re: "But other metals would make wise investments, too. Among them tinned goods and small calibre weapons."
That's a curious way to put it. What are "tinned goods"? Canned food? And he lumps them and small calibre weapons in with "other metals"???
Canned food isn't all THAT good. We've all seen cans where the food has gone bad making the can bulge or burst. It's usually botulism that's responsible, by the way. NEVER take a chance on a can that is bulging or that releases gas when opened.
What's not as well known is that canned food loses its nutritional value over time. I don't remember the exact rate of decay, but after a few years, many of the essential vitamins are essentially gone.
But, if you're diligent about rotating your canned food and using up the oldest items, "investing" in food is an excellent means of protecting yourself from either "unmitigated disaster" or plain old inflation.
| 
