Sharp and Pointy Objects

I had to sew our bedspread the other day because our dogs ripped a small hole in it while they were playing. The problem is that I’m horrible at sewing! Even my wife isn’t any better, which is why I got stuck with the job. Yes, I got it done, but my handiwork won’t win any awards. But as I sat there, needle in hand, I got to thinking about how something so simple, so inexpensive, can be so invaluable when times get tough.

Honestly, I have no idea how to make a needle. In fact, I couldn’t make a useful sewing needle to save my live. But I do know one thing: I can buy dozens of them, along with copious amounts of thread, for dirt cheap! And that’s precisely what I did a long time ago. I also have plenty of safety pins for expedient repairs. These items are so ubiquitous, so inexpensive that it’s silly not to have them for just in case purposes. Of course, needles and safety pins are only a fraction of the sharp and pointy items to consider.

Knives are another obvious one. While I can sharpen a knife with my eyes closed, I haven’t a clue how to make a proper knife. Thankfully, we have plenty lying around. For starters, we have about a dozen kitchen knives mounted on a magnetic wall mount, only two of which we use regularly. We’ve got a traditional block of knives that almost everyone owns these days. We have several paring knives, many of which get used daily. And there are plenty of other knives around, including beefy knives for camping or hiking, fish fillet knives, and more. Think about how useful any of these specific knives could be if there comes a time when you can’t get more. Which knives would be the most important to you? Which knives would you grab if you had to evacuate? Hint: you should already have what you need in your bug out bag.

Scissors are another big one for me. I don’t know what’s been happening around my house, but I can never find a pair of scissors when I need them. Where they keep disappearing to, I don’t know. But I’ve decided to out-purchasing everyone else’s ability to misplace my scissors, and now I’ve got scissors-galore. Although I could use a knife for most scissor-related tasks, a pair of scissors are preferable in many cases, which is probably why they’re always disappearing around my house.

Another item I use regularly, especially in the garage, is a utility knife. I especially like the disposable kind, but even the common box cutter is wonderful to have. I’ve got plenty of these, too, and I suggest you do as well.

Have you thought about items like nail clippers, razor blades for shaving, or ways to cut hair? Again, these items are ubiquitous, but if you want to feel human when SHTF, personal grooming is a must.

Items like drill bits and saw blades could prove invaluable when SHTF, too. Do you have a good supply? They will break, dull, and get lost over time. (And that’s to say nothing of all the other potentially useful items found in most toolboxes, such as grinding wheels, sanding devices, metal files, wood rasps, and so on, but I’m getting off topic a bit.)

What about fishing hooks and all that goes along with procuring food on your own? I’m not a hunter, but I’d imagine there are some specialty knives, arrows, and hanging hooks that are crucial to the task.

I’d say you get the idea by now. While many of these items are inexpensive and it may even feel like you’ve got plenty, you never know what might happen. I encourage you to add crucial sharp and pointy objects to your preparedness supplies whenever you can because, at minimum, they’ll make useful barter items for when times get tough and best they’ll save your life.