Recent content by Chinkapin

Andy BB, Thanks for the link. I like the idea of using the small diameter limb bundle very much. If I can escape hard manual labor, I'm all for it! I do see a couple of potential problems with this type of fire log however. First off, anyone using this method will be attempting to...

Bit like looking at Rorschach Ink Blots, isn't it?

One old trick is to wash your lenses using an ordinary bar of handsoap. Do not rinse off, let air dry with the soap still on the lenses. Polish the soap off with a lens cloth. They will now repel water, and not fog.

I forgot to mention yesterday, that a simple and quick way to spread the top apart, is to find an appropriately sized stone (one that will fit into the top cuts.) and then using a stout stick, pound the stone down into the split. The farther it goes, the wider the gap will be at the top...

Love your pictures! Looks like this would throw quite a nice light at night. On shorter, thicker logs there is always a danger of it splitting all the way to the bottom. In fact it is almost a given, that it will. If I know that I'm going to make one of these, "fire logs," I take a piece...

When you are gathering together your "essentials", just remember this little saying: "1 is none, and 2 is 1." If this seems meaningless to you, it will become abundantly clear to you when you break the blade off of your knife and do not have another one for back-up. Although I'm recommending...

There is an entire cluster of videos made by Dave under the heading "21st Century Longhunter," You might have missed them. I was going to post this on the original thread but it seemed it was closed for other reasons.

Stanley, the author of "The Ultimate Guide to Wilderness Living" (this is a highly recommended book by many authorities) states that a softwood drill is necessary, also dead and dry. He likes Cottonwood, aspen and yucca. (These may not grow in your area, so concentrate on a softwood.) Many...

Samon: The old original Marble's knives were first rate knives and are worth quite a bit these days. Marble's went out of business years ago but has reincarnated itself in recent years. The current production knives are for the most part 440 stainless steel and are manufactured in China...

LOL, the only definition of "bender" that I know of here in the u.s. is: "a prolonged drunken state." Sombody once said, and I'm paraphrasing here: "Great Britain and the United States - - separated by a common language. So true.

Santaman, I have a Buck 110 as well and I find it to be an excellent and extremely robust knife. I like it a lot, but having said that, I also have a Gerber "Gator" (first version) and I prefer to carry it because it is also a fairly good sized and robust knife as well, but has a much more...

That is a very beautiful knife, God, I love file work!

The somewhat misnamed gut hook blade is used to "unzip" the belly of the animal. A small hole is cut into the lower part of the belly of the animal, and then the small, upper part of the hook is inserted into the hole and then the knife is drawn upward. This opens the belly and chest cavity...

Swiss Miss (individual packets) ease of preparation, good flavor. The powdered milk is already mixed in, just add to your Crusader cup of steaming hot water. Abuela (a Mexican chocolate that is a bit different, but quite good if made properly, according to the instructions. Hint: 1/8...

I once saw a shrew kill a lizzard that was about 3 or 4 times its size. One other time I saw a king snake constrict a copperhead to death. Unfortunately, I did not have a camera either time. sigh!