Bushcraft: one and done?

A

aelfred_allspach

Joined
Feb 4, 2015
Messages
57
So as you know, I'm trying to learn more about the art. Do you guys prefer just one knife or a collection of tools? I'm considering a ruck with a hatchet, ferro rod, pup tent, mora companion, my Mtech xtreme tactical fighter(for the heavy duty battoning, chopping and ferro use), diamond stone, water purifier system, camel back, and collapsible fishing pole. What do you guys carry or use?
 
It sounds like you're talking a proper overnight (or more) hiking setup, which I regrettably haven't had any need for, but for campground camping, I have a very comparable kit: hatchet, glove-friendly folder in my pocket, some sort of large multi-purpose fixed blade, another sheathed knife (fixed or folder) clipped to my backpack strap, HPG chest pack (for CC handgun and essential items) and "slimline" Condor pack with hydration reservoir. Currently, I typically bring either a Condor Multi Knife II or SOG TL-02 Team Leader Survivor:

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If hiking but not camping, I skip the hatchet and often the large fixed blade. And although some people will immediately shy away from an MTech for any serious use, I think they are capable of producing some pretty serviceable fixed blades. I've bought a couple over the years, and my wife bought me an MTech Outlander "survival machete" that is at least better than the Gerber Gator Jr. that I used previously.
 
aelfred_allspach said:
So as you know, I'm trying to learn more about the art. Do you guys prefer just one knife or a collection of tools? I'm considering a ruck with a hatchet, ferro rod, pup tent, mora companion, my Mtech xtreme tactical fighter(for the heavy duty battoning, chopping and ferro use), diamond stone, water purifier system, camel back, and collapsible fishing pole. What do you guys carry or use?
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Bit of advice. Do some reading. This has been done countless times, and a handful of times in the last week. And there is an entire subforum here devoted to the subject.

I'm not saying "shut up" by any means...I'm just saying that if you look around even the slightest bit you will find you cant swing a dead cat around here without hitting the same thread you just started.
 
aelfred_allspach said:
So as you know, I'm trying to learn more about the art. Do you guys prefer just one knife or a collection of tools? I'm considering a ruck with a hatchet, ferro rod, pup tent, mora companion, my Mtech xtreme tactical fighter(for the heavy duty battoning, chopping and ferro use), diamond stone, water purifier system, camel back, and collapsible fishing pole. What do you guys carry or use?
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Oh my. This is among your bushcraft tools?

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We got a lot of work to do here. For the love of Scagel do a bunch of reading. :thumbup:
 
Um... Yeah? For the heavy stuff... Like I said I use what I got, and that why I'm searching for better tools for the job. But I figured it woul work for battoning
 
One thing I always suggest is to consider how far you are going with your bushcrafting. Is it a hobby, a weekend camping activity, survival prep, or a skill for longer backpacking ventures? Weight becomes an issue for the latter two. I have an assortment of bigger blades and hatchets that have never seen my backpack for longer trips. When you are trying to limit your weight to 40 or 50lbs total, it becomes difficult to justify using 20-25% of your packing capacity for blades. Just food for thought.
 
Nothing wrong with making a new post about the subject. Why not? What else are we going to talk about? :D

For bushcraft you want a basic camping setup with an addition of some cutting tools. How that setup looks is more about what you like and what works for you. For instance that Mtech is not going to be the best thing for bushcraft but if you like it and want to carry it, it WILL work. Just not as good as your hatchet or even a simpler bowie. I would recommend shooting for a weight load of under 40 pounds. The lighter the better. Some learn bushcraft for this specific reason. A good setup off the top of my head would be;

Tarp/tent
cordage
A metal pot
water bottle
lighter/ferro rod
sleeping bag
sleeping mat(some don't use it but I use a 2 3/4 thick one. Sleep is good.:D)
mora is a good choice
hatchet is a good choice/pruning saws aren't bad either
edc pocket knife
sharpener
small first aid kit
good clothes for the outdoors

I may have missed a few things but that's a good start.

I'd like to add to please do bushcraft responsibly. Don't hack down live trees(or any if you can help it) and if you do cut a standing dead down, stay away from high impact areas like major campsites or trails. In fact, getting wood from a neighbor who trimmed their tree in their front yard and bushcrafting in your living room is not a bad way to kill time. It's not the same experience but you can learn a lot from casual bushcrafting at home. I learned how to make fuzz sticks in my living room. :D Learning at home means I don't need to do it in a place others enjoy unless absolutely necessary. Have fun.
 
I totally agree on the live trees. My grandmother is sort of a modern-day hippy. We couldn't hurt any tree or animal on her 50 acres out here in Arkansas. I was planning on practicing bushcraft on my stepfathers property in Oklahoma. He has a little over an acre with lots of dead limbs. I want to learn the art of fire with magnifying glass and spark stick. I have always loved the outdoors but you can spin me around three times in my living room and I'm lost. An that's pathetic for growing up miles away from any small town. And my family knows it. So I want to better myself by learning these things.
 
aelfred_allspach said:
I totally agree on the live trees. My grandmother is sort of a modern-day hippy. We couldn't hurt any tree or animal on her 50 acres out here in Arkansas. I was planning on practicing bushcraft on my stepfathers property in Oklahoma. He has a little over an acre with lots of dead limbs. I want to learn the art of fire with magnifying glass and spark stick. I have always loved the outdoors but you can spin me around three times in my living room and I'm lost. An that's pathetic for growing up miles away from any small town. And my family knows it. So I want to better myself by learning these things.
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Cool beans.

I highly recommend the mora. Easy and comfy to use, easy to sharpen, and dirt cheap.
 
First, don't quit the day knife---some day you'll use that Mtech as a spare.

If you're going to do it for real, replace the knife. To gain a little knowledge of what's out there for fixed blades, a starting point would be to check out and learn the fixed blade lines of the following three manufacturers: Ka-Bar/Becker, ESSE, and Buck. Once you are familiar with those you will have a good idea of what you like. Then you can start checking out all of the others, Ontario, Falkniven, DPx, etc., etc.... I wouldn't worry about weight. A few ounces knife to knife is nothing for such a critical item. Save weight somewhere else.

You should have a good SAK too. And read all you can here.

Here are some excellent knives I have experience with, that I would recommend to you based on what you wrote, small to large:

-Original DPx HEST fixed blade by Rowen
-A good Nordic leuku in the 4-5.5" range
-Cold Steel Trailmaster (san mai blade if you can)

As to my kit...minimum for bush always a folder and fixed. For rougher stuff I add a bigger fixed or a bolo, and for extreme geo and weather I'll add my rigger's hatchet. A kukri, various machetes, ice axes, piton hammers, and several other oddballs are also on call should they be needed.
 
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Yeh I accidentally bought it with Amazon one click buy and ship. I love buck fixed blades, and I've smithed quite a few fixed blades myself. I used quarter inch carbon steel plate. I used a Scandinavia type grind (to the bed of my abilities with a hand grinder and clamps) with anywhere from 4 inch blades to 21 inch blades. For grips I improvised with extra plates scaling smaller. Anyway. I tried out my Mtech just ten minutes ago, and decided to give it to my girlfriend so she could have it.
 
Mora of some sort backed up by a Victoinox Farmer. The Companion and no 1 get pretty even rotation. The Bushcraft Black is fairly new and I haven't had much chance to get used to it.

I have a BK9 and a Gransfors Wildlife Hatchet, but to be honest they are likely to get left behind on most trips. I always want to bring more toys to test out and play with but practicality wins most of the time. Space is limited, and most trips out are focused on fishing or hunting and not playing camp.

A Bahco Laplander folding saw usually makes the cut before the hatchet or BK9.
 
marcinek said:
Oh my. This is among your bushcraft tools?

31KQZBBgSBL._SS500__zpsarpakd9d.jpg


We got a lot of work to do here. For the love of Scagel do a bunch of reading. :thumbup:
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Oh wow, I would head into the woods with nothing but a Victorinox before I lugged that thing in the woods.
 
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