Recommended bushcraft knife popularity

The bushcraft knife is an indispensable item in bushcraft. It is convenient to use in a wide range of situations such as batoning and cooking. If you like the outdoors, one is a must-have item, but did you know that different knives have different characteristics such as the shape of the blade? Suitable work differs depending on the characteristics, so it is recommended to check carefully when purchasing. So this time, I will introduce how to choose a bushcraft knife and recommendations. If you are considering purchasing a bushcraft knife, please take a look.

What is a bushcraft knife?

Minimal items used in bushcraft

Bushcraft is a technique to acquire the wisdom of living in a natural environment such as a forest. It is an outdoor style that uses natural objects to make camping equipment on its own and originated in the Nordic countries. Bushcraft requires at least a water bottle, a knife, and a fire-starter item, and is said to be one of the three sacred treasures. If you want to get started with bushcraft, be sure to get a bushcraft knife.

Bushcraft knife features

Can be used in various situations such as batoning and cooking

Bushcraft knives are almighty knives. It can be used for batoning, cooking, making feather sticks, etc. Buttoning is chopping wood with a knife. It's work that requires strength, but you can do it with a bushcraft knife. Feather sticks are made by thinly shaving tree branches and firewood to make them an ignition agent. If you have a bushcraft knife, you can do hard work to delicate work, which is convenient.

How to use a bushcraft knife

For batoning, insert the blade diagonally and hit it with a baton.

One of the orthodox uses of bushcraft knives is chopping wood. When breaking firewood, the trick is to insert the blade diagonally from the root. When the blade enters, hit it with a baton, and when it reaches a certain level, move the knife a little to easily break the firewood.

If you want to make a feather stick, cut the corners of the small pieces

It is also possible to make a feather stick that serves as an ignition agent. When the firewood breaks and reaches a size of a few centimeters, use a knife to sharpen the corners. If you slide the knife thin and long, you can make a flammable feather stick.

Shave the metal match rod to scatter sparks

As long as you have the rod part of the metal match, you can even make a fire with a knife. Prepare the material that will be the crater, and then use a knife to scrape the magnesium rod. When the sparks come out and ignite, add a slightly larger material such as a branch to make the fire bigger. If you are planning to start a fire after purchase, it is especially easy to use a knife with a sharp back.

Types of bushcraft knives

Sheath knife

Sturdy and ideal for hard work such as butting

A bushcraft knife in the scabbard. The length from the blade to the handle is integrated, and the length of the blade is characteristic. It doesn't have a folding function, but it's stronger than a folding knife. Since it is hard to break, it can be used with confidence even in work that requires power such as butting.

Among the sheath knives, the one with a full tang structure is particularly sturdy. The full tang structure is a structure in which the blade and the handle are connected by a rigid material. Looking at the handle, the metal plate is sandwiched between the materials of the handle, so it's easy to distinguish.

Folding knife

Compact and convenient to carry

It is a mainstream bushcraft knife overseas. As it is foldable, it can be made compact and portable. The lock function has been developed, and it does not open without permission, so it is safe. There is also a type of knife that can be opened with one hand, which is convenient when one hand is occupied.

The small folding knife makes it unsuitable for work that requires force. It is recommended for work with less burden such as rope cutting. Many knives have a high hand design and are made with particular attention to the material. It's not very functional, but it's recommended if you want to use it easily.

How to choose a bushcraft knife

Choose by blade material

Made of stainless steel, which is easy to clean if you are purchasing for the first time

Stainless steel knives are characterized by being resistant to rust and chipping. It is recommended for people who have trouble with maintenance or who purchase it for the first time because it is maintained less frequently than carbon fiber. The disadvantage is that the sharpness is inferior to that made of carbon. However, it works well when cooking. It is resistant to rust, so it is also recommended when you want to work near the water.

Made of carbon if you want sharpness

Carbon is a metal that is also called carbon steel. It is a hard material and has better sharpness than stainless steel. Disadvantages are rustiness and chipping. It requires regular maintenance, so it's recommended for diligent people and people who are accustomed to handling knives. The maintenance method is to completely dry and oil after use. Some carbon bushcraft knives are black rusted to prevent red rust.

Choose by blade shape

The hollow grind is useful in cooking

A hollow grind is a shape in which the cross-section of the blade has a thin curve inside. Since the tip is thin, the sharpness is good. On the other hand, due to its fineness, it is less strong than knives of other shapes. It is not suitable for hard work such as chopping wood, but it is recommended for light work such as cooking and making feather sticks. In addition, the area to be sharpened is small, so maintenance is easy.

Convex grind is recommended for hard work such as chopping wood

If you want to do hard work such as chopping wood, the convex grind is recommended. Convex grind is also called a Yamaguchi blade in Japan. The cross-section of the blade is made to have around thickness on the outside. It's thick and durable, so it won't break even if you work hard. Besides chopping wood, it can also be used for light work such as cooking and making feather sticks. You can do various tasks, so it's convenient to have one.

Scandinavian grind has good blade holding and little maintenance

Sanji grind has a straight blade width, so it is easy to sharpen. The blade is attached straight and it is easy to check if it is sharpened when it hits the grindstone. In addition, it has a relatively long-lasting blade among bushcraft knives and requires less frequent maintenance. Sanji grind is recommended for hard work such as chopping wood.

Choose by handle material

Easy to hold if the grip is made of rubber

If the rubber material is used, your hands will not slip easily. In addition, it is easy to use because it fits comfortably in your hand and is easy to grip. If you want to make it even easier to hold, we recommend the Bushcraft Knife, which has a grip that fits the shape of your hand. When you hold it, it is stable, so it is easy to apply force and cut it. It's a good idea to hold it and check how easy it is to fit your hands.

Wooden has a warm impression and is easy to attach to

If the handle is made of natural wood, the pattern will be different for each handle. It's a warm material, so you can think of it as your knife. It's not an artificial material, so it's easy to get used to in the outdoor scene. If the shape of the handle is uneven, it will not slip easily, so you do not have to worry about safety. If you are looking for one that you want to use for a long time, wooden is recommended.

Choose by length

Easy to use if the handle is short

How to hold a bushcraft knife depends on the work. When you want to cut a branch into small pieces, hold the knife with one hand and press the knife with the thumb of the other hand. When you want to cook, stretch your index finger and hold it. There are many other ways to hold it, such as holding it from above or from below, but the most used part of the knife is the part where your fingertips hit when you hold the handle and extend your index finger. If the handle is too long, it will be difficult to hold and work. Therefore, if you are buying a bushcraft knife for the first time, it is a good idea to choose one with a short handle.

If you mainly use batoning, use a knife that is as long as possible

Many people may want to use a bushcraft knife instead of a bulky ax. Compact knives are convenient to carry, but too short can be inconvenient for batoning. If the entire knife is buried in a tree, it will be difficult to move. If you want to use batoning mainly, we recommend the one with the longest blade.

Choose between off-the-shelf or self-made

Ready-made knives for the first time

If you are new to outdoor knives or want to use them for a long time without breaking them easily, ready-made knives are recommended. Of course, the price is higher than the kit made by me, but the quality of the knives made by professionals is also excellent. Off-the-shelf products are recommended to ensure that parts do not come off or become unusable while outdoors.

If you are good at customization, we also recommend a self-made kit that you can customize to your liking

You may have bought a foreign-made knife that didn't fit your hand well, or you want a knife that you like. We also sell a kit that allows you to make your knife with all the parts. However, it takes time to make it from scratch. Recommended for those who are accustomed to custom and who want a knife that they want to cherish for the rest of their lives.

summary

Bushcraft knives are recommended according to the application

If you want to buy a bushcraft knife, we recommend the one that suits your needs. Even if you say bushcraft, there are various tasks to be done. It covers a wide range of items such as batoning, making feather sticks, and cooking. If you want to do batoning, we recommend a knife with a full tang structure. In addition, if you are new to bushcraft, we recommend stainless steel knives, which require less maintenance. The ease with which you can put your strength depends on how easy it is to hold, so it's a good idea to try it once before purchasing. This time, we introduced the features and selection of bushcraft knives. Get your favorite knife and try bushcraft in nature.

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