Suggest a dedicated bushcraft knife

[Thomas Linton]

Knife companies make what the buyer buys, and many buyers want guards, drop point, spear point, or trailing point blades and non-traditional handles. However, traditional puukot are still made by IIsakki Jarvenpa, Wood Jewel, Ahti, and even Marttiini. Google is your friend.

 

[DeadboxHero]

^ this

Also Frederick is probably the most knowledgeable and passionate guy here on Puukkos
If you are curious about Puukkos, He runs this blog that has the best information in the world on the subject as far as I'm concerned.
https://nordiskaknivar.wordpress.com/

 

[Thomas Linton]

A truly great site for those interested in the puukko !

 

[Hard Knocks]

Yes, I looked into the GSO 4.1 previously but saw that they are pretty backed up with their order fulfillment. What would be a good price for one in like new condition on the secondary market, do you figure?

I think both of us are supposed to be gold members before I can talk pricing, so I won't get specific, but will say that it is well inside your specified budget in the OP.

I might be confused on whether you're looking for a style more in line with the puuko, or if you're wanting an updated kephart-style blade. If it's the puuko, you might check out the one LT Wright does in modern materials. For the life of me I can't remember the name of the model, but here's a picture that belongs to member OBX351 with the micarta handle:




I still think you should check out LT Wright's Genesis, Next Gen, Bushcrafter, and GNS models if you haven't already.

I hear good things about the blades from Adventure Sworn, too.

 

[twl]

Mora.
Why fight it?
It's cheap, and better than many that cost plenty more.

 

[Apocryphiliac]

Lots of great info in here! Thanks all!

I think both of us are supposed to be gold members before I can talk pricing, so I won't get specific, but will say that it is well inside your specified budget in the OP.

I might be confused on whether you're looking for a style more in line with the puuko, or if you're wanting an updated kephart-style blade. If it's the puuko, you might check out the one LT Wright does in modern materials. For the life of me I can't remember the name of the model, but here's a picture that belongs to member OBX351 with the micarta handle:




I still think you should check out LT Wright's Genesis, Next Gen, Bushcrafter, and GNS models if you haven't already.

I hear good things about the blades from Adventure Sworn, too.

Hard Knocks, yes, I think I am more interested in a puukko style knife, but only because the kepharts I've seen tend to be a little long for what I'm looking for (sturdy blade for medium to light processing and detail work.) I'm not looking for any belly, as if I were to process game I'd use my Harsey Hunter or Bravo 1.25, (or something similar). I'm looking for control, edge retention, and bite with toughness being a secondary concern. I did like the looks of the Fiddleback Forge production Kephart, but then if I'm going for that sort of knife (small and acute spearpoint) it's going to be a competition between several other knives, like the Mini-Aurora. I also really like the looks of the Lon Humphrey Kephart in 3V... but the list of wants really doesn't end... What I need (relatively speaking) is something that will provide a good deal more comfort and performance than my ESEE 4.

I did look over the LT Wright offerings and I think the Genesis looks right. Regarding the Survive! GSO, let's say style, I noticed the Ambush Brute is a lot cheaper on DLT than anything I've seen on the secondary market for the 4.1, and it is closer to the size that I want. Both seem a bit unnecessarily stout for what I'm looking for, but only by a small margin. And I could of course bring one as a primary knife on a short hike if I wanted. My wife doesn't like me wearing multiple blades, so in addition to weight shaving, that is always a plus!

 

[mqqn]

That Twig Mangler is so classy looking with the two-tone micarta... though perhaps more classy than I would need. It is also slightly longer than I would prefer. The puukko is really the exact sort of thing I'm looking for, although I don't know anything about the properties of the wood he used. I do wonder what other steels he is comfortable working with aside from O1. The O1 Enzo Trapper also seems like a nice budget choice. Maybe I should just get used to the idea of my small bush blade wearing a patina.

John offers 154CM and CPM S30V for a small upcharge.

The basic Twig Mangler has one-piece scales in micarta, not the two-color look as I had ordered.

He can adjust the size to your liking - his motto is "your design or mine" -

best

mqqn

 

[Apocryphiliac]

Mora.
Why fight it?
It's cheap, and better than many that cost plenty more.

You're probably right. I've just never liked the way the handles feel on any of the models I've held. That cheap, plasticky feel... I don't like rubber grips either, which is the primary reason I sold my Fallkniven A1.

 

[Apocryphiliac]

Not the steel of your preference (O1), but this beauty melts into your hands:

Spyderco Bushcraft UK

ps.
I recommend taking a look ate these threads in the Great Outdoors section of the forums:
4-5" Bushcraft Knives
Scandi knives

Thanks! I'm surprised Spyderco hasn't updated this model with a powdered steel. I absolutely love Spyderco for folders, they would easily be my favorite large production company if it weren't for their "no disassembly" policy on the warranty, though that is another issue... Haven't got any Spydie fixed blades. The good thing is that this is something I can easily go to my local knife shop to check out in-hand.

 

[Apocryphiliac]

John offers 154CM and CPM S30V for a small upcharge.

The basic Twig Mangler has one-piece scales in micarta, not the two-color look as I had ordered.

He can adjust the size to your liking - his motto is "your design or mine" -

best

mqqn

154CM should work nicely. Something I'll mull over. Thanks for your help. I don't want to e-mail all these makers and waste their time until I'm serious. :thumbup:

 

[knoefz]

Thanks! I'm surprised Spyderco hasn't updated this model with a powdered steel. I absolutely love Spyderco for folders, they would easily be my favorite large production company if it weren't for their "no disassembly" policy on the warranty, though that is another issue... Haven't got any Spydie fixed blades. The good thing is that this is something I can easily go to my local knife shop to check out in-hand.

They did upgrade it to a powdered supersteel (CPM S90V), gave it a ffg too. Same handle and blade shape though. It's called the Proficient
You might also like Spyderco's take on the Puukko
Check them both out at your local knife store if you can.

 

[Apocryphiliac]

They did upgrade it to a powdered supersteel (CPM S90V), gave it a ffg too. Same handle and blade shape though. It's called the Proficient
You might also like Spyderco's take on the Puukko
Check them both out at your local knife store if you can.

It's funny that I've actually seen all of these before and completely forgot they existed. But then again Spyderco puts out so many models... The proficient pricing, wow! S90V is kind of overkill, I think, but then again I did say I want something in 3V or 4V if possible, so I guess I'm setting expectations pretty high. For stainless, I don't mind something a little "soft" like 154CM, but not sure about S90V. I love my S110V PM2 as an edc at my job, but I perform lots of light tasks, cutting bags, plastic, boxes, and it seems to be the only thing that my sweat doesn't absolutely destroy (outdoor in Missouri summers). I don't think I'd want to do anything but the lightest wood work with it, though. I need more experience with S90V before spending a bunch of money on a bushcraft knife with it... Guess I could try doing some feather sticks with my 940-1.

 

[353]

^ this

Also Frederick is probably the most knowledgeable and passionate guy here on Puukkos
If you are curious about Puukkos, He runs this blog that has the best information in the world on the subject as far as I'm concerned.
https://nordiskaknivar.wordpress.com/

Yeah, he's a great guy. Had some discussions with him on mail before deciding on the M. Malinen knife. I'm sooo happy with it!

 

[Frederick89]

Malinen personally favours 52100 steel, but can use RWL-34 on request.

 

[Frederick89]

My two most recent carving projects with the puukkos I used, if this may help you getting an idea of the potential of the style for something beyond feathersticks.

 

[Velitrius]

There's a Spyderco Puukko in the Fixed Blades For Sale by Individuals exchange forum for a very good deal.

 

[Thomas Linton]

They did upgrade it to a powdered supersteel (CPM S90V), gave it a ffg too. Same handle and blade shape though. It's called the Proficient
You might also like Spyderco's take on the Puukko
Check them both out at your local knife store if you can.

The handle of the Spyderco puukko has a very narrow bottom edge. It hurts in the normal "hammer" grip, especially the second joint of my little finger I have learned to pinch my fingers to keep the edge out of the inside of my knuckles. No other of my many puukkos, even the Hackman Wirkkala, give me this problem. A glove or filing the edge off the handle would help.

 

[Revolverrodger]

For me the enzo trapper is quite comfortable to use

 

[gdpolk]

If your OK with a little bit of a wait I could make you a custom in CPM 3V or Elmax as desired. Here is one I did for my father with a scandi grind and a matched father/son pair for one of my best friends and his son:

 

[Hard Knocks]

Hard Knocks, yes, I think I am more interested in a puukko style knife, but only because the kepharts I've seen tend to be a little long for what I'm looking for (sturdy blade for medium to light processing and detail work.) I'm not looking for any belly, as if I were to process game I'd use my Harsey Hunter or Bravo 1.25, (or something similar). I'm looking for control, edge retention, and bite with toughness being a secondary concern. I did like the looks of the Fiddleback Forge production Kephart, but then if I'm going for that sort of knife (small and acute spearpoint) it's going to be a competition between several other knives, like the Mini-Aurora............

Thank you for the clarification :thumbup:

The Fiddleback Production Kephart is a nice package, although the S35VN dulled quicker than I expected. It does resharpen like a dream though, a sweet little knife. I've got a BRKT liten bror in 3V that fits me well. Not sure the difference between it and the mini aurora.