Before moving on, I would like to mention saw safety. A saw can quickly bite you, especially if you use it incorrectly. I have had more than one saw blade jump out of a cut being made and skid across my hand. This always occurs when not paying attention.
When using a buck saw, place the off hand (the one holding the work being cut) through the opening between the saw blade and the frame. If the blade bounces out of the cut, the back top portion of the blade will bounce off the inside of the arm holding the work. The blade will not skid across the back of your hand.
A tip that will seem like common sense deals with cutting a piece of wood supported on something in order to cut it. The piece you are cutting off should hang over the support. If you try to cut the wood between the support, and where the other end sets on the ground, the downward pressure will bind the saw blade because the pressure applied to saw closes the cut against the blade. I have seen this many times with students and find it a tip worth mentioning.
If you plan to be in snow country, a snow saw is a recommended item. A snow saw made by Life-Link is extremely light and carries well on a pack.
Multi-tools
Another tool that can be handy in a survival situation is a multi-tool. I recall when they first came out and there was only one to choose from. That was the original Leatherman tool. I still have a few of the originals around. Now there are hundreds to choose from. I won’t elaborate on them, but personally prefer a good pair of pliers with a cutter for wire, and various options like a file, scissors, etc. which aren’t available in any of my Victorinox knives. My preference is still the Gerber, as it allows you to open the pliers with one hand using a fling forward motion with the hand holding the tool. The choice is yours in regard to how many tools they contain, but they can be a handy item in a survival situation.
Trowels & shovels
Small trowels are handy for everything from digging edible plants to making a trench fire pit to preparing a cat hole or digging a seepage basin to collect water. Although not a necessary tool, it can be useful. They are made in plastic and stainless steel. Although the plastic models are lighter, I prefer the stainless steel trowel made by U-Dig-It, which comes with a nice cordura belt pouch.
Although larger shovels are normally reserved for vehicle kits, they are useful for survival. The size and shape are limited by how much weight you are willing to carry. The old military folding shovel is still a viable option as well as a new smaller version made by Gerber called the Gorge. Although they are all heavy, the Gorge can be carried in a pack or large kit.
If you anticipate being in a snow covered area, then a snow shovel can be real handy for making snow shelters. There are many types, made specifically for carrying on a pack, where the handle separates from the shovel portion. I highly recommend one in snow country.
My preference is the Voile T6 Shovel w/Saw, in orange. The orange T6 scoop is one of the most durable shovel scoops I have found. It uses premium 6061-T6 heat treated aluminum. It also has deadman holes for use in a rescue sled or as an emergency anchor. The shovel houses a hi-tensile steel saw blade which is a do-all saw blade of amazing toughness. It can be used for avalanche pit work, shelter building or to cut just about anything. The blade stows inside the shovel shaft and is held in place with a double pop-button. The saw easily attaches to the telescoping shaft for extended reach. The effective cutting length for the saw blade is 10 inches. The shovel can be used with the handle short or extend. I keep one of these in my truck and it always goes on my sled when snowshoeing.
Another handy device which can be carried easily on or in a pack is the SnowClaw Backcountry Snow Shovel. It is very light, weighing in at only six ounces. One edge can be used for digging soft snow, and the other more rounded edge for hard snow. As a multi-use tool, it can be used as a shovel, snow anchor, emergency splint, plate, sled, waterproof seat, etc. It is made from high impact copolymer and is only 12 x 11.25 inches.
Copyright
Portions of the material in this e-book are taken from:
Stay Alive!
Copyright © 2011 John D. McCann, Published by Krause Publications, a division of F+W Media, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by Krause Publications a division of F+W Media, Inc., 700 East State Street • Iola, WI 54990-0001 (715) 445-2214, (888) 457-2873.
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eISBN: 978-1-44023-534-4
This e-book edition: July 2012 (v.1.0)
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