My New Bushcrafter

Jeff H

Jeff H

Joined
Feb 14, 2008
Messages
1,093
I debated about where to post this and it just makes sense to share it here where this knife will be appreciated for its outdoor utility. After reading Bearthedog’s review of Muskratman’s Full-Tang Puuko and seeing a photo of Kaleb’s Bushcraft, I contacted him immediately and asked if he would make one for me. I didn’t spec. anything other than “exactly like the one in the picture....” I fell in love with this knife as I pulled it from the box. First of all, it’s beautiful and the workmanship is great. It has the low-sheen, “use me” look of utter woodsy CLASS. All the details were attended to, symmetrical handle and blade, no gaps around the pins or between scales and tang, uniform finish on the metal, on and on – it’s all done right. The handle is the single most comfortable handle I have ever had on any knife. The blade is a whopping .093” THIN! That’s plenty of steel for this type of knife and it aids in making it balance nicely and is easy to sharpen for woodworking tasks. I am not a fanatic about Scandi grinds but it is wholly appropriate for the thickness of the blade and is easy to use. There is no hollow in the Scandi bevel and there is a slight “belly” the length of the edge – PERFECT! The 4 3/16” blade (8 7/16” overall) came with a miniscule secondary bevel edge and it gets puckery sharp. For woodworking chores, this is as sweet a knife as I have had my paws on. It handles extremely well so I first put it to use clearing some brush and making tent stakes and shelter poles. It slices saplings like butter – the first one went so quick that I stuck the knife in the dirt and nearly fell over head first into the brush. I have made two spoons with it so far, one (pictured) from a long-dead stick of Silver Maple and another from some green Green Ash. In either case, the MMK Bushy was the berries. I did not try to baton seasoned 4” logs with this one and I am not sure I will. It batons cross-grain green wood for making things as nicely as it carves, slices and pares. This one begs to be used and it has amazing finesse as a woodworking tool and that is how I became preoccupied in using it. I find nothing about this knife that I do not like or that I wish were a little different – NOTHING. Kaleb, thank you!

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Continued.........
 
That's an awesome looking knife. I keep gravitating towards thinner blades for carving and notching duty. This one looks like a winner.
 
bearthedog said:
Nice blade, Muskratman does a great scandi and real user blade.
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I don't remember if you have one of these but after seeing your reviews and your photography, I would enjoy seeing a review on this one by you. Let me know. I might be able to give it up for a short time.:thumbup:

Mike, thanks! It's a gem.

Hartsell, even though its "thin" it's plenty stiff. It's a few thousandths thicker than the Moras and we all (well, "many") know what kind of abuse a $10 knife gets subjected to!
 
looks like a really nice knife...i think i like the lines even more than the other one...maybe its the handle material.

very nice grind lines though and looks like a champ of a knife.

how does it cut? i notice that the bevel is much (twice?) wider than the mora, with nearly the same thickness...makes for a much thinner edge. any durability problems? i don't think that there would be...thin edges can hold up to much more than most people think, but i rolled a pretty thin scandi edge...could have been my inadequate heat treat skills, but just thinking...
 
That's great. I wish we could get Muskrat Man unbanned here.

I may not recall but I think it was over selling knives without a knifemakers membership so maybe there's hope that he will be back eventually.
 
Very nice Jeff. I'm not buying anything right now, but it I was........;)

Nice spoon as well. Gotta love that Pinewood Forge Spoon knife. It's just a treat to use. Show of some of your work when you have a chance.

Congrats......:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Very, very nice! Thanks for the photos and review. You are right; this is the perfect forum for it. I believe that one will get lots of use!

This is only wetting my appetite. I have one of his Pukko's on order...
 
siguy said:
....how does it cut? ...any durability problems?....
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Excellent questions, Siguy!
It cuts like something I am not allowed to say on the forums!:foot:
INCREDIBLY!!

Glad you Mentioned "durability problems." I stuck it in the dirt inadvertently a few times while cutting brush and "found" some rocks.:mad: No biggee, I can sharpen a knife better than anybody I know!;) So, I turn the little secondary bevel into a secondary convex and, yowee! Don't stare at the blade or you'll cut yer eye! The edge rolled quickly but I cut some and stropped some - at higher angles until I found the sweet spot (right about where Kaleb had it) and it holds up extremely well. With the "thinner" blade and the "higher" grind (relatively and generally, not in direct comparison to the Mora pictured) it needs the slight secondary ("micro") bevel but it suits me. I have to play with the angles on my chisels and plane irons frequently, even from one type of wood to the next so I am not averse to this and not a "purist" as the Scandi grind goes - especially with the way tis one cuts. I am happy.:D

HD,
OUCH! Did not know that. He has a sub-forum elsewhere now. I wanted to share my new sweetheart of a bushy with all the "Bushy" folks here though.

All,
Thanks for the comments. I will try to go through and answer questions as I find them but have to relenquish the "connection" (screamin'a at 29.2kbps tonight, baby!) to a 17yo who is in Internet withdrawl for now. We lost power half way through my pic upload last night or this would have been up sooner.:mad:

Thanks!!
 
yea I own a nessie made by Kaleb, great guy to do biz with! A+
Love your buscraft knife A+
 
Thanks, guys. Kaleb is great to work with.:thumbup:

Bryan,
I've been thinking,.... I haven't seen a "Bushcraft" pattern from your shop yet.;) I shouldn't say that. There will be one posted tomorrow and I like all of your unique and original ideas anyway!:thumbup::thumbup:
 
Kaleb is a unique and extremely talented individual. I wish I had his talent when it comes to knives.

That knife is just gorgeous. Congrats to both of you.

Chris
 
I really like all Muskrat Man's work. Shame he's not on here anymore.
 
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