Weight is a big factor — if a pocketknife is too heavy, you won’t carry it. If a fixed blade is too bulky, it becomes a burden instead of a tool.”

One of Hinderer’s most significant innovations is the Tri-Way Pivot System, allowing users to switch between bearings, phosphor-bronze washers, and teflon washers depending on their needs. “Some guys want ultra-smooth action, so they go with bearings,” he said. “But if you’re in a gritty, muddy environment, you want the reliability of washers. With the Tri-Way system, you get to pick what works for you.”

American craftsmanship

Like Dawson Knives, Hinderer Knives insists on making every part of its products in-house. “You’re not just buying a knife,” he told me. “You’re supporting innovation, American craftsmanship, and the best materials available.”

He doesn’t just mean that in a patriotic sense — though that’s part of it. The U.S. has long been at the forefront of knife-making technology, and Rick believes that supporting domestic makers is about preserving that legacy.

“Most of the knife designs and innovations you see today started here,” he said. “If you want that level of quality, you need to foster it.”

That commitment extends to every step of the process. “We don’t order parts from overseas. We don’t cut corners. When you buy one of our knives, you’re getting something designed, engineered, and built by American hands.”

The mind of a maker

Despite Rick Hinderer’s insistence that function comes first, there’s no denying that his knives have a distinct aesthetic appeal. “It’s funny,” he said. “I started out making simple, rugged tools. But then I got into forging, Damascus, gold inlays — real art knives. I learned from guys like Hugh Bartrug, one of the best in the industry. Even now, my designs carry that influence. The lines aren’t just functional — they’re beautiful.”

Hinderer Knives become an extension of the person using them. That’s why Rick encourages his customers to put them to work. “Knives aren’t meant to sit in a display case,” he said. “You don’t appreciate everything that goes into them until you use them.”

“That’s something that’s really hard to explain to somebody,” Hinderer told me. “Some people just get it. You hear about writer’s block — it’s the same kind of thing. If you try to force it, it doesn’t come. It just has to come. And sometimes, it hits you at two or three in the morning.”

He usually rushes to write it down.

“I’m afraid it’ll go away,” he told me. “Later, I’ll look at it and think, ‘My gosh, I think this will work.’”

His wife knows the look by now. “She calls it my ‘thousand-yard stare,’” he said, laughing. “She’ll ask me what’s wrong, then she’ll remember — ‘Oh, you’re thinking about a knife.’”

But before pen ever meets paper, the design takes shape in his mind. “A lot of times, I won’t even sketch anything until I’ve worked through it mentally,” he said. “I think about the lines, the mechanisms — how I can improve something, what adjustments I can make. I’ll go over it again and again in my mind before I ever put it down. Because until I see it clearly up here,” tapping his temple, “I don’t know what’s worth writing down.”

That’s the mind of a maker — always turning, always searching for the next step, the next refinement.

“Looking back, I can see how every piece of my life led me here,” he told me. “The horses, the fire department, the blacksmithing — it all came together. That’s God’s hand at work.

Please note that the company profiles and product recommendations that Align publishes are meant solely to inform and edify our subscribers. Unless explicitly labeled as such, they are neither paid promotions or endorsements. Even in cases in which a company is a paid sponsor of Blaze Media, Align editorial content is created independent of any commercial relationships.

Kingstone Studios: Spreading Christ's kingdom through comic books

Art Ayris thumbs through a pile of mail on his desk, then raises several envelopes. “Here's two letters from prisoners: ‘Send us your comics.’“

Every day, Ayris, CEO of Kingstone Media, gets these requests for the Kingstone Bible — a three-volume graphic novel adaptation of the Good Book.

In America, only 7% of people have read the Bible cover to cover. 'If only 7% of people read the instruction manual for something, you’re going to have a problem,' says Aryis.

He chats by video from the headquarters of Kingstone Studios in Central Florida. Behind him are displayed posters from his various releases.

He’s lean, a lifelong jogger. With his black mustache and his shock of white hair and his striped gray shirt, he looks like an off-duty firefighter. Calm demeanor, somehow able to become passionate without losing his tone or his cool.

He tells me that the average inmate has a third-grade reading level. “They just haven't really gotten the education they need. They certainly haven't gotten the spiritual education that they need.”

He feels deeply for inmates — their blood has quite literally run through his body.

'They gave blood to save my life'

Ayris was 4 at the time. His father, a contractor, was pushing a lawn mower and didn't realize his son was behind him, when a projectile piece of wire flew from the machine, striking Ayris in the stomach.

“Then I can remember laying on the seat of the car as he's driving me to the hospital and, you know, blood coming out of my intestines.”

He arrived at the hospital in critical condition, but the real danger wasn’t just the injury — it was the rapid loss of blood. The hospital didn’t have enough.

In a desperate move, doctors reached out to the local prison. Inmates came to donate blood.

“They gave blood to save my life.”

An unlikely beginning

Ayris’ passion for comics didn’t begin in the traditional way — he wasn’t a child who spent hours drawing on everything. His mother, an accomplished artist, had passed down an appreciation for creativity, but Art’s path was far from conventional.

Growing up, he was known more for being a “rounder” in school, often suspended for his antics. Deep down, Ayris was bored with school and not interested in conventional art. Yet even as he found trouble in his youth, he also found the beginnings of something greater.

A fateful choice

Ayris comes from several generations of American soldiers, with family in both world wars. His father was a veteran. His favorite uncle died while serving as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam.

At 18, Ayris was ready to continue this legacy. But at the last minute, his parents urged him to go to college instead.

There, he began his lifelong soldierly role in a different kind of battle: a campaign of ideas and theories.

A deeper purpose

Ayris describes his life as one marked by torpedoes — unexpected crises that have forced him to confront his own mortality and the deeper purpose of his existence.

He recently told his wife: “When I really do drop, you’ll know it’s God’s will because He’s kept me alive through so many of these episodes.”

When he was 19, gangrene set in from his childhood injury, nearly killing him again.

“The doctors told me, ‘We have to operate immediately,’” he recalls.

But the first procedure didn’t solve the problem. As complications mounted, Ayris was given a grim prognosis: one last attempt at surgery, or he would need a colostomy.

“I was 19 years old, weighing 135 pounds — I looked like a POW,” he says. “They didn’t know if I was going to live or die.”

At Ayris' lowest point, when survival was uncertain, a Presbyterian pastor visited him in the hospital: “He shared the basics of the gospel,” Art tells me. “He walked me through it — acknowledging I was a sinner, believing Christ died for my sins, and confessing Him as my Savior. And it just made sense to me. My whole idea of living for myself seemed so stupid.”

Though the transformation didn’t happen overnight, that moment planted a seed. “It took me a while to get all the partying out of my system,” he admits. “But by my early 20s, I had fully committed my life to Christ.”

The experience of nearly losing his life imbued Ayris with a sharpened focus on eternity. “God gives us a great life here, but even the best life is so short,” he reflects. “I’ve lost friends who’ve stepped into eternity, and it’s made me realize that the next life is what I really need to prepare for.”

A born educator

Ayris' greatest talent lies in sharing knowledge. He was destined to educate.

In his 20s, he became a pastor while working full-time as a teacher and a football coach. It didn’t take long for him to confront challenges in the education system. “It was horrendous, what I saw in the public school,” he recalls.

He was hired by the only fully unionized school in the county, where fellow educators immediately pressured him to join the teachers' union. Reluctantly, he signed up.

“When I started reading those magazines from the [American Federation of Teachers] and the [National Education Association], it was like reading the manifesto of the Communist Party,” he says.

Within a year, Ayris left the union. “I didn’t care who got upset with me. I just got out.” The experience cemented his conviction that education in America needed to be rebuilt from the ground up.

Not long after, the church asked Ayris to leave his teaching position and join full-time ministry. “It was a good genesis,” he says, reflecting on how his path eventually led to creating comic books. “I’ve always had a conviction that Christian media should be better.”

Spreading the 'instruction manual'

While serving as a children’s pastor, Ayris noticed a concerning trend. Many of the kids he ministered to had little or no knowledge of the Bible.

Worse yet, in America, only 7% of people have read the Bible cover to cover. “If only 7% of people read the instruction manual for something, you’re going to have a problem," says Aryis.

So he set out to make the instruction manual more accessible.

He noticed that these same children were captivated by graphic novels and manga — stories that often lacked uplifting or meaningful messages. Rather than settling for the limited and often uninspired materials available for children’s ministry, Ayris saw an opportunity.

“There’s no reason we couldn’t create a Marvel for this market,” he says. His vision was simple but bold: Use comics to connect kids to the Bible in ways they could understand and enjoy.

The Kingstone Bible

Kingstone Studios

With this idea in mind, Ayris co-founded Kingstone Comics. Partnering with a team of 40 illustrators — many of whom had worked for Marvel and DC — he set out to create high-quality, engaging content for a new generation.

But for Ayris, Kingstone’s mission couldn’t be more different. “DC just had the Joker being pregnant, giving birth to a baby, and all that trans junk woke stuff,” he says.

The company's first major project, the Kingstone Bible, combined stunning visuals with compelling storytelling, offering kids and adults alike an accessible way to engage with Scripture.

"We’re not competing with Christian publishers,” says Ayris. “We’re competing with Marvel and DC.”

Batman and the gospel

Christianity has always had a rich relationship with the arts.

From gospel murals in ancient catacombs to the timeless masterpieces of the Renaissance, believers have used creative expression to communicate truth.

“If there’s anything that’s creative, it’s God,” Ayris says, marveling at creation’s diversity, from the weirdness of the platypus to the complexity of human beings.

At Kingstone, this divine creativity fuels the mission to share faith through modern storytelling, using comics and animation as vehicles to reach new audiences.

For Ayris, Kingstone’s work is part of that long tradition, a continuation of weaving the sacred into the creative.

But instead of stained glass or symphonies, Kingstone builds stories with panels, ink, and bold visual narrative — tools designed to resonate with today’s generation.

US Comics

As Kingstone grew, Ayris saw another cultural need: reclaiming America’s history from narratives that diminished its greatness. In 2023, he launched U.S. Comics, an imprint dedicated to celebrating America’s founding, its heroes, and its struggles.

The first series takes readers through the early days of the nation, from the arrival of the Pilgrims to Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown.

The response to U.S. Comics has been overwhelmingly positive. Readers praise the depth and the comics' ability to make American history come alive.

U.S. Comics highlights the profound influence of Christian values on the country’s formation. “The founding fathers weren’t perfect,” Ayris says, “but there’s no question that America was founded on biblical principles.”

Kingstone Studios

The art of storytelling

Comics are a unique medium, relying on the sequencing of frozen images to create motion and life. Each panel is static, yet together they unfold dynamic narratives, immersing readers in vivid worlds of action and emotion. This makes comics a uniquely powerful medium for redemptive storytelling.

The superhero genre exemplifies this power but can only take it so far. Iconic figures like Batman battle villains across fiery landscapes and glittering utopias, their capes and armor symbolizing timeless clashes of good versus evil.

Despite their cultural impact, comics have often been dismissed as lowbrow entertainment, a diversion for the masses. For decades, they’ve been undervalued as an art form caught between writing and illustration.

Through Kingstone’s pages, the battle between good and evil transcends superheroes. It becomes a reflection of deeper spiritual realities. Whether introducing young readers to the Bible or offering fresh perspectives to seasoned believers, Kingstone blends tradition with innovation.

In prayerful hands, comics carry the weight of eternity.

The Constitution

U.S. Comics has also released a graphic novel adaptation of the U.S. Constitution. Art sees this as a critical tool for educating younger generations about the principles that shaped America, celebrating the dual nature of American identity — the individual and the community.

“The Constitution, like the Bible, is a living document,” Ayris says. “It continues to shape the nation’s direction. Through these comics, we want to reawaken a sense of reverence for the Constitution and help kids understand what made this country great.”

Created in collaboration with Joe Bennett, a former Marvel artist renowned for "The Immortal Hulk" and "Captain America," the comic pairs a rich historical narrative with striking visuals. It has quickly become one of Kingstone’s best sellers, reflecting a growing appetite for stories that honor America’s ideals and values.

Samaritan Inn

While building a career in comics, Ayris remained deeply committed to his local community, particularly through First Baptist Church of Leesburg, Florida.

Ayris spearheaded the founding of the Community Medical Care Center, a free clinic serving uninsured and medically vulnerable individuals. With the help of 50 volunteer doctors and eight dentists, the clinic now provides health care to over 7,000 people annually.

Then, working with his congregation, Ayris led the effort to transform the Big Bass Motel into the Samaritan Inn, a shelter for homeless families.

It was no small task. Converting the aging motel into a functional shelter required heavy finances and widespread community support.

He retold the story in his film “No Vacancy” (2022), featuring Dean Cain.

“Community is key,” Ayris says. “It's very important that communities pull together. When I made that movie, I wanted to show what happens when a community and a church work together.”

'A big Trump guy'

“I’m a big Trump guy,” Ayris says. “I’ve put up Trump signs, even out here in Webster. Sometimes, because I’m a pastor, people get a little frustrated with me. But I think they misunderstand.”

Released on June 14, 2024 — Flag Day and President Trump’s birthday — ”Trump 2024: Restoring the Glory to ‘Old Glory’” is one of U.S. Comics’ standout projects. The special-edition comic celebrates the story of Old Glory.

Flags carry a special resonance. They represent more than fabric. They embody the human condition.

“It is not just a piece of fabric. It’s a symbol of everything sacrificed for this country,” he tells me. “And if somebody starts spitting on the flag or trying to burn it in my presence, there's gonna be a hoedown.”

The heart of compassion

Most comics are mythology. They offer fiction and fantasy, a world of gods and heroes that hint at universal truths but often fall short of reconciliation. While there are plenty of historical comics, none quite matches the specific passion found at Kingstone, which has used the medium’s strengths — its ability to captivate and inspire — to openly proclaim the gospel.

In comics, heroes are often portrayed as mythical figures, elevated through their sacrifices and victories, becoming larger than life. But Kingstone’s heroes reflect a different kind of narrative. They draw from the Bible, where God stands with the victims, not the persecutors. Ordinary geniuses, sacred nobodies.

Kingstone’s mission is deeply tied to this Christian understanding of compassion.

The left has manipulated the Christian concern for victims. Today’s ideologies often co-opt the language of liberation, accusing Christianity of failing its own values while turning compassion into a tool of control. These narratives attempt to replace the heart of Christianity itself, using the language of justice to further agendas of power.

Kingstone confronts this distortion head-on, telling stories that present true compassion. Through Kingstone's work, comic artists transform the battleground of narrative into an opportunity to reveal the heart of the gospel.

In an industry dominated by mythology, Kingstone offers something profoundly different: stories that point not to fleeting heroes but to an eternal Savior, stories that don’t just depict battles but offer the ultimate victory of redemption.

They remind readers that the greatest hero of all didn’t ascend through conquest but through sacrifice — a story more powerful than any myth could ever tell.

“I never envisioned running a comic-book media company as a teenager,” Ayris says. “But God had to actuate my life, to bring out the gifts I didn’t even know were there. Once the Spirit of God fills you, you start discovering those things.”

The strange and wonderful history of Vaseline

Goop. Sludge. Translucent putty. Petroleum waste.

Better known as Vaseline, which translates roughly to “water-oil.”

During NASA missions, astronauts brought Vaseline along as a multipurpose tool. In space, it was used for everything from skin care to lubricating equipment.

A household staple. A simple invention with humble origins and a multitude of applications, from the cosmetological to the astronautical.

Sticky muck for cuts and burns

Vaseline was invented in the 19th century by a 22-year-old chemist named Robert Chesebrough. Chesebrough discovered the medicinal potential of petroleum jelly while visiting oil fields in Titusville, Pennsylvania. The oil workers kept smearing sticky muck over their cuts and burns. It was a drilling byproduct they called “rod wax.”

After six years of research and experimentation in his lab, Cheesebrough refined the crude sludge. In 1870, he took his product to the streets under the name Vaseline.

What an unlikely sales pitch: “Smear this oil byproduct on your baby to cure diaper rash or slather it onto your face to cleanse your pores.”

America had spent seven decades being duped by snake-oil salesmen touting scientific wonders. Meanwhile, actual advancements were beginning to multiply. The discovery of bacteria was only a few years away, along with aspirin, vaccines, and chloroform.

A medical product had to provide results — quickly — in order to succeed. But Robert Cheesebrough had a plan for his miraculous goo.

A marketing masterstroke

In addition to his work as a chemist, Cheesebrough was also a marketing pioneer. He realized that people had to see the healing power of Vaseline in order to believe.

So he gathered a crowd, then cut and burned himself. With the confidence of the CEO of a bulletproof vest company, Cheesebrough told the gawking onlookers that he’d be back in a couple of days, good as new. And sure enough, his injuries had healed, without becoming infected.

His bold spectacle caught people’s attention.

He was also one of the first marketers to offer free samples. Pharmacies refused to carry the product. So he passed out glass jars of Vaseline directly to the people.

By the early 20th century, Vaseline had established itself as one of the most recognized and trusted brands in America.

Vaseline’s story even stretches into the space age. During NASA missions, astronauts brought Vaseline along as a multipurpose tool. In space, it was used for everything from skin care to lubricating equipment. Its versatility in such extreme conditions shows just how useful a simple product can be, even beyond the boundaries of Earth.

Mother Churchill's favorite

Vaseline also found its way into fashion.

One of the earliest celebrity endorsements of Vaseline may have come from Lady Randolph Churchill, mother of Winston Churchill. She praised Vaseline for its beautifying benefits.

This blending of skin care and ornamentation was useful in the world of makeup, one of the great tricks of movie stardom. Since at least the Silent Era of Hollywood, actresses used it to glow on-screen. Marilyn Monroe supposedly used this technique.

In the 1950s and ’60s, men used Vaseline to glue their hair into perfect suavity. It wasn’t just for the well-groomed Don Draper types; working-class men also embraced it as a cheap way to control unruly hair. Like any good fad, this wasn’t pain-free: Vaseline is brutally difficult to wash out of hair.

Over the decades, it has shaped smiles at beauty pageants and kept brides luminous at their weddings.

Its most recent appearance is trend of slathering Vaseline onto your face overnight, in the viral TikTok trend known as “slugging.”

A spoonful a day

Over the course of its 150 years, Vaseline has been used medicinally in a variety of ways.

Diaper rash is one of the most common ailments Vaseline is used to treat today. Any parent knows how valuable this remedy is. At one point, it was even used to treat croup, the hacking respiratory illness that affects children. Today, people still apply it to kids’ chests and necks to offer relief from coughing.

In the early 1900s, Arctic explorers applied it to their skin in order to prevent forstbite as they trudged to the North Pole. This tactic is interesting in that it was a matter of survival, not relief.

But one of the most amusing examples comes from the inventor himself, Robert Chesebrough. When he was hospitalized with a case of pleurisy, he convinced his nurse to cover him in his redemptive balm. He believed in the healing power of his creation so deeply that he ate a spoonful of Vaseline every day.

Cheesebrough lived to be 96. Who knows? Maybe if he hadn’t eaten so much petroleum jelly, he could have made it to 100.

CRKT Minnow: A small knife with big impact

When it comes to knives, Columbia River Knife and Tool consistently delivers innovation and quality. With decades of experience and an extensive catalog, CRKT has built a reputation for blending practicality with artistry.

The company's latest release, the CRKT Minnow, exemplifies this ethos — a compact, automatic folding knife crafted with premium materials and clever design.

The blade’s unique shape may remind you of a box cutter, but its precision and strength far exceed that comparison.

First cut

The Minnow is part of CRKT’s 2024 premium lineup, designed by Philip Booth, a Michigan-based knife maker with a flair for the artistic. Booth, a former visual artist turned blade designer, brings his signature creativity to the Minnow. It’s a small knife with a cleaver-style blade reminiscent of Booth’s other works, like the Ripsnort.

At just 4.49 inches fully open and weighing 4 ounces, the Minnow is a lightweight everyday carry that fits effortlessly in your pocket. The design balances strength and elegance, thanks to its green linen Micarta handle with a stainless steel bolster. The stonewashed blade, crafted from MagnaCut steel, promises top-tier edge retention and durability.

Blade performance

MagnaCut steel is a standout choice, often praised as one of the finest steels in knife making. Known for its superior corrosion resistance and edge retention, it ensures the Minnow can tackle everyday tasks without losing its sharpness. With a blade length of just 1.79 inches, it’s legal to carry in restrictive states like California, where knife laws are notoriously strict.

Despite its diminutive size, the Minnow feels substantial. The automatic button lock deploys the blade with a satisfying snap. This mechanism isn’t just quick — it’s secure. The button requires intentional pressure to engage, ensuring safety during carry and use. Closing the blade is just as seamless; a simple press of the button retracts it effortlessly.

Design and functionality

The Minnow’s cleaver-style blade sets it apart visually and functionally. It’s compact yet sturdy, perfect for tasks like trimming rope, opening packages, or even cutting cigars. The blade’s unique shape may remind you of a box cutter, but its precision and strength far exceed that comparison.

The Micarta handle adds a touch of sophistication while providing a secure grip. It’s a material known for its durability and resistance to moisture, making the Minnow suitable for various environments. The low-profile pocket clip ensures discreet carry, whether you’re in a suit, shorts, or even pajamas.

Everyday carry champ

In practice, the Minnow excels as an everyday carry. Its compact size and light weight make it easy to slip into a front pocket or clip onto a waistband. Unlike bulkier knives, it’s comfortable enough for all-day carry without weighing you down.

During my time with the Minnow, it handled every task I threw at it. It sliced through tough materials with ease, yet its small size made it unintimidating in public settings. That’s a rare balance for a knife — capable yet approachable.

Safety first

Automatic knives often raise eyebrows, and the Minnow is no exception. Its quick-deploy button lock drew mixed reactions when I showed it to friends and family. My wife, protective of our toddlers, viewed it with understandable caution.

However, the Minnow’s design mitigates many safety concerns. The button lock requires deliberate action to deploy the blade, reducing the risk of accidental openings. It also locks securely when closed, ensuring that it stays put in your pocket.

For those new to automatic knives, the Minnow’s smooth operation and reliable safety features make it a great introduction. While some states restrict automatic knives, the Minnow’s small size keeps it compliant in several jurisdictions.

A legacy of innovation

The Minnow is a testament to CRKT’s commitment to pushing boundaries. Founded in 1994 by former Kershaw employees Paul Gillespie and Rod Bremer, the Oregon-based company has long been at the forefront of knife innovation. Its catalog includes patented features like the Outburst assisted opening mechanism, Lock Back Safety, and Veff Serrations.

Over the years, CRKT has faced challenges, including a 2000 incident in which U.S. Customs seized a shipment of its knives under questionable circumstances. Despite setbacks, CRKT emerged stronger, continuing to deliver cutting-edge designs that appeal to collectors and everyday users alike.

Less is more

The CRKT Minnow is a remarkable little knife. Its premium materials, thoughtful design, and reliable performance make it a standout in CRKT’s lineup. Whether you’re a seasoned knife enthusiast or someone looking for a compact everyday carry, the Minnow is worth considering.

At $200, it’s an investment, but one that delivers in spades. The Minnow proves that great things really do come in small packages. In a world of oversized blades, the Minnow shows that sometimes less is more.

Specs at a glance

Price: $200
Blade Steel: MagnaCut
Blade Finish: Stonewash
Blade Length: 1.79 inches
Overall Length: 4.49 inches
Weight: 4 oz.
Handle Material: Micarta with stainless steel bolster
Style: Automatic folding knife with button lock

Please note that the company profiles and product recommendations that Align publishes are meant solely to inform and edify our subscribers; unless explicitly labeled as such, they are neither paid promotions or endorsements. Even in cases in which a company is a paid sponsor of Blaze Media, Align editorial content is created independent of any commercial relationships.

Dawson Knives: Made in America, centered on Christ

“I wasn’t always a Christian,” John Roy admits. “The Lord had to bring me to rock bottom first.”

John, the CEO of Dawson Knives, keeps faith at the center of everything he does, especially his knife- and sword-making business. “We don’t just make knives,” he tells me. “We make tools you can trust. We make tools that last. But more than that, we make them for the glory of God.”

'The sword is not for us. It’s God’s truth.'

Growing up, John dismissed God as hokey, a childish dream. “I think we all know college does a great job of making atheists. I was all about science, doing what I wanted. For me, church felt pointless.”

He believed only in the tangible, things he could touch, things he could see.

“I left school — thought I could do my own thing. But when you end up homeless, living out of your car, you realize the things we think bring happiness often leave you empty. When you’re walking a path that isn’t right, you lose everything.”

So John decided to give God a chance. “What do I have to lose? Let’s see if He shows up.”

Shortly after that, he met his wife. They married two years later.

His first job was selling women’s shoes at Dillard’s. “I never wanted to know that much about women’s shoes,” he says, smiling. “But it was like the prodigal son coming back. I got into the family knife-making business and started over.”

American samurai

His mother, a legal immigrant from Guadalajara, often told a young John, "Love this country. There's no place like it on earth. There's nowhere else to go. This is it. This is the only place of hope."

During our conversation on Friday, December 13, just weeks before Christmas, John was in high spirits, energized by the holiday rush as he fulfilled orders. "And I'm pretty happy Trump won the election," he added with a smile. "That's a little gift we get to unwrap this year."

I reply that the election results have calmed everyone down.

“Exactly,” he replied, “I’ve noticed it with our customers and people I talk to in my circles. Everyone feels more relaxed. The biggest thing is hope — knowing that things can get better and that there’s still a path for this nation to be great again, like Trump always says.”

The Dawson brand has long embodied the principles of making America great, even before MAGA became a national slogan.

Founded in 1973 by John’s uncle, Barry Dawson, a Navy veteran returning from Vietnam, Dawson Knives had humble beginnings in a Texas storage unit. With limited resources, Barry constructed his first grinder using wheels from a shopping cart.

Today, Dawson Knives operates near Prescott, Arizona, focused on small-batch production. The company blends traditional hand-grinding techniques with modern machining. Each knife undergoes meticulous crafting, heat treatment, and quality inspection.

"We don't make factory knives," John says. "Even the knives coming off the CNC machines get hand-finished. We're picky about quality." John sent me two knives, the Contractor and the Smuggler, and they are stunning masterpieces of steel; the finest knives I own.

Dawson Knives

While many companies have outsourced production overseas, Dawson Knives is fully American. John is passionate about this revitalization. In an email from October, he emphasized the significance of local supply chains and robust communities to counteract a market saturated with "Made in China" labels.

"Every blade, every handle — it's all American-made," John affirmed. "We source all our materials here. We believe in keeping our dollars in America.”

The sword of the Spirit

Each Dawson knife or sword comes in a box inscribed with Matthew 10:34, where Jesus warns his disciples, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

Later, in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Peter draws a literal sword and strikes an enemy soldier, Jesus’ response is decisive: “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). Then He heals His Roman captor’s wound, embodying the higher command to “overcome evil with good.”

This moment underscores the paradox of the knife and the sword.

“The sword is not for us. It’s God’s truth,” John tells me. “His word, cutting through darkness, bringing light. And in the end, it’s beautiful.”

Christ revists the duality of the sword later, in Revelation, when he demands “Repent! Or else I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”

At Dawson Knives, this biblical symbolism is coded into the company's craftsmanship. John interprets Matthew 10:34 as foundational to this mission, stating, "A sword can set captives free — it cuts chains. But it can also wound those who refuse to change. The truth divides."

We’re going on an elk hunt

John and his brother were thrilled to win the hunting permit lottery, granting them a rare opportunity to hunt elk in the wilderness near Happy Jack, Arizona. The bull elk is one of the most limited tags available to hunters in the state. “We had been trying for a few years now to get drawn,” John wrote in an email, “so it was a real miracle to get drawn together at last.”

Also with them were John’s sons and his brother-in-law Dennis Cook, a knife designer at Dawson.

They left right after Thanksgiving, an especially hectic period for John, but he couldn't pass up the limited elk hunting season.

They had six days to bag an elk.

Their anticipation grew as they embarked on the hunt, but each day ended without success. On the final day, with no elk in sight, John prayed, “Lord, if it’s Your will, send me a bull elk.” They continued their pursuit around Potato Lake, fatigue setting in as evening approached.

Suddenly, John spotted a massive bull elk to his right, standing still and staring directly at him. But when the moment arrived, John hesitated. Within five seconds, the elk vanished.

Reflecting on the experience, John admits, “I wasn’t ready to receive the blessing. God answered my prayer, but I froze. I missed my shot.”

That evening, as the sun fell behind the Arizona pines, John prayed again: “Lord, if it’s Your will, give us one more chance.” His brother hiked ahead, planted, and dropped prone, lining up for another shot.

“Bang. Perfect,” John tells me. “If he’d waited just three more minutes, we wouldn’t have had a chance. But this time, he was ready.”

For John, the hunt was a lesson in faith and preparedness. “When the blessing comes, you have to be ready to receive it. Don’t hesitate.”

He compares it to fatherhood and God’s guidance. “As a parent, sometimes you have to let your kids figure things out. It’s hard not to step in and fix it, but they have to learn.”

He adds: “God does the same with us. He gives us opportunities, and if we’re not ready, we miss them. But if we ask Him, He’s faithful — He’ll give us another chance. And next time, we’ll be ready.”

Christ at the center

Dawson Knives is a family business in every sense. Barry Dawson still comes into the shop to mentor. John’s sons, ages 13 to 17, help after school. John’s wife handles marketing, his sister-in-law runs social media, and everyone pitches in where they’re needed.

“We’re a family,” John said. “And to keep it together, Christ has to be at the center. Without Him, selfishness creeps in. With Him, there’s forgiveness and understanding.”

Just as we’re about to end the interview, John glows with a kind of urgency: “Kevin, I’ve got to tell you, this has been amazing. I’ve had such a wonderful time. You guys are incredible, and I’ve always loved TheBlaze.”

He tells me that he has a special connection to Blaze News: his dad. He was a Democrat who turned Republican, and Glenn Beck played a huge part in that. He listened to Glenn a lot.

In 2020, he told John, “Son, get a membership. You need to do this. Don’t just take my word for things — be informed. You never know, I might not always be here.”

So John started listening.

A month later, his dad got COVID. By August, he passed.

John pauses. “I’ll always be grateful for that advice. It was one of the last things he told me, and it’s part of his legacy to me.”

Then, it’s as if he’s replaying his father’s life: “It’s funny — when I was younger, I thought my dad was an idiot. As I got older, I realized he was a really smart man. And I respect him so much now for the path he put me on. God took something painful and turned it into a blessing.”

“Life is so beautiful and intricate,” I reply, “and to deny that God’s hand is guiding all of this would be irresponsible.”

He nods, his voice steady. “God is like the conductor of this beautiful symphony of life. Nothing is lost that isn’t gained. My dad’s passing brought me here. It brought me to this conversation. That’s God’s work. You never know where He’s leading, but you learn to trust the music.”

Prepper Bar: Spendable precious metals you can fit in your wallet

I recently misplaced my wallet. Reasonably certain it was in the house somewhere and would turn up, I didn't bother canceling my cards.

Other than the nagging worry that I was wrong, I was surprised at how little this inconvenienced me. Not only do most of my day-to-day transactions not require cash, plastic cards are also rarely needed. Just a wave of my phone suffices.

I suppose some 'junk silver' (US coins from 1964 or earlier, when they contained 90% silver) would come in handy, but everything in my loose change jar is of a newer vintage.

What will they think of next? Some kind of mark on your right hand or forehead?

'World Made by Hand'

At any rate, at the time I happened to be reading James Howard Kunstler's excellent postapocalyptic novel, "World Made by Hand." What makes the novel so compelling (along with its three excellent sequels) is its thought-provoking focus on the more mundane struggles of post-collapse life.

While the chain of events leading up to collapse are kept vague (a combination of peak oil, war in Israel, nuclear terror bombings, and the split of the USA into warring territories), its consequences are clear: mainly, no more electricity. (Yes, one character has some generators, but these break down, and once they do, parts are hard to come by.)

The series focuses on the residents of a fictional small town in upstate New York called Union Grove. The town has reverted to an 18th-century agrarian life, and one of the pleasures of the series is watching the residents' detailed attempts to rebuild civilization on this more modest scale. These scenes have the added benefit of giving Kunstler the opportunity to criticize the inefficiencies and waste of contemporary consumerism.

That is not to say there are no roving bands of marauders or some of the other excitements we expect from dystopian literature; its just that the books are honest that the most pressing dangers would be the more pedestrian ones: lack of food, medical care, and adequate shelter, to name a few.

Also plain old despair. Some of the characters just can't seem to adjust to the drastic lack of conveniences they grew accustomed to in the before times; it's all too easy to give up.

Paper dollars or real money?

One thing that's become rather harder is paying for things. There is still paper currency, but it is largely worthless.

Consider the scene in which some Union Grove townsfolk travel to Albany by boat in order to engage in trade. Once there, their first order of business is to secure lodgings from an innkeeper named Slavin.

“Now, how do you boys propose to pay for your rooms and meals? Paper dollars or real money?”

“Silver coin good enough?” Joseph said.

"We take that here. Two bits each, bed and a meal. One dollar for the horses. Drinks are extra, of course.”

Joseph took out a leather drawstring purse and dropped a handful of old quarters and half-dollars on the wooden bar, where they rang musically. Slavin looked impressed. Whatever the other failures of the U.S. government were, it had managed to print an excess of dollars which, combined with the collapse of trade and communication, had severely eroded the currency’s value. People always liked silver better, if it was offered. Gold, on the other hand, was rarely seen. People tended to hoard it.

This made me think of my missing wallet, and it did give me pause. What use will my iPhone's digital wallet be when SHTF? What would I use instead? Like Joseph, I suppose some "junk silver" (U.S. coins from 1964 or earlier, when they contained 90% silver) would come in handy, but everything in my loose change jar is of a newer vintage.

As for actual gold or silver ... am I supposed to carry around bars of the stuff?

Bite-sized bullion

Prepper Bar

The American company Prepper Bar has come up with a solution to make life in post-fiat-currency world a little less cumbersome. It sells slim, credit-card-sized bars of silver and gold that can fit in your wallet.

Minted in Nevada, each bar is 66.2 grams and can be broken up like a candy bar into smaller units.

Unlike Swiss competitor Valcambi, which also offers divisible silver and gold bars, Prepper Bar allows for division into different units: 7.776 grams (roughly 1/4 troy oz), 3.11 (1/10 troy oz), or 1.555 grams (1/20 troy oz).

Prepper Bars are IRA-approved, but keep in mind that you do pay a premium for the convenience Prepper Bars offer, making them better as a supplement to your precious metal stores rather than the main source.