spent the day in the woods, with a OHT and a Khukuri.
the goal was to build a shelter frame (lashed) for a tarp shelter, but to try two different sized blades and under duress.
First attempt
OHT, and i was warm and dry. Took approximately 45 minutes to build a nice frame,most of the time was spent whittling the limbs to cut them down. and tarp it, and make a clean dry flooring for it with boughs.
second attempt
Khukuri , and i was warm and dry. Took 20 minutes to drop the limbs and lash them together, tarp it and make a dry flooring.
third attempt
OHT, and i was soaking wet from a dunk in the icy stream (fully clothed). Took 2 hours to try and cut down the limbs, lash it and tarp it. had a real hard time trying to hold the OHT safely, ended up lashing it to my hand.
4th attempt
Khukuri, and i was again soaking wet (fresh dunk ). Took 35 minutes to drop the limbs, lash them and tarp it, floor it. did'nt have any issues with grip on the khukuri, even though the hands were numb and had no feeling.
a very unscientific test, but one that is interesting to try (have a friend go with you and bring spare clothes. ) To me it highlightd the limitations of small knifes when under duress (in this case cold) . I t also higlighte dmy own weaknessas and limitations.
that being said, i still carry a trio into the woods, (large chopper, large fixed balde and and a folder)
anyone else tested their limits with gear int he woods, under various conditions?
obviously in a real life situation where i had fallen into a icy creek and gotten soaked...io would have stripped my clothes, huddled under a heat tarp with a candle to warm up and gotten into dry clothes......before building a shelter (if i needed a shelter) , but i wanted to test my motor control while cold and using a knife of different sizes.
EDIT EDIT EDIT! July 29/08)
please read the following, its a shame i need to post this but certain people make crap like this a necessity ....
"this test was a NON scientific test, without control groups, without an ample supply of shelter making saplings all the same size and in the same location, and done through-out the day under various stages of alertness, fatigue, cold, numb fingers, different clothes after every stream dunk, hunger pangs, etc etc etc etc. It was not meant to be a final authority on bush craft, or large vs small knife final countdown, etc etc etc etc. It was simply a day in the mountains, with a bunch of friends, most who sat by the river and drank beer and BBQ'ed, and one who kept an eye on me in case of emergency. The timekeeping was NOT strict and down to the millisecond, it was timed by people other than myself. If you were to repeat this test (PLEASE DO and post up your findings!!!!) YOUR results might vary, for whatever reason. I had fun doing this and learned a lot (frankly, mostly how to wring out most of the water from mine clothes after getting dunked......)
your mileage might vary.
the goal was to build a shelter frame (lashed) for a tarp shelter, but to try two different sized blades and under duress.
First attempt
OHT, and i was warm and dry. Took approximately 45 minutes to build a nice frame,most of the time was spent whittling the limbs to cut them down. and tarp it, and make a clean dry flooring for it with boughs.
second attempt
Khukuri , and i was warm and dry. Took 20 minutes to drop the limbs and lash them together, tarp it and make a dry flooring.
third attempt
OHT, and i was soaking wet from a dunk in the icy stream (fully clothed). Took 2 hours to try and cut down the limbs, lash it and tarp it. had a real hard time trying to hold the OHT safely, ended up lashing it to my hand.
4th attempt
Khukuri, and i was again soaking wet (fresh dunk ). Took 35 minutes to drop the limbs, lash them and tarp it, floor it. did'nt have any issues with grip on the khukuri, even though the hands were numb and had no feeling.
a very unscientific test, but one that is interesting to try (have a friend go with you and bring spare clothes. ) To me it highlightd the limitations of small knifes when under duress (in this case cold) . I t also higlighte dmy own weaknessas and limitations.
that being said, i still carry a trio into the woods, (large chopper, large fixed balde and and a folder)
anyone else tested their limits with gear int he woods, under various conditions?
obviously in a real life situation where i had fallen into a icy creek and gotten soaked...io would have stripped my clothes, huddled under a heat tarp with a candle to warm up and gotten into dry clothes......before building a shelter (if i needed a shelter) , but i wanted to test my motor control while cold and using a knife of different sizes.
EDIT EDIT EDIT! July 29/08)
please read the following, its a shame i need to post this but certain people make crap like this a necessity ....
"this test was a NON scientific test, without control groups, without an ample supply of shelter making saplings all the same size and in the same location, and done through-out the day under various stages of alertness, fatigue, cold, numb fingers, different clothes after every stream dunk, hunger pangs, etc etc etc etc. It was not meant to be a final authority on bush craft, or large vs small knife final countdown, etc etc etc etc. It was simply a day in the mountains, with a bunch of friends, most who sat by the river and drank beer and BBQ'ed, and one who kept an eye on me in case of emergency. The timekeeping was NOT strict and down to the millisecond, it was timed by people other than myself. If you were to repeat this test (PLEASE DO and post up your findings!!!!) YOUR results might vary, for whatever reason. I had fun doing this and learned a lot (frankly, mostly how to wring out most of the water from mine clothes after getting dunked......)
your mileage might vary.
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