Just Asking. What’s Up With Everything “Bushcraft” Nowadays?

[JFrameV2]

Bushcraft is a set of skills that straddles survival and living off the land. My theory on why it is so popular, as you put it, is that there is a generation of people who have been unplugged from the outdoors, and they want to reconnect.

Edited to add: since this generation can't rely on their grandpa to teach them these skills, they learn the way people do in 2023, on the internet.

That is an interesting -- and good -- point about where our generational lore comes from.

 

[cbach8tw]

Bushcraft is an overused term to mean just about any outdoor activity, for my use, I describe my outdoor use as glamping. The only bushcraft use I have worried about is how to use the can opener on my SA and slicing open packages of hot dogs and bacon for the grill.

 

[Quiet]

I don’t get on knife forums much anymore but was an original member of BF back in the day when it first started. All I see now is bushcraft this and bushcraft that. I know what a bushcraft knife is, (for use in the bush, camping, hard use or otherwise), but wondering why it’s such a big deal to use the term bushcraft nowadays?

I remember here where everything turned “tactical” years ago. It was like if a knife didn’t use the term tactical in it’s description, it wasn’t worthy of being a knife. I also remember when handle scales were mostly black. I screamed “why don’t handle scales have colors like red, orange, green or other bright colors instead of black?” Folks mocked me and said who would want that? A few years later, colors were all the rage and even “toxic” colors!

No big deal but it’s just the term “bushcraft” is everywhere nowadays.

"Bushcraft" is a marketing term, rather like "tactical".

 

[badmatt]

I just want my sebenza for opening the mail...

Is that too much to ask?

 

[Malty Falcon]

Delete your browsing history and all cookies, and things will clear up.

Bushcraft only shows up because you've watched too much Bologna. I use knives a lot, and never "feathersticked or Batoned".

But I'm rather intelligent, and know how to bring kindling and prepped firewood when I camp.

 

[J. Doyle]

I think I agree perfectly with the position posted by Steely_Gunz in his first post so I won't rehash that.

There are a lot of things about knife marketing that I find comical (ridiculous)....the "bushcraft" term/fad one of them.

Equally comical though, are all the people that practice such craft with the notion that in the event of a societal collapse, they will simply wander into the wild with their knife and bugout bag and "live off the land" with their well practiced skills.

I've spent most of my 43 years hunting/fishing/gathering/roaming the wilds of Northern Michigan and western Montana. Fish and game are becoming more and more scarce every year, while the pursuit of and competion for said fish/game increases every year. Now imagine if every single person in this country was forced to do that out of necessity. Anyone with half a brain can draw the next logical conclusions.

I love (most) knives. People should just enjoy their knives as they see fit and not take the subject too seriously beyond that. (Probably) No one's life is actually at stake over a knife style or type of use.

 

[Quiet]

I'm going to attempt to be very polite, as you've really done nothing wrong. However I strongly disagree with both your worldview and opinion. If you look at the world, and the word "Stable", "Safe", "Secure", or "Unbreakable" come to mind, you're probably not looking at things correctly. The United States is teetering on the brink of collapse, as are a lot of other developed countries. Even if the economy doesn't implode, (it will) other factors play a part, as well. I'm sure you've read about the situation in Ohio? You do realize a lot of food is grown/prepared there? What about all of the fires on food production facilities, and shipment centers? You do realize it's been over 120+ facilities destroyed/shut down/burned up in just under 3 years? What will people eat when the grocery store is empty? You've mentioned bands of roving meth-heads in Suburbia. Over here in California, that's actually a real thing. My overarching point being that everyone's situations are different and your percentage of 99.998% of people is utterly ridiculous. Time will prove me correct. I suppose we're all entitled to an opinion, however yours seems very callous and naive. If your situation allows you to be so carefree and innocent, good on you mate, but that reality doesn't and won't ever exist for a lot of folks. And if what I'm seeing is any indicator? That situation won't exist for you, for long, either.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

I hadn't really wanted to get into it. But your comment really rubbed me the wrong way. It's this complacency that's gotten us in this mess in the first place.
I've said my piece, and you yours. I have no desire to continue this conversation, as I know where it will lead.
I genuinely wish you the best, as you appear to need it.

The irony here cannot be overstated.

 

[shane45-1911]

The irony here cannot be overstated.

Perfect, you just saved me paragraphs of typing.

 

[Rasmus80]

If you talk with many "bushcrafters" about knife steel, you would quickly find out this is not the case.

Knowledgable on how to use a knife, yes. About the specifics of a knife, not necessarily. Same as a good chef. Very proficient with the tool, not always the most knowledgable about the tool itself.

That would probably be because, knife steel matters so incredibly little.

Steel choice comes last on the list of priorities, when choosing a knife for yourself.

 

[Sibyrnes]

I'm going to attempt to be very polite, as you've really done nothing wrong. However I strongly disagree with both your worldview and opinion. If you look at the world, and the word "Stable", "Safe", "Secure", or "Unbreakable" come to mind, you're probably not looking at things correctly. The United States is teetering on the brink of collapse, as are a lot of other developed countries. Even if the economy doesn't implode, (it will) other factors play a part, as well. I'm sure you've read about the situation in Ohio? You do realize a lot of food is grown/prepared there? What about all of the fires on food production facilities, and shipment centers? You do realize it's been over 120+ facilities destroyed/shut down/burned up in just under 3 years? What will people eat when the grocery store is empty? You've mentioned bands of roving meth-heads in Suburbia. Over here in California, that's actually a real thing. My overarching point being that everyone's situations are different and your percentage of 99.998% of people is utterly ridiculous. Time will prove me correct. I suppose we're all entitled to an opinion, however yours seems very callous and naive. If your situation allows you to be so carefree and innocent, good on you mate, but that reality doesn't and won't ever exist for a lot of folks. And if what I'm seeing is any indicator? That situation won't exist for you, for long, either.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

I hadn't really wanted to get into it. But your comment really rubbed me the wrong way. It's this complacency that's gotten us in this mess in the first place.
I've said my piece, and you yours. I have no desire to continue this conversation, as I know where it will lead.
I genuinely wish you the best, as you appear to need it.

How sad to go through life with a view like that.

 

[K.O.D.]

I've never understood the bushcraft thing either. I know a few people who are "into" it, and it seems like they are wannabe "survivalists" SHTF type of people, who really wouldn't be able to survive in the woods if they had to. I know one guy who could actually "survive" in the woods of the "bushcrafters" I know.

Two of the so-called "bushcrafters" I know are terrified of guns and think they should be banned. I'm all like "well good luck defending yourself from bears, wolves, etc while you are making feathersticks at your camp. If SHTF and things really go south, you'll be needing to defend yourself from the two-legged beasts too."

 

[Dr Rez]

I think I agree perfectly with the position posted by Steely_Gunz in his first post so I won't rehash that.

There are a lot of things about knife marketing that I find comical (ridiculous)....the "bushcraft" term/fad one of them.

Equally comical though, are all the people that practice such craft with the notion that in the event of a societal collapse, they will simply wander into the wild with their knife and bugout bag and "live off the land" with their well practiced skills.

I've spent most of my 43 years hunting/fishing/gathering/roaming the wilds of Northern Michigan and western Montana. Fish and game are becoming more and more scarce every year, while the pursuit of and competion for said fish/game increases every year. Now imagine if every single person in this country was forced to do that out of necessity. Anyone with half a brain can draw the next logical conclusions.

I love (most) knives. People should just enjoy their knives as they see fit and not take the subject too seriously beyond that. (Probably) No one's life is actually at stake over a knife style or type of use.

This is so accurate. The population of the planet today is many times higher than it was even back in the 30s.

Where do all these people think they are going to go and "live off the land"?

I think making fire reliably is a great useful skill in case of collapse, as obtaining clean drinking water or navigating. But 99% of what "bushcraft" entails are things we simply do for fun, and realistically unless you truly live off in the middle of nowhere are not going to help.

Time would be better spent learning other skills if societal collapse is what you are worried about.

 

[bikerector]

That would probably be because, knife steel matters so incredibly little.

Steel choice comes last on the list of priorities, when choosing a knife for yourself.

That's just not true. If that were the case, we would be using any steel available, and we don't. Even you've gotta admit there's a big difference between simple carbon steels and stainless steels, to keep this conversation very basic.

 

[Dr Rez]

That's just not true. If that were the case, we would be using any steel available, and we don't. Even you've gotta admit there's a big difference between simple carbon steels and stainless steels, to keep this conversation very basic.

They are not wrong though. You didn't make a case against it.

Knife design and geometry are both more important than steel choice provided you are using an adequate steel to begin with and not unknown

 

[Enzo’s Woodshop]

"Bushcraft" is a made-up marketing term for doing things with knives that man has already been doing for thousands of years.

The word “bushcraft” is simply an Australian version of the word “woodcraft” which has an identical dictionary meaning, and has been in use since the 14th century.

Merriam-Webster’s primary definition is:

“skill and practice in anything relating to the woods and especially in maintaining oneself and making one's way in the woods”

So at minimum, the term has a history going back to the 1300s.

 

[shane45-1911]

The word “bushcraft” is simply an Australian version of the word “woodcraft” which has an identical dictionary meaning, and has been in use since the 14th century.

Merriam-Webster’s primary definition is:

“skill and practice in anything relating to the woods and especially in maintaining oneself and making one's way in the woods”

So at minimum, the term has a history going back to the 1300s.

My point being, that the knife industry has latched onto the term and spun it into a marketing/sales ploy. I am not disputing it is a real word, but in context of knife use - it is stupid, redundant and meaningless and only used to add perceived value in order to generate sales.

As I said - ANY knife with me in the woods is a "bushcraft" knife.

 

[Enzo’s Woodshop]

My point being, that the knife industry has latched onto the term and spun it into a marketing/sales ploy. I am not disputing it is a real word, but in context of knife use - it is stupid, redundant and meaningless and only used to add perceived value in order to generate sales.

As I said - ANY knife with me in the woods is a "bushcraft" knife.

100% agree with you. Just wanted whoever comes along and sees this thread to know the word itself has some history.

 

[Dr Rez]

As I said - ANY knife with me in the woods is a "bushcraft" knife.

That is just silly. You are basically just saying any knife can be used to accomplish "bushcraft" tasks to some degree. I see what youre saying but that same logic would mean:

Any knife is a filet knife.
Any knife is a skinning knife.
Any knife is a chef knife.

I mean sure, any knife can be used for anything but you are intentionally just muddying the waters to rail against the term bushcraft which has offended you for some odd reason.

Any knife is not a Bushcraft knife just like any knife is not a filet knife. Can it be used for such sure. I can dress up like a pig and oink like a pig but it doesn't make me a pig.

 

[Quiet]

That is just silly. You are basically just saying any knife can be used to accomplish "bushcraft" tasks to some degree. I see what youre saying but that same logic would mean:

Any knife is a filet knife.
Any knife is a skinning knife.
Any knife is a chef knife.

I mean sure, any knife can be used for anything but you are intentionally just muddying the waters to rail against the term bushcraft which has offended you for some odd reason.

Any knife is not a Bushcraft knife just like any knife is not a filet knife. Can it be used for such sure. I can dress up like a pig and oink like a pig but it doesn't make me a pig.

Alright, let's get into it. Please describe even a single "bushcraft" task that a normal fixed blade knife can't accomplish. Full disclosure, I've been hiking and camping for over 30 years, and am always ready to learn something new.

 

[shane45-1911]

That is just silly. You are basically just saying any knife can be used to accomplish "bushcraft" tasks to some degree. I see what youre saying but that same logic would mean:

Any knife is a filet knife.
Any knife is a skinning knife.
Any knife is a chef knife.

I mean sure, any knife can be used for anything but you are intentionally just muddying the waters to rail against the term bushcraft which has offended you for some odd reason.

Any knife is not a Bushcraft knife just like any knife is not a filet knife. Can it be used for such sure. I can dress up like a pig and oink like a pig but it doesn't make me a pig.

There is no such thing as a bushcraft knife. Please tell me something that a "bushcraft" knife can do, that I can't do with a multitude of other knives?

Yes, certain knives excel at certain tasks - but I can (and have) filleted with Khukuri. Yes, I can (and have) skinned with a machete.

People are trying to say there is a specialized knife for "bushcraft" which is what is silly. There are already terms for ANYTHING that is bushcraft-related. Whittling, shelter-building, figure 4 trap making, feathersticking - WHATEVER. We don't need another knife synonym for words we have been using for decades - with ANY knife.

I have carried dozens of different style knives when I am camping, and used all of them to accomplish any type of "bushcraft" task you can think of - and not a single one of them had "bushcraft" in their name or description.

SAK? Bushcraft. Machete? Bushcraft. Khukuri? Bushcraft. Karambit? Tactical bushcraft.