Why are bushcraft knives, and survival knives so different?
- Thread starter HillBill
- Start date
Survival knives are based around movie props or made to cater to some unrealistic fantasy, so movie prop or fantasy knife i don't see any difference.
Fashion Answer
Survival Knifes are modelled on the Rambo knife, which is an airman's survival knife. And is designied for cutting your way out of an aeroplane. Gets Major movie bonus points for looking badass.
There's a story circulating on the internet that Ray started out with one of these, but it was almost as big as he was and he never felt quite right saying "Don't push me".
(possible) Practical Answer
Bushcraft knives are for constant long term use over many many tasks.
Survival knives are for short term use and may not be used before a "survival" situation occurs.
Once application of the above is that is why a lot of survival knives are stainless (no care storage) and bushcraft knives are carbon (better maintenance and long term use.
Really? Someone better tell all the Falkniven F1 owners that their knife is a fantasy then -
I'd bet a rather large sum of money that most owners of "survival" knives aren't pilots for the Swedish Air Force, or even pilots at all.
I'd also bet that Swedish Air Force pilots are issued with F1's rather than purchase them, so unless Mark wants to go through the qualification process and intends to compete directly with Fallkniven that's not really a relevant example.
Ideally it'd be better to think up likely survival type scenarios and work to how a knife design would help.
Realistically though i'm struggling to think of a non violent, realistic scenario where a knife would be the difference between survival and death in the UK or Europe.
Only ones i can think of involve RTA's and seat belts or divers and fishing nets, any sharp edge would help in either of those scenarios.
Would tend to disagree there chaps, the most common and ideal accepted length for a bushie style knife (we all know the one) is c. 4" blade length.
Does the extra 1" of blade length really turn it from a bushcraft knife into a hard use survival knife?
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Really ? , Where is that written please.
YMMV
Doesn't that work both ways?
I think HillBill and I were agreeing upon that it should be some 9" bladed competition chopper.
But I'm happy to see HillBill run with the idea and produce something. Can't be bothered to discuss any more as everyone will have a varying opinion. Which is fine!
Regarding the questions on price and usefulness:
1) The price has more to do with the signature; it's a collector's item
2) it's useful as just that, a collector's item, and from looking at it, it appears to at least be solidly built (which is more than most movie knives I can think of)
Regarding the question of why it's so big: Well, it's big. Bigger than any real need; but not really freakishly so. I have a bowie at near 9 inches that gets a fair amount of use (and no, I don't chop with it)
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The *real* answer is that survival knives are for helping you survive teh zombie apocalypse and bushcraft knives are for turning sticks into piles of shavings.
Really ? , Where is that written please.
YMMV
Doesn't that work both ways?
I think HillBill and I were agreeing upon that it should be some 9" bladed competition chopper.
But I'm happy to see HillBill run with the idea and produce something. Can't be bothered to discuss any more as everyone will have a varying opinion. Which is fine!
Did i say that it was written anywhere, or on tablets of stone, that everyone practising bushcraft should have a 4" blade with a scandi-grind a la Woodlore?
But it is of my opinion, that that is what springs to most peoples mind, thanks to a certain Mr.Mears, who popularised bushcraft in the UK, when talking of a bushcraft knife.
I was merely trying to point out that there would be nothing much gained to write home about, either in weight, ergo cutting power, versatility or user benefit by adding 1" the the blade length.
Do you mean shouldn't 'be some 9" bladed competition chopper'?
I am also happy to see Mark produce his first 'survival knife' and looking forward to it a great deal, he knows more about these things than either of us, and i'm sure it will be superb.
And as you so quite rightly say, everyone will have varying opinions and different ideas, and i was just adding to the discussion.
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no fault of yours me'dear
This argument is almost as old as men with knives....plus some men just like to argue.
I wish people would call them Utility knives instead of survival knives!
The term "survival knife" has been associated with the Rambo style knife for over 30 years, i dont agree with the "movie prop"quote as Randall knives were making the model 18 long before Sly Stallone excaped from Hope's sheriffs department with his prop stuffed in his trousers! this argument is getting very old!
I collect "survival knives" and occasionally I'll take one out for a play in the woods but swap one for a 4" bushy or fallky in an outdoor environment? Not a chance!
I eat , sleep and @#!* bushcraft and knives I've made roughly 150 , owned probably 200 and spent a fortune over the years, now I can't remember the point I was going to make.......
The term "survival knife" has been associated with the Rambo style knife for over 30 years, i dont agree with the "movie prop"quote as Randall knives were making the model 18 long before Sly Stallone excaped from Hope's sheriffs department with his prop stuffed in his trousers! this argument is getting very old!
I collect "survival knives" and occasionally I'll take one out for a play in the woods but swap one for a 4" bushy or fallky in an outdoor environment? Not a chance!
I eat , sleep and @#!* bushcraft and knives I've made roughly 150 , owned probably 200 and spent a fortune over the years, now I can't remember the point I was going to make.......
Yours....
Top.
Exactly JD. That's a short (5 inch) ordinary knife with a plain stacked leather handle. A long, long way from a Rambo knife.
Funny though, the ordinary squaddies gets a green mora or (as I was issued with) a plastic red handled mora. Which I rate higher than the F1 anyway.
I've heard rumours that the F1 isn't actually issued in the survival kits of the planes any more.
