Skookum Bush Tool

Thread hasn't gotten stupid; some fine points have been made on the Garcia knife and other suggested alternatives.

The Ray Mear's Woodlore knife seems like the closest example of a Kochanski-prescribed formula but also with small finger guard/groove. Since that knife is a little ridiculous price-wise, does anyone make a quality copy?

mrostov also pointed out the value of the TIG-welded pommel and I like the idea, too. I was also thinking the pommel could be integral to the knife with the rest of the tang carved out via stock removal. Does anyone do this? The only one I'm aware of that comes close is Chris Reeves, but his design is a whole different animal...
 
TM Dowel made a intergal hilt and "butt" knife. I have one. :)
Dietmar Kresslar makes one too. They are in the $1500, $2000 price range.:o
 
Since Caine started the thread to share his new knife with the rest of us I think he, if anyone, is entitled to declare it "stupid". I wouldn't call it stupid so much as hijacked. Thanks for sharing your knife Caine. What do you think of it so far?
 
Threads do that. Drift is inherent in these discussions. I tried a couple of times to point out that we had people defining "bushcraft" is very dissimilar ways, and the disussion turned into an argument over the semantics without acknowledging that. The SBT was designed for a specific kind of eperience, not back country survival.
 
I agree theres good info. Just a few silly things. I dont really mind the hijacking :) Its great so far. Havent had the chance to get it out but its packed up ready to take out hopefully Il be able to get a day hike in before I head to Cali for 30 days for some training.
 
Finally got out today. I really like this knife. Feels great and the fit and finish and perfect to me. Has some weight to it which I also like. Very sharp also. I might get myself one or two more of these. Enjoy the photos.
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Great photography! It really points up the performance. Some of those curls almost look transparent.
 
Alright, that looks pretty darn good! I'm jealous of the blade. Seeing it in hand/in use makes a large difference. What's the blade length on it?

Edit: Nevermind, got off my butt and found it!
 
Anybody got one and want to sell it...I'm the guy! I would pay top dollar for one right now...I dont have a whole lot of patience...really. Gene

Edited days later...man I am a knife whore..shameful, really.
 
Since we're finally done with that fingerguard debate, I'll re-iterate my question which hasn't been (I think) answered (sorry if missed the answer).

How much was Kochanski involved in the developpement of that knife?

Ravaillac said:
Was just wondering: has Kochanski actually been involved in the making of this knife (hyp1), or is it just the maker who decided: "hey, let's make a knife as the one described in Kochanski's book" (hyp2)?

Kochanski was apparently involved (hyp1) since he is always cited when this knife is mentionned, but on the other hand (hyp2) formulation is always a bit dodgy: "inspired by Kochanski", "description from his book"... and if I had a knife really endorsed by Kochanski, I think I would advertise it even more.

Apart from that, looks like a sound design to me. I think the buttplate serves no purpose, a simple protruding tang would probably be better.
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Agreed Esav, discussions like this are bound to wander and it has been a civil, informative wandering so I have definitely learned from it. Great to see the pics and initial impression Caine. Keep it coming :thumbup:
 
Well, I lost my patience and ordered 2!!!! Now the wait begins..I am very much looking forward to packing one of these babies with my new Kelsey Creek Camp knife...I have been using the heck outta my Puukko's just to get the flavor. Gene
 
Ravaillac said:
Since we're finally done with that fingerguard debate, I'll re-iterate my question which hasn't been (I think) answered (sorry if missed the answer).

How much was Kochanski involved in the developpement of that knife?
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Well I can answer this one. Rod is a student of Kochanski and had the chance to talk knives extensively with the man on course. Rod designed the knife based on the talks and then gave the proto-types to Mors for feedback. Mors brought the prototypes to our school last March where he does yearly courses for my staff and our students. He loved these knives and talked to Rod about very slight changes which Rod incorporated. I know this because I phoned Rod and ordered a knife and then Mors who was my house guest took over the phone and they talked perfecting the design for a good 15 minutes.

As to why Mors name isn't featured on the knives he thinks the hoopla made about him is a bit ridiculous and using his name as a marketing stratagy is something he is a bit shy about. One of the most humble and greatest guys I have ever met.

Here he is with my kids in our frontroom... he is also a great house guest but it's hard to get to sleep when he rolls out the stories. This SBT is the real deal folks. My third is in the mail.

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North61 said:
Kochanski who inspired this knife considers the guard to be something that gets in the way of choking up on the knife for fine work. He considers a guard as a sure sign of a greenhorn.
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"Greenhorn" with regards to what exactly?
 
Andros said:
"Greenhorn" with regards to what exactly?
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Look at the name of the knife: Skookum Bush Tool. It isn't a fighting knife or even a camp knife. It's not for clearing a trail or butchering large game animals. As a strong, sharp, ergonomically designed knife, it could do a lot of that. But it is, primarily, a tool for traveling through and living off the woods. Careful, controlled cutting and carving. It's a finesse tool, not a brute force tool.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Look at the name of the knife: Skookum Bush Tool. It isn't a fighting knife or even a camp knife. It's not for clearing a trail or butchering large game animals. As a strong, sharp, ergonomically designed knife, it could do a lot of that. But it is, primarily, a tool for traveling through and living off the woods. Careful, controlled cutting and carving. It's a finesse tool, not a brute force tool.
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With that I would agree. But that would be as far as I would go. There is no way though that I would rather have a knife without any form of guard Vs. a knife with some form of guard! When I say "guard" I mean even some handle formation that would prevent the user's hand to slip on the blade.

tarmix101 said:
As I mentioned before however the lack of guard really is just a mental thing IMHO. I have never had my hand slip down the blade, and being that the Puukko is much older that most of the designs we use today (as you mentioned) there must be something to it. Not saying that designs that came later wouldn't be better, just that IME the guard-less "bush" knife is well thought out and is as dependable is a knife with a guard in the right hands.
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Who said that all puukko's are guardless? Some of the most expensive aren't . Among the knives I have are a few finnish puukko's. Very sharp knives indeed. One day, one of them slipped off my hand and before I knew it I could see the inside of my finger. This has never happened to me with a knife with a guard. I will also agree with gunknifenut (post # 21):

gunknifenut said:
its really just a puuko on steroids...
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Hey Caine they are some great pics bro.....thanks for showing them !

Finger guard or not it still looks a great knife !!!!!
 
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