The following kit review was very kindly sent in by Woodlore customer Julian who, we’d like to point out, is not affiliated with Woodlore in any way – he’s just a very happy customer!
Dear Woodlore,
Yesterday I just used the Honey Stove, and I must say what an amazing piece of kit it is. The crusader cup and stand don’t even compare.
Julian’s Honey Stove being put to the test
Ray Mears will be appearing at The Forum this October, giving a talk as part of this year’s Cheltenham Literature Festival:
Ray Mears at The Forum
Friday October 7, 2011, 20:45 pmThe Times Cheltenham Literature Festival promises a feast of literary treats with more than 600 of the world’s greatest writers, poets, politicians, thinkers and actors heading to the Regency town. Now in its 62nd year, 2011 promises the most ambitious and varied programme to date, with BAFTA-award winning actress Joanna Lumley, musician and radio broadcaster Jarvis Cocker, presenter and film critic Jonathan Ross and comedian Frank Skinner all taking to the Cheltenham stage.
Instantly familiar from TV series such as Bushcraft Survival and Northern Wilderness, bushcraft expert Ray Mears has tested his survival skills all over the world, whilst exploring the traditional cultures of indigenous peoples and following in the footsteps of noted explorers. In a hugely enjoyable event he looks back on some of his enthralling adventures.
For further information, or to reserve your ticket, please visit the following link:
Event information and bookings
The following post was kindly sent in by Woodlore customer Hans Hilverdink from the Netherlands; another beautiful example of the type of handle that can be made:
Hello Woodlore,
I’ve made myself a knife, using the blade of Julius Pettersson. I ordered some tools and stuff from Finland. It’s made of unknown tropical hardwood, brass and black nylon; all found in the shed of my father:
- Hans’ Julius Pettersson Knife complete with leather belt sheath
It was good fun and I will be making more of this. I found myself a new hobby!
Thanks, with kind regards,
Hans Hilverdink,
The Netherlands
For those who missed our earlier blog post on the subject, production of the Ray Mears Bushcraft Knife – with its handle of reclaimed Iroko wood – has now come to an end. The final batch of these knives went on sale at midday on the 1st of September, and was completely sold out by 16:30 p.m.
However, as promised, Woodlore will soon be unveiling a new version of this knife, featuring an alternative handle material. This model will be released for sale for the first time on Tuesday 4th October.
In the build-up to its release, Woodlore will be offering a series of clues on our Facebook and Twitter pages, to help you figure out which material we have chosen for the knife’s handle. The first of these clues will be released at midday today, so keep your eyes peeled!
Rogelio, a fellow Woodlorean from Spain, e-mailed us previously with some pictures of his hand-made crooked knife handle, which we posted on our blog. Recently, he got in touch with us again, this time with an excellent article on how to make a DIY meth-burning stove from just a tin can. We’ve posted the full guide below, complete with step-by-step pictures, for you all to see. Thanks Rogelio!
Hello Woodloreans,
I have just returned from a friend’s house with whom I have been making my own meth alcohol burner to fit in my pocket stove from tin cans, and after seeing how well it actually works, I thought it would be nice to share with you some pictures on its making.
To start with, you need the bottom ends from two tin cans and a rectangular strip that will fit into them (this must be cut slightly higher than the other pieces, you’ll see why later). If you use cans made from stainless metals it’ll last longer.
Step 1
Woodlore customer Joshua Le Pla got in touch with us earlier this year, with photos of his own knife project using the Julius Pettersson Knife Blade. Where Joshua’s design differs from the other knives we see is in his inclusion of unique materials, including the wood from a set of antique bowling balls and a six pence coin:
Hello Woodlore,
My Dad bought me the Hand Forged Knife Blade and Antler Rolls last Christmas, as I requested. I’m 16 years old and a great fan and admirer of Ray Mears. His vast knowledge of all things Bushcraft greatly influenced me into discovering the natural world and what it can offer.
I began to prepare and make the handle for the blade from Christmas day and finished it in March. I have an interest in engineering and woodwork and am currently doing an electro-technical Apprenticeship. This has helped me greatly to create the knife. With my efforts alone (and with help from my granddad in drilling and gluing the pieces), I am very proud of what I have created and will of course give it the utmost respect as it is a dangerous tool.
Joshua’s knife, ready to be shaped
2011 has been a particularly bad year for ticks all over the UK. They can be active all year round in long grass, bracken, heather, woodland and hedgerows, especially where deer and livestock are present. Ticks can carry organisms which may cause Lyme disease, so it is very important to keep an eye out for them.
Tick saliva contains various bio-chemicals that act as anaesthetics (which numb the bite area), anti-inflammatories (which prevent swelling), anticoagulants (which stop the blood from clotting), and cement to hold the tick firmly in place. They can feed for up to seven days without causing irritation. The barbs on the tick’s hypostome also keep the tick anchored in place while it feeds. It is during the introduction of saliva, and any regurgitation that may occur during the feeding, that infectious organisms can enter the body of the host, causing disease.
A tick found on one of our instructors
It is therefore important to prevent ticks feeding from us. To do this, we recommend that you wear gaiters or long trousers tucked into your socks when walking in long grass. To deter ticks, it’s a good idea to use insect repellent, such as Mosi-guard or Ultrathon, and to check yourself regularly. As the old saying goes – prevention is better than cure!
If, when checking yourself you find a tick, it is best to act quickly. The tick needs to be removed with either a pair of tweezers or a tick removing tool. Be careful not to squeeze the body, and aim to remove the tick whole. It is best to wipe the area afterwards with antisceptic wipes. If you experience any symptoms of Lyme disease, seek further advice and treatment from your doctor.
We have contacted our friends at BADA-UK (borreliosis & associated diseases awareness UK), a charity who spread the word about ticks and tick-borne diseases in the UK and Ireland. Ray Mears became their patron a couple of years ago after he was diagnosed with Lyme disease, to help spread awareness. We have received from BADA-UK up-to-date information to provide to our clients on courses they attend with us, as well as some fantastic tick removing tools, which are available to buy from BADA-UK.
Woodlore customer Chris Ward got in touch earlier this year with some photos of his own Julius Pettersson knife. Chris has taken a different design route to many of our customers, so it will be interesting to hear what you all think.
Hi Woodlore,
This is the first knife that I’ve made using your Hand Forged Knife Blade:
Chris Ward’s Julius Pettersson Knife
First of all, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank you, our followers, for your continued support and interest in the Ray Mears and Woodlore Blog over this past year. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve found here so far, stay tuned for more articles and reports from the Woodlore camp, including your own contributions.
However, if you’d like to hear more regular and exclusive news updates from us, you can now follow Woodlore on both Facebook and Twitter. Additionally, Woodlore now has its very own YouTube channel, which already features a number of instructional videos from Ray for you to check out.
Through these networking sites, we aim to keep our followers up-to-date with snippets of news on the kit, courses and expeditions that have yet to be released to the general public. Essentially, we will provide you with the news that you won’t find anywhere else.
To follow Woodlore on these sites, please visit the following links:
Keith Whitehead, Dan Hume and James Bath of the Woodlore Team
It is with sadness that we announce that long-time team member James Bath will be bidding farewell to Woodlore later this year. Since joining the company in 2006, James has become a key member of the team, ultimately earning the role of Woodlore’s Head of Operations in 2010. In 2009, James became one of only two course leaders to reach the level of Fundamental Instructor, alongside fellow leader Dan Hume.
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The Ray Mears & Woodlore Bushcraft Blog 