Hey guys - let's keep personal attacks off the forum.
For the sake of clarity, let's define a few things (already posted earlier in this thread, but I guess not everyone reads every post...*sigh*)
Bushcraft = skill at living in the bush
Bushcraft knife = a knife that helps you live out in the bush (wilderness/forest/etc.)
Batoning = using a knife to do axe work because you have no axe.
There's been some discussion on whether or not my folder can be used to baton - even though I have stated I have used it many times over the last year to do just that, and I say in this thread as well as on my webpage that you can indeed baton with it. I should know, right?
As long as the batoning is done correctly. This is the correct way to do it:
[video=youtube;rQHAdBxOSSE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQHAdBxOSSE[/video]
Any knife owner knows that if they use their knife (whether fixed or folding) to baton through something hard (say, a concrete block), they're going to damage the edge and possibly break the knife. This would be considered abuse. Most reasonably minded folks would also say that using a knife to "replace" an axe (rather than "compensate for lack of an axe") is also abuse. You can't tie your knife to a branch and slam it down on hardwood and expect it to survive.
For me, personally....Bushcraft is mental, not physical. It's not about what you've got, but more about *how* you use what you've got. Can you adapt to your surroundings and make do with what you have? Can you discover new uses for your tools? Can you become more efficient at using them? Can you use your tools to make more tools/gadgets?
For some, Bushcraft means Survival. This is not true. Bushcraft is more about going out and staying out. Survival is about living long enough to be rescued. A Bushcraft knife would be expected to last over longer periods of time...hold it's edge well...and be simple to use and resharpen. It's not a one-tool-to-rule-them-all, though it should be capable of handling multiple tasks. And it's implied that the owner will take good care of it and try to get as much use out of it as possible.
For even others, Bushcraft means abuse. They think that any knife should be a sharpened prybar, weigh a ton, have lots of grinds/angles, and require gloves for usage. That it should be able to be pounded through a car door, or a concrete block wall. That it should survive a 200ft drop from a Heli. Knives that are designed with those tasks in mind cannot handle the fine detail work needed for making traps and triggers...for drilling holes....for food prep...for dressing small game...for eating with...fire prep...fuzz sticks...woodcarving...spoonmaking...etc. Knives designed for *these* tasks require a keen edge that you keep honed. You shouldn't need to take your bushcraft knife back to a coarse stone unless you've abused it somehow.
Like I tell my Scouts:
"Take care of your stuff, and your stuff takes care of you"
I stand by my design. I've tested for 18 months now of nearly daily use - in my pocket, backyard, hiking trips, etc. I've let newbs use it. I've had ole-duffers use it. Any issues that came up were resolved. This final prototype represents my 16th design modification. I'm not sure I can squeeze any more out of it. It's ready. I'm ready.
This knife was never the answer to the question "Can you make a folder as strong as a fixed blade"
It
*was* an answer to the question "Can you make a folding knife that is comfortable enough to use for typical bushcraft use and will stand up to the demands". The comparison is to other folders. Most folders we carry out in the woods have uncomfortable handles for extended use, or thin grinds, or hard-to-sharpen steels, or are too lightweight. This one isn't any of those things.
If anyone can't imagine batoning with a folding knife, then perhaps they shouldn't.
*shrug*
Lastly, this is my forum. I try my best to not delete posts. So help me out by keeping things civil and gentlemanly. No-one is being forced to buy anything. If you disagree or dislike something, you're welcome to your opinion. Share it if you must. But one's words sometimes speak louder than intended. I invite anyone reading/lurking to browse the entire thread and judge for themselves.
I think that about covers it.
