Seems a tad topheavy on sharpening tools and blades, but then you can never have too many sharp knifes, as long as you are willing to carry them around.
Agreed. Lots of edged tools.
"you can never have too many sharp knifes" Have to disagree with that. The large number of knives in this kit can be forgiven because it isn't, nor is it intended to be, a 'survival' kit or, as the writer points out, intended to be carried.
For field use I consider, subject to change at any time, three knives to be about perfect. One large for the heavy work, one small for finer work, and a smaller still backup in the PSK or first-aid kit. The large knife shouldn't bee too big. Unless it is a machete the largest should be about half the size of what Rambo carries.
People forget you can do big jobs with a small knife. In fact, often easier than with a larger one because of leverage and weight issues. You can chop down the largest tree with a pen knife. It just takes longer.
A small carborundum or thin credit-card sized diamond impregnated plate works well and is all the sharpening you need.
I also think that the redundant eating tools and the large number of fire making options and accouterments seems excessive.
Also he is dedicating a lot of effort to the ability of the Gerber to used jigsaw blades. Not entirely a bad thing but those blades look suspiciously like what you get in a discount store multi-blade pack. If so he may end up grinding through all those blades on the first simple task. If your going to pack saw blades high quality name-brand blades will give a better accounting of themselves.
Also, I have looked at the Gerber with its ability to use small saw blades. IMO those saw blades are much too small to do much real work. Unlike a knife, where a small one can do big work, a saw depends on length to get a good number of teeth across the work. A electrically powered jigsaw can move the tiny blades back and forth a thousand times a minute and get the job done quickly. Using such small blades by hand is pretty miserable about the time you get the blade moving you have to stop and reverse direction.
Even under ideal conditions a 4" saw blade is about the smallest saw blade I consider to be practical to use by hand. The saw blades on my Leatherman are about 2-1/2" and only good at a last resort. Even a 4" blade is pretty much short-stroking it and you end up working mighty hard to get anything done.
Anyone doubting this should try using one of a jigsaw blade to cut through something light, like a softwood 1 by 3 or #3 rebar. These are pretty much the minimum capability in my book. If you can't saw through these in a reasonable amount of time your better off reconsidering your options. A tiny blade will see your arm tired before the job is done. And don't be in a rush.
An 8" or 12" blade is much more useful if your intent is to get something done rapidly.
No matter which saw you use or what your sawing it pays to lubricate the blade with some wax to make it sawing easier. Makes a big difference. Beeswax is perhaps best but a wax candle, perhaps from your fire starting kit, will work.
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