The second piece of essential survival tool

My first thought was knife, firesteel, metal pot or canteen.
Then I thought, it's possible to start fire by the bow drill method but I don't see myself boiling or storing water without a canteen so maybe the order should be knife, canteen, firesteel.
Regardless of order, those are my big three.
 
Flashlight! I don't always need a fire, but it does always tend to get dark...

I could fashion something to use as a knife in a pinch and could make some sort of friction fire if I really had to, but creating usable, portable light is a bit more difficult.
 
Magnussen said:
I would want a metal pot..... perhaps... even before a knife:eek:.... I know I may get a infraction for that statement.:o Dehydration or the squirts really sucks. During my recent training session, I would have traded my knife for a canteen cup.

I realize you aren't asking for three but here it is in order...

Metal pot
Knife
Bic

So my second would be a KNIFE.:thumbup:

Rick
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Have you made\do you think you could make fire without a knife?

Edit: For me it would be a firesteel
 
I'd say my canteen kit (canteen, cup and pouch). I know it's more than one item, but I never carry just one piece. And I left out the bandanna, MicroPur tabs and tea bags.

Since I live in FL, I could probably survive even in the winter without a fire if I had to.
Besides, in winter, is about the only time it's dry here and I can usually get a bow drill to work.

'Course, I EDC a knife, flashlight and lighter, so. . .
 
VaughnT said:
One Large All Metal Spatula.

The most versatile tool you could ask for!
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Hey!... I have one of those!!!

It's right there behind "Violet", my tactical pink poodle.:thumbup:

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magnussen, I must ask what is that pole to the right of the shovel. It wouldn't happen to be a baton sword would it? :p
 
So dependent on the location.

My answer when I lived in AZ would have been a signal mirror. Even before a knife. If signalling was out, a space blanket.

In the northern valley environment, it's a bit tougher. my initial reaction is a tossup between a crooked knife,a bic, and 100 feet of 550 cord.. In season, with the right wandering around, a bow or hand drill rig isn't that hard to make down here, but it could be enough of a bitch that I'd rather have a bic and burn my bowls.

the minimum operating base for all the hiking packs for the lowlands, though is- knife, bic, iodine, paracord, and a space blanket. I've got I don't even know how many of those setups in gallon ziplocs bags in every bag, pack, glove box, even various ammo carriers and range boxes.
 
remmmm said:
Have you made\do you think you could make fire without a knife?

Edit: For me it would be a firesteel
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I know he got a coal once without a knife, using a bow drill and used only stones to fashion his spindle and hearth...so I'd say he probably can.
 
In my area for me it would be Knife, metal pot, poncho.

edit, my 3rd changed
 
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After a knife? Ferro rod for me too. Get thousands of fires, although a lighter is much more convenient if this is short term survival.

A metal pot is a wonderful thing, but you can always hot rock if you need to, and that's easier for me meager skills than starting a fire from scratch. If you're on the move, then the pot is more convenient then carving a hole in a log every time you move when hot rocking and you can bring your firebow kit with you.

I concur as to order of importance (although, again, this changes with climate, area, length, etc): Knife, ferro rod, metal pot, then tarp or poncho.
 
I'm curious as to how many of you have used the hot rock boiling method as a principle means of cooking and purifying water? (Even if only for a weekend trip) I repeatedly see this method casually mentioned as an alternative, but in my experience, it is 10X's the amount of work. According to several sources... in the early trade days, Natives apprized the metal pot more than knives, axes and firearms combined.


Rick
 
Magnussen said:
I'm curious as to how many of you have used the hot rock boiling method as a principle means of cooking and purifying water? (Even if only for a weekend trip) I repeatedly see this method casually mentioned as an alternative, but in my experience, it is 10X's the amount of work. According to several sources... in the early trade days, Natives apprized the metal pot more than knives, axes and firearms combined.


Rick
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I've done the "hot-rock-heating" thing warming up MRE components in the winter when I didn't have a pot, hence my current choice of the guyot, it's a canteen and boiling pot in one item and why I bought it,(though having the GSI cup with it is nice). I've never tried actually boiling water with hot stones, looks like a lot of work.



Magnussen said:
Yeah, a Bic wrapped in 100ft of paracord and shoved in a GSI canteen cup, right?....... one item:thumbup:
Click to expand...


Oh wait, is it too late to change my one item.........


.
 
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