Survival Lore

Hi, I’m Bill Cox, a Pennsylvania-born bushcrafter and wilderness survivalist inspired by pioneers like Kephart, Kochanski, and Angier.

I blend traditional skills with modern survival tech and share my knowledge, stories, and adventures here.

08/03/2026

Originally published by the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1965, this manual was written for downed aircrew and built around one purpose: helping someone stay alive long enough to make it home.

That practical purpose shows throughout the book. It covers survival psychology, shelter, fire, water, signaling, navigation, food procurement, and adapting to different environments but what makes it stand out is how specific the instruction can be.

A good example is found on pages 146 and 147, where it teaches proper axe work. Rather than simply telling the reader to be careful, it illustrates chopping positions, stance, body placement, and how to work efficiently without putting yourself in the path of the blade. That kind of instruction is why this book still matters more than 60 years later.

Some of the medical information has naturally been overtaken by modern standards, but the core lessons in mindset, fieldcraft, shelter, fire, signaling, and tool use remain remarkably relevant. It doesn’t depend on gimmicks or expensive equipment. It teaches judgment, technique, and self reliance.

Before YouTube, social media, and the modern survival industry, there were manuals like this, written from experience and intended to be used when the consequences were real. Have you read it? What older survival manual do you think still deserves attention today?

Bushcraft OutdoorSkills SurvivalSkills Fieldcraft VintageBooks

08/01/2026

Sometimes you don’t realize you’ve started a collection until you line everything up.

Yesterday my new Frost River waxed denim accessory pouch showed up, and it hit me that I’ve somehow accumulated a few of their limited edition accessory pouches over the years. Every one of them has its own personality, and they’re just plain cool.

I’ve been a fan of Frost River for a long time. Their gear has earned a permanent place in my woods kit, and I’m already looking forward to adding one of their Archaeologist’s Satchels in the Heritage & Horizons fabric to the lineup.

Also, apologies for being a little quiet the last couple of weeks. We’ve had an illness make its way through the family, and I’ve been working every day on top of that. Things are finally settling down, though, and we’re kicking August off the right way.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. What piece of Frost River gear is your favorite?

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07/27/2026

Sometimes it’s enough to appreciate things that are built well and meant to last.

An old favorite in the Ontario RTAK II that’s earned every scratch it wears, and a fresh bottle of Maker’s Mark Cask Strength waiting to be enjoyed after the work is done.

Here’s to a good week ahead. Stay safe, spend some time outside, and enjoy the simple things.

07/25/2026

I’ll admit it, I was skeptical.

I’ve never spent much time with a kukri. While I’ve always respected its history, I’ve tended to gravitate toward more traditional bushcraft and survival knives.

This week, Everest Forge in Nepal sent me their Budhune Angkhola Kukri in 5160 spring steel to put through its paces. It arrived yesterday, and after spending some time working with it, I came away impressed.

What makes the kukri so interesting isn’t that it’s just a big knife. The forward weighted design lets it chop well above its size while still being surprisingly capable for camp tasks. For wilderness travel, where one tool may need to clear brush, process firewood, split kindling, prepare food, and even carve when needed, it’s easy to understand why the kukri has earned such a legendary reputation.

One afternoon isn’t enough to form a final opinion, but it was enough to make me realize I probably underestimated this pattern. Now it’s time to give it a proper field test.

Have you ever carried a kukri in the woods? If so, what has your experience been? I’d love to hear your thoughts below.

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07/23/2026

Every once in a while I stop and look over my kit and realize just how integrated certain pieces of gear have become.

Looking at this photo, it struck me how much of my woods outfit is made up of gear from Tuff Possum Gear. The survival scarf, possibles pouches, belt pouch, sit pads and first aid pouch have become so woven into the way I carry my equipment that I hardly think about them anymore.

That’s probably the highest compliment I can give a piece of gear. It isn’t exciting because it’s new, it has earned its place by simply working, trip after trip.

What’s pictured here isn’t even everything I use from Tuff Possum. It’s just a small cross section of a kit that’s evolved over time.

There are very few pieces of gear I can honestly say will probably never leave my setup. These are among them.

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BushcraftUSA WoodsLife OutdoorSkills CampLife KnifeLife FixedBlade Preparedness SelfReliance Backwoods GetOutside WildernessCulture OutdoorEducation PossiblesPouch EDCGear TuffPossumGear

07/21/2026

I’ve been spending some time with the .blades Bushcrafter in AEB-L, and it’s been earning its place.

So far it’s carved a try stick, shaped a netting needle, cleaned up a handful of mullein spindle sets, and filled the kindling bucket for the evening fire. Despite being a fairly stout knife, it’s proven to be an excellent carver with plenty of control.

The more time I spend with AEB-L, the more I appreciate it. It’s quickly becoming one of my favorite steels, right alongside 5160, 154CM, 52100, and A2. Tough, easy to maintain, and capable of taking a very fine edge it’s hard to ask for much more in a working bushcraft knife.

Looking forward to putting a lot more miles on this one.

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07/20/2026

New video is live on YouTube.

This week I’m taking a look at Mors Kochanski’s 2 Kilo Survival Kit and building my own version while staying within the original 2 kg (75 oz) weight limit.

The goal wasn’t to copy his kit item for item, but to build a practical wilderness survival kit that covers the fundamentals of woodsmanship in shelter, fire, water, signaling, navigation, first aid, food procurement, and repairs.

If you had the same weight limit, what would you change? What would you add or remove?

The full video is up now on YouTube. Link is in my bio.

07/18/2026

Found my Kershaw Blur under the seat after it had been missing for a few months. Safe to say it was a good day.

While I was at it, I upgraded my EDC with a Big Finn 2 from . Clean, simple, and built to last.

Funny how one old favorite comes back just as a new one joins the rotation.

What’s one piece of gear you’ve “lost” only to find months later?

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