The perfect "Two Knife" bushcraft set

[Pattree]

I find myself totally in agreement with @Broch .

Most of us don’t need knives most of the time.
I shall be at Summer Moot tomorrow.
My supper shall require:

Secateurs,
a vegetable peeler and
a spork.

I shall be running a leather workshop were I shall issue scissors and forbid knives at the work table.

I shall have my knives in a locked steel drum but I doubt whether my two Opinels mentioned above shall emerge.

 

[TeeDee]

I shall have my knives in a locked steel drum but I doubt whether my two Opinels mentioned above shall emerge.

So , why bring them?

 

[Pattree]

So , why bring them?

I doubt but am not certain.

(I might have been being disingenuous by only referring to my supper. I have lettuce, onions and peppers that will need to be sliced at some point over the weekend. I have cheese and butter which will both need to be spread. I could do it with a spork but it’s easier with a knife.)

AND

I do not know what workshops I shall attend and what they might require or what I might need to replicate them later on my own.

There may even be a little time for whittling a stick - not making anything, just whittling a stick.

……. but you are right, if I forgot them it wouldn’t be a problem.

 

[Keith_Beef]

Nobody has thoughts on Nessmuk?

 

[Springchicken]

I think that a knife is one of those things that isn't essential for 'bushcraft', however you define it.

Whenever I go to the woods, which is pretty much daily, I take mine with me. Somehow, it is like having a reassuring friend with me. For the vast majority of the time, it remains sheathed on my belt; however, on those occasions when I utilise it, for whatever purpose, I am truly thankful that I had it with me.

I suppose there is also the idea that, for many, bushcraft is a leisure activity. In order to shrug off the burden of a tiresome week or to feel that your time is now your own, you might well put on different clothes and carry a few gizmos that are different to what you would carry normally. This action helps you to distance yourself from your travails and affords you greater immersion in your surroundings in a different way. A knife could be seen as a part - integral for some - of that change.

It does remain true that it is not necessary to carry a knife, in spite of what I have just said: the chief instructor on a lengthy course I was on a few years ago never carried or wore one; he only did so when he knew that the subject area demanded it. Interestingly, it did not damage the quality of his instruction or demonstration at all.

 

[TLM]

I think that a knife is one of those things that isn't essential for 'bushctaft', however you define it.

Without some edged tool I really feel naked, it is one of those things that is very difficult to replace, when you need a knife your nails are not a replacement. On the other hand I do recognize that I do not use it on every outing but it is comforting to have at least a SAK in your pocket. Lately more often a multitool mainly because of the screw bits, we do have a huge count of screws in our society.

 

[Keith_Beef]

Without some edged tool I really feel naked, it is one of those things that is very difficult to replace, when you need a knife your nails are not a replacement. On the other hand I do recognize that I do not use it on every outing but it is comforting to have at least a SAK in your pocket. Lately more often a multitool mainly because of the screw bits, we do have a huge count of screws in our society.

I almost always have a Leatherman on my belt. It gets used many times a day, every day. When if I'm just in the house, garden, perhaps a walk up to the chutney shop or into town for a few bits, it's much easier to reach for the Leatherman rather than go to the tool box.

I think that the pliers get most use. I was in town, one day, and an elderly lady at a cash machine asked me in slightly panicked voice for help because she couldn't pinch her card strongly enough to pull out from the machine. Thinking that this was a bit unusual (maybe her card was greasy or the machine was holding it now firmly than usual) I quickly got out the Leatherman, opened the pliers and pulled out her card.

But you're also right that there are a lot of screws in our world; or seems to me that more and more of them are a bit loose.

 

[HorseGuy]

Nobody has thoughts on Nessmuk?

I have never even heard of them until you mentioned it and I searched the word to see what it is.

It's an interesting looking shape. What are your thoughts on the nessmuk?

 

[Broch]

The last two Knives I made earlier this year were close copies of a Nessmuk and a Kephart. It's interesting to see that two outdoorsmen of a similar period and operating in similar landscapes adopted completely different knives

It's suggested that Nessmuk used his knife for preparing fuel, skinning game, and eating with (bringing the food to the mouth). I would suggest it wasn't the best tool for any of those things - but it was probably a reasonable compromise. He used a small folding knife for more delicate tasks and a small double-edged hatchet for the more robust tasks. One could argue he was carrying 5 blades. I actually like the Nessmuk knife, it feels balanced in the hand, chops really well, and has an aesthetic appeal but I don't think I would select it as my main 'robust' blade.

The Nessmuk Holy Trio:

 

[Stew]

It's suggested that Nessmuk used his knife for preparing fuel, skinning game, and eating with (bringing the food to the mouth). I would suggest it wasn't the best tool for any of those things - but it was probably a reasonable compromise.

He didn’t have the benefit of the internet to debate the better choice though….

I seem to recall that he was more bothered about his axe.

 

[Stew]

I have never even heard of them until you mentioned it and I searched the word to see what it is.

It's an interesting looking shape. What are your thoughts on the nessmuk?

My thoughts are similarly like others about being a broken record of my views.

A good handle is more important than a good blade - to me.

If I can hold it comfortably I can compromise and adapt other tasks. If I can’t hold it well then, well, every task is a challenge.

So back to the nessmuk and I find it aesthetically pleasing and I think that actually is an important factor. How do you feel about the tools and kit you’re using. You have to enjoy their use and someone else telling you that you’re wrong for liking it is irrelevant, all of course my opinion. I’m sure it’s not perfect for many tasks but could I use it happily - yes.

 

[Broch]

He didn’t have the benefit of the internet to debate the better choice though….

I seem to recall that he was more bothered about his axe.

In Chapter 2 of 'Woodcraft and Camping' he gives the knives and the axe pretty much equal weight - bemoaning the lack of 'off the shelf' products and complaining about the standard designs. He does detail how much he spent on getting the axe to the derision of his friends.

 

[Stew]

It’s a while since I’ve read it, to be fair!

 

[Springchicken]

Without some edged tool I really feel naked, it is one of those things that is very difficult to replace, when you need a knife your nails are not a replacement. On the other hand I do recognize that I do not use it on every outing but it is comforting to have at least a SAK in your pocket. Lately more often a multitool mainly because of the screw bits, we do have a huge count of screws in our society.

I agree wholeheartedly. It's the main reason for carrying a cutting tool most, if not all of the time. There will be occasions when you actually  know you won't utilise it but, even so, it's good to know it's there. Perhaps it's a residual thing from Scouts and being prepared...

 

[Springchicken]

The last two Knives I made earlier this year were close copies of a Nessmuk and a Kephart. It's interesting to see that two outdoorsmen of a similar period and operating in similar landscapes adopted completely different knives

It's suggested that Nessmuk used his knife for preparing fuel, skinning game, and eating with (bringing the food to the mouth). I would suggest it wasn't the best tool for any of those things - but it was probably a reasonable compromise. He used a small folding knife for more delicate tasks and a small double-edged hatchet for the more robust tasks. One could argue he was carrying 5 blades. I actually like the Nessmuk knife, it feels balanced in the hand, chops really well, and has an aesthetic appeal but I don't think I would select it as my main 'robust' blade.

The Nessmuk Holy Trio:
View attachment 104243


View attachment 104244

What did your Kephart look like?

 

[Broch]

What did your Kephart look like?

Made of 01 steel tempered to between 60 and 62 HRC. The handle is oak, probably over 600 years old; it was taken from a rotten beam removed from a 450-year-old barn - the core of the beam is still solid.

 

[Billy-o]

I like the Peltonen, Herman30.

To the OP's question

A flat ground, carbon steel fixed blade of some kind. About a 3 3/4" length blade, 1/8" thick. Wood handle for preference

A folding knife with a 3 1/4"-ish blade. Maybe a large (4 1/4") carbon steel stockman. I.e. something that can do dinner and maybe a bit of whittling.

This 6" item is handy too

 

[William_Montgomery]

I do like the skrama combo. They often get used together. They're great knives, easy to use and maintain, and a pleasure to wield. They get used for wood prep, animal prep, carving, gardening, working in the woods etc.


These two are my work/van knives. The ones that I'm not precious about at all. The big schrade is the chopper and gets used for all sorts of messy jobs, grubbing about in soil and prying things apart. Constantly being sharpened.
The little RR canoe is actually a great knife, it's used for most other smaller jobs. I try to keep it clean as I use it for lunch prep at work.


Plus my SAK which is always in a pocket.

 

[JonathanD]

Everyone is different and does different things. All of you that know me know that I use one knife. Have done so for now over 20 years. One for all does it for me. That’s for the U.K. That twinned with a Laplander saw does most things for me until I need an axe. For outside the U.K. I use the same knife but with a full flat grind rather than a scandi. But I could easily use that in the U.K. too without any problem. And did for many years. But scandis are so nice for living wood.

 

[HorseGuy]

All of you that know me know that I use one knife.

What knife is that?