The camp knife, a large blade with many functions, has been something of a mainstay for most of human history. However, in recent years—at least for the general populace—it has fallen by the wayside. This has much to do with the types of training available to the public, and schools of thought surrounding the size and function of blades in an outdoor role.
Fieldcraft has, for the large part, become absorbed into the broad bushcraft series of skills. In general, I find this to be a detriment as the focus now is heavily gear based. The amount of specialized equipment needed for these tasks has expanded; when I learned much of my skills, all that was needed was a long, thick blade and a striking rod.
WEEKLONG DEER HUNT
Last year, my friend Greg Ray, owner of Outdoor Solutions*, invited me to Two Hats Ranch in Big Rapids, Michigan, for a week of deer hunting. It provided the perfect test for this story’s review blades, as not only would we be shooting deer, we would also be doing the butchering and preparing meals for each other under the guidance of an expert chef. The Outdoor Solutions “From Field To Table” event is the perfect way to get introduced to
