"Made in the USA" Gear Review: Brunton Compasses

Kudos to longtime compass maker Brunton for bringing manufacturing back to the US. Back in May of 2012, Brunton's executives made a bold decision to cease their Chinese baseplate compass manufacturing operations and restart production in Brunton's Riverton, Wyoming plant. This means that ALL new Brunton baseplant compasses are now 100% USA made.

Though I've long favored Suunto's Finnish-made compasses, the O.S.S. 70M sent to me by Brunton proved very similar in overall quality and accuracy when used during a few wilderness jaunts. The O.S.S. 50M was not quite up to Suunto quality, but was still a decent, budget-priced compass.

Brunton's O.S.S. 70M helping to navigate the winter backcountry

Brunton's affordable O.S.S. 50M US made baseplate compass:

O.S.S. 50M SPECS:

BRUNTON O.S.S. alignment system

Tool free declination adjustment

On the map Meridian lines

2° resolution

Mid-hinged sighting mirror

Protective cover

Clinometer

Inch/mm scales

Lanyard

Weight: 2.2 oz.

Dimensions: 2.9''x3.9''x0.8''

Made in the USA

Brunton's higher end professional compass, the O.S.S. 70M, which includes a handy guide on how to use a compass, as well as wilderness survival tips, etc:

 

Brunton O.S.S 70M SPECS:

• BRUNTON O.S.S. alignment system
• Tool free declination adjustment
• On the map Meridian lines
• Magnified read-out for 1° accuracy
• Protective cover with sighting mirror
• Field reference cards for mapping and emergency use
• 3 clinometer systems
• Map magnifier
• Lanyard
• Dimensions: 4.1''x2.5''x1''
• Weight: 3.6 oz
• 1° resolution
• Scales: Feet, mile and meter scales
• Map Scale: 1:24k, UTM
• Made in the USA

Not only are Brunton's compasses being made in the USA again, they are also no more expensive than their competitors. So if a US made compass is in your sights, Brunton should definitely top your list.

For more information visit www.brunton.com/pages/navigation

About the author

Jason Schwartz is the founder and senior editor of Rocky Mountain Bushcraft. He is a former Red Cross certified Wilderness & Remote First Aid Instructor, and has taught bushcraft and wilderness survival techniques to the Boy Scouts of America, interned with the US Forest Service, and studied wilderness survival, forestry and wildland firefighting at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, Colorado. Jason has also written for magazines such as The New Pioneer and Backpacker, including writing the "Tinder Finder" portion of Backpacker's "Complete Guide to Fire," which won a 2015 National Magazine Award (NMA). Email him at rockymountainbushcraft @ hotmail.com (without spaces)

Trail Food Review: Sweetwood Cattle Company Beef Jerky

Wanna try some beef jerky that's insanely delicious? Check out Sweetwood Cattle Company's all natural beef jerky. 

Last January, while I was attending the Winter OR Show, I happened by Sweetwood Cattle Company's booth and was offered a sample of their peppered beef jerky. Having eaten a lot of jerky in my time, I really wasn't expecting much. To my surprise however, I was instantly wowed.

Smoky and sweet, with a rich, delicate flavor that made it practically melt in my mouth, I became instantly addicted.

One of the reasons Sweetwood jerky is so good is because it is made from choice strips of beef that come from organically fed cattle, raised right on Sweetwood's own Steamboat Springs, Colorado ranch. Their jerky is also softer than most, since it is baked instead of being dried like most other jerky.

Sweetwood sent me home with a few samples of their different flavored jerky (Regular, Peppered, Hot, and Teriyaki), which I happily munched on during my long drive back to Colorado after the show. I was equally impressed with all four flavors, though my ultimate favorites were the Peppered and Teriyaki.

A word of warning though, the "Hot" flavor is no joke! I eat a fair amount of spicy foods, and this flavor left a five-alarm fire burning in my mouth for some time after! It is delicious, and hot food lovers will certainly enjoy it, but people with less "fire-proof" mouths may want to try one of the other flavors instead.

Sweetwood Jerky is definitely one of the products I've been excited to share. In fact, Backpacker Magazine even picked up on this amazing jerky, giving it a 2013 Editor's Choice Award.

Editor's note: Leah here, I also had the pleasure of sampling Sweetwood Jerky. I love jerky, but all too often end up with brands that are dry, tasteless, and tough. When I opened the Sweetwood Teriyaki jerky, I think I finished the whole pouch immediately! Like Jason I was instantly addicted. It was very flavorful and the slightly softer texture was perfect.  

I also tried the Peppered which has a little too much after-bite for me, but the flavor is so sweet and smoky that I continued to eat it in spite of running for a glass of water afterward. Uh...Jason? Wanna throw some more of that Sweetwood Teriyaki this way? 

5 out 5 Stars (Highly Recommended)

For more information visit www.sweetwoodjerky.com

About the author

Jason Schwartz is the founder and senior editor of Rocky Mountain Bushcraft. He is a former Red Cross certified Wilderness & Remote First Aid Instructor, and has taught bushcraft and wilderness survival techniques to the Boy Scouts of America, interned with the US Forest Service, and studied wilderness survival, forestry and wildland firefighting at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, Colorado. Jason has also written for magazines such as The New Pioneer and Backpacker, including writing the "Tinder Finder" portion of Backpacker's "Complete Guide to Fire," which won a 2015 National Magazine Award (NMA). Email him at rockymountainbushcraft @ hotmail.com (without spaces)

Video: Polar Bear vs Grizzly (National Geographic)

One of the best documentaries I've seen in a while, with a very surprising ending!

Tips & Tricks: Ripped your Gore-Tex Jacket? Fix it with a Gore-Tex Repair Kit

If you've accidentally ripped a hole in your Gore-Tex Jacket, Pants or Sleeping Bag, don't freak out, just repair it with a Gore-Tex Repair Kit.

Gear Aid sells an inexpensive repair kit that is easy to utilize in the field. Just pull out a patch, cut to size, remove the adhesive backing and apply it over the rip. You will have an instant repair that will keep both wind and rain out.

Though not required, I recommend running an iron over the patch and then tech-washing your Gore-Tex gear after application of the strip to ensure maximum water-repellency.


About the author

Jason Schwartz is the founder and senior editor of Rocky Mountain Bushcraft. He is a former Red Cross certified Wilderness & Remote First Aid Instructor, and has taught bushcraft and wilderness survival techniques to the Boy Scouts of America, interned with the US Forest Service, and studied wilderness survival, forestry and wildland firefighting at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, Colorado. Jason has also written for magazines such as The New Pioneer and Backpacker, including writing the "Tinder Finder" portion of Backpacker's "Complete Guide to Fire," which won a 2015 National Magazine Award (NMA). Email him at rockymountainbushcraft @ hotmail.com (without spaces)

Moving logs the old fashioned way!

Last Fall, a local horse wrangler was helping to move some logs near where my base camp was located, so I grabbed my camera and snapped a few photos. I had meant to post these last year but had misplaced the folder which contained them.

Just today, I ran across the folder again and figured I'd post'em up for you. The wrangler's name is George, and I'd like to thank him for allowing me to take these photographs of him while he worked.

This is definitely the old fashioned way of moving logs around!

(click to enlarge)

Benchmade releases new "Bushcrafter" knife- UPDATED

More evidence of bushcraft's growing popularity!

Popular knife maker Benchmade is releasing a new fixed blade knife called the "Bushcrafter", which features a 4.43" long blade, S30V Stainless Steel, G10 handles, titanium handle spacer tubes, and a brushed buckskin leather dangler sheath with a firesteel loop.

Retail price is listed at $200, but I'm guessing the street price will be in the $120 to $150 range. According to Benchmade's press release, the Bushcrafter will be available for shipping at the end of this month. It looks like an attractive knife with an interesting design, but is it really worth almost four times the price of Mora's superb Black Carbon Bushcraft Knife? Check back here in the coming weeks to see how the two fare in a head to head match!

AUGUST 24th- FULL REVIEW POSTED!

APRIL 14th, 2013 UPDATE- I have been testing the Bushcrafter since late Feburary, and will have the full review posted within the next 1-2 weeks. Make sure to sign up on our email list at the right side of the page to get notified when it's posted, or if you have a Twitter account, make sure to follow us there!

July 2nd 2013 UPDATE- I'm happy to report that all testing for the Bushcrafter is complete. The review is being finalized and it should be posted soon. With a last minute change by Benchmade, this knife has proved to be very interesting. Thanks for your patience and happy bushcrafting!

The SPECS:

Model Name: 162 Bushcrafter

Overall Length: 9.2"

Blade Length: 4.43"

Blade Thickness: 0.164"

Blade Material: S30V Stainless Steel

Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC

Blade Style: Drop-Point 

Handle Thickness: 0.92"

Weight: 7.72 oz. (without sheath)

Country of origin: Made in the USA

My inadvertent Totem Pole

Yesterday, I was out testing felling axes on a Fir tree that had been blown down by a wind storm sometime ago. I chopped the fourth test notch a little too deep, and the slim piece of wood joining the two sides of the tree snapped, causing the trunk to stand back up from the weight of the rocks and soil attached to the roots. The result -- a rather crazy looking totem pole!

Estwing 26" Camp Axe vs the Best Made Hudson Bay Axe- which axe chops better?

This past winter, the curiosity bug bit me, and I was interested to see how an Estwing 26" Camp Axe would fare against a traditional wood-handled Best Made Hudson Bay Axe in a chopping contest.

The main reason for my curiosity was that many people on bushcraft forums seemed to disparage Estwings as being inferior choppers. It made me wonder if there was any merit to this argument, so I got a hold of a brand new Estwing Camp Axe, sharpened it, and threw it into my pack along with my Best Made Hudson Bay Axe. I then headed off to a favorite bushcraft spot to see which axe would come out victorious in a chopping contest.

SPECS

ESTWING E45A 26" CAMP AXE

Overall Length- 26"

Cutting Edge 4"

Steel Type- Drop Forged Medium Carbon Steel

Handle Type- Drop forged steel with rubber Shock Reduction Grip®
Weight (without sheath)- 50.3 ounces
Weight (with sheath)- 53.3 ounces

Country of manufacturer- Rockford, Illinois USA

BEST MADE "UNFINISHED" HUDSON BAY  AXE

Overall Length- 26"

Head Weight- 2lbs

Steel Type- Drop Forged 5160 Carbon Steel

Handle Type- Grade "A" American Hickory

Weight- (without sheath)- 45.4 ounces

Weight- (with sheath)- 47.2 ounces

Country of manufacturer- Made in Lake Waccamah, NC, USA by the Council Tool Axe Company

The Estwing Camp Axe and Best Made Hudson Bay Axe are both 26" long and feature drop forged Hudson Bay pattern heads, and both are made in the USA. The Best Made head is thicker at the edge than the Estwing. For a full review of the Best Made Hudson Bay Axe, click here.

Profile comparison of the two axes (Estwing on the left)

So which axe came out the winner after 30 chops into a dead Ponderosa Pine log? ---surprisingly, the Estwing Camp Axe did. The thinner blade on the Estwing cut deeper and took out larger chips than than the thicker-edged Best Made.

(Click to enlarge)

Though the Estwing outchopped the Best Made, it was hampered by an uneven handle profile where the different segments of the handle connect. This made it uncomfortable to slide my hand down the handle to guide the axe when swinging it. The thin blade also tended to stick in the wood more than the Best Made, and the thin metal on the handle near the head is not nearly as comfortable or controlled as a wooden handle when choking up for finer work.

On the plus side, the Estwing is built to be nearly indestructable. The steel was easy to sharpen and took a razor sharp edge. The quality of the steel was also better than expected. It held its edge well and there were no issues with rolling or chipping. Throw in the fact that it can outchop the well regarded Best Made Hudson Bay Axe, and I think it's fair to say that it will serve most campers well despite its limitations for use in bushcrafting.


About the author

Jason Schwartz is the founder and senior editor of Rocky Mountain Bushcraft. He is a former Red Cross certified Wilderness & Remote First Aid Instructor, and has taught bushcraft and wilderness survival techniques to the Boy Scouts of America, interned with the US Forest Service, and studied wilderness survival, forestry and wildland firefighting at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, Colorado. Jason has also written for magazines such as The New Pioneer and Backpacker, including writing the "Tinder Finder" portion of Backpacker's "Complete Guide to Fire," which won a 2015 National Magazine Award (NMA). Email him at rockymountainbushcraft @ hotmail.com (without spaces)

Has "resume embellishment" returned to Dual Survival? Bloggers claim Joe Teti is not a combat veteran

Is another Dual Survival cast member guilty of "resume embellishment?" According to a post written by the "Stolen Valor Offenders Exposed" blog, as well as a post written by the "This Ain't Hell, But You Can See it From Here" blog, Joe Teti did not actually serve as a member of a combat unit while in the military.

Both bloggers, who posted jpeg copies of Teti's military records, say that even though he completed Marine Force Recon and Special Forces schools as a member of the Marines/Army National Guard, he did not serve as a member of a combat unit while in military service, which contradicts the bio on his website (see main photo above).

Apparently, Teti served in the Marines during the 1980s, and in a California Army National Guard unit from the 1990s up until 2001, when he was discharged. During this time, Teti's full time civilian jobs included working as a stockbroker for Bear Stearns, and owning a Concrete Pressure Washer business in Nevada.

The main point of contention is that Teti claims to be a "combat veteran" of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, where instead, he actually served as a private contractor, similar to Blackwater, etc.

This has some active and former military veterans up in arms, judging by the 200+ comments left on "This Ain't Hell's" post on the subject. These veterans say that a "combat veteran" denotes someone that fought in an active military combat unit, and had to stay and fight under penalty of imprisonment, as opposed to a private contractor, who could just quit and return home if the going got rough.

Another issue is Teti's claim of 20 years of service. That number doesn't match up with his military records which record roughly 15 years of duty.

So is this another case of "resume embellishment" on the scale of Dave Canterbury's debacle? In my opinion, not quite, since Teti was indeed a Special Forces Green Beret during his military career.

However, I do find his claim of being a "combat veteran" misleading, and am disappointed that he felt the need to add 5 years to his service record. Like Canterbury, who served honorably as an Army MP before falsely adding "Ranger," "Airborne" "Grenada" and "Central American Service" to enhance his survival skills resume, Teti should just be proud of his actual service instead of pumping a lot of hot air into it.

Do you think Teti was trying to mislead viewers, or is this just a matter of semantics? Leave a comment below


About the author

Jason Schwartz is the founder and senior editor of Rocky Mountain Bushcraft. He is a former Red Cross certified Wilderness & Remote First Aid Instructor, and has taught bushcraft and wilderness survival techniques to the Boy Scouts of America, interned with the US Forest Service, and studied wilderness survival, forestry and wildland firefighting at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, Colorado. Jason has also written for magazines such as The New Pioneer and Backpacker, including writing the "Tinder Finder" portion of Backpacker's "Complete Guide to Fire," which won a 2015 National Magazine Award (NMA). Email him at rockymountainbushcraft @ hotmail.com (without spaces)

Quick Update- Sunday, June 2nd 2013

Dear readers,

I have been transitioning to my mountain base camp over the past few weeks, which has kept me very busy! I'll  have a major Benchmade Bushcrafter Knife review up very soon. It's one I hope you'll enjoy.

On another note, Rocky Mountain Bushcraft is just 10,000 pageviews away from one million pageviews! We are planning a major giveaway for this event, which includes a Kestrel Portable Weather Instrument package worth over $600, so make sure to keep checking back over the next several weeks for details.

Thanks again for visiting!

Jason and Leah