Happy Early Birthday To Me :)

Mistwalker

Mistwalker

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2007
Messages
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I got an early birthday present today. Some years ago I used to read articles by Chris and Gretchen Janowski in magazines like Practical Survival, and American Survival Guide. He was a big influence on me then and the inspiration for my taking some of the teenagers in our neighborhood out in the woods and teaching them things about starting fires under different conditions, building shelters, making shelters, building fish traps and spears, and setting snares and stuff. It was a good way to get them away from the television and out actually doing things, and I still do that today whenever the opportunities come along. It's not as often that I have the time to spare but I still enjoy it just as much. I always wanted to go through the course at the World Survival Institute but never made it. But today I got an awesome early birthday present.

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It is pretty badly pitted, and a perfect example of just how environmentally sensitive ferrocerium is....but it's still something I have wanted for a very long time and had all but forgotten about until Marion and I got into a conversation on different ferrocerium fire starters. When he mentioned it I immediately remembered and wanted to buy it.

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and he sent me this sheath for an RC-3 we had been talking about since before I got the 3MIL. I don't know if he is a mind reader or what but I don't think he knew I was working on getting a RAT PACK RC-3 which has orange G-10 handle scales this will go just great with!! I don't think it looks bad at all even with the green handle of this one so this will be the sheath I use when I carry the 3MIL on my pack strap, especially when I'm holding class. I love the bi-symmetric shape and the retention is perfect!

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Awesome early birthday presents! :thumbup:

Tanks Bro!!


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Congrats mang. :thumbup:


I still have one of those in my collection too. Along with a WSI Ranger Knife. :)
 
trukreltrog said:
Congrats mang. :thumbup:


I still have one of those in my collection too. Along with a WSI Ranger Knife. :)
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Thanks man, lol, I had been wanting one of these so long I had forgot I wanted it...and had actually given up hope of running across one. This is a great piece of history for me.
 
Got most of his tapes, his book. Big influence on the whole survival community.
Read almost everything he wrote. He was a tormented man that came to a tragic end though.
 
Thanks guys, lol, my birthday is still over a month away but I doubt anybody is going to top this...or even come close :thumbup:

Thanks Marion, it's all awesome!
 
Quick little story - I had occasion to talk to Chris on the phone about an order I wanted to place. We probably talked for 1/2 hour or so and one of the things we discussed was mag bars. I told him I liked the Coghlan one just fine. He told me he sold ones that he felt were quite a bit better.

When I received my order from him, he had enclosed one of his mag bars for free and said to give it a try! It seems it was indicative of the kind of man he was. I still have it, barely used, on a Baldric with a Mora and an EZ lap.

Chris, R.I.P.

Doc
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Quick little story - I had occasion to talk to Chris on the phone about an order I wanted to place. We probably talked for 1/2 hour or so and one of the things we discussed was mag bars. I told him I liked the Coghlan one just fine. He told me he sold ones that he felt were quite a bit better.

When I received my order from him, he had enclosed one of his mag bars for free and said to give it a try! It seems it was indicative of the kind of man he was. I still have it, barely used, on a Baldric with a Mora and an EZ lap.

Chris, R.I.P.

Doc
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Thanks for that Doc. I've heard a lot of good stories about the man, I just hate that I never got to meet him.
 
That looks like a neat early B-day gift Brian. Several years back I chatted with Chris before his death and ordered some of his tapes and firestarters. I still use one to this day down at my campsite.

Speaking of my campsite I took down my tarps since we are putting cattle in that pasture soon. I did not want them to mess around under my tarp or even knock them down lol. Cattle can be pretty curiuos lol.

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I like the orange sheath. Way to go man lol.

Any one know what Chris died of?

Bryan
 
jcl-MD said:
Happy birthday!!
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333rm said:
Happy Birythday Mistwalker!!!
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Thanks guys! Like I said it's still over a month away, but I seriously doubt anyone will top these for presents :)


sicily02 said:
That looks like a neat early B-day gift Brian. Several years back I chatted with Chris before his death and ordered some of his tapes and firestarters. I still use one to this day down at my campsite.

Speaking of my campsite I took down my tarps since we are putting cattle in that pasture soon. I did not want them to mess around under my tarp or even knock them down lol. Cattle can be pretty curiuos lol.

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I like the orange sheath. Way to go man lol.

Any one know what Chris died of?

Bryan
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Thanks Bryan, yeah I don't blame you...spending a lot of time on my grand parent's farm as a kid I learned early just how curious cows can be lol...and how persistent they can be in satisfying that curiosity.

I knew you'd like the orange!

I haven't been able to find anything on the c.o.d.


carspidey said:
nice man... those look like pretty nice collectibles... :)
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Yep, definitely my favorite parts of what is becoming a large ferrocerium collection :D

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Mistwalker, my name's Ian McDevitt and I was Chris's Wilderness Medical Instructor for 7 years and let me tell you brother, I have some STORIES you would not believe....................
 
Miketm said:
Mistwalker, my name's Ian McDevitt and I was Chris's Wilderness Medical Instructor for 7 years and let me tell you brother, I have some STORIES you would not believe....................
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Hello Ian, I can only imagine the stories!


GRIM 62 said:
Happy early birthday mist!I really,really dig that sheath!
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Thanks Grim!

Yeah, this is the fourth one I have so far and I am digging Marion's sheaths in general!
 
Cool. Happy early birthday. That's a sharp looking sheath, too.

mistwalker said:
It is pretty badly pitted, and a perfect example of just how environmentally sensitive ferrocerium is...
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That's what my firesteel looks like on the side it's been used most. It still works, though.
 
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