Matt's post got me thinking a little about "traditions." More like the northwoods traditions. Here's a quote from an old timey northwoodsman, Calvin Rutstrum (who's taken many hikes in the woods-and I doubt he ever encountered stiff enough resistance he had to fight his way through)
He wasn't what you would call a "tactical" woodsman.
"The blunt, woodshed variety of ax has no place in the wilderness. Your ax should be of high-quality, tough steel; it should have a straight-grained hickory handle, and the blade should line up with the center of the handle. The blade must be thin enough for easy chopping. It should be kept very sharp, and properly sheathed when not in use.
The ax commonly used on canoe trips is the three-quarter size, often referred to as a "boy's ax" or poleax. It is the cause of many accidents in the woods, even among experienced woodsmen. Owing to the shorter length of the handle, the ax may not swing clear of the body after a miss, and seriously injury to an ankle or foot may result. A missed stroke with a full-handled ax will either swing clear of the body or end in the chopping block.
Organized camps should not permit the use of a three-quarter ax. The hazard is too great. However, it is a very handy instrument inthe hands of an experienced axman. But it is not a tool for a beginner. A full sized ax that weighs three or three and one-half pounds is best."
He then goes on to discuss the proper way to use an axe, which is much more detailed than some might imagine. He also discusses knives and based on the way people used to travel through the wilderness, three types of knives are required: 1) a beltknife: "The thick, chisel-edged belt knives which are generally sold, are of little value in the wilderness. Get your knife too thin rather than too thick." And: "A knife that will hack the bones of a heavy carcass or, even worse, cut nails without destroying the edge, as claimed by some knife makers, must be made with a thick blade, have a blunt chisel-like bevel, and be exceptionally hard-tempered. The finest steel in the world would not withstand cutting bone or metal if it were not so constructed. Unfortunately, a knife made in this way is not suited for general wilderness use. Bone should be cut with a small saw or an ax, never with a knife. Ax-blade bevels are abrupt enough to withstand a limited amount of bone cutting."
2) a crooked knife: "This knife is excellent for making a new paddle, replacing the broken parts of a canvas canoe, making snowshoe frames, and other wood craft. When buying it, stat whether you want it left- or right-handed, because it is designed for either hand. This knife is in common use in the North by the Indians. Where such knives are not available, the Indians make them out of flat files by annealing, shaping, and then retempering them. I came upon an Indian carving out a paddle with such a knife and realized more than ever its wide adaptability when I saw him creating maserful curves and formations in the white spruce.
3) a penknife: "A penknife should go in the first aid kit. It will serve as a scalpel and on occasion is handy for other very small work"
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Hoodoo
The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stonethe light-pressd blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.
Walt Whitman
