Bow Drill Divot?

[mntbighker]

Anyone else feel like a bow drill divot should be a metal insert instead of just a hole in the handle?

 

[readyme]

I personally will do without.
It created a potential hot spot, and it is something I can create using the knife.

 

[ni1s]

Rumor has it the metal divots will be available again in the "super custom line". Personally I'm happy without either.

 

[Riz!]

They used to make brass insert divots. I recall they said it was a royal pain in the ass to make

 

[MatthewSB]

I personally will do without.
It created a potential hot spot, and it is something I can create using the knife.

Great point, if you have the knife you can carve a bowdrill handle. You have to carve the spindle and base anyways, the handle is the easiest part and the GSO series blades should be perfect for drilling a shallow hole.

There's also a safety issue using a knife for a bowdrill handle. Every once in a while, I get tired or hasty or whatever, and end up with the base, spindle, bow and handle in a big pile under my hand and arm. With a small block of wood as a handle it's no big deal, with a 6" razor sharp blade serving as the bowdrill handle it could get ugly

 

[redwood22]

Great point, if you have the knife you can carve a bowdrill handle. You have to carve the spindle and base anyways, the handle is the easiest part and the GSO series blades should be perfect for drilling a shallow hole.

There's also a safety issue using a knife for a bowdrill handle. Every once in a while, I get tired or hasty or whatever, and end up with the base, spindle, bow and handle in a big pile under my hand and arm. With a small block of wood as a handle it's no big deal, with a 6" razor sharp blade serving as the bowdrill handle it could get ugly

I am not a big fan of the bow drill divots for the reasons mentioned, and you could make a million of them with the knife blade. Plus if I am relying on a bow drill to start a fire I have failed somewhere else. That said, I know some guys are absolute pros with this method and its fun for them. First, I think if you use the knife handle in this way, leaving the sheath on would be a must. Secondly I think Guy mentioned that these were an option as a "last resort". I think they are still allowing them on pre-orders, but not going forward because too many were burning out through constant use. As others have mentioned there used to be the brass option, that had to be hand fit to each handle so there was a ton of labor involved. I think as Nils mentioned, they are debating bringing those back for the "custom" line.

 

[Anttheknee]

Like this?

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Check out my GSO 4.1 mod thread for how I did it.