17th Century Highlander’s Survival Kit

So you’re a wandering highlander in the 1600s. What would you carry around with you for survival? Well, this fellow thinks he has a pretty good idea.

This lad’s notion of a survival kit for a 17th-century highlander includes a small knife, a larger dirk or biodag, flint & steel along with horseshoe fungus tinder and char tin with charred cloth and/or punkwood for starting a fire, the plaid that was worn around the waist (as well as a wool blanket) for cover, wooden bowl or cup, cordage made from locally-available natural materials, and a leather sporan (or purse) for carrying odds and ends (oatmeal, bread, cheese, dried meat, spare tinder, salt, iron blanket pin, leather thong, spoon, and a whisky flask).

What do you think? Did he miss anything or add something you don’t agree with?

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.