Hobo Hussaf!

The Hussaf goes back hundreds of years and continues to be used in various forms down to the present day. The Hobo Hussaf is a representation of what a hobo in the classical hobo era might have carried in his bindle or in his pack.
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[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching! Please leave a thumbs up and a comment in the section below. Don't forget to check out the classes we teach and the required gear list at www.waypointsurvival.com.

[@dragonslayer7587]

I've seen my grandpa's, and he had a few patches of cloth in different colors in his with a razor blade and some matches. He was Irish, came to the US as a stowaway, at age 13. He died in 1964, when I was 6 or 7, and my grandma gave it to me. Now I know the name of it! Thanks James!

[@svravenflintlock7526]

Wow! How cool!

[@jamespaul2587]

Quite a family heirloom, it's wonderful to know some of the history

[@dragonslayer7587]

@@jamespaul2587 I'm thankful I know the name of this. I had no idea this was a "standard issue" for young men traveling. Very cool!

[@jamespaul2587]

@dragonslayer7587 definitely, and it's great to know a bit more about your grandfather's adventures as a young man in a very different time. Traveling those distances long ago was quite an adventure, and much more difficult than it would be today.

[@dragonslayer7587]

@@jamespaul2587 Yes it was. He was actually caught as a young stowaway, and the Captain of the ship allowed him to work his way over. He came into Ellis Island and made his way to the Border of Canada and NYS. His older brother had come over 2 years earlier, in 1909. So he lived there, and eventually got a job with the NY Central Railroad, and married, bought his own farm, and the rest is history. I lived there growing up, and I loved it! I was VERY mad when my folks came to get me and made me live DownState in a regular house when I was about 10. However, I've learned so much growing up that way, I bought a farm myself in Western NC, almost in Tennessee.. so, the story goes on...

[@mountainhomeplace489]

You should compile all this Hobo knowledge into a book.

[@moorshound3243]

Yep I'd buy it.

[@Liquid_People]

I’d listen to it.

[@terribelle3]

I'd buy it too ❤

[@logankosta837]

Hey you get me the information and I’ll write it

[@seamusmcbride2832]

I have my grandfather's Hussaf from his time in France in WWI

[@cavemanNCC1701]

Proud to say I've carried one for 43 years and still make my own wood buttons from tree branches , great video . 😁😁😁

[@GOBRAGH2]

It would be an interesting video to see how you make your wood buttons.

[@jeffechols5302]

The hobo series is great

[@moorshound3243]

Maybe he could do a video with old Kenneth two hobos living free.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@kristenvincent3622]

It’s a sewing kit but in a bag! My papa had something like that, made of heavy canvas. He was a sailor. He taught me to sew, darn, tie knots… and so many other things that have been invaluable in life and especially since we moved off grid to homestead. Mine lives in a 3 3/4” diameter 1 1/2” tall round candy tin. Amazing all the simple skills we have lost (as a society) in the past 50-100 years!

[@57WillysCJ]

Excellent, I carry a modern one picked up from a hotel at some point. Old timers were quite picky at keeping things cleaned and repaired if they could. My father said if you do and keep your shoes shined the police wouldn't hassle you. That and keep enough money for a meal and a nights stay so they wouldn't call you vagrant. It goes back even farther and why my hand made western gunbelt is also a money belt and yes they kept sewing kit in their saddle bags. Not sure when the concept ended, maybe the 1960s for the every day guy.

[@ManInTheWoods76]

Just a thought/add-on: If I were to make one, the wrap fabric would be made from the same cloth and color that my coat, pack or blanket is made of. Even more useful for patching.

[@markbrandli]

In the NAVY it was standard issue , at least from 1976 to 1980 . I made a few dollars with it because my Mother taught her children to do simple repairs .... I still have that same kit issued to me! Thankyou James for your videos.

[@klawockkidd3426]

I'd need a needle threader and a few safety pins too. Good piece of kit.

[@rick.7075]

Well, I guess I'm going to make one of those for my pack... now.. awsome vid thank you

[@susanpeters4608]

I have carried a modern day kit that fits in a back pocket and includes a needle threader and a couple of safety pins for 50+ years now! Thank you for sharing this bit of history with us!

[@danieljones2183]

Nice!

[@NewHampshireJack]

Totally awesome history lesson in less than three and a half minutes. This video is more than an informational tidbit. We all need a kit like this even if we don't know we need it!

[@CapitanFantasma1776]

Thanks James!

[@benterwellen]

Good stuff, ty for sharing

[@sw33n3yto00]

A sewing kit may not be issued, but I've known a lot of guys, myself included, that keep a seeing kit in their gear.

[@keithnavarro2930]

I like it. Gives me ideas. Thanks.

[@keithmoore5306]

you know James i got a modern version of that at discount drug mart a couple years back for my pack for a buck forty nine (i think they're around two and a half now!) i added some extra buttons a few more safety pins (it came with 4 buttons and 4 safety pins) a pack of larger needles and some waxed dental floss for repairing heavier stuff and it's taken care of all i've needed!! if you need a way to carry needles these cheap bic stic pen bodies can be made into a nice little case for that, pull the empty ink cartridge out cut it to the length needed hot glue the cap vents closed and you have a needle case! those pens are a nice place to stash a little emergency cash too pull the ink cartridge out and roll the bills around it and put it back together!

[@SDMountainMan]

Very cool love how you study It and present it. Nice work.

[@billwolfram412]

Many Thanks James !!!

[@craigstothard7518]

I was in the UK army from 1990 to 2008 and we still called our sewing kit Hussaf. Buttons, yarn, needles, thimble. Not issued any more, but we had to make our own! Part of our beltkit.

[@jonweaver4987]

When my boys went off to ROTC summer training, I put a kit together that had 3 needles, several BDU buttons, safety pins, along with 10 feet of Kevlar fishing line and a little spool of upholstery thread. I just put everything into a Ziploc pouch. I didn't know it had a name 😊

[@susanp.collins7834]

It's short for 'housewife'.

[@Wdstroud]

Hussaf is a new word to me. I know House wife, but Hussaf I hadn't heard of. Thanks for your very helpful and informative Hobo Series.

[@johnburgin7478]

Excellent. I love the history / background of the items you show . Have a great evening

[@mrf5347]

1989, in boot camp, the old Master Chief refered to the hussuf when telling sea stories, our sewing kit. Good Old Days!

[@kennethgorum6519]

Great video, here's a good diy for your channel take a Stanley two cup cook set find a three inch wide spatula and cut the spatula off just long enough so that the spatula blade sticks out past the top of the cooking pot then get a small muffin/cupcake pan cut out two of the muffin inserts and place the cooking pot on its side on the fire fill the muffin inserts with cornbread mixture that you premade up slide the spatula into the pot and slide the muffin inserts onto the spatula and wait the length of time for the cornbread to bake the muffin in the back of the pot will be done but you will have to take out the back one and slide the front one to the back and let it cook a little longer. It worked well and I had perfect cornbread muffins if it's something you want to make a video on be my guest I also cooked sausages in it

[@greasey520]

That’s a really neat item. I believe even a novice sewer like myself can make their own hussaf.

[@jerrydonnelly6134]

Reminds me of the plastic sewing kit I had in the military in the late 80s.

[@jaggiecz]

Something like that was given to us in the dutch army in mid 1980's. It was a standard issue back than. A few buttons, two types of thread, needles and some things I don't remember.

[@branch_preparedness]

Another outstanding video. Can't wait for the series....hint, hint.

[@jamespaul2587]

Lol, The Handiest Hobo, starring James Bender 😊

[@clivedunning4317]

😅Excellent historical information, in the British Army version you had woollen darning wool, for socks, cards of khaki, black, and white thread and a dainty folding pair of scissors.

[@howarddickson2162]

Well like I said many times . I had rather have and not need . Than too need and not have . That’s just what I live by . If I’m going too be on the move or camping ⛺️ or exploring new Territory I’m going too have everything I need in my pack . It’s nothing worse than getting out in the woods and not have what you need too survive . Survival too me is planning ahead and being prepared for the unexpected .

[@user-hx9tp9cn2h]

James, thanks for bringing an important piece of history into the modern world. Obviously, most historical re-enactors are familiar with this helpful piece of historical gear; but many in the 21st century are unfamiliar with the history of our great nation or the gear used in various periods. I suppose that a Hobo would add scissors if he could trade for them, find a pair, or earn a pair. Thanks, and may God continue to bless you. One more thing: I have used the inexpensive cotton or canvas nail aprons found at Walmart or building supply stores for approximately one dollar. They already have pockets, but a few additinal seams will create additional pockets. I did not know if anyone had shared this possibi,ityh with you.

[@WayPointSurvival]

That nail apron thing is a great idea! Thanks so much for watching and God bless you too!

[@jelkel25]

Had an old French Army one for years, not a huge amount of difference. Green cloth and the thread was on flat pieces of card which I put replacement thread on occasionally. Wonder where that went????

[@richschwartz8004]

Simple yet effective exactly what a Hobo needs. Thank you so much for this series. God bless and stay safe.

[@TDC7594]

I've also heard it referred to as a ''soldier's wife", a term I believe was used during the War Between the States.

[@mariescott9853]

That is so sweet. Never heard of it before.

[@charlesgillette2925]

Best part is it is cheap and easy to use. I am sure there was an widespread use for them.

[@jfu5222]

I have my grandfather's from WWI, it appears to be an issued item. I always carry a repair kit when traveling, gaff tape and super glue are among my modern additions. By the way, I love the channel! Modern bushcraft just doesn't do it for me.

[@moorshound3243]

By modern do you mean all the bright blue nylon really expensive rubbish kit most people think is good gear these days?

[@jfu5222]

@@moorshound3243 I made my own slightly larger kit, I'm sure if it existed hobos would have super glue and similar small repair items. If you don't know about gaff tape, do yourself a favor and buy a roll. It has way too many uses to list, but clothing repair is at the top. I fixed a hole in my pocket on a pair of pants, they've been washed many times and the patch hasn't peeled at all. It won't separate or degrade over time like duct tape. It's just as strong but thinner.

[@starlingblack814]

Love these hobo videos. Thanks James.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad you like them!

[@annpeet4334]

I love your history presentations.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@Blrtech77]

Thanks James for the Amazing Video. 🎉

[@b.williamchapman9774]

I've seen on other channels local museums that have on display; Metal detector finds of these types of items that were also used in surgical kits during the American Civil War. They found remnants of leather pouches that also had medicinal herbs contained inside.

[@peterbailey6930]

Very interesting james It makes sense for the traveling man.

[@ArmoredXJ]

Awesome, so simple!

[@peterott-tn6pf]

Awesome video James!!! Great content as always brother, especially enjoy watching the hobo series! God bless you and yours and stay safe my friend!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks! You too!

[@Ensensu2]

I know, not all hobos had access to dremel tools, but I've made sewing needles with the cutoff wheel from the small lengths of steel laying in gutters all over cities that I later found out snap off the street sweepers. Bobby pins make great sewing needles, but if the eye is cut with a dremel tool, the walls turn out to be easily crushed, a way around this is to use pliers to pull the shaft of the needle through the work instead of a thimble to push from behind the eye. The really big pro of these sewing needles is that I can thread them with yarn which helps immensely cut down on the time of darning clothes and expands the amount of materials that you can pick up and use for repair.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Great idea!

[@michaelbrunner6654]

I always keep a pill bottle with the same things in my haversack

[@pinetree9343]

Well, I've added this to my list of must make items. Thank you.

[@jackbodenmann7379]

Hi James I have been enjoying you videos. I will be putting together a hussaf. I will carry it in my camping gear this winter. Jack🚂

[@WayPointSurvival]

Sounds great!

[@nutthrower4415]

Enjoy learning the old ways

[@krishoogstraat6866]

Well described bit of kit. Love the history

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad you enjoyed it, my friend!

[@haroldagudeloorozco4664]

Que maravilla ver tús video Eres una buena persona Con la suficiente amabilidad. Muchas gracias por compaetir Es una maravilla el equipo y la cultura Hobo.

[@swagmanandy]

I still have mine that I made for the army and still use it constantly except that in the British army it was called a 'Hussiff' and it was one of the items that you had to provide for yourself when joining in the 1970's.

[@jamespaul2587]

Thanks for another great video, James and for sharing your knowledge of history. You really bring the spirit of these marvelous adventurers to life.

[@mrkultra1655]

Thanks James

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@SongsOfMyYouth]

Very interesting history.

[@ericathompsen8110]

Awesome and epic video as always thank you so much for making it ❤️👍

[@trynsurviven2440]

I didn’t know what it was called until now thank you. Huge thumbs up.

[@milododds1]

Thank you, I learned something new today. I have the makings for a Hussaf except I am going to put mine into a Hide & Drink small firehose zip bag with the thimble and needles I got from Temu along with a small pocket knife. Your videos are almost like living history sprinkled w/ practical knowledge. Thanks again, I always enjoy your channel.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much, I'm glad that you are enjoying the channel!

[@chrisstokie2361]

Love these videos. Keep em coming. We may need this knowledge if thing's keep going the way they are.👍

[@jenandjim149]

I will make one today.thanks

[@froginprogress8510]

I have met people recently who didn't even know how to lace up and/or tie their own shoes. Can't imagine them having such a vital life skill as being able to patch up a hole in their clothes. Actually, one woman had a little hole IN THE SEAM of her shirt, and it sounded like she was just going to throw the shirt away over it...

[@i_am_a_freespirit]

Thank you, I just learned something new 🥰. I would call it a sewing kit. At the Dollar tree you can get the cheapos for now $1.25...my girlfriend gave me one from there and it comes in a plastic container it has a measuring device in it, a pair of scissors , and a few other Items. All designed for the cheapest costs for the most profit 🥴

[@quinntheeskimooutdoors6234]

Got some kits in my haversacks. Thanks for sharing. Take care😊

[@user-lc1df9jd1u]

That’s cool man.

[@MichaelR58]

Good video James, thanks for sharing, God bless brother !

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome and God bless you too!

[@susanp.collins7834]

I got my hussaf when I joined the SA Army.

[@gregoryling5225]

It's still called a Housewife in the British Army, often made from a used cloth bandolier (7.62 in my day)! Enjoyed the video.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much!

[@brnrecluse2946]

Great video, James! Always interesting & informative!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Luckydrg]

I am a recent subscriber and just wanted to say that your videos are very enjoyable and educational. A bit of history and lots of practical guidance. I think it is a very nice format for videos. Thank You!!!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you very much!

[@caminodantoo]

This is all interesting James, I’ve had various versions of housewife over the years. I think the nicest one was made by Barbour. A nice tin with big patches of thorn proof, dressed, cotton. The smallest was one that I saw, was in the Pegasus Bridge Museum, Normandy. It was a denison tube, only big enough to take the large tunic buttons. The needles passed down, through the holes in the buttons and then there was a small amount of thread. A mere slip of a thing. As for the name, I got fed up with explaining to folk, that it wasn’t a real house wife that I carried over my shoulder, I even started calling it an ingenuity pouch. Now I think “Hussaf”, sounds just fine…..

[@WayPointSurvival]

Very interesting! I would love to see that little kit at Normandy!

[@nickrich56]

Hobo's aren't gone and forgotten they're just more discreet in how they're preceived.😁👍

[@WayPointSurvival]

True.

[@codysden1]

Awesome.. thank you

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@gringo3009]

Good stuff!

[@clayjohnson-ry8lt]

Great kit

[@VecTron5]

An interesting article. Nowadays I've known hobos and tramps to mostly use sewing kits from hotels.

[@robertlewis8295]

Some civil war era versions had a flap sewn in that the needles went in. Some of the modern military versions just have 2 pockets that open on to the center line of the kit. One pocket holds a small pair of scissors, several different things of thread, and sometimes a thimble. The other holds a packet of needles, buttons, safety pins, and sometimes a needle threader, heavy thread for boot repair, and yarn for darning wool socks. The Italian surplus ones are a nice compact kit, but I like the German surplus ones better because they have more selection of threads, just toss in the boot repair stuff from the Swiss boot maintenance kit and you can repair almost anything made of fabric.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Good to know, thanks for sharing the info and for watching the video!

[@johnkoelliker8480]

Awesome

[@mr.zardoz3344]

I'm still waiting for your Hobo cookbook. Seriously. Write one! Lol!!!

[@greenmtnprepper9241]

And in the cookbook, add tidbits of history sandwiched in between!!!!

[@jacksdulaney]

Knights of the road!

[@rankin242]

I love this video and your other ones

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much!

[@HarshmanHills]

Fixing Your own great saves time and money

[@cayetanocanales7662]

Thx for the vid.

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@andrewhondo]

this is like the sewing kit in my kits great video

[@WayPointSurvival]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@shadowstalker130666]

I actually keep one in my semi, since im on the road for up to a month at a time. Theres some modern additions of course, zipper repair kit and zipper lube for example. And the patch material is different. Old jeans, and cut up tshirts, but its still a practical and viable tool, even today.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Excellent!

[@jamescopeland5358]

Great video neighbor

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@angelswithdirtyfaces1]

👀👍👍👍

[@jameslaime7497]

That's a nice little idea

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@seasonstudios]

What the hussaf was that? Actually this was a neat little history lesson. Thanks.

[@thedevilsadvocate8766]

The most invaluable peice of kit I have is a Speedy Stitcher, a roll of waxed thread, and a roll of artificial sinew. I strongly recommend it to everyone.

[@WayPointSurvival]

That is indeed a great piece of kit!

[@davidokeefe9303]

Super late to watch! Sir I enjoy your videos! Please keep em coming!! :)

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks, will do!

[@edwinklaver]

Cool

[@debbiecurtis4021]

I recent found out "hobo" is short for "homeward bound".

[@tennesseeterri]

I love that

[@duybear4023]

I suppose a modern Hussaf would be ductape and bungie cords.

[@blackoracle69]

good video brother

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much!

[@richardcranium8408]

As an American who’s lived in Norway for 27 years, it’s an interesting term. The origins of the word “hussaf” could have changed with time from any of the Scandinavian languages. “Hus” is the name for house and “frua» is the endearing word for wife. Housewife - Husfrua - Hussaf.

[@WayPointSurvival]

That is a very interesting take on it. Thanks for sharing it!

[@jamesbowen5573]

That's pretty cool. I don't like symbols though. I have big hands and big fingers. They don't fit. I always carry a thick piece of leather about 2in Square. And I've never had any problems with it. I'm pretty sure they would have been pretty available back then. All you have to do is cut the tongue off of an old pair of shoes you found at the dump,