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jsitm

Joined
Jan 31, 2001
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We all love to talk gear & gadgets for survival, but we should all know that it is skills, not gadgets, that will help us survive an emergency. I don't have a multi-tool; I don't have any K-rations or MREs in my car. Instead I am slowly picking up primitive skills that make use of any available materials to meet basic needs. I say slowly because I don't have a lot of time, but I am learning: Right now I am picking up several kinds of knots (I've been braiding fibers for a while now, so knots are natural for me. Braiding is another good skill to have in the wild). Just knowing how to tie a bowline, lash two sticks together, & put together a slipknot of some kind will have you more prepared than any quantity of plastic ties or cuffs ever will. I also know a few basic skills of woodworking, which can also be adapted to building shelters, weapons, etc. even if you don't have modern tools at your disposal.

For those here who don't know much primitive skills & want to pick 'em up now, I recommend two guys: Larry Dean Olsen & Tom Brown Jr. Both are experts in primitive survivalism. They are the real deal. Border's carries Brown's books. Get one or two, learn the methods in them & practice practice practice!

Just thought I would add my 5 cents.
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jsitm

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"Wise men argue causes, & fools decide them."

- Anarchus
 
Knives, multitools, etc are merely aids for the underskilled (myself definately included). They help make up for the lack of experience and knowledge in field craft. Of course its all of no use if you don't have a good head screwed on your shoulders.
 
Good point! I agree with you on learning survival skills; I learn something new everyday (often from this forum).
I'm also rather surprised at how much knowledge my Father and Mother passed on to me. They grew up poor down here in the Carolinas and they learned to improvise and adapt just as a way of life.
My Dad still has his favorite sling-shot from when he was ten years old (he carved it himself, and he swears he could knock a bird out of a tree from 30 feet away).
I still travel with a tool kit and a survival kit in my truck (and one in my wife's car too). I believe in being prepared.

[This message has been edited by allenC (edited 02-13-2001).]
 
Absolutely true, skills and wit are of the utmost importance.

However, push come to shove, I want some top quality gear to aid me and mine in the application of skills and wit. Hand in hand with the quest for knowledge and skill is the quest for those tools and materials to promote our adaptability, survivability, lifestyle, and comfort.

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It's not the pace of life that concerns me, It's the sudden stop at the end.
 
yes, skills are paramount over gadgets, but in an emeergency having a tool when you need it can beat knowing how to make that tool.

for example, is it better to know how to knap a flint or glass knife to cut a rope, or to have a good blade on your person that can be accessed and used quickly?

if time is critical, obviously HAVING the knive is better than taking the time to find the materials and then make a blade.

true, some obsess on the gadgetry, but a basic dependable blade can do as much work as a fancy one, perhaps more if you end up leaving the expensive tool at home.

personally i always have a good knife and a multi tool on my person, they frequently get used for many mundane tasks, but i have had times when having them with me made a big difference over having to go get it.

i also keep water and a first aid kit in the truck, along with a fire extinguisher, automotive tools and a spare tire and jack. afterall NOBODY is impressed when someone says, "i KNOW how to change a tire, but i don't have a spare".

anyway, IMHO skills and tools go hand in hand and good equipment saves time and effort, which can make a diference in an emergency.
 
I agree with sgtmike88 and fixer. It would be optimum if we all had the time and patience to learn and practice these primitive skills; however, most primitive people, upon discovering a steel knife, never went back to flint!

I aggree that owning a bunch of gadgets does not make one a survival expert, but Mother Nature can sometimes make a mess of one who is skilled but without the necessary "makin's" available also. I think for most, the pendulum needs to center -- enough skills supported by the best survival tools you can get your hands on. Not everyone has the time to get enough practice, but a good familiarization may have to do. I think about military pilots who carry survival gear on or about them. They practice the skills they are taught occasionally but their job is bent on other things.

I've read the books indicated above and found them fascinating. But I've decided I don't want to live as a primitive. Others have found these skills unusual and have made money teaching and writing books. For myself, I want to possess some skills and some necessary tools to aid.

Bruce Woodbury
 
I see the tools and gadgets and nice aids to have along, and given my choice, I'd PREFER that if I ever get stuck somewhere I happen to have good collection with me. However, even though I'm always carrying a firestarting tool and a few knives, I still practice rubbing two sticks together, knapping, etc.

Tools are around to help and make things easier as aids, and honestly are pretty much what separate us from animals (except the chimpanzee who will use a stick as a tool to catch ants...) I agree with the need to have the knowledge and skills without tools, but I don't feel a need to give up the gadgets, except for practice situations. Even then, I'll usually have the tools around and just try not to use them (such as starting a fire in a nice downpour...I'll try a small sheltered bow drill, but if hypothermia starts in, I'll happily use a trioxane tab).

Just my $.02

cj
s002cjs@yahoo.com
 
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