- Joined
- Oct 19, 1998
- Messages
- 498
I mentioned in a post sometime around January that I was taking an Army ROTC wilderness survival class at MSU. While the class was basically all lecture, one of our requirements was to make an improvised survival tool or weapon. I opted to make an "axe". I went out into the woods behind my apartment on the banks of the wild E. coli infested Red Cedar river here in East Lansing and selected a nice green tree, which I then cut down. I found a great piece of rock next to the sidewalk a few days earlier while walking back from class, which I used for the head. I used a bow saw to make a cut lengthwise down the shaft about six or seven inches. Then I wrapped from a few inches below the cut up over it about an inch with 550 cord, starting with a clove hitch and using an overhand knot for each turn of the cord to keep it really tight. After that I wedged the rock into the cut and beat the handle to force it into position. Lastly I wrapped the 550 cord around the top end above the rock also using overhand knots and secured it with two half hitches.
Well, since I presented my work to the class Monday and I didn't really need it anymore, I decided to test it out today to see how well it would actaully perform.
One of my roommates and I went out behind our apartment and selected a nice solid blown down tree top with a branch about 6 inches in diameter that was in prime chopping position. I started whacking away with the axe and was surprised at how quickly the bark and first few centimeters of wood gave way. Keep in mind that this wood was dead and not rock-hard, but not rotten by any means.
About this time I took a break and let John work on it for a while.
A few minutes later I resumed work on the branch, and about half way through the thickness, it broke with a loud crack!!
After we had vanquished the evil branch, I decided to see how much punishment the axe could take. I located a three inch upright stump and attempted to split it lengthwise.
After a few strokes a small piece of rock chipped off and stuck into the wood I was hitting.
The place where the chip came from.
About this time it was starting to rain so I started swinging hard at the stump we had chopped the first branch off from. A few moments later the rock axe head gave way.
All in all, I was relatively surprised at the power of this axe. I probably spent about two hours total making it. Although I realize that this is not a totally "primitive" tool since I used 550 cord and modern tools like a steel saw and knife to make it, I think it is a good representation of what most of us would be equipped to construct on an average foray into the wilderness.
[This message has been edited by Sesoku (edited 04-26-2001).]
Well, since I presented my work to the class Monday and I didn't really need it anymore, I decided to test it out today to see how well it would actaully perform.
One of my roommates and I went out behind our apartment and selected a nice solid blown down tree top with a branch about 6 inches in diameter that was in prime chopping position. I started whacking away with the axe and was surprised at how quickly the bark and first few centimeters of wood gave way. Keep in mind that this wood was dead and not rock-hard, but not rotten by any means.
About this time I took a break and let John work on it for a while.
A few minutes later I resumed work on the branch, and about half way through the thickness, it broke with a loud crack!!
After we had vanquished the evil branch, I decided to see how much punishment the axe could take. I located a three inch upright stump and attempted to split it lengthwise.
After a few strokes a small piece of rock chipped off and stuck into the wood I was hitting.
The place where the chip came from.
About this time it was starting to rain so I started swinging hard at the stump we had chopped the first branch off from. A few moments later the rock axe head gave way.
All in all, I was relatively surprised at the power of this axe. I probably spent about two hours total making it. Although I realize that this is not a totally "primitive" tool since I used 550 cord and modern tools like a steel saw and knife to make it, I think it is a good representation of what most of us would be equipped to construct on an average foray into the wilderness.
[This message has been edited by Sesoku (edited 04-26-2001).]
