Exploring the Nessmuk "Trio"

[Modoc ED]

The only picture of a Nessmuk trio I have ever taken is this one from 2009. I guess it would still qualify as a useful combination.

L lambertiana - I joined BF in 2010 and you were posting threads of your hikes in the Sierras - very enjoyable. I'd bet those knives and the ax came in handy for those hikes.

 

[screened porch]

The hatchet got here early.

 

[Pàdruig]

Thank you all for contributing your thoughts, your own "Nessmuk trios", and your interest. I'm still decompressing a bit from my trip and I will post some pictures and more in depth thoughts in the coming days. In the meantime though, I will share some initial impressions:

- High desert offers less opportunities for woodcraft than I expected, despite there being kind of a "forest" there. Lots of sagebrush and ponderosa pine - not much else...
- The Nessmuk style knife is good for exactly what George wrote about - eating, skinning, and cutting meat (no skinning involved this trip but plenty of eating and meat cutting)
- With the axe and belt knife (and a host of other knives at this particular gathering), there was little opportunity to use the pocket knife

Ultimately, I will need to expand on my exploration. Being at home offers plenty of opportunities - I live in a rural area, and have ready access to a lot of outdoor areas in general. More to come on this, I promise.

As for my Nessmuk trio, I'd have to break some rules and replace the Moose with a Victorinox Farmer or Huntsman. Modern day classics that, I tell myself, Nessmuk or Kephart would use if they had been available.

It is interesting to theorize what tools these fellas might have written about had they the opportunity in their time. I came across a blog post from an author who writes about this very idea.

Edited to add: If you ever get the chance to visit the Adirondack Museum on Blue Mountain Lake, NY, there's a great exhibit on Nessmuk. They display many of his belongings, including his canoes, and I believe his trio, or a facsimile of it.

I would very much love to see that, Gary. Next time I am over in that neck of the woods, I will need to make that a priority.

I've always been wary of a double bit axe and double bit short axe. Long ago I was with my Dad and two of his cousins when the cousins were splitting wood for a wood fired cook stove. Instead of a splitting maul they had a double bit axe. Their method for splitting was to stand a piece of wood on a chopping block (a two foot tall piece of log) and split the piece of wood with the axe. Well, one cousin placed a piece of wood on the chopping block and then made a full swing with the axe. The blade did not strike true and the axe handle at the axe head hit the piece of wood and bounced back and hit the cousin in the forehead. He wore that scar until they placed him in the ground and on through eternity as far as I know.

Looking forward to your adventure Dylan. Perhaps a hard hat may be in order.

Modoc ED , I always had the same fear (to some extent).

Perhaps part of the reason I moved it along to another forum member a few years ago who was looking for this specific ax.

I did have Lee make a leather guard for the edge that was not being employed...and which could be affixed with a leather thong. That helped minimize, but not completely remove, any danger.

I suppose one could just as well smack themselves with the poll of an axe in a similar situation. I would not relish getting hit by either poll or edge. Personally, I think a double bit axe to be a handier tool out in the field, whether it to be for the purposes laid out by Nessmuk or simply because being abroad might warrant the versatility a double bit affords. I'd much rather use a good single bit axe for processing wood at the homestead though.

I'm not much of a woodsman or anything but I have great interest, and to me a quartet makes much more sense these days because small folding saws are so useful and readily available.


For a belt axe I have a double bit option and understand it's benefits, but I like this J yerkes belt axe which is very true to the period having been forged in 1864.
I just like thinking that perhaps he crossed paths with a fellow outdoorsman who was carrying this very tool on their belt.

The belt knife is a green river which is self explanatory.

I chose a scout for the pocket knife because of the awl.

The saw is a Fanno works no.2 that I cut down and reshaped quite a bit to fit in my pocket better while exploring on my minibike.

More than a few outdoors writers have mentioned a similar thought process - modern days bring modern tools and that because we live in an age of improved technology and easy access to gear, Nessmuk's trio is an outdated concept. I don't know that I necessarily agree with that completely as I like exploring traditional philosophies and have often hiked with nothing more than a blanket roll and a small ruck. Modern materials, tech, and gear can bring a lot of convenience and comfort but sometimes the skills that allowed a fellow to trek successfully with little gear get lost in the marketing.

It's irritating that Nessmuk doesn't, IIRC, say anything about dimensions or weights; we have to guess from the apparent grip lengths in an illustration where everything seems to be to a different scale.
If I don't recall correctly, I apologize to Nessmuk and the human race.

This is a point that I have often found myself mulling over, Jer. You are correct, Nessmuk says nothing of the dimensions of his "pocket-axe" and if we were to trust that the image plate is to scale, his axe would be rather small indeed. It isn't without the realm of possibility though, he was a rather diminutive man and likely had different needs than his contemporaries. For instance, I am almost a foot taller than he was and well over twice his weight - my capabilities for hauling gear and wielding larger/heavier tools would have differed from his, I would imagine.

 

[Blues]

I suppose one could just as well smack themselves with the poll of an axe in a similar situation. I would not relish getting hit by either poll or edge. Personally, I think a double bit axe to be a handier tool out in the field, whether it to be for the purposes laid out by Nessmuk or simply because being abroad might warrant the versatility a double bit affords. I'd much rather use a good single bit axe for processing wood at the homestead.

Well, if I had my druthers, I suppose I'd opt for smacking myself in the noggin with the blunt side. Neither would be fun, but one will leave a bigger mark. YMMV.

I have lots of axes, and on the whole, I feel the single bits are a bit more forgiving of user error. People have accidents under all sets of circumstances, tired, ill, lack of experience etc. Being far from help can lead to disaster.

I've had occasion to be far from a trailhead when someone was mauled by a bear...and another occasion when an individual had appendicitis. The wilderness can be an unforgiving mistress. As dangerous as she is alluring.

The Gransfors Bruks mini is my favorite in the small category. I've had one for several years.

 

[screened porch]

For instance, I am almost a foot taller than he was and well over twice his weight - my capabilities for hauling gear and wielding larger/heavier tools would have differed from his, I would imagine.

Neither one of us would get very far in his canoe, either.

 

[screened porch]

I suppose one could just as well smack themselves with the poll of an axe in a similar situation.

The edge looks more alarming than a poll coming back at your face, I learned this morning. It's closer to your face than a poll would be, for one thing.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I don't know that I necessarily agree with that completely as I like exploring traditional philosophies and have often hiked with nothing more than a blanket roll and a small ruck. Modern materials, tech, and gear can bring a lot of convenience and comfort but sometimes the skills that allowed a fellow to trek successfully with little gear get lost in the marketing.

I can't fault that at all.

I pretty much believe that so many things are just as good / viable as they ever were. From knives to hand tools, it's often just opinion and marketing that have changed.
I do not think the trio is outdated at all from the standpoint that no one tool can do everything.
I simply feel he would have likely found purpose in a small folding saw for more precise cuts and easily cutting notches for shelter and trap building if such a tool was readily available.
With skill however I know one can get by just fine.

 

[Pàdruig]

Well, if I had my druthers, I suppose I'd opt for smacking myself in the noggin with the blunt side. Neither would be fun, but one will leave a bigger mark. YMMV.

I certainly agree. I guess the point that I could have been far more plain about delivering is that the risks involved with a double bit have never been a factor with regards to choosing an axe for me. There are risks with any sort of tool but experienced handling can mitigate quite a lot of that.

I have lots of axes, and on the whole, I feel the single bits are a bit more forgiving of user error. People have accidents under all sets of circumstances, tired, ill, lack of experience etc. Being far from help can lead to disaster.

Again, agreed. I had an accident with an axe out in the wilderness once, I took it as a very good lesson that I cite often on BF here.

Neither one of us would get very far in his canoe, either.

This made me laugh. A lot. Nicely done .

 

[Blues]

I certainly agree...

Fortunately, I have no images to share of any of my wilderness faux pas...climbing in the Rockies and Sierras, winter mountaineering etc...and more fortunately, none of them resulted in copious loss of blood. A separated shoulder, a large bump on the head, a few sprains and strains.

I do most of the bloodshed to myself at home...close enough to be stitched up by a professional in a reasonable amount of time. So, I've had that going for me...which while not necessarily nice, is lucky at least.

Be safe out there.

 

[dantzk8]

I'm not much of a woodsman or anything but I have great interest, and to me a quartet makes much more sense these days because small folding saws are so useful and readily available

I simply feel he would have likely found purpose in a small folding saw for more precise cuts and easily cutting notches for shelter and trap building if such a tool was readily available.
With skill however I know one can get by just fine.

Good point, it's possible to split logs with a pruning saw.

Dan.

 

[Kevin-B]

I certainly agree. I guess the point that I could have been far more plain about delivering is that the risks involved with a double bit have never been a factor with regards to choosing an axe for me. There are risks with any sort of tool but experienced handling can mitigate quite a lot of that.



Again, agreed. I had an accident with an axe out in the wilderness once, I took it as a very good lesson that I cite often on BF here.

This made me laugh. A lot. Nicely done .

I think that scar will leave a good reminder aswell

 

[screened porch]

Looking at Nessmuk's etching again, I think maybe just the moose is in a larger scale. The grip portion of the axe looks about the same length as the handle of the skinner.

 

[Modoc ED]

I do have a lot of experience splitting wood. There's roughly six cords of split, 16 in long, pieces of firewood in my wood shed. All split by hand mostly with a splitting maul but a good deal done with a single bit ax. Once it gets to this stage, a hatchet is most useful for splitting it further. One BIG thing I took away from splitting all this firewood was that a hydraulic or electric log splitter would have been much easier on the back and much easier to use. Nowadays, we use a Monitor kerosene heater and only fire up the wood stove when the power goes out. No chopped fingers, legs, hands, etc. contributed to the contents of my woodshed.

My wood splitting days are over. I'm too old and decrepit for that kind of work. So, should I need to restock my woodshed, I'll buy it by the cord for $120.00 - split.

No fancy, dancy, axes - just whatever the hardware store had when I needed one - mostly Estwing or Ace Hardware brand.

Old picture. Just what I have on hand. Not snowing here today.

Edited to correct number of cords of wood in woodshed. Seven to six and add a clearer shot of the woodshed.

 

[lambertiana]

View attachment 1683723

I do have a lot of experience splitting wood. There's roughly six cords of split, 16 in long, pieces of firewood in my wood shed. All split by hand mostly with a splitting maul but a good deal done with a single bit ax. Once it gets to this stage, a hatchet is most useful for splitting it further. One BIG thing I took away from splitting all this firewood was that a hydraulic or electric log splitter would have been much easier on the back and much easier to use. Nowadays, we use a Monitor kerosene heater and only fire up the wood stove when the power goes out. No chopped fingers, legs, hands, etc. contributed to the contents of my woodshed.

My wood splitting days are over. I'm too old and decrepit for that kind of work. So, should I need to restock my woodshed, I'll buy it by the cord for $120.00 - split.

No fancy, dancy, axes - just whatever the hardware store had when I needed one - mostly Estwing or Ace Hardware brand.

Old picture. Just what I have on hand. Not snowing here today.

Edited to correct number of cords of wood in woodshed. Seven to six and add a clearer shot of the woodshed.

That brings back memories. Growing up in upstate New York we had a wood stove and two fireplaces that saw a lot of use. We typically went through 30 cords (full, not face) every winter. It was all hardwood, mostly maple and oak with the occasional birch. My brother and I were responsible for all splitting. Most was done with sledgehammer and wedge with smaller stuff done with axe.

 

[Modoc ED]

Sorry to see this thread dying on page three. It was picking up speed for awhile but lately is languishing.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Heres a trio I came up with a few years ago.

 

[Hickory n steel]

And another one.

Boy was this vintage pack axe an awesome little bugger .

A 1.5lb head on it's original 20" handle.
Sadly the bit has been sharpened back a little, and the handle got to a point where it couldn't be saved.

I'd love to find another, but it was unmarked.
As is the head is destined for a regular hatchet handle, but if I found one like it without any sharpening l'd make a 20" handle for it.

 

[Johnnythefox]

Thanks to you I ordered the book,Amazon has just dropped it off without ringing the doorbell of course, £6 all in for a new copy

 

[Pàdruig]

Sorry to see this thread dying on page three. It was picking up speed for awhile but lately is languishing.

It's partly my fault, Ed. I haven't had a lot of time this last week to compose thoughts, process pictures, etc. I hope to revisit it this weekend.

 

[Johnnythefox]

Here is what I have.

Axe I refurbished from an antique shop.

2 blade trapper,perfect for the job.

Enzo trapper I built myself from a kit.I only had a garden wall to work on and had never done anything like this before.

The pouch was hand made for me to my design,deep in it so it wont fall out yet easy to remove.
I also developed my own idea for a thumb loop at the end of a snake knot for working over water,the wrist loops I had where to long and snagged things.

I did have a Fally F1 pilot survival knife, but this just felt better and more useful.
A lot of military stuff is built to be usable by everyone (idiot proof) and bomb proof but its not always best for the job.

I would choose a saw everytime nowadays.