I have a small sawzall type blade in mine. I have found myself reaching for it far more than I expected after I put it in there. Jigsaw blades are small enough to fit inside an Altoids tin as well. I have not used a wire saw that is worth packing and I've tried more then a couple different kinds.
Survival Tin Content
I recently wrote this article on the contents of my Altoids survival tin. I'd like to get feedback on my kit and ideas from others who have made a similar mini-survival kit. Any must-have items that I'm missing?
http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2013/04/making-your-own-survival-tin.html
http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2013/04/making-your-own-survival-tin.html
21 - 40 of 68 Posts
At one time I had a site bookmarked where a guy took hacksaw blades and dremeled them down into a small knife. Basically cut the blade in half to make two knives. Shape out the point you want and round out a small choil for your index finger. Smooth over the teeth on the end that will be the handle. Grind the smooth edge into your blade then sharpen it up. The beauty of this was that it actually had a working saw back for the knife. He then wrapped it in electrical tape to make it safe to stuff into the kit.
Found the link: 10 cent survival knife
Found the link: 10 cent survival knife
IMHO an Altoids tin survival kit is not a survival kit at all. I think if you actually went out and used it for even one day then you would change your mind about the whole idea.
IMO you should always have at least the 5 C's of survivability (1. Cutting tool, 2. Cover, 4. Container for boiling water, 5. Combustion device) in every kit you make since those are the hardest things that also require the most time and energy to reproduce in the wild. Your cutting tool if you only have one should be a good fixed blade knife carried on your belt.
You can carry your combustion device in a pocket and your cover can be an AMK bivy sack that is also small enough to fit in a cargo pocket or small belt pouch (I can fit mine into a USGI compass pouch. Your boiling container can be a nesting cup that can go into a water bottle pouch along with your water bottle. Or it can be a USGI canteen and cup with the stove made for it and carried in a canteen pouch strung on a length of 550 cord.
My boiling container is a USGI canteen cup carried with a canteen and stove in a molle canteen pouch on a 10 foot length of rope doubled over and tied with a Prussik knot. The pouch has two smaller pockets on the outside where I carry a small bottle of 2% tincture of iodine and some Aquatab water purification tabs. This allows for water purification by multiple methods and I can purify water without having to stop and build a fire to boil it. It should be stated that boiling is the most reliable way of purifying water as far as water bourne pathogens are concerned. If there is a risk of manmade chemical contamination then a very substantial water filter is going to be needed to render the water safe for drinking.
DC recommends carrying at least 25 feet of either 550 cord or tarred bankline. I carry 550 cord myself. You can not build a good reliable PSK that will fit into an Altoids tin because you can't fit a good fixed blade knife or a reliable boiling container in there. You CAN put a good reliable fire kit into an Altoids tin and that's how I carry my go to fire kit. My kit also has a pin hole in the lid for making char cloth.
Three of the 5 C's of survivability can be carried on a carabiner on your belt or belt loop. But carrying a boiling container or appropriate sized fixed blade knife is going to be something you most likely won't want to do since it would be ungainly and uncomfortable. That is easily solved by carrying a water bottle pouch with metal nesting cup and/or metal water bottle (that would allow you to carry two boiling containers) on some kind of strap or rope and carrying your fixed blade knife on your belt.
Your cover can be something as small as a mylar space blanket but I would prefer something more substantial like maybe a reusable space blanket or a pair of 3 mil contractor trash bags.
The remaining 5 C's of survivability are 6. Compass, 7. Cotton bandanna, 8. Candling device, 9, Cargo tape, 10. Cotton/canvas sail needle.
DC recommmends carrying these items because of the previously stated reasons and they can go into a relatively small pack or haversack type container that won't weigh very much. I have all of the 10 C's except for the sail needle. All of my kit (with some redundancies) goes into a backpack equipped with a 70 ounce water bladder except for my water kit and my fixed blade and the whole thing only weighs about 20 pounds and is very comfortable. I can carry close to 100 ounces of water with my canteen and bladder and have means of purifying water on the go.
I will never understand the obsession with Altoids tin PSK's. We are not trying to be 007 in the woods so why does a kit ever need to be that small? I know there are some people that can't or don't want to carry very much weight but sometimes it can't be avoided.
The right 5 C kit could be 10 pounds or even less if you build it right. There are lots of ultralight tents and tarps that weigh mere ounces. Water would probably be the heaviest part of a 5 C kit unless you carry a BK2 or some other knife that weighs a couple pounds or so.
IMO you should always have at least the 5 C's of survivability (1. Cutting tool, 2. Cover, 4. Container for boiling water, 5. Combustion device) in every kit you make since those are the hardest things that also require the most time and energy to reproduce in the wild. Your cutting tool if you only have one should be a good fixed blade knife carried on your belt.
You can carry your combustion device in a pocket and your cover can be an AMK bivy sack that is also small enough to fit in a cargo pocket or small belt pouch (I can fit mine into a USGI compass pouch. Your boiling container can be a nesting cup that can go into a water bottle pouch along with your water bottle. Or it can be a USGI canteen and cup with the stove made for it and carried in a canteen pouch strung on a length of 550 cord.
My boiling container is a USGI canteen cup carried with a canteen and stove in a molle canteen pouch on a 10 foot length of rope doubled over and tied with a Prussik knot. The pouch has two smaller pockets on the outside where I carry a small bottle of 2% tincture of iodine and some Aquatab water purification tabs. This allows for water purification by multiple methods and I can purify water without having to stop and build a fire to boil it. It should be stated that boiling is the most reliable way of purifying water as far as water bourne pathogens are concerned. If there is a risk of manmade chemical contamination then a very substantial water filter is going to be needed to render the water safe for drinking.
DC recommends carrying at least 25 feet of either 550 cord or tarred bankline. I carry 550 cord myself. You can not build a good reliable PSK that will fit into an Altoids tin because you can't fit a good fixed blade knife or a reliable boiling container in there. You CAN put a good reliable fire kit into an Altoids tin and that's how I carry my go to fire kit. My kit also has a pin hole in the lid for making char cloth.
Three of the 5 C's of survivability can be carried on a carabiner on your belt or belt loop. But carrying a boiling container or appropriate sized fixed blade knife is going to be something you most likely won't want to do since it would be ungainly and uncomfortable. That is easily solved by carrying a water bottle pouch with metal nesting cup and/or metal water bottle (that would allow you to carry two boiling containers) on some kind of strap or rope and carrying your fixed blade knife on your belt.
Your cover can be something as small as a mylar space blanket but I would prefer something more substantial like maybe a reusable space blanket or a pair of 3 mil contractor trash bags.
The remaining 5 C's of survivability are 6. Compass, 7. Cotton bandanna, 8. Candling device, 9, Cargo tape, 10. Cotton/canvas sail needle.
DC recommmends carrying these items because of the previously stated reasons and they can go into a relatively small pack or haversack type container that won't weigh very much. I have all of the 10 C's except for the sail needle. All of my kit (with some redundancies) goes into a backpack equipped with a 70 ounce water bladder except for my water kit and my fixed blade and the whole thing only weighs about 20 pounds and is very comfortable. I can carry close to 100 ounces of water with my canteen and bladder and have means of purifying water on the go.
I will never understand the obsession with Altoids tin PSK's. We are not trying to be 007 in the woods so why does a kit ever need to be that small? I know there are some people that can't or don't want to carry very much weight but sometimes it can't be avoided.
The right 5 C kit could be 10 pounds or even less if you build it right. There are lots of ultralight tents and tarps that weigh mere ounces. Water would probably be the heaviest part of a 5 C kit unless you carry a BK2 or some other knife that weighs a couple pounds or so.
Good thoughts about the 5 Cs. I can only speak for myself, but I never have regarded this tin as the end all, be all to survival. I don't think anybody really does. I have one probably for the same reason others do, as a backup, supplemental kit for a more substantial EDC or BOB. If the military sees a valid need for such a tin, why not for people like us who enjoy the great outdoors?IMHO an Altoids tin survival kit is not a survival kit at all. I think if you actually went out and used it for even one day then you would change your mind about the whole idea.
IMO you should always have at least the 5 C's of survivability (1. Cutting tool, 2. Cover, 4. Container for boiling water, 5. Combustion device) in every kit you make since those are the hardest things that also require the most time and energy to reproduce in the wild. Your cutting tool if you only have one should be a good fixed blade knife carried on your belt.
You can carry your combustion device in a pocket and your cover can be an AMK bivy sack that is also small enough to fit in a cargo pocket or small belt pouch (I can fit mine into a USGI compass pouch. Your boiling container can be a nesting cup that can go into a water bottle pouch along with your water bottle. Or it can be a USGI canteen and cup with the stove made for it and carried in a canteen pouch strung on a length of 550 cord.
My boiling container is a USGI canteen cup carried with a canteen and stove in a molle canteen pouch on a 10 foot length of rope doubled over and tied with a Prussik knot. The pouch has two smaller pockets on the outside where I carry a small bottle of 2% tincture of iodine and some Aquatab water purification tabs. This allows for water purification by multiple methods and I can purify water without having to stop and build a fire to boil it. It should be stated that boiling is the most reliable way of purifying water as far as water bourne pathogens are concerned. If there is a risk of manmade chemical contamination then a very substantial water filter is going to be needed to render the water safe for drinking.
DC recommends carrying at least 25 feet of either 550 cord or tarred bankline. I carry 550 cord myself. You can not build a good reliable PSK that will fit into an Altoids tin because you can't fit a good fixed blade knife or a reliable boiling container in there. You CAN put a good reliable fire kit into an Altoids tin and that's how I carry my go to fire kit. My kit also has a pin hole in the lid for making char cloth.
Three of the 5 C's of survivability can be carried on a carabiner on your belt or belt loop. But carrying a boiling container or appropriate sized fixed blade knife is going to be something you most likely won't want to do since it would be ungainly and uncomfortable. That is easily solved by carrying a water bottle pouch with metal nesting cup and/or metal water bottle (that would allow you to carry two boiling containers) on some kind of strap or rope and carrying your fixed blade knife on your belt.
Your cover can be something as small as a mylar space blanket but I would prefer something more substantial like maybe a reusable space blanket or a pair of 3 mil contractor trash bags.
The remaining 5 C's of survivability are 6. Compass, 7. Cotton bandanna, 8. Candling device, 9, Cargo tape, 10. Cotton/canvas sail needle.
DC recommmends carrying these items because of the previously stated reasons and they can go into a relatively small pack or haversack type container that won't weigh very much. I have all of the 10 C's except for the sail needle. All of my kit (with some redundancies) goes into a backpack equipped with a 70 ounce water bladder except for my water kit and my fixed blade and the whole thing only weighs about 20 pounds and is very comfortable. I can carry close to 100 ounces of water with my canteen and bladder and have means of purifying water on the go.
I will never understand the obsession with Altoids tin PSK's. We are not trying to be 007 in the woods so why does a kit ever need to be that small? I know there are some people that can't or don't want to carry very much weight but sometimes it can't be avoided.
The right 5 C kit could be 10 pounds or even less if you build it right. There are lots of ultralight tents and tarps that weigh mere ounces. Water would probably be the heaviest part of a 5 C kit unless you carry a BK2 or some other knife that weighs a couple pounds or so.
More matches, in a crisis you realy don't want to ration your fire starting ability. Also add a lens of some kind. Mine is the size of a 1 oz silver coin and will fit just about everywhere, there are lenses that are the size of a dime but I have never used these to start a fire.
Remove the Tweezers, a sowing needle is the way to go IMO.
Also put the tin in a heavy duty plastic bag, Wrap in the box if needed. It adds an emergency sleeping bag or material for a wind shelter. Fasten some stuff on the lid with glue or duct tape, eg the needle, the fishing line or stuff you don't want to take out of the tin except for when you are to use them. You also want something orange that people will see if they are looking for you. A piece of cloth 1'x1' is probably enough to get the job done and can be used to wrap around the tin to protect the bag and box.
Remove the Tweezers, a sowing needle is the way to go IMO.
Also put the tin in a heavy duty plastic bag, Wrap in the box if needed. It adds an emergency sleeping bag or material for a wind shelter. Fasten some stuff on the lid with glue or duct tape, eg the needle, the fishing line or stuff you don't want to take out of the tin except for when you are to use them. You also want something orange that people will see if they are looking for you. A piece of cloth 1'x1' is probably enough to get the job done and can be used to wrap around the tin to protect the bag and box.
Get rid of the matches and put a bic lighter in there.
Ive done this before and honestly. it doesn't work all well. You are better off just getting yourself a seriously water tight match container. The wax on the heads rubs off on the strike panel and then what good is it. The match cant make any friction against. And if its a strike anywhere match. Chances are once you dip it in wax, and try to strike it somewhere, you will have stripped the match head off the stick. Just my two cents worthWhile I'm at it, dip the heads of your waterproof matches in some melted candle wax. That way they're evn *more* waterproof. I've gotten waterproof matches in the past that weren't so waterproof. If I think of anything else I'll be sure to let you know. Nice job, though! How expensive are those little knives?
Are you serious about this? If so, let me know, and I will post a rundown over your selections. It would take quite a bit of typing, and I want to make sure it is worth it first.I recently wrote this article on the contents of my Altoids survival tin. I'd like to get feedback on my kit and ideas from others who have made a similar mini-survival kit. Any must-have items that I'm missing?
http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2013/04/making-your-own-survival-tin.html
Made a couple of kits and gave them to my hunt buddies. The contents were simple, and fire,signal, pain med(tylenol), band aid, dental floss, birthday candle, button compass. short 550 cord around the middle(6' or less). We always have a fixed knife, multi tool, water(canteen or bottles)in a backpack. Poncho,Boonie/watch cap, extra
socks, gloves, energy bar, cheese/crackers, jolly ranchers usually packed in.
The guys don't worry too much, but liked the kits! Only out of pocket was button compass at $1.00 ea at a gun show, and the Altoids. Make a couple and you may cutomize for your need. The ones I made didn't need fish hooks or line, but added a pill container w/ vaseline smeared cotton balls for tinder. More practical for our forest hunting areas.
socks, gloves, energy bar, cheese/crackers, jolly ranchers usually packed in.
The guys don't worry too much, but liked the kits! Only out of pocket was button compass at $1.00 ea at a gun show, and the Altoids. Make a couple and you may cutomize for your need. The ones I made didn't need fish hooks or line, but added a pill container w/ vaseline smeared cotton balls for tinder. More practical for our forest hunting areas.
I understand the concept of the Altoids kit as a mental exercise. But not for honest use in the woods except for survival course work in reshaping the way one thinks about necessities. Certainly is good for that.
Great ideas! New to prepping
When ever I complain about a thread, I get told:
"Don't Read The Thread!".
The name of thread is "survival tin", not DC's 5-10 Cs.
People can't get it through their heads that a tin/mini PSK is just for one night/last ditch use.
If a dad would have had one, him and his kids might be alive today.
One person that complains the most actually has a Altoids tin in his knife sheath.
But if you're here just to complain about mini PSKs, go to the dark side and spew all you want.
"Don't Read The Thread!".
The name of thread is "survival tin", not DC's 5-10 Cs.
People can't get it through their heads that a tin/mini PSK is just for one night/last ditch use.
If a dad would have had one, him and his kids might be alive today.
One person that complains the most actually has a Altoids tin in his knife sheath.
But if you're here just to complain about mini PSKs, go to the dark side and spew all you want.
How to know you have went off topic:
Guy posts about the useful emergency items he carries in an Altoids tin.
And you are taking about sleeping bags and cooking utensils...
Guy posts about the useful emergency items he carries in an Altoids tin.
And you are taking about sleeping bags and cooking utensils...
I bought some tea the other day (twinings, the good stuff): and it came in this metal tin. the cover seems to be as water resistant as an altoids. i thought that the larger size of the tin might make it a more practically useful piece of kit than a much smaller altoid. you gain of course in weight and bulk, but not an extreme gain:
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I'm not complaining. Just pointing out some common sense to somebody that is admittedly new to this whole "survival" shtick. An Altoids tin is not big enough to contain kit that would actually do any good for more than about 5 minutesl.When ever I complain about a thread, I get told:
"Don't Read The Thread!".
The name of thread is "survival tin", not DC's 5-10 Cs.
People can't get it through their heads that a tin/mini PSK is just for one night/last ditch use.
If a dad would have had one, him and his kids might be alive today.
One person that complains the most actually has a Altoids tin in his knife sheath.
But if you're here just to complain about mini PSKs, go to the dark side and spew all you want.
A person could do a lot better with a carabiner kit. Why aren't there more threads about carabiner kits? That's something that could actually be useful. An Altoids kit is not a PSK, at least not to anybody that actually goes in the woods. :thumb:
Here's my kit(less cordage, whistle, aspirin, and water purifying tabs those are stored in a 5-n-1 neck kit).
Contents: Mylar blanket, small knife, button compass, tape, fishing line, pepto, Neosporin, band aids, gauze pad, 12"x12" HD foil, wet fire starter, Spark-Lite avation fire starter, snare wire, wire saw, fishing hooks and weights, sewing needle. The Mylar blanket doesn't go in the tin. I have that and a poncho all the time when I'm out and about. I live in Oregon and it's wet for 7 months a year.
A small group of us hit the woods for 3 days with our kits. It was a long, miserable 3 days, but it was doable. I really missed beer. I like beer. fish on a stick is damn good after a day with no food.
For the wire saw, here's a good video about how to get the most use out of one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iikf8PceWU0
Contents: Mylar blanket, small knife, button compass, tape, fishing line, pepto, Neosporin, band aids, gauze pad, 12"x12" HD foil, wet fire starter, Spark-Lite avation fire starter, snare wire, wire saw, fishing hooks and weights, sewing needle. The Mylar blanket doesn't go in the tin. I have that and a poncho all the time when I'm out and about. I live in Oregon and it's wet for 7 months a year.
A small group of us hit the woods for 3 days with our kits. It was a long, miserable 3 days, but it was doable. I really missed beer. I like beer. fish on a stick is damn good after a day with no food.
For the wire saw, here's a good video about how to get the most use out of one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iikf8PceWU0
Altoids tin is a MINI/bare bones PSK!An Altoids kit is not a PSK, at least not to anybody that actually goes in the woods.
Just like a IFAK is not a full sized FAK.
There are some folk using the TINY Altoids tins for PSKs.
One guy says all he needs is a orange match safe for his PSK.
Another uses 35mm film containers.
Plus, there's the folk that know so much, all they need is a bandanna to survive.
And maybe a condom?
Ok maybe I should say an Altoids tin is not a REALISTIC PSK. And what's the point when it's so danged easy to carry the 5 C's in your pockets or on a belt? Just to be one of those "experts" that say all they need to survive is a toothpick? The reason for the 5 C's is because those are the things that take the most time and energy to reproduce.
In a realistic wilderness self reliance situation those are time and calories you may not be able to afford to waste reproducing something that is so easy to carry that there's no realistic reason NOT to carry them.
As I said before, it's too easy to carry a cover element, combustion device and cordage in a pocket. The boiling container can be carried in a 10x4 type water bottle pouch and your knife should be on your belt. You could always use the Altoids tin to build a bomber fire kit if you just have to have an Altoids tin.
There are skills and then there are real life situations where you might be able to use those skills effectively because you can't walk or you only have one good arm or hand. Then all the skills in the world probably become a moot point. That is why you should ALWAYS take at least the 5 C's of survivability when you go in the woods.
In a realistic wilderness self reliance situation those are time and calories you may not be able to afford to waste reproducing something that is so easy to carry that there's no realistic reason NOT to carry them.
As I said before, it's too easy to carry a cover element, combustion device and cordage in a pocket. The boiling container can be carried in a 10x4 type water bottle pouch and your knife should be on your belt. You could always use the Altoids tin to build a bomber fire kit if you just have to have an Altoids tin.
There are skills and then there are real life situations where you might be able to use those skills effectively because you can't walk or you only have one good arm or hand. Then all the skills in the world probably become a moot point. That is why you should ALWAYS take at least the 5 C's of survivability when you go in the woods.
These tins are gadjets IMO, you will never be able to fit what you need in a tin this size and the least you would need to survive is a knife, fire starter and some container to boil water in. What I believe one should focus on with these tins is not to survive but to make it a few days in the wild. The basics that you need to SURVIVE and most of the stuff you find will only take up space in such a scenario. If you don't have the ability to create some form of shelter with the tin you will find yourself in some serious trouble and you will be in this trouble fast. While some say you one need to find a tree to keep yourself dry I doubt these have ever experienced a night without shelter.
A basic tin for me would have
Knife
Fire starting - steel, matches, lens, alcohol tissues
shelter - Plastic bag
water purification
duct tape
Signaling - mirror on the tin, something orange, whistle
1:st aid - pretty much the duct tape + some medical tape for small cuts.
creating a tin that you could survive in the wild for long just isn't realistic. The size of the knife pretty much make it impossible for you to do anything more then cut twigs and prepare food. If you put in a bigger knife, the space won't fit much more. Another problem with a tin is how you would fit a container into it. The tin itself is to small for any reasonable volume of anything and if you need to carry water you are in trouble. The small water carriers that are out there pretty much take up all the space in the tin.
I probably come of as somewhat pessimistic but I do believe we need to get realistic with these tins. If you can't start a fire you are in great trouble, if you can't protect yourself from the elements you are in great trouble, if you can't store water you are in great trouble, etc. You can survive for a week on water alone but you won't survive for long if you can't get these basics covered within the tin.
A basic tin for me would have
Knife
Fire starting - steel, matches, lens, alcohol tissues
shelter - Plastic bag
water purification
duct tape
Signaling - mirror on the tin, something orange, whistle
1:st aid - pretty much the duct tape + some medical tape for small cuts.
creating a tin that you could survive in the wild for long just isn't realistic. The size of the knife pretty much make it impossible for you to do anything more then cut twigs and prepare food. If you put in a bigger knife, the space won't fit much more. Another problem with a tin is how you would fit a container into it. The tin itself is to small for any reasonable volume of anything and if you need to carry water you are in trouble. The small water carriers that are out there pretty much take up all the space in the tin.
I probably come of as somewhat pessimistic but I do believe we need to get realistic with these tins. If you can't start a fire you are in great trouble, if you can't protect yourself from the elements you are in great trouble, if you can't store water you are in great trouble, etc. You can survive for a week on water alone but you won't survive for long if you can't get these basics covered within the tin.
Finally some one gets it. I will never understand the obsession with Altoids "PSK"'s. Is it really that hard to carry realistic kit? If a person is so out of shape that they think anything heavier or bigger than an Altoids tin is just too much to carry then they need to stay out of the woods and get their butt in a gym.
Do these people think that even a person with phenomenal primitive skills would go in the woods with only an Altoids tin on purpose? I guess they might if only to prove that more is needed than what can fit in a rinky dink little tin. I admit I have an Altoids kit. But it's a fire kit only. The only things in that tin are for making fire. For that the Altoids tin is great! I have multiple ways of making fire as well as different kinds of tinder in that tin. And I can use the tin to make char cloth so it's really a great kit. But in no way shape or form is it a complete PSK.
There is no excuse to not carry 5 items that could easily make a life saving difference if you have them with you. Three of the items are easily carried in a pocket! What's easier than that? Even primitive peoples carried some form of the 5 C's with them if they knew how or had a way to carry them. There should be more threads talking about 5 C and 10 kits than Altoids "kits" and I don't understand why there's not.
Do these people think that even a person with phenomenal primitive skills would go in the woods with only an Altoids tin on purpose? I guess they might if only to prove that more is needed than what can fit in a rinky dink little tin. I admit I have an Altoids kit. But it's a fire kit only. The only things in that tin are for making fire. For that the Altoids tin is great! I have multiple ways of making fire as well as different kinds of tinder in that tin. And I can use the tin to make char cloth so it's really a great kit. But in no way shape or form is it a complete PSK.
There is no excuse to not carry 5 items that could easily make a life saving difference if you have them with you. Three of the items are easily carried in a pocket! What's easier than that? Even primitive peoples carried some form of the 5 C's with them if they knew how or had a way to carry them. There should be more threads talking about 5 C and 10 kits than Altoids "kits" and I don't understand why there's not.
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