[Falconoffury]

The book actually got me thinking about surviving in the wildlife. It's about a boy who survived a plane crash in northern Canada in one of those tiny planes that land on water. The pilot died of a heart attack during the flight, and they were the only two on the plane. The book goes on about how the boy used the hatchet to survive in the wilderness. He carved sticks to make a bow and arrows, he figured out how to strike his hatchet against flint stone in order to start a fire, and chopped down large branches to construct a wooden wall to protect against bear attacks. It's a great book in that it shows how a single, sharp metal tool can mean the difference between life and death. I recommend anyone interested in learning basic survival skills to read the book.

I was thinking about getting a nice survival knife like Rambo had in the movie, "First Blood". It's one of those ceramic or metal alloy survival knives that stay sharp for a lifetime. It would be very useful in a situation where we are forced to live off the land.

[Kurobei]

That was a good book, and it was pretty impressive what the main character could do. However, I heard about a book called Alas Babylon which describes a family surviving after a nuclear war.

It was seen as a survival guide, showing the things the family had to do to keep alive, might be a more relavent read. Especially if the majority of oil crash survivors aren't going to be living in far off, isolated wilderness.

[Chicagoan]

Try to find your old Boyscout handbook. It has lots of good information.

[MadScientist]

Try to find your old Boyscout handbook. It has lots of good information.

I recommend the original 1911 edition. Way more useful info. The modern version has been watered down extensively.

[Whitecrab]

I have a reprint of the first ever US Boyscout book. That thing's hilarious. To become a top Boy Scout, one of the things you have to do is save a WHOLE DOLLAR in the bank. And real Boy Scouts try to stay cheerful in the face of adversity and help the elderly. And did you know Abraham Lincoln is the perfect model of what a good American boy should be? It's true!

I think there's also a very roundabout allusion to masturbation being sacreligious (it's actually hard to tell wtf that passage was about).

[MadScientist]

I have a reprint of the first ever US Boyscout book. That thing's hilarious. To become a top Boy Scout, one of the things you have to do is save a WHOLE DOLLAR in the bank. And real Boy Scouts try to stay cheerful in the face of adversity and help the elderly. And did you know Abraham Lincoln is the perfect model of what a good American boy should be? It's true!

I think there's also a very roundabout allusion to masturbation being sacreligious (it's actually hard to tell wtf that passage was about).

What's so hilarious about building savings, character, and integrity?

Are you just mocking these things because you lack them yourself?

Not to mention sexual discipline...which I dont really wanna go there.

[The_Virginian]

Falcon Furry,

I was thinking about getting a nice survival knife like Rambo had in the movie, "First Blood". It's one of those ceramic or metal alloy survival knives that stay sharp for a lifetime.

Who makes it? how much does it cost?

Most of those "survival knives" are POS. Ceramic is prone to breakage, if its the new non Fe metals fro knife blades (liquid metasl types), you can't use as a striker for flint, and they are WAY overpriced for the end product.

How does it attach to the handle, how does it stack up to a Cris Reeve survival knife? What blade material (a GOOD SS or a good carbon? It makes a diference!) Can it be sharpened in the field using a river stone?

What sharpener is best to carry for it?

IMHO, you can buy a full tang knife in Carbon, or a good stainless for 50-100 USD. (NOT 440A or 420 they are ususaly considered Junk!)

Then have money left over for: a Flint, Striker, Vasaline steeped cotton balls combo, a bic lighter, DMT duo fold diamond sharpener, better sheath if neccesary, matches/ striker in Film 35mm plastic canister, P-38 can opener, locking blade Swiss army knife, etc etc.

And you will still come out ahead. RESEARCH YOU BLADE PURCHASES! www.bladeforums.com

[Whitecrab]

I have a reprint of the first ever US Boyscout book. That thing's hilarious. To become a top Boy Scout, one of the things you have to do is save a WHOLE DOLLAR in the bank. And real Boy Scouts try to stay cheerful in the face of adversity and help the elderly. And did you know Abraham Lincoln is the perfect model of what a good American boy should be? It's true!
I think there's also a very roundabout allusion to masturbation being sacreligious (it's actually hard to tell wtf that passage was about).

What's so hilarious about building savings, character, and integrity? Are you just mocking these things because you lack them yourself? Not to mention sexual discipline...which I dont really wanna go there.

Nope, no hidden jealousy. I just find a camp-humour value in things like earnest ads for "new" wheat square bits and the backwards health advice. The same way you can like an old movie but mock the special effects. Nothing serious.

[gg3]

Generally, a lot of old texts on practical skills will be more useful than their newer counterparts that assume cheap energy (and the fruits thereof).

Though always check for updates of basic technical assumptions and chances in the state of knowledge. What you're looking for in the old texts is a way of thinking and some examples, that can be adapted to current knowledge.