Your favorite bushcraft knife with 3 to 5 in. blade?

I've just been reading another forum and noticed a couple of photos I'd already posted there:

Out the box:


Once I sharpened it:


Yes they are both a bit on the sharp side!
 
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my RC-4 takes the cake for me but it may have some competition with an ESEE-3MIL on the way
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I like my John Bradley 52100 Austempered 4 1/2", also my custom G.E.K with chiol, very high concave beautiful, my C.S. Sisu, Blind Horse Bushcrafter, Eiche Wolf Puma, and last but not lease is my Gerber Freeman S30V, oh yeah I forgot my C.S. Pendleton Hunter. I use them all and I luv'um all.
Paul but my friends calle'me Paul'ie
 
Ok since this has popped up again from the depths, and it is a good thread, we might as well keep it alive.

Simple to answer for me: Koster Woodlore 1095

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best regards,

ll.
 
Im new to all this stuff and my BK16 does pretty well for me right now but after looking at this thread I'd like to try out a more traditionally designed bushcraft knife/grind. Here is a pic of my 16:

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I prefer the way my ESEE 3 feels and I use it more due to that but in all honesty my old Scandi gringd BHK Bushcrafter was better for woodworking. Overall I still prefer the ESEE.
 
I can not understand how someone can feel comfortable using an Izula or an Esee 4 or an S1 etc. for bushcraft tasks. Honestly, there are quite a few good bushcraft knives around that have a proper handle made for bushcraft tasks and the appropriate blade but a S1 is not one of those for instance!
I have however not yet encountered a more comfortable handle in all grips for repeated use than the Spyderco Bushcrafter, and I have quite a few custom bushcraft style knives including the B. Andrews Bushcrafter (his handles are close to perfect though) - and my hands are just average in size!!
 
awestib said:
I can not understand how someone can feel comfortable using an Izula or an Esee 4 or an S1 etc. for bushcraft tasks. Honestly, there are quite a few good bushcraft knives around that have a proper handle made for bushcraft tasks and the appropriate blade but a S1 is not one of those for instance!
I have however not yet encountered a more comfortable handle in all grips for repeated use than the Spyderco Bushcrafter, and I have quite a few custom bushcraft style knives including the B. Andrews Bushcrafter (his handles are close to perfect though) - and my hands are just average in size!!
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I completely agree, but perhaps it has to do with what "bushcraft" means to different people. If it's sort of a sideline that entails making a figure-four trap out of green wood for kicks or maybe making a feather stick now and again, the grip might not matter as much as the portability or general affection for the knife.

On the other hand I doubt anyone tasked with a couple hours of knife work each day would select a skeletonized knife regardless of what else it had going for it. The handle is, after all, half the knife.

But hey, we're all doing it for fun, and most of us transition through a few different styles in our lives. There's no wrong choice so long as you enjoy the process.
 
I've never even held the type of bushcraft knife you guys talk about before and wasn't aware they even existed until recently. I've learned a lot about this kind of stuff in the last few months. Picking up something that fits the general bushcraft knife design description is on my short list of things to get/try out one day. Until then my BK16 will have to do and I have lots of proof that it does just fine for me. Very happy with it. And I do enjoy the process as mentioned above because I love learning about new knives, how to use them, and the the endless possibilities when you have the right tool for the right job. Maybe there are better tools out there and it's that reason that I surf this site and others looking at tons of pictures of really diverse blade styles.
 
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My favorites,PLSK 2 it has a 4 " blade scandie grind. Love the handle very comfortable, very user friendly O1 steel at 3/16. Good knife for a 160 bucks, I liked it so much I bought a full size one with the 5 " blade but I have never used it. Reason is... I have not found any thing that I cannot do with the smaller one, the extra length might help in batoning slightly larger pieces of wood but I just work around that. My second favorite is my David Beck Bush Pilot, 5" blade, O1 @ 3/16. Base price is 240, this is more of a traditional knife it comes standard with a micarta handle for a few extra bucks I had him handle it with stained birds eye maple. Looks great, very comfortable handle has a tapered tand very well balanced. I also have a Spyderco bush crafter, but that was purchased at a good price not a second run or a defect, it's never been used. I keep it sealed in a food saver storage bag. Feels like it would be the bomb, but don't know. I picked it up because I like it so much but not sure about its future, sit on it for collection, sell it, trade it or maybe someday use it.
 
awestib said:
I can not understand how someone can feel comfortable using an Izula or an Esee 4 or an S1 etc. for bushcraft tasks.
I have however not yet encountered a more comfortable handle in all grips for repeated use than the Spyderco Bushcrafter, and I have quite a few custom bushcraft style knives including the B. Andrews Bushcrafter (his handles are close to perfect though) - and my hands are just average in size!!
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Eero said:
I've never even held the type of bushcraft knife you guys talk about before and wasn't aware they even existed until recently. I've learned a lot about this kind of stuff in the last few months.
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This is it exactly. I never even heard of Bushcraft until I joined this site (even though I've been doing it for years). Now I have a sickness.
This thread started before I even joing BF, so I'm glad it got bumped up.

Eero, I can recommend the Spyderco Bushcrafter for someone starting out. The G10 handle is designed to be the final ultimate comfortable grip, and the scandi grind 01 steel blade sharpens to a level I've never seen before.

I later acquired two Fiddleback Forge knives, a Hiking Buddy and an Arete, beautiful and functional works of art.

That Brian Andrews Bushcrafter looks fantastic, I love the handle.

I find myself combining a bushcraft knife with a larger splitting knife (BKRT Bravo II) and a silky folding saw.
I know its sacrilege, but what the heck, I counted them up last time out and realized that I had seven knives with me!
 
I purchased a Spyderco Bushcraft 2nd a while back and it's by far the most comfortable knife I've ever held.

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I like my JK "Rule #9" better than any other Bushcraft style knives that I've tried. The handle fits my hand perfectly and the blade shape just flat out works.
John's O1 is really hard to beat too.
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ALLOBO said:
Old Schrade (USA) 13 OT
Ontarion TAK-1 (d-2)
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ALLOBO, we think alike but my 13 OT is a 'New Old Stock' Ducks Unlimited with UH scales. I also like my DPx HEST fixed. I like the ESEE 4 but the handle is a bit small for me, the Ontario TAK is like a slightly bigger ESEE 4
 
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