cheap survival item

[coon4492]

Did you guys ever buy a cheap junky looking survival tool and think "this probably won't save my life why did I buy this". Then find it to be really useful after all? I purchased a cheap waterproof matches holder. It was plastic and it also had a little compass at the top, a small signal mirror in it, a small fire starter on the side and a whistle. It seemed like all the neat little accesories on it wouldn't work I really wasn't sure if it was going to even be waterproof. It was like a dollar so I figured I'd give it a chance and I actually ended up liking it. The compass worked and even glowed in the dark, the signal mirror was reflecting back light from the sun so I assume it might work, the firestarter worked although it could have been better, the container was actually waterproof and it held alot of matches as well as some tinder, and the whistle was fairly loud. I now keep this thing in my survival kit. I don't trust in it to much but I think it could be useful in an emergency.

[LDS]

I have one of those in each kit and in each vehicle, one in my breifcase too. Wallyworld sells them for $2. One of the best $2 you can spend. The compass works well, so does the whistle. If you are hurt, weak and need help that whistle can save you.

I find that I must lay the cotton ball on top of the knife blade and pull up to catch a spark due to the placement of the striker on the side. I do not put many matches in mine, I wrap a couple of PJ coated cotton balls in a scrap of tin foil and use the rest of the space for an SAK Classic, a couple of safty pins, a bandaid and a chunk of pool shock tablet for water purification. A single edge razor blade or an exacto knife blade will fit in there too.

Sometimes it is nice to have a small cheap item like this that you can drop into your pocket, curl your little fist around and know you are just a little safer.

[dixieangler]

I purchased a cheap waterproof matches holder. It was plastic and it also had a little compass at the top, a small signal mirror in it, a small fire starter on the side and a whistle.

Yep. But the one that I picked up for $1 was the Coleman. No compass, mirror, or whistle. Just a plastic waterproof holder. It came with 25 coated tip matches, a striker pad, and a spark rod fixed to the bottom. I cut the matches down to match book size and like LDS, took a piece of aluminum foil and stuffed it with tinder of about ten small cotton balls laced with PJ, then stuffed this into the top portion of the holder. The epoxy glued in spark rod on the bottom works great using a knife blade. But I do have several multi-function whistles that have a luminous compass, magnifying lens, and thermometer. These multi-function whistles run about $4 or $5.

[LDS]

SMKW has a zipper pull with compas, thermometer and magnifying lens for something like $2. I keep one of them along with a half mag bar on a keychain attached to my multitools.

Stingy as I am, I found that i can saw a mag bar in half, drill a hole in the blank end and have two very efficient firestarters for the price of one. Just watch it when that hacksaw blade hits the ferro rod!! You also get a whole bunch of mag dust shavings from this process. If you mix them with the PJ on the cotton balls you have nearly explosive fire starting material.

I was nearly drawn and quartered for using these shavings mixed with cedar bark in a primitive event. They also did not think much of my flint striker with the ferro rod insert.

Wallyworld has the small orange match safe with striker on the bottom for $1, over in the camping knick-knacks.

My wife dragged me to a Michaels craft store a couple of years ago. They had a whole bunch of cloth hats for $1 each. They were made just like the old boonie hats except they were cotton and came in black or white. I grabed a half dozen of them and use them in warm weather. They also keep bandanas and other "craft items" that will serve dual purpose. Hobby Lobby is the same. I go there for exacto blades in bulk packs, leather snap fasteners, bandanas, gromets... and thery have those good 10# blocks of candle wax. Beeswax too.

And never forget the trusty P38 can opener. They double as a screw driver, small game skinner and also remover of aluminum can lids for emergency cookpot production.

[dixieangler]

Wallyworld has the small orange match safe with striker on the bottom for $1, over in the camping knick-knacks.

That's the one.

and thery have those good 10# blocks of candle wax. Beeswax too.

The thing about candles here in FL and the heat and humidity during Spring and Summer, is that the wax will melt sometimes even if the candles are stored in the shade. Fall and Winter is fine for candles if you keep the wind off the flame. Candles are a lot of times really not practical here. I would rather have a small LED light but one that has an on/off switch, not the contact switches they have now on them.

And never forget the trusty P38 can opener. They double as a screw driver, small game skinner and also remover of aluminum can lids for emergency cookpot production.

My SAK Hiker has all those tools and more.

Speaking of wind, it is still blowing here in 47 degree weather at noon. The kind that you have to hold onto your clothes or lose them. lol I don't feel much like trying the firebow today as a result.

[LDS]

Like always, you use what works in your area, and the more you have the better your chances are.

"Back in the Day" we rewired those old fasioned keychain lights with a red electric diode for reading maps and retaining our night vision. They had just come out and were not being used for that purpose yet. Bet you could do the same with a whatever stle llight tube youwant.

It is a pain to realize your light has gone dead due to an accidently pressed switch.

[dixieangler]

It is a pain to realize your light has gone dead due to an accidently pressed switch.

True but is also a pain to hold the switch down with one hand when you need both hands and light to do other things.

[LDS]

Come to think of it, lights are also a place where one can find good items cheap.

I have a AA Roughneck flashlight that I have been using for 15 years. I think I paid $5 for it back in '95.

I also picked up a hiking light for a couple of $$ last year. a set of batteries lasted the whole summer.

[coon4492]

yea I got a cheap LED flashlight that works great. Its small but it's really bright and it will last awhile because it uses LED's

[LDS]

This is like the cheap knife thing we dwell on.

I was cutting some carpet with my old standby cheap knife and realized I had gone across a 12' room twice and the blade was still moving right along.

I pick these knives up at the hardware store for $4.99. They are a Spyderco knock off with ambidexterious thumb studs, Half serated blade, molded in belt clip. I have them in the vehicles, tool boxes, laying all over the house. Chances are, if I am ever actually in a survival situation, it will be one of these knives that is in my pocket and not one of the well thought out choices I have paid big bucks for or spent hours forging.