Lots of kits have a razor blade. The D.E.W.C. Survival Kit contains a surgical scalpel. For one, it takes less space than a standard razor. More importantly, a handle for a scalpel can be easily fashioned to aid in wielding the blade.....a feature difficult to duplicate with a standard razor blade (as any pressure exerted near the tip of the blade will cause the blade to rotate and cut the cordage holding it).
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Take out your scalpel blade, peel off the 100mph tape (protecting the blade from you and you from the blade) and cut off a piece of 500 cord about 10-12" long.
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Find a stick about the right size diameter and length you want and break it off as clean as possible.
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The broken stick will likely split or splinter especially if it's dry. Depending on the location and depth of the split resulting from your initial break, you may not have to create your own. (photo left)
If the stick is not already split to your liking, find a small stone and secure one end of the stick in your hand and one end in the ground. Hold the scalpel with the fingers of the hand holding the stick. The scalpel has a slot in the blade (designed for a scalpel handle) that will limit any slipping while you're holding it. Be sure the blade is facing the ground away from your hand. (photo right)
Gently, and I mean G E N T L Y tap the non sharpened end of the scalpel into the end of your stick making a split in the location of your choice. It's fairly easy to do so you don't need to use a lot of force.
Once you can no longer tap on the back of the scalpel, carefully rock the scalpel back and forth while applying gentle pressure until the split is equal to the length of the entire scalpel. When moving about, this will give you a safe place to store the blade. Simply untie the cord, flip the blade around so the edge is concealed inside the handle and re-tie the cordage.
Carefully set the blade to your preferred depth and angle. (left)
Place the stick on the stone you used to tap in the blade, close enough to the blade for control of the stick without interfering with securing the blade. Step on the end of the stick opposite the blade and your "quickie vise" is ready. You will have a couple inches of space between the ground and the blade end of the stick giving you some working room. (below left)
Make a half hitch (loop) in one of the inner strands of the 550 cord, leaving a 2-3" lead on one side of the hitch and 9-10 inches on the other side of the loop.
Make a simple slip knot and tighten it around the end of the stick near the bottom of the middle of the split you made for your scalpel. Wrapping tightly, begin wrapping toward the blade. When about half of the available cord is gone, begin wrapping tightly in the direction of the slip knot. Once you've got a couple inches left, tie both leads together securely. Throw the extra 550 parts in your pocket or D.E.W.C. and you're on your way.
You now have a fully functional survival knife. Though not necessarily suitable for combat, it's fairly stout and can certainly process food items, cut cordage or make field expedient alterations should the need arise.
For those who prefer to stow a ready made handle in their gear, we have plastic scalpel handles made for the size 23 blades we carry. You can find them on the Products Page. They're light, handy and have an attached blade guard for safety. It doesn't get easier than that!
