Mega or Survival Keychains

C

cardimon

Joined
Sep 20, 2000
Messages
1,539
I am once again (sigh) weeding out crap from my keychain. I'm trying to keep useful pieces of small/mini/micro-emergency gear keyringed together, while trying to make the whole clump somewhat less godawful heavy. If any of you knowledgeable folks carry one of these keychains or keyrings, I'd love to hear from you.
 
One large split ring with three small split rings on it:

1) keys & a utili-key
2) Micra and pill-case (Tums! :) )
3) Fox 40 whistle, Photon II, glowring

I carry a small magnifying glass and a Com-Tech Stinger in my pocket, instead of on the keyring. I wear a small neck knife instead of a keychain knife (the Micra is enough for small emergencies).

Sometimes I don't want all that so I take the small key split ring off the others.
 
Originally posted by Esav Benyamin
...I wear a small neck knife instead of a keychain knife (the Micra is enough for small emergencies).
Click to expand...

What is the make and model of your neck knife?
 
Simonich Bitteroot
Carson F-4
Meerdink Mini Hunter
Busse Assault Shaker (occasionally)
and a couple of others that don't get much use now

The Bitteroot is really nice because it is so small, but it's a strong sharp blade for any time I need to open a package or scrape something that I don't need a big blade or have anyone notice. Also I decorated the bead chains with colored plastic beads :)
 
Here, copied from our UK BritishBlades forum, is my neckchain kit:

"I've seen one or two threads about Brit knuts wearing neckers while cycling or jogging. Having just returned from an 11 1/2 mile "burn-up" on my road bike (42 mins, average speed 16.1 mph...) I thought I'd pass on some details of the neck kit I wear.

A dog tag with name, address, phone number, any medical notes etc.

An Arc AAA torch (thanks, Harvey!)

A Spyderco Ladybug

A Perry whistle

A large Spy Capsule containing matches in a 2" x 2" zip-lock bag; also 3x 400mg Ibuprofen in a separate zip-lock bag.

A Sun MiniComp II compass

A Ronson disposable lighter

The Ladybug, compass & lighter are supported by passing the chain through the Ladybug's lanyard hole, then sleeving all three items in a 2" length of bike inner tube. This holds them tight, prevents rattling (and camouflages the lethal, terrifying Ladybug...)

I also carry other kit in my pockets, e.g. a Gerber multitool, SAK etc."

I have also recently added (after a recommendation on BF) an Aeroasso Pocketwrench

maximus otter
 
Two key rings, one with house, car, misc. keys. Second key ring has a glow in the dark FOX whistle, Uncle Bill's Sliver Gripper tweezers, space capsule with emergency $20, magnesium fire striker and about 12 feet of paragcord in butterfly braid.
 
Originally posted by Marc123
... and about 12 feet of paragcord in butterfly braid.
Click to expand...

Whenever I have tried to braid paracord, the result looks like a complete mess. Any suggestions?
 
Cardimon,

I wish I knew how to describe making the braid. I will try and attach a picture so it gives a better idea. Give me a day or two.
 
Whenever I have tried to braid paracord, the result looks like a complete mess. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Practice?

Are you using genuine 550 cord? That's about the easiest stuff there is to braid, but some other kinds of 1/8" cord tend to be lumpy or stiff or less uniform....

Don't expect a braid to look good as soon as you finish braiding it. Do the braiding as tightly as possible, finish the end, then push the braiding around to even it up. It always comes out tighter in some parts and looser in others; you have to mess around with it after it's finished to even that out and make it look good.

A fid helps a lot. You can make one out by rounding the point of a scratch awl, or cut the head off a big nail and set it in a handle and round the point. You use it to pull on the tightest loops and even them out. A fid is essential for making turksheads and Spanish ring knots -- they always look like a horrible mess until you go around and around with a fid tightening it all up and evening it out. That stage usually takes more time than the braiding stage. A fid is also a wonderful thing to have handy for untying knots that can't be untied without it.

You can roll a round or square braid between your palms or with one palm against a flat surface to even it out. You can't do that with a flat braid, though; you have to even out a flat braid one turn at a time.
 
I wear a neck lanyard with LED light, Colibri lighter, Brunton button compass and ACME 2000 Tornado whistle with sides filed down. on my kechain I have a P-38 knockoff can opener with a small magnet to keept it closed. I keep some climbing accesory cord in my pockets (costs more than paracord but comes in a variety of widths and is much easier to find in Mexico).

There have been several threads on braiding, a search should get some instructions with pictures.
 
Originally posted by Cougar Allen
A fid helps a lot. You can make one out by rounding the point of a scratch awl, or cut the head off a big nail and set it in a handle and round the point. You use it to pull on the tightest loops and even them out. A fid is essential for making turksheads and Spanish ring knots -- they always look like a horrible mess until you go around and around with a fid tightening it all up and evening it out. That stage usually takes more time than the braiding stage. A fid is also a wonderful thing to have handy for untying knots that can't be untied without it.
Click to expand...

Okay, what's a fid? I plead ignorance.
 
Round off the point of an awl a little and you got yourself a fid. Stick it in a loop of cord and pull. It's a lot better than your fingernails. Untie knots with it, tighten up turksheads with it, even up braids with it, splice rope with it -- once you start using one you'll wonder how you ever managed to live without it. :cool:
 
I have a small sharpening steel, the kind they used to put in the big SAK sheaths, 3.5" overall and about 1/4" at the thickest, 1/8" at the tip. it even has a small bail, so you can put it on a keyring. Works the same way. Great for unknotting shoelaces on a wet day! :)
 
Originally posted by cardimon
Okay, what's a fid? I plead ignorance.
Click to expand...
It's the pointed thing under the knife.
attachment.php
 
Hi guys,

This is what I just carry to work, the spy-capsule holds 5 300 mg Asperin tablets. The little torpedo silver light has an UV LED to check banknotes or charge the Super Luminova of my watch in 2 seconds.

Bagheera-key-chain.jpg


Best Scouting wishes from Holland,

Bagheera
 
That is one sweet keychain setup Bagheera.

You selling those newer version glowirngs? How much and which one is the brightest?

Thanks,

Ryan
 
Hi Ryan,

Yes we have a few extra of these X2's but not many as they are to expensive for our group to have to many 'lying' around.

The Green ones are the brightest, but the Ice-Blue ones also are OK and the Pink ones are fine also.
The advantage is that during daylight they "show color" because of the colored plastic tube the Glowtube is mounted in.

We also have regular ones again not many mainly green, Blue, Orange, Yellow and Pink (about 2-3 each max) these are 2/3 of the price of the X2's.

Just drop me an email.

Best Scouting wishes,

Bagheera
 
Bagheera

Are you carrying handcuffs, or is the handcuff key jus in case you get arrested? :)
 
Overgaar,

No I'm not carrying handcuffs, nor do I own any (not even for pleasure ;) ) a good friend who lives in the US and carries them for work send the little key to me and I carry it since then.

Still, I reguarly use the key as the little pin fits perfectly in the 'reset' hole of many electronic device (like that of my Ipaq)

Best Scouting greetings,

Bagheera
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top