Help me find an interesting bushcraft knife!

roninelh

roninelh

Joined
Dec 14, 2010
Messages
610
First off my name is eric and I'm a longtime lurker and new poster. I have assorted puukkos and moras as well as a spyderco bushcraft. I'm looking for suggestions on a different bushie, opinions on usability and ergos would be helpful. Maybe Enzo trapper or entrek? The ergos on the spydie bush are amazing but it lacks flair. Any suggestions and opinions are appreciated! Doesn't have to be production either, just lower priced customs. I was eyeballing gray wolf knives and they look outstanding.
 
See the Fixed Blades for sale forum. You can find all kinds of cheap custom knives on there. Just act fast because almost everything is one of a kind and smart makers will not take your orders.
 
roninelh said:
First off my name is eric and I'm a longtime lurker and new poster. I have assorted puukkos and moras as well as a spyderco bushcraft. I'm looking for suggestions on a different bushie, opinions on usability and ergos would be helpful. Maybe Enzo trapper or entrek? The ergos on the spydie bush are amazing but it lacks flair. Any suggestions and opinions are appreciated! Doesn't have to be production either, just lower priced customs. I was eyeballing gray wolf knives and they look outstanding.
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check in regularly in the knife makers market (fixed blade) area of this forum.

what's you price range?

have you looked at bark river knives?
 
Take a look at KFU knives in the Backwoods and KFU Froum, Very sharp, Afforable and you can pick your handle and liners from the good size selection that Chris offers.
He makes a Kephart, Small and Large Bushcrafter and a few others that would be good bushcraft knives.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/909187-KFU-Models

Here is a Small Bushcrafter I just got, Desert Ironwood with Blue G10 Liners:

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And my KFU Kephart:

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Over the last couple of weeks I have picked up 3 different bushcraft types from Andy at Fiddleback forge. I don't think you can go wrong. Just to get an idea...

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First is the Fiddleback Forge Bushfinger, Ladyfinger and KE Bushie. The smaller 'neck knife' is the 3 Finger Karda.

He posts his available knives on Fridays in the knife makers forums. Check 'em out!
 
That KFU kephart is sweet! Good suggestions, thanks guys! I guess I will look at the for sale stuff. Jim, I think $100 to $150, and I have considered bark river and Bhk but convex kinda scares me.
 
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As discdoggin stated, Fiddleback is a beautiful knife, I have two, But you won't pick one up for $100, And tough to find one for $150, The Bushfinger goes for around $250.
You can pick up the KFU bushcraft knives for the price you are looking to pay. I think his Kephart runs right at $150.
 
roninelh said:
That KFU kephart is sweet! Good suggestions, thanks guys! I guess I will look at the for sale stuff. Jim, I think $100 to $150, and I have considered bark river and Bhk but convex kinda scares me.
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If you're scared of re-sharpening a convex, don't be! I used to stay away from convex edges because I had never tried sharpening that way, but once I got started, I convex EVERYTHING now. It's the easiest, most foolproof sharpening method, IMHO. There are Youtube vids and most posts on here to get you started. IM me if you want to chat more about it.
 
Fiddleback are worth every penny! I cannot recommend Andy's work enough. Save up, trust me it will be worth it :)

Guess I should give some qualifiers:
Excellent edgve geometry (I use mine at work to cut cardboard)
Insanely comfortable handle
Easy to sharpen/hold a good edge
Great sheath included
Looks sexy
 
+1 on KFU and Fiddlebacks. Also check out JK knives Mark Wohlwend. Prices in your range and they make good, tough, utilitarian blades designed to work long hours and clean up nicely. They have forums here.
 
I don't have an Enzo trapper , but I do have the Spyderco Bushcraft in G-10. I think the Enzo would be very similar to the Spyderco ( 4" scandi) so I wouldn't bother getting that myself even though it looks like a great knife.

Blind horse knives makes some awesome bushcraft blades. I have 3 of their bushcrafters and they are one of my top woods knives. I went with flat grind instead of scandi as I like that style of blade better and it does all the jobs very well. It is a little handle heavy but next to the Spyderco is one of the most comfortable handles for long use I own.

Check out some of the makers here on the forum also. I have a couple of Dan Kosters' knives ( EDC and Bushmaster) and am very happy with those also.
 
Roninelh, I would think the classic "Woodlore" type knife might interest you. There are a lot of makers, some quite affordable.
 
I can fully recommend:

Blind Horse Knives
Dan Koster
Helle

All of the above make a knife in your price range that works great in the woods.
 
Thank you all for infomin a newbie. Thank you everyone for your help and time, thank you nick for the offer, I might ask for help as I just picked up a Jeff white 1095 knife that is convex. I love thin knives too, like 3/32!!!! I like to slice with my blades, but am thinking more about a one tool system so a larger bushie (5+might do it). I like the helle stuff as I already have a fjelkniven........ Great knife, but if it's the only tool I have it freaks me out(I have run into bears) and think throwing a stick tang at a bear as I scream and run might embarrass me!
 
how about the boker vox rold I absolutely love mine for bush craft, great feel in the hand for chopping plus it has a choil right next to blade that I can vouch for being great with the delicate work. Made out of D2 steel, you can just feel how solid it is.

heres a pic I found online because I dont feel like putting one of mine ( ha sorry i am lazy)

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Thanks Colton! I was actually looking at that blade earlier, I do like bokers higher end stuff, but am weary of deep choils. Reminds me of Ontario stuff and am not big into military looking blades, I might buy it as an entry to d2, how does it compare to anything else(ht or edge retention) to anything else you might have in d2? It looks like it takes a fine edge based on that feather stick! Thanks again.
 
The vox is a great "one to rule them all" option as opposed to carrying a chopper and a slicer.
 
Well I would say it has quite good edge resistance considering I have spent whole days chopping wood and building fires with knife and at the end of the day still shave hair and the choil is excellent i absolutely love the feel i get from holding my hand in the choil position. Very rarely need to sharpen this blade and i would say the sharpening of the steel has never been a problem to me spend a few minutes on the sharp maker when i get home from camping and it is as good as new.

of course i always have the esee izula accompany me with it but that is just out my love for multiple blades

if i had to choose one knife for a survival situation or just any outdoor endeavor i would choose the vox rold

Hope this helped
 
i have a spyderco bushcraft too and the ergonomics is top notch! for something close to that, i have battle creek knives' "creekster" (top one in this pic):

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Don't we all hope for a holy grail knife? I do need to Carry more than one blade, but I sometimes carry: spyderco bushcraft, ka bar heavy bowie( or condor Hudson bay) and an axe or tomahawk when on longer trips. I just kinda want a do it all for short trips and in a steel that suits me( I might have to give up the mirror polish for a coating). I like the right tool for the job, but I carry a 95 lb pack on day trips sometimes and am OCD about being prepared. I am trying to learn to take a deep breath and reduce my load. I just always think what if I have to build shelter? Light fire or skin a shark..... Lol, I think an izula and a chopper might do it, coated 1095 isn't my favorite but izulas are awesome!
 
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