carry a small cold chisel for splitting, prying jobs

A

alewn

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and not worry about batoning, prying with your blade? :-) Save you $200 wasted on fancy knife. Once the chisel starts a split, etc, drive in wooden wedges/pry-levers.. Most of this "bushcraft" stuff can be avoided/saved by carrying 4 lbs of the right shelter/sleep gear. Notching a stick for adjustable pot hanger? Why not just hang the pot with one of your snare wires? Why spend hours building shelter, when you could just deploy your hammock and tarp in 5 minutes?
 
I tend to agree with you on the chisel/sharpened prybar suggestion. Can't say that $200 is wasted on a "fancy knife" but to each his own.
I don't build shelters.
I don' carry snares in the woods normally.
Usually have a pair of gloves with me and they see action when I use my machete or large knife more than a few cuts or for pots.

But the point of your opening remarks was that there are alternatives to accomplish the same objectives.
 
because I like using my knife, for any and all jobs that I'm able to make it do.
I don't care if there is a right tool for the job, if I'm able to do it with my knife.....I'm doing it with my knife.
Why????
Because I like using knives.
 
Hawkings said:
because I like using my knife, for any and all jobs that I'm able to make it do.
I don't care if there is a right tool for the job, if I'm able to do it with my knife.....I'm doing it with my knife.
Why????
Because I like using knives.
Click to expand...

:thumbup:
 
Why bring a hammock or tarp, save time and just sleep in your car.
Why cut an apple, bring apple sauce, saves time and no knife needed.
Filet a trout? Just mash it with a rock to a puree, then enjoy, no messy cleanup.
Why use a knife to fight off predators, just ask nicely and most Bears will comply, this is a fact.
 
Hawkings said:
because I like using my knife, for any and all jobs that I'm able to make it do.
I don't care if there is a right tool for the job, if I'm able to do it with my knife.....I'm doing it with my knife.
Why????
Because I like using knives.
Click to expand...
Why are people so against using their knives?
 
Hawkings said:
because I like using my knife, for any and all jobs that I'm able to make it do.
I don't care if there is a right tool for the job, if I'm able to do it with my knife.....I'm doing it with my knife.
Why????
Because I like using knives.
Click to expand...
I like this^ a lot. Very well said. :)

There is no rule book. There are no commandments. Depending on it's design, a sharpened piece of steel with a handle attached can be used to effectively and efficiently perform a variety of tasks beyond just cutting stuff.

For many people, the value of a knife is not measured only by it's ability to cut, but also by it's versatility and ability to do other things. And then there's the satisfaction and pleasure that comes from getting so much done using such a simple tool.

To each their own.
 
What happens if I lose my small cold chisel? Do I carry a backup? Would you recommend IWB or on the ankle?
 
Do we bring a hammer to hit our cold chisel with ?
Last time I checked ( never checked ) any hammer with enough weight to hit that chisel hard enough would be heavier and bulkier than a your typical belt knife ( when I hear belt knife I think 12" or less )
Besides if you're using a classic American woodcraft knife ( in the 17- 1800's the woodcraft knife was a repurposed / modified kitchen knife ) you won't have to worry as they're dirt cheap and you'd only be out a little work if you ruin it. Remember not everyone has wants or needs an expensive knife for woodcraft.
And if you carry a small hatchet like the Vaughan sub zero you won't have to worry about damaging your knife.
 
I'll just use my Insingo to do that...

I can't carry EVERY tool I MIGHT need.

I won't do it if I don't have to, or if I have the tools near me, but if I am on a hike and need to pry something then the knife I have on me will have to do the task I need done.
If it breaks, then it breaks.....
 
Well first off Thank You For posting this.

I couldn't get any takers here but that doesn't slow down the grand parade one bit.

Why spend hours building shelter, when you could just deploy your hammock and tarp in 5 minutes?
Click to expand...

To quote a quote from some movie or TV show, I forget what where, "Because we're MEN and that's what men do."

And because you got to DO something while you are out there wondering around in the woods for no reason at all other than because you want to be there wondering around for no reason at all.

Ha, ha
I'm not saying . . . I'm just saying . . . right . . . am I right ?

And to keep the bush craft alive. Heck I spend hours and hours hand planing when I could run it through a power planer and hit it with my giant belt sander and call it "pretty". Actually it IS much better looking the way I do it but hardly anyone left who can take a minute, and slow down enough to actually look at it.

So I get it. I carry a can of gas and a real tent but then I would die without them cause I don't know how to ACTUALLY DO the cool stuff. I read a book once about it though.

Oh and for EDC prying I always carry my little friend a Gerber Artifact (centered in the photo):

 
Chisel? Pssshh.. just make a knife out of a railroad spike.

e2042492c2fa383e4117e9e311c31531.jpg
 
What happens if I lose my small cold chisel? Do I carry a backup? Would you recommend IWB or on the ankle?
Click to expand...

That's ACTUALLY happened to me before.
I just called my knife Valet and he helicoptered me out. (Stores where closed and we were down to our last Cooper cold chisel).

Would you recommend IWB or on the ankle?
Click to expand...

Ha, ha now I know you are kidding. Everybody knows you can't get to your chisel IWB with your parka on and not your ankle with your big down snow pants on.

No it is a must to have a spring assisted sleeve deployment for your cold chisel.

ha, ha IWB . . . that's a funny one.
 
I am not going to carry a chisel. I might carry a small prybar (like 6" long) that could be used to split wood pounding on it with a rock or wood baton. On the other hand, I really don't baton much of anything anyway, so I'll stick with a knife.

Added: A small prybar is not part of my regular tool kit that I carry. I have large pry bars always available to me (a few steps usually) in my vehicle. I would have to anticipate a real need to carry one in the woods.

You see, I generally don't like to carry prybar knives such as the ESEE 5 or BK-2. They are just un-necessary for the kinds of things I am likely to do. I got the original Condor Bushlore which used like 1/4" blade stock. It was too much. Eventually Condor made the same decision and came out with a thinner blade stock on that particular knife. I own both.
 
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