It's been a while since I posted something useful on my blog here, so today I thought I'd add a post regarding a welcome discovery I've made. Back in my native Somerset (UK), withies are a really popular, traditional material that has been used for centuries for cordage and lashings for all sorts of jobs and construction tasks. Withies are made from finger-thick branches and sapplings of certain plants. Back there, hazel and willow are popular choices. It's taken me…

It struck me that sometimes the little things might be useful to my fellow outdoor enhusiasts that are just starting out in the world bushcraft. So I thought I would add, from time-to-time, the odd quick post focusing on an item of kit or technique that may be second nature to o'timers. In this post I introduce the light-weight travelling sharpening stone kit (photo below). Full-weight sharpening stones are quite heavy and cumbersome, so whilst you'll take them with you for a…

I started learning the craft of knife smithing a few years ago on the South Island with a visit to Ross Johnston, a craftsman knife maker near Nelson. He runs Blackbird Valley forge and makes knives in the traditional way using many good grades of carbon steel from reused car parts and saw blades amongst other things. What he can turn an old metal file into is something to behold, the care and skill in his work is wonderful. I had had a go at reconditioning a couple of…