Hey Harvey Walker,
I realise the general gist of posts might sound negative and discouraging for someone who has just got interested in bushcraft, but there is good advice here. Even the stuff that sounds negative is being offered for good reasons and with good intent.
A few years back Tony, the forum owner, told of having conversations with land owners who told him they were aware of conversations on the forum that encouraged people to stealth camp without permission. Those conversations by a very small minority were going towards shaping a negative view of bushcrafters, and this forum, in the eyes of those land owners. That in turn has shaped our policy when folk ask this sort of question.
Another example, this time about sharps, arose when a member here was on some National Trust land near me. All the parking areas around this area of woodland carry signs listing the National Trust by-laws which are clear that one is not to cut, pick or disturb any plant, or fungi, living or dead, no fires, no hunting or trapping, no camping, etc etc. I know many people ignore these, one sees plenty of evidence of party fires, hacked about hazels, initials carved in trees, and Polish mushroom pickers. Anyway, he was going about his own business, and while I can't recall all the tools he was carrying there was a sheath knife. His problem arose when he was robbed at machete point by a group of young scroats out from a nearby town. They stole his knife and other tools, which he reported, fearing they would be used in a crime and be found with his finger prints. He was very lucky the police gave him just a severe telling off since he did not have permission to be cutting wood there, so his "good reason" for having a knife was not as solid as it could have been. Absolute freak event. I have been visiting those woods for years and never seen anyone scroat-ish. And yet, when one carries knives and tools, freak near-misses with the law do happen.
If the aim is to learn carving skills, there is something to be said for doing so at home, near the first aid kit!
There was another thread about being a beginner just the other week.
https://bushcraftuk.com/community/index.php?threads/begginers-stuck.150106/
If you don't have one, I would recommend getting a good legal carry pocket knife. Swiss Army Knives have great tools, but the blades are soft and I don't think much of them for taking or holding an edge. These on the other hand will cut well.
Queen Cutlery Queen Country Cousin £32.95 from Moonraker knives, the blade will need some elbow grease on 240 grit sand paper, but once sharpened the D2 will hold up really well.
Svord Peasant £17.95 https://www.heinnie.com/svord-peasant-knife
Boker Plus Techtool 1 £27.95 https://www.heinnie.com/boker-plus-tech-tool-1
You can do a lot of things with one of these, and you do not need "a good reason" to carry in public.
Lots of good bushcraft skills though do not require the use of knife, fire, or sticks.
I realise the general gist of posts might sound negative and discouraging for someone who has just got interested in bushcraft, but there is good advice here. Even the stuff that sounds negative is being offered for good reasons and with good intent.
A few years back Tony, the forum owner, told of having conversations with land owners who told him they were aware of conversations on the forum that encouraged people to stealth camp without permission. Those conversations by a very small minority were going towards shaping a negative view of bushcrafters, and this forum, in the eyes of those land owners. That in turn has shaped our policy when folk ask this sort of question.
Another example, this time about sharps, arose when a member here was on some National Trust land near me. All the parking areas around this area of woodland carry signs listing the National Trust by-laws which are clear that one is not to cut, pick or disturb any plant, or fungi, living or dead, no fires, no hunting or trapping, no camping, etc etc. I know many people ignore these, one sees plenty of evidence of party fires, hacked about hazels, initials carved in trees, and Polish mushroom pickers. Anyway, he was going about his own business, and while I can't recall all the tools he was carrying there was a sheath knife. His problem arose when he was robbed at machete point by a group of young scroats out from a nearby town. They stole his knife and other tools, which he reported, fearing they would be used in a crime and be found with his finger prints. He was very lucky the police gave him just a severe telling off since he did not have permission to be cutting wood there, so his "good reason" for having a knife was not as solid as it could have been. Absolute freak event. I have been visiting those woods for years and never seen anyone scroat-ish. And yet, when one carries knives and tools, freak near-misses with the law do happen.
If the aim is to learn carving skills, there is something to be said for doing so at home, near the first aid kit!
There was another thread about being a beginner just the other week.
https://bushcraftuk.com/community/index.php?threads/begginers-stuck.150106/
If you don't have one, I would recommend getting a good legal carry pocket knife. Swiss Army Knives have great tools, but the blades are soft and I don't think much of them for taking or holding an edge. These on the other hand will cut well.
Queen Cutlery Queen Country Cousin £32.95 from Moonraker knives, the blade will need some elbow grease on 240 grit sand paper, but once sharpened the D2 will hold up really well.
Svord Peasant £17.95 https://www.heinnie.com/svord-peasant-knife
Boker Plus Techtool 1 £27.95 https://www.heinnie.com/boker-plus-tech-tool-1
You can do a lot of things with one of these, and you do not need "a good reason" to carry in public.
Lots of good bushcraft skills though do not require the use of knife, fire, or sticks.
