true meaning of survival

A

andrew7978

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
664
I am often tempted to buy certain knives because of posts on this forum. I am very tempted to buy a Fallkniven F1, however each time I consider buying this, my brain reminds me the true meaning of survival. To me, it means making due with what you have. You do not need dozens and dozens of knives (unless of course you like collecting them). You do not need the most popular knife, you just need something that can get the job done. This also applies to other survival gear. For example, I own an expensive waterproof case (used in kayaking) that I put my tinder in. For the most part, a zip lock bag works well.

I'm sure that I'm rambling but basically my point is learning and using your survival skills does not have to be an expensive hobby. I like using old reliable methods and tools. I do not need top of the line high tech things for everything. What do you all think about this?
 
But they help and you can show them of to your freinds and most importantly a high tech garentead to work knife will be more reliable then something that can "Just get the job done.":D

But what do i now im only 14. your words probably come from experiance and wisdom.
 
andrew7978 said:
I am often tempted to buy certain knives because of posts on this forum. I am very tempted to buy a Fallkniven F1, however each time I consider buying this, my brain reminds me the true meaning of survival. To me, it means making due with what you have. You do not need dozens and dozens of knives (unless of course you like collecting them). You do not need the most popular knife, you just need something that can get the job done. This also applies to other survival gear. For example, I own an expensive waterproof case (used in kayaking) that I put my tinder in. For the most part, a zip lock bag works well.

I'm sure that I'm rambling but basically my point is learning and using your survival skills does not have to be an expensive hobby. I like using old reliable methods and tools. I do not need top of the line high tech things for everything. What do you all think about this
Click to expand...

I think our opinion is already out there for you in the fact that we are gearing up in the Bushcraft Skills thread to make this a greater learning and sharing experience, as it always should have been IMHO.

I do not need top of the line high tech things for everything.
Click to expand...
None of us do, and I believe that will be proven if the Bushcraft Skills idea gets off the ground.

Doc
 
There are two kinds of survival situation.

One is packing into back country where the going is tough and you probably have to live off the land to some extent, you can't carry supplies for the whole time you plan to be hunting or exploring or just hiking.

Since you know what you're getting into, it makes sense to bring equipment optimized for the challenges you will face.

The other survival situation is emergency survival, when you get lost or a storm blows in, and you weren't prepared to be out in that so long. Then you need to turn simpler equipment to more complex tasks -- skill will get you through both situations, but it's the only thing that will get you through the second.

It makes sense then to devolp skills first, and worry about small increments of capability of your equipment last. You're better off with cheap but reliable than with expensive and unfamiliar.
 
andrew7978 said:
You do not need dozens and dozens of knives (unless of course you like collecting them). You do not need the most popular knife,
Click to expand...

SHUT UP!!!!

Do you realize what will happen if the women in our lives read this???

We are gonna kick you out of the club pal!

OK, just kidding :D that was actually a great post. And had a lot of truth to it! :thumbup:
 
I'm missing the point - you're stating the obvious, so what knife are you using/thinking of buying? Is there something you have that you like better than the F1?
 
The Last Confederate said:
SHUT UP!!!!

Do you realize what will happen if the women in our lives read this???

We are gonna kick you out of the club pal!

OK, just kidding :D that was actually a great post. And had a lot of truth to it! :thumbup:
Click to expand...

To any women reading this: I was not in a sound state of mind when writing this. It is in the best interest of all outdoorsman to have the best gear, the most expensive knives and the most quanity of every type of knife. ;)

sodak said:
I'm missing the point - you're stating the obvious, so what knife are you using/thinking of buying? Is there something you have that you like better than the F1?
Click to expand...

There wasn't too much of a point to this. It is just rational for not blowing all of my earnings on knives. I am not saying I have anything better than the F1. In fact I can gauruntee that I do not. It was just an example of a knife that many people regard as very high quality. I am saying survival is about making due with what you have or what knife you have. You do not need top of line gear to be a successful survivalist (I guess that just means not dying:D)
 
Sigh... true, true.

I would like nothing better than to live in the days of the pioneer, building a log cabin by hand, hunting my food, being entirely self-sufficient.

Unfortunately that era is long gone, and now most of us spend our days in front of computers under flourescent lighting, until our next break to the 'wilderness' (not even that wild anymore) come vacation time. But that doesn't prevent us from dreaming about it, and 'preparing' for it. Which is where all the high tech goodies, that can be obtained with the help of said computer, come in. :D

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with taking advantage of technology. The equipment available today is infinitely superior to what people had in the 'good old days'. I still prefer travelling light when I venture outdoors myself, but if technology can keep my feet dry and prevent me from getting lost while doing so, then I won't say no.

Mark
 
Andy, you're on the right track. Survival doesn't require expensive tools and high tech gadgets. Read about Poon Lin's survival at sea in this month's Backwoodsman magazine. He had next to nothing besides his pocket knife, yet he did OK for five months until he was picked up by a fishing boat. Even if you don't subscribe to Backwoodsman you should go to their website and send them five bucks for the Nov./Dec. 2007 issue because it contains quite a bit of good survival information.
 
andrew7978 said:
There wasn't too much of a point to this. It is just rational for not blowing all of my earnings on knives. I am not saying I have anything better than the F1. In fact I can gauruntee that I do not. It was just an example of a knife that many people regard as very high quality. I am saying survival is about making due with what you have or what knife you have. You do not need top of line gear to be a successful survivalist (I guess that just means not dying:D)
Click to expand...

You're absolutely right. Most of our knife discussions and collections are because we love knives. Having a more expensive knife might enhance your chances for survival, but you can (and many have) survived on less.
 
Certainly, the point is obvious: survival is, well, surviving using whatever you have or can acquire to help you. Sure, you can, in some cases, survive with bare hands and feet and nothing more at all. And in some other cases, you do absolutely need high quality equipment to survive, and a lot of skill in using that equipment. The former type of situation you can usually easily avoid. The same goes for the latter. Now, as I see it, there's no reason not to have the best equipment you can have, considering financial limitations and limitations of skill (GPS isn't much good if you don't know how to use it) as well as limitations of convenience - you don't want to haul around an arctic environment winter tent everytime you go shopping, for example. :D Survival isn't the same thing everywhere and everytime. In some places, it does require "top of the line" gear and more - ever been on the Finnish Defense Forces Airborne Ranger North Pole Expeditions, for example? :p
 
Think before you act ;use your mind and things around you for survival,but having a great knife would be sweet !!!!
 
Elen said:
ever been on the Finnish Defense Forces Airborne Ranger North Pole Expeditions, for example? :p
Click to expand...

No, but I did work one year with the Danish defense forces once during an interoperability test during a Reforger in Germany (probably 1978). :p:D Our units lived with each other out in the field for a week. Way up in the northern end of Germany. We operated that year near Bremen/Bremerhaven. That was a pretty cold couple of weeks.

KR
 
kr1 said:
No, but I did work one year with the Danish defense forces once during an interoperability test during a Reforger in Germany (probably 1978). :p:D Our units lived with each other out in the field for a week. Way up in the northern end of Germany. We operated that year near Bremen/Bremerhaven. That was a pretty cold couple of weeks.

KR
Click to expand...

Sounds like a jolly good time! :thumbup: Wouldn't want to have to do that stuff equipped with only a folding knife and a pair of swimming trunks! :D
 
andrew7978 said:
I am often tempted to buy certain knives because of posts on this forum. I am very tempted to buy a Fallkniven F1, however each time I consider buying this, my brain reminds me the true meaning of survival. To me, it means making due with what you have. You do not need dozens and dozens of knives (unless of course you like collecting them). You do not need the most popular knife, you just need something that can get the job done. This also applies to other survival gear. For example, I own an expensive waterproof case (used in kayaking) that I put my tinder in. For the most part, a zip lock bag works well.

I'm sure that I'm rambling but basically my point is learning and using your survival skills does not have to be an expensive hobby. I like using old reliable methods and tools. I do not need top of the line high tech things for everything. What do you all think about this?
Click to expand...


Your WRONG!

In order to be a good survivor you need names like BUSSE (along with all the overpriced pointy metal in the family), BECK, WSK (the knives that are axes and spears), MAXPEDITION, BARK RIVER, anything of Scandinavian origin (they are made from giants that eat sheep in one gulp ya know), a little fire stick ala Bear Grylls (but don't mention HIM as your influence because he has been made a fraud by the internet peoples) and MOST importantly its not whittling, quartering game or self defense from animals, its BUSHCRAFT.

...in short this whole forum fills with designer and brand name smoke instantly but there are a few guys on whose posts I relish and most of them are pure gold, genius in simplicity, form and function. The rest are what most good posters are witty, pasty and maxed out on credit.

Nice post btw.
 
andrew7978 said:
I am often tempted to buy certain knives because of posts on this forum. I am very tempted to buy a Fallkniven F1, however each time I consider buying this, my brain reminds me the true meaning of survival. To me, it means making due with what you have. You do not need dozens and dozens of knives (unless of course you like collecting them). You do not need the most popular knife, you just need something that can get the job done. This also applies to other survival gear. For example, I own an expensive waterproof case (used in kayaking) that I put my tinder in. For the most part, a zip lock bag works well.

I'm sure that I'm rambling but basically my point is learning and using your survival skills does not have to be an expensive hobby. I like using old reliable methods and tools. I do not need top of the line high tech things for everything. What do you all think about this?
Click to expand...

You're abolutely right. It doesn't require THE knife, THE pack, or any of the other THE gear to survive. I think that we all tend to get caught up in the buying frenzy that takes place and from where I stand, that's a great waste of resources. Of course, by the standards of many here, we are on a pretty strict budget, so I make do with the best that I can afford. I would like to own an F1, but the Mora 2000 is an excellent replacement in my book.

As for the true meaning of survival, I think that it is to outlive the other guy and the only way to do that is to be real lucky, have the right skills and no matter what the cost, the right tools to enhance those skills and simplify the tasks.;)
 
My most important piece of survival equipment. I take mine everywhere and can't remember once forgetting it somewhere. :D:p

KR

3-part-brain.jpg
 
Elen said:
Sounds like a jolly good time! :thumbup: Wouldn't want to have to do that stuff equipped with only a folding knife and a pair of swimming trunks! :D
Click to expand...

The funniest part of what you said was. We grabbed a jeep and got away for a couple of hours and went into town. We found a place (like a YMCA or something). For a couple of bucks we were allowed to take a hot shower and then we went for a swim in the heated, at least it sure felt warm, indoor pool. Woudn't you know that a girls high school swim team, maybe it was a diving team because they were using the the diving board was there also. That was 30 years ago and I can still remember what some of those girls looked like. ;) I was stationed in southern Germany where many of the women looked like plow horses. The trip to Northern Germany suprised me because many of the women there were stunning.

KR
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top