The Backyard Bushman

My son is old enough to start taking riding lessons. Yesterday was his first day.

Yes, Madelyn is wearing her winter hat! Don’t ask me why

He got to learn how to brush the horse.

Using two different style brushes.

How to clean the hooves.

What its tail was like.

Putting the saddle on.

Tying it down.

About the bit.

And to ride. He learned starting, stopping and steering the horse. Most of it was while on a lead, but he got to do some toward the end all on his own. It is easy to tell by the pics which ones he is alone on. He also got to trot a little, which is quite bouncy.

Madelyn is not old enough for lessons, but still got to do a little riding.

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The sheaths that come with the Snow and Nealley axes that I like so much, are really more of a “cover” than a sheath. They are very thin leather, floppy, fit poorly, and have no welt for edge protection.

I made my own sheath quite a while ago, but I know many people that buy these are not willing to do the same. So, I have started making a simple sheath for the Hudson Bay and Pen Bay axes.

These are available here.

Next, I acquired Army Sized Firesteel blanks directly from Light My Fire. I have always been weary of cheaper blanks, and that has what has kept me from making them. So now, I can do matching, high quality firesteels to my knives.

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My son now has like 4 fixed blade knives. A while ago, he was eying the Swiss Army Knives at the store. I figured it was something every boy had to have. Luckily, I get them at cost

So, we went through out catalog and he picked one out. It showed up on Friday.

I put on an orange boondoggle for obvious reasons

We just had to have smores last night. So, stick preperation was necessary.

Of course….the scissors. He really digs the scissors.

Taking the kiddies fishing today. Hopefully there will be some good pictures of that. I know my princess is ready to go!

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New knife design, based on customer drawing.

Not much for writing today….here are pics.

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I am looking for some feedback from folks that have either bought knives from me, are considering it, or just plain have opinions on steel.

I have been using primarily O1 because I love the performance of it. I honestly can ask nothing more of a steel. Often, the biggest complaint of O1 is its stain and rust resistance. I am not the most meticulous when it come to cleaning or drying in the field, and I honestly have to say that corrosion is not an issue at all for me. However……….

I got playing with some other steel (mainly D2) and so far am very impressed. Air hardened steels like A2 and D2 require different heat treating equipment than I currently have. Hence the request for feedback.

O1 is a relatively simple steel to heat treat, with simple tools. If I decide to get different equipment for A2, D2, etc, it will be a big process change, and equipment investment.

So, what are your thoughts? If I had knives available in A2, D2 or other steels, would you be interested? Or are you happy sticking with good ole O1?

I would really appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks,
B

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I just got back from camping with the kids at Starved Rock State Campground. I will show more pictures of the hikes, but I had to show a couple quick ones of my navigator.

If I remember correctly, her exact directions were “we are going south.” I thought it was very cute.

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I just finished my first knife in D2! Can’t wait to test it out.

B

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The place in Finland that I get my curly birch from is now offering it stabilized.

It is a bit darker in color, but I still like it. I think it will be way better overall in the long haul to have it stabilized. Here is my first knife I have finished with it since getting it last week.

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It seems that I have been up to a lot lately. But, I usually post stuff around various forums, and it seems redundant to post it here too. Just in case, I will give a quick run down of what has been going on.

Tarp - I actually did order that CCS tarp that I was talking about. Finally! Been talking about it for awhile. I am expecting it this week.

Birch Sap - Spring weather has been wierd here. But lately there has been warmer days and freezing nights, which is the perfect condition for sap to run. So, I had to harvest just enough birch sap to have a nice spring drink. Yummy!

Tea Kettle Cozy - Camping season is upon us. Since most of my food primarily uses water, I am trying a new tea kettle this year. For using in cold weather, or keeping water/coffee warm for long periods, I made this little cozy. It is two layers of US issue wool blanket, with a mylar space blanket it between. So far, it works great!

Solar - I joined a local outdoor group last year called SOLAR. In order to do most of their trips, or participate in their more advanced classes, they require you to take a prequiste of “beginning backpacking.” Makes sense, in order to level set everyone. I will be spending a couple weekends outdoors with that soon. One in a close by “equipment shakedown” and later with an actual trip. Location to be determined.

Also associated with Solar is their Land Navigation class. I took it last fall, and am going to help instruct it this summer. After that, I am the new instructor for that class. Land nav has always been a passion of mine, and I think the current instructor could tell that

Knives - These are the lastest ones that I whipped out.

Bushcrafter (flat ground) and a Badger

Bushcrafter (cocobolo and black liners) and Whitetail Skinner (African Blackwood and red liners)

Hopefully I won’t wait so long next time to do an update!!!

B

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Over the longer winter here, I spent a lot of time thinking about exactly how I wanted a tarp setup. Originally, I found a company that would custom make one for you. But then, I think I have really come across what I wanted.

A the recent Quiet Water Symposium I attended, I got both speak with and hear lectures from Cliff Jacobson. One of his recommendations for a tarp was from Cooke Custom Sewing. After reading Cliff’s books, and watching his videos, I decided that the Cooke tarp was indeed the way to go, and finally goin to order one. Best of all, it is already setup with the “stuff” I had originally wanted in my “dream tarp” all set to go.

At the Cooke website, there is a PDF file showing some neat setups with the tarp. Cliff claimes that his “ridgeline” style of setting up a lean to, with multiple attachment points to distribute load has been able to withstand winds in the 50mph range. Also, not shown in the PDF (but in his books and video) is a cool way to setup multiple tarps with a smoke hole for having a fire underneath, protected from rain.

Above all, I think the style of tarp offers great flexibility, and after all, isn’t that what we really want in a tarp?

While there is good reason for the multi-color design (cheery on a raining day, ability to be easily spotted by a bush pilot, etc) I am not sure if the “bushcrafter” in me will let me. My tendency is way toward the green!

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