Good Weather.

[Big Mike]

The weather has been good here the past few days, and I’ve had the chance to get out a shoot a few photos and hone a few wilderness skills.

Here are a few photos.

That’s Tony with a Glacial Erratic Bolder made of Chert that we harvested some material from; the stone sparks a steel nicely.

And here’s Tony putting his David Farmer Golok to the test.

The final shot is of my Mesquite handled Bark River Clax.

"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike

 

[Rockywolf]

Good pics Mike. What the heck is Tony doing with a hammer in the woods? I fugured he'd have at least half a dozen knives hanging off him. And you didn't have any pics of yourself...

 

[Big Mike]

Tony and I where packing plenty of sharpened steel,

…with my hammer, his saw and those big choppers we could have built a log cabin.


Plus with some nice hunks of chert we could have started a nice fire to keep us toasty.

We also found some fatwood and tinder fungus. :thumbup:

 

[norcalblacktail]

Cool pics. Looks like you guys had some fun. And anytime you find some fatwood is a good time.

 

[Jeff H]

Great pics, Mike.:thumbup:
Looked like a great day.

 

[Mentor]

Great pictures, and some nice knives too!

I'm a fan of that Golok. Looks like a great chopper.

Thanks for sharing, and all the best,

- Mike

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Hey GS, where are the safety glasses? Check out TF's thread about steel lodged in his leg.

GP

 

[cmdr249]

That looks like it was fun.

Cool pics.

 

[Big Mike]

Hey... where are the safety glasses? Check out TF's thread about steel lodged in his leg.

In the sprit of full disclosure I must confess that the photo of Tony with the hammer was staged.

Doc is correct in his warning, flying chards of stone or steel can be very dangerous.

Removing flakes of chert was my idea, I’m the one who brought the hammer and I did wear safety glasses.

And for the record; no animals or Forum Members where injured during the making of my photo essay.








"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike

 

[kvaughn]

Is that water the Shepaug River?--KV

 

[kgd]

Nice. I don't see many pictures of the clax. What do you use it for and how does it carry?

 

[tonym]

And here’s Tony putting his David Farmer Golok to the test.

Big Mike[/I][/COLOR][/B]

Wow you actually caught that in shot in motion before the wood split

Even though it looks like I am pinching a loaf with my facial expression

 

[tonym]

Hey GS, where are the safety glasses? Check out TF's thread about steel lodged in his leg.

GP

Thanks for your concern GP, I KNEW YOU CARED
I never said I was the smartest guy

However Mike did most of the rock gathering, when I did hit the rock I made sure to look away.

 

[tonym]

Good pics Mike. What the heck is Tony doing with a hammer in the woods? I fugured he'd have at least half a dozen knives hanging off him. And you didn't have any pics of yourself...

Mike knew I have been excited with my new flint and steel, so we went to a spot where he knew we could score some chert! We hacked up a bunch and it works excellent. If any of you guys have a steel but no flint or chert, drop me a line!

 

[j williams]

Hey Tony.....You look like a natural breaking rocks.....Did time in the stockade huh??











Looks awesome. That Clax looks cool. Man I need to get out. Maybe today!

 

[koyote]

Good pics. out here in the central valley it's been cold and foggy ALL WEEK. This is a pisser for knifemaking work, but the dayhikes and mushroom hunting have been fun.

 

[Big Mike]

Nice. I don't see many pictures of the clax. What do you use it for and how does it carry?

The Clax is Mike Stewart’s homage to the Celtic Cledd.

He describes it as a cross between a Cledd and an Axe.

In the field it works like a hatchet with a much bigger sweet stop.

I’ve been using mine for the trail clearing work I do.

I carry it on a Baldric Rig; that day I had the Clax along with my recurved Gameskeeper II and camera case on the Baldric.

Even though it’s a little heavier then most of my big blades, it carried well on the rig. :thumbup:


Here’s a comparison shot of it with a Blackwater Boot knife; it is a large tool.

"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike

 

[okbohn]

Great pics. Mike, you live in a beautiful place!

 

[mtnfolk mike]

great pics guys...:thumbup: that clax looks awesome mike...

you lucky dog, i would love to have some chert nearby to collect.... i'll trade you for some fatwood....

 

[tonym]

great pics guys...:thumbup: that clax looks awesome mike...

you lucky dog, i would love to have some chert nearby to collect.... i'll trade you for some fatwood....

I'll send you a lil something, I have fatwood overhere, but thanks anyway.:thumbup: