Bushcraft Knife and Axe Safety, Working Safely Alone in the Forest, Log Cabin Life
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Date: 2020-11-30
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Comments and reviews: 10
JAB
You just hit upon exactly why I do not like knives that don't have some sort of cross-guard or other type of finger guard built into their design. Rather than eliminating one, possible use that might be encountered (working with a stabbing motion) I prefer a knife that allows such a use to be done with a relative amount of safety. To me, about the only use for a knife that is pretty much a continuous line from the edge through the handle with no type of guard, choil, etc. is for cutting a steak (i. e. a steak knife) That said, I know there are some reasons why bushcrafters like those types of knife but I am not a bushcrafter. In all honesty I have a couple of outdoor 'bushcraft' type knives that are constructed without guards but I would consider them to be backup knives to be used specifically for fine tasks where the crossguard, etc. on a main knife might make the task a little more difficult (but certainly not impossible) to perform.
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You just hit upon exactly why I do not like knives that don't have some sort of cross-guard or other type of finger guard built into their design. Rather than eliminating one, possible use that might be encountered (working with a stabbing motion) I prefer a knife that allows such a use to be done with a relative amount of safety. To me, about the only use for a knife that is pretty much a continuous line from the edge through the handle with no type of guard, choil, etc. is for cutting a steak (i. e. a steak knife) That said, I know there are some reasons why bushcrafters like those types of knife but I am not a bushcrafter. In all honesty I have a couple of outdoor 'bushcraft' type knives that are constructed without guards but I would consider them to be backup knives to be used specifically for fine tasks where the crossguard, etc. on a main knife might make the task a little more difficult (but certainly not impossible) to perform.
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Bandit
Hi Shawn, thank you for posting your videos. I have learned loads watching you build the cabin. On the subject of health and safety, you are quite right, there is nothing more dangerous than working alone. With that in mind, I was thinking. The production of maple syrup, is itself, fraught with danger in that it involves handling and transporting boiling sap (sugar. Moreover, should someone trip, or fall whilst carrying something that hot. It can result in third degree burns, which in themselves might be life threatening and involve massive tissue loss, if not bone loss and amputation. Have you considered building a dedicated maple syrup work shop, designed in such away that you never need to lift or carry boiling sap? A work shop that has a barn door frame (employing chicken wire, so that your dog can remain safely outside, away from around your feet, but can still see you at all times. Many thanks, regards, Richard
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Hi Shawn, thank you for posting your videos. I have learned loads watching you build the cabin. On the subject of health and safety, you are quite right, there is nothing more dangerous than working alone. With that in mind, I was thinking. The production of maple syrup, is itself, fraught with danger in that it involves handling and transporting boiling sap (sugar. Moreover, should someone trip, or fall whilst carrying something that hot. It can result in third degree burns, which in themselves might be life threatening and involve massive tissue loss, if not bone loss and amputation. Have you considered building a dedicated maple syrup work shop, designed in such away that you never need to lift or carry boiling sap? A work shop that has a barn door frame (employing chicken wire, so that your dog can remain safely outside, away from around your feet, but can still see you at all times. Many thanks, regards, Richard
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Andreas
Great safety video Mr. James, as well as all of your clips I've seen so far. You doing great, your attitude achieving freedom, happiness and independence and also staying in a healthy shape is just magnificent. We Germans call it Blutkreis. maybe blood-circle in your native language to keep in mind when using sharp tools particularly with other individuals, like your lovely dog around you. My old man always said away from your body. Thanks a lot for that truckload of brilliant outdoor and sort of construction and wilderness movies. Best wishes from Berlin, Germany. Have a good one and good luck with crafting your BBQ-area. Take care! Andreas
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Great safety video Mr. James, as well as all of your clips I've seen so far. You doing great, your attitude achieving freedom, happiness and independence and also staying in a healthy shape is just magnificent. We Germans call it Blutkreis. maybe blood-circle in your native language to keep in mind when using sharp tools particularly with other individuals, like your lovely dog around you. My old man always said away from your body. Thanks a lot for that truckload of brilliant outdoor and sort of construction and wilderness movies. Best wishes from Berlin, Germany. Have a good one and good luck with crafting your BBQ-area. Take care! Andreas
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Nick
The axe technique is one I was taught at an early age by my father. It is also similar to the Japanese technique for a vertical axe strike to improve accuracy, not wear out your shoulders, and avoid injury. Instead of swinging overhead in an circle/arc, you use your legs and hips to generate the downward, targeted force. Axe head never even comes near your legs and you avoid over extending your arms and damaging your handle.
To this day, I am corrected by every cocky doofus out there who thinks Im a fool and needs to teach me how to swing an axe.
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The axe technique is one I was taught at an early age by my father. It is also similar to the Japanese technique for a vertical axe strike to improve accuracy, not wear out your shoulders, and avoid injury. Instead of swinging overhead in an circle/arc, you use your legs and hips to generate the downward, targeted force. Axe head never even comes near your legs and you avoid over extending your arms and damaging your handle.
To this day, I am corrected by every cocky doofus out there who thinks Im a fool and needs to teach me how to swing an axe.
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Airik1111
I almost cut my finger off last year and half ago with my Mora Garberg trying to unwedge it from a small knotty little square of wood. It was something simple I'd done before but just wasn't being aware and boy I learned my lesson. My knuckle still hurts and is permanently stiff now not as flexible and I was wearing good gloves which instantly dripped with blood so I knew I screwed up BUT without the glove I would of cut my best booger finger off for sure.
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I almost cut my finger off last year and half ago with my Mora Garberg trying to unwedge it from a small knotty little square of wood. It was something simple I'd done before but just wasn't being aware and boy I learned my lesson. My knuckle still hurts and is permanently stiff now not as flexible and I was wearing good gloves which instantly dripped with blood so I knew I screwed up BUT without the glove I would of cut my best booger finger off for sure.
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zenaldiak
That injuries will not apear if the axe work is maked with axe not with a knife. In situations when not have a axe, or survival situations are EXCEPTIONS, not regular situations. So this trendy wood spliting with a knife si so foullish thing. A realy mountain man not do this ever. All that youtubers ho teaching other people to batonning and chopping, and stimulating other to purchasing gear an not TOOLS, make a big mistake.
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That injuries will not apear if the axe work is maked with axe not with a knife. In situations when not have a axe, or survival situations are EXCEPTIONS, not regular situations. So this trendy wood spliting with a knife si so foullish thing. A realy mountain man not do this ever. All that youtubers ho teaching other people to batonning and chopping, and stimulating other to purchasing gear an not TOOLS, make a big mistake.
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wholly
I learned this early on in my life in the wilderness communities of California, we would hear of people alone in the woods using an ax or knife nicking an artery inflicting damage they cannot fix and cannot get out to get help bleeding to death or a tree they where felling hits or falls on them getting pinned people find their bodies months later if at all after the animals get done with them, Just sayin'
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I learned this early on in my life in the wilderness communities of California, we would hear of people alone in the woods using an ax or knife nicking an artery inflicting damage they cannot fix and cannot get out to get help bleeding to death or a tree they where felling hits or falls on them getting pinned people find their bodies months later if at all after the animals get done with them, Just sayin'
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Mike
Another advice. When splitting branches perpendicular to their length with an axe. keep your head and face away from the area over the branch. it tends to fly upwards from the chopping block the moment it is completely split. A friend of mine once was hit by a piece of a branch this way over the eyebrow, almost taking out his eye. He had a deep cut. imagine if he was hit in the eye.
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Another advice. When splitting branches perpendicular to their length with an axe. keep your head and face away from the area over the branch. it tends to fly upwards from the chopping block the moment it is completely split. A friend of mine once was hit by a piece of a branch this way over the eyebrow, almost taking out his eye. He had a deep cut. imagine if he was hit in the eye.
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Margaret
Could you get an extended part at bottom of pommel! Circular or on two opposite sides? Welded maybe? I know Ive seen knives with the bottom under the pommel that had two side pieces to stop hands sliding! But where I dont remember!
Do you have an emergency plan? Think you said cell phones dont work, what about a ham radio? You need a good antenna though!
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Could you get an extended part at bottom of pommel! Circular or on two opposite sides? Welded maybe? I know Ive seen knives with the bottom under the pommel that had two side pieces to stop hands sliding! But where I dont remember!
Do you have an emergency plan? Think you said cell phones dont work, what about a ham radio? You need a good antenna though!
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John
Making kindling stabbing with a knife like that is fundamentally dumb. Short handle axes are also known as shin splitters. Kneeling is better but a hatchet is probably safer. Saws are equally bad. After almost sawing a finger off three days paddle from anywhere I became forever focused on saving my parts.
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Making kindling stabbing with a knife like that is fundamentally dumb. Short handle axes are also known as shin splitters. Kneeling is better but a hatchet is probably safer. Saws are equally bad. After almost sawing a finger off three days paddle from anywhere I became forever focused on saving my parts.
reply
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