"One is none, etc."

[Thomas Linton]

I have repeatedly read the advice of sundry members here (and elsewhere) to heed the "military," "Army," or "Marines" by following the admonition: "One is none; two is one" and, sometimes, "three means you have one for a buddy.

It does not by it's terms seem limited to knives.

Assuming we are not mechanized infantry and are hoofing it in the wilderness, how does the group regard the ultility of this advice?

 

[beckerhead]

All things can fail, so redundancy, to me at least is, necessity. I always have several cutting tools, several ways to start a fire, several means of building/obtaining shelter, several ways to filter/purify water, etc. One is none, is just good advice in most things. Redundancy in knowledge/training is the same thing. You need to know numerous ways to do essential things, so you don't get stuck if plan "A" fails. This will be brought to bear this fall when my nephew and I do a 10 minus 2 trip. You are allowed 10 items, and your buddy has his pick of any 2 items to remove from your gear to be left out. So clearly, knowledge, and multi-use items are key. Just my .02

 

[abo4ster]

Nice post Thomas. This thread could go a lot of different places.

I like two for knives and at least two fire starting methods meaning tinder x2 too. Other than that, everything else is multi-use.

 

[CitizenQ]

I"One is none; two is one" and, sometimes, "three means you have one for a buddy.

Everything I purchase is bought with this in mind. New reading glasses? 2 identical pair. New cars for me and the wife. 2 identical vehicles. Mrs. Q thinks I'm nuts, however, I hope circumstances never prove her wrong.

 

[Rupestris]

 

[longbow50]

It works on all levels. Backup on most gear and backup to backup on the most needed. When I bowhunt, I carry an additional bow in the vehicle, along with a quiver of huntng arrows. Most of the time, I have 2 knives on me and when I head into the bush, I have at least 3 on me. Fire is the same way and the important stuff get carried in at least 2 different places, ie; belt and pocket and when a pack is added, one or two in the pack.

 

[troutfisher13111]

I agree with everything said so far. Redundancy is a almost must when your life depends on the tools with you. I always have at least two knives on me. This goes for fire starters too.

 

[tarmix101]

I
Assuming we are not mechanized infantry and are hoofing it in the wilderness, how does the group regard the ultility of this advice?

Folder and a fixed. Has worked for me for a long time. Depending on when, where, and for how long, I have a axe with me as well.

I like redundancy!

 

[alco141]

mission critical equipment is just that so carrying one of any of the items would be asking for mission failure. redundancy is key to survival.

alex

 

[Shotgun]

I agree with this philosophy but I think the real question is what are "mission critical" items. Sure I think we can all agree on some of the basics like a back up knife or back up fire starter but it starts to get grey real fast and something like owning two of the same car doesn't really do anyone who doesn't know how to swap parts any good.

 

[Rupestris]

I agree with this philosophy but I think the real question is what are "mission critical" items. Sure I think we can all agree on some of the basics like a back up knife or back up fire starter but it starts to get grey real fast and something like owning two of the same car doesn't really do anyone who doesn't know how to swap parts any good.

In defence of owning two like itelms, whether they be cars, shotguns, knives, or back yard hammocks, one will learn the "chops" and be fimiliar with the characteristics and ability of that item. Being fimilar with an item builds trust in that item. Knowing how a car handles can fit in there as well.

Just my 2¢

 

[Quirt]

When in an emergency or survivial situation one is none, two is one etc. It can be applied to knives, lights, firearms etc. In an emergency if you only have one light and it choose to puke on you in the middle of the situation then having a back up means you will have a least one. If you apply it to firearms...when one has a malfunction or runs out of ammo then you can transition to a second or third...with knives...when we're doing grounded training it is very common for a grappler to get you so tied up you cannot access one of your folders and so now you must transition to a secondary folder.

As it applies to people or human resources...in a survival situation "two heads are better than one... and if I'm in the fight of my life then I'd rather have two firearms pointed at the threat than just my one" This axiom can be applied to many things in life. Enjoy it!

 

[misanthropist]

I take this advice semi-seriously. For example, I have standardized my guns a bit - I have six M14s, for instance. If two is one and one is none, is six five, or three? Well, one is a present for my dad...and another is really my gf/wife's...maybe I only have one or two!

One thing I find, though, is that people tend to mainly use this approach with cool stuff like guns, knives, and fire. I know I don't look at my closet and think, "two dressers is one, and one dresser is none! MUST BUY MORE DRESSERS!"

I also don't think it needs to be taken literally, necessarily. IE, a lighter, a magnifying glass, matches, and a firesteel is a lot better to me than a pile of magnifying glasses!

One thing that , as a paranoid survivalist, I often have to remind myself, is not to starve myself today in order to hoard food for the highly improbably coming apocalypse. So as long as the two/one/etc. rule is not hindering your ability to enjoy life, I say, it's a good excuse to blow money on cool junk!

 

[DaleW]

I have repeatedly read the advice of sundry members here (and elsewhere) to heed the "military," "Army," or "Marines" by following the admonition: "One is none; two is one" and, sometimes, "three means you have one for a buddy.

It does not by it's terms seem limited to knives.

Assuming we are not mechanized infantry and are hoofing it in the wilderness, how does the group regard the ultility of this advice?

It is the wisdom of Mother Nature. Having two is nice

I agree with the others-- I carry spare compass, fire starting gear, glasses, tools, shelter materials. It doesn't need to be two bigs knives for example, but I have some other options for cutting-- multi-tool, razor blades, saw, etc.

 

[ironraven]

Multiple knives, multiple means of starting a fire, redundancies for each of the major fire starting methods (several things of matches and a couple of lighters), spare batteries are packed in different containers in different parts of my kit, multiple lights, multiple water bottles....

Yeah, I've always liked this saying.

And I can certainly see the advantage for a couple to own the same model of car- adjust the seat and mirrors, and then everything is laid out the same. Much safer.

 

[fedaykincmndr]

In the Marine Corps there's a rule of three. They have a squad, you have a platoon and so on. I apply the same logic to tools; better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. The same applies to tools; right now in my kit I have 2 fixed blades, two multitools, and one slippie. That's just knives, mind you. Always carry multiples, as most have said. You've a better chance if something gets lost, broken etc.

To expound a bit on some points, we're talking things that are necessary for survival\, not comfort or an every day item that's considered "necessary" by today's standards. A dresser or a car is a luxury, not a necessity. I do, however, see your point on our train of thought giving us a license to buy really cool stuff. Though the improbability of what we're preparing for may be present, I don't think it's that ludicrous to think that it will happen. There are many variables but it's still a very real possibility, IMO.

 

[Judd Dredd]

I have always implemented the rule on a "small", "medium" and "large" basis. Examples:
Edged tools...BK-7 on belt, SAK Trekker in pocket & SAK Classic in PSK.

Fire...Bic in pocket, BSA Hotspark on Trekker lanyard and ferro rod in PSK.

Light...LED headlamp in fanny pack, Mini Mag on belt and Innova on Trekker lanyard (and 1 in PSK).

On and on, through all my core groups (shelter, fire, water, signal and knives). This way I have redundancy without my gear weighing 50 pounds!

 

[Shotgun]

In defence of owning two like itelms, whether they be cars, shotguns, knives, or back yard hammocks, one will learn the "chops" and be fimiliar with the characteristics and ability of that item. Being fimilar with an item builds trust in that item. Knowing how a car handles can fit in there as well.

Just my 2¢

Correct but I don't carry two .30-30's with two .357's or two hatchet's with two Howling Rats. Redundancy can be a lot of things, not necessarily the same thing. Plus, on a long enough timeline, wear and tear on any machine will produce different characteristics in handling wheather it's cars or guns. Take for instance my dad's TRP which was outperformed by my Springfield loaded which handled different then my buddy's Springfield loaded and this was all out of the box.

 

[misanthropist]

In the Marine Corps there's a rule of three. They have a squad, you have a platoon and so on. I apply the same logic to tools; better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. The same applies to tools; right now in my kit I have 2 fixed blades, two multitools, and one slippie. That's just knives, mind you. Always carry multiples, as most have said. You've a better chance if something gets lost, broken etc.

To expound a bit on some points, we're talking things that are necessary for survival\, not comfort or an every day item that's considered "necessary" by today's standards. A dresser or a car is a luxury, not a necessity. I do, however, see your point on our train of thought giving us a license to buy really cool stuff. Though the improbability of what we're preparing for may be present, I don't think it's that ludicrous to think that it will happen. There are many variables but it's still a very real possibility, IMO.

I guess that depends on what you're preparing for...I am well set up for zombies.

 

[Rupestris]

Plus, on a long enough timeline, wear and tear on any machine will produce different characteristics in handling wheather it's cars or guns. Take for instance my dad's TRP which was outperformed by my Springfield loaded which handled different then my buddy's Springfield loaded and this was all out of the box.

Ahh, but, whether it was the TRP, the Loaded or your own Springfield Loaded, you got a feel for the location of the key elements and was able to use each in a proficient manner. All are 1911's and familiarity with the workings of a 1911 is what determined that your Springfield handled different than your fathers and your friends. I'd have no problem handing you a Springfield, Kimber or an Ed Brown as you obviously know your way around a 1911 model pistol.

All I was getting at is "Repetition becomes habit - habit become faith."

Know the tools at hand and you can depend on them. If a SAK fits the "mission critical" criteria then run with it. Providing you have faith in that Swiss jem. Faith in a tool only comes from time behind the wheel.

By the way, I wish I had two Howling Rats .