Skookum Bush Tool

[Hoodoo]

If you are interested in a guardless full-tang bushcraft-style knife that was inspired by Mors Kochanski, you might want to take a look at the Skookum Bush Tool, made by Rod Garcia. Here's a review by Schwert.

This knife was designed with considerable feedback from Mors although it is entirely Rod's creation. The handle is nicely sculpted to give you a solid grip without a guard to interfere when you want to choke up for fine work.

This is mine in green micarta.

It comes with a nice neck sheath but for hip carry, I chose a sheath made by Jack Mosher.

Rod also makes a Skookum Carver which scratched an itch I had for a full tang knife similar to the small red mora favored by Mors.

Here's a pic comparing the two knives.

If you are interested in one, I think Schwert listed the contatct info at the end of his article.

 

[leon-1]

Hoodoo, yourself and Schwert always seem to find some really interesting and good looking knives. To be brutally honest and not mess around, how much was it.

 

[Hoodoo]

I don't recall the prices off the top of my head but I know they are well under $200. I will have to chek my paypal account to see what I paid for sure.

 

[Snufkin]

I'm not a great fan of hollow pins or lanyards but that handle shape looks excellent.

 

[Hoodoo]

BTW, I have to thank eraaij for bringing the SBT to my attention.

 

[Hoodoo]

I'm not a great fan of hollow pins or lanyards but that handle shape looks excellent.

The hollow pins are Mors' idea. You can get this with 3 hollow pins if you want. They are for lashing and more lanyard placement options. I think there is a version also with a hole in the blade near the tip, another innovation from Mors, designed for shearing operations.

 

[michiel]

I like it a lot. Kind of an upgrated mora or lisaaki. Looks great. especially the green micarta one.

Michiel

 

[leon-1]

I don't recall the prices off the top of my head but I know they are well under $200. I will have to chek my paypal account to see what I paid for sure.

Thanks Hoodoo, that's kind of you.

 

[myakka]

Great Knife Hoodo,
I cant wait to get mine. Rod sad I should receive it a a couple of weeks.

Thnks for sharing the photos

 

[TheGreenMan]

The micarta Bush Tool is very much to my taste, Hoodoo. Thanks for bringing this to my attention…and I was feeling so pleased with myself for going a whole month or more without buying a knife

Best regards,
Paul.

 

[Hoodoo]

But you made it a month. That's something to be proud of.

I have been using the Carver around the shop and it's a superb little tool for hogging wood down. Been carving butternut and it takes it down well.

 

[weekend_warrior]

The desire for one of these is strongly upon me! Email sent to Rod...

 

[leon-1]

I have no cash, but I wonder if Rod believes in the barter system, I have the odd bit of leatherwork and if that doesn't work I suppose I could always sell my brother into servitude

 

[Hoodoo]

Don't forget kidney donations. Ya got two, after all.

 

[leon-1]

Don't forget kidney donations. Ya got two, after all.

True, but why use mine when my brother has two as well, let's face it all's fair in the procurement of fine cutting tools, but I daresay that it is something to consider for a later date.

 

[Hoodoo]

Hoodoo, yourself and Schwert always seem to find some really interesting and good looking knives. To be brutally honest and not mess around, how much was it.

I checked with Rod and the current price of the SBT is $175.0 + S&H. $175 translates into 89 quid at the moment, so you could buy 4 or 5 (6 or 7?) of these for what a Woodlore sells on Ebay.

 

[weekend_warrior]

I checked with Rod and the current price of the SBT is $175.0 + S&H. $175 translates into 89 quid at the moment, so you could buy 4 or 5 (6 or 7?) of these for what a Woodlore sells on Ebay.

The wanting has just got worse!! Waiting by my Inbox to hear from Rod now...

 

[Schwert]

Thanks for the article plug Hoodoo. This knife is one of my favorites. I spent a couple hours working on a rhododendron stick this weekend. I cut the stick a few months ago and have had it drying hanging outside under the deck. I only got a short crack in the “handle” part which will not cause any difficulty.

I peeled off all the bark and started tapering the shaft with the SBT. This knife just zoomed through the bark and peeled off very nice curls of the wood.

The crook is a bit tight cornered but the nice tapered tip of the SBT worked a treat peeling and smoothing the corner.

I used a 4-in-hand to smooth and contour the head. Now I think it is sort of looking like a flamingo.

I have quite a bit of tapering left to do on the shaft and some more head shaping before I stain and oil this one, but I can say the SBT was a very efficient and VERY comfortable tool for this work. This knife continues to impress me.

 

[TheGreenMan]

...I have been using the Carver around the shop and it's a superb little tool for hogging wood down. Been carving butternut and it takes it down well.

To a guy like me, this is a good as a striptease

Best regards,
Paul.

 

[eraaij]

More SBT pictures:

prototypes at the course

My version in A2:

and

and striking a spark with the firesteel:

These are comparatively well priced using knives. Steel in O1, A2 or CPM-3V. He might do other steels. Mine is in A2 and the edge holding is superb. For 3 mm thickness, you can see that the grind is pretty high up, making it a mean slicer and the curve in the blade makes it a featherstick carvers dream. Spine is excellent for the firesteel.

The handle is nicely fat and comfortable, butt cap is welded on. I was on the winter skills course when Mors got 3 of these in from Rod. I spend some time in that week with the knife doing various tasks and at the end I knew I had to buy one.


-Emile