What is the best type of blade grind for a bushcraft knife

Scandi:

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Low Saber with micro bevel:

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Both of your two separate questions are going to get you varied results from different folk and I am certainly no expert but I will share some of my most basic thoughts.

Your second question is difficult to ask because survival means different things to different people and what will make a good knife for survival depends so much on location, vegetation, climate and other variables - not the least of which being what other equipment is at your disposal, whether or not you are seeking to be mobile or staying put and for how long ... along with, you guessed it, other variables.

For bushcraft many prefer a full flat grind or a high saber grind. Look at most knives advertised as being purpose designed for bushcraft and you will see these grinds well represented. There are many different brands and steels but the full flat grind or high saber seem to be favored. I like carbon steels vice stainless steels for most of my fixed blade applications and prefer those that are easier to sharpen in the field - perhaps without fancy sharpening devices or even a sharpening stone. I also like value but want value with quality and durability. This has led me to Becker Knifes and, for bushcraft, I think you would do well with a BK-16.

Thank said, there are other price points and some very good offerings. Though many here may not like the company, Schrade offers some 1095 knives at very attractive price points. I have a few of them notwithstanding my clear preference for Beckers.

On to survival: for many survival situations chopping, shelter building and heavier work often get involved. As a Becker fan, I prefer the BK-9 or the BK-4 int his regard. For a very stout knife in a shorter length, the BK-2 will not disappoint. Again, offerings from others, such as Schrade (lower price point) or Busse (higher price point) come to mind. Again, I prefer carbon steels over SS and avoid higher Rockwell super steels that are harder to sharpen and not as malleable/forgiving.
 
Don't over think it any sharp knife will work.


That being said that first knife Screeh Owl posted is absolutely stunning.
 
Lost Viking, That's a purdy looking buck you have there. 119 Special?
 
LostViking said:
Don't over think it any sharp knife will work.


That being said that first knife Screeh Owl posted is absolutely stunning.
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Yup. Sharp and thin is best. The grind will be dictated by how you define bushcraft and survival. Scandis for instance are great at carving wood but fall short in food prep ime.
 
I agree with SALTY, & not just because I love his work in seasonings....the answer to any question regarding the "best" grind for this, that, or the other....is full flat or high saber. I've recently gone thru & sold off about 80% of my collection, all fixed blades, & one of the key attributes that all of the knives I still have share, is either a FF or HS grind. I prefer the way they perform in every single task I ever use a knife for. I prefer the way they feel in hand....I think I'm referring to overall knife balance when I say that...I think? And I prefer the aesthetics of the FF or HS grind. And really, it's become an instant visual thing for me, much like the way I've evolved into finding jimping on otherwise beautiful knives to be utterly repulsive...I just don't "like" knives with scandi grinds anymore, for example.

So again, the answer to your question is full flat or high saber....& when guys say stuff like: there is no "best" grind, it depends on the situation & the this & the that....well OP, just know that they are wrong, it does not depend on anything, and take comfort in that fact that you already know the true answer, and delicious SALTY gave it to us first....full flat or high saber.
 
VanDammet said:
I agree with SALTY, & not just because I love his work in seasonings....the answer to any question regarding the "best" grind for this, that, or the other....is full flat or high saber. I've recently gone thru & sold off about 80% of my collection, all fixed blades, & one of the key attributes that all of the knives I still have share, is either a FF or HS grind. I prefer the way they perform in every single task I ever use a knife for. I prefer the way they feel in hand....I think I'm referring to overall knife balance when I say that...I think? And I prefer the aesthetics of the FF or HS grind. And really, it's become an instant visual thing for me, much like the way I've evolved into finding jimping on otherwise beautiful knives to be utterly repulsive...I just don't "like" knives with scandi grinds anymore, for example.

So again, the answer to your question is full flat or high saber....& when guys say stuff like: there is no "best" grind, it depends on the situation & the this & the that....well OP, just know that they are wrong, it does not depend on anything, and take comfort in that fact that you already know the true answer, and delicious SALTY gave it to us first....full flat or high saber.
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Nope. There is no right answer, just what the user prefers. I personally find an almost flat convex "feels" and works best for an all arounder. The thing is I have and use others as well for this or that. No hard and fast answer to his question.
 
See OP, I warned you about these guys, didn't I?? Now, Shotgun's pretty tough, so I'm not sure that even SALTY & VanDammet together can take him, but even if we do perish in this battle...please carry forth with our message of the virtues of full flat & high saber grinds.
 
Convex works well too,

But they are way ugly!



It's best to keep the blade hidden,



Or try and come up with some kind distraction,



Do it right, and they won't even see that hideous thing,
 
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I agree Mr. Viking, on both counts....& you've reminded me that I do still have some convex grinds & edges as well. They are hideous though, my God.
 
VanDammet said:
See OP, I warned you about these guys, didn't I?? Now, Shotgun's pretty tough, so I'm not sure that even SALTY & VanDammet together can take him, but even if we do perish in this battle...please carry forth with our message of the virtues of full flat & high saber grinds.
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Believe what you like. I know what works for me. Not sure how saying it's more about the end users preference and not the grind is an argument but okie doke. ;)
 
Then there is these scandifluvian thingies

But they are sort of repulsive too.


Besides, they can only be made by Witch Doctors from Helsinki, so they can be hard to come by.
 
My fixed blades have either a full flat grind or a high sabre grind. Scandi is strong but not a very good slicer, while FFG is great at slicing but has less steel immediately behind the edge. High sabre is a good balance, and is what most of my big knives have.


 
I have even heard stories of some guys that survived with something called a KA-BAR.

They wore uniforms. And stayed at Camp Tarawa. I think they were Weblos. I can't remember.



Y'all carry twine in your packs right?



Not really sure though,



Could have just been a rumor. Besides, who went to Camp Tarawa?


All the cool kids went to Rung Sat



Because over there, all the girls wore Tongs,



But if these KA-BARs were any Less Cool, you could heat your house with them.


I mean really, you need special grinds for this stuff. This thing won't work!



Sorry folks, I forgot.


This is about Bushcraft,



And Survival,



I'm in way over my head. I'm just going to grab a beer, and bow out gracefully,



Besides, you probably need a chopper,



Or something you can baton with anyway,
 
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I like Scandi's for carving, but they're limited in other areas. Full flat or sabre are my preferred grinds, it really all comes down to preference. Scandi edges aren't the easiest to field sharpen, for me at least. I usually carry a smaller Scandi ground blade as a dedicated carver, then either a FFG or sabre as my go to.

As far as "survival" knives, depends on your definition. If it means having a strong "beater", then I'd go convex or sabre.
 
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