What IS a bushcraft knife?

Yep, this.:)
Lots of folks have "Bushcraft" knives which in actuality aren't, because they never use the damn things.

I "flicked open" my new Sebenza, threw it into a big pear tree trunk hard, then whittled my wife a toothpick out of one of the twigs. Does it qualify? :cool:
 
The only knives that I have that I would consider bushcraft knives are my moras. I can see that they are a lot different than my other knives, so for me, a "bushcraft" knife has a clear meaning. I think that they are specifically designed to cut on logs and sticks and the like. Scandi grind, although I'm sure there are some knives that have a different grind that I would consider "bushcraft."

The blade isn't as thick as the modern beefy "survival" blades. I can tell that a thinner blade with a scandi grind really does a great job on wood out on the wild.

They are typically made of a traditional carbon steel like 1095 or O1 and the expensive versions are full tang, usually with wood or wood-looking handles. You can see the "bushcraft" blade shape if you look at a few of them. These are more incidental and not essential, however.

In the end, for me it is not just a matter of cosmetics and style. So far, my moras have done a much better job slicing on wood for me when I'm outdoors than any of my other knives have. Makes me want to consider picking up a more robust bushcrafter that would be less prone to breakage if I had to abuse it in a survival situation, and use that as my main knife.
 
I too often wonder about bushcraft or survival knives, i.e. building deris shelters, fire making, cutting a spear for fishing, cleaning game and the list goes on.

I have a wide variety of knives foldig & fixed but very few seem to really excel in all of these categories - "easily" anyway.

Yes with a lot of work a smaller knife will do the larger tasks but dang I've done a little cutting on 1 1/2 diameter limbs with say an RC-3, RC-4, forget about a folder!

Larger knives, not too outrageous would seem to fit the bill better for all around bush work.

And Kirk_Ferentz, I knew some Viet Nam era Marine Recon LRRP's who would take issue to your not including their trusty Ka-Bars as an all around bushcraft knife! ;)
 
Bushcraft is a name given to knives so that people can charge more for them. Sort of like painting something black and calling it "Tactical".

It's all silliness, like naming any blade with a hump back a Nessy or a straight blade with a spear point a Kephert or
a knife with a straight edge a Warnie, or etc, etc.
 
I "flicked open" my new Sebenza, threw it into a big pear tree trunk hard, then whittled my wife a toothpick out of one of the twigs. Does it qualify? :cool:

The twig whittling is on the right track.:)
Flicking and throwing, not quite as bushcrafty.
 
A "bushcraft" knife is one that would excel at woodworking, carving, etc. Not so much a hunting, tactical or survival knife, rather more of a bush tool.. A bush tool in the same manner of a camp ax or hatchet. Most modern bushcraft knives are inspired by working knives from Scandinavia: Swedish Mora knives, Finnish puukkos, Sami leukus, and Norwegian tolleknivs. These knives have scandi grind blades which are well suited for carving and general woodwork and you will see this type of grind on many modern bushcraft knives, although flat ground blades are also preferred by many. Also, modern bushcraft knives tend to have thicker blades and full tang handles which can handle batoning better than their traditional Scandinavian counterparts.

That said, what works for one person may not work for another, so like drillsgt71 stated, one person's idea of an ideal bushcraft knife will differ from another's. For some, a simple $10 Mora will do everything one could ever need out of a bushcraft knife while others may want something more robust. Some people like scandi grind blades, some do not. Some can get by with a sub 4-inch blade, some may want something larger. It all depends. In effect a bushcraft knife can be anything and everything from a traditional puukko to a modern camp knife that will aid you in handcarving, preparing kindling, foraging, etc..

To get a good idea of what "bushcraft" knives are like take a look at a few knives like the Spyderco Bushcraft, Mike Lummio's BCNW-O1, Ray Mears' Woodlore, the BHK Bushcrafter, the Condor Bushlore, the Helle Eggen, the Helle Tamegami, the Mora Classic, the Mora Clipper, etc..

Very well said, Cosmic Superchunk.
 
Just looked at the specs and some pics of the Spyderco Bushcraft. I'm in love! I don't really need one but I may have to buy one anyway. :D
 
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