Every time I pack a knife into a PSK...

[Macchina]

I hunt, hike, and fish a lot and like to carry a kit when I do. Plus it tickles my inner 10-year-old to build them. They're usually pretty small and focus on gear repair (tape, hot glue, super glue, zip ties, etc) as much as they do spending a night in the woods (lighter, compass, flashlight, filter straw, knife, etc.)

I generally grab a PSK if I'm heading into the woods for a few

I actually use the kits a decent amount and have had my butt saved a couple times by digging out that compass. One thing I've NEVER used is the knife. It's usually a 2/3 layer Alox SAK but the thing is that ANY time I head out the door I have a knife or 2 in my pocket, especially if in ever out where I'm carrying a PSK. I don't foresee ever needing that knife... Yet I can't bring myself not to pack them...

 

[the possum]

I came to the same conclusion, since I've always got a knife or three on me at all times. But also like you, I can't bring myself to take out the knife. So, since it's a backup to a backup, I ground out a partial tang blade from a piece of heavy banding strap (which is actually very hard steel, to my surprise) to keep in there. It's so thin & flat it takes up no room, and if I get desperate enough to need it, I can lash it into a split stick for a handle like the Indians did.

 

[OldNavy]

Instead of packing second knife, consider a saw!. I keep a 10" folding Corona
in my Bug Out/emergency Bag It can be useful in a wide range of situations

 

[tiguy7]

View attachment 975424 View attachment 975425 If you skeletonize the knife, you won’t notice the weight as much.

 

[neeman]

My PSK and FAK are two little stuff sacks that move from pack to pack
I know what is in them
A small leatherman and SAK are in the kit to supplement my knife on my belt (mostly a #7 Opinel)

 

[AndreLinoge]

The good thing about leaving the blade in some of them is you can toss em to your companions who may not have a backup knife, or a knife at all (not everyone is normal) when you go out in a group. If that's a thing.

Just trying to give you a reason to keep putting knives in kits, yo. That way you always have a 'reason' to adopt new ones..

 

[pinnah]

My approach is similar to Neemans. I have 2 small bags - a fanny pack that I wear at the 12 o'clock position and a larger organizer pouch - that get transferred from pack to pack. First aid, repair and survival items are scattered across both. My organization is based on frequency of use. Commonly used things or things I really want on my body at all time are in the fanny pack. The bulk of the kit is in the larger organizer that I call "the brick".

Note, I'm a dad and thus responsible for other people and I go out year round, so my safety kit may be heavier and bigger than others may care to use. Certainly not an Altoids tin.

For tools, I carry an Opinel 9 for 3 seasons and a Mora Companion for most winter trips. My "back up" is a Leatherman Squirt PS4, which gets used regularly for bandage prep and gear repairs.

Here's my check list...

Grey fanny pack (trail stuff)

+ MAP

+ BUG DOPE

+ REFILL & CHECK lighter

+ whistle

+ mini-tool

+ sun screen

+ ibuprofen

+ iodine

+ hand sanitizer

+ phone and ziplock

+ knife

- Opinel #9 [2 oz] *

- Mora [5 oz]


Black Emergency Pouch

----

Main compartment

+ DEET (MOVE to fanny pack in summer)

+ CHECK spare toilet paper

+ Emergency bivy

+ Repair kit

- AAA batteries

- duct tape

- Spare hip belt buckles

- heavy thread and straight needle

- spare lighter

+ wound kit

+ 1st aid cheat sheet, notebook and pen


Inner Pocket

+ Power Bar

+ CHECK Imodium/antihistamine/rehydration salts/Lyme antibiotic

+ fabric repair tape and curved upholstery needle

+ DMT sharpening stone


Front Outer Pocket

+ CHECK head lamp (red)

+ moleskin and nail clippers (Luko tape)


Rear Outer Pocket

+ headnet

+ compass

 

[comis]

Instead of packing second knife, consider a saw!. I keep a 10" folding Corona
in my Bug Out/emergency Bag It can be useful in a wide range of situations

Depending on the environment, I too do think a folding saw has more potential to process wood for fuel/shelter faster.

A knife that I often travel/hike/camp with is the SAK 111mm Trekker, which essentially is a oversized SAK with one-hand opening knife, saw, and few SAK goodies.