Best beginner bushcraft knife/blade

[Robson Valley]

Buy a knife or two and use them a lot, from carving spoons to slicing tomatoes in your kitchen.
Learn what they can do. By then you will likely know what to look for in the next knife.

At the same time, you must learn to sustain the edge, the regular tune-ups of a known bevel angle and repairing damage.
No, you can't fake this. Every sharpening system of every complexity has its own learning curve.
The cool part is that once learned, you can apply it to all the edges in your house!

 

[Carrera_C]

I can recommend the Mora Heavy Duty Robust Companion Carbon. I'm fairly new to bushcraft and this is my first knife and I've loved how well it performs. It's decent for processing wood, I've prepped some game with it, and it's easy to sharpen. My only gripe is the carbon steel as it is quickly effected by moisture so you have to make sure to give it a wipe when you're finished with it, which I suppose you should really do to any knife.

 

[OutdoorsIFeelHappiest]

I'd recommend a Gerber Moment fixed blade drop point knife. I bought it for about £25 of Amazon. It has a full tang which was an important factor for me for added strength. I use is for basic carving such as de-barking and shaping. It is really sharp and quite thick.

 

[Salparadise]

Awrighty laddies

After reading on all your comments, I finally decided on these two:

https://www.springfields.co.uk/mora-546-stainless-steel-knife.html
https://www.springfields.co.uk/mora-filleting-knife.html

I also decided to get this while I was at it since it was fairly cheap:

https://www.springfields.co.uk/fire-starting-kit-in-tin.html

I was about to buy this mushroom knife also until I realized it was out of stock... it might possibly be in stock if I go to the store and buy it, so we'll see. If not then I can always check again next week.

I might end up buying this saw next week too, along with some sort of machete even though I have no idea what purpose it would server other than to look cool

Cheers everyone for the help, I really would have had no idea where to even start without it

This is how the madness starts.

 

[Nice65]

Awrighty laddies

After reading on all your comments, I finally decided on these two:

https://www.springfields.co.uk/mora-546-stainless-steel-knife.html
https://www.springfields.co.uk/mora-filleting-knife.html

I also decided to get this while I was at it since it was fairly cheap:

https://www.springfields.co.uk/fire-starting-kit-in-tin.html

I was about to buy this mushroom knife also until I realized it was out of stock... it might possibly be in stock if I go to the store and buy it, so we'll see. If not then I can always check again next week.

I might end up buying this saw next week too, along with some sort of machete even though I have no idea what purpose it would server other than to look cool

Cheers everyone for the help, I really would have had no idea where to even start without it

Firstly, well done with putting Silky as your first saw decision. They really do stand out in cutting ability.

Rather than the Mora filleting knife, you could consider an Opinel Slim. I had a 15 and found it a bit bendy for anything other than fish. If I was to replace it, I'd drop to the 12. They're very elegant knives. Bear in mind, with a food prep knife, don't choose anything with a big finger guard. It prevents much of the blade being used for chopping tasks.

https://www.opinel.com/en/pocket-knives-and-tools/slim-knives

 

[Windscale]

Is it worth explicitly mentioning that the reason for suggesting good cheap knives for first knives is that it's a lot less annoying and (expensive) to screw up a cheap almost throwaway knife whilst you perfect your sharpening technique than something nicer, potentially better but a hell of a lot less throwaway?

 

[Janne]

It should be mentioned that Mora knives are cheap in price, not in quality.

 

[Nice65]

It should be mentioned that Mora knives are cheap in price, not in quality.

I like Moras, I have several. I kept a couple, a Robust, a Bushcraft, and something in the kitchen drawer that looks a bit like the Classic. I truly appreciate what Mora do, open a world of proven working knives at very good prices to people starting out.

Only the one in the kitchen sees use. Practical, but boring. If I'm going out, I like a bit of character.

Ignore me, I'm fickle for knives, even my Varusteleka collection are looking worried, though I'll be keeping the large Puukko and Skrama for the same reason I keep my Mora Robust and Bushcraft.

 

[monkey boy]

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144494 these will be perfect for you

 

[Janne]

Nobody can accuse Mora of having character, that is for sure. Specially the modern ones with a plastic handle and sheath!
I see them as working knives.
I hope the weather is good next two weeks, so I catch plenty of Skrei Cod so I can use my Moras and the Marttiini!

But for a beginner they are superb. Use it, break it, buy a new one. No tears to be spilt.
Most Swedish men were taught how to use a knife on a Mora.
Also there is a reason the Swedish Army of past issued Mora.

I like Moras, I have several. I kept a couple, a Robust, a Bushcraft, and something in the kitchen drawer that looks a bit like the Classic. I truly appreciate what Mora do, open a world of proven working knives at very good prices to people starting out.

Only the one in the kitchen sees use. Practical, but boring. If I'm going out, I like a bit of character.

Ignore me, I'm fickle for knives, even my Varusteleka collection are looking worried, though I'll be keeping the large Puukko and Skrama for the same reason I keep my Mora Robust and Bushcraft.

 

[floatcloud]

very good advice thanks

 

[floatcloud]

Is it worth explicitly mentioning that the reason for suggesting good cheap knives for first knives is that it's a lot less annoying and (expensive) to screw up a cheap almost throwaway knife whilst you perfect your sharpening technique than something nicer, potentially better but a hell of a lot less throwaway?

This is how the madness starts.

haha you're right !!

 

[Muskett]

My shortlist for a good cutting arsenal are:
A SAK, I like the Huntsman but many like the Farmer.
Opinel No: 7 or 8 (have a 12 or 15 if needs must).
Anything from Victorinox Professional Chefs/kitchen range.
Mora Robust if you must. I prefer the Terava 110 (about £60 with sheath) for the woods bushcraft camp stuff, far better than any Mora.
Silky Saw, the bigger the better, though all are capable. (If you are huffing and puffing you have the technique all wrong, pull cut only and let the teeth do the work).
Lastly, a Skrama.

GB Felling Axe if you need, but its a specialised tool.

That armoury will do the lot, though the above isn't exhaustive. There are always more toys for the boys, and specialist tools, but then that adds up. Don't be in a rush. Leatherman Charge TTi multitool, and a good Spyderco folder; loads and loads of lovlies out there.
To start, the next investment is the kit to keep your knives sharp. I like DMT and Spyderco, but "wet and dry" can get it done.

Think twice, cut once.

 

[OMark]

Maybe look into a simple Opinel No.7 or a Kershaw Cryo.

 

[Muskett]

This or the Terava 110 when back in stock:
https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/j-p-peltonen-sissipuukko/11824

 

[Bushcraft-Brad]

I really don't think you can go wrong with a Mora, they're cheap in price but not in quality and even the ones that aren't full tang are incredibly strong and have been tested to destruction.

[video=youtube;mnvHIciS4Ss]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnvHIciS4Ss[/video]

The next bargain up from a Mora would be something like a cold steel. These too are incredibly tough knives and extremely good value for the money. One of the best features is their hollow handles; add a small shaft and it's a machete, add a longer one and you now have a spear. The versatility is great and you really don't need to spend hundreds of pounds to find a good quality knife.

 

[Mowmow]

I use my skrama as my go to do it all bush knife (theyre great value for money and substantial tools) but for all the little finicky jobs I've got a unbranded folding knife on my keyring I keep razor sharp for when the big knife is a bit overkill


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Leshy]

You really can't go wrong with a Mora knife!

Even if not a full tang, you can still beat on it like a rented mule !

The price really doesn't reflect the quality and the strength of the build.
Very inexpensive for such a versatile tool!

You can use it for anything ...

Work and play ...

(Well ...It depends what work you do , of course ! &#128530

But definitely Excelent for playing with !!

And very comfortable too...

Multipurpose tools are the best

No affiliation just a happy go lucky Mora fan. 😀