UST B.A.S.E. case first time out .

 As I was out and about back down on the Jurassic Coast again I took along a few new items kindly sent to me from Alpha Bushcraft .

 Full specs on the UST container can be seen here http://www.reveresupply.com/2013_ust_site/Root/2_base_case_1-0.html

 I managed to stash in a few useful items in the generous 23mm wide (internal ) capsule  from a Leatherman 'Style' multi -tool, x3 10 hour mini chem lights, x4 of my fire circle tinder tabs, a folded £20.00 note , a micro fire-steel / needle and a jute cord tinder warped fire sparker .

In the screw threaded lid I managed to stash one of my double sided Cyalume Cyflect MK3 mini markers and underneath a Silva SERE GITD compass.

In use through out the day clipped via the carabiner to my belt I was surprised to see that the connecting split ring had started to pull apart . This was replaced instantly with some technora cord from my pack and I'm glad I spotted it before I lost the container but then a split ring is always going to be the weakest link .

 Apart from the issue with the split ring the container performed very well in the water . UST rate the case as waterproof and it certainly showed no signs of ingression in either of the rock pool dunks or the 10 minutes left in a seasonal waterfall .

 Having replaced the split ring I've also now pimped the tube a little more to suit my own tastes more to follow later .

One possible version of a PSK or personal survival kit .

 All the above items fit into a belt wearable pouch in this case a Kifaru GPS pouch , this can also then be fitted to other kit such as packs or to a larger knife sheath via the malice clip  .

My personal choices for this kit include energy tablets ,small survival tin , a Spyderco Native 5 , TOPS folding saw , Boker Ti VOX tool with bottle opener and tungsten carbide breaker .

A Leatherman PS4 multi- tool , refillable Peizo lighter with fuel window and built in red LED flashlight , Fire steel wrapped in jute tinder with tungsten carbide striker and a silver foil emergency blanket .

 Also included are a Fenix PD20 180 lumen with SOS and strobe with a 66 hour run-time on low 9 lumen setting plus a spare CR123 battery in a Delrin case, a Cyalume 10 hour Visipad , wet fire tinder and several feet of Kevlar sleeved cord from Twinlineusa.com.

 The small Tin is 11cm long x 6.5 wide and only 1.3cm deep meaning its compact enough to stash away in clothing if I need more space in the pouch .

It features a basic personal first aid kit compromising of steri-strips ,plasters , disposable gloves and a resuscitation shield and water purification tabs .

The lid features a mirror circle , 3m orange high reflective and a GITD dot , £40.00 in tenners , x3 4hour mini Cyalume light sticks and a micro fire-steel with needle .

Also included are a folding razor /saw , mini tungsten carbide saw , photon freedom with a 12 hour run -time , P38 can opener , surgical blade and a custom made fire spark'er with jute tinder wrap .

All these items can of course be interchanged with other kit depending on the carry needs and environments traveled in and would always carry a more comprehensive first aid kit as standard .

Some ideas for EDC or survival  E&E / SERE type tools .

From locking and non locking cutting tools depending on your carry laws through to Custom and production key chain and emergency use tools  .

Advanced fire steel and tungsten scraper .

Following on from my original wrapped fire steel post back in October http://ru-titley-knives.tumblr.com/post/63818672043/a-6mm-diameter-firesteel-epoxied-into-one-half-of .

The fire steel blank fits snug into the safety break away holder which can then be removed to strike the steel with the tungsten carbide scraper and I've also added a heat shrink tube sheath which can aid to protect the fire steel.

 Natural Jute cord which makes for a great tinder is wrapped around the heat shrink tube , knotted at the top but with just a dab of supper glue at the bottom leaving a short tail as extra .

 A larger bore heat shrink tube is then used to cover over the cord and the tail end tucked back up into the cavity .

This is then sealed with hot wax , which can easily be broken squeezing the  cavity and allowing you access to the tail end of the cord .

 A sharp tug should break the super glue tab allowing you to remove more tinder cord to cut what you need but remembering to cut so that there's enough to tuck back inside the cavity again .

 In order to access the fire steel for use just a gentle turning motion is used keeping the inner sheath and cord intact ,this is a back up system for the day that you really need it rather than as a primary fire lighting tool .

Tungsten carbide fire starter triangle.

This time screwed down onto a kydex knife sheath ready for use as a striker for a fire-steel so no need to draw your knife until its really needed.

The tungsten strikers can also be placed behind other useful items in this case one of my Mk3 Cyalume Cyflect Glint & Glow personal markers which can be screwed down or tethered together onto kit, para-cord bracelets or lanyards or combined with fires steel toggles.

TOPS Knives pocket survival saw.

I purchased a pack of x5 of these several years ago, gave some away as gifts and split the rest up amongst my kit.

Relatively cheap and disposable, yet lightweight and handy to have about when stashed.

Technora cord friction saw.

 lengths of seasoned Oak , hazel and ash cut using technora 950 cord with safety break away cord locks and x2  ITW Tac toggles for handle grips .

Trompe- l'oeil or 'deceive the eye'  because sometimes hiding in plain sight allows you to go unseen .

This prototype pendant or kit marker was made up from a small Dremel cut-off wheel .

Whilst the added SOLAS / GITD tapes may aid signaling for help in an Emergency situation their main function is to camouflage the cutting disc turning it from a tool into something casual you may not give a second thought too .

Definitely a last option cutter as they can break with excessive use it however happily cut through standard 550 para- cord , 1inch nylon webbing and plastic cable ties .

For a longer lasting cut I quickly looked into a small industrial diamond gritted cut off wheel , this too cut the same materials but will definitely outlast the lattice work grinder wheel .

Though harder to bling up with the distraction tapes I'm gonna try and drill 4 holes so it could be used as a button ,sprayed black or brown it should still possibly deceive the eye of the beholder .