What are the requirements of a Bushcraft Knife?

[Marion David Poff]

OK,

Maybe this has been done before, but maybe we could get some new answers...

When you think of a 'Bushcraft' Knife, what features do you require that it possess?

Marion

 

[beef]

10 inch blade, hollow grind, black coating and a saw back with a D guard.

seriously though. For me, I like a blade from 3.5 to 4.5 inches, between 2 and 4mil thick, flat grind or scandi, no guard, edge uninterrupted by choil or anything.

 

[pitdog]

Great question buddy, for me it's a blade that can help me in a variety of outdoor tasks such as getting fatwood, making fuzz-sticks, carving trap parts, and cutting up camp foods !

Basically a survival knife !!!!

 

[dbltap45acp]

Pitdog, didnt you start a thread like this a few days ago, show him the link if you have it handy.

My taste have changed drasticly for a bushcraft knife. I used to be into heavy choppers, now I like thin slicers. I ordered a Brian Andrews terrasur, should be here in a few weeks. To me, that knife is everything a bushcraft knife should be.

 

[pitdog]

Pitdog, didnt you start a thread like this a few days ago, show him the link if you have it handy.

My taste have changed drasticly for a bushcraft knife. I used to be into heavy choppers, now I like thin slicers. I ordered a Brian Andrews terrasur, should be here in a few weeks. To me, that knife is everything a bushcraft knife should be.

Nah, mine was a woods bummin knife ! Maybe this is different and maybe both are different to a survival knife......I like to hear the debate !

 

[coote]

I'm with Beef on the description. I'd also specify a straight blade, and pointy end for splinter removal and maybe sticking a pig. And a decent, secure sheath of the pouch variety.... no straps or domes. Probably I'd choose carbon steel because that is what I'm used to. And if I had a choice I'd ask for a 'spring' temper rather than a heat treat designed for maximum hardness because a knife that dulls a bit quicker than some is better than a broken knife.

 

[Wabajack]

Something that cuts and carves well.

 

[baldtaco-II]

Bushcraft knives to me are no different to what used to be called survival or utility knives. On that I'm with Pitdog in that it is essentially a survival knife. Something always with me, small versatile, with a good geometry for cutting over a wide range of tasks, not so tough its utility is compromised but not so hard it becomes fragile, high traction handle, and doesn't require babying when out for days in adverse weather conditions. Simple and practical. Examples range from the well known F1 and the CS Master hunters, through the little Linder Super Edge 1+2, to Trace Rinaldi's Tactical Kitchen Knife, that although I've never handled looks like a great example.

If I ever get into neo-bushcraft I'd be looking for something else though – something for caravan-side Didicoy crafts; carving egg cups and making clothes pegs and dollies. Not so sure about these. I know some prefer ground through saber grinds rather than whetted [the Scandi] for these kinds of events but that's outside my area of what's fun. I figure if it loads up principally on carving twigs, has retro kitsch, and wouldn't look out of place next to a battered old Duluth sack it is probably a common example.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=609596&highlight=characteristics+bushcraft+knife

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=625782&highlight=characteristics+bushcraft+knife

There are more but I'm having more trouble finding them.

 

[caine]

Has to be able to get to the bush and out of the SAFE'S. I.E. Safe Queen's

 

[dawsonbob]

Has to be able to get to the bush and out of the SAFE'S. I.E. Safe Queen's

A safe queen isn't a knife, it's a treasure to be protected and never used. A real knife is something you can take to the bush and beat the heck out of.

If you're afraid of using your knife because it could lower the "value," then what good is it?

I like beaters. Four or five inches long, good carbon, easy to sharpen, and strong.

 

[nodh]

My idea of a bushcraft knife is something like:
Fallkniven F1.
Fallkniven H1.
Fallkniven S1 (just a bit too long to be perfect).
Fallkniven WM1 (just a bit too small...).
Fallkniven NL5.
EKA H8.
EKA W11.
Hultafors GK
..or just a plain Mora knife.
About anything that has a good edge and can be batoned on.

 

[Bushman5]

A bushcraft knife is a mystical very expensive magic knife carried by a brit accent speaking Youtubing great bushcraft wizard wearing a filson hat, wool shirt and blanket with wooden pin, BDU pants and that is looked up to by his preening sycophants. A magic knife that will automatically build a shelter, start a fire, hunt and dress game, make paper thin wood shavings, and get abused by striking it with a rock or log to split wood. The sycophants will buy such a knife and extoll the virtues of it via the netherweb, and make constant references to the great bushcraft wizard. All other knives are inferior to the great bushcrafts wizards knife the sycophants proclaim loudly and forcefully, only the great bushcraft wizards knife is the one to use, all others are no good. You are a heretic if you use anything but this one magical bushcraft knife, and you will be ostracized for not fawning and preening over the great bushcraft wizards knife the sycophants cry out. Send the great bushcraft wizard your money now the sycophants proclaim, you too can own a magical bushcraft knife.

BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT!BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT!BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT!BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT! the sycophants chant, dancing around the fire and waving their bushcraft knife about






its just a knife.

 

[dawsonbob]

A bushcraft knife is a mystical very expensive magic knife carried by a brit accent speaking Youtubing great bushcraft wizard wearing a filson hat, wool shirt and blanket with wooden pin, BDU pants and that is looked up to by his preening sycophants. A magic knife that will automatically build a shelter, start a fire, hunt and dress game, make paper thin wood shavings, and get abused by striking it with a rock or log to split wood. The sycophants will buy such a knife and extoll the virtues of it via the netherweb, and make constant references to the great bushcraft wizard. All other knives are inferior to the great bushcrafts wizards knife the sycophants proclaim loudly and forcefully, only the great bushcraft wizards knife is the one to use, all others are no good. You are a heretic if you use anything but this one magical bushcraft knife, and you will be ostracized for not fawning and preening over the great bushcraft wizards knife the sycophants cry out. Send the great bushcraft wizard your money now the sycophants proclaim, you too can own a magical bushcraft knife.

BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT!BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT!BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT!BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT! the sycophants chant, dancing around the fire and waving their bushcraft knife about






its just a knife.

LOL:thumbup:

 

[udtjim]

To me, any knife or cutting tool that does the jobs that you need done while out in the Bush or forest, is a good bush/wood craft knife. It may be completely different for one user than for the next guy. You are not always doing the same thing in the woods so get a good versatile knife and don't worry if it has a bushy name going for it. Bush craft is just another selling point for suppliers.

 

[Wandering_About]

A "bushcraft" knife, for me, must:

Have a comfortable handle
Have good edge geometry and cut well
Be a convenient size for carry and use in whatever situation I find myself in
Be made with good materials (steel, handles, etc.) that you trust
Have a solid, effective, well made sheath.

 

[Dannyboy Leather]

Post expired.

 

[OwenM]

Guess it all depends on how you plan to use the knife, and what suits you.
I prefer:
-a single, full height grind-flat or convex, that doesn't bind in soft material and has decent strength while allowing for good edge geometry.
-a slightly dropped point, with no distal taper so that it's fairly stout, for batoning, light prying(bark, heartwood, etc.).
-a straight portion of edge for notching, everyday cutting.
-a decent amount of belly as the edge curves toward the dropped tip for more controlled cuts, a better bite when shaping wood, making fuzz sticks, or other things where I want to make a small or perhaps less than straight cut.
-a full-size, and ergonomically shaped handle of a material that is grippy, but not abrasive-Busse's Resiprene C, canvas micarta, etc.
-a guard, however minimal, whether it be an actual guard, a natural outward curve forward of the index finger, choil that is enlarged for use as a finger groove, or combination.
-a spine without a raised thumbrest that limits hand position
-a lanyard hole

Basically your typical drop point hunter with personal preferences taken into account.
I love the design of the Fehrman Peace Maker. Like a Vnox Hiker, or a Leatherman Blast, it has ALL of the features I want, and nothing I don't. though in a custom version, I'd probably go for 1/8-5/32" stock instead of 3/16", and maybe a more corrosion resistant steel than 3V, like S30V, CPM154, or even ATS-34, since I don't care for a coating.
As long as the edge geometry is decent, with its thicker stock, and tougher steel, the Peace Maker pretty much covers everything I want with a big dose of extra strength and toughness. Had the Shadow Scout, and thought it too long. Just a matter of time before I get a Peace Maker. A thinner version of my Busse Basic 4 would be good, too.

 

[pitdog]

A bushcraft knife is a mystical very expensive magic knife carried by a brit accent speaking Youtubing great bushcraft wizard wearing a filson hat, wool shirt and blanket with wooden pin, BDU pants and that is looked up to by his preening sycophants. A magic knife that will automatically build a shelter, start a fire, hunt and dress game, make paper thin wood shavings, and get abused by striking it with a rock or log to split wood. The sycophants will buy such a knife and extoll the virtues of it via the netherweb, and make constant references to the great bushcraft wizard. All other knives are inferior to the great bushcrafts wizards knife the sycophants proclaim loudly and forcefully, only the great bushcraft wizards knife is the one to use, all others are no good. You are a heretic if you use anything but this one magical bushcraft knife, and you will be ostracized for not fawning and preening over the great bushcraft wizards knife the sycophants cry out. Send the great bushcraft wizard your money now the sycophants proclaim, you too can own a magical bushcraft knife.

BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT!BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT!BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT!BUSHCRAFT! BUSHCRAFT! the sycophants chant, dancing around the fire and waving their bushcraft knife about






its just a knife.

Wow, where do I send my money ?

 

[skitertank]

i was thinking what bushman5 said a knife,is a knife, is a knife. some designs just excel slightly at some things better than others,thats the only difference.