Any Alternatives in the UK - all the knives look the same

[TLM]

Hmm... dedicated specialist hunting knives are generally not very good at other tasks. I know many people who carry a small hunting knife and a standard puukko just for that reason. Both are small knives so it is not a question of weight. Some just carry a puukko for all tasks as has been done since about steel came to these latitudes.

Matter of taste really.

 

[spandit]

Hmm... dedicated specialist hunting knives are generally not very good at other tasks. I know many people who carry a small hunting knife and a standard puukko just for that reason. Both are small knives so it is not a question of weight. Some just carry a puukko for all tasks as has been done since about steel came to these latitudes.

Matter of taste really.

If I'm out for rabbits, I carry a small folding utility knife with a carpet blade in it. For deer, I predominantly use the Mora "Roe" knife, which has a tiny blade with a welded bead on the tip. I have a small lock knife in the sleeve pocket of my smock (Kabar Dozier Hunter in blaze orange) for incidentals.

 

[GeorgeHudson]

Interesting read guys, i found myself in a similar position and being a practical guy my solution was to just make my own knives exactly how I want them, as a young man I couldn't afford really good knives but I could afford steel, some handle materials and time. 20 years later I have learnt alot and love making knives all still with hand tools, no fancy kit needed other than a drill and a file

 

[k9trev]

Apex blades swansea top man to deal with . Makes some good camp knives

 

[Herman30]

I think I have said it before but it is worth repeating; the british model of bushcraft knife is utterly boring. It' s the knife worlds version of beans on toast.
Beans on toast is something I would eat only if I am starving and there is absolutly nothing else to eat.

 

[Chris]

knife worlds version of beans on toast

So you're saying it's the absolute perfect knife?

I think you're speaking to people from the wrong country to speak ill of beans on toast!

 

[Pattree]

@Herman30
….,, but does it work?
What is your knife for?
What do you ask of the knife that it wouldn’t do?

Do you use an elaborate hammer? Screwdriver? Pliers? Chisel? Spoon?

 

[Stew]

I think I have said it before but it is worth repeating; the british model of bushcraft knife is utterly boring. It' s the knife worlds version of beans on toast.
Beans on toast is something I would eat only if I am starving and there is absolutly nothing else to eat.

The thing is, it's hard to take that opinion seriously from someone who won't cook outside if they don't have access to a sink and tap.....

 

[GreyCat]

I think there's also a lot of personal preferences.

My personal like is a puukko or something Terava flavoured, also like the broken back seax shape. The classical "bushcraft" shape doesn't float my boat the same way. (Although I am enjoying a BPS Technobee more than expected).

With big knives there's also a range, from Skramas to kukris, leukus and parangs as well as the classic "camp knife" shape.

Each to their own. Good bespoke makers of all styles are skilled, there's no "one true shape." But you will more easily find what is popular!

GC

 

[Herman30]

@Herman30

What is your knife for?

My knife is for preparing firewood.
Skrama200 and Sissipuukko M23 is the perfect combo for me.

 

[HillBill]

In fairness, there was a time when Ray Mears was the be all and end all in Bushcraft. He span a good yarn about spending 20 years developing the Woodlore (complete fantasy/marketing btw) So it kinda stuck fior many years. At the time, the longer standing makers didnt bother other than Alan himself. But because of the influx of new 'bushcrafters' as a result of Ray being on TV, things stuck. An influx of new makers followed (myself amongst them) Who wanted to get their foot in the door, so the woodlore was copied a lot (i've made a few clones, but less than you'd think)...Time has moved on... most of those makers now dont make knives... at all. Those who do, with the odd exception... don't even go there.
I know this is an old thread... but what i say applied as much to 2021 as it does today. The Woodlore went the way of the Dodo as far as makers are concerned best part of 10 years ago.

Was it a good knife... It wasn't terrible. Size was about right, Steel too thick, grind too steep, and the handle shape (coke bottle) causes pain in the back of the hand behind the ring and little finger with hard use (after 5 mins or so) Not a fan of it, never have been. But early on, i followed the money. As did all up and comers at the time. I was up, i come... now i'm in that floppy stage, waiting for the up again......

 

[Billy-o]

I think a knife with a 3 3/4" blade in 3mm flat ground O1 makes the pretty-much-perfect outdoors knife. Good for all the standard bushcraft purposes, plus a bunch of other things that the scandi grind on 5mm stock can struggle with. The flat ground Brisa Trapper more or less nailed it.

I've a couple or variations on the theme - one by Todd Kroenlein, another by Alan Wood, and a Gene Ingram. All perfect

 

[HillBill]

I think a knife with a 3 3/4" blade in 3mm flat ground O1 makes the pretty-much-perfect outdoors knife. Good for all the standard bushcraft purposes, plus a bunch of other things that the scandi grind on 5mm stock can struggle with. The flat ground Brisa Trapper more or less nailed it.

I've a couple or variations on this - one by Todd Kroenlein, another by Alan Wood, and a Gene Ingram. All perfect

Flat grinds are better for everything, other than wood carving. Either way... flat grind, scandi.... I dont think there's any reason to need a blade more than 3mm thick. Unless you plan on going to war with melee combat as your primary source of 'beating the bad guys'