What is a bushcraft knife?

A

Alberto Salas

Joined
Jan 30, 2003
Messages
268
Hello everybody

This is my first post in the Wilderness forum, I don´t post here but I read it every day!
Is one of the nicest places here in BladeForums.

Sadly, my first post is a bit embarrassing :o .
I start collecting knives while looking for a camping knife, and reading here I found a new term that I never heard: a bushcraft knife.

I been reading this forums for years, and I still don´t get what is that kind of knife... any good advice?


BETO

====================
Sorry for my english :o
 
It is a knife primarily used for survival, camping, hunting, and outdoor activities. It is a very broad term that covers a lot of knives.
 
I think that what is Bushcraft itself is as confusing as what is a Bushcraft knife.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushcraft

Seems like the most favored knife of the Bushcraft folkks in the Uk are the Ray Mears style knife and the Fallkniven F1 but I think Mors Kochanski who wrote a buck by that title favors a Mora?
fk2.jpg

fk3.jpg

fk4.jpg

woodlore.jpg
 
WHat's the bottom knife HD?
 
nice pics HD.....:thumbup: i'm loving my F1.....

the bottom pic looks a ray mears woodlore knife....
 
You know yours isn't a fluke. Jeez.

My F1 stays in the truck. Don't leave home without it.
 
The primary characteristic of a "bushcraft knife" is its ability to shape natural materials into the things you need in the bush hence the name bush-craft.

The bottom photo (post above) is the same knife Ray Mears uses in his Bushcraft series. I just got done watching the whole series on CD and that knife shows up alot. One thing I noticed is that he always pairs his bushcraft knife with another heavy hitter like a machete, parang, or an axe in the boreal forest. He also made much use of the folding hand saw.

There are a few other knives that appear in that series, a hand forged scandi, the lowly Mora SWAK, etc. One knife you never saw was the SPB type "Survival Knives". that's not a commentary on them just an observation.

Mors Kochanski makes much use of the lowly red plastic handled Mora #1, but he also uses an axe or saw of some type as well.

In my own experience I usually have my BK-7/PSK on my belt and a Machete and Mora in my pack or dangling off someone else in the group. When I have to do some bushcrafty type task it is usually the Machete and Mora I reach for.

The dedicated bushcraft knife is a great knife to have along in the woods. It's just a knife, but one ideally suited to what knives are supposed to do when shaping natural materials. Mac
 
Hi HollowDweller may i ask what model axe is in the pic??? How heavy is it?? How do you like using it??? How good is it for 2-6in wood?? I hope its not too many Q to ask. For some reason i saw the axe with the hat and i liked the size. I also seen the Fiskers axe that seems to be same size but thought it might be too small. What do you guys think of the Fiskers axe?? I dont know the model but its fairly small axe.

Sasha
 
Sasha,

Love your name. One of my favorite goats of all time was GCH5*M Lake Country Caesar's Sasha who was the American Dairy Goat Association's Reserve national Champ in 1993:thumbup: Every time I see the name Sasha I think about her!

The little hatchet is a Gransfors Bruks Mini Hatchet. It is 10" Long and 10 ounces but it is a great cutter. I tested it here and it seemed to outchop 2 khukuris of greater weight, and if you look at the picture you can see it can chop a pretty decent sized log. Although it won't compare to a heavy hatchet, for backpacking and instances where weight is a factor it is a really good choice!:thumbup:

Here's another pic in the hand for scale:
gbmini.jpg


This is another thread with mini hatchet content:thumbup:
 
I would take it as a compliment to be compared to a GOAT.... After all she was a champ. I did have to stop laughing before i could write back. That axe looks almost cute. From your writing i would say a MINI is a better choice for me from the weight part. Where i live they have the fiskers axe its about the same size of the mini. Have you handled it before??? if you did how did you like it?? They sell it for $25, which is realy cheap. I think i should just get it and try it out.

Sasha
 
sasha said:
I would take it as a compliment to be compared to a GOAT.... After all she was a champ. I did have to stop laughing before i could write back. That axe looks almost cute. From your writing i would say a MINI is a better choice for me from the weight part. Where i live they have the fiskers axe its about the same size of the mini. Have you handled it before??? if you did how did you like it?? They sell it for $25, which is realy cheap. I think i should just get it and try it out.

Sasha
Click to expand...

I think my friend Bladite has tried it. I remember he posted a review of some of the fiskars a while back at ramanon but not sure if the mini was among them. I'll get back to your.

Yeah Sasha rocked. She's long gone lives on thru her relatives. I have a few that are related to her!:thumbup: Pic of her here: www.saanens.com Click on Historic Homepage and scroll down and there's a pic of her.

Here's the fiskars review but not sure if it is the same one as you are talking about:

http://ramanon.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39504&highlight=fiskars
 
hollowdweller said:
I think my friend Bladite has tried it. I remember he posted a review of some of the fiskars a while back at ramanon but not sure if the mini was among them. I'll get back to your.

Yeah Sasha rocked. She's long gone lives on thru her relatives. I have a few that are related to her!:thumbup: Pic of her here: www.saanens.com Click on Historic Homepage and scroll down and there's a pic of her.

Here's the fiskars review but not sure if it is the same one as you are talking about:

http://ramanon.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39504&highlight=fiskars
Click to expand...

yah, i have a lot of fiskars :) for the value, $20-25, the so called sport hatchet, is a very good value, and is cheap enough to really use with no regrets, and wow, cuts quite well for all that. try it. like it. carry it. doesn't weigh nothing :) handle is hollow too.

the larger axe they have, 2lb head, wow, cuts like a demon for all of $30-35. hard to beat unless you goto wetterling or gransfor bruks or ...

bladite
 
Thank you guys. I guess the fiskers is it for me. Im doing the floor this weekend so if i need any extra supplies i would pick up the axe same time. As soon as i would use it i let you guys know how i like it.
Bladite would think a mora would fit in the hollow handle??? that would make it one of the better combos if it did.

HollowDweller i got a stupid Q but what makes a champion Goat????

Sasha
 
sasha said:
Thank you guys. I guess the fiskers is it for me. Im doing the floor this weekend so if i need any extra supplies i would pick up the axe same time. As soon as i would use it i let you guys know how i like it.
Bladite would think a mora would fit in the hollow handle??? that would make it one of the better combos if it did.
Sasha
Click to expand...

i don't think a mora would quite fit, but other things (a supply tube) should, an a cork :>

bladite
 
I have both gerber and fiskars axes and hatchets and love them.

The gerber with the knife in the handle is not that usefull partially because it is not a great knife.

The fiscars has a longer handle and room for a small survival kit or a hank of chord. I dont know if a mora would fit in the handle but it seems to me that it would be easier to carry a small knife and put loose gear items in the handle of the hatchet. If you make a sheath for the hatchet you could simply add a loop for the knife sheath.
 
About a decade or so ago I ordered a custom 'bushcraft' kniife from Kelgin (K.C.Largin) in Indiana. I requested that Paula, his apprentice, later wife, design and make it. I wanted a maternal influence. My only input was my hand measurements, an outline of my hand, and the wish that she make a knife that she'd want her kids or grandkids to have in the wilderness. She designed it and chose the materials, one slab of steel and an Oosik handle. The specs for the K.C.Largin Paula (Kelgin)
length overall 9 1/2"
blade length 4 9/16"
cutting edge 4 9/16" mixed plainedge and serrated
blade steel 440-C stainless
blade thickness 7/32"
handle length 4 1/2",
7/16" steel butt juts past handle end as hammer
handle material Oosik, fossilized walrus penile bone
weight 8 ounces 227g

I am a cyclist, so weight, or lack of it, is important. The K.C.Largin 'Paula' replaced hatchet, saw for small jobs, hammer, and it can be used as stainless steel signal mirror. I carry two smaller knives, folders, for more delicate work, Spyderco Endura and Delica, and the more general tool, Leatherman Wave, but the Paula is the mainstay for the boonies. You can get a look at it through my poor photography. Follow the link to homepage in my profile; look for "funky knife."
 
sasha said:
HollowDweller i got a stupid Q but what makes a champion Goat????
Sasha
Click to expand...

Sasha,

To give you a simple version she must win grand champion at 3 different shows where there are at least 10 animals of her breed with at least 8 of those 10 being does in milk.:thumbup:
 
Hi HollowDweller, How do they judge her??? is it by the looks?? the amount of milk??? What i mean is what are the rules that make a Champ?? I just find it intresting. I think Goats are cool animals right behind the donkeys.
I looked at the Fiskers on the net last night. I liked the hatchet but the Mini is half the weight. So i guess the only way to go by is the feel i get in the hand.

Sasha
 
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