18 Essential Knife and Bushcraft Skills: The Try Stick 

I just purchased 2 knives and 1 machete, I am retired and on a budget. I need to learn the very basic skills to do a day trip camp and cook with just a small chest pack, I won't do short hikes make lunch then hike out after lunch. Thank you, I am a USA Regular Army veteran combat medic. 1969. I live in Northern Alabama in the Tennessee Vally. I have camping skills for a family of 4 but now it's just me to hike. I hunted when I was young. I fished for 30 years. Now I am trying to just get out more and walk and I have the interest to use some woodsman skills minimalist level.

While I liked this video; you could improve it , by having someone get close ups as you show your fantastic knife 🔪 skills. I totally enjoy your videos and the knowledge that you are passing along to folks. I live through your videos as I am a old crippled shaky man now that can’t perform the skills and roam thur the woods any more. I can be Butt naked and set off the alarms 🚨 at the airports. Hahahaha So keep your videos coming as I recommend them to other veterans who are totally disabled like me. Thank you Josh!!!

Am I the only one loving the sound of a big beautiful Raven croaking out calls in the background?

We’ve been using a similar technique to teach knife safety and skills to Scouts for a long time. Every woodsman needs to do one of these regularly just to stay up on their skills. I really like your skills-centric approach to your videos!

Camera is too far away to really see what you’re doing but, I appreciate the knowledge and love your channel 😎👍

I've never watched your videos before but I also can't recall seeing someone do a try stick video. I would have appreciated seeing your work up close so I could see what you were doing.

I watched this video several times while I'm backyard camping and bushcrafting. I live in Oakland CA and I don't have that type of wood in my neck of the woods so I use what I have. I go between you and Dave and Shawn for most of my lessons. Thanks.

Great exercise for all bushcrafters and knife lovers ! Thanks from Australia :)

I hate to be critical but I have never used a knife in this way and I would of loved to see up close to see what your doing sometimes it was close but most of the time I didn't have a clue what your doing. but I still will continue to watch. Thank you

Once again sir, another excellent video. Very informative and straight forward approach to necessary field skills. Your presentation is unmistakably from a military background but with a more laid back delivery style. You are a wealth of information and a natural teacher.

Living here in Australia,we have to adapt northern bushcraft to suit our environment.Most if not all of our trees are hardwood.We do not have the range of exotic trees you have.The Eucalypt and Acasia are our only trees hundreds of varieties of the one species.ALL hard.Great video tho and i did learn something

I really enjoyed and learned from this video! These videos have made me aware of how little I know about knifes. Type of steel, blade design, type of edge, to name a few. Thank you Sir!

I have to say sir.... I thought the video was well informed but thought to myself... "this is stupid. Why would you practice this?" So sitting and grilling dinner which should have been my lunch I did a try stick for fun and burn some time. I'm a bushcrafter and love it because it forces you to practice skills, hence me trying the "try stick". I see why you say to practice this now. Humble is who I am and you nailed it by saying practice. Some cuts I've never done just because I don't use them. I felt stupid after screwing them up lol. Like you said.....practice. Even though it may not be something you specifically use it doesn't hurt to learn. Stay safe buddy and keep the videos rolling. We all appreciate what you do. Thank you sir for your service. People like you are why civilians have freedom. I am a grateful one.

By tapping the bark all around with another stick or branch will loosen and free up all the bark, an ol'ndn skill. Vary well developed and informative video.

Best Big Brother ever... Thank you Josh for all your videos.

These kinds of videos are the absolute best in the world! sitting with someone who has been somewhere that you haven't or knowledge that you don't is an incredible privilege! The only possible way that this could be better is if we could say something like, "hang on... what did you do there?" As it stands we just have to rewind. I wish I could say thank you face to face, but I have to type it instead. Thank you so much for sharing with us. Even though this a simple skill to learn, it's really priceless!

When will they learn “Josh knows?” Great job sir! I caught all the closeups lol.

Thank you, not seen a try stick before.

Good practice for anytime, anywhere. Thanks for passing this on.

Amother great video Josh!

Josh, really I appreciate your time and knowledge for sharing this with me ,carry on!

As always, awesome video! And that is cool that Northern Knives is offering discounts for the items that you are using. Thanks, Josh.

I discovered the try stick a few years ago. I love making these around the campfire. I call it Whittling with a purpose.. and it's a good conversation starter at campgrounds.

Thanks for showing a method for practicing a skill! More please...

Thank you Josh.

I really appreciate this. I learned of Kochanski’s Try Stick a year or two ago. I enjoyed your explanations and tips.

This is a great video. I have done this same thing before but didn't know it was an actual thing. I just did it while sitting on my deck. Thanks and thanks for your service. I served in Vietnam long ago.

Another spectacular video thanks for your time and wisdom!

Another great video.

Thank you for the quick lesson in knife safety 👍

I’m glad you made this video,I will start doing this to improve my knife skills...you are an absolute wealth of knowledge

Excellent, I have never seen anything like this to maintain skills. Very good information.

I agree, it’s always good to practice knife skills especially with a knew knife. It’s funny how we all differ slightly in our technique and method. You’ll always get those that criticise, but for me, it’s what works best for you. I thinks it’s very relaxing as well just whittling away in a peaceful little spot outdoors. Looks like you have a nice parcel of land there as well.

Really good techniques. Thanks for the video.

I am practicing my knife skills along with lots of other bushcraft and survival skills in my backyard while on quarantine during COVID-19. I'm watching lots of channels and getting lots of different and great ideas. So much fun all while I'm backyard camping.

outstanding! thanks for another solid topic.

Great video for beginner and advanced knife use and safety. I am going to have my son watch this. He's just getting into knife use for scouts. Thank you!

Wondefful instruction, sir. I took detailed notes.

Thanks for the great instructional vedeo Josh. I just was practicing my carving today. Haven't done a try stick yet but I'll give it a shot tomorrow.

I really enjoy your informative vids! Thanks so much!

I need to start making one of those every time I get a new knife. Good way to see how the edge geometry will preform with each job you have to do.

Great demonstration! Looks like a nice folder to work with.

Awesome video thank you so much for this !

Great concept! Thank you 😊. I dont get out to the mountains more than a couple times a year. Bladework skills definitely atrophy pretty quickly, atleast for me. This is a great way for me to stay on top of individual skills, prior to the culmination events that are my biannual trips to the mountains. I have been focusing more on firecraft, now that the weather has improved. . . I know, I am slacking. I should probably push myself to make fire under more adverse conditions. Thanks again for a great way to work that skill set 👍

Good idea to practice and re-practice skills. I'm new to this though and it would have been very helpful to have seen what you're doing.

Great video as always thank you

Thank you very much for taking the time to make these videos, they are very well put together and full of useful information. Keep up the great work.

"Triangle of Death". Wow. Boy Scouts never told me about that one 50 years ago...

Real nice video Joshua! Thanks!

Great video! Thanks!

Thanks for the video!

This is a great video. I'm going to teach our Boy Scouts this technique so they are not just making pointy sticks on our camp outs.

AWESOME, Thank You very much Sir. Greetings from France ^_^

Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

A great idea, ill use it. I use a piece of cordage to practice knots when im bored.

Great ideas for all of us , thank you

Thanks, this was a very good video. Take care.

Super helpful video for building skills.

Thank you.

Well I dig it. Thank you Sir.

Love my knife all the way from Fayetteville N.C.

Another great video. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing.

Thank you 👍

great video

Great stuff as always.

Thanks

Went out with an assortment of knives and made me two of these. The big Mora and Hultafors was a little thick for the task. But the slimmer versions of the same where roughly equally good. Just got the rope making left.

I just recently bought a Bradford Guardian 3 and a Bradford Guardian 4.I love the way they feel in hand,now it’s time I put them to the try stick test...got an ESEE coming in the mail tomorrow,guess I’ll put it to the test as well..come to think of it,I have a whole mess of knives...I’m gonna end up with 40 or more try sticks laying around the yard by the end of the week...lol..thanks for the informative video brother,it is much appreciated

Kool tricks that was easy to learn

Great video, keep them coming 👍

Terrific video... really enjoyed it!

Sweet , now to get a sick and practice, ty 🤘👊

Good tip man!!

Great video Josh. I too prefer a pocket knife for carving.

Great video. Thank you. And take all the time you need. Rome was not build in 5 minutes like some people want everything this days.

Just created a 'class schedule' for both me and hubby...ha ha ha! Seriously important stuff to practice! Knife skills? Fire making skills? Knots? etc. etc. etc. Josh isn't just 'feeding' you information he is making you PRACTICE! Do you guys know how WONDERFUL it feels when you KNOW how to survive, anywhere, anytime with just a knife? Then that 10 to 20 pound pack will look like a 5 star hotel! Such a high, you have to experience the feeling of KNOWING the wilderness and how to not get lost, how to find or make water, how to make a debris hut, how to make cordage? Knowing what to eat and more importantly what NOT to eat to provide enough calories without getting sick (getting sick in the wilderness is sorta kinda a deal breaker for survival chances). Such a high from just feeling a part of the wilderness, not separate from the real world. I've learned so much more watching GBGB's stuff when I already felt very comfy with the wilderness!! I am thrilled! Hubby, grins, not so much...I told him we are going to make TRY STICKS, tinder bundles, CORDAGE, FIRES!! debris huts...hubby has gotten fairly good with tracking and quickly. How to not get lost!? Another great idea for a video, Josh! Learning how to 'blaze' a trail, what, 6 or 7 different methods? I love dragging a big stick as I walk incorporating turning around to memorize 'markers' such as a dead tree, a humongous boulder, a meadow.... I just got lost at night on the acreage next door! Completely turned around. Shame on me for not using my trail sense! In a forest of tightly packed pencil pines. Tracked myself backward till I got to a place with familiar sign. Didn't get panicked I mean I wasn't more than 1000 yards from our 'home' (a yurt, sighs) but great wake up call! People get lost 20 feet from their car and the road all of the time and easily~!

Some good training!

You should do a video on exactly what to wear when one is on a 3 day hike/ when SHTF, and what is the best clothing to pack.

Great idea, but your sleeve is all jacked up. Haha cheers sir

His forearm muscles are so strong they broke his shirt. Either that or maybe his beard itched and he scratched it on that sleeve.

Josh, check out Paul Kirtley's preferred Ferro strike method. Tip of the knife, tip of the rod.

I really do love your videos man...… thanks

Great video - new sub. Very good teaching skills.

Great video... and great idea

Very good vid!

That is nice information on how to make that stick and use it. I have never used that before or heard of it, but will retain the information. I have a good carving knife, but the one you have is nice for carving and one could make fire sticks with it and you must be glad to have such a nice tool to use.

Thank you for your service. Was wondering, is there something like a "try rope"? To use to practice knot tying? Good videos. Could be a lil better with more close ups.

Incredible instruction, Josh! Please have a video on KNIFE SHARPENING! Can you use stones to sharpen the blade if you don't have a sharpening stone with you? My favorite color is military green! Well, I was once 'color coded' by a Mary Kay friend...ugh. This military green was the best color on me...whooooohoooo! I am an airforce brat that is as far as I'll go. I gotta get a t shirt from you...

Thank you very much! Very good detail and I appreciate the close ups for these old eyes. I can't afford a special course in person on my fixed income, but would buy a book or manual if you are of a mind to do it...maybe a PDF downloadable version with a serial number lock? Anyhow, much appreciated!

A stick that straight can only be explained by Aliens.

Nice video sir

Great video Josh. This is quite possibly the best intro tutorial to bushcraft fine carving skills on youtube. I hope to be able to use cedar and some soft scrub trees, as they are fairly plentiful here in North Texas. I would like to see still close ups of each knotch if at all possible, maybe a quick 2 minute part 2 video with about 7 to10 seconds on each knotch... Thanks again Josh.

Thank-You for the video. I wish that you had gone through all the notches at the end with a close up or each.

another great video, like how you broke down the different ways of carving and making of the notches; most of all i'll that you did this wonderful knife carving video in your slippers (LOL), in one of your other video's you had a carving tool with an orange handle that looked like a chisel, i was wondering where i could get one, i'd like to had it to my survival gear; Thanks Ken

What amazing wood. We dont have wood like that in south Africa. We only have 2 kinds: Hard and hard as rock.

Excellent video! Minor suggestion would be to re edit into skill segments and add a close up still or brief video of end result of skill at beginning of segment. Cheers from New Orleans

Killing it, yet again. Love the videos. suggested northeast woods? green soft maple?

Awesome as usual O, great bearded one. Was your shirt used for testing you blade? Noticed your right sleeve was blown out. Too funny. As I dont make it to the woods as much as I would like, I will be trying the "try" stick.

Great video but if possible get some closeups of each notch. Would be great if you could show the completed notch after you make it but prior to moving to the next task.

Good informative video sir, thanks. I really like that hat! Where can I find one?