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Overall length	12″
Thickness	4 mm
Weight	10.4 oz
Steel material	1055 carbon
Blade length	7″
Sheath material	Cordura

Cold Steel has been in the knife business for as long as I have been using knives as tools while camping. I purchased the GI Tanto a few years back as an inexpensive all purpose camp knife. For $30 it has done a great job. I have cut small trees and branches to make forks for roasting sausages and marshmallows. It’s sharp enough to cut rope and cloth. I have not tried chopping anything large with it, because I believe there is a right tool for every job. For chopping either a hatchet or an axe should be used. To be really effective a hand saw is best. Anyway… this is a cheap instrument I am not afraid to dull, break or loose, and in a real survival situation it can be attached to a makeshift spear to hunt. It does not seem to hold an edge as well as some other knives I have used. The USMC KA-BAR seems to have better (1095 carbon) steel.

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Overall length	7.13″”
Folded length	4.1″
Weight	2.8 oz
Steel material	440A stainless
Blade length	3.00″
Lock Mechanism	Liner lock

I purchased the Gerber AR 3.00 folder after a camping trip to Red River Gorge, when I thought I lost my Gerber Gator. I later found the Gator, but the AR 3.00 stayed with me because I like the pocket clip for every day carry. The blade action is incredibly smooth, and it has a satisfying “click” when locked into place. This is thanks to two Teflon washers on either side of the blade. Opening it with one hand is a breeze for me, thanks to the two thumb-studs. I have seen knives with better studs; some were simply larger, some had checkering to increase friction. I got the black non-reflective blade version from Wal Mart for about $30. The handle is not as comfortable as the Gerber Gator, but fits my hand well enough. I have used this knife on more than one occasion at work to cut fruit, bread, and meats, and it has retained the edge very well. Some purists may say that Gerber knives are not what they used to be, but for the price, AR 3.00 is a good purchase.  This model sports a drop-point blade without serrations.

Gerber AR 3.00 knife Gerber AR 3.00 pocket clip Gerber AR 3.00 open Gerber AR 3.00 liner lock
Gerber AR 3.00 thumb studs Gerber AR 3.00 and Gator 625 Gerber AR 3.00 and Gator right Gerber AR 3.00 and Gator open

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While not strictly camping or survival gear, the Smith’s Sharpening System is very useful to have around the house. I have tried several types of sharpening rods, Arkansas stone of different grits, and none worked well for me. I am pretty sure it is because I cannot hold a proper angle while sharpening the blade. The Smith’s system comes with a clamping tool to hold the knife blade in place, and two plastic guides with different angles for the stones. There are two preset angles, around 20° and 25°. The 20° angle is used for everyday kitchen knives, and thinner blades. The 25° angle is for tools that are for less delicate work, and bear more force. Something like a thick bush knife, a machete or an axe. The guides ensure a consistent angle across the entire blade edge, and different stones allow for easy sharpening. There is a coarse surface for getting old or rough edges into shape, then the fine surface to finish up. There is even a triangular bar for cerated blades. The kit comes with a bottle of honing oil, and a nice case to keep everything together. I have inserted an old sharpening stone into the extra loop in my kit. Current version may come in a plastic or fabric case, and with regular or diamond stones. Replacement stones are available from Smith Abrasives Inc as well.

This system was purchased at Lowe’s about a year ago, and I use it on our kitchen knives every one or two months. Once the proper angle was set with the coarse stone, I only have to use the fine stone to maintain the edge. There are several different sharpening systems out there, and anything that will allow you to keep a consistent angle is much better than a regular stone. If you have good expensive knives, but do not understand why they do not work well, or dull quickly, it is probably because the edge is rounded instead of flat.

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This post will cover the US Army Entrenching Tool or e-tool. The e-tool is one of those pieces of gear that you don’t know you need, until you really need it. I think every outdoor enthusiast should have one. I am not advocating carrying it with you on every trip, but if you are “car camping” as opposed to primitive camping, then throw one of these e-tools in your trunk. If I plan on making a new campsite, I take the e-tool with me. If I visit an old campsite for the first time in the season, I take the e-tool with me to clear out new growth, and remove old ashes from the fire pit.

Entrenching tools come from many different manufacturers and from different decades. You can find an older type, with a wood handle, or the most common I see today, is the tri-fold metal handle. There are many cheap fakes from Asia, and many decent “replicas” as well. There is an excellent guide on eBay “U.S. Entrenching Tool Identification — Spot a Fake!“. According to this reviewer, my newest e-tool may be a fake. While comparing it to my old e-tool, I cannot tell any physical differences, except for stamped markings. Overall design, weight and “feel” are the same. There are several types of entrenching tool carriers; the newest type is a MOLLE pouch with buckle closure in the front. I use old-school rubber ALICE carriers with snap-ons to secure the lid. In my situation it makes no sense to pay more for the MOLLE carrier, but a soldier, who may have to hit the ground hard, the snap-on ALICE pouch can come open easier than the MOLLE carrier with buckle closure.

I have used the e-tool in the field as a shovel and a spade. I think for chopping branches, a machete or hatchet are best. The e-tools weakest points are it’s hinged parts, and chopping violently stresses them much more than digging. Size of the blade is good for camp chores like digging a fire pit, or getting rocks out from underneath the tent. One could use the e-tool as a weapon in some situations, it certainly has the weight and the edge to damage flesh and bone.

A few words about using the entrenching tool… There are several hinges, and one plastic nut on the last hinge. Twist this nut counter-clockwise to allow the hinges to work. Once this is done, unfold the e-tool into desired position, shovel, pick, or closed. Twist the nut clockwise till it stops. This will lock all the hinges, and you can use your e-tool.

entrenching tool review
e tool review e tool entrenching shovel Entrenching tool

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Length w. Sheath	13.25″
Knife length	10.75″
Weight	2.8 oz
Steel material	Carbon Steel
Blade length	5.75″
Accessory	Wire cutter

If you are looking for a cheap knife to throw in your BOB and forget about it, the East German AK-47 Bayonet is a reasonably good solution.  It’s large, it has a built-in wire cutter and a saw.  I realize that the saw is pretty useless, but it’s there nonetheless.  Because this knife was designed to be attached to the AK-47 rife, its handle has a channel and a ring to go around the barrel.  These features are completely useless and inconvenient for anyone not using it with the AK-47 rifle.

The steel is pretty soft and easy to sharpen.  I gave it a brand new 20 degree edge after about half an hour of work with the Smith’s sharpening system.  It’s not as sharp as some of my other knives with better steel, but it will do; especially sitting around inside the BOB, not seeing daily use.  I am sure it will dull easily after chopping branches or digging in the dirt.  But hey, the bayonet was designed for stabbing, not so much for camp chores.

The built-in wire cutters are adequate.  I cut through a 1/8″ nail with a bit of difficulty, after a few smacks of the fist on the knife handle laying on the floor.  If you are planning to cut through a lot of wire, get a dedicated tool – this knife is a pain and kind of dangerous.  The handle is made from bakelite, and seems durable.  The knife would feel a lot more comfortable in the hand with a better designed handle.

After reading this, you may think this is a sub-par knife that does not excel in anything.  This is partially true, and for $50 you can get a great Ka-bar or a Buck Nighthawk.  However, for $15-20, this is a good tool to throw in your bag, and forget about it.

Image quality is not the best today, as I am using and older camera.

AK-47 bayonet closed East German AK-47 bayonet East German AK-47 bayonet handle
AK-47 bayonet wire cutter AK-47 bayonet wire cutter in action AK-47 bayonet

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Three of the Aquamira Frontier Filters arrived earlier this week. I bought them as a backup, and to put one each in our BOBs. Here is an exert from Aquamira’s web site:

The Frontier Emergency Water Filter System is ideal for hiking, travel, and emergency preparedness. It is the perfect addition to your 72 hour emergency kit. One unit will filter up to 20 gallons (75L) of water. Tests indicate that the Frontier Filter will remove 99.9% of Cryptosporidium and Giardia. The Frontier Emergency Water Filter System is also easy to operate, just attach and expand the straw, submerge the filter end into the water source, and drink through the straw.

Ultra light and compact, the Aquamira Frontier Emergency Filter System weighs less than one ounce and easily slips into a day pack, shirt pocket or travel luggage and is always ready when you need it. The Frontier Filter is the ideal alternative to heavy, bulky and expensive pump filtration units when space and weight are primary factors. Activated carbon helps reduce waterborne chemicals and improves water taste. Use the Frontier Emergency Water Filter System to drink from any bottle, cup or directly from water sources.

I have not used this yet, and don’t intend to unless an true emergency comes up. I do not like to use, then store, then reuse water filters. Especially something as small as this. Back of the packaging states this filter will remove pathogens and contaminants up to 3 microns. This is not very good considering Giardia and Cryptosporidium are smaller than that. The Katadyn Vario filter can filter something as small as 0.3 microns. In an emergency I will take whatever is available, and for it’s size and ease of use the Aquamira Frontier “straw filter” cannot be beat.

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Overall length	7.25″
Folded length	4.0″
Weight	3.8 oz
Steel material	8Cr14MoV stainless
Blade length	3.125″
Lock Mechanism	Locking liner

Update 5/31/2011: Just after a few weeks of use the pocket clip has lost most of it’s spring.  I had to use pliers to compress it again, so that the knife would not fall out of my pocket.  This really undermines my good overall opinion about the blade.

After a few years, the time has come to replace the Gerber AR 3.0 with something better.  Specifically, a better blade.  Numerous times I have sharpened my EDC knife, and wished I did not have to do it so often.  The carbon blade sharpens easily, but also dulls easily.

The new CRKT Vertex has a stainless steel blade, similar to AUS-8 steel.  It’s a Chinese steels that gets mostly positive reviews on various internet forums and other sites.  The blade is spring-loaded for one handed operation.  Depress the locking stud and nudge the blade forward, and it springs and locks into place.  Liner lock secures it into place for sure-handed operation.  This blade is extreme hollow ground for smooth penetration into whatever you are cutting.  The drop point version has black Micarta inserts, and the clip point sports cocobolo wood inserts.

CRKT Vertex drop point CRKT Vertex CRKT Vertex closed CRKT Vertex review

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Overall length	7″
Folded length	4.25″
Weight	untested
Steel material	stainless
Blade length	2.25″
Lock Mechanism	none

This multitool came as a part of Winchester 6 piece gift set from Wal Mart. For $10 for the whole set, I could not pass it up. The craftsmanship and materials do not feel as good as my Gerber and Leatherman multitools, and that’s ok. I beleive that tools should be used and abused, and for the price the Winchester can be beat up without breaking the bank.

It is made from stainless steel, and blades feel sharp enough to do small tasks. There are inch and centimeter markings etched into both sides of the handles, to measure something shorter than 8″. On one side there is a standard blade, a saw blade, can/bottle opener and a flat screwdriver bit. On the other side there is a nice serrated blade, a short blade, and a phillips screw driver bit. All the blades swing out when handles are fully closed, and pliers are not exposed. If you swing the handles open, the multitool becomes needle nosed pliers. This design is comfortable because the inside of the handles are smooth, and edges do not cut into your skin.

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The truth is that there are quite a few different campfire clubs of America and picking the one to enrol your kid or teenager is without a doubt challenging. However, this is one of the most important decisions as campfire clubs have a huge impact on the development of the kid. This is why your choice is important.

With this in mind, we’ve taken the liberty to provide you with a few comprehensive, popular and particularly friendly campfire clubs which should make your choice a lot easier. Without any further ado, let’s have a look.

More…

1. Boy Scouts of America

 www.scouting.org

Of course, the Boy Scouts of America is a club which requires no further introduction. It’s one of the most popular scouting organizations and it’s definitely worth your attention. It is specifically designated to serve boys from the 1st all through the 12th grade as well as girls between the ages from 14 to 20.

​The interesting thing here is that the club navigates three different programs which have separate intentions. With this in mind, these programs are:

Programs	Grade
Boy Scouts	This involves traditional scouting and campfire activities for boys between the grades of 6 and 12.
Club Scouts	This is for boys between the 1st and 5th grade. They take part in rather traditional scouting activities. For this one, there is a strong encouragement for increased parental involvement.
Venturing	This is one of the most challenging scouting programs for both girls and boys between the ages of 14 and 20. It’s definitely a must consider.

​Now, it’s also important to understand that all of the club’s programs are specifically designed to promote leadership and responsibility. They are tremendously awesome endeavours which are going to allow your kid to meet a range of other kids and learn the actual values as well as skills which will enable them to grow into a responsible and successful adult.

​2. The Girl Scouts of the USA

 www.girlscouts.org

This is another incredibly popular campfire club of America. It is another splendid opportunity for your girl to grow in a healthy yet competitive environment. This is something extraordinary and particularly important.

Now, the Girl Scouts of the USA is a club which is designated to serve girls from the Kindergarten to the 12th grade. It, however, has managed to come up with a successful age-dividing program which allows proper grouping and effective distribution of the kids. The groups are as follows.  

Group	Grade​
Daisies	These are groups for kids form the Kindergarten to the 1st grade
Brownies	These are designed for kids from the 1st to the 3rd grade
Juniors	These admit kids from the 3rd to the 6th grade
Girls from 11 to 17	These admit girls from the 6th to the 12th grade

This particular club gives girls in the country the very important opportunity to conveniently develop confidence in themselves as well as to begin feeling like young ladies in a world which is particularly contemporary.

The program which is instituted in the club strives to keep up and that’s mainly because it includes a range of different technologies as well as science activities. Of course, there is also a pinch of traditionalism expressed through the regular sewing as well as cooking undertakings. However, the program is rather progressive and through the different levels it teaches girls responsibility, values and leadership.

3. The Frontier Girls

This is another particularly exciting opportunity for girls throughout the country to take part in an interesting formation in order to bond and meet with other people alike. This is a scouting organization which is specifically designed to meet the actual needs of girls through the USA.

It is designated to serve girls and women of different faiths from preschool age all throughout adulthood and focuses on some traditional elements of the well-known scouting undertaking. These include patriotism, character development as well as leadership.

The club is also set to offer a range of different achievement badges for skill development and also focuses on community service. The entire year is filled with different projects and each troop has to fulfil some of them. It is more of a scout curriculum.

4. The Spiral Scouts International

This is another one of the popular campfire clubs of America and it serves splendid purposes for boys and girls from the ages between 3 and 18. It has been initiated as a regular pagan scouting organization designated to provide a special and calm place for children who aren’t thoroughly comfortable in subscribing to certain specific religious beliefs.

The Spiral Scouts is an organization which is specifically open to children, regardless of their faith and beliefs. This is something incredibly important, especially in the dynamic world that we live in today. The activities that the kids have to undergo include a range of different traditional scouting activities. However, they have a specific focus and lay it down towards respect for the Earth and motives of this particular type.

The club divides kids in two different age groups which include:​

Group	Age
The Spiral Scouts	From ages 8 to 14
The Path Finders	From ages 14 and above

As you can see, the division is appropriate and it does provide a sense of comfort that the kids are amongst people which are approximately their age.

5. Campfire USA

campfire.org

Now, the Campfire USA club was originally intended to admit girls only. However, this model didn’t satisfy the need of the community and back in 1975, the club got renamed from Campfire Girls to Campfire USA and started to accept boys as well.

There are various programs for kids from different ages and it has quickly become one of the most well established campfire clubs of America. With this in mind, let’s have a quick glimpse at the actual ages which are required for the kids to join as well as the different programs that the club has to offer.

Program	Grade
Little Stars	For kids from ages 3 to five – Pre-Kindergarten
Starlight	For kids throughout the 2nd grade
Adventure	For kids from the 3rd through the 5th grade
Discovery	For kids from the 6th through the 8th grade
Horizon	For kids from the 9th through the 12th grade

As you can see, there is a clear differentiation. This is something rather traditional when it comes to campfire clubs of America. The main intention behind the differentiation is to put kids from similar age groups in one place, hence allowing them the chance to actually grow up together and get used to each other. This creates a very firm sense of bonding which often lasts throughout their entire adulthood.

Conclusion​

In any case, it is obvious that there are quite a lot of different campfire clubs of America. We truly hope that you’ve enjoyed going through our carefully selected top 5 list. It’s hand picked after thorough research and it provides accurate and actual information.

However, the most important thing that you need to take into account is that your own vision and values are recognized within the organization of the club. With this being said, it is absolutely critical for your kid to grow up in an environment which is constructive and beneficial.

All of the aforementioned clubs provide real value to your kids and that’s something that you need to take into account. They are specifically designed to get kids with similar interests together and help them formulate strong bonds which withstand the test of time.

We truly hope that you’ve liked the list and that it helps you make the right decision. If you have found value in the above, please help others do the same through sharing the article. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to leave a comment down below.​