Hatchets and Large knives

Except that for the Northwest, this works... plus, I also carry one of those SAS wire saws in my firestarter kit...
 
Since a lot of you are Khukri fans... I came across this piece by a maker in Oregon who builds survival packages around forged blades... He, too, feels the Khukri to be one of the best alround survival tools..
 

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I presume you mean the khukri...

Alan Boruck, from the Northern part of Oregon, forges these... this one out of O-1 or A-2... I hafta look at the blade where he signed it to remember. He also forged the companion blades which are totally functional fixed blades themselves and almost appear to be damascus, although I don't think they are. He also 'fashioned' the firestarter (magn. and flintrod) and the diamond sharpener. The sheath is traditional buffalo over wood with the addition of the two pouches on the front for sparker and sharpener.
 

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A good saw is definately the tool for firewood, We always carry a bow saw and extra blades, either on an ATV or broken down in someone's pack. Try to use a hatchet or hawk on naturally felled wood that's been weathered more than a season or two, and you'll have sore hands the rest of the trip.

The reason for the hawk, or big knife like the Brute is to have it with you when you need it.

If we all are gathering firewood, we use our hawks/big knives/choppers like the Woodsman's Pal to safely cleared an area, make the initial fire gathering cut, and drag the felled wood to the central cleared area for sawing/splitting.

As an aside,I am amazed on how many people do not know how to sharpen a hachet or axe!
 
I did a search too Thomas. No luck. That's a beautiful and useful setup don't you think? Love to have one. Maybe he will check in with the address. The fellow must not have a website.
 
Sorry guys,
He's an ex-LEO or Crim. Justice type and wants a totally low profile. He doesn't make much use of the web or email and I don't have any other contact info other than IIRC "rifleman@aol.com" and you must mention "Khukri" in the subject line or he deletes everything as spam..(I won't swear 100% to the email address as my memory is going south with the rest of me).. I'm pretty sure he hits some of the local knife shows, especially the Eugene show in April... but otherwise, he's difficult to get ahold of... and this is the only one I've ever seen...
 
Joe,

Tried that e mail and it came back. Something about not accepting e mail from this sender. Do you have to spell Khukri like you spell it? I spelled it khukuri.
 
Maybe Joe will contact him and let him know that there are some folks that'd like to own some of his handywork.
 
Sorry guys... didn't work for me either... I lost my note and am working from memory... However, if I run into a guy at one of the shows I know, I'll try and see if I can reestablish a contact and let y'all know...

I know, it's tuff when ya find something great but it ends up being rather scarce or difficult to get... In this case, it is a great package - heavy, but okay if you are on horseback or ATV... it is one of the best packages I have encountered in this particular style!
 
Quiet bear you mentioned that you like to go light and that the tracker is heavy, how heavy is it? Is it a pain to wear it on a belt? Is it better to carry it in a pack or something?
 
Grant, I can't remember the spec on the tracker, but in regards to heavy, that is a pretty relative thing. Not only to the person, but in how the person is carrying themself. If you are tromping in the woods with jeans, boots, pack, and a jacket, you won't notice it anymore than you would a KaBar even though is probably weighs +2x that knife.

I hardly carry anything unless I am travelling outside the SE, so it is a lot to me. In fact, I am going to try just carrying a neck knife.

Even though I don't carry it, I will say this, if I was in a wilderness survival situation and I had to choose one thing, it would be that knife (or the Beck WSK).

Oh yeah, the Tracker knife has a scout carry option (horizontal) which is nice, just don't fall on your back.
 
OuietBear?

I'm not flaming, or taking shots at Tom Brown, but the Tracker looks like three bad ideas rolled into one tool.

Have you had success with this? The saw looks...cosmetic. The hacking blade looks too truncated to be efficient. The sharp edge looks like it was put in the most awkward place it could be.

But I've only seen the tool and the movie...and haven't ever used one.

Could you go into detail on some positive feedback? Thanks.

:)
 
No offense taken. The real positive for the knife is it is an all in one tool that is relatively compact. It would not be my first choice to clean game, carve, chop, saw, scrape, etc. But it does all these things, just not as well as a tool designed specifically for that task.

So, if you are working on trying to go primitive and carry the minimal, this maybe the knife for you. The question for someone looking at one of these knives is, “what trade off am I willing to accept and what is my current skill level? Ok, I'll carry a smaller knife, but do I need to carry a saw and/or a hatchet now?”

If you are not building your own shelter, implements, bow drill set, etc. and relying on manmade items, I suggest saving your money. Why else have a knife like that if you don’t have the skill?

Here is a review that might answer some of your questions of actual performance in comparison with the Beck WSK. Hope it helps. QB

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=253338&highlight=tracker
 
For the weight, I would rather Carry a GB Mini Hatchet, Puukko and folding saw. The weight on these is only 22 oz.including sheaths vs 28 oz. and I think that weight does not include the sheath. Just my opinion.

If you want an other option for an all in one tool for a lot less money, carry a GB Wildlife Hatchet. It weighs 24 oz. and is wickedly sharp. As long as you do not use it to dig with it is an assume tool.
 
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