Practicing Primitive Daily

Primitive is a loaded word for some people.  To me, it means simple and lacking industrial materials.  That’s not to say primitive cannot be complex or fine work; in fact, it’s often just the opposite.  Sometimes even, it involves recycling the detritus of the modern world, such as tire rubber for shoe soles.

18th century style.
18th century style.

Looking at my high-graded and favorite camping gear I came to the realization a couple of years ago that by removing a few modern items my kit looks about 250 years out of date.  That made me kind of happy.  I’m not really a reenactor but I do occasionally participate in period events.  It seems my tastes really do just lean toward a quieter, handmade, preindustrial world.

An overview of traveling gear. I see this format on the web a lot so I'm stealing the style from far batter photographers than I.
An overview of traveling gear. I see this format on the web a lot so I’m stealing the style from far better photographers than I.

“Make yourself a wool bush shirt” my article on ‘The Bushcraft Magazine’!

Excellent work from our Tuscany comrade. I hope to find the magazine and make one myself!

wildtuscanybushcraft's avatarWild Tuscany Bushcraft

One of my dreams  comes true!

Last month I’ve written a tutorial on making a wool bush shirt and this article… has been published in the Autumn issue of “The Bushcraft Magazine“!!!

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How to Improvise and Use a Three Stick Roycroft Pack Frame

Thanks to Survival Sherpa for posting this look at making a pack frame.  Making a quick, three stick pack frame is a valuable bit of knowledge.  How serendipitous that this came up (seems to be a lot of convergent thinking around my world lately) as I am beginning to tweak my own wooden pack frame for some experimental travel.  And while we’re on the subject here’s a link to a broad look at pack frames from around the world on Markus Kittner’s fine web page.

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Have a look at Survival Sherpa by clicking the link below.

Source: How to Improvise and Use a Three Stick Roycroft Pack Frame

how-to-improvise-and-use-a-three-stick-roycroft-pack-frame-thesurvivalsherpa-com

More Classic Camp Gear from the American West

tumblr_mevzdvFqOL1r6083to1_500I have no information about this image as it was one of those random internet finds.  The gear looks to be from about the turn of the 19th-20th Century and supplies the basics for an American or Canadian outdoorsman.  This would all apply to Mexico as well but as it’s not written in Spanish I think that rules out our southern neighbor as the source.

1, Sleeping Pocket; 2, Compass and pin; 3, Camping mattress; 4, 5, 6, Folding camp furniture; 7, Sleeping bag; 8, Folding baker; 9, Folding canvas cupboard; 10, Vacuum bottle; 11, Waterproof matchbox 12, 13, 14, 15, Canvas water pails; 16, Army (mess) kit; 17, Axe with folding guard;  18, First aid kit; 19, Metal tent peg; 20, Folding lantern; 21, Kerosene stove; 22, Folding grate; 23, Cook kit; 24, Folding baker, canvas case.

Camp Stoves: Optimus 80

Continuing on with the theme of admiration for the classic camp stoves, here is a visual overview of the Optimus 80 / Svea 71.  No, they are not exactly the same, but are very close and share virtually all the same features.  For those interested in the early history of the liquid fuel camping stove, have a look HERE.

The Oprtimus 80 stove.
The Optimus 80 stove.

How much simpler can this get?  It is essentially a repeat of the classic design in a slimmed down form.  It was designed to stand alone as a portable cooker with the carrying case serving as a pot support.

This beautiful stove pcks down in this nice little tin box.
This beautiful stove packs down in this nice little tin box.

I wasn’t really looking for one when found this on Ebay.  It has obviously seen very little use and the paint and tin plate are still in excellent condition.  I’m not a fanatical collector so when I bid on these things I tend to be pretty frugal.  I was fortunate to get this one for a very fair price.

The box opened for use.
The box opened for use.

A bit of oxidation is visible on the top and in the lid of the box but otherwise, this is a clean stove.  It fired up immediately and works extremely well.

Simmering along with a QuietStove insert.
Simmering along with a QuietStove insert.

I put a Quiet Stove flame spreader in this one and I think it makes it easier to cook on.  The flame is certainly a lot nicer and more controlled with this device.  They are a bit expensive but are certainly worth the cost if you are using an Optimus-style stove on a regular basis.

QSinsert
Check them out.

 

Camp Stoves: Optimus 8R

Just some eye candy of the Optimus 8R.  Battered, grungy, and well-used, much like it’s owner.  I really wanted one of these back in the mid-1980s.  Since I was bumming around and using air travel, I went to a butane cartridge stove instead.  For those interested in the early history of the liquid fuel camping stove, have a look HERE.

Svea 123.  Click for more information on liquid stoves.
Svea 123. Click for more information on liquid fuel stoves.

 

Early Style Camping Gear

Some of my camping gear mostly inspired by the period from 1745-1812, prior to major industrialization.
Some of my real-life camping gear mostly inspired by the period from 1745-1812, prior to major industrialization.

Starting in the upper left and moving more-or-less clockwise: small tomahawk, portmanteau, stoneware jug, braided buckskin cord, patch knife, buckskin bag for brass sundial compass, wool bonnet (tam o’shanter), trade bead necklace, small gourd for salt, pewter beer mug (could possibly hold water too), canteen gourd, Knife River flint blades, needle case and bone needles, strike-a-light and char-cloth box, wooden bowl and spoon, buckskin bag, bone handled eating knife, waterproofed leather bag, bark tanned belt pouch, buckskin neck bag containing spare fire kit, net shuttle holding hemp line, sewing kit in buckskin bag, wooden needle case with needles, argillite pipe with buckskin bag, fine hemp line, extra blanket pin, belt, pampooties (ghillie shoes), bamboo container containing larger bone awls and other bone tools, in the center, shoulder bag.

Camp Stoves: The Svea 123

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The Svea 123.

Arguably the pinnacle of white gas stove design.  My little Svea 123.  It is essentially a brass fuel tank and a burner; a Molotov Cocktail with a valve.  And it comes in one of my favorite colors, shiny brass.  During a recent extended power outage, I used this guy on my electric stove top for making up the coffee.  Collectors will probably cringe at this but I ditched the little aluminum cup years ago as I don’t cook in aluminum.

If you’re interested in the early history of the liquid fuel camping stove, have a look at an older write-up HERE.

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Campaign Furniture in the Wild

There’s not much point to this post other than I like historic images and found some great camp photos from the 1920s.  These are mostly Roy Chapman Andrews in Mongolia, 1925-1928 from the American Museum of Natural History collections.  A fun collection to peruse.  Andrews is a remarkable person in his own right as a man who worked his way up from janitor to director of the AMNH.  Much of his scientific fame comes from some accidental finds of dinosaurs while looking for evidence of human origins in China and Mongolia.

RCAElephant CampA proper campaign hat and casual camp shoes while sitting at the campaign table.  The ubiquitous large tent provides daytime relief from the sun.  This environment (Gobi desert of Mongolia) is similar to the American Southern High Plains of west Texas and eastern New Mexico.  Note the rifles leaning against the folding chair in the background.  I’m sure we were taught as Boy Scouts to not do that!

roy-chapman-andrews-birthday-image-1-26Clothing of the adventurer.  Andrews is thought by some to be the image of the field scientist that created Indiana Jones for the Hollywood crowd.  Safari shirt and tall riding boots while he speaks to the wool-clad tribesman on an awesome camel.

WritingAgain, the spacious tent used as a field office while the Victrola plays away. At least the rifles are securely tied to a post this time.

VictrolaAndrews, Shakelton,  and the gang sitting round the record player.  They traveled in style in the 20s.EvereadyFlashlightOutfitted Dodge truck and camel for venturing out into the wild.  In this image, the local guide is being shown the new Eveready flashlights.  I think it’s time to raise the bar on my camp furniture.