BUSHGEAR

Good Articles covering some aspects of sharpening knives and tool.  It certainly is a 'WORKSHOP HEAVEN'... : " My great friend Matthew Platt from WORKSHOP HEAVEN sent me a box of goodies the other week. The package contained a new set of Japanese water stones. Just as well, as my old ones have seen better days. My stones see a lot of work and it was great to remove a brand new Ice Bear double sided stone from it's pristine box. Along with the 1200/8000 grit water stone there was an Nagura stone, vital for making a super fine slurry for polishing your razor sharp edge.

Great article how to bild a tarp from www.backpackinglight.com MYOG: 3mil Plastic Tarps : " by Jerry Adams | 2011-02-08 00:00:00-07 I may get beat up for talking about using plastic for a backpacking tarp on Backpacking Light, because it’s so cheap and flimsy, but here goes! I have spent many nights sleeping under polyethylene tarps. They’re cheap, fairly lightweight, as waterproof as any other material, and possible to make robust enough to survive fairly bad weather. I’ve done about eight different designs and usually just use them on one trip of up to four nights. I mainly use polyethylene tarps to prototype a design I want to verify before doing it in more expensive material. Such tarps would also be good for backpacking on the cheap, as you'd be able to equip four people for about $20 and some labor. In these economic times, frugal is popular.

Complete article http://www.itstactical.com/survival/survival-kits/pocket-survival-kit-reviews-ultralight-survival-kit-by-lifeline/

Hello all, This weekend went on a tripo to Serra da Estrela , the highest mountain in Portugal, almost 2000m. I have planned to explore some trails to introduce the Mountain to my wife, that only knew from the family trips and she was a little girl. Unfortunately duo to the dense fog and rain above the 1200m, on Saturday, there here no security conditions to go trekking. Even so we here able to visit some points that i love, especially the Covão da Ametade.

Great article from http://campingknives.amdatablog.com/ Camping knife – Top 5 uses for your Pocket Knife This Summer : " Anyone who has ever done much camping will tell you that like any other activity there are certain “tools of the trade” that one must have in order to have a successful trip. After all, a chef wouldn’t attempt to prepare a gourmet meal without a professional set of knives , utensils, pans, etc. One of the most essential of these “tools” is the pocket knife. Below is my list of the top 5 best uses for your pocket knife while camping this summer.

Great article from Ross of http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com: Myths and Misconceptions About Drop-Forged Axes : "I should start by saying that I am in no way an expert on forging techniques, and everything I am about to say is based on my own research. As always, take everything I say with a grain of salt.

Hello all, I am happy, for the first time i have been asked to exchange links. Abo from  Belfast Bushcraft Blog was very kind to consider my blog worth it. I added a new area for "Blogs and Links" for this and future request that i may receive. Be prepared... JG

I found this post on www.bushcraftuk.com by the user JonathanD .Spotting Fake Bayley Knives : " I prepared this article for a website at devalbushcrafter.com a while ago to help people out who may get ripped off, but haven't finished it yet, so thought I'd post it up on forums so it would be more accessable. In short, most people will know that Rob Bayley's S4 survival knife he designed for Bear Grylls has been copied en masse by a Chinese company, complete with the Grylls logo. Here's how you tell them apart and why they are as far off from the original Bayley made knife as you can get. The sales pictures make them seem very good copies, but in reality, they really aren't. First up. The two together, Bayley at top:

Gary Wale from Nordmarken Canoe and WEISS UK ,have started a new collection of video aimed to the new comers to buschcraft. "For a long time I've been thinking about making a series of bushcraft video's for the novice bushcrafter based on the fundamental skills taught by most bushcraft schools which, like myself, hail from the Ray Mears school of bushcraft ways. The idea is to cover in bit size chunks all the skills covered on the average weekend course to allow the novice to watch and then practice them for themselves. I know so schools will bitch about it costing them customers etc but in times of financial woe I feel it only right to allow folks to learn the skills which are all our rights to know for free and gratis. Sadly the size and time limits on Youtube make content tight but below are the first of what I hope will be many. Remember theres more than one way to skin a cat so while these vid's may help, practice and more practice will see people

Hello all, Less then 3 month after this blog started, i have overcome the 3000 page views, that is more than 1000 per month. For me is spectacular. Thank you each and everyone of my reader for the support!!! Be prepared ... JG

The Diamond Waterfall Fob is essentially a line of strategically placed 4-Strand Diamond Knots. It's the fob I use on my personal ring of keys, and I love the look and the feel of the tie (slides nicely between my fingers and knuckles). Video production by JD of Tying It All Together.

ORIGINAL POST How to fit a new axe handle : " The following guide was very kindly provided by Woodlore customer and Camp Craft course attendee Martin Dryden: Hi Woodlore, Just wanted to drop you a line to say thanks again for sorting out the Wildlife Hatchet Axe Head for me. It took a little while to source some suitable Ash and to shape the handle, but below are some pictures. The axe head is a really high-quality item and was a pleasure to work with. My Small Forest Axe (issued on the Camp Craft Course) made light work of the job of splitting the Ash log I had. The wedge is the Holly Glut I made on the course also, so it’s now served use again.

Ray Mears Videos: Northern Wilderness - In Arctic Footsteps : "I became a huge Ray Mears fan a few years ago - and have watched nearly all of his inspiring bushcraft and outdoor skills based programs. "In this episode of the series, Ray follows in the footsteps of an unsung British hero who helped put modern Canada on the map. John Rae from Scotland was the first great Arctic explorer and came to be regarded as the foremost authority on First Nation methods of Arctic survival and travel. Ray Mears follows the story of how John Rae found the Northwest Passage - the Holy Grail of 19th-century exploration. Yet this man, who should have been a hero of his day, was vilified by the British establishment. Ray believes it's time to put the record straight." Have a look at the YouTube clips below and enjoy!

Mora as launched a new knife called Bushcraft Survival , special design for bushcraft/survival activities. The great difference between this model and the others one of this Bushcraft product family is the inclusion of a Mora fire-steel and a diamond sharpener.   Be prepared ... JG

Rune Stone Knots are more so an innovative tying technique than anything else. Still, the knot makes an excellent addition to a cord you seek to gift as a necklace. And the coolest part of the necklace created is that it, and its Rune Stone Knot medallion, were both created with one strip of rope or cord. Video Production by JD of Tying It All Together.

ORIGINAL POST Gear List, Part 1 - by bmatt, an American Bushcrafter in Finland : " Gear List Part 1, by bmatt - an American Bushcrafter in Finland This will be the first of two lists of the gear I use for bushcraft and camping. The items listed and shown below are what I bring on outings lasting from several hours to most of the day, regardless of the season. If I plan on camping one or more nights, I will also bring a backpack, shelter etc. in addition to these items. So I consider this gear to be my basic kit, which I always have, no matter what.

Redux: A Tutorial on How To Build a Coke Can Stove for Hiking, Bushcraft and Camping : "I was just looking over my Coke can camping stove tutorial and thought it might be a good time to post it again - it is such an easy stove to make, and lots of fun. Okay, following up on a post about emergency preparedness , picture this: your power has just gone out. It is the middle of winter, and the battery-powered radio reports that a major substation has suffered an outage due to iced-over power cables. You are told to expect that power will return in no less than 7 days. So you get out all the blankets in the house, and warm up the bed. You find your 72 hour kit, first aid kit, candles, flashlights, your food supplies (some freeze-dried entrees and cans of food), water, radio and more. After all that fussing around, you decide you want a nice cup of coffee and a hot meal. You have a camping stove that runs on naptha but you'd rather use that outside so the fuel doesn

A quick tip on caring for your Axe with wax! Give it a coating of wax and it will protect it against rusting in the wet. The axe in this video is a gransfors bruks small forest axe. You can learn more about Axes at http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk

Top Outdoor Android Applications : " Why is the little Android dude green? Because he loves the outdoors, that’s why. Hiking, camping, skiing, and a little geocaching for good measure. These top Android applications for the outdoors deliver real utility. And they’re mostly free.

Emergency fire lighting kit. : "Over the years I have learnt the importance of being able to make a fire in all conditions. Fire gives us warmth,cooks are food,drys are cloths,helps us make tools and also gives us a sense of security and belonging. So with this in mind I have always carried an emergency fire kit just for my own peace of mind,this kit is always kept in the inner pocket of my backpack,Ive never had the need to use it but its there if the need ever arises.

Building your bug out kit for less : "Wilderness Outfitters has a new 7-part series of videos up around building a discount bushcraft kit that I've found pretty interesting. While a bushcraft kit has a different purpose from a bug out bag, there are definite commonalities and overlaps. "

36 Lessons Learned From Testing a 72-Hour Kit : " Guest post by Varian Wrynn image by kevindooley Over the last two months, on two separate occasions, I had the opportunity to test my 72-hour kit. Yes, these tests were intentional… Why Test? My background is one of preparedness. In the military, we made casualty response plans, then tested those plans. We called them “drills.” Now, in my post-military life, I’m CERT-trained, and FEMA IS-22 certified – both deal extensively with emergency response and preparation.

ORIGINAL POST Quick & Cheap Backpack Spice Kit Ideas : " Build your own Quick & Cheap Backpack Spice Kit Cooking in the wilderness can be a very pleasant & rewarding experience or it can be a total nightmare that will put a bad taste in your mouth for a long time (pun intended). Ultimately, your experience depends primarily on 2 things: PRACTICE & PREPARATION. Whether you hunt and gather your own wild edibles or you pack in your meals, preparing food in the woods with limited supplies and resources presents a very unique set of challenges. Open camp-fires, mini stoves, simple pots & utensils and basic ingredients leave little margin for error when it comes to fixin’ up a tasty meal in the bush. However, it’s a challenge that I really enjoy.

ORIGINAL POST The FireSteel.com GobSpark Armageddon FireSteel : As an amateur pyromaniac, I'm always on the lookout for new fire steels. I recently got a Gobspark Armageddon Fire Steel and am impressed with it's performance. While it's a little bigger and heavier than others, it truly lives up to it's name by reigning down fire and brimstone mercilessly on helpless tinder. If I were going somewhere where I would be using a fire steel as my primary method for lighting stoves or fires, this is the one I would want to have with me (especially in rainy conditions). Here's a quick video comparing it to another popular fire steel:

How to Build a Survival Kit on Bushcraft Principles. : " A Bushcraft Survival Kit. Photo: Paul Kirtley  

I found via a post in this blog this fantastics product called Sugru . From what i can understand it is a silicon base component, similar to touch with molding clay, with some amazing features and capabilities like, cures at room temperature, self-adhesive, loves a bit of heat and cold (resistant from -60 °C to + 180 °C), waterproof, flexible, dishwasher-proof etc. In the website there are allot of great ideas of usage but the imagination is the limit to what you can do and repair with this stuff. The price in my opinion is not to much 14€ or 17$ for 12 bags of 5g of multiple color. The potential of this stuff if immense, i cannot wait to get my hand on it. Be prepared !  JG

Survival Debate: Gear or Knowledge : " Since I run an entire website about survival gear you’d think I would be firmly in the camp that says gear is more important than knowledge. Well that’s not always the case. Here we’ll look at a few of the important aspects of each and you can decide where your priorities lie.

Three Tier Survival Gear Kits : " One of the more popular ideas for survival gear organization is the “Three Tier Survival Gear Kit”, also known as Modular Survival Kit. This extra organization for your Bug Out Bag and EDC will help you to survive almost any situation that you encounter.

Field Gourmet – Danes Issue New Ration : " According to Denmark-based SSD reader “L”, the Danish military has adopted a new ration pack. e new ration comes in one cardbox and includes these things (picture above)