Less is More

[BOD]

My kit’s been nicked

I came back to my car yesterday to find that my back pack and contents had been nicked by some little **** which was a not so pleasant end to a successful day of bambooology with a visiting American bamboo man.

I was enormously relieved that my Iban parang wasn’t taken. (he must have realised that walking down the street with a short cutlass was going to attract the police)

I was pretty dismayed though and started remembering what was in the pack:

Pack 40 litre North face
Garmin etrek GPS (with hundred of waypoints in Borneo, Malaya and South China Sea)
Suunto Mirror type compass (25 years old)
Entire FAK
Loads of paracord
Carabiner
Knee brace
Reading Glasses
Bum bag
Nalgene type Lexan water bottle
Disposable lighter
Australian Mark III Survival Kit
Orange/Silver Emergency blanket (good strong one from USA holds a 100 kg casualty)
Head net
UK mini dive light
2 IDF field dressings
whistle
Ronstan Kevlar and leather gloves
Mora 2000 (a gift from Andre “justintime” and the subject of a review)

and a few things I’ll probably remember when I miss them.

As I went through the list, I realised that the thing that ****ed me the most was the loss of the Mora 2000

And in distant second place was the GPS positions and then the old compass and Mark III kit.

My confidence as a bushcrafter must be improving if I am not much fussed over the other items but value the knife the most , even though I have 2 other Moras a Viking and Craftsman already.

It’s going to cost a bit but that can be borne and substitutes found but the loss of a knife I have grown fond of is hard to take.

This is the last thing we did together – dig up a shoot of the fire bamboo for the bamboo strike a light method.

 

[andy_e]

Sorry to hear that BOD, must be gut-wrenching to lose your kit like that, especially where there is sentimental value.

 

[Wayland]

Tough break Bod. It always hurts when something like that happens, I feel for you.

 

[h2o]

What where the contents of the australian mk3 survival kit? i could probably send you a few bits and peices ive got lying around.and a pair of leather gloves.just to get you back outdoors!!!

 

[Matt Weir]

I hope they choke on it all mate

 

[fred gordon]

Outrageous! When you think of all the time, care, not to say money we all put into chosing kit. I'm sorry to hear this. I'm sure we all get very attached to some of our kit and this is like loosing friends. Little concilation but I hope it was insured.

 

[Paganwolf]

Have a word with Bob about your kit mate im sure he will send you one hes a top notch bloke

 

[Pang]

ouch, feel for you. I wont rub you face in it. Just tough luck (pat on the back).

on the bright side! you can start a fresh and splash out big on brand new up to date kit!

 

[Shambling Shaman]

Not what I was expecting from the title of the thread...

I'm gutted for you mate - not quite the same (the ending is) I lost ALL my kit when I got divorced, She was in Holland with all are stuff I was on my last tour of duty as Lossiemouth when we split. Even if I had the time and money to have gone and got it I had no were to store it. So bit the bullet and left the lot, started from scratch. almost 8 years later I still miss my Monro log book...

ps I agree with Matt.

 

[malente]

Sorry to hear that

Seems you got the right attitude though, and as said by Pang, you can buy all shiney new gear and knives

All the best

Mike

 

[Hoodoo]

Sorry to hear it. Those are some tough losses. That was some good equipment.

 

[BOD]

Thanks all for the kind words.

Time to move on I guess, or as my wife says, "its time for retail therapy"

What where the contents of the australian mk3 survival kit? i could probably send you a few bits and peices ive got lying around.and a pair of leather gloves.just to get you back outdoors!!!

Many thanks h2o. I 'll be okay and I can get some from Bob in due course.

For those interested these are the contents. Its a good kit and actaully issued unlike many others

Mark III Survival Kit NSN 8465-66-135-0686

Box size in cms 10 long x 8 wide x 5deep

Plastic Container - Storage of contents, mixing bowl, cup, digging
Compass – Silva - Direction finding
Flint - With attached striker - fire lighting
Hacksaw Blade - Striker for flint, cutting metal
Cotton Pad - First aid, pulled apart for fire lighting tinder
Whistle – Signalling
Knife - Cutting, probing
Plastic Mirror - Signalling, self first aid
Tweezers - Removing splinters, other minor operations
Plastic Bags - Water procurement, wind/water proofing, carrying water, storage, improvised emergency flotation devices
Needle - Probing, sewing, - eye accepts fishing line as thread
Fishing Line - Fishing, binding, sewing, snares
Fishing Hooks - Fishing, gaff
Brass Swivel - Stops line twisting
Sinkers - Line weights, can be polished as a lure
Trace Wire - Fishing trace, binding, snaring, general repairs
Stock Cubes - Soup, alfoil as fishing lure, Note contains MSG
Cord – Multi use
Tea Bag - Warm or cold beverage. Note that tea is a diuretic
Coffee - Warm or cold beverage. Note that coffee is a diuretic
Glucose Tablet - Sweet energy boost, fire making with Condy’s
Puritabs - 1 tab per 2 litres of water wait 30 mins
or 1 tab per litre wait 10 mins
Condy’s Crystals - Antiseptic, antifungal, fire making
Bandaids - Covering small cuts and abrasions
Scalpel Blade - Probing for splinters, delicate cutting
Paracetamol Tablets - Suppressing pain and mild fever
Alcohol Swabs - Sterilising/cleaning skin wounds, fire lighting
Antiseptic wipes - External use only Warning Contains iodine
Magnifying lens – Reading, assist viewing in first aid, fire lighting
Instruction Sheet - Aid memoir, notes, emergency fuel
Pencil - Writing, graphite lubricant, shaved wood as fuel