Cheap Bushcraft Knife???

YoungBushcraft said:
By the way, Does a bushcraft black have a 90 degree spine???
Click to expand...

Yes, yes it does. The blade is also .2in longer than the Robusts. The handle is also different, and of course the robust is missing the black coating. The bushcraft black is ~$45, while the craftline robust is ~$15. So if you want to save some cash, just get a file for a few $$, and file the spine flat on the robust, and you can save yourself $30 and get effectively the same thing. That $30 could buy you some sharpening equipment, another mora, AND a machete.

Anyway, to each his own, its just an idea.

Good luck with whatever you do :D.
 
I would totally do this, but I would still not be comfortable making my own knife. I wouldent trust it at ALL. I might do it when I get into knives though
 
ocnLogan said:
Really, this whole time I thought it was 1095 for the carbon. Is that something they changed recently? Or have I just been told wrong and been parroting it this whole time :/?.

Also, just to slightly clarify for YoungBushcraft, the blades will be either 3/4in or 7/8in "tall" (when viewed from the side, this is also called the "chord" of the knife), and will have blade thicknesses of between .078-.126in. The rest of it is usually just differences in handles, and blade lengths.

The Craftline Robust is what I'd go with, but that one is one you will need to grind/file a 90 degree spine on yourself, because it doesn't come with one.

For what its worth, my preferred small blade when I go camping is a Mora Companion. They hold up well, and cut like gangbusters through most wood.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Yeah, everyone labels everything "1095". 1095 is .95% carbon, C100 is 1% - which is pretty much the same, just not exactly. There are lots of other basic steels out there. Here's what Mora lists as their blade materials:
file:///C:/Users/Andrew/Downloads/File-1372680762.pdf

The Companion and Companion HDs both have finished 90 degree spines for less than $15:
DSC_0571b.jpg
 
My Mora companion hasn't failed me yet. I have to admit that I never expected it to hold up as well as it has. I would definately recommend a Mora. They don't cost much so they are great for learning with.

My favorite knife is my Becker bk16. It is less than $75 but more than 50. It's not scandi grind, but sharpens pretty easily. Sharpening is not my thing either. It is a very tough knife for its size but still nimble enough for finer tasks.

Those are my 2 recommendations. Good luck. You might also try checking the exchange for some great deals.
 
YoungBushcraft said:
I would totally do this, but I would still not be comfortable making my own knife. I wouldent trust it at ALL. I might do it when I get into knives though
Click to expand...

You will be soon enough.

You know, at your age what seems pretty cool one day will seem all wrong a year later. So if I were you, I'd seriously consider just getting an $8.35 Mora carbon steel 511 off ebay. File the spine yourself, learn how to sharpen it, modify the handles, maybe make your own sheath down the road and generally abuse it. Or go up to a Companion HD for $14 or so.

Then next year (or later this summer) buy the Bushcraft Black, or a kit, or a BK16. By then you'll know more what you really want and need in a knife. I really wish I had taken a more utilitarian approach to knives when I was getting into them. Now I'm in my 40s and learning the simple pleasure of something like an Opinel.
 
In case anyone is wondering, look at the bottom of the screen. This will be temporary of course and will not go against Sam in any way in the future. He will be invited to return.

© Copyright 1998-2010 BladeForums.com. All rights reserved.
BladeForums.com is an adult website with adult discussions.
In accordance with the COPPA, no one under the age of 13 may join BladeForums.com
 
Last edited:
RevDevil said:
In case anyone is wondering, look at the bottom of the screen. This will be temporary of course and will not go against Sam in any way in the future. He will be invited to return.

© Copyright 1998-2010 BladeForums.com. All rights reserved.
BladeForums.com is an adult website with adult discussions.
In accordance with the COPPA, no one under the age of 13 may join BladeForums.com
Click to expand...

A shame that the COPPA can't be based on actual maturity, rather than age. Sam is a really thoughtful and polite kid.


Anyway, I hope people keep posting and Sam keeps reading. He might also try his luck on one of the Bushcraft forums.
 
Hopefully, he's still lurking. I totally agree with those advising to get a Mora. There is also the Hultafors GK ($13 shipped). It's almost bomb-proof, absurdly tough. Just check out the abuse videos of it's little, thinner brother the HVK;) Though, the Hultafors carbon steel (SK5 supposedly) is a bit hard and maybe harder to sharpen. You can easily square the spines on these knives with sandpaper or a file in minutes. You will learn sharpening, so don't get hung up on bevels. Many of the Scandi grinds seem to have at least a micro bevel anyway. I'm not good at sharpening either. What better way to learn than on a cheap knife:) Plus, working on knives makes them "yours" and builds confidence in yourself and the tool.

If you want a "fancy" blade ready to go, I suggest the Mora Bushcraft Orange. They can be had for around $31 shipped. The ONLY differences between it and the Bushcraft Black are that it's stainless steel and orange. Orange is the new black in the bushcraft world anyway:D Mora's stainless is Sandvik 12C27. It has a great reputation for being tough and easy to maintain. See thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1263610-12c27-why-not-more-love It has the same great handle, sheath, squared spine, and an identical blade shape and thickness.

Good luck and please be careful. I handed my son his first knife, a Mora Companion, a few years ago and he immediately cut the hell out of himself while I looked away:o He's very careful now:)
 
Imho the best mora you can afford would be a great knife to learn on. They're not full tang but for the price, get 2!
Good luck, be safe and enjoy yourself.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top