What's the strangest item you have in your survival kit/pack?

Pilot1 said:
Here's mine. I would guess there's a few "strange" items in there. :D

1 .45 automatic.
2 boxes of ammunition.
4 days' concentrated emergency rations.
1 drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills.
1 miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible.
100 dollars in rubles.
100 dollars in gold.
9 packs of chewing gum.
1 issue of prophylactics.
3 lipsticks.
3 pairs of nylon stockings. --2
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That looks like a OSS/CIA issue cold war kit. LOL
 
I carry a military body bag. I use it for an improvised stretcher, improvised water proof bivy bag. And when I realy screw up the people that find my body can get me out.
 
The only thing I have that I didn't see that's in my pack are my mini Simons 8x21 binos. I have a lockpick set, Ti spikes, TP, and sanitizer (never though about the fire starting bit, I have several fire starters and tinder packs, Thanks for the tip). I have a couple of bi-metal hacksaw blades that I cut in half and sharped the backs, but I would think this is pretty common.
 
it has no use but entertainment but I carry a book called Dirty Russian: everyday slang from whats up to F&$% Off in Russian
 
BaldingEagle said:
+1 on the Starbucks Via. I also like Katies pre measured shot idea (snake venom of choice). I have a couple of tampons and sanitary napkins. If you dont have a lady with you, they are still great for absorbing blood as a wrapped dressing over a wound. The also make for good tender if the need arises.
Cheers
Balding
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i carry these as well. lite, take up no space, and are super absorbant! :D
 
I don't have a survival bag. :eek: Well, not yet anyway. I plan on making one within the next month. I'll probably be putting a backpacking saw and a whistle in it, which are probably the least common things most people have.

If I have enough room, I might put one of those portable iPhone charges in it. Even if "the grid" is down, listening to music to calm my nerves would be helpfull. I could also take pictures of anything that needed to be documented.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I have the toothpick from a SAK and one of those mini grappling hooks as well. Also some nail clippers that a sharpened up with ceramics. It's dumb how dull those things come stock.
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I just use my new ESEE 6 to trim my toenails. It's really not as hard to walk with only two toes as would would imagine :p
 
I had to think about this one for a second, I guess they're not strange but maybe uncommon.

I carry packets of instant miso soup, and I carry a hackey-sack for if I get bored or just wanna kill time.

Aside from those everythings pretty standard.
 
I have a collapsible tube from a telescoping mechanics mirror that is hollow clear through which I used when building fires. Easier to direct oxygen to the flames, without getting ashes in my face.
 
In my std pocket kit I have added a couple of pieces 1" square rubber inner tube - it doesnt take any room and its a great fire starter - will burn even wet and long. The soot is good facepaint if you need it.
I have also added a fresnell lens - flat and a great fire starter if the sun is out.
I also have an individualy wrapped mossie repellent "Deet" pad.

PS: Dont understand the many lockpicks. Most doors will yield to a good kick, or carry a crow bar...
 
cukros1 said:
PS: Dont understand the many lockpicks. Most doors will yield to a good kick, or carry a crow bar...
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Well, there are answers to your misunderstanding... :)

For one, most doors yielding to a good kick is very debatable, at least in this country. Carrying a crowbar, well, that would be a minimum 14 inch flat pry bar which is a lot smaller and lighter than a "crow bar." I guarantee you that most people carrying that stuff, that will be one of the first things, if not the first thing, that is discarded during a many mile evacuation.

The smaller pry bars that you see from CountyComm and places like that have many different uses and they're small and light, different story. But bars suitable for forced entry into structures are a different thing altogether.

So, the other tools win out over that in space and weight.

Then there is the other consideration of leaving no signs of your passing. If you had to obtain shelter, which is the number one reason to be into this line of thought at all, you don't want to use forced entry. For one thing, you're destroying something when you don't have to, for another, anyone happening along after you will know someone is or has been somewhere.

All of that having been said, I think that a lot of people, not all of them, but a lot of people are fooling themselves when it comes to using them. While it is not rocket science it does take some skill and for most people that are not "naturals," it is a perishable skill.

Watching kids on YouTube doing it in the comfort of their bedroom after they are finished punching their clown to JapAnime, even though they might get excellent results in that environment, is not exactly what we are talking about. Try putting a padlock in a freezer for about six hours and then grabbing it and picking it outside of a heated environment and you will get an idea of just one condition you might have to perform in. When you take it out of the controlled environment, it's a different thing entirely.
 
Pilot1 said:
Here's mine. I would guess there's a few "strange" items in there. :D

1 .45 automatic.
2 boxes of ammunition.
4 days' concentrated emergency rations.
1 drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills.
1 miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible.
100 dollars in rubles.
100 dollars in gold.
9 packs of chewing gum.
1 issue of prophylactics.
3 lipsticks.
3 pairs of nylon stockings. --2
Click to expand...

Now THAT sounds like a fun date! :D
 
Perhaps my last post did not play very well because I didn't take advantage of the romantic notion of Thomas Magnum or perhaps Jim Rockford. :D
 
hung-solo said:
how well do these work? still have to struggle to get anything unlocked?
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These are becoming dinosaurs fast. Side bitting in addition to top bitting in a cylinder is pretty much the norm for any commercial project on the low end of things. Hospitals, schools and most public municipal buildings built beyond 2005ish will be high security cylinders and or mechanical/electric like most new car keys.

A masterkeyed cylinder of anyscale will be hard to defeat with a pick set.

Google Schlage Primus, Corbin Pyramid, Sargent Signature and you will see this tool is worthless in most retail settings.

Residential has come a long ways to defeat this as well. I will elaborate on that if anyone cares to hear it. I have spent twenty plus years working in the commercial hardware business, it changes daily, fast.
 
I bought one of those Altoids Suvival kits everybody seems to rave about. All mine had was these curiously strong mints.
Altoids002.jpg

Altoids003.jpg
 
Don Rearic said:
Perhaps my last post did not play very well because I didn't take advantage of the romantic notion of Thomas Magnum or perhaps Jim Rockford. :D
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Keep somethin' in mind, I've been usin' lock picks since long before computers used fortran for programmin' so I didn't cut my teeth watchin' youtube people who have no real credentials for pickin'.

I was a facilities mechanic and a yard mechanic since the late 70s and I apprenticed with a locksmith for awhile.

I wouldn't recommend carryin' or usin' picks unless;

  • You have experience, (this requires 1000s of hours of practice on different kinds of locks.
  • You have a really good reason for havin' 'em as they are considered B&E tools in most states.

That said, I was just answerin' the OPs question as to what unusual item I carry, hey some locks can take up to an hour or more, some I never pick with my set, I do have a set of Tryout keys that will open 80% of the doors but not all of 'em.

Like I said before, just like freehand sharpenin' a knife, it takes practice, practice and still more practice to be even marginally good and there's still no guarantee it'll open a lock.

Now there are what they call destructive ways to open locks but that's another forum, also keep in mind what you see on tv is just that, tv and meant for entertainment only.

Last thought, we are all adults or the majority at least are so make your own descisions, form your own opinions and never trust you're life to something you've only seen on the internet or tv and you've never tried yourself.

Peace all.
 
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