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I realise these are not taught and no ones heard of a few but When i started out my grandad told me the laws of the woodsman as his grandad told him. 1. Nature is a woman, if you hurt it it's over nothing will work and you'll spend a lot of time making up for it. 2.The woodsman never exists...

I realise this practice isn't really needed in Britain but a fter reading shewies post about the cairngorms i got thinking about when i'm there in the middle of december when conditions are horendous i always leave some chopped firewood, a bag with at least 10 feathersticks, whatever tinder is...

My grandson is wanting to learn bushcraft and "survival" skills and tends to take the survival part very seriously. When he's in the house he will leave at a moments notice as soon as conditions are bad (which he did tonight as the rain blew in and the wind blew the bins over) with whatever he...

Does anyone use this knife? I had a play with one this morning and have to say this is the most horrific piece of crap i've ever used. It's very hard to get an edge on it and is just rubbish. Tried chopping through a 5" beech log while the grandson was going through it with a Mora 137 and a...

I was asked to help teach knife sharpening to some folks last week, a group of 9 guys. Naturally being guys they all thought they were proficient with a knife for bushcraft purposes. So naturally i asked them to knock up a try stick, after demonstrating all the cuts, they concluded it was...

Been looking for a good billy can but none seem to meet my requirements so maybe somoene here can point me in the direction of one. What i'm looking for is 800ml-1000ml Wide and squat Detachable wire bale Stainless steel Lid deep enough to make a shallow bowl An O-ring in the centre of the...

Was wondering why hammock users use underquilts etc Having always slept on the deck i have noticed that if i make a raised bed 6 inches of the ground, heat lost through conduction is nearly non existent, the only problem is convection which i usually fix by making a windbreak. If your in a...

My grandson is looking into helping out the local scout group. Does anyone know how he can go about doing this? He's just coming up for twenty but he is a capable young woodsman. Any Advice appreciated Jim

Got attacked by something last night and now my eyes closed up. I didn't poke myself in the eye so something must have bit me. Is it probably just a midge bite? Funnily enough this happened a few months back in the same eye. Thanks Jim

How many times have you set out to do something but the woods just aren't playing ball? Had an overnight last night, i made some tarp pegs and then knocked them in the ground with a rock, naturally the rock glanced off once and battered my hand. It took me an hour and a half to rig my tarp...

Had to make a visit to the skip today to offload some stuff. While i was there i noticed a brown leather couch someone had dumped, so i offered to take it, i also got a whole heap of wire coathangers which have infinite uses and a heck of a lot of lorry canvas. Now i have loads of leather for...

Does anyone use these? http://www.militarymart.co.uk//Mess-Kit/Personal-Mess-Kit/European-Mess-Tin-3-pc/prod_1213.html Are they still in usable condition?

Been interested in making a pair for myself. What kind of leather should i use? Is there a guide to making them? Thanks Jim

Soorry if this is in the wrong place. From 1955-1961 me and 4 guys used to go camping in tentsmuir forest every weekend. Jim, Alan, Harry, Mike and Dave. We were from 7-15 and all stayed in Cupar, Fife. If you guys are still around and on here give me a pm please. We all took seperate paths...

I was wondering why paracord seems to be the de facto cord four our purposes. I can understand that paracord can be used for for pretty much anything, also has the benifit of being broken down into the fine strands for other applications. However paracord has stretch which for a lot of...

Was having a discussion with my grandson today about internal and external frame backpacks. When i was a young man external frame packs were the norm rather than the exception which has reversed itself over the past decade or two. I can understand the reasons for internal frames in backpacking...

Recently acquired one from ebay for the princely sum of £15. It is amazing quality, the leather needed softened a bit, the canvas needed waxed and the frame needed a wee clean and a light oil but now it's in great order. Loaded her up and went for a walk and it's very comfortable with around...

Was in the attic today and found my grandads old gear we used when i was a boy. Got a cast iron dutch oven, free from rust and seems in good order. However my grandad probably bought it around 1900. Is it fine to use after a clean? Got an external frame canvas pack, some tinware and an old...

How do you do? I'm Jim originally from Fife but moved to Canada when i was wee then moved back to Fife about 15 years ago. Been camping for a while, don't get as many nights out but i go with my son and grandson at least once a fortnight. First time i wen't camping was 1946 with my Grandad...