In Appreciation of the Thin Edge

[Hoodoo]

Good points, Will. Nowadays, I always purchase wood locally and take it with me for camping. If I run out, there is usually someone close to the campground that sells firewood. I even take along my own whittlin' wood (although I will occasionally whittle on a small branch that might be handy).

In the backcountry I rarely build fires. I do my cooking over a stove and watch the stars at night instead of a fire. I suggest that we should all think carefully before we start gathering and chopping wood for a fire. I've seen a pile of backcountry campgrounds that are denuded and just plain ugly. My idea of wilderness isn't seeing barren campsites all along the trail and a bunch of blackened fire pits. As the saying goes, take only pictures and leave only footprints.




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Hoodoo

The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone—the light-press’d blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.

Walt Whitman

 

[matthew rapaport]

Hoodoo, its interesting to see just how far "minimal impact backpacking" has progressed! Now we don't even do camp fires?! Oh well. We do pay some price for an expanding population. I suppose fire pits and burning native wood is not the only growing ecological problem in our national parks, but either way, it does reduce the need for a chopping tool and make the carry of a thin knife all the more sensible. Not only does it cut better, but its lighter to carry!

Chopping may be another matter, but even here, depending on the material, thinner may be better. My <a href="http://www.sonic.net/~quine/sbm_rcm.html">Aki SB machete</a> cuts though soft and medium plant tissue far better than my heavier and thicker <a href="http://www.sonic.net/~quine/sbm_rcm.html">Livesay RCM</a>. It has the length a machete requires yet retains its strength thanks to the high quality (ATS-34) steel and quality heat treatment. As the wood gets harder or thicker, the RCM begins to hold its own, its superior weight and more substantial handle enhancing the hand and arm's ability to cut pieces out of the target material. Of course not many of us are DEA agents charged with hacking down hundreds of 10' high marijuana trees.

The thicker, heavier knife has its uses, but as most here have pointed out, they are less related to cutting than they are to the other things one might have to do with an otherwise longer flat piece of steel, namely chop hard woods, dig, pry, and pound, something that most of us national-park wanderers rarely have to do!

 

[mickyd]

** I'm sorry but what i see around me with
the type of culture we have,outside of the
diehard enthuisats,We have Men And Women Ready to spend Good (big) money on every kid of small trick looking Blade or MiniTool. So Bring Them On .Sorry

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Thats a Good ONE

 

[RMLamey]

If you appreciate a knife that will cut well, sharpen well, and is cool to boot,
you must get in touch with Murray Carter.



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"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty"
Thomas Jefferson

www.lameyknives.com

 

[Hoodoo]

Originally posted by RMLamey:
If you appreciate a knife that will cut well, sharpen well, and is cool to boot,
you must get in touch with Murray Carter.

Is there a website?

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Hoodoo

The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone—the light-press’d blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.

Walt Whitman

 

[db]

I am not really sure if it is the edge angle or the thickness behind the edge witch matters most. I am finding that sharpness is a wierd thing. I am starting to beleive that edge angles don't matter as much as the grind thickness of the blade, but every time I think I am getting it something happens to make me thinkI don't get it.

Hoodoo for being from Michigan you make a great point.

There is nothing better than being in the woods at night without a fire. Being in the wild with just moon light and no fire or flash light is really the way to go. Even a moonless night will still be bright evough once your eyes ajust.

 

[Samurai6]

You've got it db, it is the thickness of the edge that is the most significant determining factor in cutting efficiency. You can have a knife with a blade an inch wide with 1/4" spine, and it will cut like crazy if it has a thin edge.