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21 Comments

  1. Great topic and article that is close to my heart. The more one knows, the less they need. But where to begin? Knowing how to start fire is the most important skill to have. This could be a subject in itself. Some of the best tools however are not as compact as we’d like.

    Such is the typical ferro rod, a must have as it is the most reliable way to start a fire. Along with a strong 3 to 5 inch full tang knife with tinder attached, is also the ferro rod that goes around the neck. Day and night, it is there. I could also include a miniature Bic lighter, and an small LED light. Light might be required to find suitable material for a fire, however, flicking the Bic lighter while shielding one’s eyes also works. The ferro rod is there in case the Bic lighter fails. Although char cloth produces only an ember, and not flame, it is the easiest and most reliable way to start fire with a weak spark from a lighter, or strong spark, and it packs up tight. And unlike cotton balls and petroleum jelly, or other fuels and tinder, It can also be made in the field from any cotton material on hand. Yet there are many, many ways and many materials that could be used. Alcohol wipes are compact, and sealed, easily start with a spark, and produce a hot flame. I wood carry several types of materials, and some kindling, but foremost and always, is dry tinder, and other as needed to create redundancy in my kit, options in case, one way does not work.

    The most important option in addition to a ferro rod, is material that one has a high degree of confidence in, that will start a fire in the worst conditions imaginable. After a drenching rain in the middle of the night when we are shivering from hypothermia might be the worst. If cotton balls smeared with Vaseline are what you got, those work good. However, if I must carry a road flare, the weight is worth it. Out there, fire is you best friend.

  2. I like the idea but it looks to be a little heavy and awkward. I prefer small light weight bags. A small fanny pack will interfere less than the m1 belt does. But I prefer pockets. My Columbia fleece jacket has two deep inside pockets on each side that can easily carry the equivalent of the m1 belt.

    1. Survivalblog has a number of articles about the “Gray Man” approach to travel/survival. … Deep inside >pockets on a coat helps with that approach. The past articles in Survivalblog are always worth another look.

      1. Like you, I’d rather keep my contents more hidden. A standard cloth ammunition bandolier carried under the jacket (or shirt) can carry quite a bit. A smaller canteen – the 1 pint aviator’s flask, holding 16 oz, about 1 pound in weight.

        1. Sounds like you have a good set-up. The link for “Ready Made Resources” on Survivalblog, has a Sawyer, Mini Water-Filter; it can repeatedly be used to fill the flask with clean water. … +A length of Paracord on the flask would make for a good handy Kbonker. [A stainless steel flask with a dent in it should still hold water.]

  4. Great article, thank you! I have two Altiod tins, one has fireproof (melted wax) over a match and toilet paper. The other one has cotton balls with vaseline all through them. I will be adding to my collection. Thanks again.

  6. On a similar vein, when I was in the service a SF sergeant taught me to use a M-16 ammo bandolier as my survival kit. They have 7 pockets and you can fill them with first aid packs, space blankets, MRE accessory pack (TP, matches and coffee), a small knife blade or scalpel blade and whatever else you would consider a necessity. I would wear this under my shirt, so it basically was always first on/last off. Even with my LBE and rucksack, it was never in the way.
    Ever since then, I carry the bandolier when backpacking or doing search and rescue. It has held up amazingly well and if you buy surplus 5.56 ammo there is a good chance you already have some laying around.

  7. A bit off topic, but I used to criticize John Garand for using an 8-round en bloc clip in his design instead of a 20-round magazine. After all, the magazine technology had been in use for decades. If a soldier had only 3 rounds left in a clip and needed, say, as many rounds as he could get before going through a door, he had no choice but to eject the clip and load an entirely new one.

    A few years ago, I read in American Rifleman magazine that the Army didn’t want to spend money on all new ammo pouches for detachable magazines. The existing WWI ammo belts could handle en bloc clips just fine.

    I fully expect that the meager 1930s defense budget that resulted in scarce Army resources was a prime motivator in the Army’s decision. Just imagine how much more effective the rifle would have been with a 20-round magazine. (Oh…wait…the Army did and, thus, the M14.)

    1. Old School Versus New School Rifle Debate

      It’s an interesting debate that will never end. I liked the enblock clip. Against bolt action rifles, it worked. Some would argue that it would have worked better with a 20 round mag. However, the tactics were also different back then, and mags add weight, and must be retained, and loaded, where as the clip is disposable and compact, and there was no magazine protruding, so the rifleman could stay closer to the ground. When well practiced, inserting the clip could be swiftly done, yet reduced the rate of fire enough that the rifle did not overheat. The heavier weight of the ammunition limited the amount one could carry, and the heavier 20 magazine fed rifle might encourage one to use it up, and run out before the guy with the 5 round bolt action rifle did. I believe they struck a sensible balance of attributes for the time.

      However, the rifle is not as versatile in today’s maneuver warfare approach, where 30 round magazines can be a decisive advantage closer in. The Army’s training no longer stresses long range marksmanship. I believe it is best to be able to have the best of both worlds, and will attempt to turn the table around by first using marksman ship as game changer in world where 200 yards is now considered the maximum distant modern infantry might engage.

      This winter I’ll be loading several thousand rounds of precision ammunition using mostly M2 cases for an accurized 03A3 with a minty 44′ barrel. The ammunition should out class 7.62 Nato. They’ll go into the old cotton bandoleers as well. Some things never go out of fashion, and this is where old age can be a match for youth, especially if the optic is good.

      Water is Life, The Canteen

      To keep on topic, I also rediscovered other wisdom of past, and found the old stainless steel 1 quart canteens, and cup, although heavy, are capable of boiling water to sanitized, not only the water, but the container as well. The system nested within itself back in WW1 and WW2, as well as it does today. There are high quality modern equivalents on the market for sale by those into bushcraft as I am still today. I believe my WW2 canteen augment made almost a decade ago, inspired the production of this:

      https://www.selfrelianceoutfitters.com/collections/canteens

      It is now been on the market for years, and the price is now reasonable. Combining the advantages of newer tech and older tech, we might derive the most. Although old and slow today, making a light weight 30 pound, or lighter pack a necessity, this is where weight is worth carrying. Steel is tough to melt. If my life straw fails or is lost, boiling water become necessary. We also need warm liquids and food, especially in a cold environment. To reduce weight, I might let the metal cup go, and use plastic there. Ounces do turn into pounds. The plastic cap on these, and WW2 era canteens, can be removed so that the canteen can be place into the coals, or hung over a fire.

      Fire and water go together. If we have only a Bic lighter, a metal container for boiling water, a strong and sharp knife for making tinder, a small flashlight for finding firewood, and a light weight tarp and 50 feet of cordage or strong string, we can survive most situations. But for the 1 dollar lighter, all this can be purchased at the thrift store if need be for under 50 dollars including the pack. There is no reason not to have a Get Home Bag. If we can layer our packs and keep as much of this capability on our first layer as in the ammo belt detailed, or on our persons using any method of carry, then the odds of surviving bad times, greatly improve. A super light weight and compact version as explained in the article is an added advantage, and I believe worth the effort to build and wear even when working security. If you loose and must rally elsewhere, this will be with you. Thanks for the article. Good idea.

  8. love this article! Ive been building these tin survival kits for the last 35 years. Ive actually USED one in the last 6 months. I was in town and forgot my wallet at home(20 miles away). It was lunch time and I was hungry. I pack a $20.00 bill in my tins. I ate lunch. I also wrap Electrical tape around the edges of the closed tin for water resistance. Used to pack iodine tabs for water purification, in a tiny zip lock bag. Not a good idea. The tabs gas off and rust the inside of the can and the razor blade something fierce.

  9. I might recommend the toilet paper rolls that come in the MRE accessory packet instead of the tissues. They are highly compressed so you can carry more, and they are designed for the job. They will also fit in an Altoids tin.

    I personally use the US 1 quart canteen with the nested stainless canteen cup. I want water with me and not worry about finding it first thing. They make a canteen cup stove that nests on the outside of the canteen cup.

    http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://olive-drab.com/images/canteen_cup_stove_03_500.jpg&imgrefurl=https://olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_gear_canteen_cup_stove.php&h=341&w=360&tbnid=khKHsgZ_UYxDUM:&q=us+canteen+cup+stove&tbnh=90&tbnw=95&usg=AI4_-kSVyWolN6EUTSBrrxF12qGzpvz6LQ&vet=1&docid=Z7mc01I-6AJAVM&client=firefox-a&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjig6Cc2fHlAhUHVN8KHX4fDVcQ9QEwB3oECAAQCA

    When inverted, the cup fits snugly into the stove and allows you to build a small fire under the cup. You can use heat tabs or burn leaves and twigs. All three fit in the standard canteen pouch. I bought one back when they first came out (the Army had them). I showed it to my sergeant major who ordered them for the entire battalion.

  10. Hmm, I’ve had one of these belts for a while, knew it would come in handy for something one day. Gonna go out in the shop and find my tins and try this out.

  11. What a fabulous article. I have a plan to turn your article into gifts by collecting all said goods, arranging separately in one box with a print out of your article and directions to “assemble.” The gift receiver will need to package tins and belt themselves, thereby knowing what they have and where.

    My personal favorite quotes were from Frank Herbert:

    “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.”

    and your:

    “Panic kills more people than thirst, freezing cold, or grizzly bears. It makes you forget what you know so you end up making a bad situation worse.”

    I believe God knew we would be spiritually attacked with arrows of fear, so He told us many times, “Do not fear, do not be afraid.” I wish it was just as easy as agreeing God is right. Sometimes I don’t realize I’ve been hit. I lift up my eyes and heart to Him for strength and faith.

    Lastly, is there a trick to waterproofing matches with nail polish or is it as simple as painting the end?

  13. Seriously, I love the article, very high utility in a small space. Thank for taking the time to put this together. Must be my age, I kept trying to figure out how to name each item “bat something”. Bat medic box, bat fishing kit, etc.

  14. The article brought back memories. In 1972 with the Boy Scouts I did a “Indian Wilderness Survival” course and my 2 kits were in Altoid cans. A fishing kit and a ‘survival kit’. Now for actually using the M1 Garand and needing belts etc, I use Olongapo outfitters here is the link:

    https://olongapooutfitters.com/equipment-and-gear/garand-belt-pouch-clone/

    Top notch stuff. RE: Tunnel Rabbit’s comment, (whom I respect greatly). I use the plastic canteen with the metal cup and find that heating the metal cup for coffee/tea is much easier than heating a metal canteen in the field. (Actually, used this weekend). Kinda of Vietnam era usage, as the younger folk have transitioned to camelbacks. No doubt about it that a ferro rod, a sheath knife, bic lighter, head lamp and siltarp with paracord can make a world of difference!

    1. To Ozark Redneck,

      One could very well boil water and fill a plastic canteen, yet assuming that we are in a dangerous environment, and if I only have a few moments to fill up and no time to boil it up in the cup at the water hole, then my plastic canteen could become contaminated. It would then not to be possible to carry 1 quart, and drink from it when time and place allowed the user to boil it. It could be, however, that boiling hot water, quickly dumped into a plastic canteen, and then shaken vigorously, might be enough to kill off bacteria. It might be, if done correctly. I just do not know that for a fact.

      All this assumes that we would be in an austere environment, with no access to modern filters, or chemicals to disinfect. If I had my IFAK with me, it also contains 2% Tincture of Iodine, metronidazole, a Z-Pack (Azithromycin) to handle water borne bacteria, should unfiltered or water that was not disinfected had to be consumed, and as prevention from infection from dirty wounds. 16 drops of 2% Tincture of Iodine in a one quart water would disinfect that water, and the container, in freezing temperatures in about 45 minutes. Less time, or half the Iodine would be needed at 70 degrees F.

      Of course, I’d rather have my steel cup too, but if only if I had to dump one, I would prefer the steel canteen if I had no chemical means to disinfect a water container capable of traveling. The plastic ones are very light in weight in comparison. BTW, the old Trioxane tabs, the large ones, do a good job at boiling water, even in the snow, in about 6 minutes. I do not know if it is still available. These are the best guaranteed way to start fire even if all you have is a weak spark from an empty lighter. The same trick can be done with an inexpensive and widely available alternative that comes in small water proof 1″x 1″ aluminium wrappers, that are alcohol wipes. These can be stuffed anywhere. Good for starting fires, or wiping just about anything, anywhere. Most things should be dual purpose if at all possible.

      If they only find my body, as a reminder, it will have some of their great grandfather’s equipment strapped to it, or in my hands.

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