I first caught sign of Daniel Winkler back in 1992, when frontier folk were introduced to his knife and tomahawk work in Last of the Mohicans. Winkler has since gone on to craft more modern iterations of these fundamental Frontier Partisan implements for U.S. Special Operations personnel, and his ’hawks are a signature of former SEAL and thriller writer Jack Carr.
Winkler just announced a series of limited edition hatchets commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence. The Liberty Tree Hatchet is now available for pre-order. Two more will follow, each limited to 250 pieces.
At $725, these badass beauties are too many plews for this Frontier Partisan — but damn, I’d like to run the WK Moore’s Creek Battle Axe through its paces…
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This here Isaac White feller offers a mighty fine impression of one David Crockett. He’s official guide at the Crockett Tavern Museum in Tennessee. Peter Kelly of The Woodland Escape interviewed him at Martin’s Station a few weeks back…
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The History Chap has taken on the case of Breaker Morant.
Doesn’t break new ground for Frontier Partisans who are familiar with the case, but it’s a judicious retelling and a good intro.
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Sean Bean is taking a villainous turn in what looks to be a mighty dark Western…
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I wish I could get excited about this. Treasure Island deserves another telling. I think Hugh Jackman could be a great Long John Silver. But after the rank fart that was Scott’s Napoleon, I just have no confidence at all…
Per Variety:
After playing Wolverine, P.T. Barnum, Van Helsing, Jean Valjean and most recently Robin Hood, Hugh Jackman is adding another classic character to his filmography — the pirate Long John Silver.
Ridley Scott has enlisted Jackman to star in a new adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 novel, Treasure Island. Scott will direct the film from a script by Emmy-winning “Adolescence” writer Jack Thorne and produce alongside Michael Pruss for his Scott Free banner. Thorne will executive produce the new movie. The hot package hit the market on Monday.
Rather than living in hope, I think I’ll stick with NC Wyeth and Black Sails.
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A fighting man and his dog surviving in the Alaskan wilderness. That’s the theme of a forthcoming Brad Pitt vehicle, Heart of the Beast. The log line:
[Pitt is] James Belmont, a 30-year Army Special Forces veteran who heads to the Alaskan wilderness with his partner-in-service Odin, only for a plane crash to leave them stranded and relying on each other to make it to safety.
He obviously needs a Winkler Liberty Tree Hatchet…
deuce says
“Ridley Scott has enlisted Jackman to star in a new adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 novel, Treasure Island. Scott will direct the film from a script by Emmy-winning “Adolescence” writer Jack Thorne…”
Jack Thorne? ADOLESCENCE was an abomination.
ZERO chance I’ll pay to watch this. Ridley has officially LOST his mojo.
BTW, Jackman played a ‘version’ of van Helsing, among other ‘classic characters’.
Pitt’s movie looks interesting. Hopefully, it has some echoes of Jack London.
Bill aka The Black Tyrone says
deuce, I agree on Ridley Scott. On Napoleon, L’Empereur me’ritait mieux!
Quixotic Mainer says
Heart of the Beast looks great! I’ll certainly give that a watch. An elite K9 would certainly be a lot more useful in the bush than my whoodle dog, though he’s the first dog I’ve had that could consistently catch squirrels.
Tuhon Ray Dionaldo is very fond of Winkler style Jack Carr hawks, and taught a few tricks with them during a seminar I attended last fall. One of my favorites was deploying the hawk at halitosis distance for weapon retention. A guy in my training group has a Winkler hawk being made, but hasn’t received it and carted it into the dojo for show and tell yet.
https://www.artofmanliness.com/strength/fitness/l-amour-workout/ Art of Manliness just published this article on Louis L’Amour’s lifelong fitness routine, I expect many here would enjoy it.
JimC says
Thanks for that.
Matthew says
Here’s a video about Korean Marines in Vietnam. It seems to back what I’ve heard about them being both skillful and committing horrible atrocities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5CELM7PtLo
Eric Bleimeister says
check the old Charlton Heston version of Treasure Island which aired on TNT back in the 90s.
deuce says
Yeah, I thought that one turned out well. TNT put out a LOT of quality content back then.
Jean says
The Crockett video was wonderful. Thanks for sharing it.
Hammer says
Oh man, those Winkler hatchets are sexy. I have the Winkler ‘Highland Hatchet’ and it’s a great tool. Winklers may not be inexpensive, but they are lifetime tools that only get better with age and use.
Bill aka The Black Tyrone says
Harry Morant was many things. I Saw the film when released. Also Kit Denton’s novel,The Breaker, appears to have been well researched though of course it is as unsound to take truth from a novel as it is from a Hollywood type film. Unfortunately those who do are “legion”…sad
I like to share my reads with those who might have a similar interest. Respected Canadian author Fred Stenson wrote a fine novel published by Anchor Canada. The Great Karoo is about the deployment (a contemporary phrase if there ever was one) of the Canadian Mounted Rifles to South Africa. Largely recruited from Alberta Canada they could ride with the best of them during the Boer War. This novel is heavier and a bit more esoteric than Denton’s and qualifies as literature in my humble opinion. It is a good read for the discrimiating. I have not read, but its on my shelf, “The Trade” also by Stinson about the HBC. Enjoy if you are a reader. I also reviewed on Amazon.
JimC says
Both of those are excellent books. Serious reads. The Trade seriously de-glamorizes the fur trade.
Bill.aka The Black Tyrone says
Glad I am not alone on Stenson. Canada has some fine novelists on the time period you enjoy. Try Guy Vanderhaeghe..
Zane Duarte says
Daniel Winkler’s work bridging historic frontier craftsmanship with the needs of modern Special Operations personnel is truly remarkable, especially given his influence on icons like Jack Carr’s preferences. The upcoming limited edition Liberty Tree Hatchet series honoring Rangers, Adventurers, and Scouts seems like a fitting tribute to that enduring legacy of frontier partisans.
Wayne says
I just returned from a 2 week tour of national parks and monuments in the northern Rockies, and, once again, I drove past the signpost for Crockett’s Tavern on my way across Tennessee. The Crockett video pushed me over the edge, and I’m now planning a visit to Crockett’s Tavern. Sadly, the visitors center at Crockett’s birthplace was wiped out by Hurricane Helene. It is being rebuilt.
JimC says
Outstanding! Pix and debrief please!