Small fixed blade, folder, or multi tool for survival kit?

Sesoku

Sesoku

Joined
Oct 19, 1998
Messages
498
What do you all include in your small survival kits for the main knife/tool? I was thinking either a small fixed blade similar to the Arclite but shorter, a bare-bones leatherman like the pst or pst II, or folding knife. A SAK would be nice but I really want some sort of blade lock. I am leaning toward a leatherman for all the tools. No matter what the overall length cannot exceed 5.5 inches.
What do you think?
 
A Leatherman would be a good tool to include although the blades do not hold a decent edge in my experience. Check out ragweedforge.com for one of the short sturdy Scandinavian fixed blades that might fit your criteria.
 
I think the answer depends on what type of survival kit it is.

1. An extremely small one that is carried in your pocket.
2. A medium sized one carried in a camelback.
3. A large one carried in your pack.

I carry various sizes of survival kits depending on where they are placed. For the small one in my hip pocket... I have a small folder.

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Greg Davenport
Simply Survival's Wilderness Survival Forum
Simply Survival's Web Page
Are You Ready For The Challenge?
Are You Ready To Learn The Art Of Wilderness Survival?
 
The kit is going to be encased in an Otterbox 2000, which is why I said the tool has to be 5.5 inches or less in total length. So I guess it would qualify as a "medium" kit. It's not a pocket kit, unless you count cargo pockets.
 
Try any one of the 91 - 111mm Victorinox SAK's with tools appropriate for your needs. The 111mm models have locking main & screwdriver blades.

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It's not the pace of life that concerns me, It's the sudden stop at the end.
 
I like the leatherman micra for a small kit and for a larger kit,definitely a good quality multitool--one of the big ones. I have 3 multitool rigs, each paired with a mini-maglite. I've found a wonderful "pouch" back in the hardware area of a big department store that is perfect for me. It will carry a multitool and a flashlight, and it has an outer pouch for a small minikit. you can either clip it to your belt or slide your belt through a loop. This is a rugged little pouch. I like to keep it in my vehicle or throw it in my daypack for a hike. It also sits nicely in my gamebag when I'm out hunting. This past season, I was real happy I had that mag lite to find my way out of the woods one evening after chasing squirrels. I got a little turned around on the trails and without the flashlight, I would have probably spent another hour or more of wandering around.

I just scanned a pic of the rig but won't be able to upload it until monday. These pouches cost around $5 if I remember right and are a pretty good deal. You can find them where you find nail and tool pouches. They are brown with black trim. Mine says CLC on it.

Ok. I figured a way to access my server. Here is the pic.
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/clc2.jpg
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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM



[This message has been edited by Hoodoo (edited 02-02-2001).]
 
I put a Gator lock-back folding knife into my small kit (which is a good size pouch) and wear a LM Wave on my belt. The Gator is very light but quite strong for a Zytel+Craton handle construction. Might not be the world's best folder but served well and costs little. The Wave on the other hand is one of the best in its class. A huge selection of good size folders is available too (Benza, BM Pinnacle and axis locks, Spydy Endura and Native, etc.) so you can find your style.
If your kit allows the size of a fixed blade, even if it is a neck knife, that gives you the strongest/simplest (sometimes less expensive) blade option. This sector of the market is growing too. It can be skeletonized, without slabs, wrapped with paracord or left naked for less weight and less thickness. You still need a good sheath. Maybe one that you can also clip on your belt and still fits into your kit and cargo pocket. The skeletonized handle might have ‘smart’ holes drilled for lanyard, holes for attaching paracord or improvised wooden slabs, and to attach knife at end of spear. The ArcLite is close to this concept IMO.

Hoodoo, nice set up. Have you tried to put the metal match into the ‘pencil holder’? Maybe with a rubberized thin cord attached to the carabiner so you do not lose it.

HM

 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by HM:

Hoodoo, nice set up. Have you tried to put the metal match into the ‘pencil holder’? Maybe with a rubberized thin cord attached to the carabiner so you do not lose it.

HM
</font>
Click to expand...

Great idea HM! Fits in the pencil holder perfectly and I just clip the lanyard to the keyholder for safety. Thanks for the tip!
smile.gif
I'll just put a smaller pencil in the box and I'll still have a little extra room for some other goody.

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Hoodoo: where did you get the clear plastic
box and do they sell empty ones?
 
gorm,
The box is a Plano and they sell them all over the place. I probably got this one at some fishing shop but big department chain stores often have them as well. They come empty, for less than 2 bucks. This one has no compartments, just one big open space. You can also get them with compartments but I like this type. It's quite a bit bigger than an Altoids tin so it gives me more room and it fits perfectly into the pouch.

This particular box is model 3448. The company is Plano Molding Co. Plano, Illinois.

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
I picked up several of those boxes at the local Walmart for less than $1 each. They hold a lot and are durn near indestructable. Sealed with some good duct tape, they're waterproof as well. I use mine primarily to store first aid supplies for larger kits / bug out bags.

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It's not the pace of life that concerns me, It's the sudden stop at the end.
 
Hoodoo: I am glad it worked out well. I kinda like arranging and rearranging my own kit too.

HM
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Sesoku:
What do you all include in your small survival kits for the main knife/tool? I was thinking either a small fixed blade similar to the Arclite but shorter, a bare-bones leatherman like the pst or pst II, or folding knife. A SAK would be nice but I really want some sort of blade lock. I am leaning toward a leatherman for all the tools. No matter what the overall length cannot exceed 5.5 inches.
What do you think?</font>
Click to expand...

In my larger kit I use a Leatherman Super Tool. I bought the tool adapter and then a case that holds the tool, adapter, and six bits from Cheaper Than Dirt. At a gun show I found a guy selling a large 32 bit set that is in this lttle red plastic slip case with a short magnetic extention for $5.00. The little case is 1x1.5x2.5" and provides every bit to take about anything apart. I wish I had gotten the guy's card because I've never seen him again.
One other thing on your cargo pocket...in the "Quartermaster" new products section of SOF Magazine either in the November or December issue was a company selling waterproof pouches made to fit the BDU Cargo pockets. They have a website but can't find the magazine it was in. Maybe someone reading this can find it and pass it along. They had several innovative products but I can't find the name. ....Bob
 
If you want a very compact survival kit with the basics to survive on I suggest not getting a production knife. What I use is a hacksaw blade that is cut to the length I need then with a taped handle. The hacksaw metal sharpens nicely and you also have a saw. Sure it isn't as aggressive in the tasks it can do but you can get around that.
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Hoodoo:
I've found a wonderful "pouch" back in the hardware area of a big department store that is perfect for me. It will carry a multitool and a flashlight, and it has an outer pouch for a small minikit.
</font>
Click to expand...

Looks like a cool rig. Thanks for posting the pic. Now of course I have to go find one. Grin.

Craig

 
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