Recent content by Draven

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  1. Draven

    Some thoughts on the Scandinavian Grind

    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...
  2. Draven

    Some thoughts on the Scandinavian Grind

    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...
  3. Draven

    Some thoughts on the Scandinavian Grind

    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...
  4. Draven

    Some thoughts on the Scandinavian Grind

    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...
  5. Draven

    Mesquite handled bowie

    Thanks robevs73! Thanks Mark, long time no see! :D
  6. Draven

    Leuku or Hatchet?

    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...
  7. Draven

    Why does it seem Americans shoot bows with heavier draw weights?

    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...
  8. Draven

    Mesquite handled bowie

    Finished the sheath today!
  9. Draven

    Mesquite handled bowie

    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...
  10. Draven

    Mesquite handled bowie

    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...
  11. Draven

    Condor Mini Duku Parang

    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...
  12. Draven

    Firelighting with yucca

    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...
  13. Draven

    Condor Mini Duku Parang

    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...
  14. Draven

    Firelighting with yucca

    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...
  15. Draven

    Condor Mini Duku Parang

    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...