Ive started an online tracking course with Lee Burton which has a rather extensive reading list on top of the lectures through out the course. Looks like Ill be investing a lot on more books.
The course covers:
Interpret track morhologies for mammal, reptile, amphibian and avain species, Identify tracks in the field for canines, felines, ungulates, rodents, proconidae, small ammmals, herps and birds
Recognize other animal sign (digs, burrows, beds, runs, debarking, marking, feeding, kill sites and skeletal remains)
Identify scats of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds
Analyze and interpret animal gaits and differentiate between tracks of varying ages
Recognize fresh animal spoor and techniques for following trails
Improve pattern recognition skills
In the words of Ernest Thompson Seton “…the oldest writing known on the earth.” Tracking
Id purchased a Remote Projects oilskin Tarp 9×9 some time ago and due to traveling for courses or injuries hadn’t tested it as much as I would have liked. During my time laid up from the knee Ive been going through all my gear and getting it ready for as soon as I’m able to go bush again without fear of doing any further damage to myself. The older version of Remote Projects tarps have a sewn in ridge-line. I tend to set my tarps up now using a plough point rather than an A-Frame and was thinking of either selling my original tarp and purchasing the newer version with no in built ridge-line or trying to order from over seas from Tentsmiths. Which I may still do for an 8×8 size. However after contacting Ross Remote Projects, He was able to remove the sewn inline and re-enforce the center-seam for me, saving me from selling it or having to purchase another. Thx Ross. I may have to enquire about getting an 8×8 from Ross at some stage. Dave Canturbury may be coming over to Australia at some stage to teach his level 1 and an 8×8 is required for his level 2 course. I believe on level 2 you have to build your own ladder style pack frame and wrap your gear in a tarp to carry it.
Australian Madecenter seam removed and reenforcedoutside view of center seamheavy duty stitching all way around
From Wiki ; (The Sami knife (Sami: stuorraniibi = “big knife”, Finnish: lapinleuku or leuku), is a large knife traditionally used by the Sami people.
The Sami knife has a long, wide, and strong blade that is suited for light chopping tasks such as de-limbing, cutting small trees for shelter poles, brush clearing, bone breaking and butchering tasks, and is sometimes used as a substitute for an axe for chopping and splitting small amounts of firewood from standing dead trees—an essential ability when all dead and fallen wood is buried underneath many layers of snow. Typical Sami knives have a blade length ranging from 200 millimetres (7.9 in) to 450 millimetres (18 in).
The blade’s edge often has a Scandinavian grind, i.e. a single flat bevel. The blade should be strong enough to split (reindeer) bones, and tempered to sustain low temperatures.
The Sami people typically use two knives; the smaller called a, puukko or unna niibaš ( “small knife” ); while the larger “Sami knife” is called stuorra niibi ( “big knife” ). An even larger version known as a Väkipuukko (or Sax) is similar to a seax named after saxons.)
The Shaman Leuku arrived today. The postage only took a week from Hungry. We were a little concerned with the shipping at the moment as to whether it would arrive or not. Laci was great to deal with, always keeping me up to date and great to chat with.
file work
Made from Slepner Tool Steel, a tougher version of D2 steel with greater edge retention and hardness. I was looking for a Leuku that was a modernized version. This one is 200mm long approx 6mm thick but looks much thicker. However doesnt feel heavy, that you would think from the look of the full tang. I really like how Laci finished it off for me with the rustic file work to the handle.
leather sheath
Had to have a quick chop for an initial testing. Felt no hot spots on the handle, no harmonics. I only had seasoned Yellow box Gum on hand and the blade made quick work of it and left no rolling or chipping to the blade and could still take hair off my arm. I like that it has a hand guard unlike traditional versions.
high scandi grind
I’m no longer living in an area with a state forest so Im having difficulty finding green wood to do my testing on. Ill have to do a complete review after I have a chance to spend a few months using it. I luv the nice high scandi grind. The sheath is made of thick leather and reinforced with rivets with what feels like an oil finish.
nice balance
It arrived at just the right time. I’m finally out of the leg brace after six months but still require one crutch outdoors and can only bend the knee to 90 degrees. Between the pain killers and loosing the staffy I’m going a little stir crazy so blade testing will get me motivated to get out more and explore the area. Not really the same without the dog following me around watching everything I’m doing with a look on her face like what are you doing crazy human but Ill follow you around anyway.
Decided to try out the char-cloth I made yesterday to see if it worked. In order to double check before I used it in the bush or on a training course. Its been a while since I made any but worked better than I thought. The Calico I brought didn’t feel like the stuff I used years ago. The Char worked great with the Flint and Steel, I also wanted to test out the three models steel strikers I had including a titanium mode and a black-powder version.
the char blew up too quick to capture a good picture
Having a little trouble with the Fire-piston, mainly due to past hand injuries. Pistons aren’t something I see much of on Youtube or carried in belt pouches. (Remember lubricate the o-ring with either spit or chap stick and hit , pause and pull).
Catching up on minor projects in-between my leg rehab. Today working on my fire kit by making char-cloth in an old tobacco tin. Had to drill a hole since the old tobacco tin was air tight unlike Altoids tins that are hinged. I can turn the lid around so the hole faces the opposite side to make it water tight again.
Calico 100 percent cottonhole drilledin fire place took about 5 minutescompleted char-clothtin definitely looks used now
My brindle staffy that has been in so many of my blog photos passed away this week. She was 14 years old and never left my side other than for hospital stays for 12 years. I hadn’t dealt well with the passing of my red staffy I was still on oxygen and had been told there was no hope of a second transplant and had given up for six months. The mental neighbor with his attack poodle was going around stirring up everyone’s dogs in the area. After numerous times of telling him to stop I called the local council. His junkie son in law then came around threatening to put a hit on me. It was a great area of stabbings and arson attacks. I went around to his place on a mobility scooter and 4 liters of oxygen with a hammer and told him exactly what his mental his parents were like and ended up offering him a hundred dollars for then brindle. I had her two days later. She couldn’t walk fifty feet she had been hit so much. I later found out her spine had fused and she had a rabbit trap through one paw. I couldn’t even open a plastic rubbish bag with her going and hiding and shaking for 15 minutes she had been abused that much. I had to climb under the kitchen table and hug her till she stopped shaking, then try and stand back up with 25 percent lung capacity. I did that for months. After much rehab and having her ride on my mobility scooter down to the dog park where it was fenced off she could run without a lead and her back straightened up and through rubbing horse lineament into her paw it started to open back up from being crushed. We had traveled half way around the country together. She could always make friends for me. Even when I went to the gym she would come with me. We’d go for a walk beforehand and then she would crash out in the back seat of the ute while I did a workout and then we would get scrambled eggs a ta cafe after-woods. If there was someplace that wouldn’t let me take her into the business then I wouldn’t deal with them. She would always keep me calm. I couldn’t even do my current rehab without her following me back and forth up the corridor trying to walk.
I had a dog run built around the awning of my caravan. If I was gone too long at the shower block. She would push down the gate, the saw horses or anything else I had used blocking the way out and try and find me. Always having stopped at everyone she met to say hello and for pats mind you.
I only heard her growl a few times in her life and very rarely barked unless no one said hello to her. That staffy got me through two bought’s of cancer and waiting 6 years for a second set of lungs. She got me up and walking again and out my front gate after 3 months in ICU. Without her I would have been in wheelchair years ago.
A new blade about to be posted to me from Europe. Made by Laszlo Nemet at Shaman Workshop Knives . Made from Sleipner Tool steel with a FR4 handle. Cant wait to test it out.
I’m generally not a big compass user. I have done a few orienteering and navigation courses. I can plot a course on a map however compass use is still one of my short comings. I have found several other courses Id like to do in this area. I tend to use topographical maps the most and follow ridge-lines and only use a compass to orientate the map to North. On most of my courses I have used a Silva Expedition Compass for map use and have recently purchased a Suunto MC2 for bushcraft use.
Silva Ranger SL
Some time ago I saw a Paul Kirkly presentation on using a Silva Ranger SL as a backup compass and I took to this idea as its small enough to keep in a belt pouch. Where I usually keep my Suunto in my haversack. The belt pouch is always on me.
I have become more and more interested in traditional bushcraft and using canvas and oilskin over nylon and noticed Coalcracker Bushcraft recently did a you-tube clip on the Trunord Button Compasses. This looks like it would match in with my more traditional approach that Im now taking to bushcraft and would make a good little backup for me to carry in my belt pouch.
