All these knife channels have nothing to do with what you call bushcrafting. They just want to sell stuff. A word I never heard until I was 60 years old, and I went camping 52 year's not knowing anything about it.
Definitely agree. Bought myself a mid-tier, full tang knife about 10 years back and still use it to this day. Just keep it sharp, keep it dry, don't do dumb sh*t and it should last you through almost anything. Will say though, I don't use my bushcraft knife to chop bigger stuff. Personally, I prefer to take on the extra weight and bring an axe. That's just me, though.
I just watched this video. It's a really true video. So I was a survival instructor for years. Then I went to prison. Long story on that(no bad charges). I lost everything. I mean all of it. While I was in prison I was making sewing needles and selling them out of paperclips and the springs of spray bottles. I've been out now for five months. Due to a tricky legal situation it is essentially illegal for me to work. I have literally been surviving off what I can craft. I've been using a sharpened butterknife as my blade. It has worked well for me actually. I got just a little money the other day. I bought a Old Hickory, bottom of the barrel but for $10 I got a piece of good steel, I filed down the handle and wrapped it with a cordage whip and stabilized it with some rubber cement I got my hands on. That will be my go to knife for the next several years. I promise it will. I need my money to work at other things right now.
People don't go to PRISON and then are unable to work for "(no bad charges)"🤣🤣🤣🤣absolutely ridiculous. That quote is funny as hell, don't lie, u can just leave that part out. Super weird🤣🤣😂😂😂
The frontiersmen who built this country didnt carry expensive fancy knives. A bushcraft knife back then was more like an old hickory butcher knife. Cheap. Light. Thin
When I was a teenager, my first outdoor / backpacking / survival knife was a military surplus bayonet that I kept in my backpack, but for most everyday camp chores, I had a Victorinox folder. If I needed to make a fire, I looked for dead wood, or if I needed to cut firewood, I used a wire saw, or folding saw that stored in an aluminum scabbard. In my late teens to early 20's, one of my dad's friends - who had bow hunted big game in several different countries - started teaching me how to track and hunt. What was his main hunting / survival knife? A relatively inexpensive Solingen carbon steel lockback folder. In camp he kept a skinning knife, and a hatchet to process firewood. Eventually, I got infected with GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) and bought several "nice" hunting / survival knives, but never had the time to use them. Recently, I bought a nice Spanish "bushcraft" sheath knife, but when I put it in my daypack, I realized it was a little too big and heavy. I think I'm going to look for my Condor Bushlore knife, put that in my backpack instead, along with one of those lightweight folding Swedish wood saws, and buy a Victorinox Ranger folding knife, and that's it.
They are like rabbits. They multiply quickly. Yes you need a couple different models. Carpenter doesn't own just one hammer or tape measure! Learn how they all can help you in the woods. Good luck.
@@davidtaylor195 I hear you, and I've got at least a dozen knives; and I'm promising myself - and my wife - that I won't buy anymore because I don't "need" more than what I already have. However, when i was a framing carpenter, after nearly wrecking my elbow with an Easton all metal hammer; with synthetic blue rubber grip, I switched to a larger, and heavier waffle head framing hammer, with a wood hatchet handle, and that was it.
Very nice advise! I have been using my Jääkäripuukko 110 for years and it is my favorite and go to knife. Always pair it with my Laplander folding saw and my SAK Camper. When I go camping in winter, I replace my folding saw by a home made bucksaw and a hatched. Greetings from Sweden 🇸🇪
Super practical well done! Condor was among my first and it does what is supposed to do. After using keep it clean will last and last. I do have a ton of knives. lol I like knives!!! My everyday carry I’d a spyderco endure 50:50 blade. I use it a lot around the homestead. VG-10. There are other metals available but more expensive. Sharpens well but keeps an edge well. Survival knife kabar military version. Does every thing needed for survival. My opinion only and I always keep them clean and dry when not in use. Plus I sharpen if needed before storage. Basics. Learn the use your knife! Ttfn
You know, when I clicked on the link, I didn’t know what to expect. But you make an awful lot of sense about buying knives. I am that person you described in the video about buying knives lol. Very interesting point well-made
I've been using knives all my life in the outdoors for camping, hunting, fishing and while serving in the military. After going from junk knives to high-end knives, I have come to the same conclusions. My current go-to fixed blade for the outdoors, the Cold Steel Pendleton Lite Hunter. Super affordable, light weight, and easy to replace. Great video.
Hello. Waving at you from Nova Scotia. I know a lot of Bushcrafters here are going to either laugh at me or hate me. First off, you need to know that I'm on a very low income. I can't get a lot of things that I would like but about six months ago, I decided to take up the hobby and wanted to make a walking staff. For this, I needed a knife. So, I went looking for a full tang knife knife at Canadian Tire. I came out with the cheapest thing they had in the store. It had a total length of about 11" with a 6" coated, stainless steel blade and only cost me $17.99 It isn't the prettiest thing with a lime green handle and a nylon sheath (for now) but the price was right, it's still sharp and I have no complaints.
My most used camp knife over the last decade is probably the Condor Kephart. I bought it a decade ago for about $30, today they are about $60. The Condor Sapien (discontinued) is another favorite - was was about $35 a decade ago.
I know the Garberg takes a lot of heat for the price… but it is a solid knife that you can get in carbon or stainless. It just feels more robust than the cheaper moras and you won’t cringe putting it though hard use
Blade addiction is a real thing! It's just like having a new toy, something novel to play with. But ultimately I decided to make one for myself. There's definitely a sense of satisfaction in creating an awesome, one of a kind personalized tool and carry it into the field. Not terribly hard with some basic power tools and a little work bench. I took a bar of 1095 and went to town on it. Did the heat treatments, made an oak handle, found a leather sheath on eBay..... and voilá........ a snazzy spear point beast resembling an Old Hickory. Maybe $50 in total materials.
I'm very happy with the BPS adventurer. Also I carry a utica utk-n2 everywhere. It's a jem most don't know about. I also have a mora Garberg because it's stainless for certain environments. The adventurer will do anything but it is carbon steel so it requires more maintenance. One thing I've learned as a mechanic is tools only rust when they aren't used.
I have just got into bush craft. I have been looking into what knife to get. I have been so lost and never settling for one. This video has saved me a lot of time and down really good advice for a bigger. Thanks
Get yourself a Mora Companion to start. Why? 1) Cheap. 2) Tried & tested. 2) By using it you will discover what you really want/need in a knife. Is the size right? Is the weight right? Is the blade design right? Then once you better understand what you need then you can go and buy 'that' knife. You may find that the Mora does what you need in which case you may have saved $$$. Although I have a number of knives, I've been using a Mora for about 20 years - no regrets. Have a great day.
I am one of those guys who has many-many different blades for many different things, but I acknowledge that you are indeed correct when you say that having several blades is an unnecessary thing have. On many occasions I have used my Bark River Bravo 1 to make fuzz piles, feather sticks, make notches in the wood for stakes and traps, to baton, and to do many other things. Many-many-many years later, I still have this same knife, and unlike many of my other knives that look pristine, this same Bark River Bravo 1 has a beautiful patina on it, and looks well worn and beautiful...a look that many blades have that have been well used and still taken care of. So, I do indeed understand what you are saying in your wonderful video here. I've just been a collector of blades, zippo lighters (even though I do not smoke), flashlights, and several other things (that I actually carry on my person daily) for many-many-many years...and I tend to use/test these many tools under many different conditions continually. This is why I (for instance) found out/learned that all lighters are not created the same. So I've found that a zippo lighter with a zippo butane insert works better in freezing windy weather (like 4 degrees and a harsh wind) than a match or a Bic lighter. Trial and error gave me a bit of wisdom here for example, so I've replaced many of my zippo inserts with butane inserts after learning this. So in the nutshell, I loved your video sir, and over the years, I'm happy to say that I've pretty much dialed in my every day carry that does indeed include a well functioning bushcraft blade, and others, that all serve a well defined purpose...as do ALL of the tools that I carry every day. Please be well sir, and thanks for the wonderful video content.
I learned my lesson with my folding pocket knife addiction to buy with a purpose instead of buying to scratch that itch. When I got into bushcrafting knives I only bought 3 moras, each with a specific purpose. I bought a craftline pro s for whittling/feathersticking/general purpose, a stainless companion for food prep, and a stainless companion hd for batoning, only cost me around 60-70 bucks total and I have all my bases covered. I'm at the point where if I do buy another bushcraft knife, it's gonna be a larger, full tang, flat ground knife just to have one that can kinda do everything and be super tough because scandi edges aren't great for everything and can be delicate.
This video has me laughing, and blushing a bit as well. So yeah, I fully agree with you. I had a fairly robust collection myself, but after questioning my own sanity a bit one day I decided to downsize. I’m now down to two woods knives; an ESEE 6 (for big stuff), and a Casström #10 SFK for everything else. Life is much less stressful now without having so many unnecessary options. Great vid, thanks!
Hello from Oklahoma! Amen Brother! I totally agree. I was a packing plant butcher for 5 years. I must confess I do collect knives. There are only a few I take into the woods and use. I take the old hickory, or my schrade schf3n. These are my go to blades. Good Video! Yes, practice, practice, it helps familiarize you with your knife. Learn the different grips and cutting techniques. Also, it takes technique and practice to maintain the edge of your blade. Practice. Just some thoughts from an old river rat.
Excellent advice. I’m guilty myself. For the beginner I’d recommend a LT Wright, bushcrafter or genesis. It’s somewhere around the price point you mentioned. However, besides the belt knife, I’d also recommend a small companion knife, camp axe and a saw. These will allow you to process a variety of wood and complete many BC tasks. Great vid, thank you.
Fully agree a good bacho Laplander or cold steel tomahawk is a great entry point that will last you along time . A great beginner knife that keeps a edge and won’t break or rust is the bps adventure. Bought my son the three I just mentioned in 2020 for his first 2 week hike and he still uses them with no issues at all . Had to replace the handle on the hawk due to him resting it next to the fire one night about 6 months ago but he said it was 16$ . For a beginner those three are always my choice
I started making knives in a futile quest to create the perfect bushcraft knife. I can confirm it doesn't exist. Having said that, I recommend a 4-4.5 inch blade, either a drop point or spear point, a grippy synthetic handle, and either AEB-L, 14c28n, 3V or Magnacut steel, although honestly the steel doesn't matter that much AS LONG AS THE HEAT TREATMENT WAS GOOD. I will also add that thinner knives are more useful. Also, if you want to baton anything larger than small branches for kindling, bring a larger "camp" knife in addition to the bushcraft knife, or learn how to use a hatchet or tomahawk.
Hatchet or machete for chopping. Knives are for cutting and slicing. These 1/4 thick "surcival" knives are absolutely ridiculous. Done a lot of camping and fire making, never needed to baton logs with a knife!
This video is intelligent. Im going to add my two sense coming from a really weird place with knives. So i am a islander raised in "bushcraft" or as i call it making a living, martial arts practitioner of 20 years now instrucor, scuba diver full time. To say the least i use knives and blades ALOT. A really easy way to stop this addiction. Be realistic and homd some standards. Ask yourself what and who exactly are you. Does your knife need thickness for combat and survivap? Thinness for hunting or carving ? Jimping for combat or fishing? People say theres no such thing as a perfect knife but thats just not true at all. There is always a superior option for those who have a goal in mind. Set that goal , and buy the knife that'll last you a lifetime . Then let it be. When i bushcraft i use a lionsteel t5 as my primary hiker. The stainless niolox, the thick combag grip , the nife 90 degree divet. I can dive , fight and craft with this. In my bag i carry a bushcraft brakimo brought to true scandi for the more advanced wood carving. These two knives are thick, powerful, versatile and timeless for everything i could ever want. Unless one snaps i will most likely die with these knives. And thats the mindset that erases addiction to useless knives.
I totally agree, like in the old days they usually only had one gun but they used it daily and were so familiar with it that’s all they needed and the same with a knife .👍
These days I'm leaning more towards a smaller utility knife like the Helle Fossekallen paired with a (small) hatchet of sorts. Despite its scandi cut it is thin enough to slice delicate things whilst doing the woodwork as well. While the pair is obviously heavier then a bigger knife, it covers more bases.
Helle make some great knives - the vast majority are bushcraft ready out of the box. Of course there is differences between the models (eg. blade length) but they are both beautiful and functional. The biggest sin about owning a Helle is not using it! Definitely worth the money. Have a great day.
6:50 " .... they more or less do the same thing." Well, no they don't. You cannot chop big branches with a Swiss Champ. You can't carve a spoon with a Parang. It's difficult to slice finely with a Bowie. You can't carry a Trail Master in your pocket. Now, I do NOT disagree about your assertion about having skills that are important. However, one can also go to the opposite extreme and obsess about having the ultimate skill level at all costs, like featherstick curls MUST be 15cms long with five twists and less than 2mm wide, or whatever. So basically, what I'm getting at is that maybe one should be somewhere in the middle - good basic skills with appropriate tools for the task at hand. The hobby of "bushcrafting" may be a different issue here. If one is doing "bushcrafting" as a skills hobby for the sheer enjoyment of doing certain tasks with wood in a certain way to a certain predetermined way, using tools within certain parameters, maybe for the purpose of competition, then that is perfectly fine, and strength to you. If you want to acquire practical ways of enjoying the outdoors with some bush crafting skills thrown in, that's also fine. If you want to enjoy the outdoors and use various tools appropriately for convenience to get the jobs done, then that also is fine. Just for the sake of interest, I'm including my idea of a good set of knives for outdoor use: 1. Cold Steel Trail Master San Mai III - this would be for heavier camp/trail tasks such as delimbing, chopping, clearing, etc. This would reside in/on my pack mostly. 2. Cold Steel SRK San Mai III - this would be my belt knife, and the centrepiece around which my other choices revolve. Probably the knife I would use most. 3. Victorinox Ranger Grip 78/79 - This would be my pocket knife (or side pocket of my pack, depending). All-rounder for smaller chores, food prep and so on. 4. Victorinox Swiss Champ - this is my belt pouch multitool, that would be a permanent fixture there. Note: you'll notice there is no specialist "bushcrafting" knife, like a Scandi grind knife in my list. That is because I would not really go in for the whole "bushcrafting" hobby thing. If a featherstick is needed and I can make a good enough one with my SRK that will light up easily enough that's fine for me. I would add another tool for the wilderness - a saw! [Probably a Silky Gomboy, or Bigboy if I had transport like a vehicle or horse. ] Note: I would not tote an axe around, as in using the above knives and saw I can easily accomplish ALL the tasks an axe would be used for. If, however, there was a permanent camp site or hunting lodge involved, or if I was not going to move far from a vehicle or horse, I might decide to take an axe. [They ARE fun to use, after all!] Another note: My take on the whole batoning debate: - for me this is a qualified no for knives. However, if I wanted to split a log of up to say 3 in/ 7-8 cms, then I would use my Trail Master to baton them. Bigger logs than that I'd cut and use wooden wedges instead. I would hesitate to use any of the other knives for batoning. Thanks for the video, as it made me think about clarifying my own mind about this topic. Cheers mate!
You are absolutely right of course, and I reckon an awful lot of us knew that already but just didn't admit it! I think I'll dig out my old Condor Bushlore now....
I realised bushcraft knives 🔪 don’t matter £150 - £550 don’t matter Practice is way more important I spent silly money on knives I really regret it now
Bro, you hit the nail on the head... I've literally been browsing amazon, reading reviews, and checking out BC knives at my local sports store, but this video made me stop and think and appreciate my primary knife. I've been using my SOG Seal pup for about 5 years and it's been a beauty. but lately, I've been getting more into bushcraft and wanting the actual knife. you made a great point! Thanks!
I've had a SOG seal pup elite since my Air Force days (got out in '09) and it's a great knife that I keep in my car emergency kit to this day. Aesthetically my taste has evolved away from the tactical look and that's really the only bad thing I can say about it.
Your SOG Seal Pup is a combat knife and absolutely useless as a Bushcraft knife. Check out instead the KA-BAR BK2 Companion, and if you know anything of bushcraft at all, you will instantly see why I am saying this. You want a drop point, flat or Scandi grind, and least 0.20- 1/4 inch thick.
@@Survival.Intuition I have a BK2 and a BK16. Given the choice between the BK2 or the SOG, I'd actually take the SOG. The BK2 is impractical for just about anything I'd want a knife for. You're far better off with a small axe, hatchet or tomahawk and an actual companion sized blade like the BK16. That said, there's something to be said for stainless steel, especially if you're out in the elements. That's where the SOG has an advantage over both of my Beckers. I admit it's not an ideal bushcraft knife, particularly with the swedged clip point, but to say it's absolutely useless is false. I've taken it camping a handful of times and it's fine for batoning roughly the same size material as the BK2, and it's quite a bit better for food prep tasks, the finger choil is a good 90 degree edge for striking ferro rods. The tip is thinner, but strong enough to stand up to more abuse than you'd expect. The major drawback in my opinion is the aggressive jimping along the length of the spine. Anyway, the BK16 has been my go-to for several years and I'd strongly recommend it over both the BK2 or the SOG. My BK2 doesn't get much use and my SOG lives in the car... primarily because it's stainless so I don't worry about maintenance on it really at all...plus, maybe the stabby features of the blade profile are what I'd need if I was needing my car knife for something. But if I'm going into the woods my BK16 is the one I grab first every time.
@@pgcracka I always carry 3 different knives. My SAK SwissChamp is always one of those 3 knives. Being a Jack of all Trades guy, that one is mandatory. The other 2 knives depend on where I am traveling to as in Blade length laws. Here in Queens, NY, I cannot carry the BK2 whereas in upstate NY, the Ka-Bar BK2 is legal. I just prefer this type of knife, in particular the point, and thickness. TO me, the SOG is more of a hunting/combat knife. Although I would hate to use my SAK for skinning, etc., I digress, if my back wasn't so bad I would carry an axe with me, but my BK2 is about 8 oz. less than my Craftsman wood handle hatchet, and much more packable. For queens, NY though we are limited to a 4" fixed blade so the BK2, SOG, & BK16 are not legal to street carry. So for places like here I had to settle for a TOPS Mil Spie 3, and as a backup knife for food prep and camp knife the Boker Magnum lil Giant. As you can see all these knives are similar to the BK2 I guess its all cut down to how one uses their knife, and their personal preference for what is best for the job. Either way, glad to see another person out their into bushcraft and camping...
@@Survival.Intuition 1/4" thick is nice but not necessary. Pretty much overkill really and the BK2 kinda short in the pants. It definitely could work and isnt terrible though.
Finally, someone talking sense, I’m 54 I’ve lived and worked outside all my life. I have a handful of knives that vary in purpose. I haven’t bought one for 20 years.
I have a $10 genuine fake stainless steel Mora knife which I converted into a serviceable unit that can process wood, start fires with a firesteel & utilize 30' of cordage on the sheath. Then again a good Swiss Army Knife can do much more. Where I go, it goes. And yes, I graduated from the Air Force Survival school in the 1990s where knowing really comes from experience.
Great combo. Both are tried and tested and east to maintain. The Mora has a nice smallish nimble blade and the BK2 is a sharpened pry bar - all based covered. You'll be surprised how much the Mora can do. Most people over-estimate what they really need a knife for and go over-the-top. Remember the BK2 will rust so keep it clean & dry and it will last forever (same if you have a carbon steel Mora). Have a great day.
Nice knife collection, Dave. Always the search for the perfect knife. And the perfect car. And all the other perfect things. Thank you for the advice. Stay safe and stay warm
Outstanding video! Cold War veteran 18bravo and off grider. When I went through SERE course used the old reliable Air Force issue survival knife. Got the job done. Kept using it for years still have one. The one I now use and personally recommend. The KA-BAR Becker 18. Not too big not too small. Army proverb ounces equals pounds, pounds equal pain.
Thank you; About time someone said this! The first knife I ever bought was a £20 Whitby (very good UK company) flat grind knife and I love it, but my favourite knife is the Rough Rider RR1985 which was also about £20. I've bought several other (even expensive) knives since and, you're right, there's really no difference. The only other one which is always on my belt, along with the Rough Rider, is a Linder Guide with a big 5.5 inch blade (again, about £20).
I had a problem with buying folding knives for a while and I ended up with about 20 knives that I don't even want to think about how much they cost in total. Handful of Spydercos, a few Benchmades, some higher end Kershaws, even a Microtech. Eventually I realized that despite the size of my collection I only really carried and used like 4-5 of my knives and the rest were essentially toys. I haven't sold any yet but I probably should. My Microtech Ultratech is essentially a $300 fidget toy.
I've got some nice folders as well. But the craziest thing is that I usually edc a $5 Walmart knife called the "Tan Flipper." I have to sharpen it a lot, but it just won't die. And just when I think I've lost it, it shows up again like Jack Nicholson in "The Shining" and says "I'm Back."
The best knife is the humble knife that if you lost it you wouldn't care, but if youre in a jam and you need a knife its the knife that you would use. Today i used a super antique old beat up butchers skinning knife to cut down a bunch of foliage in the garden. It did a beautiful job. Its an old beaten up soldier, but it was just what the job required, and i got it for free cleaning out a garage years ago.
holy moly! I'm a 60+ year old former boy scout and I funded my bushcraft/survival gear with wages from a paper route (built my bicycle from junk bikes I found in the garbage) I think the best for me was an "old hickory" from the kitchen drawer 🤔
Mora 510 Mora Kansbol Skrama 200 Fiskars X7 axe Felco fixed blade saw and sheath Laplander pocket saw Leatherman Free PS4 It's what I'm running. All were pretty affordable except the Leatherman. Invested in good footwear, food, and upgraded cookware. The stuff that gets consumed and used.
Couldn’t agree more! My first bushcraft knife was the bushcraft black and it is still one of my favorite knives and does everything I need it to do and more.
I have been saying this for years,a knife is a knife,there's no Bushcraft Knife... I wrote a comment about that just last night,,if I take my Old Hickory kitchen knife outside by a miracle it transforms into Bushcraft knife... My $20 bucks Mora does the same as $200 dollars 💵 knife... Thank You for the Video Brother,it's kinda late as I collected about 50 knives,4 axes and Katana/Wakizashy set... I have enough knives for 5 lifetimes... Anyway have fun...
Great video! I own bark river knives, fallkniven knives, battlehorse knives... when I need to carve something or make a feather stick, none do as well, as easily, as my mora knives... mora companion can't be beat for actual bushcraft tasks. Yes you can baton with them if your not trying to break the knife.
Old adage, it's the archer, not the arrow. So true with knives. I can't say much as I'm guilty of going overboard on knife purchases but 100 percent those knives didn't make me any better at skills, they just looked good for photos. The Bushlore was my first knife as well, absolutely capable of playing with the big boys
I started a month ago liking knives. After 5 knives i have seen this video. Perfect timing. I stop collecting right away. Lets get in to the bush and do something with it. Thanks bro
1. My hobby of buying knives online. Is mine and healthy. It is better than having a drug addiction. While being more expensive then a video game habit. It gets me to go out and try new things. like making a wooden spoon, starting a camp fire. 2. There is no perfect bushcraft knife. No there is only the perfect bushcraft knife for me. That means what is good for me might not be good for you. If I want to spend my hard earned money trying them all. Then SO BE IT! 3. Spending more money on a knife. Means the knife is better then a cheaper knife. What makes it better is Could be a number of things. It could need to be sharpened less often. It could mean the knife will not rust. It could mean that the handle is made of mammoth tusk. 4. If that new expensive knife inspires someone to go out and start improving their skills. Then so be it. Telling people to give up just because they bought an awesome knife does not sound like someone who likes bushcraft. 5. All of those extra knives can then be put to good use. Selling them to get other gear that you want. Just like a gun. They can retain their value.
Very good point Dave! I think this is analogous to shooting. There is a saying that a good shooter with a bad gun will beat a bad shooter with a good gun. Skill is more important than equipment. A Mora Companion is more than adequate for what I do, and I can use the money saved for other things.
With you 100%. I'm an avid hiker and knife collector - the two hobbies go well together. I'm never looking for the perfect knife - just the ones they catch my eye. I have knives that I use and others I just collect because. Some people collect stamps, others coins and you and I collect knives. It's never a waste if you love what you're doing. Have a great day.
@@gschwendinger mors kochanski's bushcraft, SAS survival book, a book on regional plants/trees in your area, you could read Dave Canterburys too. Otherwise I think there is more value on TH-cam and actually getting out and practicing
would love to see you go out and put the Tops Power Eagle through its paces. I think you'd get a kick out of it. Edit: Had'nt gotten to the part where you mentioned $50-150. In that case, would love to see an in depth vid on something like the CS Drop Forged Hunter that you have, or the condor heavy duty kukri.
I love my Garberg but I’m really starting to move onto the versatility of to BPS knives. Love your video with your personal view on the blade, thank you 👍
I wasn’t sure that I was going to agree with this video but you are 100% right. I have many of the same knives, I got caught up in different colours, steels etc. I use one or two knives really.
The Ontario sp51 I bought in 2014 is barely even looked at anymore the big knife use is over. I just take my bushcraft black and a hatchet out with me. The black has been my number one for six years does everything. Great video
I agree, always thought it was kind of silly how many people have channels dedicated to "which knife is better at batoning." Any piece of steel with an edge will split wood. Its having skills that make a knife valuable in the woods. My Buck 119 has been banging around campsites and old hunting cabins for 25 years and it's never failed anything I've thrown at it.
I totaly agree Dave. I have a drawer full of knifes from my first $18 Mora Companion to my Custom $250 La Rocca and $300 Bark River. But most often when I go into the woods, I take my Ontario RAT 5 ($65 at the time I bought it 8 years ago), or my Camilius Bushcrafter Made in the USA ($65 at the time of purchase, and I don't think its even available anymore), but I always have my Condor Bushlore in my pack; always. If I had it to do all over again, I would have bought the Bushlore with the micarta scales and left it at that. It's probably one of the best, low price knives, I own and I think one of the best made today as a camp/bushcraft knife. Keep up the good work, I have been watching your videos from the beginning, even during your drought season!
couldn't agree more, Dave - I'm also guilty of collecting knives I don't realy need / use. I would suggest the terävä jääkäripuukko 140 or the Joker nomad as a one tool option. For the quality AND for the price.
It’s a day at a time. I’m starting to question if I really had a problem to begin with. Maybe it’s denial, not sure. Damn these withdrawals are horrible.
Thanks brother, Merry Christmas too! I don't have notifications on so I don't see everyone commenting and missed this. You have always been around which I really appreciate. I hope to post some more videos soon... But as you know life is hard sometimes ✌️
I really like my bush craft knife, I think it's perfect. It's primarily all blade, and can be 3 inches long or 2.75 ft long, thanks to a dial on the handle. It never dulls, and can cut through bread (and toast it!!!) Or a steel hull of a freight ship, or a train axle. It doesn't really shave my face too well, but I gave up trying that real quick. It's also got a battery and vibrates, so my wife likes it too, and the handle is soft for her soft hands. It's really tough, I can take it with me while jumping out of things and into the frozen caves with bigfoot around. It's never let me down, but I can't find another one like it. I got it from some guy who said he was a space wizard, and I gave him a sandwich and my 2nd cousin, Pam. He really liked Pam and we never saw her again; Pam writes to us sometimes and says she's in Morocco or something, which is odd since the old guy sounded British, not Moroccan. Anyway, the guy said it was called a laser sword or something. EDIT: I FORGOT TO ADD THAT ITS ALSO A GREAT GLOW STICK AND AMAZING AT STARTING FIRES WITH A FLINT
My personal opinion is that you should look into BPS Knives. I really like my first "bushcraft" decision [BPS Adventurer], which comes with a surprisingly good ferro rod and a dangler optional leather sheath. It has about a 5 inch, full tang, blade made of 1066 steel. It's a weird/different number, I know. It's tempered to a hardness in the neighborhood of 58, with a proper 90° spine for the ferro rod. The leather of the sheath is good/solid quality. The only thing I have done to the whole rig, is to treat the leather for moisture resistance [I live in the PNW] and put a small hair bungee on the ferro rod for retention. It cost me $30, on sale, about 2 years ago. I also have another one that is smaller (think Mora Companion) which is a part of my EDC. [No included ferro rod.] Also ... I developed my *skills* long before bushcraft blades (Skandi grinds) were ever popular in the United States. So, I knew what I was looking for, and why. - I am not a young man, is what I'm saying. The company producing them is located in Ukraine. However, I understand that they are still available on the consumer market, even though they are also supplying their own military personnel. So don't expect to get the same price, but know that if you don't, the increase (probably small) would be reasonable in my opinion. And ... as of 2 years ago; don't make any mistake taking one out of the shipping box. *You will bleed, if you do.* I haven't had to sharpen either of mine yet. But I haven't had a chance to really beat 'em up yet, either. So ....
Wisdom is gained by being in the wilderness. Stuff doesn't make the wilderness experience happen. Oneness wilderness has nothing to do with slitting wood with a knife. Finding kindling is more fun than finding wood that needs processing. I lived in Hell's Canyon for a year. That's a real wilderness experience.
I'm an avid hiker & knife collector & the No.1 fixed blade I recommend to people starting out is the Morakniv Companion. 1) it's cheap to buy & replace if they lose or damage it. Also, if they end up not liking bushcrafting then they haven't lost $$$. 2) It's tried & tested, easy to use & versatile. 3) it allows people to get a feel for what they really want/need in a knife. Is the weight right? Is the blade size/design right? etc. If not then when they go to buy their next blade they have better insight to what they need. I've been using one for about 20 years - no regrets. Sharp blades all.
Currently, full flat grind Joker Ember with 14C28N steel, and olive wood slabs. Each time I buy a new Joker, it takes the place of my previous Joker, as my favorite. Really, they are all my favorites. Which knife to take, hm..........decisions decisions.
I would appreciate a practically focused discussion re what type steel is user friendly for field resharpening. Thinking long term wilderness OR long term grid down so no power grinders available (ignore battery powered tools as that would be an exception to most knife users)
If you like this video you may like my best bushcraft axe video! th-cam.com/video/zWgn98wGYaU/w-d-xo.html
All these knife channels have nothing to do with what you call bushcrafting. They just want to sell stuff. A word I never heard until I was 60 years old, and I went camping 52 year's not knowing anything about it.
Definitely agree. Bought myself a mid-tier, full tang knife about 10 years back and still use it to this day. Just keep it sharp, keep it dry, don't do dumb sh*t and it should last you through almost anything. Will say though, I don't use my bushcraft knife to chop bigger stuff. Personally, I prefer to take on the extra weight and bring an axe. That's just me, though.
I like bringing axes mostly too, the big knives are more just for the fun of it
+1. Why risk damaging a perfectly good knife by batoning unless it's an emergency? That's what an ax is for.
The right tool for the job is the right tool for the job, period. I’ve had my share of frustrations with suboptimal tools.
@@garthtimmins2852 a well made knife won't get damaged and will baton just fine. 🤷
I like to keep my knife razor sharp for food prep. I carry a small hatchet for firewood.
Food is overrated, knives are way better!
love u guys
Very well said. “A fool with a tool is still a fool”
Now I need a condor Bushlore
I just watched this video. It's a really true video. So I was a survival instructor for years. Then I went to prison. Long story on that(no bad charges). I lost everything. I mean all of it. While I was in prison I was making sewing needles and selling them out of paperclips and the springs of spray bottles. I've been out now for five months. Due to a tricky legal situation it is essentially illegal for me to work. I have literally been surviving off what I can craft. I've been using a sharpened butterknife as my blade. It has worked well for me actually. I got just a little money the other day. I bought a Old Hickory, bottom of the barrel but for $10 I got a piece of good steel, I filed down the handle and wrapped it with a cordage whip and stabilized it with some rubber cement I got my hands on. That will be my go to knife for the next several years. I promise it will. I need my money to work at other things right now.
Life and the Blessings of Life be upon you.. 🌹💐
People don't go to PRISON and then are unable to work for "(no bad charges)"🤣🤣🤣🤣absolutely ridiculous. That quote is funny as hell, don't lie, u can just leave that part out. Super weird🤣🤣😂😂😂
@@aysiarogina5741He never said the reason he couldn't work was because of prison. It could be about not having a work visa or something.
The frontiersmen who built this country didnt carry expensive fancy knives. A bushcraft knife back then was more like an old hickory butcher knife. Cheap. Light. Thin
When I was a teenager, my first outdoor / backpacking / survival knife was a military surplus bayonet that I kept in my backpack, but for most everyday camp chores, I had a Victorinox folder. If I needed to make a fire, I looked for dead wood, or if I needed to cut firewood, I used a wire saw, or folding saw that stored in an aluminum scabbard.
In my late teens to early 20's, one of my dad's friends - who had bow hunted big game in several different countries - started teaching me how to track and hunt. What was his main hunting / survival knife? A relatively inexpensive Solingen carbon steel lockback folder. In camp he kept a skinning knife, and a hatchet to process firewood.
Eventually, I got infected with GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) and bought several "nice" hunting / survival knives, but never had the time to use them. Recently, I bought a nice Spanish "bushcraft" sheath knife, but when I put it in my daypack, I realized it was a little too big and heavy.
I think I'm going to look for my Condor Bushlore knife, put that in my backpack instead, along with one of those lightweight folding Swedish wood saws, and buy a Victorinox Ranger folding knife, and that's it.
The bushlore is a solid knife, can't go wrong. Most mora's too if you want something lighter.
@@TheDaveDryden I forgot about the Mora knives, and there's a store nearby that sells them. Thanks.
They are like rabbits. They multiply quickly. Yes you need a couple different models. Carpenter doesn't own just one hammer or tape measure! Learn how they all can help you in the woods. Good luck.
@@davidtaylor195 I hear you, and I've got at least a dozen knives; and I'm promising myself - and my wife - that I won't buy anymore because I don't "need" more than what I already have.
However, when i was a framing carpenter, after nearly wrecking my elbow with an Easton all metal hammer; with synthetic blue rubber grip, I switched to a larger, and heavier waffle head framing hammer, with a wood hatchet handle, and that was it.
Very nice advise! I have been using my Jääkäripuukko 110 for years and it is my favorite and go to knife. Always pair it with my Laplander folding saw and my SAK Camper. When I go camping in winter, I replace my folding saw by a home made bucksaw and a hatched. Greetings from Sweden 🇸🇪
Love the jääkäripuukko... 80crV2 steel is one of my favorite
I have a large knife collection and the 140 easily became the one I grab the most now. Great knife, great price.
Super practical well done! Condor was among my first and it does what is supposed to do. After using keep it clean will last and last.
I do have a ton of knives. lol I like knives!!! My everyday carry I’d a spyderco endure 50:50 blade. I use it a lot around the homestead. VG-10. There are other metals available but more expensive. Sharpens well but keeps an edge well.
Survival knife kabar military version. Does every thing needed for survival.
My opinion only and I always keep them clean and dry when not in use. Plus I sharpen if needed before storage. Basics. Learn the use your knife! Ttfn
You know, when I clicked on the link, I didn’t know what to expect. But you make an awful lot of sense about buying knives. I am that person you described in the video about buying knives lol. Very interesting point well-made
Don't feel bad, I am that person too !
I've been using knives all my life in the outdoors for camping, hunting, fishing and while serving in the military. After going from junk knives to high-end knives, I have come to the same conclusions. My current go-to fixed blade for the outdoors, the Cold Steel Pendleton Lite Hunter. Super affordable, light weight, and easy to replace. Great video.
Hello. Waving at you from Nova Scotia. I know a lot of Bushcrafters here are going to either laugh at me or hate me. First off, you need to know that I'm on a very low income. I can't get a lot of things that I would like but about six months ago, I decided to take up the hobby and wanted to make a walking staff. For this, I needed a knife. So, I went looking for a full tang knife knife at Canadian Tire. I came out with the cheapest thing they had in the store. It had a total length of about 11" with a 6" coated, stainless steel blade and only cost me $17.99 It isn't the prettiest thing with a lime green handle and a nylon sheath (for now) but the price was right, it's still sharp and I have no complaints.
My most used camp knife over the last decade is probably the Condor Kephart. I bought it a decade ago for about $30, today they are about $60. The Condor Sapien (discontinued) is another favorite - was was about $35 a decade ago.
I know the Garberg takes a lot of heat for the price… but it is a solid knife that you can get in carbon or stainless. It just feels more robust than the cheaper moras and you won’t cringe putting it though hard use
Obsession over knives and EDC is better than obsessing over women, sex, and porn.
Problem nastaje kad se to dvoje spoji 😅
Blade addiction is a real thing! It's just like having a new toy, something novel to play with. But ultimately I decided to make one for myself. There's definitely a sense of satisfaction in creating an awesome, one of a kind personalized tool and carry it into the field.
Not terribly hard with some basic power tools and a little work bench.
I took a bar of 1095 and went to town on it. Did the heat treatments, made an oak handle, found a leather sheath on eBay..... and voilá........ a snazzy spear point beast resembling an Old Hickory. Maybe $50 in total materials.
What basic tools do you suggest/did you use?
I'm very happy with the BPS adventurer. Also I carry a utica utk-n2 everywhere. It's a jem most don't know about.
I also have a mora Garberg because it's stainless for certain environments.
The adventurer will do anything but it is carbon steel so it requires more maintenance.
One thing I've learned as a mechanic is tools only rust when they aren't used.
I have just got into bush craft. I have been looking into what knife to get. I have been so lost and never settling for one. This video has saved me a lot of time and down really good advice for a bigger. Thanks
Get yourself a Mora Companion to start. Why? 1) Cheap. 2) Tried & tested. 2) By using it you will discover what you really want/need in a knife. Is the size right? Is the weight right? Is the blade design right? Then once you better understand what you need then you can go and buy 'that' knife. You may find that the Mora does what you need in which case you may have saved $$$. Although I have a number of knives, I've been using a Mora for about 20 years - no regrets. Have a great day.
I am one of those guys who has many-many different blades for many different things, but I acknowledge that you are indeed correct when you say that having several blades is an unnecessary thing have. On many occasions I have used my Bark River Bravo 1 to make fuzz piles, feather sticks, make notches in the wood for stakes and traps, to baton, and to do many other things. Many-many-many years later, I still have this same knife, and unlike many of my other knives that look pristine, this same Bark River Bravo 1 has a beautiful patina on it, and looks well worn and beautiful...a look that many blades have that have been well used and still taken care of. So, I do indeed understand what you are saying in your wonderful video here. I've just been a collector of blades, zippo lighters (even though I do not smoke), flashlights, and several other things (that I actually carry on my person daily) for many-many-many years...and I tend to use/test these many tools under many different conditions continually. This is why I (for instance) found out/learned that all lighters are not created the same. So I've found that a zippo lighter with a zippo butane insert works better in freezing windy weather (like 4 degrees and a harsh wind) than a match or a Bic lighter. Trial and error gave me a bit of wisdom here for example, so I've replaced many of my zippo inserts with butane inserts after learning this. So in the nutshell, I loved your video sir, and over the years, I'm happy to say that I've pretty much dialed in my every day carry that does indeed include a well functioning bushcraft blade, and others, that all serve a well defined purpose...as do ALL of the tools that I carry every day. Please be well sir, and thanks for the wonderful video content.
I bought a pair of running shoes that are so expensive I'm afraid to use them
I learned my lesson with my folding pocket knife addiction to buy with a purpose instead of buying to scratch that itch. When I got into bushcrafting knives I only bought 3 moras, each with a specific purpose. I bought a craftline pro s for whittling/feathersticking/general purpose, a stainless companion for food prep, and a stainless companion hd for batoning, only cost me around 60-70 bucks total and I have all my bases covered. I'm at the point where if I do buy another bushcraft knife, it's gonna be a larger, full tang, flat ground knife just to have one that can kinda do everything and be super tough because scandi edges aren't great for everything and can be delicate.
This video has me laughing, and blushing a bit as well. So yeah, I fully agree with you. I had a fairly robust collection myself, but after questioning my own sanity a bit one day I decided to downsize. I’m now down to two woods knives; an ESEE 6 (for big stuff), and a Casström #10 SFK for everything else. Life is much less stressful now without having so many unnecessary options. Great vid, thanks!
Hello from Oklahoma! Amen Brother! I totally agree. I was a packing plant butcher for 5 years. I must confess I do collect knives. There are only a few I take into the woods and use. I take the old hickory, or my schrade schf3n. These are my go to blades. Good Video! Yes, practice, practice, it helps familiarize you with your knife. Learn the different grips and cutting techniques. Also, it takes technique and practice to maintain the edge of your blade. Practice. Just some thoughts from an old river rat.
What's the first small knife?
Excellent advice. I’m guilty myself. For the beginner I’d recommend a LT Wright, bushcrafter or genesis. It’s somewhere around the price point you mentioned. However, besides the belt knife, I’d also recommend a small companion knife, camp axe and a saw. These will allow you to process a variety of wood and complete many BC tasks. Great vid, thank you.
Fully agree a good bacho Laplander or cold steel tomahawk is a great entry point that will last you along time . A great beginner knife that keeps a edge and won’t break or rust is the bps adventure. Bought my son the three I just mentioned in 2020 for his first 2 week hike and he still uses them with no issues at all . Had to replace the handle on the hawk due to him resting it next to the fire one night about 6 months ago but he said it was 16$ . For a beginner those three are always my choice
I agree. You make a great argument for the one tool option. Also a good argument for buying a quality knife with an informed choice up front.
I started making knives in a futile quest to create the perfect bushcraft knife. I can confirm it doesn't exist. Having said that, I recommend a 4-4.5 inch blade, either a drop point or spear point, a grippy synthetic handle, and either AEB-L, 14c28n, 3V or Magnacut steel, although honestly the steel doesn't matter that much AS LONG AS THE HEAT TREATMENT WAS GOOD. I will also add that thinner knives are more useful. Also, if you want to baton anything larger than small branches for kindling, bring a larger "camp" knife in addition to the bushcraft knife, or learn how to use a hatchet or tomahawk.
Hatchet or machete for chopping. Knives are for cutting and slicing. These 1/4 thick "surcival" knives are absolutely ridiculous. Done a lot of camping and fire making, never needed to baton logs with a knife!
This video is intelligent. Im going to add my two sense coming from a really weird place with knives. So i am a islander raised in "bushcraft" or as i call it making a living, martial arts practitioner of 20 years now instrucor, scuba diver full time. To say the least i use knives and blades ALOT.
A really easy way to stop this addiction. Be realistic and homd some standards. Ask yourself what and who exactly are you. Does your knife need thickness for combat and survivap? Thinness for hunting or carving ? Jimping for combat or fishing? People say theres no such thing as a perfect knife but thats just not true at all. There is always a superior option for those who have a goal in mind. Set that goal , and buy the knife that'll last you a lifetime . Then let it be.
When i bushcraft i use a lionsteel t5 as my primary hiker. The stainless niolox, the thick combag grip , the nife 90 degree divet. I can dive , fight and craft with this. In my bag i carry a bushcraft brakimo brought to true scandi for the more advanced wood carving. These two knives are thick, powerful, versatile and timeless for everything i could ever want. Unless one snaps i will most likely die with these knives. And thats the mindset that erases addiction to useless knives.
I totally agree, like in the old days they usually only had one gun but they used it daily and were so familiar with it that’s all they needed and the same with a knife .👍
👍👍
You are spot on, thank you for the common sense approach. Way too much bushcraft knife bs online
Condor Terrasaur for $45 has been the perfect budget bushcraft knife for me
These days I'm leaning more towards a smaller utility knife like the Helle Fossekallen paired with a (small) hatchet of sorts. Despite its scandi cut it is thin enough to slice delicate things whilst doing the woodwork as well.
While the pair is obviously heavier then a bigger knife, it covers more bases.
Helle make some great knives - the vast majority are bushcraft ready out of the box. Of course there is differences between the models (eg. blade length) but they are both beautiful and functional. The biggest sin about owning a Helle is not using it! Definitely worth the money. Have a great day.
My favorite knife is the Ontario Knife Bushcraft Utility. 4" blade of 5160, and the handle is longer than the blade which is a personal preference.
6:50 " .... they more or less do the same thing." Well, no they don't. You cannot chop big branches with a Swiss Champ. You can't carve a spoon with a Parang. It's difficult to slice finely with a Bowie. You can't carry a Trail Master in your pocket.
Now, I do NOT disagree about your assertion about having skills that are important. However, one can also go to the opposite extreme and obsess about having the ultimate skill level at all costs, like featherstick curls MUST be 15cms long with five twists and less than 2mm wide, or whatever.
So basically, what I'm getting at is that maybe one should be somewhere in the middle - good basic skills with appropriate tools for the task at hand.
The hobby of "bushcrafting" may be a different issue here. If one is doing "bushcrafting" as a skills hobby for the sheer enjoyment of doing certain tasks with wood in a certain way to a certain predetermined way, using tools within certain parameters, maybe for the purpose of competition, then that is perfectly fine, and strength to you. If you want to acquire practical ways of enjoying the outdoors with some bush crafting skills thrown in, that's also fine. If you want to enjoy the outdoors and use various tools appropriately for convenience to get the jobs done, then that also is fine.
Just for the sake of interest, I'm including my idea of a good set of knives for outdoor use:
1. Cold Steel Trail Master San Mai III - this would be for heavier camp/trail tasks such as delimbing, chopping, clearing, etc. This would reside in/on my pack mostly.
2. Cold Steel SRK San Mai III - this would be my belt knife, and the centrepiece around which my other choices revolve. Probably the knife I would use most.
3. Victorinox Ranger Grip 78/79 - This would be my pocket knife (or side pocket of my pack, depending). All-rounder for smaller chores, food prep and so on.
4. Victorinox Swiss Champ - this is my belt pouch multitool, that would be a permanent fixture there.
Note: you'll notice there is no specialist "bushcrafting" knife, like a Scandi grind knife in my list. That is because I would not really go in for the whole "bushcrafting" hobby thing. If a featherstick is needed and I can make a good enough one with my SRK that will light up easily enough that's fine for me.
I would add another tool for the wilderness - a saw! [Probably a Silky Gomboy, or Bigboy if I had transport like a vehicle or horse. ]
Note: I would not tote an axe around, as in using the above knives and saw I can easily accomplish ALL the tasks an axe would be used for. If, however, there was a permanent camp site or hunting lodge involved, or if I was not going to move far from a vehicle or horse, I might decide to take an axe. [They ARE fun to use, after all!]
Another note: My take on the whole batoning debate: - for me this is a qualified no for knives. However, if I wanted to split a log of up to say 3 in/ 7-8 cms, then I would use my Trail Master to baton them. Bigger logs than that I'd cut and use wooden wedges instead. I would hesitate to use any of the other knives for batoning.
Thanks for the video, as it made me think about clarifying my own mind about this topic.
Cheers mate!
You are so right. Thanks for Sharing
cheers!
You are absolutely right of course, and I reckon an awful lot of us knew that already but just didn't admit it! I think I'll dig out my old Condor Bushlore now....
Totally agree with your opinion coz I have the exact problem in buying knives that are seldom or never used.
100% agree. It's hard to beat a Mora Bushcraft Black.
I realised bushcraft knives 🔪 don’t matter
£150 - £550 don’t matter
Practice is way more important
I spent silly money on knives I really regret it now
Bro, you hit the nail on the head... I've literally been browsing amazon, reading reviews, and checking out BC knives at my local sports store, but this video made me stop and think and appreciate my primary knife. I've been using my SOG Seal pup for about 5 years and it's been a beauty. but lately, I've been getting more into bushcraft and wanting the actual knife. you made a great point! Thanks!
I've had a SOG seal pup elite since my Air Force days (got out in '09) and it's a great knife that I keep in my car emergency kit to this day. Aesthetically my taste has evolved away from the tactical look and that's really the only bad thing I can say about it.
Your SOG Seal Pup is a combat knife and absolutely useless as a Bushcraft knife. Check out instead the KA-BAR BK2 Companion, and if you know anything of bushcraft at all, you will instantly see why I am saying this. You want a drop point, flat or Scandi grind, and least 0.20- 1/4 inch thick.
@@Survival.Intuition I have a BK2 and a BK16. Given the choice between the BK2 or the SOG, I'd actually take the SOG. The BK2 is impractical for just about anything I'd want a knife for. You're far better off with a small axe, hatchet or tomahawk and an actual companion sized blade like the BK16.
That said, there's something to be said for stainless steel, especially if you're out in the elements. That's where the SOG has an advantage over both of my Beckers. I admit it's not an ideal bushcraft knife, particularly with the swedged clip point, but to say it's absolutely useless is false. I've taken it camping a handful of times and it's fine for batoning roughly the same size material as the BK2, and it's quite a bit better for food prep tasks, the finger choil is a good 90 degree edge for striking ferro rods. The tip is thinner, but strong enough to stand up to more abuse than you'd expect. The major drawback in my opinion is the aggressive jimping along the length of the spine.
Anyway, the BK16 has been my go-to for several years and I'd strongly recommend it over both the BK2 or the SOG. My BK2 doesn't get much use and my SOG lives in the car... primarily because it's stainless so I don't worry about maintenance on it really at all...plus, maybe the stabby features of the blade profile are what I'd need if I was needing my car knife for something. But if I'm going into the woods my BK16 is the one I grab first every time.
@@pgcracka I always carry 3 different knives. My SAK SwissChamp is always one of those 3 knives. Being a Jack of all Trades guy, that one is mandatory.
The other 2 knives depend on where I am traveling to as in Blade length laws. Here in Queens, NY, I cannot carry the BK2 whereas in upstate NY, the Ka-Bar BK2 is legal. I just prefer this type of knife, in particular the point, and thickness.
TO me, the SOG is more of a hunting/combat knife. Although I would hate to use my SAK for skinning, etc.,
I digress, if my back wasn't so bad I would carry an axe with me, but my BK2 is about 8 oz. less than my Craftsman wood handle hatchet, and much more packable.
For queens, NY though we are limited to a 4" fixed blade so the BK2, SOG, & BK16 are not legal to street carry. So for places like here I had to settle for a TOPS Mil Spie 3, and as a backup knife for food prep and camp knife the Boker Magnum lil Giant.
As you can see all these knives are similar to the BK2
I guess its all cut down to how one uses their knife, and their personal preference for what is best for the job. Either way, glad to see another person out their into bushcraft and camping...
@@Survival.Intuition 1/4" thick is nice but not necessary. Pretty much overkill really and the BK2 kinda short in the pants. It definitely could work and isnt terrible though.
Finally, someone talking sense, I’m 54 I’ve lived and worked outside all my life. I have a handful of knives that vary in purpose. I haven’t bought one for 20 years.
I have a $10 genuine fake stainless steel Mora knife which I converted into a serviceable unit that can process wood, start fires with a firesteel & utilize 30' of cordage on the sheath. Then again a good Swiss Army Knife can do much more. Where I go, it goes. And yes, I graduated from the Air Force Survival school in the 1990s where knowing really comes from experience.
Just bought my first knives. Mora 511 and the Becker BK2 thats all I should ever need, one for fine work and one tank for everything else.
Great combo. Both are tried and tested and east to maintain. The Mora has a nice smallish nimble blade and the BK2 is a sharpened pry bar - all based covered. You'll be surprised how much the Mora can do. Most people over-estimate what they really need a knife for and go over-the-top. Remember the BK2 will rust so keep it clean & dry and it will last forever (same if you have a carbon steel Mora). Have a great day.
great combo IMO
great video. I am using Mora and Fällkniven F1. Additional Hultafors axe and a saw. All complett.
Totally agree. Now Ima go look at more knives.
I buy cheap ones because if they break or I lose it, oh well. Buying super nice ones means you probably don't intend on using it.
I've chipped and rolled nicer knives and it doesn't feel good. If it happens to my bushlore or mora's I could care less!
I bought a knife at Kmart for 17$ back in 1985 ( a Western W84) It’s been on my belt ever since and I don’t own any similar kind of knife.
Nice knife collection, Dave. Always the search for the perfect knife. And the perfect car. And all the other perfect things. Thank you for the advice. Stay safe and stay warm
When you realize perfection doesn't exist you can go on and enjoy all your imperfect knives!
@@TheDaveDryden I have 3 factory seconds from Grohman that I like as much as the full price ones.
I just got a Buck 117. It's what I always wanted: Hollow grind, clip point, between 4-5 inches. I have no desire to buy another knife.
Outstanding video! Cold War veteran 18bravo and off grider. When I went through SERE course used the old reliable Air Force issue survival knife. Got the job done. Kept using it for years still have one. The one I now use and personally recommend. The KA-BAR Becker 18. Not too big not too small. Army proverb ounces equals pounds, pounds equal pain.
Thank you; About time someone said this!
The first knife I ever bought was a £20 Whitby (very good UK company) flat grind knife and I love it, but my favourite knife is the Rough Rider RR1985 which was also about £20.
I've bought several other (even expensive) knives since and, you're right, there's really no difference. The only other one which is always on my belt, along with the Rough Rider, is a Linder Guide with a big 5.5 inch blade (again, about £20).
I had a problem with buying folding knives for a while and I ended up with about 20 knives that I don't even want to think about how much they cost in total. Handful of Spydercos, a few Benchmades, some higher end Kershaws, even a Microtech. Eventually I realized that despite the size of my collection I only really carried and used like 4-5 of my knives and the rest were essentially toys. I haven't sold any yet but I probably should. My Microtech Ultratech is essentially a $300 fidget toy.
I'm with you there. I got a bag of folders too lol and I only edc a few
I've got some nice folders as well. But the craziest thing is that I usually edc a $5 Walmart knife called the "Tan Flipper." I have to sharpen it a lot, but it just won't die. And just when I think I've lost it, it shows up again like Jack Nicholson in "The Shining" and says "I'm Back."
The best knife is the humble knife that if you lost it you wouldn't care, but if youre in a jam and you need a knife its the knife that you would use.
Today i used a super antique old beat up butchers skinning knife to cut down a bunch of foliage in the garden. It did a beautiful job. Its an old beaten up soldier, but it was just what the job required, and i got it for free cleaning out a garage years ago.
holy moly! I'm a 60+ year old former boy scout and I funded my bushcraft/survival gear with wages from a paper route (built my bicycle from junk bikes I found in the garbage) I think the best for me was an "old hickory" from the kitchen drawer 🤔
The original outdoor survival crowd used homemade stone knives and did fine until copper was discovered.
Mora 510
Mora Kansbol
Skrama 200
Fiskars X7 axe
Felco fixed blade saw and sheath
Laplander pocket saw
Leatherman Free PS4
It's what I'm running. All were pretty affordable except the Leatherman. Invested in good footwear, food, and upgraded cookware. The stuff that gets consumed and used.
Couldn’t agree more! My first bushcraft knife was the bushcraft black and it is still one of my favorite knives and does everything I need it to do and more.
I have been saying this for years,a knife is a knife,there's no Bushcraft Knife...
I wrote a comment about that just last night,,if I take my Old Hickory kitchen knife outside by a miracle it transforms into Bushcraft knife...
My $20 bucks Mora does the same as $200 dollars 💵 knife...
Thank You for the Video Brother,it's kinda late as I collected about 50 knives,4 axes and Katana/Wakizashy set...
I have enough knives for 5 lifetimes...
Anyway have fun...
My EDC is a Mora Companion HD in carbon steel. Good video.
Great video! I own bark river knives, fallkniven knives, battlehorse knives... when I need to carve something or make a feather stick, none do as well, as easily, as my mora knives... mora companion can't be beat for actual bushcraft tasks. Yes you can baton with them if your not trying to break the knife.
Old adage, it's the archer, not the arrow. So true with knives. I can't say much as I'm guilty of going overboard on knife purchases but 100 percent those knives didn't make me any better at skills, they just looked good for photos. The Bushlore was my first knife as well, absolutely capable of playing with the big boys
I took it out on an overnight I haven't posted yet and I didn't miss any of my "better" knives
I started a month ago liking knives. After 5 knives i have seen this video. Perfect timing. I stop collecting right away. Lets get in to the bush and do something with it. Thanks bro
1. My hobby of buying knives online. Is mine and healthy. It is better than having a drug addiction. While being more expensive then a video game habit. It gets me to go out and try new things. like making a wooden spoon, starting a camp fire.
2. There is no perfect bushcraft knife. No there is only the perfect bushcraft knife for me. That means what is good for me might not be good for you. If I want to spend my hard earned money trying them all. Then SO BE IT!
3. Spending more money on a knife. Means the knife is better then a cheaper knife. What makes it better is Could be a number of things. It could need to be sharpened less often. It could mean the knife will not rust. It could mean that the handle is made of mammoth tusk.
4. If that new expensive knife inspires someone to go out and start improving their skills. Then so be it. Telling people to give up just because they bought an awesome knife does not sound like someone who likes bushcraft.
5. All of those extra knives can then be put to good use. Selling them to get other gear that you want. Just like a gun. They can retain their value.
Very good point Dave! I think this is analogous to shooting. There is a saying that a good shooter with a bad gun will beat a bad shooter with a good gun. Skill is more important than equipment.
A Mora Companion is more than adequate for what I do, and I can use the money saved for other things.
Nothing wrong with buying nice knives. I collect them for fun.
With you 100%. I'm an avid hiker and knife collector - the two hobbies go well together. I'm never looking for the perfect knife - just the ones they catch my eye. I have knives that I use and others I just collect because. Some people collect stamps, others coins and you and I collect knives. It's never a waste if you love what you're doing. Have a great day.
@@realbroggo indeed!
Now that I've made things clear, what knife should I get next? 😁🤦♂️🤫 What would you like to see used/reviewed as I have a birthday coming up!
I'd like to see hatchet reviews, and/or hatchets vs tomahawks.
@@What_If_We_Tried I'll do a review on my favorite hatchet/axe for bushcraft soon
I’d be interested in a list of recommended bushcraft books
@@gschwendinger mors kochanski's bushcraft, SAS survival book, a book on regional plants/trees in your area, you could read Dave Canterburys too. Otherwise I think there is more value on TH-cam and actually getting out and practicing
would love to see you go out and put the Tops Power Eagle through its paces. I think you'd get a kick out of it.
Edit: Had'nt gotten to the part where you mentioned $50-150.
In that case, would love to see an in depth vid on something like the CS Drop Forged Hunter that you have, or the condor heavy duty kukri.
I love my Garberg but I’m really starting to move onto the versatility of to BPS knives. Love your video with your personal view on the blade, thank you 👍
I wasn’t sure that I was going to agree with this video but you are 100% right.
I have many of the same knives, I got caught up in different colours, steels etc.
I use one or two knives really.
Liked and subscribed... just because I respect your raw honesty.
thank you brother
The Ontario sp51 I bought in 2014 is barely even looked at anymore the big knife use is over. I just take my bushcraft black and a hatchet out with me. The black has been my number one for six years does everything. Great video
A solid choice. Keeping it simple works
@@TheDaveDryden agreed. I love the big knives they are fun. I just end up not using them much
I haven’t even started the video yet, but just off of your thumbnail, I’m pretty sure the Bushcraft Industrial Complex has a hit out on you now
I thought I saw a drone following me today haha
I agree, always thought it was kind of silly how many people have channels dedicated to "which knife is better at batoning." Any piece of steel with an edge will split wood. Its having skills that make a knife valuable in the woods. My Buck 119 has been banging around campsites and old hunting cabins for 25 years and it's never failed anything I've thrown at it.
Very useful information and so true...don't be a slave to the Marketers.
I don't have to stop obsessing over knives. I am free to make suboptimal life choices because they amuse me.
Thank you 😊
I totaly agree Dave. I have a drawer full of knifes from my first $18 Mora Companion to my Custom $250 La Rocca and $300 Bark River. But most often when I go into the woods, I take my Ontario RAT 5 ($65 at the time I bought it 8 years ago), or my Camilius Bushcrafter Made in the USA ($65 at the time of purchase, and I don't think its even available anymore), but I always have my Condor Bushlore in my pack; always. If I had it to do all over again, I would have bought the Bushlore with the micarta scales and left it at that. It's probably one of the best, low price knives, I own and I think one of the best made today as a camp/bushcraft knife. Keep up the good work, I have been watching your videos from the beginning, even during your drought season!
Thanks for sticking around bro!
couldn't agree more, Dave - I'm also guilty of collecting knives I don't realy need / use. I would suggest the terävä jääkäripuukko 140 or the Joker nomad as a one tool option. For the quality AND for the price.
I’ve noticed a few people saying they collected knives and finally landed on the 110 or the 140.
I love my 140 and it’s my go to now
I have the jaakari 110 and love it
Solid message. Appreciate 🫵🏿🎯
cheers!
If I want the cheapest full tang with good quality, should I go BPS ?
probably the cheapest full tang Id recommend
Refreshing video. Thanks!
The guy who dies with the most knives win’s.
Hi. My name is Michael and I’m a Knifeaholic.
Welcome Michael, the first step to healing is admitting you have a problem. 😂
It’s a day at a time. I’m starting to question if I really had a problem to begin with. Maybe it’s denial, not sure. Damn these withdrawals are horrible.
Hi Micheal!
Hey could you tell me your preference between the Nieto Terrano and Joker Campero?
Amen.
I miss your videos in my feed these days Dave, I do hope that this Christmas finds you and yours well.
Thanks brother, Merry Christmas too! I don't have notifications on so I don't see everyone commenting and missed this. You have always been around which I really appreciate. I hope to post some more videos soon... But as you know life is hard sometimes ✌️
I really like my bush craft knife, I think it's perfect. It's primarily all blade, and can be 3 inches long or 2.75 ft long, thanks to a dial on the handle. It never dulls, and can cut through bread (and toast it!!!) Or a steel hull of a freight ship, or a train axle. It doesn't really shave my face too well, but I gave up trying that real quick. It's also got a battery and vibrates, so my wife likes it too, and the handle is soft for her soft hands. It's really tough, I can take it with me while jumping out of things and into the frozen caves with bigfoot around. It's never let me down, but I can't find another one like it. I got it from some guy who said he was a space wizard, and I gave him a sandwich and my 2nd cousin, Pam. He really liked Pam and we never saw her again; Pam writes to us sometimes and says she's in Morocco or something, which is odd since the old guy sounded British, not Moroccan.
Anyway, the guy said it was called a laser sword or something. EDIT: I FORGOT TO ADD THAT ITS ALSO A GREAT GLOW STICK AND AMAZING AT STARTING FIRES WITH A FLINT
My personal opinion is that you should look into BPS Knives.
I really like my first "bushcraft" decision [BPS Adventurer], which comes with a surprisingly good ferro rod and a dangler optional leather sheath. It has about a 5 inch, full tang, blade made of 1066 steel. It's a weird/different number, I know. It's tempered to a hardness in the neighborhood of 58, with a proper 90° spine for the ferro rod. The leather of the sheath is good/solid quality. The only thing I have done to the whole rig, is to treat the leather for moisture resistance [I live in the PNW] and put a small hair bungee on the ferro rod for retention. It cost me $30, on sale, about 2 years ago. I also have another one that is smaller (think Mora Companion) which is a part of my EDC. [No included ferro rod.]
Also ... I developed my *skills* long before bushcraft blades (Skandi grinds) were ever popular in the United States. So, I knew what I was looking for, and why. - I am not a young man, is what I'm saying.
The company producing them is located in Ukraine. However, I understand that they are still available on the consumer market, even though they are also supplying their own military personnel. So don't expect to get the same price, but know that if you don't, the increase (probably small) would be reasonable in my opinion.
And ... as of 2 years ago; don't make any mistake taking one out of the shipping box.
*You will bleed, if you do.*
I haven't had to sharpen either of mine yet. But I haven't had a chance to really beat 'em up yet, either.
So ....
This seems to go for any hobby :). Learned the hard way as well. Thanks for the words of wisdom
Eventually you settle one some basic features that you feel comfortable with. Something like the standard Mora or Woodlore fits most people perfectly.
The intro to this video won me over. Cracked me up, and is so true. You just got a new sub.
Right on ! Even the CIA uses Wallmart $2.95 knives. Good advice bro. !
True to the point. Skills matter, tools just a helper. Tjanks
How about acquiring good quality sharpening stones and learning how to use them ?
Im STILL working on that.
A ColdSteel Bushman will do everything from use as a kitchen knife to whittling to anything a machete can do to even use as a spear.
And the ColdSteel Bushman cost less than $30.
Wisdom is gained by being in the wilderness. Stuff doesn't make the wilderness experience happen. Oneness wilderness has nothing to do with slitting wood with a knife. Finding kindling is more fun than finding wood that needs processing. I lived in Hell's Canyon for a year. That's a real wilderness experience.
Great perspective. I've got too many knives and I know exactly what you're talking about...
Amen!!!
My go-to is the tops tahoma field knife. Chops well it cuts well and it takes abuse.
You are absolutely right. Subbed! Greetings from Asturias (Spain).
I'm an avid hiker & knife collector & the No.1 fixed blade I recommend to people starting out is the Morakniv Companion. 1) it's cheap to buy & replace if they lose or damage it. Also, if they end up not liking bushcrafting then they haven't lost $$$. 2) It's tried & tested, easy to use & versatile. 3) it allows people to get a feel for what they really want/need in a knife. Is the weight right? Is the blade size/design right? etc. If not then when they go to buy their next blade they have better insight to what they need. I've been using one for about 20 years - no regrets. Sharp blades all.
Currently, full flat grind Joker Ember with 14C28N steel, and olive wood slabs. Each time I buy a new Joker, it takes the place of my previous Joker, as my favorite. Really, they are all my favorites. Which knife to take, hm..........decisions decisions.
They do have a great line up for the price. My family camping knife is the full flat campero, it's a good thickness for a flat grind 👍
@@TheDaveDryden Yes, the Campero flat grind was my favorite before the Ember.
@@MikeG-dp3fb I can see the ember in flat grind being awesome. A little bit longer and a nice contoured handle, a great choice
I would appreciate a practically focused discussion re what type steel is user friendly for field resharpening. Thinking long term wilderness OR long term grid down so no power grinders available (ignore battery powered tools as that would be an exception to most knife users)
14c28n is very easy to resharpen and has good stainless properties and is high in toughness espeically for a stainless.