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Post by howler on Aug 29, 2016 20:08:58 GMT
Well, frankly it doesn't have to be the end of civilization as we know it (that happens all the time anyway) for us to think about interesting situations and what might be handy to have along. Much depends on where and when. For example, places where a machete would be really hand are probably not places where you'd wish you had an ax instead. And vice versa. What you need in the winter won't be as necessary in the summertime. And what you need in the woods won't be that useful in the desert. And so on. Of all the things you might find useful away from home, to put it one way, and which would be the most difficult to substitute with something else would be a plain and simple pot. Don't leave home without it! There is a reason the statement "so poor, I don't have a pot to piss in" was created, as that's the last possession you would have.
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Post by bluetrain on Aug 29, 2016 23:55:51 GMT
Sometimes if you study your particular situation, you may eventually come to realize that you ultimately have to come up with your own list of essentials and disregard those lists from people who are trying to sell you something. For instance, in my case but probably not yours, I have one of those handy dandy Swiss Army-type (meaning it wasn't made in Switzerland) knives. It has this, it has that and three of four other things, too. But nothing I ever carried when in the woods had screws. So I didn't need those gadgets. I didn't carry cans, either, so the can openers weren't useful. The knife blade wasn't very handy, either, and I carried one or two others that were much better, even though I never used them. But I had a one-burner stove that had a fuel cap that was really difficult to remove. So I carried a small slip-joint pliers that weighed about one-third of what the knife weighted and was actually useful for a specific purpose that the knife combination didn't have. Oh, I also have one of those Leatherman tools but it weights as much as everything else put together. It stays in the car. The Swiss Army-type knife stays in my lunch box along with a knife-fork-and spoon set and two more knives. But I don't carry any of them when walking.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Aug 30, 2016 0:50:51 GMT
One would be sadly mistaken, or should I say in for a rude awakening if they thought only one tool would suffice. However, I've eaten many a meal without a pot but none save MREs without a knife used for preparing and at times as an utensil.
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Aug 30, 2016 9:27:45 GMT
Really, the question should be what minimal COMBINATION of tools should be brought in a CERTAIN environment. Tool combination for car camping/backpacking/bugout, tool combination for cold climate, tool combination for desert climate. Under ALL circumstances, a lightweight fixed blade (like a Mora) should be carried (because there is no Earthly reason not to). A Crovel would be my first pick, www.survivalsuppliesaustralia.com.au/products/crovel-extreme-3.php
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Paul
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Post by Paul on Aug 30, 2016 9:32:57 GMT
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Post by MOK on Aug 30, 2016 10:34:41 GMT
Hell, if I have a knife I can make a perfectly serviceable pot.
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Post by bluetrain on Aug 30, 2016 12:45:25 GMT
You're a better man than I, Mr. MOK. Making a pot with a knife is beyond my skill level. Even Nessmuk never did that and neither did Kephart. Of course, they weren't survivalists.
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Post by MOK on Aug 30, 2016 13:23:24 GMT
Well, there's a long tradition of all sorts of containers made of birch bark up here, from makeshift drinking cups to backpacks (even for cooking - it won't burn as long as it stays wet, see). Making something serviceable doesn't take any kind of real skill. Failing that you can carve a fairly deep bowl with a small hatchet (or chisel, or a knife in a pinch although it'll take more and trickier work). And if I have my spoon knife, I can carve just about any kind of eating utensil or vessel in an afternoon - which, again, really isn't hard at all.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Aug 30, 2016 16:38:47 GMT
In my country, and I know of others, a banana leaf can be used. Sometimes food is served on a slab of wood. And as MOK pointed out the wood can be hollowed or dished out.
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Post by bluetrain on Aug 30, 2016 17:10:24 GMT
In an afternoon? Who has that much time when you're on the run?
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Post by MOK on Aug 30, 2016 17:58:17 GMT
If you're on the run, things have already gone to pot.
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Post by howler on Aug 30, 2016 21:30:56 GMT
This item (Crovel) brings up something Cold Steel sells that (in my opinion) is their greatest item for the money, and something EVERY household/vehicle should have inside...the CS special forces shovel. Packing it in the woods is another issue, but having it in your vehicle is of HUGE value. You can shovel dirt/sand/snow to dig your vehicle out of trouble, cut/chop branches out of the way, and it beats any knife for self defense. I got a couple of these years ago for not much over $10 each. There is a reason Spetsnaz soldiers carry this thing. CS shovel, CS Bushman, Ontario 12" cutlass machete (with 1095 steel), Mora knife (laminated blade or tri flex high carbon)...you can have high quality/versatile equipment for low price.
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Post by howler on Aug 30, 2016 22:00:57 GMT
Really, the question should be what minimal COMBINATION of tools should be brought in a CERTAIN environment. Tool combination for car camping/backpacking/bugout, tool combination for cold climate, tool combination for desert climate. Under ALL circumstances, a lightweight fixed blade (like a Mora) should be carried (because there is no Earthly reason not to). A Crovel would be my first pick, www.survivalsuppliesaustralia.com.au/products/crovel-extreme-3.phpThis is kind of cool. I like everything but the price. It don't do as much, but you get a good bang for the buck with that CS special forces shovel.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Aug 31, 2016 0:28:49 GMT
WOW! Yeah, that price is something else.
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Post by MOK on Aug 31, 2016 6:38:07 GMT
This item (Crovel) brings up something Cold Steel sells that (in my opinion) is their greatest item for the money, and something EVERY household/vehicle should have inside...the CS special forces shovel. Packing it in the woods is another issue, but having it in your vehicle is of HUGE value. You can shovel dirt/sand/snow to dig your vehicle out of trouble, cut/chop branches out of the way, and it beats any knife for self defense. I got a couple of these years ago for not much over $10 each. There is a reason Spetsnaz soldiers carry this thing. CS shovel, CS Bushman, Ontario 12" cutlass machete (with 1095 steel), Mora knife (laminated blade or tri flex high carbon)...you can have high quality/versatile equipment for low price. I'd rather go for actual surplus, but failing that the Cold Steel replica is indeed one of the better things out there. There's not really much you could screw up with it (yet some manufacturers do find a way, as always). Also, this little beauty: My absolute favorite single camping tool, from my absolute favorite webstore.
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Post by howler on Aug 31, 2016 7:28:07 GMT
This item (Crovel) brings up something Cold Steel sells that (in my opinion) is their greatest item for the money, and something EVERY household/vehicle should have inside...the CS special forces shovel. Packing it in the woods is another issue, but having it in your vehicle is of HUGE value. You can shovel dirt/sand/snow to dig your vehicle out of trouble, cut/chop branches out of the way, and it beats any knife for self defense. I got a couple of these years ago for not much over $10 each. There is a reason Spetsnaz soldiers carry this thing. CS shovel, CS Bushman, Ontario 12" cutlass machete (with 1095 steel), Mora knife (laminated blade or tri flex high carbon)...you can have high quality/versatile equipment for low price. I'd rather go for actual surplus, but failing that the Cold Steel replica is indeed one of the better things out there. There's not really much you could screw up with it (yet some manufacturers do find a way, as always). Also, this little beauty: My absolute favorite single camping tool, from my absolute favorite webstore. Multiple edge profiles is intriguing, and smart. A lot of people put the multiple edge on Ontario cutlass machetes (I purchased a few at ten bucks each from Tactical Intent a few months back...they may still be there, btw), but this one comes pre-edged. I don't know if I would describe the thing as inexpensive, but I will say it is REAL nice, and WILDLY utilitarian. Clearly one of the few things a person should bring with them for camping and such.
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Post by MOK on Aug 31, 2016 9:06:28 GMT
The dual grind is a nice feature to have, sure, although I've also got the first model that didn't have the dual grind and honestly don't think it makes a big difference as the damn thing is hair-popping sharp all along its length, regardless. I mean you literally could shave with it, straight out of the box and still after several years of whittling, batoning, food prep and even chopping down a tree - it wouldn't be pleasant, but you could totally do it. MkII added the dual grind and the little thumb knob on the plastic sheath, and I'd actually say the latter is the more significant improvement. PS. I think Varusteleka's own promo video really speaks for itself:
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Post by bluetrain on Aug 31, 2016 11:02:36 GMT
Are we talking about country living here or escape and evasion? The only reason you're in the woods in a survival situation, to my way of thinking, is because you are fleeing, that is, on the run. The current word is "bug out."
And another thing; did you ever notice that men who brag about their knives being sharp enough to shave with always seem to have beards?
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Post by MOK on Aug 31, 2016 11:18:14 GMT
The difference between "bugging out" and "country living" is really only a matter of time, you know... I mean, even on the run you can't just run 24/7. Sooner or later you have to sit down. As for shaving with knives, well, just because you could do something doesn't necessarily mean you should.
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Post by howler on Aug 31, 2016 22:11:11 GMT
The dual grind is a nice feature to have, sure, although I've also got the first model that didn't have the dual grind and honestly don't think it makes a big difference as the damn thing is hair-popping sharp all along its length, regardless. I mean you literally could shave with it, straight out of the box and still after several years of whittling, batoning, food prep and even chopping down a tree - it wouldn't be pleasant, but you could totally do it. MkII added the dual grind and the little thumb knob on the plastic sheath, and I'd actually say the latter is the more significant improvement. PS. I think Varusteleka's own promo video really speaks for itself: Nowadays, our cups really runneth over, regarding selection of quality bush knives at all price points. Condor, CS, Ontario, and so many other brands have been getting into the game.
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