I was thinking the same thing.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
MLK Weekend Winter Camping Pictures
- Thread starter k_estela
- Start date
I was thinking the same thing.
thanks for sharing the pics. glad you all had a good time.
wish i could have joined you since it was so nearby but my winter gear is a little lacking and there was no time to buy some with work being hectic. i'm going to try to make a trip sometime in the future though.
wish i could have joined you since it was so nearby but my winter gear is a little lacking and there was no time to buy some with work being hectic. i'm going to try to make a trip sometime in the future though.
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2001
- Messages
- 2,101
Sicily,
I've handled the Canadian Special and it is a fine knife. I just don't care for finger grooves on a knife intended for heavy use. Any contours in a handle give me hot spots.
As for cutting wood, we found numerous trees that were dead standing. Many trees were recently blown down in the area and were still with leaves, needles and green wood. When possible, the gents picked boughs from those. One in particular yielded plenty of twig bundles for fire starting. We had a couple very very dry and frozen oak trees to saw, quarter and use for firewood. The green stuff was not used as it does pop and smoke more than dry seasoned wood.
The axes carried included Gransfors Bruks Scandinavian Forest Axes and Wetterlings. Both were fine performers and made cutting hardwood much easier than with a large knife. Large knives were used for battoning through wood blocks and making kindling/small fuel.
As for the carry laws, my CHL from out of state has reciprocity where we were. Knives usually fall under a recreational use statute as long as they aren't automatics, ballistic knives or anything not practical for true woods use. I'm not an attorney or a LEO so please check your local laws first before relying on this info. I know this is the case in CT. As for why I carry a Glock on a group camping trip? The smart ass answer is because it is lighter than my Marine Magnum. The real answer is because I'm responsible, I know how to use it and would not ever rely (despite currently studying Kali) on a knife for self-defense. In the woods, you never know what you'll encounter and way off the beaten path as we were, I wasn't going to take any chances.
More pics are coming, I'm cutting and pasting them from one site to the next.
I've handled the Canadian Special and it is a fine knife. I just don't care for finger grooves on a knife intended for heavy use. Any contours in a handle give me hot spots.
As for cutting wood, we found numerous trees that were dead standing. Many trees were recently blown down in the area and were still with leaves, needles and green wood. When possible, the gents picked boughs from those. One in particular yielded plenty of twig bundles for fire starting. We had a couple very very dry and frozen oak trees to saw, quarter and use for firewood. The green stuff was not used as it does pop and smoke more than dry seasoned wood.
The axes carried included Gransfors Bruks Scandinavian Forest Axes and Wetterlings. Both were fine performers and made cutting hardwood much easier than with a large knife. Large knives were used for battoning through wood blocks and making kindling/small fuel.
As for the carry laws, my CHL from out of state has reciprocity where we were. Knives usually fall under a recreational use statute as long as they aren't automatics, ballistic knives or anything not practical for true woods use. I'm not an attorney or a LEO so please check your local laws first before relying on this info. I know this is the case in CT. As for why I carry a Glock on a group camping trip? The smart ass answer is because it is lighter than my Marine Magnum. The real answer is because I'm responsible, I know how to use it and would not ever rely (despite currently studying Kali) on a knife for self-defense. In the woods, you never know what you'll encounter and way off the beaten path as we were, I wasn't going to take any chances.
More pics are coming, I'm cutting and pasting them from one site to the next.
Great pics...thanks. You did'nt mention anything about your new Koster bushcraft knife though...I'm interested to here your thoughts on it. I've had mine since Fri. and so far I like it. I think I should have gone with the thicker handle though. I need to use it more though...time will tell.
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2001
- Messages
- 2,101
mtrunner,
I didn't bring the Koster into the woods and I've since sold it. I measured it out and the blade is just longer than 4". I draw the limit at 4" and under for my blades to keep them CT legal. Beautiful knife but because of the length, I would never use it for an EDC knife. It is off to TAWHAWK.
I didn't bring the Koster into the woods and I've since sold it. I measured it out and the blade is just longer than 4". I draw the limit at 4" and under for my blades to keep them CT legal. Beautiful knife but because of the length, I would never use it for an EDC knife. It is off to TAWHAWK.
Ok...sorry to here that. Thanks for the reply.
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2006
- Messages
- 265
K'Estela, thanks for answering the questions i posed on the tree cutting,etc. It was hard to tell from the pictures if the tree being axed was live or not, is why I asked. Nice to get to use those fine axes and actually discuss the merits of each with the others while using them afield.
I've never felt the need to wear my sidearm while on public trails; although your feelings about what you might encounter where you were camping may have justified it's prescence. I cross country backpacked across America twice, and felt more 'threathened' near the outskirts of cities and towns than I did in the wilds, but that was my own perception. Today with clandestine meth labs scattered across the public lands you never know who you'll run into, when or where, sad to say.
The reason the sidearm caused me concern; because here's a group of folks who for all intents and purposes don't really know one another,except from a froum chat room, and someone shows up with a firearm at a knife campout. It would make me uncomfortable because you are'nt a LEO, and I have no idea what experience you have with firearms, and/ or if you have any mental health conditions. I have PTSD and unless I told someone they would be in the dark about it. If I was carrying my sidearm afield with you i would hope you'd want to know a bit more about who i was and my intention of having a sidearm along. This is an open statement not directed at you personally, like I said you had your reasons, and a permit.
I've never felt the need to wear my sidearm while on public trails; although your feelings about what you might encounter where you were camping may have justified it's prescence. I cross country backpacked across America twice, and felt more 'threathened' near the outskirts of cities and towns than I did in the wilds, but that was my own perception. Today with clandestine meth labs scattered across the public lands you never know who you'll run into, when or where, sad to say.
The reason the sidearm caused me concern; because here's a group of folks who for all intents and purposes don't really know one another,except from a froum chat room, and someone shows up with a firearm at a knife campout. It would make me uncomfortable because you are'nt a LEO, and I have no idea what experience you have with firearms, and/ or if you have any mental health conditions. I have PTSD and unless I told someone they would be in the dark about it. If I was carrying my sidearm afield with you i would hope you'd want to know a bit more about who i was and my intention of having a sidearm along. This is an open statement not directed at you personally, like I said you had your reasons, and a permit.
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2001
- Messages
- 2,101
1tracker,
I knew everyone on the trip before the trip and no newbies were there that I didn't know with a degree of separation between us. I've camped with most everyone there before and they know me from my affiliation with the Wilderness Learning Center. Over the years, I've earned and maintained trust with a lot of people. I understand your concerns about packing and I have them too to a degree. I usually respect someone until they give me a reason not to. Unfortunately, with firearms, you don't get to be wrong about people more than once. I would never have walked around with it exposed unless I knew others knew I was competent or that I am mentally stable.
On these trips, we've only had great people show and have fun. Knock on wood. We have had rendezvous' with over 100 people and literally thousands and thousands of dollars of gear left out in the open. We've met up on numerous occasions and have never had a single piece of gear stolen or used without prior permission.
As for everyone not knowing eachother, this isn't true. Many of us on the trip have camped with one another before. On another forum where I'm a moderator, many of the people frequently post and get together on a regular basis. We are like a giant extended family and are always welcoming new members. Had others shown on this trip that said they would, then there would have been strangers present and probably an elevated level of security. Unfortunately, over 10 people said they would attend and backed out without explanation so we will never know.
I knew everyone on the trip before the trip and no newbies were there that I didn't know with a degree of separation between us. I've camped with most everyone there before and they know me from my affiliation with the Wilderness Learning Center. Over the years, I've earned and maintained trust with a lot of people. I understand your concerns about packing and I have them too to a degree. I usually respect someone until they give me a reason not to. Unfortunately, with firearms, you don't get to be wrong about people more than once. I would never have walked around with it exposed unless I knew others knew I was competent or that I am mentally stable.
On these trips, we've only had great people show and have fun. Knock on wood. We have had rendezvous' with over 100 people and literally thousands and thousands of dollars of gear left out in the open. We've met up on numerous occasions and have never had a single piece of gear stolen or used without prior permission.
As for everyone not knowing eachother, this isn't true. Many of us on the trip have camped with one another before. On another forum where I'm a moderator, many of the people frequently post and get together on a regular basis. We are like a giant extended family and are always welcoming new members. Had others shown on this trip that said they would, then there would have been strangers present and probably an elevated level of security. Unfortunately, over 10 people said they would attend and backed out without explanation so we will never know.
K Estela, That's all i was inquiring about, appreciate the straight up answers you posted and the time you took to do so. I was'nt aware of the fact that this was a group of folks who all had some time camping together in the past, that makes it much clearer to me. In the past I've done some fine group camping outings with folks i knew from motorcycle clubs, backpacking clubs, and hunting clubs; so I know how great a time it can be. Someday in the future I'd certainly like to attend a campout, and share some things with folks i've learned in 35yrs backkpacking and camping across the USA.
Really looks like it was a great trip. Wish I could have gone. Maybe next time.
Kevin, what is a CHL? Is it a concealed handgun license? I have a CCW permit from CT and NH. Does PA have reciprocity with CT?
KR
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2001
- Messages
- 2,101
KR,
Check out packing.org or packin.org. It has a license tool that wll tell you which states your license has reciprocity with. Your best bet is to get the Florida license but that is a topic for another thread.
Check out packing.org or packin.org. It has a license tool that wll tell you which states your license has reciprocity with. Your best bet is to get the Florida license but that is a topic for another thread.
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2006
- Messages
- 2,985
Would you be as concerned about the group of people with knives?
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2006
- Messages
- 265
Guys,
This is the 6th or 7th trip that we (Wilderness Learning Center) have organized and we have never had a problem with a group member. You could not get a better group of people anywhere. I don't feel that they are an extended family but more like part of my own family. Every new member has fit in perfectly and if a newbie does have a few quirks they get over it quickly when they see what a tight group we are. New members are always welcome. This time we had 3 ladies including my wife, the most women yet.
Marty Simon
This is the 6th or 7th trip that we (Wilderness Learning Center) have organized and we have never had a problem with a group member. You could not get a better group of people anywhere. I don't feel that they are an extended family but more like part of my own family. Every new member has fit in perfectly and if a newbie does have a few quirks they get over it quickly when they see what a tight group we are. New members are always welcome. This time we had 3 ladies including my wife, the most women yet.
Marty Simon
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2003
- Messages
- 13,182
great pics!
Just kidding.