This is my review on the Grayman Knives Ground Pounder knife, but firstly a bit about Grayman Knives.

Grayman Knives are small husband and wife company in the US. Sue does the website and orders etc and Mike designs and makes the knives.  All Grayman fixed blades are hand ground by Mike and made in the USA. Initially Grayman knives were only available to the military and law enforcement, but as Mike slowed down on other projects, it freed up more time to for knife making and they made their knives available to everyone.

Grayman Knives Ground Pounder Specification

Back to the Ground Pounder! Firstly in case you were wondering, it is called the Ground Pounder in honor of the US Military’s ground forces. I’ll give you the knife’s specifications here and then I’ll give you my thoughts, opinion and conclusion below the photos.

• The Ground Pounder is 1 3/4 inch wide with a 6 inch blade, 12 inches in length overall.
• It is made from 1/4 inch thick 1095 steel with a black DuraCoat finish. It has a heavy duty textured G10 handle (available in green or black).
• The knife has a drop-point tip, it has a single bevel and ships with what Mike refers to as a ‘toothy working edge’ (more on these later).
• The knife comes with a Cordura sheath with a kydex insert.  The sheath is MOLLE/belt compatible

Grayman Knives Ground Pounder

 Ground Pounder in its cordura sheath

 Ground Pounder and cordura sheath

 Ground Pounder full-tang spine

Ground Pounder measurements

The Grayman Knives Ground Pounder is a big, heavy duty knife, that is designed and made to be used. It is a very serious knife, if I had to choose one word to describe it is would be ‘hefty’. It”s a hefty knife that wants to cut, chop and pry all day long. If I had to survive in the wilderness and I could take just one tool with me, it would be a knife like this (actually it would be this knife!).

I have had this knife for several weeks and I have used it for many different things, I have used it to cut all manner of material; I have chopped branches, batoned wood for fires and made feather sticks.  I even did some digging with it! The knife’s biggest strength is its only weakness. It is one big, heavy-duty knife that wants to be abused.  It is a jack of all trade, but also a master of most of them as well. The weakness is the size, it is just too big to be great for really nimble/delicate tasks.  That said the well designed choil does make the knife a lot more nimble for its size.

Quality and dependability aside, the unique thing about the Ground Pounder is that its blade is ‘single bevel’, this means the blade edge is ground on only one side (most knives are ground on both sides), similar to a chisel, actually it is sometimes referred to as a ‘chisel grind’. There is a more in-depth explanation on single bevel grind and why it is used on the Grayman Knives website. I really like this feature as it makes sharpening the knife much quicker and easier when you are away from home or base camp. I also found that the the single bevel design actually aids branch chopping etc.  I think it is as much to do with the 1095 carbon steel used to make the knife, as it is the single bevel edge, but with a bit of work this knife can be made scary sharp! Additionally I found it remained sharp for quite some time.

The Ground Pounder ships with what Mike refers to as a ‘toothy working edge’.  It is basically a more aggressive, raspy edge with tiny rough ridges. Personally this edge was not for me. I can totally see why it would be great for military heavy duty use etc, but I didn’t find it ideal for finer tasks such as making feather sticks. I actually ended up sharpening it out to a finer edge, which I felt was much sharper, but to be honest, this is all just personal taste.  You might love the ‘toothy working edge’, but if not, you can sharpen the knife, it’s not an issue.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to be a fan of the DuraCoat finish, but it has held up really well.  It protects the steel against rust and it makes the knife easy to clean. It also stops the knife reflecting light if you are in a covert situation, although this works in reverse if you are in a survival situation, as you cannot use the knife blade for signalling for help etc.

The G10 handle is comfortable and has great grip. One thing I would say is it’s a big old handle and I don’t think it would be that comfortable for folks with smaller hands. In front of the handle is a choil, which is an excellent feature as it enables you to have much better control over the blade for more precise/delicate tasks.

The cordura sheath has a kydex insert and it’s MOLLE/belt compatible. It’s not pretty, but it does what it is supposed to do – it holds and protects the knife (and you!) very well. The webbing makes it very easy to attach to a pack which is a great feature.

Grayman Knives Ground Pounder Conclusion

I get emails all the time asking for me to recommend knives for bug-out-bags and for wilderness survival. Typically people ask – what one knife would you recommend for my pack, that is dependable and has multiple uses, so it will save me carrying several tools?

I am by no means an expert on knives, but it seemed that all the knives I have had experience of, have some kind of limitation. With this in mind I set about finding a ‘one knife for every situation’ that could cover all bases in a survival situation.  This was when I stumbled across Grayman Knives and I was immediately drawn to the Ground Pounder and that leads us to where we are today.

I already liked the look of the Ground Pounder which is why I got hold of one to review. I have high expectations for my gear and tools and I think the Ground Pounder is as close as you will get to a one knife for every task in survival situations.  It excels at the hard tasks of cutting, chopping, digging and prying, but largely due to the well implemented choil, it can tackle the finer tasks as well. It is not as good at the finer tasks, but you can get them done with a bit more time and care. You are never going to get a tool that can chop wood, hack down branches and dig holes, that is also great for carving, dressing game and preparing food. To be honest, I’ll also carry a smaller folding knife for preparing food etc, and I would recommend doing this, BUT you don’t absolutely need to.

If you don’t want to carry a separate machete, hatchet, entrenching tool and knife, then the Grayman Knives Ground Pounder could be the tool for you.  It excels at the tough work and yet still just about manages to be nimble enough to get the finer tasks accomplished as well. If you only want to carry one tool, this is that tool!

The Ground Pounder comes with several different blade choices. The one featured here is the single bevel, single edge option and it currently costs $195. Yes, this is a sizeable amount of money, but each knife is hand ground and made in the US by Mike, and if you purchase one, the money you spend is an investment rather than a cost, as you are investing in a knife that will have your back and won’t let you down, no matter what situation you find yourself in, for the rest of your life… Another thing to bear in mind is – if you are considering purchasing this knife for a bug-out-bag or survival kit and you want to travel light, having this knife saves you the cost of  having to purchase a separate machete, hatchet and possible an entrenching tool.

Finally, there is also the Grayman Knives fixed blade warranty: “Free sharpening anytime. You pay postage, and I’ll sharpen her up and send her right back. If you break it (yeah right) send it back and I’ll fix or replace it post haste. If you sell it, give it away, or will it to a family member or fave charity, the warranty goes with it.”  You can’t ask for much more!

I highly recommend the Grayman Knives Ground Pounder knife! It is now the knife packed in my bag and it sits there ready for adventure…

Originally posted 2013-05-01 18:25:08.

This review is on the Kelly Kettle Base Camp model in stainless steel. Kelly Kettles come in three different sizes, with some made from aluminium and some made from stainless steel. The Base Camp model is the largest in the range, but other than their size, all of the other Kelly Kettles perform in the same manner.

The Kelly Kettle is the original outdoor kettle. The first Kelly Kettle was developed in the 1890s by the great grand-father of the current company directors. These days the Kelly Kettle is often imitated, but never bettered. You might find a cheaper alternative, but the build quality of the Kelly Kettle is so good, it will likely last you a lifetime.  You’ll probably end up handing it down to your kids..

So what does the Kelly Kettle do that makes it so unique? Well firstly, check out the image below which shows how the kettle works. It is simple, yet genius!

 Kettle removed from fire base

As you can see, I simply used some cardboard to light the fire. I put the kettle on the base, dropped several pine cones down the chimney and lit the fire via the small hole (just about visible in the photo below) in the fire base.  A few more pine cones and seven minutes later I had 1.5 litres of boiling water!

You can burn pretty much anything you can fit in the fire base and chimeny; twigs; pine cones; tree bark; dry grass; paper and cardboard. The thing that makes the Kelly Kettle truly unique is the speed with which it boils water. I managed to boil 1.5 litres of cold water in seven minutes and the timer started when I first lit the fire. When trying to boil water with the kettle (when a fire was already established and burning well) I repeatedly managed to boil 1.5 litres of cold water in around five minutes. Now that might not sound amazing when compared to your electric kettle at home, but anyone who has boiled water on outdoor stoves or over fires, will know that that is astonishingly fast…

 Kelly Kettle boiling water

 Kelly Kettle with pot support and pan

 

Aside from boiling water, there are also some accessories available which allow you to cook on the Kelly Kettle.  There is the pot support (above) and the the two piece fire base grill (below). Now these are great additions, but they don’t come as standard, but I would recommend purchasing both.  However there are limitations.

Firstly, if you will be using the Kelly Kettle for cooking on, it is recommended that you purchase the stainless steel version as it is more durable and heat resistant than the aluminium version. The second limitation is that it is stated that you should only really use the Kelly Kettle for cooking quick meals such as noodles, oatmeal, eggs, sausages and bacon etc.  This is because the kettle needs to have water in it when in use.  If you use it for cooking on without having water in it, you will damage it.

So basically you have five to ten minutes of cooking time using the pot support on the top of the kettle, but if your food isn’t cooked in this time, you can remove the kettle from the fire base and add the grill attachment and finish off your food on there. I discussed cooking with Patrick, one of the directors at Kelly Kettle, and he explained that cooking on the kettles is a relatively new thing, with historically the main purpose of the kettles being to boil water in super quick time.

He did give me two great tips for cooking on the Kelly Kettle though:

When cooking noodles etc on the top of the kettle, first boil some water which can be poured over the noodles to speed up cooking time. You can then refill the kettle and cook them before it boils again.
If you want to continue cooking on the top of the Kelly Kettle after the water has boiled, it is ok (with caution!) to continue cooking for a short period, with the water continuing to boil.

 Fire base with to piece grill attachment

 Cooking/boiling water on the fire base grill

Conclusion

The Kelly Kettle has been around for over a 100 years and it is probably more popular now than it has ever been.  There is a reason for this – it is a very well made, high quality bit of kit that boils water outdoors faster than any other reasonable method. I would give it 10/10 for build quality and 10/10 for its main ability of boiling water. I would give it 7/10 for cooking on, but we need to remember that cooking is the Kelly Kettle’s secondary use, and as long as you are aware of the limitations, it is perfectly fine.  The problem is the kettle is just so efficient at boiling water, it doesn’t give you a great deal of time for cooking!

I think the Base Camp Kelly Kettle would be ideal for: fishing, car camping, preparedness, Scouts, picnics and construction sites. Personally I wouldn’t use it for hiking or wilderness camping as it is too big and bulky.  That said, the Base Camp is the largest kettle in the range, there is also the Scout Kettle and Trekker Kettle. Another thing to note is that if you purchase the additional pot support and cook set (pan/lid, handle and two piece grill) , these all fit and are stored inside the kettle for storage, so they don’t take up any additional space.

Overall, I completely recommend the Kelly Kettle.  If you’ve read my review, you understand its strengths and limitations, if you think it suits your needs and you are thinking of getting one, don’t hesitate! It will likely last you a lifetime. Additionally, I have nothing but great things to say about the folks from Kelly Kettle.  They couldn’t have been more helpful and friendly.

Cost

For this review I received a Kelly Kettle Base Camp in stainless steel, which came as part of a kit which included the the pot support, pan/lid, handle, grill and bag.  This kit currently retails at $108.99, although you can purchase the kettle alone for $89.99, the aluminium kettles are cheaper again. Kelly Kettles can also be purchased directly from Kelly Kettle (UK, Ireland & Europe) and Kelly Kettle USA.

Originally posted 2013-04-24 18:00:48.

Cordura d-ring bag with the firebox stove inside

The Folding Firebox Stove is a compact folding stove made from stainless steel. When folded the stove measures just 7.5 inches x 5 inches by 3/8 inch thick and it all fits nicely into a cordura d-ring bag (see the photos above and below). When set up the stove measures 7.5 inches x 5 inches, which is actually a great size for a stove which is so compact when stored.

The Folding Firebox Stove is a multi-fuel stove, in that it is designed (and can be configured in slightly different ways) to burn wood/pine cones, solid fuel tablets, gel fuels, wood pellets, charcoal briquettes and it can even fit an alcohol burner. Personally I think it is most useful when used to burn wood/pine cones and charcoal.

Side view of the folded firebox stove

 The firebox stove and accessories I received to review 

In the photo above you can see the kit I received to review.  It includes: the Folding Firebox (bottom right), the extended grill plate, adjustable fire grate & two extra fire sticks (bottom left), and the heavy duty cordura D-ring bag (top). Everything other than the Folding Firebox stove itself are additional extras, which can be purchased individually or as part of various kit options.

The set-up Folding Firebox stove

 The stove with the extended grill plate attached

The extended grill plate is great as it gives you an expanded grilling surface for grilling/barbecuing meat and fish etc.  The plate is 7.5 inches by 5 inches so it is a good size for such a compact stove.

 The stove burning some pine cones and twigs

 The stove boiling water very quickly!

Not much left after the fire

My Thoughts On The Folding Firebox Stove

The Folding Firebox stove is very well made, in fact if possible, it might be too well made…  The thing is it is made of a heavier gage stainless steel than other camp stoves, this makes it very durable and it won’t ever warp like cheaper stoves made from thinner metals. I can’t see how you would every break or damage this stove.  The downside to this is the stove’s weight, it weighs 2lbs which makes it pretty heavy for hiking and wilderness camping etc.  That said, I don’t think the weight is a deal breaker, because whilst the stove is quite heavy, you don’t have to carry any additional fuel such as gas canisters etc.

Aside from the quality of construction, the stove is also very well designed. Everything is hinged together nicely and falls into place in seconds and then basically the stove is ready to go.  You can then configure the stove a few different ways with the  fire sticks and adjustable fire grate (added extra). The way the fire sticks work is genius, they are used in various positions for cooking and when you fold up the stove, they slide into some groves and hold the stove folded in place. If as I recommend, you purchase an additional set of fire sticks, they can also be used to pick up the stove and move it when in use, which is a great feature.

The Folding Firebox stove is also quite a bit larger than other similar wood burning stoves I have seen, it is easily big enough to cook food for two, possibly even three people depending on what you are cooking.  This is due to its size and the fact it is top feeding so you can fit a whole load of fuel into the stove making it capable of cooking much larger portions of food.

Folding Firebox Stove Conclusion

When I first received the stove I was surprised by its weight, however after using the stove I am blown away by its quality and versatility.  When folded it measures just 7.5 inches x 5 inches by 3/8 inch thick, but when set up due to its large top feeding 7.5 x 5 inch size, it is capable of cooking greater quantities of food than similar portable stoves.  I have seen photos online of people using Dutch ovens on Folding Firebox stoves.  When you add to this the fact  you can burn almost any fuel source on it, it makes the Folding Firebox stove a real winner!

Sure the weight will be an issue for some, but I think the stove is a great choice for camping/base camp, fishing/hunting, day trips to the park/beach etc. It is also a great option for preppers for use either at home for power outages etc or for packing in the bug-out-bag or vehicle.  The only people I would not recommend this stove to would be light weight/ long distance hikers.

Aside from everything I have mentioned so far, the thing I like the most about the Folding Firebox stove is that it allows you to have a fire and cook without scaring the earth or leaving a trace that you have been there. I hate it when people make needless camp-fires everywhere in the wilderness and leave behind scared earth and burned wood etc. Sure, it is fine to have a nice camp-fire at base-camp sometimes, but they are not necessary everywhere and every time.  The Folding Firebox allows you to have a fire anywhere you like, without damaging the surrounding environment in any way, and that gets a big tick in the box from me!

The bottom line – note the weight, but as far as I am concerned, the Folding Firebox stove is recommended to everyone apart from lightweight/long distance hikers. Mine will be going in my bug-out bag!

Purchasing/Price & Discount Code

The Folding Firebox stove currently costs $59.99 which includes FREE shipping in the USA.

Folding Firebox Stove.com have been kind enough to offer all Knowledge Weighs Nothing visitors a 10% discount.

To get the discount: enter the code: “kwn” in the promotional code section during checkout at http://foldingfirebox.com

If you don’t enter the discount code kwn (exactly as it is) during checkout, you won’t receive the discount!

Originally posted 2013-04-13 16:36:10.