Birch Bark Back Pack

[MikeWilkinson]

O.k. Havng fallen in love with Birch Bark in the making of knife sheaths, containers and using it for tinder. I've recently found this:-

http://www.taigaspirit.com/2010/administrator/components/com_lightgallery/lightgallery/772db30b-50ec-8808-8b97-000079b8c91a_tuohireppu.jpg

I'm feeling a project coming on, maybe in spring when the bark is easiest to harvest.

[Shewie]

Wow that's stunning Mike

Do you think our bark will be up to it ?

[luresalive]

Blimey, that's magnificent, but as shewie says I don't think the birch bark we have here will be of good enough quality to produce kit like that!

[Martin]

There's only one way to find out though isn't there Mike. :)

Martin

[bikebum1975]

Fine work ya did there Mate. Would love to hear how it holds up myself keep us informed on it.

[MikeWilkinson]

Absolutely Martin, whether it works or not, the fun is in the trying.

I think the bark should be o.k. though, the stuff around here is upto 3mm thick on occasions, and the bark I've used on the sheaths seems pretty robust.
I might double it up just in case. Hardest thing will be finding enough dead birch to harvest from and finding good quality lenghts so I don't have to keep splicing in more.

Think I'll mock it up in hard paper or card first just to make sure I have a clear idea of what I'm doing and so I don't waste any bark.

[fish]

now thats the kind of thing otzi would have usd! top job

[Mouldsy]

Keep us posted mate I would like to see how you get on.

[Swamprat]

Just one more reason for me to wish that birch grew around here. you guys get all the good stuff.

[Ashley Cawley]

The thickness of Birch Bark I've seen down here in Cornwall has been pretty poor, but I have seen better stuff further north.

Hope the project goes well Mike, I look forward to reading & seeing your progress :)

[JEEP]

That is a traditional sami kont (or kontti). They are awesome!

The kont has, like the leuku and kuksa, been part of the traditional sami everyday "survival" kit for more than a thousand years, serving as the primary personal load carrier.

Unfortunally the skill of making a real kont (not the ususal poor souvenir quality ones you see today) is a dying one. If made correctly a kont is able of sustaining years of heavy use, with only minor repairs needed.

I have been looking for a good - and not too expensive - daypack size kont for a while.


Regards.

Jakob