The BK10 is among my favorite “Tactical” style knives. While tactical knives aren’t generally my favorite for bushcraft, they can sometimes be very good for general use still. The Becker BK2 is one of those. Here is my short write-up.
Features
High carbon steel blade
Full tang construction
Durable nylon sheath out of the box
The steel
The steel is a very high quality 1095 Cro-Van steel. This means that along with a high carbon content for durability, it has elements in the alloy such as Chromium and Vanadium. These elements are common in high quality steel tools, such as wrenches, hammers, and other knives. And for good reason. Without going to much into the metallurgy of it as I can’t say that is my best field of knowledge, I definitely know that this steel works great and is very durable both at holding an edge and holding up to chopping and batoning.
Full tang Construction
Full tang construction is generally considered the “gold standard” of making a durable knife for the harsh environments of the outdoors. It’s not necessarily the most important, as some knives are extremely durable and only have a “rat tail” tang, (such as most Morakniv knives) but it usually means that the knife is well made if considering that it has good steel as well.
The Sheath
The sheath that this knife comes with is pretty ugly, but it’s durable and “just works”. The stitching is durable and it has held up pretty good for now.
Thanks for reading this short article, and have a nice day. Please comment if you enjoy this blog!
Fatwood is an excellent resource for firemaking. Pitch can also be extracted from fatwood and used as a sealant for leather water vessels, or be used as a glue/adhesive. So, how do you collect it?
Decaying logs
On some decaying logs on the forest floor, you can chop into the core with an axe and find fatwood within.
Standing dead timber
Standing dead timber can be a good source of fatwood as well. Search for low branches, and snap them off at the base of where they connect to the timber. Near the knothole, a lot of pitch has usually collected which makes for rich fatwood. The branches can often be used for firewood as well, as they are usually nice and dry due to being elevated off of the wet ground. Sometimes you will still have to split these open to get dry sides of these branches of course.
Dead old stumps
Old stumps left over from thinning by loggers or the forest service can be a very abundant source of rich red fatwood. Chop around with an axe, usually near the bottom of the stump and you might find some great fatwood, in some cases, more than you can carry!
Processing the fatwood
Splitting the fatwood into smaller chunks is always a great idea, I like splitting it into sticks that can be shaved later to make smaller material for fire starting.
Why is fatwood so good for firecraft?
The main reason is because so much sap/pitch is in fatwood, it can burn for a very long time. this can help start other materials to catch fire if they were otherwise too wet to burn, because they can be exposed to heat long enough to dry out. Also, a pile of fatwood shavings burns like a torch! Very hot, and a lot of flame, which will as said previously, help dry out wet branches or other firewood.
As with any firecraft material, I reccommend carrying whatever you can if you are traveling through nature. Of course if car camping, or traveling with an ATV, you can carry much more. Either way, you never know if the place you camp next will have enough firecraft material. Also, when it’s cold and rainy, you won’t want to deal with collection.
Thanks for reading, and please comment if you liked this article!
The old hickory carbon steel butcher knife is a great classic, full tang, and extremely affordable knife that can be great for bushcraft or survival tasks. It is also fairly lightweight as well and has nice hardwood scales/grips.
The steel.
I’d say the steel is of excellent quality, and has a good heat treat especially when considering the price. Almost any other knife in this price range besides a Morakniv knife will be made of low quality steel. I love my Morakniv knives but the old hickory knife is my current go-to. Due to the nature of basic high carbon steel, it can be rough sharpened on a sandstone (with skill) and stropped with a leather belt or strip. The blade must be dried or oiled after use to prevent rust. Over time, it will gain a natural patina, essentially a small amount of oxidation but not red, crappy rust, and this will make the blade a dark grey color and help prevent actual rust from setting in. This knife also throws sparks with a flint or quarts rock very nicely due to the high carbon content.
2. The general shape.
Overall, the knife is shaped very nicely out of the box/bag, but it is a little rough around the edges. You will want to take some light sandpaper to the handle to round off the corners, and file or grind the back to a nice square/90 degree angle to help the knife strike ferrocerium rods as well as making it more useful for scraping tasks with the back of the blade. Use caution with a power grinder not to over heat the blade and damage the heat treat. This knife does not include a sheath, but I have found that the USMC Ka Bar leather sheath, which is made of a thick durable full grain leather can be used as well as a yucca plant stock. For a yucca plant stock sheath, get a section of stock that is wider in diameter than the blade and carefully shove the blade through until it makes a nice groove/hole to keep the knife blade secure when carrying the knife in a bag. These makeshift yucca sheathes can also be wrapped with cord or sinew to prevent the from splitting, and if you can’t find a dry piece to make a fireboard or spindle, it could double as a firecraft piece for a friction fire set.
3. Links to purchase this product and other equipment. (Affiliate links, no extra cost for you to support the blog!)
The knife (Regular carbon steel butcher knife no longer on amazon, but they have a “hunting knife” that is exactly the same. (unfortunately more expensive these days)
One of the most exciting things in the southwest is the cowboy culture. I’ve lived here my whole life, I have a revolver, but I wanted to get something that could be a good display piece but also fit in with a traditional western bushcraft kit. Black powder looked to be the way, and I tried it and I love it! So in this review, we will talk about the Pietta 1851 navy revolver in 44 caliber.
My “black powder thoughts”
My thoughts on black powder firearms is that although they are very old fashioned, they can still be a very useful addition to your kit and help you learn more about how they did it in the days of the old old west. Black powder guns can use round bullets made from melted down scrap lead, such as wheel weights, fishing weights, or even other cartridges that you couldn’t use for a purpose that the black powder gun will fill. For example, you could take lead from multiple 22lr rounds and use it to make a 50 cal ball for a Kentucky pattern black powder rifle to hunt large game. Black powder can also be made from basic ingredients available at department stores and online stores, making it even easier to stock up on ingredients as a prepper, and for the bushcrafter it will force you to learn a new old time skill. Wads can be made from old cotton scraps, and grease to lubricate the metal and to protect it from rust can be made of animal fats or even shortening. I don’t know to much about cap/primer manufacturing, but I’m sure it can be DIY as well with the right knowledge and supplies/equipment.
Why a revolver and not another type of cap and ball pistol?
I chose a revolver due to the general nature of the benefits of having multiple shots before a reload. A Kentucky pistol or dragoon pistol could also be a good item for a bushcraft kit, but I like the idea of having multiple shots because I’m not exactly a sharpshooter, and for self defense you might need those extra shots, whether it be from a rabid coyote or mountain lion or a small bear. I do however plan on purchasing a Traditions brand blunderbuss or Rifle kit for a good black powder long gun for bigger game hunting/better defense.
Unboxing
I purchased mine online from sportsmans.com (not affilliated with sportsman’s, but just giving you where to go to see my review on that website.)
Test firing
Revolver Test Firing.
Forgot hearing pro on the second clip.
Loading the firearm
Step 1. Put the powder charge in first in a cylinder.
Step 2. Put a greased/lubricated wadding in a cylinder.
Step 3. Put the lead ball bullet in a cylinder.
Step 4. Rotate the wheel-gun so that the cylinder is under the plunger, and push down hard on the plunger and compact the bullet into it.
Notes: There should be a small lead ring that is shaved off of each bullet when pressed into the chambers. This signifies a tight seal which will prevent chain fires. Also, if you are in wet weather, or want to keep the gun extra lubricated, I recommend using some beeswax or grease, a small amount on top of each loaded chamber to prevent moisture from getting into the powder charge and keep everything well oiled.
Some tools I recommend carrying: Besides the essential tools/measuring instruments, I recommend carrying a needle or safety pin to remove things from the holes where you place the caps/primers. Also, if you accidentally load a wadding into the chamber before the powder and bullet, it makes it much easier to remove. It might even be nearly impossible to remove it without a basic needle.
What do I carry in my “possibles bag”:
A possibles bag is a basic sack made of durable fabric. it can be any bag really, just a small-medium size bag that you use to carry resources you find in the field, as well as essentials for your firearm and anything else you might possibly need. My possibles bag is made of a length of an old canvas pants leg that is stitched shut on one end and a drawstring was added to the other, making a durable sack for carrying various items in my bushcraft kit in the field. What I use my possibles bag mainly for though, is for carrying firearm cleaning accessories, powder charges, wads and bullets. Then I just keep it tucked under my belt.
Here is a mostly complete list of what I carry in my possibles bag:
Black powder or black powder substitute pellets
Caps/Primers
Safety pins
Wadding patches.
A small tub of beesewax/oil grease
Small can of Hoppe’s 9 gun CLP
Round ball bullets
22 ammo if carrying a 22 rifle. (for small game hunting)
Bandannas or rags for cleaning steel tools (knives, firearms, saw blades.
As previously stated, I keep it on my belt for quick access for reloading, as well as quick access for putting natural resources gathered from the desert.
As for the revolver, I just tuck it into my belt for now, and keep the hammer in between the chambers to make it relatively drop safe. I do keep it loaded so it is ready to use as a self defense firearm. It it’s raining or wet, I can keep my shirt untucked to keep water from getting all over my belt knife and revolver.
Overall, I recommend this revolver. Considering the balance between price and craftsmanship, I will rate it at 5/5 stars.
Thanks for reading, and remember to get out there and practice your survival and bushcraft skills! Get Ready!
In the world of two-way radio, you have your cheap, accessible radios and then you have your robust, commercial-grade tools. The Kenwood TK-290 falls squarely into the latter category. While it may not have the modern bells and whistles of a 2025 radio, it’s a solid, heavy-duty piece of gear that gets the job done—as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into.
Rugged and Reliable… But Not On the Fly
First things first, this thing is built like a tank. It’s got a solid, hefty feel that inspires confidence, especially when you’re out in the Arizona desert or navigating a rough trail. Unlike some of the cheaper plastic radios you find on the market, the TK-290 is designed for professional use, with military-grade ruggedness. The audio quality is fantastic—it’s got that deep, clear commercial sound that cuts through noise better than many of its amateur-grade counterparts.
This radio is a workhorse, and for good reason. It’s been a staple for public safety, government, and utility sectors for years. It has a respectable 160 channel capacity and features like dual priority scan, giving you the ability to monitor multiple important frequencies. The LCD screen is a simple 7-character alphanumeric display, which is more than enough for what this radio is designed to do.
You can really feel the history in these radios. Several of the ones I’ve come across have been used previously by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. They’ve been through who knows how many fires, rescue missions, and emergency calls, and yet they still work perfectly. It’s a testament to their incredibly durable construction and a reminder that these radios were designed to withstand the absolute worst conditions imaginable. They’ve earned their scars.
The Major Downfall: No FPP (Front Panel Programming)
Now, here’s the kicker, and it’s a big one if you’re used to the convenience of a Baofeng. The Kenwood TK-290 lacks true Front Panel Programming. For anyone who enjoys the freedom of FPP to set up a new simplex frequency or a repeater on the fly, this radio will feel incredibly restrictive. You can’t just punch in a frequency and go.
Instead, the TK-290 relies on computer software and a proprietary programming cable (the KPG-36, for example). This means that to program a new repeater or channel, you have to connect the radio to a PC, use the software to input the frequency and other settings, and then “write” the data to the radio. This is a huge downside if you’re out in the field and need to quickly adapt to a new situation. It’s not a tool for ad-hoc, off-grid communication in the same way a Baofeng is.
While this might seem like a pain, it’s a feature, not a bug, from a commercial perspective. For businesses and public services, it ensures that all radios are programmed to a specific, standardized set of frequencies and features, preventing unauthorized changes. But for the average ham radio operator or bushcrafter, it’s a significant limitation.
Final Thoughts: A Tool with a Purpose
Overall, the Kenwood TK-290 is a fantastic radio, but you have to understand its purpose. It’s not a casual, flexible radio for experimenting and quick field programming. It’s a rugged, reliable, and purpose-built piece of equipment that shines when it’s pre-programmed for a specific set of tasks. As a Japanese-made commercial radio, its quality is top-notch, adhering to strict manufacturing standards that prioritize long-term performance and durability over user-friendly convenience. It’s a true professional’s tool, and when evaluated on that basis, it excels in every way.
I’d rate this radio at 5/5 stars for overall quality as a Japanese commercial radio. It’s a solid piece of hardware with excellent build quality and audio, and its lack of FPP is a deliberate design choice for the markets it serves. If you’re looking for a simple, bombproof radio to put on a few specific channels and never touch again, the TK-290 is a great choice. But if you need the freedom to adapt in the field, you’ll want to stick with a radio like the Baofeng.
For this review, we will begin based on claims that the seller has made, and to what extent said radio lives up to said claims.
Article contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, you can keep this blog supported just by purchasing any already wanted products from these links. I do not receive these products for free, I purchase them with my own funds and provide honest reviews here at arizonabushcraft.com. Thank you for your support!
(Per the product listing + description here on amazon.com)
Tri-Band Flexibility for Licensed Amateur Operators: Unlock unparalleled versatility with the ability to operate across VHF, UHF, and the 1.25M band, offering broader communication options for licensed operators. With a powerful 10W output on VHF/UHF and 5W on 1.25M, the BF-F8HP PRO ensures you’re equipped for clear, reliable transmissions across multiple bands.
Emergency Ready with NOAA Weather Radio and GPS: Stay ahead of the storm with built-in NOAA weather mode, keeping you informed of severe weather. Paired with GPS location sharing, you’re always prepared for any situation, whether in emergencies or outdoor adventures.
Customizable Zone Management for Ultimate Control: Manage your communications with ease using customizable zone control, allowing you to organize up to 1000 channels across multiple zones. Dual independent zone control lets you monitor two zones simultaneously for ultimate flexibility.
Aviation Reception: The BF-F8HP PRO provides aviation band monitoring with 108-136 MHz coverage, AM modulation, and 8.33 kHz channel spacing. Ideal for aviation enthusiasts this feature allows you to stay updated on airband communications (RX only) with crystal-clear reception.
Firmware Updatable for Long-Term Value: Stay ahead of the game with firmware updates using the PC03 Programming Cable, ensuring your BF-F8HP PRO always has the latest features and performance enhancements. Unlike other distributors that push you to buy new radios for updates, we prioritize sustainability by reducing e-waste and designing a product built to last. Invest in a radio that grows with you, not again1st you.
BTECH is proud to be in the USA, which allows you to have the best available local support for any issue that may arise. BTECH only engineers and develops radio products. This brand focus allows you to have the best available radios and accessories with the most features, with real USA warranty and sup2port.
1. Tri Band TX/RX
This radio does have both 2, 1.25, and 70cm RX/TX capability. Note, however, that you may want to get a better antenna for use with 1.25 meter than the default secondary antenna that is provided. I can’t speak for how good the SWR of the provided antennas are, but I assume they are usable. Both antennas I received are of the “rubber duck” variety, meaning short, and rubbery, and not as high of gain as a longer whip antenna such as a Nagoya antenna or a Signal Stick antenna. I recommend a Nagoya antenna or an “Authentic Genuine Abree” clone of the Nagoya when it comes to more serious use, especially with VHF. Although, at the end of the day, whether you can hit a repeater or another simplex station on an HT with any antenna, the antenna matters less and more of where you and the radio are positioned. Overall, the radio meets these specific advertised claims. Let’s get to the next point.
2. NOAA weather listening capability.
NOAA weather listening works just as expected, and you can bind one of the two programmable SK (side key buttons) on the radio (located both above and below the PTT button) to start listening to NOAA weather radio. If you don’t hear a NOAA station, press and hold the “#” key on the radio until it starts scanning. You should hear a NOAA weather radio broadcast robot voice after a couple seconds or less. This can of course be extremely useful for getting weather information anytime and especially in a critical emergency or disaster where you don’t have internet access or need information in a quick, direct format.
3. GPS and GPS sharing.
I like the GPS feature on this radio, but it’s really not one of the radio’s strong points. If only for one major reason: This radio doesn’t share GPS location information via standard APRS packets; it uses an unknown proprietary protocol that Baofeng has made. This makes it impossible to interface with other systems such as those using a soundmodem (Direwolf) or APRS I-gates. Having said that, I do like it bechttps://amzn.to/4pqkYYLause it still works, and if you are using these radios as a team, it will let you easily share your speed, deg N/E/W/S, etc. to other users. But the format it shares over is this feature’s main weak point. If this radio did APRS for this price, it would be a STEAL.
4. Customizable Zone Management
The customizable zone management is a big plus for this radio. If you’re coming from a traditional Baofeng, you know how annoying it can be to scroll through hundreds of channels you don’t use to get to the handful you do. With zone management, you can group channels into logical sets. For example, you could have a “Local Repeaters” zone, a “Simplex” zone, and an “Emergency” zone. This makes operating the radio much more efficient and less frustrating. You can also monitor two zones at once, which is great for keeping an ear on a local repeater while also monitoring a specific simplex frequency. This feature definitely lives up to the claim and is a major improvement over older models.
5. Aviation Reception
The BF-F8HP PRO does indeed receive aviation communications in the 108-136 MHz range, and it does so with AM modulation, which is what’s used for airband comms. It’s a nice feature to have, especially if you’re an aviation enthusiast or just curious about what’s going on overhead. The reception is clear, and the 8.33 kHz channel spacing is a key feature, as it’s the new standard for many aviation frequencies. This is a “listen only” feature, so you can’t transmit on these frequencies, which is a good thing for safety and FCC regulations. The radio meets this claim perfectly, and it’s a neat bonus for a handheld radio in this price range.
6. Firmware Updatable
This is a big one. The ability to update the firmware on a Baofeng radio is a game-changer. Historically, when a new bug was found or a feature was added, you had to buy a new radio. BTECH’s claim of providing firmware updates through a PC03 programming cable means this radio has a longer lifespan and can be improved over time. The process of updating the firmware with BTECH’s official CPS tool was remarkably easy, as was uploading a large number of channels and information from RepeaterBook to the memory banks using CHIRP. It’s worth noting that while CHIRP is the quickest option for loading numerous channels, the official BTECH CPS software is the best for tweaking certain settings that are specific to this radio, giving you more granular control.
7. USA-based Support
BTECH is a USA-based company, and this is a huge advantage. If you’ve ever tried to get support for a generic Baofeng, you know it can be a nightmare. BTECH’s USA-based support means you can get help from real people who understand the product and can troubleshoot issues. They are also licensed amateur radio operators, so they speak the same language you do. This level of support, along with a real USA warranty, is worth its weight in gold. The focus on developing only radio products also means they are experts in their field. This claim is absolutely true and provides peace of mind that you’re not just buying a throwaway radio.
Picture provided from the baofeng website.
A Note on the Display
One minor point of contention for me, living in Arizona, is the display. While the color display is crisp and vibrant, and looks fantastic in low light or at night, it can be a bit challenging to read in the bright, direct sunlight that we get here. I’ve always preferred the high-contrast, monochrome LCDs for their excellent readability in full sun. However, for most use cases, the color display on this radio is superior and adds a modern feel to the device.
Final Verdict
Overall, the BTECH BF-F8HP PRO lives up to its claims. It’s a solid tri-band radio with a lot of features packed into a small package. The tri-band TX/RX is a great feature, and while the GPS isn’t perfect, it’s a nice addition for team use. The zone management, aviation reception, and firmware updatability are all major selling points that set this radio apart from its competition. When you factor in the USA-based support and warranty, it’s hard to beat the value proposition of this radio. I’d give it a 4/5 star rating overall. While it’s not a replacement for a high-end Icom or Kenwood, for the price, it’s a fantastic radio for any licensed amateur operator looking for a versatile and reliable handheld.
Pictured in my hands is the baofeng ar-152 (prc 152 look-a-like)
The baofeng AR-152, as all baofeng radios do, get mixed opinions and various takes on quality and other opinions from various ham radio operators and unlicensed users.
Here’s our opinion thus far:
Ad Hoc/Off Grid programmability and ease of configuration.
The user interface on this radio, like most other baofeng models, is designed in such a way that it is generally very easy to configure settings on the fly without a PC and a programming cable. When comparing with many commercially available radios and even quite a few more expensive handheld analog radios. Keep in mind this radio does not do DMR, or have a built in gps reciever or way of sending APRS packets built in, which can be quite the unfortunate downside for a radio to use in 2025. Still, the general simplicity of FPP (front panel programming) on this radio and cost mostly make up for this issue.
Pictured: A screenshot of the chirpc (chirp programming software) command line tool.
Chirp compatibility.
Although we have discussed previously the ease of off grid programming for most options, you are still unable to program repeater RX/TX pairs into this handheld without a PC and software such as Chirp. Although this is a downside, the plus side is is that Chirp is Free and Open Source software, and is easily installable from downloadable binaries at chirpmyradio.com. Remember to only download the software from this website or the official Github repository here. Chirp can pull repeater pairs directly from repeaterbook.com for extremely quick and easy programming once you have everything set up.
Memory bank/slots.
Quick note: This radio unfortunately only has 128 slots for storing pre-set channels or repeater pairs. Having said that, for simplex mode you can always switch into VFO and enter a frequency and ctcss or DCS tone/code.
General thoughts on the user interface.
One of the best things about this radio is how large the buttons and LCD screen is, which makes it very easy to both see the screen and use the keypad with gloves. The lcd is a plain, no color display, which is actually a large advantage in the bright sunshine of the deserts of Arizona where it would otherwise be much harder to see in direct daylight. The buttons are well placed. Something to note about these cheaper radios is the flashlight. They usually aren’t very bright but can be useful in a pinch. In Utah, for example, my phone was very low battery but I was exploring an old mineshaft. Needed anything I could get for light, as I didn’t currently have a regular edc light, but I had my baofeng. Flipped that on and I could see enough to make it out.
Some things that are not ideal/”Features” I dislike.
The charging port on this radio is a small barrel charger. It doesn’t have a regular “charging stand charger” which I don’t particularily mind but the main downside is that most of the newer baofeng models have a USB type C charging port directly on the battery, which is very useful for charging quickly with a solar panel or battery bank. Having said that, it did come with a USB-barrel charger, but that can get lost and it’s not a standard common cable. So if I could change one major thing, it would be the charging interface. Unlike a lot of other ‘fengs though, this comes with a very long lasting battery by default.
No belt clip on this radio 🙁
(therefore you will need a super cool radio pouch like this one) 😁
Overall, I would rate this radio at 4/5 stars. For the price, It’s very good, even for outdoor use/exploring. Get a decent pouch, extra batteries, and of course the radio itself via these links if you would like to help keep the Arizona Bushcraft website up and running, so we can give you quality product reviews (Not AI written) and guides on communications tech, outdoor survival, bushcraft gear and tips, and much more!
