Bushcraft?

I've been doing a little axe rehap in the past few weeks and doing a little online research.


Damn near every time the term 'bushcraft' appears.

It's a fancy word city people use for living off the land. It's pretty much what everybody outside the big cities did until about 1950.

I always thought bushcraft was that which kept the point man alive on recon missions.

I'm pretty sure it's a metrosexual phrase.

I always heard it used to describe those skills you used to survive traverse uninhabited country, which in another way is what the word would be used for to describe how to traverse watts, compton, atlanta, baltimore.

Figured it was something about ladies who hadn't yet discovered razors.

The Gods must be crazy!!

Bushmen should be in charge!!

There is a line of books called Bushcraft re living the old way.

Tanning, farming, putting up apples, making buckskin, clothing, primitive housing ...

Don't get me started.......

In my younger years, inspected many, many bushes.

You might say I was an expert in bushcraft.

Beating around the bush.

Redhead or brunette?

Two German girls I follow on YouTube that are BushCrafters. One of them is an absolute expert with a slingshot. That one also served a term in the military. If you're interested I can send you a link.

Is it like private? Who wouldnt be interested?

Yeah, but can they carry 4 full Bier deckels in in each hand???

KW, she would turn you into liverwurst.

Me either....

IT's mostly hipsters that go camping in their back yards and like to say Kephart.

Ha! I'm already chopped liver!!!

And yes! They do like their big azz knives!!!

sheesh! they are German!

have heard the term used often over many years.


I think folks like to find old words and give them new life every few generations.


if you're good at bushcraft, you're the bees knees imo.

Do you prep bro?

Might wanna check your bushcraft if you do.

Maybe even your fieldcraft too...

In a nut shell the bushcraft craze is an attempt by urbanites to be able to take a walk in a park without hurting themselves. I don't look at it as a bad thing, we all had to learn somehow and most of us had fathers and family that showed us. I did not have a single outdoors person in my family to teach me anything so I learned the hard way and the urbanites of today are probably much the same. I started out learning when I was about ten but today's bushcrafters are trying to learn as adults.

Bushcraft could be strip club in Alaska.

My bug-out bag is full of bushcraft.

How I roll bro...

Did you get your axe all fixed up Scott?

"Bushcraft" is the same concept as "street smarts," only for the outdoors rather than the city.

Oh yeah, all fixed up. I've got more planned. Have you used the safety wedges before? The round ones.


I also learned another new word, batoning.

It's amazing what someone can do with a knife in 45 minutes that I can do with an axe in 30 seconds.

TFF

I have it on good authority Woodie has a thing for the Bier Madchens.

next thing ya know, they'll have you whittling your own silverware and starting fires without matches.....

Bushy and otherwise!

😜

I don't use anything but wood wedges. My reasoning, right or maybe wrong, is I don't want anything to cut across the grain in the direction of the most force. I cut the slot for the wedge until it is around 2/3 the way through the eye of the head add Swell-Lock and set the wedge. Saw of the excess and call it done.

Swel-Lok

Batoning works if you don't have an axe, I just always have and axe. Even my wife can make kindling with a full sized double bit axe. I think I can make tinder with a pocket knife and start a fire with out a match, lighter or a gallon of gasoline even in the wet Pac NW. I have been doing it for years.

Have you watch this? It is the best I have seen concerning axe restoration and hanging.

To heck with grinding an ax. Show us how to get tinder and start a fire without a match.

Hard to find around here, few know what they are.

I've been using them for a growing collection restored, re-hafted blacksmithing hammers,...all sizes

....they are SUPERB , and a WAY better setup than all the old conventional types,...

Been making up my own on the lathe, out of old bits of seamless hydraulic tubing.

GTC

Chit most of knew when we were 12. At least if we wanted to go go hunting we have prove we could deal with basics like starting a fire in pouring rain, basic shelter, using a compass, navigation, sharpen a knife, field dressing.

All the "bushcraft" videos I've seen inevitably end up with some hipster trying to see if he can destroy a $200 knife trying to use it as an axe or splitting maul.

As for axes, my brother just cleaned up an old Collins (pre-Mexico) and made a nice boy's axe for my son.

Speaking of axes, any of you used one of these?? It's the shiznit for splitting... (oh, and the handle won't come loose)


http://www.gerbergear.com/Cutting-Tools/Axes/Splitting-Axe-II_31-002658

No I haven't but I am old fashioned and like a wooden handle. I usually make my own from ash or hickory if I can find a good piece at the hardwood store. I also make my handles much thinner that the clubs you see in stores. Thinner handles have spring and are easier to use but you have to have good straight grain and it has to be going in the right direction. I do most of my wood splitting with a double bit.

Flint and steel, ferro rod, there are lots of ways. I have even made a bow and drill but my wife swiped my drill.

Nothing wrong with using a match if you know how to go about starting a fire without one. I practice a lot using other methods because I find it fun. Was camping in a park last year. Wife and I had a nice little fire going. The campers behind us were trying to start a fire with a weed burner and not getting it done. even with gas. I split some kindling from one of his pieces of wood, made a little tinder from one of the kindling sticks and started his fire with a blast match.

Blast Match This is the only fire starter I know that will work one handed.

Did you do free of charge breast exams too?

It's the modern word that is a substitute for the word woodcraft which is a better word. Yuppies use it and the rest of use are kinda forced to so people will know what we are talking about. Also another way to get a premium price for something. Bushcraft and tactical are two words that people have taken a huge [bleep] on.

The English have a strong passion (forums/enthusiasts, makers, etc.) with bush-craft skills and lore.

Wonder why?

Remember the "Foxfire" books of the 70s? Pretty much that,but with lots of paracord and cosplay.

Yep but you had someone who taught you. These modern "bushcrafters" did not have anyone, It is because many did not have family who went outside.

Yep.

Even on TV bushcrafters don't have all their teeth.

Or a salon.

Agreed....I use a wood wedge and then soak it in BLO.

I'm not familiar with Swell-Lock but I'd bet it has a good deal of BLO in it.






I shouldn't tell you this for fear that you'll want to kick me in the balls but I had a neighbor weld a piece of lawn mower blade on an old blacksmith hammer I had buried in a box of tools so I could use it on the trap line digging sets and driving stakes.
Well a couple years later when cleaning it up so I could rehandle I realized it has an anchor and USN stamped in the casting.
Probably one of those famous $300 hammers the military was buying way back when.
I'm really wishing I would have seen that insignia before I fugged it up.

Good looking job on setting those handles.

You must have a Bear Grylls knife to be a true bushwhacker

Everytime I read the term "bushwacker" I'm reminded of the penis helicopter video Ironbender sent me the other day.

First I heard of it, it was called a Brazilian - - - - - - -

The MSDS says it's dipropylene glycol.

Beat me to it and I did not have to look it up...
.(

BLO would shrink as it cured in the hammer wedge setting arena creating a bad thing, slop. glycol acts like wax and does not shrink.

I thought this was a thread about topiary?







Geno

PS, nice work on the wedges FG

And it's guys like these that have hijacked the term to sell their product to other urban hipster wannabees: https://tripleaughtdesign.com/

Bushcraft is a term, I think British origin, used to characterize tools, methods and activities you would do on a primitive camping or survival outing. A bushcraft knife is a knife designed to prepare wood for a fire, make feather sticks, strike good sparks, make tent pegs, etc. If you build a shelter with items found in the woods that is Bushcraft. If you make a primitive deadfall trap that is Bushcraft.... and so on.

Yup, this and the ability of her suitor to navigate said bush. Been practicing it for years.

Reminds me of the new Insurance commercials, where the lady is standing there with a teenage son, taller than her. The insurance company "saved" her son by sending out someone to fix his flat tire. Apparently no one teaches kids to fix flat tires nowadays

The Engineer of Surveys Division back in the 1990's drove from Little Rock, Ar. to Conway, Ar. to change the flat on His Son's jeep. Son was in college. Now this man grew up at Snow Lake, Ar. which is about as country as you can get. It is South of Helena, Ar. down where the White River and the Missippi run together. Farming, logging , and commercial fishing is all that happens down there. Maybe some moon-shining, but this man failed to pass any skills on to his son. miles

I'd make it mandatory for any kid of mine to demonstrate that they can change a flat, check the oil, and give the vehicle a walkaround before being allowed to drive.

Seen many cases where kids, or even wives just drive on the rim to the nearest tire shop.

Damn snowflakes.

Been several years, but the youngest Girl was going to college in LR, and living at home. She roared up into the yard one evening and jumped out, got a piece of cardboard out of the trunk and put it down by the car. By that time I was curious and went out to see what was going on. Asked her and she replied," I am going to change the oil in my car, do you know how much they charge for that?" I laughed and agreed that was the way to go. miles

Good girl.

It's a hot new term to describe how metrosexuals survive venturing into their backyards.
JeffO failed the class.

Like John Wayne says in the meme...if you cut off your dick it don't make you a chick, just a guy with your dick cut off.

It's a term used by Campfire Elites to mock others that enjoy the outdoors.

Hadn't seen that one. I've got a few octagon handles coming. I also need to do a double bit. It's tough finding heads around here, but I keep looking

Things have really gotten tough since the end of the French Revolution.

If I find a good one I will let you know. They are getting harder to find around here but I still find a nice one once in a while. I make octagonal handles from rounded ones on a bench top belt sander. Pretty easy to do. I also still scorch my handles before finishing. It is supposed to make them a little harder. The look nice that way.

That had to have been a long time ago. They've not had bushs for a long time.

True, bushcraft is a dying art.

When I was a kid growing up in rural north central Arkansas, we just called it "camping," or "hunting & fishing." I learned a lot about getting along out in the woods from my father and uncle, and a whole lot more while in the Boy Scouts.

Lots of WW II Army surplus stuff around for camping and bustin' around out in the forests. Also would scrounge a cast iron skillet and an old pot from my mother's kitchen. Mighty good times then.

Never heard the word "bushcraft" until a few years ago on the Internet. For us it was "Hey boys, get your stuff and let's go camping."

L.W.

Sure do. Checked em out from the library routinely and was absolutely fascinated by them. Pretty much anything you'd need for the end of the world in those books..planting corn by the moonphase, milling the corn, making whisky from the corn..hunting, trapping, fire. Great collection of books. Probably read the whole series while in 6th grade, not a normal behavior thing to do even back then.

AFAIK "bushcraft" started in the UK. In the USA we'd call it woodscraft or woods skills or just knowledge guys should know if raised correctly.

Hobos of the 1930's had roughly 1000 times the skill level that today's "bushcrafters" are trying to attain.

At least they're getting fresh air and exercise trying to chop small trees in half with a knife..........

Have you tried handle house.com ?

They are hell on chopping stuff! I camped several times with some very nice young fellows who's hobby (I think) was spending all day chopping on big pieces of dead fall! Heck, nice pieces of wood laying everywhere on ground! But They insisted on chopping!!! Ok, exercise!I started bringing big pieces of chainsawed pisselum for em to split for Just burning wood. They was happy as pigs in slop!!!

They are all even tempered fellows that just wanna learn. Like someone said they are out in the fresh air and having fun. They really are good types!

That's what she said.

^^^^^ thanks! Keeper!!!^^^^

Just another factor furthering the pussification of America's youth.


(No pun intended)

Is a set of books like that too, series called foxfire IIRC.

Can't believe I watched that for an hour. But it damn sure was interesting.


Thanks.

You are welcome.

And after all that chopping, it's time for batoning.

It's amazing how critical guys are today of knives that only cut well. If a knife can't be wailed on and driven through knotty hardwoods indefinitely, then it's just not a quality blade. This thinking is relatively recent, and a result (I think) of the Bushcraft and Prepper trends. In the 80's hollow handled Rambo knives were the rage, so I guess whatever stimulates the imagination and the economy.

In related news I like my Ontario SP8 a lot for making kindling. It's a froe that's intended only for batoning, and not general knife tasks. The absolute precision and safety it offers in splitting wood is an eye-opener.

Well, kaywoodie,

when you're done with them I've got 2-3 cords of juniper and pine at our place down in N CA that need split.

I've got an 8 lb maul too, no need to use a nice axe to split wood unless it's all one has.

Geno

slave's mom has a granddaughter!

She's HOT!

Geno

PS, did you post her pic in the basement too? Why just have all the fun up here?

Dear Geno,

I went back to beIng a hermit! I try to stay the hell away from people anymore. So I don't associate with them these days. Most of my social transactions these days occurs when I have to go to grocery store or liquor store. Most time at grocer it isn't pretty to watch.

Your anti-social pal

Bob

😁

Good video.