Favorite bushcraft knife

Of the knives I own, my favorite knife for bushcraft is the Bark River Full Tang Kephart. I don't own many fixed blades (Benchmade Rant DPT, Moras and Ahti Finman), so my opinion is limited.

That said, I also don't plan on buying another 4-inch bushcraft knife at this point, because the Kephart works so well for me.

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*IMAGE COURTESY KNIVESSHIPFREE.COM

Reasons I like the Bark River Kephart:

- Excellent full-convex blade geometry allows superb cutting edge that is also strong and easy to maintain with a strop. Handles wood and food cutting equally well.

- Comfortable handle does not force you into a particular hold. Canvas micarta scales are sufficiently grippy, without being abrasive. They're also very sturdy and resilient.

- Ideal blade length for small-to-medium tasks; also can be used to baton decent sized wood for kindling.

- A2 has benefits of high-carbon steel (tough, takes a fine edge and holds it) but is more stain resistant than typical 10XX series steels, in my experience.

- Thinner than most Bark Rivers of its size, but still plenty thick.


Downsides of the BR Kephart (both of which I can easily live with):

- Spear point isn't as acute as many drop points. So pairing it with a pocket knife is advisable for fine tasks (i.e. you won't be picking out splinters with the Kephart).

- A bit heavier than I like.
 
I have to say my all time favorite is the Fox River/Micro Tusk combo. It has been on my belt for many years and has never been lacking in any task that doesn't require a chopper.

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Although lately I have modded a DP Hunter into a spear point and gave it a full height convex and thumb notches to strike my firesteel. I didn't realize how thick it would be when I bought it (my fault, didn't read specs) and it wasn't as practical of a skinning knife as I was looking for (although it was a great all around hunting knife). I had not used it in a while so I emailed Doug and asked if he would mind if I modded the knife. I won't change a maker's knife without checking with them first. He said that if I could make it better suit my uses then have at it. This is what I ended up with. I don't know how many guys have 1095 knives from Doug but I can tell you that his heat treat is top notch. It holds a hair popping edge and takes tons of abuse.

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Of all the knives I take with me into the woods--and not counting machetes--the knife I end up using most is my Condor Rodan. It even sees more use than my ESEE stuff, and I use them all the time! The thick spine makes it incredibly strong, while the full flat grind and narrow convexed edge make it cut like a Mora! For just over $20 you really can't go wrong! :eek:
 
The knife that I have taken most often lately, is the Sypderco Bushcraft knife. Holds a great edge, and has the most comfortable handle of any knife I own.
 
I'll blur the definition here a little bit between bushcraft and survival. For me, any good knife has to have a handle that I can grip with comfort and positively direct the blade. So while I love knives with beautiful wood, horn, antler, I will carry the rubbery ones that are grippy when wet. The blade should be 5 inches or less. My choices:

Coldsteel Master Hunter

Mora Clipper

Mora 2000

Mora Craftsman Allround

Those are the ones I own and I like, not saying they're the best. For instance, I've never handled a Falkniven, so can't say anything about it.

On the other hand, I also own knives by Jeff White and Dean Orman, what I would call Early American traditional (carbon blades, riveted wood handles, leather sheaths). I think these would fall into the area of conventional bushcraft knives. But they would not be my first choice for woods running under adverse conditions.

Good thread, thanks :thumbup:
 
I know this might freak a lot of people but a good pocket knife will take care of many of your needs if you have learned well to use it. I like a trapper style or cattleman's. Believe I have SAKs and use them, but I prefer the traditional styles I grew up with. If I was headed to a jungle then I would add a machete or in the cold of the north an ax.
 
My favorite bushcraft knife... well, I suppose that honestly be a Mora. Soon it will likely be a Condor Rodan or perhaps something from BHK.
 
bushcraft north west knife and brkt canadian special

the canadian special probably gets the most time outdoors and has seen the most use out of all my knives.
 
My current favorite is my Turley Knives Gasconade River, shown on the left here:

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My favorite Bushcraft knife a Bark River Aurora (see pic below, orange G10 scales):

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It fits my hand perfect, cuts great, and is light and out of the way on the belt.

By the way, if you set it down somewhere, the orange G10 makes it easy to see!
 
Tough call! Probably the two most used are:

Brian Andrews Bushcrafter; his attention to detail is excellent and he has the most comfortable and functional handle...

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and...Rod Garcia's SBT; a simply functional design that works very well for me...

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ROCK6
 
Hard to pick a favorite but I've really been getting into friction folders. I've made four in the last week working on my design. I used this one to carve out a spoon. It work very well as a carver. I need to pick up a spoon knife which would make it easier to scoop out the spoon section although the knife blade did quite well. Never had an issue with it trying to close.
Scott

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Koster Bushcraft in O1.

Simply put the knife just works for me. I can use it for every task I need to and it does them with ease. Holds a good edge, sharpens easily and doesn't take much to maintain or clean.

Worth every cent and to be honest I haven't bought a knife in this category since.
 
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5 inch 15N20 Koyote Puuko with tigerstriped maple, probably the best edge retention and highest performance edge profile of any knife I own.
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The Rodan has been seeing more miles the last few weeks than anything, ugly as sin but it's just too ergonomic not to use-the blade shape and full convex grind just scream "use me!". The steel is very soft-I have to sharpen it quite frequently and I find the edge rolling alot. If this blade were heat treated a notch or two higher and had typical Condor wood scales...
 
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Hi all,

My Version of a Kephart that I made.

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Why is it my favorite, Well from food prep

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To

more bushcrafty type chores like making trap triggers.

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A couple of fuzz sticks

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I have tried some other knives, but so far this is my favorite design for doing the cutting chores I do from kitchen to camp duties.

Bryan
 
I really don't have a favorite but I have many really good ones. To be honest, I use the Sak and a couple of folders a lot of the time, Because, I always have them with me.
 
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