Survival techniques with one hand?

J

jackknife

Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
17,677
For the past month or so I've been having to do things with pretty much my right hand only. Due to a problem with the base joint of my left thumb needing surgery for a tendon/ligiment problem, it's been an eye opener for how difficult some simple tasks become with only one hand in good operating order. More complex tasks become almost impossable.

How many have tried to simulate a survival senerio with only one hand? It's surprising how much of your PSK becomes almost impossable to use. certain kinds of firearms become much more difficult to use. Folding knives become very hard to open with one cold hand. Maybe it would be wise to try a one hand outing. Injury in the outdoors can be quite an experiance. A fall, an ATV accident, animal attack, anything can happen.

The loss of use of just one hand or arm, due to a break or whatever, can change the use of alot of gear. Some forthought and planning for easy to use gear may be wise. I haven't figured out how to use a fire steel. Batoning is out unless your good at balancing acts. Auto pistols become a big PITA. Pump shotguns take a backseat to a single or double break open.

Experiment.
 
I use to do the one hand survival technique before I was married.
glad thats over with.
 
Darn good point. Many times a emergency is caused by and injury. It's a good idea while everything is normal to see just what you can do with one hand at a time behind your back. I can't do anything with my left arm above my waist or about work bench height. You learn to compensate but it takes time. Sometimes, you don't have that time.

They are looking into replacing my left shoulder.
 
Ha! A one handed survival thread started by a guy whos screen name starts with Jack. Priceless!!!:D

I have thought about this topic alot. Very good possability of hand injury in the field.
 
yea I been setting up my gear to work around injuries, for instance last fall I was searching for morels, found some fungi and I cut my hand with my Tak-1 messing around with it..
My first aid kit was at the bottom of my bag, most important gear were in secure areas, however very difficult to get at.
 
You beat me to it beckerhead, he's one of only two people I subscribe to on the tube.

I seem to remember Les Stroud doing something like this in one of his shows. He was simulating a small plane crash up north, maybe Alaska or Canada, and he showed just how hard it was to cut wood and do simple things with one hand. Doubly bad if it was your good hand that you injured.

A while ago I broke my left thumb between the wrist and main joint. Had it in a cast for 3 months and yes it was my writing hand. Problem was I draw with that hand to (i'm an apprentice architect) and didn't have insurance to let me take time off work. After 3 months I was almost as good with my right as my left, amazing what the body can do with enough training or no other alternative.
 
I've practiced 1 handed ferro rod striking a bit. I'm gonna have to try that method that Beckerhead posted though. Pretty cool.

Here are two methods I do.



 
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