what did you use before "Bushcraft?"

[robevs73]

After reading another thread where Duncan (FGYT) mentioned what tools he used in the woods years ago before the obligatory "Bushcraft" tools of 4" scandi, Small forest axe and laplander saw became the norm ,I started to think what did I use, then I though of starting a thread.
I will start when I was 15: SAk swiss champ and MoD knife.
At 17: cold steel recon scout, Sak hunter and a cheap folding saw
From 19-24 I party'd and spent my time mountain biking!
At 24 cold steel Trailmaster,LTC kukri Gerber tool , gerber lock knife and a folding saw.
At 25-30 cold steel master hunter, Fallkniven F1 , leatherman wave, buck ranger, wood handled hatchet opinel saw,
Then at 30 I got a woodlore and a bison forester and the rest is boring !
So what did you use, please answer me as an empty thread is soul destroying !

 

[ReamviThantos]

Before the standard kit above indicated I had a cup, a wand, a sword and a disc.

 

[JonathanD]

When I was 13 I had....

Went through about 10 of those, then I had....

I actually quite liked that, but I had this too....

I was awful at sharpening until I got that D and had to spend hours getting it right.

Soon after in my late teens I got...

Which I still have, all battered and still working fine 23 years on. Leatherman replaced it as my go to blade.....

In the mid nineties Uncle Ray put me right on wilderness blades...

Since then it's been...

And fixed blades all the way....

 

[Beefy0978]

SMG in 9mm remember those? Also Browning pistol. Random penknife and entrenching tool. Then SA80-A1 later A2 with bayonet and entrenching tool. Land Rover various. Issue boots followed by Han Waag boots.
Bit of a come down but now .177 air rifle, condor bush lore, A. Finlay handcrafted axe, Bahco Laplander and a trusty Opinel no 8. Discovery2 TD5. Still wearing the same boots! Still using some leftover Rat pack stoves.

 

[Samon]

started carrying a knife when I was about 7, and that was a buck copy locking knife, used it in the woods everyday untill I was about 13. Then at about 14 a victorinox huntsman..with a beaten up old axe I stole from do-it-all...

then at about 16 various victorinoxs, some locking some not and my old axe or a cheap £5 machete from ebay..

untill I was about 20 I was using various fixed and folding/locking knives from all over then place, and the same axe and machete. From there I got a mora and replaced the lost huntsman and aquired loads of other stuff.

I still have alot of my old tools, but I have since made them redundant for better/newer stuff after learning a little more. ( they do still get used though, just ntop as much)

took this picture about 2 years ago, it's the same old machete and axe I abused for some many years with some newer bits

Now I just use my sak.. never really need an axe so rarely take one of the many I have out.. same for most of my gear really, good to have and usefull for work and the odd outing but not a major need.

 

[MartiniDave]

I didn't know I was bushcrafting, I just grew up in a country environment on the CambsElainecrane/Norfolk border. My dad was on old Fenman and I sort of tagged along. From about 11 years old my "shut knife" was a number 7 opinel.
When I started work as an apprentice instrument maker I found the opi raised a few eyebrows, even back in 1979, so I got a little lamb foot which served really well during the day at work, the back to the opi in the evening and at the weekend. Then in about '85 I got my first SAK, after reading Lofty's SAS. Guide I got a USMC k-bar for my game bag, along with a cheapo folding pruning saw, nothing like as good as a Laplander.
That was really it until about 2001 when I got interested in this chap Mears on the telly, now I,ve more kit than I care to admit to!

Great idea for a thread by the way.

Dave.

 

[robevs73]

I also had the first two knives you showed and a Rambo dguard Bowie , Whitby chieftain ( fell Appart first time out!) and kbar usmc copy.
But that's a very long time ago!

 

[JonathanD]

Oh well, yeah. The Browning Hi-Power was permanently on my right hip for over 2 years, with another with a 20 round under my left thigh when in vehicles. As well as MP5Ks, HK53s and Remington 870s. I'd only call the HK53 and BHP a bushcraft tool though as they were the two most often taken into the bushes. That and a ton of clingfilm.

No knives though.

 

[woof]

Rodgers stacked leather handled Bowie as a teen, as well as asorted folders(ie cheap) in the mid to late 80's i got a for runner to the bushcraft knife off the Middleton brothers at the Nottingham arms fair at the commodore.

Rob

 

[Bowlander]

Still use the same Opinel 8, J Adams sheath knife, doublehanded billhook and 24" bow saw as I did in the early 90's. Have added Husqvarna 365, felling axe, mora and laplander though.

 

[Steffen]

before i was 10 it was mora's and my mothers helle speiderkniv.
i borrowed it (without permission) from her, and ran in to the woods after school, cutting and whittling everything.
from 10-14 it was mora and brusletto knives.
at christmas when i was 14 i got a 9" strømeng leuku, and used it for a while.


at 15-16, other interests got a higher priority.
joined the military as a conscript at 18, it killed any outdoor interest for about 5 year.
now at 26 i use scandi, esee, fällkniven etc

 

[santaman2000]

The list might get pretty long.

Knives/axes/saws: (more or less inorder of when I had them)
-Boy Scout style knife made by Craftsman
-Several Barlow knives
-Lots of Old Timer Stockman knives
-a Queen Cutlery 6" fixed blade hunting knife
-a Solingen 6" fixed blade hunter
-a Western Bowie with a 9" blade
-several machetes over the years (Several still in use)
-a Rapala 6' filleting knife and a 9" (both still i use)
-several full sized axes (one is still in use)
-a Plumb Boy Scout hatchet (still in use)
-a Plumb Boy Scout 3 quarter axe
-a Case Trapper with 3 and a half inch blades (still in use)
-a couple of Buck 110s (1 is still in use)
-a Buck Special 6" fixed blade hunting knife
-a Case Arapaho 5" fixed blade skinning knife
-a Case Kodiak 5" skinning knife (still in use)
-a Gerber Mark I Boot knife (still in use)
-a custom made boot knife (still in my collection)
-a Muela 9" Bowie (still in my collection)
-an Issued USAF Survival knife (still in use)
-a Camilus version of the USMC Kabar (still in use)
-a USGI Camp knife (still in my collection)
-an Uncle Henry Stockman (still in use)
-3 Vicrorinox SAKs (one of which is still in use)
-a Commando Dagger (still in my collection but never used as a woods/bushcraft knife)
-a US M4 bayonet (same status as the commando knife)
-a full sized (48") bow saw (still in my collection)
-a Nepalese Khukuri from Khukuri House
-a couple of compact (28") bow saws (one of which is still in use)
-a Husquarna chainsaw (still in use)

Guns: (all marked with * are still in use or in my collection)
-a JC higgins 410 single shot shotgun *
-a Sears single shot 22 rimfire rifle *
-a Winchester 5 shot Model 12 in 20 gauge that was my grandfather's *
- a Pointer 5 shot pump action shotgun in 12 gauge
-a Remington 5 shot Model 11-48 semi-automatic shotgun that was my Dad's *
-a couple of 7 shot Winchester Model 94 lever actions in 30-30
-a Remington Model 748 semi-automatic rifle in 30-06 with a 5 shot magzine
-a Sears 5 shot bolt action 30-06
-a Winchester 5 shot Moel 70 bolt action in 30-06
-a Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 Magnun 6 shot revolver
-a Ruger convertable 22 single six revover (with a six shot cylinder for 22LR and another for 22Mag)
-a Colt Combat Commander (short version of the 1911) in 45 ACP (I wish I had never sold that weapon)
-a Colt Single Action Army (Peacemaker) 6 shot single action revolver in 45 Long Colt *
-A chromed Colt Trooper with 6" barrel in 357
-a chromed Colt Trooper with 4" barrel
-a cap and ball black powder 6 shot revolver in 44 caliber *
-a Reminton Model 74 semi-automatic in 30-06 with 5 round magazines *
-a Russian SKS semi-automatic in 7.62 X 39
-a Ruger Mini14 semi-automatic in 223 with 5 round and 20 round magazines *
-a Remington 870 5 shot pump shotgung in 12 gauge with a 20 inch barrel with rifle sights and various interchangable chokes (including a rifled choke for 40 caliber sabots) *
-a Beretta Model 92F in 9mm with 3 each 15 round magazines *
-a Colt blued Trooper in 357 with 4" barrel *
-a Colt Detective Special in 38 Special with 2" barrel *
-a CZ Model 83 semi-automatic in 380 with 2 each 12 round magazines *


Miscelaneous:
-a 10 foot Jonboat
-a 16 foot Old Towne Discovery 169 canoe
-a 1989 Ford Bronco II
-an old (I don't remember the model year but 1968-ish) GMC 1/2 ton stepside pick-up
-a 1994 Jeep Cherokee
-a 2005 quad cab Dodge Ram 1500 *
-numerous tents, tarps, backpacks, etc.
-7 horses over the years (and 3 saddles, and various tack and 1 set of saddlebags)

 

[Samon]

The list might get pretty long.

Knives/axes/saws: (more or less inorder of when I had them)
-Boy Scout style knife made by Craftsman
-Several Barlow knives
-Lots of Old Timer Stockman knives
-a Queen Cutlery 6" fixed blade hunting knife
-a Solingen 6" fixed blade hunter
-a Western Bowie with a 9" blade
-several machetes over the years (Several still in use)
-a Rapala 6' filleting knife and a 9" (both still i use)
-several full sized axes (one is still in use)
-a Plumb Boy Scout hatchet (still in use)
-a Plumb Boy Scout 3 quarter axe
-a Case Trapper with 3 and a half inch blades (still in use)
-a couple of Buck 110s (1 is still in use)
-a Buck Special 6" fixed blade hunting knife
-a Case Arapaho 5" fixed blade skinning knife
-a Case Kodiak 5" skinning knife (still in use)
-a gerber Mark I Boot knife (still in use)
-a custom made boot knife (still in my collection)
-a Muela 9" Bowie (still in my collection)
-an Issued USAF Survival knife (still in use)
-a Camilus version of the USMC Kabar (still in use)
-a USGI Camp knife (still in my collection)
-an Uncle Henry Stockman (still in use)
-3 Vicrorinox SAKs (one of which is still in use)
-a Commando Dagger (still in my collection but never used as a woods/bushcraft knife)
-a US M4 bayonet (same status as the commando knife)
-a full sized (48") bow saw (still in my collection)
-a couple of compact (28") bow saws (one of which is still in use)
-a Husquarna chainsaw (still in use)

Guns: (all marked with * are still in use or in my collection)
-a JC higgins 410 single shot shotgun *
-a Sears single shot 22 rimfire rifle *
-a Winchester 5 shot Model 12 in 20 gauge that was my grandfather's *
- a Pointer 5 shot pump action shotgun in 12 gauge
-a Remington 5 shot Model 11-48 semi-automatic shotgun that was my Dad's *
-a couple of 7 shot Winchester Model 94 lever actions in 30-30
-a Remington Model 748 semi-automatic rifle in 30-06 with a 5 shot magzine
-a Sears 5 shot bolt action 30-06
-a Winchester 5 shot Moel 70 bolt action in 30-06
-a Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 Magnun 6 shot revolver
-a Ruger convertable 22 single six revover (with a six shot cylinder for 22LR and another for 22Mag)
-a Colt Combat Commander (short version of the 1911) in 45 ACP (I wish I had never sold that weapon)
-a Colt Single Action Army (Peacemaker) 6 shot single action revolver in 45 Long Colt *
-A chromed Colt Trooper with 6" barrel in 357
-a chromed Colt Trooper with 4" barrel
-a cap and ball black powder 6 shot revolver in 44 caliber *
-a Reminton Model 74 semi-automatic in 30-06 with 5 round magazines *
-a Russian SKS semi-automatic in 7.62 X 39
-a Ruger Mini14 semi-automatic in 223 with 5 round and 20 round magazines *
-a Beretta Model 92F in 9mm with 3 each 15 round magazines *
-a Colt blued Trooper in 357 with 4" barrel *
-a Colt Detective Special in 38 Special with 2" barrel *
-a CZ Model 83 semi-automatic in 380 with 2 each 12 round magazines *


-a 10 foot Jonboat
-a 16 foot Old Towne Discovery 169 canoe
-a 1989 Ford Bronco II
-an old (I don't remember the model year) GMC 1/2 ton stepside pick-up
-a 1994 Jeep Cherokee
-a 2005 quad cab Dodge Ram 1500 *
-numerous tents, tarps, backpacks, etc.

so.. no gat gun then?

 

[robevs73]

I appreciate some guys love guns but lets stick to knives and sharp tools.

 

[Samon]

I think my choices of tools have gone from.. little stuff, to big stuff, to more common stuff and then back to little stuff.. probably because although I enjoy a good machete, big knife or axe to swing around in the woods I rarely find a genuine need for one. I figure I can find plenty of fallen dead wood to burn on a fire, my sak is plenty enough to muster up feather sticks to get the fire going and the bigger sticks I can break over my knee. lumping around all those big chuncks of steel is alright for work and a little play but.. not for regular outings (atleast for me, in a normal English woodland/trek).

the in fashion with 'bushcraft' also makes me want to use just a pocket knife too, £400 knives and all that lark just baffels me..

 

[Soundmixer]

OK, I'm in...
Age 7 or 8 - Grandad gave me a Richards pocket knife off the cardboard display in the local shop (Duthies store, Tarves, Aberdeenshire)
10 - Mum and Dad bought me my first SAK Spartan (cut finger instantly, lesson learned)
10 - 14 assorted pocket knives from cardboard displays and I wish I still had them all.
14 - First "Rambo" knife, Buck copy, crap copy. No I mean really crap..
18 - Buck 110FG. I still have this but the blade is slimmer now... I would still be carrying this if it wasn't against the law. GREAT knife
18 - 30 mostly SAKs
30 - 40 Worked for a while in a in tackle shop, so started to get a collection. Buck 704 (WOW), Buck Vantage Ltd, Mora Companion, CRKT Stiff KISS ( best canoe /rescue knife ever), RW Loveless lock knife, more SAKs, never a big fixed blade.
40 - ? WR Case Peanuts and Sodbusters, especially the yellow CV. Started making my own fixed blades - Polar, Enzo, Lauri. Got a Camillus Stockman, some EKA lockers and finally (trumpets and fireworks) SAK Alox. The Alox Farmer is my main not working / bushcraft folder and I just picked up the ultimate barbecue knife, the Alox Bantam. One blade for steak, one for bottle. How civilized!

Still have the joy of SAKs, still gathering more Peanuts. All said and done, I can do it with a Peanut or a Farmer.

Ooooo,errrr missus...

I'm still collecting, still waiting for the "best" knife out there to come along, but whatever it is, I'll still bring the yellow Case Peanut. We've been through a lot

 

[lannyman8]

several locking knives over the years which was the norm before "bushcraft"..

my first knife was a SAK, then i managed to talk dad into getting me a survival knife, no reason really i just wanted one, and it was the same as JD's first big knife, i managed to re-profile my one though before i broke the handle off....

then came the lock knives, all cheep rubbish really but i still have some now...

then my first propper fixed blade was a remington knife i got from the evil bay for £20, it turned out to be a good knife by all accounts, but the handle was very square and gave you blisters after any amount of long use....

now its a mora and home made blades...

 

[Everything Mac]

I had an old military pocket knife stamped 1945. Though for some reason I decided to take it apart and fix it back up and never did.

Made myself a blade from an old hacksaw blade (big one) and still use it.

Then I got an opinel.

Cntinued making fixed blades and bought my first mora last year. Lol. Saying that I was using a crummy old axe and a bill hook from about 8-9 years old.

Andy

 

[santaman2000]

so.. no gat gun then?

Dammit Man!!! You had to go and add another item to my bucket list.

 

[Dartmoor navigator]

Dammit Man!!! You had to go and add another item to my bucket list.

Bu993R! Gat gun has been on my bucket list for the last 30+ years.... But I had forgotten they even existed