Through countless hours of research, the tracker knife has been a passion and hobby for me for years. This video hopes to document its humble beginnings from 1981 to the present. 
Пікірлер: 70
@temirzhansagiyev57914 ай бұрын
Thank You for summarizing video👍
@hammerarmament4 ай бұрын
Very interesting. Thanks for the history lesson on these knives. I’ve always appreciated this design
@oxxnarrdflame8865 Жыл бұрын
That is a awesome collection of fine steel. I really enjoyed the history.
@michaelblaylock25149 ай бұрын
Thoroughly enjoyed this video ! Your collection is amazing.
@IvIidnight11 ай бұрын
Love that one you made w/o the sawback!
@roguesknives61838 ай бұрын
Excellent review and history of the Tracker
@arctodussimus6198 Жыл бұрын
I enjoyed watching this video. 👍🏼👍🏼 I was on the fence about this knife for about ten years. Mostly because I couldn’t afford it. Eventually I bought one. Two months later I had three TOPS T1 Trackers. It’s an amazing knife for sure. They talk about the long learning curve for the Tracker, but for me there wasn’t one because I’ve been handling knives since I was 8 years old (1967). And the ‘instruction’ book that came with the T1 made its uses fairly obvious. When I got in on the prototype of what became the Bark River JBA, I stopped carrying the Tracker, and carried my JBA Prototype. It is one of my absolute favorite wilderness tools. I gave away one of my T1’s, and eventually sold the other two. They deserved to be owned by someone who would use them.
@Oliver.Ghilardi7 ай бұрын
Interesting and very informative video ❤
@powerplay4real174 Жыл бұрын
Very enjoyable, & good collection 👍
@IvIidnight11 ай бұрын
I love Tracker style knives, but don't care to have the saw teeth on a knife. Personal preference. My favorite version is the Acta Non Verba P500. But those are all beautiful knives! And I always appreciate a good history lesson. 🙂
@bushcraftcostarica808 Жыл бұрын
Awesome video man, I really enjoyed it!!!
@Bushcraftnbaseball Жыл бұрын
Excellent video Caleb
@anthonykammas3276 Жыл бұрын
Great video!
@MountaincraftOutdoors3 ай бұрын
Awesome video. I hope you get to 1000 soon. Just subbed 🤙🏼 Drew
@belag7911 Жыл бұрын
Great video, I'm very happy to see you with your Trackers on KZbin!!! Super vidéo je suis très heureux de te retrouver avec tes Tracker sur KZbin !!! french Tracker de bushcraft usa😊
@davidjfife Жыл бұрын
Thanks for doing up the video! Great collection ou have. I still need to add one of your primitive trackers to my collection.
@pinkiewerewolf8 ай бұрын
Great rundown on the Tracker/WSK’s history. I still have the Primitive Tracker that you sold me years ago, love that Tracker! My collection has grown to include one of Dave Beck’s last custom ordered WSKs from a couple of years ago. My newest Tracker is the Origin Knives Woodsman, with the Kukri influence and it has been a great Tracker to use. I’m glad that I found your KZbin channel Caleb. I need to get back on Bushcraft USA. Take care!
@kelsohighlander18 ай бұрын
Great to hear from you! That Origin tracker is getting quite the press lately. Jim down in Costa Rica is really putting it through the paces. All the best!
@pinkiewerewolf8 ай бұрын
@@kelsohighlander1 Yes, Jim is really putting the Woodsman through its paces. Have a great day. It’s raining cats & dogs over here in Humboldt County.
@hawintherknives4386 Жыл бұрын
Nice collection
@kelsohighlander1 Жыл бұрын
Thanks! Would love to get one of yours someday.
@MrPh309 ай бұрын
And it remind me of the Puma White Hunter also , and that was a favorite among Selous Scouts .
@danielww90227 ай бұрын
The TOPS version is the one I trust, but only because TOPS does a great job with their heat treatments, whereas I don't know which smiths to trust on other sales platforms (eBay, etc.) I would much prefer an aggressive saw spine over the squared teeth, & would love an extended tang rather than a full tang. If I could find that in a ¼" blade the size of the T1, the smith could consider it sold as soon as the steel was cool enough to ship. And I'd buy two. Just saying.
@brnobre4301 Жыл бұрын
Baita coleção
@CSGraves8 ай бұрын
This design has long been a mystery to me. The one in cocobolo sans sawteeth would be the only one of these I'd use. Seems highly counterproductive to put sawteeth on one end of something intended to double as a drawknife. And the versions with the sharp transition between it and the chopping portion... I'd worry about it rolling or snapping while chopping. Visually distinctive though. Maybe that's the real selling point.
@steelsedge4453 Жыл бұрын
How can i buy one of those knives
@user-hv3hv1ee8z Жыл бұрын
Hi Caleb. Your collection has grown since our last conversation. Did you get a knife from Rick?😊
@kelsohighlander1 Жыл бұрын
Yes! A gorgeous one!
@Hammer1978 Жыл бұрын
The Tracker that you made with the Cocabolo scales, is that something you sell?
@kelsohighlander1 Жыл бұрын
Yes, if the price was right! Thanks for watching.
@philipmaldonado673510 ай бұрын
Do you have a website? Interested in purchasing your version of The Hunted movie knife in all black. Thank you foe your time.
@kelsohighlander110 ай бұрын
Hi, I don't make those anymore. Too complicated. I just make simple knives now. I don't have a website. Thanks for watching.
@anveshnidumolu367911 ай бұрын
At this time you need three knife
@MAGUA11210 ай бұрын
Have you seen the REI tracker knife
@kelsohighlander110 ай бұрын
I have not. I did a google search and didn’t find anything.
@erikhasenauer3584 Жыл бұрын
Do you make custom knives for sale and how much?
@kelsohighlander1 Жыл бұрын
I do occasionally. I'm not making anything right now as I don't have the time. Thanks for watching.
@TheDoberman9728 ай бұрын
Can you talk about the Ariel ACA knife ? how is it compare to the Beck version in term of quality ?
@kelsohighlander18 ай бұрын
Well, nothing compares to the Beck. Beck’s wsks are hands down the best on the market today. Having said that, the second two best trackers available on the market are ones made by Ariel and by Patrick Day (IMHO). I’ve tried nearly ever brand and make and own a dozen different makers currently. Both of them make an incredible knife that will perform in an outstanding way. Both Ariel’s and Patrick’s knives are lighter than Becks. Handles are skeletonized and they are just a hair under 1/4” thick. Quality is exceptional for the price. You can’t go wrong with one. I’ve owned 4 of his. Thanks!
@TheDoberman9728 ай бұрын
Thanks for the heads up. Could you please precise the added value of having a skeletonized handle ? Is just about saving some steel ? Does this weaken the overall structure of the knife ?
@kelsohighlander18 ай бұрын
@@TheDoberman972 A skeletonized handle can drop 1/4 of the overall weight. But you can create some weaker spots if done incorrectly or too close to spots that receive shock during chopping. The solid tang is much less prone to stress cracks, but you have the added weight. Ariel weighing 16oz and Beck weighing 23oz.
@TheDoberman9728 ай бұрын
@@kelsohighlander1it’s a big difference in weight. I don’t know what to think of it… is the overall balance better with a lighter knife ? Which one would you advise between the PAC Day and Ariel ? They both looks great. I’m looking for the best quality price there is.
@kelsohighlander18 ай бұрын
@@TheDoberman972 it depends on what task you are using it for. If you are doing heavy chopping, a heavy knife head is better. If you are doing more delicate tasks and need to be holding the knife for hours on end, a lighter knife is better. If you have the chance to buy, either one, you won’t regret it. Purchase both if you get the chance. They are worth every penny.
@Squibknocket Жыл бұрын
How does one go about purchasing one of your knives?
@kelsohighlander1 Жыл бұрын
They pop up time to time on the BushcraftUSA trade blanket. Thanks for watching.
@jerrynemec9309 ай бұрын
I prefer the Bark River version. No saw teeth, 1/4 inch thick with a 90 degree spine made with A2 tool steel.
@desolationwilliams2724 Жыл бұрын
How much for the Hunted tracker knife you made?
@kelsohighlander1 Жыл бұрын
It’s not for sale. Thanks for watching!
@schematicnewt12992 ай бұрын
Do you sell tracker knives as well? I was unsure how else to reach out but I’m hoping this reaches you.
@kelsohighlander12 ай бұрын
Hi, occasionally yes. They can be found on bushcraftusa. Thanks for watching.
@RichardMiller-tq6ut9 ай бұрын
If you remove the saw back and the leather scraper is it still a tracker?
@kelsohighlander19 ай бұрын
There are plenty of trackers without a sawback. I’m not sure what you mean by leather scraper though.
@RichardMiller-tq6ut9 ай бұрын
@kelsohighlander1 that concave part between the saw and the handle is for scraping fat off the hide to process leather. To me this is a big part of what makes it a tracker. Removing half the tools from the knife may remove it from that category in some eyes
@RichardMiller-tq6ut9 ай бұрын
@kelsohighlander1 you want to find a suitable diameter log and use the draw knife to smooth it down. Then throw a fresh hide over the log and scrape it with that arch on the back of the knife. This will help you easily process leather suitable for your tracking endeavors
@RichardMiller-tq6ut9 ай бұрын
@kelsohighlander1 the saw back doesn't need to be bi directional because it is for hacking through knuckles, elbows, shoulders, n such. It clears a path for your blade to cut through the joint
@kelsohighlander19 ай бұрын
In Brown's original manual that concave section is for the baton to strike. Dave Beck also has a section in an older magazine where he talks about that part of the knife. He does a differential heat treatment and rounds the corners on it as it's intended for striking with a baton. @@RichardMiller-tq6ut
@faustin5110 ай бұрын
How would I go about getting you to make me a Tracker knife?
@kelsohighlander110 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching. I rarely make these types of trackers anymore. And when I do I list them on the bushcraftusa trade blanket. Cheers
@canadafree20877 ай бұрын
Nice history but I was never a fan of the knife. I think Tom was like Les Stroud, neither one being knife experts and merely using what was found in their local stores. The fact that someone else designed it, and not Tom, speaks volumes. It reminds me of a Green Beret that had a series of books with poor illustrations, one of which was a knife book with a design he came up with but never actually made the knife because he was so poor and just trying to make income from the books. He encouraged others to make it but I don't know if anyone did. The Tracker really is the cart before the horse; the knife was made and then came the trying to justify such a jack of all trades, master on none knife. Your traditional woodsman (of which there were plenty around when Tom was growing up) would have also carried an axe and/or a saw along with their knives.
@richardhenry1969 Жыл бұрын
Gotta say I like the last one the best. The other knives are just to much money for me to even consider it. Really my idea of a one tool option is kukuri. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqLPnHmmr8aEmrs
@user-ei3vw7gx7g Жыл бұрын
Коллекция внушительная и интересная ,но должен выразить чисто своё мнение это нож-актёр , с практической стороны им очень тяжело пользоваться на мой взгляд , особенно тяжело затачивать но он хорош в качестве тренировочного ножа для метания 😁😉😊👍👍👍
@kelsohighlander1 Жыл бұрын
There is actually a thread online called the Tracker Action thread that has over 400 pages of people using this tool. I have used them on many outings and it is one of the most impressive tools I have ever used. Like learning any tool, it takes time to learn and master. I can process wood and make a fire from scratch faster with a tracker than I can any other knife! Thanks for watching!
@arctodussimus6198 Жыл бұрын
Some call it a gimmick knife. But it was designed by one of the most proficient wilderness/survival experts alive. It’s definitely not just a movie prop.
@domosmojo33674 ай бұрын
You forgot to mention that the bastard Tom brown claimed he is the sole designer of the original Russon Knife. Not only did he swindle Robb out of loads of money, but after the movie made the knife insanely popular, he cut out beck as well. Robb never sued because he is an outstanding guy, but he still wants the recognition he deserves. Below is a video explaining the who scandal. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmmtaqekh7N0pas
@kelsohighlander14 ай бұрын
Hi, yes, I’m very familiar with all those parts of the story. I am acquainted with son of the original maker and have had correspondence with him. My intent here is to focus on the design of the knife itself. Thanks for watching.
@shineon36437 ай бұрын
Design.. that is all these knives have to offer. Just buy a real kukri and a folding saw. Save yourself 300 bucks and buy some water purification and a 200 doller Swedish axe. That's where my money would be and a leathman .basically you could outfit yourself with every bit of Sv gear you need for the price. Pretty to look at but in general a useless tool
@kelsohighlander17 ай бұрын
I encourage you to go on bushcraftusa and look at the tracker action pictures thread. Over 500 pages of it doing ever task and excelling at most. Having used over two dozen trackers personally, I find the tool indispensable. That being said, I agree with you at paring it with a small saw. The sawback is more for notching. Thanks for watching!
@QuantumPyrite_88.97 ай бұрын
Overhyped and the saw is worthless. Tom Brown told me and 3 other people that he designed the knife. He did not.