Pukka Kit or not?

[primitiveliver]

UKHaiku,

I agree that the philosophy in the UK is different.

There seem to be a lot of sacred cows here. Knives are a good example. Got to be a 4" scandy seemed to be the rule for a long time. I have often seen an attitude of "big knives are silly and ramboish". I'm glad to see now that wiser attitudes are starting to prevail - I've heard many a wise head discussing how useful a tool a Leuku is and how much lighter than an axe. Many favour a bill hook (which is a big knife when you come down to it). I like a good belt knife but for many tasks a bigger knife rocks (anyone else notice RM use his parang to carve a wild boar roast?).

I don't know why its that way over here - but it is. I've heard people disparage the use of tomahawks over axes. ?????? Its just a variety of axe and you don't have to carry the helve with you. Indeed RM advises their use in his early books.

The US seem to be less bound by "rules" and "traditions". Its an attitude I find refreshing. Sure that means that some mistakes are made - but there is an attitude of open mindedness to new ideas or alternative approaches that I enjoy

Red

We could probably state a whole thread based on this subject but. I would argue that the lack of tradition, sense of history, and most of all refinement cause just as many problems as it solves. In the us there seams to be from what I can tell to very distinctive camps. The camp of the survivalist and the camp of the consumer camper. This of course is for the general population and not extreme athletes. In the survivalist camp if you can make it or do it on the cheap then that the way. There is also a tone of the remembering the mountain men and doing things the quote “old hard way”. In the consumer camp their seams to be a real emphases on purchasing the latest a great thing to make life in the back county easer and more like home, they also seam to look down on fix blade knifes . This would be were we get the backpacking espresso machines and dehydrated meals that are $6us apiece. You guy seam to have a good mix of the best of both worlds. But you have something else a sense of refinement, and example could be the billy can. Here is the US if you read the “survivalist” forums you will here people talking about there #10 can, or coffee can pot, etc. This is referring to using a #10 coffee can that has been seasoned like case iron as a billy can. Which is great it work but real if you purchase a descent pot it will last for ever has it has a more refined feel and look. Now try to find a billy can here is the US. I found one place in the states that sells a suitable pot. If you go to places like the links I have listed bellow you will not find a pot with all of the billy can features. In the “consumer camper” camp not only could they not imagine way you would cook in a coffee can. But they you want to know why you did not go out a purchase a sauce pan style pot that would fit nicely on you gas stove. This is just one example I could come up with many more. This is one of the reasons why I enjoy read the post of this forum so much but I get to see or rather read prospective from all over the world.

http://www.rei.com
http://www.basspro.com
http://www.cabelas.com
http://www.joessports.com/
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com

In my opinion this is a very simplify response to a complex topic.

 

[CLEM]

Okay, I'm going to buck the trend.

Good on the inventor! I like to see people thinking about problems, trying to solve them, being innovative.

My perceptions have changed a LOT since designing a few tools myself. Its hard. Would I buy this tool? Probably not. But someone, somewhere has tried to create something "new" something "better". 99% of such things fail - my own humble efforts ( the PFK etc.) may never be world beaters. But the guy tried.

Good luck to him

Red

I'd go along with that!