Is this a good setup for the woods?

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SuzukiGS750EZ

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Dec 30, 2008
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This fixed blade has maple burl handles, a 4" long, 5/32" thick 01 blade with full tang. It's sharp as hell!

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I carry the swisschamp for all the little odds and ends it has on it, i never know when something may arise and the swisstool may have too big of tools.

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Carried mostly to have heavy dutier tools. it's not bomb proof but its stronger than the swisschamp.

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This kit has a JK tin knife, lighter, signaling mirror, anti septic ointment, assortment of bandaids, alcahol pads, iodine and peroxide wipes. Chapstick, tweezers, q-tips, trail map, some meds and a mole skin.

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I carry this mainly if i'm going out later on in the afternoon and may be heading back around dark. This one has an IQ switch and a Terralux TLE-5EX drop in, my other camo one has just the tle-5ex in it with a stock tailcap.

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For obvious reasons. The only thing i don't like is, you have to shake it to wind it, which is good in a way because i don't have to rely on batteries, but i don't like how you need light to make it glow! So it's impossible to see in the dark without a light.

That's pretty much it besides for my cell phone, but that's pretty irrelevant when it comes to the woods.
 
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nice setup. i like the look of that fixed blade knife.

personally, i'd ditch the SAK seeing as you have the swisstool. i'd also consider getting some paracord or similar in there somewhere. useful for all sorts of things.

i'd also consider a space blanket, a very basic fishing kit and a firesteel (lighters can fail).
 
I always have a space blanket that folds up to a size smaller than a pack of cigarettes.
They actually work pretty well - FAR better than nothing.
Dental floss and a sewing needle is quite handy stuff to have, too. Make sure you get the waxed stuff.
 
Yeah id love to get a firesteel. I designed that knife, it was a christmas present. John nailed it on the head and all the credit goes to him. I love the swiss tool for its robustness but the swisschamp i see as for more delicate things and i like having all the tools for whatever arises whether it has to do with my girlfriends stuff or something else i packed. The tools are smaller. What do you recommend for a fire steel? I was thinking of making a fishing kit in an old medicine bottle actually.
 
termiteslayer said:
I always have a space blanket that folds up to a size smaller than a pack of cigarettes.
They actually work pretty well - FAR better than nothing.
Dental floss is quite handy stuff to have, too. Make sure you get the waxed stuff.
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I have a space blanket but it wont fit in my altoids tin. Is it worth carrying in a pocket?
 
I'd replace the mini maglite with a Surefire 6p LED. Much brighter and the batteries last longer when stored. I bought a 10pk of cr123 batteries but I'm still on the original pair from 10 yrs ago.
 
Worth carrying in a pocket?
If you intend to go wandering aimlessly out in the sticks I'd find space in a pocket to carry it.
Debris shelters actually work very, very well... lotta work, though.
Depends on what you're up to, really.
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
I was thinking of making a fishing kit in an old medicine bottle actually.
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a champagne cork with a piece of coathanger wire shoved down the centre (for stability) and fishing line wrapped around it with a hook does me for an emergency fishing kit.

SuzukiGS750EZ said:
I have a space blanket but it wont fit in my altoids tin. Is it worth carrying in a pocket?
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yes. those space blankets really can save your life if you're caught outdoors overnight for whatever reason.

they also make exceptionally good signalling devices.
 
I do wander through the woods, but usually its on a game trail or in woods i know. I just like knowing im prepared, and being prepared has helped me in some situations to help others when they get injured or something.
 
Ive never used a space blanket, but the one i have came packed in a first aid kit my mom bought me a few years ago when i moved out.
 
as a "just in case" kit for day tripping, i'd say it's not too shabby.

as i live in outback Australia, my kit has to include rather more than that (snake bandages for one).
 
Looks pretty good to me buddy, a lot less than I sometimes carry but a little more than I usually carry !

I'd drop the Champ or the Swiss tool, ya don't need both. Definitely pick up a firesteel though. You should also carry a few types of cordage, para-cord being one of the most versatile.
 
You could strap the spaceblanket onto the Altoids tin with a couple of "ranger" bands. A 55 gallon drum liner is also a good emergency shelter, but bulkier than a space blanket.

For a firestarter that fits in the Altoid tin, try this: an igniter for a Coleman lantern. It's this little brass doohickey that sparks like a Zippo, and when you unscrew the mounting bracket, it becomes this little L-shape thing.

I'd leave behind the SAK since you have the Swisstool, but that's just me.
 
WOW!!! Your fixed-blade is a really, really nice knife. Seriously awesome. What a great design and the scales are really pretty. I'd 'ruin' it's "beauty" by mating it to a custom molded, highly-versatile Kydex sheath and lotsa attachment points, but thats just me. ;-)

I think you've done a great job covering alot of the potentials you could run into - good thinking on the anti-bacteria stuff - infections can be killers in the field. It's also good advice to have one of the Mylar 'space blankets' along as well. Not so much for sleeping-bag type insulation, but great for reflecting radiant heat back onto you and doubling as a good wind break and signaling device.

I noticed you keep a trail map in your Altoids tin - is this something you use as a supplement to whatever map you use in your day-to-day navigating?
 
Nice little set up!

I know that your SAK/multitool likely has a small saw already, but I would still think about adding something more substantial for wood processing. Like a larger knife, machete, or hatchet/hawk, or if you want light weight and compact you can get a nice folding saw.

Your fixed blade is beautiful, by the way! :thumbup:
 
Nice setup but that flashlight has got to go.
Compared to modern LED like Jetbeam,Surefire,Fenix,Olight,etc those maglites are from the dark ages.
 
Thanls on the fixed blade compliments guus. I get a lot of them. Stomper made the knife, hes a great guy to work with. That knife had a bunch of features i like from knoves ive used in the past, so it definately is my favorite. The handle is a mixture of a few knives i have, the blade tip dropped more than a normal drop point. I love maple burl, and the specs are the maximum by law here. I also sanded the entire thing down with 600 grit wet/dry so the handles are smooth, which actually made them grippier, and the blade is now mostly shiny, but not shiny enough where i'll wince if it get's scratched. It's an awesome knife. The trailmap i carry is mostly for planning a hike out, but can also be used to start a fire, its a map of the local trails here.
 
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InfidelShootist said:
Nice setup but that flashlight has got to go.
Compared to modern LED like Jetbeam,Surefire,Fenix,Olight,etc those maglites are from the dark ages.
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I carry it mainly because its good on batteries and its pretty bright. I priced out a sure fire and could have gotten one, but the battery life and battery price detered me. So i just built a light i liked.
 
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