Author Archives: Woodsbum

1911 Grips

by Woodsbum

At this year’s Black Friday sale, I purchased a Para Ordnance Expert 1911 in stainless steel. The pistol feels nice and shoots quite well, but aesthetically it isn’t quite as “pimped” out as I would have liked. I guess I can’t complain too much considering the price I paid, but still I would prefer to have this pistol much more eye catching. To accomplish this I did a little shopping and decided to start my upgrading process with the grips.

Stock Para Ordnance Expert

Most grips you find online are the same design just resold by a different vendor. Not much variation seems to exist considering I wanted something obnoxious with skulls. Then I stumbled across this SPD Custom Grips place out of North Carolina. It looks like most of their products are for paintball, but they did have some grips for real handguns that look pretty redneck pimp. This is what I ordered and for a reasonable price.

SPD Custom Grips Kit

Now swapping out grips on a 1911 is almost USAF proof. It is just two screws per side and then popping the grips off the bushings. It’s a very easy and simple process.

When putting these grips on, the spacers are said to be required. Unfortunately the spacers don’t fit the grip lines exactly so there is an overhang on the edge of the grip. I will end up having to go buy a bushing tool and different bushings for low profile grips from Brownells or Midway to skip the spacers altogether.

Ill fit between grip and spacer

You can also see how thick this makes the handle of the pistol. This really isn’t that comfortable anymore so it will need to be fixed. The price for firearm fashion, I guess.

I will order my bushing parts sooner than later, but after I get my .50 BMG out of layaway and pay for some ammo I committed to purchasing. Once I get the bushings taken care of, I will do another post about that in case anyone runs into this problem like I did.

The overall appearance of the pistol after the grips is pleasing to me. The next upgrades I will do include swapping out all the black parts for stainless. This includes the main spring guide, beavertail, safety, slide release and mag release. I will leave the black trigger and hammer for accent, however.

Grips installed

Traditional Finnish Log Home Building

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by Woodsbum

I have been waiting for what I considered “the perfect time” to post this video It is about log home building in Finland. Their use of hand tools is simply amazing. I can only dream of ever getting as good with an axe as these guys. Their ability to hack out HUGE chunks of wood with such precision makes this one of my favorite videos.

Hopefully you find this video as fascinating and enjoyable as I do.

Scotch Auger

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by Woodsbum

Finding new and exciting tools to play with is almost an obsession for us “outdoorsy” types. New styles of axes, knives, saws, and the sort are always sought after and prized. A couple years ago I found a hand tool that I had never known about. The Scotch eyed auger is a sort of drill that can be used to drill holes in wood for such projects as stools, mallets, etc. At the end of this post I included two videos of people building nice projects with theirs. Unfortunately I have not built any “project” items with mine, but use mine for building cooking frames, drying racks, or privacy shelters while out in the field. I don’t tend to take pictures of those. Once you see the tool and how it is used, you will see the countless uses you would have for such a tool while in the field.

Here is what a Scotch eyed auger looks like.

Scotch eyed Auger

It has a large eye at the top for inserting branches into as a way to make a handle.

Scotch eyed auger

The end is just a screw point and cutting surface that is surprisingly sharp and easy to sharpen. Very simple idea and concept, but also very effective.

Scotch eyed auger

Again, the possible uses are countless. Here are two videos of people using an auger to make different projects. Tools such as mallets in addition to the framed structures I make for around camp are simple with one of these augers. I have also seen people make various different types of camp furniture with these things. The sky’s the limit!!!

Enjoy the videos I found. If you want to buy a Scotch auger, EBay and UK Amazon are your best bets. I got mine shipped from the UK for about $20 total price.

EZY Repellent Hanger

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by Woodsbum

Every late summer and early fall, I spend a good part of my day hanging out in a tree stand in hopes that a deer will pass beneath me. This is a wonderful past time, is relaxing to me, and very little can really make these type moments anything other than pure enjoyment. I get to watch squirrels racing around. Birds buzz right past me due to curiosity as to why a ground walking human would be 20 feet up in a tree. Then it starts to cool off and the potential for unpleasantness occurs. Mosquitoes and biting insects suddenly come out of nowhere and try to mug me for my blood. Until now I used 550 cord to tie my Thermocell to my safety strap, but I will have to do that no more. In yesterday’s mail came my EZY Repellent Hanger!!!

EZY Repellent Hanger

This device is nothing really to look at, but it does its job quite well. As you can see from the picture it just allows your Thermocell to slide down into the brackets and sit there doing its thing. Here is a picture of how it comes in the mail.

EZY Repellent Hanger

All you really do is screw it into the bark of a tree and use it. It is very simple, isn’t too heavy and I really can’t wait to use it this fall. For those of you in places like Alaska, you might consider buying two. My Navy buddy up there says that mosquitoes are the Alaska state bird.

Just so you get a good look at the instructions and the actual hanger here is one last picture for you.

EZY Repellent Hanger

I have a couple other EZY products on order so I will screw them into a tree when they all arrive so you have an idea of how they all work. For the price, functionality, and ease of use I am very happy to spend the money on this little field luxury.

RIP Chuck Buck

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by Woodsbum

Well, it appears that another legend has passed away. Chuck Buck was the grandson of the Buck Knives Company founder Hoyt Buck. It appears that he passed away Friday evening (Feb 6th, 2015). I saw the notification on Buck’s Facebook page.

“It is with heavy hearts that we regret to inform everyone that we have lost a legend. Chuck Buck, Chairman of Buck Knives, passed away Friday evening. He was an industry icon and friend to all. Please keep his family in your prayers.”

Here is what Buck has about Chuck on their company website:

“Chuck is the son of Al Buck and grandson of Buck Knives founder, Hoyt Buck. From a young age,he worked his way up through the company serving as President and CEO for many years, before handing over the reins to his son, CJ. Chuck now serves as Chairman of the Board.

“My grandfather, Hoyt Buck and my dad, Al Buck founded this company on a simple premise, to make a better knife. Our longtime, best-selling knives reflect that tradition. But we also recognize the importance of keeping pace with changing times. As we look to the future, you can be assured that the same attention to quality, performance and craftsmanship will continue.

I spent a lot of my time traveling the USA to various events, meeting our customers. It is fun to hear the stories of how you received your Buck Knife. I can always tell when a knife is pulled out, the blade is sharpened to almost nothing, the handle has dings from years of use

and your face lights up at the memory of the first time you used your knife – that your knife has been your friend. I also enjoy your letters so please keep sending them to me.”

– Chuck Buck, Chairman”

I grew up with Buck and Gerber knives as the “go to” tool for any cutting job. My children’s first hunting knives were Buck and my wife got a Buck 119 as part of a Valentine’s Day package one year. Even though I have moved to more expensive and custom knives over the last several years, Buck knives will always be a part of our family’s outdoor history.

My heart and prayers go out to the Buck family.