Lessons learned this morning...

[PayetteRucker]

Man, glad you found that blade! You bring up a good point though...it's what we in the Army call our PCC's/PCI's...Pre-Combat-Checks and Pre-Combat Inspections.

While you're not going into combat (well, with the gnats, it may be), it's prudent to check all your gear: new batteries in the flashlights, how much bug juice do you still have, water purification tablets, checking your siltarp for holes or tears, make sure you compass is reading correctly, etc.

It's just good practice to do your checks before heading out...even when you do Mr. Murphy might strike, but chances are you'll be better prepared the hike and situations that pop up.

ROCK6

Aye-I function check everything before I leave and after I'm done using it. I'm very methodical about it, I go over EVERYTHING. I think this is just a Murphy situation though, there was no way I could tell that rivet was going to break. As for the redundant blades, I'm a bigtime believer in it. When backpacking there's a Mora and a folder minimum zipped in the front pocket of my pack, which I use for all my miscellaneous survival gear.

 

[ROCK6]

Aye-I function check everything before I leave and after I'm done using it. I'm very methodical about it, I go over EVERYTHING. I think this is just a Murphy situation though, there was no way I could tell that rivet was going to break. As for the redundant blades, I'm a bigtime believer in it. When backpacking there's a Mora and a folder minimum zipped in the front pocket of my pack, which I use for all my miscellaneous survival gear.

Yeah, I'm pretty good about checking on my own stuff, but what I really need to focus on is my wife and kids. I made checklists for them when they pack thier backpacks and I make sure they double check their essentials...making sure they bring their back up eye-glasses; my daughter needs to take daily medication for her hypothalroid condition, etc...There's nothing more furious than hiking several miles to a nice remote site and find out something was left at home We've gotten much better, but I get a little anal as even after you check all your gear Mr. Murphy strikes...just imagine if you didn't

Just glad you recovered the knife and survived the gnats!

ROCK6

 

[Mistwalker]

I'm a fan of coloured handles and uncoated blades for this reason. I've got a couple of different colour handled blades(red, blue, orange), and I think I'm going to hit the bush and do some 'testing' to see which colours stand out the best. I'm banking on the blue and the orange, though the orange less so when fall comes around.

I also just ordered some orange paracord from goinggear for making lanyards and such as well.

Glad you were able to find the knife, that's not a lesson I want to learn the hard way.

I can tell you that the blue G10 that Bryan used on Lisa's knife definitely stands out in the woods here.