BJE
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- Apr 12, 2006
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Cro-MagnonCut the original MagnaCut.Not neccessarily.....
5000 year old EDC bushcraft survival knife...
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Cro-MagnonCut the original MagnaCut.Not neccessarily.....
5000 year old EDC bushcraft survival knife...
Never go out in the middle of nowhere without something on your belt you can jam deep into anything that requires that sort of attention.
So "IF" you were to join in on the shenanigans what would you make?The whole concept of a "bushcraft knife" that has to be able to "perform bushcraft tasks" has to be at the top of the list of utter nonsense in the entire knife universe.
There is a concept called a weasel words, which I think he is getting to.So "IF" you were to join in on the shenanigans what would you make?
100% not my intent. He seems to be a person in the know so I would just like his input. I appreciate any input from someone that seems to know more than I do.There is a concept called a weasel words, which I think he is getting to.
For those unfamiliar with this, Mors Kochanski and Ray Mears pretty much invented this silliness. Kochanski defined the "bushcraft knife" term in one of his early publications, and Mears "invented" what we now know as the bushcraft knife when he designed the Woodlore (Made by Alan Wood) in the early 1990s. Those had a 4mm thick blade with a 24° bevel more or less.One of the biggest continual drivers, if not the origin, of the so-called "bushcraft knives" fad is a bunch of guys that didn't regularly spend time in the outdoors decided they were missing something in their lives and wanted to get back to their ancestral roots.
So they took to the woods and did fun little "bushcraft-y" stuff. But it wasn't quite fulfilling enough so for a more ultimate experience, they decided making their own "bushcraft" knife was the way.
So they researched backyard knifemaking and discovered that good ol' 1095 was cheap and available everywhere and it was super easy to heat treat at home with just a torch to get it cherry red and some used motor oil to dunk it in. Easy-peasy.
But then they discovered that being a real knifemaker is hard, especially when it comes to actually grinding blade bevels, which the HUGE majority can't do well at all.
So they turned to grinding jigs for consistency and repeatability and symmetrical blade grinds but discovered that almost all grinding jigs were limited to only producing short scandi grinds on 3"-4" blades max, otherwise the grinds get real weird, real fast due to the limitations of the jig.
So what we ended up with, was a whole bunch of wannabe knifemakers that couldn't really do it well, turning out a bunch of poorly heat-treated, scandi ground 1095 blades with super round, super fat handles with awkward contours.
Totally agree with the Ray Mears part. "Bushcraft" as a modern sport really started in England with Ray's BBC followers. And Ray was originally a big fan of Finnish Puukkos. The Woodlore just kind of evolved out of that.For those unfamiliar with this, Mors Kochanski and Ray Mears pretty much invented this silliness. Kochanski defined the "bushcraft knife" term in one of his early publications, and Mears "invented" what we now know as the bushcraft knife when he designed the Woodlore (Made by Alan Wood) in the early 1990s. Those had a 4mm thick blade with a 24° bevel more or less.
I am not suggesting anyone is doing anything to anyone.100% not my intent. He seems to be a person in the know so I would just like his input. I appreciate any input from someone that seems to know more than I do.
I wouldn't ever "join in" as far as ever calling anything a "bushcraft" knife or making a knife that I marketed specifically towards that trend. Mostly because almost all knives can be used for those things.So "IF" you were to join in on the shenanigans what would you make?
I'm with you on scandi grinds. I have tried repeatedly to use them and find a benefit, and I just don't see it.The whole concept of a "bushcraft knife" that has to be able to "perform bushcraft tasks" has to be at the top of the list of utter nonsense in the entire knife universe.
To be succinct: yes, (almost) any knife can be used for (almost) any chore that someone (arbitrarily) deems "bushcraft".
A longer answer and different perspective:
One of the biggest continual drivers, if not the origin, of the so-called "bushcraft knives" fad is a bunch of guys that didn't regularly spend time in the outdoors decided they were missing something in their lives and wanted to get back to their ancestral roots.
So they took to the woods and did fun little "bushcraft-y" stuff. But it wasn't quite fulfilling enough so for a more ultimate experience, they decided making their own "bushcraft" knife was the way.
So they researched backyard knifemaking and discovered that good ol' 1095 was cheap and available everywhere and it was super easy to heat treat at home with just a torch to get it cherry red and some used motor oil to dunk it in. Easy-peasy.
But then they discovered that being a real knifemaker is hard, especially when it comes to actually grinding blade bevels, which the HUGE majority can't do well at all.
So they turned to grinding jigs for consistency and repeatability and symmetrical blade grinds but discovered that almost all grinding jigs were limited to only producing short scandi grinds on 3"-4" blades max, otherwise the grinds get real weird, real fast due to the limitations of the jig.
So what we ended up with, was a whole bunch of wannabe knifemakers that couldn't really do it well, turning out a bunch of poorly heat-treated, scandi ground 1095 blades with super round, super fat handles with awkward contours.
And they knew they weren't that great, but rather than admit that knifemaking isn't for everyone, they made up excuses for their short comings and continued to justify them.
"Carbon steel is better because it throws sparks", "1095 is best because it's so tough", "spear points drill holes so much better" and let's not forget the biggie....."scandi grinds are SO much better for wood carving".
And sadly, a whole bunch of the general public bought into it. I guess they were much better at marketing than making knives.
Like it or not, that's a huge part of why "bushcraft" knives exist in today's knife culture.
Almost any cat, within reason, won’t destroy your furniture. Do you agree?"Almost any knife, within reason, can be used as a bushcraft/survival knife—do you agree?"
Of course.
"Almost any knife can be used as a bushcraft/survival knife—do you agree?"
Of course not.
Just pointing out that "within reason" can make any statement true, at least until it is defined.
I’ve found scandi knives to be just okay. But to be honest, if my Moras had a simple full flat grind, I’d like them waaaaay more.I'm with you on scandi grinds. I have tried repeatedly to use them and find a benefit, and I just don't see it.
Especially on thick stock.
Almost any cat, within reason, won’t destroy your furniture. Do you agree?