Bushcraft Knife Challenge results!!!

koyote said:
The only actual question, and it's fine if this should be addressed in PMs, did either of you use the index finger on the guard for whittling? MY design practice included that (hence the funky overdone guard).

Just curious ;)
Click to expand...

Yup, I actually mentioned it in my review.



I like that option over a choil on big knives. My ESEE Junglas has the same big guard for choking up as well. Yours has the file work though and that adds a nice touch.
 
Nice work all. I'd pay good money (and probably will) to have any of these knives. Excellent job Bruce.
 
gunknifenut said:
I think that the most interesting thing about all of this is that the highest scorers were the very knives I picked through the photo's. I wonder how many others here have this same idea...I mean, is it a purely asthetics thing, or is it that a better looking knife also works betters cause we all "like" good knives...?? Anyways..I had a blast..and I think the top guys are the top guys no matter who tests what..they were just that good.
GKN
Click to expand...

I think the trend you see is that the skill required to consistently make high performing knives is very similar to the skill required to make an aesthetically pleasing knife.

If a person can make a knife that performs, they will usually try their best to make it pretty as a matter of professional pride.
 
This was a good time, guys. Thank you for putting in your valuable time to showcase us a little. ....(even Tony :D)
Congrats to Bruce! :thumbup:
Iz
p.s. Ken, brutha I got no idea what all that means but I think it's really cool.:D I'm easily confounded.....I'm not known for my analytical talents. :(
 
I think that if a maker has the skill to make a knife that has good fit and finish, he most likely has the skill to make a knife that performs well. IMHO, the later part is easier. I can teach someone to make a knife that cuts well in little time but to make a pretty knife, more time and practice is needed.
 
With no offense Tony, How the hell one small handle can become so victorious?, compared with others knive.


Can you elaborate that for me?

Thanks
 
raylaconico said:
I think that if a maker has the skill to make a knife that has good fit and finish, he most likely has the skill to make a knife that performs well. IMHO, the later part is easier. I can teach someone to make a knife that cuts well in little time but to make a pretty knife, more time and practice is needed.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%, Its really hard to get that perfect finish, for me anyway..I can make a knife...just not a pretty one. I have one of your knives Ray, its a great motivator for me. its pretty darn near perfect.
We always say don't judge a book by its cover...I guess we have to say that a knife that looks sweet, usually is!
 
ishiyumisan said:
With no offense Tony, How the hell one small handle can become so victorious?, compared with others knive.


Can you elaborate that for me?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I would love to. What the hell are you talking about?

Edit: If you are talking about what I said in the video about the Ban Tang knife, then here.

tonym said:
Bantang Knives.

I always wondered what “stupid sharp” meant, and now after using this Bantang knife, now I know. This is hands down the sharpest knife I ever have used. Couple that with the edge holding ability of the CPM-3V he used, it will probably degrade to just a good working edge sometime around the year 2036… ;)



Fit and finish on this knife was perfect. I loved the satin finish on the blade and the highly polished edge. The convex grind was perfectly executed and came to a fine razor sharp edge.
The handle had nice even contours and perfectly symmetrical scales. The micarta was perfectly bonded to the orange G-10 inlays. The finish was on the micarta was not only pretty, but grippy as well.





Ban’s kydex was great. I am not a kydex fan, but this was done to perfection. The only thing I don’t like is how high it rides on the belt with the tek lock. I would love a drop loop for this knife.

The simple drop point blade shape proved to have just enough belly, and plenty of tip. This blade cut and cut, and just kept cutting. Push cuts through cordage were with out effort. Notching wood and shaving wood was a breeze. The knife did everything great, the only thing I felt it did not do as good as a couple of other leading blades, were power cuts through small branches. It got through small branches, it’s just that I couldn’t get the leverage do to the small handle to do it easily. The handle I believe was under 4”. It was very comfortable and super easy to control when working it for whittling and notching and other detailed tasks. It just didn’t feel natural to me power cutting through things. Weird ha… This knife didn't have that continuous curve either, so that may have hindered it also..





Anyway, the contours of the handle and thumb ramps were expertly done and extremely comfortable. The handle was pretty fat also, which helped in the comfort. If the handle was ¾” longer, I would have probably been out even more money..

Anyway, this knife knocked a few knives down a notch in performance. It was so easy to whittle with, I questioned the edge strength. So I cross batonned some nasty wood, and hacked away at some other wood with it. The edge held up perfectly to the extra abuse. Ban’s convex geometry is awe inspiring.!!





Click to expand...


That's my detailed review of the Ban Tang knife. IMO with a longer handle that knife may have won.

You ask why was it "victorious", all I can say is to read all three of the reviews. There are three testers. The Ban Tang was a knife I think we all agreed was a great performer.
 
Last edited:
Why is Tony "the man" all of a sudden?! Screw him and his ability to sit around at work and post all day. And just so you know, he and I talked about our friendship and both agreed that I was the man! :D
 
Marcelo Cantu said:
Why is Tony "the man" all of a sudden?! Screw him and his ability to sit around at work and post all day. And just so you know, he and I talked about our friendship and both agreed that I was the man! :D
Click to expand...

Jealousy brings out the ugly in you...
 
Actually Marcelo, I was just playing to Tony's ego. You and Big Mike were placed on the y-axis and everybody knows that the y-chromosome in humans is what defines the male sex. The x-axis is decidedly a female carrier. Now, as long as Tony can hang with another Y, he is okay, but keep him away from the fems or he'll get all confused.
 
kgd said:
Actually Marcelo, I was just playing to Tony's ego. You and Big Mike were placed on the y-axis and everybody knows that the y-chromosome in humans is what defines the male sex. The x-axis is decidedly a female carrier. Now, as long as Tony can hang with another Y, he is okay, but keep him away from the fems or he'll get all confused.
Click to expand...

Your still mad cause your wife like my ass, your passive aggression is understandable. Would you like me to graph it for you?
 
As I'm sure most of the makers have, I've closely studied the scoring both in aggragate and by individual testers. Overall, I'm very pleased with the results, but clearly there is room for improvement, particularly with regards to batonning performance and food prep. My guess is my entry fell short (pun intended) on these tasks due either to a short overall blade length, or that pesky long ricasso. Perhaps I would have benefited from an additional inch of blade length? Your thoughts testers? My sheath also got a mediocre score, it is my hope this is due to my not so highly polished leather working skills rather than it's objective properties as a sheath. I was particularly pleased to see my knife rated in the top three in terms of ergonomics, as my thinking going into this was that if I did only one thing right, I had to design a knife that was comfortable to work with over an extended period of time. Any constructive input would be very much welcomed. Thanks.
 
x39 said:
Any constructive input would be very much welcomed. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't sweat the battoning thing. I like the length right where it is. I would shorten the ricasso a bit.

Your handle was perfect, don't touch a thing. Your knife was sharp, but it can be sharper. If I was keeping that knife, I would have that scandi bevel at a 2000 grit mirror polish and screaming sharp. I was so tempted to do that before I sent it back to you.... :)

Your sheath was perfectly functional, the aluminum liner was a nice touch. It can be finished a little nicer.
 
tonym said:
If I was keeping that knife, I would have that scandi bevel at a 2000 grit mirror polish and screaming sharp. I was so tempted to do that before I sent it back to you....
Click to expand...
Should have gone for it! As stated, constructive input is always welcome, LOL! Thanks Tony.
 
Rick Marchand said:
Not as much as photographs do.
Click to expand...

Man, you're quick to defend your boy. Now I know what your logo means - Wants Tony

Oh and I wouldn't talk about photographs..... :eek: :p :D :)

rickypoo.jpg
 
Touche.... I thought I got rid of that photo..... It can't belive I used to wear my socks up like that.
 
Well thanks to all the makers and testers. This challenge got me to get off my butt and order a knife from Bruce Culberson.Let the anticipation begin.


Mike
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top