My Field Gear : Cutting tools

One knife option, Nessmuk Trio, full size axe needed to survive a winter night "up north",  my head hurts...make it stop!  How about what works for the intended activity with a dose of practicality.

I have the big knives at seven to nine inches,  knives in the four to five inch length,  a few smaller ones that are folding pocket models.  Most are carbon steel, but a few are a variety of stainless flavors.  Some work for me, others well....not so much.

BK-5

So starting with the big, at least for me, I currently own a USMC Ka-Bar, a Becker BK-5, and a Condor Varan.  All are carbon steel with different grinds, carbon content, etc.. Specs on the steel and geometry of the blades are available from multiple sites and forums.  These large knives will carve, chop, baton, clear brush, whittle, and many other camp chores.  Using this size of knife you feel like you are holding more than a hunting knife, but less than a machete.  I find my hand getting fatigued quickly with these knives when attempting fine work, such as feather sticks or shavings.  Additionally,  I am consistently only using the first 2 or 3 inches of the cutting edge,  leaving half of the blade unused. All three are fine steel and have a "cool" factor in appearance.  However,  they just don't seem to do any one thing extremely well.

Condor Varan

Now that we have established that Brushloper is not a one knife Woodcraft Wizard, lets move on to what has been working for me.  Fixed blade knives that I favor are typically within the four to five inch length and made of carbon steel.  Currently my inventory includes a Mora Classic #2, a Mora Companion MG,  Mora Heavy Duty MG, and a Condor Bushcraft Basic.  Of this selection, I mostly use the Classic #2 and Mora HD.  The Condor is full tang, but batoning is not high on my list of requirements (more on that later).  The Mora's are inexpensive, very well made and extremely sharp.  The No.2 has been filed along the spine, so it can scrape a fire steel when I'm feeling all "Bushcraft Jedi".  The Heavy Duty is just a pleasure to use and worth every dime spent on it!  I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite between these two knives.

Mora Classic No. 2

Moving down the line of tools, I like a nice practical pocket knife.  It is always with me.  Currently I carry an Opinel #8.  It does not get any better or simpler!  Carbon steel, wood handle, locks open and locks shut.  As a bonus,  the spine will send a shower of sparks off my fire steel.

Opinel No. 8

For fire wood processing I carry two different tools.  The first is a Corona folding saw.  This saw fits nicely in a haversack,  is bright red and chews through four inch dead oak like a laser.  A saw beats chopping with a knife any day of the year,  in my book.

Depending on my trip,  I carry a hatchet as a second tool.  The hatchet is my tool of choice for splitting wood into kindling cut with the saw and chopping wood as needed.

I have arrived at this set of tools over the past three years experiment.  Is this the ideal set for everyone? Nope.  Am I happy with this collection? Most definitely yes!  Will the tools change?  Maybe,  substituting one item for another of a similar type.

Fire Kits: A philosophy of flame.

Fire is the most basic resource humans have on this planet.  Its been around for ever,  it can be life saving or destructive if not controlled or used properly.  Most of us navigate our day not even thinking about it in the least.  Cook our meals,  heat our homes, start our cars....all involve combustion.  It really is intertwined into every human life on the planet.  No matter how advanced humanity becomes,  we still need it.  Take it away and things start to come unglued fast!

Bushcrafters, campers, and other outdoor enthusiasts keep it in the back of their minds ( or least they should).   I keep a simple yet thorough kit in my pack when out in the woods,  and I always carry at least a couple methods of starting a fire where ever I go ( Bic lighter and ferro rod).   My kit includes a couple of dependable fire tinders that will light with a naked flame,  a large Army size Light My Fire Steel,  several lighters, matches, and a flint & steel kit.  I keep all of it in a homemade haversack that goes with me on my outings,  be it hiking, hunting, camping, or fishing.  It is more than a wilderness survival thing   I enjoy a small fire often to make coffee or tea at times and sometimes cook something, even when just out a day hike.  I find that building a cook fire adds meaning to some of these adventures.

The important thing  with a kit is knowing each item and how to use it.  Understanding your ability under different conditions, such as snow, wind, rain, or extreme dryness, is  obtained through practice.

The kit you put together has but one goal each and every time!

Deluxe Flint and Steel Kit from PrimitiveFire.com

I had previously put together a home made kit from an Altoids tin, a broken file, and chert from a Rail Road Track.  It is very functional and I have built a number of fires with it.  Last week I came across the above kit and thought I would give it a try.  Primitivefire.com had it to me in less than a week,  and I am thrilled with this kit.   The tins include an "Altoid" size one that held a bunch of cotton cloth for char material.  The smaller round tin is suppose to be used for making char cloth,  but I used the larger one.  The small on is very air tight and I felt it would probably blow apart in the fire.

The included flint is very large and sharp!  I think I could field dress a deer with this rock.  A nice length of Jute rope is included with the kit for making bird nests,  but I have been using my own stuff for that.

The steel striker is very nice,  throws a shower of sparks and fits comfortably over 3 fingers for striking.

I wish I could take pictures and make fires at the same time...but here are a few shots of a quick fire with this kit.

All laid out:

Spark Caught( in like 2 stikes)

In the Bird Nest

A few Breaths and POOF!

All in all it is a very sweet kit and I am going to have a lot of fun using it!

D.I.Y. HAVERSACK

Last week I put together a new Haversack to hold my fire kit.  It cost me time and materials I already had laying around the house.   The main component of the bag was obtained from one leg of a old pair of duck work pants.  Then with some salvaged webbing from old packs, a few grommets, Shoe Goo glue, dental floss, wax and a dose of time. it came together nicely.  Just by folding up the bottom half of the pant leg,  it created a 2 pocket bag with no extra cutting.

The inner pouch holds my Fire Steel,  tins of tinder,  Flint and Steel Kit, Mora Knife, Bic Lighter, and matches.   The outer pouch will be for tinder and fire supplies I pick up along the trail.

After I had it all put together I gave it 2 good coats of wax followed by a hair dryer to water proof the material.   I think I have about 2 maybe 3 hours of time in making it.