What's the core sharpening skillset you actually need?

The use of cutting tools is one of the major aspects of bushcraft that sets it apart from other outdoor disciplines. Being able to keep your tools sharp is fundamental to effective bushcraft.

Without a keen edge, carving becomes clumsy, making feathersticks is frustrating, splitting wood is inefficient, and even simple food preparation takes more time than it should.

Over the years, I've travelled and worked in many environments where I've had to rely daily on sharp knives and axes, for fire preparation, carving, campcraft, game preparation and more. Keeping those tools sharp, sometimes far from home, has always been essential.

My approach with students is to strip away the noise and focus on what's clear, practical, and essential.

So what do you actually need to be able to do?

Much of what you see online is based around novelty, desgined to catch attention. Plus there are endless debates about steels, sharpening gadgets, honing, stropping, and exotic polishing techniques. Out in the woods, though, what you actually need are tried-and-tested methods that you can rely on every time.

Even when you are at home, preparing your tools for a trip or a camp-out, you don't need a drawer full of sharpening systems. You don't need to memorise dozens of steps in esoteric techniques.

What you need is a compact, reliable set of methods that easily keep your tools sharp and safe, at home or in the field.

You also need to know how to apply those methods consistently, whether you're using a bench stone at home, a pocket stone in camp, or a simple strop to finish the edge.

Learning this requires a structured approach based on an understanding of the fundamentals, not scattered tips and tricks.

That's why I've built this course.

Yes, you could join one of my larger online bushcraft programmes, but they cover a much wider range of bushcraft skills.

Here in Edge Essentials, sharpening alone is the focus — a complete, easy-to-learn, pragmatic system for keeping your bushcraft tools sharp.

Why I Created Edge Essentials (And Why It Matters)

For decades, I've taught sharpening as part of my broader bushcraft training, both in the field and online.

The lessons I've collected together in Edge Essentials were originally embedded in larger programmes designed to build well-rounded bushcraft skills.

But I started to notice a pattern. Many people were confused by the sheer volume of sharpening advice and gear talk online.

Others were focusing on the wrong things, such as chasing mirror polishes for the sake of it, or arguing over carbides, oxides, honing fluids, stropping pastes, steel types and more, all the while still struggling to get a decent edge on a knife or axe, especially when out in the field.

I decided to bring together a core set of my sharpening lessons in one place, organised into a clear and reliable system.

The material in Edge Essentials comes from two of my flagship courses: the Online Elementary Wilderness Bushcraft Course and the Continuation Study Series.

Until now, these lessons were only available within those larger programmes.

For the first time ever, Edge Essentials makes these key lessons available separately, in a focused, accessible and highly valuable package.

Edge Essentials provides a comprehensive sharpening system designed to give you confidence in the field and consistency at home, without complexity or unnecessary equipment.

Edge Essentials is a focused course on sharpening the most common tools of bushcraft: knives, axes, and spoon knives. It provides you with reliable, real-world methods for maintaining effective edges both in the field and at home, utilising minimal gear and a clear, practical approach.