10 Survival Projects to Make with Your Swiss Army Knife

10 Survival Projects to Make with Your Swiss Army Knife

By Bryan Lynch in the Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Camping & Outdoor Survival Guide 

Around the age of five or six, I received my first pocketknife from my dad. It was a used Swiss Army Knife, but I didn’t care that it wasn’t new. I didn’t use it for several days; I wanted to keep it as it was, perfect. Because my dad had given me one of his tools and trusted me with it, I was proud. Having my own tool, it felt like my first rite of passage. In my young mind, I thought I was finally a man! The knife became an extension of my body, and I never went anywhere without it. I used it to sharpen sticks, carved letters into pieces of bark, dissected plants, and more. I even tried my hand (unsuccessfully) at whittling. One of my favorite activities was learning how to start fires with the magnifying glass. To my mom’s dismay, many scorch marks found their way onto my shoes and pant legs. After all, I had to test the limits of the greatest tool I had ever owned! 

That first knife instilled in me a lifelong passion (though some might call it an obsession) to always have a good knife on hand. Now, as a dad myself, I have had the pleasure of watching my kids use a Swiss Army Knife as I did when I was a boy. Whether you’re looking for bushcraft needs or survival skills, the following creations from my Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Camping & Outdoor Survival Guide will show how to use the iconic red multi-tool to create useful life-saving projects. 

DIY Water Filter

Knowing how to make a water filter so that you have access to clean water could mean the difference between life and death. There are many different ways to filter and clean water, but here is a method where the supplies used would be the most likely ones available in the outdoors. I have used this method to clean “dirty-looking” water, filtering out debris such as silt, grass, insects, soil, etc. I highly recommend that the water collected from this filter still be boiled or purified by means of purification chemicals. For the full project plans, get your copy of the Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Camping & Outdoor Survival Guide. 

Aluminum Can Candle Holder

Many people will carry what are called tea candles in their packs because they are incredibly small but useful. Even though these candles are quite small, in the right conditions they can be used for cooking, lighting, and even for warming up small enclosed spaces. One problem with keeping candles lit outdoors is competing against wind and rain. An aluminum can will help protect the candle from these elements. This project might not look like it can save your life but this little survival hack can be used for cooking in the right conditions.

Meat Smoker

Wouldn’t it be nice to save some food for later? Smoking is an easy way to preserve meat so that you can do so. Dehydrating meat helps prevent the growth of any organisms, and the smoke creates an outer protective layer, almost like a varnish. There are essentially two methods for smoking: hot smoking and cold smoking. Hot smoking uses heat and smoke to cook the meat. It usually involves creating a structure around the fire in which to trap the heat and the smoke. Cold smoking is done more in the open, at low temperatures, with the smoke passing over the meat. The smoking process can take a long time, but it will allow the meat to be carried safely for a few extra days. This very simple drying rack can be constructed with minimal supplies.

Key Ring Fishing Hook

Believe it or not, you can remove the key ring to fashion a small hook for fishing. It takes a little effort, but it really works! I used the key ring from one of my Tinker models to make the hook. The first time I used this technique was about twenty years ago. I discovered it not through a survival situation but out of boredom. When it comes to fishing, I am generally a catch-and-release person, and on one particular day I was catching fish left and right. It may sound odd, but it got to the point where I was catching so many fish that it became predictable and boring. I topped fishing for a bit and whittled away at a piece of wood. The key ring on the knife was clanging away against the frame as I did so, forcing me to notice it. I wondered what interesting thing I could do with it. This key ring fishing hook survival project is the result.

Drafting Compass

A drafting compass can help in determining distances on a map, as well as serving other functions. Since I love to write and doodle, I always have three writing utensils on me: a wooden pencil, a pen, and a marker. These items should be in everyone’s packs because they can be very useful. I suppose that is why Victorinox started including a ballpoint pen in some of their models.