Custom bushcraft knife

I think you've narrowed it down to such good choices that it will come down to personal preference of style. All of those are just plain winners, that most anyone here would be happy to have. Plus, if you're like me, you'll own them all within a year anyway! :foot::eek:

The Koster bushcraft is a quality knife, but the handle (scales and design) was too small for me. Some others seem to find that it worked OK for them. If you've got wee lass hands (:p :D ) then you may find it to fit you just fine.
 
by John and Geri McPherson on fire and cordage.The knife they use looks like and shortened heavy duty butcher knife and it does everything and knife is supposed to do:)..making bow drills,splitting fire wood,eveything.It makes me think..is a custom bushcraft knife a need or a want?:D After a few seconds of thought..I gotta have a custom bushcraft knife..:D:D:D
 
I love the Koster Design and it fits my hand fine. My hand is 3 and 3/4 at the place where the back of the handle would hit.

However the scales are really thin on th stock Koster. I sent my first back and I sent him 3/8 scales, he glued them on and sent them back to me and I shaped them to fit my hand:thumbup:

If you are not using your knife for a lot of whittling. the thin scales will work fine for you.

I think the 3v he uses is the most durable steel for that sort of edge.

The Koster is really about the best buy of that style of knife in my opinion.



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The Skookum is probably my favorite. The thin blade. The 01 is not as durable as the 3V but easier to sharpen. I don't like the sheath as well. The handle will fit larger hands and is useable in a variety of positions.

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To me, no handle is as comfortable as the Ray Mears style. However most of the UK blades will cost you almost as much for a bare blade as the Koster. Also they are 4mm thick which makes them slices not as well.

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I have a Gossman knife that he made me in scandi blade only. I haven't finished it yet. I like the shape but I reground the tip to give it more point, I'm putting a more egg shaped round handle than he puts on the which feels great. I'm having to work on the edge a bit because his scandi is not truly flat. It has some convex to it. His was the cheapest I really don't like the funky finger notch on it though. I'd rather the handle just be straight:thumbup:
 
about A2 vs. 12c27 from the horse's mouth

I can sum it up pretty easily.

Toughness will be the same on Both steels.

A-2 will be take a little bit longer to sharpen and it will hold it's edge longer.

In real time use there is very little Difference for most use.

In hard woods work--the A-2 will have the advantage.

in Hunting chores--You will not notice a difference.

Keep in mind that I am being specific to Bark River knives.

I cannot predict how either of these steels will work on another brand.

The Combination of Our Heat treat and temper and the convex grometry make both steels perform very well.
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Mike Stewart
 
Added another one to my list: Local knifemaker Alain Miville-Deschênes.
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Here's a custom bushcraft/scandi lineup

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Not quite finished with the Gossman. I need to finish resharpening the tip I ground to a finer point
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I have the scales nice and rounded but I need to take a little more off the bottom to give it a bit more "egg shape"
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Need to also put the lanyard hole lining in there.
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Nice collection Hollowdweller! Who is # 4? <--- Got it, SWC.

1) Gossman
2) Skookum
3) Koster
4) SWC
5) Charlie May
6) Shing
 
I went through this 'ultimate bushcraft knife' metamorphisis last Fall to the early part of this year. I had thought my ultimate 'woods bumming' knife was a Buck 110... and an old KaBar. Then, one day - I just upped and bought an 'Alaskan Guide' S30V variant - then the plain-Jane - Buck Vanguard. Fit my hand beautifully - great for bark removal, splitting, etc. Then I saw that Bayley Grylls used - hmmmm... then the price. Well, I went through a few more older Marbles - a nice Northwoods - an okay Benchmade Activator+... and (Fanfare, please!) - then - Bark River.

I have a few 'custom knives' - but I believe a BRK&T example is so much like the best custom knives that they simply kill my interest in a custom knife. At my age, time is important... check around to find what you want in a Barkie - from stock. Find a boo-boo? Not sharp enough? Want different scales? send it in... you'll see it soon! Ordering a 'custom' knife may just tie up your money until next tax day.

Hey, the Fox River really is a fine 'bushcraft' knife. For smaller hands, with a tight grip, the North Star (Mine is an '07 LE - no tang/lanyard loop.) is great - centered point for most effective drilling. Bigger hands? The Gameskeeper is a keeper - all A2 convex ground - and no 'patina' yet on any of mine. Tiny hands or want a pocket-sheath-able variant? The Huntsman. I carry mine in a KSF pocket sheath with a flashlight.

Below (L-R) are the BM Activator; BR Huntsman, Fox River, Gameskeeper, North Star, & TUSK. Note: I like the most basic (cheapest) handle material - Micarta!

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Of course, if you really want a 'custom' knife... nothing will satisfy that urge - but a custom knife!

Stainz
 
A lot of nice looking blades, a hard choice.

Stainz, that Northstar LE looks great.

Nessie, Bark river, custom. Help me guys, why should I get XX.

Anyone had experience with AMD knives?
 
Two other ones to look at are Dozier knives (I have the master hunter and am thinking about the wilderness knife) and Diving Sparrow (I have the Boreal Bushcraft on order).

The Dozier knives are excellent quality, great design with good ergonomics and one of the sharpest I have seen from the manufacturerer.
 
bcornelis said:
Two other ones to look at are Dozier knives (I have the master hunter and am thinking about the wilderness knife) and Diving Sparrow (I have the Boreal Bushcraft on order).

The Dozier knives are excellent quality, great design with good ergonomics and one of the sharpest I have seen from the manufacturerer.
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Great looking knives from Diving Sparrow. Hadn't seen them before. Decent prices as well.:thumbup:

http://home.cogeco.ca/~aelias/bushcraft.htm
 
There was a decent article about Diving Sparrow knives in "Tactical Knives" magazine about three editions back. After reading the article I figured the Boreal was the right knife for me. Abe Elias the owner of the company actually phoned me to discuss options on the knife. So far I am very impressed.
 
bcornelis said:
There was a decent article about Diving Sparrow knives in "Tactical Knives" magazine about three editions back. After reading the article I figured the Boreal was the right knife for me. Abe Elias the owner of the company actually phoned me to discuss options on the knife. So far I am very impressed.
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I'd very much appreciate a review (and pics!) when you get it. I'd like to see what his other bushcraft models look like, but he's not got photos of them on his site.

It's always nice to hear about makers that put that much into their knives and into their customer service.
 
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