Another Altoid Tin Thread

That was very informational. I basically copied what went into the Ritter survival kits.

Thanks for the heads up:thumbup:
 
I have lots of respect for the altoid-EDC. Having the discipline to carry at all times is tough - especially in urban life, and the altoids tin makes that a bit easier - especially during coat wearing/pocket seasons. For the bush though, I just like something a bit more substantial myself. I have a WSK stuffed (more heavy on fire/first aid) into a small sized travel med-kit pouch. I also have another med-pouch with emergency rations (1 cup beans, 1 cup minute rice, soup stock, peanut butter packets x 4, honey packets, powerbar x 2, hot chocolate x 2 and a beef jerky packet) stuffied into another med-pouch. The two pouches go into any pack (day or multi-day) whenever I go off.
 
I have several kits stuffed into various bags. All are in smallish nylon stuff bags. One is in my wife's daypack, another is in my daypack, one is in my hunting gear, the last one is in my kayak drybag.
 
Check out www.equipped.org. It is Doug Ritter's site and he was one of the pioneers in PSK building. He inspired me back in September of 2000 to build up my first altoids kit and I've made them smaller and smaller since. I finally got the chance to meet him at a gathering in April of this year. Great guy and incredibly informative and knowledgeable. Very good original ideas out of his organization.

22.jpg
 
Their recant issue had a nice article on making a survival necklace, decent read only a page though.

I made a Altoids tin kit last year, carried it for about a month then set it down some where. Just found it the other day.:o Kinda like Christmas.:D

Here's a link to the place they recomendedhttp://www.bepreparedtosurvive.com/SurvivalProducts.htm

Helle
 
I started doing the altoids thing a while ago. I found that a clanging metal case just didn't work for me. I simply didn't carry it often. I now have two change purses made of hemp. They are comfortable and easier to manage.
 
Helle said:
Their recant issue had a nice article on making a survival necklace, decent read only a page though.

I made a Altoids tin kit last year, carried it for about a month then set it down some where. Just found it the other day.:o Kinda like Christmas.:D

Here's a link to the place they recomendedhttp://www.bepreparedtosurvive.com/SurvivalProducts.htm

Helle
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With a username like Helle I assume you are at least familiar with Ragnar and Ragweed Forge. Since you obviously like Scandi's, I'm sure you noticed the great little Järvenpää puukko that was featured in the article. On Ragnar's site, he has a note that since the mention of that knife in the magazine, he has not been able to keep enough in stock to fill the orders and as a result they are back ordered and he doesn't know when they will get in. It is interesting that the knife was originally $37 on his site but since the article mentioned his website and said the knife was $34, he is honoring that price. Just goes to show what kind of a guy he is. A stand up gentleman in every sense of the word.
 
Nice summary, especially for a mainstream mag. We usually get just a sales pitch for the latest gizmos from their best advertisers.
1. Think about skills

Focus not on the components but on the tasks you’ll want them to perform. In a survival situation, you’ll need to do most of the following: build a fire, construct a shelter, get and purify drinking water, gather food, signal for help, navigate back to civilization, and administer basic first aid. Once you know what types of functions you must be prepared to carry out, you can select the proper items.

2. Pick your tools

Choose at least one component from each of the groups below. Some items can meet the requirements of more than one. Fine-tune your selection to match your location or the season, and remember that you may want more than one item from certain categories. For example, I always bring at least three ways to start a fire.
Fire and Light: matches, disposable lighter, flint and striker, magnesium fire starter, tinder, candle, and a magnifying lens. For the latter: flashlight, headlamp, and chemical light sticks.
Shelter and Personal Protection: survival blanket, poncho and rain gear, tarp, tube tent, parachute cord, headnet, hat, extra clothes, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, and bug repellent.
Water and Food: basic needs are water purification tablets or a filter, and a water container. Add snare wire and fishing kits for food collection, plus emergency rations, a small cup or pot, and a small stove.
Signaling: signal mirror, whistle, smoke signals, flares, dye markers, and emergency strobe.
Navigation: compass, maps, and GPS unit.
Knives and Tools: knives, saw, trowel, and shovel.
Medical: first-aid supplies for wound management, like bandages and first-aid ointment. Plus antibiotics, pain medicine, and personal medications.
Multipurpose: aluminum foil, wire, duct tape, large garbage bags, bandanna, surgical tubing, zip-seal bags, dental floss, sewing thread and needles, glue stick, and safety pins can all fill more than one function. Miscellaneous items include a survival manual, knife sharpener, thermometer, pencil and paper, toilet paper, and a cellphone.

3. Build your kit

Determine what size kit you want to carry, then decide on what you’ll pack everything into. This can be a tin, a waterproof container, or a soft case such as a belt pouch, waist pack, or backpack. For mini kits, I usually prefer a tin, like the kind that Altoids come in; since you don’t have room for a cup, you can use it to boil water. To make a mini kit, select the smallest components from each group. Be innovative when choosing items. Repackage them compactly if necessary, and whenever possible, select things that can perform more than one function.
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I never said he was skammer. I said he was one of ,the pioneers, not the pioneer. I'm not certain who it was that invented them but I know Doug has promoted them. Do you know who it was? If so, please let us all know. I know the military has used tin kits for their flyboys for a long time but I would love to know who first used "PSK" or "altoids kit" first.

I'll give credit where credit is due. Doug deserves credit for promoting preparedness all these years.
 
A couple of years ago I was looking for info on PSKs and found Don Rearic's article on the Penrith kit. I bought one from Tad Gear shortly after and have lugged it around in my EDC bag ever since (with a bunch of other stuff). Of the small commercial kits out here, I think $ for $ it gives you a lot value. This is probably heresy, but I am not a huge fan of the Ritter kit. IMHO it is light on both water and fire components.

The mini-kit I take into woods is based on Mike Spinak's kit that is posted at Mike Spinak Photography. Spinak's kit is very well thought out and made up of high quality components, I would encourage anybody wants build their own to check it out.
 
Mikes kit with a SRKW Battle Rat was my inspiration for sheath-mounted pouches of Survival Gear on my BK7, BK9 & specially purchased Battle Rat.
The Battle Rat is still my favourite & my kits fit into a nylon pouch originally designed to carry a Garmin GPS unit.
BK9Kit.jpg
 
Thanks, Stu.

I wish I could post a link to the Battle Rat kit, but it is no longer online, and i don't have a copy.
 
AustinTXShooter said:
With a username like Helle I assume you are at least familiar with Ragnar and Ragweed Forge. Since you obviously like Scandi's, I'm sure you noticed the great little Järvenpää puukko that was featured in the article. On Ragnar's site, he has a note that since the mention of that knife in the magazine, he has not been able to keep enough in stock to fill the orders and as a result they are back ordered and he doesn't know when they will get in. It is interesting that the knife was originally $37 on his site but since the article mentioned his website and said the knife was $34, he is honoring that price. Just goes to show what kind of a guy he is. A stand up gentleman in every sense of the word.
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My user name is my last name abbreviated.;) I'm familiar with Ragnar's site and am pretty sure that's where I got my Nying but it has been a few years.
Good for him on sticking to the price, I hope they don't raise his in the mean time.

The contents of my lost tin, lighter, candle, 4' nylon cord, 4 lg. safety pins, button compass, 3 Vaselined cotton balls in little plastic baggy, 4 band aids, 4 micropur taps, with the lid held down with a length of duct tape.

Nice kit Mike.:cool:

Equal opportunity knife lover.
Helle
 
StuToffee , the stuff in the photo looks like the stuff i carry in my pockets everyday out into the field. i'm not kidding.:eek:
eye drops , compass, alcohol swabs, string, etc;:thumbup:
funny i never thought about it till i saw it all laid out like that. maybe i'm a HYPO - gotta have it with me - chondriac.
buzzmonkey
 
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