Starter Bushcraft Knife

[rapidboy]

I like both the Clipper and the Mora.
I use a stainless clipper everyday as my work knife and a carbon Mora when im cleaning rabbits because it's so easy to clean.

I find both become uncomfortable for carving / woodwork after a short period of time so i added a third cheap knife ,a K J Erijsson.

Pretty much a carbon clipper with a much more comfortable handle.
It's a soft rubber handle that is grippy and doesn't cause "hot spots" with sustained use.

The sheaths are at best functional but for budget knives they are fine.
A leather sheath is a nice project and i make mine to accept all 3 so i have 1 sheath for 3 knives and I carry the one most suited to the task in hand.

But to be honest i'd like kydex sheaths for mine because i tend to keep them for really dirty / rough work where i don't want to use a more expensive knife.

Another knife worth considering that falls between these and an F1 is a Helle Eggen.
These are great value

Triple laminated stainless with a chunky curly birch handle that's warm to touch and can be shaped if required with some sandpaper to suit your hand.

 

[JonnyP]

.

They look like Marshalls Driveline 50s in Brindle, you want to get some kiln dried sand in there, or they will start to wander mate.
Excellent advice btw and nice sheafs, as always........

 

[synoptic]

Oooohhhhhh, like that sheath very muchly

Don't suppose you have the pattern for that do you?

I'll take a look at the KJ but as lovely as the Helle Eggen looks its price puts it one stage ahead of where I am I think.

Thanks for the advice

 

[rapidboy]

They look like Marshalls Driveline 50s in Brindle, you want to get some kiln dried sand in there, or they will start to wander mate.

They aren't mine, i took the pic's at work and i can tell you that's the least of their worries, new building and it leaks like a sieve

 

[rapidboy]

I'll take a look at the KJ but as lovely as the Helle Eggen looks its price puts it one stage ahead of where I am I think.

Absolutely no need to spend mor eon a knife, any of the cheaper knives mentioned will do everything you need.
Expensive knives are as much about prid eof ownership as anything else.
I have many expensive production and custom knives and i still use a Frosts Clipper everyday because it's a great working knife.

 

[wizard]

I can sure recommend the Frost and Eriksson knives as well. The quality for the price is really a value.
As for the F-1, from what I know, they are what is called a double bevel or compound bevel design. Which means the actual sharp edge is ground at an angle of about 20 to 25 degrees and is very small in relation to the blade. That is fine, and most modern knives are made this way, like a SAK for example. They come sharp and are great until you need to resharpen it. That can be tricky. In all the years I have owned knives and all the different sharpeners I have bought and tried, I still find it real hard to get a razor sharp edge on this type knife.
On the other side, the Moras use the Scandavian or Norwiegen or sword grind which is a single, wide bevel. They are so easy to sharpen and so easy to maintain, it is really an addictive design.
I usually carry a Clipper stainless or High-Carbon in my pack when I don't really plan to use a knife much, reason is I can count on the Mora and it is really very light, lighter than most lock blade folders.
My favorite knife is a Stewart Marsh custom made like the RM Woodlore, unfortunately they are costly and not a recommended starter knife. Besides, at my age, I make too much money and have little to spend it on
Get a good Mora and you may just never buy another knife! Cheers!