Survival Quiz

the monk5845

This is just for a bit of fun but it gets you thinking as well enjoy!
http://www.m4040.com/Survival/SurvivalQuiz.htm

jugger

i got 17 out of twenty

waterboy15

Bugger, i got 15:(

kildare.17hmr

20

Tabnabs

I'm not sure I agree with number 12

12. The best and most efficient tool in a survival kit for quickly building fire is:
a) A small disposable Bic lighter.
b) A hollow knife handle full of waterproof matches.
c) Flint and steel.
d) A knife with which you can make a bow drill to start your fires.

They say A, but I'd be inclined to say C. The Swedish firesteel is good for up to 12,000 strikes, works in the wet, the wind, is arguably more robust than the bic lighter and won't get taken off you by airport security! hmmm....

kildare.17hmr

when ever i go hiking i have a fire steel around my neck, iv used it once and i used to hike twice a week or more sometimes. I also used to do night hikes and long hikes that took a day and night so a fire was a must and i always used the lighter. The one time i used the steel was when i lost the lighter and fancied a cup of coffee!

the monk5845

Tabnabs wrote: »

I'm not sure I agree with number 12
They say A, but I'd be inclined to say C. The Swedish firesteel is good for up to 12,000 strikes, works in the wet, the wind, is arguably more robust than the bic lighter and won't get taken off you by airport security! hmmm....

I thought this one might come up :P in most of the kits that he talks about making up his main source of fire is a lighter and as back up he has some sort of flint or firesteel, reasons being a lighter is cheap( even most non smokers have at least one in the house), it can be used many times, is generally easier to start fires with and if u get one of the ones that have the striker(the wheel that makes the sparks that start the flame, don't know the name of it) on it it can be used as a flint when the lighter runs out and y do ppl use lighters in everyday life rather then a swedish firesteel because its just easier in general.

Tabnabs

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

when ever i go hiking i have a fire steel around my neck, iv used it once and i used to hike twice a week or more sometimes. I also used to do night hikes and long hikes that took a day and night so a fire was a must and i always used the lighter. The one time i used the steel was when i lost the lighter and fancied a cup of coffee!

Cotton wool and vaseline scrunched up in some tinfoil to keep it separate. By the time you've knelt down to get the lighter under the tinder I've got my tinder blazing away and am putting on the kindling

(for the sake of ease and cost, I do accept that the lighter is very convenient and user friendly, I just haven't gotten around to getting one yet).

the monk5845

Tabnabs wrote: »

Cotton wool and vaseline scrunched up in some tinfoil to keep it separate. By the time you've knelt down to get the lighter under the tinder I've got my tinder blazing away and am putting on the kindling ;

This sounds like a challenge :P fastest fire making

Grizzly 45

18.
Would wonder about question16.Having a cell phone on a trail hike though.About as useful as an ash tray on a motorbike,if there is no coverage.

Tabnabs

In case anyone hasn't seen the firesteel used with cotton wool and Vaseline

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Gjn247LPyI

kildare.17hmr

learn somethin new every day, never knew that fair play! How much vasalene?

Grizzly 45

When they say soaked in Vaseline.How is that done??Is the Vaseline melted into the cotton or how is it impregnated??

the monk5845

it can be melted or it can just be mixed together

melted version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjP-eTfJwMA

Tabnabs

Stick your finger in the vaseline tub and scoop out a dollop and smudge it onto the cotton wool. Close over the cotton wool to avoid smearing the vaseline everywhere (or use tinfoil to protect everything) and when you want to use it, just tease it open again to expose the vaseline. very simple and can be done on the cheap with own brand tesco vaseline and cotton balls or pads.

triskell

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

18.
Would wonder about question16.Having a cell phone on a trail hike though.About as useful as an ash tray on a motorbike,if there is no coverage.

17. IMO 16 is wrong coverage is a major concern here. On the focus ireland sponsered climb they recommended you bring both vodafone and 02.

Tigger

Tabnabs wrote: »

I'm not sure I agree with number 12

12. The best and most efficient tool in a survival kit for quickly building fire is:
a) A small disposable Bic lighter.
b) A hollow knife handle full of waterproof matches.
c) Flint and steel.
d) A knife with which you can make a bow drill to start your fires.

They say A, but I'd be inclined to say C. The Swedish firesteel is good for up to 12,000 strikes, works in the wet, the wind, is arguably more robust than the bic lighter and won't get taken off you by airport security! hmmm....

i agree (i also got that wrong)

krissovo

I got 18 , 11 and 16 got me as my ethos would be to never trust a mobile phone.

For 12 I picked the Bic lighter so I have to agree with the quiz. I have worked with some very experienced guys and all have said the Bic.

I do like the cotton ball and Vaseline method, I will file that away. I can add that a small bit of diesel on a cotton rag has a similar effect, especially with a Bic lighter;)

mrbig

krissovo wrote: »

I got 18 , 11 and 16 got me as my ethos would be to never trust a mobile phone.

For 12 I picked the Bic lighter so I have to agree with the quiz. I have worked with some very experienced guys and all have said the Bic.

I do like the cotton ball and Vaseline method, I will file that away. I can add that a small bit of diesel on a cotton rag has a similar effect, especially with a Bic lighter;)

I only got 15 but fundamentally disagree with two of those , in a survival kit I would prefer flint and steel it might not be as convenient as a bic lighter but it wont leak or break.If I was camping it would be a bic every time.
The other one I don't like is the mobile phone. Mobile phone can be a great help but you just can't rely on coverage or battery life.

Dude111

I got 8 right but im freezing @ the moment which doesnt help things!

kildare.17hmr

why ya freezing dude?

bonniebede

Dude111 wrote: »

I got 8 right but im freezing @ the moment which doesnt help things!

Have you made the mistake of securing beer and pretsels i mean food and water before building your shelter and fire?

Great quiz.

Vaseline and cotton wool very interesting, tesco own brand cotton wool balls very cheap,, can't find their own brand p jelly. Must add to the list for stocking up at tescos.

Agree with some of the reservations about mobile phone coverage, lots of dropped coverage on Wicklow maountains.

Also about moss on trees versus sun and stars.. well it depends on terrain, if you are in dense temperate forest and its raining you can't see the stars for the trees.

And so meof the wuestions were not sensible. Why contrast a big knife and a small knife? If you're smart you'll have more than one knife. and more thanone way to light a fire. Agree lighter is quick, but i like the fact the a fire steel can get wet.

THanks for posting the quiz, lots of fun.

Doc Ruby

In fairness they didn't say firesteel, they said flint and steel, which is a lot harder to use than a firesteel. I got 18 but disagree with some of the answers, the cellphone one in particular.

kildare.17hmr

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

20

forgot about this but thought when i posted it someone would have questioned it!

I got 18, Cant remember the ones i got wrong

bonniebede

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

forgot about this but thought when i posted it someone would have questioned it!

I got 18, Cant remember the ones i got wrong

I trusted you!!!:pac:

Dude111

kildare.17hmr wrote:

why ya freezing dude?

We have one of those new "energy efficent" furnaces (PIECE OF CRAP) and it goes by THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE when it heats the house!

In other words,if you have the thermostat set @ 21.7 it will only heat the room to 20 or so.....

It can be made BETTER by removing the outside sensor,then it will go by HOW WARM IT IS IN THE HOUSE!! (The thermostats will tell it)


I tried to tell my parents but they wouldnt listen

Ronnie Beck

bonniebede wrote: »

Agree lighter is quick, but i like the fact the a fire steel can get wet.

I think the reason they say the ligter is if it has been raining for a long time ,as it does here, it can be quite hard to get tinder to take a spark from the flint and steel unless you have some ready made in your bag like the vaseline.

I find pieces of bicycle inner tube(or other pieces of rubber) light well with the bic even when wet and can be found in a survival situation.

I have a dry bag with a bic, a clipper, slices of inner tube and some individually wrapped tampons:pac:. Hasn't let me down yet.

ShadowFox

19 due to question 12 id opt for a flint and steel rather than a lighter

Agent_47

17 but question the bic lighter and the mobile phoney question, agree with fire steel and the vaseline. Very enlightening post by the moderator.

johngalway

Just on fire steels, ignoring the guys voice in the video below I found the steel wool tinder a great tip, I happen to have a big roll of it right here too, just need the fire steel now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIycgr-XTrM

Doc Ruby

johngalway wrote: »

I found the steel wool tinder a great tip, I happen to have a big roll of it right here too, just need the fire steel now!

Interesting, steel wool, haven't seen that one before except with batteries. Wonder what would happen if you put vaseline in there too? Either thermite or not much I'm guessing!