Greetings from Finland with bruised hands

**heyzeuss** · 07-17-2015, 12:41 PM

As I am writing this, my hands are all bruised up from attempting to start an ember with a hand drill. I never imagined I would be able to do it, but I got smoke! I will have to stop trying for now until my hands are feeling better. In the mean time, I am researching materials for a bowstring for a fire drill.

I have always been a fascinated by the way that we make tools from other tools, and how it all get started. It is amazing how we got all the way from stone tools to artificial intelligence by making tools to make tools to make more and more advanced tools. From that line of thinking, I have a bit of a purist point of view in bushcraft, so I suppose I am more interested in using primitive technology than in practical survival. That is, I want to use less advanced tools to make more a advanced tools. I prefer materials that are easy to acquire in my immediate surroundings. Even though sedimentary and metamorphic rock is hard to find in Finland, I would not like to use flint imported from Great Britain or Belgium, and I am not prepared to take down a moose just to make a gut bowstring. We have lots of stinging nettles, so I will probably go after those next for making a functional bow drill.

Why do I keep seeing modern knifes in those [strikethrough]bushcraft[/strikethrough] primitive technology demonstrations on YouTube? I guess I'll just have to learn to be a more tolerant person. I am happy to join and excited to learn from your experiences.

[EDIT]

BTW proper recognition and respect to you folks who simply love to be outdoors as much as possible, regardless of technological philosophy. I really do admire your attitude.

**Rick** · 07-17-2015, 12:43 PM

Welcome home.

**1stimestar** · 07-17-2015, 02:01 PM

Welcome from Alaska.

**hunter63** · 07-17-2015, 02:18 PM

Hunter63 saying Hey and Welcome...From Wisconsin.

**kyratshooter** · 07-17-2015, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by heyzeuss

As I am writing this, my hands are all bruised up from attempting to start an ember with a hand drill. I never imagined I would be able to do it, but I got smoke! I will have to stop trying for now until my hands are feeling better. In the mean time, I am researching materials for a bowstring for a fire drill.

I have always been a fascinated by the way that we make tools from other tools, and how it all get started. It is amazing how we got all the way from stone tools to artificial intelligence by making tools to make tools to make more and more advanced tools. From that line of thinking, I have a bit of a purist point of view in bushcraft, so I suppose I am more interested in using primitive technology than in practical survival. That is, I want to use less advanced tools to make more a advanced tools. I prefer materials that are easy to acquire in my immediate surroundings. Even though sedimentary and metamorphic rock is hard to find in Finland, I would not like to use flint imported from Great Britain or Belgium, and I am not prepared to take down a moose just to make a gut bowstring. We have lots of stinging nettles, so I will probably go after those next for making a functional bow drill.

Why do I keep seeing modern knifes in those bushcraft videos on YouTube? I guess I'll just have to learn to be a more tolerant person. I am happy to join and excited to learn from your experiences.

Welcome from the state of Kentucky.

I am sure Finland is a beautiful place. I have always wanted to visit there.

But can I ask something????

If flint and metamorphic rock is not native to your land are you really duplicating the primitive experience and technology of your ancestors by importing it from Belgium and GB ???

Importing stone for use as a primitive tool is no different than using a steel knife. Both separate you from the true "primitive experience".

And if there were ancient trade routes that carried the precious stone to your land, would those avenues not have brought metals to your region as soon as they were plentiful?

So your region might have left the activities you consider "primitive" by 4000bc, when copper and bronze were common, and would have had steel knives and steel fire strikers by 800-1000bc.

Primitive is a "relative" term. If you stick around here you will see people using the most modern tools available in very "primitive" fashion judging by the results of their efforts.

**MrFixIt** · 07-17-2015, 03:36 PM

Welcome from GA!

**crashdive123** · 07-17-2015, 04:53 PM

Hello and welcome.

Keep in mind that "bushcraft" while defined differently by different people.

Bushcraft is about thriving in the natural environment, and the acquisition of the skills and knowledge to do so. Bushcraft skills include firecraft, tracking, hunting, fishing, shelter-building, the use of tools such as knives and axes, foraging, hand-carving wood, container construction from natural materials, and rope and twine-making, among others.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushcraft

So, there really are no "period correct" items for bushcraft. Primitive skills on the other hand is quite different, although there is a lot of overlap.