#AskPaulKirtley Episode 1: Bushcraft Knives, Books And The Kitchen Sink
#AskPaulKirtley is the long-running Q&A video and podcast series that aims to answer your questions about bushcraft, survival skills and outdoor life. This is the very first episode…
The idea here is partly to take the strain off my email inbox and get answers out to people in a more timely fashion.
Rather than send an answer to just that one person, I’d like others to benefit from the answers too. So, just in the same way I’d previously write an email answer, here I’m going to speak the answer (which is much quicker than me typing out an answer, so I’ll get more questions answered as well as benefiting more people).
Click here to find out the different ways you can ask me a question.
Watch #AskPaulKirtley
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#AskPaulKirtley videos are also available to view on my YouTube channel.
Listen To #AskPaulKirtley
Use the following Soundcloud controls to listen to the audio podcast right here or download the .mp3 to your device…
Links For This Episode of #AskPaulKirtley
Sea-To-Summit Kitchen Sink (5 litre)
#AskPaulKirtley On Other Platforms
The videos will be uploaded my YouTube channel and the Facebook Page associated with this blog as well as embedded here on my blog.
The audio-only podcast version is available on here on Soundcloud and will be added to iTunes and other popular podcast directories in due course, as well as available here on this blog.
Leave A Comment…
Leave me a comment below. Let me know what you think. I read every one.
But remember if you want to ask a question for a future episode, don’t do this in the comments below, DO IT LIKE IT SAYS HERE.
33 thoughts on “#AskPaulKirtley Episode 1: Bushcraft Knives, Books And The Kitchen Sink”
Hi Paul
Just watched episode 1 (of many I hope) of #AskPaulKirtley. Fantastic stuff although I think you got off lightly with the questions you were asked 🙂
Just really wanted to comment and thank you for all your endeavours with bringing bushcraft and the outdoors , indoors. I really appreciate the wealth of information you provide and the time and effort you put into making this stuff available.
Thanks again Paul.
Andy
Hi Andy,
Thanks for the comment. Maybe I did get off lightly with the questions. Feel free to send a few in for forthcoming episodes…
Thanks also for your kind words regarding the information I put out. I really do appreciate it when people recognise the effort involved but, more than that, I appreciate it when people find it useful as you clearly do.
Warm regards,
Paul
Hullo Paul!
great format, looking forward to more questions and answers. I’m sure I’ll be sending a few more your way!
Mind how you go
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for the feedback and please do send some questions in for the show…
Warm regards,
Paul
Hei Paul,
I really enjoyed this first episode and I’m looking forward to many more to come! Thanks for what you’re doing and for putting so much effort into it! You really help a lot of people – certainly you helped me!
Keep up the good work!
Kind regards from Norway,
Michael
Hei Michael,
It’s good to hear from you. Thanks for your thoughts on this new format. It’s good to know it works for you.
Thanks also for your kind words of appreciation. I’m very glad to have been a help to you.
Warm regards,
Paul
Hello Paul
I’ve just watched the vid on how to tie the evenk hitch, im going to try that soon it looks quick and easy to do, I’ve just started out doing this kind of thing I went away last year with a few mates and we had a great time and I want to learn more and make it a permanent part of my life. When I tied my hammock last time I had no clue what to do so I wrapped the rope around loads of times and tied it up in various inventive ways 🙂 it held which is the main thing but it was untidy and took ages. Thanks for all the advice on the emails and youtube I’m finding it very helpful and inspirational, there’s a lot I need to learn 🙂
Keep up the good work and thanks again.
John
Hi John,
Thanks for your feedback and comments. I’m happy to read you are finding the material here and on my YouTube channel useful to you in sharpening up your outdoor skills. If you ever have any questions, you know where to ask 🙂
Warm regards,
Paul
Wonderful Idea Paul! Thanks for that. Greetings from Austria, Reini
Thanks Reini. I’m glad you like the concept.
Warm regards,
Paul
Hi Paul, just been watching the first part of #AskPaulKirtly. I found it most interesting and look forward to many more, I too may ask you a few questions of my own at some stage. I really appreciate the amount of hard work you put in to everything you do online, and look forward to your blogs and youtube video’s with keen interest. I think you were one of the first people I watched when I first started bushcraft about two and a half years ago, and since then you have taught me so much. Thank you so much Paul for sharing your knowledge with me.
Keep up the good work my friend.
Warm regards
Simon
Hey Simon,
Thanks for your feedback on the first episode. Please feel free to submit some questions as and when you think I might be able to help.
Thanks also for your feedback on the general usefulness of my content. I’m happy it’s been so helpful to you.
Warm regards,
Paul
Hi Paul
Thank you for the broadcast. Elegant, efficient, and useful way to teach. Some day, can you talk about specific kinds of rope used in the outdoors?
In appreciation
Stephanie
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for your feedback.
I’m sure it would be possible to write a book about rope use in the outdoors! 🙂
Did you have some specific applications in mind?
Warm regards,
Paul
Paul,
This is a fabulous idea, both a video and a soundtrack podcast. That is smart but I do not know anyone else who is offering both. Plus the idea to answer common email questions this way is also great. Keep up the great work.
Wishing you well,
Rodney
Thanks Rodney. I’m pleased you appreciate the different formats. Which one do you prefer? Or does it depend on what you are up to (e.g. listening on the move vs watching at home)?
Warm regards,
Paul
Hi Paul,
Just a comment on your knife presentation – specifically the MORA:
I agree – the partial tang is a concern [not sure why they don’t do a full tang – the extra inch of material shouldn’t cost more than 50 cents…] And the esthetics, compared to many other knives leaves much to be desired. [although the do have some higher end knives that look pretty good…]
HOWEVER – looking at the practical aspect – Mors Kochanski – the wilderness survivalist who I am sure you have met – uses MORA exclusively. I have been on courses with him where he ruffs up the knife thoroughly – constructing shelters, carving, opening cans, batoning wood, cutting down trees, sharpening on river stones etc. etc. for weeks on end. If anybody was going to break a Mora knife- it would be Mors. Yet, he has never mentioned breaking a Mora in any situation. Nor does he mention any limitations on the use of the MORA. Rather, after some 40 years, he STILL promotes the MORA as the best bush-craft knife value available – for the price.
Fact is, near home or well into the wilderness, your chances of losing a knife are far higher than actually breaking a knife. [folders notwithstanding]…
Surely, buy a more expensive knife because it looks better, feels better in the hand or because you can afford it. But don’t reject the MORA because of false fears…
regards
Don
Hey Don,
Thanks for your comments.
Yes, I am fully aware of Mors’s preference for Mora knives. Moreover, we issue them exclusively on our courses.
I’ve given hundreds of these knives out to people over recent years. But I have seen a small percentage of them break, in the hands of relative novices, undertaking tasks which are not unreasonable for a bushcraft knife. I too have broken several.
It’s almost always batoning which breaks them.
I should possibly not take it for granted that people realise that everything that comes out of my mouth is based on experience, rather than theorising 🙂
Check out the photo below. Here’s a few examples from the collection of broken Moras I keep….
For me, a Mora clipper/companion is not strong enough to be 100% reliable as a wilderness knife when resupply is not an option.
Warm regards,
Paul
Point taken [ouch!!]
To paraphrase Murphy : If it is possible for something to break – someone will find a way to break it!! Usually at the most inopportune time.
Reducing the weak links in the chain indeed results in a stronger chain. A full tang knife is for sure stronger than a partial tang…
As a final note – Mors now carries a full tang knife in place of his old Mora… 🙂
Keep up the good work… !!
Don
Thanks Don. The Moras are good but they have limits.
Keep the comments coming! 🙂
Warm regards,
Paul
Paul I was hoping your first episode would answer a question which I have asked more than once, which is about the legal position when out in a public place in possession of a knife. As you will know there are strict laws concerning carrying a “bladed article” and I would appreciate your guidance on this issue. For example if I was out practising bushcraft on my own, in no official capacity, would that be sufficient lawful excuse for being in possession of a knife?
Good question Andrew. I’ll do my best to answer it in a future episode…
Many thanks,
Paul
Hi Paul.Excellent part 1,looking forward to more information and guidance.
Thanks!
Hi Paul!
I thank the new informacion.Please tell something about the knife handles, which are better: high-quality wood, plastic or some other material.
Wanted to know more about the backpacks: material, size, etc.
I thank and salute!
Bozidar
Varazdin
Croatia
OK Bozidar. Thanks!
Hi Paul,
Fantastic idea Paul, it works really well and the way you have presented it makes it very smooth. I like the use of another voice asking the questions, gives a clear divide between the two and also adds to the overall high editing quality we have come to expect from you.
The intro montage was also very well done. Everyone loves a good montage!
It’s great to hear questions that others have asked, this I am sure will become even more interesting when questions come forward that many may not have thought to ask in the first place. This could really be quite something, opening up thought processes and all that.
Looking forward to the next release from the Paul Kirtley Studios.
All the best,
Martin
I want to say well done, very well done! I celebrated 50 years of
bushcrafting on June 15th,I learned because that is just the way
that we camped,a few of my mentors were born in the 1800’s.
Keep stressing to your readers to go out there and learn by doing,
this world is too beautiful to stay inside!
If you are ever in DEEP East Texas you would be welcome at our fire!
I really appreciate all the ways you get the information out, technical-know-how is not my strong point (and my vintage iPad has thrown it’s toys out of the pram with youtube) so being able to dip into whichever format I have the time for, and ablity to, means I’ve been able to access lots of reliable information efficiently in a very short space of time. Probably feels like I’m stalking you at the moment 😉
i’ve started off with a Mora, stainless steel, in seen-from-space orange which means when kids empty my magic box on to the floor I can still find it! Many of the knives available are a bit camoflagued in woodland and kids are so very ‘in the moment’ that it’s likely they will just leave things on the floor, they won’t mean to but it happens. I think it’s worth considering colour as well for many people, not just kids…
If you do a future feature on ropes, please feel free to mail me directly as I have access to a proper expert on ropes who also likes bushcraft, bow making and has started hijacking the bbq to make knives, he is even more geeky than you.
Thanks again, the whole family can now enjoy your expertise.
Hi Paul,
just watched your episode 1 of of #AskPaulKirtley and it is fantastic.
With that I can really well appreciate your answers people post you.
Very well done
Warm regards
Hi Pierluigi,
Nice to hear from you.
Thanks for the feedback on episode 1 of #AskPaulKirtley.
I hope you enjoy the next episodes as much 🙂
Warm regards,
Paul
06. Wow! Thanks so much for your work. It’s a pleasue to simply look at your word bank for all these word choices. This will inspire so many writers, young and old and those who strive to be great teachers.
A bushcraft knife should come to quite a fine point. Bushcraft knives have to be in a position to do the job of an assortment of other knives.