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Basically, yes. It is somewhat confusing, but I think that's largely because we have terminology (scandi, saber, full flat) that is often only somewhat-defined but many people (myself included, back in the day at least) adhere rigidly to their preferred grind. I pretty much agree - I think...

I guess we could argue about the definition of pronounced - but I tend to think that a visible change in angle is sufficiently pronounced to be called another bevel. All the micro adds is "small" - which is also pretty relative. Compared to the example above, my Becker BK7 has a secondary much...

I basically agree Mark... but so do a lot of knives that are called Scandi. The Mora I mentioned above came with a small secondary bevel and was maintained that way. So have other Moras (by makers other than E. Jonsson) I've had, Jarvenpaa and at least the first Enzo (I can't remember if the...

Howdy folks, DISCLAIMER: This is just stuff I've been mulling over. I'm not making any real attempt to define what is or isn't scandi or tell people what they should or shouldn't use - the assumptions I'm making in what I call "scandi" vs what I call "saber grind" are just based off of trends...

Thanks robevs73! Thanks Mark, long time no see! :D

Definitely an axe for me. I'd be confident in a knife providing almost equal service IF I had confidence that the areas I were in were mostly untouched. In my experience, coniferous forests tend to have a lot of dead wood on the ground and dead standing wood, giving ample fuel that can be split...

There's nothing wrong with starting on a low-powered bow, even as an adult - but 24lb definitely IS a low powered bow. As with all things, technique is key - practice technique and then move up. That being said, I started bow-shooting in Scotland when I was about 7 and haven't noticed people...

Finished the sheath today!

Thanks y'all :) Shelley - I could, but I won't :D I usually only worry about shining up the blade if it's rusty (which is pretty rare here in the desert) - I usually only take handles to 400 grit, as I really don't like the feeling of a high-grit surface - the mesquite sure would look nice that...

Howdy! Some of y'all may recall a little while ago I posted about the Condor Mini Duku parang and my rationale for its use in the desert. I'm pretty much sold on the idea of a big knife in the desert (this one, at least) but not completely sold on the parang being the best choice. It's a great...

Thanks y'all :) Shelley, I agree! I've come to appreciate a bit of softness in big knives. I like kukris also, but chopping just isn't a big enough priority here to justify the weight I don't think. Amon81, I thought the village parang looks good also but I believe it's a bit weightier - I...

I haven't gotten around to eating prickly pear yet, but would like to - the stores around here sell the pads, but it would be just as easy to harvest it yourself, they grow everywhere (I planted one in my front yard, a few years ago but the pads aren't very big yet). The fruit sounds...

I'm surprised the machete is used for branches that large, thanks for the info! As a matter of curiosity, what is the wood like? Here probably the most common tree is mesquite - finding smaller diameter pieces isn't terribly difficult, but it's very hard and quite twisty. I wouldn't want to try...

I've wondered too, but I think it would be rather bland - the wood is plain with no real grain to show. It might make a good improvised handle, but I'm not sure how it would hold up. I may be wrong, but I believe that's cassava or yuca, rather than yucca - it's frequently spelled the same but...

Howdy folks! I've got a bit of a fascination with big blades from around the world, and the parang is a cool one. For the woods I make heavy use of an axe with relatively little consideration for big blades, but I thought a big blade might be useful for the desert - lots of tough, spiny plants...

The shape of the axe edge is dependent on purpose, regional variation and so on - some have pretty extreme curves that allow the center portion to bite deep, others are completely straight. Wranglerstar on Youtube did a video about the method I assume you're referring to, but IMO it's pretty...

Cool, that's a desert I'd like to get out to as well! Living here has certainly given me immense respect for people who made this their home without the convenience of modern technology. As I say to my friends born here, where I come from so much water falls from the sky you start to get sick...

I don't doubt that, but coming to the desert from Scotland was a frightening shift nonetheless (particularly because I didn't choose to come here) :) It has taken some time to feel at home in the outdoors here, though it is coming along. Water remains my greatest concern, but my area is much...

I'm in the Chihuahuan desert

Howdy folks! I haven't really posted much about the desert since moving here. I went for a while thinking it was just about the most inhospitable environment possible, but research told me I was wrong! Yucca is a marvelous plant - the root is edible, the stalk is edible when young, then the...