New BRKT candy!!!

[Md 25v]

I sent off my Aurora and Micro Canadian to Mike last week to change out the handles for some nice elder burl. They ride piggyback and are my GO-TO set up for hiking/bushcraft type stuff. I have a Bravo-1 with a Micro Canadian set up as well but I sent my Bravo-1 to Mike for some mods. I have been using my Rogue as a hiking knife but its just to big. I guess its time for a few more barkies. I called Derrick at knivesshipfree.com. I ended up ordering a fox river with birdseye maple and mosaic pins, a micro tusk in natural micarta, and a custom semi skinner. I talked to Mike Stewart and he was the one that suggested the semi skinner. It is an amazing knife!!! I was very surprised when I got it. The only thing I didn't like was the sheath, it was not secure and the blade was way to loose in it. I called Derrick and he sent me a nice leather bushcraft sheath FREE!!! the same one that comes with the fox river.
Here is the semi skinner.

The spine strikes well off the ferro stick, only took one strike to light this phragmites tuft.

I'm writing this review over my lunch break so I don't have time for a full fire but it makes great fuzz sticks, sorry I forgot the pick. Tomorrow I'll do pics of making an atlatl with nothing but this knife and a spoon knife. I can only do so many pics in a post so I'll add more later.

 

[Md 25v]

The next step for me is trap making, so I'll make a paiute from scratch. Find a small branch that has lots of fibers just below the cambium layer like this one.

Then split the branch down the center like this.

Once its split, peel off the green layer below the bark and strip off the fibers that are just below this layer. You'll have a bunch of threads like this.

Do a simple twining technique with the threads. Start with one end longer than the other so its easier to splice.

here is a pic of the tag end after the first splice

now cut a few pieces to length. battoning small wood gives you flat edges to make your notches fit easier.

 

[Md 25v]

I don't like to tie knots in natural cordage if I don't have to. Most of the time you can make a wrap that holds itself in place like this.

here is a pic of the finished set before its set up

and after set up

I'll continue this review with making a bow drill and an atlatl and post more pics when I can. This knife is one of the most comfortable knives for wood working I've ever used. I wouldn't have picked this one for myself but Mike's suggestion was great. This is now one of my favorite knives, no question/

 

[tonym]

Pretty knife, but I am more interested in the trap! Thats a really cool variation of the paiute. Great job!

 

[Md 25v]

variation? how so?

 

[tonym]

Well the last one you posted you used a stick with a natural V as the support and this time you carved a notch. Also I have always seen the trigger resting at the back of the weight, this one is up at the top.

 

[tonym]

By the way, I hope you don't think I am criticizing you; I am not. I have enjoyed all of your posts that you have made in this forum.

 

[TheGame]

Beautiful knife.

Sweet trap, too. I have been trying to make figure fours, so far I have had one set off but nothing to show for it. I am going to set another after the next snow fall I think.

 

[mtnfolk mike]

another great looking Barkie...:thumbup: nice trap too.... great pics..

 

[Md 25v]

By the way, I hope you don't think I am criticizing you; I am not. I have enjoyed all of your posts that you have made in this forum.

Not at all, I always want people to show me how I do something different then they do so I can learn as many ways as possible. I get way to into this primitive stuff. Last October I made my first friction fire in the rain. It took a couple hours but the feeling it gave me to make and use a bowdrill in the rain was amazing. I have about three ways to balance a paiute depending on what kind (how strong) of cordage I have at my disposal. The notch in this one was because I couldn't get the string to stay put after I made the main stick to smooth. Until you pointed it out, I forgot that I even did that.

 

[Md 25v]

Thanks guys, this knife was pretty special to me. It managed to impress my wife (not a knife person). She even compared it to some of her turquoise jewelery. I think she might be coming around. Maybe I'll get less grief if I spend more money on knives and buy Barkies with nicer handles.