Ideas for Urban SK

Joined
Aug 3, 2004
Messages
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If y'all could help me out by throwing some ideas out for an urban survival kit. Right now in a WALLET TIN (that's right I don't know if I'm the first to think of it but I like to think of myself as a bit of a pioneer :cool: ) I have the basics: FA, and standard wilderness survival items with a little extra (batteries, plasitc bags, etc.) and I'd like to know what y'all carry and anything you could recommend. I live in Orlando and though there is quite a bit of "wilderness" here and there I would like to know what y'all can come up with.

Thanks in advance.
 
I have a family bag, I call it. It is an ongoing collection bag for stuff I would like to have if such an event were to occur.

an axe, small gage bailing wire in order to make small animal traps with, etc. Fishing line, a combat knife and sharpener. Several pairs of different multi-pliers tools. Leatherman & Gerber, for instance.
Braided nylon tent cord, like for hanging things up or tying them off.
Some packets od dried foods in sealed packages plus canned foods and an opener.
A Bible to read anc receive comfort from.
Paperback books to rest the mind with.
Deck of playing cards.
Candles, flashlights, extra batts, bulbs etc.
My first aid kit and my wife's first aid kit. I work in the field, commercial service. My wife ... she's a nurse. So we each have our own perspective of fixing up a cut or whatever.

Today I found a small solar charger for AA batteries and it charges a variety of small devices. It has twin aligator clips plus several output jacks to power cell phone or radio, etc. Got it for cheap. And it works like new. (pawn shop)
Plus we keep camel back water bags, right by the chair.

tough shoes.
extra pants, easy to wear clothing should we have to wear them for days on end.
hats ... lots of hats.

I have a lot of tools for fixing and improvising stuff since I work in electro-mechanical service.
I repair HVAC/R equipment.
So I can work on plumbing, a/c units, freezers, refrigerators, welding, brazing, soldering, metal fab, etc.

We keep a pistol by the bed and soon there will be a shot gun near the door.

Eventually, we want three deer rifles with scopes, three shot guns and a box full of pistols of various kinds.
But my next pitsol will be a Glock. (the present one is my wife's, she's an ex-sherrif deputy fromLuisianna) :)



in an urban survival scenario, you have several conditions possible.

depending upon the degree of danger from the human element. spelled "gangs".

that is where the self defence weapons come into play.
a hand gun conceals well. A shot gun keeps at bay those who are un-armed with a gun themselves.
And a deer rifle will drop a target at hundred of yars ... before they know your there.
But ... you need to be in the defensive mode in order for that to work out.

You need to be watching a given area and be in radio contact with others who are doing likewise.
That way, you can protect, defend the greatest number of folks in a confined area, while keeping outsides /..... outside!
And those who venture in, armed and acting like vigilantes ...they go down before they can return fire.
otherwise, they'll keep nipping at your heels for several days ... until they take you out.



most likely, you will simply need to aquire transportation, fuel and some rations of food/ water in order to make a short or long drive, out of where the disaster has occured.
And that may or may not involve spending nights outdoors and or dealing with potential dangers from gangs.

best move it to hit the road BEFORE the trouble occurs.


the only folks in trouble in Luisianna were those who would not leave when warned to do so ... and those who could not leave when the persons responsble for them were warned to leave.

And no matter how rich or poor I ever become, I will never be so poor that I cannot bum a ride for my family to get us fifty miles out of the city I live in.


the gangs, they are just plain stupid.
 
First off I carry about 1 knife in pocket. (EDC)

backpack: leatherman super tool, sak ambassador on key chain, My leatherman case has a compartment for fero rod and a few things. mini kit in tin, a bag o' goodies and first aid kit.

Important to have a saw, a blade and a few tools.

In an urban environment, SD is more of an issue; a one hand opening or legal FB concealed and accessible would fill that requirement.

good luck

oh yeah Ideal SK's.........sak trailmaster is awesome for all kinds of survival needs. also leatherman fits the bill. I love the spyderco endura and or delica depending on needs. I interchange them. Onehand opening for SD and low profile. I keep it on a budget.
 
I'm not so sure that an urban survival kit (USK) is going to be much different than a wilderness survival kit (WSK). Except that a large knife might not be a good idea and a couple of extra tools might be needed and the leatherman pretty much covers that.

Even though shelter will be needed, in an urban emergency, getting out and away from the buildings is probably a good idea, so you'll be traveling and carrying some sort of something to cover you from excess sun, rain and wind would be a good idea in my opinion. Fire, cordage and a tarp or poncho can cover shelter.

Water filter, chemical treatment and the ability to boil should all be carried, as well as a way to pre filter the water, like a bandana or coffee filter, or both. You'll need a way to carry enough water to last you a day and any of the collapsable containers or Nalgene bottles will do for that. They sell a SS cup that fits the nalgene, which can take care of the need of a pot for boiling.

A good set of edged tools like a leatherman and SAK can handle all you need to handle. If you can get away with a fixed blade, all the better.

A FAK that's designed for you and those that will be with you, including personal meds and needs, OTC meds for pain, Imodium AD, Benedryl and maybe even pepto tabs. I also included a topical for muscle pain called Biofreeze. By the name you can tell that it's cold and it's works.

Many don't think a fishing/trapping kit will do much good, but most cities have parks or surrounding wilderness, so you never can tell.

Signal devices like flashlight and whistle are important in case you are trapped in a building.
 
Presently, on my keyring I carry a photon-type led light, a swisstech utilikey, and a transparent stinger. Also on the keyring is a metal "Nutkase" designed to carry your locknut for lockable wheel nuts! Its an egg-sized metal pod with a good screw thread, o-ring seal & magnet in the base. In that "pod" I carry, paper money, coins, sewing kit, eyeglass screwdriver, scalpel blade, matches, painkillers, anti-histamines, thin but strong nylon cord, and water purifying tablets.
I also carry a Sony Ericsson P910 in a Nite-Ize holster that has room for a Swisscard, more paper money, distress whistle, small compass/thermometer & a Maglite Solitaire, the pocket on the front contains a steel (sharpened)dogtag & a condom.
I also usually carry a SAK Explorer or Applegate-Fairbairn folder

(Oh, yeah! Got ANOTHER swisscard in my THE Wallet!)

Bloody hell, thats FOUR blades (6 if you count the tag & scalpel!!)
 
Spectacular responses! Thank you! Keep 'em comin though. It looks as though I have everything covered except the OTC meds. Longbow you're right about the parks and things I could catch a squirrel here with my bare hands and have been awfully close a time or two :D . And I live in FL so there's wetlands and "wilderness" aplenty.

Can y'all recommend some food items that AREN'T MRE's? I had enough of those in the Corps. I have one in my BOB but I'd be STARVING fore I ate it though.

Also let me know what y'all think of that wallet tin idea. I have to say I'm pretty proud of it! :cool:
 
You got a pic of the wallet tin?

As for food, you'll be wanting items that give you needed energy, but don't necessarily need more water to digest like meat would. Not that meat is a bad thing, but if water is in short supply, you don't want to eat much of it. I like to carry parched corn that's ground into a coarse flour. Parching softens the corn without removing any of it's nutritional values and grinding it down in size helps the body to deal with it better. A couple of tablespoons full of the corn and a cup of warm water will fill you up by swelling the corn, taking away the hunger pangs and giving you the needed energy and other nutrients to help keep you healthy. Indians used to carry it as trail food and lived exclusively off of it during hard times when game was scarce. Honey to sweaten your coffee or tea will give your brain a boost, burns cleaner than sugar and gives more energy in return. It's also excellent when used for medical purposes. Bacteria can't live in honey, so if you place honey over a burn and replace it everytime you change the dressing, it will soothe the pain, heal the burn, keep it from getting infected and if there is any scarring at all, it will be minimal, because honey helps promote healthy tissue growth. If there is plenty of water, then I'd make sure that I carried jerky of some kind. I prefer buffalo jerky myself, because it's about as healthy a meat as you can eat, but I also like turkey, venison and elk. When eating jerky, it's wise to drink a lot of water. It helps the body digest and move it along in your digestive tract, but I think it also helps the body to absorb the nutrients better. Tuna is another excellent protein food to carry with you, but is heavy. Weight aside, a large can of tuna a day with other foods to suppliment will keep you healthy and alert.
 
For an urban kit, ditch the fishing gear. You aim is to get out or get found, not to get food.

Carry water and some means of purifying more water.

Same with the large blade. It will only get you into trouble. I carry several folders, but they all have blades less than 2.5 inches longs. SAK Rambler, and SwissChamp or CyberTool 41.

Flashlight is a must. I carry more than one, both LEDs (Inova X5-T) and incandescents (SureFire E1e and E2e). Duct tape, medical kit, personal ice pack (you rarely sprain your ankle in your own kitchen).

Cellphone and calling card are musts. I also carry bandannas, N-95 particulate masks, chemical splash/impact goggles, leather driver gloves, whistles, mini-Bics, Windmill lighter, firesteels and strikers, SwissTool R/S or Leathman Wave, small AM/FM/SW1/SW2 radio, Pocketwrench II.

Canon PowerShot SD100 Digital ELPH.

Still debating carrying my Inova XO3 and Stanley Wonderbar II every day. They add lots of weight.

Doug Ritter PSP. Don't Leave Home Without It. :D
 
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