JCA's PSK

jca21

jca21

Joined
Apr 12, 2006
Messages
3,188
Hey guys and gals,

Put together a PSK of sorts for myself. Would like input from my fellow survivalists.:D

the items with pricing are things i plan to order from bepreparedtosurvive.com, the free stuff in the additional items column is stuff i have lying around the house. :)

PersonalSurvivalKit.jpg


Cheers,

JC

*edit: i'm only taking one of the combos out into the field.
 
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Looks like a pretty thorough kit there bro :thumbup:
I see you got a heat sheet for cover. I added a pre-rigged MEC scout tarp to mine for a better covering shelter that's easy to set up.

Got the knives covered plenty. I backed mine off to 2 to save weight. Only an Esee 4 and a BK-9. Instead of more knives, I added other tools ( multi-plier and pry-bar)

A labelled eye-dropper bottle with bleach ( used Visine) for water I added as well

Don't forget the TP and personal hygene stuff ( toothbrush , meds , soap , lotion ,etc.)
After a while away from home it's good to clean up some.

Yup, pretty good list. Gives me ideas for mine also :)
 
I love to browse that site. All kinds of cool stuff there.

Looks pretty good, I'd add some personal hygiene stuff as well. Always feel better when your clean(er).
 
thanks for the suggestions fellas keep 'em coming

i'll post a revised one after i take everyones advice into account.
 
looks like the basics are covered- shelter, fire, water, navigation, signaling, first-aid

I'd add a quality headlamp and a few clothing basics- wool hat, wool gloves- insulating layer if you have room

what are you going to carry everything in?
 
ive been trying to make this psk into a belt psk.

looks like it would be better to maybe make a small grab and go pack?

what are ya'lls thoughts
 
well for three days, I'd want a small pack- food, a few pieces of extra clothing, etc would be tough to get into a belt kit
 
It seems to me (IMO) that you have a lot of duplicate equipment for 3 days. Your knives are close to each other in uses. Get rid of one and substitute a SAK or multitool. This will give you expanded capability and potential pack volume/weight savings. Your SAK/multitool could include a saw, and can opener allowing you to do without those items on your list. Get two of those orange match cases with compass, whistle and micro ferro rod. I had to hold the cotton right at the edge of the rod/knife to get it to light so one is to practice with. I keep matches and cotton balls in mine. I also attached a 2" piece of hack saw blade to mine with several wraps of duct tape. I think the idea of subsituting a pre-setup lightweight tarp instead of the heatsheet or bivvy is a good one and a LED light could be a life saver. What about another container for water? What about a map, emergency poncho, extra socks? I think, with all the equipment that you have, you are in fanny pack territory. If you want your gear to fit into a belt pouch (I'm thinking something a quarter to half the size of a fanny pack) you will need to eliminate a lot of the duplicates.
 
i usually only take one of the 3 combos listed.

i'd never take all six out with me in one go :D
 
jca21 said:
i usually only take one of the 3 combos listed.

i'd never take all six out with me in one go :D
Click to expand...

Understood. But remember your initial goal was a belt pouch PSK. You could attach BK-9 to ride along side the pouch but it will not fit inside. What can you put in your PSK that will allow you to survive for 3 days? You do not seem comfortable with the limited space provided by a belt pouch so I'd suggest starting with a fanny pack with dual bottle holders. Your larger fixed blades will probably not fit inside but I keep a Mora 546 (stainless steel) and a SAK in mine. If you do decide to go with a belt pouch (@ 1 liter capacity) you will need to eliminate a lot of the equipment you have listed.
 
my PRK project w/pics as promised.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personal Readiness Kit

I started with a tin I got with a wallet, it's about 41/2''x31/2''x2''. After thought and much stacking and unstacking I settled on the contents. I was lucky enough to find a camera case at Wal-Mart that fits the tin like it was custom-made for it. I can fit the PRK in a jean pocket, but prefer to wear it on my belt so the case was a must.

The PRK isn't designed to sustain me for months, it isn't a First-Aid Kit or a BOB...it's a tool to help me be more comfortable (or heck to keep me alive period) for a day or two. I wanted something small enough I could wear it 24/7 JIC of emergency. It's easy to leave a backpack at camp, home or the truck where it would be of no use...this lil guy is always available.

100_3602.jpg


100_3599.jpg







I put the tin in a ZipLock Freezer bag.
100_3603.jpg


I have about 10 strips of Duct Tape on the bottom, the shape you see is a large Stanley utility (razor) blade.
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Fully Loaded. the inside of lid is shiny enough to use for signalling.
100_3606.jpg


Carmex, Whistle, Clif Bar, mini-LED lite, mini-Bic (sealed in bag), birthday candle, on top is a zip-tie.
100_3607.jpg


piece of a Strike-A-Fire, Fishing Kit (20pd line, ass. hooks, sinkers), Bouillon Cube, Safety Pins, Water Purification tablets, Salt&Pepper, Tylenol & Benadryl, small roll of Duct Tape (maybe 10 foot), Sewing Kit (30' thread, 3 needles, 1 large needle).
100_3610.jpg



Square of HD Aluminium Foil, MoleSkin, Gauze Pad, Band-Aids, Alcohol swab-pads.
100_3611.jpg


Swedish FireSteel Scout, Kershaw Leek folder. These are in the outside pocket of the case, not in the tin itself.
100_3613.jpg

*not shown-I squeezed a Space Blanket in the outside pocket too.


I am going to attach/include about 15'-20' foot of 550 cord. LOL still juggling a couple ideas, either wrap the 550 around the belt loop or braid a lanyard and attach it to case with mini-carbiner, or maybe some other way I aint thought of yet...but there WILL be some ParaCord in this kit.


I hope ya'll like it, and that it will maybe give ya'll some ideas of your own. I welcome any comments or input...good or bad.


I have maybe $80 in the PRK, $50 of that being the Kershaw knife and $13 the FireSteel, $9 for the camera case...the rest is stuff you should already have lying around the house. The only thing I bought specifically for this kit is the case and the FireSteel (which I was gonna buy anyway).


I took the pics with my Kershaw, LOL cuz that was knife in my pocket, in all actuality I would most likely be carring a Buck 110 or a sheath knife.
 
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My advice is to figure out what you're willing to carry everything in and then figure out what to put in it. Kind of the opposite of buying a backpack really. For me, the most gear I'm willing to carry on me is a knife, keychain, wallet, and bandana. Everything else goes into the pack. So things like an altoids tin or a belt pouch just won't work for me as a PSK. The key to a good PSK is that it's always there no matter how big or complete it is. If you don't like carrying an altoids tin on your belt and throw it in your pack, it defeats the purpose no matter how well covered the kit is.
 
Six knives in a survival kit would be just for fun, right? No real need for six knives.

Also, I'd add a Bic lighter and a flashlight of some kind.
 
Wildewinds said:
Six knives in a survival kit would be just for fun, right? No real need for six knives.

Also, I'd add a Bic lighter and a flashlight of some kind.
Click to expand...


again, i said i'd be taking one of the combos. not all 6 knives. :D
 
Let us know what you decide and how you have it set up. Would deep winter be the worst conditions that you would encounter?
 
Bo T said:
Let us know what you decide and how you have it set up. Would deep winter be the worst conditions that you would encounter?
Click to expand...

it'd be strictly a summer kit.

still mulling over if i should reduce the kit size to something smaller or go with something like a versipack or a slingpack of sorts. small light easy to grab and run with.
 
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