Lightest full tang bushcraft knife

[Ramapo]

I know this might be blasphemy around here, but I'm looking to find the lightest bushcraft knife that I can (without sacrificing performance) so that I can lighten my backpacking load. I'd like the blade to be approximately 3.5 - 4", but I would make do with a shorter blade if I had to.

The Skookum Bush Tool & sheath weigh in at 9.2 oz. This is positively massive by ultralight standards, but I think I can shave off about 3 oz. if I go with a Carver. This is still more than I'd like though. Does anybody have any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Hoodoo]

I would go with the Carver. My birch-handled carver weighs 5 ounces, not counting the sheath. In terms of performance, it weighs 100 lbs. If weight is the main concern, I'd go with a stick tang.

 

[Bardster]

If you want lightness go with a mora, it will do any job that a full tang will do. And is probably as light as they come. The other option would be to make your own - get a full tang skeletonised blade and put lightweight slabs on it - something like curly birch.

 

[benp1]

i'd go with a mora. they're incredibly light

i have a gene ingram #11 and its surprisingly light, more than i thought it would be. weighs MUCH less than my normal bushy knife

 

[Shinken]

go with a full length tang but not full width and put a leather spacer handle on it and rivit the end to make it really strong and whoalar

 

[Ramapo]

Really? I'm surprised about your comments on the Moras. I have a Clipper and I like it lots, but I wouldn't have thought that it would handle all sorts of full tang tasks.

Interesting...not only do I already have a Clipper, but it only cost me $10.

One thing's for sure, if I can find a light knife that I like, I'll be selling my TAK-1 real quick. It's over 10 oz. Beastly I tell you.

>>go with a full length tang but not full width and put a leather spacer handle on it and rivit the end to make it really strong and whoalar

Shinken, where would I find a knife like that?

 

[sam_acw]

If light weight is the biggest factor then you can either go smaller or with less handle.
Lots of knives sold as neck knives are light weight.
It seems to me that kydex or other man made fibre sheaths usually seem lighter than natural traditional ones do. That would be one factor which helps the Mora.

 

[TheGreenMan]

...Shinken, where would I find a knife like that?

http://www.ragweedforge.com/BladeCatalog.html

https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.p...sMod=product_info&cPath=94_80&products_id=632

https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.p...sMod=product_info&cPath=94_81&products_id=634

http://thegoodstuffshop.dk/group.asp?group=3832&sub=940

Best regards,
Paul.

 

[Shinken]

https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=26&limit=1&limitstart=2

 

[TheGreenMan]

Cool URL, dude!

 

[Heathenpeddler]

That just kicks serious donkey. I have to try that out! I'll even make a clamp just so I can try it

 

[TheGreenMan]

Cool URL, dude!

Apologies about that ‘smilie’, everyone. I’d had a couple of drinks and regressed to the excitable person I never was. I won’t do it again, promise.

Best regards,
Paul.

EDIT: By the way, I'm promising not to use that particular ‘smilie’ again, and not abstaining from having a couple of drinks at a future time!

 

[decorum]

I've tried to resist posting this and failed!
Now this may not be full tang but it is serious light-weight:

And yes it is fully functioning

 

[Karl5]

https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=26&limit=1&limitstart=2

That works fine with birch bark as well.
And incidentally, it make the knife even lighter still...

/ Karl

 

[Dave Budd]

without suggesting that you should buy one of mine, but only for comparison. My bshcraft knives weigh 5oz for the GreenMan and about 2oz for the Woodsprite (though the actual weight of each knife varies according to the wood in the handle and how much metal is in the blade as they are all forged)

GreenMan:
Blade 4"
Oaverall 8 3/4"
blade thickness about 5mm

Woodsprite:
Blade 2 3/4( or 3")
Overall 7"
Blade thickness about 5mm

I could even make them a little lighter if asked

 

[tombear]

Finally received my Grohmanns Small Camper (Flat ground Bird and Trout), that weighs in at 4oz (100grms) by the kitchen scales with a leather boot lace neck cord and the sheath soaked in wax.

This is the one I'll be using most of the time and will carry as a back up when I take something bigger. Its pretty much like my beloved Large Camper but lighter, with less depth of blade and a shorter handle. I mainly use knives for food prep and light whitling so it may not be robust for building bashas etc. I have a Pocket Boy saw for any serious wood cutting so its not such a problem.

All the best

Tom

 

[Hoodoo]

Sounds cool! Carbon or stainless?

 

[Aaron]

Coming back to your original point (geddit ?) Ramapo, why dont you look at cutting down on other items of your kit that weigh far more, such as sleeping bags and cooking equipment, rather than trying to save a few measly ounces on the knife and sheath that you carry.

 

[tombear]

Stainless as I am a bit of a nancy about what happens to the carbon boat knife I got as a seconds when i cut onions, garlic etc.

ATB

Tom