Bushmaster Stop # 1

Brian_T

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 7, 1999
Messages
1,755
KBMast01.JPG


Picked these up from JRE today. :)

Some statistics of the two knives before I get started with some testing, pictures, and final analysis.

Bushmaster:
  • Natural Canvas Micarta Handles
  • Full tang
  • 221 g / 7.8 oz.
  • 9 7/8" OAL
  • 5" Handle
  • 4 7/8" Front of scale to tip
  • .188" thick at front of scale
  • .727" thick at butt end

Bushmaster T(apered):
  • Desert Ironwood Handles
  • Tapered Tang
  • 199 g / 7 oz.
  • 9 7/8" OAL
  • 4 7/8" Handle
  • 5" Front of scale to tip
  • .184" thick at front of scale
  • .822" thick at butt end

First impression:

These knives are totally awesome. Not just an upsized Bushcraft knife but a whole new animal.

The balance point on the Bushmaster T is right at the forward lanyard hole and on the Bushmaster is at the forward pin about .5" further back.

Both knives have the forged finish on the flats and polished bevels with nicely etched logos on one side and the word "PROTOTYPE" on the other.

I'll try to get a few in-hand pictures taken and posted still tonight and tomorrow I hope to get out for a bit of testing. I'll also make sure to get a few pictures next to the Bushcraft so you can have a better idea of the scale on this knife.

Final first thought:
I'd order one of the natural canvas micarta full-tang versions right now if Dan were to offer it. That's without using it.

See you in a bit,


B
 
Forehand Grip:
Grip01.JPG


Backhand Grip:
Grip02.JPG


Chestlever Grip:
Grip03.JPG


Reinforced Grip 1:
Grip04.JPG


Reinforced Grip 2:
Grip05.JPG


B
 
very nice photos. can't wait to get those babies and have some fun with them.

enjoy!
Brett
 
Great pics!! Looking forward to the review.


:thumbup:
 
As JRE Dan clearly favored the tapered tang Bush Master I seemed to reach for the full-tang model each time. I suspect it has more to do with my appreciation of the natural canvas micarta than anything else as the knife is a bit heavier and otherwise nearly identical to the tapered tang version.

KBM01.JPG


So this is the one I grabbed first this morning to take out and get dirty. I threw it into my new day pack with a piece of fatwood, my firesteel, a compass, my cookset, and my camera and tripod.

The first task once I got things set up was to check the edge. It looks good so I'll leave it alone.

By choking way back on the blade like this:
KBM05.JPG


KBM06.JPG


you can readily chop smaller branches. The ring grip should be a bit loose and would probably be best practiced with a lanyard just in case. I didn't put a lanyard on but knew that there was nobody within 100 yards of me should the knife fly out of my hand.

I grabbed a piece of frozen deadwood and worked my way around chopping down while holding the branch at an angle. Once I'd worked it a bit one direction I then chopped back up to loosen the chips. Doing this once or twice around the branch allows you to break it cleanly and is also one of the hardest tests I can imagine for the knife's edge.

KBM07.JPG


I didn't find any knots but you can see that this isn't a rotted piece of wood. It's just a nice rock-hard piece of something that is sufficiently dry to burn very, very well.

The ring grip is nice too that it helps to deflect some of the shock of chopping and I noticed no discomfort during or after the effort. The butt of the knife is shaped in such a way to provide plenty of security without a lanyard and I never felt like I was putting myself at risk doing the chopping without the lanyard.

There was no rolling, chipping, or deformation of the edge after this task and then I quickly fuzzed up my piece of fatwood. It took me a few seconds to figure out the best angle with the knife and then it was easy to get it to bite into the wood to make nice curls.

KBM04.JPG


This one isn't Ray Mears nice yet but it'll surely catch from a match and scraping one side of the fatwood would produce enough shavings to start it with a metal match.

After I had the fuzz stick done, the wood chopped, and some tinder and kindling collected, I used the Bush Master to cut a shallow hole in the dirt where I could be sure to get under the layer of mud and snow that'd suck the energy and heat right out of my new fire. This did little but make the knife nice and muddy. Don't worry, I didn't put it back into the sheath after that and I'll wash it off before forwarding everything. :)

So, in conclusion, as I said before I'd buy one of these today if Dan were to make them available. After using it for a while I'm going to have a hard time sending this one on but, as I've made a promise to do so, I'll have to stick it in the box.

I can see how the Bushcraft knife is a compact version of the Bush Master or how the Bush Master is the up-sized version of the Bushcraft but I think an argument could easily be made that both should find a place in your knife collection. They will in mine. :thumbup:

Brett, these are headed your way today. I'll have them cleaned up (a bit) so make sure to get them appropriately dirty again. :cool:

Thanks for reading,


B
 
Excellent one-day review, Bro - you were rockin!! :eek:




If everybody goes this fast, we'll be done in a month or two...:foot:


:D



Thanks, Brian!!
 
I can see how the Bushcraft knife is a compact version of the Bush Master or how the Bush Master is the up-sized version of the Bushcraft but I think an argument could easily be made that both should find a place in your knife collection. They will in mine. :thumbup:


B

+1 to that. I tend to favor smaller blades, and I think the Bushcraft and Bushmaster will both find a place with me.

Thanks for the great reviews guys! By the time it gets to me, won't be anything left to say but "...yeah, what they said, and pass the credit card!"
 
Hey Brian,

Can you tell me which grinds each of these knives has, including the Bushcraft, and what advantages you found to each on these particular knives?

Thanks,

J
 
Any long term reviews on this knife?

Any pics with different scales?

Comparisons to something like the Bravo 1 or the new BRK bush knife?

....etc?
 
There have been lots of reviews...and a few changes too.

I do these exclusively in 3V now and remove a lot more out of the tang to make them lighter and balance better.

Just do a search on "BushMaster" here on my forum and you'll see some reviews.

KnivesShipFree.com had some in stock - but I don't know if they still do.

Dan
 
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