BHK Boatail Scandi vs. Bushcrafter.

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Woods Walker

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Jun 3, 2010
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BHK Boatail Scandi vs. Bushcrafter.

I am looking for new woods scandi and got hung up on deciding between these two knives. The economy has beaten me up like an old rag doll so can’t buy both and sell the one liked the least. Here are the stats from BHK.

Boatail:

The Boattail 1/8" thick 01 tool steel stock that is scandi ground. The 8 1/4 inch overall length (OAL) features a lanyard hole and Rivets holding the scales to the full tange blade. The sharpened edge (SE) is 3 1/2" long. Please keep in mind the each knife is hand built and some variation to OAL and SE may occur
Handle material is Phenolic resin in the Green, Black and Natural and sheath options include the Dangler sheath and a Traditional Hip sheath.

Bushcrafter:

They are made from O1 tool steel. Rockwell is between 57-59. We will be using green canvas micarta as our standard material for the handles. They are around 5/32" thick and flat ground with a flat spot on top in front of the handle to use on your ferro rods. The overall length is 8 1/2" and it has a sharpened edge of 3 1/2" to 3 5/8". They all come with a leather pouch style D ring sheath.

Ok so now the considerations. The steel is the same O1. The overall length is nearly the same. The price is within 5 bucks so that is the same. Both come in scandi. The boatail’s handle is clearly different being thinner and maybe longer. The blade of the Bushcrafter is more of a spear point and maybe longer with 5/32 stock. The Boattail being 1/8. The Bushcrafter's sheath has a firesteel holder.

So does anyone have these knives and could pass along your experiences. Thanks.
 
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I don't have a Boattail, but I have the Bushcrafter (flat ground version), and it is one of my favorite knives. I have carried and used it quite a bit over the last year or so and really enjoy using it. I especially find the handle to be extremely comfortable in extended use.

I have handled the Boattail as well and it is a nice knife. I like the finger security of the Bushcrafter better though, and it also has a fatter, more rounded handle. I have a lot of knives and the Bushcrafter goes out with me quite a bit. But BHK makes excellent knives and you won't regret either of them :thumbup:

I've posted these before, but here are some pics
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Tknife.

The photos look great. Do you think the Bushcrafter handle would work for someone with larger hands?
 
As someone with huge paws, I had one of the original bushcrafters, and a Boat tail scandi (wish I would have kept both). The boat tail scandi felt better in the hands than the bushcrafter. Both are great knives regardless.
 
My hands are large, L-XL gloves, and I find the Bushie handle very comfy. It has a pretty decent thickness for the cross section and sort of a rounded egg shape.
 
Both are very fine knives and most folks would be happy with either, IMO. I gave my Boattail to one of our sons and kept the Bushcrafter for myself. I found that the Bushcrafter fit my XXL hand much better.

BTW, the blade on my Bushcrafter is 4-1/8" long (from the front of the scales) and has a sharpened edge of 3-7/8". Perfect for my uses.

blindhorseknives1a.jpg
 
Bushcrafter would be better for larger hands and general use. Boattail is a great knife for finer stuff like carving.

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i really liked my scandi bushcrafter except for that finger groove thing on the handle. it really bothered me since i can't get comfortable with it for any length of time. when i rolled up a piece of tape to bridge that gap it instantly felt much more comfortable.

ghetto_bushcrafter_03.jpg


i thought about filling it with jb weld, or send it in to get re-handled but i ended up trading it. the groove was just too aggressive, i think 1/4" less deeper and i would've kept it.
 
I wish I would have held onto my boattail scandi- felt wonderful in the hand (albeit medium hands), I just wasn't used to a scandi grind- probably should have taken the time to get used to it :)
 
i traded my boattail too...wonderful knife...JV3 has got the idea there! i loved the straight spine of the boattail, but the handle was a bit slim...i wish bhk would do a boattail flat ground with a choil-less bushcraft handle...that would be a great thing!
 
I have several BHK knives includingt the bushcrafter and boattail. In my medium hands, the Bushcrafter still feels better. The boat tail looks really nice, but I found it a bit too thin and small for my hands.
 
I really loved my boat tail.....Had 2 of em at one time and gave them away to friends who needed a knife.
 
Wow looks like BHK comes highly recommended. :) Maybe I will have to add a Tiger Knapp to my want list. I wish they made one in Scandi. So far kind of leaning more towards the Bushcrafter.
 
I ordered my first BHK but it wasn't a Bushcrafter nor Boat tail. Still want them but had to jump on the August special which is a Scandi Tiger knapp.
 
Woods Walker,

I don't have experience with the Bushcrafter but I have recently gotten a Boat Tail Scandi and spent some hours with it. The BTS is an excellent knife, I love it. The sheath is absolutely kickin'. But after a while with it I ordered an Aito Puukko from Kellam Knives. The Puukko is all around the better knife. But, if you got the BTS re-profiled with more of a grind on it (like the Puukko) I think it'd be hard to choose between the two. But as it is, because of the grind angel the BTS just doesn't compare.


God bless,
Adam
 
I haven't used the Bushcrafter but i have the Boattail and its great for wood working. its on my belt around my property as my general use knife and it just feels so solid in the hand. the handle is comfortable and simple and the blade is stout and sharp. the grind leaves you with a tough point that i've used for drilling into wood and general uses that i would think twice about with other knives like a flat grind or hollow grind. just a great knife. if you need the length for battoning i'd probably go with the Bcrafter but otherwise I think this knife can do just about anything. The finish on their knives is just excellent and the micarta is tops.
 
jumpmonkey said:
Woods Walker,

I don't have experience with the Bushcrafter but I have recently gotten a Boat Tail Scandi and spent some hours with it. The BTS is an excellent knife, I love it. The sheath is absolutely kickin'. But after a while with it I ordered an Aito Puukko from Kellam Knives. The Puukko is all around the better knife. But, if you got the BTS re-profiled with more of a grind on it (like the Puukko) I think it'd be hard to choose between the two. But as it is, because of the grind angel the BTS just doesn't compare.


God bless,
Adam
Click to expand...

I am also looking at The Metsa.
 
russamurai said:
I haven't used the Bushcrafter but i have the Boattail and its great for wood working. its on my belt around my property as my general use knife and it just feels so solid in the hand. the handle is comfortable and simple and the blade is stout and sharp. the grind leaves you with a tough point that i've used for drilling into wood and general uses that i would think twice about with other knives like a flat grind or hollow grind. just a great knife. if you need the length for battoning i'd probably go with the Bcrafter but otherwise I think this knife can do just about anything. The finish on their knives is just excellent and the micarta is tops.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info.
 
I have both and use both. I find that the Boattail finds it's way on my belt more than the Bushcrafters of which I have 3. I think the thinner blade allows a liitle more slicing ability. But my Flat grind Bushcrafter cuts like a house a fire. I really don't think you could go wrong with either but if I only had one or the other I would choose the Bushcrafter due to it is a little stronger design.

Mike
 
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