Disaster Scenario

GatorMedic said:
I read Everything That Remains after I saw the documentary, but it didn't impact me as much as the doc. Maybe because the order I did them in? I made a few changes right away after that (January of this year). Then I began listening to their podcast a few months back after a friend mentioned it, and that's what spurned me on to continuous action. Listened to it while I went through all of my possessions, room by room. Proud to say I've sold, donated, or gotten rid of well over 50% of my stuff in the last 3 months. I'm still finding spots here and there to trim down further. It's an ongoing process but I'm loving the change :)
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I should probably at least see the documentary. I'm not much for selling things, including knives. About a year ago, I got a dumpster (rolloff box) to tidy up my garage. The objective was to take the time (about a week) to go through things and trash what I didn't want versus just storing it all and to make room for such things as lawn mowers where I didn't have to move stuff to use them. It certainly made an impact, but there is still far too much stuff stored inside. It is in fact sort of my "warehouse" for work stuff and I rent two storage units as well (mostly work stuff). I have heavy shelves lined up in multiple rows across one bay of my garage. These contain the frequently used items. I have 5 or 6 shop vacs.... think about how much space they take up.

Been watching the Houston area flood stuff on TV. The flood waters are receding now and the work begins. I feel for these folks. FEMA wants to have home inspectors go through every house that files a claim. Probably a good idea. But they only want to pay $39 each.... which is a joke.

People are saying "they" should have evacuated more people. Well.... consider what it would take to provide shelter for a million people. It ain't going to happen and many people can not afford to stay in motels for weeks. That would apply to West Coast disasters or potential ones as well.
 
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halden.doerge said:
Yeah, I'm pretty glad I live well east of the I5 corridor.
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Sorry, I meant on the Pacific Ocean side of the coast range in Oregon, not the valley side. It's a more isolated zone than it looks.
 
Mecha said:
Sorry, I meant on the Pacific Ocean side of the coast range in Oregon, not the valley side. It's a more isolated zone than it looks.
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Yeah the west side of the coast range would be decimated. That'd be the hardest hit spot.
 
halden.doerge said:
It's a fast read, in a good way. Saw your rotation in that other thread. Getting down to just 4 is pretty impressive. I've been working to get back to 10 but am still in the high teens, lol. One step at a time.
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I started the book this morning :) Thanks! It's definitely a process paring down on items. At my absolute most I had a total of 14 pocket/fixed blade knives at one time which lasted very briefly, so it wasn't an overwhelming amount I had to reduce in that category. Having said that, it still took me awhile. I pared down to 10, then to 6, and now at 4. There's a possibility in the future I'll reduce it further down to 2, but we'll see. For as long as my job entails dealing with other peoples' bodily fluids though I will maintain a separate EDC for work. I effectively quarantine any clothes or gear I use at work from my household and other things. I had an instructor that told a story of walking into his house after shift and then finding that a piece of patient's skull ended up on his living room floor that had been stuck in the tread of his boots. From that point on I've been anal about keeping work stuff separate from everything. When I change careers then that need should go away and I probably won't have a need for a separate work EDC. Needs constantly change so it's good to constantly reevaluate if items are still necessary to have.

jackknife said:
... One thing we noticed, it's very easy to find what we're looking for in the house now that there's not that much stuff. Liberating as all hell and feels great!!! I think we just had to get older and realize that all that stuff was just not needed.
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I've noticed the same thing. Makes cleaning the house take substantially less time as well. I wish I would have discovered this movement/lifestyle/whatever you want to call it a decade ago. Thankfully discovering it at 27 years old isn't too bad, but I could have saved myself a lot of money, energy, and stress.
 
There's one thing I haven't mentioned yet about slimming down to a minimum; with only a few knives left, and a few firearms, Have found new appreciation of what I have left. It's like what I had now is used much more since there's no rotation anymore, so sometimes I pull out my pocket knife and look at it and think about how much it's done recently, and how it's never failed yet, and it's value to me increases by an expotential amount.

The few that I have left are now tried and true friends and veterans of my etc life, while the 'others' that have gone were only passing aqainetnses. Soon as my hand slides into the pocket and makes contact with it, I know what way it's facing, and where each blade is by feel alone. Like my hand is so used to it, that any orientation is done un consciously and immediate.

The same has happened with my guns.
 
If a disaster, say for instance a fire, were to hit my home I'd be taking my CRKT M21-14SF, an old Buck knife I got as a kid, and my dad's old Winchester with me.
Those two knives mentioned would be the "start" to my new collection.
After that I'd probably go with a Leatherman, a Spyderco Tenacious G-10, and, since I've always wanted one, a Ka-Bar USMC.
 
If disaster struck and I had some time, I'd definitely have my SAK Pioneer and Executive; also my Vic Swisstool Spirit. And probably my large Insingo. Of the lot, the Spirit would have the most potential applications for an emergency situation, but I don't always carry it anymore. If the (bleep) hit the fan and I wasn't at home and had no time to get back, I'd have the knives on me, but probably not the Spirit.

As far as what would I replace ASAP, probably the Spirit if it was lost, purely for its versatility. Definitely my Pioneer if it was lost. Nothing 'high-end'. If the few CRKs I own were lost, that would probably be it for them; I'm not replacing all the knives I have/have had. I'd have a lot more important things to deal with than knives.

We need to keep in mind that disaster situations can happen ANYWHERE. Sure, some areas are at more general (or theoretical) risk, but complacency doesn't pay. If it's not one thing, it could be another. Wildfires can happen anywhere. Earthquakes also happen on the east coast, and the risk is high for a big one there. If Yellowstone ever erupts, a whole lot of people, not only in the States but all around the world could conceivably suffer. I only mention this because I've known some people who say, "I'm sure glad I don't live in ______, because they get earthquakes (or whatever disaster is expected in the area)."

Jim
 
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The first folding knife to be purchased (other than kitchen knives) would be a SAK Cadet or something in the Soldier/Pioneer series from Victorinox. Most likely a Cadet even though I feel the Pioneer is a better knife.

Second, would be a Gerber MP600 multi-tool. Yes, the Leatherman Wave I own would take a backseat to my Gerber. Personally, I think the Leatherman is better but, when I am cold, wet, or tired, I find the Gerber easier to work with. Both, the SAK and Gerber can be easily bought here in town and hopefully I could get them at the same time. I would have to drive out of town for any Benchmade or better quality Spyderco.

Next would be a Benchmade Bugout or 531. Maybe a replacement Griptilian 551 would come before the 531 or Bugout but, I doubt it. Oh, about the Griptilian, I would also consider an Adamas folder but, there is a very good chance I would try to find a Ritter Grip instead of the Adamas or 551, if possible. So, there you have it. My ideas for the first four folding knives.

I think a fixed blade would come next. Not really sure I would buy the same knife I have now (Benchmade 162). Not a bad knife but, I think I would be happier with a Survive! GSO or a CPK Field Knife. Maybe a CPK EDC. I really want one of those. I think that I would stop my collection at that point. If I bought two FB, that would put me at six knives. I could live nicely with only six knives.

What would be hard for me are the other knives that I can not replace. The M3 Trench Knife that was issued to my father during WW2 or his old Western clip point hunting knife are just two examples.
 
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jackknife said:
If that's the one I think, we saw it on Netflix some months ago. We'd already been heading down that road for a some years. It's been a slow process to get there. As far as knives, I'm down to just a half dozen, and even that's too many, but the knives I have left are sentimental favorites. Guns down to a just a few, same for the rest of the stuff.

One thing we noticed, it's very easy to find what we're looking for in the house now that there's not that much stuff. Liberating as all hell and feels great!!! I think we just had to get older and realize that all that stuff was just not needed.
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Don't know about knives and minimalism. Don't need more than a few, but I just don't really care enough (yet) to get rid of the ones I will never use and have no particular value to me other than to look back and see where I was knife-wise at that time.

Guns... that is going to happen. I have way too much $ tied up in them to just let them go until I croak and really don't have anyone to leave them to that would view them as anything other than $. I only really shoot the 22 rifles much any more , plink with the 22 handguns, and occasionally drag out larger calibers other than for self protection. Haven't been hunting. So, that need is reduced significantly.

The finding stuff easily aspect appeals to me. I misplace stuff and I know it's because of the distracting accumulation of other stuff that exists in my house. Need to get rid of some clothes... that would be painless for me and a start.
 
Under this scenario, replacing knives would not be a high priority. Some would be difficult to exactly replace, so I would significantly reduce the number I reacquired. I think I would get a Cadet and wait until life returned to "normal" and I was reimbursed by insurance for my losses.
 
jackknife said:
...It's like what I had now is used much more since there's no rotation anymore, so sometimes I pull out my pocket knife and look at it and think about how much it's done recently, and how it's never failed yet, and it's value to me increases by an expotential amount.
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Can't say I ever looked at one of my knives and think about how much it's done recently, yes, ponder and actually think about it. But without thinking I know how much I depend on a few of my knives day in and day out. Most of the others are just fluff whether or not I like to admit it or not. Actually I have come to grips with that and do admit it. Don't need the latest and greatest steel. Don't need the latest Benchmade model or whatever. I don't even need the latest GEC model; that one is hard to resist for me since I really like them. But need them.... nope.
 
jackknife said:
There's one thing I haven't mentioned yet about slimming down to a minimum; with only a few knives left, and a few firearms, Have found new appreciation of what I have left. It's like what I had now is used much more since there's no rotation anymore, so sometimes I pull out my pocket knife and look at it and think about how much it's done recently, and how it's never failed yet, and it's value to me increases by an expotential amount.

The few that I have left are now tried and true friends and veterans of my etc life, while the 'others' that have gone were only passing aqainetnses. Soon as my hand slides into the pocket and makes contact with it, I know what way it's facing, and where each blade is by feel alone. Like my hand is so used to it, that any orientation is done un consciously and immediate.

The same has happened with my guns.
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Jackknife,what is your fixed blade choice nowadays?my favorite fixed blades are victorinox boning and paring knives and Mora 2000.
 
Life is sort of back to normal. Insurance is paying out. So:
SAK Huntsman.
Large Senenza.
Opinel No:8.
Silky Saw.
Skrama.
Terava 110.
Latherman Charge TTI.
Survive Knives GSO, not sure which one yet.
GB SFA.

Something from Spyderco, probably a Military.

And a full set of Victorinix kitchen knives.
And my sharpening kit including a Sharpmaker and 6" DMT.

Others I can't replace as they are no longer in production or that things have moved on. Its the history I'd miss most.
 
After a loss of everything, my purchasing would be governed by what I'd need the most. Here's what I'd buy, in order of importance:
- Leatherman and/or Victorinox Huntsman (or any 91mm SAK)
- Buck 119 (or similar)
- Hatchet
- Machete

I'd probably try to acquire all four at once, but the priority would be the Leatherman and/or SAK.

~Chris
 
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lonestar1979 said:
Jackknife,what is your fixed blade choice nowadays?my favorite fixed blades are victorinox boning and paring knives and Mora 2000.
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Here's an old pic, but the combo is still my go-to one for travel. In fact, it's with me right now in Jackson Tennessee. We're one a cross country trip back to our old home in Germantown Maryland to check in on some family and old friends. Left Georgetown Texas this morning and should be in Maryland tomorrow. My short 9 1/2 inch English machete is the one my dad made when I was a kid. I usually use a small 12 inch Ontario machete to handle anything my pocket knife won't. I find I actually have very little need for a "regular" fixed blade anymore. I find that a small machete will handle anytime from slicing a bagel to chopping the head off a fish and gutting it. It makes a great ham slicer or kindling tool.



It also does a fair job of flipping the bacon or Spam slices in the frying pan over the fire.:)
 
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Mecha said:
The disaster assessment folks in Oregon reckon that when the big earthquake hits, people living on the inland slope of the Pacific coastal mountains should expect to be almost totally isolated for upwards of a year, and with virtually zero government services or presence.
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This is correct. I'm out here on the coast. High enough to not be washed out, but we still aren't going to have a working power grid, water, sewer, roads, etc... for a long, long time.

So I'm going to need you to send me a knife or two as soon as the post office opens back up.

Thinking about getting duplicates of my current favorites and sending them off to Navy Buddy so he can resupply me after the Cascadia Subduction Event.
 
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