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Classic Bushcraft, Woodcraft and Primitive Survival Books
Рет қаралды 6,108
Күн бұрынLooking at a few of the older Bushcraft, woodcraft and primitive survival/primitive skills books in my collection. I think most of the authors are actually deceased acquaintances of mine, so these are not fresh off the press. There are many others now, but I don't read this stuff anymore, so I can't say if they are any good. Links to some of these to buy or read free below...
Camping and Woodcraft, Horace Kephart: Read free here archive.org/se... Buy: amzn.to/3xDNOsD
Woodcraft and Camping, E.H. Kreps: Read Free here archive.org/de...
Bushcraft, Mors Kochanski: amzn.to/3lTdvD8
Bushcraft, Richard Graves: amzn.to/37OTy8B
Outdoor Survival Skills, Larry Dean Olsen: amzn.to/3s9nm8X
Wildwood Wisdom, EllsworthJaeger: read free: archive.org/de... Used to be really cheap used, but maybe my other video on it drove the price up.
This is probably an updated version of John and Gerry McPherson's book. I'm not sure. the only one is out of print it seems. I'm sure it's good. They are old friends of mine and I can vouch for their seriousness and authenticity: amzn.to/3xEYNlm
The Ax Book, Dudley Cook: amzn.to/37wtxuu
Support on / skillcult has been critical in keeping me experimenting and making content. If you want to help me help others, this is probably the best way to do it. Thank you Patrons for supporting the mission!
Buy less, but buy it through my links! Shopping through my affiliate links generates revenue for me, at no extra cost to you, click links here, or go to my Amazon Store page: skillcult.com/a... But seriously, buy less, do more.
Standard gear I recommend. I either use or have used all of it.
Council Tool Boys Axe: amzn.to/3z0muqI
Bahco Farmer's File: amzn.to/3Hbdhij
King two sided sharpening stone: amzn.to/32EX1XC
Silky f180 saw: amzn.to/3yZzM71
ARS 10 foot long reach pruner: amzn.to/3esETmM
Victorinox grafting/floral knife: amzn.to/3Jki1E9
Wiebe 12” fleshing tool: amzn.to/3sB0qSl
Atlas Elbow Gloves: amzn.to/3FwB5g6
BOOKS:
The Axe Book, by Dudley Cook: amzn.to/32kx7sN
Bushcraft, by Mors Kochanski: amzn.to/32q2rpT
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@aceman1126 Жыл бұрын
I know this video is a year old but thanks for the reading list. I was glad to see you mentioned the McPhersons because their bow making info was one of the first things I saw that really got me into primitive living skill building. Such solid practical information is rare. Everyone's so used to youtube they have forgotten that for a LONG time books were it and good books were like finding a gold nugget in a creek.
@quintond.7888 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the reading list. The bushcraft people call Mors "Grandpa" now, I read his book after seeing your old video review on it. What a resource he was/is and I think if anyone deserves the grandfather title it's him.
@SkillCult 3 жыл бұрын
Mors was so cool. He was really energetic and fun to be around and a walking encylopedia, plus with personal experience. He had a big impact on a lot of us in the primitive skills scene when he came down here. He made a big splash. I think most of the Mora craze can be traced back to him. he's the reason I tried them and why Cody Lundin and so many others carry them.
@newq Жыл бұрын
I went to high school in Randolph, Kansas right across the road from John McPherson's homestead. When the army would send the special forces to train with him, those army guys would park their trucks at the high school. Sometimes they'd even eat lunch with us, which was weird. These special forces dudes in with all these rural high schoolers. John and Geri spent a lot of time at the local general store and I talked to him a few times because I was vaguely interested in survival stuff back in middle school and high school. I actually bought his books in that same store with him present. I didn't think of him as globally famous at the time, but I remember reading those books and thinking how absolutely thorough and comprehensive they were. I highly recommend you purchase the anthology books of his pamphlets. Absolutely indispensable.
@SkillCult Жыл бұрын
Those guys are nothing if not serious.
@bradleyphillips7730 3 жыл бұрын
I just choked up a little when you showed the picture of our dear Jim Riggs! Thank you !
@SkillCult 3 жыл бұрын
I'd like to say Jim is in a better place now, but he's the kind of guy that would hang around as a ghost being a grumpy mo fo. We all loved him though. as Matt Richards called him, "everybody's friend, Jim Riggs".
@bradleyphillips7730 3 жыл бұрын
@@SkillCult yes he would! I was just at Glass Buttes last weekend. Hung out “with Jim” at Hair Camp. Thanks again for this video. Keep them coming!
@joelvansickle3623 2 жыл бұрын
I have been looking for lists of books... You are awesome Brother 🙂 I've learned so much from your videos over the last years. Thank you so much from Dallas
@SkillCult 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Joel :)
@lukecoppersammy 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for making this video. It's hard to tell if a book has a good amount of detail or not, just from reading the description
@HacknBuild 3 жыл бұрын
Are you going to re-release your tanning book?
@SkillCult 3 жыл бұрын
I didn't want to say in case it doesn't happen, but we are trying to get the revision out this fall. Worked on it yesterday! Fingers crossed.
@T3hJones 3 жыл бұрын
Great tips! I remember a book called Ishi in two worlds. Dont remember much more lol.
@SkillCult 3 жыл бұрын
There are a number of books on Him. The more historical fact based ones are interesting. I've been camping up on Deer creek where he lived until he came out of the mountains. I would like to go back someday.
@T3hJones 3 жыл бұрын
@@SkillCult That is so cool. Would love a video where you talk about it/him. I stumbled upon him when I read about primitive bows about 10-15 years ago.
@timberdoodles4647 2 жыл бұрын
Just by seeing the pictures you leaf through make me want to seek out many of these books. Nice review. I like the Woodsmoke mag, how to cook trash fish. chubs come to mind.
@SkillCult 2 жыл бұрын
We have suckers here. I always wanted to figure out where to catch a lot of them and smoke and can them in quantity. Problem is wherever there are a lot are mercury hot spots.
@johnlord8337 3 жыл бұрын
I need to get you a set of Prepper University (10TB) but with covi the transcription is a total PIA. There are more books and documents of any and all topics you could ever question about prepping, survival, et al ... restoring a destroyed civlization.
@CuttingEdgetools 3 жыл бұрын
As Always great Video. Half of them books I’ve had for 45 or so years. I need to check see if I still have em--my library has expanded over the years. Half of the Books you highlighted- I’ve never seen Before. Tom Brown’s Books are good stuff too-they lean more towards the Spiritual aspect-and any old Wood craft book that enhances your skills and Desire is a sweet thing. Thanks for the Vid👍
@SkillCult 3 жыл бұрын
I'm not a Tom Brown fan. Too much fable mixed in with whatever the truth is. I did use them when I was younger though. They taught me that hand drill was super hard and required prayer, but then I tried and got it the first time lol. Ever since, I've been on a mission to demystify primitive skills.
@CuttingEdgetools 3 жыл бұрын
@@SkillCult yeah agree much is a bit storied -but I did glean some good things from few of his books especially the tracking applications. That’s the way most books are- nuggets here & there.
@TJHutchExotics 3 жыл бұрын
Wildwood Wisdom definitely looks like a fun kids book
@SkillCult 3 жыл бұрын
It is. It used to be cheap last time I looked. I did mention it in a video, and that could actually have driven the prices up. But it's online free, listed in the vid description.
@mihacurk 3 жыл бұрын
Cool list!
@kurts64 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this vid mate. Funny, I was reading Kephart last night. The Richard Graves book is awesome too, I have the book version and also a booklet version of the chapters that I believe used to be part of the Scouts curriculum down here in Aus. Another good Aussie book, though not specifically primitive, is "Outback Survival" by Bob Cooper. Great info, will definitely look into the others.
@SkillCult 3 жыл бұрын
I saw there was another collection or something from Richard Graves available. I doubt it was ever published officially in the US.
@MCapo-kb9bx Жыл бұрын
Cool collection. Im looking for an all-round book or guide about Homesteading. Which do you recommend?. Your whole channel is probably the best resource to make the best Homestead manual. Prost!!
@SkillCult Жыл бұрын
No idea on that one. Not many books were made on the general subject when I got interested. I'm sure there are a lot now, whether any are any good I dobn't know. Not wranglerstar's book though lol. That guy doesn't know enough to write a book on homesteading.
@lukebaker844 3 жыл бұрын
Got a question about tanning: trying sumac leaves (dried, crushed finely, packed tightly in a pot, barely covered with water, and boiled for several hours) but still only getting a weak looking solution. Not nearly the opaque liquor you recommended and demonstrate. I know you don’t have much experience with sumac, but what about other leafy tannic materials? I’m sure I can boil it down to concentrate it, but it makes me wonder if it’s worth the effort
@lukebaker844 3 жыл бұрын
Could a weak looking (rather transparent) solution actually be strong enough to tan well, being made from materials other than oak bark, or are tannins by their nature opaque? Has every material you’ve worked with successfully produced a very dark solution?
@SkillCult 3 жыл бұрын
@@lukebaker844 Yes, it could still be strong. YOu can look up the tannin percentage. It is pretty high. I would cook twice and start in the first, for just a day. One thing though is that sumac tannin is supposed to be damaged by boiling. Cook it down around 120 degrees and just cook it longer. I have no personal experience with it, but that's what the literature says. I think you will do fine though, use what you have and make more if you need it. Part of the reason it looks weak is that it is low in coloring matter. You have to be subjective about visually testing materials. It's about which material and your own experience. Sumac is known for making light colored leather. If you dig through the old books available through my website www.skillcult.com/freestuff you can probably find some good info on sumach, but you'll have to dig. It has always been a staple of European and middle eastern tanning. Very much used in N. Africa too.
@nimrodayali5645 3 жыл бұрын
@@SkillCult I love sumac tanning. I use the middle eastern variety. It works wonders and the main reason I use it is because it hardly colors, so can be used for light furs etc. I didn't know about the sensitivity to high heat. I just pour boiling water on it as if I was making tea, cover with a blanket and let it sit for the night. Never had to boil it down or anything, it being plenty strong that way, transparent solution and all.
@SkillCult 3 жыл бұрын
@@nimrodayali5645 Thanks for weighing in Nimrod. I forgot you use that stuff. The literature says boiling will decay the tannins. I think they usually powder it and do a longer heat extraction. But I would imagine you get most of it out the way you do it. I have some sumach that was sent to me, but never got around to using it yet. There is actually a lady here in the states growing sumac for the berries to make a middle eastern condiment that no one really knows about over here. Do you use that? We have one related plant that makes a similar sour berry, called Rhus trilobata but it's a native plant that is not on anyones radar, except native people. There isn't enough of it to use it for tanning. I could see farming the stuff for that spice and using the leaves in tanning, with occasional coppicing for charcoal production.
@nimrodayali5645 3 жыл бұрын
@@SkillCult Yea, certainly! the spice form is very widespread here, though unfortunately buying the real stuff isn't easy since they make fake sumak with citric acid and artificial coloring... the original version is great. the best kind is made from only the flesh of the fruit without the stone (it's easier to just grind the entire fruit once dried, but gives an inferior product). It is one of the three ingredients of the very popular herb mix "ZA'ATAR" (along with wild oregano and sesame), and goes well with onion as a salad used as a side dish in fried streetfood. From what I gather your wild variety is probably quite similiar. The kind we have here is quite easy to cultivate, but it isn't done much since it is even easier to just collect the berries - they are very abundant on the bush in season. Personally I can never get enough - too hot and arid where I live for it to grow without irrigation. An hour's drive uphill is all it takes, but I seem to be too busy or lazy to do it. If I had your amounts of rainfall I think I would have grown a hedge of it or something!
@IngeniousOutdoors 3 жыл бұрын
Cool pecking video at the end :)
@SkillCult 3 жыл бұрын
That mortar bowl is so hard dude. I started that probably more than 20 years ago and shelved it after it got that deep. But it's super nice. I'm trying to resurrect the project. It's one of those rocks I remember finding lol, and where.
@IngeniousOutdoors 3 жыл бұрын
@@SkillCult respect man :)
@Among-the-trees 2 жыл бұрын
shame I can't get your book.
@TheArizonaRanger. 2 жыл бұрын
Does anyone know some worth while books on southwest (US) bush craft? The high desert is a bit unique and I'm having a hard time finding a dedicated book for it.
@TheArizonaRanger. 2 жыл бұрын
@@seldomseenn I actually found a older edition at a used bookstore a couple weeks ago and you're right, it does target that area well! Thank you.
@SkillCult 2 жыл бұрын
There is a neat book called survival arts of the primitve paiute. Not a lot else I can think of. I second Larrry's book though. But a lot of basic skills are transferable. You really need to study the plants more than the technology. Unless the technology is specific to the plants. Some of that info can be found in ethnographies. That's where a lot of the good stuff is. Hit the local college library for obscure anthro stuff.
@wtfrankian 3 жыл бұрын
Do you know of any books that go into detail on developing springs? I have a hillside seep on my land, and I'd like to learn how to improve it.
@SkillCult 3 жыл бұрын
I don't, sorry. I would look more at online resources. Most springs are travelling along a stone or clay surface. If it is clay, you don't want to dig through it, but along it. But that doesnt say anything about how you corral the water back in there. My spring is horizontally drilled. but that can be screwed up or fail completely too. I would probably start digging back, but try to find a surface the water is travelling over, then if it is a central spot you can develop it easily and if it's not, look at ways to guide it to one area. Sounds fun!
@wtfrankian 3 жыл бұрын
@@SkillCult Thanks for your advice!
@lukebaker844 3 жыл бұрын
Still waiting on an acorn processing video, by the way
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