Welcome to the Jungle

[TAH]

For those of you who do not own the book, The Story of Buck Knives, by Tom Ables, I wanted to share this photo that always captures my attention and triggers my imagination. To me, it is a great example of two worlds, primitive and modern, coming together. I have much respect for this gentleman, who obviously was an expert in jungle survival and used a small Buck knife as his primary survival tool. The knife probably just made things easier for him. I'm betting he could survive without it. The knife appears to be a 118, maybe a 105. I have always wondered about the unidentifiable patch on the sheath flap and if it had a special purpose or meaning.

 

[Old Hunter]

That's a Buck 118, I'd know the curve of that blade anywhere! Cool, and double cool! OH

 

[bucksway]

The knife is man's second oldest tool after the hammer stone. A quote I read years ago captured my attention.." A man can go into the woods with just a axe and come out driving a wagon with a team of horses." I once watched a video of a large elk being processed with knaped tools ( including making them) and was seriously impressed by how sharp and easy it was to do. A discovery of a stone tool kit in California a few years ago had over a dozen different animals DNA traces on them including the American Camel..

 

[jmh33]

Went to Flint Ridge in Ohio. Brought some home. Did a little knapping. Some of the pieces were razor sharp. Did some cutting with those pieces. Seems to hold an edge pretty well.
John

 

[TAH]

That's a Buck 118...

Yes, that was my first thought. I wonder if the knife was picked and given to him by NASA or if Buck was somehow involved and if the astronauts were issued the same model. It's interesting the 118 was chosen for a general purpose knife.