the bushcraft knife with everything

B

Bob Shaver

Joined
Oct 11, 2013
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4
Brief intro: I have put handles on two knifes, and I'm starting another using an Enzo Elver blade and birdseye maple. My first two knives turned out well, and were fun projects. I"ve recently purchased some tools like a benchtop drill press, and a grinding wheel. I'll do more knives if I find time. I don't know that I'll ever start with a chunk of steel and make a knife from scatch. I do a lot of backpacking, so practical knives for me are Mora knives, but the Enzo Elver will be fun to carry. I was thinking a project someday would be a bushcraft knife with all the functional little do-dads I could think of. A compass in the handle, a metal lined depression in the handle to hold the spindle of a bow drill, a notch at the base of the blade for scraping a fire steel. I know this knife might not be "pretty" and not the works of art that I see on this forum, but my grandson might find it cool. What other little bushcraft do-dads have people seen on knives that might have some practical value Anybody got any picture of a knife like this? Bob
 
I think you'll get more input on a bushcraft forum. British blades has a lot of bushcrafters.

Some idea's: a hammer buttplate, a rough spine to use on a fire steel and not to many bells and whissels
Don't know about the compass in the handle, do they brake down?

Just jump in to it, making knives is fun
 
I would just focus on the knife being a knife and not have a ton of stuff on it. All you need is a square spine for scrapping a firesteel. As Hengelo said a hammer buttplate like on the skookum bush tool might be nice. Might be a PITA to put on though. I'm not really a fan of knives that have the spindle indention on the handle because using a bow drill requires a lot of movement and I just don't like the idea of a razor sharp object being involved in that. Plus, it would only takes a few seconds to carve out a hole from another piece of wood.
 
Bob Shaver said:
Brief intro: I have put handles on two knifes, and I'm starting another using an Enzo Elver blade and birdseye maple. My first two knives turned out well, and were fun projects. I"ve recently purchased some tools like a benchtop drill press, and a grinding wheel. I'll do more knives if I find time. I don't know that I'll ever start with a chunk of steel and make a knife from scatch. I do a lot of backpacking, so practical knives for me are Mora knives, but the Enzo Elver will be fun to carry. I was thinking a project someday would be a bushcraft knife with all the functional little do-dads I could think of. A compass in the handle, a metal lined depression in the handle to hold the spindle of a bow drill, a notch at the base of the blade for scraping a fire steel. I know this knife might not be "pretty" and not the works of art that I see on this forum, but my grandson might find it cool. What other little bushcraft do-dads have people seen on knives that might have some practical value Anybody got any picture of a knife like this? Bob
Click to expand...

Now Bob, I want you to know that my next sentence is not intended to offend. Please take it as simple very-opinionated advice. My business is almost exclusively for bushcrafters, so I have deep felt opinions about your query.

What you are wanting to design is a crappy production 'Bushcraft' - ing knife that is commonly available from Tops and ESEE. Oh boy they've got choils, and all your little bells and whistles. The trouble is that they aren't good Bushcrafting knives. A good Bushcrafting knife has a 4" long drop/spear point blade and a comfortable handle. NO CHOIL. Choils are a design flaw that is (1) dangerous and (2) impedes function. No serrations. No ricassos. No option for being lashed to a stick. No hammer pommel. AND definitely NO depression for a bow drill set. Imagine wearing yourself out bow drilling up a fire, and having the entire time to worry about your edge. Naa. You'd be better off making one with your properly designed 4" drop point bushcrafting knife.
 
Here this might give you few ideas ;0)

ultimate-swiss-army-knife1.jpg
 
There was one guy who carried a Green River belt knife who wore a depression in the handle using it as part of his bow drill, so it will work. But, keep the knife in its sheath if you use it that way. A compass does not work well when in close proximity to magnetic materials so you would limit yourself to the steels for your blade and it would be a poor compass compared to a larger one with more precision. One idea that you might like to incorporate is a notch on the spine towards the tip that could be used to catch the bail on a hot pot to move it.
 
I would much prefer to use my knife to cut a notch in a stick to lift a hot pot, but that's just me.
 
That Swiss army knife is exactly what I was thinking of! Actually the knife would be for my grandson, who is 6 now and hasn't developed fine tastes in knives with smooth lines. I like a Loveless drop point hunters, with a fairly short blade, myself. I have had good luck sharpening Mora knives, so I'd go with a Scandi edge. I was thinking of some tubes along the sides for lashing the knife to a stick. That one might never happen, but who knows. Looks like by making the Enzo Elver, for just about $80 I can end up with a $100 knife. A very fun project, however, plus I get to buy some tools. My second knife is shown here: http://backpackingtechnology.com/knives/making-a-wooden-handle-knife/ and is quite a bit better than my first knife.

DSC03617.22-800x533.jpg


http://backpackingtechnology.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/DSC03622.22-800x533.jpg
 
I have to agree with Fiddleback, here. Adding "do dads" to a knife doesn't make it practical or cool.

One thing to think about... your 6 year old grandson is only starting to develop his notions of what's good and useful and cool. Why not encourage him down the right path rather than feeding an inappropriate fascination with junk.
 
The following is based on hundreds of days spent hiking, camping, and doing wilderness journeys in every clime from the Appalachian Mountains to the Dismal Swamp.

The best advice I can give you is to make a basic, sturdy, and high quality bushcraft knife....just like Andy laid out.
Along with the knife give him a bag (a fanny pack is perfect) with all the bushcraft items he may need. A GOOD compass, a GOOD fire starter kit, a GOOD fire steel, GOOD fishing kit, 20' of paracord, basic first aid stuff, whatever.... Having good tools in the bush is a lot better than having gimmicks...especially if you actually end up needing any of them. ( I can't imagine ever needing a pre-made bow drill, but toss one in if you want to.)
 
Andy's got it right.

If you or your son want all the doodads, then put together a proper fire kit. I carry one - a small leather pouch about the size of a 6v battery and it contains everything you just listed off plus two types of tinder..... and more.

-Peter
 
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These guys are right, Bob... but they forgot to mention that you should just get one from me to avoid inferior products!:cool:

Rick:p
 
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