I've redone my psk and have added some things and have also replaced my 2 oz tin with a 3 and 1/2 oz tin. The items I have added are based on my needs and the terrain in witch I expect to travel. The following are the contents of my kit.<br>star flash signal mirror<br>fox 40 whistle<br>25 nato wind/waterproof matches with striker<br>flint and steel<br>candle<br>sparklite fire starter<br>6 sparklite tinder tabs<br>6 coglahans tinder tabs<br>2 razor blades<br>2 x acto knife blades<br>2 surgical blades<br>2 tea bags<br>bullion packet<br>3 salt packet<br>fishing kit (20 hooks (assorted sizes) 6 split shots 2 swivels)<br>75 ft 20 lb test fishing line (in two pieces) <br>35 ft nylon twine<br>25 ft brass snare wire<br>50 portable aqua tablets<br>poly water bag (from mip's you can survive)<br>2 large gaff hooks<br>5 band aids<br>3 neo to go packets <br>4 non aspirin pain reliever <br>2 benadryl<br>2 antiseptic wipes<br>2 large butterfly closures<br>4 small band aids<br>compass<br>photon micro light II<br>tweezers<br>6 sewing needles<br>10 ft thread<br>6 safety pins <br>3 rite in the rain sheets<br>1 fisher pen replacement cartridge<br>3 function pocket knife<br>1 ft long sling shot band (hollow type (for use as straw or slingshot))<br>10 ft 550 Para cord<br>5 ft electrical tape<br>2 ft duct tape<br>handle for tin (for cooking)<br>all in a 3 and 1/2 oz tin that measures 4 1/2 in by 3 1/2 in by 1 1/2 inches<br>If anyone has any comments or suggestions please let me know<br>Thanks Tom<br> <br>

What are coglahans tinder tabs? Why do you need 2 different types of tinder?<br>I'm considering using Wet FireTinder. Maybe you'd be interested in them too.<br><br>Consider using a pencil instead of a pen. Pens can leak ink in your kit and can freeze up. Pencils wont give you either problem plus pencil shavings can be used for tinder.<br><br>Consider replacing the handle of the spark lite fire starter with the pencil to save space and reduce the number of loose items in your kit.<br><br>Consider adding Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil. It can be used for several things.<br><br>Why do you need 3 different types of razor sharp blades?<br><br>What are gaff hooks?<br><br>What are neo to go packets?

A gaff hook is a large hook secured to a short shaft. It is used to impale a fish when close to landing by gently drawing it up and into the body. Most fish are lost at this final stage. Mating the sparklite flint to a pencil is a lot of work, prone to breaking and when the pencil is either worn out for tinder or your survival memoirs useless.

I should have said, "Shavings from your pencil could be 'emergency' tinder." In other words when you sharpen your pencil you can save the shavings for later use as tinder.<br><br>I've taken your point on not using a pencil for the Spark Lite handle into consideration. I'm looking to use something else in my own kit for the Spark Lite's handle.

>>I've taken your point on not using a pencil for the Spark Lite handle into consideration. I'm looking to use something else in my own kit for the Spark Lite's handle.<<<br><br>Maybe a mini-Bic lighter?<br>And they say I don't get into the spirit of these things... :-)

The foil sounds like a good idea. The coglahans tinder is bassically cotten but it is water proof and packs better than the sparklite tinder i use the coglahans tinder to fill in the little spaces and keep rattiling. Neoto go is little packets of neosporen. The reason i use apen is because it is much more permanant than a pencil. The pencil shavings for tinder may be a good idea but useless if it is to get wet. <br>Tom

Dry shavings work quite well. "But what if they get wet", I hear you cry. The solution is to make fresh thin shavings. If you have fuel for the fire, just cut or break a small dead stick and poke the end in a 89 cent kid's pencil sharpener. The inside of the wood is nice and dry. It's a space and cost efficient as well as renewable option for normal tinder, allowing you to save your Vaseline soaked cotton or whaterver you have for cold wet windy times.<br><br>Peanut

Please tell me more about the tin, itself (original use, source, brand, etc.). I've been going crazy trying to find a suitable container that size made of metal so it can double as a small pot. The only ones I've found to date have been very expensive aluminum containers for dry fishing flies.<br><br>Alan

I got it at a tobacco shop it is a 3 and 1/2 oz pipe tobaco tin

How about adding a bottle of iodine or some potasium permangenate as an antiseptic/back up water purification.<br>An intestinal sedative could also come in handy. Also what about some dioralite(salt replacement) or the equivelent. <br>Another water bag could come in useful aswell.