Modern Mans Nessmuk "kit" - what would it be?

Here's my wierd choices...:o

Himalayan Imports 18" Chiruwa Ang Khola Khukuri- It does everything a hatchet does, at least as well as most hatchets, reaches hard to reach spots, works as a draw knife, brush thinner, etc. Just plain more versatile than a hatchet for the way I use it.

BRKT Nebula- This is the knife that's been doing 90% of the work this summer when I've taken it camping. food prep, fish cleaning, firemaking, spoon carving, etc. I've come to trust it, and learned to appreciate the Scandi/convex edge, and even the 12C27 blade.

Douk Douk- small, flat, lightweight, insanely sharp. It does extra fine work, and stays in my pocket until needed. It's also awesome for striking sparks, and scraping. My Victorinox Trekker or a multi-tool would probably be an all around better choice for this job, but it's just too damn bulky, and I'm trying to be honest about what I've realistically been using most of the time.
 
Most of this has been covered already but here's mine

1. one of those cheap survival hatchets reground/insert your choice of small hatchet here

2. fallkniven s1/SY dumpster mutt/koster nessmuck/BRKT bravo 1

3. victorinox flavor of the month/leatherman


At the end of the day I don't think it matters as long as you 1) have quality tools and 2) have a dedicated chopper, a general purpose knife, and a knife for finer work.
 
If I'm choosing from implements that I already have:

1- Victorinox Swisstool or Spirit
2- Bark River Northstar
3 - My no-name Swedish hatchet

I think Nessmuk would have liked the utility of a well-built multitool, had they been available in his day.
 
1. Large fixed blade 5 to 8 inch blade. shelter building, splitting firewood

2. Leatherman multi -tool. repairs, small knife tasks other small jobs

3. Pocket chainsaw. making firewood or shelter poles sizeable

Scott
 
Well, bringing Nessmuk to this century would not likely change his opinion of what fulfilled his essential needs in the wilderness. He was, after all, a product of his times. Plunked down in a modern woodland, I doubt he would want anything different than what he recommended during his own lifetime

Now, if I am considered a modern day woodsman, then my three choices are these:

1 - Small fixed blade (Schrade Sharpfinger)
2 - Folding Utility knife (MIL-K818)
3 - Medium fixed blade (Schrade Woodsman)

The specs of these knives should be familiar to all here. The MIL-K818 has been around since late in WWII. It has a sufficient sized spear blade and a punch blade for boring. It has a flat screwdriver blade that makes a decent small improvised chisel. Can opener and bottle opener are just there, but there are times when they are handy. I don't have the need for all of the do-dads on leatherman multitools or SAKS. I guess that is the "Nessmuk - simplify" in me.

The Sharpfinger is a very versitile small skinner and very useful if kept sharp. But that goes for all knives. It has both a pronounced choil for finger placement and a ramp on the spine for finger or thumb, allowing me to "choke up" on the small pointy blade for fine work. It's small overall size makes it just right for me carry without interference with moving or with sitting in a canoe. The knife's belly makes it an efficient skinner, and the fine point helps me work it around muscle and tissue in tight spots when butchering for less meat loss. It does have a lanyard hole in the butt of the handle if you care to use it. I don't. If you are a modern day hippie they make good roach clips. :)

The Woodsman is a good all-around "woodsman's", or camp knife. The 5 1/4" thick spined blade is well balanced and well made. It will cut river cane with a easy stroke and if needed can cut small wood such as when building traps or brush shelters. It is big enough to be a defensive weapon without looking like a Rambo knife. The textured serpentine Delrin handle provides a good grip wet or dry, hot or cold.

I seldom have any need for axe or even hatchet. But I don't live in Northern Manitoba either. Or the Oregon coast where a day of heavy fog is considered a dry day.

Codger
 
I'm currently leaning to this combo, of the knives I have:

1. Victorinox Farmer to handle fine cutting tasks, opening bottles and cans, driving screws, sawing sticks, and punching holes in things.
2. Becker BK7 for splitting kindling, light duty chopping or skinning larger animals.
3. Harbor Freight 18" machete for heavier chopping. It was cheap ($5) but took a good edge and can be easily sharpened.
 
hollowdweller said:
As far as modern gear, I think Nessmuk would really love gore tex boots, Sil nylon tarps and tents, titanium cookware. And sleeping bags!
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Not to take away from the thread, but as I was just looking over something about Univeral Orlando having a Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure show, I couldn't help but find the humor in that comment.

It's straight out of Bill & Ted. Too funny.
 
David E said:
Could you please elucidate?

Which SAK ? Which Multi-tool? A folding saw or a hatchet?

Would either work equally well, or would one be better than the other?
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I think anything from a classic SAK, to a Multi-tool such as a charge would be on my list.

For me, I'd take my Gerber 400 multi-tool. I just like it. For others, they might prefer a SAK classic, or swiss tool . . .
It's all personal preferences, but with the options now available I think that some sort of tool along those lines will make the list, but it will depend on your personal preferences and location.
 
David E said:
The wilderness hasn't changed, but man's technology has. Tools that didn't exist in Nessmuk's day exist now. Some of them seem better suited than his original picks. Does that mean his choices of the era were bad? Of course not. Does it mean that those picks couldn't "cut it" (sorry!:D) in the woods today. Not at all. But things might be made easier by choosing a modern tool instead.

My picks:

1) Leatherman Wave with locking tools

2) Busse or Swamprat 7" bladed knife. (Camp Tramp, Ratweiler, or Steel Heart, your choice)

3) Sven Folding Saw.

.
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Not to mention that not many people go out for a few days camping and cut down half a dozen or more trees in this day and age. I think if Nessmuk lived today he would conduct himself a little more conservatively in that regard which is what modern tech really allows for.
I've actually got a modern Nessmuk style that I just assembled myself. It consists of a Leatherman, SRKW Howling Rat LM, and GB mini. Just got the mini and I'm looking forward to getting some chopping in this week.
 
This is my trio, still pretty traditional though, works perfectly in my tropical environment. I may replace the Soldier with the OHT or maybe the Farmer.

HPIM1998.jpg
 
Remember though that Sears berrated, jabbed at, and poked fun of people who carried big bowie knives into the woods. He wasn't nice about their choice in knife. He wanted something small, thin bladed, with a lot of dexterity. If your fixed blade knife in your trio is a sharpened prybar, then you might need to read his work. I assume it would be a first reading because he is very clear on this point.

That is not to say that your trio isn't a good woodland set. But as a Nessmuk Trio, you're shooting blanks.

He carried a set almost exactly like HD's. A pocketknife for small jobs. A thin bladed fixed blade for cutting up food, cleaning game, and spooning peaches into his mouth. And a small hatchet for chopping/big chores. This is documented. Just any three impliments that get the job done don't qualify in this category.

He would never have pried with his knife, and riddiculed the big bowie crowd for what they expected to use their knife for. Thats why its such a fun read. He was as rude as was acceptable in his day about big beefy blowhards and their big ole bowie knives. Worthless for common woodland chores in his opinion.

JMHO.
 
Walkabout!! Love that knife. Did you make it?
 
What I really find odd is the emphasis on the pocket knife or folder in the Nessmuk trio. What can you do with a folder that you can't do with the good fixed blade belt knife, that's what I'd like to know? There aren't any tasks so precise that you can't handle them very easily with a good puukko, so the folder is pretty much just extra baggage. And if one wanted a fallback knife, one could just bring another good fixed blade, with only slightly more weight. And a multitool would be better than a folder for tackling diverse tasks... But tastes differ...

Anyway, my trio for extended stay in the woods would probably be much like Nodh's.

1) Light-weight hatchet for chopping and splitting wood. I like the Fiskars Handy 600 - it's very durable and light, and you could fell large trees with it if you were so inclined, although a bigger axe would be better for that.

2) A good 3 to 4" fixed blade for all the cutting tasks. I'd probably take my trusted Tommipuukko, although the Fällkniven F1 and Busse Game Warden would be good choices also, although on the thick side.

3) A multitool for the other stuff. Either a SAK Ranger or Leatherman Fuse, both of which are reasonably priced and good quality.
 
Elen said:
What I really find odd is the emphasis on the pocket knife or folder in the Nessmuk trio. What can you do with a folder that you can't do with the good fixed blade belt knife, that's what I'd like to know?
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I don't know what Nessmuk's reason was but for me it's that little tiny blade on the folder in my pic.

I agree you could have a little tiny fixed blade too but that's why I usually bring mine.
 
If I wanted to go 21st century, then I would consider my:
1. SAK Deluxe Tinker
2. Mora Clipper
3. Pocket chainsaw

but I would prefer to add
4. Tramontina or Wetterling axe
 
Fiddleback said:
Walkabout!! Love that knife. Did you make it?
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That's one of my favourites, and my current user for the bush :)

I didn't make it... it's a custom by James Batson. It's my only blade by a Mastermith. It's a full convex grind, and a great slicer.
 
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