Fire Building, Batoning, & Feathersticks with Patrick Rollins

Fire Building, Batoning, & Feathersticks
Patrick covers the proper technique for batoning firewood with a fixed blade knife, processing fire wood, and how to do a feather stick and why we do it in the first place.

[@dennisleighton2812]

Some comments: Firstly, batoning a log as pictured makes it appear quite easy to do. However, out in the woods one probably won't find an abundance of such convenient dry wood, which would make batoning and feathesticking much more problematic. Also, batoning with such a small knife using sub-optimal wood is likely to put tremendous strain on the knife, especially in the tip area. A practical and easy alternative is to use that smallish knife to cut and shape some wooden wedges, and after cutting a slot in the top of the log with the knife, as in the video, rather use the wedge/wedges, to do the splitting. This way you preserve the integrity of your primary tool, to do the tasks for which it was designed. By the way, for the information of viewers, NO knife has ever been designed specifically for batoning, or splitting wood. The tools that HAVE been designed for this are the axe, maul, wedge or froe. It is true that some knives CAN be used for batoning, but they were NOT designed for this. The whole genre of "the one-knife option" or "if you ONLY had one knife" relies on the assumption that one has ended up in the smelly stuff because of inferior or NO preparation. No-one ends up in the woods, miles from anywhere, with only a knife and an Altoids tin. That is fantasy. Now I'm not against some light splitting of wood (as in the video, for a valid reason) but I am against knife beating when better options exist.

[@greggibson6504]

Good tips. Everybody who spends time outdoors needs to practice their fire craft 👍

[@MotleyMethods]

I just ordered a PR4. I'm looking forward to trying it. It will be my first camp knife

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

Thank you and we hope you enjoy it!

[@bernielomax5908]

Awesome video

[@vanleermatt]

That’s how my grandpa showed me to make a fire when I was a kid. Good vid!

[@Heeman5]

Great video 👍🏼💪🏼

[@sinkswim5158]

Realy god ! Just love how you explain!! The esee videos are short but extreamly usefull, other guys talk about everything but not about the important things.

[@LloydBlake89]

Thanks for the killer gear guys keep it up I'm a 1095 addict to me it is a premium steel!

[@the_orange_shepherd6938]

ESEE knocking it off of the park as always!

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

Thank you....just doing the best with what we have! lol

[@lunchboxbandits]

I LOVE my PR4 Camp Lore, thank you for your work and dedication.

[@Thomas_M76]

Nice ! I like to use the spine of my PR4 to make feather sticks.

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

Appalachian Outdoor Adventures that spine will do some work!!

[@DroneGirl1]

Very good! Thumbs up from Dublin (Ireland)! :)

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

Thank you!!

[@knjohd]

Great video. I like that waterproof lighter , I can make fire from spark, no hope with a bow drill and if my life was depending on getting a fire going I would be praying I had a lighter with me.

[@dennisleighton2812]

Another camping myth. A simple Bic or Jet lighter (cost less than $1) kept in a zip-loc bag is perfectly adequate. For $2,37 you can buy 3 Bics, swipe three bags from the kitchen, and your problems are solved for years, if not decades to come. In the UK one can buy a Jet lighter for 79p!

[@HarveySpectre415]

I found this valuable, there's a couple things I've been doing that I see now I could be doing a little better.

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

Glad to hear it!

[@jaschawalter3500]

Great video as always Patrick. Thank you!

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

you are more than welcome!

[@aim4survival966]

Perfect demo, and explanation.... thanks

[@glbwoodsbum2567]

Nice demo and of course, nice knife!!!

[@vegetaki1888]

Great knowledge and demonstration

[@WoodKnock01]

Awesome vid

[@derekstynes9631]

That was the most Detailed Lesson of the process from A to B and I am glad to Sub to Your Channel and Thank You .

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@marty4886]

Thank you for this how to video. How about a few wood carving videos using the PR4, etc. Maybe using the James Gibson axe to make spoons and the like. It’s great to watch your videos because even though some of us (me included) live in the city and don’t get out in the woods often we can ‘be with you’ on the adventure. Ps I have the PR4 and I am trying to learn how to make a fire drill with it. 😎 Marty

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

Thanks for the suggestions! We will see what we can do.

[@matthewmitchell8678]

Excellent video Sir👍🏻

[@CommonCentsOutdoorsman]

Now that makes good CommonCents !

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

Common Sense is all too uncommon now and days.

[@CommonCentsOutdoorsman]

@@RandallsAdventureESEE right on bro

[@danielodair1891]

Patrick using a lighter is the equivalent of Superman using a gun haha

[@DF4Trap]

Awesome, I know some have been advising against batoning their knifes latley. I would ask why would you choose a knife that could not be batoned? It seems like a basic common sense skill. Thanks for the video.

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

We like to use the right tool for the right job...but if you don' have an ax/hatchet then a knife must do...it's a one of the primary reasons why we choose 1095 Steel!

[@dennisleighton2812]

@@RandallsAdventureESEE Who says "a knife must do"? Why not use a wooden wedge carved with that same knife? Or are you too lazy to make the wedge? In the video you are beating the very tip (the weakest point) of the knife! Why?

[@billyjoedenny]

good video

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

billy joe denny thank you.

[@maritimespook]

Love the PR4 i gotta get me one ! ,;;,;, Cheers my Friends ! ,:,;;, Spook

[@FBobby]

It's a great blade.

[@BladeWalker77]

Hi from Italy, god video and explanation, thanks. This knife has a so simple design but at same time is so effective, I like it. I have 2 questions: why you decided to not put a 90 degrees spine on your knives? Have you considered the idea to not put coating on your carbon steel knives? Many people remove it.

[@survinenathan]

If that was my dog he'd be running off with every stick I split. Lol

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

NateInTheSticks she would make our thumb sized stick into a gooey paste if we let her. Everyone Patrick starts to process firewood she starts processing in her own way.

[@danielcornett7728]

Nice video Patrick . I’m a local knife maker in East Tennessee and I’ve purchased a few esee in the past and love them. All my boys have an esee of some sort, and I was just wondering if there’s a esee nessmuk coming down the pipe anytime soon.?

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

Daniel Cornett stay tuned.

[@berniekeene868]

Love this video. I just listened to you guys on the Dayfire podcast! I’ll be taking a course as I start doing more adventures. Does any know the brand of the chestpack he is wearing? I’m actually looking for something I can fit a pretty small dog in!!

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

Thanks for listening to the Day fire podcast. That one was fun to do. Patrick is wearing a Hill People Gear Heavy Recon chest rig. It’s doubtful you will get a dog in it. Even a small one.

[@Murphnuge]

We need to get Patrick a longer blade. Surely someone can hook him up with a Junglas or a 6.

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

Cory Murphy Patrick could use any blade he wants. He prefers the PR4.

[@paologonella4767]

hi can you tell me what is the name of the backpack you have on your chest?

[@isabellam1936]

Doggy! 🤗🧸

[@Whatdayawanttodowithyourlife]

1:45 😆

[@jeremyrobs3643]

What knife are you using? Great video.

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

It’s the PR4.

[@jeremyrobs3643]

@@RandallsAdventureESEE Thanks!

[@ericlindbloom7267]

Great video! What is the pack you are wearing?

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

Eric Lindbloom thank you. That a Hill People Gear Original kitbag V2. Great gear and people.

[@ericlindbloom7267]

Randall's Adventure / ESEE cool thanks, going to check them out!

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

Actually...I just noticed it's a Heavy Recon w/Med Pocket.....Patrick alternates bt the two.

[@ericlindbloom7267]

Randall's Adventure / ESEE that’s what I thought after checking out there site i released that it was a combination of two packs. Thanks for the information. Very cool system! Thinking about switching to it myself.

[@fire_x_friction8820]

Patrick, Been looking for a good chest pack. What kind is That?

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

gary calvert that is a Hill People Gear Heavy Recon with a Med pocket.

[@fire_x_friction8820]

Randall's Adventure / ESEE thanks!!!!

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

Hill People Gear make great stuff... Patrick and I both alternate between the Heavy Recon w/Med pocket and the Original Kit Bag V2.... Both are great...the Recon will carry a LOT of gear! I run the V2 on rope and when I want to trim things down a bit.

[@jasonherrington2002]

If all you had on you was the knife how did you get to nicely sawn logs?

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

Jason Herrington you got us!!! hard to split a long with a saw. This is addressing the absence of an axe/hatchet.

[@jasonherrington2002]

I would love to see what Patrick would do if he really did only have a knife and needed to make a fire.

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

He would build a mansion...lol...

[@itieknots7]

What brand pants are those? Thank you.

[@RandallsAdventureESEE]

itieknots7 tru spec 24/7.

[@itieknots7]

Randall's Adventure / ESEE Thank you. The thigh pockets look a lot more useful when sitting, than most cargo pants.