Pictures of my PSK. (PIC HEAVY)

Front



Back



Under outer flap



Contents of outside pouch



Inside



Contents of inside




I've worn the kit on my belt as well as the hip strap for my backpack. It also, works attached to the shoulder straps of my pack.

It still needs a few more parts (paracord, lighter better compass,etc.), but it's a good start.

Very nice kit, what is the black mudder handle knife, and the red and black thing?

The blade is a Scrapyard S5LE in (INFI), the red and black thing is a MSR MIOX. It disinfects water for drinking by creating mixed oxidants out of water, salt and electricity. It can also be used to disinfect cuts, or used to sanitize hands or equipment.

That's a great knife! Wish I had one. The MIOX sounds interesting , I never heard of it before, will have to check it out. Thanks

like your set up! thanks for sharing!

love your kit man.......so many cool things.

who made the leather sheath?

It's a chuddy bear sheath. It feels bomb proof.

Great looking set-up. Thanks for sharing.

Great kit, looks like just enough but not to much. What Tad Gear Pouch is that? I've read about the MIOX how does it work on the trail and after treating the water what does the water taste like?
Your folder it is a William McHenry model by what manufacturer? I know lots of questions, but when I see good gear that is really together I want to know more about it,

Thanks Silverback.

The pouch is the OP1. I chose it because it can be worn as a chest rig, attached to a pack, on the hip belt of a pack or just on a belt. IMHO, it's overpriced. Milspec Monkey has an Admin pouch that is less expensive and appears just as functional. In fact, you could probably find a good camera bag at Wally world or Target that would fit the bill.

The MIOX works great in the field. I like that you can just fill up your camel back and dump the miox cocktail in there wait then drink. If you try and treat tap water, you can taste the chemical. But, if you treat water in the field, there's no taste. I do carry a steri-pen as a back up.

The folder is a Benchmade 701HS in M2 steel. It's no longer a regular production knife in this form. You can find it in D2 and a premium one in M4 I believe. It's been a back-up knife for me for a while. Smooth, solid lock, good grip, great steel and a functional blade profile. It's not as tough as some of the ones out there, but it will serve it's funtion well.

The pistol Smith and Wesson 340PD. Scandium Frame, Ti cylinder .357 Magnum loaded with Hornady LEVERevolution 140gr flex tips. My revolver does not have an exposed hammer. It's more suited for personal defense. A better option would be the 360PD that has the hammer or a Ruger SP101.

The multi-tool is a Leatherman Charge Ti.

The pocket survival kit is by Doug Ritter.

The tinder is Wetfire by Ultimate Survival.

The firestarter is by Metal Match.

The light is a Surefire Back-Up.


I plan to add some paracord, more tinder, a lighter and a quality compass.

Nice kit.Thanks for the info on the MIOX.Clean water is a necessity for survival. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the comments. The MIOX is a good piece of gear. I've read some negative comments on them regarding ease of use and the taste. But, I've had great results with it. Also, the additional ability to create a disinfectant makes it even more useful.

Nice minimalist kit <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

A few considerations......

1) A BIC brand butane lighter would not take up a lot of space or add much weight. For many fire starting chores it will be easier to use than the LMF. BIC also makes a "Mini Bic" that is very small.

2) You might consider adding a collapsible Platypus bladder. They take up nearly zero space and can be had in 1L and 2L sizes. This would allow the MIOX to be used to treat some "reserve" essence of life (water).

3) I don't see a FAK. The pouch is probably too small for one, but perhaps a dedicated IFAK pouch too?

4) If you roll duct tape length wise over a business card you'll end up with a very compact (and flat) addition to your kit that literally has millions of uses. Our kits always has 10-15' on a business card (MINIMUM).

Regarding the hammerless S&W....

My wife and I both have S&W 642's (38 +P) because we like the fact they can be carried anywhere. The lack of a hammer means it won't snag when being drawn from deep concealment (like your TAD pouch).

We had 637's (with exposed hammer), but after carrying and training with them traded them toward the hammerless model.

I think your handgun choice is second-to-none for a REAL CCW revolver <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

One more thought....

5) Is there room for some 550 Para Cord (7 strand)?

Architect,

Thanks for the suggestions. I will add a lighter, some paracord and a better compass. I should add a light bladder of some sort. I get what your are saying. The MIOX is not useful without a container to hold the water. Good thought. I always have a main pack with both a water bottle and a hydropack.

I have an ultralight FAK that goes with me everywhere too.

Thanks for the input.

Kuanomar,

We keep these in our "mini kits", because I've found them to be very durable (I've watched videos of people boiling water in them - SERIOUSLY!):

http://www.cascadedesigns.com/platypus/handheld-hydration/platy-bottle/product

They also fold down to almost nothing.

The PlatyBottle can be used a "source reservoir" for a forced feed filtration system if you add a Frontier Pro filter.

http://aquamira.com/preparedness/frontier-pro-filter-system

Let me explain....

You can fill the Platypus 1L or 2L bag with untreated (but prefiltered) source water, and suspend it upside down from a tree/whatever with 550 Cord. The Frontier Pro filter screws on the Platy bag, and gravity flow filters water into your hydropack or bottle below. This allows other chores to be accomplished while refilling your main water source.

One last question - did you include a way to sharpen your knives?

Again - looks like a great start!

"One last question - did you include a way to sharpen your knives?"

I'll just invite Nate (Norcalblacktail) to go hiking with me.

Actually, I have a small pocket sharpener (not pictured). I've thought about adding some DMT stones. I've found that even when dressing out a buck, my knives don't need too much touching up. As for the choppers, I've never used one enough for chopping even degrade the chopping ability.


I'll have to add a 1L Platypus bag.

Added some paracord, a lighter and a better compass (Garmin Colorado).

I plan to add an actual compass too. However, my PSK is starting to get pretty heavy.

I added two sharpeners. I think that I'm at the end of what can go in this PSK. I will add the bladder and a compass.

I always wear a softshell or a hardshell jacket and bring a layer or two. So the right attire plus this PSK should help me stay alive. Also, unless I'm just going for a really short hike, I have a day pack that has some food, water, FAK and more gear.

Very nice <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

kuanomar - Thanks for the run down on your gear.

No problem Silverback. I improved it through suggestions from the yard.

One suggestion for a little more JIC. Duct Tape: It holds the world together. A little trick I learned in AIT, instead of lugging a whole roll around in your BOB equip, tape a few wraps (maybe a yard or two) around a canteen or a knife sheath, that way you always have some when you might need it. It makes a great emergency sling, as long as you don't mind pulling a few hairs out to get it off, and Gods know what other myriad uses you could come up with for it.

Thanks for the suggestion. Actually it's hard to see but there's a mini roll of duct tape in the ritter psk that's in my kit. I never thought about using duct tape as a sling. That's a great emergency tip.

we had to do that in basic, a private dislocated his shoulder falling out of a 5 ton backwards (surprisingly, didn't bust his head open, landed hard though. 5 and a half foot drop straight backwards.), and the DS told us to adapt. I've also used it to fashion a weapon sling for my M-16. the Nylon web sling they issued me in basic was WAAAAY to short. it was pulled taut and just barely locked onto the sling swivels by the buckle, so I snagged a roll of 100 MPH tape outta the supply closet, did a little backwoods oragami, and wound up with a servicable sling. Cool part is it was OD green. You can never trust a MIL-SPEC weaponsight mount to hold either, so a little tape over the top of your aimpoint can go a long way to retaining a loose optic. If you tape it tight enough, it'll even hold zero. The stuffs amazing, I have 3 rolls in the back of my jeep of Gorilla Tape. Now that stuff is incredible. It's expensive too, but holy crap does it hold on.

I've got to get some of that Gorilla Tape. It's got such a cool name.

It does! The Glue of the same company is ridiculously strong too. A friend of mine broke a pin in his paintball marker, the striker link pin, it sheared off between the bolt and striker and after we managed to get it out of the marker, glued it back together with Gorilla glue (white type, they have a couple varieties) for a quick fix. it wasn't perfectly straight, but it lasted till the end of the scenario, then it broke again... in a different spot. Just don't rip the tape with your teeth. I pulled out half of my beard way back when when I made that mistake.

Ouch, pulling beard hairs is painful. I will learn from your experiences! Where do you find the Gorilla Tape?

Kuanomar - try the duct tape / business card trick I talked about earlier. It will allow you to take up almost no space (and have more Wisconsin Chrome available).

Thanks for the tip Arch.

Gorilla tape on a business card.

What's Wisconsin Chrome?

Some lowlife rat mf--kr snapped the passenger side mirror on my car. I gorilla taped it back to the mounting and have driven thru car-washes, it still holds tight. Great stuff. Makes me think of Clint Eastwood's movie Gran Torino when he tells the kid, here's the 3 things that any man needs to fix most of the problems at home. Lock wrench, screw driver and a roll of duct tape.

Silverback,

Sorry to hear about your car. Someone tried to break into my truck last summer and scratched up the door. It's fixed now, but MAN I WAS MAD. AND, it happened while parked in my driveway. I'm actually glad I did not catch the perp. I would have been really upset.

Kuanomar - I heard "duct tape" referred to as "Wisconsin Chrome" after the person saw a car with Wisconsin license plates driving around with their rear bumper held on with DT <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> !

Here's a pic of the business card trick...just pulled my PSK out at work (the DT/Business card is above the UM on the TT CrossFire bag)....it should work with GT too.

In 1999 three days after buying a brand new car a kid slammed into the side of it on a bicycle. The bike pedal dented and gouged the door. I was at a friend's house (in his basement looking at his Class 3 collection when it happened). The friend said he had the same thing happen to his truck, but the kid was able to get away (my friend was in his 60's and not in the best health). I was PO'd, and never collected on the damage. When I turned the leased vehicle in - it wasn't inexpensive.

Nice PSK Arch.

The neighbor kids sometimes ride their bikes in between my truck and my wife's car. My kids know better. It's not safe and it can dent the vehicles. IF they dent my car, they will pay. Just like if my son dents their car, my son will pay.

Thanks - I plan on starting a split-thread with info on my PSK / GHB soon.

I completely agree about property damage!!!!

I can't wait for your thread. You seem to have a wealth of knowlege. Your post will probably compel me to get more equipment.

Thanks <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/paperbag.gif" alt="" />

Our "emergency gear" is actually built on a "layered" approach. By this I mean, we have PSK's; GHB's; Vehicle Gear; BIL Gear; and BOB's. I'll create a PSK/GHB thread, and if there is much interest I might create a BOB thread later.

The most interesting aspect of prepping (for me anyway) has been how my gear increased steadily over two decades, but now I'm trimming it way back. The more I use my gear the more I refine it.

The basics are very easy to cover (Fire; Water; Shelter; Defense; Food). Its the "comfort" and "redundant" items that can overload a good kit. The most important aspect to preparedness is experience. Do you know how your gear works, and do you know who to work your gear? For example, I've helped a lot of people build kits and am always disappointed to see them a year later....just to note that the factory coating is still on their ferro rod <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> .

As a related note:

I am 100% for having at least TWO of everything you plan on using. One can be used for camping; hiking; training; etc. The other should be kept in new condition (after testing it for function if required) for "reserve" or "go-to" status.

You are absolutely right. Practice makes perfect. Especially in fire and shelter making. Seems simple, but if your not in an ideal environment, or injured, things get really tough really fast.

My wife is always impressed when I can build a fire out of wet wood...in blowing rain...on soaking wet ground....with a ferro rod, 35mm film canister filled with cotton balls soaked in petrol jelly, and a good knife. It took a lot of practice to master that skill, and it still takes perseverance to do...but without having practiced I would have never mastered it.

K - I'm glad you're interested in survivalism. I use to contribute extensively to other forums, but gave up on that entirely. I'll start adding info here periodically, and will start with my PSK / GHB. None of my gear is earth shattering - it is just what I've found to work the best over the years.

I spend quite a bit of time in the hills. Now, my son comes with me. So, I never want to be caught unable to protect my son and I from the elements. If things go south, I want to be confident in my skills to get us back home in one healthy piece.

I know my limitations. That's what keeps me practicing.

Unless you give it a try, you never know what you can do and can't do. It's the "can't do's" that can kill you or get you in trouble.

I agree with both of your above posts: 100%.

I remember the first time I tried to make a water tight basha out of some 550 cord and a USGI poncho. It turned into a rain collector with a big hole in the middle (head hole)...which happened to be exactly what I was sitting under <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

We always try to develop a different skill every time we hike. Some times we don't choose what skill we develop - nature chooses for us. For example: last year my wife and I were a mile into a hike when she turned her ankle (thought it might have broken). I used my trama kit to stablize it (and her), built a split, and carried her out. Afterwords, I ran a several miles (with 30# of gear) to retrieve our SUV. In the end - she kept smiling and was secure the entire time (when I left her sitting on the side of a road in the middle of a National Forrest she had her hand on her own Glock 19, 2qt's of water; etc) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Outdoor activities often start this way...



Mistakes are made (we can climb through 300 yards of storm damage <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> )...





Look like this in the middle (that dot is me running to get our truck)....



End up like this....

Thanks for sharing Arch. Glad that was a happy ending. You an your wife are great looking couple. You look at home in the outdoors.

LOL, good call my friend! Home Depot carries it, I'm sure Lowe's does too. Most any hardware chain. it's really expensive, but when you need it to hold, it will.

I'm sure the perp would have had a bad day too, lol

K - thanks, I'm a very very blessed man <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> !

I started my split thread. Please take a look and offer suggestions.

Arch,

Thanks for all your input.

We've gotta get you to JYD!!!