What bushcraft knife should I buy?

T

TheBushWookie

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Oct 28, 2014
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there are so many knives I've wanted to buy for awhile for my first set of high quality bushcraft knives but I've went back and forth between practicality and and things that just looked absolutely awesome. My overall list atm is:

1 Tops BOB with a Baryonyx machete- My practical choice

2 Tops Tom Brown Tracker- The awesome choice

3 Tops Silent hero- Another awesome looking choice

4 Himalayan Imports 15 inch Ang Khola Kukri- something that oddly enough led to me getting interested in bushcraft

5 Ka Bar Adventure Potbelly- one of my first considerations for a package deal of a medium blade and a smaller blade like the HI kukri



I just realized I have a strange infatuation with Tops knives 0_0


I've based the list off of proven knives that I've researched the quality of then decided I wanted them, After abit of thinking though I realized that I there is no all in 1 tool so I decided I would carry a primary bushcraft blade then a larger blade for obviously larger tasks.
Choice #1 is based off what I'll be using as my bushcraft philosophy, choices #2 and #3 are sorta guilty pleasure options that i really loved even though I know I can't spend my entire bushcraft budget on 1 blade alone, choice #4 is what caused me to make this thread considering I've wanted an HI kukri for some time now specifically the one I've listed and it fits into my budget but the problem is I'm just not sure it would be a good idea to choose it over choice #1, finally choice #5 is abit like #4 just obviously it wouldn't fill the role of a package deal as well as #4

There are a number of other choices I have but it would make the list too long.

The reason I started this thread is because I originally had choice #1 picked over the others but I started seeing more videos of my beloved choice #4 and decided that sense I can't choose between any of them I'll let the forum vets decide what will be the best choice for me.

EDIT- the point of the post is for people to help me choose from the options I've listed above, I can only have 1 of the options but just can't choose myself sense I love all of the choices so much.

EDIT- I also took out the sailor words that I thought would be ok to put in if i censored most of the letters and replaced them with something more family friendly.
 
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The Tops BOB is a great choice. I prefer the Benchmade 162 Bushcrafter myself but it cost a bit more.
 
When you say bushcraft, just what are you meaning?

Is this combination for going out and making a temporary camp good for a night or two? Like knocking out a quick A frame for a tarp, lean-to, or debris shelter.A rough fire pit. Maybe a pot hanger, or deadfall traps (in case if emergency)?

Or is this for a very primitive permanant camp. Like a shingled raised, walled A-frame. Making a bench, table, cooking fire pit. Carving bowls, utensils, etc...?

And , most important, what support gear to you take with you?
 
I am far from a Bushcraftsman, but I do enjoy huntjng, camping, fishing, and hiking with my family.

I like to have a chopper, medium sized fixed blade for utility and food prep, and a smaller backup knife/multitool.

Think hatchet or large knife like a BK9. Big knives are fun but in reality I think a bow saw or even a folding saw are more practical for shelter and campsite construction.

Think Mora no1, Companion, or Bushcraft Black.

Think Victorinox Farmer or Leatherman Wave.

I can't do the one knife thing. A big heavy blade is just not what I want for light cutting tasks and wood carving.
 
I owned a BOB, Blind Horse Bushcrafter, and a pile of custom bushcraft style blades. You have to find one that fits your likes. The BOB is a fantastic knife. I really liked it. I have hated a lot of TOPS stuff, but the BOB is nice. My wife carries a Blind Horse Bushcraft. It is the o1 steel. Very nice camp/hiking knife. A lot like the BOB.
 
A little confused here....you want to put together a five knife bush set? Or looking for individual recommendations on those?

First, go with the B.O.B. either way. Great knife, IMO.

I would replace the Tom Brown tracker with a quality Rigger's or Carpenter's hatchet. I think it likely you will find yourself staring at and fondling the Tracker a lot but also sitting in camp wondering what the hell you can come up with to use it for since you're fully covered for anything with four other diverse blades that will do it easier. It's also a boat anchor.

As for the TOPS, I like it. It's awfully close in size to the B.O.B. but might barely qualify as a different category of knife and keep your spread going. This would be the wild card spot though if you wanted to go slightly larger to give more spread from what the B.O.B. can do.

I'm a kukri fan. It certainly has a place in a bush set. Get a good one and a REAL one---don't get off into the fantasy profiles of kukri.

Only flaw I see in your setup is you have three blades pretty close to being the same thing. You could put more spread in there to handle a greater variety of potential bush tasks. I think collim1 is right, you need to throw a heavy knife in there....something approaching BK-9-ish but no larger. I sure like the Cold Steel Trailmaster too.

Finally, let's face it: the TOPS and Ka-Bar are basically 'duplicates' in your structure. I'd replace one with a machete or bolo, depending on what you'll be hiking through. I prefer a bolo for most stuff.

If you've made a major error here it's not listing a good Vic Swiss Army Knife. I'd get one. :)
 
Get the BOB and a Gransfors Bruks Scandinavian Forest Axe and you'll be finished. Why try to chop with a knife when a small axe will do so much more, and better?
 
So in the last 6 weeks you have opened:

What is the best fixed blade?
What is a good all around knife?
What do you guys think is a great tool system for bushcraft?
What's your all in 1 survival tool?
What IS the best fixed blade?
What's a good fixed blade bushcraft knife?
What bushcraft knife should I buy?

among the 21 threads you have started in that period.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/search.php?searchid=8959502

My advice, Chris, is to read more and post less before you become the boy who cried wolf. :thumbup:
 
Just a preference, rather than a chopper a Balco Laplander saw really makes processing wood quick and painless, it's cheap and light enough to carry if you're backpacking. That would leave you enough money to get just about any general purpose "bush crafting" knife you want (though I would throw the bk16 into the convo).
 
marcinek said:
So in the last 6 weeks you have opened:

What is the best fixed blade?
What is a good all around knife?
What do you guys think is a great tool system for bushcraft?
What's your all in 1 survival tool?
What IS the best fixed blade?
What's a good fixed blade bushcraft knife?
What bushcraft knife should I buy?

among the 21 threads you have started in that period.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/search.php?searchid=8959502

My advice, Chris, is to read more and post less before you become the boy who cried wolf. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Sound advice.
 
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And since "sexy awesome" (nice family friendly language, by the way) is still among your top criteria for your choice, its seems to me that you have ignored pretty much all the advice that has been given to you in those 21 threads.

Just get what you think is coolest looking. It doesnt matter which. It will work fine for you. Get that Tom Brown Tracker. It'll look awesome.
 
Don't understand why you need the knife to look good. It's nice to have a knife that looks good but looks is by no means a priority. If the knife works well, get it. Who cares if it doesn't look "exciting"? Most knives look great in my opinion, the knife is a very good-looking tool.

But if looks is all you care about,

marcinek said:
Get the Tracker, Chris.
Click to expand...
 
Hey! Even more reason to get that Tom Brown Tracker! I see from your profile that it is your favorite knife.

You should get one.:thumbup:
 
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