What kind of bushcraft blade do you guys use?

[Cpl Punishment]

You know, we hear mostly about the Bravo-1, Northstar and Fox River on this forum it seems. I'm actually surprised how many came out with the Aurora being their favorite.

 

[GEC]

Man oh man! This thread grew pretty fast!

Cpl Punishment: I hear you about the aurora being mentioned the most. I was thinking the same thing that you would see a lot of the F1, Scandinavian puukkos, fox rivers, maybe a few more customs knives and more Northstars (since it was designed for it).

I guess people have an issue with the Northstar with its smaller handle.

 

[Brian Jones]

You know, we hear mostly about the Bravo-1, Northstar and Fox River on this forum it seems. I'm actually surprised how many came out with the Aurora being their favorite.

The Aurora has supplanted my Fox River as being my favorite all-around knife. Bigger handles, blade shape that is better suited for woodcraft. The base of the blade is lined up with the handle for easier notching, and the point is centered for better drilling. The Fox River is still a very, very close second, and would be my daily carry when a smaller blade is necessary or preferred, and I thought I would NEVER change mky mind on having it as my dedicated bushcraft blade. I also will use the Fox River as a dedicated skinning/cleaning blade, as it is admirably suited for that task.

So, my combo (to expand on this a little) is the BRKT Aurora and my Gossman PSK, Jr., both in my favorite steel: A2. For a chopper, I have an Ontario 22" machete, or Estwing 26" Camper's Axe, or Estwing Sportsman's Hatchet. I have an 8" blade Gossman covexed chopper on the way, and that will round out my ideal knife and tool combo.

Of course, my SAK Rucksack is always on me, as is my Gossman PSK, Jr., so if I got stuck somewhere without planning ahead, I'd feel ready.

 

[Loosearrow]

Blackjack Trailguide, Effingham. Loosearrow

 

[Cpl Punishment]

The Aurora has supplanted my Fox River as being my favorite all-around knife. Bigger handles, blade shape that is better suited for woodcraft. The base of the blade is lined up with the handle for easier notching, and the point is centered for better drilling. The Fox River is still a very, very close second, and would be my daily carry when a smaller blade is necessary or preferred, and I thought I would NEVER change mky mind on having it as my dedicated bushcraft blade. I also will use the Fox River as a dedicated skinning/cleaning blade, as it is admirably suited for that task.

I agree the Aurora is likely the perfect (or closest to it so far) woodscraft blade out there, for all the reasons you listed. If I was to go out and mix hunting and camping and only took one knife for woodscraft and game prep, the Fox River would be it. But since I like to carry dedicated tools for game prep, I've been really eyeballing the Wolf River.

So, my combo (to expand on this a little) is the BRKT Aurora and my Gossman PSK, Jr., both in my favorite steel: A2. For a chopper, I have an Ontario 22" machete, or Estwing 26" Camper's Axe, or Estwing Sportsman's Hatchet. I have an 8" blade Gossman covexed chopper on the way, and that will round out my ideal knife and tool combo.

Of course, my SAK Rucksack is always on me, as is my Gossman PSK, Jr., so if I got stuck somewhere without planning ahead, I'd feel ready.

Our tastes run very close. I prefer the 22" Ontario machete over the shorter ones that seem en vogue (even went to the trouble ov convexing the bevel, and blending the shoulder -- no doubt not as fine a job as the "Barktario" machete, but not unnecessarily shortened, either). I've also use the 26", and 16" Camper's axes and the 14" Sportsman's Hatchet by Estwing for decades (growing up, the Estwing SH, was THE hatchet to have), although my Snow & Neally Penobscot Bay Kindling Axe has taken over hatchet duties.

You really ought to try a large (18-20"+) HI kukri some day. My hatchet doesn't go out much anymore.

For a SAK, the Rucksack has been my favorite as well. It has the longest saw and biggest blade (locking is a plus), and other than the corkscrew, I've used every tool on it.

Great minds stink alike.

I guess my combo right now is either the Pen bay hatchet or 20" HI Ang Khola and the BRKT Aurora. I carry the SAK just because it rides wherever I do, but don't use it much, if at all, in the field.

 

[j williams]

My choice is one of these and a vic farmer.....

 

[Jeff H]

The Aurora has supplanted my Fox River as being my favorite all-around knife. Bigger handles, blade shape that is better suited for woodcraft. The base of the blade is lined up with the handle for easier notching, and the point is centered for better drilling.......

And then, I would love a 7/8 scale Aurora.
The Northstar and Fox' are just the right size but lack the very points you mention (except the size difference) that would make either otherwise perfect for my uses. I have been thinking about getting an Aurora lately but my preference it toward the "smaller" knives. The Northstar and Fox' are super knives - especially the NS with wood scales - it's a featherweight, but I think an Aurora, of the same general size of either of those two, would be very tough to beat.

However, I have some excellent BC tools in spite of all that. These are my favorites:

Muskrat Man Bushcrafter

Breeden/Hamilton Compact Bushcraft VI & VII

 

[koyote]

I have a question for anyone who has made use of my handle shape and the shape similar to the aurora. On my handles I focus on a well rounded and thick but "simple" line from the ricasso to near the butt, with a downward slope. I've tried to refine this to maximize variable grips, minimize hot spots, and still provide a secure grip for pushing. (Note, this is helped a lot by the raltively short handle and shape of the rear portion)

I don't drop the front of the handle very often, but there is generally a very slight blade drop. One that doesn't seem to adversely effect the power carving near the blade.

So, for anyone who has used both, what kind of differences do you see?

 

[BarberFobic1992]

I have a question for anyone who has made use of my handle shape and the shape similar to the aurora. On my handles I focus on a well rounded and thick but "simple" line from the ricasso to near the butt, with a downward slope. I've tried to refine this to maximize variable grips, minimize hot spots, and still provide a secure grip for pushing. (Note, this is helped a lot by the raltively short handle and shape of the rear portion)

I don't drop the front of the handle very often, but there is generally a very slight blade drop. One that doesn't seem to adversely effect the power carving near the blade.

So, for anyone who has used both, what kind of differences do you see?

once the BRK&T Magnum arrives to me for the pass around, i should be able to give you a pretty good comparison.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

I have a question for anyone who has made use of my handle shape and the shape similar to the aurora. On my handles I focus on a well rounded and thick but "simple" line from the ricasso to near the butt, with a downward slope. I've tried to refine this to maximize variable grips, minimize hot spots, and still provide a secure grip for pushing. (Note, this is helped a lot by the raltively short handle and shape of the rear portion)

I don't drop the front of the handle very often, but there is generally a very slight blade drop. One that doesn't seem to adversely effect the power carving near the blade.

So, for anyone who has used both, what kind of differences do you see?

Let me first say that whether a knife has a handle drop, blade drop, or nothing (such as a puukko) makes no difference to me. I rarely push cut, and when I do, it's on delicate things, and I don't use enough force to engage the drops.

I would guess that it'd be a little more comfortable and a little safer to have a handle drop, being wider than just a drop of the blade, for someone who does a lot of heavy push cutting.

 

[IH8U]

just before I got my Aurora, I picked up a Bill Siegle bushcrafter. Its a bit thinner than the Aurora, but a bit wider with a true scandi grind. I did a bit of branch removal with it and would not hesitate to use it on a daily basis.

 

[Fonly]

While not as nice as all the aurora's around, my Master hunter does it well for me.

 

[koyote]

See, that's part of the problem- most of the knives with the forward handle drop I've used have very long handles and butts that are not angles right to sit in your palm at all. So I feel less secure in my grip when all choked up and poking, drilling, or push cutting.

I realize that's 2/3 personal habit, but I rarely hold a knife in the perfectly perpendicular grip to begin with. But it IS personal, and I have a task to do more than make what I want to use.

 

[blgoode]

Gosh,
Seems like my problem is what knife DONT I need to take!!

The last Camping trip I went on was about 6 weeks ago. I took the large Slayer Chopper in 0-1.

First TTW that I made and always like having around and keep saying I need another.

Then another handly blade I seem to always grab is a Combat type knife I made and it works GOOD:thumbup:

Then I tried to make a blade I would have handly and smaller than the above ones in a scandi grind. In Time I think I will adore this knife but I am just a beat up up and make a small blade do what a larger blade can do type guy so I chipped the edge a hair on this one. I thought it would and after hand honing back to nice and sharp, I think the scandi grind is what it needs to be to work hard for me

but my winner my last camping trip was my 5 1/2" bladed knife I dont have a name for yet. It did all that the above did(except chop like the slayer of course) and maybe it was because it was new, but man.....this is the blade I have been looking for in all the above I think. Sort of borrowed some feature of all my designs a tad. Seems like no matter what I did, I was always grabbing this knife after putting it back to use some of the above

 

[mtnfolk mike]

great looking stuff brian... man i love those TTW knives... i would love to score one of those one of these days..

 

[Brian Jones]

once the BRK&T Magnum arrives to me for the pass around, i should be able to give you a pretty good comparison.

Barber, the Magnum handle is very different than the Aurora - it's the same as the Fox River, but bigger.

The Magnum is nothing like its smaller counterpart except reminiscent of the shape. It's a beautiful, heavy BEAST of a knife compared to the regular F.R. it feels almost more like a chopper than a bushcraft blade, but can do both. it feels like it could withstand a bomb-blast.

 

[beckerhead]

Wow, seeing some really nice bushblades here. As a budgeted bushcrafter, my speed is more like this...

One of these coupled with my Leatherman Wave, and I'm set.

 

[BarberFobic1992]

Barber, the Magnum handle is very different than the Aurora - it's the same as the Fox River, but bigger.

The Magnum is nothing like its smaller counterpart except reminiscent of the shape. It's a beautiful, heavy BEAST of a knife compared to the regular F.R. it feels almost more like a chopper than a bushcraft blade, but can do both. it feels like it could withstand a bomb-blast.

i see. after reader it again, i understand what he is asking now. initially, i just thought he wanted a comparison to the BRKT handles. thanks!

 

[screwthe49ers]

I always take my fiskars hatchet, cold steel true flight thrower for saplings and batonning if necessary, vic farmer, and of course my edc (spyderco military and leek). I encourage everyone to get one of the cs throwers, as I have never been as surprised w/ a cheapo knife as much as I have been w/ this one. Yes, Cold Steel sucks, but I will recommend the true flight thrower as a great bushcraft knife. I have cut down 5"-6" diameter trees in my backyard w/ ease. I also have yet needed to sharpen it. It's a fantastic $20.00 knife you wont be disappointed in.

Forgot to mention my mora clipper, which is tied to my pack/s shoulder strap at all times.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Update:

I liked the Bravo1 in Black Canvas so much, I bought another in Antique Ivory

Doc