What do you think...

[EMT_Lee]

Of this quote?

"Bushcraft is a highly developed art of surviving in the "bush" with only a knife and a firestarter, sometimes for weeks or even months at a time."

I'd like to hear some opinions. Right? Wrong?

 

[tonym]

I think Bushcraft is the art of making life comfortable for your self out of natural materials. I wouldn't condider it survival allthough much of a bushcrafter's skill will get him through a survival scenario.

In regards to bushcraft tools; Knife, axe, tarp, matches, firsteel, canteen, and more are usually on hand..

 

[gadgetgeek]

In my opinion, that is the far end of the scale, but I don't really equate bushcraft with surviving as much as thriving. if we start with survival as the bare minimum, then bushcraft is the skills that go beyond that to improve your situation or living conditions.
survival= made a fire
bushcraft= made a fire with reflector, cooking tripod and chair.
Survival= set a snare, caught a squirrel, roasted over fire. Or found some wild edible greens/berries.
Bushcraft= set several types of traps, caught a couple squirrels and a rabbit, also foraged for edible greens, berries, and medicinal plants, then made a pot and spoon to make stew.

While someone with very good bushcraft skills could survive for weeks or months with little more than a knife and fire starter, in reality they would be making many of the things that someone else might carry, so they aren't really doing with less, just starting with less.

 

[Md 25v]

They would be making many of the things that someone else might carry.

That kinda sums it up for me.
Bushcraft is the skill to "craft" the items you need out of the natural materials you find in the bush.

 

[dalefuller]

In my opinion, that is the far end of the scale, but I don't really equate bushcraft with surviving as much as thriving. if we start with survival as the bare minimum, then bushcraft is the skills that go beyond that to improve your situation or living conditions...

Yeah... I heard someone say at Blade a couple of years ago (it was Sal Glesser, IIRC) that "survivalists are intent on getting out of the woods and back into civilisation. Bushcrafters are intent on getting out of civilisation and back into the woods."

 

[Zombie Zeke]

Bushcraft is being at one with nature through primitive means of self reliance.

-That's just my .02.

 

[EMT_Lee]

Yeah... I heard someone say at Blade a couple of years ago (it was Sal Glesser, IIRC) that "survivalists are intent on getting out of the woods and back into civilisation. Bushcrafters are intent on getting out of civilisation and back into the woods."

Actually, the quote I posted was Sal Glesser's. It struck me as marketing-hype. I don't know many self-proclaimed "bushcrafters" that only carry a knife and firesteel. How about an axe? Even Ray Mears heavily promotes an axe. I should mention, I do not consider myself a "bushcrafter" at all. Nor do I consider myself a survivalist. I'd consider myself an outdoorsman, but that's about it.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

IMO, the quote in the OP is more of a primitive survivalist's creed.

I'd define bushcraft as "The skillset and tools necessary for primitive living."

The goal being living, not mere biological survival.

 

[SouthernCross]

"Bushcraft is a highly developed art ...."

I agree with Bushcraft being a highly developed art :thumbup:

But it is so much more than just knife work or the ability to make a fire

To draw an analogy, a skilled Bushcrafter is a lot like an orchestra conductor. They are ahead of the game and are able to bring together a diversity of elements that collectively are greater than the sum of their individual parts.



Kind regards
Mick

 

[baldtaco-II]

I addressed a similar statement here - http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=614216&page=3

 

[ROCK6]

To draw an analogy, a skilled Bushcrafter is a lot like an orchestra conductor. They are ahead of the game and are able to bring together a diversity of elements that collectively are greater than the sum of their individual parts.


Kind regards
Mick

Wow, that's pretty deep Mick!!! I agree that "bushcraft" is a skill/mind-set and not dependent on the tool. I see bushcraft as more of thriving than surviving.

ROCK6

 

[Moosez45]

I see it like this, Survival is about staying alive. Bushcraft is about thrival. Moose

 

[Codger_64]

I see it like this, Survival is about staying alive. Bushcraft is about thrival. Moose

Dang. You would think that after living in Tennessee for ten years I would know the whole vocabulary. Of course I grew up in Arkansas, so a lot of the dictionary is the same. In fact, I wish I had a dollar for every Tennessee and Arkansas deer I have skunt.

Cue Bocephus' Country Boys Can Survive.

 

[Moosez45]

Dang. You would think that after living in Tennessee for ten years I would know the whole vocabulary. Of course I grew up in Arkansas, so a lot of the dictionary is the same. In fact, I wish I had a dollar for every Tennessee and Arkansas deer I have skunt.

Cue Bocephus' Country Boys Can Survive.

I must politely correct you on your word use and spelling, its skint- to peel the dinner jacket off an animal, before dinner. i.e. I skint that deer out gud, Paw, les' git it back t'da cabin for dinna. Ma's gonna b prawd 'uv us.

This was taken word for word, from the East Tennesseans Dixshunary. Moose