Why is the head of the New Extrema Ratio Breeching Axe shaped like it is?

 Why is the head of the New Extrema Ratio Breeching Axe shaped like it is?

The heads of breeching axes are generally of one type, ie modelled around some sort of traditional tomahawk and or regular axe. This means that for most of these heads, the cutting surface is rounded (convex). 

As far as the most efficient penetrative action goes:.....

In fact, the better cutting surface for the best penetration into steel sheeting will be the head design of the Extrema Ratio breeching Axe/tool. 

WHY? Because the first point of impact will be the apex of the two intersecting "straight blade" surfaces. At this point we have P=F/A, where P=pressure and F= force and A is of course equal to the "area". Thus from simple physics we can see that at an extremely small point, massive pressure will be developed upon impact. 

This will aid the penetration of the axe head into anything it contacts. The same principal is in affect for how arrowheads/spears penetrate objects.

Stay tuned for more on this subject......

BCT

Mardingtop 75 L Tactical back Pack Field Test and Why Most BackPacks These Days are Not Built to Last.

 Mardingtop 75 L Tactical back Pack (REAL) Field Test by Mrs BushCampingTools

....and Why Most BackPacks These Days are Not Built to Last.

Quite frankly, I had never heard of this pack manufacturer before last week. It is of course a Chinese luggage manufacturer who according to their literature specialises in tactical styled packs. This model is about to actually "take part" on a real "mission" and so in one months time we shall see if it "handled the pace" or not. 

The specs sound and look ok: When I mean by "look", that means I've actually seen the pack with my own two eyes, not on internet pictures.

All major seams/stitching are covered/protected, YKK zippers and buckles are used throughout and bar tack stitching is used for stress points. The fabric is 600D polyester according to their literature. 

I've always been a big fan of Cordura but we all know, very few packs these days feature heavy denier Cordura due to the price from Koch of the raw materials. In fact IMHO many pack manufactures want their products to fail within probably less than 5 years. It's not "like the old days" where manufacturer's like Macpac (before they went woke) made almost indestructible packs from a type of canvas material, super abrasion resistant and waterproof without a polymer coating. 

Heck, I got over 25 years from my Macpac Ascent and it had travelled the world been to > 5000m, trekked,  hiked and camped all over the place and repaired once after 20 years for FREE by them! 

Those days are over! Like just look at the WOOSY Deuter Guide models available now! They would be lucky to last one season of serious use. My old Deuter Guide 35 is still hanging in there and NO damage to the pack fabric! This is of course NOT a great way to make gear because if a customer only buys a product once every 20 years then you'll soon go broke as a manufacturer if that's all you're relying upon for sales. Nope 5 years tops then it must fall apart. It's pointless to think otherwise in our disposable world (I'm not saying this is right but i am saying this is how it is).

So in short many pack manufacturers today do not use Cordura as a routine pack fabric. (eg my Deuter Guide 35 Plus -using proprietary fabrics).

QUESTION:

Anyway how did this "no name brand" approx $140-00 USD backpack get chosen?

No I'm not being racist as I'm I've got Chinese genes floating around my body.

ANSWER:

In a hurry that's how due to the urgency of this notice because other brands could not be acquired at a moments notice, that's why and not wanting to spend a fortune as the pack may get destroyed?

Quoted from Mardingtop: (note it does not say anything  about other types of end use.)

"making it perfect for hiking, trekking, camping, and climbing adventures."

Now to be fair: with care, modern computerised industrial sewing machines and quality fabrics, along with skilled labour, and good design, there is NO REASON why a quality pack can not be made.......... BY ANYONE.

So stick around for the results after about a month??? Who knows???

Second attempt Logistics completed packed ready to move out!

Getting ready to fly again! Best to wrap the straps as this is the safest thing for a rucksack for air travel if you can do this.

There was NO charge for this service! As the machine operator was all for the humanitarian aid mission this pack was going on!

BCT

PS I will only be reporting on this "test".So check back for pictures en route.

Ok it survived several airport baggage handlers and machines

No straps broken. Laden with 21Kg at present.

After 2 international airports

So far it has survived 4 bus trips and 2 international airports, that means being thrown into and out of plane holds multiple times by the "baggage testers" from hell! AKA the baggage handlers. 

Deployed

This bag currently on a humanitarian aid mission 

Back to safety again!

Work Tuff Gear Steadfast

 Work Tuff Gear Steadfast

Work Tuff Gear have brought to life the Steadfast. A knife with hunting, survival and self defence capabilities according to it's designer Calvin Richardson of Calvin Richardson Custom Knives. Certainly it is nimble in the hand and comfortable using a lot of pressure to carve hardwoods such as birch.

The spine/tang thickness is 5mm

The design allows for easy penetration of the tip and the grip is comfortable when the knife is used in the safety position for carving.

The Steadfast is slightly handle heavy with the fulcrum about at the first scale anchoring bolt past the hilt. So in other words the balance is at that point. For me it feels a tad handle heavy although this also signifies that there is plenty of metal under the grip and as such provides a "solid feel" to this knife. The reverse grip of this knife it is also very comfortable.

The blade is of a very useful design for camping, hunting and fishing, with a good tip as I have already mentioned, a sort of clip point. It cuts food items very well. The knife is supplied with a kydex scabbard with an excellent retention.

Basic specifications are:

HRC 58-60

Work tuff Gear have expertly produced a mirror finish convexed edge which easily bites into the toughest of materials. The steel choice is Böhler's K329 a stainless steel

which is:

Data courtesy from Böhler

Böhler's K329 also features high toughness, something which is vital for outdoor knives.

Data courtesy from Böhler 

Some videos as in #shorts already posted more to come...........@BushCampingTools.

You are never going to go hunting but you want a simple to maintain knife, this could be your answer!

 You are never going to go hunting but you want a simple to maintain knife, this could be your answer!

So how does one choose a knife?

By watching Bear Grylls?

Certainly NOT

If hunting is not your thing and neither fishing too but you feel you must have a fixed blade knife for your outdoor pursuits, then let me recommend the following style of knife:

You may consider the following:

It is just an opinion.

THE WESTERN STYLED TANTO

Wanger/Linder SuperEdge 8 Worker

Here's why:

Because they are just simply the easiest type of blade shape to maintain. The reason being is that all edges are basically straight and thus require the least amount of hand sharpening skills. End of story.

Many will buy a drop point style knife

LionSteel M7

 or even a knife which features possibly two different sections of blade such as a belly and a recurved (concave) edge, 

FKMD Fox Knives Parus

Cudeman Boina verde

only to find when it comes to sharpening they simply make a mess of it and either stop using that knife once it is blunt and buy another one, or send it out and pay someone else to sharpen it. Or whilst being able to sharpen it, never being able to restore the edge to what it was like from the factory or even close to what it was like, OR BETTER!

 Assuming one likes camping and hiking there may be an interest in maintaining that knife of yours but not to the extent of buying some fancy pants knife sharpening device which costs tens times the price of your new knife, unless you are chasing that cosmic sharp edge, then read no further. 

I suspect some manufacturers really put super high Rockwell ratings on their knives as having nothing to do with the end applications but rather as a marketing thing, in that the person who buys such knives, may not even go camping or hiking, for example but not limited to: the person who wears diving watches but never even goes swimming let alone goes diving. Ok we will call them collectors and this is fine. So a collector probably won't be using that knife all of the time so it would remain sharper for a longer period due to it's high HRC, all things being equal and thus they would be very satisfied with their purchase/s.

But if you like camping 

I like camping and doing extreme stuff like taking the palm heart (where legal LOL)

and would like to at least prepare your own food and have a feeling for days of past in the wilderness then you will want to carry a fixed blade knife and actually use it for something other than cutting A4 printer paper! 

The Western styled tanto 

Halfbreed Blades MIK-05P

is by  far the easiest type of blade to maintain. The easiest blade to maintain is also going to be the easiest knife to actually want to use.

BCT