Boker Plus Valkyrie Knife Review

Time for the Boker Plus Valkyrie Knife Review.

 

Here's some basic info for you. Its 440C stainless steel with an 18.3 cm blade, its 32.2 cm overall and has a 0.6mm thickness. Its got a mircata handle and a leather sheath with two points to secure the blade. It costs something in the area of £120.

 

So this is a sort of high-mid end blade and its obvious when you pick it up. It definitely has a weight and solidity that tells you it was meant to do some real work. The leather sheath is very light, but its tough and hard-wearing. It has two button clasps to secure the blade, which is nice, but I would have preferred to just have the one around the cross guard for easier access.

 

The mircata handle offers less grip than I had hoped but the finger grooves give you the stability in hand to remove any concern. Speaking of the finger grooves, they are clearly not designed with my small hands in mind so I don't find it an adequate fit for myself, but everything has been curved nicely so it's not as uncomfortable as it could be. The handle is secured with three mosaic pins which really stand out beautifully from the dark  scales and there is also a lanyard hole, and of course its a full tang construction.

 

The cross guard is very thick and seems too large, but when I choke up on the blade it's just a perfect and comfortable fit. It is rather handle heavy though, so its hard to feel the blade. It feels about two inches shorter than it actually is, but you can forgive this because it's got so much to offer, and you wont ever be using it in a knife fight, hopefully.

 

The blade has a satin finish and some nice but simple lines. It has a very light hollow grind that allows it to have a fantastic cutting edge, but a solid thick body for some heavy-duty chopping. It also has a very nice point for good penetration and some beautiful lines all around.

 

So I have yet to find a 'perfect' knife with regards to construction, fit and finish but, damn, this is one of the closest I've come across. The handle scales aren't exactly symmetrical, and by that I mean one is say 1mm thicker (if that). The blade is so close to perfect that it's not worth mentioning any minor niggles. Again I go the weigh on this knife. Its not balanced particularly well and its heavy enough that I wouldn't take it out to the camp or hunting as there are more suitable blades for that.

 

The only thing that I dislike really, that has nothing to do with my hobbit hands, is the blades shape and size (the pictures don't really show it). Combined with that handle and guard they just look like they have been cobbled together from two separate knives. I would prefer a smaller handle, or larger blade, and that would make a nicer balance. It would probably help with the blade 'feel' as I mentioned earlier as well.

 

If it broke, would I buy another one?

 

If you've got the money to spend, and your hands are bigger than mine. Maybe, the quality is there. For me I can't quite get my hand into a good position with it so I would pass on this particular one but, I will definitely be getting my hands on another Boker. I will look at something lighter and more manageable for my needs but I will always use this knife as a solid base line on their other products.

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How to Scavenge and Secure Resources in the Post-Apocalyptic World

How to Scavenge and Secure Resources in the Post-Apocalyptic World

 

So here we are talking about maybe a few years after SHTF and the majority of the planets population has gone. If you have watched The Walking Dead, or really any zombie movie, you will have an idea of what the environment you will be surviving in will look like (just without zombies....hopefully).

Well the world has collapsed, most of the resources have been depleted, people have looted everything like food and fuel. All is not gone however, there is a wealth of supplies left if you know where to look.

From a psychological perspective its relatively simple to understand how people are going to react once everything starts to collapse. People will flock together and follow a leader of some sort. This doesn't mean that massive groups of people will be running around together though. The flock could just be a family and some friends. These groups will then follow a pattern for survival. They will gather and hold resources. They will go and fight for supplies from local supermarkets or other common locations that they visited previously. They will use past knowledge to survive, but this wont work anymore. So what you need to do is think outside of your comfort zone and react in way that you might consider counter-intuitive to your survival.

 

Don't go scavenging in obvious  locations you should remember that large resources get hit the most. So check smaller less food orientated buildings. Check industrial estates and offices. Go to schools and retail stores. There wont be huge amounts at these places but when SHTF workers will abandon their job locations immediately to find their loved ones leaving a valuable amount of food and liquids in canteens and staff rooms. Caught up in the fight for survival, they will forget all that they left behind and will be unlikely to return for a few packets of crisps. This though is where you will differ. One industrial estate could house enough food for weeks worth of nutrition. At schools check teachers desks not just the canteens and break rooms, a bar of chocolate can last a long time thanks to the sugar content.

 

Fuel will also be hard to come by but there should be enough around in small quantities that would be very beneficial. Check sheds and garages for stocks used in gardening equipment. Again schools and government establishments hire gardeners to maintain the grounds so there could be useful tools and fuel left. You never know, you might find a motorbike that's fueled and ready to go.

Now that you've scavenged it is vital that you know how to store and secure your resources. DO NOT keep them all in one location. Other survivors will be wandering the streets like you and they might follow you back to your supplies. Split them up over several locations, approximately one or two miles apart, in opposite directions from your safe house so that whichever way you have to bug out you are heading towards one of your reserves. Canned goods and other foods that can last a long time and would be better secured under ground. Bury a month or two of food at a random location like in a forest or even in a back garden that has a lot of cover. Also if you have a vehicle never take it directly to your stockpile as the noise could alert people to your presence.

Here are some tools and equipment you should always store with each cache of supplies. The following list is not comprehensive but all of these things are vital for survival outside of food and water.
-An axe for gathering wood and fuel for starting a fire. Remember lighters and/or matches.
-Some pots and pans to cook with. Extra water for boiling is always handy.
-Blankets and a tent .You might overlook sleeping and accommodation but it is vital for survival.
-A large rucksack for transporting your supplies or to go hunting for more.
-Candles and a torch with backup batteries.
-Medical and cleaning supplies. You should always have water sterilisation tablets with these.
-Toiletries.
-Spare clothes for multiple environments(you never know when you will have to bug out so waterproof cloths, winter clothes and a good pair of boots(try to wear the boots in before you store them to prevent discomfort and blisters when bugging out).
-If the world has really gone this far then I definitely recommend something for defensive capabilities. Plenty of second-hand stores have things like crossbows so check some of those out when scavenging.

Finally just always remember to think outside the box. Something like a burger van that's already been scavenged. Just think that the van itself houses cooking and storage equipment. Usually they only use some propane tanks and they might be more available than you think. So it might be worth taking the van and locking it up somewhere as a bug out vehicle. Its big enough for sleeping in, you can store your food in it, and if its cold you can always turn on the grills.

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5 vehicles to scavenge or secure in the event of a disaster

5 vehicles to scavenge or secure in the event of a disaster.

 

In a disaster or post-apocalyptic event these vehicles are usually obvious for other scavengers, so they can be hard to find un-looted, but they could still hold potential resources if you know what you are doing.

 

Ambulance - Scavenge
Now everybody knows that medical supplies will be useful in the event of a disaster. Any medication and drugs will be gone however, things like bandages and antiseptic, sutures and maybe even some emergency blankets are likely to be left behind. They are definitely worth checking out, if all you get is sterilised water that could be very useful in the days to come. One thing that might be of value is the stretcher which could be used as a small bed if you have the ability to transport it. It can be tempting to secure one for escape and survival but I wouldn't recommend this. If you look like a medic then people are more likely to spot and stop you for your assistance or even to steal your supplies.

 

Campervan(Motorhome)/Caravan - Scavenge/Secure
Obviously one of these would be capable of keeping you and a few others dry and warm whilst in reasonable comfort. They have plenty of space for storage and usually cooking equipment providing you can secure the necessary fuel for their use. Try to get a camper van rather than a caravan.  A caravan tends to require more space to maneuver around obstacles in the road but in a pinch it's still a viable option. Most people leave things in camping vehicles for their holidays. You will often find cooking equipment and blankets, maybe even an inflatable dingy which could be useful later on. They usually still have last summers propane tanks left in the storage compartment and maybe a BBQ.

 

Pick-up Truck. - Secure
Try to get one with a cab on the back so you have some protection from the elements. The flat-bed part is generally big enough for you to make a space to sleep in, you can keep yourself dry and store some food and equipment. They usually have 4 wheel drive, so are very good for getting off the track. Use it to get out to the safety of a forest where you can gather supplies like wood for fire, or even use it as a transport vehicle to and from a camp.

 

Burger Van - Scavenge/Secure
These vehicles will likely have been scavenged for food but they offer so much more than just nutrition. They contain cooking equipment and probably some cleaning equipment. Generally speaking there will be a medial kit somewhere for injuries at work and they usually contain propane tanks for running the grills. This then is a possible bug out vehicle as it contains most of what you would require baring the obvious food, water and clothing. They are generally large enough for a single person to sleep in ad when its cold the burners can be used to increase the temperature. They often have refrigeration equipment so can be good for food storage, and have plenty of space for storage of other goods.

 

Quad Bike - Secure
These small, and highly maneuverable vehicles, can be more useful than any other vehicle out there if you prepare for it correctly. A large quad is capable of carrying you and quite a decent supply of food and equipment reasonable distances into the countryside. They can also carry small numbers of people at a time. They use little fuel due to their weight and because they are small can be easily concealed. This vehicle obviously wont provide you with any protection from the elements so dress accordingly and make sure you have a plan for shelter.

 

No matter what type of vehicle you secure, make sure you plan and adapt to fit your circumstances, and always ensure you have another option.

 

Remember not to panic, it's only an Apocalypse. It's not like it's the end of the.... Never mind.