Different types of bushcraft knives

@Mannlicher: there are a lot of knives, but far fewer types of knives. For example, I would put the khukuri, golok, parang, and bolo in the same category because they are all long, heavy-bladed choppers.
@FourtyTwoBlades: yes.
 
As promised, here's my knives so far. Don't know why the photo came out so crappy.
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The ones on the left side with the edges facing to the right are the ones I've tested. The ones on the right side with the edges facing left are the ones I have yet to try out. You may recognize a few of them.
Left to right: a 3.5" scandi puukko, a 4" scandi semi-kephart (this one belongs to my girlfriend), a 4.25" proper kephart, 6.25" scandi leuku, 2" scandi neck knife, 2" FFG neck knife, FFG version of the semi-kephart, 5" scandi (inspired by the habilis trade knife), 5.25" clone-ish of the habilis bushtool, FFG clone-ish of the mora #1, FFG clone-ish of the mora 2/0, 4.5" FFG butcher knife, 3" FFG drop point (will probably evolve into a neck knife), and a 6" FFG butcher. So far my favorites are the proper kephart, the leuku and the 2" scandi neck knife, but I've got miles to go before I can be sure.

- Chris
 
Looks more organized than my collection and with more variety. I see a lot of microbevels and flat bevels but no full convex bevels - maybe add one of those for variety. Bark River and Fallkniven are great places to start (I like the former and my nephew swears by the latter, which says a lot as he has racked up a lot of field time with his S1 and it looks better than most of my knives).
 
Another thing... without further info I'd grab the butcher knife (third from right) before any of the others given a "take one and make due with it" situation. This is based on my preferences and experiences. I spend a lot of time with one knife and thus come to appreciate and dislike specific things far more than if I switch knives on any semi-regular basis. I know of people who will switch knives mid-task because they are more focused on testing differences between knives than getting the job done. I don't personally find this useful and think that "bonding" with a knife will give you more feedback and weed out more noise. Bonding with a crappy knife teaches me WAY more than buying 15 different knives ever does, and is far less expensive and results in more field experience, which is of higher value than any knife in my opinion.
 
What do you all mean by "Bushcrafting Tasks"

I know this question focuses on "form follows function"
But you guys keep on using this term Bushcrafting tasks

also
buy a $14 Ontario Old Hickory butcher knife
As a classic trade knife
 
Bushcrafting tasks generally involve lots of wood carving, but may also include game/food prep or tinder/kindling prep. Generally speaking it means shelter, tool, and trap making to my understanding.
 
@CapitalizedLiving: That's good advice. I don't have any full convex grinds because that isn't a grind that's part of my repertoire. I guess I should probably learn how to do it.

- Chris
 
My preferred tool for "bushcrafting" is a 1994 020 Stihl :p For everything else outside I use a 16 inch Corona machete or my Alpha Hunter.:thumbup:
For mission critical "tactical' operations, like shoe shopping, I carry a 10 inch Odon.....gives me the Viking spirit ! :jerkit:
 
This is a really good thread, with a great question, loaded with side info that can be grabbed from space and time. I am kind of out of the loop for a while, and just swinging through, but I wanted to say that I liked the topic, and the answers so far.
From your knives that you have made, I would love to have the one on the left of the group. Sweet blade.
I think you are on the right track.
What are the styles of knives out there..what do the do, what are their strong points? All a great way to feel more in tune with the steel you carry.
Great to see some "knife talk" in here.
42blades, I like your points so far...hold down this fort until I return, huh?

See you guys in a few weeks, sorry I have been gone so much, but moving from a huge family takes time...everyone wants a cut of your hide before you leave.
Next stop...Tejas (TEXAS).
 
kamagong said:
What about the Argentine criollo? Think kitchen knife, but more sturdily built. Carried by the gauchos (i.e., Argentine cowboys) they were do-it-all knives for men who spent months in the field.

criollo08.jpg
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Interesting as these knives look like some fur trade cutlery that I have seen from the 1700's. I don't think that the heavy buffalo skinning blades came into vogue until the early 1800's when traders realised that there was a demand for a more robust knife as trade moved to the plains. As for ''bushcraft'' categories I look at the old traders. They carried folders with a 3-4 inch blade, a medium sized to large fixed blade, and the ever present belt axe. At least up here they did. But these tools were also dictated by what they were needed for, beaver (the primary reason why they were there), buffalo and wood processing. The Cree and traders in north central Canada did not often kill Elk for meat because the fat coated their mouths with a disagreeable wax like effect. And it wasn't like these guys just ran out with a knife in their belt and fought grizzlies every day. In the late 1700's traders even brought carpentry tools to isolated bush sites for their post construction. So then as now cutting tools fell into different groups for specialized use.
 
Actually a Paring Knife reminds me of a Bushlore design, and that's exactly what I had made for myself, I had one made in a 6" blade lenght and a 1/44" thick and 1 1/4" wide, I had it made out of a Cryo Tempered 3V Steel, the grind even though my favorite is a Saber Vex Grind I had it made in a Full Flat Grind with a Zero Edge, the reason was I wanted a Slicer that would Split like a wedge if I had to baton with it, the Handle is a no frill design but I had it Scalloped, I think it's called a Rocky Mountain Pattern so no matter how I hold it my fingers can find a scallope in any possition I hold it, so far I agree that a person can survive with a Paring Knife design especially how I can with mine after I added a little steriods to it, so far all's well.
 
Pretty good categories, though you forget about your HUGE blades like the machetes/choppers. Those pesky jungle-folk seem to do quite well with a 14inch+ blade
 
paul'ie said:
Actually a Paring Knife reminds me of a Bushlore design, and that's exactly what I had made for myself, I had one made in a 6" blade lenght and a 1/44" thick and 1 1/4" wide, I had it made out of a Cryo Tempered 3V Steel, the grind even though my favorite is a Saber Vex Grind I had it made in a Full Flat Grind with a Zero Edge, the reason was I wanted a Slicer that would Split like a wedge if I had to baton with it, the Handle is a no frill design but I had it Scalloped, I think it's called a Rocky Mountain Pattern so no matter how I hold it my fingers can find a scallope in any possition I hold it, so far I agree that a person can survive with a Paring Knife design especially how I can with mine after I added a little steriods to it, so far all's well.
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1. I have seen knives called "bushcraft," "bushlore," and "woodlore." None looked like any paring knife I have seen.

2. A 1/44" thick "wedge"?
 
JV3 said:
machete/golok/parang type - that is the bushcraft blade for most of south america and asia...my esee lite machete was my most used for 2011 actually (this year it's shaping up to be my spyderco bushcraft though).
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In many places, the large knife is really needed. In Samoa, where I was a Peace Corps volunteer, a machete is called a "bush knife"
:cool:
 
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