First Survival Kit

zman308

zman308

Joined
Sep 3, 2007
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Post your memories of the first survival kit you made. Mine was back in the mid-fifties when I was in the Boy Scouts. We used WWII surplus Garand 10 pocket canvas ammo belts. The pockets were great for storing your survival items. Compass, matches in match case, boy scout pocket knife, first-aid kit, fishing items, snacks, snare string, snake-bite kit, candle, flashlight, zippo, and so on. You could hook your WWII canteen and cup, knife, (Mine was an old Enfield bayonet) (dull as heck) and any other of your surplus store treasures you had. My next one was from Boys Life Magazine, It used a Boy Scout metal match case. In it were; strike anywhere matches dipped in paraffin wax to waterproof them, fishing line with hook and split shot, a small piece of hacksaw blade and a small compass with a mirror on the back that probably came out of a "Cracker Jack" box. Next was another one form Boys Life stored in a tobacco tin. This one was not unlike the commercial "combat kit" you can buy today. I still have the Boys Life article with the plans for this kit in my files. I soon as I can figure out this site I will post it as an attachment. Be Prepared-zman308
 
My first kits were put together for fishing trips on large lakes where storms may put you ashore for the night or longer. I had it in a five gallon bucket with a good lid that would float if need be. I kept a day or two of my medicines, plastic tarp for a shelter and the usually fire starters small stove, instant Coffee and soup mix and a first aid kit along with signal flares and mirrors. Only had to use it once but it was a god sent when I needed it.
 
My first kit was a whole bag o' stuff I'd take with me on outings when I was still in the Marine Corps. My kit(s) progressively got smaller until now I have an otter box and the smallest Maxpedition belt pouch and it's mostly creature comforts and extras with only a handful of necessities.

It's kind of crazy to think what I used to have and how naive I once was...uh oh...that may not have changed! :D
 
zman308 said:
I still have the Boys Life article with the plans for this kit in my files. I soon as I can figure out this site I will post it as an attachment. Be Prepared-zman308
Click to expand...

Take a close up picture(s) of it and post it as a jpeg.

Doc
 
Stuffed into a soap dish, it was about Lofty Wiseman would popularize as a PSK a decade or so later. Matches, a Christy knife, bread bag for water, aluminum foil, spool of dental floss, a couple of fish hooks, a needle, toy maginifying glass (never did test it- probably better that way :P ), few bandaids, a small mirror, some gum and bunch of dryer lint. Had a whistle and a tiny compass on a necklace.

But I had a good teacher.
 
fedaykincmndr said:
My first kit was a whole bag o' stuff I'd take with me on outings when I was still in the Marine Corps. My kit(s) progressively got smaller until now I have an otter box and the smallest Maxpedition belt pouch and it's mostly creature comforts and extras with only a handful of necessities.

It's kind of crazy to think what I used to have and how naive I once was...uh oh...that may not have changed! :D
Click to expand...

Hum, I hadn't look at the otter box's in a while, a little bulky, but they are looking very nice, especially for when I'm around water.

L
 
Amazing how things haven't changed and people take credit for essentially the same kit.

I love the blurb about the compass as I teach that on all my compass and survival courses. "If you are well and truly lost a compass just gets you more lost in a straight line, useless" You need a map and the training to triangulate.

So many have a compass in kits and believe it will help them when they have no idea where they are. Take a bearing BEFORE you go in at least!

Skam
 
Thanks for posting, this is an interesting kit

I remember putting my first kit together, while taking a wilderness class at Cubscout daycamp. The kit was in a pouch I made from an old jeans leg and a shoe string. The kit consisted of a Sak, and alot of souvenier Items including a flashlight mirror and magnifying glass, all picked at giftshops on vacations. I used to use Sterile water bottles instead of canteens Since mom got them free from Work.

I think all kids should have a class Like that, We learned to make debris shelters, Gather water, hunt with "rabbit" sticks, and start fires. I remember panicking the whole camp when A freind and I went to work on debris shelters and diddnt come back on time, the funny thing was that even though it was getting dark, we werent concerned, in fact we thought it would be fun to be left in the woods alone and try out our new skills and kits.
 
I seem to recall my first kit going in a Peanut can that sealed with a plastic cap. About the size of a tall, slim Coke can.
I was watching a BBC documentary as a little lad & added plastic sheet, matches, SAK, plasters (band aids) a light, candle & some string (Id never heard of paracord, then!)
My first proper kit was based on a belt pouch design from The Hardy Boys Survival Handbook. LOL. Most notably it contained a Sierra Club cup (I NEVER found one of these in England!) as well as the usual collection of goodies.
 
Mine was wax soaked lint and wax dipped matches in a zip lock bag. That was my Cub scout pack--I had never built a fire at that point, but someone said I should have firemaking stuff and suggested it....

sheesh...that was a long time ago!
 
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