Flew many missions over Southeast Asia. The condom was for carrying water, the wire was for making snares to catch small food animals like rabbits. The needles were used with the 550 cord from the parachute lines. We were taught in aircrew survival school to make a number of useful items from the parachute fabric and lines including a bag for carrying the condom full of water...and of course the 550 cord could be used with the fish hooks. This kit was a last ditch survival pack in the event that your "butt boat" survival kit was lost (sometimes they fell off during a jump or ejection).
The knife style is called a “Stockman’s” the three blades are a “clip, point, & spey” and until the 1980’s when the “Buck Knife” on your belt became the most popular edc knife the Stockman’s style knife was the defacto EDC for decades and still my preferred EDC because it has three blades in a compact form factor. The wire was officially listed as “Snare Wire” to catch small game but it could be used for lashing together items, a garrote, and 100’s of other items and in my day hunting pack I carry a similar coil of wire. The fire starters actually work best if you shave them but can as you demonstrates burn for a long time as a cube. The fishing hooks with leaders attached were meant to be used with a single strand of parachute cord you would cut from your stroud lines and the small hook is meant for panfish. The single biggest mistake inexperienced anglers make is using to large of a hook for their targeted fish size, Frequently use that size hook fishing farm ponds and catch frying-pan sized 8-12 inch panfish. The large needle are sized to be used with a single strand from parachute cord and while in an emergency you might be able to sew a large wound up with them they were intended to be used to make survival items from parachute cloth, hides from small game you caught in snares, etc. I am actually surprised that the kit did not have a steel/striker fire starter because other than that it was a very well thought out compact SHTF survival kit.
Yes, the parachute would make a great shelter, and the parachute cord (and inner strands) can be used for shelter building, fishing line, sewing for gear repair, and weaving a net.
The fire starter had a "match head" on the end. That is why it flared up. You could strike it on a strke strip to save a match. GOD Bless you and your families Kenneth
The condom is for use as a water container. That's why it is non-lubricated. The wire is for snares. The knife is a standard stockman style, very common in sporting goods stores of the 60s and 70s.
They were a decent budget user. They have a stamped shell construction so it looks like a regular traditionally constructed pocket knife, but In reality they arent.
After 30 years in the service I saw these in the stock system all the time under “serpentine” pocket knife. Colonial Knives where made in Providence, Rhode Island.
That is an awesome survival kit. You could survive quite a long time with that set up. The condom can be used for water/flotation device/First aid/keeping tinder and matches dry and much more. Fish and snared food would be all you need after camp set up. This was one of the coolest old sets I have seen well done Nathan.
They have made the same parachute servival kit at least since 1958, I just bought a New one , so they are still making them.the wire is for a snare, If they were cheaper I would buy more .I bought mine as a replacement for the one I got from my Air force dad The one he brought home was in 1958, the brand new one I bought was 9/2022.
Wire is definitely a must have. It's one of those things you might not think of, but if you have it you end up using it everywhere. You can use them for building tools where you're fastening thinks like spear heads to poles, shelter building, swedish torches, etc. It helps reenforce things you wrap with Paracord. I don't know what these survival kits are like now, but I think a small fixed blade knife should replace the folders you'd typically find in them. I can't think of anything I would use the other tools enough to justify the weakness.
When combined with the classroom survival education in sere school you should be able to survive for seventy two hours. Which is not coincidentally the time frame para rescue units give themselves to come get you. Obviously they won't stop but like the first forty eight in a homicide investigation that's the goal.
I love the MRE video's but this is a step up in my opinion, I'd love to see survival gear along with the MRE reviews, it mixes it up and is extremely interesting. Reading the comments make it even better. Thanks Nathan!
That knife, small though it is, is a pretty good quality knife. I had a swiss army style knife many years ago of that brand and that sucker was tough as nails.
After seeing the contents of various aircrew survival kits, I think if I was a pilot I would put some sort of water filter, a couple packs of beef jerky, and a Bic lighter in my pockets. Maybe add a back packing tarp amd some paracord. Between that and my edc flashlight, multitool etc. I would be better off than relying on most of the government issue stuff.
The compass is called a “dry” compass.. it’s not filled with oil or kerosene.. being dry, it does tend to stick so requires more work to keep it honest. But imminently more reliable.
Also remember, If you are a Paratrooper, you already have considerable resources at hand: an E-Tool, Canteen, and the cup, 2-3 days of C-Rations, A sleeping bag, etc. This survival kit was just added to make sure you had some extra matches and a few things to get some MORE food....just in case...
I had a pocket knife just like that as a kid and now I know where it came from! My dad was in the military and must have snagged it from one of those kits that outdated and was being disposed of.
The condom is to keep your fire-making supplies dry. Not so much about the fire tabs, but once you open the foil pack of the matches you need to protect them from water. You don't need to tie a knot in it, but you can fold it over a few times with the matches inside then slip it in one of your pockets to keep them dry.
Also this is a parachute kit so you have all the stuff that comes with the a parachute to make a shelter out of and to use for other means like fishing and stuff like that
SERE School, contrary to its movie fame, contains a considerable amount of classroom education regarding how to make snares and so forth. You are absolutely expected to keep as much of your shroud lines as possible.
The hooks are sufficient, you can catch a big fish on a small hook, not so easy to catch a small fish on a big hook. It's more likely in a survival situation that you will be able to get a bunch of little fish rather than just catching one big one whenever you are hungry
I have a couple acre pond where I live. I find that the little hooks work good for catching any size fish. I pulled a couple of nice large mouth with them.
In aircrew survival they taught hoe to use all that stuff. Small hooks are for catching bait fish, or in the snare. The big needles are for making stuff from your shoot. All that stuff is useful.
Condom to collect rainwater or protect weapons. In Vietnam, it was used to protect the barrel of rifles, which the Americans did not make and were subject to damage from oxidation and jamming... the Vietcongs did not have this problem because they understood more quickly the usefulness of condoms....
@@alex9483 On a regular slipjoint you have your blades springs liners bolsters and handle scales constructed together with riveted pins going through everything. On a shell construction knife you have your blades springs and liners constructed with riveted pins, and on top of that you have a stamped sheet metal shell held on with a tab at each end bent over to lock it on. On this handle shell you have a very thin piece of moulded plastic film wrapped over it to creat the look of a " handle scale ". The end result is a very economical pocket knife that resembles a normal pocket knife from Case, Camillus, ULSTER , Utica, queen, robeson...ect but is not actually built the same. It can cut the same and theoretically hold up the same, but because they were sold at dime stores...ect they were generally treated as disposable.
The big hook was like a number 5 or 6, the small ones were a 8 , from a lifetime of fishing using that little of hook the bluegill will always swallow the hook which is not what you want , if you use that for catfish their lips are too tough and you will pull it out , and a tiny chance of reeling in a bass on a number 8 hook , they will usually spit it out
I did not realize you were talking as small as a number 8. I was thinking more of 2/0 or 1/0 or 6, sizes i use for smallmouth and have caught muskie pike on 2/0
@@NathansMRE They looked much bigger on camera to me too. Sorry about that bud. You are right, I hate it when "small" fish swallow the hook but I want the big ones to...
The wire is most likely for making snares grab rabbits and other small game. Can't really see it for fishing it's not strong enough to have a hook made out of it without bending I guess if you're creative you could find a way
Flew many missions over Southeast Asia. The condom was for carrying water, the wire was for making snares to catch small food animals like rabbits. The needles were used with the 550 cord from the parachute lines. We were taught in aircrew survival school to make a number of useful items from the parachute fabric and lines including a bag for carrying the condom full of water...and of course the 550 cord could be used with the fish hooks. This kit was a last ditch survival pack in the event that your "butt boat" survival kit was lost (sometimes they fell off during a jump or ejection).
The knife style is called a “Stockman’s” the three blades are a “clip, point, & spey” and until the 1980’s when the “Buck Knife” on your belt became the most popular edc knife the Stockman’s style knife was the defacto EDC for decades and still my preferred EDC because it has three blades in a compact form factor. The wire was officially listed as “Snare Wire” to catch small game but it could be used for lashing together items, a garrote, and 100’s of other items and in my day hunting pack I carry a similar coil of wire. The fire starters actually work best if you shave them but can as you demonstrates burn for a long time as a cube. The fishing hooks with leaders attached were meant to be used with a single strand of parachute cord you would cut from your stroud lines and the small hook is meant for panfish. The single biggest mistake inexperienced anglers make is using to large of a hook for their targeted fish size, Frequently use that size hook fishing farm ponds and catch frying-pan sized 8-12 inch panfish. The large needle are sized to be used with a single strand from parachute cord and while in an emergency you might be able to sew a large wound up with them they were intended to be used to make survival items from parachute cloth, hides from small game you caught in snares, etc. I am actually surprised that the kit did not have a steel/striker fire starter because other than that it was a very well thought out compact SHTF survival kit.
@@Craigx71 man you didn't know all that 🤫
Colonial Knife Company. Providence, RI. Nice little three blade stockman pattern.
Hello from Oklahoma! The soldiers that were issued these kits were trained in the use of said kit. Cool stuff! Thanks for dissecting the kit.
The wire is for making snares so you can hopefully get some small game
Its also used for wiring up fish traps. There's a whole little book for that wire.
And making repairs to gear
It's exactly what I said soon as I seen it I knew what it was for can't fish with wire LOL
Shout-out colonial knife Co. Providence Rhode island
And it is a stockman pattern.
@@tonyrome655 I still have one
Remember to that this is attached to your harness. So you've got shroud lines, your canopy and the harness with that.
Yes, the parachute would make a great shelter, and the parachute cord (and inner strands) can be used for shelter building, fishing line, sewing for gear repair, and weaving a net.
A condom, knife, wire, compass and a few candies. Sounds like a great weekend in Vegas.
No candies actually, they were fuel to cook things on but still funny comment haha
slim pickins
Vegas reinstated the mask mandate
@@demonprinces17 Not again!
@@796andy2 it's not the size it's how ya use it
The fire starter had a "match head" on the end. That is why it flared up. You could strike it on a strke strip to save a match.
GOD Bless you and your families
Kenneth
Nice
That knife would be worth the price for the kit! That paper you were peeling off the firestarters is nitrated to assure ignition.
That's a cool little kit. The wire is for setting snares, you would pull some center strands out of your chute risers to use as fishing line.
The condom is for use as a water container. That's why it is non-lubricated. The wire is for snares. The knife is a standard stockman style, very common in sporting goods stores of the 60s and 70s.
That's the nicest quality pocket knife I've seen in one of these, it's a stockman pattern.
They were a decent budget user.
They have a stamped shell construction so it looks like a regular traditionally constructed pocket knife, but In reality they arent.
After 30 years in the service I saw these in the stock system all the time under “serpentine” pocket knife. Colonial Knives where made in Providence, Rhode Island.
@@BladesRKing yes it's a very ubiquitous serpentine stockman pattern.
I had one of those as a kid. My dad was a pilot and we lived in Guam in 1972, 1973. When I stumbled across this, it brought back memories.
“Is that chocolate?”
“Idk what kind of chocolate you’re eating but”
That just cracked me up🤣
That is an awesome survival kit. You could survive quite a long time with that set up. The condom can be used for water/flotation device/First aid/keeping tinder and matches dry and much more. Fish and snared food would be all you need after camp set up. This was one of the coolest old sets I have seen well done Nathan.
It can also be used to waterproof barrel of gun
Plus you'd have your parachute and all of the paracord from it.
@Danny Timms no service member is going to be left in a survival situation so long that they're going to die of rabbit starvation.
🤡
Knife looks nice, but they really gave out Jack Sparrows compass. 😂
At 1st I thought the aluminum wrapped cubes could be beef or chicken bouillon. Good thing you didn't cook that soup. Cool little survival pack.
They have made the same parachute servival kit at least since 1958, I just bought a New one , so they are still making them.the wire is for a snare, If they were cheaper I would buy more .I bought mine as a replacement for the one I got from my Air force dad The one he brought home was in 1958, the brand new one I bought was 9/2022.
Wire is definitely a must have. It's one of those things you might not think of, but if you have it you end up using it everywhere. You can use them for building tools where you're fastening thinks like spear heads to poles, shelter building, swedish torches, etc. It helps reenforce things you wrap with Paracord.
I don't know what these survival kits are like now, but I think a small fixed blade knife should replace the folders you'd typically find in them. I can't think of anything I would use the other tools enough to justify the weakness.
That was super cool to watch. Very enjoyable. I rly like these old survival kits and rations, a piece of history unfolding before us. ty.
I am liking these little bonus videos
That little kit had way more in it than I thought it would. Cool video.
When combined with the classroom survival education in sere school you should be able to survive for seventy two hours. Which is not coincidentally the time frame para rescue units give themselves to come get you. Obviously they won't stop but like the first forty eight in a homicide investigation that's the goal.
I love the MRE video's but this is a step up in my opinion, I'd love to see survival gear along with the MRE reviews, it mixes it up and is extremely interesting. Reading the comments make it even better. Thanks Nathan!
That's cute! The little parachute survival packet has a rip-cord!
That knife, small though it is, is a pretty good quality knife. I had a swiss army style knife many years ago of that brand and that sucker was tough as nails.
After seeing the contents of various aircrew survival kits, I think if I was a pilot I would put some sort of water filter, a couple packs of beef jerky, and a Bic lighter in my pockets. Maybe add a back packing tarp amd some paracord.
Between that and my edc flashlight, multitool etc. I would be better off than relying on most of the government issue stuff.
And a stove and a TV and a PlayStation in case you get bored
Love the old survival stuff
The compass is called a “dry” compass.. it’s not filled with oil or kerosene.. being dry, it does tend to stick so requires more work to keep it honest. But imminently more reliable.
Also remember, If you are a Paratrooper, you already have considerable resources at hand: an E-Tool, Canteen, and the cup, 2-3 days of C-Rations, A sleeping bag, etc. This survival kit was just added to make sure you had some extra matches and a few things to get some MORE food....just in case...
I had a pocket knife just like that as a kid and now I know where it came from! My dad was in the military and must have snagged it from one of those kits that outdated and was being disposed of.
They normally have two packs of matches and three fire starting cubes
It did
Yes, I like this kind of video. SteveMRE does some of them too.
Very interesting 😂 Thanks Nathan and you too Phillip. Love all your videos👍
Pretty cool , I’m sure the military was taught what to do with it all , I’d be lost lol
great video love these old school survival
That actually is a great survival kit for its size!! Yes make more videos of this kind of gear.
We have ALOT more vintage survival kits coming starting this Friday
Interesting to see inside one of those survival kits.
They managed to pack quite a few things into a very small space.
Cool vid.
The non lubricated condoms is for the storage and transport of water to drink. A convenient collapsible canteen. The wire is for snares
That is not much but still really cool. Thanks for sharing
The wire is for trapping small game in snares
Kind of interesting, as long as they're short I'll watch others like this. Sort of interesting cultural artifacts.
Awesome little kit, who would have thought we would see a condom blown up in a review, cool kit
the wire is intended to be used to make snares for catching small animals
The non-lubricated condom, is for the collection of potable water!
Thanks for this video. Neat little kit.
The condom is to keep your fire-making supplies dry. Not so much about the fire tabs, but once you open the foil pack of the matches you need to protect them from water. You don't need to tie a knot in it, but you can fold it over a few times with the matches inside then slip it in one of your pockets to keep them dry.
Thats a nice addition to thr collection
The condem is to put stuff in that you don't want to get wet if you have to go in water
they still make them. i have a 97 and a 2004
I lost out to one of these on ebay. I knew they were small but thought they were a little bigger than that.
Love this kind of stuff.
Also this is a parachute kit so you have all the stuff that comes with the a parachute to make a shelter out of and to use for other means like fishing and stuff like that
SERE School, contrary to its movie fame, contains a considerable amount of classroom education regarding how to make snares and so forth. You are absolutely expected to keep as much of your shroud lines as possible.
The hooks are sufficient, you can catch a big fish on a small hook, not so easy to catch a small fish on a big hook. It's more likely in a survival situation that you will be able to get a bunch of little fish rather than just catching one big one whenever you are hungry
I have a couple acre pond where I live. I find that the little hooks work good for catching any size fish. I pulled a couple of nice large mouth with them.
Hey Nathan, what model knife is that? I ordered that grizzly knife you used to use a few years back and love it.
Guess major Kong was right, you could have a good time with that stuff
Did the compass work or not?
The wire is for snares, use paracord inner for fishing and shelter or raft tying
Use some of the shiny wrapper to make a lure and attach it to the hooks, no other bait required.
In aircrew survival they taught hoe to use all that stuff. Small hooks are for catching bait fish, or in the snare. The big needles are for making stuff from your shoot. All that stuff is useful.
The knife looks like a case knife which is old school.
the foil-wrapped bits are firestarters
The condom is great to store water but I’d find it more useful to keep stuff dry
I like the knife. You could definitely tie one of the snelled hooks to the wire to catch fish or use the wire to make a snare to catch small animals.
one uses the parachute lines, not the snare wire for fishing, remember, pouch is attached to a parachute
I want to see more of like a scenario with this stuff. You and a friend or two go out with different “survival kits” and do the best you can
Wire is intended for snares.
Intended for a snare .
Carry water.
Thats a snare wire, meant for trapping small animals for food.
Wire's for making animal snares, among the other uses.
And wiring fish traps.
I've been looking for that compass for years! Any chance you wanna sell it
Pretty cool little kit, and a condom in case you get lucky
The condom was probably a water carrier at one point.
The foil sleeve would have been used to boil water.
The wire is a snare line.
The wire is to make a snare type trap to catch small rodents
That was pretty cool ! Why don't you ever put Philip on camera? We would love to out a face to the voice and hand lol
Philip might be the Canadian chap from South Park?
they were still being mad up to and i believe past dec 1999
Yep, with the same stockman pattern knife, but the later ones were made in China.
condom used for water gathering, wire for making snares, 3 blade pen knife
Condom to collect rainwater or protect weapons. In Vietnam, it was used to protect the barrel of rifles, which the Americans did not make and were subject to damage from oxidation and jamming... the Vietcongs did not have this problem because they understood more quickly the usefulness of condoms....
Those must be edibles, for when you've lost hope, it will cheer you up!
Definitely an inexpensive shell construction knife made by Colonial cutlery.
This is a Stockman pattern slipjoint.
What do you mean by "shell construction"?
@@alex9483
On a regular slipjoint you have your blades springs liners bolsters and handle scales constructed together with riveted pins going through everything.
On a shell construction knife you have your blades springs and liners constructed with riveted pins, and on top of that you have a stamped sheet metal shell held on with a tab at each end bent over to lock it on.
On this handle shell you have a very thin piece of moulded plastic film wrapped over it to creat the look of a " handle scale ".
The end result is a very economical pocket knife that resembles a normal pocket knife from Case, Camillus, ULSTER , Utica, queen, robeson...ect but is not actually built the same.
It can cut the same and theoretically hold up the same, but because they were sold at dime stores...ect they were generally treated as disposable.
@@TylerSnyder305 Interesting!
Thanks for your detailed and informative reply.
@@alex9483 it was once common.
From imperial and colonial both from providence Rhode island ( imperial also had hammer brand ).
The condom works great to keep out unwanted leaches
...not too tasty lookin', good one keep safe..
The entire kit is just a supplement kit and was to help aid with the original survival kit and your normal G I EDC
The wire is snare wire
Colonial knife company in Providence. Rhode Island!
Damn the Firestarter looks like a piece of fruitbar.
You will catch more fish with the smaller hook, even bigger fish
When he said that I thought, "Bet you dont fish much buddy." lol...
The big hook was like a number 5 or 6, the small ones were a 8 , from a lifetime of fishing using that little of hook the bluegill will always swallow the hook which is not what you want , if you use that for catfish their lips are too tough and you will pull it out , and a tiny chance of reeling in a bass on a number 8 hook , they will usually spit it out
I did not realize you were talking as small as a number 8. I was thinking more of 2/0 or 1/0 or 6, sizes i use for smallmouth and have caught muskie pike on 2/0
@@NathansMRE They looked much bigger on camera to me too. Sorry about that bud. You are right, I hate it when "small" fish swallow the hook but I want the big ones to...
Wire is for snares and lashing. Condom is for water or foraging
WHAT KIND OF KNIFE DID HE USE TO OPEN THE BOX? SICK!!!! IF ANYONE KNOWS, COMMENT.
That is one sorry "survival" kit.
The "Vegas Special" survival kit in Dr. Strangelove was the one to have.
Hi , does anyone know if the heavy foil pack, all the stuff came in, could be used to warm/boil water ? TIA.
“Are these the tabs to open the pack?” You were smart enough to survive an emergency parachute drop? 🤣
omg that dry ass condom... gave me flackbacks to the 90's
The wire is most likely for making snares grab rabbits and other small game. Can't really see it for fishing it's not strong enough to have a hook made out of it without bending I guess if you're creative you could find a way
The knife was cool. Stocksman.
I like these more than MREs
I want that knife! lol
Condom inside a sock, makes a good water bladder to carry your supply of hopefully clean and semen-free drinking water... :P
Snare wire