Customer Reviews

Bushcraft: A Serious Guide to Survival and Camping

5 star:		(15)
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3 star:		(1)
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I bought this book 20 years ago, when I was a boy scout in the Pacific Northwest. It accompanied me during my Marine Corps enlistment -- and has been to more countries and climes than most people.

GRAVES writes in a straight forward and brief style that stays on message. Judging from GRAVES experiences and the few pics inside the book, it appears he was in the Aussie SAS -- although he never comes out and says so.

There are numerous sketches in the book that clearly demonstrate his ideas and methods.

I find it amazing that this book has not been reprinted. It is a shame...

I picked up a copy of Bushcraft in 1983 and it has been my constant companion. As an Instructor at the Marine Corps Jungle Survival School in Okinawa I used its lessons extensively and have never found a better manual of wilderness survival. Later, as an instructor for the National Outdoor Wilderness school, I taught my students some of the skills I learned from Bushcraft. If you can find a copy, buy it!

I bought this book way back in the mid 70's when I was in High School. I used it for a reference on my "Extreme" camping adventures. I then found it to be even more valuable and usefull while serving in the 82'd Airborne. I "Lent" this out to a friend and it was never returned. I know that info presented in this book has been used by my friend while assigned as a survival instuctor for a very elite unit in the U.S. Military. I would recommend this book to all who wish to have a practical guide to survival and I'm pleased to finally get a copy back in my hands.

Bushcraft by Richard Graves is an outstanding book for anyone who has ever seriously considered living off whatever is at hand. It explains how to make tested, improvised tools and ropes, as well as where and how to build a shelter ranging anywhere in size from a single person lean too, to a 20 foot long hut. Also included in this 368 page book are lessons on fire making, knots, tracking, trapping, and land navigation. "Bushcraft teaches you how to recognize edible, safe foods. It diagrams every rope and knot you will need, illustrates every method of making a fire and every kind of shelter(Bushcraft, cover page)." A definite wealth of knowledge that anyone could benefit from, because you never know!

I purchased this book back in 1983, and I referred to it frequently while I was in the US Army. This book is an excellent read for novice or expert alike, and Graves makes the message simple with straightforward instructions and illustrations. It is a shame that I cannot purchase this book again since I have just about worn out the copy I have!

Kenneth Smith

I found this book over 15 years ago as a highschool student, and felt then that it was the best book on outdoor skills I had ever read. Now, as a Marine teaching jungle survival in Okinawa, I use it as my primary reference, (and guard it with my life). This book is is well written and the pictures and diagrams are superb. I still rate it as the best book on outdoor survival I've ever read.

In the past 20 years since someone gave this book to me as a gift I've never grown tired of reading it. Wherever I have moved this book has travelled with. Now it's getting very worn and dog eared and some of the pages are starting to fall out. Where is Mr. Graves so that we can thank him for this rare and detailed knowledge? It seems that he is the original "crocodile hunter" and should be acknowledged for sharing his clever inventions with us.

I bought this book many, many years ago. I was thinking of replacing it in that the pages are all yellowed and getting crispy. The only date in it is March of 1978; I guess that is how old it is.
My advice is it would be the best first book you could get. I have read many books on survival but none better.

I was fortunate enough to win a copy of Graves' book 'The 10 Bushcraft Books' in 1976. It is in hardcopy and probably covers the same type of content that is included in this other bushcraft book; ropes & cords; huts & thatching; campcraft; food & water; firemaking; knots & lashings; tracks & lures; snares & traps; travel & gear; and, time & direction. It was printed by Hogbin, Poole (Printers) in Sydney, Australia (no printing or copyright dates). FYI, on the dust jacket it gives some background on Graves. He initiated and was the Commanding Officer of 'the Australian Jungle Rescue Detachment, assigned to the Far East American Air Force'. These were 60 specially selected soldiers who 'successfully effected more than 300 rescue missions, most of which were in enemy-held territory, without failure of a mission or loss of a man'. It goes on to say, 'An essential preliminary for rescue was survival, and it was for this purpose that the notes for these books were written. These notes were later revised and prepared for a School of Bushcraft which was conducted for 20 years'. And very accurately states that there 'is nothing quite like them, nor is any collection of bushcraft knowledge under one cover as comprehensive'. The ISBN was/is 0 909824 24. This book may be another option, though probably just as hard to find. Good luck!

I have read quite a few books on the subject. This one is by far the best, most complete on the subject of wilderness survival I have seen. It should be put back in print!!!