Thursday 9 September 2010

Bushcraft Icons: Kuksa

Traditionally carved from the burl growth of a Birch tree, these wooden cups known as Kuksa or Guksi are as Scandaweegen as anything. In the cold of the Sammi peoples arctic homeland a metal cup would be a one way ticket to a stuck lip. So the insulating properties, and light weight of wood make this a perfectly adapted tool for the region. They also look totally cool in the suburbs, and clearly designate their owner as 'more bushcraft than thou' around any campfire. So there.

More soon
Your Pal
SBW

13 comments:

Hubert Hubert said...

Seventy piggin' Euros, though! I could get an autographed pair of Ray Mears' undies for that!

Unknown said...

nice craftmanship! Nice price too! I'll just take a Solo cup please. :)

The Suburban Bushwacker said...

HH
I know! I did a trade for it, there are quite a few on the tinterweb for a lot less
SBW

The Suburban Bushwacker said...

Trey

There are more rustic ones on the way in scheduled post

SBW

BeMistified said...

I like this. Course it would probably end up hanging on my wall rather than use it, just because of it's look.

Hippo said...

I wonder how much I could get for hollowed out gourds. Come Autumn we are up to our arses in them...

Chad Love said...

I want one. Desperately.

The Suburban Bushwacker said...

Hippo

How hard do they dry?

SBW

The Suburban Bushwacker said...

Chad
I'll bring you one
SBW

Josh said...

Hippo's comment was hilarious. Those are very nice... but a tad expensive for my capabilities. It's especially cool that you made a trade for one.

The Suburban Bushwacker said...

Josh
read his blog - he's a fantastic story teller

SBW

Hippo said...

How hard do gourds dry?

Rock hard mate. I even boiled water in one over glowing charcoals. It discoloured but did its job.

Here they are used as water bottles, spoons, scoops, bowls you name it. I'll try and get some photos.

Essentially it is a use for what would otherwise be waste and once it is past its sell by date, bio degrades.

For Bemystified, they also do collections of small, different coloured ones bound with raffia to hang on your kitchen wall.

Josh, thanks, we obviously have a ssimilar sense of humour. I am just off now to study your three blogs

The Suburban Bushwacker said...

Hippo

Great looking forward to seeing them

SBW