Wilderness Axe Skills and Campcraft

Paul Kirtley is a leading bushcraft educator. Through his school, Frontier Bushcraft, he delivers high-quality bushcraft and survival courses, wilderness expeditions, and online training resources. Paul has instructed wilderness skills in the UK, Scandinavia, Europe, and North America. www.paulkirtley.co.uk

• Introduction    6Selecting the Correct Tools for the Job    12Understanding Types of Axe    14Choosing an Axe Fit for Purpose    23Choosing and Using a Saw    28Making Improvised Saw Frames    33Knives for Carving    37 Caring for Your Tools    40How to Care for an Axe    42How to Sharpen an Axe    44Knife Sharpening    46Sharpening Spoon Knives and Other Curved Blades    53 Everyday Axe Techniques    58Axe Safety Foundations    60Firewood Splitting—Fundamental Techniques    67Optimal Use of a Chopping Block    78Splitting Firewood When You Have No Block    82Splitting Larger Logs with Smaller Axes    91Small-Scale Felling and Clearing    96 Felling, Limbing, and Sectioning    100Assessing Trees for Felling    102Felling Trees With Axe and Saw    103Efficient Limbing of Felled Trees    110Sectioning a Tree    114Ambidextrous Axe Usage    117Splitting Long Logs    120Making Gluts    122Making a Woodland Mallet    124Carving Techniques and Projects    128Knife Safety    130Knife Grips    133Carving Techniques for a Knife    135Carving Techniques with a General-Purpose Axe    139Spoon Knives and Their Use    142Creating Wooden Utensils    145Finishing Your Projects    152 Woodland Campcraft    154Quick and Easy Pot Hangers    156Adjustable Pot Hangers    164Larger Pot-Hanging Systems    175Benches and Seats    186Large Pegs    190Large Tarp Setups    192Some Useful Knots    201

"It’s an amazingly detailed book on using and maintaining an axe, sawand knife on wilderness trips – and the cool camp craft you can makewith the same tools.”