The Elusive “One Knife” for Bushcraft…?

[Cannonfodder]

Yes, to the first two, peeling potatoes I've never been any good at and why waste the tastiest part?

 

[Cannonfodder]

I prefer a peeler, and I only posted this because I couldn’t work out how to delete the duplicate post!

 

[C_Claycomb]

Here is the challenge for your knife, can it chop onions and slice tomatoes? Can it peel potatoes?

The other end of the spectrum from baton splitting knotty oak logs or felling saplings in a single blow.

The idea of one knife to do everything is an illogical trap because it's based on the assumption that everyone has the same needs, skill and working environment. …..There's nothing wrong with going into the bush with both a Scandi AND a FFG. …

Gracie

I am going to disagree. I don’t think the search is based on the assumption that you assert that it is. Just because some people making suggestions to a person do not qualify their recommendations with a list of their skills, needs and environment it doesn’t mean they assumed they are the same. The idea of a question cannot be defined by how a small subset may approach asking or answering it.

I would also say that if the ffg and Scandi are otherwise identical, that is inefficient enough to be called “wrong” There are so many other factors beyond grind that effect what a knife is most useful for. That is why one gets things like Kephart’s Nesmuk’s trio (thank you Gracie ) . For example, if someone carries a Scandi for wood work and a FFG for food prep both jobs will be easier with different thickness, profiles, handle designs, and perhaps steel. Now it’s not carrying a Scandi and a FFG, it’s carrying a woods knife and a light kitchen knife.

 

[C_Claycomb]

I suppose I ought to contribute with my “Do it all” knife and my journey to find it.
I never really got bit by the Scandi knife bug. I’ve got one that I made, a couple of the Spyderco Bushcrafters, a Mora (loaner and demos), and a Hultafors that I keep for leatherwork.
I came into Bushcraft having been heavily influenced by reading Ed Fowler’s knife talk books and having made myself something along those lines; 5 3/4 inch blade, 3/4” ricasso, big guard. Was great for field dressing game and did pretty well for chopping saplings, but was awful for feather sticks and food prep. It was reviewing that knife and the Wood law fundamental course that I took it on that brought me to Tony’s attention when he was looking for moderators.

I can thank a Swamp Rat Bog Dog, and chance to handle a number of Alan Wood’s knives, and chat with Alan at shows for steering me towards the design of handle I now like. I am a big fan of continuous curved edges and distinct pointed tips.

Today I don’t have my ideal knife, but I know exactly what it needs to look like and will get round to making it in the next year or so.

Basically this, but with a 0.5mm thicker blade in Magnacut and a Micarta handle with hidden tang.

 

[stonepark]

Settled for the moment on the White River Fire Craft Puukko as my go to edc bush craft knife.

This is again a smaller than average sized knife, 3.75 inch blade, S35VN, scandi grind.

Definitely a can do most things knife, but sits within a 4 tool system of SAK (with saw), Puukko, large folding saw and axe.