I found a recent listing for an army carpenter's kit. Please note, although I recently found the listing, I also found a recent listing. With that said, I tracked down a kit that was newly issued as of 2011. With all the new electric motorized gadgets that most people work with these days, it is refreshing to know that at least the army has the sense to know that the power is not always on.
With the list still fresh on my mind I went to the local big box store to see what they carried. Although my tour was not complete for all the parts on the list, I did not find much. Files and screwdrivers were abundant. But of the other tools that were common only twenty or thirty years I could only readily find were an all-purpose-saw (no cross cut or rips saws), key hole saws, and a small sized plane.
The salesman for the tool department thought I was odd for being interested in had tools and continual recommended that the only manual tool I should be interested in is a trigger.
Fortunately, I ran into Roger and his son-in-law Ron. Both of them are highly skilled hobbyists with an interest in good skills and good tools. Their suggestion was to find good old tools from antiques shops, on line, or preferably, from garage sales. While there is some risk in buying old tools, the quality of the tools makes them well worth the time restoring them.
They also recommended one web sight for good quality new tools: http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/index.aspx. The prices are high compared to the big box, but if you are serious about carpentry and woodwork, the price is worth it for tools you won't have to replace.
Ron also has a woodworking blog that is well worth looking at: http://ronswoodshop.blogspot.com/. He goes into all aspects of woodworking as well as the tools used. I enjoyed his blog more than any others I have found recently.
Have a good a time finding more sustainable skills. And don't forget, there are more people out there that think like you. You just have to find them.
P.S. The list for the tool kit is below.
| Item Description | National Stock Number |
| Pinch Bar 26 in | 5120-00-224-1372 |
| Wrecking Bar 30 in | 5120-00-293-0665 |
| Wrecking Bar 12 in | 5120-00-223-7218 |
| Sliding T Bevel 8 in | 5210-00-278-0645 |
| Auger Bit Set | 5133-00-293-2396 |
| Bit Expansive7/8 in-- 3 in | 5133-00-223-4987 |
| Phillips Screwdriver Bit | 5120-00-250-5576 |
| 5120-00-595-8197 | |
| 5120-00-223-6971 | |
| Rachet Brace | 5110-00-293-1958 |
| Twist Drill Case (bits) | 5140-00-837-5313 |
| Countersink 5/8 in | 5133-00-224-9096 |
| Glass Cutter | 5110-00-222-4401 |
| Mechanic's Dividers | 5210-00-263-0376 |
| Hand Drill | 5110-00-293-3411 |
| Glazier's Driver | 5120-00-596-9552 |
| Hammer Face Insert | 5120-00-293-2997 |
| Hand File Flat 8 in | 5110-00-203-4935 |
| Hand File Slim Taper 6 in | 5110-00-234-6528 |
| Hand File Auger Bit Type 7 in | 5110-00-251-9000 |
| Hand File Taper 6 in | 5110-00-234-6522 |
| Hand Saw Filing Guide | 5110-00-860-3377 |
| Safety Goggles | 4240-00-052-3776 |
| Engineer's Cross-Peen Hammer | 5120-00-900-6103 |
| Carpenter's Hammer 16 oz | 5120-01-112-8346 |
| Carpenter's Ripping Hammer 20 oz | 5120-01-112-8345 |
| File Handle | 5110-00-595-8325 |
| Hatchet 1-3/8 lb | 5110-00-228-3161 |
| Hammer Face Holder | 5120-00-903-8553 |
| Craftsman's Knife 2-1/2 in | 5110-00-240-7070 |
| Pocket Knife | 5110-00-240-5943 |
| Aluminum Level 24 in | 5210-00-239-0892 |
| Hand Oiler 6 oz | 4930-00-985-2604 |
| Pencil | 7510-00-275-7213 |
| Jack Plane 2 in x 14 in | 5110-00-224-7911 |
| Pliers w/Cutter 8 in | 5120-00-239-8251 |
| Brass Plumb Bob | 5210-00-224-8794 |
| Glazier Point | 5340-00-538-6791 |
| Saw Set Anvil | 5120-00-244-1167 |
| Crosscut Hand Saw 26 in | 5110-00-293-3435 |
| Rip Saw | 5110-00-142-5015 |
| 3 Blade Nested Keyhole Saw | 5110-00-501-6014 |
| Phillips Screwdriver Size 2 | 5120-00-764-8067 |
| Phillips Screwdriver Size 3 | 5120-00-234-8912 |
| Phillips Screwdriver Size 1 | 5120-00-240-8716 |
| Screwdriver Flat 6 in | 5120-00-234-8910 |
| Screwdriver Flat 8 in | 5120-00-237-6985 |
| Screwdriver Flat 3 in | 5120-00-236-2127 |
| Screwdriver Flat 4 in | 5120-00-222-8852 |
| Carpenter's Square | 5210-00-273-1948 |
| Combination Square | 5210-00-241-3599 |
| Steel Staples | 5315-00-132-8302 |
| Sharpening Stone Couse-Fine Grit | 5345-00-260-0759 |
| Staple Tacker | 5120-00-388-6821 |
| Tape Measure 100 ft | 5210-00-527-9429 |
| Tape Measure 25 ft | 5210-01-139-7444 |
| Portable Tool Box 42 in x19 in x19 in | 5140-01-237-3233 |
| Waxed Nylon Twine | 4020-00-954-1118 |
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