Suggestions needed: I've got $80 gift card for local Army Surplus store!

[hoyden]

fish more: I don't, and I have considered getting one. I didn't look at them when I swung by there today to get prices, but I'll check them out. Thanks for the reminder and idea!

 

[N'kwala]

Fiskars sharpener works really well and I find it easy to use. I'm sure other sharpeners are good, too, but after 8 years with Fiskars I'm pretty confident. Only I've twice cut myself on my axe, not because it slipped when I was chopping but because I didn't realise how sharp it was while putting it away. Duh.

 

[hoyden]

good to know cuz I just ordered a Fiskars sharpener! ha!

Squatch - I'm not talented enough to sharpen manually
but I did order one of those heavy duty "Space Blanket"s that you linked to on Amazon.

If it's not too painfully cold here tomorrow, I'll go get bug net and (overpriced) compass at the surplus store.
Seems a lot of their prices are a little...higher....

 

[N'kwala]

Years back, my dad (who was good at this sort of stuff) spent HOURS trying to teach me to sharpen knives etc with a whetstone. He was a patient guy, but I always seemed to pull the edge off.