Bushcraft Knife under $200.00 and why?

kamagong said:
Since you already have that in mind I suggest you just go ahead and get it. If you don't you might keep wondering about it later. Sure it's a bit more expensive, but it's cheaper than getting something else and eventually getting the Hurttila anyways.

I'd choose one of Pasi's knives over any of the three in your OP.

Which model are you looking at? I suggest going to the source and buying from Pasi directly. It'll be a longer wait as he'll have to make your knife, but it'll be cheaper. Depending on the handle material you want it might even fall within your budget. Buying from Finland is hassle free these days with PayPal and email communication.
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I second every word. Pasi is himself a hunter and backpacker and has been a wilderness guide for 10 years, so you may enjoy a nice talk before purchasing.

I'll make you an easy prediction: if you'll end up taking either a tuohipää or a tuohisarvi, be prepared to put any other knife to rest.
The combination of rhombic section and birch bark has simply no match and the only knife that can properly sobstitute a bark handled puukko is just another birch bark puukko. Just to give you an idea, since 2011 I bought three tuohipää from Pasi and they are the only puukkos I take outdoor.

As for the Kullervo I can tell you it has a lower C content steel and is tempered bit lower than Pasi's puukkos. The sheaths is also quite loosy compared to knife quality.

Speaking of Marttiini, they are in 1075 tempered to 56 HRC, so don't expect that great edge holding.
 
Fubijar03 said:
Ranger, they were having some monthly specials, and I'm assuming that's where he got his as well. I'm honestly havi trouble believing that this knife cost this little. I can't wait to start using it, and we have a trip coming up...
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I can get the flat grind but they are out of the scandi now. Thanks enjoy
 
Is this about performance or about the real and valid pleasure of owning a high-end knife?

This YouTube channel as been interesting to watch over the years as this guy has worked his way through hundreds and hundreds of different hunting and bushcraft knives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLlxWbce4iE&index=1&list=FLByelOYNpINNJtbaLpAfh0Q

It looks as if he's more or less settled on a Bark River with a scandi-convex grind. He modifies the grind somewhat. Many of the knives mentioned in this thread can be found reviewed on his channel.

Interestingly, a cheap $15 Mora Companion HD holds its own with the $300 Bark River.

My take-away is that this ends up being more about how we feel about our knives and less about the actual performance. I have a Mora Companion HD and I put a scandi-convex grind on it and it's an amazing tool to work wood with. I honestly don't need any other knife in the woods. But it's a bit of a cold fish. Doesn't move my soul. I could say that I would get better performance out of a more expensive knife but honestly, that's just me trying to justify something.
 
The birch-bark handle jobs are beautiful, but definitely pricy. You can get a fine-looking and -working puukko for less $$ by going with a stacked-leather handle model, such as this from Kauhavan Puukkopaja ("Kauhava Knife Workshop"), available through lamnia.

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(On my 1280x800 screen at least, this image of the 105 model comes out about life size.)

The maker is Matti Koski — more here (in Finnish): http://www.kauhavanpuukkopaja.fi/index.php?page=puukonpaeaet-nahkaa "Puukkot" is the plural of puukko ("knives") and the tab header under Puukkot is worth exploring.

If you get really lost, try copy and paste with https://translate.google.com

And the OP may know about this, but if not check this out: http://nordiskaknivar.wordpress.com
 
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Birch bark has two major advantage over leather: it's waterproof due its essencial oil. Also, thanks to its very texture, it's very unlikely to loose gripness, no matter the conditions.

There are a couple of budget options among birch bark barrel handle puukkos, Iisakki Järvenpää Aito and APR-Tuote knives, but they're nowhere even close to Pasi's build quality, especially if you'll use it mainly hunting.
 
Birch bark is superior, granted, but affordable? Not in my budget. If you can snag a high-end, handmade puuko &#8212; more power to you. But the Nahkapää 105 (= Leather handle 105) fit my budget (< $90, delivered), so that was it.
 
Bark river makes great blades, though I have no actual experience with them. The Spyderco Bushcrafter is quite expensive even though its made in Taiwan.
Unfortunately, there is no "perfect" knife and characteristics/properties tend to be more personal preference than anything else. Especially when it comes to aesthetics.
Dave Canterbury has several knives on his site that he likes, but he tends to be very fond of trade knives instead of woodlore-style blades. He's fond of Battle Horse Knives and they make their own woodlore version (made in the US also)
 
AreBeeBee said:
Birch bark is superior, granted, but affordable?
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It's not the bark to be pricier but the longer building process required to properly craft such a handle. After harvesting, bark sheets have to be cleaned, cut to suitable pieces, the pieces have to be pierced to make place for the tang, than they can be piled over it, each one crosswise to the previous. That's just for assembling, leaving alone all the bolsters making, the peening etc.

Anyway, as I said, APR-Tuote knives are in the Puukkopaja pricerange. There is also a review on Knifeforums if you want.
http://www.apr-tuote.com/english.html
 
Frederick89 said:
It's not the bark to be pricier but the longer building process required to properly craft such a handle. After harvesting, bark sheets have to be cleaned, cut to suitable pieces, the pieces have to be pierced to make place for the tang, than they can be piled over it, each one crosswise to the previous. That's just for assembling, leaving alone all the bolsters making, the peening etc.

Anyway, as I said, APR-Tuote knives are in the Puukkopaja pricerange. There is also a review on Knifeforums if you want.
http://www.apr-tuote.com/english.html
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I understand there's a lot of handwork involved with a birch bark handle. And thanks for the tip about APR. They look very nice.
 
Great look the bark has. Ragweed forge has a great selection of Scandinavian makers and is great to deal with. Great website too. Lots of interesting info thru out
 
I have a few Gray Wolf Knives and i gotta say, they are real cutters. Fit and finish is top notch.
Aaron is always great to deal with.
 
Olamic cutlery makes some beautiful birch bark handled knives, along with their Damascus steel makes for some stunning users. Have a look
 
DFB090 Army $162.00
12cm D2 tool steel, 4.5mm thick blade, Australian timber handle
DFB090-W.jpg


DFB090A Army - antler handle $195.00
12cm D2 tool steel, 4.5mm thick blade, Antler handle
DFB090-A.jpg


DFB100W-5 Wombat - Heavy duty bush knife $176.00
12.5cm D2 tool steel, 4.5mm thick blade, brass bolster, wooden handle, 25cm overall
DFB100A-5 Wombat - Heavy duty bush knife $209.00
12.5cm D2 tool steel, 4.5mm thick blade, brass bolster, through tang, antler handle, 25cm overall
DFB100-4.jpg


http://www.deweyknives.com.au/index.html
 
I surprised no one has recommended the GSO4.1 or GSO3.5 yet.
Survive!knives are incredible knives. If you do get one, get one in micarta. It's nicer to the touch and grippy than g10.

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