Knowledge Could Mean Survival - By: msknife

A nephew of mine, is an avid hunter and a student of history. I hope that a fear he has is misplaced. He recently asked if I had any books on surviving in the wild. He feels we are sliding backwards and that it may become necessary to survive using basic instinct and crude instruments.
There are entire websites that are devoted to survival if an economic downturn such as the Great Depression were to occur again. When I began this article on survival three main categories that jumped to mind were food, clothing and shelter. Websites that I scanned encouraged the thought of economics, defense and medical protection as well.
Fresh food I believe would be provided from hunting, fishing and gathering vegetation. Tools necessary for these provisions would include: weapons, probably at least one rife or handgun, bow and arrow, knife and fishing equipment. In doing research for this article I became aware of the fact that you can order survival food products. They come packaged in quantities for one person that would last for three months or a year. They have a shelf-life of five to ten years.
Shelter for the prepared would probably include a tent or cave. A machete to aid in clearing an areas would come in handy. Knowing how to build a fire would be paramount as a mean of protection, heat and cooking.
There are Tactile Field Trauma Kits available. They are designed with the essential items needed to stop or control bleeding. At the very least the prepared fearful would have a first aid kit.
My expertise is in knives. To say one needs a hunting knife is an over simplification. I would think it to be prudent to have an assortment. The use of knives knows no bounds. If you have to make your own, use bone, rock, teeth or any accessible object that can be sharpened by stone. The spear, axe, hatchet, arrow and knife have all evolved from the simple act of securing a sharpened piece of rock to a stick with twine made from animal hide or gut.
A hunting knife by definition is a fixed blade that is used for cutting rather than stabbing. The best hunting knives have blades from four to six inches in length. They are used for hunting, fishing, skinning and chopping. This makes them very versatile tools.
A curved blade is best for the hunting knife. The greater the curve the easier it is for a hunter to skin a carcass. Hunting knives are often designed specifically for skinning. Often a gut hook is attached.
These knives are single-edged. Some have a serrated edge. During World War II a serrated knife was standard issue to flight crews. It was to be used to help trapped crewmen cut through aluminum air crafts.
Extra features are often accompany a hunting knife. A Rambo movie showed the hero sewing a cut on his arm with a needle and thread that he had in a hollow hand of this knife. A compass was built into the cap. A paracord wrapped around the handle that could help with snares or anything that might require need a cord when out in the woods would come in handy. Personal preference and skill would be used to select the grip, balance and extra features of a knife.
Knives should be corrosion and rust resistant. Along with a hunting knife, I believe that a double edged blade would be a wise addition. The double edged tool can be easily used as an arrow or a secondary knife. A Swiss Army Knife with its many function blades may well round out the arsenal of knives that are used for survival.
Those sharing my nephew's view of the need to prepare for survival in the wild should be prepared in advanced. Weapons, tools, food supplies, shelter and medical needs should be taken into consideration. An array of knives would be the largest collection that I would accumulate if the need arose. The collection would include: single and double edged knives. Some would have serrated edges. A machete and a Swiss Army knife would complete the set. Other things I might stock pile would be a knife sharpener, a flashlight, batteries, a compass, paper and pen, and toilet paper.

About the Author

The author, Glenda Wagner, owns a website that displays all types of hunting knives. It is located at http://hunting-knife-outlet.com. She and her husband are fans of hunting and hunting equipment. She also posts information on her blog at http://huntingknifeoutlet.blogspot.com. The blog also has jokes, merchandise promotions and surveys. Responders to the surveys are eligible for a free knife of your choice drawing to be held in December.

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