Admittedly I do go on quite a bit about the bow and blade more than woodcraft and gear. The rangers for me though are a very combat driven group. Every time we see them in the books they are "loaded for bear" so to speak, always being mentioned carrying sword and bow and spear. Aragorn proclaims their time in combat multiple times and more.Udwin wrote:
it would be better to be known as a Ranger by one's skills, reputation or gear than by the big sword scabbard or war-bow at one's side.
"Lonely men are we, Rangers of the wild, hunters – but hunters ever of the servants of the Enemy; for they are found in many places, not in Mordor only." FOTR pg 242 The Council of Elrond
"If Gondor, Boromir, has been a stalwart tower, we have played another part. Many evil things there are that your strong walls and bright swords do not stay. You know little of the lands beyond your bounds. Peace and freedom, do you say? The North would have known them little but for us. Fear would have destroyed them. But when dark things come from the houseless hills, or creep from sunless woods, they fly from us. What roads would any dare to tread, what safety would there be in quiet lands, or in the homes of simple men at night, if the Dunedain were asleep, or were all gone into the grave?"
This to me indicates that the rangers spend much of their time in pursuit of the enemy and in combat with them. Hence my carry of war weapons much of the time. As mentioned above I do have a smaller sword that I carry from time to time. This is my blade I would wear close to home or working in the fields, my longsword is what would go on rangings where combat is likely to be encountered. Skill at survival in the woods and living off the land is as natural to breathing for a ranger, but its not their roll. Their roll is protection of the common folk and relying on the ability to live off the land to remain in the field for long periods of time with stealth.
Also I think evidence of their lethality is hinted at in the 30 rangers Halbarad brings to Aragorn. Three point here.
One- They are well armed and armored. This is likely due to riding to war. Yet still they have good weapons and likely plenty of training to go with them.
Two- They are thinly spread as only 30 could be assembled indicating that heavy enemy activity has them quite busy, but that even thinly spread they are still an efficient fighting force.
Three- Drawing attention to them only being a 30 man unit seems to indicate that they are fell handed indeed.