Please guys - Bushcraft knives - I need info

I can't link pics on my phone, but maybe look at the Fiddleback Woodsman? 10.5" overall with 5.5" blade. Long enough for some big deep cuts, light enough to pack on your hip for days. Good quality steel with a laser beam edge and Andy crafts a comfortable hand turned wooden grip like no other. It'll run you a couple hundred bucks, but it will be crafted with care and will be something you'll be able to hand down.

When I go for a hike, the woodsman always gets strapped to my hip. Its cut kindling and prepped food and has been used as a "pointer" to show my two year old daughter poisonous (itchy) plants and for pointing out the bits on bugs that bite and sting without getting stung or hurting the critter. Love that knife.
 
I think you could really do with a Becker BK16. I had stripped my first one, second one isn't stripped but has AWESOME Ipe scales from Tommythewho on these forums. The feel of the handle is just about the most comfortable I've ever felt for a full tang, spear/drop point production knife. I also suggest the Condor Kephart, Tavian, and Bushcraft Basic, as well as the Mora Bushcraft Black. Most often lately I've been using the BK16 or an ESEE Izula II that I stripped down.
 
Buy an MTEch "Rescue Team" (NOT the tanto version) for $15 on Amazon - this gets you a 5 or 6 inch full flat 440c blade. Spend $1 on sandpaper to remove the "tactical" black coating if you don't like it. Grind down the upper guard with a dremel so you can get your thumb over the upper blade. Cut the rubber handles off and spend $10-$20 on Micarta and $5 on epoxy (no need for bolts); shape scales with dremel. You now have a well-proven extremely tough knife of the size you want for a total cost of about $30. If you don't like micarta, then use pakkawood, dymondwood, jabroc or stabilized wood (these are all extremely stable and so don't need fixing hardwear like bolts.) Or if you want a bussekin-like "Respirene" handle, wrap the tang with poron (high tech shock absorber used for insoles and protecting electronics, easy to buy on ebay) and an outer coating of gorilla tape.
 
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Man, your knife is fantastic and your friend is talented.
The chicken even fell unconscious when you drew it.
What steel you used ?
10 out of 10. Awesome knife. I may contact you for further info. Thx man.
 
I know it only has a 4" blade, but the Spyderco Bushcraft has the most ergonomic scales of any knife I've ever handled. Because of the ergonomics, it handles like a smaller knife, while performing like a much bigger knife. Worth checking out any way.

TedP
 
Some years back, I designed, and had made, two knives with 6 inch blades. They are pretty much identical, one being made with A2 steel and has a Micarta handle. The other with S30V and Bocote wood.
I have beaten the snot out of them both, and both have stood up well. They take an edge, retain their edge through hard use, and resharpen just fine in the field.
Over the years, I have bought a number of customs and production knives. I have tried this feature, that one, and then some more. Blade lengths from two to 10 inches. All kind of different steels, different handle material. Different shapes, different grinds.
These two suit my personal needs as well as anything I have used.
 
Do you want a knife that works while doing bushcraft or do you want a knife that looks like a "bushcraft" knife?

Buy custom if you want it to look like an oversized "bushcraft" knife otherwise just call your 119 a bushcraft knife because it does the job for you. Don't get too caught up in what people call things. Frankly I think the woodlore is a bad design for bushcraft because IMO a bushcraft knife needs to do more than just woodwork.

Edit: If it matters to you, Les Stroud uses a Buck 119.
 
Shotgun said:
Do you want a knife that works while doing bushcraft or do you want a knife that looks like a "bushcraft" knife?

Buy custom if you want it to look like an oversized "bushcraft" knife otherwise just call your 119 a bushcraft knife because it does the job for you. Don't get too caught up in what people call things. Frankly I think the woodlore is a bad design for bushcraft because IMO a bushcraft knife needs to do more than just woodwork.

Edit: If it matters to you, Les Stroud uses a Buck 119.
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Sage advice, Shotgun. I've got a Rod Garcia Skookum that I love, but my primary bush blade is a Benchmade small Bone Collector folder. Ergonomics, blade grinds and geometry, steel choices, etc. are certainly all factors, but so is the fact that what works for some doesn't necessarily work for all, and vice versa.

Prof.
 
Mannlicher said:
Some years back, I designed, and had made, two knives with 6 inch blades. They are pretty much identical, one being made with A2 steel and has a Micarta handle. The other with S30V and Bocote wood.
I have beaten the snot out of them both, and both have stood up well. They take an edge, retain their edge through hard use, and resharpen just fine in the field.
Over the years, I have bought a number of customs and production knives. I have tried this feature, that one, and then some more. Blade lengths from two to 10 inches. All kind of different steels, different handle material. Different shapes, different grinds.
These two suit my personal needs as well as anything I have used.
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Wow. Awesome. Im impressed by the talent of the indie makers. Fabulous knives. Looks like tanks.
But I will discipline myself and stay at 8 oz or less. Your knives looks like they weight around 12-13 oz. But hey dont get me wrong. Im fucking jealous.
 
Shotgun said:
Do you want a knife that works while doing bushcraft or do you want a knife that looks like a "bushcraft" knife?

Buy custom if you want it to look like an oversized "bushcraft" knife otherwise just call your 119 a bushcraft knife because it does the job for you. If it matters to you, Les Stroud uses a Buck 119.
Click to expand...

In the first season, yes. My only concern with the 119 is the tang. Its slim and wont take much batoning other than light one. And its ok because I almost never have to baton. Only in winter but then the wood is somewhat harder to split when its very cold (or its just my perception ?) but I have to swing a bit sometimes and I dont want to break this excellent knife just because im to stupid to buy a proper full tang.

And no, im not a bushcrafter. But im looking for a knife that will have the qualities of these knives, simple, solid, easy to sharp and to maintain and, the biggest problem, 6 inches long. Knives at this size tend to be large slabs and too heavy for what Im looking for.
 
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I know you don't like the Esee 6, but how about the Esee Laserstrike?
Sound close to what you like, 5". I you don like the black coat just strip it of.

ESEE-Laser-Strike-Knife-500x500.jpg
 
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You can get a great custom for a good price, check out one of the makers here on the exchange, I have seen G L drew's stuff that fit your reqmnts. I have a 6 inch light utility in 1/8 52100 steel and a 6 inch camp knife in 3/16 same steel, that may be slightly heavier than you are asking but you get the advantage of a full tang. Also check out Big Chris stuff, a lot of great steels and good designs, he lightens the full tang by drilling out some of the steel, great feel and sharp as anything, plus well within your range. My advice, go full tang for strength.

Lastly, one of my first knives that I like a lot is the Grohmann #4 survival knife in either stainless or carbon steel in rosewood handle. I sent mine to be modified for a flat grind. Different handle options as well.
 
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I know they are not 6 inch blades but I swear by my ESEE 3 and 4 for bushcraft tasks, they are excellent knives with the best warranty around.
I also carry a Fallkniven A1 or CS recon scout for the bigger jobs/chopping.

I recently purchased a condor bushlore knife because the price is so great and I was amazed at the quality of knife for
The price. It's got an excellent Scandi grind, nice handle and good quality leather sheath you can't really go wrong.
Granted the steel is 1075 carbon which isn't the greatest it's still good value for money.
 
Hey Socalled, right now there is a great buy for 165.00 for a Backswood custom knife!! It is almost 6 inches, 1095 steel and an amazing colored wood handle, at 1/8 thick and full tang!! And at that price is a great deal!
 
I have the Laser Strike and I love that knife. I've used for pretty much everything and I keep coming back to it.
 
SideTracked said:
Why don't you check out some Kellam knives. IIRC their Wolf Pack knives have an option of 6" (or very close) and 7"..... plus I think they offer a couple other options in and around that size, I'm also confident they will meet or come in lighter than your weight requirement. Good luck!
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I was just thinking about the Kellam (Wolf Pack Series) Tracker. It is shown as 5.75". Very nice "tweener" scandi - bigger than puukko and smaller than leuku. Extremely comfortable handle, beautiful sheath, razor sharp. Not full tang - not a problem for me. Reasonable price. I am really happy with mine.
 
Check out Survive GSO-6. You can get on the list as its about to go into production.
Its a larger version of the GSO 4.1 that I just received and love everything about it.

Edit: Currently in production. Expected 6/17/13
 
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fallkniven? might be too pricey though. or maybe you should check Koster knives, i remember he made something about 6"
 
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