PARACORD & KNOTS

While attending US Army Ranger School back in 1972 and again in 1979. (Yep that's right, I didn't make it through the first time.) We had to learn how to make and use over a dozen different types of knots during the "mountain phase" of Ranger School, which was up at Camp Merril located in Dahlonega, Georgia. We not only had to master all these different types of knots but how to repel, belay, put in anchor points, rope management and learn the fundamentals of climbing and rappelling up & down mountains and cliffs. And believe me it wasn't easy, the mountain phase kicked my ass. And so out of all the knots that I learned in Ranger School there have only been about five knots that I have repeatedly used throughout my entire military career and even today too. So unless you're a sailor, yachtsman or a mountain climber, to me these five knots below are the most important ones you will use in a survival situation. Or they should be the first 5 knots you should learn before any other knots.

And for those of you who want to advance your knot tying skills a lot further, here are some more knots, so feel free to print off this page below.

SURVIVAL PARACORD
SLINGS, BELTS & PRODUCTS

I don’t know how many times I have read some stories of hunters getting lost or stranded in the woods and they either barely survived their ordeal or they died of exposure. All because they failed to pack & carry a lightweight, low-cost, pocket survival kit. Most hunters I've known don't think twice about spending a whole bunch of money on a good pair of hunting boots, clothes, knives nor spending thousands of dollars on a good hunting rifle. But for them to pay $25, $30 or $50 for a pocket survival kit that could someday save their @ss... Uh-uh, no way, besides, life & death survival situations only happen to other hunters and will never happen to them.

Well I not only call that wishful thinking but stupid. Anyone who's ever been lost or stranded without a survival kit will tell you the reason why they didn't buy or pack one is because... "Duh, I didn't think I needed one."

Oh com'on, give me a break will ya? No one buys a survival kit just because they plan on getting lost or stranded, you buy one just in case you are stranded or lost. If you're an avid outdoorsman or woman, how much of an inconvenience or hassel could it be to pack & carry a lightweight pocket survival kit, especially one like mine. Hell, they weigh almost nothing and could save your life should you find yourself someday in an unexpected life or death survival situation.

So if you're one of those who's too cheap, too lazy or you can’t remember to pack & carry the one you already purchased, then maybe you should think about attaching it to your rifle sling instead. Once it’s attached to your rifle, it’s always there should you ever need to use it. And because all hunters are known to carry big ol'knives, you only need a few items like a fire starter, signal mirror, small compass, small LED flashlite, some good ol' 550 parachute cord and you got yourself a fairly decent survival kit.

Here, check out some of my brand new paracord survival products below, I now make'em and sell'em here on my website.

What you see in the above photo is my braided & weaved (A) 3-In-1 Paracord Cross, (B) Paracord Pace Counter, (C) Paracord Keychain or Zipper Helper, (D) Multi-Purpose 12 Inch Paracord Strap, (E) Paracord Lanyard and my (F) Paracord Belt or Sling. Cool huh? Now allow me to show you a few more pictures. Check it out, doesn't my braided & weaved paracord sling & belt look like some snake skin? Looks cool, don't it?

Yep that's right, all these paracord items you see here is what I make and sell here on my website. And unlike some other paracord survival slings & belts that I have seen for sale on other websites, mine are not made of some fancy knots that will take you hours to untie & unravel. They are made differently so you can QUICKLY & EASILY UNRAVEL and REMOVE as much as you need in just minutes. But should you need ALL THE PARACORD AT ONCE for an emergency like to save someone from drowning or falling off a cliff. All you have to do is take out your knife and cut off one of the ends and you'll be able to slide off all the paracord at once in just seconds.

How to attach to a rifle.	How to unweave a few feet.	Need all of it at once...	... cut, pull and slide it all off.

Is this unique or what? Again you can't do this with other types of paracord slings & belts. Though the width of my paracord survival slings & belts are standard 1 inch (3 cms) wide, I can make them as long as you want'em, it's up to you. But the average length of my "pre-made" rifle survival slings are 25 inches of braided & weaved paracord + several feet of unbraided parcord so you can attach it to your rifle swivel and sling it across your shoulder comfortably. But if you're a big fella or gal and or you wear a thick heavy winter jacket when you go hunting, then it's best you tell me the length you want and I'll make it to your specifications. The same with my paracord survival belts, but the price varies depending on the length, currently I only charge $1.00 per inch of braided & weaved parachute cord that contains about 12 inches of paracord [per inch]. To order, just click on "My Store & Stuff" or my "Order Form" page.

NOTICE: My paracord survival slings & belts do not come with any buckles or adjustable links, those you will have to buy and attach yourself which they are not very hard to find. And here's a few more things that you can use my paracord belts & slings for...

And should you find yourself in a combat or outdoor survival situation, this next paracord item could possibly not only save your @ss but your soul too. I call it a 3-In-1 PARA-CROSS. It contains approximately 12 feet of braided 550 parachute cord with 7 x nylon inner strings (7 x 12 = 84 ft.) that can be used as fishing line, for making snare traps, a fire bow and other useful fieldcraft things. And the fifteen (15) attached beads that come with it can be used as both, a pace and prayer (rosary bead) counter. And here's how to use it.

Pace Counter: Each of the 10 x beads on one cord represents 120 paces (Note: a pace is a step, average distance between two steps is approx 30 inches) which equals (approx) 100 meters or yards. And each of the 5 x beads on the other cord represents 1200 paces which equals (approx) 1000 meters or yards. And so every time you walk 120 paces (100 meters/yards) is when you will slide one of the 10 beads down to the bottom of the cord. And when you have moved all 10 beads down it means you have traveled approximately 1200 paces or 1000 meters/yards. And then for every 1200 paces or 1000 meters/yards you travel is when you move or slid one of the 5 x beads down to the bottom of the other cord. Basically what you are doing is keeping track of the distance you are traveling but only up to 6,000 meters, 6 kilometers, 6,000 yards = 3 1/2miles. If you need to travel a lot further than this then for every 6 kilometers or 3 1/2 miles you travel you just pick up a small stone and place it in your pocket. When you want to figure out how far you have traveled, first count your stones in your pocket then your beads.

Rosary Beads: Each of the 10 x beads on one cord represents one “Hail Mary” prayer. And each of the 5 x beads on the other cord represents one “Our Father” prayer. And so for every Hail Mary prayer you say you just move one of the 10 beads down to the bottom of the cord. When you have said 10 Hail Mary prayers is when you must say one Our Father prayer and move one of the 5 x beads down to the bottom of this other cord. And then repeat your prayers until you have said five sets (50) of Hail Mary’s and five (5) Our Father prayers.

	Do you have a friend, relative or family member in the Army or Marines and you don’t know what to get them? Well here ya go, this will make a great gift as they already know how to use a pace counter in the military and this will remind them to say their prayers eveyday. And because my paracross comes only in one color, tactical olive drab (OD) they should be able to wear it around their neck, attached to their combat gear or hang it in their military vehicle without violating any regulations. And should they someday find themselves in a life or death combat situation they can use it to pray for help, guidance and or use the paracord for whatever they need it for. The standard size of my paracross is 4 x 6 inches not including the bead cord or top loop. I will also make'em any size you want, small or larger. But the smallest I can make'em is 2 x 3 inches, same price but for larger paracrosses it will cost you more. Note: For those of you who are Atheists, Jewish, Muslim or some other faith or religion and you don’t like my "Christian" style Paracrosses, I also make straight braided paracord keychains & pace counters too.

PARACORD SURVIVAL BRACELETS???

ATTENTION EBAY SHOPPERS! Don't be fooled by sellers trying to sell you what they call a "Paracord Survival Bracelet." Here's what they look like.

What a bunch of BS! No way should they be called "Paracord Survival Bracelets.

Why?

Well for starters there’s not enough parachute cord and inner nylon string inside of them to use in a survival situation to make a shelter, snare traps, a firebow or anything else. That’s why. And when I mentioned this once to some eBay paracord survival bracelet seller he told me "So, if one of my paracord survival bracelets doesn’t contain enough paracord for you, buy and wear two of them.”

"Gee! What a great idea! Now why didn't I think of that? Hey, how about this.. why not wear one on each of yours wrists, ankles, ears, through your nose, around your penis and a backup one shoved up your @ss too.”

Good idea? As Kevin the little kid in the movie HOME ALONE once said...."I don't think so!"

Anyone who thinks you can get away with using just one of these to make some snare traps. You either don't know a damn thing about snares or you have never purchased one of these [so call] paracord survival bracelets to see how much paracord comes with it.

Besides not containing enough paracord, everytime you wear it around your wrist your skin is going to perspire and produce a “salty sweat” which will attract dirt like a "magnet." And once you get a combination of “dirt, salt and sweat” on some parachute cord it won’t be long before it starts to smell and cause a "skin rash." That is… if you don’t wash your wrist and your paracord “survival” bracelet from time-to-time.

And everytime you do wash it the “nylon fibers” are going to become more and more fragile and weak. That’s why in the military there are strict rules, regulations and guidelines in how to wash certain US military / government property, like “nylon” parachutes, harnesses and straps. You just don’t take them to some laundromat, throw them in a washing machine and then dump a bunch of soap detergent inside of it. It has to be cleaned a special way so the nylon fibers DON’T become weak, fragile and damaged because some Paratrooper, Ranger or Sfer’s life could be in jeapordy and at risk.

Make sense, don’t you think? Sure does!

Oh, and guess what else? Should you need to use any of that paracord you’ve been wearing around your wrist to make some snare traps, the chances are you are not going to catch a damn thing with it. Why? Because it will be drenched and soaked with so much human scent it will scare animals away, that's why. Animals are smart, if there’s one scent that means DANGER to all animals it’s human scent. Hell, if you don't believe me just ask any experienced trapper and he’ll tell you the same thing. Duh?

Now listen carefully, especially you eBay paracord “survival” bracelet makers & sellers. Provided the paracord does not come in "direct contact with the skin" you can pack it, wear it and carry it wherever you like on your body. But should you someday need to use it to make some snare traps… at least try to cover up some of your human scent by smearing some dirt on your hands first before handling it. And then wipe the paracord down with some green vegetation and some dirt too, to try to cover up whatever human scent it picked up from your clothes.

Now for those of you who are interested in my "Paracord Bracelets," they are weaved the same way as my paracord survival belts & slings so you can quickly remove and or slide off as much as you need in minutes. I also make something similar to my paracord bracelet that I call a "Multi-Purpose Paracord Strap."

The cost of my paracord bracelets and multi-purpose straps? Only $1.00 per weaved inch that contains about 12 inches of paracord. To determine the total amount __ inches x $1.00 = __ + $3.00 shipping & handling. If you want it sent via insured mail, it’s $2.00 extra. Sorry, but they do not come with any snaps, links or buckles, you will have to add them yourself, and only one color -OD green.

The photo in the center is my multi-purpose paracord "strap" and the two photos on the left and right are my paracord bracelets alongside an eBay purchased paracord "survival" bracelet. And as you can see, mine are 1/3 WIDER and contain a lot more parachute cord too. And so if you're interested in my parcord products, log onto my Store & Stuff or my Order Form page.

And this here is my braided multi-purpose paracord lanyard. The cost? The same price, $1.00 per braided inch not including shipping. To order, just visit MY STORE & STUFF and or my ORDER FORM page.

Wilderness Survival Skills > Wilderness Survival Tips > Here

Back to top of page

E-MAIL THIS SITE TO A FRIEND