HI Bushcraft Knife?

S

smoke-n-mirrors

Joined
Apr 29, 2009
Messages
24
Hi all,

I'm looking supplement my 14" Bonecutter (booooonnne-cuutteeeerrrr?) with a good bushcraft knife. The Bonecutter is great, but the karda's a bit small (at a touch over 5" with a 2 3/4" blade) for bushcraft-y uses.

I figure a knife with a 4" handle and 3 - 4" blade that happy to deal with eucalypus wood (most common wood around my area of the world) can be found in the R series: The R-4, R-6 and the R-10 look like good sized knives.

I've read the review of the R-6 (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=627245) and the R-10 (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=589517). Both sound good, and I really like the look of the R-6.

Does anyone have views on the R-4 model? (seen at http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=449767&page=2 in post #26)

Anyone have any views on which of the three would be the better all-round bushcrafter?

Anyone think I'm being careless for not considering the JKM-1? :)

Cheers,

smoke-n-mirrors
 
I don't own a 4 or 6, but I love my R-10. Probably my favorite HI knife so far. Takes a great edge and is damn near indestructible. That's the one knife I always have with me in the woods and on the water. Haven't found anything yet that it can't do. Takes a baton without flinching, slices veggies, skins critters, whittles surprisingly well for a thick (3/16) blade. Just a fantastic knife. I'm sure the other two are great as well. Two others to consider are the Kumar Karda, which is a totally different animal than the karda that comes with your khuk, and the JKM-1.
 
Carolina River Rat said:
Just a fantastic knife. I'm sure the other two are great as well. Two others to consider are the Kumar Karda, which is a totally different animal than the karda that comes with your khuk, and the JKM-1.
Click to expand...

I have a 10inch/8ounce Kumar Karda with an engraved grip but it probably is a bit too big for your use needs. I intend on getting the JKM-1 because I like Scandi knives.

Personally I would follow CRR's advice and look at the R10 if I was after a bushcraft blade. :thumbup:
 
The R6 is a fantastic little knife...

P5190066.jpg
 
Well, since you linked to my reviews, I guess you know what I think. :D

The R-6 is about the size you seem to want (as is the JKM-1), but IMO the R-10 is the most useful knife HI makes. It's easy to get all kinds of different grips on it. I've used it from bushcrafting to opening boxes to skinning game. I put a scandi grind on mine (it came sort of convex), and it's just frightening how sharp this knife can get. It's one of the few knives I can get to shave with very little effort. It also has phenomenal balance.
 
Don't forget to check out the thinner JKM-1 and Kumar Kardas. My Kumar Karda is a great kitchen knife and all around camp blade. The R-6 Is on my shopping list. ;)

Heber
 
I'm fascinated by all this talk of the "R-series" knives, which I'm not really familiar with. As a kid who grew up on Star Wars, I have to ask: is there an R2? :D
 
If you get a chance to pick up a HI Rusty Sgian Dubh, go for it. Perfect little personal utility / bushcraft knife.
 
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Cpl Punishment said:
The R-6 is about the size you seem to want (as is the JKM-1), but IMO the R-10 is the most useful knife HI makes. It's easy to get all kinds of different grips on it. I've used it from bushcrafting to opening boxes to skinning game. I put a scandi grind on mine (it came sort of convex), and it's just frightening how sharp this knife can get. It's one of the few knives I can get to shave with very little effort. It also has phenomenal balance.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Looks like I'll need to put both the R-6 and the R-10 on the list. :)

Also, I'd like to thank Karda for linking to pictures of the R knives. I've been inspired by those photos to mash together a rough photoshop of an R-4/R-10 hybrid:

R-10-R-4-Hybrid.png


Looks like I'll need to have a chat to Aunt Yangdu about this one and see if Murali Kami would agree make a Chiruwa Ganga Ram in the 18" range...

Again, thanks all.
 
smoke-n-mirrors said:
Also, I'd like to thank Karda for linking to pictures of the R knives. I've been inspired by those photos to mash together a rough photoshop of an R-4/R-10 hybrid:

R-10-R-4-Hybrid.png
Click to expand...

That's fairly nice work, actually; it looks like a practical, comfy knife.

I'd also like to second those thanks; those are interesting knives. I particularly like the R7, which looks very comfortable to hold, and gives me some ideas for a good karda.......
 
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