Survival Kit, knives and other things...

Masteroffajitas

Masteroffajitas

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I want to built a survival kit. Here are some of the things I would put in there, and some things I already have that's going in there. Do you know how I could improve this? Also, any of you know a small pack that can hold these items?

A small 4 square tackle box, with hooks, classic sd, line, little alien fish things(look like bugs with hooks on them.

Canteen with stove and water purifiers

Little first-aid kit

Light my fire spork and knife utensil

50ft+ of 550 cord

Tinder kit, with flint, and striker

Space blanket

Mirror, compass, whistle

SAK Traveler, Bladetech ULU, BK11...

And maybe some food like energy bar or vitamins and stuff...
 
Flashlight, some kind of water carrier (even just an oven bag), water purification tabs, bandanna, and does 'flint and striker' mean flint, or firesteel? If it's flint, then I'd also add a firesteel to your setup.

I'd also ditch the fishing kit, but that's just personal experience. I don't find them that useful. (Plus, it takes a good while for food to become that big a priority in a 'survival' situation, and I'd probably have better luck with trapping).

Will this be a basic belt kit, car kit, 'bottom of the pack' kit, etc?
 
SpookyPistolero said:
Flashlight, some kind of water carrier (even just an oven bag), water purification tabs, bandanna, and does 'flint and striker' mean flint, or firesteel? If it's flint, then I'd also add a firesteel to your setup.

I'd also ditch the fishing kit, but that's just personal experience. I don't find them that useful. (Plus, it takes a good while for food to become that big a priority in a 'survival' situation, and I'd probably have better luck with trapping).

Will this be a basic belt kit, car kit, 'bottom of the pack' kit, etc?
Click to expand...

Maybe your right about the fishing kit, been watching to much survivor man.

Flint means steel, or does it? I meant to say striker and a steel.
 
sounds like a good kit for a back-pack,you should see if you can consolidate it into a smaller waterproof pelican like pack
 
Flint is a type of silica rock, usually dark gray coloured and most commonly found in chalky areas. It's the cave-man-old way of lighting fires. Used with a steel (which is actually hardened carbon steel), which is struck against the hard, sharp flint edge. This causes tiny shards of the steel to fly off and the friction causes them to ignite - little sparks! This method is harder work but a useful skill to have.

Then there is modern, man-made 'flint' like is used in a zippo lighter. This is not flint like the rock, and using the word 'flint' here often leads to confusion. It's actually a mixture of metals less confusingly called mischmetal, ferrocerium or a rod of the stuff is a ferro rod. This can be scraped with any hard, sharp implement and shards of the ferro rod scrape off and ignite. This is what happens in the zippo but you can get ferro rods much larger than those tiny ones. They make great fire lighting tools due to the large shower of hot sparks.

Hope this helps.
 
How about First Aid? Some common meds, too - aspirin, benadryl, antacid, etc. I'd keep some line & a couple of hooks. Some cotton balls/wadding - dipped in Vaseline - even a chest rub - stowed in a airtight pill bottle - will help start a fire in the rain with that Firesteel.

Stainz
 
SpookyPistolero said:
I'd also ditch the fishing kit, but that's just personal experience. I don't find them that useful.
Click to expand...

I don't know about that; a few small hooks, sinkers, and a length of fishing line is probably the lightest food gathering tool you can carry. And I'd hazard a guess that your average person could be far more successful with a baited trot line or two than with any number of traps. For emergency fishing, I think you're better off omitting lures and planning to set out trot lines.

It's true that food is pretty low on the list of priorities, but I guarantee that at the end of your first 24 hrs without it, you'll be cursing the people who told you that you can last three weeks without food and you don't need to carry a fishing kit. :)
 
Zaner01 said:
I don't know about that; a few small hooks, sinkers, and a length of fishing line is probably the lightest food gathering tool you can carry. And I'd hazard a guess that your average person could be far more successful with a baited trot line or two than with any number of traps. For emergency fishing, I think you're better off omitting lures and planning to set out trot lines.

It's true that food is pretty low on the list of priorities, but I guarantee that at the end of your first 24 hrs without it, you'll be cursing the people who told you that you can last three weeks without food and you don't need to carry a fishing kit. :)
Click to expand...

Have you tried really using the items in your kit to catch a fish? It's not all that reliable or simple. And if you want fish, there are easy ways to build a 'trap' in a stream to get fish.

Stainz said:
How about First Aid? Some common meds, too - aspirin, benadryl, antacid, etc.
Stainz
Click to expand...

He mentioned having a first aid kit.

Masteroffajitas said:
Maybe your right about the fishing kit, been watching to much survivor man.

Flint means steel, or does it? I meant to say striker and a steel.
Click to expand...

Foxyrick really hit the explanation well. Here's a visual.
Firesteel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_zngipl11Q
Flint and steel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzeY1usbiVk
 
SpookyPistolero said:
Have you tried really using the items in your kit to catch a fish?
Click to expand...

Yes. I've caught fish on improvised set lines on the couple of occasions when I've tried it.

It's true that this isn't as simple or reliable as it may seem, but neither is trapping. Setting out traps takes longer and unless you're done it before, your chances of success seem pretty slim to me. And setting up a fish trap certainly takes much longer than rigging a trotline.

For the average person, I'd say, catching fish is easier than trapping animals, provided only that you're close to fishable water. Given that modern braided superlines can do double duty as fishing line and whatever else (50 lb test as thin as 12 lb mono), and that some small hooks and split shot occupy minimal space, it makes sense to include a bare-bones fishing kit.

Edited to add: I agree absolutely that food isn't going to be a priority, especially as the average SAR operation lasts less than 12 hours. But at least having a couple of fish hooks lets you think you're doing something constructive about it. I use the same rationale for including snare wire: it has lots of uses other than snares, and if you are stuck for over a day, making snares will be good for morale if nothing else.
 
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I may not be the best person to contribute to this thread as I have a thread open asking for suggestions about a kit I'm putting together for some family members. But some of the guys here mentioned contractor-grade trash bags. I never thought about that and it seems that would be able to cover much of your water-gathering and shelter needs. Here's a link to my thread if you want to check it out, there are some very good suggestions there (as always :thumbup:):

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=617574
 
SpookyPistolero said:
Have you tried really using the items in your kit to catch a fish? It's not all that reliable or simple. And if you want fish, there are easy ways to build a 'trap' in a stream to get fish.
Click to expand...

We use improvised fishing gear at our farm all the time. Just time some hooks on line and a tree limb and toss in the creek. Works everytime.
 
Cool guys, glad you got it to work for you. 'Me and mine' haven't had worthwhile luck with it, but I've gotten small game and fish with traps.
 
G'day Masteroffajitas

Masteroffajitas said:
Maybe your right about the fishing kit, been watching to much survivor man.
Click to expand...

A few small fishing hooks and line don't take up much room and can catch more than just fish ( birds and lizards are also on the menu).

Personally I can't see any reason to be prepared to go without food when outdoors. But then again maybe I like my food too much :D



Kind regards
Mick
 
I've seen people put BB guns and wrist rockets in thier kits, do any of you put them in your kits and have used them before with success?

It's seemed like a good Idea, but it might have been a gag or something.
 
In a survival kit, I don't see any need for slingshots, etc.

You have a limited amount of space & weight for the kit. You want to be able to comfortably carry it while doing other things. So you want to use the space you have available on items that will be useful in an emergency.

Your emergency is probably that you are lost, or that the weather has turned unexpectedly, or that you are hurt. You are either hot and thirsty or cold and wet; you may be in pain; you are probably scared and certainly worried. You may be hungry, but you have bigger concerns than food. And you're probably going to be out of the woods in 12 hours or less. In other words, a slingshot is not something you need.

If your ordeal goes longer than 12 hours, then you're going to get hungry. But hunger isn't going to kill you. A few fish hooks and some snare wire take up very little space, so it makes sense to carry these things, but the space taken by a slingshot elastic is probably best used for something else.

I'd beef up my first aid kit before carrying anything for hunting. I'd look at things like bug juice and sunscreen, duct tape, trail marking tape, yer big orange garbage bags, etc., long before thinking about a slingshot.
 
The hooks in a small fishing kit can be utilized in a snare situation. They can also be used with a pole and line and a little thread off your clothes to catch frogs (frog legs!!!) and snakes. A treble hook tied on the end of a finger size sapling can be used to twist into and pull small game out of a burrow. Be ready with a stick when they come out though!--Sling shot rubbers could be packed to take up little space and a Y frame whittled in the field as necessary. The rubbers could also be used in a snare set-up. Dont know if you could take game without a lot of practice but like someone said, it would keep your mind and hands busy in case you're not recued right away.---KV
 
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....start with the recommended "10 Basics" and then work your way from there : http://www.washington-hiking-advisor.com/basics.html

You can add on as needed. Experience and territory will dictate what stays and what is superfluous. Carry your kit on a strenuous hike up a mountain trail full of switch-backs....you'll learn real fast what is extraneous. ;)

- regards
 
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Remember that traps and trotlines work while you're not there. Slingshots and BB guns don't.

The time you spend hunting with a slingshot is time that you aren't improving your shelter, gathering firewood, building a signal fire, etc. If you're good with a slingshot and the woods abound with squirrels, that's one thing, but for most, hunting with a slingshot burns calories and exposes you to the elements for questionable gain.
 
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