BCB Combat Survival Kit

[cerbera147]

Anybody got any opinions on this kit?

I saw one at my local Army Surplus. I would probably add more to it but thought it would serve as a good start.
Doug Ritter reviewed on his website with a reasonable review. Apparently the knife is a load of old tosh but that wouldn't be an issue 

BCB Combat Survival Kit comprises of the following items:

    * 2oz Tobacco Tin
    * Button Compass
    * Night Light
    * Flint/Striker
    * Folding Knife
    * Book of Matches
    * Wire Saw
    * Whistle
    * Snare Wire
    * Fishing Kit
    * Sewing Kit
    * Safety Pins
    * Pencil
    * Candle
    * Water Purification Tablets (Pruritabs)
    * Survival Instructions
    * Accident Evaluation Form
    * Vinyl Tape

[jzmtl]

Seems you can do better putting one together yourself.

[DaveK]

Yeah I would have thought so.

That way you can pick the best of everything. E.g. stick a SAK in there, or a Spyderco Ladybug and so on. You've probably got most of the bits lying around anyway!

What does it sell for cerbera?

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'd have to agree with building your own- the knife in that pic is obviously a cheap knockoff since the lock release is sticking so far out of the handle.  I would hate to have to rely on that.

Just an aside, I always thought a combat survival kit should look like this:



I doubt band aids, safety pins, pocket chainsaw and a cheap folding knife would be as much help in combat!

Def

[Anthony]

I'll also say you can do better making your own.  However, there are some great survival kits (and various bits and peices) here: www.bestglide.com

The only "kit" I have from them is the Basic Fishing Kit, but I've got lots of stuff there to make my own custom kits and it's all been quality stuff. 

A very good but expensive kit is the one RAT Cutlery sells. www.ratcutlery.com  Very compact and comprehensive, but it costs about $100.  I've heard it argued that by the time you buy each peice and pay for shipping, you're around $100 anyways, but to each his own...I won my RAT kit fair and square

[glorn]

I have seen one like it before. I would agree that you could make your own for less money probably and with better kit. But let's critique it anyway, shall we?


    * 2oz Tobacco Tin - Okay, got plenty of those lying around. But I can think of better containers than that. Such as THESE which are brilliant by the way
    * Button Compass - alright
    * Night Light - LED?
    * Flint/Striker - alright, but would a sparker and some tinder be better?
    * Folding Knife - why? If you are the type to carry this kit, would you not have at least one blade on you at all times anyway?
    * Book of Matches - Silly. Give me a small Bic lighter
    * Wire Saw - Useless. And along with that blade you carry, perhaps a saw blade as well? Or at least a SERE saw?
    * Whistle- alright
    * Snare Wire - alright
    * Fishing Kit - alright
    * Sewing Kit - Buttons? For survival? Uhm.. I think the sewing kit and fishing kit can be combined and consolidated.
    * Safety Pins - Eliminates the need for buttons. See above.
    * Pencil - alright
    * Candle - Sure, why not.
    * Water Purification Tablets (Pruritabs) - alright
    * Survival Instructions - Of course
    * Accident Evaluation Form - What? This is a survival kit, no? My insurance company needs to be involved?
    * Vinyl Tape - Is that duct tape?


Where is the signal mirror? Razor blade? Some foil or a bit of plastic sheet? Perhaps a baggie for water? It has a pencil, but no paper? So the pencil must be for filling out the accident evaluation form? No cordage? Snare wire is nice, but so is a nail or a screw eye or two to go with it.

I dunno. At least it doesn't have tea and Tootsie Rolls like many of the "survival kits" out there.

Doug Ritter's kit is the best I have seen. Add a few small items to that, or build your own. Skip this one.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Like has already been stated, you'd be better of building your own mate

[cerbera147]

Thanks for the replies 

It was priced at £14-99 at the Surplus store but have seen them online for £9-99.

Think I'll steal the content ideas from the better kits and start work on my own 

Anyone know where I could get a tobacco tin? I don't smoke so the obvious answer will not work 

[Benner]

Ebay have ridiculously cheap ones.

[zepla]

Or go with an Otterbox, their smaller ones are waterproof as well, unlike the small Pelican cases.

[Benner]

Or go with an Otterbox, their smaller ones are waterproof as well, unlike the small Pelican cases.

That's what I did