Part 2: the 2 tool system

[JV3]

this pair. i've been following ray mears'/mors kochanski's axe tips down to the t. i'm a novice with an axe too but i just make sure to leave the flask at home when i bring the axe!

 

[PayetteRucker]

there's skill involved but it's worth learning, for sure! Not a big fan of the spyderco design but that's a sweet pair. What is that sweet long handled little pot?

 

[Wandering_About]

Gotta go with the axe and a decent knife.

 

[neeman]

i've been following ray mears'/mors kochanski's axe tips down to the

As a note

mors kochanski talks about the safety of the bow saw over an axe and how the saw should be arms lenght

ray mears has saw cut pieces of wood when he shows how to split wood with an axe

 

[PayetteRucker]

Neeman, axes and saws are tools, and they aren't mutually exclusive. There's a difference between using an arsenal of tools to craft, and choosing 2 to survive on in a long term scenario. You can't maintain a saw in a field. Many of Ray's videos are specifically about bushCRAFTING and not minimalist survival, meaning he packs many tools of the trade to make cool stuff in the woods. Again, there's a difference, and this thread is about 2 tools to survive on. Nobody says Ray or Kochanski are axe-only advocates, they are just icons in the field because of their skill with one.

 

[KEmSAT-Survival]

this thread is about 2 tools to survive on.

No it isn't.
From RR's OP:

see your 2 tool setup for a primitive wilderness camping session.

If I used two tools to primcamp, you can dang well bet one of them would be an axe -- especially if I plan on being gone for a week or better. I don't want to have to chop and split with a knife if I don't absolutely have to, and I don't want to have to try to field dress or skin with an axe (I'm thinking "hunting trip" because that's when my longest "camping" trips would be taken).

"I see no use for a saw when I have an axe and a knife," is the answer to your next question.

 

[neeman]

Quite the opposite; that axes and saws are mutually inclusive where right use of the right tool means both
But we are here with an artificial situation of only two tools

Seeing Kochanski quoted I wanted to add what he says about saws
Kochanski talks about the advantage of a saw in one of his videos I saw on YouTube, from ease of use and less energy spent, for the lesser need of training, and safety

And the irony of showing axemanship after the wood has been sawed.

I am not clear of the difference the skills you need in bushcrafting and minimal survival.
Fire, shelter, water, and food.

 

[lmalterna]

neeman,
I am a novice but will try to explain the differences as I see them.
Minimal survival means keeping yourself alive and in decent condition(avoiding hypothermia and dehydration) while awaiting rescue or performing self rescue.

Bushcraft goes more to extended stay and making life a bit more comfortable. Better shelter, chairs, traps for animals or fish...

At least that is my experience on each.
Bill

EDIT for topic content- Miine would also be my GB Small Forest Axe and smallish blade- Vic Trekker to cheat and get a small saw as well

 

[JV3]

What is that sweet long handled little pot?

msr stowaway pot (comes in various sizes). really versatile pot! stainless steel, the handle is long enough to stay cool to the touch while the rest is over the fire, lockable lid so no rattle, and with a small wire to make a triangle out of the handle and lock i can hang it over the fire.

the piece of wire is on the left:

 

[Mannlicher]

to answer RescueRiley's original question, today, I'd take along my new Bushcraft knife from R. Laconico, and my Wetterling's small hunter ax.

Tomorrow the answer might be different. lol