Survival Tips, Tools, and Techniques

Emergency Bugout Thoughts...

2011-03-18T13:27:00.007-04:00

Back in late January, I was one of the first responders to an "explosion with injuries" call. (It was later determined to be a home that had exploded, in which two people were severely injured and one 15 month old infant died in the resulting blaze.)

One of the very first things I noted on arrival at the scene was a strong odor of gas. We had to immediately evacuate neighbors from the area. They had NO TIME to grab personal possessions from their homes, they had to run, NOW! They couldn't even get in their vehicles to escape, they had to hoof it as quickly as they could and dressed as they were. (It was later determined that where I stood to photograph the initial shots of the scene, in front of one of the evacuated homes, was greater than 95% saturated with natural gas. Sorry, my photos are unavailable as they are being used as potential criminal evidence.)

That tells me a few things to note to my readers...

A. Be prepared to bugout on an instant's notice. Don't argue with or question the emergency response personnel, follow their direction immediately. Make a plan to bugout and practice the bugout. Have available a bugout bag, which is a a bag of essentials that you'll need for a day or three until you can muster assistance. Keep that bag where it can be grabbed immediately on exit. At an absolute minimum, your bag should include:

1. Clothing geared towards seasonal conditions.

2. A toiletry bag of essential personal hygiene items you use daily.

a. Consider adding a pair of shower shoes for sanitary purposes.

3. A computer flash drive containing prized photos, phone numbers and addresses of important contacts, insurance information, etc; so that you can recover those items from another computer. The drive should be password protected for security purposes. Use a password that you won't forget. You may want to further protect the flash drive by placing it in a waterproof, crush resistant, lockable container like an OtterBox 1000.

4. Personal medications that you need daily.

5. Spare personal items that you use daily that may have been left behind because you couldn't get to them. (My personal examples of this category would include a Swiss Army knife, a good LED flashlight, a good pen, a stainless water bottle and a bandana.) If you're packing for a child or pet, don't forget some mind occupying/comforting toys for them.

6. Cash and/or a prepaid debit/credit card.

7. Spare keys / keyring.

8. You may want to include wilderness survival essentials if your bugout plan requires extensive travel or travel to or through remote areas.

Strive to keep the prepared bags as light as possible. Twenty pounds doesn't sound like much weight until you've had to tote it all day. Think minimalistic. It may be helpful to take notes for a day or two as to just what you really do use on a daily basis.

B. Install early warning devices in your home. Carefully follow the manufacturer's directions for installation of the devices.

1. You should have a carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home that has a fuel burning appliance AND one within 15' of each bedroom.

2. You should have a smoke detector IN each bedroom and on each level of the home.

3. You should have a gas detector on each level that has a gas fired appliance.

C. Don't ignore potential danger. If you smell gas and/or if an early warning device alarm sounds; grab your bag, get out and retreat. Call 911.

The bottom line is this - you don't know how or when an emergency situation will occur which might require your evacuation. "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail."

M

A View of Where We Live...

2011-03-08T18:56:00.004-05:00

Not much to say, just thought some of my readers might enjoy some of the scenery from our area...

M&C

Practical Minimalism, Another Attempt...

2011-02-23T16:55:00.012-05:00

In my last post, I tried trimming down to manageable levels of gear. I thought I'd done a fair job. I carried that set-up for a few weeks. I became a tad dissatisfied with the loose gear clanking in my pockets. I was displeased with having to try to remember what was where. I was also somewhat uncomfortable with miniature items and being able to manipulate them in this cold weather. I needed some organization. I felt I could trim down a bit more and add items which were easily manageable with cold, wet digits.

Enter a leather pocket organizer that I'd had Spen from JRE Industries make for me a couple years ago...

The pouch is constructed of a heavy leather front to reduce pocket signature, with a sewn on suede back which forms the three pockets. The rough side of the suede is sewn inside, in order to add friction to hold items in the pockets in place. The pouch is approximately 4" by 4", with a slight taper from top to bottom. This allows it to fit inside trouser pockets and stay somewhat stationary. It works equally well in my cargo pockets or inner jacket pockets. In the pocket, it becomes nearly invisible.

Gear selection was fairly easy. I wanted to keep it light weight, with items that supported me 24/7, whether at work or play, in town or in the field. The main (knife) pocket will support a one or two layer Swiss Army Knife or a smallish lockblade. I opted for a single layer Victorinox Swiss Army Waiter model with an added eyeglass screwdriver and straight pin. The knife has proven itself quite capable in managing day to day chores, thus far. If I feel I need more knife, the pocket easily supports an alox Swiss Army Woodsman, Pioneer or Soldier model.

To fill the middle (flashlight) pocket, I had a wide variety of single AAA battery size flashlights to choose from. All fit fairly well. I selected a Fenix E01 for it's bulletproof construction and long battery life. It is a tad short, so I added to it a Traser tritium GlowRing. The GlowRing helps me find the light in lowlife conditions and it aids in drawing the light from it's pocket.

The last pocket had originally been designed to carry the mini Light My Fire firesteel. Having broken every one of the mini LMF's I have had, I looked for a better option. To fill that pocket, I selected the ExoTac Nano Fire Striker and an Inka pen. Together they fill the void perfectly. The ExoTac Nano is my preferred fire starting device for this application as it breaks down and screws into itself, thus protecting the ferrocerium rod from damage and from premature corrosion. It also carries and protects it's own striker. The ferro rod is a tad smallish, but it strikes easily and throws a decent spark for it's size. In as far as the Inka pen, well, I had it available and it fit. I needed a pen in the mix for my work. Thus far, the choice has been a great one, I was writing tickets with it this morning in -9 degree F weather conditions. It didn't skip and it wrote very smoothly. The Inka's tip was more than sufficient to press out the two copies required.

Something was missing and I didn't know what until reading Kevin Estela's recent slideshow on Urban Survival. I needed a lanyard! I raided Care's cordage supplies and made a lanyard that would easily attach to all of the previously mentioned implements...

The lanyard rides wrapped around the pouch, affixed only to itself and protected on the inside by the two filled pockets it rides between.

I've been carrying this setup for a couple weeks and am very satisfied. It has addressed all of my concerns with my previous carry options. The gear is handy and accessible. There is no question about what is where. I like it...

M

Practical Minimalism...

2011-01-21T09:28:00.013-05:00

Two long trips to and from Virginia, one long trip to and from Maine, three long weeks of 100 miles per day patrol left me with a screaming sciatic nerve. A literal pain in the ass!

My solution? Other than mega doses of Aleve, I did a complete EDC (every day carry gear) re-evaluation and an evaluation of how the gear that remained would thence be carried.

I emptied my pockets of gear and took the few things that were on my belt off. I was 4 lbs lighter than two minutes before. I thought to myself, "That's plain nuts." Looking at the pile of gear; it contained no less than 4 different knives or multitools, a cell phone, wallet, 2 bandanas, a PSK (personal survival kit), a 1st Aid kit, a bottle of breath drops, two BIC lighters and two key rings loaded with gear that was made redundant by other pocketed items. Time to trim down - especially when you consider that I have a go-bag that travels with me 24/7/365 that carries a full sized SwissTool X multitool and a Blind Horse Knives Small Tiger Knapp fixed blade knife.

What had to stay with me? Wallet, bandanas, breath drops, one BIC lighter, ONE small knife or multitool, a small PSK geared up solely to enhance the skills I have and one keyring with NO or minimally redundant items.

I took everything out of my wallet and put in only what absolutely needed to be there - Driver's license, hunting/fishing license, pistol permits, medical insurance card and ONE debit card. Bandanas were a no-brainer - they stayed because there's too many practical uses for them on a daily basis and they're invalueable in an emergency. The little bottle of breath drops stayed because it keeps my raspy voice working. The cellphone stays because it's a valueable work tool and lifeline.

It took a couple weeks to pick a knife. I spent two weeks tracking what I used on the former pile of tools I carried. I determined, based on actual use of the items, that I most needed a locking blade, a medium screwdriver, a toothpick, a super small screwdriver and it had to have a means to attach a lanyard or watch chain. The blade needed to be long enough to cleanly slice summer sausage and wide enough to plop a huge dollop of canned pate onto a water cracker. Additionally, the knife had to fit into the watch pocket on my jeans and cargo pants. Lastly, when it was placed into my watch pocket, it could not interfere with my ability to draw a pistol from the main pocket. These determinations basically meant that I needed to select an 84 or 85mm Swiss Army knife with no more than two layers. Selection then became easy, there was only one that met all of my criteria above, that being a Wenger 85mm Evo S10 with a Victorinox eyeglass screwdriver mounted into the cork screw. It's weight is advertised as 1.9 ounces, but mine tips the postal scale at 1.9 ounces with the added-on screwdriver.

My Otterbox 1000 sized PSK and Witz ID locker 1st Aid kit went by the wayside. I selected a Sparklite sized translucent container for my new PSK. Whatever I really needed had to fit in. It does. I carry a small AMK signal mirror, cylinder shaped handmade brass whistle, pico sized photon type light, three sewing awls and threader, a travel sized roll of floss, a ferro rod and striker, some tinderquick, some post-it notes, a piece of pencil, a spare cuff key, fish hooks and sinkers, a spare toothpick and a SERE compass in a box that's 2.5" x 1.5" x 5/8". Weight is 2.1 ounces. The beauty of the container is that nearly all of the contents can be easily seen from the outside. I added a homemade ranger band to secure the container from accidental opening.

Nothing gets carried in back pockets except bandanas. They're for padding while tucked away. Everything else is divied up between cargo, front and watch pockets. The only item added to the mix is a homemade watch chain to secure the SAK from being accidentally dropped. It also adds a touch of class to the mix.

In as far as my keyring goes, all of the keys that see only occassional use and all of the redundant gear was stripped off. Remaining onboard is an Egear Doug Ritter Pico light, a small traser glow ring marking light, an ID tag, and a delrin space capsule with a couple day's worth of critical meds in it. The two full sized BIC lighters were replaced by one Mini BIC.

I feel much better now. Light and Airy. Practically minimalistic...

M :)

Safety Info for Glock Owners...

2011-01-02T10:11:00.002-05:00

Let me forward this by stating what some of my closer friends here already know - I have 20 years experience as a Glock Armorer and FBI/NYSP certified Firearms Instructor...

A few days ago, I was talking to one of the members of a local organization's safety team. He had purchased a new Glock .40 cal M23. He stated that he had gone shooting and needed some help with sight adjustment. He'd fired 26 rounds of "reloads" and was hitting wide left.

I asked what the reloads were and he stated they were "lead round nose."

I immediately told him not to fire any more and to meet me this morning to get the gun checked out and cleaned.

Why?

1. NEVER SHOOT RELOADS FROM A GLOCK. Doing so voids the warranty.

2. NEVER, NEVER, EVER SHOOT LEAD BULLETS THROUGH A GLOCK FACTORY BARREL. Glocks do not have traditional rifling, but a hexagonal profiled bore. Shooting lead bullets causes lead buildup in the bore. That buildup occurs VERY quickly and can cause chamber pressures to increase rapidly to the point of blowing up the gun.

I met my friend this am and inspected his Glock. He had fired a total of 26 rounds of lead round nose bullets through his Glock. The barrel was leaded so badly that I had to use a stainless brush to even begin to see the bore profile. Approximately 1" in front of the chamber, there was a distinct buldged ring in the barrel - rendering the weapon unsafe to fire under any circumstances. If he had fired even one or two more rounds, I am convinced that the weapon would have blown. That little lesson will cost him >$100 to buy a new barrel. At least it didn't cost the gun and damage to his hand or face!

If you own a Glock, DO NOT FIRE LEAD BULLETS through the factory barrel. If you have fired lead bullets, have the gun inspected by a certified armorer or gunsmith, asap...

M

Bark River's Mikro II in 154CM Stainless Steel

2010-12-23T16:42:00.002-05:00

Many moons ago, read 12/2003 and 01/2004, Mike Stewart of Bark River Knife & Tool and I collaborated on a knife design that was ultimately dubbed the “Mikro Canadian.” The Mikro Canadian is a small utility knife, designed primarily for EDC. The Mikro Canadian was initially offered in A2 tool steel and it has subsequently been offered in Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel as the Mikro II.

Enter into the collaboration Jason at DLT Trading, who recently orders a special run of the Mikro II in 154CM. A great little knife just became better.

Here’s the specs:

Overall Length: 5.125 inches
Blade Length: 2.19 inches
Cutting Edge Length - 1.775 inches
Blade Steel: 154CM @ 58 RC
Blade Thickness: .120 inches
Weight: 1.375 ounces
Sheath: Sharpshooter Sheath Systems Type F

I’ve been carrying my sample daily for about two months. It has endured some Virginia tidewater fishing, some local woods time scouting for deer, practicing bush craft skills and for routine daily carry in between. It has easily tackled a few Texas Roadhouse steaks, some fish, a bunch of practice traps, some fire building and all of the routine every day chores one would expect of a small knife. I have used it for cutting up countless boxes for recycling, cutting open packages and a host of cable ties in packages. It has opened up another host of those damn plastic bubble theft deterrent packages. Nary a bobble, nary a whimper, the Mikro sailed through every test with flying colors.

With routine stropping after each use, I have so far avoided having it visit my sharpening gear. The little blade will still pop free standing hair.

How did the knife become better, you ask? I can say that, with a whole bunch of years experience with the Mikro in A2 and Mikro II in 12C27, the newest incarnation in 154CM holds an edge nearly as long as A2 and better than 12C27. It resists corrosion better than A2 and nearly as well as 12C27. Not meaning to offend anyone, but, the newest Mikro II in 154CM is the consummate perfect solution to a problem that didn’t exist. I love it! What a great idea!

The Mikro II in 154CM cuts like mad and it cuts like a much larger blade. It easily push cut through woods that were nearly half the blade length thick. I used it a number of times to scallop cut large branches and saplings to effect clean breaks of same. I used it a bunch to whittle out trap parts and to whittle fuzzy sticks for fire building. It’s comfortable to use, even when the cutting is extended or cutting harder material.

To make matters even better, my particular sample arrived with a very crisp, sharp 90 degree spine. I use the spine all the time to scrape tinder nests from natural materials and jute twine. I also use the spine as a scraper for my fire steel. My particular sample of the Mikro II does an awesome job of performing both chores very well.

The Mikro II in 154CM makes a great daily carry knife; whether it rides in your pocket, on your belt or around your neck. The Mikro II also makes a great small knife to piggyback to a larger knife - the small knife taking the brunt of the utility type tasks, saving wear and tear on the larger knife’s edge. It really has proved itself as a solid performer and serious working tool.

Need more info? Contact Bark River Knife and Tool http://www.barkriverknifetool.com/ or DLT Trading http://dlttrading.com/ .

New Magazine Alert - A "Must See"

2010-07-12T16:55:00.002-04:00

Hey gang -

Harris Publications has a new Magazine out, "The New Pioneer" . A little pricey at $10 per copy, but it has a veritable wealth of information for the outdoors oriented and preparedness minded. This magazine is a must see item...

FYI - M

Klean Kanteen - The Consumate Survival Tool...

2010-06-18T20:44:00.016-04:00

Water. Such a crucial component to human survival that man can die within 3 days for lack of it. How ironic that on a planet comprised 2/3rds of water that such a tragedy should occur. However, thousands die each year because of dehydration - the lack of potable water intake leading to a horrific untimely death.

Care and I carry bottled water everywhere we go. We’ve gone the full gamut of buying dozens of cases of bottled purified water to buying home water filters and bottling our own filtered water in Nalgene containers. The harm to the environment from the plastic waste and the subsequent BPA toxin scare from Nalgene and similar bottles made us search out stainless steel bottles.

Enter Klean Kanteen. Based on the recommendation of a friend, Care and I purchased a few different Klean Kanteen single wall stainless water bottles for our daily use. They have become a critical component of our everyday carry gear and essential survival gear for our outdoors trips.

We settled on the standard, shouldered 27 ounce version as our primary carry bottles. The 18/8 food grade stainless steel bodies and BPA free polymer tops are toxin free and are environmentally friendly. The Klean Kanteens hold a substantial quantity of water and they fit well in and retrieve more easily from our tightly packed Maxpedition 10x4 bottle carriers than do the 40 ounce size.

The Klean Kanteens also fit well in several non-descript insulated water bottle sleeves that we acquired over the years for the bottles we formerly used. Additionally, the 27 ounce Klean Kanteens still fit in our Jeep’s cup holders.

Klean Kanteens are super durable. I have voided my warrantee hundreds of times by freezing my 1/3rd full bottle each night to have a long lasting ice water supply at work the next day. The single large chunk of ice formed lasts far longer than ice cubes. HOWEVER, the bottom of my bottle has severely rounded from the expanding ice and it does not stand upright on a flat surface anymore.

The seam has held and the bottle still serves me daily. Your mileage may vary - You will void your warrantee and you may ruin your bottle if you try this.

Klean Kanteen’s website FAQs indicate that “in a pinch” you can boil water in your brushed stainless bottle on a stove or near a fire. DO NOT try this with a painted bottle or with a double wall bottle - You will ruin a painted finish bottle and you may experience catastrophic failure of a double walled bottle.

Let me tell you - You CAN boil in a single walled, brushed stainless Klean Kanteen! I have done this dozens of times at camp to purify water and to heat water for drinks, meal preparation and cleanup duties. I formerly fashioned a makeshift bail for our bottles by wrapping stainless steel wire around the bottle neck for ease in inserting and removing the bottle from the fire. I have since voided our warrantee again by using high temp silver solder to affix stainless washers to the bottle’s shoulder in order to attach a bail.

This setup isn’t pretty, but it works like a charm. The Klean Kanteens have held up to the hottest of fires and white hot coals.

Common sense should dictate, but I will save my Attorney his aghast reaction by mentioning that the bottle top must be removed prior to subjecting the Klean Kanteen to heating, lest a catastrophic failure may occur.

Klean Kanteens have become the centerpiece of our everyday carry and survival equipment. Their utility, functionality and practicality keep us motivated to have them ever present and, subsequently, the remainder of our emergency gear gets tagged along in the carrier.

I HIGHLY recommend Klean Kanteen products. They have a wide range of sizes and different top configurations to meet anyone's specs. Need more info? Check them out at http://www.kleankanteen.com/ or on FaceBook......... M

Near Perfect EDC Companion - Leatherman’s PS4

2010-06-12T17:39:00.009-04:00

I’ve been carrying and using Leatherman Tools and their subsequent clones on and off since the mid 1980’s. I never found “just the right one” to satisfy my needs without a lot of extra fluff - until now. A few months ago I saw a forum post where there was mention of a new mini Leatherman Tool being introduced, called the PS4. Investigation ensued and then the seemingly endless wait until it became available. I recently took delivery of a PS4 from my friend Roger at www.knifeworks.com. The PS4 seems the near perfect EDC companion, with scissors and pliers mated in a very pocketable miniature sized tool frame. Pay particular attention to the size and weight dimensions below.

Here’s the specs from Leatherman:

Tools:
420HC Clip Point Knife
Spring-action Needlenose pliers
Regular Pliers
Wire Cutters
Scissors
Medium Screwdriver
Flat/Phillips Screwdriver
Wood/Metal File
Bottle Opener
Features:
Stainless Steel with Anodized Aluminum Handle Scales
Stainless Steel Body
Outside-accessible Tools
Key Ring Attachment
Available Colors: Red, Black, Blue
25-year Warranty
Measurements:
2.25 in (closed)
1.9 oz

After opening the box, I rushed to find my glasses and good lighting for the PS4’s initial inspection. Fit and finish is great. Blade walk and talk is better than average - good tool snap into the open position, albeit a tad less snap on closing. A good thing - its not quite so prone to bite the fingers when closing the tools.
Care is out for a few hours, so I immediately set out to begin the process of testing.

First up was the scissors. They’re similar in design to the Wenger scissors, working from a frame mounted spring bar. Among the hundreds of obvious uses for scissors, I need to EDC an implement with scissors on board to take care of errant facial hair, cut fishing line, and to make steri-strips for first aid applications. PS4 and glasses ready, to the bathroom I head. Trim up the facial hair with ease. Search the medicine cabinet for a Band-Aid. Trim up a series of steri-strips from the Band-Aid with ease. The scissors are sharp and very effective at both tasks thus far. Now for the serious test. We head to my shop and dig out the tackle box. Out comes the ultimate scissor test - Spiderwire Braided 20lb test line. To my amazement, the PS4 sailed through the test with 20 quick, clean cuts in Spiderwire Braided line. Test over. This happy camper heads back upstairs for round two of my testing protocol.

I own a number of Photon 2 flashlights, which require a small Phillips screwdriver for battery changes. I dig out a Photon that I know needs a battery change and grab a set of fresh batteries. I sit at my desk with a small parts tray handy and use the PS4’s Phillips driver to make the change. No problem whatsoever. While it’s right there and handy, I grab and make safe my Ruger LCP .380 caliber pistol. I use the PS4 phillips driver to lever out the disassembly pin. Again, no problem whatsoever and no telltale marks left on the weapon. Gun cleaned and lubed, then made ready for “the next day’s business.” Back off to continue the PS4’s testing protocol.

I grab my test Ferrocerium fire starter rod and some tinder, then head to the front porch with the PS4. I open the file. To my surprise, the file only scraped a mediocre spark from the ferro rod. The spark was adequate to ignite TinderQuik and Coghlan’s Emergency Tinder. However, I knew the ferro rod was capable of producing much better sparks. While waiting for the ignited tinder to die out, I used the file for a personal manicure. Performance was up-to-par on this test. While out there, I remembered that the camper’s electrical connection needed to be cleaned up. The small file worked like a charm and did a stellar job at that task. I also grabbed the machete out of the camper and used the PS4’s file to touch up a flat spot on the blade’s edge. It was a bit short for such a task, but it performed well for its size. Time to find another tool and task.

Out comes the blade. Slight disappointment ensues. The blade, although razor sharp, is chisel ground. I will change that to a double bevel grind when time permits. Slight disappointment is overcome when I discover the blade spine has a sharp, clean 90 degree edge. Out comes the test ferro rod and another piece of tinder. Hot sparks fly and bounce everywhere, bursting the tinder into a ball of flame. I’m made very happy again - the blade‘s square spine maximized the ferro rod‘s capability to produce. I now decide to cut up the USPS shipping box that the PS4 was delivered in. I make 27 clean slices in the cardboard before the edge starts to drag. A quick inspection reveals a very slight edge rollover occurred. I grabbed my strop off the desk and remove the rollover, post haste. The edge is back to grabbing free standing hair sharpness in seconds. I can live with that for the time being. A double bevel applied by my diamond Lansky hones will cure any edge ills. Back down to the shop we go.

Pliers are something I rarely use in the field. When I do, it’s usually to pick up something I don’t want to touch with my hands, disgorge fish hooks or to make a snare. Digging through my workbench, I find copper wire in 22 and 26 gauge and stainless wire in 19 gauge. I cut a few lengths of each easily with the PS4’s wire cutters. I then use the pliers to twist those lengths into snare material, without problem. Not the most comfy pliers I’ve ever used, but they certainly did the job required of them. Then I remembered the first aid applications. Out comes the tackle box again. I pick out several hooks and use the wire cutters to cut them. The small, standard sized freshwater hooks were no problem. Big hook removal, however, may be quite the exercise is torture and futility. The wire cutters would not pass through the big stuff - take note of the scarring damage on the red hook, just below the barb. The pliers slipped off and would not cut the thick, hardened stock. The blood blister on my hand at the base of my right index finger will remind me of this for a few days to come. Regardless, I declare passable performance achieved - it is a small tool and the big stuff is simply out of its realm. One last set of tools to test.

Out comes the medium slotted screwdriver / bottle opener. A trip to the safe is in order. I pull out a number of firearms I have available. Where a slotted screwdriver is called for, the medium screwdriver works. It’s a tad small, but with some extra care, I managed to avoid slipping and damaging the guns and/or the screws. The PS4’s lockup is unaffected. Firearms checked and returned to the safe and secured. The last was a very important step. Now it’s time to find my olde friend, Samuel Adams. I’ll finish the review and summary tomorrow…

Very passable performance was achieved with the bottle opener and I had the opportunity to bond with an olde friend.

Within it's design limitations, the Leatherman PS4 is a very good performer. It has earned a spot in my EDC rotation and I like it so much, I ordered another for Care... M

Benchmade Mini Ambush Review

2010-06-08T17:52:00.008-04:00

Over the past several years, I’ve seen clamshell packaged Benchmade Mini Ambush knives in several stores. I really liked the looks of the knife, but I knew nothing of the rolling lock mechanism and I could not get my hands on a sample to check out before I made a purchase. Curiosity finally killed the cat and, a while back, I took delivery of a Benchmade Red Class Model 10210 Mini Ambush that I’d ordered from http://www.knifeworks.com/. I’m glad I made the purchase when I did, as Benchmade recently discontinued the Red Class series of knives, which seems to have included the Mini Ambush.

Here’s the specs on the Mini Ambush from Benchmade:

Blade Length: 2.96"

Blade Thickness: 0.118"

Blade Material: AUS8 Stainless Steel

Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC

Blade Style: Drop-Point Utility; Ambidextrous Thumb-Studs

Weight: 2.56oz.

Clip: Black, Reversible, Tip-Up

Lock Mechanism: Rolling Lock w/ InDraft

Overall Length: 6.95"

Closed Length: 3.98"

Opening the shiny Red Class box, I was very pleasantly surprised. Fit and finish of the Mini Ambush exhibit’s the typical top notch Benchmade quality that I’ve come to expect of them. The blade is perfectly centered in both open and closed positions and it locks up rock solid when open. The blade’s grind is perfect and shaving sharp out of the box. The Mini Ambush feels good in the hand and its smallish clip doesn’t dig into my mitt when I need a hard purchase on the knife.

Opening the blade reveals the knife’s only real quirk. When opening the blade, the action of opening also has to rotate the rolling lock into position to lock the blade. The result is an action that isn’t lightening quick and which isn’t necessarily smooth. Some practice helps smooth the opening process. I do not find this a problem, but, as indicated above, a mere quirk. I am not a knife fighter and have no aspersions of using the knife in a combat or tactical role. I wanted this knife as a budget minded one hand opening cutting tool and the Mini Ambush fills that role quite nicely.

Describing the rolling lock still perplexes me a bit. The lock consists of a massive rotating locking bar with a detent that grabs and holds the blade tang as the knife opens. The lock is deactivated by swinging the affixed spring powered lock lever rearward. The beauty of the system is that the users fingers are never in the arc of the blade as it closes. Gloved hands can manipulate the lock with ease. Also, regardless of grip position, I have been unable to accidentally release the lock. Seems a sturdy and safe affair thus far.

The handle is steel reinforced FRN. It is very nicely shaped and textured to afford a good grip on the knife. There’s little to freeze the fingers when using it in cold weather. The blackened pocket clip is smallish and reversible for right or left hand use, offering tip up carry only. I removed the black from my clip with a Dremel tool, as I prefer the contrast. The clip grips very well and provides for very discreet carry. There is a small lanyard hole for those requiring same.

The blade design is that of a drop point of AUS8 stainless steel. AUS8 takes a great edge, holds it reasonably well and it re-sharpens extremely well when required. The blade swedge almost gives the blade a bowie like appearance. The point is fine enough for easy insertion, the blade width is thin enough for easy “under the tail” performance and there is a sufficient belly for slicing cuts. A great combination for the sportsman. Blade thickness at .118” offers good cutting qualities as well as decent strength.

Cutting performance to date has been outstanding. The Mini Ambush has handled all of my routine household and work chores with ease. It’s only seen a small bit of use on meats and cheeses, but it does a fine job there as well. As a quick test of fine task performance, I used a toothpick as a platform for shaving fuzzies. The Mini Ambush performed flawlessly as is capable of very fine detail as well as tough tasks. An occasional stropping here and there has postponed the introduction of the knife to a sharpener. However, my experience with Benchmade’s AUS8 and sharpening has been good - it resharpens quickly and easily to hair popping performance.

Overall, I rate this knife with a “thumb’s up.” It’s a solid performer in the sub $50 category. With some smart shopping, it can be had for substantially less than MSRP at clearance prices. With some smart use and care, the Mini Ambush will provide years of yeoman service... M

Coming Back Soon!

2010-06-05T17:55:00.002-04:00

Things here are getting back on track, so to speak. Mom has passed and is in a far better place now.

I've decided to re-open the blog. I can write what and when I want and not have to answer to someone else (editing) or buy some superzoom camera to keep up with image technology.

Check back soon for a couple new articles...

M

Poor Man's Knife Harness...

2008-11-08T15:39:00.016-05:00

During a recent rendevous, Care and I learned about a Poor Man's Knife Harness for conveniently toting a fixed blade knife in a shoulder rigging. I immediately tried the harness and found it serviceable, albeit a tad uncomfortable due to a cordage crossover that occurred right on my spine. When not rubbing directly on the spine, the cordage had a tendency to move around easily, changing the placement of either the knife & sheath or the cordlock.

After some brainstorming with friends, I came up with the idea to use a leather crossover disk to keep the cord "knot" off the spine and to keep the desired angle of the knife being carried. I fashioned a crossover disk from a piece of scrap leather and then tested it to be sure the theory worked. Once relatively sure it did work, I contacted Spen and Dan of JRE Industries to make some crossover disks from some good leather. Here's the result:

Here's the assembled components of the harness, followed by a parts list:

8' of milspec 550 cord or any other stout cordage of your choice. I prefer the 550 as with it, I'm carrying an (approximate) extra 56' of cordage inside the 550 cord outer sheath. Some prefer to strip the inner strands out of the 550 cord so that the harness lies flatter and tighter to the body,

One cord lock,

Two beads (Optional - but they really aid in adjusting the completed harness),

One leather crossover disk,

Knife with a sheath that has grommeted attachment points - a leather or kydex sheath will work...

To assemble the parts, first thread the cord through the grommets on the knife sheath to the approximate midway point of the cord. Now thread the cord in an "X" pattern through the holes in the crossover disk. Next, thread both ends of the cord simultaneously through the opening of the single cord lock, pulling the cord lock up 8 - 9" onto the cord. If you choose to have beaded ends, now thread on the beads. The last step in assembly is to tie off the ends of each piece of cord.

To fit the harness, put it on like you're putting on a jacket. Position the sheath where you want it and then slide the crossover disk to a position right above your spine. Once done, slide the cord lock up so that it holds the desired sheath and crossover disk position. You will have to trim the dangling ends of the cord to suit your size. Leave about 6-8" of extra "dangle" to accomodate the ability to adjust the harness for wear over heavy clothing. After the final sizing and trimming, don't forget to heat seal the cord ends to inhibit fraying.

Care and I have been wearing the harnesses we made almost daily since we got all the parts assembled. We both found the harnesses we made extremely comfortable and an easy way to keep a fixed blade concealed yet handy. I also sent Jerry Young (hayseedw45) a crossover disk to test. Here's Jerry's comments:

"I wore the shoulder set up the whole time, well excluding bed. I found the disc kept the set up from moving around. It was very comfortable. I give it 2 thumbs up! The disc made the difference."

Taking another suggestion from Jerry, here's Care with an added carabiner filled with survival essentials attached to the strong side...

Need one? Want one? Yeah - you know you do. With this harness system, gone is the day of the neck knife and all the discomfort and accidental chokes associated with them.

Spen at JRE has indicated that he will make the crossover disks available in black or tan and, soon, will have all parts stocked at a very reasonable price. Click on the link to your left for JRE contact info...

Nite Ize Figure 9's...

2008-09-25T19:59:00.005-04:00

Just prior to Practice What You Preach in April of this year, I picked up a pair of Nite Ize Figure 9's to test out. These handy little rope tighteners are designed to securely tighten up guy lines and tarp lines without having to tie knots in the lines. I know, I know - if you learn your knots you don't need gadgets like this. However, I like the ease of setup and quick tightening of lines that the INGENIOUS gadgets allow...

Care and I used the Figure 9's to set guylines for poles and to connect short pieces of line to make longer sections. We used them to hang tarps and for hanging clothes and equipment lines at every placed we camped from North Carolina to the Canadian border...

The bottom line on Nite Ize Figure 9's is that they work and work very well. On the several instances where rain had stretched lines that needed to be tightened quickly, the chore was a snap - it was quick and extremely easy to make adjustments. It also made camp set-up and tear down a heckuva lot quicker to achieve...

The small size Figure 9's shown were able to handle everything from mason's line to decoy line and to 550 cord. I like them so much that I now carry a half dozen of them attached to an S-Biner on my Timbuk2 Metro "get home bag". The added weight is unnoticeable - the Figure 9's are feather light.

I give the Nite Ize Figure 9's a double thumbs up.

Need more info? Try here: http://www.niteize.com/productdetail.php?category_id=29&product_id=136

SgtMike & Care at WAR...

2008-09-24T16:34:00.005-04:00

Packs, bags and bins loaded, Care and I left for our third deployment to WAR - the Wilderness Adventurer's Rendevous in Chateaugay, NY hosted by Marty and Aggie Simon over the Labor Day Weekend. Here's a few shots from the awesome time we had...

Taking advantage of the woodpile for testing some chopping tools...

Taking advantage of some quality R&R time by the fire...

Mick Jarvis conducting a pack basket making class...

Some one on one instruction in the art of flintknapping...

Chef Jerry conducting a dutch oven cooking class...

Sgt. Mike & Care's humble abode...

Care in her kitchen, making another camp treat...

The Big Top...

Friends solving the world's crisises...

Prof. Estela conducting a knot tying class...

All in all, we had a tremendous time. Great friends, good food, and some excellent training. Everyone should make it a point to attend an event like WAR or PWYP...

Whistle tests, Part Two

2008-09-20T05:55:00.018-04:00

This round of testing was conducted at Marty and Aggie Simon's Wilderness Learning Center in Chateaugay, NY. Again, the tests were conducted out in the woods, not in a sound chamber. All of the ambient noises you'd expect in the woods played a part in this series of tests. As I expected, my observations from the initial series of tests held true. Those observations are:

1. Any whistle that was capable of routinely reaching 105 decibels (db) or better is worthy of serious consideration for everyday carry and/or inclusion in a PSK or 1st Aid Kit. Reaching/surpassing the 105db mark is going to get someone’s attention!

2. Ease of blowing to reach or exceed the level of 105db is a serious consideration. One with a lung condition such as asthma, COPD, or chronic bronchitis would be well advised to look at the whistles that have been noted as being “Very easy to blow” or “Easy to blow.”

3. Whistle construction is critical if you’re going to depend on it to survive. Look for quality construction. If you opt for a metal whistle and live in a cold climate, take precautions to cover the lip piece of the whistle with a protective sleeve of some type to prevent lip damage.

For this round of testing, I through in some interesting sound test twists. Enjoy...

TOPS Knives (pealess)

Adult Average: 123.6

Child Average: 117.3

Overall average: 120.4 db

Very easy to blow. Two cord sounds gets everyone's attention. Irritatingly loud.

Victorinox SOS (pealess)

Adult Average: 122

Child Average: 110.6

Overall Average: 116.3 db

Same comments as above. Very similar design between these whistles with very slight differences in execution of design.

Bison Spy Capsule Whistle (pealess)

Adult Average: 108.6

Child Average: 111.3

Overall Average: 109.9 db

Very, very easy to overblow. Lip placement is critical with this model.

The following two whistles from Bison failed original testing due to construction flaws. The reeds were removed from both whistles and epoxied in place prior to this test.

Bison Small Cylinder (pealess)

Adult Average: 107.6

Child Average: 107.3

Overall average: 107.4 db

Very easy to blow. Easy to manipulate the sides of the exhaust port to change whistle tone.

Bison Large Cylinder (pealess)

Adult Average: 106.6

Child Average: 103.3

Overall Average: 104.9 db

Easy to blow. Very easy to manipulate the exhaust port to change tone.

US Navy Issue STORM (pealess)

Adult Average: 120.6

Child Average: 111.6

Overall Average: 116.1 db

Easy to blow. Requires a little more airflow than someone with a lung condition might be able to muster. A tad large for small kit consideration.

REI/Nexus Buckle (pealess)

Adult Average: 106.3

Child Average: 105.3

Overall average: 105.8 db

Very easy to overblow. Lip placement is critical.

London Metro PD Type / Railroad type (pealess)

Adult Average: 116

Child Average: 102.3

Overall Average: 109.1 db

Not so easy to blow. Requires a lot of airflow to achieve a high decibel meter reading. Unique sound surely gets folks attention when at max output.

Soda Can Whistle (pealess)

Overall Average: approx. 99db

*NOTE* We included this because it's something you can make in the field from a tin soda or beer can. Instructions can be found by attending Marty Simon's training classes. While the soda can whistle only achieved a decibel meter reading of 99, it's one heckuva lot easier to use this whistle than to expend your energy or voice shouting for help.

Some interesting twists -

Human Scream (pees after coffee or soda)

Adult Average: 107 db

Child Average: 104.3 db

*NOTE* Our adult tester, Kevin Estela (aka Estela216, a Moderator at KnifeForums), screamed three times the first at 110db, the second at 107db, the third at 104db. After the third scream, his voice was notably affected. By the next morning, he suffered a slight case of laryngitis from the event. Important to note! CARRY A WHISTLE! Our young adult tester, Becky Two Knives, screamed three times, the first at 101db, the second at 107db, the third at 105db. During her second scream, she belted out a change in tone that didn't even register on the decibel meter. That scream damaged the hearing of all present and scared the coyotes off Marty's property for a night.

Car Horn (pealess)

Average: 104 db

Tester with lung condition (pees after Yuengling)

US Navy STORM average: 102.6 db

Bison Capsule average: 115 db

*NOTE* It became blatantly apparent to me during this test that ease of blowing the whistle is of critical importance in whistle selection.

More tests to come in the upcoming months - stay tuned...

Edited to add a special note of Thanks to my assistants; Kevin Estela, Matt (cyclist), and Becky Two Knives.

Cold Steel Pocket Bushman goes to WAR

2008-09-16T17:40:00.009-04:00

Several months ago, I received a Cold Steel Pocket Bushman for test and review. Opening the box, my first thought was, "Man, this is one big honkin' knife!" That's not a bad thing...

Here's the specs on the Pocket Bushman:

Blade: Shaving sharp 4 1/2" Krupp 4116 Stainless Blade

Handle: 5 3/4" Bead blasted 420 Series Stainless

Overall: 10 1/4"

Thick: 3.5mm

Weight: 6.1 oz.

The locking mechanism can best be described as a sliding bolt that locks up the Pocket Bushman like Fort Knox. It takes two hands to close this beast of a knife once it's open and locked. When locked, it's as close to a fixed blade knife as I've seen in a folder. Here's a shot of me closing the Pocket Bushman. Note that my strong hand thumb is pushing off the pocket clip for leverage (And, Yes, it takes some leverage.)

I have used this knife all summer at home and on several excursions, including use as my primary knife for the WAR encampment at Marty and Aggie Simon's Wilderness Learning Center in Chateaugay, NY. Over the course of the summer; I have batoned the Pocket Bushman through birch, cedar, red elm, and ash. I've used it to cut camp meat, cordage, a few packages, some boxes, and to shave up some fatwood for fire lighting. The Pocket Bushman took it all in stride...

Through all this, the Pocket Bushman has not yet been resharpened. I have made it a habit to strop the edge occassionally to help delay the inevitable. It's working...

The Bushman still shaves hair! Not only is it still sharp, it locks up just as tightly as it did on Day 1, with absolutely no blade play of any type.

Another nice feature of the Pocket Bushman is that the spine of the blade is adequately sharp to strike a decent spark from a FireSteel...

The Pocket Bushman is tough as nails. What I like about it is that I can keep it in my Timbuk2 metro bag with my other "go gear." It doesn't take up a lot of space and still offers rock solid performance in a very economical package.

I've seen the Pocket Bushman on-line for as little as $23.99 USD from EDC Depot.

My only criticism of the Pocket Bushman is that Cold Steel would do well to eliminate the thumb studs and save the machining expense. The lock is so tough that you need gorilla thumbs to use the thumb studs for one hand opening. Even so, I give the Pocket Bushman a double thumbs up.

Need more info? Try www.coldsteel.com ...

M

A Trilogy of Great Outdoors Lights...

2008-09-14T18:09:00.011-04:00

During our excursions to Practice What You Preach, to the Virginia Tidewaters and to the Wilderness Adventurer's Rendevous; Care and I decided to test some different lighting strategies. I selected the PAL Survival Light, while Care opted for the Pak-Lite for our basic around camp and in-the-tent lighting.

Here's some specs on the PAL Survival Light:

Weight: approx. 3 oz

Size: 2.75" X 1.25" X 1"

Push button switch with 4 modes: Always on, Medium, High, and strobe.

The PAL Survival Light was a wonderful addition to my gear loadout. It's constant on feature made it a snap to find at zero-dark-thirty when nature called. The PAL's white LED light is cast through a lens and as such, the beam is relatively tight with very little side spill. The medium setting was all I needed for finding gear in the tent and to read by. Medium was insufficient for trail navigation. The high setting was ample for safely navigating outside the tent - especially in the South where venomous snakes are a concern.

While the PAL is no powerhouse in the projection department, the light is a major contender for run time honors. I can't say how long the battery lasts. Mine has been running constantly since March, 2008 in the always on mode with quite a few minutes worth of medium and high runtime thrown in. There's no observeable loss in light output at this writing.

The PAL has earned it's place in my gear and sets in a place of high honor every night at home. It's always on beam projects light onto my pistol safe lock.

I purchased my PAL Survival Light from Cabela's for $14.99 USD.

Here's some specs on the Pak-Lite:

Weight: 1.5 oz with Battery

Two White LED Bulbs (10,000 hour rating)

Burn Time:

Duracell Alkaline=75+ hrs. high, or 600+ hrs. low

Ultralife Lithium=200+ hrs. high, or 1200+ hrs. low

Slider Switch with low & high modes

ABS Plastic Glow In The Dark Cap

The Pak-Lite has become a mainstay in Care's gear. Coupled with a three pack of spare batteries in a Tools Aviation battery carrier, she has hundreds of hours of personal lighting available at her fingertips.

Care found the low setting ample for in-the-tent reading and gear searching, while the high setting was adequate for trail navigation after the sun set. Finding the Pak-Lite during midnight nature calls was easy, since the entire top of the Pak-Lite is glow in the dark material.

The Pak-Lite fits inverted into the Tools Aviation battery carrier. With the Pak-Lite attached, the bottom of the battery sticks out of the carrier slightly for easy removal. Carried as such, the LEDs are protected from scuffs or other damage.

I was also impressed by Care's Pak-Lite system. So much so, that I bought a second one to store in my get home bag.

The Pak-Lites were purchased from Lighthound at $17.99 USD each. The Tools Aviation carriers were also purchased from Lighthound for $5.95 USD each.

Worth very honorable mention here is the Photon Proton that I purchased from a friend at the WAR encampment.

Here's some specs on the Proton:

Intuitive Single Button Operation - Even with gloves.

Smart Circuit Electronic, instant full power On/Off at any time.

Independent full range brightness control for both White and Red beams.

4 Safety strobe modes: Slow - Medium - Fast - SOS
Signal / Morse Code mode

Super-bright regulated light output:
250 candle power, 1.4W (White)
12 candle power, 150 mW (Red)

Easy Battery Replacement - Takes ANY AA size Lithium, NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride), Alkaline, NiCad or standard Carbon battery (Continual burn times vary depending on the kind of battery used).

Waterproof - Rubber O-rings allow for failproof use in all kinds of foul weather.

Detachable Clip - Easy on. Easy off. Includes filler snap ring when clip not in use.

Built Tough to Survive Serious Daily Use - precision machined aluminum body with Type III hard anodized finish.

Friction ridges for sure grip.

Weight: 42.3 grams w/ clip and Lithium AA battery.

Care and I travel quite a bit. I'm an early riser - Care isn't. When we travel, I've often carried several lights, one in red or blue, the other in white. The spare red or blue lamp allowed me to move around in the tent or motel without disturbing her sleep. The problem with that strategy was that the red or blue lamp was inadequate for reading maps. I'd then break out a white light and, well, at times it wasn't pretty.

Enter the Proton. I have the best of all worlds in one very compact, easy to EDC package. I can switch from off to full power white light or from off to a low power red light in an instant. The switch is super easy to locate. The switching system is also very intuitive to manipulate through the different light levels and modes offered by the Proton.

The Proton has quickly become a part of my EDC loadout and it accompanies me everywhere. It's small, light, and carries very well. The light output is very easy to regulate to meet nearly any need at camp, on the trail, at home or work.

Need more info on the Proton? Try here: http://www.photonlight.com/

EDIT: 09-27-2009. Withdrawing any recommendation of the Photon Proton. My second one just burned out without explanation or reason. The light got very hot. Then both the red and white lights came on together. Then the light just burned out. I'm guessing the circuitry fried itself - AGAIN... M

Swiss Army Farmer and Huntsman Mate - Born is the Stalker

2008-08-23T16:01:00.007-04:00

Many years ago, my primary field knives were a Victorinox Swiss Army Huntsman and A Buck Model 102 Woodsman. Those knives have both been replaced many times over, for one reason or another. The primary reason for replacing the Huntsman was solely because I didn't like the cellidor (plastic) scales. The Huntsman's replacement was the alox scaled Victorinox Swiss Army Farmer. Although a huge proponent of the Farmer for field use, I've always missed the utility and heft of the Huntsman.

Enter Bill Evans, aka Scibeer on http://www.knifeforums.com/. Bill has made quite the name for himself as a Swiss Army Knife modification specialist. After seeing some examples of his work, I contacted Bill to mod up a knife for me...

Born is what I've dubbed the Stalker - the best attributes of the SAK Farmer with an added pair of scissors and an HAIII anodization on the Farmer scales. This gives me back the heft and feel of my olde Huntsman, coupled with the sheer strength and utility of the Farmer.

Bill's work is nothing less than AWESOME. Every tool is perfectly aligned and the knife's "walk-n-talk" spring action is right up to par with factory offerings. There are no abnormal tool markings to be found anywhere. Additionally, the dark greyish black HAIII coating is by far and away harder and more corrosion resistant than the factory alox finish. The Stalker's finish is almost a perfect match to the SureFire E1L's finish (shown above). Here's a couple more views of the finished knife...

(Note the added fourth layer)

If you have an urge to have the "perfect" Swiss Army Knife for yourself, I can attest for the high quality of work and excellent service Bill provides. Some of Bill's finished works can be found for sale in Felinevet's Shop at http://www.sosakonline.com/. If you don't see what you're looking for there, you can always contact him through private messaging at http://www.knifeforums.com/...

M

Bladeless Personal Survival Kit...

2008-05-26T10:44:00.016-04:00

Many times; people ask the question, "What survival items can I carry when flying, going to federal installations, or other security checkpoints where a knife is prohibited?"

Here's a couple possible solutions to that problem that I highly recommend:

Solution 1. Doug Ritter / Adventure Medical Kits Pocket Survival Pack (modified)

Doug's PSP is a very well thought out compilation of basic survival components that comes prepackaged in a highly water resistant, translucent zip pouch. Here's the contents list as provided by Doug and AMK:

Spark-Lite™ Firestarter
4 Spark-Lite™ Tinder-Quik™
Fox-40® Rescue Howler™ Survival Whistle
Rescue Flash™ Signal Mirror, 2 x 3 inches 20mm
Survival Compass
Duct Tape - 26 inches x 2 inches
Stainless Steel Utility Wire - 6 ft.
Braided Nylon Cord - 10 ft. 150+ lb.
#69 Black Nylon Thread - 50 ft.
Fishing Kit - 4 x medium Fish Hooks, 2 x Split Shot and 1 x Snap Swivel, in a clear plastic vial with cap.
Heavy Duty Sewing Needle
4 Safety Pins
Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil - 3 sq. ft.
#2 Pencil and Waterproof Notepaper - 2 pieces
#22 Scalpel Blade *REMOVE TO CLEAR SECURITY CHECKPOINTS*
Kit Specific Illustrated Survival Instructions
Contents List
Fresnel Lens Magnifier - 2 x 3 inches
Pocketsize Clear Vinyl Pouch - 4 x 5 inches
Weight: 3.9 oz

The PSP is a great value. Purchase of the PSP is cheaper than buying the individual components and all of the components are top shelf items. IE. See my whistle and signal mirror test results on this site as proof positive of the quality of this kit's components.

Although a great value, the PSP can be made better. A little forethought by the purchaser in making some appropriate additions can save a lot of grief in an emergency. Here's some suggestions for possible additions:

Add in a Reynolds oven bag, Gerber baby milk bag or USGI hot water bag for water storage.
Add in a few MicroPur water purification tablets or other individually wrapped water purification tabs of your choice or preference.
Add in a few bandaids and simple wound management stores.
Add in a Photon LED flashlight of your choice.
Add in a day or two worth of personal medication.

Another suggestion is to make up and include an identification card that includes In Case of Emergency (I.C.E.) information for rescuers should you be injured or otherwise unresponsive.

An I.C.E. card should include your name, address, emergency contact info, medical info, and allergy info, and any other info you might have that would aid rescuers in treating your condition(s).

With the aforementioned additions; the PSP becomes a complete means of providing meaningful, field tested and proven gear to assist you in meeting basic survival requirements of water, shelter, fire, first aid, food procurement, signaling and self rescue.

Solution 2. Home Rolled Pocket Survival Kit (PSK)

Only you know your personal skill level and what you really need to bring with you to improve your fare in an emergency. Find a small easily pocketable container like the Witz ID Locker shown above and assemble your own PSK. As stated above, make certain that you have a sufficient store of gear to meet survival basics - include items for:

Water storage and purification,
Shelter and/or shelter building,
Firemaking,
First aid,
Food procurement,
Signaling and self rescue.

You may also want to include utility items like a small pocket pack of duct tape, sewing needle and a floss card, among others, to assist in field expedient means of gear maintenance and repair. Lastly, throw in an I.C.E. card as discussed above.

The PSK shown above is my personal "I can't take a blade" kit. It includes:

Witz ID Locker transparent, crush and water resistant case
A section of ranger band (rubber band made from an inner tube to be used for tinder)
Two preassembled 12' fishing lines
USGI MRE Hot Water Bag with markings for up to 16 ounces of water
MicroPur Water Purification tabs
SparkLight
TinderQuik
Light-My-Fire mini FireSteel and striker
AMK mini signal mirror
Acme Tornado whistle
Button compass
Floss card w/ sewing needles and threader taped on
Bobbin of #69 black sewing thread
ICE Card

I carry the kit shown above with a separate, dedicated First Aid Kit which is also geared up for my specific needs. This First Aid Kit is assembled in a very small Witz See-It-Safe. I've separated the kits in an attempt at minimizing the possibility of being separated from all of my emergency stores by the loss of one single package.

These two mini kits, along with my normal EDC items on my keyring and pockets, give me a lot of emergency support in several easy to carry, unobtrusive packages...

HE SCORES! He Shoots! ...

2008-05-25T15:40:00.007-04:00

Last fall I had to qualify with the local Police Department in order to maintain training requirements for HR219 national concealed carry law (for police and retired police officers.) I qualified with all of my centerfire handguns, but I noted that my Kahr PM9 was shooting way too far left to be reliably effective at distances over 15 yards under the stress of combat.

A couple weeks ago, I decided to take the Kahr to the range and spend some quality time with it to get it dialed in enough to carry. Long story short, neither the gun nor I fared well. (It had to be the gun as I was shooting everything else well and I'm a trained Firearms Instructor.)

The Kahr went back to the gun dealer on Friday. I traded it for a brand new Glock M26, Trijicon night sights, two more spare magazines with Pierce grip adapters, and three boxes of ammo. While I was at the dealer, I spied something. Something very special. Something I've wanted a long time...

It's a minty Beretta Model 70S in .22 Long Rifle. It came with the box, papers, two magazines and a like new Strong pancake holster. I couldn't resist!

This morning was cool and sunny with calm winds - a day screaming "RANGE TIME!"

It took a bit of effort, but I got both guns shooting halfway decent groups at 25 yards - one helluva lot better shooting than that Kahr...

Great day at the range. I can't express the satisfaction I feel when I finally get 'em dialed in.
The shooting sports are an American Tradition - what better way to celebrate a small part of a Memorial Day weekend than exercising the rights so many gave all to preserve, protect, and defend?

I encourage you all to get out and shoot. Take a kid with you - Don't let the sports die...

M

"Hey, Buddy, Have you got...?" Let's talk EDC...

2008-05-18T14:56:00.018-04:00

How many times have you been asked that question? Conversely, how many times have you had to ask that question?

Everytime I get asked, "Have you got...?", I get a feeling of pride knowing I probably do have the requested item. I also get a little irked that folks just aren't prepared to fend for themselves in even the smallest of life's little emergencies. I get really irked when the inquirer wants to use a piece of my gear for something clearly outside the scope of what it was made for - like wanting my knife to cut a wire tie or pry open a can, or worse, a door lock.

"Have you got...?" isn't a question I ask very often. Why not? Because I've taken some personal responsibility for myself and I routinely carry items to handle life's little emergencies.

That being said, Let's talk about the concept of "Everyday Carry," hereinafter referred to as EDC...

The concept of EDC is really pretty simple. Select some useful items that you routinely need/want/use, assemble them into a container that keeps them protected and handy, then carry that package with you daily - everywhere you go. Another method of EDC is to select the items you want to routinely have available and them fit them into or onto items you always do have available. An example of this method might be to add a small LED flashlight and/or other items you deem necessary to your keyring and wallet.

The object is to keep selected items portable enough and light enough that you don't get lazy and start leaving them behind. Murphy lurks for such moments.

So what items might you need? That's a question you have to answer for yourself, based on your own needs assessment. Considerations in making that needs assessment might include -

Where do you live? Consider here the general climate of your area. Necessity may dictate that gear selections change with the seasons.

Where do you work? Are you miles from home and need to get back there? What assets, if any, exist at your office or place of employment? Are there company work rules that prohibit carrying certain items? Are you inside all day, traveling, or out in the field? In a dire emergency, can you safely exit from your building? Are means of egress well lit and/or is there emergency power?

Where do you travel to and from? Are you traveling using a personal vehicle or public transportation? Does your typical trip involve traveling highway or back roads? Are you traveling through rural areas or well populated areas? If in the city, are you traveling "rough neighborhoods?"

What items are allowable? Do company rules or public transportation rules prohibit items? Do you need special permission or permits to be able to carry certain items?

How far away is safety, rescue, repair or resupply? Are you miles away from civilization? Are you on the 89th floor of a hi-rise? Can you communicate your emergency to someone? How long will it take someone to get to you? How long will it take you to make it out on your own? What's your method of resupply? Is it the stop-n-rob store down the street, your car, or home? Are there simple materials on hand for field expedient repair of what you actually have available?

Lastly, What have people routinely asked me if I had? A knife? Scissors? Bandaid? Needle and thread? Something for a headache? Something for a stomach ailment? Some string?

Here's my "Top 10" suggestions for EDC:

01. Select a decent knife. Other than a rock, the knife is man's most basic tool. It has far more uses than a rock and is easier to pack and carry. There are literally thousands of decent choices out there today. Need help in making the right choice? Read my reviews here or go to http://www.knifeforums.com/ to ask for help. Want multifunction from your knife? Select a real (Victorinox or Wenger) Swiss Army Knife or a quality made multitool by Leatherman or Victorinox. Can't carry a blade because of work rules or public transportation rules? Victorinox and Leatherman also offer up several models without the knife blade.

02. Select a long lasting LED flashlight. Night falls and buildings get dark with the lights out. Not being blessed with night vision, humans typically need light to avoid the dangers of the darkness. A simple 1/4 ounce Photon on your keyring can put out hours of useable light sufficient to traverse a set of stairs or an unknown trail. Got more space available? Look at offerings by SureFire, Fenix, Streamlight, Inova and the hosts of other decent manufacturers available. A decent flashlight also makes a great night time signaling device.

03. Select a decent whistle. A whistle can signal distress and attract help much more efficiently than your voice. Need help selecting a whistle? Read my "Who gives a Toot" article on this site. That article will be continuously updated as more whistles become available for testing.

04. Add some bandaids to your kit or wallet. Want to get fancy? Use the bandaids that come impregnated with antibiotic. (Make sure you don't use the antibiotic bandaids if you or the victim is allergic to antibiotics.)

05. Add a floss card to your kit or wallet. Tape onto the floss card a threader and a couple needles - instant cordage and instant sewing kit. Throw a few medium safety pins wherever you find available space.

06. Add in a small roll of or pocket pack piece of duct tape. Duct tape can fix anything - just ask Care's Dad.

07. If you're traveling rural areas; add in a reliable means of firestarting, some tinder, a means of collecting water and some water purification tablets.

08. Throw a couple bandanas into a pocket. A bandana can be a prefilter strainer for questionable water, a bandage, a sling, a dust mask, and any one of a dozen other uses.

09. Add a small prytool to your key ring or kit. Such a tool is an invalueable aid in opening a stuck door or window and can be used for a host of other chores including digging through sheetrock or prying open a clam.

10. Add a waterproof "spy-capsule" containing at least a couple days worth of personal medications to your kit or keyring.

It's time we all took some personal responsibility for our safety and survival. Packing up a small selection of EDC items and maybe a 1st Aid Kit and Personal Survival Kit is a step in the right direction. Just starting out? The Doug Ritter Personal Survival Pack from Adventure Medical Kits has a lot of the items listed above already included at a tremendous savings over buying the items individually. Doug's kit is easily modified to meet each individual's need and is backed by great customer service and support...

Maxpedition 10 x 4" Bottle Kit - A Work in Progress...

2008-05-17T14:18:00.009-04:00

During PWYP VII, I had the opportunity to see and handle Joe (Joezilla) Flowers' Maxpedition Bottle Kit. I'd seen his pictures on Knife Forums, but I was a little skeptical. As soon as I saw it up close and personal, I knew I had to have one. Lo and behold, my khaki bottle holder arrived safely early last week. I've been assembling it into "kit form" ever since...

Here's the specs on the Bottle Holder as stated by Maxpedition:

Main compartment: 10” high x 4” diameter, padded, with drainage grommet
Frontal compartment: 6” x 3” x 1.5” with elastic retention
PALS attachment webbing: Front and sides
Attachment1: D-rings for optional shoulder strap
Attachment2: Long Malice clips (sold separately)
Attachment3: Keyper quick release hook on back
Available colors: Black, OD Green, Khaki, Foliage Green

As of this writing, I've equipped by bottle carrier with a pair of Maxpedition 4" tube sheaths, one to hold my Leatherman Skeletool and 1 extra bit holder, the other to hold one of my SureFire LED flashlights. I've also added a Maxpedition Barnacle pouch. The sheaths and pouch are secured by malice clips.

The bottle pouch will fit my Guyot Designs stainless water bottle, my Snow Peak Solo titanium cookset, a Snow Peak spork and a folding Swedish Army coffee cup. To fit all this in, the packing order is as follows:

Lid for the Snow Peak pot
Large Snow Peak pot
Guyot bottle
Small Snow Peak pot upside down over the top of the bottle
Spork stuffed behind everything listed thus far, and,
The folding Swedish cup sitting on top of everything else.

The frontal compartment contains a cheap $.99 Coglan's poncho, an Adventure Medical Kits HeetSheet Blanket, and a 25' hank of milspec 7 strand 550 cord as pictured above.

The Barnacle pouch contains two Witz See-It-Safe containers; one for 1st Aid Supplies, one for personal survival supplies. The Barnacle pouch also contains an AMK/Ritter signal mirror in it's front flap pocket and an ID card with 2 $20 bills in it's hidden inner sleeve pocket.

As currently stocked, I think the Max Kit will make a good dayhike and hunting companion. I'm hoping to get 'er out into the woods soon to see how she stacks up. If I'm right, I have a feeling that this kit will end up being a very expensive proposition (as is shown in Pic #1) ...

Small Tiger Knapp by Blind Horse Knives...

2008-05-16T19:40:00.044-04:00

During Practice What You Preach (PWYP) VII, in April 2008, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting and spending some time with L. T. Wright and Dan Coppins of Blind Horse Knives. These men are true gentlemen and, together, they make a fine series of quality custom knives at very affordable prices.

I couldn't resist buying a matched pair of their Small Tiger Knapp Knives; one for me, the other for Care...

Here's the Specs for the Blind Horse "Small Tiger Knapp" :

∙ 100 % Made in the USA
∙ Laser/water jet cut blanks made from 4140* steel, hand finished
* 4140 is an oil-hardening alloy steel with respectable hardenability. Here's the breakdown of 4140:
Carbon .35 - .43; Magnesium .75 - 1.0; Phosphorus .035; Silicon .04; Molybendum .35; Chromium 1.10
4140 heat-treats well and machines well in the heat-treated condition. It has good strength, good wear resistance and excellent toughness.
∙ Overall length is 6"
∙ 2 1/2" sharpened edge
∙ 1" squared edge spine tip for use as a ferrocerium (FireSteel) striker
∙ Grind - Hollow (flat grind is optional, soon to be offered as the standard grind)
∙ MSRP - $20.00 USD plus shipping
∙ This Knife does not include a sheath. Sheaths are available from both Blind Horse Knives and from JRE Industries.*
* I highly recommend the JRE Industries sheath - see my "Trusted Friends" links on the left side of the page you're viewing for JRE contact info.
∙ Weight with JRE sheath is 3.2 ounces.

Here's a pic of me wearing the Small Tiger Knapp in a JRE sheath. With me is the talented "Spen" of JRE Industries...

I've been using the S.T.K. for a bit over a month now. It's been my primary utility knife around the house; handling chores such as cutting cordage, cutting or trimming cable ties, stripping wire, and cutting up the piles of boxes and plastics for weekly recycling. Performance on those chores has been first rate. Additionally, performance on making fuzzy sticks out of hardwood scraps down in my shop has been stellar. The edge has not suffered the experiences at all. With routine maintenance of stropping the edge after use and a quick wipe down with an oily rag, I've not yet had to put the knife on the SharpMaker.

Even without handle scales, the Tiger Knapp is very comfortable to use for short periods of time due to the nicely rounded and polished handle edges and most of the blade spine. The Tiger Knapping is inset into the handle and gives the user a little more bite to his/her grip as well as keeping the knife's weight to a minimum. The jury is still out on comfort level for extended use of the Tiger Knapp. The load of boxes I sent out two weeks ago was enormous, including the box from a new lawnmower and that from a new grill. By the time I got all the boxes and plastics cut, my hand was a tad crampy. I kind of suspect that discomfort would have occurred regardless of knife choice - those boxes were really tough material.

The "squared edge" spine tip makes for an absolutely wonderful FireSteel striker. Showers of hot sparks are very quickly and easily achieved with minimal effort, as the Tiger Knapp makes a very stable and capable striker.

In the camp kitchen, the Tiger Knapp shines. It makes a great paring knife for the veggies and it makes quick work of meat cutting and trimming chores. Thus far, it's handling characteristics lead me to believe that the S.T.K. would make a very serviceable field dressing knife for big game as well as an excellent choice for small game / fish / fowl processing.

In my opinion, the Tiger Knapp is an excellent choice for a neck knife, utility knife to be carried as a spare for a primary knife, patch knife for a muzzleloader or a primary knife for one interested in going ultralight. It's a great little knife that performs much bigger...

M

*Last picture added with permission from Luke Causey (LukeC)

NightBlaster! The SureFire G2 LED version...

2008-05-13T17:30:00.008-04:00

For many months, I pestered the fine folks at SureFire to make their awesome and highly affordable G2 in an LED format. Lo and behold, the day before I left for WAR 2007, I received a brand new SureFire G2 LED...

Here's the G2 LED Specs as stated by SureFire:

Max Output: 80 Lumens
Runtime: 12 Hours
Length: 5.14 inches
Weight: 4.10 ounces
Battery: Two 123A lithiums
MSRP: $65 USD

On receipt inspection revealed SureFire's typical excellence in production and QC - fit and finish is perfect. I had to wait for hours to darkness for the initial testing and the wait seemingly took forever. Fortunately, I had packing for WAR to keep me busy until darkness fell.

I took the G2 LED, rated at 80 lumens outside with my E2L which is rated at 45 lumens. The E2L, is a powerhouse in it's own right. I had to see if the G2 LED really outshined known performance by that much.

I was amazed. I can only report that the G2 LED is like holding a night sun in your hand. The light that it throws out is incredible. Where the E2L allows me to see my neighbor's houses very well, the G2 LED lit them up like high noon on a sunny day. The G2 LED throws a blinding center spot with a very bright side spill. Needless to say, the G2 got packed for the trip to WAR.
The participants at WAR all seemed very impressed with the G2 LED's performance. When shone vs. a standard incandescent G2, the older model paled in comparison. The LED version had far better throw and a very much whiter light.

Using the G2 LED to navigate a trail was no problem. Using it in my tent at close quarters was a bit of a problem - it was blinding - almost as if you'd seen a nuclear blast flash. As such, I'm sure that using the G2 LED as a distractionary device in conjunction with a weapon system would have more than some merit.

I took the G2 LED to work with me for building fire inspections several times last week, too. It's performance was incredible! Inspecting dark warehouses and basements is easy work with the G2. The G2 LED has been used for about 6 hours in total, thus far, and I've not noticed any decline in the level of light output. It seems very well regulated. It also seems pretty tough. It's seen some use in the rain and has been dropped a couple times. One drop was down three steel stairs at a local warehouse. No harm done at all to the G2 and it still works fine.

The G2 LED has earned a place of honor - it rides with me daily as part of my Timbuk2 Metro bag loadout. As such, the G2 LED is within easy access daily and will be carried during any woodland adventures come up. It's a great light...

M

Who gives a Toot? Whistle Tests Are In...

2008-05-11T17:27:00.007-04:00

During PWYP VII, Care and I decided that we were going to finally take some time to test my collection of PSK sized whistles to see how they performed. After a fruitless search to borrow a decibel (db) meter, I finally broke down and bought one for the tests. I settled on a Radio Shack db meter and packed it with the whistles for the trip to North Carolina.

The tests were conducted on Chestnut Mountain, NC – out in the woods with all of the ambient noises you’d experience in the field, not in some sound chamber. The decibel meter was set up 4’ from the whistle. Each whistle was blown three times, with each reading recorded by Care. The averages are seen in the following chart. Later, we recruited Jeremy, Rebecca and Emma (the J, R and E of JRE Industries fame) to help out. We had each of them test the whistles in similar fashion and we recorded the results as before. Their averages are also displayed below.

While the tests seem to indicate a clear winner, that’s not my first hand observation. My observations are that:

1. Any whistle that was capable of routinely reaching 105 decibels (db) or better is worthy of serious consideration for everyday carry and/or inclusion in a PSK or 1st Aid Kit. Reaching/surpassing the 105db mark is going to get someone’s attention!

2. Ease of blowing to reach or exceed the level of 105db is a serious consideration. One with a lung condition such as asthma, COPD, or chronic bronchitis would be well advised to look at the whistles that have been noted as being “Very easy to blow” or “Easy to blow.”

3. Whistle construction is critical if you’re going to depend on it to survive. Look for quality construction. If you opt for a metal whistle and live in a cold climate, take precautions to cover the lip piece of the whistle with a protective sleeve of some type to prevent lip damage.

Wykeite Custom (Cylinder Type w/ stainless reed)
Adult Average: 109.6
Child Average: 110
Overall average: 109.8 db
Very easy to blow. Easy to change tone/pitch using fingers to manipulate side of valve. Excellent small size for even the smallest of kits or key ring. Expensive, but the construction is nearly bulletproof. Also available in brass and titanium construction.

Acme Thunderer (pea type)
Adult Average: 105
Child Average: 107
Overall average: 106 db
The former standard issue police whistle and the former standard by which all others were judged.

Acme Tornado (pealess)
Adult Average: 105
Child Average: 107
Overall Average: 106 db
Very easy to blow. Great size for kits or key ring.

Fox Rescue Howler (pealess)
Adult Average: 109.6
Child Average: 110
Overall Average: 109.8 db
Very thin and slim design. Excellent for fitting into a survival kit. Easy to blow.

Mini Fox 40 (pealess)
Adult Average: 112
Child Average: 116
Overall Average: 114 db
A modern classic. Used in most professional sports and, now, in law enforcement. Easy to blow and very, very loud. Becomes much smaller when you clip or file the “wings” off the bottom of the whistle.

US Gov’t Issue (pea type)
Failed: Whistle was discontinued from testing when it could not routinely break the 100 decibel mark.

ACR (pealess)
Adult Average: 109
Child Average: 111
Overall Average: 110 db
Very thin and slim design. Excellent for fitting into any size survival kit. Very easy to blow.

Bass Pro Flat Marine Safety (pealess)
Adult Average: 107.6
Child Average: 106*
Overall Average: 106.8 db
Very thin, almost wafer like and easy to fit into a kit. Produces duo cord type sound.
* Routinely overblown by children present.

Tool Logic Knife (pealess)
Adult Average: 108.6
Child Average: 109
Overall Average: 108.8 db
Easy to blow. Easily overblown without absolutely perfect lip placement.

Jet Scream (pealess)
Adult Average: 109.3
Child Average: 112
Overall Average: 110.6 db
Odd shape and size doesn’t lend itself to being included in all but a large sized kit. A bit on the hard to blow side.

Windstorm (pealess)
Adult Average: 115
Child Average: 117
Overall Average: 116 db
Odd shape and size doesn’t lend itself to being included in all but a large sized kit or attached to a strap or harness. Very, very loud. Hard to blow, requires a lot of airflow. Construction seems a bit flimsy.

Roy Gonia Lucky Dog (pea type)
Adult Average: 108.3
Child Average: 109
Overall Average: 108.6 db
Easy to blow. Construction seems a bit flimsy.

Bison Small (Cylinder Type w/ plastic reed)
Failed: Reed fell out and was lost just before the test. If you own one or more of these, pop the reed out and epoxy it back into place before relying on its performance.

Bison Large (Cylinder Type w/ plastic reed)
Failed: Reed twisted 90 degrees and could not be blown loud enough to reach the 100db mark. See notes above.

ITWNexus AeroWave Zipper Pull (pealess)
Failed: Too small to manipulate easily. Far too easy to be overblown. Routinely overblown at >91 Decibels.

A good whistle is a must have item for daily carry and for survival kit inclusion. A whistle requires a lot less effort and fewer wasted calories than screaming for help. A good whistle will carry much farther than your voice will, too. Here's a funny but true example of which I speak -

One Sunday morning, I went to Connecticut Hills Game Management Area to do some shooting. (It's the largest piece of state wilderness in NY State.) Once done shooting, I decided to test out my new stainless Wykeite whistle. I blew the heck out of it - man is it loud! As I was packing my truck back up to leave, a NYS EnCon Police Officer pulled up in her vehicle and slammed to a stop. She asked me if I'd heard the whistle, too. (She assumed someone was in distress.) I showed her the whistle and told her it was me testing it. She had been out of her vehicle a full quarter mile away as the crow flies, through heavily forested woods when she first heard the whistle! I was really impressed by the whistle's performance. She wasn't...

PS. A special thanks to Jeremy, Rebecca and Emma for their participation in these tests. They're a bunch of great kids that really lend new meaning to what events like these are all about! M & C

SureFire E1L Gets a Thumbs Up...

2008-05-09T12:18:00.001-04:00

A couple years ago, I received a SureFire E1L LED Light for review. I've carried this light to Terrill Hoffman's PWYP encampment in North Carolina several times and to Marty and Aggie Simon's PEACE and WAR encampments in northern NY. It's also been my daily lighting choice at work since it arrived...

Here's the FORMER Specs from SureFire on my olde, trusty E1L:

Max Output: 25 lumens
Runtime: 4 hours
Length: 4.00 Inches
Weight: 2.60 Ounces
Battery: One 123A Lithium

Take note I said FORMER Specs from SureFire! Great just got even better. SureFire upgraded the LED, circuitry and switching system in the E1L and here are the Specs for the newest version:

Max Output: High: 45 lumens Low: 3 lumens
Runtime: High: 8.5 hours Low: 48 hours
Bezel Diameter: 1.0 inch
Length: 4.0 inches
Weight: 2.8 ounces

Even with the olde version, at PWYP and PEACE, I carried the E1L in conjunction with several less expensive AA LED lights. The single AA lights were sufficient to light a trail and for use around camp or in the tent. However, when I really needed lots of light and decent light throw, neither AA was up to the task. Out comes the E1L. This little light has what it takes in a small package for ease of and convenience of carry. The new version at 45 lumens has really got to be a nightblaster!

I'm certainly no expert in personal lighting; but I know the E1L provides the light I need on a trail, in camp, and at work when conducting inspections and when conducting searches. It's a real performer. The E1L's regulated light output gives me plenty of bright light for a good, long time.

The E1L's small size makes it barely noticeable to carry everyday and it remains easy to manipulate with bare hands or gloved hands.

The E1L fits into my primary edc gear selection everyday, whether at work or at play...

The SureFire E1L, in any configuration, is a "best buy", IMHO...

Need more info? Check out http://www.surefire.com/ ...

BRKT Canadian Sportsman - Camp Queen's Choice

2008-05-08T20:39:00.000-04:00

Well I decided to do a review on the BRKT Canadian Sportsman. What a beauty!

Here's the BRKT Factory Specs:
Overall Length:9.250 Inches
Blade Length:5 Inches
Blade Material:12C27
Blade Thickness:.090 Inch
Hardness: 58rc
Weight:3.7 Ounces

Add the JRE-Industries dangler sheath (Spen & Dan - thank you!) and you have a real winner!

At PWYP we had a little help with the review, courtesy of Wyan and Steel (Chris).

First Wyan was kind enough to try it out while preparing her meal:

Next was Steel, preparing a meal of freshly caught bass:

They both agreed, this knife was awesome.My thanks to them both!

Next, I used this to prepare my patented test and review stew at Marty and Aggie's PEACE. It did a great job cutting carrots:

Celery:

And especially the mound of beef:

To me the Sportsman is the greatest kitchen knife. It fits well in my hand and easily performs the tasks at hand.I've used this knife to chop, cut, slice and fillet. To me this is THE knife to have, indoors or out.

Whether it be in the kitchen:

Or in the field:

The Bark River Canadian Sportsman gets my vote hands down!!

Care

Gossman Knives FireStriker...

2008-05-08T20:09:00.000-04:00

A while back, Scott Gossman introduced a small knife like firestriker. On request/suggestion, Scott agreed to harden the FireStriker sufficiently to also be used to strike flint.

I received and tested mine at Marty and Aggie Simon's WAR rendezous, 2006. It worked and worked pretty well. I was able to achieve huge showers of sparks from a firesteel and I was able to render good sparks from various "sparky rocks" - jasper, agate, novaculite, quartz, etc.

PWYP N encampment, 2006, we used both the Gossman FireStriker and one of my homemade file strikers to conduct a mini firemaking workshop. What an awesome time! Even in broad daylight, I was able to catch Matt's sparks from the FireStriker and sparky rock in the air...

Look at his left sleeve -

Matt caught some of those sparks in a small piece of charcloth and immediately nested the ember into a jute bundle...

As you can see, Matt was successful at blowing the ember and jute bundle into flame...

Not wanting to slight anyone, I should mention that Tim, Marcelo, and Rob were all very successful in achieving fire with flint and FireStriker - I just happened to catch Matt on digifilm for this writing. Kudos to all - I made them each achieve fire three times before they left and they all did me proud.

My personal thoughts on the FireStriker are as follows -

The knife is diminutive and is intended to be capable of being carried in the smallest of fireboxes, PSKs, or to be worn around the neck. Scott designed the knife to be used with a completely unsharpened edge, but will sharpen the edge at the specific request of the purchaser. I bought mine unsharpened and have since used it enough to feel comfortable in using it with a semi-sharp edge. You will need to make up your mind how you want yours made, but I'm recommending that you strongly consider an unsharpened version if you intend to use it with sparky rocks. Once you become proficient with the sparking technique, you can always apply an edge if it's desired. The FireStriker knife is handy enough and fun enough that I've already placed my order for a second. It's an awesome tool with an exceptionally high "cool factor." I love mine and consider it a must have camp and survival tool...

Need more info? Try here: http://www.gossmanknives.com/

Survival Folder - The Ritter Mini Griptilian by Benchmade

2008-05-08T19:33:00.001-04:00

Right after Practice What You Preach (PWYP) 6, I received a Benchmade / Doug Ritter Mini-Griptilian, Model Mini-RSK Mk1™. The Mini-Grip has been my constant companion since and I thought I'd share my thoughts and impressions of it here.

There's something to be said for carrying a knife which was conceived by someone with an outdoor survival mindset and background. "It works." Add in the following components and you have one great knife for either everyday carry in an urban environment or hard use in the field...

1. Griptilian handle & mechanical design by Mel Pardue,

2. AXIS Lock design by Bill McHenry and Jason Williams,

3. Blade Design by Doug Ritter of Equipped to Survive and KnifeRights.org, and;

4. A great knifemaker like Benchmade to put it all together.

Here's the tech specs on the Mini-Grip Mini-RSK Mk1™:

Blade Material: CPM S30V hardened to 58-60 HRC

Blade Length: 2.88 in. (7.32 cm)

Blade Thickness: 0.100 in. (2.54 mm)

Blade Shape: Wide-Chord Drop Point

Blade Grind: High Flat grind with 30º inclusive edge, 6.9º bevel

Blade Edge: Plain Edge

Blade Finish: Stonewashed or also available with Black BT2

Closed Length: 3.87 in. (9.82 cm)

Open Length: 6.74 in. (17.12 cm)

Handle Thickness: 0.51 in. (1.30 cm) max

Weight: 2.68 oz. (76 g)

Handle Material: Glass-filled Noryl GTX

Liners: 410 Stainless Steel

Pivot Washers: Phosphor Bronze

Pocket Clip: Ambidextrous Reversible Removeable Stainless Steel

Lock Mechanism: Ambidextrous AXIS Lock

Opener: Ambidextrous Dual Thumb Studs

That all adds up to a knife that's easily pocketable, extremely reliable, extremely durable, comfortable to carry and to use, highly rust resistant, and easy to maintain. It throws in an awesome blade shape for general purpose uses that takes and holds an awesome edge.

I've used mine for weeks now, inclusive to use during the Memorial Day weekend at Marty and Aggie Simon's encampment at the Wilderness Learning Center. I've used the Mini-Grip at work for cutting boxes, tape, and cable ties. I've used it at home for almost every routine chore, inclusive to preparing cardboard and plastic recycleables for pickup. I've also used it at camp for cutting 550 cord, boxes, food prep, and any other knife chore I could find...

While I'm at it here, I can truly say the Mini-RSK Mk1™ cuts very easily and cleanly. Special thanks to Fernando Gonzalez (Akabu1) for assisting me with testing by patching me up after just barely touching the blade to my left index finger.

Through all of the use the Mini has seen thus far, it has not needed a complete resharpening. Routine stropping of the blade after every or every other use has kept the blade nearly light-sabre sharp. There has been absolutely no evidence of any edge chipping, and accidentally striking the blade on my polymer cutting board several times didn't even cause an edge rollover. The S30V steel seems to be hardened sufficiently to allow for awesome edge retention without being brittle. I'll try to remember to report back on ease of resharpening when it becomes necessary.

Let me say that I am thoroughly enamored with the Mini-RSK Mk1™. Whether for woods walking or trudging a city street, it's a great companion and addition to my everyday carry equipment loadout...

For what it's worth, this one is so good, I have another on order. I am not going to allow Care to swindle this one from me by batting her eyes - she's getting her own.

Need more info on this one? Check out http://www.equipped.org/ or go to http://www.aeromedix.com/ to order...

UPDATE: Here we are, a hair over a year later. Care not only has her own Ritter Mini Grip, she also has a pink scaled Benchmade Mini Grip.

Mine has been used hard over the course of the year, but you'd never know it to look at it. I used a Dremel tool to take the scarred black coating off the pocket clip. Other than that, there's barely a mark on it. The stonewashed S30V steel really takes a licking and stays very sharp with routine stopping. The Noryl GTX handle is still flawless - I think it would survive a nuclear attack. The AXIS lock is still working well. Occassional use of canned air to get any grit and pocket lint out of the lock keeps it nice and smooth.

Here's a pic from last hunting season...

Where's Waldo? Using a signal mirror to stay found...

2008-05-08T14:53:00.001-04:00

Where's Waldo?

Waldo in this case is Mr. Terrill Hoffman, the man behind the mirror.

During PWYP VII; Terrill, Garrett (poesprogeny), and I spent some quality time together testing signaling devices - the small PSK sized mirrors are to be discussed in this post.

The plan was to send Terrill deep into the woods up the mountain via ATV, approximately 3/4 +/- mile away. He would be armed with a standard computer CD, a BCB MayDay signal mirror, a StarFlash signal mirror, a Victorinox fiber backed signal mirror from their SOS kit, a mirror fashioned from commercially available auto mirror replacement material, and the standard sized Adventure Medical Kits mirror from the Ritter Pocket Survival Pack.

Garrett and I would stay back to record the event, keeping in communication with Terrill via FRS/GMRS radio.

Long story short, The clear winner of the flash-off was the AMK signal mirror from Doug Ritter's Pocket Survival Pack. It outshined the others; with the StarFlash, BCB MayDay, and auto mirror replacement material coming in about tied for "place." The remainder were tied for "show," with the exception of the compact disk which was rated as an "also ran."

Lessons learned?

1. There's no substitute for a quality made, dedicated signal mirror. The compact disk signal was simply not quick to spot and didn't catch the eye well enough. Even with it's massive size in comparision to the 2x2" and 2x3" dedicated signal mirrors, the CD was easily outshined. Let this not go unsaid - if a CD is all you have, by all means, use it!

2. The larger the mirror, the better the signal.

3. The better the clarity of the mirror, the better the signal.

4. Buying a mirror? Buy two. One to practice with, the other to keep protected and scratch free until needed in an emergency.

5. PRACTICE! It takes a bit of practice to learn to use a signal mirror properly.

After this set of simple tests, my kit will not be without a dedicated signal mirror again. A decent mirror will signal for miles and miles under the right conditions and can be seen for a good many miles through haze. A dedicated signal mirror is an excellent investment in promoting rescue in the event of emergency...

M

Stocking My Timbuk2 Metro Bag...

2007-04-26T12:27:00.000-04:00

Here's this Layman's Guide to Properly Stocking a Timbuk2 Metro Bag for field and EDC Carry...

1. Add a Spec-Ops knife pouch to the shoulder strap...

2. Add a set of mil spec hearing protectors to the strap D ring...

3. Add a solid fuel handwarmer to the external side pocket...

4. Stuff the large internal zipper pocket with a matched pair of Otterbox 1000's - one with a First Aid Kit, one with your PSK...

5. Stuff the remainder of the pouch with other essentials you deem appropriate...

I use the internal water bottle mesh pocket for sunscreen, insect repellant and personal meds. The pen pockets carry spare tools for my ToolLogic knife (to be reviewed seperately). The ID pocket carries, well, ID. The small zipper pouch behind that carries a spare bandana and some extra Sweet-n-Low for my coffee. The large pouch carries my MSR Ti mug with 20oz Nalgene bottle nested inside, a XL Siltarp poncho by Equinox, a spare smoke kit, TP, a flashlight or two, and a Batuca battery case. The "under the flap" pocket hides an ammo wallet, while the zipper pocket in front of it stashes a few extra bills.

So far, the Timbuk2 Metro has been a WONDERFUL addition to my field and EDC gear. It carries everything I routinely need and still has room to spare for the odds-n-ends that one finds useful.

The bag has held up nicely under EDC use, banging and sliding around the floor of my truck, and a hard trip to PWYP.

I cannot rate a product higher than this...

M

BRKT Canadian Special Knife Review

2007-04-26T12:15:00.000-04:00

A long awaited dream came true for me, just in time for PWYP. I received my copy of the finalized production version of the BRKT Canadian Special...

The Canadian Special is 8.75" overall with a 4" by .170" A2 tool steel blade. It tips the scales at nearly 6 ounces. The handle scales shown are maroon linen micarta, but handle scale choices from BRKT are seemingly endless. The Canadian Special sports a finger grooved handle, but the grooves are shallow and do not limit gripability in the various common grip positions for sporting knives. The humped blade puts the tip of the knife right in the perfect position for crafting in the woods.

The Candian Special is supplied with BRKT's modular pouch sheath which will easily accommodate the piggyback attachment of a smaller BRKT knife sheath - it is shown with a Mikro attached. The sheath will also accommodate a 3/8" diameter ferro rod or most AAA sized LED flashlights. It is shown with BRKT's newest addition to the lineup - a matching handle ferro rod. Nice touch for the obsessive compulsive matching gear freaks like me.

Here's a shot with the Canadian Special and the new Bravo 1 for size comparison. A sheathed Woodland is in the background.

The Canadian Special is a cutting machine. It makes quick work of whittling chores and utility cutting tasks...

It also batoned well, making quick work of prepping a pile of kindling. The humpty back blade is a joy to work with for this task...

After being washed up and thoroughly inspected, the CS was put to work in the camp kitchen. Care and I were making a huge dutch oven full of stew and the CS was up to the task...

Even with the beating it'd been given earlier, the CS easily drew through the meat for the feast.

Using the blade like a chef's knife, veggies succumbed easily to the convexed razor edge...

Although prejudiced, I rate the BRKT Canadian Special very highly. This one really performs and the production version was worth the wait. It's a great field tool and valueable addition to my hunting, camp craft and survival gear...

M

Care's Tips to Getting Your Significant Other Involved

2007-03-26T20:56:00.000-04:00

When I first was introduced to all of this I have to admit I was happy that SgtMike was "amused" and "entertained" by all of this. I was happy because it gave me time to read my books, do my projects or whatever else I wanted to do.Now I am a "girly girl" I like to pamper myself, paint my nails, wear make-up, and I like to have my hair neat and clean. I don't mind getting dirty, I love to garden, but I also love my baths and showers. Now don't get me wrong, I love camping, but never did the "backpacking thing", "take only the essentials" kind of camping. As some of you have seen I haven't packed light. But, I also wanted to do things with SgtMike that he enjoyed. He has had such a great time at PWYP that I decided I might give it a try. The only problem was, it was a long ways away if I decided it wasn't for me. That's when "War" came into play. "War" was my first experience, and I want to thank Marty & Aggie Simon for having such a wonderful weekend for us. I learned many things from the people there and was quite impressed. I actually had a great time. I took in a lot of things and really thought about how they came into play with me. You know what? I had fun! I met wonderful people and learned some great skills. Most importantly, I shared something with SgtMike that he really loved and was surprised at how much I really enjoyed it.I have some knives, some great gear and now some decent skills. However if I was transported to a remote area with just my BOB I have to admit first I'd panic, then I would cry and then I'd get myself together and do what I was taught. Shelter, fire, first aid and water. Prioritize. I may not have the best skills, but I am confident enough to know I'd be able to do all of this.

Now as for your significant others, if you really want them to come and enjoy themselves then lets take a look at what you can do to make their first experience a good one.

1. Let them take what they think they will need. SgtMike shook his head many times at me but always said that as long as I was happy it was ok. Keep in mind, he knew he was going to have to lug most of it. Ladies try not to take the kitchen sink.

2. Talk about the meals you will be making. You can make the stuff at home and freeze it so all you have to do is heat it at camp. Make it simple for her and make sure you help her. Ladies think of meals that you make well and practice cooking them over your grill.

3. If you want her help putting up your tent, give her a lesson at home so she has an idea of how it should go up. Ladies it's always a good idea to know how the tent goes up, if he tics you off you know which stakes to pull out to collapse it on him

4. Let her know what usually goes on at these campouts and what to expect. Ladies pay attention to this, you'll learn a lot.

5. When you get there don't leave her while you go off saying hello to all your friends, include her. Ladies don't be afraid to approach someone and strike up a conversation. Try to meet new people, too.

6. If you know they are going to have different competitions going on, let her know what they are and give her a few lessons. She won't join if she's not confident about it. (Hey she could be another "Ace-Shot Kathy!") Ladies it's all about having fun. Join in the fun, try different things. Kathy joined in the air gun competition and won...she hadn't shot before.

7. Keep in mind that you may have to sacrifice some of "your" time in order to make her time enjoyable. Ladies make an effort to meet new friends so that your guy can have some time with his friends too.

8. See if you can't come up with some competitions that the ladies could do. (If you want them to come no nasty comments!) Ladies what would you like to see made into a competition, or maybe you'd like to be a judge??

9. If you see that she's having a hard time, help her, talk to her, make her feel better. (Tell her about the first time you camped and the mistakes you made) Ladies if you're having a hard time don't pout or give the guy a hard time, make the most of it and know that you don't have to come back. At least give it a chance.

10. Above all, never embarass her or make her feel bad. Encourage her and if it doesn't work out....hey she tried, give her credit! Ladies he'll love you for trying and you'd be surprised at what you actually learn...

Care