Part 2: the 2 tool system

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
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OK so since the other thread was met with such success lets take it a step further and see your 2 tool setup for a primitive wilderness camping session.

for most scenarios for me this would be perfect
bk-9
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and a mora
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most likely a carbon companion
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(FWIW that's a blister in that last pic, I didn;t cut myself... well at least that time I didn;t LOL)

Honestly I'm not as familiar with an axe as most of you, but I'm learning however my skill with one is not yet at the level where I am as comfortable with it as a large knife. Which definitely influences my decision here.
 
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I too consider myself a novice with axes and hatchets. I have used them all my life, but clumsily, irregularly and without building much skill. For an easy carrying two tool set, I'd pick my Condor Hudson Bay and Vic Spirit X if I were going out right now. That gives me a big , tough blade, a small fine blade and a fistfull of other useful implements.

In the summer, I'd consider my golok instead of the Hudson Bay.
 
good points foilist, If I could add another implement it would be my Sak huntsman which is always in my pocket.
if I had to go with just the bk9 and a folder though I'd pick the victorinox forrester due to the long licking blade and the longer wood saw.
Thanks for posting
 
Hmmmm... I'm actually finding this choice tougher than the "One Tool" scenario. I'm not an axe guy, I know how to use one well enough but it is usually not my cup of tea. However if only being allowed 2 main tools, I think I would choose a medium sized axe such as GB's Small Forest Axe, or Cold Steel Trailboss variety. I usually love to take a saw with me, it minimizes work when processing fire wood and can create a flat platform to work and set stuff on which I like, but let's face it a saw is not as versitile as an axe. A large fixed blade (8"+) would also not be as versitle as an axe in a "2 tool" system IMO. As much as I love my big blades, they usually cannot out chop a good axe for tasks such as cross-cutting and de-limbing(trees/branches). It actually nauseates me a little to defend the axe and think of not carrying a big blade:barf::(.

The second tool would be a smaller to medium fixed blade, right now it's one of these.
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(The black handled one is actually for my sister's boytoy, but I liked it so much I'm making one for myself:D)

Question: Is a Multi-tool considered cheating???
 
In the summer it's a SAK soldier and Izula 2.

In the winter it's the Izula 2 and a modified CS Trail Hawk.
 
I'd still be using my Baryonyx machete as my go-to tool, but I'd probably add a smaller fixed blade for fine tasks. Probably a Mora Companion MG in stainless because of how good it is for delicate tasks, though my well-loved Condor Rodan or ESEE-3 would both be strong contenders. Or a good folding saw, in winter. It would make fires almost laughably easy.

The piece of wood in the below video was pretty wavy and had a medium-sized knot in it.

[video=youtube;n6t8ETI6F0k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6t8ETI6F0k&feature=autoplay&list=UUEso4M4JZCk2DcInyZapSeA&lf=plcp&playnext=1[/video]
 
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26 inch Wetterlings Forest Axe and a Woodlore-style bushcrafter-4-4.5 inches, maybe .15 inches thick and a scandi grind. L6 or 15N20 steel.

In a jungle or desert environment, I might switch out the axe for the special forces shovel or a nice bolo machete with a good working point.
 
cool thread Reily,

I've not put much thought into what I grab going out the door lately, it seems to always be the reground rc6 or master hunter in CV and the CS kukri.

I was an axe snob for a long time, and still greatly appreciate its over all use, it has so many. with that said, its been fun working with a larger knife/machete. I like the ease of use when clearing trails or collecting brush for a shelter.

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Fonly said:
I was an axe snob for a long time, and still greatly appreciate its over all use, it has so many. with that said, its been fun working with a larger knife/machete. I like the ease of use when clearing trails or collecting brush for a shelter.
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Sometimes it's nice to just use something different for a while. It's fun and it rounds out your skill set more IMO. Axe, saw, machete, chopper knife etc...they all do the job fine. You just have to adjust how you use them.
 
I've hate the standard “it depends” type responses to these sorts of threads so in order not to deliver one myself I'm going to try a different track. I never ask people what music they like 'cos I've come to anticipate very lily-livered noncommittal “it depends” type answers. Now if I want a clue I just ask for the last 10 tunes they listened to. I shall borrow from that method here:
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Apart from a little FRN Delica in my FAK that we can forget about this thread now contains all the cutting tools I had on my last trip out. The order in which I'd abandon them is Ax, SAK, saw, knife. .................................. True, the ax was useful. It chops with better authority the a GB Wildlife so there's little not to like, plus being synthetic is a good deal stronger I'd wager. The thing is here it is far from necessary. It is convenient but it is absolutely not required. Same would apply if I had selected a long blade instead. Unless the scenario involves build a cabin there's no contest – bin it. .............................The SAK being next to go is incredibly unusual for me but that really just makes a statement of how useful I find the saw above. After that it's just a straight shoot out between saw and knife for versatility and that's a no-contest. ….............. In sum, because I don't have those tungsten woods here and I don't live in a jungle, and primitive to me means more find a hollow or make tipi than start a ranch in all candor a groundsman's garden rake it probably more useful than an ax.
 
I would add a folding saw to what ever knife I was carrying in the last thread
A Sven or Frisker folding saw and an Enzo Trapper or a Condor Bushlore

The speed and accuracy of cutting wood with a saw, far passes anything I can do with an axe (and I know how to use one)
So a saw wins out if I am building a shelter, or proccessing fire wood
 
Shotgun said:
What kind of saw?
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Dunno, any markings are long since gone but it's a foot long a simple. Unlike my others there's not much that can go wrong. There's no fancy mechanism just two wing nut bolts that hold the blade and a third that applies the tension. Not much to break there at all and with a couple of spare blades you're laughing. Better still one of those spares can be a foot of hacksaw. If there is a downside it is that with that rather lumpen guard it weighs bang on 1lb and I have a bow saw twice the size that only weighs 4oz more. That said, I don't find 1lb very much relative to what can be got from an ax of that weight, or a knife. Weight for weight I think it requires a golok to make it any kind of fight, and this time of year it still won.
 
For me,

1) Cold Steel Trailmaster
2) No-name folding saw

This past weekend I used my el-cheapo folding saw to cut off some fallen down hardwood and used my Trailmaster to 1) cut a baton and then 2) split the sawed logs to get to the dry stuff (and make a fire). For full-disclosure purposes, i used my Buck Paklite Skinner to spark my mischmetal rod, but the folding saw also works beautifully for that....

Incidently, i can use an axe (and quite well if i do say so myself) and did that day, but it's just not as efficient at cutting as the saw and certainly more potentially dangerous. It only takes a split second for something to distract ones attention and a glancing blow into the shin/ankle/foot from a mis-guided axe swing instantly creates a life-threatening situation. This scenario is *not* far-fetched. The could *never* happen with a hand-saw.

My Trailmaster splits wood very well and in a nice, controlled (read *safe*) manner via baton. If necessary, i can cut down trees with it as well - again, via baton.

So, are we on to the 3-tool system next? ;)
 
Shotgun said:
Sometimes it's nice to just use something different for a while. It's fun and it rounds out your skill set more IMO. Axe, saw, machete, chopper knife etc...they all do the job fine. You just have to adjust how you use them.
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well said my friend, I agree one hundred percent.:thumbup:

How have you been these days anyways?
 
LOL, Hey John here is mine just pretend you do not see the bottom knife in this pic and just look at the top and the middle one.
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I like and carry a larger knife and then a smaller knife ever time I head out.

When this thread turns into part 3 I will post the same pic and have the tri combo already to go LOL LOL.

Bryan
 
Bk9 and Silky Mother Saw
My choice is based on the current weather/resource availability. It would be very different in warm weather.
If I was going to be out for an extended period in winter I would want my knife and saw to be "upgraded". I normally carry a small scandi for common knife tasks since they slice so well.
THE KNIFE
I noticed that I wasn't at all happy with the fine slicing of my Bk9 so I decided to have-at the blade and make it a little more user friendly. I gave the entire blade a deep convex grind all the way back to the flats of the saber grind. Then, for the 2in closest to the handle I made the convex very acute and it maintains a very efficient slicing edge in this section.
THE SAW
the 1/16th thick blade weighs almost nothing so carrying this monster saw doesn't really have any weight effect on my travel. It does however allow for very long and efficient cutting strokes making the job much faster/easier.

Both of these tools are up to the task of HEAVY work.

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