Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Making Improvised Tools for Survival - The Broken Knife

A situation may arise where you find yourself in a situation where the use of your gear may result in it breaking. It could be accidental, from normal wear and tear or a little abuse on your part. The main thing to remember is that it can still be used to make an improvised tool that will allow it to be useful in a survival situation. One of the more common mishaps that can occur to your gear is winding up with a broken knife.

One of the easiest and most useful survival tools that can be made from a broken knife is a simple spear. Here is an example of an improvised spear that could be used for hunting or defensive purposes in a survival situation that was made from a broken knife. You could also shorten the stick to make an improvised handle that would turn it back into a useful working knife.

A short section of wood about 3 to 4 feet in length split on one end to allow you to insert the blunt end of your knife blade (the blade tang) and then secured in place by whipping the end with some sturdy twine. Thus a blade that had no handle now becomes a useful tool that can be used safely and effectively.

In a survival situation, you will need to be able to make use of all your resources. This includes the ability to turn broken or damaged gear or other items back into useful items. if your resources become limited this will be a very useful survival skill.

Got broken gear?

Staying above the water line!



Anonymous said...

I have often thought that a spear, along the lines of the Zulu ones, would be great defensive weapon.
They can be thrown, slashed with, jabbed with or held to the ground to take a charge.

Mayberry said...

Good use for those buck a piece folders I got at Wally World, who's plastic bodies broke just from looking at them. Oh well, the blade was worth the buck...

Machinist said...

The Zulu Assegai is good for close combat but too short (about three feet long) for bracing on the ground. It's throwing range is limited by it's shorter length and limited weight as well, though it is affective at short range and warriors could carry more than one so they could throw one or more before closing and then fight with another. The Maasai spear is about 5 1/2' long and even that is short for bracing on the ground, though it's throwing range is longer. Your enemy would be well within striking distance before the braced spear stopped him. That is really the province of a pike, which ranges from about eight feet and up. Some were 12 to 14 feet long. Pikes are stabbing weapons and are not for slashing or throwing.

Machinist said...

A spear like the one shown could be very useful in a number of ways.

riverwalker said...

To; anonymous 1:11

Taking a broken item and creating a useful tool with is a good way to conserve your resources.

A spear can be pretty useful in a number of ways...

Thanks anon.


riverwalker said...

To: Mayberry

If you break one of those inexpensive folders, at least there are options to still use it...

Thanks Mayberry.


riverwalker said...

To: Machinist

The one in the picture is about 3 feet long but that's only because I used what was handy...

Could have been made longer.

You are correct in that depending upon the size and type they can be rather formidable weapons.

Thanks Machinist.


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