My take on the difference between a Bushcraft and Survival knife.

[Hawkings]

What if you, like many, many, go off to the woods with your big ol' chopper to have a grand old time beating the bejeebus outta trees? Does your Ranger RD9 then become a bushcraft knife?

Though, the second point I like. Because I do feel more awesome when I think of my Vic Classic as a "survival knife." 24/7 365 life and death struggle...that's the life I live!

At least I like to think that.

Yes Marcinek, thats pretty much was it means. Crafting smaller pieces of wood from bigger pieces of wood makes the Ranger RD9 a bushcraft knife.

And dead men don't post, so your vic seems to do its job.

 

[22-rimfire]

Yeah, dead men don't post on BF. Things happen... the older lady hiker on the AT (fixed that) that got off the trail and apparently couldn't find the trail again died in the woods and she had all the stuff she needed for normal short termed survival. Even had a knife.

I personally would go a little larger in the blade department than a Vic Classic.

 

[91bravo]

I got all of yall beat! I use my knives for bushcrafting, surviving, hunting, backpacking AND car camping!

 

[GIRLYmann]

Knives are a necessary tool for surviving off the land and fending of physical threats.
A survivalist will no doubt be geared with materials to survive an emergency situation.
Where else the woodsman or bushcrafter would often think minimalist
And actually cherishes the idea of foraging and building from scratch.
When it comes to defining a preferred knife style for these purposes;
I reckon its a personal thing best decided either by overwhelming popular choice
of the day Or better yet, "pointers" gained thru genuine field experience.
No doubt, there are shared or unique design features which may
or may not fall in either prescribed category,
But let's not fall prey to the bias of categorising knives as dictated by
manufacturers or makers as being absolutely kosher or mission specific.
Just as surely that there are badly designed if not entirely untrustworthy knives,
Any knife of choice must first and foremost, be able to withstand a certain level of abuse.
And be near maintenance-free as possible.
Given there are subtle things which would make life easier,
Perhaps going over overboard with judgments
May best be reserved for critiques per-say.
Only Never be entirely knife centric when facing the challenges
And uncertainties thrown by nature.
One isn't necessarily helpless without a good steel knife
When we know for a fact that Early man had nothing more than sticks and stones
And a great set of survival instincts to resolve these life threatening issues...
We sincerely need to outgrow the hype.

 

[sabre cat]

a bushcraft knife, is the knife you take with you when you go to the woods.
A survival knife, is the one you have with you when you walk out the door of your home, at any given time.

That goes well with the idea that your survival knife is whatever knife you have on your person when things go south.

Keeping these concepts in mind, I wonder how many of us should rethink our choice of an EDC knife.

 

[Juany118]

That goes well with the idea that your survival knife is whatever knife you have on your person when things go south.

Keeping these concepts in mind, I wonder how many of us should rethink our choice of an EDC knife.

I usually carry two. One is a tanto folder with the Emerson wave feature. Since I study FMA I like having a knife I can use effectively in self defense. In this case a Fox DART XT, which I keep shaving sharp. I also carry a SW911 (I take my work home with me). https://goo.gl/images/DhP2tQ

 

[Pilsner]

I always thought the whole "Bushcraft" thing was about using a knife to make stuff. Feathersticks, wooden spoons etc. It was all about fun, and through that fun, you were learning knife skills and making useful things.

Nothing like having some good knife skills if you find yourself in a survival situation and you have a knife on you! But survival is really 99% mental. It doesn't matter what tools or supplies you have with you if you panic and badly injure yourself, or lose the desire to push on!

With the mental state of mind for determination, humans can be extremely resourceful, innovative and surprisingly resilient. With or without a knife.

Absolutely and quoted for truth.

I was in a horrible situation a few weeks ago. Everything went to pot and had to make a rapid descent from snowy mountains with considerable avalanche risk on 7/8 of all aspects. Funnily enough, knives did not play any part whatsoever. Who knew?

It was a genuine ‘survival situation’, and what got me through was my mind. I got pissed off. I was very annoyed that despite having planned well, taken sensible decisions, etc., my bloody life was still very much at risk because nature can be a real bitch. A blizzarding, wet, deep drift, post-holing SOB.

My body wanted to give up, and I had the bizarre experience of two personalities co-existing simultaneously. The one that is ‘me’ was dragging my tired arse down that mountain. The other one, becoming steadily louder, was telling me to sit down and rest. It almost overwhelmed me. I think anger was what my brain worked out was the best bet. Curious stuff, on which I am still reflecting.

 

[Mikel_24]

..... Kind of like these thermal blankets (reflective) that are available; stick one in your day pack just in case and you pretty much just carry it around for years without needing it.

Funny you mention those blankets because.... We have them in both situations. In the first one it was one ultralight model... It got shredded in pieces by the wind pretty much as soon as we puled it out of its package. Useless, not good.

The second time we were carrying heavier duty models and we even punched through it with a snow stake to close the entrance of the snow cave. Worked perfectly.

So yes, those blankets can save your bacon.

 

[danbot]

Absolutely and quoted for truth.

I was in a horrible situation a few weeks ago. Everything went to pot and had to make a rapid descent from snowy mountains with considerable avalanche risk on 7/8 of all aspects. Funnily enough, knives did not play any part whatsoever. Who knew?

It was a genuine ‘survival situation’, and what got me through was my mind. I got pissed off. I was very annoyed that despite having planned well, taken sensible decisions, etc., my bloody life was still very much at risk because nature can be a real bitch. A blizzarding, wet, deep drift, post-holing SOB.

My body wanted to give up, and I had the bizarre experience of two personalities co-existing simultaneously. The one that is ‘me’ was dragging my tired arse down that mountain. The other one, becoming steadily louder, was telling me to sit down and rest. It almost overwhelmed me. I think anger was what my brain worked out was the best bet. Curious stuff, on which I am still reflecting.

Glad you made it safely back! I'm sure you learned some valuable lessons that still haven't become clear to you yet. Funny how reflection works. At the time you just do what needs to be done without having time to really think everything through, but as you look back, you start to realize what was wise and what was maybe foolhardy but still turned out okay.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[Pilsner]

Glad you made it safely back! I'm sure you learned some valuable lessons that still haven't become clear to you yet. Funny how reflection works. At the time you just do what needs to be done without having time to really think everything through, but as you look back, you start to realize what was wise and what was maybe foolhardy but still turned out okay.
Thanks for sharing!

True again, sir.

There are several take home lessons already, and doubtless more will emerge as my subconscious mind sorts it out. I have found that an active appreciation of one’s subconscious mind makes it work even better. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe not.

 

[sabre cat]

I usually carry two. One is a tanto folder with the Emerson wave feature. Since I study FMA I like having a knife I can use effectively in self defense. In this case a Fox DART XT, which I keep shaving sharp. I also carry a SW911 (I take my work home with me). https://goo.gl/images/DhP2tQ

Ah, a rescue knife. One of my favorite things. I've owned at least three, a Gerber, SOG, and a Spyderco Clip-it. I might still have the Spyderco around here, somewhere. It was given to me by a firefighter that owed me a few bucks. Overall, it was my favorite but, I loved the blade on the SOG. Nowadays, I carry a Benchmade rescue hook and a pair of shears in my aid bag and call it good.

 

[BladeScout]

Absolutely and quoted for truth.

I was in a horrible situation a few weeks ago. Everything went to pot and had to make a rapid descent from snowy mountains with considerable avalanche risk on 7/8 of all aspects. Funnily enough, knives did not play any part whatsoever. Who knew?

It was a genuine ‘survival situation’, and what got me through was my mind. I got pissed off. I was very annoyed that despite having planned well, taken sensible decisions, etc., my bloody life was still very much at risk because nature can be a real bitch. A blizzarding, wet, deep drift, post-holing SOB.

My body wanted to give up, and I had the bizarre experience of two personalities co-existing simultaneously. The one that is ‘me’ was dragging my tired arse down that mountain. The other one, becoming steadily louder, was telling me to sit down and rest. It almost overwhelmed me. I think anger was what my brain worked out was the best bet. Curious stuff, on which I am still reflecting.

I told you to stay off the Brecons!

 

[Nottingham Forest]

Interesting thread. A point that stands out after reading some posts on here is that a survival knife is only that which you have on your person at all times. Most of the time for me that will be a SAK.

Any other knife which is not on my person and I pack in a bag ready for the outdoors is exactly that, an outdoors knife. The other labels are irrelevant.

 

[Nottingham Forest]

I had the bizarre experience of two personalities co-existing simultaneously. The one that is ‘me’ was dragging my tired arse down that mountain. The other one, becoming steadily louder, was telling me to sit down and rest. It almost overwhelmed me...Curious stuff, on which I am still reflecting.

It is indeed a mysterious phenomenon of there being 2 apparent selfs. Did you find out for sure which one is really you?

 

[Pilsner]

It is indeed a mysterious phenomenon of there being 2 apparent selfs. Did you find out for sure which one is really you?

Both!