New here got a couple of questions

F

frontiersman

Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
116
I think I've posted a couple of times but don't remember what part of the board. Anyway, I was wondering , what is bushcraft? Is it the making of knots and snares? Firemaking? Shelter building? I have a few blades to chose from. A Mora 2000, a U.S.M.C. KABAR ( I've had it since I was 16), Becker BK-7, Ontario/ Rat Tak-1. Of these knives, which would you chose for bushcraft and why. Thanks.
 
Welcome!!!!

to me, Bushcraft is a mix of wilderness skills like shelter building, knot tying, firemaking, trap making, foot bridge building etc.

as for your blades, nice variety! I myself am partial to the Becker BK7 , i like it for quick chopping of shelter/tarp poles, fuzzsticks etc. Its a good stout all round blade.
 
Bushman5 said:
Welcome!!!!

to me, Bushcraft is a mix of wilderness skills like shelter building, knot tying, firemaking, trap making, foot bridge building etc.

as for your blades, nice variety! I myself am partial to the Becker BK7 , i like it for quick chopping of shelter/tarp poles, fuzzsticks etc. Its a good stout all round blade.
Click to expand...

I agree, and mabye pair it with a sak or small folder and your set. I have an RC6 im testing out and I like that better.(sorry Becker!:D)

BK7 on the right, and RC6 next to it.
PB170031.jpg
 
I do have a few SAK's. A OHT, a Tinker, and a no name Victorinox I got from Marlboro back when I was a smoker. I also have a Leatherman Wave I use every day at work. I've beat the hell out of my TAK. Never realy used the BK-7, and really thrashed the KA-BAR in my youth. The Mora 2000 I've used in the kitchen quite a bit. Is the Becker really the best of the knives depicted for general purpose use in the woods?
 
I would consider bushcraft as the practice of primitive living skills for the sheer enjoyment of it placing an emphasis on thriving instead of surviving. as bushcraft activities tend to be detail carving specific a nimbler blade would be better out of the blades you have there I would choose the mora 2000 the single bevel is great for carving... if I had to pick one of your knives as a survival knife however I'd go with the bk7 or the kabar
 
To my mind bushcraft is the full set of skills required to successfully live in the wilderness for an extended period of time. This includes such broad skill sets as (in no particular order):

Navigation
Firemaking
Water procurement
Food procurement (hunting/trapping/fishing/forraging)
Shelter building
Building/improvisation of misc necessary items
Basic medical/first aid

As for knives, I think the Mora is definitely the best bushcraft knife in that collection. Of course it should always be paired with something for chopping such as a machete or axe, and carried with a backup such as a SAK.
 
I consider bushcraft (as distinct from hiking or camping or "survival") simply to be operating in the woods while relying on basic, simple equipment. This, of course, places a higher emphasis on developing skills and resourcefulness.

Of your knives, I would choose the Mora 2000 if I also had a hatchet or axe. I might choose the Becker if doing without a hatchet or axe. In either case, I would also have a multitool paired with the knife.
 
I think the TAK would be the best bushcrafter you have there. The Mora is good, too, but longer than the more standard Mora models. Pair either with the hatchet/machete/kukri of your choice and you can handle just about any bushcrafting work.

The best way I can define bushcrafting is it is the art (or skill set, depending on how you look at it) of thriving in the woods via more primitive means. Being as "craft" is part of the word, driving a Winnebago into the woods as your shelter would not qualify, but building a debris hut, or even properly rigging a tarp would be. IMO.
 
Of your blades, the only one I have is a OHT and it's my edc most days, if I will be anywhere near the woods, amazing knife.
That paired with the TAK or te BK7 and you have most things covered.
I sed to have a wave and it was great, but I never used the pliers, and the OHT just feels better in the hand.

A big part of bushcraft is being prepared, you have your blades covered, now get yourself a good fire kit (ferro rod, tinder, lighter, skills, etc.) a way to get food, (fish hooks and line, snare wire, learn about deadfalls, etc) signaling, water purification, anything like that.
Half of being prepared is having the kit, the other half is having the knowledge and practicing. (Actually it's probably more like 30/70:D)
 
Welcome aboard! :thumbup:

I think enough people have chimed in on 'bushcraft', but I think out of your current blades I'd take a combo of the M2000 and the Bk7. That'd let you take care of a range of issues, from splitting wood to finer carving. :thumbup:

If you're looking to get started in camping/bushcraft, you've got lots of good choices. I'm a believer that you can get it together for as much or as little as you want. You've probably got most things that you truly need just laying around the house.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=582620
 
SpookyPistolero said:
Welcome aboard! :thumbup:

I think enough people have chimed in on 'bushcraft', but I think out of your current blades I'd take a combo of the M2000 and the Bk7. That'd let you take care of a range of issues, from splitting wood to finer carving. :thumbup:

If you're looking to get started in camping/bushcraft, you've got lots of good choices. I'm a believer that you can get it together for as much or as little as you want. You've probably got most things that you truly need just laying around the house.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=582620
Click to expand...


What he said. Another very important aspect of practicing bushcraft is having the right sheath for your "finework" knife. Around here that means a sheath with a firesteel loop, as firemaking is an important bushcraft skill and you're not cool unless you have a custom sheath with a firesteel loop on it like this one.

camerapics205.jpg


That's where i come in. Otherwise you're just another dummy with a bushcraft knife.


..I'm just kidding about the dummy thing.;)
 
Wow! You guys are great. I don't get out to the woods very much anymore since I work a strange schedual. Last time I wrnt camping, I took my Tak and Cold steel trail hawk with a SAK. Worked out pretty well I guess. I took the lock screw out of the head of the hawk so I could take it apart and put it in my pack. Head goes back on with enough friction that I have to beat the handle on the ground to take it back apart. Thanks for making a new guy feel welcome. I usually keep a LMF scout on a dogtag chain around my neck with the striker. Dylside, did you make that sweet sheath for the Mora 2000? If so how could I go about getting one?
 
frontiersman said:
Wow! You guys are great. I don't get out to the woods very much anymore since I work a strange schedual. Last time I wrnt camping, I took my Tak and Cold steel trail hawk with a SAK. Worked out pretty well I guess. I took the lock screw out of the head of the hawk so I could take it apart and put it in my pack. Head goes back on with enough friction that I have to beat the handle on the ground to take it back apart. Thanks for making a new guy feel welcome. I usually keep a LMF scout on a dogtag chain around my neck with the striker. Dylside, did you make that sweet sheath for the Mora 2000? If so how could I go about getting one?
Click to expand...

Yes I did and it's quite easy to get one. Just shoot me an email.
dfletcher@atlantamotorworld.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top