tom brown ?

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cjd1980

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i was looking into takeing some survival /tracking classes nxt year if i have time and money a freind told me to cheack out tom brown anyone know antthing about him i cheacked out his website not to sure what i thought oh have any of you used his knife ?
 
The knife is overhyped and not nearly as useful as he'd like you to believe (which doesn't mean I'd say no if someone offered me one). Tom Brown himself is reputed to be a teller of tall tales. That doesn't mean he doesn't know his stuff when it comes to the wilderness... but it does mean you probably shouldn't believe anything he tells you about his background.
 
Many people here like Tom a lot. He seems like a good guy and has a lot of good knowledge to pass on. Unfortunately, he normally passes it amongst a rather large bowel movement of bullsh!t about metaphysical Indian stuff that he may or may not have made up. Either way, he is a good tracker and he is a good survival teacher. Just pick out what you want to believe.
 
unfortunately, He Normally Passes It Amongst A Rather Large Bowel Movement Of Bullsh!t About Metaphysical Indian Stuff That He May Or May Not Have Made Up.
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:) :) :)
 
There are folks around here who liked his course if I recall. I gave his work a chance and read some of his books. There is useful information littered in the text, but you have to sift through a lot of dung to find it. The knife is.... less than useful.

By all accounts I've read, you need to find a course for you at the Wilderness Learning Center with Marty of K. Estela. :thumbup:

A basic 4" belt knife and hatchet/hand axe will be able to accomplish much more than the Tracker knife, and do it much more comfortably at that.
 
Dylside said:
Just pick out what you want to believe.
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There's no doubt he's got the goods from his well-documented history of assisting in investigations...

...but does anyone find this a bit dangerous?

I agree with Dylside... but wouldn't it just be safer for you if the guy told the truth all the time? Then you'd know what to do...

"Here's something that can save your life. Or not. Depends on whether or not I'm making it up." <== not a good recipe.
 
I second Marty Simons WLC. They dont focus on tracking, but if you ask im sure they would take time to show you some things in that area as well. Everyone here knows about Marty and Kevin but Bob is also a great instructor there and has been trapping, tracking and hunting all his life and im sure he could show you alot about tracking. Plus you get good food and alot of laughs.

John
 
Unless you pay BIG BUCKS (000's), you will see very little of Mr. Brown. He flies from course to course putting in a brief appearance at each. Money machine. Branding more than teaching.

And these are primarily primitive living courses.
 
Thomas Linton said:
Unless you pay BIG BUCKS (000's), you will see very little of Mr. Brown. He flies from course to course putting in a brief appearance at each. Money machine. Branding more than teaching.

And these are primarily primitive living courses.
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That's what I've heard. That the courses are good but he just mainly does a cameo.
 
few questions:
where you at?
how far do you plan on travelling?
what do you want to learn?

have all these figured out.

Then...ignore TBJ completely. His stuff is not good to start with, it'll quickly exhaust with all the crap about Stalking Wolf. I'll second the WLC. I also definately reccomend Ron Hood's vids too. His stuff is excellent, and can save you a lot of money to get you started. www.survival.com.
 
tonym said:
Tom Brown is a bit to spiritual for me, No matyter how hard I try, the trees have never spokent to me; can't really blame them though.
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Did you try using "The Tracker Point of View" or asking "Grandfather" for help?:jerkit:
 
I went to 4 of his classes so far. You have to start with the standard class which covers a little of everything he teaches: Tracking, Survival, Awareness, Philosophy. After this one week class you know basics about fire starting through friction, primitive shelter, flintknapping, traps, etc. Once you are done with the standard you can start down one or multiple paths. I personally loved the classes I took. He himself tells you that if you believe everything he tells you blindly and don't go and prove it yourself your an idiot. His classes are expensive but to the extent of my knowledge you can't get his experience anywhere else.
 
And how exactly is one supposed to "go and prove" the various tall tales he's spun about his spiritual journies and mystic teachers? I don't believe anyone's ever accused him of spreading fiction with regard to how to survive in the woods physically.
 
I don't know the guy but my impression is that he has a deep love for wilderness and nature and wants to encourage as many people as he can to share in his passion.If by embelishing the facts a little he can get more people interested then that's what he will do !!!
I am not a religious person or even a pot smoking tree hugger but I do feel a certain connection between myself and my surroundings when I'm out on my hikes. I stop to examine tracks, feel the texture of certain trees/ plants and spend time just sat listening to the general chatter of the forests.....now if some would call this having a spiritual connection with the wilderness then I guess I'm just as nuts as old Tom !!!
 
I have been on several of Tom's courses. The instructors use Moras and the Class store also sells Mora. There are a few students with the Tracker knife, but they usually end up buying a Mora for all the wood-working tasks during the class.
 
Myakka said:
I have been on several of Tom's courses. The instructors use Moras and the Class store also sells Mora. There are a few students with the Tracker knife, but they usually end up buying a Mora for all the wood-working tasks during the class.
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I don't think Tom would ever say that his design is better than a Mora for Bushcraft, his design is a Survival knife aimed at a situation where you only had one tool to get you through a myriad of tasks. In that scenario I believe most people would take his knife over a Mora in that it could perform tasks usually done by both a knife and an axe...obviously it is a compromise and will neither cut as well as the Mora or chop as well as the axe but it would get you through !
 
I'm with Pit on this one.

My wife HAS taken his course, years ago. He taught some stuff but had instructors also teaching. Hey, one man cannot do everything when you get that popular/busy.
Did my wife learn lots of wilderness skills, damn right. Did she also enjoy the spiritual aspect of his teachings...damn right. All in who you are. Not everyone goes to church...but there are some people out there that believe in God(insert any religious figure for that matter)
I have read a number of his books and really enjoyed them. I would love to take one of his courses but at the moment I don't have the extra cash. Do I believe everything I have read of his...no. Hell, I don't believe half the stuff on here either:rolleyes:

I would like to try out his knife too someday. I would love an original Beck.

All that aside do some research and choose what you think will best suit your needs. There has been some good suggestions in this thread.

There is LOTS of good informations here too

Craig
 
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