Knife for Altoid box

T. Erdelyi

T. Erdelyi

Joined
Feb 3, 2001
Messages
32,359
I know this thread's been around before, but a lot of companies have come out with small knives,(Kershaw, and Spyderco to name just 2)since the last time I saw it.

The question is what knife would you pack into an Altoids Mint Tin? The knife is the most important item in this survival tin, everything else can be filled around it.

If you feel like telling me what's in your tin, I'm open for suggestions to go with the knife.
 
Originally posted by T. Erdelyi
The knife is the most important item in this survival tin, everything else can be filled around it.
Click to expand...
*Looks in left pocket*
*Looks in right pocket*
*Looks on belt, left side*
*Looks on belt, right side*
*Looks in underwear, sees that knife is still clipped and secure, though the bloodflow situation looks dire* (just kidding!)

Nope, I don't think I need a dinky knife in my PSK. :)

But hey, we're knifenuts. I put backup knife #17 in my... uh... yeah.

WTF, I'm not supposed to be Vampire Gerbil. This BladeForums withdrawal thingamajig has addled my brains. :D

I've heard that some people put Gerber LST Ultralights in their PSK's. Light, strong, tough, and cheap. Are the small Al Mar knives small enough to fit? You might just want to put a razor blade in there instead of a knife, since the handle makes for much more bulk.
 
I havent tried it yet but some people say that the Spydercard will fit in a altoids kit. But personally I'm usually carrying so many knives that when I weigh at the doctors I have to take 20mins to get all the blades out of my pockets :)
 
For Altoids style packing, I think the best is Cold Steel's clip pt Tuff Lite. W/out the keyring clip, it packs more efficiently than the Spydie Ladybug -- it lacks the thumb hole and is slightly thinner. Also, I think it's the best blade in is class, FWIW: decent belly, good point, flat grind AUS 8A.

I used to have one in my pocket kit. Now, however, I carry 3-4 different "task-specific" X-acto blades plus a 2" ceramic rod, in about 1/3 the space taken up by the Tuff Lite. To use, one need only tie them into the split end of a thick twig, or even a pencil (w/dental floss, paracord inner threads, loose thread from your pants hem, whatever). I've found this to make for a bigger, more comfortable, usable handle than anything available on the micro-size knives.

My .02 --

Glen
 
A knife and a bunch of curiously strong mints?

That's an interesting survival kit. At least you'll have fresh breath.
 
My altoids tin is a daily first aid kit for all my kid's booboos. It has both a LM P4 and S4. Either one would be handy or a micra for the survival kit. The classic tin knife is the SAK Gentleman?

If you just want a knife, the BM 310 Benchmite is very impressive for the size and thinness.

Phil
 
I've used the Vic Classic and 2 jig-saw blades--one plain and one serrated. Gives you a good deal of versatilaty with very little space. Lots of room for other stuff.

Since I always have at least one folder on me, I feel that provides my essential knife capabilities in any kind of urban emergency situation.
 
I've used the SAK Classic, a Leatherman Micra, and a small Mini-Buck lockback, but for me, it makes the most sense to put in a utility knife blade, to be used only for emergencies. I usually have at least one blade on me anyway, and space in these things is pretty limited. A real knife just takes up too much real estate.
 
The Mini Buck sounds good, as does the 310 but have you though about the new SS Cricket? Without the clip it's rough 0.6 cm thick and boasts alot of cutting power.
Matt
 
Whooops thought I included the pic... Lemme try again...


Edit: Tried to post a pic, but for some reason I cant.. Sorry...
 
The idea of what you can pack into an Altoids tin seems to me to be sort of like Pinewood Derby racing. It's a quaint idea, but if I have to rely on what I've stuffed into an Altoids case to survive, I might just be dead.

Like everyone's mentioned, we're all knife knuts here so let's assume I already have a decent blade in my pocket, maybe two. Most of us also have some sort of multi-tool as well, even if it's only a Micra, so there's a few more tools. I'm a city boy most of the time so the charm of a hook, lure and some fishing line as well as a fire starter is lost on me unless the airliner I'm traveling on crashes in the Appelations and I am lucky enough to survive. Oh wait, if there's a fish hook involved the kit would have to be in my check luggage anyway so I'd still be screwed. Any fabric including strips of my clothes will serve just fine as emergency bandages if the wound really needs closing. If it's so bad that a strip of my shirt won't work, the bandaids in my Altoids can probably won't help much either.

I'm all for a survivalist mentality and carry a pretty good load out in my pockets, a more extravagant kit in my laptop case (goes almost everywhere; first aid kit, jerky, water, compass, light, tools, etc). I keep even more stuff in my Grand Cherokee (BOB, emergency food, water, temp shelter, more first aid, more light, etc.).

If it gets down to what I have stuffed into an Altoids tin it will probably have to be duct taped under my sack to be useful as I'll have been stripped of everything else I own including my clothes!

How do you actually use a jigsaw blade with nothing to hold it? I can't imagine cutting my way out of an Argentinian prison cell or a downed airplane with a bare jigsaw blade. Is it possible I could use it to fashion more useful tools out of scrap metal that will be readily available after civilization collapses?

If I'm off base here guys, straighten me out, but so far, I don't see the practical usefulness of an Altoids tin survival kit. It seems more like a mental exercise to me than anything else.

jmx
 
The Altoids Tin Survival kit is really an excecise in futility, you could never fit enough stuff into it to survive every situation, but Imake them kinda of site specific, one for the car, one for my toolbox, one for my pocket when weed wanderin':D .

They all have 3 things in common, they all have a knife, a way to start a fire,(tinder included), and the're all waterproof
 
If you find the Altiods tin limiting try an eye glass case.I got mine for a buck at well, the Dollar Store.Holds longer items,is made for pocket carry with rounded corners and padding,and no ones going to look at you funny when you tell them "no you can't have a mint".

My mini kits is just a way to hold all those things I carry at work all in one place,i don't like everything "loose" in my pocket.:)

Now I use a nylon pocket holster made for a .38.I like this even better.Mine holds a sak,2cell AAA flashlight,pen,mini Bic,folding money and a couple Bandaids. knife,light,lighter pretty good for the wooods or city.Everything is held togather and upright,the padded holster ands comfort and keeps the "outline"flat.
 
Originally posted by jmxcpter
The idea of what you can pack into an Altoids tin seems to me to be sort of like Pinewood Derby racing. It's a quaint idea, but if I have to rely on what I've stuffed into an Altoids case to survive, I might just be dead.




jmx
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The Altoids box idea I believe was first conceived as a sort of urban survival kit, and not designed for "in the woods" survival needs. It was meant to provide a few necessities that might come in handy in the event that the "s**t hits the fan in an urban environment. That's why it was meant to pack just the vitals in a small pocketable container.

BTW, you use the jig saw blades by cutting a slit in the end of the metal box near the top and drilling a hole through the top and a similar hole through the blades and then using a machine screw and nut to hold it in place. It's not heavy duty, obviously, but it helps somewhat.

My kit contains the following items:

Vic Classic
Photon II light
6 ft. paracord
alcohol wipe
matches
Neosporin (single dose)
2 jig saw blades (plain and serrated)
a few Advil
small pencil and note pad
4 quarters
screw and nut for jig saw blades
a few saftey pins
list of vital phone #s/credit card #s

Let me say that IMHO, probably the most important part of the process of putting this kit together is the mental exercise of carefully thinking through any potential emergency situation and coming up with what you feel your needs might be. This is at least as vital as the final kit you come up with. ( and putting all into a very small kit)

My kit goes into a larger pouch which fits easily into my briefcase. The Altoids box fits into an Eddie Bauer pouch that was designed to handle a smaller 35mm camera. Also in the pouch:

Innova X-5 flahlight
more paracord
Vic Super Tinker
Leatherman Juice S2
Fisher Space pen
Sterile gauze pads
Bandaids of various sizes
Notepad
more alcohol wipes
a few more Neosporin single doses

My cordura briefcase easily accomodates this kit with tons of room to spare for normal briefcase stuff.

Am I crazy?? Probably--but look out Al Queda!! Knifenerd is here.;) :D

Forgot: Of course I always have at least 2 folders on my person, no matter how I'm dressed.:eek:
 
Originally posted by jmxcpter
If it gets down to what I have stuffed into an Altoids tin it will probably have to be duct taped under my sack to be useful
Click to expand...
ROFLOL...:D :D :D

I don't carry a tin, but I do carry some items in my Mission Wallet. For me, they are not survival items, just everyday conveniences. For example, a wet wipe, an alcohol swab, a small ziploc bag, aspirin and rolaids, a couple of bandaids, etc. I also carry a pen and either LM Micra/Squirt or Spyderco Jester/LadyBug II in it. I have used all of the items at one time or another, either for myself or for someone else.
 
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