"Pass-Around" - Testing the 5ive Star gear T1 Survival Knife

I had coffee with my friend, Jason [Tactical-Bushcrafter] last night and he showed me a 5ive Star Gear T1 survival knife. Jason said he was considering including it in a line of survival kits he is assembling and  preparing to market online. He said it is priced below $20.00 USD  and seems to be a decent inexpensive knife.

5ive Star Gear T1 Survival Knife

The T1 is a paracord-handled skeletal knife, constructed of 420 stainless steel and having a 3.25" blade and an overall length just under 8". It comes with a nylon sheath and the whole package weighs under 6 oz.  Jason said it has about 5' of paracord wrap on the handle and came with a ferro rod set into a whistle handle. On the downside, he said the plastic whistle handle broke and the ferro rod fell out the first time he used it.

Jason passed the knife to me and asked me to test the knife. "Abuse it", he said, so I took it home.

First examination  revealed  the cutting edge had a typical factory grind. I spent about an hour tuning it up on my stones and it delivered a nice edge. A lot of people don't like 420, but 420 stainless is easy to sharpen and maintain. It won't hold an edge too long, but the rust resistance and easy sharpening aspects make the steel attractive to me. My opinion is 1.) You need to develop knife sharpening skills and, 2.) if it is too hard a steel, you won't be able to sharpen afield which does you no good. It never ceases to amaze me people who purchase knives but won't learn to sharpen them.

Blade profile is a kind of wedge tipped drop point. The blade is 3/16" thick and the tip looks strong. There is traction jimping on the spine. The handle is skeletal and has lashing point for fashioning a spear, something I would never do. I would suggest making a thrusting spear as a walking stick and defensive and/or hunting tool. Can't imagine anything that would be worse than seeing a wild animal run off, wounded, with your knife in it's side...goodbye knife, goodbye meal.

The sheath is soft nylon, and the snap closure is very hard to engage. I added a paracord loop with a cord-loc to trap the knife in the sheath so it would be less likely to fall out and become lost. I think I would only carry this set up in a pack and not on my belt for safety and security. At the price point, it's not worth commissioning a Kydex sheath unless you can make your own.

To test the T1, I tried chopping, batoning and carving various woods including Oak and Eucalyptus. I had some dry, hard nasty pieces on hand and the t1 did a good job of making camp wood of them. I tried prying the tip and it did not snap or bend. I found no chipping or deformation of the cutting edge at the end of the testing. The edge carved satisfactorily, making curls and a tent stake. the knife has a Titanium coated finish which seems to be holding up well to wear and tear.

Overall, I was pleased and would say this is a fine choice for a number of applications: as a trainer for the person new to bushcraft;  a good B.S.A. Scout fixed blade;  a good choice for a trail hiker's day pack;  a good Bugout kit knife; a great knife for the person on a limited budget or seeking a quality knife at an inexpensive knife. Sheath and whistle/ferro rod issues aside, I'd say the knife is a fine blade for the money.

Anyway, enough chatter...here's my video testing the T-1 to see what it can do:

 

Also, here is Tactical Bushcrafter's T1 testing video: 

Happy Hiking!

GOBLIN RANGER

[Bushcraft Woods Devil]

Kilimanjaro Gear "Ballast" Multi-tool....2 year review!

In 2015 I received this BALLAST multi-tool from Kilimanjaro Gear. Kiligear manufactures and markets a line of innovative outdoors gear including knives, multi-tools, flashlights, and packs, as well as Tactical Gear. In fact, some of their gear is approved by the National Tactical Officer's Association and one of their folding knives, the UTAC, was developed with input from U.S. Navy SEAL Joel Lambert. That's some pretty impressive credentials folks!

Kilimanjaro Gear BALLAST multi-tool

After receiving the BALLAST for evaluation, I took it out on the trail and used it on a couple of outings, which can be found on my YOUTUBE channel, BushcraftWoodsDevil.

Well, it's been 2 years and this knife has been in more or less continuous use throughout that period, so I felt it was time for a review. I can't name my employer as I am not permitted to endorse commercial products, but I can say that I do work as a Park Ranger and this sheath and knife have rode on my belt and been used & abused regularly. It has pruned trees, cut wire, loosened nuts, cut rope, sharpened pruners [file], tightened screws, and yes, has even opened the occasional can of pork `n beans, which anyone who follows my channel knows is an outdoors dietary staple for me, lol.

Lets review the technical specifics of the BALLAST.  There are 2 models, 910053 with a black coated finish, and 910052, which has a satin metal finish. Mine is the black coated model. Both have an overall length of 6.2", a closed length of 4.2", and weigh in at about 9.5 oz.  As to tools, they are outfitted as follows:

Pliers

Wire Cutter

Long Nose Pliers

Knife

Serrated Knife

Can Opener

Bottle Opener

Saw Blade

Double Cut File

Single Cut File

Phillips Screwdriver

Medium Flat Head Screwdriver 

Large Flat Head Screwdriver

The multi-tool comes equipped with it's own nylon belt pouch:

BALLAST and belt carry pouch

After 2 years riding on my belt and sliding in and out of the truck, the sheath continues to serve. I had fully expected the belt loop to fail and am very impressed it has not. the loop has stretched a bit as nylon is want to do, but has not separated from the body of the sheath. A bit of rust has formed on the snap due to weather exposure, and the sheath body has worn and frayed a bit from seat abrasion, but it still works fine. Not a problem even if it did fail because Kilimanjaro Gear offers a LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY to the original retail purchaser and are guaranteed be free from defects in materials and workmanship for as long as owned by the original purchaser and is used for the purpose intended, under normal conditions. Not bad!

Getting back to the knife and it's featured tools. The "Heart" of any multi-tool is it's pliers unction. Indeed, this is what most multi-tools are built around...the "chassis" so to speak. BALLAST pliers are kind of a long-nosed pliers...not needle nosed and not the typical blunt-nosed pliers either. This seems to try to bridge both tasks and does a fair job. Especially impressive to me is the wire cutter beneath the pliers jaws, which for me has cut soft and hard wire and shows no deformation to the teeth to date. When deployed, the handles remain stiff and don't fold or flop in anyway, allowing good use of the pliers.

BALLAST pliers and wire cutters up close

The primary blade is a Sheep's Foot style blade, straight edged and measuring at about 1-7/8". This blade accepted a nice sharpening and became razor sharp with just a little work on my stones. It's a bit small but adequate for many cutting and carving tasks. But of course, it would be wise to carry a fixed blade sheath knife on the trail for tasks demanding a larger blade. The beauty here is it is compact and "socially acceptable" and thus can be used on the job, in town, or in many other "non permissible" environments. Nestled next to the knife blade is a can opener, a small slotted tip screwdriver, and a two-sided file having both smooth and cross-cut functions, about 1-1/4" working surfaces. IMHO, the file could be better, and have a bit more distinctive teeth, but for the money are adequate for average tasks a file this size would be tasked to perform, say wood and soft metals.

BALLAST's Sheep's Foot knife blade

On the opposite handle is found a small wood saw and a serrated blade, both measuring in again at 1-7/8".  The saw is a decent cross-cut saw and I have used it effectively pruning small branches, for camp projects such as crafting tent stakes, and for making notches in a bow drill hearth-board. I tuned up the Serrated blade with my SMITH'S diamond serration sharpener and it has been useful cutting rope and preserving my straight blade. Between these two blades rest a bottle cap lifter and a Phillips head screwdriver. My only complaint here is that the Phillip's head is one of those funky half-width blades, narrowed to fit into the narrow space remaining. I find it tends to slip out of the screw head. frankly, I'd rather have had a good punch blade.

Really useful features!

Overall, I think this knife is a very good bargain. Just scanning the Internet I found them, quite incredibly, ranging in price from $16.20 to $28.12 on a random SHOPPING search inquiry. I believe this knife to be a mid-range price & quality multi-tool...not a high end product which might fetch 50-100 bucks+  and not a sub-20 dollar Chinese knock off either. It fits a niche for the person that wants a higher quality multi-tool but whose budget can't go over the 50 dollar mark. I just don't think you can go wrong on a BALLAST, especially seeing some of the online price opportunities. I made this video which recaps what has been said here, so check it out!

Finally, if you own a BALLAST I would be very interested to hear what your thoughts and experiences are, so feel free to post up in COMMENTS below.

Happy Hiking!

GOBLIN RANGER

[Bushcraft Woods Devil]

Prayers & Smoke for Our World

I have been a bushcrafter for about 5 years or so now. As I grew in experience, I evolved. I think when I started it was all about the gear. I would tear down trails just to see how fast I could cover a distance. But as I learned more skills and knowledge from folks, especially here on the forums, I gradually pared away the gear and became a minimalist. I also had my eyes opened and my awareness of the beauty of the natural world increased. Nowadays, I never hurry, and sometimes take a couple of hours to cover a mile, studying plants, taking a knee and watching the wonder or wildlife listening to calls and such. I usually come back with a bag of trash too, as I now can't bear to see litter and not remove it.

Through bushcraft, I have come to feel a deep spirituality when I am outdoors [I'm not sure you can be a true bushcrafter without an appreciation and reverence for the gift of nature?]. I know many of the indigenous peoples here in the USA had a different view than westerners. They didn't see a creator in the person of a deity, but they saw that there was a life force that birthed and regenerated the natural world, and they felt connected to it and to each other. The Lakota, for instance, called that force Wakan tanka, or "The Great Mystery", and while they didn't understand who or how it worked, they strongly felt it was due respect and prayers of thanks.

I think that we've lost that reverence for nature and the miracle of life. Everyday people have become disconnected from it. They rush about to work and their hurried lives and fail to see what bushcrafter's know....that there is a beautiful natural world that heals and regenerates our soul I know bushcraft has helped me to find it in myself.

Anyways, the point is lately I have been worried about the state of affairs here in the world and in my own country. So many angry hateful people. World leaders threatening war and nuclear weapons. People here at home arguing and insulting each other over politics. It is horrible to ponder, but we could lose our home, this Earth, in 30 minutes with just the push of a button.

This past Thursday was the National Day of Prayer here in the U.S.A., and while I am not a religious person, I felt obliged to go to the woods and offer Prayers & Smoke, and ask for wisdom for our world leaders and healing for our people. To turn people's hearts away from anger and hate. To ask for our world leaders to guide us to better care for our Earth so that we can leave a healthy planet for our children and grandchildren to live in. I made two videos of my prayer outing, which are below. The first is intentions, the second making White Sage smoke.

I hope you will join me in sending good thoughts and intentions, however you believe. Blessings on you all!

GOBLIN RANGER
[Bushcraft Woods Devil]

Let's talk about carrying water!

Packs with hydration bladders have been the standard for several years now. Hikers, backpackers, bikers, walkers, trail workers, even warfighters wear them on their packs to hydrate while engaged in some activity. Many people still carry bottles of water or a canteen, but by far, I see hydration bladders being used nowadays.

Hydration bladders are a great and useful hiking tool. They allow you to sip water while moving and not have to remove your pack to access a canteen or water bottle. But, there is a downside. They can be punctured. You could slide off the side of a trail or trip and take a mechanical fall, rupture your hydration bladder, and lose some or all of your drinking water.

But I am going to argue that I believe that having an old fashioned hard canteen is a good idea to carry a reserve of water in a container; one that is not likely to rupture in a fall, such as a stainless steel bottle or canteen.

As well, a metal canteen [single walled] can be used to achieve a boil and disinfect water you gather from questionable sources, such as streams. You can chemically treat your water in a canteen and then transfer it to the bladder, and then gather more water and add tablets to treat it as you hike.
Nalgene [plastic] bottles are fine, but you can't easily do a boil in one, although I have seen people boil water in plastic bottles. A sunlight U.V. disinfectant treatment is a possibility with a clear bottle I suppose.

Carrying a small bottle that you can add flavored drink mixes too is handy and doesn't contaminate your entire drinking water supply, if you want plain water later, such as for cooking. I like the military Pilot's Flask, a 1-pint plastic kidney shaped bottle. It easily fits into a pants back pocket or cargo leg pocket. HAWAIIAN PUNCH low sugar mixes are handy for making crappy tasting water more palatable.

It's not a bad idea to carry a GAW [Give Away] bottle, in case you come across someone on the trail who has run out of water and is desperate for water [which I have encountered]. It also gives you yet another backup source of water, just in case you burn through yours faster than anticipated.  We never know on a particular day, how weather may change and our body's need for water may change as well.

Finally, assuming you have told someone where you are going and have given them a time to expect you back, you will likely be found within 48-72 hours, IF you have stuck to your hiking plan and searchers have a good idea where to start a search.  In that instance, hydration becomes critical, and if you have no means to treat water and are forced to drink raw water from a stream, it's likely you'll be recovered before any illness onset. As it is, most waterborne illness is temporary and uncomfortable, but not likely fatal.

Just a few thoughts...

Happy Hiking!

GOBLIN RANGER
[Bushcraft Woods Devil]

That hair standing up on the back of your neck is telling you something......OBEY!

Ever felt the hair stand up on the back of your neck? It's a strange sensation of concern and even being a little bit scared. You may even have found yourself frozen in your steps. It's happened to me on the trail at least once that I recall, and there is a very real reason why this happens. It is extremely important to heed that *warning* when you receive it, so lets talk about it... 

The *signal* comes from a pair of little almond-sized nodes in our brain that read emotion that are called the Amygdala. When we talk with someone, our amygdala are reading the person's face and assessing their mood and truthfulness. That's why e-mail communication *fails* so often...we can't visually assess what is being said from written communications alone.

At the same time, the amygdala function to read danger and prepare us to act. When you feel that hair standing up on the back of your neck, that is your amygdala reading something in the environment that is threatening, such as an angry person walking toward you. Several years ago my Niece was walking down a street and a saw a man coming toward her. She felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up, but she brushed it off. As he came alongside her on the sidewalk he suddenly wheeled and punched her in the face. She knew something was wrong, but failed to heed the signal.

You may even not see the threat...just sense it. A few years ago my wife and I were hiking a trail when she suddenly stopped and focused on a hillside a distance away. I asked her what was wrong and she replied, "There is something up there watching us." I asked her what she saw and she said, "I didn't. I feel it."  Before you laugh, understand the U.S. Marine Corps calls this "Mountain Gaze" and they are taught to recognize it and act on it, because it may be an enemy that has them under observation. Likewise, they are taught to observe enemy troops with their peripheral vision and not to stare lest they alert the enemy they are under observation. 

As to what was on the hillside, my best guess would be a Mountain Lion. If you spend any time at all hiking back country trails, you have at some point, been observed by a big cat. The bottom line is this: Mother Nature has equipped you with a wonderful self-preservation gift, so recognize and obey that signal when it pops up on your personal radar!

Awareness & Avoidance are always your first choice in personal safety. The best fight is the one we do not have to fight. If I can maneuver and avoid contact, I am ahead of the game. Along with recognizing warnings, its a very good idea to have a "tool kit" or personal inventory of skill sets for dealing with an assailant. These skill sets could include communication/negotiation/verbal dissuasion, physical combatives, or improvised/environmental weapons, just to name a few.

Weapons are a sticky wicket. Not only do they require extensive training to use, bear in mind that a powerful and/or determined attacker may be able to overpower and disarm you. Thus, they may turn your weapon against you, so it is always wise to be careful what you bring with you. Below, I have placed a video I made concerning a very simple impact weapon, the Pocket Stick, which can easily be crafted and provide a tool that can be used against an aggressive person.  

At the beginning I mentioned having personally experienced this strange uneasiness on the trail. I was hiking a back country trail and was traversing a section when a sudden intense sensation of dread filled me. It literally froze me in my tracks. I was afraid to move and began looking all about me. To this day I have no idea what it was. Were I to venture a guess, I would again have to say Mountain Lion. After a few minutes of nervously scanning the area, I found my courage and moved off, all the while scanning and checking my back trail every few seconds. It was a seriously unnerving and eerie feeling.

Fortunately, most trail outings are peaceful, enjoyable, and uneventful. However, strange things can and do happen and it is wise to be aware of your surroundings, people in your vicinity, and any uneasiness you may feel. When that occurs, it is vitally important to heed the warning and ACT ON IT IMMEDIATELY. Either leave the area, join a nearby group of hikers, but whatever you do, DO SOMETHING.

Happy Hiking!

GOBLIN RANGER

[Bushcraft Woods Devil]

Review: iProtec [NEBO TOOLS] "PRO 100 LIGHT"

This is an outstanding pocket flashlight for everyday carry or for camp & trail use. I highly recommend it!

Happy Hiking!

GOBLIN RANGER
[Bushcraft Woods Devil]

WHO ARE THE "MOUNTAIN MEN" OF TODAY?

Seth Kinman, California Mtn. Man

If you've ever seen the classic movie "Jeremiah Johnson", or the recent hit film The Revenant", you know something of the story of the famous Mountain Men of the 1800's Fur Trade...the Trappers and Explorers who went into the Rocky Mountains to trap Beaver for their pelts. They ventured into the American wilderness and endured unbelievable hardships...frozen temperatures, setting traps in icy rivers and streams, hostile Native Peoples, starvation, and even physical mishaps hundreds of miles from medical care. The Fur Trade played out by the 1840's and the Mountain Men went on to other pursuits, but the question I am asking is; Who are the Mountain Men of today? Do they still walk among us?  I think they do, and here is why...

To answer the question, we must first look at the skills and qualities that made the Mountain Men who they were.

Many years ago, I used to participate in "Buckskinning", which is a hobby of reenacting the period of muzzleloading black powder firearms, generally between the late 1600's and mid-1800's fr the U.S. There were gatherings called "Rondy's", named after the Rendezvous' of the Fur Trade era, that brought Longhunters, Colonial's, Rangers, and Mountain Men together for a week or so of comradery. we lived in canvas tents and tarps, cooked with cast iron over campfires, split cards in half with muskets, and threw knives and hawks. It was a great time. During that time, I reenacted a Mountain man, read books and studied to get into persona. There are some key points I found that were present in the Mountain men:

1.) Rugged individualists - The Mountain Men were self-reliant. They were expected to care for fend for themselves insofar as possible. They could ask for another's assistance, but always strove to be self-reliant.  They worked hard to develop skills and add to their knowledge of how to find or make shelter, hunt and gather food and water, to care for their own injuries, repair and make their own clothing, make a warming fire when necessary, and be proficient with arms and defend themselves from any aggressor.  

2.) Naturalists - The Mountain men strove to learn about nature. What woods and plants were useful to them, the habits and tracks of animals, understanding weather patterns so as to predict inclement conditions to be prepared for, wilderness navigation or natural way-finding skills, celestial navigation. Time in the wilderness taught them to recognize and develop respect for the gift of nature's bounty and not taking or consuming more than one needed was essential.

3.) Respect for their fellow humans - The Mountain Men worked as a team, traveled in large units called Brigades, composed of hunters, trappers, cooks, packers, and etc. As such, respect for their campmates was essential to prevent fracture of the unit. This meant dividing and sharing food and resources in a survival situation, not nosing into other's personal business, defending the whole if attacked, not stealing from another, and understanding that, once given, a man's word was not broken or gone back on. Equally, respect and fair treatment of one's neighbors, such as the Native Peoples was key to survival. 

4.) Curiosity - The Mountain Men were individuals who wanted to know what lie beyond the next ridge. They had a restless desire to explore and an adventure spirit that led them to leave the safety and confines of the cities and see what was in the wilderness.

So the question would be, are there still these individuals among us? I would answer yes!

In spite of the seductive pull of modern convenience and our comfortable technology, the modern Bushcraft movement has greatly stirred the ashes and rekindled peoples interest in the outdoors. Bushcraft is the whole of outdoors activity...birdwatching, hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and etc. But more than that, it is about "thriving" in the outdoor environment, and accepting the ambient conditions and living in harmony with nature, rather than trying to conform nature to our situation. This is exactly the approach the Mountain Men adopted.

I and people I know regularly go outdoors and camp and practice & strive to better their Primitive Skills, [wickiup shelters, stone and wood tools, friction fire], Modern Outdoor Survival Skills [backpacking, lighter-made fire, nylon tents and aluminum camp gear], and "Classic" Outdoor skills [Reenactors, flint & steel firemaking, canvas shelters].  The Mountain Men certainly had Primitive and Classic skillsets and equipage, and we can too.

Mountain Man Primitive Skills

Bushcrafter's seek to add to their understanding of nature though gaining knowledge and making observations of weather, plants and trees, and animal activities. Time spent on the trail gradually opens one's eyes to the minute details often overlooked by others...tiny burrows hidden in the brush, the strangeness when the woods fall suddenly silent and conversely awareness when a bird's alarm call erupts.

I belong to a few different forums and groups.Visit any of a number of bushcraft forums and you will find people all over the globe who are going outdoors and developing their primitive, classic, and  modern skill sets. You will also note a bond of warmth, respect, and fraternity borne of a common love of nature and skills that transcends nationality or sex. Male and female alike are practitioners of the hobby and none are judged regardless of level of skill or origin, but rather, are encouraged by their fellows, just as did the Mountain Men.

Many forum members are from countries other than the U.S. that have their own famous adventurers who set foot into the wilderness..people like Canada's Alexander MacKenzie, renown for his overland crossing of Canada to reach the Pacific Ocean in 1793...the first first east to west crossing of North America, it preceded Lewis & Clark's expedition by 12 years. Or Russia's Ivan Moskvitin who trekked across the Yakutsk with 50 men and made it to the Sea of Okhotsk. He was the first Russian to reach the Pacific Ocean and spent his life exploring several rivers and learning about local tribes. These were men who were not afraid to set foot in the wilderness and explore what lie beyond the settlements. I would say the Mountain Man spirit is not just relegated to the American experience, but is common to men and women of strong character and a thirst for knowledge and adventure. 

Alexander Mackenzie Expedition

I'll conclude by saying that I believe evidence exists that the "Mountain Man [and WOMEN] Spirit" is alive and can be found today. It resides in anyone who is has a love and appreciation for nature, is self-reliant & actively works to advance their skills, respects their fellow human, and cannot help but go see what is over that distant yonder ridge. 

Happy Hiking!

GOBLIN RANGER

[Bushcraft Woods Devil]