A LIVING HISTORY BLOG.

18TH CENTURY LIVING HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA.

Thursday 13 June 2013

Skills List For Woodsrunner's in our Group.

The Station Camp By David Wright.

Woodsrunner’s Skills.
This is a list of basic skills in which I personally would expect an 18th century woodsman or woods-woman to have some experience with.
·         Flint & steel fire lighting
·         Wet weather fire lighting
·         Fire-bow fire lighting
·         Flintlock fire lighting
·         Flintlock use, service & repair
·         Field dressing & butchering game
·         Blade sharpening
·         Tomahawk throwing
·         Making rawhide
·         Brain tanning
·         Primitive shelter construction
·         How to stay warm in winter with only one blanket
·         Cordage manufacture
·         Moccasin construction and repair
·         Sewing
·         Axe and tomahawk helve making
·         Fishing
·         Hunting
·         Evasion
·         Tracking
·         Reading sign
·         Woods lore
·         Navigation
·         Primitive trap construction & trapping
·         Open fire cooking
·         Fireplace construction
·         Clothing manufacture
·         Drying meat & other foods
·         Knowledge of plant tinders & preparation
·         Knowledge of native foods & preparation
·         Knowledge of native plants in the area and their uses for other than tinder and food.
·         Scouting/Ranging.
·         Basic first aid.
·         Finding and treating water.
·         General leather work.



5 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

The only one I'd question would be throwing axes and tomahawks. I'd generally want to hang onto mine, though the skill couldn't hurt.

Keith said...

Yes Gorges, a personal choice I guess, but the original Rangers in the 18th century apparently practiced it, & I think it is a good skill to have.
Keith.

Unknown said...

Pardon the intrusion Keith, but as far as learning those skills, where would/should someone start? I've purchased your book and it should be shipping within a week. But there's a lot more to learn and I am certainly a novice.

Thanks for your time.

Todd

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Keith said...

Hi Todd. I had to do a lot of research for these skills, & I started a long time ago. I have made some primitive skills DVDs, perhaps you could start with these:
https://www.trepstar.com/purchase.asp?idpub=30560&mode=all

Regards, Keith.
Contact me again if you need more info Todd.