View Full Version : bushraft knife. who make the best??
jamesoconnor
23-07-2005, 18:11
hi all,
im in the market for a new knife and was wondering in your opinion, which company and/or person makes the best knife around.
i'd really like to hear from you alll on this as im desparate to get a new toy to play with in the woods!! lol
regards
james
sandbender
23-07-2005, 18:38
Had a chance to see many of the front runners at the recent Scottish Meet, see this page....
I thought that the Allan Blade knifes, the Packpal and Runt really stood out, incredibly well made, very comfy in the hand when working and superbly made kydex sheaths. Hard to believe that he sells them for around £50 each.
I'm probably going to buy a Runt to supplement my Woodlore.
Allan Blade...
http://www.bladecutlery.net/
I am with sandbender on this, for the cost you cannot beat an Allan Blade knife.
There may be a bit of a wait at the moment, but they are well worth the wait :D
Lord Farquhar
25-07-2005, 12:04
Had a chance to see many of the front runners at the recent Scottish Meet, see this page....
http://homepage.mac.com/andrewrush/Pictures/Meet/20.jpg
I thought that the Allan Blade knifes, the Packpal and Runt really stood out, incredibly well made, very comfy in the hand when working and superbly made kydex sheaths. Hard to believe that he sells them for around £50 each.
I'm probably going to buy a Runt to supplement my Woodlore.
Allan Blade...
http://www.bladecutlery.net/
There is one of my knifes in there
who can spot it?
There is one of my knifes in there
who can spot it?
Guessing here but bottom left corner ish?
Lord Farquhar
25-07-2005, 14:21
Guessing here but bottom left corner ish?
BINGO!
I dont know how it got there...
BINGO!
I dont know how it got there...
Proof for you you have a distinctive and recognisable style! I was 99% sure when I took the guess.
I notiiced it in all that lot. I think the handle colour threw me though
SARHound
06-08-2005, 23:14
Anything buy Busse/Swamprat is worth the investment. All other steels are second rate. Allan Blade would give his testicles for Busse's infi steel.
http://www.bussecombat.com/home/
http://www.swampratknifeworks.com/
Hound
Any good scandi ground knife will do. Either in a carbon, laminated or good stainless steel. Choose a knife with a comfortable handle for your hand.
Production knives? The cheap Moras are great, but go for a full tang version. Helle and Brusletto knives are great too. The various Puukko brands offer great value for money.
As for custom: Makers like Allan Blade produce excellent knives with a good heat treat in various steel types. The blokes from British Blades regulary offer excellent pieces. Personally I am attached to my 1998-AW Woodlore.
Do not take something too heavy or made out of some 5mm thick 'secret' steel with uncomfortable handles to boot. A Bushcraft knife must be comfortable to hold in any cutting position - most of the knives designed are optimal for just one grip. Just try to whittle a spoon with a Battle Mistress.
-Emile
SARHound
07-08-2005, 15:45
To trust your life to just any carbon or stainless steel is foolish. I have owned and used MANY a blade in my day and have broke most doing bushcraft.
Not only can I carve a spoon with a battle mistress I can chop and split wood and pry and pretty much do anything else I feel like doing with it.
A large blade can do everything a small blade can just maybe not as well. A small blade can never do everything a large blade can.
A BM is not and EDC item of course but it makes a great survival blade when needed.
Smaller than an axe more utilitarian than a saw.
Hound
OK, this already seems to be getting out of hand. People are entitled to their opinions and this thread is asking for them. It is not asking for people to argue about the merits of big and small knives, people have their preferences and that’s what makes these conversations valuable.
Do not take this thread off course and do not talk about the preferences of makers, they can talk for themselves if they so wish.
The best bushcraft knife is an impossible subject to decide on a conclusion, as I said, it’s down to personal preference.
Fallow Way
07-08-2005, 16:26
Personally I go for a `medium` sized knife everytime. I belive you can do the widest range of the most common jobs. By medium I mean the Mora sort of size. I dont think it really matters who made it or what its made from too much, a well looked after knife is everything you need. Note `well looked after`.
I use a certain knife for 99% of everything I do, but i also own Mora training (both the old one and clipper) and a dutch one thats very similar that i cant remember the name of , cue knife-nuts..... and they are all excellent, i would always suggest one of those to begin with. I still carry a Mora in my sack as a spare and lender. Then when your happy get yourself one of the more robust knives if you wish to. Its nice to have `a knife`, one that is special to you. You should be able to throw your knife into a pile of others of the same make and still knows yours :-)
God I'd hate to see this forum go the way of a lot of the American "Survival / Knife" Forums!! Please!!!!!!!!!!! spare us the "my knife is bigger than your knife" type garbage here!! :)
OldJimbo
08-08-2005, 07:03
I'll second that Aussie!
RovingArcher
08-08-2005, 10:27
Now that that's settled. :D
Which is the best knife can only be an opinion and a biased one at that. I think each of us has some sort of an idea as to what we would consider to be the perfect knife for where we are located and the type of duties we would be asking of it. If money is no option, get several and give them all a try. However, if you're like me, get them one at a time and after it's all said and done, get a Mora and have fun. ;)
The General
09-08-2005, 21:42
A Rally car does not a Rally driver make...
Give Mors a high end pricy blade and he would probably shrug and carry on using his Mora knife to a degree of skill that would astound and amaze. :p
SARHound
11-08-2005, 01:05
Now that that's settled. :D
Which is the best knife can only be an opinion and a biased one at that. I think each of us has some sort of an idea as to what we would consider to be the perfect knife for where we are located and the type of duties we would be asking of it. If money is no option, get several and give them all a try. However, if you're like me, get them one at a time and after it's all said and done, get a Mora and have fun. ;)
What a Liberal sit on the fence comment that is.
Had 2 Mora's both are in pieces left where they broke.
Fact is there is a heirarchy of steel whether a persons feelings are hurt or not because their $200 custom blades steel is middle of the road.
Baton it into large log and pry it for all you are worth and split it open. If you are unwilling to trust your blade to such abuse or break it in the process you at least have learned something. :rolleyes:
This prevailing attitude of "any half decent blade will do" is a crock of **** and speaks of serious inexperience. Put your money where you mouth is.
Mora's LMAO.
Hound
ilovemybed
11-08-2005, 01:39
What a Liberal sit on the fence comment that is.
Had 2 Mora's both are in pieces left where they broke.
Fact is there is a heirarchy of steel whether a persons feelings are hurt or not because their $200 custom blades steel is middle of the road.
Baton it into large log and pry it for all you are worth and split it open. If you are unwilling to trust your blade to such abuse or break it in the process you at least have learned something. :rolleyes:
This prevailing attitude of "any half decent blade will do" is a crock of s hit and speaks of serious inexperience. Put your money where you mouth is.
Mora's LMAO.
Hound
I fundamentally disagree. Frosts Mora knives are almost universally accepted as an excellent and dependable budget tool. Their example, and many other examples prove time and time again that price does not matter a jot towards how good a tool is.
Many generations before us had perfectly suitable tools made from stone, flint, bone, bronze, iron and simple carbon steel. How did they get by if one must "Put their money where their mouth is" and buy top quality tool steel to get the job done?
How exactly did you break your Moras? Were you using them properly? One can only expect a tool to last if it's only used properly and for the job it is designed to do.
Finally, what's the problem with being Liberal?
RovingArcher
11-08-2005, 01:47
Umm, Liberal I'm not. Nor am I conservative. I'm a free man that can look at both sides of the coin and make up my own mind! :)
I learned using an old slip joint and by the time I graduated to a fixed blade, I had gotten pretty good with a knife. I actually own several large knives and even use a couple of them once in awhile. Nope, your particular blade isn't one of them. My favorite is a WWII Khukuri that is an excellent chopping blade and handles the kitchen duties pretty good too.
From where I stand, Mora's are excellent bush blades. But, if you're having troubles with breaking them, then it is good that you've found a blade that can live up to your expectations and rigid standards. Nothing worse than having a blade you can't count on when you really need it. ;)
OldJimbo
11-08-2005, 01:49
Yep - when I used to have trouble with breaking stuff I got a real tool
http://www.oldjimbo.com/pics/pry3.jpg
Nothing like six feet of tempered steel!
After I broke that I got smart.
Justin Time
11-08-2005, 09:52
SARHound
Here at BCUK we're aware that the internet is big enough for all sorts of tastes and all sorts of ways of doing things. One thing we won't get into here is the kind of "my knife is better than yours" or " such and such a steel is the only steel to take into the wild" posturing which can be found in some other forums. Don't bring that kind of argument here, it's not wanted.
If you spend some time reading the other threads you'll also see we have quite a respectful and friendly way of discussing things. Your last message doesn't fit with that way of doing things. If you want to stick around here you must find find a way to stick by our way of doing things.
is not the best knife, the one that the individual is happiest using for the task in hand, horses for courses- nuff said i think
There does seem to be a bit of a culture clash going on here, and way too much aggression over knives and steel. I'm as interested in knives as the next person here, but I avoid reading and writing about them too much because it would be too easy to get distracted from the outdoors+nature stuff that gives me peace and contentment, and instead spend time thinking about getting the new kit I can't afford and the big knife that'll make me happy for only a day. I'd be surprised if most of you are not in the same position.
It's also already a matter of public record what people think are good knives for bushcraft. I've spent enough time reading the 'edged tools' section to know. ;) Let me recap: The mora is a great tool and a bargain, but if you want a knife to depend on in the jungle people advise getting something full-tang. The lapp puuko is also considered to be very functional and good value, and for a little more people would probably advise getting something by a decent scandinavian company like Helle or Brusletto or one of Allan Blade's knives, which are thought to be great quality and under priced.
I think that's most of it. Now, why don't we stop arguing and clear our heads of knives for a couple of days. If you have any comments, I'll be at my school playing simon says with 6 year old kids, busy not thinking about knife steel or blade length.
:)
redcollective
11-08-2005, 12:36
:rolleyes: Well you could throw $500 into a Busse 'combat' knife but I'm not sure what the skull bludgening bit would come in useful for in the woods near me... and I can't say I've ever have ever needed a blade designed for stabbing. :confused: As for large logs well no, given a choice I wouldn't baton my knife into one, I'd use a small axe instead - right tool for the job in my opinion.
Stu
Graham_S
11-08-2005, 14:13
this is one of those fundimental cultural differences in bushcraft. if you want to see a real bushcraft tool ask stuart about his san knife. a bushmans knife used for bushcraft in the bush.
I can't help but wonder how it must have been in the stone age:
Morf: "My clean-obsidian flake holds a better edge than your sorry quarzite, Waugh"
Waugh bashes Morfs head in with his fist-axe.
:D
I agree, let's focus on bushcraft skills and not get overly obsessed on tools.
-Emile
firemaker
11-08-2005, 15:29
It seems a few here have a different idea of bush craft. To me, its more like a camping trip for fun or a day trip were your just out to have a good time and refine your skills. You may want to start your camp fire with a hand drill or look around for some useful plants. Do some tracking! carve a spoon or bowl just to make your time more real!!! whatever it is for you! If your idea of bush craft is full out survival--self imposed-- then you can bring the biggest baddest knife you can find for your taste and bank acct!! (dont forget the laser) Or the real deal!! Youre lost. You're cold. You need food, some place to sleep and not find your head and body on the menu of somthing bigger then you!! In that case what ever knife you have with you is the best knife in the world. If its one you can pry a log apart with it and get to that big juicy grub, then great! But it seems to me that if you can use what ever you are lucky or smart enough to have with you, and some commen sense, then it dosent matter what the best knife for bush craft is. Its how well you can use your knowlage, your knife, your flint knapping skills, so you can come back and tell us all here how you used that $5 dollar gas station knife to save your life! Sorry for the ranting! its just my opinion.
Fire Starter
11-08-2005, 16:15
this is one of those fundimental cultural differences in bushcraft. if you want to see a real bushcraft tool ask stuart about his san knife. a bushmans knife used for bushcraft in the bush.
Graham if you want to see a real bushcraft tool study a piece of flint.
Firemaker - I stand shoulder to shoulder with you on that.
I recently made aknife for the first time. It's not perfect, the hardening and tempering is probably off, but I made it and have been using it a lot:
kitchen for food prep
leathercraft, (mrs uses it as well.)
gardening,
spoonmaking splitting branches with a bit of thumping.
It's still intact so I think I made the best ;) so far...
seriously though I do belive firemaker has it right.
Practice with a knife as much as you can, for everthing (within reason) that it can be used for.
It's a treat to use a high end bit of kit, but it's good to learn to use anything you can.
Graham_S
11-08-2005, 17:08
Graham if you want to see a real bushcraft tool study a piece of flint.
actually, i've got a couple of hand-axes and scrapers i made at the John Lord workshop at the moot.
Fire Starter
11-08-2005, 20:24
actually, i've got a couple of hand-axes and scrapers i made at the John Lord workshop at the moot.
Actually graham, I think that's fantastic. You should try using them for all your bushcraft projects just like our ancestors did long before the metal knife was invented.
That's the best way to gain insight into the craft of working with a sharp edge and maybe reach a realization that it's not the tool that counts - but the man behind it.
I once met an old man sitting by a fence carving an otters head on the top of a hazel walking stick His tools were pieces of glass from a smashed bottle he had found by the roadside. To my mind that is what bushcraft is all about - improvising with whatever is available and adapting it to make the best of your own skills.