Keychain Survival Kit

D

dkochan

Joined
Mar 18, 2002
Messages
135
I am putting together a keychain survival kit. Please give me your feedback and let me know if I am missing anything.

Contents of Keychain Survival Kit
-- Swiss-Tech Utili-Key
-- Combination thermometer and compass
-- GI can opener
-- Keychain LED flashlight
-- Spy Capsule filled w/ strike anywhere matches
 
Originally posted by dkochan
-- Swiss-Tech Utili-Key
-- Combination thermometer and compass
-- GI can opener
-- Keychain LED flashlight
-- Spy Capsule filled w/ strike anywhere matches
Click to expand...

I think the can opener isn't that much use without cans. A compass is probably not a priority, since if you can't see well enough not to go in circles, in MOST cases it's probably better to stay where you are.

Food is of course not realistic on a keychain, but perhaps you could have something to purify water with?
 
whistle, sliver gripper tweezers

Some light cord.

safety pins

small ferocerium rod maybe?

Small SAK

Ben
 
You can survive for a couple weeks without food but you're gonna need water right away. A small container to hold a ziplock bag and something to purify the water with would be a priority to me, right along with a good failsafe knife.
 
How about (2) spy capsules - one with matches and one with water pure tabs?

BTW - anyone have a good source for the spy capsules at a decent price?
 
Awesome - Ryan's got great prices.

As for the water pure tablets - I'm a FoodSaver Vaccu-Seal nut so I'd seal them in that and then put them in the capsule.

Thanks.
 
There's a glow ring auction on eBay right now(LINK). It's open through the 15th.

Also, I did some poking around and learned the Spy Capsules are made (or at least wholesaled) by Bison Designs. REI sells them, but the best deal I've seen is through the milltools link above.
 
I've found the spy capsules at Galyans. If you have a Galyans, you should be able to get them there cheaply.

As for purifying water, the tabs will be of little use without a container and if you have a non-plastic container, you can boil water. You can boil water even in a bark or wood container. Of course, if you've never tried this beforehand, I wouldn't rely on it in a survival situation. Baggies and condoms hanging around my neck don't inspre confidence in me for water carry. I never go into the woods without a metal container of some sort.

For neck carry, personally I keep it simple. Too much stuff and eventually, you won't be carrying it. I carry a Tru Nord Compass in a small leather pouch for EDC around the neck. I alternate this with a nifty small Suunto. I carry a lot of extra stuff in a small pouch on my hip. In the pouch below, I have a matchsafe filled with matches, an 1/8" ferro rod, and sandpaper for striking the matches. The homemade brass vial is filled with vaseline impregnated cotton balls. The magnifying glass is something I carry everyday because I use it in my work. The Opinel is also something I use every day and I carry a few other knives as well.;)
hippouch1.jpg
 
I would also include a fire starter of sorts on your key chain, (eg. a metal match) as safety matches run out or degrade over time. There are some very nice ones designed for key chain carry.
 
I got a "Spark-Lite" for my kit because it can be used with one hand.

The smaller "Swedish Fire Steel" model (the Scout, I think) might work.

The small model of the "Sparky" might also work. It combines a Ferrocium (sp?) rod with magnesium tinder.

Some members just use a small Ferrocium rod.

You can find most of these items for sale online by searching www.google.com for their name.

For details on most of these options see Doug Ritter's Fire - A Survivor's Best Friend
 
You can get the Swedish Firesteels (smaller Scout or larger Army models) from our own Bagheera here on BFC. He's got good prices and offers some of the BEST customer service I've found. A great guy and a great guy to deal with. His email is phenskens@hotmail.com He may still be on summer vacation, so don't get concerned if he doesn't answer email right away. :)

Pictures and info on the Swedish Firesteels on their website:
http://www.light-my-fire.se/firesteel/?CatId=2
http://www.light-my-fire.se/firesteel/?SubId=9&CatId=2
http://www.light-my-fire.se/firesteel/?SubId=10&CatId=2

I believe that these folks also sell ferrocium type firestarters. You could give them a call to see what they've got available. I couldn't get their webpage to load just now.

Done Right Mfg. (Now owned by Strike Master)
915 NE 65th St.
Vancouver, WA 98665
360-695-8561
FAX: 413-812-4905
http://www.gotfire.com/
 
Knifemaker Peter Atwood makes a pretty cool little keychain tool with all kinds of goodies. I don't have the link to his site right now, but if you do a search I'm sure it will turn up.
Matt
 
For Glowrings and Fire Steels I strictly use Bagheera as my source.

Piet sells these as a fundraiser for his Scout troop. I know that the "profit" they make goes to good use.

And, his customer service is unequaled!

Send Piet an e-mail. I believe, as was stated, he is on holiday right now, and will be back, I think next week. It was for 3 weeks, but I can't remember when he left.

Mike
 
Originally posted by dkochan
Could someone give me some examples of keychain fire starters? Thanks.
Click to expand...

The Boy Scout Hot Spark has worked for me. It costs around $2.00. For around $4-6.00 you can get magnesium firestarters at Walmart and most sporting goods stores.
 
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