Lees in het Nederlands

Victorinox Outdoor Book

THE VICTORINOX OUTDOOR BOOK.
Review by Henk Kraaijvanger.

THE IMPORTANCE OF READING.

From my military instructor course and later experience, I remember that the first acquisition of knowledge comes through reading, using our cognitive ability. That makes this book review a good place to start, I think. And if a book also contains attractive, useful illustrations, as this one does, the information stays in your memory longer.

Put simply, memory is a large cabinet full of different “knowledge drawers”. Recognising a word, sign, smell, taste, colour or sound opens one of them to reveal the related information. Studying the accompanying examples and illustrations helps you practise and retain it. Tip: To acquire plenty of knowledge quickly, first read widely about the subject!

THE VICTORINOX OUTDOOR BOOK: A PROJECT BOOK FOR OUTDOOR PEOPLE AND ENTHUSIASTS.

As mentioned, reading is educational, and trying out what you read is especially useful practice.

That certainly applies to the Victorinox book written by FELIX IMMLER, “THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE BOOK WITH 63 OUTDOOR PROJECTS”.

As the title of the book indicates, in English, but I think I have seen such an outdoor book in German.

The beautiful Victorinox Outdoor book was sent by the well-known Dutch Victorinox importer, Homeij Nederland B.V. for which thank you very much.

The nostalgic songs and melodies of my favourite singer-songwriter, the recently deceased Leonard Cohen, are also excellent company while reading this book’s English text or later writing this review. His old lyrics still seem relevant today. For example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IfmiKnZi3E.

Once you finish reading this outdoor book, it is time to get out of your chair, gather your equipment and head into the woods to try things out.

TIP: Always take a first aid kit in the woods next to your knife.

THE “MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO” PRINCIPLE.

- Naturally, I used a knife and saw to make useful wooden utensils, including two different spoons for my emergency bivouac. See the instructions and examples on page 109-110.

A finer finish needs more time and, ideally, a knife with a spoon-shaped curved blade.

- I made wooden coasters in various sizes for hot drinks on a table and for a hot tealight stove. A sharp wood saw, such as one on a Victorinox folding knife or multitool, is essential.

- I carved the frequently needed wooden pegs for my basha shelter.

- For digging holes I made a digging stick, which I also use as a walking stick on my hiking trips.

- For working leather and nylon straps, I also made a useful awl.

THE DESCRIPTION OF THE OUTDOOR BOOK 63 OUTDOOR PROJECTS.

- The text is as already mentioned in English.

- The Victorinox/Immler outdoor book has a sturdy cover in reasonably muted colours, fortunately without a garish design. A Victorinox pocket knife is, of course, traditionally shown in red.

- The projects covered in the book are usually fun to do, but some projects are too extensive for the average reader. And in the Netherlands you can't just cut down live wood in a public forest, cut through and so on, so pay attention to the prevailing regulations.

- The pictures accompanying the texts are in colour, some of which may have been a bit sharper and/or larger.

BUT WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BUY & OWN THIS BOOK?

To gain even more creative ideas for creative, enjoyable, safer and healthier activities and stays in beautiful natural surroundings. Nature also helps you rediscover many of your positive strengths. Even public-information organisation SIRE could say, “they are doing well out there”.

ASSESSMENT OF THE OUTDOOR BOOK SWISS ARMY KNIFE BOOK WITH 63 OUTDOOR PROJECTS.

AVERAGE RATING: Very good / and worth recommending.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

Thanks to Mrs van den Heuvel-Panken from the Dutch Victorinox importer Homeij Nederland B.V. in Oisterwijk for making this beautiful outdoor book available.

Knife expert Henk Kraaijvanger was an OPC/instructor at the KMA and a non-commissioned officer attached to the Force Protection Bureau. He is now retired.
From 1996, he was also knives editor for weapons magazines SHOOT and AK-56, and a freelance knife tester/writer for SAM until 1999.

He also designed the HKD sheath and is the current chair/member of the DKE jury.

Importers: do you have a knife or another edged tool you would like tested or reviewed? Perhaps you are a knifemaker, or just starting out?

Email us at[email protected] and we will tell you where to send your knife or axe.