1. Essential Cutting Tools

Stone Cutting Tools

1. Creating an expedient cutting edge:
   • Find a stone with fine grain structure (flint, obsidian, chert)
   • Strike the stone against a harder surface to create sharp flakes
   • Select flakes with naturally sharp edges
   • Use immediately for cutting tasks without further modification
   • These expedient tools can be created in minutes when needed
2. Improving a stone cutting tool:
   • Select a flake with a comfortable grip area
   • Use another stone to carefully chip away at the edges
   • Create a more defined cutting edge through pressure flaking
   • Form a point for piercing or a straight edge for slicing
   • Wrap the grip area with plant fibers or leather for comfort

Improvised Cutting Tools from Natural Materials

1. Bamboo knife:
   • Split a section of bamboo lengthwise
   • Shape one edge to a sharp angle
   • Harden the edge by carefully charring with fire
   • Bamboo can produce cutting tools nearly as sharp as metal
2. Shell cutting tools:
   • Select bivalve shells with strong, thin edges
   • Clean thoroughly and remove any remaining tissue
   • Use as is or carefully chip to improve the edge
   • Particularly effective for processing plant materials and fish
3. Bone cutting implements:
   • Select long bones from medium to large animals
   • Break at an angle to create sharp points and edges
   • Further shape by grinding against a rough stone
   • Particularly useful for precision cutting tasks

2. Water Procurement and Purification Tools

Water Collection Devices

1. Solar still:
   • Dig a hole approximately 3 feet wide and 2 feet deep
   • Place a container in the center of the hole
   • Cover the hole with a plastic sheet or large leaf
   • Place a small stone in the center to create a depression
   • Water evaporates and condenses on the underside, dripping into the container
   • Can produce clean water from even contaminated sources
2. Bark tube water collectors:
   • Identify trees with suitable bark (birch, certain pines)
   • Remove a section of bark without killing the tree
   • Form into a funnel or tube shape
   • Secure with cordage or wooden pins
   • Position to catch rainwater or direct water from streams
3. Transpiration bag:
   • Place a clear plastic bag over a leafy branch
   • Secure tightly around the branch
   • Water transpired by leaves will collect in the bag
   • This method works even in seemingly dry environments

Water Filtration Systems

1. Basic three-layer filter:
   • Create a container with holes in the bottom
   • Layer materials from bottom to top:
     • Small stones or pebbles
     • Sand
     • Charcoal from your fire
     • Grass or cloth
   • Pour water through the top
   • Collect filtered water from the bottom
   • This removes particulates but not all pathogens
2. Charcoal purification:
   • Crush charcoal from a hardwood fire into small pieces
   • Place in a container with water
   • Stir occasionally for 30 minutes
   • Allow charcoal to settle
   • Pour off the clearer water
   • Charcoal adsorbs many contaminants and improves taste

Water Boiling Methods

1. Direct fire boiling:
   • Use a fire-resistant container (clay pot, metal if available)
   • Bring water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute
   • Allow to cool before drinking
2. Stone boiling (for non-fire-resistant containers):
   • Heat several stones in a fire until very hot
   • Use wooden tongs to transfer stones to a water container
   • Replace stones as they cool
   • Continue until water has boiled for at least 1 minute
   • This method works with wooden, bark, or hide containers

3. Fire Starting and Maintenance Tools

Friction-Based Fire Starting

1. Hand drill:
   • Materials:
     • Straight wooden spindle (harder wood)
     • Flat fireboard (softer wood)
     • Tinder bundle (dry grass, bark fibers, etc.)
   • Create a small depression in the fireboard
   • Cut a notch from the edge to the depression
   • Place tinder under the notch
   • Spin the spindle rapidly between palms while applying downward pressure
   • The friction creates an ember that falls into the tinder
2. Fire plow:
   • Create a groove in a softwood base
   • Use a hardwood stick to "plow" back and forth in the groove
   • The friction creates sawdust that eventually ignites
   • Requires less precision than other methods

Spark-Based Fire Starting

1. Flint and steel (or equivalent):
   • Strike high-carbon steel against flint or quartz
   • Direct sparks onto char cloth or very fine tinder
   • Blow gently on caught sparks to create flame
   • If steel is unavailable, certain stones (pyrite) can create sparks when struck together
2. Lens-based fire starting:
   • Use a magnifying glass, eyeglasses, or clear ice shaped into a lens
   • Focus sunlight onto a small point on dark tinder
   • Maintain focus until smoking begins, then blow gently
   • Only works on sunny days but requires no physical exertion

Fire Maintenance Tools

1. Fire reflector:
   • Build a wall of stones or logs behind your fire
   • Reflects heat forward toward you
   • Improves efficiency and directs heat where needed
   • Can be angled to reflect heat into a shelter
2. Long-burning fire construction:
   • Create a platform of green logs as a base
   • Build fire on this platform
   • Arrange larger logs in a star pattern with ends in the fire
   • Push logs inward as they burn
   • This configuration maintains fire with minimal attention
3. Fire carrying container:
   • Create a container from bark or hollowed wood
   • Line with clay if available
   • Place slow-burning materials inside (punk wood, certain fungi)
   • This preserves fire when traveling without needing to restart

4. Shelter Construction Tools

Digging Implements

1. Digging stick:
   • Select a sturdy branch about 3-4 feet long
   • Sharpen one end to a point
   • Harden the point in fire if time permits
   • Use for digging pit shelters, fire pits, and food gathering
2. Improvised shovel:
   • Split a section of log or find a flat piece of wood
   • Shape one end into a blade
   • Attach a handle using cordage if needed
   • Useful for moving larger amounts of earth

Cutting and Shaping Tools for Shelter Materials

1. Stone adze:
   • Attach a sharp stone to a handle at a 90° angle
   • Secure with strong cordage and natural adhesive
   • Use for shaping wood and cutting notches
   • Essential for more complex shelter construction
2. Wedge tools:
   • Create wedges from hardwood or antler
   • Use to split logs for shelter materials
   • Drive with a wooden mallet or stone
   • Allows creation of planks and boards without saws

Fastening and Binding Tools

1. Wooden pegs:
   • Create pointed wooden stakes of various sizes
   • Use to pin together shelter materials
   • Can secure ground coverings and structural elements
   • More durable than cordage alone for certain applications
2. Natural cordage making tool:
   • Create a simple hook from wood or bone
   • Use to help twist fibers together when making cordage
   • Increases efficiency and consistency in cordage production
   • Essential for binding shelter materials

5. Food Procurement Tools

Hunting Implements

1. Basic spear:
   • Select a straight shaft 6-8 feet long
   • Sharpen one end to a point
   • Harden the point in fire
   • Can be used for thrusting or throwing
   • The simplest effective hunting weapon
2. Throwing stick:
   • Select a heavy, curved stick about 1-2 feet long
   • Shape for balanced throwing
   • Effective for small game at short distances
   • Can be made in minutes when opportunity arises
3. Simple sling:
   • Cut a piece of hide or woven plant fibers about 2-3 feet long
   • Create a wider section in the middle to hold a stone
   • Attach a loop for one finger on one end
   • Hold the other end when throwing
   • Practice is essential for accuracy

Fishing Tools

1. Fish gorge:
   • Create a small, straight piece of bone, wood, or thorns
   • Sharpen both ends
   • Attach cordage to the middle
   • Bait and position so fish swallows it lengthwise
   • When pulled, it lodges crosswise in the fish's throat
2. Fish spear:
   • Create a spear with multiple prongs
   • Split the end of a shaft and insert smaller sharpened sticks
   • Secure with cordage
   • The multiple points increase chances of spearing fish
3. Basket trap:
   • Weave a funnel-shaped basket
   • Create a narrow opening that allows fish to swim in but makes exit difficult
   • Place in streams with the wide end facing upstream
   • Check regularly for caught fish

Gathering Tools

1. Digging stick variations:
   • Pointed end for digging roots and tubers
   • Flattened end for prying and lifting
   • Forked end for pulling up certain plants
   • The most versatile gathering tool
2. Collecting containers:
   • Baskets woven from available plant materials
   • Bags made from animal hide
   • Containers from large leaves folded and pinned
   • Essential for efficient gathering and transport

6. Food Processing Tools

Crushing and Grinding Implements

1. Mortar and pestle:
   • Find or create a stone or wooden bowl (mortar)
   • Select a smooth, heavy stone or wooden club (pestle)
   • Use for crushing seeds, nuts, and plant materials
   • Essential for processing many plant foods
2. Grinding stones:
   • Select a large, flat stone as a base
   • Find a smaller, hand-sized stone for grinding
   • Use with a back-and-forth motion
   • More efficient than mortar and pestle for grains

Cooking Implements

1. Cooking stones:
   • Collect smooth, non-porous stones
   • Heat in fire until very hot
   • Use for stone boiling or as heating elements
   • Avoid river stones which may explode when heated
2. Green wood grilling frame:
   • Create a frame from green (living) wood
   • Position over fire at appropriate height
   • The moisture in green wood prevents it from burning through
   • Use for grilling meat and fish
3. Earth oven:
   • Dig a pit about 2 feet deep
   • Build a fire in the pit to heat stones placed at the bottom
   • Once hot, place food wrapped in leaves on the stones
   • Cover with more leaves, then soil
   • This slow-cooking method preserves nutrients and flavor

Food Preservation Tools

1. Drying rack:
   • Construct a raised platform of sticks
   • Position away from ground predators
   • Place food in thin layers for efficient drying
   • Cover with branches to protect from birds if needed
2. Smoking frame:
   • Build a frame above a low, smoky fire
   • The combination of heat and smoke preserves meat
   • Keep fire smoldering rather than burning actively
   • Position to maximize smoke exposure

7. Navigation and Orientation Tools

Direction Finding Tools

1. Simple shadow stick:
   • Place a straight stick vertically in the ground
   • Mark the tip of the shadow
   • Wait 15 minutes and mark the new shadow tip
   • Draw a line between marks - this runs approximately east-west
   • The first mark is west, the second is east
2. Star navigation guide:
   • Identify Polaris (North Star) in northern hemisphere
   • In southern hemisphere, use Southern Cross constellation
   • Create a simple star chart on bark or hide
   • Record key constellations for seasonal navigation

Distance and Time Measurement

1. Measuring stick:
   • Create a stick marked with your personal measurements:
     • The length of your foot
     • The width of your hand
     • The distance from fingertip to elbow
   • Use for consistent measurements when building or traveling
2. Sun dial:
   • Place a stick vertically in a clear area
   • Mark shadow positions throughout the day
   • Use to estimate time of day in subsequent days
   • Adjust seasonally as sun angle changes

8. Self-Defense Tools

Defensive Weapons

1. Hardwood club:
   • Select a dense hardwood branch with a heavier end
   • Remove bark and small branches
   • Shape handle for secure grip
   • Harden with fire if time permits
   • Simple but effective for defense against predators
2. Throwing stones preparation:
   • Collect round, smooth stones that fit comfortably in the hand
   • Store in a pouch for quick access
   • Practice throwing for accuracy
   • Can deter predators without close engagement

Perimeter Protection

1. Thorn barrier:
   • Collect thorny branches and vegetation
   • Arrange around camp perimeter or shelter entrance
   • Creates a deterrent to animals and human intruders
   • Can be quickly deployed and easily moved
2. Alarm system:
   • Create trip lines using cordage
   • Attach to suspended shells, stones, or other noise-making objects
   • Position around perimeter of camp
   • Provides early warning of approach

9. Tool Maintenance Implements

Sharpening Tools

1. Sharpening stones:
   • Collect stones of varying grits (rough to fine)
   • Use rough stones for initial shaping
   • Use finer stones for honing edges
   • Keep wet during use for better results
2. Leather strop:
   • Create from a piece of hide with flesh side up
   • Use to polish and align edges after stone sharpening
   • Significantly extends the life of cutting tools

Repair Tools

1. Bone awl:
   • Create from a splinter of bone
   • Sharpen to a fine point
   • Use for punching holes in hide, bark, or wood
   • Essential for repairing tools and clothing
2. Pressure flaker:
   • Make from a section of antler or dense bone
   • Shape one end to a blunt point
   • Use to apply precise pressure when reshaping stone tools
   • Allows for maintenance of stone tools in the field

10. Medical and First Aid Tools

Wound Treatment Tools

1. Bark container for medicinal preparations:
   • Create small containers from birch or similar bark
   • Use for mixing and storing medicinal compounds
   • Different containers for different remedies
   • Label with distinctive marks
2. Splint materials:
   • Collect straight sticks of various lengths
   • Prepare padding material from moss or soft plant fibers
   • Have cordage ready for securing
   • Essential for immobilizing broken bones

Medicinal Preparation Tools

1. Grinding stone for medicines:
   • Select a small, smooth stone basin
   • Use a smaller stone for grinding
   • Keep separate from food preparation tools
   • Use for crushing medicinal plants to release active compounds
2. Infusion basket:
   • Weave a small, fine basket
   • Use to contain herbs for infusion in hot water
   • Allows medicinal compounds to infuse without mixing plant material into liquid
   • Can be reused for multiple preparations