The Nessmuk Challenge

[Nix]

 

[cody6268]

Day 27. Not much going on.

[comis]

Day 27
Used the Spirit's saw to trim some Saw Palmetto fronds that were sticking out in the driveway and brushing against the car.  Victorinox does make some excellent saws.

Good use!

Day 27

(Image removed from quote.)

Lovely duo!   


I'm starting to think about how I'm going to summarize the three tools in this challenge's 'Trio'.  I'm wondering if you have seen much redundancy between those two....?   

Day 27:


Gearing up for another adventure..... 


(Image removed from quote.)

   Someone looks well prepared this time. 

[Sos24]

The area I was in is home to Elk and Deer. Which draws in Black and Brown bears, Wolves, Coyotes, and Mountain Lions. Honestly, I was more worried about a dead tree falling on me than any of the wildlife. And the thought crossed my mind that it was still fire season.....    I was also worried that chipmunks might try to shimmy down to my food bag, chew through that and eat the packet of nuts I had saved for a possible snack. Mice and Chipmunks are probably the biggest hazards to the camper.....all joking aside....

Still....what can you do?   

Ol' Nix needs his beauty sleep....

On one camping trip I did the chipmunks did exactly as you described but it was peanut butter and not nuts.  They ate a hole in the bag and the plastic squeeze container the peanut butter was in.   I felt real lucky though because another group had a bear slice through there rope to drop the bag and ate most of their food.

[TazzieRob]

On one camping trip I did the chipmunks did exactly as you described but it was peanut butter and not nuts.  They ate a hole in the bag and the plastic squeeze container the peanut butter was in.   I felt real lucky though because another group had a bear slice through there rope to drop the bag and ate most of their food.

For us - Possums. I had a possum chew open a dry sack I'd left in the vestibule of my tent and eat my chocolate flavoured jelly babies 
And on the same trip some friends had their cheese and crackers stolen by Currawongs (Slightly smaller bird than a crow with white on the wings and tail) and their call is distinctive in the alpine areas.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_currawong

I watched a Kookaburra land in a bowl of chips and make off with a healthy portion on Mt Coot Tha in Brisbane. White Ibis are called Bin Chickens in the city because they pick through scraps thrown into rubbish bins.

Whilst not as dangerous as bears, any animal can probably become a pest if fed by and becoming dependent on humans for food.

[RF52]

Day 28:

Went out with the dog and figured I could see if I could find any fatwood to make my contribution to this challenge a little bit more interesting

The trick to finding fatwood is (as most of you probably know but I'll share anyway) to find either a standing dead pine or a downed dead pine. The pine has a survival feature of it's own where it seals of the limbs to protect the trunk and that's where the fatwood is.
Find a branch that is about wrist size in diameter and saw/chop or break of as close to the trunk as you can and the branch will usually have that great smell of pine resin and look orangy red in the middle That is your fatwood which you can use as a fire starter, just scrape of a good amount with the spine of your knife/saw and cut some shavings and you have a fire starter that lights easy and burn well

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[ReamerPunch]

Day 28

Bowdrill Fire Fourth attempt Part 1
Let's inspect the current state of the kit after a few more improvements.
The bow is fine. Decent length and curve, and not uncomfortable. The steel wire helps keep the spindle in place while getting in position.
The cord is fine. If it is tight it is able to spin the spindle without gliding around it.
The spindle has gotten smoke, so it may be good enough. I re-scored it along the length and carved the bearing block end into a point.

The bearing block is a major improvement. The main issue was the friction of the bearing block against the spindle. The cap nut idea was good, but it was too narrow, so the point of the spindle had to be thin, and it broke.
In an attempt to counter this, I decided to improve upon the cap nut idea. I used the cap nut as a ball hammer, and wrenches as donut anvils. This forced a 5 cent coin to contort into a bowl. Quite cheap to make. I widened the hole in the bearing block with the Rebar, smoothed the edges of the coin with the file, and glued the coin into the bearing block. This eliminates all friction, while the spindle stays in place. And it only cost 5 cents. Now the bearing block is as perfect as can be. Absolutely comfortable, stable, and frictionless.

The hearth board has been replaced altogether with a front piece of a chair. The hearth board that I carved out of a cypress pine branch was less than ideal. It had too much fatwood in it, which reduced the friction of the spindle. No wonder some people use fatwood as a bearing block. The new board is nice and dry and miles better. I did just a few spins, and it got smoke after a few seconds, and I wasn't even going fast. And it was almost silent. No friction on the bearing block, and no screeching on the hearth board.

[comis]

On one camping trip I did the chipmunks did exactly as you described but it was peanut butter and not nuts.  They ate a hole in the bag and the plastic squeeze container the peanut butter was in.   I felt real lucky though because another group had a bear slice through there rope to drop the bag and ate most of their food.

For us - Possums. I had a possum chew open a dry sack I'd left in the vestibule of my tent and eat my chocolate flavoured jelly babies 
And on the same trip some friends had their cheese and crackers stolen by Currawongs (Slightly smaller bird than a crow with white on the wings and tail) and their call is distinctive in the alpine areas.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_currawong

I watched a Kookaburra land in a bowl of chips and make off with a healthy portion on Mt Coot Tha in Brisbane. White Ibis are called Bin Chickens in the city because they pick through scraps thrown into rubbish bins.

Whilst not as dangerous as bears, any animal can probably become a pest if fed by and becoming dependent on humans for food.

I have similar experience with Possums while car camping in semi-popular camp grounds.  Though the night was cooler(5C, 41F) and there are less campers, animals live close to camp ground probably have became dependent on human trash to survive.  I end up have to keep the camp ground impeccably clean(think Monica in Friends) and hide all the food in car to discourage them from visiting.

[comis]

Day 28

Bowdrill Fire Fourth attempt Part 1
Let's inspect the current state of the kit after a few more improvements.
The bow is fine. Decent length and curve, and not uncomfortable. The steel wire helps keep the spindle in place while getting in position.
The cord is fine. If it is tight it is able to spin the spindle without gliding around it.
The spindle has gotten smoke, so it may be good enough. I re-scored it along the length and carved the bearing block end into a point.

The bearing block is a major improvement. The main issue was the friction of the bearing block against the spindle. The cap nut idea was good, but it was too narrow, so the point of the spindle had to be thin, and it broke.
In an attempt to counter this, I decided to improve upon the cap nut idea. I used the cap nut as a ball hammer, and wrenches as donut anvils. This forced a 5 cent coin to contort into a bowl. Quite cheap to make. I widened the hole in the bearing block with the Rebar, smoothed the edges of the coin with the file, and glued the coin into the bearing block. This eliminates all friction, while the spindle stays in place. And it only cost 5 cents. Now the bearing block is as perfect as can be. Absolutely comfortable, stable, and frictionless.

The hearth board has been replaced altogether with a front piece of a chair. The hearth board that I carved out of a cypress pine branch was less than ideal. It had too much fatwood in it, which reduced the friction of the spindle. No wonder some people use fatwood as a bearing block. The new board is nice and dry and miles better. I did just a few spins, and it got smoke after a few seconds, and I wasn't even going fast. And it was almost silent. No friction on the bearing block, and no screeching on the hearth board.

(Image removed from quote.)
(Image removed from quote.)
(Image removed from quote.)

This is getting better and better, day by day...I am hopeful we will see a grand finale before the end of the challenge. 

[comis]

Day 28





Inspired by RP's bottle hanger, use my SAK ranger's can opener to bend one for myself.  I tested it with a 40oz Klean canteen and shook it around, this is definitely not dropping in the fire to put it out.

[old Lefty]

Day 27:


Gearing up for another adventure..... 


(Image removed from quote.)

Going well heeled this time it seems
SAA?

EDIT: on closer look I can see rear sights, so obviously not an SAA, nice looking revo in any case!

[comis]

Nix went off to another adventure, and here is today's quote:



I've always enjoyed reading books by Wiseman.  I think the habit of checking your belongings is helpful, even when you are travelling aboard and constantly switching transportation.

[Alan K.]

Day 27. Not much going on.

Cody, I can't see your picture or pictures, but when quoting your post here I can see there's supposed to be something there.

[comis]

I browsed thru all the pages, and nominated what I think some of the best work or representation from each of us to the September calendar pictures. 


Good luck guys! 

[David]

Nix went off to another adventure, and here is today's quote:

(Image removed from quote.)

I've always enjoyed reading books by Wiseman.  I think the habit of checking your belongings is helpful, even when you are travelling aboard and constantly switching transportation.

           

[old Lefty]

Day 19:
Riding fences:


 
Or rather, walking fences. I needed strong pliers for barbed wire and hammer for some signs, hence Victorinox and Beretta multitools. Some fallen trees to be cleared was expected, normally I would’ve taken basic Fiskars or even a tomahawk but ’tis the Nessmuk so I carried Rinaldi.

This turned out to be a very good choice, the balance is ok for carry and it simply devours your normal windfalls.
Eventually I ended up cutting three logs, the time it took with the big Val Brembilla brute was seconds and minutes instead of tens of minutes with tomahawk or similar light tool.


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[RF52]

I browsed thru all the pages, and nominated what I think some of the best work or representation from each of us to the September calendar pictures. 


Good luck guys! 

Thanks for the nomination comis
Good job finding a good pic of mine

Sent fra min FRD-L09 via Tapatalk

[Alan K.]

Day 28
I used the Spirit's scissors to open a padded envelope.  I didn't know what might be in there so I didn't want to risk damage by opening it with a knife.

[David]

Day 19:
Riding fences:
(Image removed from quote.)
(Image removed from quote.)
 
Or rather, walking fences. I needed strong pliers for barbed wire and hammer for some signs, hence Victorinox and Beretta multitools. Some fallen trees to be cleared was expected, normally I would’ve taken basic Fiskars or even a tomahawk but ’tis the Nessmuk so I carried Rinaldi.

This turned out to be a very good choice, the balance is ok for carry and it simply devours your normal windfalls.
Eventually I ended up cutting three logs, the time it took with the big Val Brembilla brute was seconds and minutes instead of tens of minutes with tomahawk or similar light tool.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Borg]

Lovely duo!   


I'm starting to think about how I'm going to summarize the three tools in this challenge's 'Trio'.  I'm wondering if you have seen much redundancy between those two....?   

Well it's day 28 so i can say it, as much as i like the old ways i really do think that if i was to be dropped into the wild i would want to trade a blade for a saw, as i'm not in the wild 3 blades are 2 blades too many, in my day to day life 1 blade will do, whether fixed or folding i'm not decided but lets just say by far my most used knife was the folder, but then i don't belt carry, i pocket carry with knife in sheath and the folder is just easier to get to, every blade has its use but i don't have use for every blade so there is redundancy, drop me in the woods, axe, saw, fixed blade but lets not forget the axe makes a very good knife for general use

To get Nessmuk into the 21st century i would say, Axe, Fixed blade and a Plier based MT, i'm sorry for the folder but the MT has one..oh, and a saw, of course i await reports from those who have carried an MT in their trio but i feel that would be the way to go 

Day 28 Made a simple mask for the axe, took a few months but it's done 

[David]

Day 28

Randall in the kitchen

[cody6268]

Day 28, packed some stuff up as I start seasonal "stuff on the shelf" rotation.

KIMG2320 by cody6268, on Flickr

[old Lefty]

Day 20:
SC walking the dog this morning:



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[ReamerPunch]

Day 29

This is the Sam Sea deadfall. I used the two sticks from my Figure Four and Paiute, and a third stick for a bait stick. This is like a backwards figure four. So easy to make. If you find a good forked stick for the upright, you don't need any carving at all.



Also took apart a few Bic lighters.

[ReamerPunch]

This is getting better and better, day by day...I am hopeful we will see a grand finale before the end of the challenge. 

I don't know about grand, but the finale is definitely coming.

[ReamerPunch]

Day 28

Inspired by RP's bottle hanger, use my SAK ranger's can opener to bend one for myself.  I tested it with a 40oz Klean canteen and shook it around, this is definitely not dropping in the fire to put it out.

Looks great!

[comis]

Well it's day 28 so i can say it, as much as i like the old ways i really do think that if i was to be dropped into the wild i would want to trade a blade for a saw, as i'm not in the wild 3 blades are 2 blades too many, in my day to day life 1 blade will do, whether fixed or folding i'm not decided but lets just say by far my most used knife was the folder, but then i don't belt carry, i pocket carry with knife in sheath and the folder is just easier to get to, every blade has its use but i don't have use for every blade so there is redundancy, drop me in the woods, axe, saw, fixed blade but lets not forget the axe makes a very good knife for general use

To get Nessmuk into the 21st century i would say, Axe, Fixed blade and a Plier based MT, i'm sorry for the folder but the MT has one..oh, and a saw, of course i await reports from those who have carried an MT in their trio but i feel that would be the way to go 

Day 28 Made a simple mask for the axe, took a few months but it's done 

(Image removed from quote.)

I too would think MT replacing the folding knife would make a lot of sense.  And given how lightweight did Nessmuk go back then, I kinda wonder will he be an ultralight advocate, and even drop the axe in favor of ultralight weight tarp and pole shelter?

Day 28

Randall in the kitchen

What are we making? 

Day 28, packed some stuff up as I start seasonal "stuff on the shelf" rotation.

KIMG2320 by cody6268, on Flickr

Are we getting ready for Christmas?

[comis]

Day 29

This is the Sam Sea deadfall. I used the two sticks from my Figure Four and Paiute, and a third stick for a bait stick. This is like a backwards figure four. So easy to make. If you find a good forked stick for the upright, you don't need any carving at all.
(Image removed from quote.)
(Image removed from quote.)

Also took apart a few Bic lighters.
(Image removed from quote.)

The Bic lighters mod is pretty curious...I have seen people chopping them short as a flint and wheel device.  But gutting them empty is different.

Looks great!

[David]

What are we making? 

More chili.          

[comis]

More chili.          

   Spicing things up in life is always good.