Recommend me a knife, please!

[GreatNutmeg]

I'm new and wanting to purchase a bushcraft knife
I'm after something with:
Strong blade, strong tip
Blade length of between 7-9cm
Comfortable grip for medium grip
Scandi or convex grind
trusted manufacturer
Unfortunately, I only have a budget between 65-75 pounds
Best if the knife had a simple and natural look

So, some examples of knives I would buy if I had a larger budget:
Bark River Bravo 1
Fallkniven F1

I've also seen some other cheaper knives, and was wondering if they would be good:
EKA Nordic H8
Roselli Grandfather Belt Knife
Helle Eggen

 

[forestwalker]

The EKA is a bit from the bushcraft school, with a ratehr hevy blade, but other than that it looks good in real life (but U have never tried it). The Roselli is good, at least once one has modified the handle (on the one I had decades ago the "guard" was way too far back on the handle). The blade profile is also not too my liking; I want bit of blade that is "more straight" bore the tip begins.

In your case I would buy a Mora (Brusletto, etc) blade and haft it myself, or have someone with a drill press do the initial work, and then carve, rasp, file and sand the handle to a desired shape.

 

[Totumpole]

Ifs it's a first knife, buy a mora clipper - cheap and cheerful
If you have a functioning knife and are looking for the next step I suggest an enzo trapper kit (blade, scales, liners and pins - put it together and file down the handle yourself) - I think that would come in bang on budget for you. I dint own one myself, but I have seen nothing but good reviews and it it's very high on my wish list.

 

[xander]

I got the EnZo trapper kit and its a great knife for the price and if I can do it any one can

 

[MartiniDave]

I regularly use an Eggen, very nice knife, but I also echo what totempole said, a clipper or any one of the other moras, is a very good starting point, and often all that is really needed and can save you quite bit of money. The mora All-round range offers a bit thicker blade if that is important to you.

Dave

 

[mikey.elefant]

look iin the makers market, there are two bushtools for an amazing price from Rob

 

[The Big Lebowski]

Have a look into the Helle range as said... The laminated stainless steel is very impressive for sharpness and edge retention.

If its a starter knife, the good old mora's money well spent (and stupidly cheap)

al.

 

[tasum]

another vote for mora knives. they are cheap so you don't mind using them. then you can decide whether you need something different depending on your actual usage.

can't go wrong with mora, but there are some fantastic makers on here....

 

[rmbriar]

My first knife was a Mora 510, I'd recommend it to beginners and the experienced.A brilliant wee knife

 

[Paul_B]

I was in a local supermarket in the Lakes and on a whim I bought the collins gem SAS survival book (is any good BTW?) and last night I read one bit about knives. It said the knife style with th blade fixed to the solid handle at the end is best not the scale ones with pins through on account its better for your hands in use. What do you make of that comment? I don't think he was saying that this type allows you to shape it to your own hand better but that the scale fixed with pins can end up with the pins causing problems to you hands. I would have thought a well made scales handle wouldn't cause that problem but I am no expert and never had one (only had one fixed blade and that's a clipper).

 

[Retired Member southey]

I was in a local supermarket in the Lakes and on a whim I bought the collins gem SAS survival book (is any good BTW?) and last night I read one bit about knives. It said the knife style with th blade fixed to the solid handle at the end is best not the scale ones with pins through on account its better for your hands in use. What do you make of that comment? I don't think he was saying that this type allows you to shape it to your own hand better but that the scale fixed with pins can end up with the pins causing problems to you hands. I would have thought a well made scales handle wouldn't cause that problem but I am no expert and never had one (only had one fixed blade and that's a clipper).

Well considering this is his own personally designed tool i guess he has changed his mind a little. It is down to personal preference, there a lot of threads here discussing the pros and cons of each from differing perspectives.

Lofty's tool.

 

[Opal]

This is under yer budget, I have one but haven't used it much yet, feels good in the hand and I've a razor edge on it thanks to the dc4.


http://www.greenmanbushcraft.co.uk/cutting-tools/knives/karesuando-boar-knife.htm

 

[GreatNutmeg]

Thanks for all the help!
I have decided to get an Enzo Trapper or Enzo Elver because Mora is too hard to get for me
so it comes down to scandi or convex?

 

[Sparrowhawk]

Hi Nutmeg, sent you a PM buddy.

JH