Trekking Skillet??

[Loyalist Dave]

Hey folks I was wondering how many have, or have thought about, packing a small skillet (say 7" in diameter) for cooking when trekking or in camp? I saw a basic, carbon steel skillet the other day, without a folding handle, about 7" in diameter, and I thought it rather nifty. Although modern made, it's so simple it could pass for an 18th century frying pan.

Also, I could modify the handle by cutting it off... leaving about 1", then drilling a hole in the 1" portion and also in the longer portion, and reattaching it with a bolt and wingnut if I wanted a "folding" skillet. Not that authentic, but easier to transport. I know some folks use the skillets with the folding handles that accept a green stick. This uses a flat piece of metal for a handle.

LD

 

[Black Hand]

I made a small steel skillet and riveted a straight handle to it. It packs well and the fixed handle is not a problem.

Personally, I'd forget the folding handle concept as there is no historical basis. If a skillet was carried, it was one from the home hearth.

 

[mmahlock]

Not exactly Black Hand. In the journal kept by George Simpson on his 1828 trip to inspect the holdings of the Hundson's Bay Company from York Factory to Fort Langley he provides a description of the baggage taken and the contents of the baggage including this comment regarding baskets taken to carry food stuffs, "Here also, that indispensable-the frying pan, which by the way, should be made with a good strong hinge-has its place, to wit on the top of the contents."

My previous investigations into the evolution of technology leads me to believe that frying pans with hinged handles can potentially go back possibly as far as 20 years (1808) based on his reference. (The first 5-10 years after invention/new design the references typically include something to the effect that it is the NEW or NEW INVENTED technology/design. After this initial period it is referred to as what ever it is and it is during this period that it splits between higher and lower quality.) Simpson's reference to a "good strong hinge" leads me to believe that this design was then in the second stage where both good strong and not so good weak hinges were available. Hence my speculation about the original introduction being 1808.

Therefore, your statement holds true only for the period prior to 1808 or thereabouts.

Dave if the frying pan you are considering has the handle riveted on rather than welded it is pretty much appropriate for a very large period of time. These folks carry a wide range of pan sizes made with carbon or black steel with riveted handles Frying Pans

 

[mmahlock]

I just found the following information that may shed some more light on folding skillets.

In the book; The Kentucky Rifle Hunting Pouch, By Madison Grant, on Page 197, Plate 128, there is a pic of a Revolutionary War mess kit from Berks County Pennsylvania. It is a wrought iron skillet, 6 1/4 in. diameter, and 2 1/2 in. deep with a hinged handle with a socket at the end where a stick can be inserted. The one pictured is identical to the folding skillets purchased today.

Although this reference is about 30 years earlier than I would have expected based on my earlier analysis, it would seem to indicate the existence of frying pans with folding handles from at least the mid 1770's. I don't think it is possible to extend the existence any earlier since there is no descriptive language to evaluate.

This along with Simpson's reference would tend to meet the 2 independent source references for at least the period since 1828 depending on how one were to interpret the references.

 

[Black Hand]

That particular folding skillet has been somewhat discredited by persons far more knowledgeable than myself (More Civil War than 18th century). Apparently Mr. Grant accepted whatever "provenance" (not documentation) was provided by whomever and his dates are approximate (at best) on a good day.

 

[flintlock75]

I carry a small 6" sheet steel skilet with a fixed handle, it packs flat and has almost no weight, great for cooking fish or fry bread. I also have a cast iron one with the folding handle made to take a stick. Way to heavy and i dont like the hindged handle. :shake:

 

[Muskeg Stomper]

Having seen Flintlock75's straight handled skillet and what it weighs compared to my folding skillet, I found a straight handled one of my own. As others have said, packing is not a problem and the weight issue is a big deal.

 

[tenngun]

I won a small sheet iron skillit in a blanket shoot thrown on the blanket by Rifleman1776 about 25 years ago.The handle is not perfect but it close. It was used when I got it and I have used it hard,on treck,rendezvous and at home.It cant whiegh a pound,and I like it :thumbsup:

 

[BillinOregon]

Great thread guys. I found this little French skillet at a flea market for four bucks, as I recall. It is just over 7 inches wide (18 cm), just over 13 inches long with handle and weighs a pound and a quarter. Great little utensil. Wish to heck I had bought its twin as well.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Yep that's pretty much what I am talking about, but they used spot welds on the outside of the skillet to secure the handle to the skillet. Otherwise the one I saw is practically a twin to that one.

LD

 

[Coot]

Mrs Coot & I have a nice sheet iron skillet that we got from Bluebird Mfr. in Canada. Pretty accurate except for spot welding the handle . I drilled holes thru the spot welds and added iron rivets.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Did you cold-peen the rivets or did you heat them and peen them?

LD

 

[Coot]

It was long enough ago that I cannot remember. I know that I heated the rivets on the stools and folding table legs that I have made but I might have cold peened the pan rivets. I have a supply of small round head rivets that are pretty soft & I know that I forged the table rivets from grade 3 bolts.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

OK thanks. :grin: I was thinking of using my small forge, and converting some common nails into rivets. I would hot peen them as well. I have to repair a small, folding trivet too, so might as well do everything at once eh?

LD

 

[Black Hand]

OK thanks. :grin: I was thinking of using my small forge, and converting some common nails into rivets. I would hot peen them as well. I have to repair a small, folding trivet too, so might as well do everything at once eh?

LD

You don't even need your forge. Just cold-peen the nails...

 

[mmahlock]

Or you could just buy a new one with the handle riveted on.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Well the problem is price. While I could buy one given in the link, but the minimum order is 5, so that's like $158.00. :shocked2: I could buy a similar riveted handled skillet as a single, but the minimum shipping and the "small order fee" if bought online pushes the price up over $35.00. :shocked2:
I can buy 3 of the others at that price, but thanks for the link. There are other gadgets on the link that are interesting.

:grin:

LD

 

[Oudoceus]

Hey Guys, If you really want to know how far back folding camp skillets go you need to go to the TMA forum and look under the trekking section.

 

[mmahlock]

Sorry about that. :surrender: I didn't notice the change in required quantity. When I ordered mine I only had to buy one.

If you watch the site what is available and the prices change from time to time. :v

I spoke too soon again. If you go to the Able Kitchen Wed site and go to the Frying Pan section limit the display to Carbon Steel construction they have a group of frying pans made from carbon steel with iron handles riveted on. the 7-1/8 in. dia. pan sells for $23.19 and you only have to order one. :hatsoff:

Hope this helps.

 

[Black Hand]

Hey Guys, If you really want to know how far back folding camp skillets go you need to go to the TMA forum and look under the trekking section.

Just because they may have existed somewhere in the world in the 3rd century doesn't mean there were any in the 17th & 18th centuries in the colonies....