SW shops

[maverix]

Been lurking for a while and thought id ask a bit of advice.

Based on the N Devon coast i am struggling to find any shops that dont give me funny looks when i ask for a particular brand of axe. is there somewhere between Devon and Bristol that has a range of bushcraft kit that i can go visit?

Theres something about actually handling and hefting something before handing over real tangible cash that i find tremendously more rewarding than sitting and clicking to buy.

thanks in advance
Mav

 

[tomtom]

To the best of my kolage there are no shops anywhere which sell bushcraft kit.. while you can find bits and bobs all around the place you will only find shops which are primarily bushcraft gear on the internet!

 

[maverix]

Thats just not right.

does that mean that theres an opportunity there. Or that a shop like that is a little too specialised. A little more research methinks

 

[match]

You'll probably find all the things you need in shops/suppliers nearby, but not all in one place.

For instance, tents, bivy bags etc - try army surplus/camping shop, axes/knives/carving tools would need a local hardware shop or place specialising in wood/forestry equipment etc.

Most of my stuff is from all over the world, online, specialist shops, carboot sales, charity shops... half the fun is the finding!

 

[tomtom]

a shop like that is a little too specialised

i think you will find this is the case, or there would already be more of them.. buscrafters seem (from the BCUK map) to be spread fairly evanly (and thinly) about the country so where would you put it?

Gov Surplus shops the always a good start!

 

[odin13]

if u want to travel as far as bristol we have marcruss surplus, which sometimes has bushcraft items in stock, recently i picked up a british DPM basha for £19.99 their and they have bivvy bags, ponchos, sleeping bags, tents etc etc, but it depends, coz u mite be lucky and u mite not, as they dont always have bushcarft stuiff.
cheers
alex

 

[maverix]

Ohhhh. i know marcruss used to live a few doors down from there, and seeing as it was closer than the laundrette then they did a good supply of cheap underwear too.

thanks for the tip,

maverix

 

[leon-1]

What's up Mav, is there any one peice of kit particular that you wish to judge against another???

Or is it just general curiosity so that you can try to get a feel for what you wish to use before you buy??

Either way you would probably be better getting to one of the Meetups be it a local one or one of the larger events like the BCUK Summer Moot or the Wilderness Gathering.

If it is a case that you can get to the Dartmoor Meet at the beginning of next month then try to get there as we have quite a large and diverse amount of kit between the people going and you will be able to have a look at it in the flesh so to speak.

Most of us do a lot of our shopping on the net, one reason is convenience the other is cost, you tend to find you will get a better deal on the net. S once you have had a look at some of the kit you could then buy it on the net afterwards at a cheaper price

 

[Chopper]

i think you will find this is the case, or there would already be more of them.. buscrafters seem (from the BCUK map) to be spread fairly evanly (and thinly) about the country so where would you put it?

If I were to open a bushcrart shop I would want to keep it quite close to home as it would make it easier to run

 

[Spencer]

For the best gear fondling experience get down to Morris' in the Teign valley on Dartmoor and watch them craft their billhooks ( The best is the small sparring hook). Do they make axes? I would feel confident in asking them to do so. There is also a guy who works in Wood and Rush in Chagford who will forge anything with an edge.

Having said that, I bought my small forest axe on the interwidewebnet and I experienced total satisfaction.

Regards
Spencer

 

[maverix]

Generally i just fancied a browse and a handle, to get a feel for things. And i like to support local business where i can.

Tho there have been a few suggestions so my list is growing thanks to all those who made suggestions. I am going to try to make it to at least one of the moots so hopefully will see a bunch of you and your kit there.

 

[Neil1]

Mav I have quite a bit of bushcrafting gear, you are quite welcome to have a look at, give me a PM, to fix up when/where. Or you could get down to the Widecombe meet.
Neil