are nessmuks and mule team knives bushcraft friendly?

S

scrappy

Joined
Jul 7, 2007
Messages
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I never see nessmuks in this forum are they no good for bushcraft? what about the spyderco mule?
 
The Nessie is used by many for Bushcraft and several Makers here make some great ones. The Mule team, IMO would be a backup like the Becker Necker and Izula. To small for me as a main knife but good for a low weight small backup.

I need more handle than most of the small knives offer.
 
I have used my mule for a hunting knife and its worked very well for that. You do need to put a handle on it if you really want to use it.
 
The nessmuk was perceived by Sears as the perfect outdoors knife for him. It is what it was intended for. The ness is frequently on this site.
 
The Mules are great EDC knives, real sharp and easy to handle. But for a Bushcraft knife they're too thin and small.
 
I think the Mule Team makes a phenomenal bushcraft/outdoors knife. I like thin knives because they cut so very well (which, IMO, is the primary purpose for a knife). The Mule has a great point... very easy to pierce things, make holes, etc. In short, a very nice design for all sorts of uses. I have one made up to use as a primary carry woods knife... highly recommend it as such.

AJ
 
I think the answers to this question are going to be as numerous as the people who answer.

I have all the Mules, and I do maintain an information blog about them.

I would say that they would be fine, if you want a thin bladed knife. Though the handle would make the chest lever grip less than pleasant, because the way the handle bends down at the end.

Best,
Marion
 
Scrappy.. The Canadian Belt knife is a excellent choice. A very old and very proven design. The handle doesn't fit everyone's hand well but if it feels good to you, it's a winner.
 
Did Nessmuck use his for more of a camp knife - or a bushcraft knife? I know he carried a slip joint with him as well - I wonder if it used that for his every day cuts.

TF
 
I think you haven't seen too many Nessmuk's around here lately because it was profiled so highly back in 2007. In 2007 you couldn't look at 3 threads without a Nessy in them. Then in 2008, the kephart sort of took over as the 'fashionable' bushy blade. I don't think 2009 held a clear style winner or maybe I wasn't paying enough attention....But as of the last three months it seems like everybody has gotten bit by the scandi disease.

Any of them will work well as a bushy design. I had a Grohman for a while. Its a competent knife, but not my favorite and I ended up gifting it to somebody who appreciated it more.
 
Talfuchre said:
Did Nessmuck use his for more of a camp knife - or a bushcraft knife? I know he carried a slip joint with him as well - I wonder if it used that for his every day cuts.

TF
Click to expand...

I think he mainly used his slipjoint for the woodwork, while his fixedblade was used for camp chores and game preparation.
 
I am knife nut and so I can't help but ask. I know there will be a lot of opinions and it is nice to hear them. some of the advise here is detailed also with why one like this design or not and that is helpful.
 
a knife I like is the master hunter. I know the edge does not go to the handle but the shape and thickness work well for me as a camp knife. that is not the same as a bush knife, but I like it.
 
Both the Jeff White Nessie and the Condor Nessie would be good, inexpensive knives to try out the design and see if you like it. I have the Jeff White, and it's a great knife for kitchen stuff and general cutting. The lack of a point sort of limits it in carving and the like, so, like Sears, you'll probably want to carry pocket knife or small fixed blade with a good spear point for those tasks.
 
My Fiddleback Nessmuk has been great in the kitchen, I imagine it will be handy while camping as well. Next trip I plan on taking it along with a hatchet, Izula, and skeletool cx.
 
I think a nessmuck is more of a camp knife and really as useful for most of what most of us do than a Bushcraft knife.

I love my Bushcraft knives but say you are camping and you want to peel and dice some potatos.

A Bushcraft knife will be in general too wedgy and thick where a nessmuk if made like they should be made THIN (I think 1/8" is too thick) will peel and dice potatoes well.
 
My go-to sheath knife is my SDS Nessmuk in 154CM. I like the broad blade for working with food and light batoning; it is also easy to grip when choking up on it. This particular Nessie has a rather well-defined, acute point for boring or drilling. Shawn made the spine nice and flat for striking a firesteel, although I usually prefer a dedicated striker for that.

I find it a very useful and practical all-arounder, and it is aesthetically pleasing as well. A Vic Spirit multitool and a hatchet completes my trio.
 
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