裏山ブッシュクラフト - #15 ナイフ研ぎ (#15 Knife Sharpening)

年末、家の掃除も大切ですが、ナイフのお手入れも忘れずに！
ということで、今回はナイフ研ぎの紹介です。

通常はポケット砥石などで手早く切れ味を回復しているので、何度も繰り返しているうちにベベルの平面がダレてきてしまいます。そこでたまには本格的に砥石を使ってピシッと研ぎなおしてあげる必要があります。

研いだナイフは愛用のナイフ。ベベルはスカンジ・グラインドと呼ばれる小刃無しのフラットグラインド。このタイプは研ぎ角を保持しやすいので、砥石での経験が無くても比較的簡単に研ぎだせると思います。

砥石は３種類、粗砥、中砥、仕上げ。これに革砥を最後に使って仕上げました。
通常は中砥（約＃１０００～と、仕上＃６０００前後）があれば十分だと思いますが、今回はダレたベベルの平面だしを行いましたのでダイヤ粗砥＃６００から始めてます。

砥石が無い場合は耐水の紙やすりを利用するのも良いと思います。自作の器具に紙やすりを固定し、それを砥石と同じように使うことで良い平面にとぎだせます。


In Japan, there is a tradition of doing serious cleaning around the house on the end of the year. This is meant to clean up all the "mess" of passing year and start the new year, clean and fresh.

this also applies to the tools you use, my/our case would be a knife. so, I will be showing how I harp my knife to restore its sharpness to proper condition.

I usually use pocket sharpener for quick sharpening. it is good and effective for restoring the needed sharpness. but this often causes dulling of bevel / edge geometry, which affects to performance of knife's cutting capability. Sharpening knife with sharpening stone, I think is the best way to fix this type of issue and should be done periodically.

the case this time is to restore scandi flat bevel. so before start the actual sharpening I need to flatten the bevel with coarse stone. then move on to middle coarse then to finishing.
I use diamond sharpening block for coarse and using #600 grid. it is coarse but still fine enough so no need to spend too much time on clearing the scratch marks it makes.

If you do not have a sharpening stone, you can make one with plywood, grass plate and sand paper. it is easy to make and effective as sharpening stone.

自作シャープニング・ブロック（砥石） / DIY sharpening block.

 


ではビデオをお楽しみください！
OK, hope you enjoy the video!

What is "survival knife"? :)

------------ Descrimer ----------

the published opinion here is my personal opinion and have no intention of dismissing other view / opinions / some types of knives or preferences.

Knife is a tool and has strong side of hobby / preferences. every one got one opinion and I think that is great, so should follow what you think or is yours...

In short, do not get upset or angry with my opinion. I do welcome your point of view, opinion and argument, as long as it is constructive and beneficial to me and all of my readers.

Thank you!!

--------------------------------

>>>>>>>  Note: after the few comments, I have added some images.

OK, the first things are said, let's start with the  actual topic.
On few posts back, I have posted exactly the same topic, but was totally in Japanese. Then one of the reader has requested of it in ENG. Well how can I refuse the request of royal reader? So here you go, My take on "What is SURVIVAL knife".

When you think of a Survival knife, what kind of knife does it come to you first? For the common understanding of the name Survival knife in Japan is all kinds of military issue or one that does look like. What this mean is a "Rambo knife"(*link to Google image). and I think is is not too far if I say most of the population around the world does share the similar understanding.

but the interesting things is that once you get in to the world of Bushcraft and Survival, as the skill progresses, people tend to pick different types of knife for the same task. Why is that??

One thing is clear that the movie has/had effect on this, or even have  created the survival knife market. Then the makers has been planting the needs and effectiveness of it again and again in to the brains of knife enthusiasts. and that situation has caused farther theoretical fantasy myth of mighty knife that does it all.

as the wilderness skill progresses one thing you start to realize is that there are no such knife as "one does it all", so what direction to move on? look for the "One that can assist you" in every possible way

So lets strip out the part I do not need from the Survival knife...

Saw back...
does any one disagree on this? I think the saw back is nothing but a problem. it can cut wood, but not any faster or less energy consuming than chopping through the wood. When need to batton, it shreds the batton or when need to give support on back of the knife with hand, it shreds the hand...

Swedge...
it makes knife cool looking, but not needed for the same reason as on saw back. Also, I am talking about survival knife, not a combat or tactical knife. so no need of such effective stabbing penetration capability. or even it is for combat or tactical needs... does any solder get in to knife fight?

The size...
This actually could be up to user preference because of the nature you are go in to. But in general, I think the length of the Rambo type knives are too long, or too short.
For general needs, about 10 to 15cm is just good size and can do every cutting job the Rambo knife can do. For specific region like rain forest or tundra and so on, you should have some more suited tool with you any way.

Full tang....
Oh yes... I am going to poke the "Full tang" discussion. Personally, I think the full tang is over rated or if not, over spec. Unless the knife is made poorly, the narrow or rat tail tang should do plenty strong job of what expected of tang. Of cause, I do under stand that it is good to have some safety margin and if you wanna use knife for climbing or spitting trees or something, then perhaps should have full tang knife. But however, IMO, full tang is not a must have feature on survival knife.

Serrated blade...
I do not have much experience on this one so not going in much. But for some case, I do understand that the serrated blade does have advantage like cutting off the seat belt in one slash. But other than that, I think it is just annoying to have because it does not cut/shave wood well.


based on above statement, lets see what the survival knife would look like.
Blade length: 10 to 15cm
Profile: Drop, spire or starlight point. No saw back, no swedge and no serration.
Blade Thickness: I say it is up to you, but I like around 4mm to 5mm.
Tang: Conseald, rat tail, stick or fulltang. 

So, what would fall in to these criteria??

A Puukko and Bushcraft knife

puukko like this would do well as my idea of survival knife.

and for specific region/season (for my case, arboreal / winter) would be an axe 

any in picture except one with the longest and shortest helve.

or large chopper like

Leuku

(image copyright: The Weekend Woodsman)

 Hukari.

or  Japanese nata(*link to Google image).

　

for the reference, I will list up what famous survival and bushcraft instructors are using.

Mors Kochanski　Survival and wilderness skill instructor.

Many TV appearances and videos.

bushcraft knife style. puukko, mora and DIY knives.（Video on Youtube> What is a Survival Knife?）

Axe 800-1000g length 60-70cm. Falling saw.

Ray Mears　Bushcraft and survival instructor

Many TV appearances and videos.

Ray mears woodlore bushcraft knife (The white antler handle)

Gransfors Bruks Scandinavian axe, Folding saw

Bear Grylls　adventurar, writer, SAS
Many TV appearances (Man v.s Wild)
Uses several types of knives, but often from Gerber knife. also uses serrated blade often.

Les Stroud Survivalist, survival instructor, documentary producer, musician.

Many TV appearances (Survivier Man, Beyond Survival and more)

Some unknown clip point camp knife. lately own signature survival knife and Temagami. (FYI. Temagami was designed by Les Stroud and as a ultimate Survival knife...)

Cody Lundin Survivalist, survival instructor (specialized in desert survival.)

Many TV appearances (Dual Survival season 1 and 2 and will be on 3)

Mora classic (possibly No.1) . Time to time a Puukko (possibly from Kellam)

Dave Canterbury US sniper, survival instructor

Many TV appearances (Dual Survival season 1 and 2) and on YouTube channel.

DIY mod from a butcher knife、Proto type of Pathfinder 1 knife or one which looks like so.

Mykel Hawke　USspecial force, survival specialist

Many TV appearances (Man, Woman, Wild)

Hawke's Hellion Survivor.

裏山ブッシュクラフト-#14スプーンナイフ (#14 Spoon knife)

　ククサやスプーンを作る時に必要になるナイフ、スプーンナイフの自作です。ベントナイフとかクルックナイフとも呼ばれますが、インディアン式のクルックナイフと混同しないようにここではスプーンナイフと呼んでます。覚えやすいですしｗ

　スプーンナイフの形状についてですが、べベルはノミなどと同じ方刃、ベベルのつく方向は２種類。ブレードの曲がりの内側につく物（今回作った物）と外側につく物とあります。違いは内側ベベルの方が削りやすいと思います。外ベベルの方が使いやすいという人もいますが、私の使った感想では、内ベベルの方が確実にスムーズに切れているように感じます。

　最後に、刃をつける方向ですが、このナイフは基本的に引いて切る使い方をします。右利きか左利きかによって刃をつける方向が変わりますので、作るときには気おつけてください。


The knife you will need when making kuksa, spoons and so on. It is also called bent knife, crook knife and so on, but to avoid mixing up with crooked knife of Canadian natives, I am calling it a "Spoon knife" here.

There are 2 different ways of putting bevel on this knife.
One is to make bevel inside of curved blade and other one is on out side. In my opinion, the biggest difference would be the cutting capability. bevel inside of curve makes much smoother cut than other. of cause some prefer the bevel to be out side so that would be yours to try out to see. however, ether case, chisel grind is common and recommended.

One thing you need to pay attention when making this knife is which side (left or right) to put bevel on. right handed or left handed will determine this difference and this knife is commonly used with pull cut. So keep that in mind.

ではビデオにて作っている様子をどうぞ！
OK, here is the video, and hope you like it!

光柱（こうちゅう）

　ここ数日一気に冷え込んで－１０から１５度の日が続いています。
もちろん夜はもっと冷え込み－２０度近くまで下がるのですが、そんな寒い日、特に晴れた夜に見ることが出来るのがこの現象、光柱（こうちゅう）です。

　これはダイヤモンドダストと光の兼ね合いで起こる現象で、市街地上空では一見オーロラのようにも見えます。違いはオーロラは空から下がる様に揺らめくのに対し、光柱は地上の光源から空に向かって伸び、揺らめきません。

　普通はある程度距離を置かないと見えにくい物なのですが、今回はものすごく近くから伸びているのが見えました。

まずは月の方向、月から上下に、そしてその右側に地上から２本ほど延びてます。

そして月と反対方向。近くから出ている物は虹色に分かれ、遠くの物は白く見えます。

そして近く光柱を撮影。虹色のサーチライトかレーザーを照射しているようです。

　市街地上空にこの現象が起こっているのを、少しはなれた場所から見たことが数回ありますが、オーロラより迫力ありました。町全体から鮮明な光の柱が空へ向かって伸びる光景はどこかサイエンスフィクションの世界な感じがします。

　人工物と自然が繋がり起こるこの現象、文明と自然の融合のようで、ある意味リアル近未来なのかなー？？とも思えます。

Got Tagged: My three favorite items

YeeHaaa!! I got Tagged!! by Perkunas of Perkele´s Blog on the Topick of

"My three favorite bushcraft/camping items"

My three favorite items.... when I accepted this tagging, I started to think of what would be my favorite? I do not own so many of gears and items, and I do use and like all of them. Of cause, some are used little more than others, but I only get what I really want or like. so it is difficult to pic just three. so I decided to divide my gears in 4 categories.

Shelter - Carrying - Cooking - Cutting

 - Shelter would include clothing, tarp, tents and those accessories. Among those, there are few items rises as "favorite", like Sasta shirts, Rain camo shirts, Czech cadet parka and so on. (no, I do not have favorite tent/tarp yet as I am still experimenting what works the best.) but none of them are as strong as to pick as one of the three. if it is to pick four, then Rain camo shirts might enter...

 - So move on to "Carrying" equipment. the back packs pouches and side bags. All are used quite equally, but none stands out. that is because I choose them as I feel like or amount need to carry.

but then this one item suddenly stood out... 

"Belt"

I know I know.. it is a belt, Nothing fancy... but think about it. how many of you do not use belt? Think of what it can do? Why not pay attention to the belt?

Belt is something we use every day and holds your pants up :) also used very commonly to carry small items accessible. Tightens your winter jacket so cold air does not enter up. It has been an accessory of a man since god knows how long.

On top of that, the one I got is quite special one. It is hand made by local shoe maker and is made from 5mm thick, super durable leather. No one makes belt with 5mm leather except the one for weight lifting belt. Also this one got copper belt buckle, not brass.

I use it with several belt clips and carabinas for hanging points. dump pouch and fire kit could join there time to time and of cause the knife.

 - Cooking includes all kind of pots, fire making and water carrying items. Piking one from this group was easiest task. my favorite canteen set of 

 “Swiss canteen M32”

It is a Swiss army surplus from 70s’ to 80s’. 600ml of capacity in oval shaped aluminium bottle and cup. I just love this shape and looks. The capacity is little small, but just enough for few hours hike in forest to have cup of coffee. For longer trip, I use this as on go water bottle. Carry it in my dump pouch so I have easy access to water when walking. Oval cup helps easy refilling of bottle and also I use it often to brew coffee on spirit stove. 

 - Then come to Cutting category.

If you ask what is my favorite cutting tool? Then answer would be "Axe". but I do not have any one particular axe which I favor the most. Axe is my favorite as in general, so not picking one in here...

So, I need to pick one from my knives...

"Self-made Wood working Puukko"

I have made this knife because I needed some wood working specific knife. but when I have started to use, it proven to be a very comfortable one to carry also in the woods. It handles the curving work comfortably, can process woods for fire, can make tools from woods. it is not exactly batoning friendly when comes to baton thick wood, but then I usually carry an axe for that job.

even thaw this is the first choice of knife,  lately I am considering of upgrading it. It is because I wont the one I carry to be a signature. I wont it to tell that the knife belongs to me or the people  remembers me because of the knife. Well, that is bit of fantasy, but would be wonderful.

So, here it is "My Three Favorite Items"

Hope this tell bit about me and how I think of my gears. This post became little longer than I have anticipated, but I do care for every one of my gears so it is the refection of that. 

all of them are passing by on my possession, it come and goes soon or later. But I would like to think all the items are "Treasure every encounter". It teaches, tells, shows, experience something to me, so I will look after them properly.

What are your favorite? why? feel free to post comment here and also track back other tagged posts on this topic to see what others are picking.

Lets pass on the tag..... upps... all the bloggers I do have closer communication are already tagged...

Well I think this is a good chance for me to get actively widening my friends. so I will tag 2 bloggers who I know (or I think) checking my blog.

Hendrik M from HIKING IN FINLAND

 Even thaw I have not commented there yet, I have been visiting his blog for quite some time now. Great Photos, Trip stories, lots of gear reviews and much more. Recently moved to new blog location to continue his great postings. 

Jaesik Jeong from Manta Bushcraft Blog

 He has been very quiet lately so I hope he is still around to able to make post. However, he probably is most popular outdoors man from Asia and has great crafting and outing posts on his blog.

Hope this tagging will work out.