what makes a knife a (real bushcraft) knife?

C

carspidey

Joined
Mar 12, 2010
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I've reading a lot lately and I was wondering what you guys thought about what a real bushcraft knife should look like (blade size, handle size, blade metal, overall length, etc)...

elaborate on your answer please...

thanks...

btw.. don't make it a heated discussion please :D
 
It's whatever knife fits you best and does what you want it to do. Everyone is different so there is no one size fits all answer.
 
I think Ray Mears coined the phrase bushcraft so to me his woodlore is the steriotypical bushcraft knife !

To generalise I'd say a 4" scandi ground blade 3/16" thick, 4-4 1/2" handle.
 
Whatever you want it to look like. Seriously, regardless of wether it's a scandi or a bowie, traditional or tactical, it will still get the job done. Whatever floats your boat in other words.
 
If by 'bushcraft knife' we mean a knife that is suited to wilderness & survival applications, with an emphasis on working with wood, I would say that the following features are important:

  • A handle that has no major 'hot spots', can be held comfortably in a few basic grips, and fills the hand.
  • The ability to cut with the portion of the blade that is closest to the handle - this is important for cuts that require pressure and leverage.
  • A blade that is not too thick. That's a bit vague, I know, but there you have it.
  • For most applications, a blade that is between 4-5.5" in length.

All this being said, some of my favourite woods blades fall outside these parameters and still work wonderfully.

All the best,

- Mike
 
I just saw that woodlore and it looks nice! real nice... shame they don't sell them anymore... and the ones they do sell are expensive and a collectors item...
 
thanks for your input...
They main reason I was asking is because i just got an RC6 and even though i like this blade it seems a little big to carry on just regular hikes... So, even though i haven't used this blade yet, i am looking for another... this forums (pics :D) are addicting...
 
Hey Pitdog while I like Rays programs he didnt coin the phrase I think it was probably popularised by Richard Graves in his Bushcraft books originally published in the 1950s.I'm pretty sure this predates Ray.
 
Battlesword said:
Hey Pitdog while I like Rays programs he didnt coin the phrase I think it was probably popularised by Richard Graves in his Bushcraft books originally published in the 1950s.I'm pretty sure this predates Ray.
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The term has been in use here in Australia from at least the late 1800's.

Truth be told, I don't know if we will ever know who coined the term, but it certainly wasn't Mr Graves or Mr Mears or Mr Korchanski :D



Kind regards
Mick
 
Thats quite true Mick but I said he 'probably popularised' it not that he coined it.I don't know of any common use in the popular media ie books, film,radio or newspapers before this although there probably is.
 
pitdog said:
I think Ray Mears coined the phrase bushcraft so to me his woodlore is the steriotypical bushcraft knife !

To generalise I'd say a 4" scandi ground blade 3/16" thick, 4-4 1/2" handle.
Click to expand...

The puukko has been used for much longer for bushcraft and hunting tasks.

It is not a stabbing weapon so it does not need a guard. There is no choil either.
 
What ever works for you for wood working is the best Bushcraft knife around, it can be absolutely anything within reason.
 
I was looking in the For Sale section... and every title that refered to a bushcraft knife was about 8 inches long... anything longer than that were called campers...

Some of those knives I saw were nice... really nice though... but a little too much money :D I guess I'll start saving... :D
 
G'day Battlesword

Battlesword said:
Thats quite true Mick but I said he 'probably popularised' it not that he coined it.I don't know of any common use in the popular media ie books, film,radio or newspapers before this although there probably is.
Click to expand...
I guess I'm becommining a little too sensitive :)

It just seems that no matter how many times I point out this on international internet forums, it just doesn't seem to register.





Kind regards
Mick
 
As said previously, anything that floats your boat, but what I prefer in bushknife is rounded handle without that squared shape that fulltangs usually have. After long hours the squared handle starts to hurt.
 
G'day Carspidey

carspidey said:
I've reading a lot lately and I was wondering what you guys thought about what a real bushcraft knife should look like (blade size, handle size, blade metal, overall length, etc)...

elaborate on your answer please...

thanks...

btw.. don't make it a heated discussion please :D
Click to expand...

Now that I have the semantics about the "origin of the term bushcraft out of my system", some personal thoughts about your original question :D.

Please bear in mind right at the start, that my opinions are different to what most folks these days would describe as "Bushcraft", and I acknowledge that this post will put a bullseye on my forehead :D.

IMO, a knife that is suitable for genuine bushcraft needs to do more that cut wood.

It also needs to be able to process any animal taken to provide meat for the table.

Have a look at what is currently taken as "the look of a bushcraft knife", ala the woodlore & various clones.

Do you reckon these are the best design for skinning & processing game?

In my experience they are not.

Any design that appears to optimise it's performance with wood tells me that the designer really doesn't know what genuine bushcraft is about.

IMO, look for a design that is usefull for processing animals as well as wood. This is a knife that is designed by someone that knows what bushcraft is, rather than someone that is merely following what they think the majority think it is.

Comfort in hand during extended use is another important aspect, as is edge holding.

IMO forget the often repeated BS about the only steel suitable is carbon steels, i.e. non stainless steels. IMO, these people repeatedly show they have no experience with some of the modern stainless steels on offer :thumbup:

To finish off, please bear in mind this is one persons opinion :D





Kind regards
Mick
 
carspidey said:
I just saw that woodlore and it looks nice! real nice... shame they don't sell them anymore... and the ones they do sell are expensive and a collectors item...
Click to expand...
If you browse the Maker's forums here on BFC, there are a number of custom makers who are selling variations of the Mears knife starting as low as $140-150 or so. If that's still too much, keep your eyes open for the Bushlore knife from Condor Tool & Knife. I believe the next batch of these knives is supposed to hit the stores soon, for around $20-30.

For that matter, you could just go with a Mora knife, which you can sometimes find for as little as $10-15. The Mora is thought by many people to be pretty much the basis for the Mears style bushcraft knife. ;)
 
The constant idolizing of the Woodlore and its clone is kind of annoying to me. Its a good blade style, no doubt about it, but not the be all- end all of knives for outdoor tasks. Many different knives will do. Because there is a lot of emphasis on wood carving, than a shorter blade is useful for that.

Carspidey, one thing you might decide since you have an RC-6 already is to get a smaller blade of the 2.5 - 3.5" variety for dedicated carving and whittling chores. Your RC-6 can handle all the camp chores. My RC-6 often rests in my pack and comes out to play when I want to split things or pry stuff or do other things that I'd rather not do with my smaller sharp knife. I like have the redundancy of a knife in my pack and on my belt for that 'in case scenario'. A 4-5" knife won't pair up too well with your RC-6 (too similar in function) and you inevitably leave one or the other at home.

I do think a 4-5" knife is the better solution for a 1-knife scenario. I've decided that the one knife scenario isn't my preferred option. Not much point being a knife-nut and liking just one knife.
 
A bushcraft knife is a knife that you have out in the bush and it works for you doing bushcrafty things :)
 
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