Modern Light-weight Survival Tools

[fixer]

Hey mistwalker, can I ask where you picked up that small threaded plastic vial that's below your bobbin?

looks like it's roughly the size of a gold dust vial, except those are hard, clear plastic. the one in MW's kit looks to be softer plastic so it's probably more rugged.

i've seen some small Nalgene bottles, but not that small. the smallest they have is 1oz and the cap is quite a bit larger diameter than the vial. they do have some REI has these little .25oz flip top canisters, kinda like a pill box. http://www.rei.com/product/605887 could be good for stashing small bits of fishing kit. a few pills or whatever. they have larger versions of that kind of container too.

 

[fixer]

one "lightweight survival tool" that i keep forgetting to get a few of is a four way water key.

these turn on many of the spigots on public or commercial buildings and would give you another option for getting water in an urban setting.

i didn't find any like his on the websites for Lowe's, Gome Depot or Ace, so i need to actually go in and see if they have them. also didn't find them on ebay either. the one i have the pic posted is from www.clnwindows.com and they sell it for $8, but it should not be to hard to find locally.

 

[TwinBlade]

I hope this post isn't taken poorly because I applaud any effort in a review and this is no different.

I am of the opinion that the worse you make a proven design (in this case, a tried and true hatchet in the same weight as this at 20 ounces that has been perfected by the real mountain men of days gone by with proper cutting and splitting geometry) the less effective it becomes as a tool. Anything with a moderate edge profile (including my Estwing framing hammers claw) can be beaten through wood and split it apart. I see a serious lack in any efficient cutting and chopping geometry in this tool. It is basically a sharpened wedge that is made to look tacticool. Afterall, the more you have to beat on something, the more energy it takes. If this tool is about survival, energy is a precious commodity and this will not facilitate that.

I see little, if any, value in this product. Sorry, but a good knife will blow this hatchet away in the real world, as will a proper hatchet.

 

[Mistwalker]

Hey mistwalker, can I ask where you picked up that small threaded plastic vial that's below your bobbin?

It was sent by a friend along with a few other things. I have no idea where he got them and assume they are work related as there were a few different sizes. I'll ask him where he got them.

i *think* that the Ti version just replaces the aluminum with Ti and still has the CF center. their Ti water bottle would be a better option, provided the neck is large enough to get the stuff out. the Ti water bottle is also a small fraction of the price of the Ti capsule, or even the regular capsule.

the Max the Mini hatchet, and a GB mini hatchet are both about the same price, (roughly $150) but the GB has a hammer head and all the weight is i the head, where Max has some back in the handle since it's full tang. i'd love to see a head to head chop off between the two.

but then a Bahco Laplander folding saw is only about $30 and is probably lighter than either the GB or Max hatchet. can't hammer with it. meh, not a big deal. i just ordered one on ebay... so we'll see how it actually performs one fifth the price, probably half the weight. so if someone does a chop off, please add the Laplander to the mix.

In thinking about it you are probably right on the Ti/C.F. thing.

For "bushcraft" I'd probably rather have the GB mini, but for the purposes I have in mind this is a better fit for me.

one "lightweight survival tool" that i keep forgetting to get a few of is a four way water key.

Those four way keys are an awesome piece of kit for an urban environment. I keep meaning to get bt home depot and pick up a couple myself.

I hope this post isn't taken poorly because I applaud any effort in a review and this is no different.

I am of the opinion that the worse you make a proven design (in this case, a tried and true hatchet in the same weight as this at 20 ounces that has been perfected by the real mountain men of days gone by with proper cutting and splitting geometry) the less effective it becomes as a tool. Anything with a moderate edge profile (including my Estwing framing hammers claw) can be beaten through wood and split it apart. I see a serious lack in any efficient cutting and chopping geometry in this tool. It is basically a sharpened wedge that is made to look tacticool. Afterall, the more you have to beat on something, the more energy it takes. If this tool is about survival, energy is a precious commodity and this will not facilitate that.

I see little, if any, value in this product. Sorry, but a good knife will blow this hatchet away in the real world, as will a proper hatchet.

Not taken wrong at all. I understand your point and you opinion. This is just a better tool for my own thoughts and purposes by filling multiple roles with chopping wood not being the primary consideration.

 

[ROCK6]

I hope this post isn't taken poorly because I applaud any effort in a review and this is no different.

I am of the opinion that the worse you make a proven design (in this case, a tried and true hatchet in the same weight as this at 20 ounces that has been perfected by the real mountain men of days gone by with proper cutting and splitting geometry) the less effective it becomes as a tool. Anything with a moderate edge profile (including my Estwing framing hammers claw) can be beaten through wood and split it apart. I see a serious lack in any efficient cutting and chopping geometry in this tool. It is basically a sharpened wedge that is made to look tacticool. Afterall, the more you have to beat on something, the more energy it takes. If this tool is about survival, energy is a precious commodity and this will not facilitate that.

I see little, if any, value in this product. Sorry, but a good knife will blow this hatchet away in the real world, as will a proper hatchet.

I think the beauty of Brian’s reviews is that he takes niche-specific tools and applies them in an outdoors traditional manner. I’m going to try the funky-named “Max the Mini Axe”, although I wouldn’t put it in the same category as a traditional hatchet/axe. This is definitely not a tool I would take on a backpacking trip, but it is something I would consider traveling with on urban trips.

I had a mission-specific knife that I used in Iraq…digging and cutting common wire, demolishing wood structures and sandbag bunkers, hammering nails, light pry-bar, knocking holes in plaster walls, prying open doors, etc. It really was a lot like a sharpened pry-bar, but functioned perfectly for what I needed. I do think there is a balance where you can overdo the “multifunction” to the point the tool doesn’t do anything very well. I look at my GB Small Forest Axe, which isn’t a very good maul, nor is it the optimum length for felling large trees; however, it excels at limbing, working smaller trees, choking up on smaller tasks and other common “bushcraft” projects.

Reviews and opinions are great as it allows you to evaluate the tool for your own purposes and they may not always be optimum or practical for your uses. You’re evaluating the usefulness of this tool for your needs and this funky little hatchet sure doesn’t look optimum for chopping wood, even though it can be used for such…I just don’t think that’s the primary purpose of the design. At times my environment is more urban/combat focused and I look for tools that will be more optimum in those areas; brick, plywood, sheetrock/plaster, glass, wire, sheet-metal, etc. It’s always good to see new designs even though they may not be optimum for what we are looking for; not everything needs to evolve but it’s refreshing to see new ideas.

ROCK6

 

[Yorkshire Boy]

When I posted the picture of my GB Mini, all I meant was that I've got something a little bit similar in size, not that it's better for what you intend.

I think in Britain the Tops would be about £100 more than the GB.

I don't want to beat up on my GB but if something "urban" did kick off I would be happy to put it in my jacket pocket for emergency use.

That Noss bloke did a test on the GB Wildlife axe and it took a fair amount of punishment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5VonRnO80A&feature=related

 

[Mistwalker]

When I posted the picture of my GB Mini, all I meant was that I've got something a little bit similar in size, not that it's better for what you intend.

I think in Britain the Tops would be about £100 more than the GB.

I don't want to beat up on my GB but if something "urban" did kick off I would be happy to put it in my jacket pocket for emergency use.

That Noss bloke did a test on the GB Wildlife axe and it took a fair amount of punishment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5VonRnO80A&feature=related

That's cool man, and I like your thoughts of evaluating what you have for other than their "normal" tasks. I do that all the time.

I do want to get something along the lines of the GB mini for one of the same reasons I got the Fiddlebacks....for those days when I want to be as far away from "tactical" tools as possible...and if it is what I have if and when something bad happens it will get a work out. Because I can never completely escape some of my thoughts is one of the reasons I chose Andy's work for my bushcraft tools. They have the aesthetics I want at those times but also I know how durable they are made...well I thought then and know now.

 

[PayetteRucker]

One little device I've had recent experience with that I'll add to this thread is the Black Daimond Orbit pocket lantern. What a practical camp/backpacking tool... 360 degree light source so you can plant it somewhere and use both hands for bushcrafting or camp food prep in low light. It runs on 4 AAA batteries, battery life is about 16 hours, as far as I can tell. It's telescoping-the battery housing slides up into the lantern and it's small enough to wear on a keychain. There's a dimmer switch too, so you can hang it in your tent without burning a whole through your vestibule or blinding yourself while you organize your gear, read, plot waypoints and headings for tomorrow's hard drive, etc. Small, light, effective. Costed me about 30 bucks. Much brighter than Brunton's model, lighter as well. I believe the price difference is 5 bucks.

 

[TwinBlade]

I think the beauty of Brian’s reviews is that he takes niche-specific tools and applies them in an outdoors traditional manner. I’m going to try the funky-named “Max the Mini Axe”, although I wouldn’t put it in the same category as a traditional hatchet/axe. This is definitely not a tool I would take on a backpacking trip, but it is something I would consider traveling with on urban trips.

I had a mission-specific knife that I used in Iraq…digging and cutting common wire, demolishing wood structures and sandbag bunkers, hammering nails, light pry-bar, knocking holes in plaster walls, prying open doors, etc. It really was a lot like a sharpened pry-bar, but functioned perfectly for what I needed. I do think there is a balance where you can overdo the “multifunction” to the point the tool doesn’t do anything very well. I look at my GB Small Forest Axe, which isn’t a very good maul, nor is it the optimum length for felling large trees; however, it excels at limbing, working smaller trees, choking up on smaller tasks and other common “bushcraft” projects.

Reviews and opinions are great as it allows you to evaluate the tool for your own purposes and they may not always be optimum or practical for your uses. You’re evaluating the usefulness of this tool for your needs and this funky little hatchet sure doesn’t look optimum for chopping wood, even though it can be used for such…I just don’t think that’s the primary purpose of the design. At times my environment is more urban/combat focused and I look for tools that will be more optimum in those areas; brick, plywood, sheetrock/plaster, glass, wire, sheet-metal, etc. It’s always good to see new designs even though they may not be optimum for what we are looking for; not everything needs to evolve but it’s refreshing to see new ideas.

ROCK6

Rock, I am totally with you bud. as I stated, I hoped it wouldn't be read poorly of in bad taste. I have done enough reviews and posted many of them in here and I fully expect that I won't satisfy everyone either regarding the tool or my review.

I guess a lot of me was thinking out loud and shaking my head saying "Not another Tom Brown Tracker from TOPS again".

Jeff :thumbup:

 

[ROCK6]

Rock, I am totally with you bud. as I stated, I hoped it wouldn't be read poorly of in bad taste. I have done enough reviews and posted many of them in here and I fully expect that I won't satisfy everyone either regarding the tool or my review.

I guess a lot of me was thinking out loud and shaking my head saying "Not another Tom Brown Tracker from TOPS again".

Jeff :thumbup:

No, we're on the same sheet of music Jeff; I didn't mean to sound like you were criticizing the review vice the design (completely understandable). The reviews are always worth their weight in gold...it's the tool and application that can (and should) come under question and/or debated. Not everybody will always agree with a certain design or even application, but it's always good to see how some tools (tacti-cool or "urban" oriented) perform in an outdoors survival role (or urban for that matter). I hear you though, TOPS does really well on some designs and a little over-the-top on others. I still appreciate their design collaborations even though most don't appeal to me (although the 13-year old boy inside often says "wow, that's cool").

ROCK6

 

[Calebklyne]

one "lightweight survival tool" that i keep forgetting to get a few of is a four way water key.

these turn on many of the spigots on public or commercial buildings and would give you another option for getting water in an urban setting.

i didn't find any like his on the websites for Lowe's, Gome Depot or Ace, so i need to actually go in and see if they have them. also didn't find them on ebay either. the one i have the pic posted is from www.clnwindows.com and they sell it for $8, but it should not be to hard to find locally.

i have one of these for work and i sometimes carry mine in my bag when im out but i find its very heavy and would love to find one made from ti or another light metal

 

[fixer]

i have one of these for work and i sometimes carry mine in my bag when im out but i find its very heavy and would love to find one made from ti or another light metal

i've seen some wrenches in Ti at motorcycle shops, but never any sockets. as long as the walls aren't too thick, sockets would work. the sizes are 1/4", 9/32", 5/16", and 11/32", so those four sockets and a sliding T bar driver would work and be fairly cheap, you just have to make sure you don't lose a socket.

i got one of the 4-way wrenches today at Lowe's for under $7. it's now in my GHB in the truck.

also got a VS-17 signal panel in the mail today, another ebay buy to go in the truck. it's day glow orange on one side, hot pink on the other with ties in the corners in the middle of the long sides, and some snaps to join multiple panels. this is for the truck in case i'm stuck on the side of the road, or in the middle of the desert... just to make me a little more visible at times because a gray truck isn't always that easy to see. fairly cheap, doesn't need batteries, doesn't take up much space.

as for multi function breaching tools, i have a Stanley Fubar in the truck, and some other companies make similar tools now. it's a hammer, prybar, lumber wrench, nail puller designed for construction demolition. but it's NOT "lightweight". could be used to bust out a window or pry open a door after a crash or something. NOT what i want to have to haul for any distance tho.

 

[SouthernCross]

G'day Brian

This review is a good example of "not judging a book by its' cover".

As I already have a GB mini and am very familiar with its' capabilities, I wouldn't have taken a second look at this mini hatchet.

However since I can understand where you are comming from with this review, I agree that it has attributes that others would find usefull :thumbup:



Kind regards
Mick

 

[fujita yuji]

You've got a nice tool, mist.
Looks like it has a hole in it's head, right?
You have an option to mount some weight on that hole if chopping ability really matters.
It is sometimes a popular modification among climbing ice people to enforce ice penetration.
http://fjt.webmasters.gr.jp/edge/R0017208_0.JPG
Here's a link to the pic, the left one has a piece of steel mounted with a bold in it's head.
But this modification changes the thickness of the head that I'm not sure it works for you.

 

[Mistwalker]

G'day Brian

This review is a good example of "not judging a book by its' cover".

As I already have a GB mini and am very familiar with its' capabilities, I wouldn't have taken a second look at this mini hatchet.

However since I can understand where you are comming from with this review, I agree that it has attributes that others would find usefull :thumbup:



Kind regards
Mick

Thanks Mick,

As i said earlier in this thread I like the GB mini and want one for those times that I escape into "bushcraft"...that's just not where my mind is with these tools

You've got a nice tool, mist.
Looks like it has a hole in it's head, right?
You have an option to mount some weight on that hole if chopping ability really matters.
It is sometimes a popular modification among climbing ice people to enforce ice penetration.
http://fjt.webmasters.gr.jp/edge/R0017208_0.JPG
Here's a link to the pic, the left one has a piece of steel mounted with a bold in it's head.
But this modification changes the thickness of the head that I'm not sure it works for you.

Thanks Fujita interesting idea. I don't think it would get in the way of chopping and long as it could be bolted on and then removed afterward.

 

[dogboye]

The TOPS Max mini, or mini MAX? anyway, looks like a cool tool. Probably not optimized for anything more than driving the point through a skull, but still a good tool for every day use if you go that direction. I don't understand the acute curve to the handle/grip, and think it would be even better with a straighter grip, though. And I'm of the opinion that it would be a much better chopper than a knife of similar size, simply because of the mass distribution.

Very cool review! I definitely enjoyed it.

 

[Mistwalker]

Thanks man, glad you enjoyed the review

 

[Mistwalker]

I added a couple more tools to the list. One is a Doug Ritter RSK, and the other is an eat n tool both from CRK&T. The RSK will fit in my capsule sheath and all and still not take up a lot of room. The eat n tool will not fit inside but I still like it.

The RSK is a small knife, but comes with a really nice edge which made quick work of some slivers in seasoned Hickory.

The eat n tool is a spork that multi-tasks.

.

 

[ROCK6]

The eat n tool is a spork that multi-tasks.

That's a pretty cool little spork-tool! I like it:thumbup:

ROCK6

 

[fixer]

sorry, not very impressed with the spork-wrench.

the placement of the hexes is very poor, and i haven't yet seen someone post pix of what they've used the thing on.

there's lots of stuff that you'd never be able to turn with them, and the bowl of the spork is very shallow. this is a good example of "feature creep". sporks are good, wrenches are good, bottle openers... meh. combing them all into one stubby tool that can't hold much liquid? BAD idea.

i'll take a LMF spork, which is cheaper and will fit in your tube. separating the spoon and fork ends also makes it a much better spoon. still not a great fork.

the RSK looks cool for a minimalist knife, but the shape of the handle doesn't look like it would lend itself to lashing it onto anything like you can do with many of the other tin knives.

can you post a pic of the RSK in an altoids tin?