real life survival tools

S

sams

Joined
Apr 21, 2001
Messages
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I'm old and don't post much , but reading some of these threads I thought I would pass along some knowledge to those who don't have a full cup.

In '72 after my discharge, i was on a welding job with this "old" guy. He asked me what do I think the ideal survival tools might be. I was very surprised. He knew I was newly discharged and came over to talk to me.

I said a 7 or 9 inch knife and a hatchet. He told me a pocket knife and a machete, or khukri blade. I didn't say anything, he took me by surprise. He walked away. I talked to some guys, and they told me he was airborne, WW 2.
 
guess it might depend on the terrain and climate, and if you are in a war or not....machete is great for jungle warfare, an ax might be better for the northwoods, etc...
 
Either (or neither) may be the better set of survival tools in a given situation. It is entirely dependent upon what kind of environment you need to survive in, and what kind of tasks you need to accomplish.
 
Thanks SAMS,

Being I have a pocket knife and a machete, I guess I am good to go.

Any special reason for his choices?
 
He was brief, but he did say he could do pretty much anything that needed to get done with those tools. :o
 
Thanks for the post Sams..

I agree, for some environments, the pocket knife and Machete is a great choice, but to say they are "the ideal" survive tools, is somewhat closed minded.

I'm not knocking your friends service, or Combat experience.. I would just like to think we have figured out one or two more things in the 60 years since WW II.




No Regrets!
 
It is all pretty relative. I am sure not every airborne trooper used the same tools, he probably asked you just to see what you preferred, not to pass on some secret wisdom. Sort of like asking your favourite drink, a matter of choice and taste but in the end they all get the job done.
 
Thank you for responding to my post. At 59 years old I think about stuff.:rolleyes:

I left one time , my wife really pissed me off. I went to Tn and bought a Case muskrat knife and a Gransfor hatchet. Trust me I have many survival items but in a rush I left.

So no tent, no sleeping bag ,in January, and leaving Pigeon Forge, I did ok. I thought about that guy, choping fire wood, cutting tomatoes, freezing at night by the camp fire.. :)

I think a small knife and a chopping tool is pretty much it. Been there, my choice nothing but a tarp and stuff.

Oh yea it was great. :D
 
Evolute said:
Either (or neither) may be the better set of survival tools in a given situation. It is entirely dependent upon what kind of environment you need to survive in, and what kind of tasks you need to accomplish.
Click to expand...

Evolute has pretty much summed it up. :thumbup:
 
if I could go with 3 I'd say small fixed blade/SAK (w/saw) and a machete.

but as everyone knows the most functional, and versatile survival tools are a good mind and a winning attitude. IMO
 
I kind of like the khukri types because they sort of fill that gap between the small ax and the machete thats just a personal opinion of mine. I carry a glock e-tool sometimes I had a buddy sharpen one side with the built in saw that thing is versatile. Off subject i know but back on point a good khukri and a rat-3 i would be a happy man.
 
Sams what a great post. Just today I was outside and messing around in the timber. I got out my spear and just for fun grabbed one of my double bit Nessmuk's. Since there have been quite alot of this type of disscution about which and what is the best cutting tools to have with you when you go for a hike or are in a survival situation. So I put my Nessmuk in between the straping on my pouch and now carry large knife,small knife in pouch rat-3,small hand saw, and a double bit axe which does not add much weight now my kit wieghs in at under 10 pounds. Here are the pics on how I am carrying this all together.

101_0100.jpg


If you look close you can see the brown sheath on the axe I am carrying.
The next two pics is of how it fits between the strap and the pouch and what it looks like be my door. When I open the door to go out the kit gets
slung and my staff or spear is right by the door on the outside and goes with me where ever I go.

101_0105.jpg


101_0106.jpg


Well enjoy all and take care,
Bryan
 
Rescue Mike said:
.....
I agree, for some environments, the pocket knife and Machete is a great choice, but to say they are "the ideal" survive tools, is somewhat closed minded.

I'm not knocking your friends service, or Combat experience.. I would just like to think we have figured out one or two more things in the 60 years since WW II.....
Click to expand...

Actually, they had to rely on their tools more then, with heavier grear, uniforms that would rot off your body, and nowhere near the electronics, air cover and other support our troops have now. They barely had antibiotics, let alone night vision gear and GPS. I've sat with my father watching Discovery channel "modern weapons" type shows and he has made a lot of comments on the contrast between what he had to use in the South Pacific in 1944 vs. modern equipment and techniques. He survived hauling a BAR around Okinawa, die hards in caves, malaria and even Japanese B encephalitis. We tried some MRE's and THAT brought out a lot of stories about Army chow 60 years ago, lemme tell ya!

When it comes to getting from A to B in the jungle, things haven't changed much--- you fly or float around it, or chop your way through. I haven't seen any OD green weed eaters, so I assume we're still using machetes and sweat.;)
 
Sicily2 cool pics...I use cold Steel spears down by the lake. Damn alligators are a nuinces.

Goes back to my awakening, cutting / chopping. Pretty simple if you think about it .
 
how about the bugs hehehe I bet the gators can be problem too.
yep cutting and chopping you are right.
Bryan
 
sams said:
Thank you for responding to my post. At 59 years old I think about stuff.:rolleyes:

I left one time , my wife really pissed me off. I went to Tn and bought a Case muskrat knife and a Gransfor hatchet. Trust me I have many survival items but in a rush I left.

So no tent, no sleeping bag ,in January, and leaving Pigeon Forge, I did ok. I thought about that guy, choping fire wood, cutting tomatoes, freezing at night by the camp fire.. :)

I think a small knife and a chopping tool is pretty much it. Been there, my choice nothing but a tarp and stuff.

Oh yea it was great. :D
Click to expand...


I bet it was.


And i agree wether you prefer a knife or a hatchet. or which style you like a machetti, Kukri or bowie. no matter where you look the combo always seems to be a small cutter for the delicate stuff and a chopper for the big stuff.
 
I've been saying it for years, a good SAK and an axe or machete, depending on terrain. I'm working on a new type of axe/knife combo with Shane Sibert. I'll of course post pics when done.
 
Have to again agree with sicily02---I won't go anywhere in the boonies anymore without one of my Cold Steel spears, either the boar or the assegai. I spent 25 years in the Army with tours in Korea 51-52, and Nam 70-71. Wish I'd had the spears during both "excursions." Sicily02 has again inspired me to try something---adapt one of the CS spear heads with threads so I can screw it onto or remove it from the shaft. I could then use the spear head as a knife/general tool and quickly put it back on the shaft as a spear. I could use a CS Bushman but prefer the greater length and heft of one of the spear heads. Why not? Hmmm. Another thought, Cold Steel sells a version of the Assegai with a short shaft about 17 inches long (which is what Shaka Zulu trained his troops to use when he caused so much trouble for the Brits in the 1870s}. Should be really easy to make up a shaft extension...?
 
sicily02 said:
Sams what a great post. Just today I was outside and messing around in the timber. I got out my spear and just for fun grabbed one of my double bit Nessmuk's. Since there have been quite alot of this type of disscution about which and what is the best cutting tools to have with you when you go for a hike or are in a survival situation. So I put my Nessmuk in between the straping on my pouch and now carry large knife,small knife in pouch rat-3,small hand saw, and a double bit axe which does not add much weight now my kit wieghs in at under 10 pounds. Here are the pics on how I am carrying this all together.
If you look close you can see the brown sheath on the axe I am carrying.
The next two pics is of how it fits between the strap and the pouch and what it looks like be my door. When I open the door to go out the kit gets
slung and my staff or spear is right by the door on the outside and goes with me where ever I go.

101_0105.jpg


101_0106.jpg


Well enjoy all and take care,
Bryan
Click to expand...

Hey where did you get your water bottle holder? Brand name? I've been looking for something just like that.
 
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