Slip joints and Hatchets, mentoring question..

[m. wohlwend]

I have been on here long enough to have seen the debate on the tools that sould be carried in the woods. My grandfather carried a three blade pocket knife ( I know know the proper term is slip-joint). I remember him wearing out at least three of them. They were always an Old-Timer. I never recall him wearing a sheath knife, although he did have a store bought fillet knife and a couple of hand-made ones that usually rode on the dash of the truck. Also in the truck was a very sharp hatchet to be used for heavy cutting chores. When we were deer hunting he would always go to the kitchen and get a large butcher knife and a "whet-rock" to put in the chuck box. His favorite rifle was a .22 semi-auto for small game. I never saw him use a shotgun.

Today I still carry slip-joints, although I picked up the fixed blade habit also!
I have several styles of sharp axes, hand and full sized, I LOVE an accurate .22...

If you had someone mentor you in the outdoors, what woods tools, knife, axe, rifle, etc. did they use. Does it reflect in what you use today?

 

[billym]

I think many of our mentors (for me a great Uncle) carried modest knives and were very handy with them. I remember seeing my older male relatives carrying slipjoints like stockmen, TL-29s and Camillus "demo" knives.
Bill

 

[tknife]

I spent a lot of time fishing and woods walking with my grandpa. He carried a three bladed stockman. He would sometimes use a filet knife for cleaning the fish, but generally he did everything with the stockman. I always remember him saying he didn't want to carry anything heavy on him.
My dad is an avid hunter and outdoorsman. He always carried a SAK in the past, nowadays he carries a one hand opening knife by Benchmade, Spyderco etc. In the field he will usually have a small sheath knife on him as well.
I had a Scout leader who was an ex green beret and one of the best outdoorsmen I've met. He carried a Ka-bar and other big knives like that and I think that's what first interested me in them. I think I was the first one in the family to carry a hatchet or bigger knife. My grandpa would always ask me "What are you gonna do with that big old frog sticker" lol, still cracks me up!

 

[Leanwolf]

You would not catch me without my ancient Camillus Stockman "slip joint" pocket knife. My father gave it to me many years ago, and although the stag scales are worn down, the three blades take a razor edge and still "walk & talk" just as they did when it was new.

I've used it on game animals, elk, deer, antelope, Black bear, tree squirrels, Cottontail rabbits, fish, quail, etc. I've used it hundreds upon hundreds of times for the myriad common cutting tasks a person encounters.

I learned very long ago to just be careful with it, so it doesn't close up on me, which is a typical diatribe many knife users hurl against non-locking pockets knives.

If I lost it, or was careless and broke it, I'd just pull out another Stockman I have, a Case brand. They work for me.

Have fun with your "slip joint." They're great pocket knives with an incredible utility out in the woods or around the house. :thumbup:

L.W.