SAR-1
Scout
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- Allegany County, NY
Mar 14, 2024
- #31
Hi Folks... Simple algorithm... RESEARCH, PURCHASE, PRACTICE! (repeat indefinitely) Take Care and Stay Safe... SAR-1
TP#16
Guide
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- Jan 12, 2017
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- Tracker Pack member #16
Mar 16, 2024
- #32
x39 said:
Okay, as promised I scored the redoubtable "Gordon Survival Kit" today! It was the last one in stock, so I lucked out. I think, ha! Anyway, I'm going to try each of the individual components and report on their efficacy. I'll start a new thread in the "Reviews" forum and post a link here when I get started in a day or so. There are no less than three bottle openers, I promise to try them all... LOL!
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looking forward to @x39 s review of this.......he is a really objective and honest judge of overall usefulness imo.
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Bridgetdaddy
Guide
Bushclass II
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- Central Maine, USA
Mar 17, 2024
- #33
I just looked at 3 different pre-made survival kits at Walmart today. None of them address the major needs of a 24-72 hour survival situation. They seem to have what people THINK should be in a survival kit to entice people to buy them; not what actually SHOULD be in them.
The 3 main priorities, in order, should be shelter, water, fire. (Or possibly fire then water)
Pre-made kits almost never have shelter, or if they do it is a "spaceblanket". A couple good size trashbags or even a tube tent would be more useful. People with very little/no experience should have the easiest gear to use.
Every kit has a fero rod. I have never seen a kit that comes with a LIGHTER. Open flame is the easiest way to get a fire going. Even a fero rod takes practice.
Few kits consider water. The cheapest straw type water filter is only $7 for about 1,000 gallons. A good filter is only $20. They are the easiest way to get drinkable water and they are never in a kit. A gallon ziplock bag or 2 to carry water would be helpful too. Even with chemical tabs you need a container and a minimum of 30 minutes. A metal container you need to get water, build a fire, boil the water without spilling most of it, and let it cool before you can drink it.
I feel like most of the gear in most kits is very low priority at best.
Rant over. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program....
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x39
Hyperborean
Supporter
Bushcraft Friend
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- Under the twinkle of a fading star...
Apr 4, 2024
- #34
As promised....
Harbor Freight "Gordon Emergency Survival Kit".....
Last month @Mr. Krinkle posted about this kit in the "Gear Deals" forum..... https://bushcraftusa.com/forum/threads/harbor-freights-survival-kit.367406/ https://www.harborfreight.com/collections/new-tools/emergency-survival-kit-12-piece-59708.html Just for grins I decided to pick one up and...
bushcraftusa.com
woodspirate
BCUSA Friend
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Sep 5, 2024
- #35
Speaking of HF survival gear....... I couldn't resist and bought one of these on my last visit to HF, the infamous Gordon 8" Survival knife ($10). Just something fun to tinker on and play with in the yard. Did a bit of Hobo engineering on it. I drilled out the guard at the hole where the set screw goes to secure the short blade tang into the handle. I installed a steel cross pin to better secure the blade, and also coated the blade tang with JB Weld before resetting it and pinning it. The blade is tight now. I went out to the wood pile and chopped and generally beat the heck out of the blade and its still tight. We will see how long it "survives" and stays that way. I also did some sanding of the blade on my 1x30 belt sander to remove some of the factory grinding marks and smooth the blade and then sharpened the blade. Added some 'Ranger bands" to the handle for a better grip. Fun little quick project. I had a nylon sheath for a small machete that is better than the crap one that came with the knife.
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Bladefrenzy
Dirty Hellbilly
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Sep 6, 2024
- #36
I'd much rather have a Mora, a stainless bottle, folding saw, compass, flash light and whatever cordage you like. Besides the Mora you could actually get the rest at Walmart if desired. But for just a few bucks more than the HF kit you could have actual tools that last years and years. A kit you could build on as wanted/needed.
c0pperheaded
Supporter
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Sep 6, 2024
- #37
woodspirate said:
Speaking of HF survival gear....... I couldn't resist and bought one of these on my last visit to HF, the infamous Gordon 8" Survival knife ($10). Just something fun to tinker on and play with in the yard. Did a bit of Hobo engineering on it. I drilled out the guard at the hole where the set screw goes to secure the short blade tang into the handle. I installed a steel cross pin to better secure the blade, and also coated the blade tang with JB Weld before resetting it and pinning it. The blade is tight now. I went out to the wood pile and chopped and generally beat the heck out of the blade and its still tight. We will see how long it "survives" and stays that way. I also did some sanding of the blade on my 1x30 belt sander to remove some of the factory grinding marks and smooth the blade and then sharpened the blade. Added some 'Ranger bands" to the handle for a better grip. Fun little quick project. I had a nylon sheath for a small machete that is better than the crap one that came with the knife.
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The $10 Knife - BUSH CRAFTING CHALLENGE !
You all are doing great work ! The next set of challenges will drop this weekend. I personally am running way behind all of you, but the weather here on the coast is not being conducive to anything done outside. Right now Ive got street flooding here, and the yard looks like a swamp. I even...
bushcraftusa.com
V
vule34
Tracker
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2012
- Messages
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- 122
Sep 6, 2024
- #38
Localyokel said:
Its a mall ninja kit ! Comes with tactical spoon for puddin cup breaks . Looks like garbage to me . All I can think about is the tac-lite commercial with the super tactical guy and the house music playing in the background . Hah
Funny thing is you could go into the same store and put together a better kit for less.
There is a drug store near my local harbor freight. Every time I go to Harbor Freight my family asks what kind of kit I'm putting together, lol.
MASC1104
Old Dominion Resident
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- Commonwealth of Virginia - The Mother of States
Sep 8, 2024
- #39
Someone else mentioned context. Is this kit the cat’s meow and the dog’s bow-wow for a lot of folks on here?… probably not. Would I buy it? Nope I wouldn’t. Like a lot on here got my own kits made up and in each car (and home) for every family member with a lot better quality items.
But I think for folks who are not really into the outdoors, camping, bushcraft, survival, etc, they would still be better off having this in the trunk of their car than not having anything if a situation arose.
Someone else mentioned a kit by Ozark Trail, I haven’t seen that one yet but in my experience with limited exposure to Ozark Trail items, they were serviceable for use.
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GrainyOzarks
Bushmaster
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Sep 8, 2024
- #40
As far as outdoor skills go, by BCUSA standards I'm maybe at 2 or 2.5 out of 10 at best. But that's a huge difference from zero. I think someone with no practiced skills or training would have basically no chance of being able to use any of the stuff in that kit, except I guess the flashlight, and maybe the whistle. Though even figuring out that the whistle is there might not be so easy. I hike with such a person (family member) regularly and I can see exactly how it would go. For a vehicle kit for this person, a sleeping bag, couple gallons of water, and a phone charger, would all be more helpful than the outdoor stuff.
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