- Joined
- Feb 14, 2008
- Messages
- 1,093
Things didnt go so well that last bit of last year and I am digging out. OK, I am digging and hoping it eventually gets me out. There has been very little time for anything recreational at all but a good fella and fellow forum friend graciously allowed me the use of his personal Bushcraft knife for an extended period which brightened my day every time I had a few short minutes to handle it.
I have had the pleasure and privilege to use Brian Andrews Bushcraft over the past several weeks, thanks to Brians generosity and tremendous patience. When I finally sent it back to him I sent a note telling him how much I liked it and asked if he would mind if I posted a review on it. I cant possibly mention all that I liked about this knife in what seems reasonable for a post so understand that this is not all there is to it just all I will be able to share.
Overall, I have to rate this BC at the very top of those I have handled. It is slightly larger than I typically prefer, but I admit to a penchant for what some would consider Lilliputian dimensions for my primary knife.
The knife is 8 7/8 overall, with a 4 5/16 long blade and a 4 9/16 handle. The full-tang, spearpoint blade is 1/8 thick, 1 1/16 tall at the tallest part of the blade and 1 3/16 at the guard. It has a continuous curve along the sharpened edge and about a 25 degree combined edge angle Scandi, of course. O1 tool steel with what I can safely assert to being an excellent HT based on how the edge stood up with NO secondary edge of any kind. Speaking of even plunge lines, the edge is sharp all the way back no cheating.
The contoured handle is almost a full inch thick at the palm, has enough squareness about its cross section to make it easily manipulated in the hand and all the bumps and dips in exactly the right places. The scales are conveniently tapered at the front and the wood (I usually prefer Micarta) feels good and balances all 6 ounces perfectly so that the knife never feels as though its going to get away from you. The scales are made of the most dramatic piece of flame-grain Birch I have personally seen and the ¼ pins and lanyard ferrule are aluminum, the scales complemented with black liners. The overall finish of the knife is excellent and the attention to little details such as even plunge lines and scales, the absence of excess glue residue, symmetry, etc. are excellent as well.
Here is a size comparison shot with a Koster Bushcraft and Muskrat Man Bushcraft:
The handle is generous without being bulky. I find just enough material in the right places on a classic shape with some minor but useful variations. Placement of the palm swell is forward of center, the front portion of the scales are tapered, permitting all the useful and functional holds for carving. The double waist facilitates a smooth, low-friction grip while providing a very secure grasp of the knife even in a relaxed hold or while manipulating the knife in transition between hold methods. The waists appear somewhat abrupt compared to the smooth curvature of most contoured handles but it is not by accident as it is not as easy to execute and finish finely as the softer contours. The net result is control. The handle registers well and is very easily manipulated without ever imparting a sense that it will slip back in your hand. If I have harped on the control features of this handle I do not apologize.
Functionally, the knife makes killer fuzz sticks but handles rougher and more delicate chores very aptly as well. Notching, cutting saplings, stripping small branches and bark, as well as all aspects of fire-making uncovered no irksome little oddities. There were no holds which were not comfortable in use at all. I did not put ferro-rod to spine but the spine was plenty sharp for sparking your favorite firesteel or scraping inner bark for tinder. Brians Bushcraft felt very natural and comfortable in-hand in any form of use to which I put it and never caused any fatigue or soreness.
Brian seems to have some kind of knack for fixing things I never realized were broken. I have been very happy with quite a number of knives over time and some of the things he did differently started making me look at some others I own or have owned and thinking some of them could use a few of his tweaks as well. I have to admit that this particular Bushcraft spoiled me a little.
Thanks for watchin.
I have had the pleasure and privilege to use Brian Andrews Bushcraft over the past several weeks, thanks to Brians generosity and tremendous patience. When I finally sent it back to him I sent a note telling him how much I liked it and asked if he would mind if I posted a review on it. I cant possibly mention all that I liked about this knife in what seems reasonable for a post so understand that this is not all there is to it just all I will be able to share.
Overall, I have to rate this BC at the very top of those I have handled. It is slightly larger than I typically prefer, but I admit to a penchant for what some would consider Lilliputian dimensions for my primary knife.
The knife is 8 7/8 overall, with a 4 5/16 long blade and a 4 9/16 handle. The full-tang, spearpoint blade is 1/8 thick, 1 1/16 tall at the tallest part of the blade and 1 3/16 at the guard. It has a continuous curve along the sharpened edge and about a 25 degree combined edge angle Scandi, of course. O1 tool steel with what I can safely assert to being an excellent HT based on how the edge stood up with NO secondary edge of any kind. Speaking of even plunge lines, the edge is sharp all the way back no cheating.
The contoured handle is almost a full inch thick at the palm, has enough squareness about its cross section to make it easily manipulated in the hand and all the bumps and dips in exactly the right places. The scales are conveniently tapered at the front and the wood (I usually prefer Micarta) feels good and balances all 6 ounces perfectly so that the knife never feels as though its going to get away from you. The scales are made of the most dramatic piece of flame-grain Birch I have personally seen and the ¼ pins and lanyard ferrule are aluminum, the scales complemented with black liners. The overall finish of the knife is excellent and the attention to little details such as even plunge lines and scales, the absence of excess glue residue, symmetry, etc. are excellent as well.
Here is a size comparison shot with a Koster Bushcraft and Muskrat Man Bushcraft:
The handle is generous without being bulky. I find just enough material in the right places on a classic shape with some minor but useful variations. Placement of the palm swell is forward of center, the front portion of the scales are tapered, permitting all the useful and functional holds for carving. The double waist facilitates a smooth, low-friction grip while providing a very secure grasp of the knife even in a relaxed hold or while manipulating the knife in transition between hold methods. The waists appear somewhat abrupt compared to the smooth curvature of most contoured handles but it is not by accident as it is not as easy to execute and finish finely as the softer contours. The net result is control. The handle registers well and is very easily manipulated without ever imparting a sense that it will slip back in your hand. If I have harped on the control features of this handle I do not apologize.
Functionally, the knife makes killer fuzz sticks but handles rougher and more delicate chores very aptly as well. Notching, cutting saplings, stripping small branches and bark, as well as all aspects of fire-making uncovered no irksome little oddities. There were no holds which were not comfortable in use at all. I did not put ferro-rod to spine but the spine was plenty sharp for sparking your favorite firesteel or scraping inner bark for tinder. Brians Bushcraft felt very natural and comfortable in-hand in any form of use to which I put it and never caused any fatigue or soreness.
Brian seems to have some kind of knack for fixing things I never realized were broken. I have been very happy with quite a number of knives over time and some of the things he did differently started making me look at some others I own or have owned and thinking some of them could use a few of his tweaks as well. I have to admit that this particular Bushcraft spoiled me a little.
Thanks for watchin.
looks crazy sharp..
drop me a line again one of these days...
