How to make a bow drill in the wild (for starting fires and drilling holes)
A bow drill is most often used for starting a fire – it’s the most efficient fire starting method – but a bow drill can be used for drilling too. A bow drill consists of five basic components – spindle (or drill), board, socket (aka handhold or bearing block), string,…
How to forge metal in the wild – building a forge (foundry) from clay
If modern civilization fails, one of the first pieces of equipment required to bring mankind back from the stone age will be the means to forge and form metal tools. To do this requires a forge or a foundry. A forge provides the means to heat metal so it can…
How to make a clay container (bowel) in the wild
In a wilderness survival situation, clay can be used to construct bowels, cups, ovenware, and other utensils. It is especially useful when the need for a waterproof container arises. Clay can be found in most environments - near lakes, ponds, river ways, or anywhere the ground has been cleared to…
How to build a simple foundry (forge) and mold metal objects
Introduction In a survival situation, tools and weapons made from stone, bone, or wood will suffice but those same tools and weapons constructed from metal may prove overwhelmingly useful. However, metal construction requires use of a forge or foundry, a special furnace used to generate extreme heat – enough to melt…
How to build primitive weapons and tools from natural bone, rocks, shells, antlers, or animal teeth
Man has been working rocks, stone, and bone into tools, utensils, and weapons for millions of years. Given its abundance in nature, rocks and bone are perfect materials for making tools and weapons in an emergency wilderness survival situation. How are tools and weapons constructed from rocks? All stone-working methods…
Cooking and Eating Utensils in the Wild
Using wood, bamboo, and even animal parts, you can use many materials to make equipment for the cooking, eating, and storing of food. Pots and Bowls Cooking with Hot Rocks Use wood, bone, horn, bark, or other similar material to make bowls. To make wooden bowls, use a hollowed out…
Clothing and Insulation in the Wild
You can use many materials for clothing and insulation. Both man-made materials, such as tarps and tent material, and natural materials, such as skins and plant materials, are available and offer significant protection. Animal Skins The selection of animal skins in a survival situation will most often be limited to…
Making Backpacks in the Wild
Rucksack (Backpack) Construction The materials for constructing a rucksack or pack are almost limitless. You can use wood, bamboo, rope, plant fiber, clothing, plastic bags, tarps, animal skins, canvas, and many other materials to make a pack. There are several construction techniques for rucksacks. Many are very elaborate, but those…
In an extended survival situation, a walking stick can be your best friend. All about staffs and walking sticks.
Why Use a Walking Staff? A staff (also called a walking staff, walking stick, trekking poles, hiking poles, or walking poles) should be one of the first tools you obtain. They resemble ski poles and have many features in common such as baskets on the bottom, rubber padded grips, and…
