The budget bladed amature woodsman

jh205 said:
Don't want to jump off topic here, but anyone notice that Sweden is grossly overrepresented in the "cutting tools worth ten times what you pay for them" category? I suggest we raise a collective toast to the bloody great country of Sweden.
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That is kind of a trait of the way the people of sweden want a knife. They want it to work, but for the lowest possible price, and they don't care how it looks.

While Norway, is a bit more concerned about looks, and see a knife as almost a piece of jewelry, although it still has to work regardless of its looks.

And in Finland, they are kinda in between, although, I think some of the most ornate scandi's I've seen were from Finland. I haven't seen a lot though, so...

Can't remember were I read this, but somewhere when I was looking into Scandi knives, I came across an article, that basically said what I just did above, but in a few more words perhaps. In otherwords, those are someone elses observations, not mine.;)
 
Can't remember were I read this, but somewhere when I was looking into Scandi knives, I came across an article, that basically said what I just did above, but in a few more words perhaps. In otherwords, those are someone elses observations, not mine.
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If you can remember where the article was I'd really love to read it. Edit - OK, think I found it on the Ragweed Forge site.
 
Like Elen, I have found my ten year old Fiskars' hatchet sufficient for every task that I have asked of it, sometimes right alongside my GB SFA....The Fiskars' is my keeper and I trust it will continue to work as intended.

Same with my Helle's, I have both the 'Wind' & 'Fjellkniven' models; I prefer the Fj for woods work, and the Wind for my belt locally in town because it's a shorter blade. They both have great handles with warm feeling birch handles that are really nice looking too. Laminated blades that have Scandi grinds, and keep a great edge with minimal maintenance. They cost 4 times what a Mora does, but are a great value in a knife to me. Elen, do you have any Helle's?

I do find my SAK S Tinker in my pocket all the time, so it handles the rest of the tasks in and around camp.
 
Since some of us at least appreciate plainly finished, sturdy, inexpensive blades that get the job done in an efficient manner, I feel like I should mention once more one of my favorites (and I think one of Jackknife's, too), the all-steel Douk-Douk single blade folder made in France by the third or fourth generation of the same family it started with back in the 1920s. In the U.S. they sell for about $18 + S&H from two companies, Garrett Wade Tools and Lee Valley Tools. Laci Szabo sells them nearly as cheaply at $20, and he has the largest selection of minor variations, plus a huge version he sometimes has in stock. I keep threatening to order that monster. I have a small one I ordered once, but it's a bit too small to suit my hand. The original (the medium size) fits me and has a blade of about 3-1/2" and the handle is about 4" long. Google up Douk-Douk (spelled just like that) if you want to learn more about them and see some photos. Szabo at www.szaboinc.com has lots and lots of blades on his site, and Douk-Douks are way down near the bottom. Have a look.
 
1Tracker said:
Elen, do you have any Helle's?
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Yeah, I do. I try to keep my Scandi knife collection as wide as possible, although I must confess that the factory made ones do not see all that much use. Mostly, it's the hand-made Tommipuukkos that get to go to work. Like this guy, my current EDC Tommi. This thing beats any Mora at any cutting/slicing task any day of the week, three times, and holds a better edge. The only thing it loses to a Mora in is abusive use, because this one is too pretty to beat on.

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I was thinking of buying a Skookum Bush Tool ($200) plus 6 months wait or Bark River Northstar ($150) but thought why not get $40 worth of Mora #2's? That many will last a lifetime.
 
I used to be a gear queer many years ago, back in the 60's, 70's. I thought it unwise to venture out without at least my Randall number 14 on my hip. I had customs by Hastings, Randall, George Stone, and others. If I had a piece of kit n me, it was one of the most expencive out there.

Then something happened in the late 80's. I don't know why, but I just started to look around at all the stuff and just asked myself what I had all this shite for. I got rid of every bit of it. Thank the Lord for A.G. Russells knife lists that I sold it off through.

I went totally opposite direction and was happier. I carried a plain wood handle Frosts mora or my Buck Woodsman and a pocket knife or two. For a chopper I had my old boy scout Plumb hatchet or a cut down machette. (Ontario did not have the 12 inch ones back then, so I made my own 12 inch golock)

There was a wonderfull sense of freedom to wailing away with a cutting tool that is simple, rugged, and if I destroy it, I can replace it for peanuts. The thing is, I have not mananged to break a mora in real world use yet. In addition to a pocket knife at age 10, all three of my kids got a mora at age 12 for camping and fishing. They are all grown now, with kids of thier own and they still have their mora sheath knives, though they are a bit worn now.

With a Opinel in the pocket, a mora on the belt and a Fiskars hatchet or folding saw in thge pack, I seriously doubt there is any emergency on the trail you will not be able to deal with if you have the mental faculties in place.

Buy a mora or two, then take the 'ol lady out for a nice evening the two of you will remember. It's money better spent.

Riley, you have your head on strait. Good going.:thumbup:
 
"gear queer"

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ROFLMAO!!! That's got to be the funniest thing I've ever heard! You've got me in tears over here Jackknife.
 
Agree with you RR. I mean, if Mors Kochanski carried a Mora, they can't be all that bad as an outdoors survival blade. Of course, he matches it with an axe for the heavy work, but a Mora is more than adequate.

Planning a (2) week trip this coming late spring. My edged tools will be an SA Wetterling 19" axe, the Mora 2000 and a Vic lockblade SAK. I won't feel a bit under tooled.
 
LB sounds like a combo of proven performers..also sounds like a fun voyage please keep us up to date and take some pics.
 
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