The Try Stick

thurin

thurin

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One of the ways I've been trying to improve my knife skills is by making "Try Sticks". This is an idea from Mors Kochanski that quote:

The purpose behind the try stick is to practice and demonstrate the skillful use of the knife as a wood carving tool, as well as to learn some of the practical operations that may be used in wilderness living. Some of the carving operations may be of very practical application, others are meant to tax the skill of the carver and some may be used for decorative purposes.
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You can find PDFs describing the Try Stick and the different carving operations that make it up by doing some google-fu. I'm not sure I can link to them.

Similar material can be found in his Bushcraft book. Great book! All sorts of good info in there on knife craft, axe craft, shelter building, etc.

I've found it's also a good way to test out a new knife. I started on one this afternoon with my new KE Bushie while on a break from work. Will take some more time to get through it, but I got the first few cuts done. (I skipped the dove tail, need to figure that one out.)

IMG_3822_zps06a3b88b.jpg~original


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Anyone else have fun doing these?
 
I have got to do one of these! Looks like fun. Thanks for sharing.


And the book is epic by the way. :)
 
Very cool Nathan. On a work trip right now, but will try one out when I return!
 
Nathan,

I have that book as well, and wish I had more time to devote. Thanks for firing my interest back up!

Nice job on the try stick … dovetail, huh? hmm …

~ Edge
 
That is one of the most excellent of excellent KE Bushies I've ever seen.

Great post brother man!
 
Very cool thread Nathan -- I've got to get my woodcrafting up to snuff a bit as 'ol Mors would probably die laughing at my ham-fisted attempts at feathersticking and truncating... it works, but its not pretty! I'll have to exercise some reasonable google-jitsu and find some videos on youtube.
 
I recently discovered this tri-stick awesomeness. I like the concept, but haven't gotten around to starting one yet. I was thinking it'd be a great way to start kids off with knives. As I understand, Mors used the exercise to not only teach useful cuts but knife safety as well.
 
Nice Thurin! I see you're having fun with the KEB, what are your thoughts so far
 
Thanks Thirin, just bought this book on Amazon based on your recommendation. Can't wait to start honing my skills.
 
Thanks guys for the comments. Hoping we can all help each other out becoming better woodsman, cooks, beer drinkers, music listeners, etc. I know I need help in all those areas. I'm by no means a good carver, but am trying to use the try stick (get it) to get better at it.

My shot above includes 5 of the first 6 exercises plus the optional #15
There are 15 total in the exercise:
  1. End neatly trimmed
  2. Reduction
  3. Pot Hook Notch
  4. Saddle Notch
  5. Dovetail Notch (skipped)
  6. 90 degree latch (I did a v-notch instead)
  7. Planes 90 degrees to each other
  8. Split
  9. Bark inserted in split
  10. Notch for spear point
  11. Flute or whistle
  12. Bow nock
  13. Hole through stick
  14. Stripper to remove bark
  15. depending on type of wood: bark peeled off.


Cool that you're picking up the book e$. So much good info in there. As schmittie said, it's epic.
 
I (believe) posting vids is ok, as long as credit is given... so here's 'ol Mors explaining the tri stick, courtesy of Karamat Wilderness Outfitters.

[video=youtube;IPc7ECLN_DU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPc7ECLN_DU[/video]
 
mistwalker said:
Nice Thurin! I see you're having fun with the KEB, what are your thoughts so far
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I'm liking it. Working great on the wood as I expected. I'm really liking using the pointy tip when working on the try stick stuff. Pretty comfortable so far. This could easily become my #1 front porch Fiddleback. Between the Kephart and Arete (my previous favs) I liked the profile of the Kephart better, and the handle of the Arete better. The KEB pretty much nails both.
 
yeah I some of the time test my knives edge retention on pieces of 2x2 today I whittled through a 2x2 and made fuzz sticks with a necker I made.
 
Thanks for posting the Video Will! I love watching his stuff. There are gems to be found no matter what he's teaching on. For example, while working on the Spear Notch, he makes the comment "never lay your knife of the ground". I also like it that he fails, and then shows how to fix it and move forward.
 
Dagnabbit! now I want a KEB!!! Great thread Nathan. You got me at "I liked the profile of the Kephart better, and the handle of the Arete better. The KEB pretty much nails both" The first survival class I ever took, one of our daily deliverables was a well made "notch stick" which has many similarities to the Mors' Try Stick. My favorite to carve out is a pot hook notch. Have a very fond (and painful) memory of waking up every night and watching people (myself included) making these notch sticks before they even bothered with breakfast as we all knew there were more deliverables to be thrown at us :P
 
Got a few more steps on the Try Stick done today:

Planes 90 degrees
Bow nock
Hole through stick

IMG_3837_zps5d376b17.jpg~original


IMG_3843_zpsf7eab3e3.jpg~original


KEB is still performing like a champ! Hopefully I'm not boring you much with these.
 
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I've carved a few ball in cages, and ball in balls, but have only done it with much smaller carving knives and a small folder. The blade on the larger handled Kardas might be okay. I think this improves dexterity and fine control skills.

Cool sticks. :)
 
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