I inventoried my basic kit today. I realised I've actually managed to assemble gear few would fault. I once started a thread with the popular " you've lost everything at the entrance to a willderness. You have $100 to assemble a basic kit at the local general store." game. Lets take this even further. I am going into that wilderness tommorow. I haven't benefited from the well thought out, measured and dispassionate knife discussions or firemaking tips at ETS. I am the proud owner of a classic hollowhandled survival knife bought for $10 at a garage sale. It was empty of the 101 quality items. I slipped several paper matchbooks into my pocket at the local biker bar during the serenity prayer. I'm dressed like an extra in Band of Brothers. So, here we are in the dark and scary forest. How do we best utilise marginal or utterly mediocre gear? We've all bought it, struggled and upgraded. But, what if? If you have real expereience tips on actually making do with anything please contribute. DISCLAIMER: ETS discourages seriously depending on this junk unless really desperate <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Heck, you've got a blade, matches and clothes - what's the problem? Er, your intitials aren't "A.R", right?

We need a popcorn icon like on CPF... <sits back and watches>

Does this count?

I was in a campground a few weeks ago and wanted to practice my firebuilding skills. Problem was, all the logs that were available were huge - about 12" diameter or more - and not split. I had no axe, nor a hatchet, and I had stupidly left my Swedish Erikssen knife at home. The largest knife I had was a cheap "lockback" with a 3" blade that I had picked up almost as a joke at one of those Dollar stores (for $2 Canadian). I found that I was able to split off quite a bit of kindling from the edge of one of the large logs using the cheapo knife to split off thin wedges, which I then pounded into cracks made by the knife, to split off larger wedges, etc. I did not get a sustainable fire going, but that's because my fire-building technique is horrible - I suspect if I had worked at it for a few more hours, I would have gotten enough kindling to make the fire go (and I would have kept myself plenty warm doing it <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ). It was hard work, but it's do-able.

Because the blade was so short, at several points I resorted to pounding it in point first, rather than blade first. The cheap "locking" mechanism wasn't strong enough to deal with this and tended to unlock without much warning. If you're ever forced to (ab)use a lockback in this fashion, even a high quality one, I recommend that you keep the blade pointed away from you, and hold the knife in such a way that your fingers are clear of the closing mechanism (e.g. holding it between thumb and forefinger, with all five fingers straight).

To start the fire, I used a 99 cent disposable lighter (that was half empty) and some birch bark that I had scavenged earlier in the day. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

This is exactly what I was thinking about for the thread.

I think that this is where the melding of contemporary and traditional survival skills would well together. The tools provided in this scenario should allow me to build additional tools, depending upon local materials.

With the matches I have the potential to at least start a fire. I must now ensure I can actually start and maintain one. I must select the appropriate tinder, kindling and fuel wood. The fire, in my opinion is essential for warmth, food preparation, water purification, signaling, and physiological well-being.

The knife, while it might be considered inferior, still can serve as a cutting tool. If the steel is soft, re-sharpening on some flat rock should at least maintain a usable edge. With the knife, perhaps as a drawknife, make some spears, which can be fire hardened for protection and food acquisition. As presented, the knife should be useful in shelter building, especially if I am creating a shelter for only a few days.


So much depends upon our local environment and available resources, as to how to proceed. My feeling has always been that I should plan for short-term survival (a couple of days) with rescue my main priority. With that in mind, I would think that the tools provided in this scenario would be adequate. Pete

Yes, but what are the limitations, pitfalls and tricks to compensate for those delicate paper matches? I've heard of people actually splitting the match to have two lights. What striking technique is used?

Based upon the original premise of having several books of matches, I would not resort to extraordinary means to preserve the matches, other than keeping them dry. Once started, my goal would be to maintain the existing fire or even increase the number of fire circles to increase my chance of maintaining the fire, as well as increasing my signaling ability.

My experience with these matches is fairly good in good weather. Again ensuring the appropriate tinder, kindling and fuel wood, I would likely slip a few matches into my tinder to give it that extra oomph. Depending upon the weather conditions, I might try and start the fire under my shelter, moving it to a prepared fire circle with plenty of kindling and fuel wood.

The only tricks I know with book matches are the ones my dad used (he was a heavy smoker) and that was to fold the cover back over the top place the match between the striker and the cover press firmly and pull the match out quickly. I have used this technique on numerous occasions and generally will get those stubborn ones to light. The other technique was to cup the match as he lit it to light up his cigarette. Pete

If you do manage to get your book of paper matches wet, I've found by experimentation that you cannot successfully dry them out - the match head becomes crumbly and brittle and will not strike, period. However, even if the match head has been completely washed away, there is still some of the material embedded in the paper tip. I've tried lighting this with a small magnifying glass (such as the one in the SAK Champion). It does ignite, though there isn't enough of the material left to actually ignite the paper match; in extremis, I would probably not even attempt to light a single match from such a book, but would probably try igniting the entire book.

If the book of matches is in a "waterproof" container that is flooded, I would also try straining the entrapped water through a tissue, letting the tissue dry, and then use that a firestarter (in the hope that enough of the dissolved match heads would remain as an accelerant to improve my chances). I always meant to experiment with these ideas - maybe the next time I do laundry ... <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Interesting thread <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I'm always broke. Being self/unemployed, I'm pretty much the kind of guy who HAS to make the most of every single piece of gear. I think this is what this thread is all about... ?

Of course, if you give me a 10 bucks budget for a knife, I'll choose more wisely and go for a Mora #1 or something similar (they cut well and keep an edge)... I'd switch the paper matches for any el-cheapo butane lighter, too.

As for making those Rambeau knives perform... it's possible. I had one when I was a kid. The bolt in the handle would get slack often, so in the woods I would just pick a piece of wood and hammer it into the handle so it would be used to tighten the bolt a little. Not perfect, but it kept the blade from falling.

The "compass" on the butt of the handle was always sticking to the plastic bubble, and thus was not usable. Once, I really needed it, so I cracked the plastic, took the compass out and put it in an old plastic cup I had found. If floated pretty well and worked well enough to bring me back home.

I used the hollow handle to fit a shaft and make a spear, too...

Anyways. The bottom line is that with some imagination you can make the lousiest gear work better... sometimes even well enough to save your life. Just don't sit there thinking "I don't have the best gear, I'll wait here and die with my mouth open"...

As someone I appreciate a lot often says: "You're never out of options until you quit".

Cheers,

David

Nobody's answered your question about splitting matches yet Chris... good, I get to help out on that one. If you're running short on matches, you split the match down the middle with your finger-nail, bottom first, the paper pulling apart will split the head nicely. To strike one of these half-matches, you hold the match-head against the striker and go for it... vigorously, not just a light scrape. When the match lights get your finger away from it FAST!!! This trick is best developed BEFORE you need it, if not, you'll just waste your matches. Again, and more clearly, master this ability BEFORE you need it. Also, never bet anybody that a safety match can't be lit without the striker, if you put a dollar bill (I'm told any piece of paper will work, but I don't have luck with anything but a bill) against a wall and strike the match over the edge of it (along the face and off the edge), you can light a paper match just fine. They'll also light when struck on smooth concrete... don't believe it? find a smoker who's spent time in jail and they may educate you.

Troy