Recent content by Springchicken

I watched the posted video and yes, it was moderately interesting, even if it covered material written about and discussed pretty extensively before. I would really like to see these Nessmuk necessities in use, doing the jobs for which they were originally intended, perhaps even with some...

My yardstick for the start of autumn is when the fruit on my Ashmead's Kernel tree starts to ripen. The fruit is there and might swell a little after the widdle of rain we've had but they are not ripe - yet. To be honest, I am delighted that summer is drawing to its dry, dusty and over hot end...

Keep them! I have kept all the O.S. maps that I bought and that weren't used to destruction. They are a record of the places that have piqued your interest over time, as well as being a record of how things have changed. On this last, I have a map of the Peak District from the 1980s; on it is...

A vape without refills? A 'phone without a charger? A credit card with a dangerously high limit? Yes, "times have changed"...!

Perhaps. But it does depend on where in the world you are. For the tropics or rain forest, I doubt that an axe would tick the box; if one was deep in a deciduous or boreal forest, a good number of the tools on a multitool might be utterly redundant. However, for a stay in the woods in the U.K...

What did your Kephart look like?

I agree wholeheartedly. It's the main reason for carrying a cutting tool most, if not all of the time. There will be occasions when you actually  know you won't utilise it but, even so, it's good to know it's there. Perhaps it's a residual thing from Scouts and being prepared...

I think that a knife is one of those things that isn't essential for 'bushcraft', however you define it. Whenever I go to the woods, which is pretty much daily, I take mine with me. Somehow, it is like having a reassuring friend with me. For the vast majority of the time, it remains sheathed on...

Just two, eh? That's almost harder than choosing one! Still, if pushed these would be my go-to two: A Ben Orford Woodlander for the heavier tasks and the Victorinox (I can't remember which model!) for food prep. and the modest range of handy tools that comes with it.

Is this another in their range of full-tang cutting tools? I have one of the models in their first tranche, called 'Wit'. It is not particularly well finished at the handle end but the blade does what it should - much like any, more modest Mora. I'd imagine that this new iteration is much the...

I made a kitchen spoon for my daughter. The wood is cherry.

Said beasties seem to have proliferated locally and I was wondering what they do, other than bite me and nearby livestock? Are they a food source for something? Do they pollinate things or are they just a complete and utter pain in the proverbial? I would like to know before I do something...

Tarp up, adjust clothing, source water, gather firewood, light fire and, while the kettle's on for a brew/food, arrange my sleeping stuff.

How would you define 'big' and 'small'? My reason for asking is that I would consider a leuku or parang-type of knife 'big' and something like the Peltonen M23 'small'; that then leaves a large middle ground of cutting tools with a blade length of around 11cm that seems to be something of a...

I think that, for me, familiarity is key: is the knife that I'm using have that recognisable - and therefore trusted - 'feel'? Based on that, I find myself reaching for my Orford Woodlander. Though, that said, I find myself also utilising a full tang Peltonen M09 with increasing frequency. The...