Pocket Kit Knife Choice?

OK folks, my kit is done and I still can't believe I got alll this in an Altoids tin but here goes.

1 SAK
2 Maglite Solitare flashlight
3 1 Box "strike anywhere" matches
4 2 trick relight birthday candles/firestarters
5 safety pins 2 large/3small
6 needles 4 assorted sizes
7 10 feet black thread/10 feet white thread
8 10 feet nylon cord
9 4 pieces paper cut to fit tin
10 pencil stub
11 1 vial chlorine bleach
12 1 pre-paid phone card
13 1 20 dollar bill

I no some will mention snares and fishing kits, but to save time I'll go ahead and say for the record I am a strict vegetarian, so that's why I don't add them.


Well how does this kit sound?
 
:confused::confused::confused::confused:
I've been following this thread for a while, and it kind of intrigues me as to what the hell you use these for... I was thinking of making one up when I read this, but then asked myself exactly the question above "what the hell would I use this for" then I dismissed any thoughts of assembling one, as I couldn't give a better answer than "umm... cause then I'd have one".

A vast majority of the gear that y'all are packing in the tin is stuff that I, and I'm guessing many others here, carry daily(light, knife, writing stick, money). The rest of the stuff that is in the kits listed here is generally found somewhere in my pack(first aid stuff, cordage, paper, fire starting supplies), as well as replacements for the gear I have on my person. I just have a rough time seeing something this small being handy to make as a survival kit. Anytime I think it necessary to put a kit togather, I make sure I have a bit more space than an altoids tin, and I can't justify carrying one on my person just for survival purposes when I am rarely away from either my car or my pack which are both stocked with more gear than I can pack in a tin. I see how some of this could be handy to have around, but I guess I'm just not getting this whole exercise:(

I don't mean to offend or flame anyone here, as I'm sure there is a good point to this, just that I'm not getting it at the current time. If anyone could help me out it would be greatly appreciated.


While thinking about this further... I didn't come up with a reason to use one yet, however I did think of a possible improvement. Why wouldn't a fisher space pen cartrige work instead of a pencil??? They should write longer, on more surfaces than a pencil, and they don't need sharpened. It seems to be a lot more compact, and you can wrap something around it to make it easier to write with if you so choose.
 
For me there are many good reasons for a kit like this.

1. The tin keeps everything neatly organized and together.
2. The Altoid tin in so familiar that it will not draw attention in places where a fanny pack kit might.
3. The same reasons outdoorsmen in the past carried flint and steel and other "possibles" in a small pouch or container.
4. It's compact size also means you are more apt to carry it than leave it in the car.

Remember the small kit you have beats the hell ot of the big one you left somewhere else.

I can keep going here if anybody wants?
 
Actually, I can see both sides of this agruement (err, discussion). Like tique, I carry FAR more than this every day in my pockets and in a couple of waist pouches. However, I'm not in an area or job where it would be "out of place" to have bulging pocketed BDU's as a standard mode of dress. For city or suit types, the Altoids tin kit might be the only logical way to carry ANY survival gear in a sheeple populated area.

I reecely made a kit somewaht similar, only in a mini-altoids tin, that I carry in my boot as a last-ditch kit. Even if I lost or had all of the rest of my gear stolen or confiscated, I'd still have this tiny kit. So there are reasons for kits of all sizes and "flavors".
 
I have one suggestion. Replace the Mag Solitare with a white LED arclight. It's an LED light that uses one AAA battery, is brighter than the solitare or the Photon and burns bright for four hours on one battery. Kind of expensive at about $20 but worth it in my opinion.
 
Reb,

How y'all doin'?

I have to agree with y'all. Tis far better to have it and not need it than to need but not have. In as far as your choices for gear, they're your choices that I'm sure you feel you can live with and are comfortable in using. We can debate til the cows come home the pros and cons of other pieces, but if you already have them and are comfortable with them, what's the sense in spending more money? I applaud your intiative and work with the project. And I'm dam* glad to see there's others that venture out with some reasonable gear to promote their ability to weather rough times.

Mike
 
tique posted some good questions that I had as well, but after some simple research and soul searching, here's what I came up with:

1. The whole philosophy around these things is that you build (assemble?) them to suit your daily life. If a phone card makes sense, you include one. If a flint and steel or fishing hooks don't make sense, you don't include them.

2. You keep it with you always. Not just when you are outdoors or at risk.

3. You use it. Have a headache? Take the pain killer. Need cash for a movie rental and forgot your wallet? Use the cash. Consuming the components on a regular basis keeps the contents fresh.

4. Situations of use include, but are not limited to:
"I stopped by the grocery store and forgot my wallet"
" I ate something at a business lunch that didn't set well;
Imodium anyone?"
"After all this Christmas shopping, my trunk lid will not shut.
I need to tie the lid down."

It goes on and on. It hasn't saved my life, but it has saved me a TON of inconvenience.
 
I've had some of the same questions about the necessity of a kit like this as some others have posted. I have concluded that my kit is more of an "anti-annoyance" kit than it is a survival kit.

I work in an office all day, so the kit that I have on me all the time (even when working outside at home) contains things that I may have a need for quickly for other than life-threatening situations.

Eamples are:

Bandaids of various sizes
Steri-skin strips to close superficial wounds long enough to get to the hospital (obviously, if arteries or large veins are involved, these would be insufficient, but I live a block from the doors of the ER)
Rubber bands
Twist ties and/or wire ties (dozens of uses)
Safety pins (in place of needle and thread; will also work to close wounds)
Ibuprofen
Muscle relaxer and Tylenor with codeine
Zip lock bags (1 Qt size)
10 feet of dental floss
A Leatherman Micra
A single edge razor blade

After reading the above posts, I'll add a little cash.

A more comprehensive first-aid kit is in my briefcase about 5 feet behind me at work or beside me on the drive home.

When I take a walk in the woods (which is not very often anymore), I take an even larger kit containing more "survival-type" items in a fanny pack, shoulder bag, or day pack.

This approach results in some redundancy, but if something happens and I lose or have to ditch some gear, I'll still have the items I'm most likely to need most the majority of the time. If I worked in a different environment, the contents of my kits would change based on my changing needs.
 
Would a spydercard fit in an Altoids tin? I don't have a tin available, but from what i can remember about their size I think it would lay flat in either the bottm or top of the tin. This would give you a locking blade that is much larger than the other suggestions and in a good sized handle to boot. The blade shape is a bit awkward, but not so much that it is unusable. These are pretty tough, I've used mine for all kinds of utility chores and have never felt like I was pushing it to the breaking point by doing so. Seems like something worth looking into.
 
Just tried it. It does fit in there, but seems like the thickness takes up a lot of volume for no more than you gain(especially if you have a locking blade on you already). I am trying to assemble one of these, but doubt the Spydercard will be in there.

I have seen the utility of one of these since my last post:) Seems I was looking at it from the wrong perspective. I'll post what I make up as soon as I get it made... mine will be for convenience while at my job more than anything, and I think the contents are shaping up to reflect that.
 
FarmBoy has the concept down good. If you really use it on a regular basis you will be more likely to keep it on you for when it really counts, but in the meantime why not let it inhance your everyday needs.

However, there is nothing wrong with old money. It is generaly more respected in some quarters and will get you into places where new money wouldn't get you past the door.:cool: Unfortunatly I only have new money.;)
 
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