Favourite piece of your kit?
For me, its the Wood Craft pack axe (19" handle) by Council Tool, made right there in the USA.
As you might guess, I frequently LARP as somebody who had a father. Just yesterday, I took my kit down to the local creek and set up my tarp just to take this picture. A minute or two later I chipped my brand new axe on the rock at bottom of frame while removing offshoots from my centre pole.
I love my trusty axe. Nothing makes me feel safer in the woods or at home with my stepdad than feeling the heft of the axe through its supple haft and seeing the silvery gleam of its unhoned edge. I love the curve of the wooden handle, widening out from raw beaten steel and curving to a slightly bulbous tip, balancing the tool perfectly as I grasp the shaft just below.
My only complaint is that the wood face at the end of the handle was left fairly rough after planing. I needed to give it a vigorous sandpaper rubdown to attractively smooth it out, and then oiled it deep with bare hands before it was totally smooth and ready for the abuse I plan to put it through.
What about you, /out/?