Does anyone know any cheap yet good quality survival supliers IN THE UK?
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Does anyone know any cheap yet good quality survival supliers IN THE UK?
I can't help you with items in the U.K but I will say don't be in a rush to run out and purchase survival gear based on what's hot at the moment. Take some time to research what you need and you'll find a lot of items can be made from things you might already have at home (firestarter for example) or inexpensive items that perform as well or outperform expensive ones (freezer bags vs. water bladders for water storage). No need to waste money.
OK, thanks for the advice i might buy a fire steel from amazon
Start giving us some clues about what activities you want to pursue, outdoor living and survival living cover a whole lot of territory. Tell us about what you want to try and we can probably help you save some money and time.
well, id like a decent survival knife (like the one advertised on this page, since i live in england im not shure i an get it), the other thing is if my parents would let me have one.
i would be mainly be down the brook in my house, and if i organised something i would go into a forest (one in the north west of england)
ill have to identify threes in the area
Then you might start by discussing your interest with your parents. See what limits they set then operate within that framework. It won't do any good for us to recommend a knife if they are against you having one. However, you can still do all of the things I suggested on the welcome thread.
So far both Trax & Rick have given you great advice. So here's "Survival 101"; if it's not too late don't buy the fire steel just yet. Fire can be just as dangerous in the hands of an untrained person as a knife. You already have your 1st piece of Survival equipment; it's your mind. You seem to be a cautious, alert person who's willing to learn. In that case I say to you to do just that...learn. Want a free book on Survival? Then go to the homepage of this site and start studying and/or downloading the pages of the US Army survival Manual. It's FREE! You can also download other manuals as well, maybe whoever posted that address for those things will come back on and re-post it . If you were under my instruction and asked me what to buy 1st I would tell you the same thing I'd tell my own son...or grandson. Buy yourself a brand new spiral bound 5 subject notebook and a dozen pencils; pens if you don't make mistakes in your writing. Then start visiting all the forums on this site and write down every list, item, description...every bit of usable info you can find. You 1st need to learn this Ancroynom: "S.T.O.P.! People oft-times are in way too much of a hurry and that always seems to create even more problems. "S" stands for SIT, the "T" for THINK, "O" for OBSERVE, and "P" for PLAN! That's what you need to do right now. Don't waste money on equipment you don't even know how to use. I would never let any of my off-spring have a knife like the one on the home-page of this site. I wouldn't own one either. Want to know why? Look up the forums on knives and you'll find out. If you're as serious about learning as you said then this is your 1st lesson; are you ready?:cool:
OK, just grabbed a copy of the Dec. issue of Field & Stream and checked out Kevin McCafferty's review of Ranger Rick's Survival Necklace. There are only 2 pages of material and it deals with various other survival kits as well as "RR"'s. His is shown in the bottom right hand corner at the bottom of the 2nd page. It looks like "Kev." simply repeated the same thing about it other reviewers have. Interstingly enough the price has jumped a couple of bucks...guess the cost of Lift tickets have gone up as well.:D:D:D
Here is the web site with the free military manuals:
http://www.stevespages.com/page7c.htm
You might even talk to your parents about taking a first aid course. There are courses designed for people of all ages and that's a skill you can take with you anywhere.
ATTENTION: THIS LINK IS NO LONGER VALID. THE WEBMASTER HAS TAKEN THE SITE DOWN BECAUSE OF ABUSE.
Great link Rick thank you, I know some of mt training and manuals are out of date and I am teaching my new bride some of these will be very hlepfullQuote:
Originally Posted by Rick
trax: i will definately take down every thing as you said, thanks for the great advice, and if anyone knows a good practical (where i make some thing or build some thing) week end project i could do, it would be great.
about the knife: i havent asked my parents about anything about this other than theyll let me buy a firesteel, i think my parents trust me with that kind of thing and i have made a few fires in the past
oh and by the way im 13, i wont say anything else about my personal details or my mum will kill me
edit: oh, i have read quite a bit of the guide on this website
She has good reason to be concerned about internet safety and I applaud her for not only caring but for forcing the caution. Survival means more than just wilderness. The fact that you are UK based and your age will give us some ability to better help you.
1. Take a clear plastic bag and place over a tree limb. Close the bag with twine and leave all day. Take a look at how much water is in the bag at the end of the day. This is called a transpiration still.
http://www.mydirttime.com/images/050717/050717-6b.jpg
2. Make a fire bow kit
http://www.primitivefire.com/images/bow_drill_fire.jpg
3. Make a shadow box for finding direction. You can also use it to learn animal tracks if you put a treat in it and leave it overnight. Something will show up to eat the treat and leave their footprints behind.
http://www.mydirttime.com/photo.php?...&adventureID=9
looks like I was pretty accurate about your age. No problem, and yes, as Rick says, listen to your mom (or is it "Mum"?). My son is 26 right now but we always raised him to be aware of potential threats from predators. Rick has given you ideas for several projects, however what's the weather like over there in the U.K.? Right now, here in the Mid-West of the U.S. we have snow on the ground, cold air way below freezing temps, and a winter storm moving in. Learn to read the weather signs and chart your weather as well. When it gets too nasty out to practice these things that's your study time, as long as it doesn't get in the way of your school work. Get that notebook and use it just for this. Later you'll have to get another one. Start organizing yourself and writing down what you see & learn here. "Chance favors the prepared mind", and as the Boy Scouts say: "Be Prepared". Rick has given you some very good, yet safe ideas. WARNING! Never practice anything here, though, without 1st talking about it with your folks. Always walk on the side of safety 1st! Survival is all about staying safe! More later.:cool:
thanks for all the advice and it was probably more me being internet safe (im still annoyed cause my computer died, i think from a bad dl)
anyways, ill do that stuff you said, she saw me reading ricks post and saw the fire bow
ill probly get my dad to help me with hard things (but ill do most of the work)
anyway back on topic, does anyone know any good suplies in the uk
What "supplies" you need right now you can make. Read and remember, when you need it you sure don't want your mind to go blank. I know a little about your gun laws, don't know about knives. IMHO I would read and REMEMBER everything you can about survival and you don't need to buy self defense. I started my self defense at age 6 when I started school. It got kinda tough without any backup(only child) but I learned the hard way.
what do you mean by self defense i don't mean a knife for self defence, i want one to make stuff
Rick, I tried out a black plastic bag and actually got more water than a clear or white one. Must be that black/heat thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick
Oh yea, luv that shirt!
I thought of that as well but thought the clear bag would allow him to see what was happening inside. Show and tell time.
Your right, that does help those who never have done it. But when you get the chance try the black bag and post if you got more water too.
That's gonna be a while. The only foliage we have right now is under the snow.:D
I met a guy on business in Chicago once, he was from California and it was this time of year. "What happened to all the trees?" he asked. "They're all dead."
"It's winter." I told him. "The leaves fall off in the...fall."
"Trees keep their leaves all winter in California," he told me.
"Don't get out of California much do you?" I asked.
"Oh, yea. We go to Baja all the time."
I got to really like that guy. :D
lol Not all of us live in southen Cal. :D Rick I get a lot of snow up here to :rolleyes:
You got what I was sayin' wrong. You ain't got an animal in England that's half as dangerous as other people. I said READ & REMEMBER all you can and there ain't nothing like learning PERSONAL self defense to give you more confidence plus more endurance and the right attitude. There ain't no such thing as a knife fight anyway, would take two fools to try it. It's all one-sided and quick. Kinda like two skunks in a pi$$ing contest, there ain't no winner.
Field & Stream also had a section on different type of fires, including the "2 hole" fire. It also showed the "fuzz-stick...think we're being monitored?:rolleyes:
oh, know i understand your talking about
ive done karate for 4 years yet dont realy have the strenth to use it(allthought i probly could if i surprised them)
also, thanks for the advice and i will keep that in mind.
yeh ur right man can be very dagerous(especialy drunken chavs)
A weekend of camping in that forest you were talking about...with good food and water supplies..is a good start esp if you're an urbanite, when you're read. Military surplus stores must exist in England right? (otherwise where do all those drunken ex-SAS members go to pawn their equipment? LOL) That'll probably be your best bet for prices when you're ready to buy (that last part was kind of important). Now my big disclaimer....check all advice and anything you're going to attempt with parents first!! Also, if you're new to all this, find someone like minded to take along...(chaaa, how obvioius was that)
I recommend someone of the opposite gender, your parents might disagree...yeah, I'm pretty sure they will, strike that last one.
I agree with Trax on this one... if it was me and wasn't my girlfriend(I'd be dead) so take advantage of it while you still can!Quote:
Originally Posted by trax
honestly me personalyQuote:
Originally Posted by WildGoth
1 buck fixed partially serrated knife (like it)
1 normal bladed knife (OK)
6 glow sticks (Useful)
1 medical kit bandages,ontiment etc (understamdable)
1 hatchet (good to have)
1 saw (I prefer foldable saws[usually lighter and more compact])
1 survival thermal blanket (good idea)
1 muti-tool
75-100 feet of nolyon cordage
1 whistle
1 signaling mirror
1 compass
I would add a small flask of high potency alcohol (not for drinking, for fires)
150-190 proof 75% alcohol- 95% alcohol
just cause im not good at starting fires
Toasta - If you're going to be using alcohol to start fires, you're going to be toasta. Quicka.
Depending on the type of alcohol you are using, you may not see the flame and be tempted to add "just a bit more". While you're rolling and thrashing across the ground, your friends may think you've just started a new dance craze 'cause they won't be able to see the flames on you, either. Like gasoline, alcohol vapors are heavier than air and can travel across surface areas, like where you're sitting, as you try to get your match or whatever ready to light the fight. It's also very explosive if the mixture of alcohol and air are ripe and it doesn't take much.
It can certainly be used in a controlled environment like a cook stove but I'll bet more than one on this forum have seen a "blue" night when someone's stove went whump in the dark.
There are many other, much safer, ways of starting a fire. Make up a batch of cotton balls and vasoline, learn to use a steel match, or even carry matches with you. It's okay not to be good at starting fires. Just practice it until you are. Getting burned while you are camping or out in the bush can be a horrible and very painful experience, if you live through it.
As for your other items, everyone has their own list of items based on where they are, what they are doing and the season. If that's what is good for you then okey dokey. There are any number of web sites and/or books that can offer some good advice on what should be in a survival kit including some good posts on this forum.
Just my 4 cents worth (Used to be 2 cents but you know how inflation is).
I'm with Rick on that one toasta, better and safer ways to start fires and practice at home before you go if at all possible. You'll be surprised how quickly you get good at it, ask double e, he'll tell ya. Check out the word on 550 paracord around here, other than that looks like a darn fine list.
Lose the alcohol, the rest looks good. Make fire starters. Dryer lint is great! Wal-Mart sells the Magnesium Block with flint rod. The U.S. Air Force puts those in their pilots Survival Kits. They work really well if you use them right.:cool: Didn't see any "fire making" stuff listed.
One thing to look out for is the ferro rod along side the magnesium block can be unglued(?) I have recently come accross a few that are missing, change of manufacturer? or glue? Just something to look out for.
Yeh, loose the alcohol, what the Heck am I saying? I'll just bring the Wild Turkey, you want to drink that potent stuff, go ahead.
Who needs a fire when you have Turkey?
i was going to say the same thing... its hard to start a fire when you dont even have anything to make a sparkQuote:
Originally Posted by Sarge47
My Survival Kits #1 & #2
#1Kit (Always in my Van)
My EDC knife - Kershaw Junk Yard Dog 2 (3.75") Folder
Hunting knife - Hibben 5" w/Guthook & Horizontal carry Sheath
Leatherman Wave Multi-tool
Sharpener
Gerber NATO Tri-Folding Spade w/Sheath
Howler pea-less Whistle
Signal mirror
Compass and Topographical Map of area
Light My Fire Army Fire Steel Version
NATO 25 Wind/Waterproof Matches in Waterproof case
Mini Bic Lighter
Tinder Quick Fire Tabs
Wet Fire Tinder Cubes Burns @ 1300 degrees
Film container of Char Cloth
US Mil Spec 550 Parachute Cord - 100'
1 Nuwick 120 Hour Candle - For light or cooking
Ritter Photon Micro Light - 5mm LED with SOS Mode and cap clip
1 AMK Emergency Heatsheet-Survival Blanket - 1 person
1 AMK Emergency Heatsheet Survival Blanket - 2 Person
1AMK Heatsheet - Bivy
1 Nalgene Lexan W/M Bottle (Qt)
1 Olicamp SS Cup w/folding handles (pt) - fits on bottom of Nalgene Bottle
1 Olicamp Stainless Steel Plate 7 3/8"
30' snare wire
Tiny Fishing kit
3 Black Trash bags
Small pack of locking ties
Esbit Pocket Stove (4"x3"x3/4")
Esbit Solid Fuel Tablets
1 - 15 gr. CELOX Hemostatic Agent
1 Emergency Bandage - Military 6" Version (1 handed)
Snake Bite Kit
Tube of Antibiotic
Pack of Benedril
pack of 2 Aspirins
4 - 4"x4" packs of gauze pads
1" Med tape roll
Small roll of Gorilla tape
Mainstay 3600 Ration Bars (9 for 3 days) 5 yr shelf life, (when I can't catch anything substantial)
Waterproof Pancho
Waterproof Emergency Back/Shoulder Pack Fits all above (+) Everything that goes
into pack, weighs less than 4lbs Including the water and a few extra clothes.
Remember I Trek for 2 to 3 or more weeks at a time ALONE, where anything can
happen, ie, dramatic weather changes, accidents of any kind etc.
If I'm only doing 3-4 days, and not going in that far, I only take:
#2 Kit
My EDC knife - Kershaw Junk Yard Dog 2 (3.75") Folder
Hunting knife - Hibben 5" w/Guthook & Horizontal carry Sheath
Sharpener
Howler pea-less Whistle
Signal mirror
Compass and Topographical Map of area
Light My Fire - Army Version
NATO 25 Wind/Waterproof Matches in Waterproof case
Wet Fire Tinder Cubes Burns @ 1300 degrees
US Mil Spec 550 Parachute Cord - 100'
Ritter Photon Micro Light - 5mm LED with SOS Mode and cap clip
1 AMK Emergency Heatsheet Survival Blanket - 2 Person
1 plastick canteen (2pt) w/no water
1 Olicamp SS Cup w/folding handles (pt) - for boiling water
Tiny Fishing kit
1Black Trash bag
Waterproof Pancho
1 - 15 gr. Packet of CELOX Hemostatic Agent
1 Emergency Bandage - Military 6" Version (1 handed)
Tube of Antibiotic
Pack of Benedril
This all fits in a small fanny Pack or a small canvass "24" type bag (weight appx 1/2 lb).
Hard to make a fire after you've knocked back a jar or two of Wild Turkey too, I think me and FVR should take a couple of the newbs out hiking so we can give them instructions on how to make fire right while we tend to the WT.
I prefer "Ole #8"....
As my dear old grandmother use to say, "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy."
Just checked out this site. I have to admit it's a bit overwhelming. As far as survival manuals go, would you be able to suggest a few to start with?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick
Thanks!
A95
Sure. They are listed numerically. So...
FM 4-25.11 is First Aid. It has a lot of good information from the ABCs, to CPR to bleeding and so on. HOWEVER, nothing beats attending a good first aid course sponsored by the Red Cross, American Heart Association or other well known agency and they are generally pretty inexpensive. You can check with your local hospital. They will often offer Red Cross or AHA sponsored combination classes that include first aid, CPR, and AED training in one class and the cost is much less than taking them separately.
FM 21-76 is the Survival Manual. A lot of the information posted on this forum is from that manual. It's a good overall survival manual that will give you some good ideas all across the board from shelter to fire to water, etc.
One that is not listed there but I do like is FM 21-26 Map Reading and Land Navigation. I have it posted on my site. If you click on this link it should open it for you:
http://safezonellc.com/documents/USA...Navigation.pdf
then just save it to your hard drive.
That should keep you busy for quite a while.:D
Earlier on, somewhere on this site I talk about the "10 essentials" kits carried by Backpackers. Here is a couple that Campmor carries. Any ideas on improving on these to make your own? Include the "Carry" bag.:cool:
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/st...ategory_rn=249