Old School Bushcraft Camp

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Wayland

Hárbarðr
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I’ve been interested in outdoor life and skills from before the time the “Bushcraft” became a popular term. The Steam Tent Co-operative is just the latest incarnation of that life long passion.

As a result I have come to know a lot of people with the same interests and some of those associations led to the formation of this small group.

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The idea was to step away from the modern commercial approach and embrace a more old fashioned experience.

In many ways there is a large overlap with the STC way of doing things so I thought it might be appropriate to post a few pictures from their first group camp here.

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As usual, I took far more than the necessary amount of camping equipment because I wanted to make a good impression and possibly inspire a few people to join us on future STC camps.

One item I was particularly keen to try out was a nice Buckby Can I had recently acquired.

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We generally keep a couple of stoneware barrels on site for clean water but they are heavy and somewhat delicate to transport.

A Buckby Can is made for the purpose and widely used on narrow boats.

Many people call these water cans 'Buckby Cans' but strictly speaking a 'Buckby Can' was specifically a water can that had been bought from Buckby on the Grand Union Canal. In truth, I have no idea where this one was made.

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The wide base makes them stable when sitting on the cabin roof where they were handy for filling at any convenient water stop along the way.

Most often made from galvanised steel and painted with traditional patterns, this example is made from copper and brass, tinned on the inside, and fits in so well with the rest of our gear it looks like it has been there forever.

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Another recent project that had it’s first outing on this camp was my new canvas bed roll.

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Seen here laid out on the old military stretcher I use for a camp bed, with a cotton stuffed palliasse on it for insulation, it made a very comfortable bed for the weekend.

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Yet another curiosity that I was interested to try out was this little railway lamp.

Used for engine inspections and often referred to as oil flares, these were a less refined lamp from the great age of steam.

This one came from the LMS railway company which my grandfather worked on so when I found it amongst a pile of other less well preserved lamps I thought I would give it a home.

Here you see it fuelled with paraffin which some sources say they were used with. Looking at the size of the wick and the resulting flame produced, I suspect that they may have used light oil instead.

An experiment for another day perhaps.

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Beyond the normal necessities of camp life, the plan was to engage in some skill sharing and craft work, something I am always keen to promote.

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We were fortunate to have the voluntary services of James Body, a skilled leather worker to show a few people the basics of leather carving.

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A couple of people managed to make decorated axe shaft masks on the Saturday.

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We even had a little bit of basic flint knapping going on, mainly to supply flint strikers for fire lighting.

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Riam stripped a piece of old rope down for making a small net for hanging bits and pieces from on the side of his living van.

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In many ways, the character of the weekend was set by this wonderful construction which took pride of place in the heart of the camp.

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Built from scratch upon an old trailer for a base, I cannot imagine how many hours of work he must have put in to finish this off. Frankly it puts any of my projects well and truly in the shade.

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Without knowing more of the details of it’s construction I cannot say much more than the fact that I am in awe and I hope my following pictures do it some justice.

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Snufkin

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Oct 13, 2004
2,097
138
53
Norfolk
What a great post. I've just about pulled together a trad camping kit. The only modern materials are the rubber soles on my boots (1970s Soviet officers jackboots which I'm breaking in at the moment). I've some time off in a fortnight so I'll hopefully get a couple of nights out. I'll try and take some photos if I can find my camera.
 

Bishop

Full Member
Jan 25, 2014
1,716
691
Pencader
Gorgeous and reminds me to pick up some more paraffin. Jules has developed a fondness for reading a few hours each night by the light of the Aladdin and it's denting supplies.
 
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Keith_Beef

Native
Sep 9, 2003
1,366
268
55
Yvelines, north-west of Paris, France.
I'm on the lookout for a greener substitute that is still cost effective.

There are some bio lamp oils on the market now but the price still seems prohibitive compared to paraffin.

You might be able to scrounge beef fat for free from your butcher, if he gets his beef by the half-carcass, and render that to make tallow for candles.

Maybe there's a way to use the burning lamp flame to heat the fuel in the reservoir to liquefy it. Or you can convert the tallow to liquid fuel (biodiesel).

I bought some highly refined industrial tallow for making leather dressing, but at €24 per kg, it's probably not cost-effective to use it for lamp fuel.
 
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RonW

Native
Nov 29, 2010
1,575
121
Dalarna Sweden
Impressive collection of gear you got there!
That will take some (un)packing, but that bed looks mighty comfy! As does the rest actually.
 
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Robson Valley

Full Member
Nov 24, 2014
9,959
2,664
McBride, BC
A paleo stone source of heat for cooking and light would be a 'kudliq' or 'qilliq' usually carved from steatite soapstone.
Used to be common among out First Nations Inuit people of the far north.
The animals fat fuel normally solidifies but melts again from the heat of the burning wick.
Another pile of stone that I have yet to work on.

Time keeping. I note the absence of sundials and hour glasses. Might they not be useful for cooking?
 

Bishop

Full Member
Jan 25, 2014
1,716
691
Pencader
On the to-do list of experiments...
  • try the hurricane lamp with vegetable oil and a modern fibreglass cored wick
  • pick up a spare Aladdin burner and attempt conversion to Argand lamp with veg oil drip feed
 

Janne

Sent off - Not allowed to play
Feb 10, 2016
12,330
2,293
Grand Cayman, Norway, Sweden
I love the way that a fairly random collection of equipment seems to come together as a coherent set somehow.

I think the choice of materials does help that.

Copper based alloys + leather+ wood = perfection.
I am impressed by the weird and wonderful items you have managed to find. I was quite unsuccessful during my hunts in Sussex!
 

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