The second piece of essential survival tool

mistwalker said:
I've never tried actually boiling water with hot stones, looks like a lot of work.
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It IS.... I seriously considered sticking my axe head in the fire to boil the water. I did it for 4days and drank dirty sooty water that was probably on the the brink of still being contaminated. I gave up on rice and noodles that trip. I realise the Aboriginals didn't worry much about crypto and giardia but still.... man, it must have been like winning the lottery to receive that first copper pot, back in the day.

Rick
 
Good points Rick. I might have to agree and go with metal pot/flask, then fire starter (Bic), then knife. I can be pretty happy with a metal container and a fire.

I can start a fire without a Bic, but it's much more reliable and quicker with a Bic.
 
Magnussen said:
It IS.... I seriously considered sticking my axe head in the fire to boil the water. I did it for 4days and drank dirty sooty water that was probably on the the brink of still being contaminated. I gave up on rice and noodles that trip. I realise the Aboriginals didn't worry much about crypto and giardia but still.... man, it must have been like winning the lottery to receive that first copper pot, back in the day.

Rick
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The soot and ash was a problem for me too...not that it really did much to worsen the taste of the MREs...but it really didn't help either.

I imagine the first guy to ever make a metal pot was quite a popular fellow in his area...like a local hero.

.
 
I've used hot rocks on a few occasions. It's definitely work and I consider it more of a basecamp tool, versus when on the move. I've carved bowls into logs to hot rock (a lot of work), and I've also used a poncho folded into fourths in a shallow hole in the ground. Put a flat rock on the bottom so the hot rocks don't burn holes in the poncho. It's very doable, but I found my poncho delaminating because of it and the water was very sooty, as you said. I also found it better to have some tubing to use as a straw, as it was hard to get the water out.
 
I think I'd take a nice thick garbage bag before a knife

As romantic as the "getting stuck out in the bush and having to build a log cabin, make a bow, fashion fur clothing and cast rudimentary bronze cookware" is, I think I'm more likely to find myself incapacitated and having to wait the 1 or 2 days for SAR to come and find me.

For that I'd prefer to just sit in a garbage bag than be freaking out trying to make fire/ weapons/ shelter/ spoons/ fur smoking jackets. But I've never had to baton/ feather wood/ cast sparks with my knife while uncontrollably shivering and shaking from a panic attack. Maybe it's that easy.

and yes, I do love knives too. Just my perspective.
 
1: knife

2: either a metal pot of some sort or a big old reel of strong paracord or 1/4" kevlar line.

i'm torn on that second one.
 
Firepouch702.jpg

Living on the Oregon coast, if I am ever in trouble I will probably also be wet. Fire will be most important then I can figure out what to drink from. Thankfully there is a lot of fresh water available.
 
I was going to ask if that was one of Rick's kits, until Rick chimed in. I need to save up some pennies and get one of those. That's hands down the coolest primitive fire kit I've ever seen! How well does the magnifier work and about what magnification is it?
 
Hey Beef,

If you can have anything, you might as well bring a Gore-tex (or whatever waterproof breatheable material you prefer) bivy sack along. Yes most of them are heavier and bulkier than a contractor's bag, but they actually breathe.

I've used contractor's bags a few times and always wake up drenched in sweat or condensation. Don't get me wrong, I still keep them in my kits, but if you have the choice, there's better alternatives out there.

Just my .02
 
kage said:
Hey Beef,

If you can have anything, you might as well bring a Gore-tex (or whatever waterproof breatheable material you prefer) bivy sack along. Yes most of them are heavier and bulkier than a contractor's bag, but they actually breathe.

I've used contractor's bags a few times and always wake up drenched in sweat or condensation. Don't get me wrong, I still keep them in my kits, but if you have the choice, there's better alternatives out there.

Just my .02
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Hi Kage,
I thought it was just stuff we had on our person. I'd obviously prefer a goretex over a steamy garbage bag, though the garbage bag may trap more heat being a vapor barrier.
 
Highly dependant on environment but i would rate appropriate clothing as No.1 in most situations.

Its also quite difficult to make any sort of clothing in the wild.

So my top 3 would be:

1: Appropriate clothing
2: Some quick and reliable fire making, implement.
3: Knife

Yes a knife third, i like knives but imho it is quite possible to survive quite a few days without one or fashion something that will suffice for cutting purposes in most eviroments. One could even argue the case of the metal cup or other boiling container before the knife imho.
 
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Magnussen said:
Nice Kit, Bro!
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I should hope so. It was made by the master.:D
Swmbo has been trying her hand at making fire with it. I will finally be able to get my hands on it the end of this month. I haven't been home since last June but I should be there soon.
Thanks again.:thumbup:
 
In the UK, it really depends on where you are:


Anywhere in Scotland: DEET-based midge repellent. Lots of it.

Also in Scotland: Clothing. You will get locked up otherwise - see http://nakedwalk.org/

Loch Ness: Big-game fishing tackle; well, you never know what you might catch!



English Lake District: Waterproof clothing, treated for extra water resistance. Make sure it can float you for when it really rains.

The Pennine Way: Money; you navigate from pub to pub and the beer's expensive.

England, anywhere that we are allowed in the countryside: A camera. At least that way you'll feel part of the crowd.

England, other than the above: A ghillie suit. You'll need it to hide from the bailiffs, game keepers, farmers, rozzers, landed gentry, druggies, other weirdos etc.


Wales, North: Sheep repellent. The woolly menaces steal your sandwiches!

Wales, Brecon Beacons: Black clothing and an S10 respirator. You can pretend you're SAS and chat up the local talent.

:D
 
I'm just imagining how well the suggestion of a knife as second, third or fourth choice on this forum would go over even a couple years ago. :thumbup:

It's certainly arguable.
 
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