Nessmuk Trio - Will This Work?

[oldschooljeep48]

So I think I have finally decided on my wilderness trio. I just read the "Woodcraft and Camping" by Nessmuk and while I understand what worked then, I think that as time has changed, so have our needs now. I'm thinking my trio will consist of:
1 - Folding saw
2 - Becker BK2
3 - Mora 780

I think that a saw is more beneficial then a hatchet today because we are cutting up deadwood, not felling live trees. Also I think that a folding saw was not an option then and I understand that my view might change if I was planning on extended journeys where the saw might get dull.

I think the BK2 will help fill the gap in the large knife/hatchet area for general camp use, shelter building, making traps, and splitting wood. Also I’m sure I could fell a small tree if need be, or notch it enough to use the shorter saw.

The Mora would be the food prep, game prep, and fine work knife. It’s a full size knife, but so sharp and useable. I don’t see the need for a folder or SAK because I think this should do the trick and I already have a saw.

So that’s my logic and I think this setup will work, but I am looking for opinions to see if there is something I am missing or a gap in things. You all have more experience than I do, so tell me what you think!

 

[Frostyfingers]

Sounds good to me! What's important is to find what works for YOU, in YOUR environment. Nessmuk did so, and now you are doing the same. Many like to follow Nessmuk's trio to the letter, but this is often just for history's sake. It sounds like your trio will work well for you.

 

[WILLIAM.M]

Nessmuk weighed about 103LBS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Sears

He did not have a lot of strength and weight was very important to him because of that.

Carry what works for you---and don't get locked into one set way of thinking.

Be open to new ideas and try as many different combinations .

You will find out quick what works for you-and why.

 

[oldschooljeep48]

Nessmuk weighed about 103LBS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Sears

He did not have a lot of strength and weight was very important to him because of that.

Carry what works for you---and don't get locked into one set way of thinking.

Be open to new ideas and try as many different combinations .

You will find out quick what works for you-and why.

Very true. I guess being 6' and 220lb i dont need to worry about weight savings.

I guess my question was more of, does this look like i have my bases covered or am i missing something and going to be dissapointed?

Thanks for the thoughs guys!

 

[BoxANT]

That setup should serve you well

I am on the same page with regards to a folding saw being more useful than a hatchet (especially when you also have a 4"+ FB).

But of course it really depends on your region, if I lived down south, I would probably be taking a machete as well.

 

[Echo4v]

If it works for you it works for you.

Personally, I'm a hatchet or tomahawk guy (however I do have saws) I just thing a hatchet is so much more useful in the woods ( for me) that I can't leave it at home.


David

 

[mdauben]

I think that a saw is more beneficial then a hatchet today because we are cutting up deadwood, not felling live trees.

Nobody routinly fells live trees with a hatchet, either. Not saying that your choice is wrong for you, but don't overestimate what a hatchet can accomplish. Its good for splitting firewood, choppring branches, etc. but not a replacement for a real axe.

I think the BK2 will help fill the gap in the large knife/hatchet area for general camp use, shelter building, making traps, and splitting wood.

I'm not a huge fan of the BK2 (which I refer to as "a sharpened crowbar") but I realize I am in the minority. If you don't have a hatchet or axe, a heavy blade like the BK2 is probably good to have as a substitute.

The Mora would be the food prep, game prep, and fine work knife.

Can't argue with that, the Mora is a great outdoors knife that can handle many of the more delicate chores the BK2 is unsuited for. With that combo, you probably would not really miss the folding knife, which I consider to be a handier, more convenient to carry, back up for my fixed blade.

 

[crossada]

i can't argue with that combo as it sounds solid to me. When i go camping i tend to take a similar trio.

chopper--vec hawk or atc roger's rangers hawk
saw--kershaw folding saw
small knife--lockback sak

when i go hiking i drop the folding saw and hawk and take a large fixed blade such as the Busse mr.mofo or Fehrman hoodhunter 10 paired with the sak. i did order a leather charge to see how well i will like it compared to the sak. Eventually i would like to only take two tools whenever i'm out but i always mess the hawks when doing some camping they are just too fun to play with imo.

 

[BarberFobic1992]

I wouldn't really call it a Nessmuk trio, but it is definatly a working trio.

 

[oldschooljeep48]

If it works for you it works for you.

I just thing a hatchet is so much more useful in the woods ( for me) that I can't leave it at home.


David

Hey David, could you elaborate on that for me? What are the pros and cons that you see? Or why you prefer the hatchet.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

What's important is that it works for you, not if it works for anyone else, past or present.

It's not the way I roll, but if it works for you, go for it.

 

[oldschooljeep48]

What's important is that it works for you, not if it works for anyone else, past or present.

It's not the way I roll, but if it works for you, go for it.

So cpl, how DO you roll?

 

[Shotgun]

I think you got all the bases covered.

I've been back and forth about the pruning saw and the hatchet/hawk as well and finally settled on the hatchet/hawk. First, I think a hatchet/hawk is more durable then a saw(pruning kind not buck saws and others). Second, I'm into small thin knives now so although I can use them to baton and split, I don't want to make a habit of it. Third and most important I just plain like them more.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

So cpl, how DO you roll?

In the woods, most often I carry this:

And this:

In this:

 

[SpookyPistolero]

What's important is that it works for you, not if it works for anyone else, past or present.

This has always been my philosophy around this joint! If it works for you, how can anyone put it down?

For me, the BK2 wouldn't fill a different enough role to merit the weight, and as a chopper I think you could get more power with less heft. But it sounds like you've used it with comfort so far!

 

[oldschooljeep48]

In the woods, most often I carry this:

And this:

In this:

Cpl, thats a nice setup, i really like the older bag and whatnot. so with these two are you whishing for something else to fill in any gap? would a smaller knife help you out or a bigger chopper or does it all work just fine?

 

[oldschooljeep48]

This has always been my philosophy around this joint! If it works for you, how can anyone put it down?

For me, the BK2 wouldn't fill a different enough role to merit the weight, and as a chopper I think you could get more power with less heft. But it sounds like you've used it with comfort so far!

well actually i havent used this trio yet, that why i wanted opinions befor I spent my money.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Cpl, thats a nice setup, i really like the older bag and whatnot. so with these two are you whishing for something else to fill in any gap? would a smaller knife help you out or a bigger chopper or does it all work just fine?

For the most part, these do all I need.
It's nice to have a more specialized knife for skinning, although the R-10 does just fine. If I'm planning on killing and skinning something small, I'll take an R-6:

Or Busse BAD:

The only thing that duo will not do well is pound stakes or break up rocky ground. So I added my war hammer to them. This would realistically only be carried if I was setting up camp for a while and didn't mind bringing along a specialized tool.

As for a bigger chopper? The angle of the photo with the kukri maybe doesn't show it, but that's a 20" CAK, with 15" of that being blade, over 3.5 pounds. I'd need a full size axe to outchop it.

 

[hollowdweller]

NO! Dont' skin the dog CPL!

 

[Cpl Punishment]

LOL, that dog would probably skin me!