Great pics!

If it's 11th century and from a Viking-related culture, then it's probably a turnshoe. If it's a clump sole then it's likely not as old.

Missing San Diego, CA. I was stopped by the police for having a double-edged boot knife ("dirk or dagger") as well as a machete. The dagger was a felony, but I only got a misdemeanor bust. They gave me the machete back, almost apologetically. I was at Burning Man, which is on BLM land in N...

Recently, I inadvertently discovered hardtack . Looks like it's got quite a heritage, under various names: Hardtack http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Oldest_ship_biscuit_Kronborg_DK_cropped.jpg/320px-Oldest_ship_biscuit_Kronborg_DK_cropped.jpg I can imagine bringing along a sm...

Very good, I now recall reading about Oswald when the LOTR movies first came out.

Also, the legend of Alfred the Great, mixing among the common people in disguise, can't have been too far from Tolkien's mind.

Wow, really cool, Rik.

One of my childhood favorites was Wildwood Wisdom by Ellsworth Jaeger. Part of the appeal may have been the cartoon-like illustrations, but also since the book was written in 1945, many of these old traditions were still alive or were recent memories. Sample: http://www.shelterpub.com/_shelter/lost....

If I may revive this thread? I agree that spear is under-appreciated among Rangers, with the emphasis given to the bow (with all due respect). I've done a fair bit of study of the 14th-century sword master Fiore dei Liberi. In his manuscripts, he gives some instruction on spear and it is very enligh...

I plan on using a hand and a half sword. I would like the exercises to help build strength. ...perhaps we can move away from stage combat discussions... The pell is a tool of great ancient ancestry: it was used by Roman legionaries and gladiators alike, as well as medieval knights. But it teaches t...

There's also Rogers' Standing Orders. A lot of this is SOP for infantry units at this point. * Don't forget nothing. * Have your musket clean as a whistle, hatchet scoured, sixty rounds powder and ball, and be ready to march at a minute's warning. * When you're on the march, act the way you would if...

This guy was a street entertainer in San Francisco as I recall.

One of the keys is immobility. Your camo doesn't have to be perfect, but if you are moving around, then the effect is ruined.

I took the Standard class some years ago. I was tempted to go on and take advanced tracking and the scout series, but flying from Cali to Jersey with camping gear is something of a hassle. He's gotten more of a cult leader these days, talking about Grandfather's prophesies about the end of the world...

In my realm, we find California Bay Laurel, a tall beautiful tree with fragrant leaves. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbellularia The ancient Mukwemwa or Ohlone added these leaves to their beds to keep away insect pests. Modern testing has shown the leaves to kill fleas. https://upload.wikimedia.or...

This is a website created by a local friend of mine who teaches primitive technology. This site is a treasury of primitive technology, gleaned over many years of studying and teaching:
http://www.primitiveways.com/

I suggest the books of Tom Brown Jr. I've taken his "Standard" class here in California. He knows a ton of stuff and is a very interesting teacher. The books have a lot of information about tracking and the kind of sensitivity that a Ranger would have.