MILITARY SURVIVAL MANUAL:VOL 6

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
Mountain Warfare Training Center
Bridgeport, California 93517-5001
WSVX.02.11
02/06/05
STUDENT HANDOUT
FIELD EXPEDIENT TOOLS, WEAPONS, AND EQUIPMENT
TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE In a cold weather mountainous environment,
construct field expedient tools, in accordance with the references. (WSVX.02.11)
ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVES
(1) Without the aid of references, list in writing the resources used to construct field expedient
tools, in accordance with the references. (WSVX.02.11a)
(2) Without the aid of references, list in writing the types of survival sticks, in accordance with
the references. (WSVX.02.11b)
OUTLINE
1. R ESOURCES (WSVX.02.11a) . The materials used to make all field expedient tools,
weapons, and equipment will fall into one of the five categories.
a. S tone. Stone will make an excellent striking, puncturing or chopping tool, but will
not hold a fine edge. Some stones, such as chert, flint, or obsidian can have very
fine edges. Quality stone during winter months is extremely difficult to locate.
WSVX 2.11 11-1
(1) C hipping & Flaking. To make a sharp-edge piece of stone, a chipping tool
and flaking tool is needed. A chipping tool is a light, blunt-edged tool used
to break off small pieces of stone. A flaking tool is a pointed tool used to
break off thin, flattened pieces of stone. You can make a chipping tool from
wood, bone, or metal and a flaking tool from bone, antler tines, or soft iron.
(2) W eapon heads. Certain stones will shatter under pressure when force is
delivered upon it. When selecting a stone, test its hardness prior to use.
b. B one. Bone has many uses. Hooks, shaft tips, scrapers, awls, sockets and handles
are just a few ideas.
(1) R aw Bone. Raw bone must be shattered with a heavy object, such as a
rock.
(2) S haping & Sharpening. From the pieces of shattered bone, select a suitable
pointed splinter. You can further shape and sharpen this splinter by rubbing
it in a rough surfaced rock or metal file (i.e., from your multi-purpose
knife).
c. W ood. Wood uses are unlimited. A knife blade can fashion the wood into any desired shape.
(1) T ypes. Wood is classified into two general categories: hard and soft. Hardwood is preferred
for all survival uses. To test the wood strength, press your fingernail into the grain of the
wood. If a print is visible, the wood is generally soft.
(2) S harpening. All wood points are sharpened to the side of the shaft. Wood is weakest at the
center and will not hold a point.
WSVX 2.11
11-2
(3) F ire hardening. All green wood should be fire hardened prior to use. Do
this by holding the point of the instrument a few inches above a bed of hot
coals while slowly rotating it. Gradually the wood will begin to hiss and
steam. Fire hardening makes the cells swell and the sap thicken, which
makes the wood more resistant to abrasion and concussion. Avoid charring
the wood. Fire harden only the tip until light brown.
(4) C oal burning. It is very difficult to carve depressions in wood. A depression
in wood can be made by a process called coal-burning. Using a pair of
tongs, place a hot coal over the area you want to hollow out, then blow on
the embers with a thin, steady stream of air to keep them glowing. If
available, use a thin reed or length of hollow bone to direct the stream of
air. After the coals have burned down, scrape out the charred wood with a
knife or sharp rock. Repeat this process with fresh sets of coals until the
depression is at the desired depth.
d. M etal. Metal is the best material to make field expedient edged weapons. When properly
designed, metal can fulfill a knife’s three uses: puncture, slice or chop, and cut. First, select a
suitable piece of metal, one that most resembles the desired end product. Depending on the size
and original shape, you can obtain a point and cutting edge by rubbing the metal on a rough
surfaced stone or metal file. If the metal is soft enough, you can hammer out one edge while
the metal is cold. Use a suitable flat, hard surface as an anvil and a harder object of stone or
metal as a hammer, to hammer out the edge.
e. O ther materials. Other materials are those items that can be found or may be on your body
which can be used in the construction of field expedient tools.
(1) L oad bearing equipment clips. The sliding retaining clip can be removed and sharpened to a
point.
(2) P lastic. Plastic, Plexiglas, and glass from an aircraft can be shaped and sharpened into a point.
Plastic can also be melted as an adhesive.
(3) P arachute cord. Parachute cord has unlimited uses for construction of field expedient tools.
WSVX 2.11 11-3
(4) P ine pitch glue. Pine pitch glue, when properly made, is like an epoxy. Locate and remove
pitch from a pine tree. The highest quality pitch to use is fresh sap. The older (dry and hard)
sap will work, but not as well. Melt the pitch on an elevated platform, such as a smooth rock.
The pitch will run down the platform. Using a 6-8 inch stick, coat the stick in the pool of pitch
until it resembles a large wooden match. To use the pitch stick as glue, light the pitch end of
the stick, allowing it to drip on the area to be glued. Once sufficiently coated with pitch,
sprinkle the activator over the pitch. An activator is finely ground eggshell or fire wood ash.
2. C LUBS. Clubs are held and not thrown. As a field expedient weapon, the club does not
protect you from enemy soldiers. It can, however, extend your area of defense beyond your
fingertips. It also serves to increase the force of a blow without injuring yourself. The only
club we are going to discuss is the simple club.
a. S imple club. A simple club is a staff or branch. It must be short enough for you to swing
easily, but long and strong enough to damage whatever you hit. Its diameter should fit
comfortably in the palm, but not be so thin as to break easily upon impact.
3. S URVIVAL STICKS. (WSVX.02.11b) There are three types of survival sticks which are
useful in a survival situation.
a. N oose stick. A noose stick is useful for strangling and controlling improperly snared animals
that are still alive.
(1) Find a pole as long as you can effectively handle.
(2) Attach a noose of wire or stiff cord at the small end.
(3) To catch an animal, slip the noose over the neck and pull it tight.
b. S ling shot. A Y-shaped stick can easily be made into a sling shot. A sling shot is an extremely
effective and accurate weapon.
WSVX 2.11
11-4
(1) Locate a hardwood, Y-shaped stick.
(2) From your survival kit, attach the sling shot rubber and pouch.
c. T hrowing stick. One of the simplest weapons for survival is the throwing stick. As
a tool, the throwing stick can be used to knock dead branches out of a tree that
would normally be too high to reach. The dead branches can then be used as
firewood.
(1) Find a stick straight as possible, 2.5-3 feet long, and 1.5-2 inches in
diameter.
(2) Remove the bark from the stick.
(3) Taper each end of the stick.
(4) Fire harden the entire stick if using green wood.
(5) There are two methods of employing the throwing stick. When in forested
area, the best method is to use an overhand throwing motion. In an open
area, you can increase the killing radius by using a sidearm throwing
motion.
4. E XPEDIENT PACKS. The horseshoe pack is simple to make, use, and relatively
comfortable to carry over one shoulder.
a. Lay available square-shaped material, such as a poncho or tarp flat on the ground.
b. Lay items on one edge of the material. Place those items frequently used (i.e.,
canteens) on the outside. Pad the hard items.
c. Roll the material (with the items) towards the opposite edge and tie both ends
securely.
d. Tie extra lines along the length of the bundle.
e. Fold the bundle in half and secure a long piece of rope to the apex of the fold.
WSVX 2.11 11-5
f. Attach pack to your body.
5. UTENSILS. Utensils are used for cooking, eating, and storing food.
a. B owl or Container. Bowls and containers can serve to carry and store food. They
can be made from bone and wood. To make them out of wood:
(1) Locate or split a piece of wood.
(2) Coal burn to the desired depth.
COAL-BURNED BOWLS
b. S pork. A spork is a useful tool to eat with. With a knife, carve a piece of wood
into the desired shape.
WSVX 2.11
11-6
c. T ongs. Thongs aid to move hot items, such as coal embers.
(1) Cut a piece of green sapling.
(2) Split the sapling in half and shave off the bark. Flatten both ends of each
section.
(3) Fire harden each half.
REFERENCE:
FM 21-76, Survival, 1992.
Chris Janowski, A manual that could save your life, 1989.
Tom Brown, Field Guide to Wilderness Survival, 1983.
WSVX 2.11 11-7
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
Mountain Warfare Training Center
Bridgeport, California 93517-5001
WSVX.02.11
02/06/05
STUDENT HANDOUT
FIELD EXPEDIENT TOOLS, WEAPONS, AND EQUIPMENT
TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE In a cold weather mountainous environment,
construct field expedient tools, in accordance with the references. (WSVX.02.11)
ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVES
(1) Without the aid of references, list in writing the resources used to construct field expedient
tools, in accordance with the references. (WSVX.02.11a)
(2) Without the aid of references, list in writing the types of survival sticks, in accordance with
the references. (WSVX.02.11b)
OUTLINE
1. R ESOURCES (WSVX.02.11a) . The materials used to make all field expedient tools,
weapons, and equipment will fall into one of the five categories.
a. S tone. Stone will make an excellent striking, puncturing or chopping tool, but will
not hold a fine edge. Some stones, such as chert, flint, or obsidian can have very
fine edges. Quality stone during winter months is extremely difficult to locate.
WSVX 2.11 11-1
(1) C hipping & Flaking. To make a sharp-edge piece of stone, a chipping tool
and flaking tool is needed. A chipping tool is a light, blunt-edged tool used
to break off small pieces of stone. A flaking tool is a pointed tool used to
break off thin, flattened pieces of stone. You can make a chipping tool from
wood, bone, or metal and a flaking tool from bone, antler tines, or soft iron.
(2) W eapon heads. Certain stones will shatter under pressure when force is
delivered upon it. When selecting a stone, test its hardness prior to use.
b. B one. Bone has many uses. Hooks, shaft tips, scrapers, awls, sockets and handles
are just a few ideas.
(1) R aw Bone. Raw bone must be shattered with a heavy object, such as a
rock.
(2) S haping & Sharpening. From the pieces of shattered bone, select a suitable
pointed splinter. You can further shape and sharpen this splinter by rubbing
it in a rough surfaced rock or metal file (i.e., from your multi-purpose
knife).
c. W ood. Wood uses are unlimited. A knife blade can fashion the wood into any desired shape.
(1) T ypes. Wood is classified into two general categories: hard and soft. Hardwood is preferred
for all survival uses. To test the wood strength, press your fingernail into the grain of the
wood. If a print is visible, the wood is generally soft.
(2) S harpening. All wood points are sharpened to the side of the shaft. Wood is weakest at the
center and will not hold a point.
WSVX 2.11
11-2
(3) F ire hardening. All green wood should be fire hardened prior to use. Do
this by holding the point of the instrument a few inches above a bed of hot
coals while slowly rotating it. Gradually the wood will begin to hiss and
steam. Fire hardening makes the cells swell and the sap thicken, which
makes the wood more resistant to abrasion and concussion. Avoid charring
the wood. Fire harden only the tip until light brown.
(4) C oal burning. It is very difficult to carve depressions in wood. A depression
in wood can be made by a process called coal-burning. Using a pair of
tongs, place a hot coal over the area you want to hollow out, then blow on
the embers with a thin, steady stream of air to keep them glowing. If
available, use a thin reed or length of hollow bone to direct the stream of
air. After the coals have burned down, scrape out the charred wood with a
knife or sharp rock. Repeat this process with fresh sets of coals until the
depression is at the desired depth.
d. M etal. Metal is the best material to make field expedient edged weapons. When properly
designed, metal can fulfill a knife’s three uses: puncture, slice or chop, and cut. First, select a
suitable piece of metal, one that most resembles the desired end product. Depending on the size
and original shape, you can obtain a point and cutting edge by rubbing the metal on a rough
surfaced stone or metal file. If the metal is soft enough, you can hammer out one edge while
the metal is cold. Use a suitable flat, hard surface as an anvil and a harder object of stone or
metal as a hammer, to hammer out the edge.
e. O ther materials. Other materials are those items that can be found or may be on your body
which can be used in the construction of field expedient tools.
(1) L oad bearing equipment clips. The sliding retaining clip can be removed and sharpened to a
point.
(2) P lastic. Plastic, Plexiglas, and glass from an aircraft can be shaped and sharpened into a point.
Plastic can also be melted as an adhesive.
(3) P arachute cord. Parachute cord has unlimited uses for construction of field expedient tools.
WSVX 2.11 11-3
(4) P ine pitch glue. Pine pitch glue, when properly made, is like an epoxy. Locate and remove
pitch from a pine tree. The highest quality pitch to use is fresh sap. The older (dry and hard)
sap will work, but not as well. Melt the pitch on an elevated platform, such as a smooth rock.
The pitch will run down the platform. Using a 6-8 inch stick, coat the stick in the pool of pitch
until it resembles a large wooden match. To use the pitch stick as glue, light the pitch end of
the stick, allowing it to drip on the area to be glued. Once sufficiently coated with pitch,
sprinkle the activator over the pitch. An activator is finely ground eggshell or fire wood ash.
2. C LUBS. Clubs are held and not thrown. As a field expedient weapon, the club does not
protect you from enemy soldiers. It can, however, extend your area of defense beyond your
fingertips. It also serves to increase the force of a blow without injuring yourself. The only
club we are going to discuss is the simple club.
a. S imple club. A simple club is a staff or branch. It must be short enough for you to swing
easily, but long and strong enough to damage whatever you hit. Its diameter should fit
comfortably in the palm, but not be so thin as to break easily upon impact.
3. S URVIVAL STICKS. (WSVX.02.11b) There are three types of survival sticks which are
useful in a survival situation.
a. N oose stick. A noose stick is useful for strangling and controlling improperly snared animals
that are still alive.
(1) Find a pole as long as you can effectively handle.
(2) Attach a noose of wire or stiff cord at the small end.
(3) To catch an animal, slip the noose over the neck and pull it tight.
b. S ling shot. A Y-shaped stick can easily be made into a sling shot. A sling shot is an extremely
effective and accurate weapon.
WSVX 2.11
11-4
(1) Locate a hardwood, Y-shaped stick.
(2) From your survival kit, attach the sling shot rubber and pouch.
c. T hrowing stick. One of the simplest weapons for survival is the throwing stick. As
a tool, the throwing stick can be used to knock dead branches out of a tree that
would normally be too high to reach. The dead branches can then be used as
firewood.
(1) Find a stick straight as possible, 2.5-3 feet long, and 1.5-2 inches in
diameter.
(2) Remove the bark from the stick.
(3) Taper each end of the stick.
(4) Fire harden the entire stick if using green wood.
(5) There are two methods of employing the throwing stick. When in forested
area, the best method is to use an overhand throwing motion. In an open
area, you can increase the killing radius by using a sidearm throwing
motion.
4. E XPEDIENT PACKS. The horseshoe pack is simple to make, use, and relatively
comfortable to carry over one shoulder.
a. Lay available square-shaped material, such as a poncho or tarp flat on the ground.
b. Lay items on one edge of the material. Place those items frequently used (i.e.,
canteens) on the outside. Pad the hard items.
c. Roll the material (with the items) towards the opposite edge and tie both ends
securely.
d. Tie extra lines along the length of the bundle.
e. Fold the bundle in half and secure a long piece of rope to the apex of the fold.
WSVX 2.11 11-5
f. Attach pack to your body.
5. UTENSILS. Utensils are used for cooking, eating, and storing food.
a. B owl or Container. Bowls and containers can serve to carry and store food. They
can be made from bone and wood. To make them out of wood:
(1) Locate or split a piece of wood.
(2) Coal burn to the desired depth.
COAL-BURNED BOWLS
b. S pork. A spork is a useful tool to eat with. With a knife, carve a piece of wood
into the desired shape.
WSVX 2.11
11-6
c. T ongs. Thongs aid to move hot items, such as coal embers.
(1) Cut a piece of green sapling.
(2) Split the sapling in half and shave off the bark. Flatten both ends of each
section.
(3) Fire harden each half.
REFERENCE:
FM 21-76, Survival, 1992.
Chris Janowski, A manual that could save your life, 1989.
Tom Brown, Field Guide to Wilderness Survival, 1983.
WSVX 2.11 11-7