DOWN N DIRTY WOODSCRAFT HE GOT IT RIGHT

woodscraft / bushcraft is a tool heavy hobby. chopping wood carving fuzzy sticks and improvised trap parts all require a skill in knife work.Nessmunk was a author of the last century,,he wrote of camping and canoeing adventures in the northern part of the united states. For his outdoor adventures he used a double bit hand axe with a surgical steel blade.The belt knife he chose was a sturdy curved blade with a stag handle well suited to the type of foods he cooked by his campfire at night.His multi-blade pocket knife served him well in processing small game such as rabbits ,fish ,birds for his evening meal.Now over 100 yrs later i can fully agree with is choices .like him i use a large but handy chopping a tool for making my firewood and to split kindling for the evening fire.my choice is a kukri hand made from Nepal. For my belt knife i choose a WC knives blackbird that rides in a stichedgear 6 way sheath. With this combo of cutting tools i can handle almost any chore around a camp.but to be complete i add a 3 blade pocket knife a simple slip joint ..that is my choice for a cutting tool to be used in the eastern woodlands for outdoor camping adventures

[@southernlandsolo7839]

I watch this video more than any other. Brilliant

[@joshuaritzheimer1382]

There are great pearls of real wisdom in this video. Wisdom that only comes from experience. My favorite is concerning using the correct knife for the task, "I can skin a squirrel with my kukri, but don't ask me to sell the hide."

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i have cleaned small game with what ever i had to hand even a sharp hoe once

[@robertdodd9623]

Lol ! , Yep that squirrel hide might not be worth much. Excellent video, I think we regret buying what's popular at the time. When you start really using gear , you find what works best for you.

[@isomer13]

Couldn't agree more. Thanks, Blackie.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

your welcome

[@cliffordnewby6092]

I love it. It's your way. Make yourself. Think for yourself. Awesome

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Exactly!

[@anndoberstein8157]

Blackie, have you ever seen Nesmuk’s hunting gun? It was a triple barrel; the side-by-sides on top were likely rifled. The bottom cradled between them was likely smoothbore. Back-action locks served the upper barrels while the lower one used an underhammer lock.

[@jerrystark3587]

A very good point. It is not simply WHAT you want to do with a knife, bit also WHO wants to do it, WHERE, and HOW. AMEN!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

yes..its your knife and gear ..in your woods ...your skills

[@richardlobb6027]

Blackie , Thanks for the good information. Keep'em coming .

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Thanks, will do!

[@southernlandsolo7839]

So much helpful information with very interesting history added in. Thanks Blackie

[@teampunisher7407]

Belt knife is a 70’s Puma PAL (homemade sheath), Pocket knife is a med Case Trapper & Victorinox camper, cold steel pipe hatchet, Ontario military machete... great video as always Blackie...

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

safe journeys

[@virginiacopeland108]

Old Timer 3 blade Pin Knife ... Condor "El Salvador" 5" fixed Blade ... Condor "El Salvador" Parang ... My favorites ... Good enough for any job. Thumbs Up!!! Clark

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

safe journeys

[@bartcornelius7717]

I enjoy all your videos. Watching from Blount County, Alabama.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@samroot7987]

What do I need......? Nothing really. What I WANT is a WC Blackbird lol. Thanks for always having great content!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Thanks for watching!

[@davidnorthrup3674]

Thank you for a good way of looking at it. I don't have that much experience in the woods so I am just taking a pack axe, bow saw and a good belt knife, for my trip at the end of this month. Largely to see just what I need. But I must say that this hold very true in my daily life. Every day I carry a Leatherman and a Buck 110. Together I have 3 different blades and each has it's role. This is so true! Thanks!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

and thats the big question..what works for you..only time and practice will tell

[@mikem3131]

My EDC is a leatherman super tool 300 I use it everyday at work for opening electric panels, working with wire and taking rough edges off unistrut. That turned into the tool I use most in the woods because I'm always carrying it and am comfortable using it. Good video Blackie keep them coming!!!!!!!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i can respect that i have friend who work all day with a multi tool..they are experts in its use

[@EDGY12345]

I liked your Kukri endorsement so much ,I bought one ! I now have 4 of them all different sizes ,One for every Occasion!! I Now carry one of them everyday . I have gone thru a lot of EDC knives ,the Kukri has a lot of advantages than other knives . You have covered most of the uses except one you can get them scary sharp with a FILE and it is a fast way to do it ! A bastard file will do a great job ,but I got fancy have bought some fine Swedish files !!! They can polish the blades nicely ! Also I use a knife blade oil sparingly, food grade oil needed when cutting up something I am going to eat ! It also keeps the blade from rusting ! Great video , keep up the good work ( Viet Vet 65 66 67 ) in country

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

good job .like you i can get my kukri scary sharp if needs be..it is a great work horse

[@mattmcguire1577]

You can go back even further. Otzi is a 5300 year old mummy found in the Alps. Everything he had on him, we carry now. Lined boots, knife, axe, raincoat/sleeping mat/blanket, fire lighters, bow and arrow, first aid kit etc. All made out of leather, wood, flint and copper. The tools don't change just the material and shape.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

true ..the items looked like nothing to the scientist..but to the woods guys they saw what he was carrying and they knew why he had them..the tribal knowledge still lives

[@robertunderwood1943]

Cold steel and Spyderco are my favorites

[@jamess.829]

Good video. Always enjoy your words of wisdom.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

I appreciate that

[@luismiguelfialhodesousa5112]

I agree with all things you said. Tank you for your videos!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

my pleasure

[@heyoldtime8969]

Blackie, I have chosen cutting tools that I feel and does do what I want. 1. ESSE Junglas for heavy chopper. 2. The ESSE 6 for intermediate camp work and miscellaneous task. My Leatherman Surge for all fine task. I also have a Silky Pocket Boy. In the woods cutting tools are the workhorse of your survival. Rope , Meat and Fire and everything else a cutting tool will be required. All of this adds weight but living with it is better than not having it. I never have a need for ( Survival ) 5 miles or less will get me out and that's OK. Weird things happen. It pays to have rather than have not. Two is one and one is none.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i agree i will carry a bit more in pounds as long as it provides a advantage

[@wileywilly4548]

Always appreciate your videos!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

I appreciate that!

[@titanpreparedness]

Another great video and great information

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Thanks for watching

[@badboybob]

GREAT advice, thanks!!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

You are so welcome!

[@hamm6035]

I carry a sharpened trenching tool along besides a hand axe. Nothing better in my book for clearing med to small limbs on a dead fall. I cut 4 at a time for kindling if I want. Clears brush and suckers at the camp site. Works real well on snakes. An old fav. Hundreds of uses.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

true a good woods friend of mine swears by a sharp cold steel shovel..he does all his heavy chores with it

[@coltenarvold7178]

Hello Blackie I live up in northern Wisconsin and I'm 19. My three blade setup is as follows, I carry a double bit camp axe as my chopping tool and wood getter, A Becker BK-2 for my fixed blade full Tang knife for the medium sized projects, and lastly a Leatherman or imperial pocket knife as my small detailed blade. This setup allows me to accomplish my needs up here in my woods well and I'm happy with them. Thank you for another great video I have learned a great deal from them keep them coming and as always safe journeys.🏕️🔥

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

safe journeys to you

[@margaretadler6162]

Thanks Blackie in my pack it's a tomahawk or hatchett, my WCSK and my a swiss army knife. Those items cover my pretty much cover my needs. I have been trying out a condor heavy kukri and I'll see how that works out with time and experience! But I want to thank you for confirming the thoughts I've had about cutting tools to carry. ATB Sam Adler

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

my pleasure

[@PabloP169]

Mmm, now my list is NOT backpack carry as you will see, but what I actually use for different situations, rather than what I need, so that is what I can list - 1 - A larger chain saw for general collecting wood for whatever reason. Burning, building, etc 2 - A battery chainsaw to carry in my vehicle for emergency and camping use 3 - An axe with a good cutting profile. For mixed camping/travel use 4 - An axe with a splitting profile - Home use for splitting firewood. I have other axes at home 5 - A splitting maul. Only used at home 6 - A small hand axe - for roughing out craftwork 7 - A hatchet - for general bushcraft work 8 - A Silky saw - backpack use, as a chainsaw is a bit too heavy for backpack use : LOL 9 - A Leatherman multi-tool - for everyday carry. I have 4-5 el-cheapo versions in different kits 10 - A set of fine carving knives - for those fine tasks. Yep I actually have more cutting tools, but need to stay with the legailties of where I live.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

good set of prepping and home steading..if i was to make such a list it would have many of these same items...thanks for posting safe journeys

[@victorcastle1840]

Your right, Nessmunk got it right, calling on many hours in the woods and thought out planing . He is a great read. One has to remember what a small in stature he was also and in later years even smaller due to poor health. But that said, he was big in every other way.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

lol a few of my friends have said "small in size ..big in knowledge "

[@victorcastle1840]

@@BLACKIETHOMAS I do not know who could argue with that !

[@James-ke5sx]

Thanks for the video. I have a Grohmann #4 and a #1 in a flat grind. Don't be shy, you guys can try one of our Canadian knives eh! This is a relaxing video with all the mix/mash going on these days

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Thanks for sharing!

[@leorapsonjr7659]

Blackie, I am just getting into this sort of thing. Thank you for the information.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Any time!

[@johnbensonism]

Excellent advise sir

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Thanks and welcome

[@rldickie]

I process 90% of my firewood with a rock. A very small belt knife for the slicey slice and a Gerber versafix for chopping. And a Leatherman juice for the multi function. Gotta carry all my water where I go so weight is a big issue.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

in the heat water is number 1..everything else will adjust to need and how much i gotta carry

[@ericjudd9603]

I use a silky pocket boy, a Gerber strong arm and a OKC rat 2👍

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i am gonna save up and try one of the silky saws

[@asmith7876]

@@BLACKIETHOMAS You'll wonder how you've lived without it. Mind you now, use it wrong and you'll snap that blade in the first few seconds. It's a pull saw, Japanese style and it is NOT like any saw you've ever used before. But they are amazing.

[@spider5001]

Great video Blackie🙂 I like to carry a kind of in the middle thing between an axe and a hatchet. The council camp carver. It’s small but you can get two hands on it and it has a 2 pound head. So I can chop and split and carve. It’s definitely no the best at any of those but it’s good at them. I think I may have struck gold with the WC jr. woodsman. I love my Blackbird but it’s a bit heavy duty for a knife for me. That being said if I could only have one knife I would definitely take the Blackbird because of the thicker blade stock. Always have a folding saw for bucking. I’m still trying to find a nice little whittling pocket knife. Just to make carvings and little figures and stuff. I always had my SAK farmer on me, but it closed on me a while ago and did a number. I keep it extremely sharp with a thin edge to get those glass like cuts. Trying to find an traditional looking folder that locks now. Sometimes I wish I had one of those long thin machetes to get through the vines here. Sorry for the paragraph. I don’t have any woodsman friends where I am so I always want to talk😂

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

the smaller knives that william builds like the edc /the wcnk /the nessy and the JR. are all good choices..and if a big knife are not your thing..they are a great choice i use mine often and really carry them over others ..for just day hikes and trips..

[@larryeddings3185]

Your advice is very sound. One size fits all doesn't apply here. My current choices are a SAK Huntsman, a Mora Kansbol, and a Fiskars hatchet. I also carry a folding saw from Corona or Silky. Those tools are light weight, well made and durable. Those will handle my needs in the eastern woodlands.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

good choices

[@kennethcruise7635]

Thanks Blacky , that was good info about 3 different uses . Do critique products , even if not on screen ?

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

yes i have done that

[@sdr22630]

Thanks for the video. You’re opening my eyes to perspectives I haven’t even considered. 👍

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Glad it was helpful!

[@briargoatkilla]

Good one! 9 times out of 10 it's a skinner, a leatherman and a folding saw for me.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

good choice

[@cliffordnewby6092]

Stockman is good. Grew up with grandfather preferring a Congress

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i never had one of those i had lots of barlows and 3 blade stockmans and more than my share of trappers

[@joshlindsey296]

Mine are my Leatherman rebar with my WC Alaskan bush tool and with my hultafors quarvot axe its simple but does everything that I need and more sometimes I also carry a borel 21 collapsible bow saw with a 19 inch axe just depend on how I feel at the time and everything I carry works for me and my skills.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

that bush tool is a great knife

[@joshlindsey296]

@@BLACKIETHOMAS yea its my favorite

[@treyking9283]

Carry either a 18 inch axe or a 24 inch boys axe, folding saw, my pks survival (love the modify french trade knifes), and a schrade buzzsaw or my buck canoe knife.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

nice..safe journeys

[@treyking9283]

Thank you blackie and you also

[@bradg8251]

Buck 486 and a leatherman wave

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

good knives

[@Hoonozit]

Thank you for the great video.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Stoney_AKA_James]

Well said Blackie, great topic sir, I completely agree!! Knowing what tasks are required ahead of time (i.e. what is the objective or mission, knowing what the environmental setting you are going into, knowing [approximately] the duration, etc.), and your experience level (i.e. KSAs: Knowledge, Skills, Abilities) are all key in making informed decisions. All of which, in turn provide more options to choose from and I'm all about having redundancy and options!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i agree always be open to change..but also keep in mine what you have already learned

[@bigfatpear]

my kit is an h&b forge tomahawk, a tbs boar belt knife and a swiss army champ. also along with this, i carry a silky gomboy and sometimes, a Chinese military shovel. great video.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i had a h&b for many yrs in my living history days

[@rudyperez7773]

Very well said sir. Thank you for the information.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

My pleasure

[@johnfortwengler4496]

Swiss army for small. HELL e Bleja folder for bushcraft haven't chosen a chopper yet

[@gmanpublications]

Blackie, great information. Since I am a beginner right now I am carrying a prunning saw, the WalMart bait knife that you showed on another video, and a cheap pocket knife I just purchased at the dollar store. The bad part is I have to take the bait knife to get sharpened (I can't sharpen a knife to save my life).

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

hey brother we all started somewhere..and a good education starts with simple cheap tools to learn the skills with... if they break they are easy to replace..once you have the skills.then buy a little better..safe journeys to you and good luck with your skills

[@boomshanka8743]

Blackie, after you introduced me to Rough Ryder pocket knives I have been a fan. My current favorite is their Kamp King, how they can make and sell them for $17 I will never understand. My belt knife is a 1940s Old Hickory butcher knife, or a Skookum Bush Tool I waited several years to get. Large chopper is either a khukuri, a Cold Steel hawk, or if I am on a canoe trip I bring an old TruTemper cruiser I cleaned up and rehung.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

good tools..i will change out mine as the job requires..but time and again i come back around to the tried and true blades

[@trynsurviven2440]

I have several belt knives and all were chosen to handle the medium tasks you spoke about. My EDC pocket knife is an Old Timer scout knife..nuff said. Most places in Oklahoma you can find plenty of wood on the ground however, I have a Estwing campers axe.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

the scout knife pattern has served for many yrs and all skill levels..it usually one of the first i teach someone how to use a knife with

[@earljames453]

I carry on average of 4 different blades on me every day.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i carry usually 2 but i can carry several depends on what i am doing

[@caseysr.sectionhiker8372]

Sometimes it just feels good to carry a knife although I hardly need a knife, however I guess a medium-size Swiss Army with a saw blade would be my "one" knife. Carried a Buck 110 for years but don't remember using it for anything useful. I carried a 1955 era, cheap Imperial Hunter, for a long time, my first knife, still have it. I reprofiled the tip out of necessity & like it better now for opening packaged food or making fire boards. If I did much food prep in camp I'd like my Openiel, because those thin blades do a great job slicing veggies. A Mora seems like it could do about everything, but I've got a Gerber Dime multi-tool which does that. I'm partial to small twig fires & usually just break up the stuff laying around me, but I got a really cheap lightweight Kukri style which would be my second choice for an only knife. Holds a sharp edge & has replaced my electric hedge trimmer, but needs a round handle to improve on the flat plastic scales it comes with. moras

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

like you i enjoy carry more for fun than need..but a mora a Openiel a rough rider 3 bladestockman..the list goes on..i find using so many styles makes for better knife skills

[@shawnwells5719]

I acquired a PUMA Buffalo Hunter with micarta scales a couple years ago, mostly because the price was right and it looked interesting. It has a similar blade profile to your Blackbird, about the same length, with a slightly more pronounced belly in front of a less deep reverse edge. Thought it was a bit goofy until I started using it; it's actually a pretty useful shape. Use it a lot more than anticipated. I also have a Grohmann No. 4 Survival knife, a derived Nessmuck design. Strange looking knife, but very ergonomic.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

the curves look odd ..till you really use it..and then those odd curves start paying off..soon a plain knife is kinda boring

[@rat1knives771]

I use some of your teachings in the bush awesome stuff

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

That is awesome!

[@lowrangeoverland9013]

I'm using the kershaw camp 10 with.a mora strapped to it.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

good choice

[@jonNH123]

Thanks for the vid. Very helpful!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Glad it was helpful!

[@williammccaslin8527]

Yep, you called it right, an 18" machete do's me right in the swamp in Fl. Depends on where I'm at as to what I use, perfect knife is any carbon steel 6", SRK, K-BAR, ONTARIO, pocket knives I use buck's, "BANTAMS" in med an large, they just fit my hand well an are inexpensive for what you get an made in the U.S.A., Thx for the vid.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

your very welcome

[@robertkoontz7865]

Great vid and concept, The Apache are known for carrying many knives, I think mostly for fighting. Thats when I realized there is no one knife. I should carry several. William touched on this as well. Basically I recently got back into blade smithing and came across you and William. I've been designing his knives with changes here and there but invariably go back to his design. I do put two camel back humps one for your thumb the other for scraping and ferro rod striking. I made a Stupid large chopper looks like a WCSK on steroids instead of an Axe. A kukri style Machete with a spear point and woodman grind a Nesse sheeps foot I call a wee skinner. And the little whittler his handle design with the strait cutting edge. I wonder how that Lil' whittler would do for small game, Thanks; B.K.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

safe journeys

[@rat1knives771]

Hey blackie I’m a relatively new subscriber and the way you explain your knowledge is remarkable thanks brother

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

I appreciate that and welcome to the channel

[@lindaphelps4673]

Multiple function item to carry is best and a good knife makes it a whole lot easier to survive. Enjoy the videos.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

very true

[@bushlifeaholick790]

Very well said 💯% my edc on belt knife vary’s from a mora survival to a condor Bushlor&must have a faro rod loop my case three blade converse& antique Imperial pro purdy much stays the same for in the bush a chopper a realy big knife or machete camp axx(boy axx)on a sling&12in folding saw Now with convenience and hunting camp or SHTF bigger axx saw’s and more of it 👍🤠Be safe out the stay healthy

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

safe journeys

[@fadingmargins]

I have to say I have no recollection of Nessmuk writing about opening tins with his knife. He talks about tins - the ones he used to cook with but I could be wrong. His belt knife was fine bladed as he used it for dressing game, whereas the jack knife was for doing bushcraft as I recall. The way knives are used has changed over time - a resurgence in camp-craft and decline of hunting has seen belt knives get thicker and the rise of the scandi-grind because they are now used on wood not flesh (see Mors K's take on a survival knife).

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

not opening a tin..getting the food out of the tins..that hump os good for getting soft foods like sauces and jellys from the bottom of the can..lol

[@fadingmargins]

@@BLACKIETHOMAS I didn't think carrying tinned food was his style and certainly didn't fit with ultralight

[@lovingmesomeoutdoors8729]

DnD day!!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

yep ya bored with it yet lol

[@truckmetal2341]

I have Nessmuks book in my phone

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i enjoy reading it and often will drag it along on trips to pass the time

[@swampfox5329]

Parang

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

that would be a good choice here in the lower south