fledgling psk

[halfcocked]

I don't normally keep all my survival gear in one place. I'll have a lot of it stuffed in different places in my bag and there have even been several times that I've left the hunting camp without something to purify water or something else I really ought to carry. Some of the recent PSK threads have got me thinking that I really should have it all contained in one place, so I thought I would add yet another PSK thread to the board and show what I've been working on this evening.

I thought of the idea when I finished off some Dole peaches. I liked the container the peaches came in and I was going to save it. Don't ask me why, but I save all kinds of containers. I have a weird thing for scavenged containers. My work bench is full of scavenged cans and jars that hold screws, nails, serve as pencil cups or whatever else I can use them for. My thought is, "Why go out and buy a container when I throw containers away everyday?" My wife thinks it's strange. Oh well.

Anyhow, I just threw some stuff from my normal pack into the jar and I came up with this:

Now, the idea behind the jar is that I want it to be self-contained to the extent that I would be okay with just the PSK if I had to be. Normally, I'll have other things with me, including another water container, fixed blade, etc.

As for what's in the jar, I didn't want to carry more than I could stuff in my pockets if I had to use the jar as a water container.

Here are the contents:

Some explanations about what you see...

Jar: It is a Dole fruit jar made of plastic. It's not exactly crushable, but it's definately more resilient than glass or probably even the average nalgene bottle since it will bend before it cracks. The jar serves not only as a container for the kit, but as a water container as well. I see lots of people with water purification tablets in their kits, but no water containers...

Iodine Tincture: This is primarily for purifying water, but the nice thing about using the tincture instead of the tablets is that you can also use it for disinfecting minor cuts and scrapes.

Compass/Signal Mirror: I like having a good compass on me anytime I'm in the woods. I usually have a good map with me, but even if I don't I still like a compass where I can tell bearings. The average pocket compass just gives general direction, but I am usually familiar enough with most areas I am at that I always know a bearing I can use to walk out. In the bag with the compass is also a 2x3 signal mirror. It doesn't cost much and it can signal to anyone you can see on a sunny day, even if they're out of audible distance.

Ferro Rod/Striker: Fire. Fire is comforting in the dark and that is the only real reason fire is in my kit. Gulf coast Texas rarely gets cold enough that you would die from hypothermia, unless you had fallen in the water or were extremely underdressed for the weather. Also, I don't really believe in boiling your water in a short-term survival situation because I don't want to be bothered with carrying steel cups (I usually just carried a plastic Aquafina water bottle before) and I may not want to have to stop and build a fire just so I can drink some water.

Streamlight LED: That's a little streamlight flashlight I got when I subscribed to a magazine a while back. It's a good little light and I prefer it to the Photon because I don't have to hold it to keep it on. It also has a clip on the side that is great for fastening to your ball cap, pack, or all sorts of other ways that make it hands free. Plus, I got it for free.

Butane lighter/Wetfire Tinder: Yes, I can start a fire with the ferro rod and natural tinder, but sometimes it just makes it so much easier to have a flame instead of a spark, or readily available tinder instead of having to find it.

Lansky Dogbone Sharpener w/ Twine: A ceramic rod sharpener with approximately 75' of twine. Before modern glues and plastics, man tied the world together with cordage. The cordage is mostly for shelter building. Paracord is great, but overkill for most things. Another great low-weight, tough cordage is dental floss. Toss the container and just carry the little plastic spool. Great stuff.

By the way, I don't carry fish-hooks and sinkers and all that other crap with my cordage. I don't think fishing is a very good way to get food even when I'm NOT in a survival situation. Besides, this kit is for short-term survival so food is not really a concern.

JetScream Whistle: Again, this is something else I got for free somewhere, but it's a great piece of kit nonetheless. I don't understand people that venture into the woods without a whistle. You can only yell so much. If you get immobilized you're going to need to be able to get someone to you. A whistle could mean the difference between being found and SAR passing within less than 100 yards and not knowing you're there. Personally, I just tossed this one in here because it was at hand. All my outdoor packs have a FOX whistle attached to the shoulder straps and FOX is also the whistle I use at work.

Victorinox Army Knife: This is basically just a One-Handed Trekker without the tweezers and toothpick. It opens with one hand and it has a saw. The saw is surprising effective.

Handkercheif: Not in the picture, I know, but it's going to be added. There are a ton of uses for these and I carry one in my pocket everyday already. Water filter, sunscreen, tourniquet, etc. Everyone should have one all the time. For me, this is one of those pieces of gear like a knife, pistol, or a wristwatch... I just don't feel complete without it.

..................................................................................................

As for some things that may not be in my kit...

Shelter... I usually have an emergency blanket in my regular pack as well as a poncho. Neither would fit in the jar. :grumpy:

Snare wire/fishing line... I think this is misguided for short-term survival. I have fasted for a week with no ill-effects. Food is not as important as we're convinced it is. Normally there is a energy bar or some other snack even if I'm only out for a short morning hunt, but beyond that I'm not worried about procuring food in the field. If I was desperate enough for food, I suppose I could take game with my pistol, but I have yet to be some place so remote I couldn't walk out before I starved.

.....................................................................................................

Well, what do you guys think? Anything I have forgotten? Any suggestions for that last little bit of space? I was thinking about wrapping some duct-tape around the bottle. That would also allow me to put some paracord loops on each side of the bottle and manufacture a paracord strap that could store in that little bit of empty space at the top... Hmm, I think I'll go work on that.

 

[Fonly]

Snare wire/fishing line... I think this is misguided for short-term survival. I have fasted for a week with no ill-effects. Food is not as important as we're convinced it is. Normally there is a energy bar or some other snack even if I'm only out for a short morning hunt, but beyond that I'm not worried about procuring food in the field. If I was desperate enough for food, I suppose I could take game with my pistol, but I have yet to be some place so remote I couldn't walk out before I starved.

I agree with this a lot. Having water will get you through most unpleasant endeavors you might come across. Though having some fishing line and hooks is fun to mess around with. But have you ever tried to un-wind some fishing line you have bundled up? not fun for sure, but at least you have it.

 

[halfcocked]

Here it is with braided paracord carrying strap and duct (gorilla) tape...

I've since added a nutrition bar, stick of fatwood, and a hankerchief. Granted, this isn't as sophisticated as the Nalgene with Maxpedition carrier that a lot of people are using, but it's definately not as expensive either.

 

[TFin04]

Good kit you can go a long way with it.

My only suggestion is to add a heatsheet or two if you can fit them in there. They are much quicker and easier than building a natural shelter and used properly keep you pretty warm as well.

 

[Mentor]

Looks like a great kit. I'm all for recycling a container for a PSK. :thumbup:

In terms of additions, I don't see any first aid items. With the remaining space in your kit, you could add a ziploc pack of assorted band-aids and some gauze, plus a sterile pad or two.

Of course, disregard this if you already carry a first aid kit alongside your PSK ...

All the best,

- Mike

 

[sawyersam]

I congratulate you on the innovative use of the plastic jar. I also am a saver of bottles, take out tupperware, and 4 and 5 gallon buckets. We all need to recycle these products 2, even 3 times. And your PSK has about the right amount of tools in it. Can you squeeze a space blanket in there?

 

[just10minreader]

Here it is with braided paracord carrying strap and duct (gorilla) tape...

I've since added a nutrition bar, stick of fatwood, and a hankerchief. Granted, this isn't as sophisticated as the Nalgene with Maxpedition carrier that a lot of people are using, but it's definately not as expensive either.

I think you've made a mistake keeping that duct tape on the outside.
It will pick up lint... gets messy (well at least regular duck tape does, I imagine gorilla would fare the same).
I would keep it indoors

 

[SpookyPistolero]

Good kit! Could I make two observations/suggestions? You can switch out the plastic container for an old metal coffee can. That way you've got the ability to boil water and to cook. Also, a really big ziploc bag added to the inside would help, since when you need the bottle/container you won't have anywhere to put your stuff! At least the ziploc bag can be used to house the loose gear, or two carry some clean water!

 

[Liam Ryan]

+1 on the coffee can, those smaller ones are pretty durable and still light, the lid is kinda flimsy though.
I believe you should put a bit more stock in food getting, fasting in a survival situation is a bit different I would guess, and I am sure you at least had tea and maybe even juices.
A half ounce of line and hooks won't weigh you down any.

 

[go2ndAmend]

I like your kit and agree with your thoughts about food gathering. I guess the only thing I would add would be some high quality waterproof matches. I like the REI Storm matches. A lighter is great as long as the fuel doesn't accidentally run out, which has been known to happen. They also are unreliable at higher elevations, but living where you do that isn't a concern. I also pulled one out of an old kit I had in my duck boat and found that it had rusted so bad it wouldn't function. Anyway, nice kit.

 

[Pritch]

Nice kit! Although others have suggested dumping the fruit jar for a coffee can, I think it would be better to see if you can find a can that would nest around the fruit jar, providing a second container for boiling and saving your fruit jar for boiled water. You could rig up a bail from some coat hanger wire and use your paracord carry strap to keep it all together.

I also like the idea of a heat sheet or emergency bivy in there as well.

I still like distributed gear but having just one item to transfer from pack to pack has its merits.

-- FLIX

 

[halfcocked]

Alas, there doesn't seem to be enough room for an emergency blanket. I could use a bigger jar, but I guess that would defeat the purpose.

Lately, I have been carrying this heavy duty blanket for emergency shelter:

(image from www.bensbackwoods.com)

It rides in a small canvas roll I've made for it with some lightweight aluminum stakes, a bit of paracord, and some Nite-Izes figure 9s (awesome). I suppose if I was better at knots that the figure 9s would be irrelevant, but they are so light and so darn effective that it's hard to give them up. By the way, if you're not sure what I'm talking about they are these:

These are the bomb for tightening guylines easily. I really found this convenient with my previous canvas shelter, which would sometimes stretch a bit once it had been strung up for a while. No retying with the figure 9s, just unhook, tighten, and rehook. So simple a caveman could do it...

 

[halfcocked]

Good kit! Could I make two observations/suggestions? You can switch out the plastic container for an old metal coffee can. That way you've got the ability to boil water and to cook. Also, a really big ziploc bag added to the inside would help, since when you need the bottle/container you won't have anywhere to put your stuff! At least the ziploc bag can be used to house the loose gear, or two carry some clean water!

The only thing about a coffee can is that I haven't found one that would actually stay sealed with those flimsy little lids. I don't think most coffee containers would survive the bottom of my pack very well. FLIX's idea of putting the jar inside the can might show promise though. Now I just need the perfect sized can.

I do like the Ziploc idea. Hopefully I can fit a HD freezer bag in there without turning this into a puzzle.

I guess the only thing I would add would be some high quality waterproof matches. I like the REI Storm matches.

I just got my matchsafe in the mail today (thanks to that matchsafe thread). Haven't tried to squeeze it in yet. I hope it fits.

 

[j williams]

what safe did you end up with bro?

Looks like a good kit. Id put more into food procurement, the calories you expend hiking and so forth can wear you down pretty fast. Just some trap making stuff, snares etc. You cant choose the amount of time you "survive", if you could it would be called camping.

First aid too. Do you already have a dedicated kit for that? My money says it would see use before the shelter building, and signaling equipment. Not that they arent important too.

All in all a very well put together kit. Nice job!!!

 

[halfcocked]

what safe did you end up with bro?

First aid too...

K&M Matchsafe. It's machined aluminum with a Silva compass in the cap. It's pretty freakin' sweet. I got the longer one to fit the REI Storm matches. It's a really cool piece of kit. I doubt it works any better than the cheap plastic ones from Wal-mart, but it has soul.

And I carry a pretty exhaustive first-aid kit, including items for "high velocity trauma" since I am always carrying a firearm. I recommend people that carry a gun regularly take a tactical medicene course in addition to some sort of wilderness first responder.