Bushcraft knives

[Swedge]

The knives that I see that are typically recommended as classic bushcraft knives don't seem to have handguards. Why is that?

And what makes a knife most suitable for bushcraft?

 

[canadiantrailman]

registered user

 

[Ramm9]

The knives that I see that are typically recommended as classic bushcraft knives don't seem to have handguards. Why is that?

And what makes a knife most suitable for bushcraft?

Careful, it depends on who is doing the recommending and often times some of the attributes are mostly marketing driven.

When doing a lot of wood carving and crafting some folks find a guard can get in the way. That doesn't mean that you can't do the same things with a guard, it's just not as convenient.

Suitable depends on what "bushcraft" work you want to be able to do with the knife.

Knives for the primarily wood carving and tool making hobby of "bushcraft" in that Woodlore style are very good.

If you are looking for a versatile wilderness knife to take into the "bush" there are a lot of choices that may or may not work better for you.

 

[usframe]

Agreed RAMM9
When using with a paring motion, pulling the blade into the thumb, guards are intrusive.
Plus, thrusting isn't a move I associate with my crafting knives. That's a different tool altogether.

 

[marcinek]

"A guard on a bush knife is in the way and detracts from many operations. It prevents the use of a simple, secure deep sheath. Some people prefer a guard for fear of slipping forward onto the knife edge, but unless the knife is used for stabbing, the hand should never slip in this way. In all my years of instructing I do not recall an injury due to the lack of a guard." - Mors Kochanski, Bushcraft: Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival