B2D's Simple survival skills, tips, n' stuff! SOGs DOGS!

Hey B2D...
Is there a thread or something that you can tell us a little about yourself.... background, any training you may have, experience level?

Rick
 
The Cold Steel Trail Guide Plus(folder) has a carbon 5 blade. Nice medium size folder. I bought one christ,, at least 9 years ago. I still have it, the knife had taken a beating and still going strong. A couple rust spots that I removed. I still have the box also.
 
Hey B2D,
Welcome to this forums.
I dig what you are doing.
Some pics will def. help. I admit it: I won't read a long post without pics.....my attention span it's not what it used to be.
 
My training? It makes me uncomfortable to talk about that. Gets people started up & arguing & saying, "You can't do this, you can't do that." LoL!

I've trained in powerlifting & weightlifting (5 years)

Bench-Press Max--300-325.
Overhead Press Max--185.
Squat Max--500
Deadlift--500

--
I've practiced a combination of kick-boxing & self-defense for the past four years. Survival training consisting of specialized-training in "Urban/Mountain/Woodland", for four years. Self-defense since I was 13. I've practiced marksmanship for several years including archery & throwing. Knife-fighting for four years (blended it in with my Kick-boxing/self-defense).
I've also studied Eastern U.S. wildlife, plants, weather, topography & the like for around four years as well. I don't like to let on about these things, & so my lists of wild edible plants will
never be specific. I've also studied first-aid for seven years. I just train in this stuff to amuse myself..& stay fit. The martial-arts provides alot, if not all, of my cardio exercise as I have no where to go on long walks, & I can't run due to both an ankle & knee injury on the same leg. (Day after Christmas last year, my friend & I were playing in the snow with her kids, she slipped,
hurt her arm--I ran down the icy hill after her, slipped, my leg buckled under me, further damaging my ankle, & crunching severely my knee. I still managed to carry her upthat hill, despite the blinding pain.)

I think of the training as a means to get away from the computer & t.v. set--which works well enough for me :) I can't stand to sit around on my bu-tt-ocks. Nope nope nope! I'm too enthusiastic & energetic! Yep yep yep! That's me! :P Hehehehe..that's what my SOG DOGs tell me anyway. Maybe too much enthusiasm & energy..I dunno. I try. :) Hehehehe..

I'm just a regular guy. I just like to train really hard. LoL! My background:Self-reliant.

B2D..

Darkwhispers..

SOG DOG 1..

SFNC..
 
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That's cool B2D... I don't need to know who you trained under if it is confidential... that's not important. I just wanted to hear some of your personal experiences. What type of hard training do you do (under what circumstances). I find it very fascinating to learn how folks truly put their skills to the test. If it makes you feel "uncomfortable" to talk about your wilderness training, then how can we possibly take you seriously as having a valid opinion. It really burns my ass when people pass on "skills" they have never practiced, themselves. The dawn of Wikipedia has led to a rash of "instant experts" willing to bestow their aquired knowledge via cut-n-paste. I'm not accusing you of that... but please meet me half way here. The only thing I really know about you is that you are "head" of SOG DOGs that consists of a handfull of member in a sigle thread on the SOG forum. The plant thread left me scratching my head, too. I am a knifemaker... if I were to feel uncomfortable about revealing my processes, I wouldn't be in business for long. Anybody giving advice should be able to back it up. That obviously goes for any one of us on the board here. We have to be careful with this B2DTV thing, lest we run the risk of passing on bogus info (How many people still believe that running a needle across wool/silk/hair "magnetizes" it for use an improvised compass?). I think that less is more when it comes to learning the basics. Listing all the theoretical uses for kit items is fun to do but shouldn't be taught as a primer for "newbies". If we stick to teaching things we know as demonstrable fact, the thread will be much more useful.

Edited to add...
I'm not trying to call you out or anything, B2D. I realize that it could be read that way... I'm just checking you out, bro....... no offence.
I apologize for all the edits in the last few minutes.... I felt that I needed to be honest with B2D if I am to expect honesty from him. Nothing was taken away from the info in my post only added.
 
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I keep my training simple, there's no action-movie-like stunts for me. LoL! My knee can't handle that stuff anyway :) Nah, it's okay. I am well aware there are frauds in just about every niche online--believe me, I know from experience. You wanted to know about some of my experiences, hmmm? Well, I used to throw a Ka-bar 1221 (Next-Generation) up to a hundred throws, three days a week. My throwing-hand would often be torn to pieces (that pommel..how I HATE that pommel). As far as my martial-arts, if you ever see how badly ripped & torn my poor old knuckles are, you'll understand. To test my accuracy with a knife, I typically set a series of targets at different ranges--10/15/20/25/& 30. I use a target the size of my closed hand. If I miss, I force myself to deal with another five extra throws--for every miss. Weight-training--my weight-room is neither heated nor cooled--if it's cold out I train in the cold..if it's hot out.. Got aggravated this morning & dented a rough fist shape into my front-door (LOL!). I use my fire-making skills just about every day through winter. Power got knocked off last night, n' all I had was a ferro-rod n' a piece of cardboard..finally got some candles lit.

I'm so sleepy..I had such a horrible night & morning..you wouldn't believe..you would not believe..ugh..never again I say! Never! LOL! Oh, don't forget, movies also toss out alot of goofy ideas that don't work. What a shame. Oh well, back to subject, I've gotten lost before & I admit it was horrible. You wonder..am I going to get home..will I survive this? Am I going to live?
It's awful. The shows make it look..almost fun, in a way. But there's nothing fun about it--atleast not for me there wasn't..

Nah, my training has been simple & kept simple from the get go. That's why I've maintained it well & remained interested, there is not a whole lot of work to it, it's kept simple & kept reliable. LoL..I don't go running through the woods at break-neck speed jumping over things & scammering across slippery rocks. I learned to take my time, follow my instincts & keep a cool, level head. Nothing is solved when a person is panicked.

Yeah, I know you weren't calling me out :) It didn't sound that way to me. There's alot of folks on these forums with mad-skillz..lol..:)

B2D..

Darkwhispers..

SOG DOG 1..

SFNC..
 
I'm glad you aren't taking offence...

I apologize again, B2D, for not being clear. You physical conditioning and hand-eye coordination is not under suspect, here. You should check out Practical Tactical when you get a chance. You have told me absolutely nothing with respect to your training. How did you find out that nylon so readily accepts a spark? What led you to use a pen tube as an improvised water filter? Stuff like that.
 
Hey..I replied to this thead last night with the explanations you wanted...where did it go? Took me an hour to type all tha out...UGH...that sucks...

B2D..

Darkwhispers..

SOG-DOG 1..

SFNC..
 
Bawlz, B2D... thanks for taking the time... the forums have been undergoing some changes recently. I often sign my posts with "Rick" and on several occasions, instead of hitting shift-R to capitalize, I hit ctrl-R for "Refresh" and lose everything.

Rick
 
Rick Marchand said:
Bawlz, B2D... thanks for taking the time... the forums have been undergoing some changes recently. I often sign my posts with "Rick" and on several occasions, instead of hitting shift-R to capitalize, I hit ctrl-R for "Refresh" and lose everything.

Rick
Click to expand...

Its good thing you don't hit Shift-D by accident :D :D :D

Rick is always calling me out if it makes you feel any better BD2, we are all a bunch of skeptics on multiple topics ;) Keep the enthusiasm going. Personally, I haven't done all that much hard training per se. I've accumulated a bunch of life experiences. Hung around with some experienced people like that Rick guy and picked up a few things here and there. Took a couple of day long survival courses from folks like George Hedgepeth, am enrolled in my first serious week long survival course being offered by him this upcoming July. That and I show up at many member meets and drink everybodies beer, mooch off the superior food items they bring and make pleasant conversations with their wives :D
 
Crap on a cracker!! I did it again...I'm just gonna break down n' cry! Good grief! My eyes are burning from typing so much..n' it STILL didn't stick..stupid shift key..gonna take my knife n'
pry it out! Shift keys suck!! AGH!! I'm gonna type it out until it sticks! I don't care if it takes me all night--I don't give up!

B2D..
SOG DOG 1..
Darkwhispers..
SFNC..

"I'm your worst nightmare...shift key..."
 
Ok.. Trying again..though my eyes are on fire..LOL! To answer your questions, how did I learn to start a fire with a spark n' some nylon cord? Simple..I've burned plastic n' such as that before, noticed how it felts in fiery, sticky globs of molten pain! I had a boot-lace to bust, nylon, it was fuzzy at the end... I thought..hmmm..why not try it, so I pulled out a ferro rod n' my boot-knife..fuzzed the cord up good, & then struck sparks on it. Nothing. Tried it again..sparks caught in the fuzz..it lit up..FAST..I got burned..had to peel the molten material off of my hand. Hurt. As far as the straw-filter..simple, char-coal filters out impurities & bacteria, I've often observed animals, including dogs, eating it. I've eaten it for stomach problems. The sand, much like digging down beside a water source to allow the water to be filtered, I figured would work in the same way--so I tried it. Tried it with tap water too--didn't taste like nasty old clorine.. It's NOT a sure-fire way to avoid bacteria & pathogens, but it's sure better than nothing! This method can also be used with certain reeds & stalks (though, that is best left to safely performed research as many plants are highly-toxic!)

I hope that helps, also, I always experiment & test all skills & techniques before posting, so that I can help people to avoid getting hurt--I consider it better that I get burned, rather than a newbie. Y'know? Thanks for reading, I hope that answers your questions.. LOL, Yes,
I'm aware you weren't calling me out, it's quite alright! I don't mind being check up on. I still won't reveal the whys, therefores, or where froms of my training though, or from whom or what I learned, as that is a secret I am not allow to reveal..I also cannot tell you why. Nope nope nope! It's a secret! Yep yep yep!!

B2D..
SOG DOG 1..
Darkwhispers..
SFNC..

P.S.SOG's DOGs has almost twenty members now! We're growing...
 
You are very welcome!

B2D..

SOG DOG 1..

Darkwhispers..

SFNC..

My posts will be delayed a few days due to a recently (yesterday) sustained injury..concussion..hit my head on my weights when I was cleaning..oh..it hurts bad..
 
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hmm... secrecy and accident prone? I don't know about all this. Okay, I have to ask. How did you get molten nylon on your hand when you discovered how easy frayed nylon accepts a spark? Safety first, partner, safety first.
 
LoL! Yes, I'm a bit secretive. I got burned when I tried to snuff it with my fingers--like a candle.. It stuck..I tried to flick it off... Hey..c'mon I'm not accident prone! Didn't think it'd stick to spitty fingers..wouch! :D I can be secretive if I want LoL!..:D My head-injury isn't as bad as I'd thought..bled good though.. Hard as my head hit those weight-plates..I'm surprised I didn't crack my skull. :D I am not accident prone......um.....stuff just happens to me alot..that's all...I can't help it! As for being secretive..well..maybe I'm not allowed to talk
about it..;)

B2D..
Sog DOG 1..
Darkwhispers..
SFNC..
Accident prone..
Secretive..
LoL..
 
Not allowed? Hmm... O... kay... Well here's my two cents on the OP. Don't bombard newbees with information. Keep it straightforward and simple, like one or two very easy methods only. I'm pertaining this to fire starting. Give a guaranteed way to start fire, both wet, dry, and using the simplest technique/equipment. You must do it step by step with clear instructions. Use a good photo for each step (this is paramount important). Don't get too side tracked on a funny story. Matter of fact, start it out with a funny story pertaining to the lesson if you have one. That way you can stay on task in the article, and not confuse or lose anyone in the process. Do make sure you proof-read the crap out of it. Some people hate bad grammar, and will not take you serious if they think you are an idiot due to your typos and mistakes. Remember, you are trying to teach someone how to, potentially, save their own life. So, be funny, but be even more serious. Otherwise, I will not recommend your advice to anyone, and advise against it. I will be checking this out and testing the information to come. I don't want to see this forum lose its reputation as an excellent source of GOOD information.
 
This is actually the thread I use for brain-storming. As for not being allowed to tell anyone, I just like to be secretive for fun. :) Yeah, I can see what you mean, though. But, then, it is difficult to explain things for newbies when you've been training hard for several years. No, I'm not an idiot & I am also well-spoken & written. (Nor do I think you were calling me an idiot :) ) Yes, you do make good points. But, you should remember, I am only in the early stages of this & learning how exactly to display the information for those new to the survival hobby. I will, of course, take everything you have said into consideration & will try my best to make the changes as you have suggested. I would not want & nor do I wish to damage anyone's reputation or goodname. No I do not. Yes..I can see how a newbie could easily be over-loaded..I did not see that at first..hmmm..as I said..I have been at survival-training for many years now & train on a regular basis. I enjoy it. Btw, I am planning to buy a camera just for the purposes of displaying photos or videos for newbies (& my own personal use with other forums here). It make take about a month, however, as I'm very inexperiencing with cameras & their like.

Thank you for your reply & the time you took,

B2D..
 
Episode II is up. Mr.Marchad & CM_Rick, I would be pleased if the two of you would proof-read it & let me know if there should be any changes, edits, & if anything should be
added or removed. Thank you in advance. I do take your advice seriously & intend to write my episodes more seriously. Please let me know if I have done well.
I tried to keep it simple & straight-foward as I had been advised, & kept methods down to a minimum. I don't want to overload anyone. I also tried to keep it on topic & point, excluding
stories of any kind this time. I also didn't add any jokes or silliness--that wouldn't be as serious & would detract from the topic & point. I hope I did well.

Best wishes & regards,

B2D..
 
I'll give it a look, and post my thoughts here as an edit. I might not get to it today though. Wednesdays are all business for me.

Guess I had time after all. Ok, due to the fact that you did not give any advice, or instruction, on how to properly build a fire set, (e.g. a tpee, long fire, etc.) or how to find fire wood, I would change the name of E2, to Tinder And Ignition Techniques, and start E3 and call it: How To Build A Fire. You covered tinder thoroughly, but failed to mention how to find the proper kindling and fire wood. These are very important for beginners, too. Here's the tips I use: fiberous/paper like tinder, pencil lead kindling, and fire wood working up from the size of your finger to the size of your wrist. Remember to mention if it snaps, when broken, it will burn. And, for wet conditions, talk about carving down to, or batoning for the dry wood inside.

You kept it simple, and stayed away from stories. Good, but you can tell a story in the beginning if you want. Just keep it serious in the lesson. Pics, pics, pics. Borrow a camera if you need to before you purchase one. Post up a rough draft here next time before posting up your real deal. Hope I helped.
 
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