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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
CONTEST: So....Who wants to go to a ESEE Woodland ops course?
- Thread starter shotgunner11
- Start date
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Mrs.Shotgunner11
Moderator
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- Jun 1, 2009
- Messages
- 5,717
I spoke with Jeff about this contest and here is what we've come up with. This contest will remain open at this point. There is no deadline set as of yet. When things thaw out for you folks living in the north GET ON IT! The winner will be chosen and will go to the NEXT Woodlands Op course. There is no date for this course yet. It will be some time in the fall in Alabama.
imaginefj
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2006
- Messages
- 1,676
Can I use another knife until my 6 arrives? I don't think we have a local dealer. Heck I doubt we have a 6 owner in the county. Or since the contest has been extended should I wait?
It is finally getting warm enough here to play in the water with a floatation device that will most likely get me very wet.
It is finally getting warm enough here to play in the water with a floatation device that will most likely get me very wet.
Mrs.Shotgunner11
Moderator
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2009
- Messages
- 5,717
It must be an ESEE knife.
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2009
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- 6,234
Makin a dugout canoe with my HEST this week 
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2010
- Messages
- 4,355
What were the end results of this??
stjones
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2010
- Messages
- 3,599
There is NO winner yet!!!!
Submit your entry and YOU could be attending this Woodland Ops course!!!
Even If You Don’t Win; You Get Across That Finish Line.
I decided this weekend would involve the time necessary to complete my entry for the ESEE Woodland ops contest. Then general details of the contest involved building a vessel that “needs to be able to support your bodyweight and be steerable. It needs to be a useful craft. And we want it made from natural materials using the ESEE blade of your choice.”-ESEE Mod. With these guide lines in mind I had began mentally, by deciding on a vessel that would hold my interest in the project long enough to reach usable completion; without being in a true situation of need I truly have to be inspired to follow through. I was initially, and still now very interested building a dugout canoe. That is a project that I really see as feasibly done while still meeting the regs set by the mods but holding a great deal of challenge to its construction. The objection came when trying to find a fallen or available tree that size to build a vessel from. I decided to look at the resources that were abundant to me, they were smaller logs; roughly averaging 9’-12’ in. in circumference. These would work nicely for a raft; and that was a project I felt was not going to be any sweat at all to complete.
I set the plan in action by starting first thing Friday evening after work. I had to borrow a camera from my brother to document the process (same brother that loaned me the camera for the last contest, during which I demolished his camera accidentally and sequentially purchased him a newer camera to replace the old one with.) He was reluctant to loan me his new one, but with a little rhetoric on my part “what do you got to lose mate? If I break this one I’ll buy you another better one!”
With the camera I situation resolved I still needed to decide on which ESEE model knife to use for the contest. The ESEE 3, 6 or the Izula? I felt confident only building a raft that I could use the ESEE 3 and have no issues; but, the ESEE 6 is a great blade that gets neglected more often out of all my knives; it also being my first ESEE knife which was given to me directly by Jeff for being the first participant in his Altoids Tin Survival Comp. holds some meaning, ESEE 6 it was, packed into my Maxpedition Jumbo along side camera and two meals.
I started the build by trying to salvage any material that was nearest to the shore line and was still in usable condition. I was able to find a few logs that seemed of optimal size; do I have any idea what optimal size is? No, I just figured a good foot or two taller than me would suffice. Honestly, I avoid being on any slow moving boats or floatation devices; I have held a deep hatred for anything aside from speed boats and pontoon boats since a row boat incident which I was involved in as a child.
So my level of interest and education in slow vessel building is just about none. Although most of these commons I held about rafts and their form were from what I could recall in movies or television; having never made one or even stood on one for that matter.
After gathering and dragging/carrying these logs back to the shore it was already beginning to become dusk, it was time to head in.
Day two began at 930am, I continued were I had left off by gather more logs; having gathered all the near by logs, I was having to venture further from the shore and thus drag/carry the pieces further back still. It was a very labor intensive process; I needed to do a great deal of batoning during this construction process. Having a good baton was the sec greatest asset to the knife in this ordeal. I took good measure in finding an ideally sized 12inx5in green popple/ash baton. I was not surprised at how well the ESEE 6 handled larger sized chores, it wasn’t easy; but the blade didn’t break or chip during any of the use I put it through.
After gathering all the wood I needed I now needed to lash it together. My primary source of cordage was wild Grape vine and Wood Ivy vine. I found that wild Grape vine was able to handle twisting and bend stress to a greater degree than Wood Ivy.
Cordage was the number one issue during this build, with access to better cordage I have no doubts I could build a lasting durable raft; but as it were I used as much vine as I could gather. I found that securing the vine in the same direction was the most assured method to minimize its cracking or breaking, so rather than bending it back the opposite direction you twisted it following in the same direction you were originally leading. Once the structure was lashed together with additional cross braces added I felt it was ready for launch; by this point it was already 530pm and I would have to leave the woods by 6pm to feed cattle.
I now had to find a way to drag the raft into the water; I decided that the best method would have been to lash the logs together while it was in the water, not prior. As it were though I needed a manner to move it the 6ft or so, I considered placing logs beneath the raft and rolling it like the Egyptians did with large slaps of stone but with time being a constant countdown I decided to wrap the biggest Grape vine I could find around the belly of the raft and wade out into the water and drag the raft in behind me. This was a pain in the ass, but it worked after slipping and falling into the mud and getting soaked I had it in the stream, and it floated!
While dragging it in I noticed a piece of trash that looked like an old car hood; it was rotted but I figured it would help to distribute my weight so I placed it center of the raft. I set the camera on its maximum timed automatic photo and propped it up on top of a make shift log bi-pod and ran down the shore jumping up onto the raft. The raft at first supported my weight but slowly began to sink about 8in beneath the surface. I hoped off to see if the photo was useable; it wasn’t so I had to try again. This time I just held the camera and attempted to get a photo while standing on the raft but as I stepped around the cordage began unknotting and breaking, logs began to become more spaced and thus I began slowly sinking further to about 14in beneath water. I fearing the end of another one of my brothers cameras began making my way back to shore, I stepped from the raft into the water feeling pretty miserable. It couldn’t take the abuse of on and off and was nearly in pieces now. I called it quits and began chopping the remaining vines off and removing the debris from the river. As I was doing this I was thinking what could have been done? Three more logs, larger logs more cross braces more cordage, better cordage, all these things seemed what was needed to see this to success. I don’t believe it was any one thing that really wasn’t done correctly but many little lacking elements that made the raft unable to be a durable solution to a water way. Mind you if I were only crossing a lake or water way with calm conditions and not a concern over drowning borrowed equipment I could have kneeled on the raft or even layed down completely and used it like a floatation device and just paddled my way across the surface, but if encountered with any adverse conditions, this vessel would have failed and left me stranded out in the waters current.
It is the following day and man is my body sore. Lol I powerlift and exercise routinely and I am tore up after all that. My right forearm is killing from all the chopping and my back is extremely tender from all the lifting/dragging and bending. So man talk about a good workout out side the gym.
Thank you for another great contest which I walked away from with new ideas and some new skill sets. I understand I didn’t make it happen this time, but I believe it’s important to still finish the race. I hope that maybe some of you who weren’t able to experience the building of your own can learn from my try instead.
*included whipping the ESEE6 back into shape after the use as well.
I decided this weekend would involve the time necessary to complete my entry for the ESEE Woodland ops contest. Then general details of the contest involved building a vessel that “needs to be able to support your bodyweight and be steerable. It needs to be a useful craft. And we want it made from natural materials using the ESEE blade of your choice.”-ESEE Mod. With these guide lines in mind I had began mentally, by deciding on a vessel that would hold my interest in the project long enough to reach usable completion; without being in a true situation of need I truly have to be inspired to follow through. I was initially, and still now very interested building a dugout canoe. That is a project that I really see as feasibly done while still meeting the regs set by the mods but holding a great deal of challenge to its construction. The objection came when trying to find a fallen or available tree that size to build a vessel from. I decided to look at the resources that were abundant to me, they were smaller logs; roughly averaging 9’-12’ in. in circumference. These would work nicely for a raft; and that was a project I felt was not going to be any sweat at all to complete.
I set the plan in action by starting first thing Friday evening after work. I had to borrow a camera from my brother to document the process (same brother that loaned me the camera for the last contest, during which I demolished his camera accidentally and sequentially purchased him a newer camera to replace the old one with.) He was reluctant to loan me his new one, but with a little rhetoric on my part “what do you got to lose mate? If I break this one I’ll buy you another better one!”
With the camera I situation resolved I still needed to decide on which ESEE model knife to use for the contest. The ESEE 3, 6 or the Izula? I felt confident only building a raft that I could use the ESEE 3 and have no issues; but, the ESEE 6 is a great blade that gets neglected more often out of all my knives; it also being my first ESEE knife which was given to me directly by Jeff for being the first participant in his Altoids Tin Survival Comp. holds some meaning, ESEE 6 it was, packed into my Maxpedition Jumbo along side camera and two meals.
I started the build by trying to salvage any material that was nearest to the shore line and was still in usable condition. I was able to find a few logs that seemed of optimal size; do I have any idea what optimal size is? No, I just figured a good foot or two taller than me would suffice. Honestly, I avoid being on any slow moving boats or floatation devices; I have held a deep hatred for anything aside from speed boats and pontoon boats since a row boat incident which I was involved in as a child.
So my level of interest and education in slow vessel building is just about none. Although most of these commons I held about rafts and their form were from what I could recall in movies or television; having never made one or even stood on one for that matter.
After gathering and dragging/carrying these logs back to the shore it was already beginning to become dusk, it was time to head in.
Day two began at 930am, I continued were I had left off by gather more logs; having gathered all the near by logs, I was having to venture further from the shore and thus drag/carry the pieces further back still. It was a very labor intensive process; I needed to do a great deal of batoning during this construction process. Having a good baton was the sec greatest asset to the knife in this ordeal. I took good measure in finding an ideally sized 12inx5in green popple/ash baton. I was not surprised at how well the ESEE 6 handled larger sized chores, it wasn’t easy; but the blade didn’t break or chip during any of the use I put it through.
After gathering all the wood I needed I now needed to lash it together. My primary source of cordage was wild Grape vine and Wood Ivy vine. I found that wild Grape vine was able to handle twisting and bend stress to a greater degree than Wood Ivy.
Cordage was the number one issue during this build, with access to better cordage I have no doubts I could build a lasting durable raft; but as it were I used as much vine as I could gather. I found that securing the vine in the same direction was the most assured method to minimize its cracking or breaking, so rather than bending it back the opposite direction you twisted it following in the same direction you were originally leading. Once the structure was lashed together with additional cross braces added I felt it was ready for launch; by this point it was already 530pm and I would have to leave the woods by 6pm to feed cattle.
I now had to find a way to drag the raft into the water; I decided that the best method would have been to lash the logs together while it was in the water, not prior. As it were though I needed a manner to move it the 6ft or so, I considered placing logs beneath the raft and rolling it like the Egyptians did with large slaps of stone but with time being a constant countdown I decided to wrap the biggest Grape vine I could find around the belly of the raft and wade out into the water and drag the raft in behind me. This was a pain in the ass, but it worked after slipping and falling into the mud and getting soaked I had it in the stream, and it floated!
While dragging it in I noticed a piece of trash that looked like an old car hood; it was rotted but I figured it would help to distribute my weight so I placed it center of the raft. I set the camera on its maximum timed automatic photo and propped it up on top of a make shift log bi-pod and ran down the shore jumping up onto the raft. The raft at first supported my weight but slowly began to sink about 8in beneath the surface. I hoped off to see if the photo was useable; it wasn’t so I had to try again. This time I just held the camera and attempted to get a photo while standing on the raft but as I stepped around the cordage began unknotting and breaking, logs began to become more spaced and thus I began slowly sinking further to about 14in beneath water. I fearing the end of another one of my brothers cameras began making my way back to shore, I stepped from the raft into the water feeling pretty miserable. It couldn’t take the abuse of on and off and was nearly in pieces now. I called it quits and began chopping the remaining vines off and removing the debris from the river. As I was doing this I was thinking what could have been done? Three more logs, larger logs more cross braces more cordage, better cordage, all these things seemed what was needed to see this to success. I don’t believe it was any one thing that really wasn’t done correctly but many little lacking elements that made the raft unable to be a durable solution to a water way. Mind you if I were only crossing a lake or water way with calm conditions and not a concern over drowning borrowed equipment I could have kneeled on the raft or even layed down completely and used it like a floatation device and just paddled my way across the surface, but if encountered with any adverse conditions, this vessel would have failed and left me stranded out in the waters current.
It is the following day and man is my body sore. Lol I powerlift and exercise routinely and I am tore up after all that. My right forearm is killing from all the chopping and my back is extremely tender from all the lifting/dragging and bending. So man talk about a good workout out side the gym.
Thank you for another great contest which I walked away from with new ideas and some new skill sets. I understand I didn’t make it happen this time, but I believe it’s important to still finish the race. I hope that maybe some of you who weren’t able to experience the building of your own can learn from my try instead.
*included whipping the ESEE6 back into shape after the use as well.
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