The Elitist's War on Bushcraft: Part III !!!Bear Grylls Knife!!!

[Sam Wilson]

Thanks guys, I'm glad you all got a laugh out of it. When you're out there doing this stuff, you don't actually know if it's going to come together, or you're just gonna look completely stupid. I'm happy with just "mostly stupid" looking.

Paul Brach:

My major issue with Gerber has always been poor edge holding. Is it possible they have their heat treating sorted out?

To be fair, that part of the video is real. I didn't touch it up or sharpen the knife at all, after about a day and a half of use. There was a lot of tape that didn't make it. Most of it was the knife carving wood. I didn't do any batoning or other "hard-use" type stuff with it to really challenge the edge. I don't want to knock it, just making sure you get an accurate portrayal of the knife's edge-holding ability. I was actually surprised myself. I thought I was going to have to cut that part out because I didn't think it would still shave at that point, as that "spork" was the last sequence I filmed.

 

[plumberroy]

Like that one better than the last, there may be hope for you yet I have one of the survival torches I recieved as a gift it is a decent flashlight .I liked the t-bone trap. As for gerber they did listen and make that knife minus the !@#$#@# serations. now if they would make a fine edged epic I would go buy one of their products. Complain all you want about Bear, he is crying all the way to the bank worrying about what you think.
As far as trapping? if you have done what you should let some one know where you went and when you will be back . Staying put is usually your best option. Trapping would be busy work to keep you mind ocupied plus a catch would boost your morale. more for your mental state than food value
Roy

 

[Woods Walker]

I didn't see you make a chicken stick or split an entire red oak down the center so will question the validity of your testing. .

 

[Sam Wilson]

I didn't see you make a chicken stick or split an entire red oak down the center so will question the validity of your testing. .

I only split whole trees with tanto folders. Not enough of a challenge for a fixed blade. I got up on the wrong side of the bed today, but this video always makes me feel better.

[video=youtube;XLkyM_lQLxs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLkyM_lQLxs[/video]

 

[Woods Walker]

At first I thought he was burning the set in but then he just kept going. I had to watch it 4 times and still can't work out what was being attempted. Are we touching on an Elitist topic? Bushcraft Elitists thumbing their collective noses at Bear and other survival show experts. Mocking those foolish enough to watch? LOL!

During a winter camping trip I was talking with a buddy about doing a video mocking Bushcraft daytrips. Take video/pics of 10 feet worth of knives and axes stuck within a fallen log all in a row. A massive pile of split wood, 10 foot high log fire reflector, A crazy complex pot hook, 3 bucket of shavings all to cook a frozen jimmy dean breakfast sandwich. Maybe a back shot of a person with a 150 dollar double bit axe lashed on to a daypack no bigger than the axe's head. Arms flared out looking into the woods. Yea know those 3 hundred dollar bushcraft knives polished like a mirror without a single scratch? Maybe rather than reflecting the face of a scruffy guy the reflection would show the head of a life sized blowup women. LOL! Probably won't ever do it as sometimes people just can't take a joke. I think it is all good and enjoy reading all the trip reports. On the other hand if I was a guy wearing a wide brimmed hat?

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

great video, that was pretty funny stuff.

 

[Sam Wilson]

At first I thought he was burning the set in but then he just kept going. I had to watch it 4 times and still can't work out what was being attempted. Are we touching on an Elitist topic? Bushcraft Elitists thumbing their collective noses at Bear and other survival show experts. Mocking those foolish enough to watch? LOL!

Ha ha, no elitist topic there, but it's probably the one time I actually feel a little bad for Bear. It's pretty obvious that he has no idea how to make a fire with a bow drill, and judging by the sound of the bugs out there it was probably the last thing he wanted to do. But he was probably told to do it, so, he tried at least. Like we all know, no notch in the fireboard means no possible chance of a coal. At that point, it's just a drill. And his form was all over the place, and that tinder bundle was a mess. The most difficult thing for me though, is deciding which was more tragic/comic:him blowing on the fireboard from a foot and a half away while he's operating the bow, or how they cut away and then cut back and he has a glowing red ember drop from the sky! I would imagine most of the people reading this here have at least attempted a bow drill fire, and know that you get a coal in the form of a little mound of smoldering wood dust, not a glowing red-hot coal. That was without a doubt 100% staged. But anyway, it's a TV show.

On the other hand if I was a guy wearing a wide brimmed hat?

Whoever could you be talking about?

 

[Barrabas]

Awesome.


Has it ever occurred to you, Woodrow; that all the work we done was for the bankers? Hell, we killed off everybody made this country interestin'!

Very well said, and can't agree more.."The love of money is the root of all evil."
I have one of the LMF's and I abused the crap out of it, maybe I got bad heat treat, but someone else earlier mentioned it, so maybe it was/is consistent..what I mean by that to the newer folks, is that it would not seem to hold an edge for very long, and more than that, getting the wire edge to finally break to a consistent edge was extremely tedious..but it's been a few years, and my sharpening skills have improved a little since then.
I guess the best thing I've seen in this thread since it started down south (thanks to the OP for the video BTW..you really showed the undervalued appreciation for some serrations, and good ergos despite the hype) is from Boss1:

I don't see this as a heritage/life-time/pass it down to the grandkids kinda knife like a Randall, Busse, or NWA. I see it as a use-the-crab-out-of-it-making-memories-and-if-it-breaks-or-gets-lost-go-get-another-one-no-biggie knife. It will appeal to the general occasional day-hiker and the like. It would also be a great 'intro' knife to kids interested in the outdoors before the graduate to a higher end blade.

Again, well spoken, and your wisdom in use is noted.. did the same thing with the LMF; when my oldest Son got a car, I made sure the LMF was in there..i could never get the PE portion to hold the edge that I anticipated, but the serrated portion has held up well, and it's there if he needs it, and honestly, since he has no interest in knives, I won't make a bigger investment in his B.O.B until then, but, again, if he needs it, it's still a serviceable blade that will do fine.

Like you, I'll hope my SBT, AD, R9, or Esee are nearby if I need them..but for folks that don't know the difference in sharpening/Edge retention etc, they could do worse than the LMF for the % dropped..and who wouldn't like an incorporated sharpener in the sheath from their vendor/maker/manufacturer if they offered it??.

 

[Woods Walker]

Ha ha, no elitist topic there, but it's probably the one time I actually feel a little bad for Bear. It's pretty obvious that he has no idea how to make a fire with a bow drill, and judging by the sound of the bugs out there it was probably the last thing he wanted to do. But he was probably told to do it, so, he tried at least. Like we all know, no notch in the fireboard means no possible chance of a coal. At that point, it's just a drill. And his form was all over the place, and that tinder bundle was a mess. The most difficult thing for me though, is deciding which was more tragic/comic:him blowing on the fireboard from a foot and a half away while he's operating the bow, or how they cut away and then cut back and he has a glowing red ember drop from the sky! I would imagine most of the people reading this here have at least attempted a bow drill fire, and know that you get a coal in the form of a little mound of smoldering wood dust, not a glowing red-hot coal. That was without a doubt 100% staged. But anyway, it's a TV show.

I wouldn't put it past them to fake the bug sounds as well. Yea the magic bouncing coal was impossible. Blowing at the fire board was the most inexplicable as the staged coal at least severed a purpose. All that said I bet there is a way to make the madness work. Lets see... ok..Replace his fireboard with dry chaga and just start drilling. Not sure I could keep the spindle under control with his stance. If the chaga itself ignites I could cut the ember out, reproducing the crazy solid bouncing coal. I might give it a try.

What did you use to burst the area into flames with the firesteel. Coleman fuel?

 

[Sam Wilson]

My pee
Or it might have been methanol, I cant remember.

 

[ThriftyJoe]

......

 

[Trisomy21]

Good review, but like most, I can't justify buying anything with Edward (Bear) Grylls' name on it. And it's not just the hotel fiasco, it's the "wild horses" that were actually brought in from a nearby farm, the pegged down rabbit that took multiple takes to kill with a throwing stick. Any time he finds a meal it's usually placed there by the production crew lol. Now, if there was a knife designed by the cameramen, I'd buy that, they've got a tougher job than he does.

Has anyone tried the Survivorman (Les Stroud) survival knife? Same price point, designed by Camillus. Curious as to how that fares against the Edward Grylls knife.

 

[Codger_64]

...Has anyone tried the Survivorman (Les Stroud) survival knife? Same price point, designed by Camillus. Curious as to how that fares against the Edward Grylls knife.

Designed by Camillus, or by Acme, or Les? Camillus closed in February 2007 and Acme bought the I.P.

 

[sicily02]

HI all,

I can finaly wiegh in on this some. yesterday I fellow stopped in to my shop. Guess what he had. Yep the BG fixed blade that carbon1 posted about in the first of this thread. This fellow is a begginer in his study of woodsmenship.
does not make a lot of money, has a wife and child and if not going to get to spend alot on his cutlery, But becuase of the BG show he has gotten an interest in the out doors and learning about it.

Ok getting back to his BG knife. I held that knife and thought wow it really has a good feel in the hand.
The blade thickness was 3/16" (I personlay like that thickness too lol.)
The blade was dull I mean butter knife dull. He told me that he has really tried like heck to get it sharp and
no go. Well I fixed him up with that. now it cuts like a knife should. The serrrations are still dull and a little banged up. as I do not mess with them. His sheath is in pretty bad shape as this guy is wearing and using his BG knife
as his one knife deal right now. He was telling all that he was doing with it. I was like WOW lol.
Anyways I am going to be making him a new sheath and he really likes the dangler type of sheath. I had one at my shop and he put that one on his belt and was like wow need one of these for mine.

anyways for a cheeper knife than a custom. That knife is no different than the knife I grew up with
as a kid. I am 43 and used uncle henry and Buck. They worked then and they still work today.
Am I going out to buy one, no.
Take care all,

Bryan

 

[Angus McGunnigl]

Great video !
I am not gonna blindly endorse all of Bear Grylls techniques or his products, but I will say that his shows are at least entertaining and my kids do enjoy watching them. Anything that gets kids interested in getting outside and playing in the outdoors can't be all that bad. My 6 year old son loves to go outside and "play Bear".
The knife has gotten more than a few decent reviews and I would probably purchase one if it was a different color.
My sons boght me the Compact Scout Folder as a gift recently and it's a good basic folding knife. Alot like the LST.
Thanks for making the video.

 

[LG&M]

Thank you, Great video. I am looking forward to the next one.

 

[Quirt]

Great video a lot of fun. Thanks for producing it!!! I am perplexed, however, on the need to throw or stick a blade into a living tree tho? I'm far from a tree or bunny hugger but I've seen the first hand effects of this type of activity and what it can do to trees. Most often the tree can heal and seal itself but all this does is open the tree to invasive harmful insects, birds, and diesese leading potentially to its early death. Cosmetically it can scar the tree for life - so much for our low impact "no one knows I was here" wilderness philosophy. Unless of course these are your trees/property then stick away!!

And I understand that particular tree was thick bark and perhaps the blade didn't compromise the protective integrity - however those of us who are new to our discipline see this and think this is an acceptable practice and start sticking blades in thinner bark trees. I'm thinking we should lead/teach by example is all.


Just saying... I would think there are plenty of dead snags or stumps to accomplish the same thing. Not being critical as I'm also far from being perfect just an observation to take under consideration for the future. Or you can tell me to go pound sand - And I'll get it.

 

[Woods Walker]

Great video a lot of fun. Thanks for producing it!!! I am perplexed, however, on the need to throw or stick a blade into a living tree tho? I'm far from a tree or bunny hugger but I've seen the first hand effects of this type of activity and what it can do to trees. Most often the tree can heal and seal itself but all this does is open the tree to invasive harmful insects, birds, and diesese leading potentially to its early death. Cosmetically it can scar the tree for life - so much for our low impact "no one knows I was here" wilderness philosophy. Unless of course these are your trees/property then stick away!!

And I understand that particular tree was thick bark and perhaps the blade didn't compromise the protective integrity - however those of us who are new to our discipline see this and think this is an acceptable practice and start sticking blades in thinner bark trees. I'm thinking we should lead/teach by example is all.


Just saying... I would think there are plenty of dead snags or stumps to accomplish the same thing. Not being critical as I'm also far from being perfect just an observation to take under consideration for the future. Or you can tell me to go pound sand - And I'll get it.

I think he only did it once and reused the same video clip over and over again. I am the first to be pissed off at seeing a craved up Beechnut with some moron's name on it but it is getting to the point in which yea can't even take a green Black Birch twig for a cooking stick without someone commenting on it. No offense to you brother. This just has been building up in my system for some time.

 

[Pykrim]

Lol the vid is great! Keep em coming

 

[Quirt]

I think he only did it once and reused the same video clip over and over again. I am the first to be pissed off at seeing a craved up Beechnut with some moron's name on it but it is getting to the point in which yea can't even take a green Black Birch twig for a cooking stick without someone commenting on it. No offense to you brother. This just has been building up in my system for some time.

I hear ya...I almost didn't post and seriously thought about keeping my observation to myself. I realize he just reused the same B roll over a few times. However the still photo clearly shows a patch of bark removed/nicked so it indicates a range from a few to several knife "sticks" focused in the one area. So it appeared to be more than one or otherwise I definately wouldn't have said anything. I wasn't intenting or seamingly being critica and definately not being self-righteous - it is only an observation. And as I posted...I'm confident there are plenty of snags and other dead wood which would accomplished the same objective.

Regarding taking a live branch for a cooking stick...that is one thing as that is serving a purpose but sticking blades into a live tree just for a photo opportunty as is often shown on this forum or in this case video really isn't a justified purpose. But like I said I realize I can just go pound sand. I'll relegate back into lurking as I do not want this to become a side track to an wonderful post and experience. I really did enjoy the video and humor! This is only an observation and an FYI...