Do you know the UK Gun Laws
Gun ownership is considered to be a privilege rather than a right and the control of firearms in the UK are definitely one of the more closely monitored and toughest in the world.
As a direct result of these UK Gun Laws the amount of firearm offences make up less than 0.2% of recorded crime here in the United Kingdom.
The state considers any firearm as a dangerous weapon and, as such, has a duty to protect the public from its misuse - based on this duty to the British public the firearms licensing law was created.
What is meant by the term “firearm”.?
A firearm is a term given to a lethal barrelled weapon. That weapon can be of any description from which any shot, bullet or missile can be discharged.
* There is one small area where the firearms licensing law does not apply and that is air rifles or pistols. You can legally own an air rifle which has a muzzle energy of below 12 ft lbs or a pistol below 6 ft lbs without a FAC ( fire arms certificate )
Any air rifle above this will require licensing – A pistol above 6 ft lbs is completely prohibited.
see choosing an air rifle for preppers.
Who can legally own a firearm in the UK.?
Any member of the public can legally own a firearm in the UK provided they meet the requirements within the firearm licensing law.
A Firearm license gives permission to:
- posses
- purchase
- acquire
That permission will only be granted to you, once fully assessed by the licensing authority, namely, the police, as [1] not posing a threat to public safety & [2] having good reason to own a firearm.
A typical ‘good reason’ would be target shooting club, museums or firearms dealer.
In order for the police to decide if you are fit to own a firearm they will carry out a number of specific checks on yourself and associates, as well as quite a few other ‘checks’ which will include interviews, a visit to your home, in depth criminal record searches as well as require references from friends.
Your GP may well be contacted as well.
Basically, anyone or anything that might give reason for the police to see you as unfit to own a firearm.
What is a ‘good reason’ to own a firearm.?
You must be legitimate in your application and be able to demonstrate a genuine reason for actually wanting to own a firearm.
Typical, legitimate reasons for owning a firearm on a regular basis may be:
- work associated
- sport
- leisure
- collecting
- research
Each case is judged on its own merits and an individual basis
The cost of a firearms certificate.
A certificate is normally issued for 5 years but can vary for different firearms
Grant of Firearm or Shotgun Certificate ………………………. 50
Renewal of Firearm or Shotgun Certificate …………………….40
Registered Firearms Dealers – Grant or Renewal …………..150
Replacement of lost or stolen Shotgun Certificate……………… 8
Replacement of lost or stolen Firearm Certificate ………………9
Visitor permit ………………………………………………………12
Registered Firearms Dealer Grant for Game Fair etc. …………12
Common sense ownership in the UK.?
Many people get very confused when it comes to what you can or cannot legally own in the UK.
There are currently some 170,000 firearms licences and around 620,000 shotgun licences on issue here in the UK today.
The vast majority of these licence holders are quite legitimate and extremely responsible with the use of their firearms at work and for their leisure pursuits.
It’s only a very extremely small minority of individual cases where a legally held firearms is seen to be misused.
As a UK citizen you have a perfect right to own a firearm providing you prove yourself worthy of the Fire Arms Certificate – it’s a simple as that.
What firearms can you legally own in the UK.?
You’d probably be surprised how many and what type of firearms you can actually own.!
Take a look here and see what FIREARMS you can LEGALLY own in the UK.
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]]>Do you know the Crossbow Laws in the UK.?
As a prepper it is important to have a variety of good hunting tools at your disposal.
One of the very best is the crossbow – a silent, accurate and deadly hunting weapon that is well worth considering as a ‘must have’ bit of survival kit.
However, as preppers, we have a duty to ensure we all act within the laws of the United Kingdom and make sure your safety and the safety of others is never ever compromised.
Failing to comply to the Crossbow Laws in the UK will result in serious consequences – namely, imprisonment if you’re stupid enough to think you can go outside of these laws.
What does the law say:
Crossbows Act 1987
1987 CHAPTER 32
An Act to create offences relating to the sale and letting on hire of crossbows to, and the purchase, hiring and possession of crossbows by, persons under the age of seventeen; and for connected purposes.
[15th May 1987]
1; Sale and letting on hire.
A person who sells or lets on hire a crossbow or a part of a crossbow to a person under the age of eightteen is guilty of an offence, unless he believes him to be seventeen years of age or older and has reasonable ground for the belief.
2; Purchase and hiring.
A person under the age of eightteen who buys or hires a crossbow or a part of a crossbow is guilty of an offence.
3; Possession.
A person under the age of eightteen who has with him—
(a) a crossbow which is capable of discharging a missile, or
(b) parts of a crossbow which together (and without any other parts) can be assembled to form a crossbow capable of discharging a missile,
is guilty of an offence, unless he is under the supervision of a person who is twenty-one years of age or older.
4; Powers of search and seizure etc.
(1) If a constable suspects with reasonable cause that a person is committing or has committed an offence under section 3, the constable may—
(a) search that person for a crossbow or part of a crossbow;
(b) search any vehicle, or anything in or on a vehicle, in or on which the constable suspects with reasonable cause there is a crossbow, or part of a crossbow, connected with the offence.
(2) A constable may detain a person or vehicle for the purpose of a search under subsection (1).
(3) A constable may seize and retain for the purpose of proceedings for an offence under this Act anything discovered by him in the course of a search under subsection (1) which appears to him to be a crossbow or part of a crossbow.
(4) For the purpose of exercising the powers conferred by this section a constable may enter any land other than a dwelling-house.
5; Exception.
This Act does not apply to crossbows with a draw weight of less than 1.4 kilograms.
So, in a nutshell, the above official government laws mean……
Section 1 – (The Sale): It is considered an offence for any person to sell or let on hire a crossbow or part/parts of a crossbow to a person under the age of 18.
Section 2 – (The Purchase): It is considered an offence for any person under the age of 18 to purchase a crossbow, or hire a crossbow or part/parts of a crossbow.
Section 3 – (The Possession): It is considered an offence for any person under the age of 18 to have on his/her person, a crossbow which is capable of firing and discharging a missile, or to have parts of a crossbow which together can be assembled to form a crossbow which is capable of firing and discharging a missile.
Remember – Hunting, in general, is illegal in the UK and a crossbow can only be used on private land with the owners permission.
The crossbow itself cannot be carried in public and a common sense approach should be adopted when transporting a crossbow.
It is not illegal to own a crossbow, however, you can only use target points – broadhead bolts are illegal.
Finally – a crossbow is a powerful, lethal weapon and, as such, should be treated with a planned, common sense approach and be given the respect it deserves as a lethal weapon – always use safe practices at all times and ensure you have ample space beyond your target.
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Best, value for money, 150lb Hunting Crossbow;
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]]>Best Folding Pocket Knife Reviews and Comparison Guide
A pocket knife is one of the very few knives you are 
legally allowed to carry in the UK. As we all know, our knife laws are very strict and if you are caught carrying an illegal knife you could be looking at some serious repercussions.
If you are in any way in doubt, I suggest a quick trip to https://www.gov.uk/find-out-if-i-can-buy-or-carry-a-knife to see what the law says.
I would also like to add that the legalities of carrying a knife of any sort depends on the circumstances and the type of knife – a folding, NON-LOCKABLE, pocket knife is one of the few legal weapons you can carry around – but you would be setting yourself up for big problems carrying one into a football match or to a concert, if you got stopped – well, you see what I mean, depends on - ‘The Circumstances’…
What is constitutes a folding pocket knife.
- knife with a folding blade that is fully enclosed when folded/closed
- below 3 inches long (7.62 cm)
- non lockable
And thats it..! The blade must not be fixed and can any be opened by actually folding the blade out – a flick knife style blade that shoots out is not folding..
- So, for the purpose of this comparison guide I have concentrated on LEGAL pocket knives for the UK only.
So what makes the Best Folding Pocket Knife for Survival here in the UK.?
- Blade is locked in position when closed
- High quality blade material
- Very light weight
- One hand operation to open blade
- Belt, pocket clip or own pouch
This superb, non locking, classic traditional design Steel & cherry wood handle folding pocket knife, shown above is typical of a quality folding pocket knife that is perfectly UK legal.
But, what is the right knife for you?
Ask yourself this question – “what do I want to use my pocket knife for?”
If its sole purpose is for opening the odd parcel or difficult envelope then just about any will do – even a cheap one, Blunt or sharp, it won’t make much difference!
However, survival is a different thing altogether and if you will be using it for survival purposes then you you need to consider what these are.
EDC, hunting, skinning, cooking and even self defence. These are all considerations when choosing a new folding pocket knife.
Avoid buying cheap.
Never be tempted to buy a knife because its cheap – but fortunately, folding pocket knives are relatively inexpensive, in fact a quality ‘hand made’ knife, using high end materials will only set you back between £35 – £75
Below you can see a typical Handmade Damascus Folding knife with a Stag Antler handle and costs around £45 – that pretty good for a handmade knife if you ask me..!
Be aware theres a lot of inferior steel and crappy alloy out there that the foreign manufacturers make many goods from – the result is a knife thats next to useless in any survival situation – a good, tried and tested manufacturer has a reputation to keep any would never produce an inferior blade.
Some knife have the manufacturers stamp on them allowing you to return any knife that your not happy with or even return it for repair or restoration – a trusted brand is something to always go with.
Below is a comparison guide to some of the Best Folding Pocket Knife for the UK.
all the knives below are UK Legal and within the UK Law to carry in public
Within the columns you can choose from:
- type of survival knife
- cost comparison in ££’s
- blade & knife length guide
- knife weight
- survival rating
There are many survival knives to choose from, but below I have listed my favourites -
*use the column arrows within the headers to help you choose from blade lengths, weight, price etc…….
For more reviews on other survival knives, please see the selection below:
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Legal weapons UK | - what weapons are legal here in the UK |
| Weapons for self defence UK | - legal to own weapons and more | |
| How to choose the Best survival Knife | - what you need to know about survival knives | |
| Best Survival Knife Guide UK | - comparison guide for choosing a survival knife | |
| Best Folding Pocket knife Guide | - reviews and comparison guide | |
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| Survival Knife Reviews | ||
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I hope you have enjoyed our Best Folding Pocket Knife Reviews and Comparison Guide and it has helped you in your pocket knife decision. Please leave any comments below. Thanks.
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]]>Best Swiss Army Knife Guide
When it come to utility knives the very first name that we all think of is the good old Swiss Army Knife.
Without doubt the most recognizable name in utility knives there has ever been.
The Swiss Army Knife is a genuine survival tool and has evolved to give the essential tools any prepper would want in a survival situation.
In the range there are many designs with different blade and tool configurations to choose from, but all will give the same build quality and reliability.
They are, in effect, a precision made knife through and through.
What is the best Swiss Army Knife?
All of their range offers something for everyone – but what knife is the most versatile for a preppers use?
Having owned quite a few utility knives I can genuinely say I always come back to one in particular – it has always offered everything I have needed in any camping or survival trip and has never let me down.
My choice of the Best Swiss Army Knife is the Victorinox Swiss Army Huntsman Pocket Knife
| Knife are the features: | Optional Accessories: |
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Pocket Knife Sharpener   Victorinox Black Leather Pouch   |
The Victorinox Swiss Army Huntsman Pocket Knife is perfect for preppers, offering a wide range of utilities for many of the survival tasks needed in an emergency.
I think the Huntsman is just the right size to fit in your hand without being too bulky and really doesn’t need any more blades or gadgets – extra would only really add to the weight and the bulkiness.
I think the tweezers are a great tool and actually work really well. The can opener takes a little practice but also works well once mastered.
The reamer/punch is another handy tool that is supplied blunt for some reason?
I have put a point edge onto mine (see photo on the left here) and find it works much better – it’s the perfect tool for making new eyelet holes and for piercing “stuff”.
All the other blades come nice and sharp and will hold an edge for a very long time maintaining their sharpness.
I would definitely invest in the Pocket Knife Sharpener
All the blades and tools are nice and free running and open easily when you first get your Huntsman, however, it is 
definitely worth investing in some of the VICTORINOX Multi Tool Oil – whenever I give my knives a service I always go to my local garage and give them a good blast with their airline first to shift the real grit.
Victorinox actually say to run under water for a minute then leave to dry! But whatever method you use, a little drop of the oil works wonders – and a small bottle is under £10 all in, from Amazon
Victorinox have also brought out a full range of different coloured bodies for the Huntsman, although everyone knows the Swiss Army Knife is red, I suppose its nice to have a choice….
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I definitely, would not be without my Swiss Army Knife, and generally carry it with me at all time. You will be surprised at how many times you use it throughout a day - it’s a mini toolbox all in one..!
One of the best places to pick up a bargain and get the proper Swiss Army Knife Leather Pouch – is on Ebay.
Below is direct links to the Ebay site with the latest leather pouch bargains on sale.
- Current Price: £13.72
- Ends: Sep 4, 2014 12:34:20 BST
- Current Price: £14.70
- Ends: Sep 5, 2014 8:37:57 BST
- Current Price: £14.60
- Ends: Sep 4, 2014 12:33:59 BST
- Current Price: £18.48
- Ends: Aug 24, 2014 17:44:25 BST
- Current Price: £14.70
- Ends: Sep 4, 2014 8:38:43 BST
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]]>UK Non Lethal Self Defence Weapon
LED Strobe Torch
With the UK laws being so strict on the possession of weapons and the carrying of weapons, it makes life very difficult to defend against, would be attackers.
You are breaking the UK law if you are stopped and searched, and found to be carrying an offensive weapon.
However, there are a few reasonable steps you can take to ensure you have a chance of preventing an attack from happening – these are all legal, non lethal and designed to give you the precious few seconds to make an escape without the attacker pursuing you.
In previous articles I cover the UK alternative to a Legal Pepper Spray and also Self Defence for Preppers, however, in this article I shall be reviewing another very good alternative UK non lethal self defence weapon.
The LED Strobe Torch.
A torch, in itself, is generally not considered an offensive weapon. It has a very obvious use and carrying one, especially at night, is considered, by the police to be a sensible idea.
*if the torch is modified, IN ANY WAY, to become an actual self defence weapon. Then that is definitely against the current UK weapons laws – so don’t even think of it..!
How can an LED Torch be an effective Self Defence Weapon.
I am not talking a piddly little low powered torch. The type you would get from you local garage – I am referring to a proper quality LED Tactical Torch that offers the features needed to be effective.
Review of the Klarus XT11 Tactical LED Torch 
The XT11 is an ideal tactical torch for us preppers, and as a non lethal self defence weapon, it is perfectly legal to carry around here in the UK, 99.999% of the time it is exactly what it’s supposed to be – a torch..!
But the XT11 has added features that make it a good self defence weapon if ever needed.
How can a torch help defend against an attack..?
- With the Klarus XT11 the first thing to bear in mind is that it’s made of metal – an anodized aluminium alloy body, with NO PLASTIC PARTS.
- It has a metal front facing ‘STRIKE RING’, primarily designed for smashing and breaking glass panels.
- The torch output is a very high, white light, putting out over 800 lumens light output
- It has a defensive full power STROBE ACTION which is activated at the touch of a button.
- Lanyard attachment to ensure you do not accidentally drop it.
- The military grey anodizing makes it inconspicuous at night
Using it as an actual defence weapon would be the very last level of self defence if all else has failed or an attacker has already got hold of you.
The strike ring, on the front of the Klarus XT11, would inflict some serious damage as it is designed as a ‘break glass’ tool. (as you can see in my photo here on the left)
So striking someone who is attacking you will certainly make an impact.
The main defence function of the Klarus XT11 is the very high powered strobe effect that is activated at the touch of a button.
* In any dangerous situation, awareness and trying to pre-empt the danger involved is an essential part of being prepared. This, in itself, goes a long way to ensuring you are ready for any attack. I have made a short video showing the effectiveness of the Klarus XT11 and how it can be used to give you that small window of time to keep your distance from an attack and also make an escape and get away from a dangerous situation.
Klarus XT11 Demo Video
As you can see in my video, this is another piece of equipment that is well worth adding to your prepping kit.
As well as a full on survival torch I think it’s defensive features are excellent. Yes, I know, it’s not the cheapest of torches, coming in at just under £70 all in from Amazon but, what you are getting is full on reliability and quality with a huge light output – 800 lumens is some seriously bright light.
The instant reaction I get when strobing this torch at anyone – even for a second or two – is they will immediately put their hands up to cover their eyes and they back off. It’s an instinctive reaction that they cannot stop themselves from doing.
Of course while that’s happening - you’re off…..
If you’re interested in this torch, heres the information >
Happy prepping folks….
Also see:
UK Legal Pepper Spray Alternatives for Women
Personal Attack Alarms for Women
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]]>KLARUS ST11 Tactical torch – full test & video review 
Buying a torch that’s suitable for prepping is far more in depth than just going to your local store and trying to pick up the best LED torch for your money.
In fact, it is essential to go to the more specialist manufacturers to get a true preppers torch that has all the requirements for survival and prepping use.
As with a lot of our kit, there are definite requirements that must be met in order to determine if a torch is suitable for prepping, and, in this review I’m testing one of the latest additions to the exceptional Klarus range of torches, spotlights and key-chain lights - the Klarus ST11 tactical LED torch – which has been supplied by torch specialists TactLight, who export within the UK and all over the world.
Klarus have a huge range of LED torches - and most of them are suitable for prepping in one way or another, however, I have chosen the ST11 Tactical as it is one of their latest editions to the range, and is packed with all the good features we like to see in a quality torch.
- My own general opinions:
Straight out of the box, this is every bit a tactical torch.
Very stylish, which looks and feels just right in your hand. There are several light setting and other features which take a little time to get used too and master, but once I had played around with the torch it becomes common sense, and soon becomes quite logical to understand and operate.
On close inspection it’s easy to see why these torches have such a good reputation – the precision engineered body is spot on with quality machining and quality knurling on the main grip area.The front bezel and rear button guard are polished stainless steel and again, precision made to fit very nicely. 
The ST11 is charged via a screw in end cap and then plugged into a USB port. I like this idea as the torch can actually be charged anywhere via a portable solar power pack or even from a wind up radio with a USB port.
I found the screw thread was, again, quality engineered and a very smooth operation when it comes to changing over to the charging cap.
- Specifications:
- LED Type: Amazingly bright CREE XM-L2 with life span of up to 50,000 hrs.
- Battery: 2x CR123A (3v) / 1x 18650 (rechargeable)
- Function: There are two switches – a tail switch and a side switch; the tail switch provides on, momentary-on and off functions and the side switch changes modes, gives fast access to the hidden strobe and SOS modes, and allows the light to be switched off in standby mode.
- This is where the ST11 excels above other dual switch flashlights. When in standby mode, the side switch provides on, momentary-on and off functions, as well as mode changes and quick access to the two flashing modes – Strobe and SOS. Strobe is very effective for personal safety at night and a memory feature means the torch can remember the last lighting mode that was used. The tail switch can be pressed again to switch the torch completely off.
- Switch: Forward clicky tail switch that is recessed to allow for tail-standing. There is also a side switch that is recessed into the body, but as easily accessible.
- Performance: Highly efficient performance due to the digitally regulated output, which maintains constant brightness.
- Protection: Reverse polarity protection circuit protects against incorrect insertion of batteries. Sealed with O-rings for excellent water resistance and improved service life. Waterproof and Dust Resistant to IPX-8.
- Dimension: 141mm (Length), 36mm (Head), 25.4mm (Body)
- Weight: 146g (without battery).
- Finish: Tough, sealed body with HA Type III anodising.
- Colour: Military grey
- Reflector: Orange peel for an even beam profile with good beam throw – 177m.
- Lens: Toughened, ultra clear glass.
So, first impressions were good – take a look at my full test and video review to see exactly how it performed:
KLARUS ST11 Tactical torch – full test & video review
video coming soon
- Conclusions on the Klarus ST11 Tactical LED Torch
l have struggled to find anything wrong with this torch – maybe the ability to add an additional coloured lens or a strike
bezel might improve it a bit, but, to be honest, they’re quite low down on the list.
It looks good and is all the part a solid bit of kit, well manufactured and just works well – as far as the best LED torch goes, it’s up there with the big boys. The range of beam is more than enough for most preppers requirements and having the four power modes really makes this a versatile torch for any condition.
The strobe function is very powerful and overpowering and could even be used in a self defence situation to disorientate a, would be, attacker. Along with the SOS function this really does make the Klarus ST11 Tactical LED Torch the full package.
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]]>Bahco Laplander Folding Saw - testing and review 
In this review I will be testing the Bahco Laplander – a well designed lightweight folding saw.
It is made in Sweden and, of course, uses a good quality steel with a super sharp edge and from many of the other write-ups I have seen, is considered to be right up there at the top of the class for folding saws.
First impressions of the Bahco Laplander Folding Saw 
weight – at only 6.4oz you barely know you have it in your hands – I like this a lot as I find having to fight with a heavy saw just doubles the effort.
The cut and design of the teeth literally double the cutting stroke each pass, as the teeth will cut using both the pushing and pulling stroke, combined with a very aggressive tooth design it made cutting timber a very easy job, requiring very little effort.
In the closed position the Bahco measures 9 inches and when full open is 16 inches, with the actual cutting blade measuring 8 inches – which I found to be a very nice, comfortable size. [7 tpi]
The actual cutting teeth are super sharp and as they face both ways so you have to be very careful when cleaning the blade off – you cannot simply run your hand down the blade like a normal saw to clear it. All the teeth are hardened and coated to help reduce friction and prevent corrosion – so another nice touch.
I quite like the feel of the handle – it’s like a rubbery plastic called ‘Stanoprene’ over a solid plastic frame which give a nice feel and lots of traction- even with wet hands I found it quite hard to slip off.
With such a sharp blade Bahco have added a safety lock to ensure it can’t be accidentally opened and keeps the blade tucked away nicely – good idea I think…
As you will see in my video review, the Bahco makes cutting timber into nice, usable pieces a very easy job – in fact, I think this saw is a lot faster than most other methods and gives you a cleaner cut.
Bahco Laplander Field Test Video Review
- Conclusions:
This saw has got to be up there as one of the best folding saws in its class and performed every task I asked of it with minimum effort, every time.
The Laplander is now a permanent part of my bug out kit and will certainly be coming with me on every camp trip and, to be honest, it is only really restricted by the length of the blade.
For more in information, reviews and prices please click here for the Bahco Laplander Folding Saw
Happy Prepping Folks
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]]>A solar powered radio is an essential part of your survival gear and is essential for good prepping.
A radio is very necessary for keeping up to date with any disaster situation and ensuring you are able to keep ahead of any trouble. But the type of radio is also very important.
From a prepping viewpoint, anything that requires batteries is frowned upon and is generally to be avoided due to the use and longevity of the battery itself.
With an exclusively battery powered radio you risk the battery life every time you switch it on, so as a prepper this is a definite no no..
Alternatives to radios that only use battery power.
There are three choices of radios that do not use the traditional, throw away batteries.
- Solar
- WInd up
- Combined solar & wind up
Most preppers prefer the combined solar and wind up radios as these give you two choices to power the radio.
The sunlight will charge your radio during the day and if it’s used at night time and the charge gets low you can hand wind to keep it recharged.
Modern technology has allowed these radios to be made smaller and smaller whilst still giving excellent reception and quality. They are light weight [essential for your bug out bag] and tough as well – all in all, a definite good bit of kit to include.
Here is my 6 of the best solar powered radio and solar/windup combi radio
This is the Duronic Hybrid combined solar & wind up radio.
It’s a nice compact, rugged unit measuring h70mm x w130mm x d35, making it ideal to stash away in your BOB.
It is a battery free radio which has a AM/FM radio and once fully charged will last all day, but also, 1 minute of winding will give you 20 minutes of playing time.
An excellent survival and preppers choice giving great value for money at under £15
see more information for the Duronic Hybrid
This is a top end radio from Roberts – DAB / FM Digital Solar Radio.
Offering solar, battery or mains powered - The solar DAB gives up to 27 hours playing time when fully charged.
A high end radio with a price tag of just under £70
click here for more information – Roberts DAB / FM Digital Solar Radio
*three stars mainly because of cost, but you are getting top quality.
The Duronic Apex Wind-Up Solar Powered AM/FM Radio with Apex Digital DisplayAlarm Clock, built in Torch and Phone Charging Function. Also has a USB charging port with lead supplied.
A nice compact radio measuring H:7.5cm, L:15cm, W:5.5cm -
This radio will give up to 9 hours after fully charged and 6 hours of flashlight use after fully charged. - This radio will never need batteries. Great value solar/windup at under £15
Click here for more information on the Duronic Apex
Aquabourne Wind up & Solar Radio AM/FM/WB radio.
Cube shaped and splash proof with rubberised body.
This unit will never needs batteries – Integrated V2 high output solar charging panel and also a compact folding winding handle. Measure a very compact 80mm x 80mm x50mm
Click here for more information on the Aquabourne Wind up & Solar Radio
Freeplay Energy – Companion (radio, torch, mobile charger)
Waterproof and compact, requiring no batteries with the nice addition of a torch.
AM/FM radio that gives 12 hours of playing time when fully charged.
This radio compact at 125mm long and weighs only 230g – so perfect for a BOB.
All round good value for under £25
Click here for more information on the Freeplay Energy – Companion
Re-wind DSP5016 Solar Powered Portable Wind Up AM/FM Radio
Battery free AM/FM solar powered & wind up radio.
Nice rubberized, non slip casing.
A budget range solar/wind up radio offering value at under £13.
Click here for more information on the Re-wind DSP5016 Solar Powered
A Solar Powered Radio is an essential item to have in your bug out bag -
If the SHTF you going to want to know what’s happening around and about you – where the danger areas are and is it safe to venture out. Are troubles escalating, is recue on its way? The radio stations will be one of the last to shut down so they are a valuable source of information for us preppers – don’t rule them out and definitely don’t go out without a radio and ideally a solar powered radio – it just makes sense.!
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]]>Gorilla Tape for Survival 
We all know the sticking power and versatility of Duct Tape and its many uses, especially for emergency and permanent repairs. But for preppers, there’s only one tape you can rely on to give you peace of mind and know it’s going to work – so much so that every prepper should be using Gorilla Tape for Survival and carry a roll in every bug out bag.
This tape has many more features over the normal duct tape we are used to using and is made specifically as a stronger, more durable product that is ideal for us preppers.
One of the great features is that the tape is available in several different colours which include the great Mossy Oak Break Up Infinity Camouflage print – this is ideal for wrapping around just about anything you want to use when out in the forest.
What are the main feature to using Gorilla Tape for Survival.
- MATTE FINISH — non reflective top layer make this perfect for all covert style uses. Especially when hunting.
- 8 MTR ROLL — this is the perfect size to fit into a bug out bag side pocket and is very light weight
- 48mm WIDE – can be ripped down the middle and twisted into rope strands
- PERMANENT ADHESIVE LAYER — it will stick firmly
- OUTER SHELL – fully water resistant and also UV resistant
- THICK FABRIC LAYER — extra tough and thick, yet you can easily tear it by hand
- ADHESION – this will stick to most surfaces a prepper would need. Smooth or rough or uneven surfaces are no problem
- CAMOUFLAGE – the mossy oak break up camo finish is great and really effective
Get Camo’d Up..
The best thing for us preppers is this tape comes in various colours, but even better is the Camouflage print design.
They have used one of the better designs in the Mossy Oak Break Up, which blends with almost anything in the forest.
This is great as you can really go to town on your equipment, especially the glossy black surfaces….
To see more information, customer reviews and prices click here
Using Gorilla Tape for Survival is definitely something worth carrying in your bug out bag, car or at home – it’s an all round great prepper product. You can even use it to waterproof and camouflage your hat..!
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]]>Best Billhook for Survival Guide 
The billhook is a relatively unknown preppers tool that will do many survival tasks and is often the preferred “larger Knife’ being able to do the heavy duty survival work that is often needed with ease.
This “big knife” was traditionally used as a basic cutting tool on farms to trim bushes and hedges before the introduction of the powered hedge trimmers.
But it has many uses as a survival tool and is an essential prepping item to add to your bug out kit and survival equipment.
Billhook Design
The design dates back many centuries but the overall shape has remained the same over the years, as is the blade and handle materials.
The blade is generally made from a medium graded carbon steel of different weights and lengths, but on average you find most blades are 200 to 300mm in length. With the handle being between 120 -160mm long. This can give a potential overall length of some 460mm which is a pretty powerful weapon in anyones hands.
Generally the blade is only kept sharp on the inside of the curve, but you can also get a double-edged billhook which has another bladed edge on the back.
The blade is relatively thick as they used primarily for cutting thicker timber and woody vegetation. The end of the blade or ‘nose’ is quite often thickened so as to move the sweet spot much further forward.
The shaped design of the blade forms a hook at the very front of the blade. The idea here is to make it more efficient to trim smaller branches when stripping them off a larger branch and also the rounded end makes chopping easier and more effective when a chopping rounded object like a tree trunk.
The Billhook give you a nice large cutting surface and the curved hook certainly does help when your cutting and 
trimming small branches. You can also use it more like a standard survival knife for smaller, more fiddly, finer detailed trimming and shaping.
Of course there are some tasks that aren’t good for it. The number one is splitting wood, because there is no wedge shape as such, like you see on an axe, you will ruin the cutting blade edge due to being so much thinner than an axe.
If you try to use a double edged type, you will, of course, completely wreck the edge and the blade.!!
Choosing the right Billhook:
to help in your choice use the arrows to reorder each item to you specific needs;
- Description with links to more information
- Price
- Blade length
- Overall length
- Handle type
- Edge type
- Overall value for money score
Description click link to view more information | Price £££ | Blade Length mm | Overall Length mm | Handle material | Edge Type | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stihl Genuine Swiss Bush Hook  | 25 | 350 | 430 | Leather | Single |  |
Bill Hook, Double Edged 10"  | 25 | 255 | 404 | Wood | Double |  |
Spear & Jackson Bill Hook  | 25 | 255 | 405 | Wood | Single |  |
LEATHER HANDLE BILL HOOK  | 10 | 300 | 400 | Leather | Single | |
Fiskars FibreComp Brush Hook  | 35 | 235 | 510 | fibreglass reinforce polyamide | Single | |
Bulldog Premier Billhook Double Edge  | 40 | 230 | 410 | Wood | Double | |
Hopefully, this Best Billhook Guide has helped you in your choice for a survival tool that suits you and becomes an essential part of you survival kit.
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]]>Wild Elk Paracord
What is Wild Elk Paracord.?
Quite simply it’s probably the best manufacturer of paracord in the world. A huge statement to make but Wild Elk Paracord is manufactured for all the US forces and beyond and extensively tested to exceed the 550lb minimum break strength.
There are, of course, other paracord manufacturers out there and this article is by no means intended to say they are inferior, but I really like the consistant high quality of the Wild Elk and personally rate this as the very best gear.
They give a guarantee that every single foot (or 300mm) of their paracord that they manufacture is produced to exacting standards and is always extensively tested.
Exceeding the 550lb minimum breaking strength and is always manufactured using 100% nylon raw materials.
Of course the actual original use for Paracord or to give it the real name, Parachute Cord, is not too surprising, yes you’ve guessed it, well done, in parachutes!
The Wild Elk Parachute Cord is produced in the USA and comes with the rather fancy name of 550 Paracord Type III Commercial Grade. The cord is manufactured to the same very high specification as the military paracord.
The only real difference between the military cord and the commercial cord is the fact that its available in a wide spectrum of rather smart colours well outside the traditional and small specific colour requirements of the military.
The actual cord is 4mm diameter and has a further seven inner strands giving a breaking strength in excess of 550lb. The beauty of paracord is it versatility and variety of uses for preppers – being so light it is ideal to be included in your bug out kit and lends itself to so many paracord projects with the Paracord Survival Bracelet
Nowadays there are many TV shows that cover bushcraft and survival skills, so it’s little surprise to see the tried and tested 550 paracord has gaining huge exposure amongst the prepping fraternity.
Just about every survival expert will carry a hank or two of paracord in their survival pack.
One of the best things I like about the cord is its price… you can get a lot of cord for a small amount of your hard earned cash – result..!
Below are all the available colours for Wild Elk Paracord
Click on the Wild Elk Paracord image for more information, customer reviews and pricing.
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]]>Best Knife Sharpener for Survival Knife 
So what is the Best Knife Sharpener for Survival Knife for us preppers to use.? It’s all very well having a couple of nice survival knives and a multi tool knife but one of the most important things about your knife is its blade sharpness - especially if you use it when hunting for skinning or gutting.
A sharp blade makes life so much easier and makes it a pleasure to use your knife. So keeping the blade sharp is an essential part of maintaining your knife.
But what is the Best Knife Sharpener for a Survival Knife.?
Basically, knife sharpeners are divided into two categories -
- Attached to the knife sheath
- Separate from the knife
Normally, knife sharpeners that are attached to the sheath or come with the knife itself are quite specific to that particular knife – typically the Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Pro - has an integral knife sharpener that is part of the sheath and the blade clips into this to be sharpened. (an excellent system, but only on the pro version) Other knives have sharpeners clipped or attached to the sheath that can be removed when needed.
But for the purpose of this Best Knife Sharpener for Survival Knife review I have selected blade sharpeners that are separate from the knife and can be carried in a separate pouch, clipped to a keyring or on a lanyard.
The table below shows a unique comparison chart for the top 5 knife sharpeners. Giving a comparison between:
- price
- style
- knife blade size
- Use the arrows to help choose the top sharpener for your needs.
Description | Photo | Price £££ | Will take knives sizes upto - Large Knives, Medium or Small knives | Sharpener Cutting Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victorinox Pocket Knife Sharpener Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews  |   | 9 | Small | Tungsten Carbide |
| Wenger Super Sharpener Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews  |  | 15 | Medium | Diamond Carbide |
| Smith's Pocket Pal Knife Sharpener Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews |   | 12 | Medium | Tungsten Carbide & Ceramic Stone |
| Gerber Pocket Sharpener Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews |   | 5 | Large | Ceramic |
| Gerber Bear Grylls Field Sharpener Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews |   | 11 | Large | Carbide & Ceramic |
For a razor sharp professional finish on your survival knife blade you will need to ‘upgrade’ to a honing stone to get the best 
finish.
The most common and generally considered the best type is a wet honing stone system.
Typically, something like the DC4 – Diamond Ceramic Whetstone
I hope our, Best Knife Sharpener for Survival Knife guide has helped you to see what’s generally available in the knife sharpening world for us UK Preppers. Remember, a sharp knife is a happy knife..!
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]]>Survival Fishing Kit for UK Preppers
When you consider that the UK is an island surrounded by water with many inland rivers and ponds, it makes sense to carry a survival fishing kit as you’ll never be too far away from some water and therefor some fish.
In a survival situation or if you decide to bug out, even for a short while, its possible to find a source of good food from many rivers.
The main problem is catching the fish in the first place – This is where a good quality survival fishing kit is required by all UK Preppers – A fishing kit that will stand up to the job but also be suitably compact and light enough to have in your bug out bag.
Remember, your not out on a jolly, to catch a nice fishy or two then throw them back…. Your fishing kit is an essential part of your survival gear but without all the normal clobber you would expect from a fishing trip.
Essentially you can do one of a few things – Spear Them, Hook Them or Net Them
To catch a fish by the spearing methods does require some practice as well as a clear ish pond or river to actually see the fish in the first place.
It is highly unlikely you will have brought a fishing spear with you so you will need to make one – time consuming and requires some skills to perfect.
Catching fish by the spearing method can also be very time consuming. As a general rule spear fishing is not really recommended as the most productive method for most preppers in a survival situation.
Net Fishing.
Net and Hook fishing can be much more productive methods -
But a net in itself can be a bulky piece of survival fishing kit and in a bug out bag, would may well take up more space than you wish to give up.!
So the net option is generally not considered unless your home is near a river or your planned bug out has room for one.
However, if this is an option, a Gill Net
Once set up across a river it can be left to do its own work enabling you to get on with other things. The net itself can be rolled up quite small and is very light but the net length needs to be reasonable (20mtrs plus) to be effective and this means more bulk.
A good piece of survival fishing kit if you have access to a river where you can get to both sides for setting up and room in your bug out bag.
- Find out more details and prices for the Gill Net here
Hook Fishing
When it comes to survival fishing, most people think of the good old hook and line type. This is certainly one of the mainstays of survival fishing, and you can get quite good telescopic fishing rods with lightweight reels and compact systems that work quite well.
But the main idea of a survival fishing kit is something that’s light, compact and requires little time to setup and even less to manage.
If you have to spend hours sitting along the river bank watching and waiting for a fish, then that’s definitely not practical in a survival situation and just a waste of your valuable survival time and effort..!
For that reason alone I do not recommend your normal rod and line approach.
Instead I go for the automatic fishing reel approach. This method gives you an excellent bit of survival kit to add to your bug out bag – in fact I have three automatic fishing reels in my bug out bag –
The best and without a doubt, the ‘daddy’ of all auto fishing reels is the YO-YO Automatic Mechanical Fishing Reel
A cracking bit of survival fishing kit and a ‘must have’ in you bug out bag and any emergency survival kit.
The best bit is the price - at under £10 complete – I have had success every time I have set my yo-yo reels and they have never let me down.
click here for some more details and prices on the yo-yo reel
I have also added a video showing ‘how to’ with the yo-yo but it just so simple – take a look.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1FrAc8fgWU
What next/ – Preparing your fish to eat
Whatever method of fishing you decide to use in order to catch your fish and ultimately, be able to eat for your ‘dinner’. It is essential you know how to prepare and cook the fish correctly.
Badly prepared and cooked fish will definitely make you ill and create more problems for you in a survival situation. We have several ‘Survival Skills‘ articles covering all aspects of wilderness survival and situations.
We also have a dedicated article on ‘How to butcher and prepare wild food‘ -
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]]>Best Water Filter Straw for Survival 
Every prepper should have several means by which safe drinking water is available regardless of the survival situation and there are several very good choices on the market but what is the Best Water Filter Straw for Survival..?
For a quick, on the spot ‘top up’ a Filter Straw is the best method.
However, it is still essential to have a Primary Water filtration Method in place for filtering or purifying water whilst you are out in the bush camping or hiking or if you ever have to make the decision to bug out for extended periods of time.
But the Water Filter Straw is an excellent piece of additional survival equipment to carry in your bug out bag.
What are the choices when it comes to drinking water:
You basically have five choices when it comes to drinking unknown water from an untreated source – i.e from a puddle, lake or stream.
- RISK IT. Without doubt, a big no no.. drinking water straight from unknown sources, streams or ponds – you would have to be extremely desperate to do this as you are risking doing more harm than good – theres almost a 100% certainty you will have extreme sickness and diarrhoea as a result.
- BOIL IT. The method has been ‘the’ number one best water filter method since man realised the dangers of drinking untreated water. To be completely sure of making the water as safe as posible the water needs to boil to heat up to above 160*f and by the time it reaches boiling above 212*f it is considered safe to drink – boil for over 3 mins.
- FILTER IT. The Water Filter Straw is the ideal method for hiking, camping or bug out.
- TREAT IT. Water Purification Tablets [ Iodine or Bleach ] will chemically treat the suspect water and will kill any harmful bacteria or viruses. *correct dosages and storage can be a problem with this method.
- NUKE IT. You could always blast the dirty water with a UV light nto make it safe – There are some portable battery operated models available for killing germs with UV light. Not really the most practical thing to carry around with you though.
Whatever the method or combination of the above methods you choose, anything is better than nothing and every effort should be made to ensure you have water. With that in mind you must have a primary water filtration method plus other methods – choosing the Best Water Filter Straw for survival is vital.
Most will offer you upwards of 500ltrs [110 gals] supply of drinkable filtered water. – That alone will give you a month of drinking water – They are light, compact and reasonably priced, so to carry a few in your bug out equipment is very easy.
Best Water Filter Straw for Survival
There a a few water filter straws on the market, with quite a lot coming in from Japan and China – these are much cheaper than the top two detailed below – This makes me a bit worried as to the quality of the filter straw – I’m not saying don’t buy these, but, with something as important as your drinking water, something that your whole survival could depend on, I always pay for the best I can afford.
My top two best water filter straw for survival:
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Web-Tex Surviva – Pure Straw
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Drinksafe Waterstraw 700 litre Personal pure water filter
The manufacturers claim this to be the lightest proven personal protection device in the world Using their Patented filter technology this filter straw can stored and then re-used again and again Very simple method of use from a river,stream, puddle and even iced water – not sea/salt water though.
Top Tip : Use polythene bag can be used as convenient lightweight cup Complete with field serviceable sediment filter User Guide Water delivery method: Direct via mouth Delivery Rate: 300+ ml minute Dimensions: 19.55 X 2.0 cm Water Delivery / Filter Life expectancy: Up to 700 litres Total system Weight: 40g
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Both of these could be considered the Best Water Filter Straw for Survival and will give you good results and guaranteed safe drinking water ‘on the go’. Both produce over 700 ltrs (150 gals ) with one filter straw – so you can see you have a huge supply of drinking water that will last a lot of months – so value for money these water filter straws are an absolute must have for any UK prepper.
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]]>Best Hunting Catapults For Survival 
One of the oldest weapons used for hunting has got to be the catapult and a very good bit of survival kit to have in your bug out bag. But what are the best hunting catapults for survival that you, as a prepper, should consider buying.?
Hunting Catapults can be made from very basic materials and with practice can be very effective – Todays Hunting Catapults are considered a much more lethal and accurate weapon than ever before. Made from high tec materials and design giving you a serious weapon.
Firstly, let’s look at the pros and cons of adding a hunting catapult to your survival kit - Along with your survival knife and a multi tool knife, a hunting catapult is quite low tec in it’s principle design and operation, relying more on your own skill than the actual catapult itself.
These are the essentials to consider when choosing the best hunting catapult for survival -
Pros of Hunting Catapults:
- Accurate and deadly
- Very quiet operation
- Easy to load and reload
- Fast reload [with practice]
- Simple operation
- Compact
- Light weight
- Main working parts are easily changes or repaired
- Low initial cost
- Unlimited supply of ammunition if needed [ eg - stones]
Cons of a Hunting Catapults:
- Practice required to build up accuracy
- Ammunition can be bulky and weighty [ 200x 8mm ball bearings would weigh about 1.5lb ]
- A supply of replacement catapult bands is required
Overall the pros far outweighs the cons making Hunting Catapults a very good survival weapon for preppers.
As with all things prepping, and especially hunting catapults - NEVER BUY CHEAP WEAPONS -
Remember you will also need a good supply of ammo [ball bearings seam to work best] and also some replacement bands – [the elastic rubber with replacement pouch.]
That said, there are some excellent hunting catapults around today that work really well and all hover around the same price bracket of between £25 – £100 – Replacement bands will cost anything upto £5 to renew and ball bearing ammo [8mm] is around £5 for 200.
Below is our unique comparison guide -
the guide will help you choose the best type based on your own personal preferences -
Use the up/down arrows to select the best combination of your requirements.
Table 1 is available from Ebay – Choose from:
- Description
- Photo
- Wrist support
- Main Body Material
- Handle grip
- Price
- Overall ‘value for money’ rating
Wrist support | Body Material | Handle Grip | Price £ | Overall Rating Value for Money |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crossman 'Firestorm This is a good quality catapult with the additional feature of an ammo feeder alongside the wrist grip for faster reloading. crossman firestorm |  | Full wrist support | Steel tube | Moulded plastic | 20 | |
| Barnett Cobra Slingshot Front stabiliser give this catapult increased accuracy through the aiming sight system. Nice soft grip similar to holding a pistol grip. click here to view more information on Ebay |  | Full wrist support | Steel tube | Moulded plastic with contoured soft grip | 20 | |
| Theraband Hammer sprave gamekeeper Traditional style forked catapult - chunky design for extra grip. Features 'fork horns' for exact thumb and finger alignment when gripping the handle Camo print to the handle makes this a good quality mid range hunting catapult click here to view more information on Ebay |  | No wrist support | Aluminium | Aluminium | 35 | |
| Pro Mg-Ai alloy hunting catapult Comes complete with arrow rest, cowhide cover and mag torch grip. This is a serious bit of kit. for more information on the Pro Mg-Al click here |  | Full wrist support | Magnesium Aluminium alloy | Stainless steel & Plated Metal & Top Cowhide | 65 | |
| Barnett DIABLO Power Slingshot Catapult Detachable wrist support makes for easy storage. Magnum Power Bands as standard Barnett DIABLO Power Slingshot Catapult |  | Full wrist support | Moulded plastic with stainless steel tube | contoured soft touch grip | 18 | |
| BARNETT BLACK WIDOW SLINGSHOT/CATAPULT Excellent value for money catapult Fold away wrist support and molded grip BARNETT BLACK WIDOW SLINGSHOT/CATAPULT |  | Full wrist support | Moulded plastic with stainless steel tube | contoured soft touch grip | 15 | |
| Barnett Pro Diablo Catapult / Slingshot The 3 piece stabiliser and adjustable sight gives this pro model an added level of accuracy. ANother very good value for money catapult Barnett Pro Diablo Catapult / Slingshot |  | Full wrist support | Moulded plastic with stainless steel tube | contoured soft touch grip | 25 | |
Table 2 is traditional styled catapults from Amazon – choose from:
- Description
- Photo
- Price
- Main body material
- Buy now from Amazon
Description | Photo | Price £ | main body material | Add to cart |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dankung Cougar Powerful Stainless Steel Catapult Slingshot. TheraBand Gold Bands |  | 41 | Stainless steel | |
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| Dankung Panther Powerful Stainless Steel Catapult Slingshot. TheraBand Gold Bands |  | 41 | Stainless steel | |
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| Dankung Toucan Powerful Stainless Steel Catapult Slingshot. TheraBand Gold Bands |  | 41 | Stainless steel | |
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| Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Slingshot Sling Shot Catapult + FREE Testing Ammo |  | 10 | Stainless steel | |
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| New Stainless Steel Slingshot with Wooden Handle Outdoor Hunting Sling Shot(1pcs) |  | 12 | Wood | |
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| Slingshot |  | 21 | Plastic | |
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| Robust Polymer Catapult "Over The Top" Gold TheraBand Bands |  | 27 | Polymar | |
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| Brand New Snake Shapped Real Stainless Steel Slingshot Outdoor Hunting Sling Shot(1pcs) |  | 17 | Steel | |
We hope our Best Hunting Catapult for Survival reviews have helped you to choose something suitable for your requirements – happy prepping….
]]>
Best Solar Survival Light for Bugging Out 
There are quite a few solar powered survival lights and solar powered survival torches on the market today making it a difficult task to choose the best solar survival light for your home or bug out kit.
Remember, you don’t need hours and hours of bright sunlight to charge a solar powered survival light. You simply need good daylight and if there’s a bit of sunshine then all well and good, it all helps. But one of the key factors is, you need to have your solar survival light exposed to daylight whenever you can so its ready for action when you need it the most…. at night.!
So keep it out in the open at all times, just like shown here. >
In order to be able to do that your solar light must be very portable, of which most are, but also very water proof, hard wearing and robust to withstand the wiggling and bumping about that it will get.
When hiking the back of your rucksack is the ideal place. When camped it can be hung onto the top of your tent.
POWERplus Barracuda Waterproof Dynamo / Solar Powered Torch
The POWERplus Barracuda is a combination of two different energy sources that you are able to use at the same time.
You can either charge the Barracuda using the sunlight during daytime or use the dynamo handle that winds up the torch.
The Barracuda has 3 LED ultra bright LEDs which give you a quite powerful light – certainly enough to se your way.
To find out what other thought of this solar survival light see customer reviews
View more information, reviews and prices on the PowerPlus Barracuda – click here
This is a really neat solar survival light that seems to of designed specifically for preppers.
The WakWaka Solar lamp will give you 16 hours of bright, reading light on a full charge and has some 2:1 use time vs. charge time
It comes with 5 different light modes, including SOS beacon and is both water and shock resistant.
It also has an neat USB port which allows for charging a phone or other device – very clever… This is a top end bit of kit and sells for just under £80 inc delivery – so a bit on the expensive side, but you really are getting what you pay for in quality and performance.
View more information, reviews and prices on the WakaWaka Solar Lamp – click here
Re-Wind Eco Friendly Solar & Wind-up Powerful 3 LED Waterproof Torch
The Re-Wind Eco Friendly Solar & Wind-up Torch has three Powerful LED lights that give a powerful beam. The LEDs also flash to give an emergency signaling touch.
The Re-Wind is also Waterproof up to 5 meters in depth, which is a very handy feature, knowing you torch is going to be OK if you drop it in a puddle.! The torch will fully charge in sunlight but also has the added feature of the wind up handle which will give 60 minutes of light for 1 minute of winding.
A nice compact torch measuring only 24.2 x 14.8 x 4 cm and weighing in at less than 1kg.
Selling at under £15 inc delivery, this offers very good value for money.
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]]>Best Air Rifle for Survival in the UK
There are many different air powered rifles available in the UK. However, there are two distinct differences to consider when choosing the best air rifle.
The two distinct differences are a matter of the law. To own a air rifle that is more powerful than 12 ft lb you must have a FAC – Fire Arms Certificate. - However, anyone over 18 can purchase and own an air rifle below 12 ft lb rating.
Unless you are a competition shooter and take the sport very seriously, I would not even consider going to the trouble of trying to get yourself a FAC especially as many of the Non FAC rifles are more than capable of doing the job very nicely.
What are the requirements to be the Best Air Rifle for Survival in the UK
- Your rifle must be capable of hunting small game – in survival this is its primary purpose
- Choose a .22 cal rifle for a clean kill – generally a .177 is preferred for target shooting, but will still kill a rabbit at the right range and with an accurate head shot
- It needs to be light – you may well need to take it with your bug out bag so weight is important
- It needs to be compact – choose a smaller weapon over a longer barrelled, bulky rifle
- Reputable, tried and tested manufacturer – AVOID THE CHEAPER CHINESE COPIES – better to buy new or a second hand British or German rifle any day.
- It needs to look menacing..! – more for personal protection, should you need it. tactical rifles always look mean.!
- Cost could also be a factor for some – look to pay upto £300 for a mint secondhand rifle
Types of air rifle:
There are 2 main types of air gun – spring or gas ram and PCP [ Pre Charged Pneumatic]:
- spring-piston – the cocking action puts tension on a spring which becomes the main mechanism to propel the pellet
- gas ram – essentially the same except the tension is used to pressurise a gas ram and not a spring
- pneumatic – a cylinder mounted within the rifle body is pre charged with air
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Spring Piston or Gas Ram rifle – fixed barrel – underarm cocking – these type of air rifle are known as a ‘springer rifle’ |
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Spring Piston or Gas Ram rifle - again a ‘springer rifle’, but with the barrel being used to compress the main spring |
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Spring or Gas Ram rifle – showing loading point for .22 or .177 pellet |
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PCP rifle – the barrel is fixed but has a separate gas cylinder where air is stored to propel the pellet – the cylinder is ‘charged’ by a pump to approx. 200 psi |
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Alternative method of charging a gas ram rifle via a air cylinder |
The big question is which is the best type of air rifle to choose .?
Do you go for the spring piston, the gas ram or the PCP – there are plusses and minuses for each type. All are very capable to use as a survival rifle and more than capable of hunting small game like rabbits and pigeons.
In fact you only need around 6 ft lb to kill a rabbit and less for a pigeon with a head shot. At a maximum hunting distance of 30 mtrs for the .22 – the .177 may give you a bit more at 40 mtrs. I have heard stories of people saying they killed rabbits at 60 mtrs, but thats highly unlikely and more like ‘old hunting tales’….
So both are very capable weapons – when used in the right hands..
Spring, Gas ram and PCP [ Pre Charged Pneumatic] are all capable as survival rifles. As to the best air gun for survival.
I personally go for the PCP over the other types, but many will disagree with me for various reasons. The PCP enables
you to do 50+ shots with a fully charged cylinder and you can also have a multi shot magazine [10 shots] which eliminated constant loading as well.
They also have next to nothing in recoil. They are very accurate but also contain many more precision machined parts than a spring piston rifle – so, in theory, more to go wrong. They also need to be serviced by a gunsmith with the right tools. That said they rarely go wrong.
Again, a slight downside is you have to recharge the cylinder once empty – use a pump or air bottle [small divers bottle is ideal]
This is the rifle i use – .22 BSA Scorpion T10 – PCP rifle with 10 shot magazine. I have it in the tactical styled black body and as well as being very accurate, light and powerful, it looks a very mean machine too.
So, for me, this is the daddy….. But always take the advice of your gunsmith and choose the best air rifle that suits you…..
Choosing the best air rifle can be quite a personal choice – but do take your time and consider exactly what you will be using it for and find the right rifle for you.
]]>
Best Emergency Survival Water Filter and Purification
Water is the most essential item on any prepper list and having a means to get it is no longer a problem using an Emergency Survival Water Filter
Storing water at home is not a problem for most of us – but to get fresh, clean drinking water in an emergency throws up all sorts of problems.
You can only carry so much bottled water when on the move and if you make the decision for a permanent bug out then the collection and use of emergency water filtration systems becomes the number one concern.
There are several good quality portable survival water filter systems on the market today, made specifically for water purification when on the move. The table below review the top portable survival water filter systems that any prepper should consider adding to your bug out bag.
Important factors when choosing the best water filter and water purification system for preppers are:
- How efficient is the survival water filter
- Do you need to add any other tablets or filters or sterilisers
- How quick do the water filter produce drinkable water
- How much drinkable water will the filter produce
- How portable is the filter
- Initial cost of the unit
Considering these facts, take a look at the BEST SURVIVAL WATER FILTER AND PURIFICATION REVIEW
| …………………………………………………………. | Type | Compare Cost of unit |
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Katadyn Pocket Water Filter 50000 ltrs capacity - ideal for long lasting continuous use even under extreme circumstances. The silver impregnated ceramic element is effective against bacteria and protozoa. The Katadyn Pocket is the only water filter with a 20 year warranty. Includes: Prefilter, bottle clip and carry bag |
£££££ |
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LIFESAVER® 4000UF Bottle World’s first and only water bottle to remove all bacteria, viruses, cysts, parasites, fungi and all other microbiological waterborne pathogens without the aid of any foul tasting chemicals like iodine or chlorine or the need for any power. Complies with all British, US and European Drinking Water Regulations for Microbiological Reduction as tested and certified by the London school of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. |
£££ |
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Eco 100% stainless steel micro purification filter pure water bottle Stainless steel flask style bottle containing a pure water filter – suitable for drinking from any freshwater source treated or untreated. Not for pouring water as system works by mouth suction. Removes pathogens and carriers of waterborne disease. Eco Filter lasts for 1600 litres |
££ |
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Explorer pure water filter bottle – 1600 litre Large capacity 1.0 litre instant use pure water filter bottle removes threat from any freshwater supply removing causes of disease and sickness. Additionally removes chemicals and compounds in water. UK forces spec tested additionally at London School Hygiene and Tropical medicine. |
££ |
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Drinksafe Waterstraw 700 litre Personal pure water filter A patented technology ultralight waterstraw filter with closure cap delivers clean safe drinking water wherever you are: Stream, pond, river or hotel iced water. Removes pathogens including viruses,anthrax, crytosporidium, giardia, E-coli, schistomas and helminths in untreated water. Filters out chemicals and bad taste making water taste as good as bought bottle water. Excellent draw rate. Outstanding water delivery to 700 litres -Re use and store and re-use time and time again. Inbuilt anti-bacterial media. |
£ |
In conclusion I like the Lifesaver Water Filter Bottle a lot – it is the best all round survival water filter for preppers in the UK with a cost under of 3p per litre per cartridge.
There are also two versions the Lifesaver 4000 ltr
It is slightly more expensive on the cost per litre of clean water compared to the other main water filter manufacturers but you can get the ‘dirty’ water from any source – pond, river etc and the ‘dirty’ water can have just about anything nasty floating in it.
It simply filters out all water-borne pathogens creating safe sterile drinking water – fast. All you need is a water source..!
Demonstration of the Lifesaver water filter:
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2M9zCCk2_8
- Links to view more information and prices on all water filters shown above on Amazon
- Katadyn Pocket Water Filter
- Lifesaver® Bottle 4000 UF
- Eco 100% stainless steel micro purification filter pure water bottle
- Explorer pure water filter bottle – 1600 litre
- Drinksafe Waterstraw 700 litre Personal pure water filter
I hope this article showing, the Best Emergency Survival Water Filter and Purification, has been useful and has helped you in your water filter choice.
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]]>Best Paintball Gun for Survival
Why choose a paintball gun for survival defence.
There are many makes, types and styles of paintball guns available to use as a defence weapon, with costs ranging from under £50 right up to over £1000 for competition and tournament enthusiasts. But for a prepper the main reason for having a paintball gun is purely self defence and to ward off, would be, looters and intruders. Remember folks, these are not toys, and can do more than enough harm to make someone think twice about trying to get past you. At close range [10 - 20 mtrs] getting a direct hit anywhere on your body will cause injury and will hurt, big time.
A paintball gun is NOT A TOY. 
Don’t be fooled into thinking that these are toys. They can do some serious injury – if fired at the face they will take an eye out with ease and teeth shattered like popcorn – and you don’t even want to think about the damage they can inflict if they are fired at the groin area..!
So we are talking a serious self defensive, no lethal, weapon that is both very effective and LEGAL in the UK. Yes a paintball gun is considered a legal weapon in the UK and you are perfectly within your rights to own one.
What are the important factors when choosing a paintball gun.
- The number one most important factor when choosing a paintball gun is Reliability – buying cheap will mean inferior parts and a chance of the gun jamming up.
- Also paying top price for a top end gun can also cause problems as they will need constant tweaking and maintenance to keep their high standards of performance.
- Durability – again cheaper models will not be robust enough to cope, with cheap plastic bodies and inferior metal parts.
- Always buy from a reputable and well known Manufacturer – someone who has been in the paintball business for many years
What is the best paintball gun for survival defence in the UK.
There are, of course, many to choose from and like everything, it boils down to getting the best value for your money.
I have, and also highly recommend, a Tippman A5 as my preferred defence weapon - Amazon sell these at a very good prices – this is a link to the Tippman A5
It is reasonably priced at around £170 for the basic gun with paintball hopper.
There are loads of add-ons if you wish, but the basic model shown here is more than good enough for a preppers survival weapon.
In addition to the basic gun you will also need a propellent bottle. I find the 20oz CO2 bottle to be about the right size and weight for the gun. Amazon sell these as well and heres their direct link for the 20oz CO2 bottle
One thing to be aware of is the paintballs themselves – don’t buy cheap – always buy boxed and sealed and keep them at a constant temperature, that way they will be perfect for use every time. I keep a box of 2000 unopened and sealed and also another box which is opened but the balls are divided into packs of 200 and resealed.
| With the main criteria for this survival weapon is the fact that it is 100% Reliable - This gun has never let me down. The complete mechanism is very strong and durable and just works well all the time. It will fire a .68 cal paintball at at rate of over 300 feet per second which can be ramped up to even more if you wish. As a survival weapon, this paintball gun is a must for any UK prepper and when SHTF you will be glad you have it. A survival knife is fine for close protection but one of these gives you distance to fend anyone off. |
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Having owned this paintball gun and used it many times, I know exactly what it can do and have seen it out perform many of the much more expensive competitors - for complete reliability and durability you wont go far wrong – as a defence and survival weapon it is certainly up the top as the perfect deterrent for would be looters.
I think it is perfect for any UK Prepper looking for a cost effective means of giving good protection where necessary.
 
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| for more info and prices on the Tippman A5 click here | for more info and prices on the approved Air Bottle click here |
for more info and prices on Diablo Heat 0.68 Cal 2000 Paintballs |
]]>…. Happy Prepping Folks …..
Best Paintball Pistol as a Survival Weapon 
There are many Paintball Handgun manufacturers that are available in the UK all offering their pistols at varying prices.
The best advice is to shy away from the cheaper ones.
A Paintball Handgun is a precision made bit of kit and, as a general rule you will be spending upwards of £175 for a decent pistol.
Plus any extras you may wish to add on – Red Dot Laser, Torch, Extra Mags, Leg Holster and Gas Cartridges or extendable Gas Bottle Kit.
What makes a the best Paintball Gun.
It is essential that a survival pistol is able to give you that extra protection to ward off, would be, unwanted advances from anyone wishing to find out how your managing to survive better than anyone else. So what are the essential feature you must look out for when choosing the best paintball gun:
- Reliability – your paintball pistol must fire perfectly each and every time – no failures
- Durability – must be built to last – precision machined light weight metal parts and solid firing mechanism
- Accuracy – each and every shot must be accurate
- Ease of use – no fancy gizmos – just solid, time served procedures for re-gassing and loading
What is the best Paintball Pistol for Survival.
Firstly, I am quite biased towards a certain Paintball Handgun manufacturer – I make no apologies about this and it is for one main reason – reliability.
I have been in many situations where I have seen someone with a top of the range, all singing, all dancing Paintball Pistol that simply fails to operate correctly and they spend most of the time trying to get it to fire. – this is not a scenario I want if faced with someone after my years of prepping and building up survival supplies.
For that very reason I personally recommend the Tippman TPX
What are the best features of this particular paintball pistol.
- Totally dependable
- Very strong case with metal trigger
- Safety switch
- Quick release magazine eject system
- Ammo level viewing windows – left and right handed + window on top rail
- Self locking ammo magazines
- Quick and easy to load new CO2 – no screwing, just turn and click
- Paintball velocity adjustment on the outside – for trimming power to maximize paintball type
- You can add an external CO2 bottle line for constant supply
- Interchangeable barrel – ability to add longer barrel or suppressor
Bottom rail – ability to add torch or red dot laser sight- Very comfortable grip – fit so snuggly in your hand
- Additional ammo magazines are cheap to buy
You also get a fancy carry case which is fine to store it in, but thats all I would use it for.
I use the Tippman TPX paintball gun leg holster
Also maintenance instructions are supplied with a new TPX.
I have also found that the paintball handgun works even better with the harder shell paintballs – I think it’s because the gun has such a solid action it needs a more solid paintball – but as with anything, a bit of experimenting is well worth it to get the best out of any survival paintball gun.
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| Tippmann TPX |
TPX – Tactical Leg Holster digi camo |
90 X 12g CO2 Gas | Empire Diablo Heat 0.68 Cal 2000 Paintballs |
Links to the above Best Paintball Pistol:
- Tippman TPX Paintball Handgun
- Tippman TPX paintball gun leg holster
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Survival Paintball Guns 
Another legal weapon that’s available to all over 18′s in the Uk is a paintball Gun, or paintball Marker, as they are known by anyone who takes part in paintball.
Paintball guns are by no means toys…
They can do some serious damage and would certainly deter someone from trying to force entry or take your prepping supplies. Even a half decent paintball gun is capable of sending out a projectile at a rate of 300 feet per second. That’s a speed of over 200 mph…!
That’s a basic, off the shelf, cheap paintball gun for less than £100 – nothing special, just standard issue stuff. Now we can see how this weapon easily becomes a Survival Paintball Gun.
What are the laws for paintball guns.
You have a choice of three main types of survival paintball guns and all will do a specific job of helping defend yourself, your property and your survival supplies. All are legal to own and keep within your own home.
You can take a paintball gun out into the public providing it is broken down into three main parts and stored in a bag – the three parts being the gun body, the paintballs and the propellent bottle [Co2 etc] With these three parts separated it is not posible to fire the gun.
You must also have a valid reason to be carrying the paintball gun – going to or from a paintball site or tournament is about the only acceptable reason.
What Survival Paintball Guns are available for preppers.
- Paintball Pistol
- Paintball Guns
- Paintball Sniper Rifles
Paintball Gun Equipment.
- Paintballs – .68 calibre – these can be gel coated paint ball or .68 cal rubber ball
- Gas or Air cylinder – 12oz cartridge or bottle
- Safety mask if you intend to practice with others – full face and head
- General Safety wear if you intend to practice with others – body armour protection
If you think a paintball gun is a toy – think again – these are photos of the sort of damage that can be done.
Trust me, they hurt a lot and you certainly wouldn’t stand around if someone fires a round or two at you.
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In conclusion I think a Survival Paintball Gun is a must for any prepper in the Uk
What is the best Survival Paintball Guns to choose –
link to Best Paintball Pistol review
link to Paintball Gun review
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Best Multi Tool For Survival
A multi tool is an essential bit of survival kit to have at home and in your bug out bag. The reason a multi tool is widely accepted as a high priority item by survival preppers is the fact hat they can be so versatile, offering a wide range of tools that are ideal in a survival situation.
A multi tool comes in many different combinations which makes it ideal for any prepper and has all those odd little tools you always seam to need – by that I mean things like, a nail clipper, bottle opener, can opener, scissors, fine files, tweezers etc etc … the list goes on and on.
The very basic multi tool, the Victorinox Classic SD Swiss Army Pocket Tool
in Blue [shown here] is the minimum 
amount of survival tools you will get on a multi tool.
As opposed to the impressive ‘top of the range’ and probably the best multi tool, is the Wenger Swiss Army Knife
My Own choice of Multi Tool Knife:
Personally I have the Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Champ
This is what you get:
- Large Blade & Small Blade
- Corkscrew
- Fish Scaler with Hook Disgorger
- Can Opener with small Screwdriver
- Bottle Opener with large Screwdriver
- Ruler(cm & in)
- Wire Stripper
- Nail File
- Nail Cleaner
- Metal File and Metal Saw
- Fine Screwdriver
- Chisel
- Reamer and Punch and Sewing Eye
- Pliers with Wire Cutter
- Key Ring – Phillips Screwdriver
- Tweezers
- Magnifying glass
- Toothpick
- Ball Point Pen
- Pin
Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Champ – View more on Amazon
One of the very good things about the Swiss Army range is that for most of the multi purpose tool they manufacture, they also have a very good quality knife pouch available as well.
All the pouches are riveted together and very strong, just slide onto your belt and they are very secure. I use the Victorinox 40535 Leather Pouch 5-8 Layer
The Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Champ has a main knife blade that can be closed and is under 3″ long, which means it is a legal knife to carry on you. * provided you have a good reason to be carrying it * ‘oh, sorry officer, I forgot it was in my pocket” is NOT a good reason and will get you in trouble.
This multi tool pocket knife is just about the right size to carry – fits nicely into your hand and has a lot of tools on it. They all click back into the closed position very neatly and fit nicely into the pouch.
One odd point I have found – you open each tool by inserting your fingernail into a groove along each separate tool – this 
can be a bit tricky sometimes if your hands are wet or muddy. There is a toothpick, pen and a pin that are built into the sides at each end of the multi tool which have hard plastic heads with allow you to pull them out – you definitely need dry hands and good fingernails to get these out.!
But all in all this is by far one of the Best Multi Tool for Survival I have used – in fact I don’t think it has ever let me down – it costs around £45 with a pouch included which is good value for such an excellent quality multi tool knife.
Another multi purpose tool I have been thinking about getting is Victorinox 08623MN Rescue Tool
this baby looks very impressive and gets very good ratings on Amazon. It might just become an addition to my emergency pack.
Its designed to help aid escape from an emergency situation and has some impressive features that I like a lot,
especially the window breaker tool and disc saw tools as well as the rounded belt cutter that can be used to cut through seatbelts. The knife blade is lockable, making it a solid knife, again designed for escape.
By the time you have read this article I would probably have bought one..!!
Links to all the above Best Multi Purpose Knives
- Victorinox Classic SD Swiss Army Pocket Tool
- Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Champ
- Victorinox Swiss Army Brown Leather Pouch 5-8 Layer
- Victorinox 08623MN Rescue Tool
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Survival Axe reviews and Comparison Guide
Although a Survival Axe makes a good alternative weapon in the UK, it’s primary use is in a preppers survival kit and Bug Out Bag. The survival axe is high up on a UK preppers list and must be taken seriously as an essential bit of survival kit.
Considering the type of work that is expected from a survival axe, it is definitely necessary to buy quality and avoid the cheaper products out there at the moment.
This is my ”QUICK REVIEW” of one of what I consider to be one of the best survival axes available today –
The Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
Main features of the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
- Will fit into a survival rucksack
- Includes a leather safety carry hood
- 19″ Hickory wood handle – I found this a perfect size
- Good size chopping head – 3 1/4″
- The edge holds its sharpness
- Will cut through a 6″ diameter timber with ease
- Easy to handle and precise when preparing kindling wood
- Extremely comfortable handle
It was very difficult to find fault with this axe and maybe being picky I would say that for the bigger jobs a larger axe would be more suitable – maybe if you had to do a lot of log splitting – but generally this is a 5 star Forest Axe. The weight may be an issue to some (just under 1 Kg) if you like to travel real light… But I haven’t found this to be a problem at all and the pluses far outweigh that one point. In fact I found that little bit extra weight gives more momentum for the bigger chopping and log splitting jobs.
The one thing that made me think twice about purchasing was the slightly higher price over a Gerber or the Husqvarna Hatchet, but I have seen reviews where they have been slagged off for poor quality and finish.
The very last thing I want in any survival situation is have inferior tools, especially something as important as a survival 
axe, which can be a life saver – however, to prove the quality Gransfors put their money where their mouth is by ensuring each and every one of their axe heads is individually forged and stamped by the smithy who made it AND offer you a 20 year guarantee against any defective workmanship – now how good is that….
So, all in all, this a nice bit of survival kit that is well worth getting
There are, of course, a few other survival axes that are worth considering so I put together the chart below to give some comparisons between the features -
I hope this helps your choice.
- Use the up/down comparison arrows to help your choice.
Description | Photo | Price £££ | Weight Kg | Handle Length mm | Belt clip |
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| Hultafors HBFY05MIN 500g Mini Classic Trekking Axe Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews  |   | 52 | 0.5 | 235 | no |
| Fiskars 121121 X5 Camping Axe Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews |   | 35 | 0.48 | 230 | yes |
| Draper 62166 560 g Hand Axe with Steel Shaft Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews |   | 11 | 0.9 | 360 | no |
| Gerber 31002070 Bear Grylls Survival Hatchet Mini Axe Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews |   | 44 | 0.59 | 151 | yes |
| Gransfors Wildlife hatchet Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews |   | 68 | 0.7 | 340 | yes |
| S.A. Wetterling Axe 10H Small Axe with Hickory Handle S.A. Wetterling Axe 10H Small Axe with Hickory Handle Garden, Lawn, Supply, Maintenance  |  | 150 | 0.7 | 260 | no |
| Hultafors H008SV 800g Trekking Axe Hultafors H008SV 800g Trekking Axe  |  | 25 | .88 | 440 | no |
Related Articles
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Bug Out Bags - 
A good Bug Out Bag must be designed to carry all the essential Survival Equipment for one person for a minimum of 72 hours. Every essential item you will need if you have to bug out fast.
Ideal capacity is 50 ltrs or above, separated into several main compartments with side storage and the ability to add more if required and strapping for gear if needed. It needs to be comfortable and fit well, especially if your plan is to go on foot.
There are, of course, a whole load of survival rucksacks and equipment out there in the market today – and with modern technology and material design they are getting lighter and better each year – each trying to pinch their particular part of the survival market.
But generally, as preppers, we tend to keep to the tried and tested ‘old school’ equipment that we know works and works well. So I have tried to keep to the basics of what is considered better prepping equipment –
What are the main types of “rucksacks’ that will give you the Best Bug Out Bag…
FRAMES – a framed bug out bag is considered a good choice for comfort and weight distribution – some framed bags even have a suspension system to make carrying them even more comfortable ( but these are generally not ideal as a bug out bag)
- INTERNAL FRAME – internal frames are less obvious and sewn into the bag therefore protected by the bag material. Generally an internal frame will allow for a lower centre of gravity so the bag can sit lower down your back and be a more comfortable carry position.
- EXTERNAL FRAME – an external frame generally give more suspension to the pack but add more bulk and due to their makeup add more weight too. The exterior of the frame can be used to add additional items to and lash equipment to as well.
- FRAME SHEETS - frame sheets are an independent fixing system that will hold your bug out bag – a sort of mid way point really, offering a lighter weight but lower suspension system than the external frame.
* Whether you buy a Non Frame or Framed Rucksack for your Bug Out Bag is purely a matter of personal choice. It’s whatever you are the most comfortable with that counts.
Generally, lots of smaller pockets are better than one big bag, although we all pack in the order we think we will need gear, it’s always good if you can get to as much kit as possible, when you need it, without disturbing the rest.
I always go for a bag that has compartments and pockets where everything can be kept separate but accessible. The MOlle system allows for many add on pockets which I think is something to consider when choosing your ideal bag.
I do tend to keep my stuff in its own little box or bag and this method makes life so much easier for planning the contents, positioning, weight distribution and balance.
Essentially, a suitcase on your back, it’s a matter of personal choice as to what suits your requirements and what is comfortable for you.. Most preppers will build up to having a couple of Bug Out Bags.
I have four bug out bags that I have tried and used over the years – each has some good points and also some bad points – I am still looking for the perfect one that suits me..!
One tip I always pass on to anyone buying a new rucksack / BOB is try not be too over enthusiastic.
It’s all to easy to get carried away with the size [volume] of the bag thinking you can get everything, including the kitchen sink, into it.
Packed sensibly, with the correct survival equipment you will be surprised how small and compact you can actually make a survival kit.
Remember, only take what you can carry on your back…..
GENERAL CHOICE OF BUG OUT BAG -
- MOLLE - MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment
this is a variation of the PALS (Pouch Attachment Ladder Systems)
and was designed and created to replace the ALICE pack. Essentially, a very simple idea of webbing belts that go across the width of the back pack – these straps add very little to the overall weight but do allow for many different compatible pouches and other items to be attached to the main pack – there are many survival knives that use the molle system on there sheath.
- ALICE
ALICE packs are available so cheap, and they are so rugged that they are arguably the most gear for your cash you can get. They make for an excellent choice to start with and build your first BOB with.
- SURVIVAL RUCKSACK
There are a huge choice of general survival / camping / hiking rucksacks and, again, it just boils down to what you feel comfortable with.
But generally, these type of rucksack just lack the requirements of a decent bug out bag and worse of all, the vast majority are some bright orange or yellow colour thats a total no no when it comes to keeping a low profile..
Below is just a quick glimpse and small comparison of a few potential survival / bug out bags – just to give you an idea of the differences between a few
*use the column arrows within the headers to help you choose from sizes, weight, price etc…….
Description | Photo | Price £££ | Weight Kg | Capacity Ltrs | Frame |
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| Mil-Tec Military Army Patrol MOLLE Assault Pack Tactical Combat Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews  |   | 27 | 1.4 | 50 | No |
| Berghaus Men's Bioflex 50+10 Rucsac,/strong> Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews |   | 160 | 1.93 | 60 | Yes |
| Woodside Deluxe Army/Military/Forces Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews |   | 23 | 1.5 | 50 | Yes |
| Eye Mountaineer 50l Adventure Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews |   | 30 | 1.4 | 50 | Yes |
| Berghaus Men's Centurio 45 Rucsac Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews |   | 75 | 1.3 | 45 | Yes |
| Berghaus Vulcan II Rucsac Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews |   | 150 | 3.0 | 100 | Yes |
Also, below I have added a range of MOLLE bug out bags to balance things out a bit between framed and non framed -
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Folding Blade Pocket Knife
Multi Purpose Tools
The fixed blade survival knife is, without doubt, one of the most essential pieces of equipment to have in your survival kit. Any dooms day prepper will always have at least one quality, tried ans tested, fixed blade survival knife that will be capable for many survival situations.
For further help on this see: How to choose a survival knife
The Folding Blade Pocket Knife and Multi Tool Knife is also an essential tool to carry for any prepper and gives many more options and essential tools within one survival knife. The compactness and versatility of of these survival tools make them a ‘must have’ piece of prepping equipment.
For more guidence, reviews and comparison guides see our information pages below;5r6
- Also see our: Best Survival Knife Guide
- For further help on pocket knives, see: How to choose the best pocket knife for survival
- Also see our guide to the best multi tool knife: see: Best Multi Tool for Survival
- If your looking for a knife review for survival knives, check out our Knife Review Pages.
Select knife by category below types of knives
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Best Survival Knife Guide 
Everyone has their own preference for a survival knife but when the SHTF your going to need a a quality knife to cope with all survival situations. Choosing the Best Survival Knife for Doomsday Preparedness is very important to ensuring your survival and no more so than having a knife that suits you and a knife that you feel comfortable with – is a very personal choice.
To be honest, just about any knife is a good knife in a survival situation – but some a far better than others -
As always, it’s better to be fully prepared and have a good knife that your familiar handling and feel comfortable with.
Without doubt choosing the best survival knife will come down to how much you really want to spend on one.
Some knife manufacturers charge upwards of £800 for a hand built knife that is guaranteed to last and be able to withstand all survival situations, but there’s precious few preppers who would spend that kind of money when their £800 could go on several other pieces of essential equipment.
What’s the secret of choosing the Best Survival Knife?
Any preppers knows that the survival knife is one of the most the essential tools in their survival kit, and as such must be much more than just a ‘knife to cut things with’.
A survival knife must be good enough, strong enough and sharp enough to manage all the basic survival tasks that include hunting, combat, cutting, chopping, bush-craft and much, much more.
A good quality survival knife can easily be a life saver that enables you to accomplish all the basic requirements of survival outdoors.
Your knife must be capable of enabling you to create a comfortable shelter and to start a fire, to hunt for and prepare your food, it must also be capable of clearing pathways and for digging, as well as giving personal protection if required.
Choosing your knife depends on many factors, some of these are more important than others, so I suggest a quick look at my guide to choosing a survival knife for more information and tips.
There are many choices of survival knives, that offer various qualities.
Currently, with the popularity of the Ray Mears bushcraft series on the TV it’s possible to see how a knife can be used effectively - Ray uses a Mora knife for most bushcraft work
Essentials of a good survival knife.
Quality knives don’t come cheap – but there’s a few things to consider when buying one -
- A folding knife is far more liable to break due to the folding action
- The knife must fit you size of hand – if the handle is to thick you will loose grip
- A fixed blade knife is better for levering and chopping
- Always choose a ’3/4′ or ‘full tang’ knife’, where the blade runs through into the handle
Below is a guide to the best survival knife with essential information to help you -
Within the columns you can choose from:
- type of survival knife
- cost comparison in ££’s
- blade & knife length guide
- knife weight
- survival rating
There are many survival knives to choose from, but below I have listed my favourites -
*use the column arrows within the headers to help you choose from blade lengths, weight, price etc…….
All the survival knives that I have listed above are very good quality and will do the job well, so it’s really a matter of personal preference really.
- as always though – no prepper relies on just one survival knife…. - I can’t make this point enough, always carry at least two survival knives that suit you and work best for you.
As always I am very open to suggestions on good survival knives and if you have a knife thats served you well, let me know, I will include it in the list – just Email me: *protected email*
For more reviews on other survival knives, please see the selection below:
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Legal weapons UK | - what weapons are legal here in the UK |
| Weapons for self defence UK | - legal to own weapons and more | |
| How to choose the Best survival Knife | - what you need to know about survival knives | |
| Best Survival Knife Guide UK | - comparison guide for choosing a survival knife | |
| Best Folding Pocket knife Guide | - reviews and comparison guide | |
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| Survival Knife Reviews | ||
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Hopefully, this Best Survival Knife Guide has helped you in your choice for a survival knife that suits you and becomes an essential part of you survival kit.
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Pocket knives come in many different types with many additional feature like this Swiss Army Knife shown here. But a Pocket Knife can also have just the one folding blade in its most basic form.
Most preppers go for a couple of good fixed blade survival knives and then add the pocket knife and also a pocket knife with the added tools.
The pocket knife with extra ‘add ons’ makes an excellent piece of prepper equipment due to its compact size and ability to offer a multi purpose utility tool.
The most essential thing to remember with knives, especially a pocket tool knife, is never buy cheap knives. They just wont stand up to the forces put on them.
- checkout my review on the Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Champ
A folding pocket knife is an ideal preppers knife as it’s compact, light and easy to carry around. All have a link to attach a cord to if required.
Multi purpose Tools that include a folding pocket knife can have many extra tools and are really compact and light weight. Adding one of these is, I think, a must for any survivalist and prepper. Again, the most important thing to remember here is Do Not Buy Cheap. These sort of tools can save your life.
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