Survival/Bushcraft Knife

C

Combatkobe

Joined
Jul 10, 2009
Messages
5
Hello, I have done a lot of reading on this forum but have never posted. I have searched many other forums and sites to try and narrow done what survival/bushcraft would be best suited for me.
I would appreciate if you guys could offer your opinions on a knife suited for me once I give you some of my choices and the characteristics I am looking for in a knife.

Some of the knives I have looked at are:
- RAT Cutlery 4 (Good size, easy to sharpen steel)
- Kabar USMC (Bigger but could be more versatile, same steel as rc4)
- Bark River 1 (Seems pricey but heard good things about it)
- Fallkniven F1 (Great things heard about it, might be hard to sharpen for me)
- Fallkniven S1 (Also good things, could be to pricey)

I would be hunting in winter conditions and have a feeling it would be colder conditions if a survival situation arised. I have limited sharpening skills and use a Lansky sharpening set. Because of this I would likely need a knife which is easier to sharpen.

I am not looking for a very large blade to do chopping as I will have an axe for the most part, but would like the knife to be able to handle all other tasks. The amount of money should be reasonable, forsure under $200 preferably under $150. As of right now the only fix blade I own is a Mora (cannot remember the type, but the one with the red handle). It serves me well, but would rather it be a back up blade.

Thanks in advance.
 
In my opinion you should take 2 blades- a beater knife like an RC5, a 10-12 inch machete, A becker BK7, condor rodan, something out of high carbon steel, and a slicer with a thin blade and scandi grind for finer detailed woodwork, skinning, food prep, etc. Good knives to look at for this role are any scandi bushcrafting handmade knife you see from the reputable makers around here (mine is made by Koyote) a Mora, a Cold Steel Finn Bear or something like that. The Mora you already have would do fine. That way your axe, your beater and your slicer can all be sharpened by a simple arkansas stone, yet everything is durable and can easily perform its necessary chores. Between a beater, a slicer and an axe there's not much you can't accomplish in a survival situation.
 
Welcome to the Wilderness!

I'll start off by suggesting the smaller knives you listed: the RAT Cutlery 4 (now known as the ESEE-4 -- they recently changed the company name) and the Fallkniven F-1.

Since you already use an axe, you shouldn't need the weight of a larger knife, and the ESEE-4 and F-1 were designed specifically for wilderness survival. So was the Bark River Bravo-1, with a military angle.
 
Get a scrapyard scrapper 5. You won't breaker it, quality steel, res c handle (sort of like hard rubber) good for cold weather, not heavy and did mention quality steel? That and your mora sounds good to me. There are many right answers though.
 
Combatkobe said:
.... I would be hunting in winter conditions and have a feeling it would be colder conditions if a survival situation arised.
Click to expand...
If it's cold, I assume you will be using the knife with gloves on, in which case the exposed metal of the full tang knives shouldn't be an issue.

If you won't be wearing gloves whilst using the knife, a hidden tang should be more comfortable in cold weather.



Kind regards
Mick
 
from that list, i'd choose a Fallkniven S1.

a rubber handled one shouldn't cost more than US$130.
 
++++++++ for the scrapper 5, its almost perfect IMO.
 
Welcome to BF! Check out JK Handmade knives, he has his own sub-forum here, and many styles with VERY reasonable costs.
 
Welcome to WSS!

Of your choices, I think you have a great selection and all would do quite well for your needs. I really like the Bark River and Fallkniven convex edges, but it takes a little effort to maintain the edges...it's really quite simple, just a little different. ESEE/RAT RC4 is another great knife and is straight forward and of solid construction.

If you're going to be around cold/freezing temperatures, Fallkniven uses their hard rubber grips specifically for the purpose of handling in those temps.

I personally like my Bravo-1 as my outdoors knife. It's a stout little brute, but that convex edge is a deceivingly razor sharp!

Firesteel-5.jpg


Another option and knife I’m currently using is the Martin Knives’ “Bushcraft Tactical” (BT). It’s turning out to be both a great utility knife and a functional bush blade.

ROCK6
 
Great knife, well balanced, reasonable price, and the world's best guarantee-you break it we replace it til the end of time.
 
The Bark River Bravo-1 would be my choice. :thumbup:





Not only is it built like a tank, ...but it cuts like laser,

...and that contoured handle works very well in cold or gloved hands.



Big Mike
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Welcome to the Wilderness!

I'll start off by suggesting the smaller knives you listed: the RAT Cutlery 4 (now known as the ESEE-4 -- they recently changed the company name) and the Fallkniven F-1.
Click to expand...

PorcupineMtns66 said:
You cannot go wrong with the RAT4!
Click to expand...


Lot's of good knives listed but I'll throw my lot in with these. I think the RC/ESEE-4 is hard to beat. I've been working with one for a while now using it a lot. I see it's only limitation as being in the chopping dept., which by your own words isn't an issue for you.

I have no personal experience with the Fallknivens but have heard many good things about them from people whoes opinions I trust and plan to get one in the future, hoping to find a good deal on a used one or a trade.
 
Welcome to W&SS!

I will also recommend JK Handmade Knives, for a number of reasons. First, John (Stomper) is a first-rate maker of affordable custom knives for the W&SS market. Second, he is an active member of the forums, and he regularly incorporates input from folks who put his blades through some serious use. Third, he has a few knives that fit your design parameters and budget (and in O-1 tool steel, with a sturdy leather sheath). And fourth, if he doesn't already offer a knife that fits your specs, he is always willing to make a custom knife to order, based on customer designs.

Like you, I also do a lot of my woods-bumming in winter conditions. There is definitely some incentive to opt for a stainless knife when you're planning to get it covered in snow, ice, pine sap, fish guts and blood. O-1, which is a carbon steel, will show some wear if it is left wet in such conditions. On the other hand, it is tough, takes and holds a great edge, and will hold up very well if you allow it to develop a decent patina.

Here's a winter shot of my JK Anniversary Knife. You would probably want a bit more in the way of a point on a hunter, but he can definitely do that.

snowshoeslateDecember010.jpg


BTW - check out the other 'resident' makers, too. Koyote does a great scandi-vex grind that would be awesome on a hunter.

All the best,

- Mike
 
Another vote (or should I say 2? :confused: ) for the Bravo-1.

1.jpg


And if you're going to check out custom knives, make sure you check out Bryan Breeden, a fellow forumite.

Doc
 
All the knives you listed are excellent knives for what you describe.I actually own all of the knives you listed.I have also used all the listed knives for Bushcraft and survival.Here's my thoughts.
ESEE-4:Great feeling knife.Cuts very well,tough,easy to make small controlled cuts.
Ka-Bar:It's a bit large for bushcraft/survival game(tough to choke up on the bade for controlled cuts without wrapping the blade).It's tough,well made,has a lot of history.
BRKT Bravo-1:This knife is a tank.thick tough blade but it doesn't sacrifice on cutting ability,The handles can be slick when you first get it,The kydex sheath it comes with leaves a lot to be desired.Un-coated carbon steel requires more maintenance in damp conditions,convex edge can be a bit of a pain to sharpen without practice.
Fallkniven F1:A great tough stainless steel laminated VG-10 is a great edge holding steel.Easy to control,comfortable,convex edge can be a bit of a pain to sharpen without practice.
Fallkniven S1:Stainless VG-10 is a great steel,tough as nails,great blade shape,great handle shape.
Just to show you I'm not kidding here they are.:p
P3221299.jpg

I'll also suggest the Bushcrafter from Blind Horse Knives,The Buck 119 and the Grohmann #4 survival.
 
Another reccomendation for JK knives or Koyote. They can design exactly what you want for right around the price of the manufactured blades you're looking at. I have somebwork by both of them and it's top notch.
 
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