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has anybody tried any of the bison bushcraft knives, they look like direct copies of the woodlore knife, and not stunningly cheaper, but I've not heard anything on the quality, any help or advice on the knives is appreciated, I've done two courses with woodsmoke (brilliant instructors) the last being the nomad course, and I am still using the frost knife until I get better at sharpening, so I am looking to get a better knife hopefully with a better sheath, any ideas?
Cheers
Hiya Yowee and welcome to bushcraftUK!
I have to say that I dont know much about the Bison blades except that they are very good. The knife I use, and am very pleased with is the Kellam Wildfinn Puukko (they also do one called the Wolverine which is a bit more expensive). Lovely blades to use.
All the best
Jamie
Roger's knives are very nice to handle - extremely solid, very rugged and nicely finished. It isn't a direct copy, BTW, just a case of similar-tasked knives ending up at a logical design conclusion (and I hope that if I've mis-remembered that, either Roger or Alan will be quick enough to let me know to correct it?)
I did the intro course a few weeks back with Roger - it is reassuring having the maker encouraging you to hit the knife harder as it'll take it...
:-D
Hi and welcome to BCUK
The bison blades are not direct copies of the woodlore knife..... Roger (the man from bison) was a student of woodlore back in 1994 (i think) so you see the resembalance....... but they are different. Most bison blades use 3mm tool steel making them lighter than the woodlore (4mm chunky) and easier to wear round the neck (aswell as other things) also they have different blade and handle sizes. I guess roger designed his knives for what he wanted out of a knife.
I don't own either but I know people who own them and they are very happy with them.
Hope this is some help to you..... enjoy
Ed
Thanks for the remarkably quick feedback, I guess as someone who is not to familiar with different knife styles, there seems a bewildering array of designs out there, the problem is that getting hold of the knives seems to require buying them online, so that if its to big, or the style doesn't suit your grip it's really a bit too late. And the costs on some seem quite high I know you have to pay for handmade items (and that aspect of it being handmade is part of the attraction) but is it really that much better? For instance is the woodlore or bison knife at abou £150 that much better than something like the Kelham Lapp Puukko at £30.00, thanks all for the advice it's good to find people that are willing to help.
cheers
I too still use the frost knife and am happy with it except the sheath as mentioned, have snaffled some leather from a local tack maker and am hoping to make my own, will let you know how it goes......
tenbears10
06-11-2003, 18:35
Yowee,
Have a look at the reviews section of this site and see the lapp and the woodlore knives compared.
The bison and woodlore knives are expensive (some people may disagree) but you can be sure that with the waiting list on both of them you will eaisly sell a second hand one to someone who can't wait.
I have seen an American makers knives (Gene Ingram) going for $50 more on a site that has a stock of them than from his own site which has a waiting list.
You might be interested (like I am) in the new knives on Ray Mears' site which are by wilkinson sword and made in much bigger quantities. However to confuse people like us Ray has called them 'Bushcraft' just like the bison knives. Who is copying who?
Ally
I too still use a Frosts knife and made a sheath for it for around a fiver using an offcut from a local leather / shoe repair shop.
I wanted a sheath I could wear around my neck that would also house my firesteel so I based it on the Ray Mears sheath with one slight difference - I used part of the plastic sheath the knife came with!
This might sound a bit odd but those plastic sheaths - for all their faults - do have one good advantage - the knife 'clicks' into place and will not come out until you deliberately remove it.
I cut off all the top part of the sheath and then moulded the leather around it; this also meant I could effectively sew the sheath up and not bother with riveting as the blade would not cut through the leather. I left enough surplus leather to create a pocket for the firesteel and finished the whole thing off with a leather 'lace' so I can wear it. Incidentally, I used a prussik knot at each end so I can alter the cord length.
My reckoning in using a leather cord was that it could double as the 'string' in a firebow. I haven't used it in this capacity yet so perhaps somone else can comment on whether leather is a good material for this - I'd be interested to know (thanks).
I've also since learnt that it's not a good idea to store a knife in a leather sheath (from a post elsewhere on this site) - anyone know why this is?! If true, then this sheath may overcome that particular 'problem' as well.
I do have a digital piccie of the knife and sheath but I'm afraid I not sure how you put pictures into these posts. If someone would be so kind as to post how you do it then I'll load it up for you to look at - that might help!
Bob :-D
clcuckow
06-11-2003, 21:35
copy the image to any public web space you have (e.g. what you probably get with your ISP) click on the Img button when you post type in the url e.h. http://my.web.space/path/to/pic.jpg then click on the Img button then check it with preview.
Christopher
Now how many other have posted while I have been typing away ;-)
bob... Leather cord will make an excellent cord for a fire drill!! I always carry a leather boot lace in my firestarting pouch :-)
As for storing a blade in its sheath... well leather sucks up moisture from the air so probably not a good idea to store a knife long term in a leather sheath especialy in damp / wet climates.
Ed
gurushaun
06-11-2003, 22:43
Also the chemicals used in the tanning process of some leather can be harmful to the blade if stored in the sheath for long periods.
Cheers
Shaun
most of the storing knife in leather sheath problems really apply to carbon steel blades, most stainless knives will shrug 'em off no problem.
i have a fair few knives, one of my all time favourites are the frosts vikings, sort of similar to the frosts deck knife but a bit smaller and handier. unglamorous perhaps, but still one of the most effective for "knifelike tasks" ok, you wouldn't want to pry up a manhole cover with one...
cheers, and.
Hey,
i have a Bison Bushcraft knife and have found it to be very well made and it can easily stand up to heavy splitting. i did however find the sheath too tight and the knive was difficult to get out, especially in the wet. it has losened up a bit after rubbing in alot of saddle soap! its definately a good strong knife and well worth it!
Ross
Thanks Chris for instructions on how to put in a photo. Unfortunately it appears I don't have any free webspace to upload it onto! Having read all the notes and instructions given by the provider, I failed to find any allocated space - perhaps they didn't give it away in my particular 'package' (I did join a few years ago!)
So, unless anyone knows of another method, all I can suggest is if anyone wants to see the photo that they send me a message and I'll email it to them. It is a 322KB JPG file.
Bob :-?
I will be reviewing the Bison knives before christmas so keep em peeled!
http://groups.msn.com/Ukoutdoorssurvival
Bob if you join this or any other msn group you can post up to 3mb of pictures for free. Then all you do is is right click on the posted image, go to properties and there you will find its address then its just a matter of copy and paste.
clcuckow
08-11-2003, 23:17
Bob there are lots of free website hosts around. I have not used one for a while but lycos tripod has one that offers 50Mb and has a load of web tools to build your site or just to copy over your pics.
The site is http://www.tripod.lycos.co.uk/
Hope it helps.
Thanks guys - when I get a few minutes I'll check these out :-)
Bob :-D
I own both the Bison Bushcraft original bushcraft knife and the Alan Wood/Ray Mears knife. Both are very good quality, the former as commented by others is lighter and smaller in dimension. Recently, I have tended to favour the Woodlore knife, but this is purely a personal preference. I went for the staghorn handle option on the Bison knife, which I must say I adore. I'm sure if you were to order a knife from Roger you would not be disappointed, and remember he can make it to your own specifications.
For comparison.
The Bison Bushcraft knife:
http://www.bisonbushcraft.co.uk/knives/gallery/1.jpg
The ray Mears Woodlore Knife
http://www.raymears.com/pictures/Woodlore_Knife.gif
Hope this helps :-D
Guys I have been using a bison woodcraft knife for the last few weeks and while there are a few discrepancies it thus far seems to be very good - being of thinner stock it is better for utility work i.e in the kitchen and carving.
Once Im happy i have tested it thoroughly i will post review.
I've ordered one of the Bison knives, should get it around April. I'm getting the missus a Lapp Puuko too :-D She uses an old Mora when we go camping and when I showed her the Lapp (and it's "pretty" sheath) she wanted one. She also wants me to buy a Land Rover Carawagon next year.........God I love that woman :-D
She also wants me to buy a Land Rover Carawagon next year.........God I love that woman :-D
Where did you get her :-D
She also wants me to buy a Land Rover Carawagon next year.........God I love that woman :-D
Where did you get her :-D
In The Crown Pub off Mosley St Manchester !! :-D
They wouldn't be having a January sale would they? :-D :lol: :-D
What handle are you getting on your Bushcraft? I got walnut and birch.
Adi
I've ordered one of the Bison knives, should get it around April. I'm getting the missus a Lapp Puuko too :-D She uses an old Mora when we go camping and when I showed her the Lapp (and it's "pretty" sheath) she wanted one. She also wants me to buy a Land Rover Carawagon next year.........God I love that woman :-D
Roving Rich
06-01-2004, 14:23
oooh is this the Spot the difference competition.
Quite a few then it seems.
Rich
Walnut seems a nice choice.
I find it nice an solid and a bit heavier than the birch handle. It's a strong blade and the 3mm stock makes it a nice utility blade.
I like it! :-D
Walnut seems a nice choice.
I'm going for the Yew handle on mine....Like the colour and feel of yew.
Oh and here's a piccie i've hosted of Bob's knife for you all to have a "butchers" at !!. :wink:
http://www.cameron-site.co.uk/madweb/images/bobsknife.jpg
Thanks for putting that up MD.
In case anyone is wondering why a piccie of a Mora is up, it's because that's the only piccie I've got that shows the sheath. Not a bad knife for less than a tenner though!
If you cast your mind (or browser!) back towards the start of this thread, you will find my post describing the sheath I made which contains part of the original plastic sheath that came with the Mora.
Someone asked to see a piccie of this but I couldn't put one up. Mad Dave kindly volunteered to post it - many thanks.
Bob :-D
ditchfield
15-01-2004, 22:03
I love that sheath Bob. I'm currently making a sheath for a Frosts Clipper from an old pair of shoes and some dental floss :-D. It even has a firesteel holder :lol:.
Powderburn
16-01-2004, 04:20
My reckoning in using a leather cord was that it could double as the 'string' in a firebow. I haven't used it in this capacity yet so perhaps somone else can comment on whether leather is a good material for this - I'd be interested to know (thanks).
I've had mixed results using leather laces on a bow drill. They provide an excellent grip on the spindle, but you have to be sure the ones you carry are up to the task. Test one before relying on it! I bought some from Wal Mart that wore thin and broke just as the smoke started. :evil: They looked just like any other leather boot lace. On the other hand, our good friend, Fred Flanagan, and I had great success using a leather lace he provided for one of our practice outings. We used it for about 45 minutes straight and it was still in fine condition.
Here are a few pics from that firemaking session. Too bad I didn't get a shot of the bowstring after we finished. :roll: We are using an unsheathed TOPS Laser Strike as a bearing block (the edge is facing away from our shins). The Laser Strike has a divot in the Micarta scale for that specific purpose. The first shot is Fred spinning away (notice Fred's unique stance), the second is me having a go. The third is my ember in the tinder bundle, and the last is quite obvious. :wink: In case anyone is wondering, that's a Kellam Wolfin handle on the far right of the frame.
http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthreads/files//323431-Image085a.jpg
http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthreads/files//323432-Image093a.jpg
http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthreads/files//323433-Image095a.jpg
http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthreads/files//323434-Image097a.jpg
Edit: Forgot to say to Bob that your leather SWAK sheath is very cool. 8-)
The first shot is Fred spinning away (notice Fred's unique stance)8-)
Yeah, very interesting and I need to try it! It would add the weight of the leg and could still be well braced in the back of the knee. I imagine though that the spindle would have to be just the right length for it to work.
Bagheera
16-01-2004, 12:53
PB,
Nice photo's, the Kellam Wolverine, was that Fred's knife ?
Also, I haven't heard from Fred lately, but heard about severe winter conditions in Michigan, I just hope he's not in trouble with powerlines down etc.
Cheers,
Bagheera
Powderburn
17-01-2004, 01:21
I imagine though that the spindle would have to be just the right length for it to work.
For the most part, that is true. I find that position difficult because I have short legs, which requires a really short spindle. It is solid, though.
Piet, of course that's Fred's knife. I can only afford SWAKs and Clippers. :wink: I haven't heard from him lately, either. We've had quite a bit of snow, but there haven't been any power outages in town. I think he's just really busy with work. One of his managers got injured and Fred has to fill in until she recovers. He told me she'd be out about 10 weeks. Meanwhile, we're still trying to arrange a meeting that was supposed to take place between Thanksgiving and Christmas. That boy works too much. :shock: