COLUMBIA RIVER KNIFE AND TOOL (CRKT)

First up we are going to talk about the CRKT M1614DSFG. The reason we are starting with the M16 style is because, in it’s many incarnations, it is reportedly one of the best selling tactical knives to military personnel.

There are many good, and a few bad, points to this tanto knife. I like the size, it’s bigger than the regular M16 and it has good balance. It is heavier so you may want to keep that in mind if weight is a concern. It is razor sharp out of the box, fast to deploy, and comes with CRKT’s autoLAWKS safety locking system that is a safeguard to keep it from closing on your hand. The other thing I really like about this folder is the 4-position pocket clip that you can move to your favorite carry position, left, right, tip up, or tip down. These are also some of the best affordable folding knives as they are in the 45-60 dollar range.

Ok, that’s the good, so here’s the bad. A small drawback to this knife is all the holes in the handle. I’ll admit, I like the way they look. They have a classic retro airplane rivet look to them that appeals to me. However, these holes attract lint and dirt, and I can see them filling up with mud in a wet weather situation so keeping this knife clean is going to be an issue. The autoLAWKS system, while keeping your hand safe from the blade closing on it, is kind of a backup to the liner lock on this knife. You have to flip down the autoLAWKS to disengage it to close the knife and it takes some getting used to. Especially if you’re wearing gloves.

One other thing to remember is that CRKT knives are counterfeited a lot and the counterfeits look and feel real but they are made with inferior products. Be careful where you purchase your knife that you’re getting the real thing.

Finally I want to address the serrations on the blade of this folding knife. I’m not a fan of the Veff serrations. I have to agree with several other reviewers I’ve seen that the serrations are just too thin and fragile. Too many people have reported too many problems with them bending and chipping for me to order a knife with them on it. I’ve also seen them first hand on my buddy’s My Tighe and his were bent and chipped. I think they look really cool but I would take standard serrations that work over these.

My personal preference for a folding knife in this style is the M1614D. It has most of the same features as the above knife and it has the standard serrations on the blade. It does only have one flipper though, not two. My issue with the second flipper is that it catches on things I’m trying to get out of my pocket but I have to say I love the fact that the M1614DSFG has a true hilt.

For the price range that these folders fall in, all things considered, both of these knives are solid excellent choices in a tactical folder. Yes, I have issues with the serrations, but if the serrations aren’t something you think you’ll use much then I certainly wouldn’t let it hold me back from buying this knife.

SPYDERCO

Next up we have the Spyderco Military G-10. As the story is told by Spyderco, This knife came about after someone asked Spyderco’s owner Sal Glesser, “If your son were going into the military what folding knife would you send him with?” His answer to that question is this knife.

The blade is my favorite, CPM-S30V and it comes razor sharp and ready to go to work. The other thing I really like is the texture they put on the G-10 handle. It’s just rough enough that it doesn’t get slippery when it gets wet and not so rough that if you carried it inside your waistband it would be uncomfortable. This knife is also nice and light weighing in at just 4.2 ounces. You can get it in a carbon fiber handle with Crucible Steel’s CPM-S90V exotic alloy blade that weighs just 4.0 ounces as well.

As incredible as this military tactical folding knife is, there is one thing you need to consider before you purchase it. This is a LARGE folding knife, perfect for a bug out bag. The overall length on this big boy is 9 1/2 inches and even closed it’s still 5 1/2 inches long! That means you’re going to have to take into account how deep the pocket is that you want to carry it in.

One final cautionary remark about this knife, there is a number of people out there that have cut themselves learning how to open it. Remember… let’s be careful out there.

KERSHAW

I recently bought a SpeedSafe equipped Kershaw Blur with an S30V blade. I love this knife. The rough texture of the trac-tec inserts really help you keep a good grip. This thing was razor sharp right out the box and when you open it, it has a satisfyingly solid “thwack” sound.

I really like the no-nonsense thumb studs. They have a ribbed pattern cut into them and you place your thumb on the flat part of the thumbstud to push the blade open. Very effective and very secure feeling.

When researching this knife before I bought it, I read some reviews that said they felt that the pocket clip was too tight. I can verify that it is pretty tight, and with the rough texture of the inserts I can see it tearing up the pocket on my jeans with repeated use. I’m hoping that with use it will loosen up a bit.

This knife also comes with a tanto style blade and with different styles of handles. But these have blades made from Sandvick 14C28N steel not S30V.

I’ll be posting an update on this knife the more it gets used in a real world environment so stay tuned.

AL MAR KNIVES

The Al Mar Sere 2000 knife is an excellent choice in a tactical folder. The original design of this knife was done by AL Mar and Col. Nick Rowe in the early 80′s for the U.S. Army’s SERE school.

These came out several years ago but you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who owns one of these and doesn’t love it. They may not be as flashy as some of the newer knives, but they still have some excellent features, such as:

• Smooth action with one handed opening
• Solidly built
• Deep pocket clip with right or left carry
• Dual thumbstuds
• Razor sharp out of the box
• A VG10 Steel blade made in Japan

It is a liner lock style, it weighs about 6 ounces and has a blade length of 3.6 inches.

I’ll be adding to this list as I test out other knives, don’t forget to check out our Top Picks For Combat Survival Knives as well!

When planning your bug out bag, probably the most important thing to consider is the bag itself.  There are lots of options for a bug out bag, but you really want something that is durable and rugged.  You never know what kind of punishment it may have to take.

I prefer a pack with MOLLE attachments just because there is almost no end to the different things you can add to it.  Plus, I use some MOLLE compatible pouches everyday, like my cell phone case, that I could easily attach to my bug out bag if I wanted or needed to.  When looking at MOLLE packs, there are a lot of lower quality packs out there that you want to stay away from.  In fact, you kind of have to look pretty hard to find the good stuff.

I personally have and love the Maxpedition Vulture II for my bug out bag.   It is 1000 denier nylon fabric as opposed to the 600 denier that you normally find.  It also has YKK  zippers and Duraflex buckles.  I have tried some of the other low quality brand equipment and have not been happy with them.  I haven’t tried the packs, but I have tried some of the attachment accessories and have had zippers break, and almost always a snap breaks.

The Vulture II has 2810 cu in of space which is ample space for a 72 hour bug out bag.  I also really like how far this bag opens up. I like that I can easily get to the stuff I have packed into the bottom of it because it zips open so far. It is a great bag for camping as well.  If you like to get out and go camping every now and then, it is a good idea to test out the equipment you have in your bug out bag.  You may find that you are packing stuff you don’t need or are forgetting to pack something vital.  This is where you will notice the difference between the lower quality packs and the better ones.  The lower quality packs won’t be able to take the abuse that the better constructed ones will.  This is where I notice the lower quality zippers and things not holding up.  You get out to the campsite and go into a pouch several times during the day and the next thing you know, the zipper is broken.

The Vulture II also has a zippered pocket for a 100 oz water bladder like a Camelbak.  The good thing about this is, one of the most important things you will need to pack in a bug out bag is water.  Having a built in pouch for a water bladder means the weight of the water will sit right on your hips and be close to your body to keep from pulling you backwards.  This would be real noticeable if you had to hike for a ways. At this point, I would also like to say that this pack is real comfortable. It is so adjustable, that you can get it to fit just perfect for your body. I helped someone adjust this pack to fit while it had about 80 lbs in it and he weighed 280 lbs and had a 42″ waist. There was still room for adjustment and we got it to where he felt like it would be easy to carry for quite a ways.

There are other bags out there that are more expensive, but I think the Maxpedition Vulture II gives you the most bang for your buck.  It is a large pack, but not too large, and it is comfortable, versatile, and very rugged.  I don’t think you can go wrong by getting this pack for a 72 hour bug out bag.  Once you start filling it with the items you will need in an emergency, you will see just what a great investment this is.

Pick up a Maxpedition Vulture II here. It is the best bug out bag you can get for the money, in my opinion.

Survival knives have been around in one form or another since the dawn of man. From sharp rocks to man made steels and polymers knives have come a long way. The survival knives being manufactured today are without a doubt the best knives ever built in history, but are any of them being built by Gerber?

There are several knives produced by Gerber that fall into the survival category. I am going to focus on a few of the fixed blade knives currently available on the market. I will show you what’s out there, point out some things to watch out for, and give you some insight on how these knives have performed.

The first knife I’d like to tell you about is the brand new Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Knife. This knife was out of stock everywhere I could find it when it first hit the market so it is definitely a popular knife, but the press on it is mixed right now. It hasn’t been out long enough to get any real hard practical use (although it did come out right at deer season) and I think there are some out there that just don’t like Bear Grylls. Knocking his products seems to be in fashion at the moment.

I personally don’t have a problem with Bear. I know he’s not from the U.S. and he probably doesn’t care that the knife isn’t made here. However, I probably would have done a more thorough job of checking out the product that was going to carry my initials. No, I don’t own the knife, I did get the chance to check one out pretty well, and I have done some extensive research on this knife.

I guess the deal breaker for me was the review I read of the guy who was batoning a small limb and the plastic handle broke and the metal pommel went flying. That being said, I think it’s fine for someone who is hiking or bike riding and doesn’t want to carry a larger survival knife with them. Since this knife is “feature rich” I’m going to list them for you here, you can also pick up the Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Knife Here.

Knife Features:

* 1/2 Serrated High Carbon Stainless Steel Drop Point Blade – Ideal for edge retention and cutting rope
* Full Tang Blade Construction- For maximum durability
* Ergonomic Textured Rubber Grip – Maximizes comfort and reduces slippage
* Stainless Steel Pommel – At base of handle for hammering
* Emergency Whistle – Integrated into lanyard cord

Sheath Features:
* Fire Starter – Ferrocerium rod locks into sheath, striker notch incorporated into back of knife blade
* Nylon Sheath – Lightweight, military-grade, mildew resistant
* Land to air rescue instructions
* Diamond Sharpener – Integrated into sheath for on-the-go sharpening
* Priorities of Survival – Pocket guide outlining survival essentials

Tech Specs:
* Overall Length: 10-Inch
* Blade Length: 4.75-Inch
* Weight: 11.2-Ounce alone, 14.72-Ounce with sheath

If you would like a different option to the Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Knife, you could use a Gerber LMF II or a Gerber Prodigy and the whistle or signalling mirror A-Poc writes about.

Right now at the top of the food chain for a Gerber Survival Knife, in my opinion, is the Gerber LMF II. This knife has proven itself in battle and is gaining a reputation as being one of the toughest knives on the market today. This top rated survival knife comes in three different versions. The ASEK, the Survival, and the Infantry. The differences in these versions is strictly in color and accessories, the knife itself being the same in all three flavors. I’m going to break these down for you so you can see the differences. You can also read more about these in my blog post here.

The Gerber LMF II ASEK only comes in foliage green, it is infra red (IR) resistant and comes with a sheath, 2 leg straps, and a safety knife w/sheath.

The Gerber LMF II Survivalonly comes in camel brown. It is NOT infra red resistant and comes with the exact same accessories as the ASEK but in the camel brown color.

The Gerber LMF II Infantry comes in (IR) resistant Foliage Green, Camel Brown,and Black. This knife only comes with a sheath and one leg strap.

Next up is the Gerber Prodigy. This knife is like the little brother of the LMF II.  There’s lots of information out there about this knife so I’m just going to cut to the chase and tell you what I DON’T like about it.  This knife seems to be blade heavy, unlike the LMF II which is more balanced. I’m not a fan of the sheath on this knife, the LMF II sheath is MUCH better, but I do like the fact that it is MOLLE compatible.  I haven’t decided if I like the overmolded grip yet, it seems to have a thin coating of rubber over a hard plastic handle.  I haven’t had a problem with this yet (I don’t use this knife much) but I’ve had a knife like it and the handle eventually peeled on it.  Granted it was a cheap knife but for me it’s a potential problem on the Prodigy.

Now, with all that being said, this is still a great knife.  Most people want a light hiking knife that could get them out of any trouble they happen to stumble upon.  This knife is perfect in that application.  It is well made, it is a good solid fixed blade knife, and it also gets great reviews.

Gerber is a great company that makes excellent knives. I personally wish all of their knives were made here in the USA but global economics being what they are that’s just not possible. To be able to compete they need to be able to appeal to all economic classes of people.  Consumers who live outside the U.S. are only concerned with the quality of the knife they buy not where it’s made. That being said, several of Gerber’s knives ARE made right here in the good ole U.S. of A. which means they are keeping lots of people working. For the money I think Gerber knives are an excellent value. You can spend more on a knife, and if you’re a hard core survivalist you probably should, but for the average person building a bug out bag or getting a camping knife you can’t go wrong with a Gerber fixed blade.

Hey guys,

I just ran across a great deal on 9mm ammo. You can get some Winchester 147 gr. BEB 9mm ammo for under $8 per 50 rd box.** The shipping on 1000 rds will cost about $11 but even still, that’s quite a bit cheaper than even wolf ammo. As of right now, this ammo is on backorder and will be available on Jan 5, 2011. As you can tell, it is going pretty quick, so grab it while it is at a great price.

Just as an FYI on this ammunition, the 147 grain bullet is a little heavier than the more common 115 grain, and the bullet is BEB or Brass Enclosed Bass. Apparently the BEB eliminates lead vaporization at the base which in turn eliminates barrel leading. From the reports I have read, it is very accurate however I have not tried it yet.

From the other sites I have seen that sell this ammo, this seems to be about $10 less per 50 rd box so get it while you can!**

**UPDATE: It looks like it may have been mispriced because it is now up to about $14 dollars a box which is still not bad. Congrats to those that got it for the $8 price!!

Mil spec 550 paracord is the equivalent of duct tape when it comes to its durability and usefulness. You almost can’t have too much paracord. There are some things you need to know when purchasing it for your bug out bag, however.

550 paracord originally was used as parachute cord for paratroopers in WW2. It quickly caught on as a very useful tool in fixing all kinds of things (including the Hubble Space Telescope). It was originally just produced for the military but not long after WW2 it started being produced for civilians. But, as all things, some manufacturers go the cheaper route and try to capitalize on the same market, so be sure you are getting mil spec 550 paracord.

The 550 comes from its breaking strength. It takes a minimum of 550 pounds to break mil spec 550 paracord (designation MIL-C-5040H Type III). It is a cord made up of a nylon sheath wrapped around 7 strands of 2-ply yarns. It is mildew resistant and dries quickly when wet. The sheath itself is rated at a little over 300 pounds and each of the seven strands is rated at 35 pounds (actually, each strand is made up of a twisted pair of yarns rated at 17.5 pounds each). You can see how a length of paracord is multi-functional. You could cut off a length of paracord, pull out its inner strands and use them for anything from thread for repairs, to fishing line or trip wires, and still use the nylon sheath for whatever you would normally use paracord for as long as you take into account the lower breaking strength from the missing strands.

There are a lot of knock-offs out there, but the main thing you need to check is that the paracord you are getting is rated at 550 lbs with 7 inner strands. I have read about tests being done on these and the mil spec 550 paracord wins but usually has a breaking strength of over 650 lbs whereas the knock-offs tend to have a breaking strength more around 600 – 625 lbs. You can see that in either case, it is over the minimum 550 lbs so in my book, even the knock offs can be fine.

There are lots of cool and innovative ways to keep your paracord handy as well. One of the most common is by making a survival bracelet. It looks really cool, is easy to make, and allows you to have about 6 feet (depending on your wrist size) of paracord on you at all times. If you really want to have a lot of paracord on hand, you can make a paracord belt. Depending on your waist size you can get almost 100′ of paracord into a belt! You can also make keychains, zipper pulls, and lanyards. There is almost no end to what you can weave with paracord. I’ve even seen people make carry cases for their cell phones that attach to their belt. And in every case, there is a sizable amount of paracord that can be unwoven for use at any time. You should get some paracord for your bug out bag asap if you don’t already have some.

This stuff is awesome. If you are the type of person that always has to have a roll of duct tape handy, then you should have a bunch of paracord handy as well. As far as bug out bag use is concerned, I pack at least one color that blends in to the surroundings in case I need it to be a little camouflaged and one color that is easily seen like a neon orange. I learned this the hard way by tripping over my own lashings and practically clothes-lining myself in camp! The bright orange is a little easier to see!

A good signal mirror is just as much of a must to have in your bug out bag or disaster kit as a good whistle is. I am sure you are probably thinking, “Yeah, I am sure there is an old make-up compact or something around here that I can use for a signal mirror. Heck, my watch has the ability to annoy people on a sunny day, what do I need a signal mirror for?” Does a make-up compact float? Can your watch cast a reflection at night with a full moon or a street light? Are both of them unbreakable? In fact, can you even aim either one of them with any kind of accuracy?

That is where the Starflash signal mirror comes in.  This thing is small and lightweight.  It floats and is so easy to aim it is amazing.  You can aim the Starflash signal mirror with pinpoint accuracy because it has a hole in the center that you put up to your eye.  You then will see a little holographic image of the sun that you just place on the person or object that you want to signal and they will see it.  This mirror can be seen from over 100 miles away!  100 miles?!  I work about 50 miles from where I live and I can’t imagine being able to signal that far with a 2″ by 3″ mirror, much less twice that far!

Just check out this quick little video from the people that make it.   It is pretty convincing.

You can pick up a Starflash mirror at Amazon for about $10 and you should.  It is well worth it and will complement that Storm Whistle nicely! ]]> http://72hoursurvival.com/starflash-signal-mirror-review/feed/ 0 http://72hoursurvival.com/nrs-storm-whistle-review/ http://72hoursurvival.com/nrs-storm-whistle-review/#comments Thu, 02 Dec 2010 13:27:19 +0000 A-Poc http://72hoursurvival.com/?p=1606

A whistle can be the difference between life and death in a rescue situation.  If you are in a situation where you need to attract the attention of rescuers, you can’t guarantee they are going to hear your cries for help even in a quiet environment.  Now take into account the possibility that there may be a lot of noise in your surroundings like high winds, or the sound of crashing water, or maybe even explosions.  If you have been surviving for more than a few hours, you may not even have the energy to yell loud enough for help.

That is where a good whistle comes in.  It takes a lot less energy and just three short blasts on it (the recognized signal for distress) can attract the attention of rescuers a long way off.  In this respect, the best whistle on the market would have to be the NRS Storm Whistle.  You can get a NRS Storm Whistle at amazon for around $10. It has a special design that allows it to be up to 75% louder than most referee or police whistles.  It is used by such organizations as the Red Cross, police departments, Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, and even dive rescue organizations because it has the ability to be heard underwater due to the fact that the sounding chamber will purge all water that is in it when it is blown.

If you are building your bug out bag, why not spend the ten or so dollars this whistle costs for the peace of mind that you didn’t just settle for any old whistle that in a crunch will fail you?  Plus, it is a nice bright orange, so if you were to drop it, you could easily find it.  But do yourself a favor when you get it, do one test blast…alone…and in the middle of nowhere with no one within miles.  Then put it in your bug out bag or disaster kit and live happy with just leaving it there until it is needed.  You don’t have to follow my advice, but your family knows where you sleep.  I’m just sayin’. ]]> http://72hoursurvival.com/nrs-storm-whistle-review/feed/ 0 http://72hoursurvival.com/my-first-aid-bag/ http://72hoursurvival.com/my-first-aid-bag/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:17:02 +0000 A-Poc http://72hoursurvival.com/?p=1535

First and foremost, I am not a medical professional. I am just trying to get the average Joe to think a little more about first aid than he/she already does. You don’t have to be a surgeon to be able to help someone with first aid, but you should know how to use the different items you have in your pack. You should also know some basic first aid skills so that you can get a better idea of what you should pack.

There are lots of places to get first aid training, but if nothing else I have found some online courses for getting certified. You can watch the videos on most of these without having to buy the cert. If you are like I was, not knowing anything about first aid, any reputable information is better than none.

The focus of 72hoursurvival.com is to survive for 3 days without emergency response help. So you don’t have to be a doctor, you just need to be able to have the basic skills and supplies to survive long enough to see one.

I carry a Maxpedition F.I.G.H.T. pouch on my Vulture II bug out bag. Obviously you have to buy the contents separate, but the bag has MOLLE attachments to attach to my bug out bag. You would be surprised out how much you can carry in it. All of the stuff in this picture is packed in my F.I.G.H.T. pouch. Granted, it is stuffed, but it is all in there. The only thing not pictured is the aspirin but it fits in there in a small container as well. I feel like this is a good first aid kit for a 3 day survival situation. I will say that the thing that probably takes up the most space in this kit is the SAM splint. I opted for the 36 inch because you can cut it down to size if you need to. You can buy smaller SAM splints though.

One thing that I don’t have pictured here (since I haven’t done it yet, but I am going to as soon as I finish writing this), is a card with a list of expiration dates of all the medications. This way, when you go to check your bug out bag (which you should do probably twice a year…I do it when I change the clocks forward or back), you can easily reference the card and not have to unpack the kit.

Sometimes you can pick up a first aid kit that is packed with a lot of good stuff, but I personally believe you should build your own. This way, you pack stuff that you know how to use, and you know exactly what is in your kit. Be sure and join our email list and get a copy of The Everyman’s First Aid Kit for free and learn what the Red Cross advises to be in every first aid kit.

I wrote a new article that you can check out here that talks about how to build a bug out bag.  It has been a long time in the making and the research got pretty extensive, but it is finally up.  Be sure to check it out and let us know what you think!  I think it does a pretty good job of covering the necessities and getting you in the right mindset as to just how to begin such a large task as building a bug out bag.

Enjoy,

A-Poc

Some people ask me, “Why a 72 hour bug out bag?  Why not a week, or just a few hours?”  Well, the reason is this:  In a disaster scenario, like a flood, tornado, hurricane, or earthquake, first responders are likely going to be completely overloaded with large fires, collapses, etc. of large commercial buildings or heavy traffic downtown areas.  It is highly possible you will have to fend for yourself for a minimum of 3 days.  So the idea is to have enough stuff to keep yourself alive for 3 days and give you the necessary time and possibly tools to get what you need to survive longer if need be.  It would be pretty cumbersome to have to carry around enough stuff to survive for a week or more when all you really need to do is survive long enough to find more water or food.  Remember, in a disaster, you are going to have to rely on yourself and your family to stay alive, you can’t just wait around for emergency personnel to come do it for you…you may be dead before they can get there.

When we first conceived 72hoursurvival.com, we figured one of the first things we would do is build a bug out bag and then put up a page on how we did it.  Holy smokes did that turn out to be a big ordeal!  As you can probably tell, most of the site has been about guns & ammo, and knives.  Well, that is because building a survival bag has turned out to be a lot more in depth than we thought it was.  The amount of research that has gone into it is kinda staggering considering we have pesky full-time jobs that get in the way of our preparations!  That being said, I am going to write this article now to share what research we have already done so that you don’t have to go through the same pains we did!  Hopefully you will find this information useful, but remember…this is NOT a blueprint!  Everyone’s situations are different and your bag will most definitely be different than the next guy’s, so keep that in mind.  Also, I will talk about a lot of different options so don’t expect to fill your bag with everything I mention here.  It would probably take a truck anyway!

So in this article I am going to try and give you a good idea on where to start and how to get a bug out bag together.  But again, there is not a “one size fits all” survival bag.  It really needs to be tailored to you or your family’s particular needs.  You should also consider your surroundings as well.  I am in the country so if I need to leave without a vehicle, I may need to take poison ivy into account.  If you are in the city, poison ivy may not be as important.  That is just an example, but you get my meaning.

The most important things to plan for when building a bug out bag, is food, water, shelter, fire, first-aid, and getting rescued.  I will delve into these first and then give you some other ideas you may want to consider if you still have room in your pack.

Before you start buying stuff to stock a pack, though, you need a pack! I personally have the Maxpedition Vulture II. It is extremely durable, is really versatile as far as fitting, and has numerous MOLLE attachment points. I highly recommend this bag as a durable, yet affordable bug out bag.

Food

Water

Fire

Shelter

Rescue

First Aid

Weapons

Other Tools and

Necessities

Just Get One Going!