During one of my recent online surplus shop meandering I came across this:
http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/s...es/millitary-issue-leather-double-984167.html
I promptly bought it along with another few bits. Wasnt in great nick with some corrosion staining and really stiff, but a spit and polish (or rather mink oil) it came up nicely.
After some thought for its best use and a guddle in Pandora's box, I had my idea. My RM wet moulded belt pouch gets a lot of use, but its crammed with lots of bits and pieces, a bit overfull IMO. I decided to break the contents down to 3 separate belt compartments using the above pouch and also modified the kits a fair bit. The following is my (current
) personal take on the ongoing debate as to what is best to have on your belt kit taking into account my personal preference, numerous posts in this thread, various blogs and youtube videos, the authors and contributors to which I would like to thank for sharing their variable opinions. The idea I'm predominantly going with is not that of a survival kit, but rather a kit of bits and pieces to make living in the wilds that bit easier. I like to think with sensible clothing, a bedroll, tarp and the contents of this kit (possibly with the addition of an axe/hatchet) you could get by very comfortably, without having to improvise all the bare essentials immediately if the situation arose (through my own choice or otherwise), where this was all you had. The only thing I'd be lacking in is the knowledge of how to feed myself from the land, something I am also working on.
The result was this:
In the old military pouch I have my enlarged and updated my fire by various methods kit and sharpening kit.
In these kits (clockwise from top left) I have Hexamine block, tinderbox, sharpening box, wooden block (for contents of sharpening box), DC4 stone, disposable lighter, Aluminium waterproof tube with weather proof matches.
The tinerbox and sharpening tin contain (clockwise from top left): waxed card tinder, cotton wool soaked in vaseline, char cloth, empty tin, birch polypore strop, various grits of wet & dry paper cut into strips to fit the wooden block (prev pic), DC4 (not actually kept in the tin), flint, steel, inner tube, various cordage tinder and fatwood for shavings.
So the left over required bits I need are in the RM pouch: paracord, snare wire, small leather strop on a board, ouch pouch, Spartan SAK, emergency whistle, silva compass, LED torch (cant afford a mini photon at this time), magnifying glass in handmade leather case and a dozen or so small tacks.
Ouch pouch contains the following: alcohol wipes, steristrips and plasters.
My formal FAK: stretch bandage, triangular bandage, blister plasters, plasters, afterbite, steristrips, alcohol gel, swabs, safety pins, zinc oxide tape, cocodamol, diclofenac and fexofenadine (uber strong antihistamine - numbs the pain of the midges if it gets bad) and burn cream.
Add in my homemade waterbottle/webtex cup belt carrier (hopefully soon modified to have a paracord braided shoulder strap from this thread: http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75173&highlight=
Add my knives (a sturdy 4mm woody clone) +/- a 2mm necker (also in need of some paracord/leather thong for a cord) and the belt kit is complete!!!
Hmmm.... Might need a bigger belt
As I say, this is my current loadout of personal carry items which I look forward to getting some use out of in the near future.
I look forward to any comments and/or constructive criticism.
Thanks for looking.
http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/s...es/millitary-issue-leather-double-984167.html
I promptly bought it along with another few bits. Wasnt in great nick with some corrosion staining and really stiff, but a spit and polish (or rather mink oil) it came up nicely.
After some thought for its best use and a guddle in Pandora's box, I had my idea. My RM wet moulded belt pouch gets a lot of use, but its crammed with lots of bits and pieces, a bit overfull IMO. I decided to break the contents down to 3 separate belt compartments using the above pouch and also modified the kits a fair bit. The following is my (current
) personal take on the ongoing debate as to what is best to have on your belt kit taking into account my personal preference, numerous posts in this thread, various blogs and youtube videos, the authors and contributors to which I would like to thank for sharing their variable opinions. The idea I'm predominantly going with is not that of a survival kit, but rather a kit of bits and pieces to make living in the wilds that bit easier. I like to think with sensible clothing, a bedroll, tarp and the contents of this kit (possibly with the addition of an axe/hatchet) you could get by very comfortably, without having to improvise all the bare essentials immediately if the situation arose (through my own choice or otherwise), where this was all you had. The only thing I'd be lacking in is the knowledge of how to feed myself from the land, something I am also working on. The result was this:
In the old military pouch I have my enlarged and updated my fire by various methods kit and sharpening kit.
In these kits (clockwise from top left) I have Hexamine block, tinderbox, sharpening box, wooden block (for contents of sharpening box), DC4 stone, disposable lighter, Aluminium waterproof tube with weather proof matches.
The tinerbox and sharpening tin contain (clockwise from top left): waxed card tinder, cotton wool soaked in vaseline, char cloth, empty tin, birch polypore strop, various grits of wet & dry paper cut into strips to fit the wooden block (prev pic), DC4 (not actually kept in the tin), flint, steel, inner tube, various cordage tinder and fatwood for shavings.
So the left over required bits I need are in the RM pouch: paracord, snare wire, small leather strop on a board, ouch pouch, Spartan SAK, emergency whistle, silva compass, LED torch (cant afford a mini photon at this time), magnifying glass in handmade leather case and a dozen or so small tacks.
Ouch pouch contains the following: alcohol wipes, steristrips and plasters.
My formal FAK: stretch bandage, triangular bandage, blister plasters, plasters, afterbite, steristrips, alcohol gel, swabs, safety pins, zinc oxide tape, cocodamol, diclofenac and fexofenadine (uber strong antihistamine - numbs the pain of the midges if it gets bad) and burn cream.
Add in my homemade waterbottle/webtex cup belt carrier (hopefully soon modified to have a paracord braided shoulder strap from this thread: http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75173&highlight=
Add my knives (a sturdy 4mm woody clone) +/- a 2mm necker (also in need of some paracord/leather thong for a cord) and the belt kit is complete!!!
Hmmm.... Might need a bigger belt
As I say, this is my current loadout of personal carry items which I look forward to getting some use out of in the near future.
I look forward to any comments and/or constructive criticism.
Thanks for looking.
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