True Andy, I was thinking long term when you have down time or the opportunity presents itself. I can't speak for Arch but I am sure he was on the same wavelength as well.

YUP. That's kinda what I was thinking, but then again I was also considering (first off) just a "I'm lost and can't be found for 3 days" kind of thing".

Hey Survival means different things to different folks.

All righty then, on my S6 "Gotta use what ya got" knife I now have a "Mini kit" in the front pouch on the Cordura sheath I found for it.

It houses of course the S6 although I DO wish it had a custom molded kydex liner so it wouldn't rattle at all.

The Pouch now houses:

1. Original leatherman tool.
2. Smith's retractable diamond hone http://www.smithsproducts.com/product/dret-diamond-retractable-sharpener/
3. Magnesium rod http://firesteel.com/magnesium-tinder-rods/ and a striker http://firesteel.com/firesteel-super-scraper
4. I've attached an aluminum capsule filled with PCB impregnated with magnesium shavings to the strap on the pouch. The Ferro rod is a custom build that I got From DT (I also got the magnesium rod from him.

I guess I should add that it is the Short Cordura sheath that they sold on the site for a while. It fits the S6 perfectly but would benefit from a form fitted liner. The present liner is just a folded over piece of clear plastic.

The Winkler II Stiker. It has a 5.25" blade, and a tang that tapers from the 3/8" thick (!) exposed hammer pommel all the way to the tip. One continuous taper the entire length of the knife. The tang is skeletonized to cut down on the added weight. This is my next knife.

I'm not tech-savvy enough to post images, and I don't want to post the link because it has the price listed.

I'll take mine with recycled rubber handle scales.

Here is a pic for you Spidy.


Nice looking piece.

Thanks greaser.

There's a spine shot on one of the dealer websites that I found very interesting.

Yes, absolutely.

I also advocate reducing wear on gear when alternatives are readily available. E.g. in a real survival situation I won't find building a debris shelter or teepee or leanto shelter as a fun task in which to use my Busse. I'd be more concerned with expediency, efficiency, and reduction in injury risk. As such, you'd more likely find me looking for readily adaptable shelter (a tree that has blown over, etc) where I can quickly assemble a shelter by v-breaking the balance of the main structure instead of hacking away with a knife.

The knife wouldn't be spared from getting to heart wood since I view fire as the single most important wilderness improvisation.

Improvised tools don't exclusively mean FABRICATED tools. Nature often provides everything we need without our interference.

Beyond that, I 100% agree with Andy. Me first, tools second. If the equation provides the right variable for tool preservation - bonus.

I don't remember if I or anyone else addressed this on "Survival knives".

I feel that a lanyard on a true survival knife is mandatory. No I don't really like lanyards all that much but in a true survival situation having that lanyard can keep you from loosing the blade over water, in the snow or over the side of a cliff or from a tree. The last thing you need to do is loose your only means of protection/food/water and shelter preparation.

So if you don't really want a lanyard on the knife all the time, at least have one ready to put on in case your outing does truly become a case of survival.

Very good idea, Randy.

I've dropped more than one knife, and a couple I've lost.