• The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
    Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
    Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.

  • Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I pray that this nation does not forget the loss of lives from this horrible event. Yesterday conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was murdered, and I worry about what is to come. Please love one another and your family in these trying times - Spark

Is 3" Enough for Bushcraft and Wilderness Survival?

Triquetra

Triquetra

Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
759
I just order a couple of Puukkos with a 3" blade. Very nicely made Wood Jewels. I wondering though if the blades are a little too short to be useful and wanted to get some opinions. I almost always carry a larger blade from a 12" Khukuri or Becker Crewman up to my 15 AK or Golok so chopping is covered. Anyone have a 3 incher that they use in the woods?
 
It should work fine, especially since you have a larger blade as well. I have a 3" puukko I sometimes take to the woods and I don't feel like it's too short.
 
Yes. I use my 3" EDC knife on hikes/woodsbumming.

I have used it for firemaking, traps, batoning (small stuff of course), shelter building, made a few spoons ,etc...

It is often the only fixed I bring with me.In fact on short hikes, say 5 hours or so during the warmer months,aside from a canteen and a few snacks in my pocket this is my entire carry load.

100_1361.jpg
 
If the handle is big enough to get a good grip on it, it's plenty big enough for most tasks. With that said, I generally prefer a blade around 3 1/2" ro 4". It's just my comfort range.
 
If you have a tool for cutting wood, then the knife you carry really does not need to be big (of course, having a big knife is rarely a bad thing!).

I often take an Izula out for a day hike and I find it to be plenty :)
 
It is actually my preference for most tasks in the outdoors. I find I have much more control of a blade that size.
 
Last edited:
It's not the size of the blade, but how you use it.
Sorry guys, someone was going to say it, so I figured I'd be the one to do so.

But there is certainly some truth to that, if your comfortable and know how to use a knife, that just fine. 3.5 to 4 is my preference.
 
That should be perfect for small bushcrafting tasks, you have a large chopper with you too, so you should be good.
 
Although not strictly on subject, a three inch blade is legal to carry in most urban environments as well. It is the max legal length here in NC. A good quality three inch fixed blade will accomplish the vast majority of your cutting, slicing, skinning, and other chores. Nice to sharpen too, less blade to do. With these small knives, I spend more attention on getting them perfectly sharp, as there is not much leverage to compensate for dullness.
 
Todd,

I'd really like to see a couple more pictures of this knife. Where did you get that sheath?

Thanks,

Rick

Todd A said:
Yes. I use my 3" EDC knife on hikes/woodsbumming.

I have used it for firemaking, traps, batoning (small stuff of course), shelter building, made a few spoons ,etc...

It is often the only fixed I bring with me.In fact on short hikes, say 5 hours or so during the warmer months,aside from a canteen and a few snacks in my pocket this is my entire carry load.

100_1361.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Yes it is a KSF sheath.

This is the knife....

100_1303.jpg


3" scale to tip. 6 1/2" OAL made by Stomper( JK Handmade Knives). He calls it the "Anniversary EDC"

What it looked like new.

100_0912.jpg
 
3" is better than no blade and I think it is perfectly adequate for most hunting and bushcraft jobs requiring a knife. Our ancestors got by without steel blades at all at one stage and successfully survived using bits of broken rock, shell or bone.

A 2" blade of a sensible design would actually be enough for a lot of what I do.

Besides a small knife is a heap more convenient to carry, easier to keep out of sight, plus it shouldn't create as much unwarranted panic compared to a big blade if spotted by a member of the knife-fearing public.
 
I think 3" is a great size. As long as I can get all my fingers on the handle - that's good to go. Good choice!
 
Here is yet another vote for knives in the 3 inch range. Love'em! Perfect size for every task for which a knife is intended (slicing, cutting, caping, etc.). If I need something larger I'm reaching for my folding saw, my machete, or my axe. YMMV

AJ
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top