Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades "Bushcraft" knives?

I kinda hate the word bushcraft but it's a thing now. I think I had rather call it woodcraft. I'm thinking a knife made for wood working, a good carver able to split small pieces of wood, make feather sticks a d fire prep stuff. Not a "survival" knife.

I bought a cheap condor bushlore just to try and find out what I like. Im not crazy about the design. It feels big in the hand and not real good for caving, for me anyway. I bought a ESEE IzulaII and love it for small game cleaning and birds and fish but the blade shape is kinda off for carving.

Anybody have a suggestion for a woodcraft/"bushcraft" type knife for camping/hiking and tramping around in the woods?

I love Charlie May's Skifa with a scandi grind.

Speak English....

Sorry, Americun is 'bout all I can converse in.

Skifa scandi

Skifa is a pattern, scandi grind is a grind pattern on the blade. A Scandinavian grind is very conductive for wood working. Very controllable. I have a knife with a scandi grind but it's bigger than I like.


The MayFlowers on Charlies site looks very nice and a size I would probably like but it's a full flat grind, I had rather have a scandi or saber grind on it.

I made this Kephart for a guy, it was my first one. I understand they're sort of a "Bushcraft" knife.

Horace Kepart was a smart cookie.

I went a cheaper route. Ontario Air Force survial knife about $50. Ordered a Buck 105 sheath off Amazon for $13.




Another. Becker BK16 about $60. Micarta grips about $30, Buck 102 sheath from Amazon $13. The grips probably weren't worth the extra, but I do like them better than what came on it.




Lots of good options, and I have some more expensive examples. But for not a lot of money you can do pretty good.

Here is another I like. Just don't like the sheath and haven't found an inexpensive option that fits.

http://www.amazon.com/Ontario-Knife...4072&sr=8-1&keywords=ontario+tak

I think Charlie will make any of his patterns with a scandi grind. After using several of his scandi ground knives over the years I'm a big fan.

Beautiful knife, Gary. What is the finish on the blade?

That's the finish right out of the quench tank TN, there's a bit carbonized scale and cooked oil in there. It will wear off with use, but it will take some time.......I think it looks pretty cool myself.

I'm looking forward to putting that knife to use.

Well, since there weren't a lot of replies, I'll throw out a couple knives I was looking in to a year or so ago. Bear in mind, I have zero experience at batoning wood, creating fuzz sticks, trying to strike flint off the knife to create a fire, etc. Just was merely hypothetically thinking about trying some of that stuff and looking at knives that appealed to me visually. Whether or not they would have the right feel and do any of that stuff... I have no idea.

I thought about a Ka-Bar with some Chuck Karwan mods, mainly grinding the top of the guard down. Looks like they now have a factory version of it called the Dog's Head.

From Benchmade, I liked the Bushcrafter.

From Battle Horse Knives, I liked the Woodsman Pro and Jump Jak.

From L.T. Wright, I liked the Genesis and Next Gen.

Oh, and by the way, that Gary Music knife above is beautiful!

Gary did an excellent job on that Kephart knife. He also crafted a beautiful period correct sheath for it. I'm very pleased with his work.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gRHyFG_BNgM/maxresdefault.jpg

Fallkniven F1 is one of the best.

A fellow by the name of Larry Lewis who sells an inexpensive, but functional, Kephart-style knife on eBay under the seller name "Yllowcrk". For $35 to $45, it seems like a pretty good camp/utility knife.

I second Bhemry's opinion on the BHK Woodsman Pro. Easily my
Favorite heavy duty bushcraft/woodsman/survival knife. Outstanding product w good ergonomics.

I'll let you know how I like this one after it comes in.
ESEE-3 Modified Handle
I also have an Izula II and ESEE-6. Love them both.
Considering the new ESEE-4 as well.
ESEE-4 Modified Handle

Charlie will do a Scandi grind on all his blades, just have to ask. Most of the knives he has made for me have a Scandi grind. I have his Big Hand Scandi as my bushcrafting knife. It looks like a big knife, blade is just shy of 5 inches, it has a large handle but is still very easy to manipulate. I have made a number fire sticks and other small items with it. FWIW I wear a small/medium glove and still have no issues with the Big Hand knife.