Survival Lore

06/05/2026

06/04/2026

A while back, tagged me to do a video on my possibles pouch. I haven’t forgotten about it, I was just waiting until I had finished updating it.

Over the years I’ve carried all kinds of pouches and organizers. I’ve used Kifaru pull outs, Maxpedition pouches, and a handful of other options trying to find the right balance between organization, capacity, and simplicity. Most worked well enough, but none really checked all the boxes for the way I spend time in the woods. While looking around for new options, I came across the tool bag from and it immediately caught my attention. The layout, size, and straightforward design looked like exactly what I had been searching for. After spending some time building out the kit and making a few upgrades, it’s become my current possibles pouch setup.

Inside are the items I find myself reaching for most often navigation gear, cordage, fire making supplies, repair items, and a few other essentials that make life in the woods a little easier. It’s not a survival kit, and it’s not a bug out bag. It’s simply a collection of useful tools and materials that support the skills I use most.

I’m putting together a full video breakdown of the pouch, the gear inside it, and why each item earned a place in the kit. Stay tuned, I’ll have that posted soon.

What do you keep in your possibles pouch?

06/03/2026

Mail call from , Jayberry’s whatnot live streams are dangerous! Now to do some reorganizing. Stay tuned.

06/02/2026

Current EDC lineup.

Over the years I’ve carried everything from minimalist setups to pockets full of gear, but lately I’ve settled into a combination that covers just about everything I need day to day.

The fixed blade is the TOPS/Ontario XL Hunter. It’s a solid, dependable field knife with enough blade length for outdoor tasks while still being comfortable to carry. Paired with it is my Victorinox Swisstool Spirit X, which remains one of the best multitools I’ve ever owned. The fit, finish, and functionality are hard to beat.

For a folding knife, I just started carrying the FlicKnives Homesteader 3.5. The sheepsfoot blade pattern and comfortable handle make it a great working knife, and I’m thinking it’s going to quickly become one of my favorite folders. Lighting duties are handled by an Acebeam Pokelite Ti, a lightweight titanium flashlight that punches well above its size. Rounding everything out is a classic Zippo fitted with a jet insert, giving me reliable fire in just about any conditions.

Nothing fancy. Just a collection of tools that have earned a place in my pockets through regular use.

SwisstoolSpiritX FlickKnives Acebeam Zippo FixedBladeFriday OutdoorGear SurvivalLore KnifeAddict GearJunkie EDCGear

06/01/2026

After recently losing my longtime Kershaw Blur, I decided to give the FlickKnives Homesteader 3.5 a shot, outfitted with the upgraded orange G10 scales. So far, I’m impressed.

06/01/2026

Sometimes you don’t need a long trip into the backcountry. A few hours beneath the canopy is enough.

I slipped up into the deep ferns of Forbes State Forest today, it’s one of those places that feels more like something out of Jurassic Park than Pennsylvania. With the ferns chest high and the forest floor hidden beneath green, it was the perfect spot to stop, build a small fire, and make lunch.

On the menu was a simple one pot penne bolognese cooked in the 2L titanium pot. It handled the job flawlessly and reminded me why simple camp meals are often the most satisfying. Good food always tastes better when there’s a little woodsmoke in the air. For tools, I carried my Survivorman Machete and Keeper 5. I’m sure I’ll upset a few people by admitting the machete spent some time biting into roots, rocks, and dirt while clearing and prepping the fire area. My philosophy has always been simple: tools are meant to be used. A tool sitting on a shelf stays perfect. A tool carried in the woods earns a story.

The Keeper 5 once again proved why it has become one of my go-to field knives. From processing kindling to general camp chores, it handled everything I asked of it without missing a beat. Nothing fancy, just good a good meal, a fire, trusted tools, and a few quiet hours in the Pennsylvania woods. Sometimes that’s all you need.

05/31/2026

If your able to a BCUSA friend could use some help with his sons medical bills. Help Cam and his family lessen the burden in these difficult times.

05/30/2026

Some survival books teach skills. Others teach mindset. The U.S. Air Force Aircrew Survival Pamphlet 64-5 manages to do both, and that’s what makes it one of the finest pieces of survival literature ever produced.

Designed to fit in a pilot’s flight suit pocket, this compact manual was intended for airmen who found themselves isolated, injured, behind enemy lines, or stranded in some of the harshest environments on earth. Every page was written with the understanding that the reader might be exhausted, scared, cold, hungry, or operating under tremendous stress.

What makes 64-5 stand out from so many other survival manuals is its emphasis on psychology. Before teaching shelter construction, firecraft, signaling, or water procurement, it addresses the greatest survival tool you’ll ever carry: your mind. The manual recognizes that panic, fear, loneliness, and poor decision-making have ended more survival situations than a lack of equipment ever has.

One of the most memorable lessons in the pamphlet is the idea that nature is neither friend nor foe. As the manual explains, nature and the elements are “disinterested.” The wilderness isn’t trying to help you, and it isn’t trying to hurt you. It simply exists. Success depends on your preparation, your knowledge, and your ability to adapt.

The other thing that makes this manual special is its efficiency. There is no wasted space, no fluff, and no unnecessary complexity. The illustrations are simple, direct, and incredibly effective. Whether it’s building an emergency shelter, improvising equipment from a parachute, or finding water in arid country, every lesson is designed to be understood quickly when it matters most.

More than half a century after it was published, Aircrew Survival Pamphlet 64-5 remains a masterclass in practical survival. It’s a reminder that survival isn’t about conquering nature. It’s about understanding reality, controlling your mindset, and making good decisions when everything around you is going wrong.

Have you ever went through this military classic? What’s the most important survival lesson you’ve learned over the years?

05/29/2026

Fixed Blade Friday with the Ontario RAT 7.

The RAT 7 is still one of my favorite larger fixed blades Ontario ever made. Simple, durable, comfortable in hand, and built to work. No gimmicks, no unnecessary features, just a solid field knife that can handle just about anything you’d realistically ask of it in the woods.

The full flat grind cuts better than a lot of heavy survival knives, and the micarta handles give plenty of grip even in wet conditions. It’s a big knife, but it still feels controllable for carving, feather sticks, food prep, and general camp tasks.

Designed by Randall’s Adventure & Training, the RAT series earned its reputation because these knives were actually used hard by outdoorsmen, survival instructors, and military personnel. The RAT 7 especially hit a sweet spot between chopper and utility knife.

This one has plenty of wear on it, but that’s exactly what a knife like this is for. The RAT 7 was made to be used, not sit on a shelf. It’s still one of the best hard use production knives Ontario ever put out.

05/29/2026

Fixed Blade Friday belongs to a legend this week, the Bob Dozier KS7 Wilderness Knife.

Out of all the fixed blades I’ve owned over the years, the KS7 still stands at the top of the mountain for me. I’ve carried and used D2, A2, and 154CM versions of this knife, and every single one proved why Bob Dozier earned the reputation he has in the knife world.

There’s just something about the KS7 that feels right in the hand. The balance, the blade geometry, the ergonomics… everything on this knife was designed with actual field use in mind, not just looks for a display case. It’s a true working wilderness knife.

Bob Dozier has been building knives since the 1960s and became famous for creating brutally practical hunting and outdoor knives with clean lines, incredible heat treats, and performance-first designs. His work with D2 tool steel especially became legendary, with many makers still chasing the edge retention and cutting performance Dozier was getting decades ago.

The KS7 Wilderness Knife really embodies that philosophy. Big enough for hard camp chores, capable of processing wood, dressing game, and handling real survival work, but still refined enough to slice like a much smaller knife. It’s one of those rare designs that doesn’t need gimmicks because every inch of it serves a purpose.

The older I get, the more I appreciate tools made by people who truly understood their craft. Bob didn’t chase trends. He built knives for hunters, woodsmen, and working people and the KS7 is proof that good design never goes out of style.