Stewart White (Book of the Forest):
hat with medium brim
socks, wool, 3 pr
wool underwear
shirt
sweater
wool blanket
rubber blanket
tent, Egyptian cotton, 7x7, 8#
mosquito netting
ax
sheath knife
compass
match case
fishing tackle
firearms (.22 pistol)
cooking utensils. For one: Cup and frying pan. For 2 or 3: Cup, fork and spoon apiece, 1 tea pail, 2 kettles, 1 frying pan
fly dope
needles and thread
cathartic
pain killer
bandages
soap
(He specifically recommends no extra trousers, no coat)
Paul Provencher ("The Last Courier du Bois):
In hand or pockets:
axe
fishline
hooks
knife
matches
snares
cordage
whetstone
slingshot & ammo
In packs:
saw
crooked knife
frying pan
kettle
cups
plates
spoons
forks
muskrat trap
rifle & ammo
magnifying glass
wall tent
sleeping bag
face cloth
toothbrush
stove
lamp
mirror
tobacco
Calvin Rutstrum listed a Canadian Cree's kit in the early 1900's:
single-shot .22 rifle
moosehide musette bag containing fishing gear and ammo
blanket rolled in a canvas tarp
knife in a moosehide sheath
Edna Calkins Price ("Burro Bill and Me") :
pots and pans
.22 rifle
30-30 rifle
pyramid tent
"the clothes on our backs and one extra set"
axe
shovel
bucket
Dutch oven
Lance Corporal George McDonald Fraser's kit during the Burma campaign of WWII ("Quartered Safe Out Here")
Two shirts
Two pairs of trousers
Puttees
Boots
Socks
Bush hat
Web belt with cross-braces and pouches
Small pack
Large pack
Lee Enfield rifle
Pull-through, for cleaning rifle
Oil
Ammunition, 50 rounds
Grenades, two
Bren gun magazines, two
Bayonet
Kukri or machete
Entrenching tool
Mattock
Rope, 15'
Field dressing, two
Razor
Toothbrush
Mess tins, two
Mug
Fork, knife, spoon
Needle and thread
Water purification pills
Malaria pills
Rations
Canteen
Blanket
Ground cloth
Poncho
4 comments:
Greetings,
Could you please expound upon knives for general field use?
The best all around knives I have found fall into the same basic pattern- more handle than blade, the blade measures less than 4" in length and the shape of the tip of the blade determines the most appropriate use.
When it comes time to skin, though, I find a knife that is good for general field dressing comes up wanting.
Have you ever used an "Ulu" style knife? They are styled after Inuit knives and resemble the letter "D" turned on its side. They look like they would be "perfect" for skinning and to some degree de-fleshing.
I enjoy the blog,
Keep up the good work!
Hi Cheesebeast, I miss your twisted sense of humor.
I'll come up with a blog entry about knives. In the meantime, I think people tend to buy knives that are too large and impractically designed.
For all-around use, I don't think you can beat the classic Mora-style blade. In the neighborhood of 4" long, with a straight back and a clip point, sharpened all the way back to the handle. No serrations, they're a pain to sharpen and you can't do fine work with them. No upper guard - those are for fighting, not camp use. They only get in the way and prevent the use of a proper deep sheath.
Dedicated skinning knives have a lot of upsweep. But if you skin your critters as soon as possible, while they're still warm, you'll do a lot more pulling than cutting, and a clip point is fine.
I've only goofed around with ulu's, and have never skinned or butchered anything with them. So I shouldn't even venture an opinion, but I will say this: The Eskimos in mastering such a harsh environment seem to have developed their tools and techniques to the highest possible forms.
It took me a while to find you. I had feared you were sent to an eGulag situated on a windswept archipelago.
I may have to get an Ulu for myself. Mostly due to my recurring fantasies about seal fat smeared Inuit women. Mukluk fetish? You betcha!
As for my skinning prowess...I lack it. I have poked holes in most of the hides I have ever attempted to peel off. I would probably be chucked out of the igloo due to gross incompetence.
Anyway, thanks for the chance to chew the blubber,
Cheese
"fantasies about seal fat smeared Inuit women"?
I can set you up with a reasonable facsimile. Her ethnic background isn't Inuit, but I can easily picture her thin-haired skull gleaming under the northern lights as her rheumy, porcine eyes glitter with desire and gratitude for you.
Post a Comment