Bushcraft knife - novice

[Paul_B]

Been pushed over, sorry directed, to this forum from OM forum, although been lurking for a while. Looking for a suitable bushcraft knife. Not a Mors please!! Been looking at a £32.50 Bushletto. Any good? IS it worth it? Only have a folding opinel no. 6 I think.That and the victorinix cybertool (only used its knife for cutting a packet open as it doesn't lock). Both not exactly or indeed any where close to being right.

Also, don't want to get in trouble if stopped (too many wpc's in the group I go wild camping with). So the WaltherP99 I saw in one post is definitely off my list.

BTW what's with the nomad, settler, native title thing under the usernames?

 

[Draven]

Welcome to the forum!

I assume by "a Mors" you mean the Mora that Mors uses? Or was it a typo and you meant Mora? Either way, I'm curious as to why you'd turn that down? You say that you don't have one, so do you just not like the blade profile?

Choosing a knife is a very personal thing. personally, I work best with something like a Mora Clipper (as far as blade profile goes anyway, handle is something else . . . ). If you're inexperienced with knives (I couldn't judge from your post, so apologies if I sound condescending) then I really would recommend the Mora Clipper. Very tough, reliable and you buy it sharp. Also, excellent value for money.

Brusletto are a reputable brand so I don't think you could go wrong with one of those either. What model is it?

The Walther P99 knife is favoured by very few, and I'd be highly surprised if anyone on this forum had one as their main user. It does look rather tactical, but regardless of the knife, as long as you have adequate reason for carrying one, then it's perfectly legal.

What do you plan to use the knife for, ie, what kind of tasks?

As I said, choosing a knife is very personal; BR has several lovely knives he designed himself and had made on commission - mostly not something I'd have bought myself, but I'm sure they do their job wonderfully in his hands. Likewise, some people think knives like the Fallkniven F1 is excellent, whereas I don't think I could open a pack of peanuts with one. Therefore, if you already have preferences about what knives you use, you should definitely take them into consideration and it would help us help you if you told us these preferences

And the "Nomad", "Settler", "Native" etc are just titles a member gets depending on the number of posts they've made on the forum

Peace!

 

[brancho]

As Draven
Has already said you cant beat a Frost Clipper.
Brussletto make fine blades/knives I have a knife I made with a Brussletto blade that is great but what model are you looking at and you handled it before buying.

 

[Paul_B]

I meant the Frost Mora knife. I don't like plastic handles the blade is supposed to be first rate and available in trilaminate, carbon steel and stainless steel (a Sandvik grade I think). I have heard they are not as long lasting as some other makes, I wonder if it is because of the handle. If there is something like a Mora with a different blade.

I have heard about the trapper (frangstrappen or something like that) and the norran from Brusletto at arounf the GBP£30 to 35 mark. The Middle ages one (limited edition) is also for sale as an end of line. Although not on my list. They appear to have an old style sheath, would the blade also be an older style for the Norran and Trapper knives). I think the company is Attleborough that is selling them.

I will probably pop into a local hunting, shooting, fishing shop we have up here to look at a few options first. I think Brancho is right about handling them. The use is just a general use campcraft stuff I guess, but whatever I need one for. Someone once said a survival knife is one you have with you, I guess that is what I want it for, but with further uses once I get more into bushcraft. I guess a good knife that lasts and is capable of many tasks as I don't know what I'll end up using it for. Bit vague. BTW I don't just want a knife for the sake of owning one, I intend to use it. I am tempted to come to Bushmoot. What are these sorts of meets like?

 

[Wallenstein]

The Frosts Mora Clipper has the same excellent mora blades, but uses a flexible rubberised grip - excellent handling when wet, really comfortable in the hand.

It's never going to be as pretty as curly birch or antelope horn, but in practical terms it's really very good, especially for learning techniques.

As far as long-lasting goes, unless you're using the blade day-in-day-out for carving etc, they will last you plenty of years. Plus for £8 it's not going to break the bank to pick up a replacement in 10 yrs time.

 

[Paul_B]

What about hardness? Some have a hardness of 54 others 57-58 as in the Brusletto knives. What hardness makes a good knife.

Good point about the rubberised flexible grip in the wet. I agree with function over looks and this is one good point, however I personally don't like the feel of the synthetic, plastic knives. Ever since getting the wooden handles Opinel folder, I realised I like the feel of wood. I've had a bone handled knife, one with plastic and another with wood. My preference is a wooden handle without much metal in the handle. I have mainly had folders and locking folders (buck type locking). Now I think a more secure fixed blade is wanted.

I guess the Mora knives might be worth getting initially, I doubt I would use them enough to break them at least until I knew more about things. It does seem people are directing me towards the Mora knives.

 

[preacherman]

A working knife need to be sharp and unless you have alot of experience in sharpening techniques my advice would be buy the Clipper.

This is what I have done recently and I must say I was very impressed with the Clipper. I am not in any rush to buy a more expensive knife and even if I mislay it or damage it while sharpening, its not the end of the world at under £10.

 

[BOD]

My dad gave me an antler 6" Bowie when I was young.

What a waste. I had no idea what to do with a knife and it was wasted on me. Stuart has a thread about what "primitive " people can do with blades.

Most of us have no skills worth speaking off compared to an Iban, Amer-Indian or San bushman.

It's okay to say we like the look of a particular knife and that's valid as far as aesthetics is concerned but we really are in no position to talk about the merits of a knife in view of our , generally, limited skills base.

Take heed of what the advice is from other members and save your money till you have developed a reasonable level of skill, for a modern person, in doing the basics. Try a wood Mora if you don't like plastic.

The truth is that a real woodsman would use a knife we shun and make something way beyond our modest capabilities.

 

[Jedadiah]

Did you know that the Frosts knives are available with a wooden handle?

http://www.frosts.se/index_2_uk.html

Just scroll down and you will find them. I'd hate you to be uninformed and dismiss them out of hand as they really are unbeatable for the money and an ideal starting point. Also, if you felt the need to sell it because you out grow it, you'd have no problems moving it on. I doubt that would be the case as you'll like it when you get your hands on it. My fist 'Bushy' knife was a Frosts blade that i fitted my own wooden handle to and i still have it (and use it) to this day, even with my collection of more expensive knives!

 

[John Fenna]

The wooden Mora knives are excellent - I prefer the carbon blades.

 

[Draven]

I'd recommend against fishing tackle & hunting shops, I've had nothing but bad experience with the majority of the knives out of them. I obviously can't vouch for all of them, that's just what I've experienced.

You could always rehandle a Mora , or buy the wooden barrel-handled one as Jedadiah suggested. My main user is a knife I made from the blade of a Mora Clipper attached to a handle I made myself, and it's a wonderful knife.

About blade hardness . . again, that depends on its purpose. The hardest I'd go for would be around 59 on the Rockwell scale, but as a general rule, I tend to think that the longer the blade, the softer the steel should be (to a point, of course). If it has a large blade, chopping and battoning are probably going to be frequent, so a softer steel will ensure that the blade doesn't chip or get a ding when it hits a hard patch like a knot. Shorter blades tend to be ill-suited to chopping and battoning, and therefore should be harder IMHO so they can take and maintain a very sharp edge for carving, skinning, food prep etc. Of course, this is all dependent on the steel they're made from, but I'm not knowledgeable enough to comment on that.

The best knife to start with, in my opinion, is one with a blade around four inches, scandi ground and with little drop and the Mora fits the bill. My first sheath knife had a 7 inch saw-back blade, hollow ground with a secondary bevel and a contemptable recurve that, coupled with the overhardened steel, made it near impossible to sharpen. Plus a horrible guard that made woodcarving very painful.

And a note about the wooden-handled mora - the barrel handles are very versatile (far more so than the clipper handle IMO) and is probably the best handle to use with all the different ways of holding a knife - again, in my opinion

Sorry for another essay

 

[sam_acw]

Stuart has a thread about what "primitive " people can do with blades.

Is there any chance you could out a link up to that thread?

 

[BOD]

Sam,

I tried but I have a limited skills base with the search function and did not turn up anything.

It was in the early years of BCUK, 2004-5 maybe.

I have PM-ed him to ask him to locate it but that may take time since he is kitting up for deepest darkest Africa I believe.

Will keep fumbling around with the search tools

 

[Hoodoo]

Brusletto is an excellent choice. My favorite for bushcraft and the outdoors in general is the Norgeskniven. I think the Norron is a beautiful little knife but not one I would baton. There was a post or two about the stacked handle delaminating.

Another maker worth exploring is Iisakki Järvenpää. His utility knife is a great knife at a reasonable price.

If you want it fancier, you can get the same blade with a leather or birch bark stacked handle.

 

[Paul_B]

I asked the same question on another outdoor website forum (more for walkers and backpackers) and got a load of questions as to why I would need a knife. One recommended this forum and also gave some good advice. A lot made some unhelpful comments and seemed to imply that you shouldn't need a fixed blade knife in this country, "maybe Alaska or somewhere like that, but not in this country" was on such comment. What is you opinion to that? I explained that I prefer the security of a fixed blade and that not everyone just uses a knife when camping. Although I doubt it will be a regular use, but it will get used.

 

[Paul_B]

Thanks for your help guys, looks like a Mora to start off with.

 

[sam_acw]

If you want to use a tool then get the right, safe one. People don't use a folding knife in the kitchen because of hygiene. A fixed blade will never fold on your fingers, open in your pocket, get jammed and has no pivot point to break. It is also the K.I.S.S. principle. A fixed blade needs only 1,2 or 3 parts (Blade, handle,sheath) and functions with only one of them. A folder with any sort of locking mechanism or mechanical tension (bar friction) has multiple parts.

 

[preacherman]

I think you will be pleasently surprised at the quality for the price.

 

[Jedadiah]

I think you will be pleasently surprised at the quality for the price.

Agreed, and it would not surprise me if, in years to come, you'll be in the garage or shed and your Grandkid's will say 'What's this Grandad?' and you'll say 'Ah, that was my first fixed blade, got that back in 2008'. 'Cor, Grandad, what was 2008 like?' You get my drift.

 

[fishy1]

I asked the same question on another outdoor website forum (more for walkers and backpackers) and got a load of questions as to why I would need a knife. One recommended this forum and also gave some good advice. A lot made some unhelpful comments and seemed to imply that you shouldn't need a fixed blade knife in this country, "maybe Alaska or somewhere like that, but not in this country" was on such comment. What is you opinion to that? I explained that I prefer the security of a fixed blade and that not everyone just uses a knife when camping. Although I doubt it will be a regular use, but it will get used.

Just out of curiousity, what forum is that?

You can use a folding knife if desperate, but fixed blades are so much better for everything from cutting feather sticks to cutting rope.