Bushman and Nalgene PSK

DaleW

DaleW

Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
2,194
I got out all my survival goodies to sort today and built a kit based on a Nalgene bottle and a Cold Steel Bushman.

The Nalgene fits in a LowePro holster made to go with their camera pack system. I added a 2" poly belt and the Cold Steel Bushman with an M16 MOLLE style single maganzine pouch zip tied to the side:

belt1.jpg


I added an MSR pot sized to fit the Nalgene and tucked a few Micropur chlorine dioxide tablets on the side. That will purifiy four liters of water (about a gallon) and the pot can be used to boil more. Note the compass in the top of the Nalgene.

belt2.jpg


The magazine pouch is simply zip-tied to the Bushman sheath. Note that the top zip-tie runs through the belt loop to stabilize the pouch vertically:

belt7.jpg


I wanted to add some paracord, so I tied a braid through the hole in the handle of the Bushman and it can just dangle down the hollow handle. That gives me 8' of paracord. The leather handle wrap is made for basball bats and was covered in another thread.

belt4.jpg


belt5.jpg


The magazine pouch can hold quite a bit:

belt6.jpg


Roughly clockwise from the top:

Hotel sewing kit
8’ snare wire
45 gallon low density polyethylene garbage bag
Lanksy Dogbone sharpener
Small vial 100% DEET
County Comm LED micro light
Cricket lighter with duct tape
Swedish Firesteel
SAK Classic Stayglow knife
ACR whistle
20’ small diameter seine twine
Silva keychain compass
Ultamate Star Flash signal mirror
Beaded chain

Not pictured (left in the bottom of the pouch):
Esbit fuel tablet
2 single edge razor blades (wrapped in clear tape)

I want to add a little fishing gear too.
 
You must think Highly about your bushman to set-up a kit like that. What made you want to buy it, yes Im thinking of one :rolleyes: :D
 
That's nice...I've also heard good things bout the bushman if they still made the mini version I's pick it up in a heartbeat but a 6 inch blade is too big for my peronal preference...nice kit very cool
 
Fonly said:
You must think Highly about your bushman to set-up a kit like that. What made you want to buy it, yes Im thinking of one :rolleyes: :D
Click to expand...

I saw the Bushman as cheap, light, and versatile-- more a mini-machete than a knife. After seeing the destructive tests at knifetests.com, I wasn't worried about being able to beat it up. It would be hard to think about digging or bashing an expensive knife like a Swamp Rat or the like with a rock. At the cost of a Bushman, I could buy one a year and beat the $%^&* out of it. The rest of the kit could be used with any fixed blade.

Buying a Bushman is kind of a "why not" proposition. I laid out $22 with shipping to get one on Ebay-- there isn't much cheaper in Knifedom. The rest of the kit cost far more.
 
That would be great, except that you can't fit it in an altoids tin.:D
I like it a lot. I had the mini-bushman and had no complaints as far as toughness. It got thrown a bit and batonned w/ a framing hammer.:eek:
I especially like that you can still use the nalgene as is. What model is the cup that fits it, and how well does it fit?
 
DaleW said:
I saw the Bushman as cheap, light, and versatile-- more a mini-machete than a knife. After seeing the destructive tests at knifetests.com, I wasn't worried about being able to beat it up. It would be hard to think about digging or bashing an expensive knife like a Swamp Rat or the like with a rock. At the cost of a Bushman, I could buy one a year and beat the $%^&* out of it. The rest of the kit could be used with any fixed blade.

Buying a Bushman is kind of a "why not" proposition. I laid out $22 with shipping to get one on Ebay-- there isn't much cheaper in Knifedom. The rest of the kit cost far more.
Click to expand...

I was gonna say, I have a kit very similar to that, But I can get a bushman here in canada for 28 bucks, And that is a VERY fine price.

Many just have to bite the bullet :rolleyes:
 
Fonly said:
Also, how well does it cut, is the edge thick, or does it do a good job?
Click to expand...

It is hollow ground and cuts fine. It ain't S30V, but it works-- like I said, think mini-machete. Check out the videos at http://www.knifetests.com/page3.html

What want from a tool like this is to be able to cut stuff for a shelter, baton firewood, dig roots for food-- that kind of rough stuff--- and it can be used for a spear.
 
Any Cal. said:
That would be great, except that you can't fit it in an altoids tin.:D
I like it a lot. I had the mini-bushman and had no complaints as far as toughness. It got thrown a bit and batonned w/ a framing hammer.:eek:
I especially like that you can still use the nalgene as is. What model is the cup that fits it, and how well does it fit?
Click to expand...

Yeeeeah-- that Altoids tin thing ran short with me too quick!

The cup was made by MSR and as far as I can tell, it is no longer made. Practical Tactical has them for $6.49, which is a screaming deal. Olicamp has a shiny stainless model that works fine too, but it is 16oz vs. the MSR's 22oz capacity-- it sells for $5 or so. Campmor carries them.

You could go with a Snowpeak 600 titanium cup and a bike bottle (smaller diameter). I haven't tried it yet, but my guess is that the Snowpeak 700 titanium pot will fit the Nalgene.

The Nalgene and the MSR pot are not very light, but they are tough. Going with a titanium pot and a one liter Platypus bladder would chop the weight considerably.
 
Fonly said:
Also, how well does it cut, is the edge thick, or does it do a good job?
Click to expand...

RescueRiley said:
...if they still made the mini version I'd pick it up in a heartbeat but a 6 inch blade is too big for my personal
preference...nice kit very cool
Click to expand...

I recently finished up the rough work for a guy who wanted a Bushman
cut down.
http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t32/JTerrio/?action=view&current=bushmanmod01a.jpg

I was pretty impressed with it; the blade is roughly 3/32"
thick, but quite stiff. When I sawed it off till a 1/4" of spine was
left intact, the tip was still difficult to bend in my hands. I didn't
do any more tests like putting it in the vise and wailing on it,
because it's not my knife :)

Again, I didn't test its cutability (?) much because I was going to
regrind the whole thing anyway. But I can say the grind as it comes
stock looks pretty darn good. Not thick at all; ground for slicing
but surprisingly stout. I guess I'd say it's a compound grind;
there's a very mild hollow in most of the bevel, followed by a wide
(1/8"), sharp flat grind at the edge.

It didn't come shaving sharp, but the angles and heat-treat
are just fine for my taste. The edge flexes
very slightly when pressed laterally against a brass rod, but partly
returns to true. (the 'ding' left behind is smaller than the flex was,
under pressure. I'm talking less than 1/128") I didn't chop anything
with it but I think this is a good sign.

Anyone familiar with sharpening carbon kinves will have no problem
bringing a BushMaster up to shaving/chopping/slicing/batonning sharp
with hones they already have. It also happens to take nicely to a
hand-rubbed satin finish.

It's worth noting that even after sacrifing 3" of blade, the knife is still
somewhat heavier than most others the same size. That's due to a handle
sturdier than the sockets on some shovels I've seen, yet the knife still
handles nimbly. You can choke up or back on it a number of ways.

DaleW I think you've done a heck of a job with that Bushman, and the kit overall.
You know I'm gonna steal most of your ideas :D Someone ought to make
a longer, more bowie- or machete-sized Bushman... that would be pretty cool.

After having had the pleasure of working on a Bushman, I must say, I'm
convinced I need one. It's a fine piece of kit as-is, and there's a LOT
you can do with it. One of the best knife bargains I've ever seen, bar
none. :thumbup:
 
Very nice Dale! I think I'll work on setting up a similar kit with my Bushman sometime.

And GibsonFan, I meant to comment on your Bushman mod, but haven't gotten around to it. I like it! Good idea!
 
Nice job there Dale. The Vargo 700mL cup fits over a Nalgene though you have to search to find a pouch that will take both.

I always try to carry a folded up 1 gallon ziplock back with my stuff. Its main function is to hold stuff as I'm using it rather than trying to stuff it all back into the pouch. It also keeps things dry and can carry water in a pinch. I also have swithced to the huge 80 gallon plastic bags. I can fit inside one with roon to spare or it can be split open and made into a shelter cover/tarp. I don't carry a pocket knife in a kit but have one in my pocket on a cord. I like the beaded chain too.
 
2dogs said:
Nice job there Dale. The Vargo 700mL cup fits over a Nalgene though you have to search to find a pouch that will take both.

I always try to carry a folded up 1 gallon ziplock back with my stuff. Its main function is to hold stuff as I'm using it rather than trying to stuff it all back into the pouch. It also keeps things dry and can carry water in a pinch. I also have swithced to the huge 80 gallon plastic bags. I can fit inside one with roon to spare or it can be split open and made into a shelter cover/tarp. I don't carry a pocket knife in a kit but have one in my pocket on a cord. I like the beaded chain too.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

The 45 gallon bags hit me about mid-rib high and make a good emergency bivy with a poncho or raincoat for the top. Or you can cut head and arm holes and wear the bag for a raincoat. As you said, it can be used for waterproofing a shelter, and for a ground cloth, a solar still, line a pit for boiling with rocks, or to haul stuff if you pack is gone.

The beaded chain or some sort of lanyard helps to keep all the stuff from getting lost or spilled. With most of my small PSK's, I've assumed that most of the goodies would go in my pockets when being used. IMHO, PSK stuff should be packed away and left until really needed. I carry a lighter with my stove and kitchen kit, use other knives for everyday stuff, and so on.

This is really kind of a BOB kind of kit to me. For day hiking, I've rigged up a hydration pack with a similar assortment of stuff, an SAK Trekker in a pouch on the shoulder strap, the 2 liter bladder in the pack, a small headlamp, an Adventure Medical bivy, and a waterproof stuff sack that goes in the outer "beavertail" sleeve for keeping my spare clothing dry. There's enough room left for food and a camera. Add GPS and maps and shake :) The Bushman and pouch could certainly be dropped in the hydration pack.

I trade an Adventure Medical first aid kit (with additions) and a small personal hygene kit between the day hiking rig and my multi-day pack. For the multi-day kit, I add a 4"-ish fixed blade knife with a perhaps a folding saw or golok, and a Space Blanket to the same list of items in the Bushman kit. I have a new knife coming that I will mount a small PSK kit to the sheath using a generic Cordura multi-tool pouch. It will have a whistle, firesteel, tinder, compass, micro light, and razor blades in it. Many here have done similar things with moras or neckers using rubber bands to bind it all together.

The point to all of this is to always head out with the essentials and some redundancy for firemaking, small tools, navigation, and signalling:

1. Map
2. Compass (with backup)
3. Flashlight / Headlamp
4. Extra Food
5. Extra Clothes
6. Sunglasses
7. First-Aid Kit
8. Knife
9. Matches/Lighter/Firesteel
10. Firestarter/tinder
11. Water/containers/purification
12. Whistle and mirror
13. Insect Repellent
14. Sunscreen
15. ALWAYS let someone know where you are going and when you are due back.

A lot of this is just fiddling around. The simplest fanny pack with the essentials and a mora or SAK could provide excellent CYA. You can't rely on tools you don't have with you! The best survival technique is prevention-- don't get lost, and don't take risks where you haven't prepared for a negative outcome.
 
This rig is what I use every day. Whether at work or play. I really like the nalgene set up you got there here are some pics of mine.
100_0171.jpg

100_0187.jpg

100_0175.jpg

This is a couple of ways that I carry my kit.
IMG]http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u128/sicily02/101_0006.jpg[/IMG]
100_0182.jpg


Take care,
Bryan
 
Sicily what is it that you do that requires you to carry 4 fixed blade knives, a saw and a multitool?
 
I cut trees for my living. So far for farmers and ranchers in the pastures and fencelines. I use a chainsaw, hand clippers,hand saw, weed whacker with a saw blade on it and at times one of my knives.
take care,
Bryan
 
sicily02 said:
I cut trees for my living. So far for farmers and ranchers in the pastures and fencelines. I use a chainsaw, hand clippers,hand saw, weed whacker with a saw blade on it and at times one of my knives.
take care,
Bryan
Click to expand...

*starts singing Monty Python Lumberjack Song*
 
Got it. Thanks. I fall timber and do tree work and custom milling (Lucas Mill). Most of our works is in the woods rather than near civilization. I love the Swedish brush axe and fall back on a Martindale golok or even a woodsman's pal. More than likely though I just have a 4lb falling (rafting) axe with a 26" helve.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=clPYfaTvHT0
 
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