I just decided to go through it and clean it out and replace anything that looked like it should be replaced, so I took inventory with the thought to post it here and get some opinions:

1. Altoids tin (sealed with 3M electrical tape)
2. S.T.O.P. Sheet (basic survival instructions)
3. Duct tape sheet (a few inches of duct tape on a backer)
4. (3) Butterfly bandages
5. (1) laminated Tinder card
6. (1) Folded up sheet of heavy aluminum foil
7. (1) Iodine prep pad
8. (1) Wire saw
9. (5) Small fishing hooks
10. (1) Medium hook
11. (1) Brass Spinner thing (forget the name)
12. (2) Split weights
13. (2) Large Eye Sewing needles
14. (1) Large Eye long sewing needle
15. (2) MP1 water purification tabs
16. 2 ft of nylon rope wrapped in spider wire
17. 1 1/2 inch piece of natural fiber rope wrapped in spider wire
18. (1) No. 22 Scapel blade
19. (2) Scraper style razor blades
20. (1) Small saftey pin, (2) med, (2) Large
21. 6 Hurricane Matches (1 wrapped in black thread)
22. (2) strikers
23. (1) Thin pencil
24. (1) Large gaffer hook (No. 7 I think)
25. (1) flattened roll of medical tape
26. (1) Suunto watch band compass
27. (1) Salt packet
28. (4) Sparklite Tinders
29. (1) Orange Sparklite
30. (1) Classic SD SAK with scales removed
31. (1) Bullion cube

That is kept in a BSA compass case with:
1. (2) 123 batteries (for my flashlight)
2. (4) Pieces of Fatwood
3. (1) Large Garbage bag
4. (1) Signal mirror
5. (1) Blue DMT Pocket sharpener (modified to be small)

Now I don't put in a small light because I don't feel I would change the battteries enough on it to keep it in there. Instead I have 3 LED lights on my person, which I change the batteries often. I also have two whistles on me, so I didn't think I should waste the space. I also don't keep medications in there, as I like to change them very often and being they would be in a black case on my belt I don't know what the heat would do to them.

Here are my EDC items too, so you have an idea:



At the top is my money belt which holds;
1. Two feet of paracord
2. An alchohol pad
3. Spare house key
4. P-38
5. Handcuff pick

Then there is:
1. My Samsung SCH-A670 camera phone
2. Surefire E1E-HA with KL1 LED head (excellent flashlight)
3. Leatherman Charge Ti
4. Leather belt case with Charge Ti bits
5. Keychain with Photon II, Dougs Flat Fox 40, and a Permanant match
6. Keys with T&co Silver whistle and BSA Hotspark
7. Tissot Titanium T-Touch watch
8. My high school ring (nice and heavy)
9. pocket shove-it style tool (door bypass tool)
10. Bright yellow bandana
11. Wallet with Swisscard Lite
12. Badge wallet with tinder card (also holds the shove-it)

If I plan on going out into the woods I also carry:
1. A Benchmade fixed blade (210 Activator or Nim Cub)
2. A bright orange bandana (with the yellow)
3. A Nalgene bottle hung off a climbing carabiner
4. A small First Aid/CPR kit.

Bullion is essentially flavoured salt. Unless you contemplate excessive loss both can be removed for more critical supplies in such a small unit.

Okay, I'll bite - what's the story behind item #5?




I tend to think of the purpose of the entire contents of such a small unit to be almost entirely psychological -- to help focus your mind on the goal of survival both before and during an emergency situation. Of all the items, the bullion cube may provide the most psychological support through the process of slowing down enough to make a cup of soup and it's attendant calming effect. (Of course, the issue remains that the Altoid tin makes a pretty darn small cooking pot...)

It was one of those things a buddy of mine who used to work in corrections taught me. I'm going to school to eventually go into federal law enforcement and it was something he figured might come in handy one day for me to know. He said he used to carry it in case he got locked up with his own cuffs and his clothing was taken (as an attempt to escape). It is flat so it can be hid anywhere. It can also be used as a scraper for a flint, as it is made from a hacksaw blade (which is why I mention it).