My latest piece of kit!

 Hey all, back again with another post on a new piece of kit. This is also my first post that will also appear on the Bush Craft USA blogs. So if you found my blog there and then made your way here, welcome! I’m always looking for new readers

I just got this little gem off an auction on ebay and I’m really happy with it. It is a tired and true old school repair kit. Lots of information on it on the web, you tube videos on its use, the whole deal.  It’s not my intent to reinvent the wheel and go in to detail on the use and operation of this item.

So, here it is a Stewart MFG Speedy Stitcher stitching awl. As a size reference, that is a Swiss Army Knife Farmer propping up the box in the bottom of the picture.

This one is an old one but is in perfect working condition! Check out the shipping date and postage cost on the box from when it was originally sent to the first owner. November 30^th 1967 from Sportsman’s Post Inc. in Danbury CT to Chelmsford MA for the grand total of 10¢!

It comes to me complete with a bobbin of the course waxed thread and 3 needles: a #8 needle, a #8 curved needle and a #4 fine needle. The eye of the #4 is too small for the included thread so something finer would be needed to use that particular needle.

I am an admitted history lover and I found the included original instruction sheet and spare parts order form just as cool as the stitcher itself. My kids laughed because I spent more time looking at it than the tool.  Check out that original retail price, postage paid!

Sorry for any blurry pics and thank you for reading along!

Hi folks!


I hope your holiday season is going well. We are in the middle of travel plans and Christmas shopping around here. Today was 50+ degrees here in Minnesota and we've now lost almost all of the snow we got in November. Here's hoping we still have a white Christmas.


I've been busy lately and happily so. I was asked to be the Den Leader of my son's Cub Scout Lion cub den right after we joined up. Wrangling 5 year old boys is tough but I love every minute!


I've got a gear review in the works for a new to me antique piece of kit. Also look for another entry from the Chow Hall in the near future looking at meal planning for a 3 day trip.


Anyone else like to drink hot tea on cold winter days? One of my favorites isn't expensive and I find it everywhere but I LOVE the taste:

I've never been a coffee drinker,I have to add so much cream and sugar to get it down I might as well just be drinking hot cocoa. I also don't have one of those subtle nuanced palates, I like bold strong flavors and this tea delivers!

I highly recommend it, give it a try with a little bit of honey and it will knock the chill right off you.