Most of us tend to look at old tools and equipment and not fully appreciate what they could do or how to operate them – especially survival stuff.

An old-time survival kit, however, could be just as effective as a modern one you and I might take to the woods; here are some general items that would be included in one.

Bedroll – The bedroll is an assortment of bedding for a warm night’s sleep. Wool blankets are a mainstay, and they’ll keep you warm even when wet. The bedroll and the tarp are typically the heaviest part of your kit, and the most important.

Cook kit – A metal pot with a bail handle will suffice for boiling water and preparing meals. A metal cup or mug makes a nice companion to it, as does a spoon.

Fire kit – You’ll need this for the obvious task of fire-starting. Choose from flint and steel, matches or some other historic method, plus a supply of dry tinder.

Food – For enjoyable nourishment, bring some old-school staple foods. Things like flour, cornmeal, salt pork, jerky, salt, sugar and lard can make great meals, providing you have some camp-cooking skills.

This list includes mainly fun stuff but there is much more that goes into an old-time survival kit.

The amazing thing is that those old kits were just as, if not more effective than what we have today!

To learn more about old-time survival kits, check out Outdoor Life!

Featured Image via Flickr