Toy collection not needed for the bush

raym said:
David,

I was quite often a day or two hike from my cabin but I ALWAYS carried an axe.The maul and saw was kept at the cabin.I believe that you're looking at this from a backpackers perspective.It's true that I would travel light but not at the expense of the axe.
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This is what I was curious about, also. Thanks !

.
 
Well, that's no surprise - a couple of decent tools and you'll do fine in the wild, assuming you know how to use them. Two knives; big and small, an axe and perhaps a saw and that's it. It would be smart of course to have spares for everything. But one doesn't need a rucksack full of multitools, folders and other stuff to do perfectly well in the woods.
 
raym..I found nothing offensive about you thread...I can see however how it could be easily be misconstrued...Lets put it all behind us, and get back to the point I agree with you to a point I a fan of the trio idea a chopper a fixed blad and a folder there was a time that I carried a mora a sak and a 12 inc machete with a totla value of 60 bucks...no frills by todays standards and I never felt under tooled. "the more you know, the less you need" philospphy is proven by nesmuk and many others, (not by me) I'm not that good. but I I do feel more confisent with a mre sold fixed blade now....that's just me, We all love the woods thats what's important...
 
Elen,

You do indeed "get it".This was my whole point all along.I've never for a moment condemned someone for having a collection (even though I've repeatedly been accused of it).I was simply saying that a few basic tools will do.

The "TOY COLLECTOR" was meant as a philisophical expression and I have since made that very clear.
 
Rescue Riley,

Thanks....It all depends on weather as well as terrain.Naturally,I was speaking from the standpoint of the interior of Alaska.....An axe is more important than anything while in the bush there.....A great deal of firewood may need to be cut in a short period of time.....Under such circumstances,heavy duty knives,hatchets and such are asking a boy to do a man's job.
 
There is always a balance between being "resourceful" as in using tools for jobs they weren't actually intended for and always using the "right" tool for each and every job.

Many good points can be made for both sides of that.

It's the blending of the two where we often disagree.

.
 
Raym, no doubt, but being a "recreational bushman" heavy chopping is not frequent, some light firewood and supports for a shelter whcih are relatively narrow, if I lived in the bush I'd have heavier tools no doubt.
 
I've never for a moment condemned someone for having a collection (even though I've repeatedly been accused of it).I was simply saying that a few basic tools will do.

The "TOY COLLECTOR" was meant as a philisophical expression and I have since made that very clear.
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Nope raym...sorry...calling someone with a collection of knives (i.e., most everyone here) a toy collector is a condemnation, regardless of how "philosophical" you consider it.

The irony here is that, from the beginning I, along with most of the people in this particular forum agree with your basic point.
 
I have guns and knives which I actually have very little use for and I will refer to them as being "toys" for the same reasons stated and it doesn't bother me a bit.

Am I therefore condemning myself?
 
raym said:
I have guns and knives which I actually have very little use for and I will refer to them as being "toys" for the same reasons stated and it doesn't bother me a bit.

Am I therefore condemning myself?
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If you said at the the begininning that you also partake in "emotional toy shopping sprees" I would have viewed you as a kindred spirit raym from the get-go. I think most would have, and if you had spent some time reading what goes on here you would have seen that.

Again, I essentially agree with your point. It hurts none of us to consider what we need and what we want out of a knife. No one at BFC will fault anyone for buying a frivolous knife. In fact, you will have to pry our frivolous knives from our cold, dead hands.

At the same time, we will attack someone who believes they need a knife they don't need unmercilessly.

Anyway, I'm more than willing to move on...however, may I recommend a few things..come hang out in the "Traditional" Forum. You'll find me and the other "folksy" types there. I think you'll enjoy it.

Also, use the "Search" option here, go to "Advanced" choose "Search Titles" and search forr "Mall Ninja".

Both I think will give you a feel for the attitude around here towards people who carry knives they don't really need.
 
I actually recall stating that I had a modest collection early on.I know a number of men who refer to various possesions as toys.If someone is hypersensitive about the word toys (which appears to be the case),perhaps they have an issue which has nothing to do with me.

At any rate,I'm not bothered by someone who dissagrees with me but I couldn't help but notice that several people here were continuously accusing me of saying what I wasn't saying.Even after I made a special effort to clarify,the very same accusations continued.Since there is no logic in such behavior,what can I make of it?
 
raym said:
Since there is no logic in such behavior,what can I make of it?
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Why make anything of it?

Style points aside, your collective posts made your position clear IMO. Most here seem to agree with the substance.

If the substance, as opposed to the style, is misunderstood, being misunderstood seems an unavoidable condition of life.
 
Raym,
I would like to hear more info on your experiences bush living. Much more to learn there than arguing styles or numbers of knives... cabin construction, how you dealt with illness/injury, growler issues- how to keep cabin to avoid attracting them...

2Door
 
I wouldn't provoke him if'n I was y'all. I've heard them Alaskan dudes is all sortsa tough, rugged, an' burly. Clean moose with thier finger nails, start camp fires with a popcorn fart, and killin' off grizzies with thier bare hands, just for a salmon!! :D

On a more serious note I HAVE gotten by with nothing more than a SAK. It sucked so bad that I now won't venture more than a couple hundred feet out my backdoor without a sturdy fixed blade now.

I jave reached the conclusion that anyone whose ever seen a Native village gets a real quick wake up call regarding what is or isn't necessary for wildernerss tools and toys.

So what did ya' learn all the way up in Alaska, Raym? Did you learn to tiller your own long bow? knap a knife? make your own twine? how many different snares could you build in an emergency? Ever make a birch bark canoe? What was the best way of assemling a cabin in the bush? How did you store food, drinking water, etc.? What did you learn about wilderness medicine? What did you learn about yarrow, spruce needles, and Birch trees for medicinal purposes? Did you eat any unusual foods up there? dine with the villagers? eat seal or rotten bird? What area did you stay in? how did you get food and supplies? what kinda firearms did and did not work?

Not by any means pickin' on ya', but you've already thumped yer chest about being a rugged former Alaska man, we could use a bit more substance, and would like to partake more of your accumulated knowledge. The simple point thus far communicated is kind of a given.

As for me, I don't believe Alaska even exists, and if it does, I'm sure everyone there has running water and electricity, and satellite TV...:D
 
I have had a few debates about "big" knives and axes. when I do get out, I find a medium blade, an sak, and an axe (and maybe my hori hori, since it is an edc thing in my trade) work better than a massive chopper blade.

so I, too, am curious. I live in the lowlands near the sierra, and we're working on homesteading up north after nursing school for my wife is done. what, why and how did you do? kids? solo?
 
Not to jump on the bandwagon but I started a new thread for people to show what they have found to work and work well in the woods. Raym I would be very interested in the tools and guns you found you need the most living off the land in Alaska. Chris
 
Thomas,

You're right!!!!



Imalterna,

I don't know what the term
"growler issues" means

Runs,

No,Alaska doesn't exist.


Koyote,

I was alone.I'm not sure what you were asking,other than that.
 
Chris,

Other than what I've already mentioned,I kept a small nested tool kit with pliers,screwdriver w/bits,wire,etc.

About guns......I'm a gun enthusiast,I reload,etc,etc......but there's far too much analysis on the subject for all practical purposes.......I used a 30/06 rifle of which I probably only fired 10 or 12 shots per year....more wasn't needed.
I also had a 44 mag revolver and a 22 rimfire rifle.
 
Who decided there was honor in choosing a worse tool for the job, when a superior tool is as easily obtained? Why not go out into the woods with nothing but your loin cloth in order to prove ones vast skill and manliness?

I go to the woods to enjoy myself and get away from the ‘real world’, the daily grind of traffic jams and phone calls, which is where we are really ‘just surviving’. By taking the right equipment when entering the woods, I make sure that I’m spending my time as smoothly and as pleasantly as possible (rather than struggling against my environment).

I buy ‘toys’ because I get pleasure from perfecting (and minimizing) my bush kit. It’s like caring for a rock garden or a bonsai tree, except that I get to make use out of my efforts.

Could most in this forum take one good blade and a handful of choice items and survive just fine? Most likely. Is that the most relaxing way to spend your free time? Not for me.

When you're paying the bills for others and funding their gear, you can berate them on their choices. Most here have real world responsibilities as functional and productive members of society, and thus lack the luxury of time to spend living off the grid.

I, too, would very much enjoy learning from the wealth of knowledge you must have obtained during your experiences.
 
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