Survival Kit...?

Gerberblades

Gerberblades

Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
4,302
Hi-
I am putting together a personal survival kit using a leather pouch. The pouches are about 5 by 5.5 inches. The first thing I want is a fire steel, and other fire starting material such as cotton ball soaked in wax. What would you keep in one?

 
Are those the pouches in your sig? Looks nice!

You might go with some jute cord soaked in wax instead of the cotton balls, an LMF (Light My Fire) army model steel is always good.
 
If you wanted continuity of looks, as in more traditional, I'd go with a piece of flint and a carbon steel striker. Some jute twine as suggested or char cloth, a brass gentleman's compass, a small shoe polish or tobacco tin(sanded and given an aged look)that houses a fishing kit, some brass snarewire, and maybe something like Scott's PSK or PSK Jr.
A very basic set of tools there with good versatility, and a nice traditional look if you ask me. Ofcourse it's more of a woods walking or bushcraft kit than a survival kit this way though, since it doesn't address the needs of water, or signalling.


Gautier
 
Thats what I was looking for, Gautier. Thanks for your suggestions. I do want to keep a traditional look and have something that I can wear any where, any time. I'll post pics when I get it put together.




Gautier said:
If you wanted continuity of looks, as in more traditional, I'd go with a piece of flint and a carbon steel striker. Some jute twine as suggested or char cloth, a brass gentleman's compass, a small shoe polish or tobacco tin(sanded and given an aged look)that houses a fishing kit, some brass snarewire, and maybe something like Scott's PSK or PSK Jr.
A very basic set of tools there with good versatility, and a nice traditional look if you ask me. Ofcourse it's more of a woods walking or bushcraft kit than a survival kit this way though, since it doesn't address the needs of water, or signalling.


Gautier
Click to expand...
 
No problem. As I thought about it more I figured you might want to throw in a small Arkansas stone in a slip pouch and a handkerchief(multi use item, including emergency bandage). Then you'd just have to worry about water and signalling. Maybe one of those old conductor's whistles could go in for signaling. If you carried a wine skin or bota bag you'd have water taken care of and it would be a well rounded kit with almost all bases covered and look traditional.

Arkansas stone-tool maintenance
Jute-lashing for shelter and tinder
Brass wire-repairs,lashing, snares, traps
Fishing kit-same as above, plus intended use
Brass compass-navigation
Flint and steel-fire, signalling
Conductor's whistle-signalling
Knife-obvious reasons
Bota bag/wineskin-water
Handkerchief-sling, tourniquet, makeshift bandage, misc. uses.

Yep, that's all the basics of survival if you have the skills to put them to use. As an added tip, you could keep the fishing kit in the tin from rattling around by packing it with extra tinder. Vaseline soaked cotton balls or char cloth would dampen the rattling of hooks and split shot. Can't wait to see some pictures, I may just have to order a pouch and do a kit like this myself after the new year and money isn't so tight. :thumbup:


Gautier
 
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A small survival kit has limited abilities. Maybe a small mirror? Some waterproofed matches? Piece of candle? I liked the idea of a PSK and a small compass. A SAK always has a place in my day. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

 
Appreciate the suggestions. I started thinking about this idea a lot more when the temps here got into the -10 range. I have a 20+ year old SAK that is brand new and has been sharpened but never used or carried. It will fit nicely at the bottom of the pouch.


Rotte said:


A small survival kit has limited abilities. Maybe a small mirror? Some waterproofed matches? Piece of candle? I liked the idea of a PSK and a small compass. A SAK always has a place in my day. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
Click to expand...
 
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