Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

LIGHT CAMP EQUIPMENTnyIf a full-^rown axe cannot be carried,then take ahatchet with handle as long as practicable (seeChapter X).Other Tools.— A small spade, or an army entrenchingtool, is a handy implement about camp.One outfitter has produced a good thing in this linewhich he calls a trekking spade. The handle is detachable.In shoveling hot coals at the fire-place,work quickly, so as not to draw the temper of thesteel.A useful tool, when it can be carried, is one Ifound recently in the catalogue of a certain mailorderhouse: a nail-cutting compass saw (just likeany compass saw except that it is tempered for nails,sheet metal, etc., as well as wood), with 12-inchblade and weighing only 5 ounces. It can be used,too, in butchering big game, savingyour axe edge. A folding saw, soldby sporting-goods dealers, will dowell enough in most outfits.If you want to weigh the gameyou kill, carry what is called a LittleGiant scale (Fig. 69). Althoughof pocket size and 12-oz.weight, it w^eighs by the small hookup to 40 lbs. by 2 lbs., and by thelarger one up to 350 lbs. by 5 lbs.For fish, of course, a small springbalance is the thing-A pair of side-cutting pliers, ofthe very best steel, is almost a necessity.I always carry a small oneFig. 69.— Littlewhen fishing, to snip off the barb of Giant Scalean imbedded hook, which otherwiseis a mighty mean thing to get rid of. The pliersare in daily use for other purposes.A 6 to 8-inch mill file, and a carborundum stone,will keep the axe and other cutlerv in order. (Amill file is cut diagonally and parallel, instead ofcriss-cross like a common flatfile.),.